Sugar 'n' Spice
*~*AN: Everyone knows I own nothing... so leave me alone!!!*~*
Harry Potter was 18 when he made the trip to Number 4 Privet Drive for the last time. He had to pick up the few remaining items of his life from the place, then he would wash his hands of it forever. He hopped into his car, and made his way there, all the time wondering if he should. After all, it was just a few petty things, books, some clothes, and a photograph or two. But then, He thought, That's the reason you're going back. For the photographs. He scowled, as he pulled into the driveway, and locked his red ferrari. He'd mainly bought it to make Dudley jealous, Dudley only had a boring blue commodore, but also because the colour strongly reminded him of Gryffindor, And someone's nail-colour, but he didn't like to think about that. He walked up to the step, and rang the bell politely. Inside, he could hear yelling, and... He frowned. Was that a baby?!!!
"WHERE DID YOU GET IT?" Uncle Vernon's voice bellowed over the noise.
"SOME GIRL. HER NAME WAS LAPI, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. SHE SAID IT WAS MINE." Dudley yelled back. Harry frowned, surely not, Lapis Lazul?
"LAST NAME?" Aunt Petunia shrieked.
"LAZOOT, OR SOME CRAP. BUT I DON'T BELIEVE SHE'S MINE. THE GIRL WAS A SLUT, AND ONE OF THEM ANYWAY. I ONLY SLEPT WITH HER BECAUSE I WAS DRUNK." Dudley replied.
"YOU KNOW HOW THAT LOT ARE." Uncle Vernon bellowed. The baby's cries reached their highest pitch, and, suddenly, the glass shattered. Well, that was it, not only could Harry not stand here, and wait for them to realise he was here, but he could also smell strong magic. SLAP!
"SHUT THAT BRAT UP!" Uncle Vernon bellowed. There was another slapping sound, and the baby's cries started anew. Harry couldn't believe it. Uncle Vernon slapped that poor baby. He opened the door, and stormed inside. The scene that met his eyes would have been funny, had it not been so serious.
Dudley was holding a squalling baby, who had pink skin, and brown spirals sticking out damply from her head. He could see the gold and silver light bouncing off her, and wasn't surprised when the window in front of him smashed. Uncle Vernon let out a roar, and slapped the baby again. Already on her leg was two red hand prints, overlapping one another. Slowly, another third one was forming. Harry saw red. How dare they? He thought furiously. Lapis would have hated this, had she lived. He walked over to Dudley, and grabbed the baby. The minute he took hold of her, she stopped crying, and looked at him with big, bright green eyes. He caught his breath, Mum's eyes. This was definitely Dudley's kid. Lapis had had dark blue eyes.
"Ah, Harry, nice to see you." Aunt Petunia said tremulously, obviously not used to seeing Harry looking like this.
"What did you do to her?" He asked between his teeth.
"Wh-what do you mean?" Aunt Petunia tried to look innocent, but failed miserably.
"Lapis' daughter. What did you do to her?"
"N-nothing. We've taken her into our home, and give her the best of care." Aunt Petunia said unconvincingly.
"Ah, so this is the best of care." He thrust her leg forward.
"She was making too much noise." Uncle Vernon bellowed.
"Where're the adoption papers?" Harry asked.
"Huh?" Dudley said stupidly.
"The adoption papers. I know that Lapis would have sent them along. If she was going to give up her daughter, and she didn't have a choice, she died, then she would have sent adoption papers. Where are they?" Dudley thrust some forms at him. Harry signed in all the right places, duplicated them, and thrust the copy at the Dursleys. "There. She's now officially my daughter." When they opened their mouths to protest, he held up a hand. "Don't worry, I won't come to you for money or anything. She's my daughter, and she'll never even know you existed. Does she have a name?"
"Harriet Jaymee-Lee Lazul." Dudley grunted.
"Harriet Jaymee-Lee Potter now." Harry grabbed his stuff, and strode out with the baby. He sighed, and looked down at Harriet. "I guess I'm going to have to ask Hermione and Ron what to do with you." He said to her, referring to the newly-weds.
~@~@~@~@~
"NO!" Harri Potter sat up in bed, holding the covers to her chest. Her heart pounded erratically. She sighed, and pushed her fringe back off her forehead. "Another stupid dream." She muttered. Once again, just like every night this week, she dreamt of her mother dying. "Mum" She whispered softly, drawing her knees up to her chest. She let the tears fall. "Mum, I miss you so much." She didn't know how she knew that her mother had died, or why she even experienced it. But she felt herself seeing things through her mother's eyes, and this knowledge, which went right up to the moment that her mother died, gave her a maturity way beyond her years. Although, being Harriet Potter, daughter of Harry Potter meant that she had to be mature. Her father didn't believe in children needing to be protected. He did, of course, believe that they should have fun, but he didn't believe they were as fragile as people expected. And indeed, they weren't. Or, at least, Harri wasn't. She knew she had inherited her mother's strength, along with her mother's pale, shimmery straight brown hair, delicate features, and intelligence. She knew enough of her father, her biological father that is, to know that she couldn't have inherited her intelligence off him. The only thing she did inherit off him was the thickness of her hair, being extremely short, and slender, just like her French mother. Enough of this. She told herself sternly. Dad wouldn't like it if he saw you crying over something so silly. She drew her covers back up around her, and tried to get back to sleep.
