HP: The Magical Gamer [Chapter 68: But—! ] (Patreon)

He kept on chanting that phrase between his hiccups and weeping. Lily quickly climbed down the bed and wrapped him in her arms, trying to comfort him.

But he was inconsolable. He kept on crying and asking for forgiveness. Even Lily was confused why he was crying so badly and why he was being sorry. Iris too didn't know anything about it and looked on helplessly at him.

"Harry! What happened? Why are you crying? Why was mum crying? Someone for fuck's sake tell me what happened before I go crazy." Iris yelled finally when she couldn't bear to hear his heart-wrecking sobs anymore. It made her want to curl in a ball and cry herself tearless. It made her so sad that being angry seemed easier.

"Language, young lady." Lily rebuked her mildly. At that, Iris ducked her head sheepishly while Harry snorted and fell into a laughing fit.

Iris groaned and looked pleadingly at her mother.

"Mum, what is happening? Why is Harry acting like a lunatic? One second he is crying and the next he is laughing. Wow, now he is crying again. Merlin! I am going to follow him into madness." Iris grumbled hopelessly as they looked at him.

He was lying on his side on the floor and was crying silently. Lily picked him up and laid him down on the bed where the two female Potters sat by his side and implored him to tell them what had happened.

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After Harry told them truthfully what really happened in the chamber with Voldemort, all the blood left Iris' face.

She touched herself frantically, trying to reassure herself that she was indeed alive. After Lily calmed her down and they two huddled against each other's sides, they stared at him. He couldn't meet their eyes and lowered his head, feeling ashamed and apprehensive.

Instead of a sharp slap, his mother's gentle fingers pushed his chin up so he would look at them. What he saw at that moment, he wouldn't ever forget. Their eyes were far gentler and kinder than he deserved. Their lips had an understanding smile as they finally figured out the reason for his hysterics.

"It's okay, son. Iris is fine now. You don't have to punish yourself anymore. Let it go. Forgive yourself." Lily said softly and ran her fingers through his hair like she always did. Harry shook his head, though he was already relaxing subconsciously at the familiar gesture.

"How can I, mum? Whenever I look at her, I feel this strong urge to hide myself from her and keep her safe from me. I was the one who took her to her death after all. How can I forgive myself for leading the one I loved the most to her death?" Harry asked morosely with glassy eyes and an angry face.

Before Lily could reassure him, Iris moved in between them and glared at him with burning eyes.

"Don't you even dare to think about trying to distance yourself from me, Harry. I forgive you for my death. It was a mistake, sure. But it doesn't matter anymore. And since it was my death, my forgiveness trump yours. You don't need to forgive yourself or do any of that stupid thing when I have already done it. That's final." Iris ordered authoritatively.

"But—

"That's final!" Iris reiterated loudly and narrowed her eyes at him, daring him to go against her wish. She opened her arms and quirked her eyebrow, telling him to get to it.

Harry gave a watery chuckle before moving into her arms. She held him tight and kissed his cheek.

"You are fine. I am fine. We are fine." She mumbled softly as she cradled his head.

Harry nodded, burying his face further in her neck and hugging her firmly.

He was finally home.

Lily smiled at them and wiped her own eyes. They didn't protest when she pulled them both in her embrace.

At last, the Potter family was whole and happy again. For the two of them it had been just a few hours since a catastrophe happened. But for one of them, it had been more than a year since he talked with his family, since he hugged or kissed his family.

The ever present guilt wasn't gone totally but he didn't feel lonely anymore.

"What will you tell others the reason for Iris' sudden resurrection, mum? I don't want to reveal that I can revive the dead." Harry questioned her when they sat contently on the bed after all the drama was over.

"It's fine. It hasn't been more than a couple of hours since Iris died. Sometimes wizards and witches have been noted to come back to life after being declared dead for more than half a day. It is not common of course. It is rare. Very rare.

"Most of the time it is because the patient goes into a unique state when their magic is heavily damaged. In this unique state, a person looks and feels dead because their magic has dwindled into nothing. They aren't receptive to the magical treatment and are thus declared dead.

"It's almost like a coma but with no indication that the person still lives. Their magic goes into hibernation to keep the body functioning. Still, few patients have come out of this dead state and lived normally again as their magic starts working again, as they start breathing again.

"That is the reason why in some special cases, even after death, the corpses are held by the medical staff for at least a day or two to see if recovery is possible. We will go with this explanation even if it isn't the truth in Iris' case. Now, you both stay here and I will go and inform the school." Lily explained and slid off the bed. As she reached the threshold of the room, she turned her face and looked at Harry.