The muggle lady nodded. "Arthur," she nodded at her husband. "Lost his brother in the Gulf a few years back."
"I'm sorry for your loss sir," Remus said.
The man just nodded.
"I wish you a good day," Remus said to the woman and guided the group away. When they were far enough away he said. "I'm sorry for cutting you off, but if you had mentioned your parents as being lost, it might have brought up more questions."
"I understand," Harry replied. "Thanks."
"How are you feeling?" Remus asked.
"I'm fine," Harry replied as he felt two of his bondmates move closer to him. Gabrielle on his right, while Hermione was on his left.
"I thought you'd like to visit your parents next," Remus said as he nodded over toward the church they had seen earlier. Behind it was a graveyard surrounded by a fence.
Harry stopped as he eyed the fence and the tombstones beyond it. From the back of his mind the Dementor induced memories came flooding into his consciousness as he remembered his parents last moments alive.
"You don't have to go," Hermione said softly.
"Yes I do," Harry replied. "I need to."
"We're here for you," Hermione said softly. "You're not alone."
Harry's eyes found Hermione's and then Fleur's and finally Gabrielle's. He could feel his bondmates love and concern. He finally nodded as he steeled himself and started walking again.
They entered the small gate that led into the graveyard and again Harry stopped as he stared at the rows of tombstones. There were several other people and families there already visiting their dead relatives and friends.
Remus with Padfoot by his side walked off toward a specific area leaving Harry alone with his ladies. Finally Harry followed a path toward them. As with all people who enter a graveyard, Harry's eyes followed the words on the tombstones as he walked along. He stopped when he saw a familiar name. 'Dumbledore'. He looked closer and saw the name 'Kendra Dumbledore' and her daughter 'Ariana'.
"I wonder if they're related to Professor Dumbledore?" Harry asked as he pointed at the tombstone.
"I don't know," Hermione answered. "But she'd have died when Dumbledore was fairly young."
They continued on following Remus who had stopped only a couple of rows away. They saw him glance back at the them before he turned back and knelt at the tombstones he was in front of. When they arrived by his side they saw Sirius was lying beside the graveyard. Fleur took Harry's hand as he looked down at the white marble marker and read
JAMES POTTER
BORN 27 MARCH 1960
DIED 31 OCTOBER 1981
and beside his father's name he read.
LILY POTTER
BORN 30 JANUARY 1960
DIED 31 OCTOBER 1981
Below both of their names was a final engraving and it read.
The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
Harry was surprised that the graves didn't bring the sadness he had expected. But it was only a few seconds until he realized that he knew his parents weren't in the graves in front of him. Only the bodies that died that day were there. As he continued to kneel beside the grave, he wasn't surprised when all of his bondmates surrounded him. Hermione who had been through the most with him, knelt by his side. He turned to look at her and smiled. He took her hand before speaking to his parents who he knew were watching him.
"Mum, Dad, I love you," Harry started. "I wish you were here but I know I will see you again someday. I've always wanted my own family and now as you know, I have one. I just wished you were here to be a part of it as well," He paused as he looked at the three young women he loved and who he considered to be his family. In that moment Harry decided Remus was right, this was a time to put the past to rest and start his future. There was only one thing to do to make his future official; to truly make these ladies his family. He turned back to his parents' grave. "I know you're watching so now I want to turn this moment into something a little more special," Still on his knee he turned so he could see all of his bondmates. "Fleur, Hermione, Gabrielle, I want to do something. I guess it should be more romantic than in a graveyard, but I truly want to start my family here in front of my parents," He looked into Fleur's eyes. "Fleur Delacour, I don't deserve you, but I know that I love you and I'm truly glad you love me too. The bond you and your sister bestowed upon me changed my life, making it so much better. Here in front of my parents and the two people who would be the closest thing I have to my old family, I ask, will you be my wife and become part of my new family."
Fleur looked at Harry. It was evident in the happiness that poured into him from his eldest bondmate that she didn't think a graveyard was inappropriate. "With all of my 'eart I want nothing more zan zat. I want to be your wife and your family."
Harry smiled at Fleur and then turned to Gabrielle. "Gabrielle Delacour, I don't deserve you but I do truly love you and will forever be glad of the love you give me. Will you marry me and become my wife and my family?"
Gabrielle was nodding before the words were even spoken. "Oui I will," She said as her blue eyes filled with tears of happiness.
Harry then turned to Hermione who still was kneeling beside him. She already had a smile on her lips but waited for the question. "Mione, last but definitely not least. I don't know when I fell in love with you, but I know that I truly do. I'm not sure why you ever fell in love with me but I will forever be thankful for it and for you joining the bond we share. You've been my best friend and the one person who has always been by side for the last four years, will you marry me and stay with me for the rest of our lives? Will you be my family."
"Four years ago you came to rescue me when no one else cared," Hermione replied. She stopped him from speaking for a second. "I know you will say Ron was with you, but you and I know he was there because of you not me. I don't know when the friendship that developed from that night turned to love, but I know it did. I can't imagine a day without you, nor do I want to. Of course I'll marry you."
"I will get you rings when we get a chance...maybe in France?" Harry said apologetically as he got off his knees and helped Hermione to her feet."Maybe I should have waited...but it felt right."
Fleur wrapped her arms around Harry and kissed him before saying. "I think I can tell you zat we all thought it was perfect. We know it came from your 'eart."
Gabrielle and Hermione also gave Harry a kiss while Sirius was barking around them. After a while Remus cleared his throat.
"We have a couple of more stops before we get you to the Ministry."
Harry had almost forgot the importance of the afternoon and Pettigrew. He nodded to Remus who led them out of the graveyard. Harry gave one last look at the white marble headstone before he followed his future wives. When they left the church behind they walked out of the village square in the opposite direction than they had come. Harry noticed a flash of pink hair as a young lady walked around a corner ahead of them. Something about her seemed familiar. He knew he had seen her before.
"That lady who just walked around that corner," He started as he pointed to where he had seen her. "I've seen her before.."
Before he could saying anything else they heard a crash from the same area and a female voice cursing.
"Would she happened to have had pink hair?" Remus asked nonchalantly.
"Yeah."
"That would be Tonks," Remus explained. "She's a member of the Order."
....
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