My form of afterlife was not entirely bad, I guess. There were no annoying singing angels with white fluffy wings and golden halos above their heads. No clouds I can lounge on, which was okay since I did not like being off the ground, unless it's a special case. But there was also no fire and brimstone like I was threatened with when my sexuality came out all those years ago.

Instead I had my own... apartment. It was lovely with deep forest green paints and dark wood accents. It reminded me heavily of my quarters in Gryffindor Tower. There were large windows that showed the vast forest at the edge of the property, which was pleasant; the sunsets were spectacular, unless it was overcast. Since there was no use for one there wasn't a toilet in the restroom though there was a rather large tub. In the aferlife I could eat food but did not have to use the toilet, and that was a great bonus because I always wanted to eat hot wings without running for it. The front door had a pretty golden plate with my name on it, and could be opened with a key. No password required.

Every now and then I would get visitors. Usually it was my uncle wanting to challenge me to a game of cards, or Fred Weasey who wanted a prank-pulling buddy. When the winter holidays drew near those of us in the apartment complex would gather in the courtyard and celebrate by putting up a tree and decorations. We could not feel the cold of the snow or the wind, but we were okay with that.

It was paradise.

But something was missing.

Someone was missing.

So many years had passed, yet I never forgot Harry James Potter. I missed him terribly. So much so that it felt like my heart had been ripped from my chest and was thrown back to the living world.

A knock on my front door jolted my from my thoughts.

"It's unlocked!" I called out.

I heard the door open then close.

"Talis."

I glanced up from the book I was reading. Lily and James Potter were standing in my living room. I closed my book after memorizing the page number and set it aside. "What can I do for you?" I asked kindly, as I stood up and stretched. I had no idea how long I had been siting in that comfy-as-hell chair.

"We need to ask you to do something for us," James said.

"Would you like to sit down for this?"

James shook his head. "There is not much time, Talis, so we will get straight to the point." He smiled, running a hand through his untidy hair. A movement I had seen Harry do so many times; it must be genetic. "Harry is dying."

That caught my attention. My back straightened as I stared at the older couple. "D-Dying?"

Lily nodded. "Yes. Harry has lived a long, eventful, and fulfilling life. He will be turning seventy-one in July."

"Has it been that long?" I sighed quietly, glancing out the window. "I guess I hadn't noticed." I turned back to Lily and James. "Are you telling me this to prepare me for his arrival?"

James and Lily exchanged a look, a silent conversation. After a moment Lily returned her brilliant gaze to me. "No. James and I have talked about this quite a bit lately, and we both came to an agreement."

"An agreement?"

"We want you to go retrieve his soul."

I stared at my beloved's parents. They want me to do what now? "Go get his - You want me to go get him?" I shook my head, backing away a bit. "I can't do that. Usually the parents or significant guardians go to welcome them to the afterlife."

"You were his first love, Talis." James' voice was kind. "He never stopped loving you, just as you have never stopped loving him."

There was a throb in my chest, where my heart should be. But I knew there was nothing there. My heart was still in the land of living. "Surely he still has some time left? A few more years?"

"He does not have much longer, Talis," Lily warned in a soft voice. "He could become lost, just as you did for the first year after your death. Your father had to retrieve you."

"I remember." I did. I had become lost in this white mist until my father had found me, confused and frightened. It took a few years for me to adjust to living almost normally again. I still see my parents from time to time, especially when it was my birthday or the holidays. I sighed heavily and slapped my hands against my thighs a few times. "Okay. I'll go."

Lily's smile widened, and for amoment I was memorized by her beauty; no wonder James had it bad for her for years. "You must go now, Talis. He does not have long." She glanced at James, and he reached into his pocket. He withdrew a small orb made of swirling green smoke. With a shaky hand, I took it from him.

In a whirl of colors and wind, I was forced from my afterlife.

I landed lightly in a hospital room. The sounds and smells converged on me in a whirl of chaos: the whiteness of the room; the smell of antibacterial cleaners; the muffled charging of others outside the door in the hallway; the residual feel of spells. I closed my eyes and took in a steady breath.

"Talis?"

My eyes flew open.

The voice was older and gravelly, but there was no denying who had spoken.

There, on the bed under the crisp white blanket, was Harry. His hair, which used to be dark as ink and spiky, was now grey and limp, but not unkempt. His face was deeply wrinkled with worry and laughing lines; his scar seemed to be folding in on itself. Chapped lips were set in a small defeated frown.

The only things that seemed to not have changed were his eyes. They still shone a vibrant green that shamed any emerald in the world.

"Am I dream -" A gurgling cough cut off his question.

I stepped over to the bed to gaze down at him. "You're not dreaming, love," I said quietly. "I'm here."

"It's been so long," Harry said once he recovered from his coughing fit.

"Too long," I agreed. I paused, bracing myself. "It's time, Harry."

"Time?" His green eyes searched mine. "You mean -?"

