-0 years and 0 days of Summer-

Tears were streaming down her face and Harry felt guilty, he averted his eyes and did not meet her accusation of a stare. Ginny however looked to him pleadingly. She was sheet white and her blazing red hair was matted with sleep, her eyes puffy and red rimmed.

"Why Harry? Why now?"

"What's happening?"

Lily had just come into the kitchen, followed by her elder brothers, Al and James; she rubbed at her eyes sleepily and checked the clock on the mantle. James slumped down into a chair at the scrubbed wooden table.

"It's… 4:35 in the morning Mum…"

Al however was wide awake, his green eyes focused on his father. Harry did not meet any of his grown children's inquisitive looks. James spoke up first.

"Why Dad?"

Why indeed. Harry swallowed the lump in his throat was constricting and he teetered on the edge of a lie. But instead he ignored his pride and faced his eldest son.

"I… Lied to you all…"

Not one of them said a single thing, they just waited for an explanation, and Harry wordlessly pulled out the Elder Wand, the Resurrection Stone and the Cloak of Invisibility from under his travelling robes. Ginny was horrified; his children puzzled gave a questioning look to their mother.

"You destroyed that wand! I saw you do it! You said you dropped that stone to never be found again!"

"What are those Mum?"

Ginny began to answer her daughter but Harry cut her off quickly. It was his job to tell them his past and why this was happening.

"The Elder Wand, the most powerful wand in existence, the Resurrection Stone, it has the power to recall a convincing mirage of those whom you love who are dead. My Invisibility Cloak- it conceals the wearer completely and its power will never fade. They are the Deathly Hallows. The one, who owns all three, is the Master of Death."

"The Master of Death?"

Harry pinned Al with a steady look.

"It means I cannot die."

Collective gasps and Harry bit his lower lip and James looked rather impressed, Lily was torn between awe and shock, for the fact that her father was near immortal; as well as being the Chosen One who had vanquished the most evil wizard of their time. Albus looked as appalled as his mother his tan complexion had paled slightly and his bright green eyes were searching as he exclaimed:

"But everyone dies! It's against the laws of nature, Dad!"

Harry held up a hand for silence, Ginny was gripping the back of Lily's chair tightly, her knuckles white. James was rubbing the sleep from his eyes and Al was watching his father with a mixture of apprehension and worry.

"I've never told anyone this before. No one, but… I am not supposed to be alive."

"H-how…? How is it if you are…?"

"How am I still alive? Because during… During the War, I became the Master of Death, I had the Deathly Hallows- so now death cannot find me, and… I cheated him. I cheated death and I cannot hide any longer."

Ginny sat down with a dull thud into a chair; Lily gently stroked her arm, silently consoling her. Harry rubbed the bridge of his nose and stowed the Hallows under his cloak again, this was getting increasingly difficult. He decided to be blunt and get it over with- steeling his voice to be as gentle as possible he said:

"Also… Your mother and I are not married and never have been in that kind of relationship,"

The expressions of alarm and betrayal nearly made Harry wish the ground would open up its great ancient maw and swallow him there and then. He took a deep breath, steadying his already frayed nerves and readjusted his glasses. Ginny hugged herself and looked away from the dark haired man.

"She and I have never loved each other in the husband and wife manner, nor have we ever… Done such activities that is expected of a man and his wife."

"You mean we are adopted!"

James sounded wounded, his hazel brown eyes widened in shock and his lips pursed in a thin line of anger. Harry shook his head.

"No you are not. Ginny and I are both your biological parents. You were all what Muggles would call- 'test tube babies'- or offspring of IVF: In-Vitro Fertilisation. This means you were given birth to without the means of, I or your mother engaging in sexual activities. But your mother still gave birth to you naturally; but the insemination stage was done artificially."

Ginny gave a low sob and Lily hugged her and gave her father a reproachful look. James still did not look any less angry than before, Al had his hands over his mouth as he took in the news. James squared his shoulders and grasped Ginny's hand and squeezed it reassuringly. He glared at the scarred man.

"You don't love her! Nor do you love us! Just get out! Go!"

"NO!"

Ginny had spoken and James looked at her in surprise, she shook his hand off of hers and he looked even more startled. Ginny looked to Harry and then back at her children, her lip trembled as if a new wave of tears would engulf her, her voice quivered but she continued in a strong tone.

