Chapter 36: Mothering Sunday

prompt: spring flowers

Mothering Sunday

Godric's Hollow

It's still fairly early on Sunday when a small pop announces the arrival of two figures behind the small church in the middle of St. Jerome's graveyard. Despite the typical mid-March cold, the sun has come out blasting this morning, bathing the old church and graveyard in bright light.

The graveyard is still relatively empty as the service will not begin within the hour, making the grounds feel spacious and tranquil. They walk the familiar path hand in hand, past the ancient weeping willow and down the row to Lily and James' grave.

The headstone looks like it's been scrubbed since the last time they visited and a bouquet of exotic, expansive-looking lilies of all colours has been left, suggesting their Lily has visited recently. Out of their children, Lily has always been the most interested in their family, their history, and used to love accompanying Harry to the graveyard. Still, it warms Harry's heart to know his children value and honour his parents.

With a soft, practiced loop of his wand, Harry conjures a hand-tied wreath from thin air. He had wandered into their garden right after breakfast this morning, clippers in hand, and selected a wild bunch of anemones, hyacinths, carnations and tulips by hand, and hand-crafted them into a rather professional looking arrangement.

They stand in silence for a moment, the sun on their faces and wind in their hair with Ginny's head on Harry's shoulder. In hard contrast to their everyday life, Ginny basks in moments like these when it's just them, quiet and serene. Together.

There's a rather loud crack from the other end of the graveyard, interrupting the quietness. Smiling, Harry and Ginny share a sweet, slow kiss before Harry takes Ginny's hand again, and they walk further down the rows of graves.

They have just turned the corner at Bathilda Bagshots' grave when Ginny notices the only other visitors this morning. A young couple stands by one of the newer graves, holding onto another while putting down a stuffed badger. The woman looks unsteady as the man holds her and kisses her hair. The sight is haunting, sending a shiver down Ginny's spine and she tucks herself into Harry's side, letting him wrap his arm around her. Passing the other couple, Ginny feels chilly still, even with her big woollen cardigan wrapped around her. She fights the urge to lay a comforting hand on the woman's arm, praying and hoping for this couple to find peace.

She feels Harry squeeze her tighter into his side as she takes one last look at the grieving couple and they share a look full of sadness, love, gratefulness. They walk ahead like that, with Ginny tucked into Harry's arm, her own hand inside his back pocket, finding peace in each other's body's warmth.

They spot their designation from metres away. Tonks' and Remus' headstone stands tall in the spring sunshine, right next to Remus's mother's grave and not far from Sirius marble headstone. Teddy, kneeling in front of his parent's black stone, is just lighting a candle with his wand, before carefully putting it into a lantern he painted with Andromeda when he was around four years old.

He stays still a moment, his eyes closed against the sunshine, as Harry and Ginny stand behind him. He used to speak to his parents, or write letters when he became older, sometimes even leave presents at their grave. As he turned older her started to just be, to think of his parents and let them know he loves them. He may not remember his father or his mother, but loves and appreciates them and their sacrifice all the same.

Teddy stands and immediately feels his godfather's warm hand on his shoulder as Harry conjures another bouquet. It's a bunch of spring flowers from Teddy's childhood home, handpicked by Harry and wonderfully suitable. Bright, colourful and wild, so much like Nymphadora Tonks, and so much like Teddy with his bright blue hair, neon hoodie and big smile. In sync with her husband, Ginny conjures a vase for Teddy to leave the flowers in.

Teddy rests his hand on the warm stone of his parents' headstone for three, four, five seconds before turning around to his godparents. Smiling, fringe hanging into his brown eyes, he takes a deep breath before starting to walk.

Together, Harry and Ginny walking right behind their oldest son, they walk over into the woods by the little church, leaving the peaceful and quiet graveyard of Godric's Hollow behind and apparating right into the loud, happy bedlam that is the Burrow for Mother's Day lunch.

A bit different, a bit moody, a bit rushed - and very fitting for a time like this.

It's a very weird time, and today on Mother's Day (in the UK at least) I want to dedicate this one to everyone who misses someone today, especially those who miss their mums, their grandmums or their children. Mother's Day is very different to everyone of us and can be a sensitive time, so be kind and spread the love.

In other news comments, reviews, thoughts and favourites are appreciated. Leave a prompt, I'm home for the foreseeable future and need to keep myself busy.

#stayhome and #staysafe

all the love, cd