Once Upon a Long Ago (Harry)

[parvati patil macmillan]

December 24, 2027

Parvati had welcomed receiving an invitation to the Potters' Christmas party, and it wasn't only because it kept her from having to make an appearance at the Hogwarts staff party, which was being held that same day. She appreciated it because it was more than just something to do during a time of year that had become harder and harder. It had been that way for her since Shreya's death, especially, but she was comforted by the knowledge that she wasn't alone in grieving someone who should have been there to celebrate the season but wasn't. Hermione had died under similar circumstances, and Parvati knew that her death was still a challenge for her loved ones.

It had been a little while since Parvati had arrived at the party, and most of the attendees, herself included, had gotten their obligatory rounds of going and greeting others out of the way. Everything generally had a happy vibe to it, but the deaths of so many people still hung over it all, in a way.

In spite of the sadness that still permeated the occasion, there was hope in the air, too. Hogwarts was rebuilt, and life was moving on. The feeling wasn't unlike how it had felt following the Second Wizarding War, though it was hard to tell if the fight that they had put up against Elaine Dupree would be considered a "war" in the future or something else.

HARRY JAMES POTTER

[HARRY JAMES POTTER]

As was standard practice, Ginny and Harry had hosted a Christmas party at their home in Godric's Hollow. Harry didn't envy the party planning, and let Ginny get on with it. He'd been immensely busy with his new business venture, the venue in London. He half regretted the purchase - hadn't he wanted a quiet life? He trusted the staff, and knew they were more than capable, but it was hard to let go of all responsibility. What if someone was hurt? Or became unwell?

Recalling this time last year made Harry want to drown himself in his mead. It had been a gift from the Hagrid family, but it didn't block out the icy glares that Ginny had fixed him with. Not to mention his own son despised him - and likely still did. Things had improved dramatically, but a tiny part of Harry worried that it would all fall apart again. He sighed, running his fingers through his messy hair as he cast his gaze around the room.

A grin split across Harry's face as he spotted Parvati. He knew that the rebuilt Hogwarts staff team was hosting their party tonight - something that Harry couldn't understand, who wanted to be at work on Christmas Eve? - and he was delighted to find that this party had been a priority. Ginny was chatting with a former teammate of hers, so Harry wandered over to Parvati. "Alright?! asked Harry casually, inclining his head in greeting. "Mad how everything has changed so much, isn't it?" said Harry, glancing around the room again at all the laughing guests.

parvati patil macmillan

[parvati patil macmillan]

December 24, 2027

"Alright?!"

Parvati would have recognized Harry's voice anywhere, and she wasn't surprised to see him approach her. She bobbed her head slightly in response to his greeting to her. It still felt disingenuous to reply and say that she was alright, as was the conventional thing to do, and she didn't doubt that Harry could relate to that. Though they theoretically could have Obliviated years of past traumatic memories, that would have been more effort than it was worth in the end.

"Mad how everything has changed so much, isn't it?" Harry remarked.

"Yeah," Parvati nodded. So much had changed from the previous year, never mind multiple years before. It was strange to think that things were moving in a more positive direction, considering all that they had lost. They weren't meeting in secret to discuss Lord Voldemort, Death Eaters, Elaine Dupree, or the Purifiers; there was no more talk of safe houses or of espionage. In some ways, they could live their lives more openly again, but it also meant pretending that so much of the recent past hadn't happened as they knew it had.

"Thank you, Harry," Parvati then added, "in case I haven't said it enough." He and Ginny hadn't had to go to so much trouble for everyone else year after year. "And Happy Christmas, of course." That might have gone without saying, considering the occasion, though.

HARRY JAMES POTTER