"No… Harry… Harry loves you all, he loves you all so much… a-and because he loves you… He is telling you the truth. He never left because he was your father and he wanted to see all three of you through school; until you all had steady jobs. I know this sounds selfish: Harry wanted a family and then now he has one he's throwing us aside. That sounds so selfish, but it's not. It's not; he kept living, when… When he's supposed to be dead, he carried on because the person he truly loves would have wanted him to, to move on and be happy! Harry really tried, he tried so hard… And now after evading death for so long, it is time for him to go… Please James, Al, and Lily… Love your father for who he is and what he has done for you… Don't hate him for this… Please!"

Ginny had to bite on her knuckles to prevent her tidal wave of fresh emotions from pouring out. But she failed and Lily was silently tearing up, she gave her father a quick glance from under her lashes and then looked down at her shaking hands. Harry felt a rush of affection as Lily looked back up at him and gave a small nod. James was conflicted and Harry could not blame him and then James deflated and instead of his usual confidence he looked lost and small…

'Not a far cry from what I looked like when I first started Hogwarts…'

Harry mused, but his thoughts were broken by James cursing.

"Damn."

And Harry knew that James had also accepted him for his choice. The raven haired man turned to his youngest son; Albus met his gaze steadily and said nothing- their identical emerald eyes locking. Harry gave him a few more moments, but nothing.

Nothing.

"I'm leaving."

Harry announced gently. Ginny jerked in her seat, Lily pulled her mother into a firm and yet gentle embrace. James looked away and out of the window, as if the dark, inky morning of the humid summer was going to give him some kind of answer. Albus was mute, and Harry had never seen the young man so quiet and so cold.

"To where?"

Lily asked, brushing a strand of dark red hair out of Ginny's face. Harry said nothing but gave his family a pointed look. He watched as final realisation dawned slowly, like a flickering light bulb on each other their faces. Their reactions were exactly as he had imagined. Lily went as pale as her mother and she soundlessly opened and closed her mouth. James crossed his arms and withdrew into himself, his handsome features set. Al burst into tears, for a man of twenty two; he was still just as emotional and gentle when he was a child. Harry stood and turned ready to leave-

"Don't you DARE walk away without saying goodbye Harry Potter!"

Al growled threateningly through his tears- but his voice held an unmistakeable tone of the utmost love. Harry had been correct in all his calculations, but did not predict Albus running across the kitchen at him and hugging him tightly. They were the same height, but Albus buried his face into the crook of his father's neck sobbing, his fingers grasping, clutching tightly at the back of Harry's cloak, bunching the fabric in his hands. A gesture he used to do when highly distressed or incredibly sad.

"I love you Dad… I love you Daddy… I love you so much! I'll miss you! I'll miss you more than anything!"

Al gabbled, whimpering as he shed his tears shamelessly, with raw sensitivity. He rubbed his cheek against the greying streaks of hair at his father's temple. Harry resisted for a few seconds but Al's heaving and shaking cries defeated him. Clenching his hands tightly, Harry gave up and as his youngest son slackened and began to move away Harry pulled him back, embracing the young man fiercely. His arms tight round Albus's shoulders, he grit his teeth, and a single tear slipped out. He loved his family. He loved Ginny- as much as the sister he could've had. He loved his children so much.

But he loved him more, and now, it was time to go.

"I love you too Al."

Harry whispered and released his son who was uncontrollably shaking, his bright green eyes; exactly the same, glistened with emotion that Harry knew to be- love, affection, understanding and aching sadness, all combined with his deep father to son bond that connected them. Harry stroked his young cheek and gave Al a small smile. James stood and stepped forwards, his chair scraping across the floor as he did. His eyes blazed with unshed tears.

"This is… Goodbye then isn't it?"

Harry nodded, James bowed his head.

"Thanks, Dad."

Harry reached out and pulled the eldest sibling into a hug, Lily let go of Ginny and threw herself at her father, hysterical. Harry staggered slightly under the weight of both young adults; he could hear James valiantly holding back his tears whilst Lily emptied her heart out onto his shoulder. Finally Ginny came to his rescue and eased their distraught children off of the Saviour. Harry felt a tiny smile, a small smile that meant goodbye, touching his lips.

Harry then walked over to Ginny and kissed her on the forehead; he turned to his children and gave them a genuine sad smile of echoing heartbreaking happiness. He kissed Lily on the head as well, like a father tucking a child in bed at night; he clapped James on the shoulder. Harry paused before Al, and then he reached out and affectionately ruffled his son's unruly dark hair.

