Chapter 13: Requiem

October 30th, 1989, London, Covent Garden, 2:35 PM

Located in the West End of London, Covent Garden was renowned for its luxury fashion and beauty stores as well as award-winning restaurants and theatres. Covent Garden was a large area, so it's hard not to get lost. Ethan and Harry had done a lot of walking and seen a few interesting places before, but still, it always had this unique atmosphere of a big "quaint" area.

The boy always stuck to Ethan's side, either holding the gentleman's hands or grabbing onto the helm of his coat, even though the couple's presence was quite low due to Ethan's unique magic.

Throughout the times Harry visited this crowded economic area, his social anxiety as well as his innate magical capability enabled him to perceive the gaze coming from people around him, and with that, he could discern their shallow emotions and intents, although they must be close enough—about 5 meters—or else they must be fiercely focusing on the boy.

Harry therefore always wore a dark cap or hood every time they went out; it's understandable that the boy felt more secure doing it, and Ethan did not show any disapproval.

Following Ethan's suggestion, the two of them had been strolling around Covent Garden, sightseeing the peculiar view exclusively for Halloween. The entire area was like a Halloween-themed painting. Various decorations were placed along rows of shops, hanging gracefully all over the colourful crystal dome. Whereas flowerbeds, zelkovas, and potted plants were now drafted with spooky yet silly decorations.

The Covent Garden was now like a distinguished district fueled with Halloween's spirit.

Shopping and preparing for a well-known festival were something pretty new for the boy, as in the past, all he could remember was the dark, damp, isolated cupboard. Cheerful waves of laughter and hearty meals echoing from outside were the only things he could perceive as he waited for that never-came miracle...

Now that Harry was happily strolling around the bustling market with Ethan, they ventured store by store; some were even exclusively opened for Halloween. While the joy and curiosity of a child surfaced through Harry's complexion, his genuine smile was contagious, yet it couldn't render Ethan's mind away from the upcoming day.

Tomorrow was going to be James and Lily's death anniversary… And so was Aelia, 'Ha, such is Fate, right, Aelia'.

Ethan sighed inwardly. It was then that he noticed the boy's distracted gaze as he was looking at the coming back and forth happy families.

Ethan stroked the boy's head as he asked with a calm voice. "Do you... miss them?"

Harry turned those emerald eyes towards him as he nodded indiscernibly. "A little…" His voice was tremulous, and those eyes were bright and glimmering yet subtly stained with profound sorrow, uncertain about his emotions.

Harry had never met them, truly. He was so young back then that he could only recall those fleeting moments they shared together, yet most of them were dreadful, like the night of his parent's demise. Though he did know more about them through Remus's stories, a small part of him was still unconvinced. He wished he could ask them directly the questions he'd been meaning to for forever, and already tomorrow was...

Ethan guessed the boy must have heard his conversation with Remus at the front door, as he did hear his footsteps halt halfway.

Ethan held Harry's small hands as they slowly marched forward. Soon they found an empty bench by the quiet fountain, each holding a flavoured ice cream.

The sun had already begun setting behind those bustling buildings for quite some time as the crowds hurriedly finished their deeds, oblivious to the two mismatched silhouettes watching this lively scene unfold.

Time seemed to flow quietly for the two of them; the lively scene was mixed with a tinge of sadness yet relieving. Harry and Ethan always appreciated the faithfully silent company they usually had. The two just sat there admiring this particular scene of London as they each took this moment to assess their racing thoughts.

When the sun finally set, Harry was the first to break the prolonged silent atmosphere.

"We are going to visit their grave tomorrow, right?... I don't know how to respond to all of this; part of me just doesn't feel like they were anything but strangers to me… That thought made me want to puke. Another part of me wanted to see them for once just so I could..." His voice trailed off as the boy couldn't find the right words to express this longing emotion.

"Harry, no one can truly know the depth of human emotion; that's one of the reasons 'action speaks louder than words'..." Ethan's assuring voice echoed in the gently blowing winds.

Harry turned to meet Ethan's contemplating face; the dusk's fading light reflected in those dark-amber eyes as they stared into the horizon.