~@~@~@~@~
Harry Potter pushed open his daughter's bedroom door. He knew that he'd heard her crying, and when he looked in, she was lying in a pool of light.
"Mum, I miss you so much." She whispered. He watched as she mulled over things, and then lay back down, snapping off the light, and closing her eyes tightly.
"Harri?" He whispered. "Harri, sweetie, are you alright?" He knew that he was a bit of a strict father, and she didn't feel like she could cry without making him disappointed in her. He didn't like it that she felt that way, she needed to get it out, and he cried sometimes, so why shouldn't she? He walked quietly into the room, and over to the bed. "Harri, I know you're awake." He pointed out. She opened her eyes, looking at him with pain-darkened orbs. "It's ok to cry." He whispered, and gathered her into his arms. She curled into him, something she hadn't done since she was small, and began to sob, great shuddering sobs, that made him want to protect her from the world.
"I miss her so much." She said between sobs. He rubbed her back gently.
"Shh, honey, it's alright, you're allowed to miss her. She was your mother." He whispered. She pulled back, eyes widening.
"I'm sorry." She said softly.
"Don't apologise for having feelings, and needing to cry. There's nothing wrong with that." Harry returned, "You're my daughter, and I love you, but you don't have to be strong all the time. I'm proud of you when you are, but I'd be even prouder if you were who you were, not who I wanted you to be. Even I cry about my mum sometimes."
"She died when you were a year old, didn't she." Harri said unthinkingly. Harry raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, she did, but how'd you know? I never told you." She blushed, "I dunno." She stammered.
"Yes, well, good night sweet heart."
"Good night, Daddy." She snuggled under the covers, and went straight to sleep. He stood there, watching her.
"I don't think you realise exactly how much I love you, Harriet Potter." He sighed, and left the room.
~@~@~@~@~
Harri woke up the next morning with a smile on her face. He doesn't care if I cry. She thought exultantly. And even better, last night he heard me crying, and came in to see what was wrong! The 16 year-old hopped out of bed, and skipped down the stairs, still wearing her bright red, thigh-length, sleep-shirt. Her hair was still in the waist length braids of the night before.
"Morning, Dad." She sang, when she arrived in the Dining Room, only to stop short, a blush rising to her cheeks when she saw the five people who were with him. She stared at the ground, then turned to run.
"Morning Harri. " Her father said. Harri knew that her whole face was red now. This was so similar to when she first met the Weasleys, Nick, and the Malfoys, 5 years ago. And... good lord! She was wearing the exact same shirt she had been then, except it was shorter now, coming to half-way down her thighs. She blushed even harder, and tried to tug it down. She let her mind drift to that day, 5 years ago...
~*~*@*~*~
The 11 year-old hopped out of bed, and skipped down the stairs one morning, grinning madly.
"Morning, Daddy." She sang, when she arrived in the Dining Room, only to stop short, a blush rising to her cheeks when she saw the five strangers who were with him. She stared at the ground, then turned to run.
"Hello Harri. There's no need to run. My friends won't bite. Harri, these are my friends, Hermione and Ron Wealsey, and Draco and Virginia Malfoy, oh, and Hermione and Ron's son, Nick." Harri smiled shyly.
"Hi. My name's Harriet Jaymee-Lee Potter." She ran to her father, and hid behind him, peeking out timidly, with big green eyes.
"Lord, Harry, her eyes are just like yours!" The red-headed man... Ron? exclaimed. Harri frowned. She'd always been proud of her eyes, but the way the man was saying it, it sounded like she shouldn't have them at all.
"Well why shouldn't I?" She said indignantly, a very Harry-like look appearing on her face. The other man, the blond one her father had called Draco started to laugh.
"Merlin," He said, wiping his eyes, "She is extraordinarily like you. If I didn't know better, I'd say she was your daughter, Potter." Harri looked at her father. He was making frantic 'No' signals.
"It's ok, Daddy, I know you aren't by biological Daddy." She reassured him, "But he loves me, and he's taken care of me since forever, so he is my Daddy!" She smiled triumphantly.
"That's right, Miss Harriet, you tell those silly men." The red-haired woman, 'Virginia?' said, smiling. Harri smiled at her.
"My name's Harri, if you please." She said politely. The other woman, the one named Hermione grinned kindly.
"You're just like Harry in every way, darling." She said nicely. "And I'll bet he's very proud of you." Harri grinned back, then turned to Nick.
"Hi, my name's Harri. You're Nick, right?" He nodded, and shook her hand.
"It's nice to meet you, Harri."
"Nice to meet you too, Nick."