I nodded solemnly. "Yeah."

"But what about Ginny? My children? My grandchildren?" For a moment he seemed to panic, and I shushed him gently. "What will happen to them?"

"They will join us when it is their time," I said. "They will miss and mourn for you, but they will be okay."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Harry, have I lied to you?" I smiled at him. "Harry, it's time." I held out a hand. Harry stared at it. "If it makes you feel better, your parents sent me to fetch you. They are waiting for you. They have so much they want to talk to you about."

That seemed ot ease Harry's nerves a bit. "When?"

"Whenever you're ready. Have you said your goodbyes?"

"The medi-wizards were unsure how long I had," Harry admitted quietly. "Ginny had brought the family in earlier. We've said goodbye, just in case."

"You'll see them again," I promised.

"Ginny always knew I loved you, even when I was with her." Harry's eyes seemed to unfocus for a moment; I stayed quiet. I knew he needed to get this off his chest. A dying man's last words. He gave a low chuckle. "There was one time, I remember, I accidently said your name when we were having sex. She was so angry. I had to sleep on the sofa for a few nights, but she did not stay upset for long. She understood. She knew how much you meant to me. You still do." He looked up at me. "I told my children about you. About how you taught me so much. They looked up to you even though you are dead."

"I'm honored," I murmured.

"You were never forgotten, Talis," Harry coninuted. "I didn't know if you knew that or not."

"My father might have mentioned it once."

"Your father?"

I nodded. "Yes. My parents can't wait to meet the man who stole my heart all those years ago."

Harry's chapped lips turned up into a smile. "I'm not giving it back."

I chuckled quietly. "I don't expect you to."

Harry glanced at my outstretched hand. "What if I'm forgotten?"

"You'll never be forgotten," I insisted calmly. "There are so many books and possibly movies about you that your legacy will live on for generations. Hell, Harry, you're like the modern day Godric Gryffindor."

A rough laugh came from Harry, which ended in another coughing fit that lasted a minute or two. His chest rattled as he tried to draw in a lungful of air. "Talis?"

"Yes?"

He hesitated for a moment before asking, "If you had not have died, would you have said yes if I asked you to marry me?"

"In a heartbeat," I replied without hesitation. "I would have been honored to take your last name. If I recall, you've called me Talis Corvus Potter a few times."

"It has a nice ring to it." Harry blinked slowly, and I noticed it was a struggle for him to open his eyes. His breathing became shallower. "Talis, I-I'm ready." He tried to lift his hand, but he did not have the strength. "Will it hurt?"

I shook my had. "Not at all."

"Okay."

Smiling down at my love, I gently took his hand in my own. For a moment, I could feel the rough calluses that marred his palm, then it started to change. The skin softened and smoothed itself. Carefully, I helped Harry out of the bed. It was as if time had reversed itself. I watched in fascination as Harry started to change. Black bled into the grey hair, and it started to lift in fly-away spikes. The wrinkles vanished, leaving behind smooth skin. His face became fuller, refilling to the point of youthness. It was amazing as he de-aged back to his teenage body.

It lasted a moment that seemed to last an age.

Harry smiles up at me, emerald eyes shining with happiness. Then he turned to look at the bed, and his face instantly fell. "Is that -?"

"It's your body," I answered quietly, coming up behind him. I wrapped my arms around him, burying my face in his neck, sucking in his scent. A shudder shook my body as the familiarity seized my senses. It's been so long, too long.

"I'm so old."

"You were seventy years old. You've lived a long life."

Harry brought one of his hands up. "I'm not in the same body? I thought I'd still be old."

I pressed a kiss against his neck, reveling in his sharp intake of breath. "You're soul form returns you to the age when you were the most happy. It's an emotional thing that even I don't understand."

"Is that why you still look nineteen?"

"I was the happiest when I was nineteen," I replied. "It was when I met and fell in love with this younger teenager who showed me I was not a monster. That I could be loved." I held him tighter against me, his warmth seeping into my body. "You look about eighteen," I murmured.

"I was eighteen when I first referred to you as Talis Potter," Harry whispered.

"I remember," I said, then released him from one arm to reach into my pocket. From it, I withdrew the green orb James gave to me. "Are you ready?"

Harry stared at his body a moment longer then turned in my hold to look at me. "Yeah, I'm ready."

I smiled down at him. I held the orb up. "Touch this."

"I've heard that before," Harry joked.

I chuckled quietly. "And you'll definitely hear it again. We have a lot of time to make up, Harry James Potter."

"I'm ready, Talis Corvus Potter." Harry leaned up and pressed his mouth to mine as he took my hand, the orb warm between our palms. He smiled widely up at me before leaning in for a kiss.

A warm wind blew around us as we left the land of the living to continue our life and love in death, together at last.

Thank you to all who have read, followed, and commented on this story. It has been an amazing four years, and it's time to bring this story to a close.

Peace out, P.B.