"I just want you all to know... That these… These last 30 years and 62 days of summer… were some of the happiest moments in my life…"

He then backed out of the kitchen and as Harry watched them all, his family he felt a rush of happiness. He stood in the little garden and smiled with pure unadulterated joy. Al called out just as he prepared to apparate:

"Bye Dad."

Harry waved, turned on his heel and disapparated with the signature resounding whip crack.

Harry staggered slightly on the uneven cobblestones of Hogsmede; he smiled briefly at the familiar surroundings. He turned towards the towering castle in the distance, Hogwarts. Harry set off at a brisk pace and he could feel him searching for him; smiling in self amusement Harry swung the invisibility cloak about him in a familiar manner, a habit and instinctive. He strode along, listening to his own ringing footsteps and wondered where the time had gone. How he had grown up as no one, but then became someone. Harry was pulled out of his thoughts as he felt a ripple of magic, pure and raw sweep over his skin through the silken fabric of the cloak. Taking out the Elder wand Harry flicked it a few times, chanting a series of spells.

With that the bespectacled man breached the wards surrounding his old school.

Harry crossed the grounds, passing Hagrids' hut, the lights were off and Harry felt a sudden urge to go visit his very old friend. But he stopped himself abruptly; he had come here for a purpose and that sole purpose only. The raven spied the graveyard, next to the lake, it was weather worn but still enchanting and radiating that same hope. Harry was thankful for the cloak, he was not meant to be here, naturally for he had been banned a couple of years ago- he would visit his grave everyday; but the students had been afraid of the strange Harry Potter who just stared at a single headstone- obsessively. The sun was beginning to peek over the horizon, its warm ruby glow enveloping the magical surroundings in a blaze of life.

Shaking off the chill that had run through his veins Harry weaved through the familiar white marble maze until he reached his destination. It was there, just as he remembered, the graceful type and his name standing starkly on the tablet. Harry fondly traced his name, pulled out the stone of resurrection and turned it thrice in his palm. He waited with bated breath, only daring to believe that it would work for him again. Slowly but surely out at the centre of the lake a figure appeared, he was tall, lean with a stunning willowy figure. Harry pulled off the cloak, knowing that he wore a goofy smile, he clenched his right hand, the stone imprinting into his palm. The teenager- no, young man was exactly as Harry recalled- pale, flawless marble smooth skin, his grey silvery eyes sparkled with intelligence and pride, not a single strand of neat ice blonde hair out of place. His long slender legs carried him with an air of importance as he strode weightless across the surface of the calm water.

"Potter."

Harry reached out and found he could touch him, the raven nearly cried with joy at this fact and pulled the blonde close, hugging him tightly. His tears falling now, freely like those many years ago. It had been so long. Such a long time and he had done as he had been told, what he had promised. He felt his broken heart slowly healing, the scars slowly fading as he felt finally for once like he belonged. He held him close and his heart thudded erratically in his chest as he felt the blonde hug him back.

Far too long. He had missed this, him and who he was… He sat down the blonde leant against the weeping willow.

"I see you got on well without me Potter, I'm glad…"

"No don't say that. I nearly died without you."

The blonde snorted crossing his arms, Harry loved it, and he had never forgotten anything about him.

"I'm sure you survived. But there must be a reason to why you summoned me. You knew I was there for you always. Always."

Always.

Harry nodded, and the blonde smiled and bent down to kiss him lightly on the lips. Harry basked in the feeling. Euphoric, finally the blonde withdrew his face calculating.

"I cannot stay. You know this."

Harry nodded, he knew.

"So what will you do? I must go… But… I don't want to leave you again!"

The blonde sounded anguished and Harry knew before he even said it, grasping the blonde's hand he could already feel time changing him, going back years, the grey faded from his hair, and he didn't feel so tired anymore. The slowly developing wrinkles smoothed out and a green spark of emerald flame sprang back into the Gryffindor's eyes. Holding Draco's hand tightly, Harry, now of seventeen years old stared deeply into the molten silver. He dropped the resurrection stone as he said his next words:

"Take me with you, Draco."

Draco laughed- bright, lilting and a rising tenor and it was one of the most beautiful things Harry had heard in a long time. Laughing as well Harry picked him up and spun him round. Harry turned back to see his body lying propped up against the willow tree. He looked peaceful as if sleeping and instantly Harry knew he had made the right choice.

"I love you Harry."

Giddy with excitement they walked hand in hand up into the sun streaked sky. Where Harry knew everyone would be waiting for him.

Because really…

Death was only but the next greatest adventure.

~The End.