"Harri," Her father said, interrupting her conversation, "Seeing as you're here, would you mind showing my friends that marvelous power of yours?"
"But..."
"Please." Harri nodded reluctantly,
"Alright, I'll just go get dressed first." As she walked away, she heard Draco say to her Dad,
"I don't know why you asked her."
"Because it's her power, not mine. I can't force her to use it, I can only ask her if she will. She has every right to refuse." Her father replied.
~*~*~*~
Harri headed back downstairs, dressed now in jeans and a faded blue t-shirt.
"Ok," She said, breathing deeply, "I'm ready."
"Alright then, close your eyes." She closed them obediently, her father's voice taking on the tranquil calmness it always had when they did this. "Now, breath deeply, in and out, in and out." Harri did as she was told, breathing deeply through her nose. "Now imagine you're in a dimly lit room. It's all done in peach, with sheer curtains, and candles all around, giving the room a warm lighting. You're at peace. This place is where you are safe." She did, and felt the traditional peacefulness settle over her. "Now imagine that silver and golden light is rising through the floor, coming to meet your hands. Sit down, and put your hands on the ground. Once you are full of the light, I want you to open your eyes. When you do, you will do exactly as I say, exactly when I say it." She felt the light fill her, the golden light warm, the silver light cold. She opened up her eyes, and heard Virginia gasp. She knew why. Her eyes were now pupilless. Just blank pools of green. She turned to her father, and waited for him to say something. "I want you to shatter the mirror on the far wall." He said calmly. She held up her hand, and felt the silver cold rush through her fingers. Moments later, there was the sound of tinkling glass. There was another gasp, this time from everyone except for her Dad. "Now, I want you to put it back together again." This time, she felt the warm golden light, the *healing* energy leave her hand, and the mirror became whole again. "Now, breath deeply again, and, slowly, leave your safe place, and come back to earth." She closed her eyes again, and concentrated on breathing deeply, bringing herself back down to earth. When she opened her eyes again, she collapsed to the floor with a moan. Hermione and Virginia rushed over.
"Is she alright?" Hermione asked, looking at her father. Her Dad nodded.
"She's fine. That always happens after she uses wandless magic. It overloads her system. She doesn't even know why she does it. She first did it when I took her from the Dursleys. I've been teaching her to control it ever since. Her powers are growing stronger, and she can do more things now. Like fixing the things she breaks, and getting things to appear when she needs them." Harri got up shakily.
"I'm going to my room now, ok Dad? I've got a killer headache." Her father nodded, and she smiled at them all. "It was nice to meet you all, especially you, Nick. I hope we can be friends when we go to Hogwarts." She walked up to her room.
~*~*@*~*~
"Harri? Harri? Are you ok?" Harri was dragged back to the present best friend's concerned words. She shook her head slightly, to get rid of the slight lingering headache.
"Huh? Oh, yeah. I'll uh, go get dressed."
"That might be a good idea." Draco said, smiling. "After all, you're going to your god-daughter's christening today." Then he turned to his wife, "Do we really have to give Natalie a muggle christening as well, Virge?" He complained. His wife nodded her red head firmly.
"I'm not accepting any excuses or arguments this time, Draco. My baby is going to be established in both worlds." She smiled kindly at Harri, "Hi Harri. I brought you a gift." She handed Harri a little diary.
"Oh! Thank you. You didn't have to, Virginia."
"Yes I did. It's to say thank you for.. well, you know." Harri nodded, she did know. When Virginia had started giving birth to her third child, and daughter, there had been no-one around except for Harri. Harri had helped Virginia through the birth, although she had no idea how she'd done it. "You're a natural mid-wife, sweetie." Virginia added. "Just like your mother." Harri nodded again, her smile faltering, and went upstairs to get dressed.
~*~*~*~
"So, you're 16 now, how does it feel?" Nick asked two weeks later, as they sat in Harri's room, their trunks for Hogwarts packed, and ready for the next day. They were actually sitting on their trunks.
"The same as 15." Harri shrugged. "Dad says my powers are growing though. He doesn't know what I'll be able to do next."
"Yeah. It'll be weird when we find out."
"It'll take me a while to learn how to control it though. But at least I can meditate without Dad's help now. It was really awkward, having to wait until he was finished with all of his Auror crap." Nick nodded sympathetically,
"I know what you mean. Mum's always busy with her unspeakable work, and Dad's always helping Grandfather in the Ministry. He's had alot to do in the past 17 years."
"I know."
"So, how do you use your powers anyway, like, that summoning one?"
"I simply meditate, and think of the thing I want to come to me. Watch." Slowly, Harri slipped into her trance. The beautiful, peaceful room was all around her. She emptied her mind of all her thoughts, and concentrated, My diary, I want my diary. She thought. It was inside her trunk, the one she was sitting on. But she was having trouble concentrating, one face kept coming into her mind...BANG! Harri felt a jerk behind her navel, as she, Nick, and their trunks disappeared in a puff of gold and silver smoke...