"But I know for sure that your parents loved you more than anything; seeing their beloved son grow up and be healthy would be all they needed. Anyone would miss such caring parents, Harry…" Ethan's last words... as if they weren't just for the boy.

Harry just burrowed his face into Ethan's warm embrace, trying his best to quench this sorrow. "You're right… More importantly, I still have you after all… Uncle Ethan! Promise that you'll never ever leave me, no matter what!"

The boy's voice was firm as he tried his best to exude a solemn expression; all that shyness was nowhere to be found, albeit briefly, those emerald-green eyes looking directly at Ethan as if they were full of expectancy.

Ethan was slightly taken aback before his mouth curled up into a genuine smile. "I promise, Harry." Those dark-amber eyes shone vigorously.

Harry bloomed into a wide smile as he raised his small hand towards Ethan. "Pinky swears!"

"Pinky swears," Ethan replied with a calm tone, unbeknownst to the joyous Harry, as fleeting sadness loomed behind those dark-amber eyes.

Soon, warping up everything they needed, they began marching towards the familiar 221B Baker Street.

…

It was already half past ten when Harry found himself unable to sleep, so the boy began pulling out The Hobbit to read as he hung himself upside down on the toy broom. Though his eyes lay on those black-printed words, he drifted into thinking about tomorrow's visit. Harry tried to think about what to do, what to say, and what to do if those horrid memories triggered somehow. Finally, due to exhaustion, the boy quickly fell asleep with the book in one hand and the toy broom in another.

Meanwhile, Ethan's study was still illuminated with lights coming from a standing Runic Lamp.

One could see a lonely silhouette meticulously ironing his best suit, placing all the outfits in order, with every piece of garment scrupulously cleaned. His movements were precise—too precise, as if what the gentleman presented here wasn't human, as if the man had been doing the same thing over and over.

He only stopped once his outfit preparations for tomorrow were completed. Turning off the lamp, leaving the room with the only source of light coming from the small, cracking fireplace.

The man then turned to care for the crystal flower vase placed in the middle of his research table. Those were the most exquisite sunflowers, as they were the last to bloom in October.

He had prepared them for quite some time and carefully calculated the exact time they bloomed the most. Now all he needed was to wait for the day to come.

The man just stared at those flowerers as his mind drifted back to those days when the sun was still so bright... when she was there.

Hidden beneath his emotionless visage was deep, inexplicable, and indescribable sorrow.

If one could see through his 'Sight' one would find the scene quite mesmerising as various Magic Threads with the colours red, blue, violet, and even black woven, intertwined, and undulated, surrounding the dimly lit room. They reverberated a melancholy valse dance…

October 31st, 1989, London, 221B Baker Street, 9:05 PM

The early morning of Halloween passed quietly as Ethan and Harry finished their daily routine. Ethan warped up today's lesson earlier as he told the boy to get dressed, speculating that Remus would be at their front door within 10 minutes.

By the time Harry finished donning his clothes, the doorbell rang. Ethan had already opened the door and been exchanging pleasantries with Uncle Remus as Harry briskly skipped downstairs.

The boy was wearing a black sweater over a linen shirt, accompanied by dark trousers and trainers.

His jet-black hair was styled in an unruly side part 7/3, covering the lightning-scar shape as usual.

On one hand, he was holding a black cap, while the other was holding onto the strap of the satchel draped over one of his shoulders.

The boy quickly said good morning to Remus as he bolted to Ethan's side, and his Godfather just smiled helplessly at the boy's action of clinging to Ethan almost every time, though Harry did manage a firm handshake with him.

Remus had a formal dark brown suit, a black tie, and a neat hairstyle. His appearance screamed professionalism, accompanied by his tender smile at Harry before he turned his attention back to Ethan.

"So shall we begin?"

"Lets."

With that said, Ethan quickly put on his stylish half-top hat. Finishing his dark blue, almost black three-piece suit, with the exception of a deep violet scarf draped over his shoulders.

Harry also quickly put on his cap, holding on to Ethan tightly as the man reached for Remus's extended hand. With a *pop*, the three of them twisted and disappeared into thin air.