Chapter 167
Harry's 2 Days
Chapter 167 Harry's Two Days
Harry received Dumbledore's dispensation and did not return to school until Sunday afternoon.
During these two days, Harry and Lupin accompanied Sirius, and he watched his godfather change from a sloppy, dirty, ragged, unkempt prisoner to a thin but well-groomed respectable man.
They also went to St. Mungo's, where the healer examined him and gave him a lot of advice, including three potions. In short, Sirius needed a long period of rest and careful conditioning before he could recover.
Lupin took the opportunity to suggest that Sirius come live in his house.
"I don't think you would want to go back to the Black house... and Harry often comes back on weekends, so you can see him more often."
Sirius had forgotten his original intention of wanting Harry to live with him, and happily agreed.
Lupin's house was not big, and it was crowded enough for two people to live in it, let alone three.
But this was not a problem for them, as both Lupin and Sirius knew how to perform the Untraceable Extension Charm, and it did not take them long to add a bedroom.
That night, when Harry went to bed, he saw the two adults still in front of the fireplace, drinking and talking.
When he got up in the morning, they were still in almost exactly the same position.
They talked all night long, seemingly having endless things to talk about.
On Sunday morning, Sirius and Lupin took Harry and Apparated to Godric's Hollow.
For the first time, Harry learned that his home was in this village and his parents died here.
He was surprised and ashamed, wondering why he had never thought of coming here to take a look before.
He never even paid homage to his parents once.
But then he thought, even if he had this idea, Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon would not bring him here.
Lupin took them to the center of the square, and Harry saw that there was a statue of the Potter family there, as if people were commemorating and thanking them in this way.
Then they went to the cemetery behind the church to pay tribute to the Potters, but Harry first saw the tombstones of Dumbledore's mother and sister. For the first time, he knew that he and the headmaster came from the same place.
—Why didn't Dumbledore tell me?
Harry couldn't help but think.
But then he thought that there might be many wizards from this village going to Hogwarts, and Harry Potter was just one of them. Dumbledore really didn't need to tell him specifically.
"Harry, this way!"
Lupin said as he led the two to the tombstone of Mr. and Mrs. Potter. The white marble tombstone was engraved with James and Lily's names and birth and death years, as well as a short epitaph:
【The last enemy to be eliminated is death】.
Harry looked at the two familiar yet unfamiliar names, and thought of his parents lying in the cold ground, unable to respond to him anymore, and his tears suddenly welled up.
Sirius cried without restraint, mumbling:
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm so damn sorry..."
Lupin turned his head away, took a deep breath, and didn't dare to look at the two of them.
After a long time, Lupin finally pulled Sirius, who was almost fainted from grief, up from the ground. He embraced Harry, whose eyes were red and swollen, and forcibly led the two of them out of the cemetery.
"We will come to see them again... Harry, although James and Lily have passed away, they will always live in our hearts, and their love will always accompany you... Remember this."
"Sirius, James certainly wouldn't want to see you like this... He would rather see you cheer up and move on."
They arrived at James and Lily's former home.
This place had already become a ruin. The right side of the top-floor room was completely blown up, the iron door was rusted, the yard was overgrown with weeds, and several pieces of window glass were broken.
Standing at the door, Harry didn't dare to go in for a moment.
Since he was a child, he fantasized about what his life would be like if his parents had not died... Would he be like Dali, who was regarded as the cutest baby in the world by his parents even though he was rude, stupid and impolite?
However, at this moment, he was so close to where his parents once lived, but his legs were too heavy to lift.
He was very scared. He was scared of seeing the happy life he once had, and even more scared of seeing that happiness being cruelly shattered and torn into pieces.
Lupin understood Harry's feelings. He pressed the boy's shoulder and said, "Next time, Harry, come back when you are ready."
Harry managed to say, "No, I can..."
"Don't forget that you have to go to school tomorrow. You've been delayed here for too long. Can you get up early on time tomorrow? Have you finished your homework? Have you prepared for the lessons?"
Lupin's three consecutive questions brought Harry back to the cruel reality. When he thought about the fact that he had only written two lines of his Potions essay, his mood suddenly became heavy in another sense.
"Come on, I'll take you back to school." Lupin said, "We'll come together again during the Christmas holidays. There are a lot of things in the old house that need to be sorted out, and I guess you must want to see some traces of your childhood life."
Harry hesitated for a moment, and was led out by Lupin. He turned around and saw Sirius still standing at the door, his body as stiff as if he had been petrified.
He couldn't see his godfather's expression, but just looking at his back, Harry felt like he couldn't breathe.
"Remus, Sirius he..."
"He may need to be alone for a while." Lupin said: "Don't worry, I will watch him after I take you back."
Harry secretly glanced down at Lupin's expression.
- Is Remus really as calm as he appears to be, or is he just hiding all his emotions?
As if Lupin saw through his thoughts, he suddenly said, "I am different from Sirius."
"Since that night, Sirius has been imprisoned in Azkaban. He was unable to attend their funeral, and he had no chance to visit them again... He must have a lot to say to James now..."
"Have you been to pay respects to my parents, Remus?" Harry asked, trying to calmly not sound like a blubbering child.
"Well, every year," Lupin said gently.
……
"You went to pay respect to your parents?"
Hermione asked quietly in the common room, looking at Harry as if he were a piece of fragile china.
"Are you okay? ... I mean ... if you need it, I can lend you my shoulder to lean on ..."
Hermione stammered.
"Oh, no thanks." Harry didn't want to look into her eyes, so he lowered his head and said, "Actually, I... um... I've gotten used to not having parents, so..."
He couldn't continue and Hermione was on the verge of tears.
"Hey, Harry, there you are!" Ron suddenly came in from the doorway. When he saw Harry, he said happily, "Come with me, they have done a big project by the Black Lake!"
Harry heaved a sigh of relief. He couldn't wait to get out of this embarrassing atmosphere, so he immediately stood up and said, "What is it?"
"Just follow me and you'll find out." Ron hurried out of the door again and shouted, "Hermione, what are you waiting for?"
"But Harry, you haven't finished your Potions paper yet!" Hermione shouted worriedly as she followed.
"Never mind that! This is way more interesting than the damn paper!" said Ron.
The fat lady at the lounge door shouted angrily at him, "I just opened the door for you!"
Ron had no time to pay any attention to her.
Several people hurried out of the castle, and Harry was surprised to find that almost all the students in the school had come. They lined up in a long queue in front of the seven doors. Ron immediately pulled them to stand behind the shortest queue.
"Damn, we're late!" Ron said in annoyance. "I thought they would at least be open tomorrow!"
Harry gasped, "So... what... is this?"
(End of this chapter)