The house certainly wasn't in the best state of repair. No one had entered it for many years. Not to mention, the last time someone had, it had been because the home was attacked.
There weren't exactly holes in the wall, but the front door was partially off its hinges and not one window didn't have holes from weather or kids throwing stones.
No lock remaining – Angel pushed the door open and held it for Harry. He waddled in, exhausted from that journey, but still with awe in his eyes. His mother and father's home.
His sister, as he saw her, had somehow remembered them. The house, too. She told him about them. Sometimes, it almost made him jealous. He sure didn't remember. Mostly, he was thankful. He wished he would have really known them.
Inside, the home was full of dust, debris, dead leaves.
Angel was tired too. Her mind may be something between adult and child, her being sentinel, but her body was still that of a child completely.
"Let's lay out the blankets for bedding, Harry." Angel said, "Tomorrow morning, we can scavenge around. I would estimate... maybe three weeks to truly get things in order. Do inventory, clean up, seal openings to the outside, and ascertain a permanent source of food – perhaps even some money as well.
"Then, with those things done, we can return to our studies. Progress through life in a semi-normal manner. You won't have an official GED, but I will ensure you are properly educated. Furthermore, will I find playmates, to promote social skills."
Angel looked over to find Harry already laying down. He was staring at her, struggling to pay attention, but his eyes were blank and cloudy. Poor Harry – she really had exhausted him today, hadn't she? It had been some walk from the nearest bus stop to this town. Still, Angel felt no guilt for her decisions. This was a necessary change for Harry's well-being.
In a few years, when things truly felt safe from the Dursley's again, perhaps Angel could get the two of them adopted again. For now, certainly not. She lay down and smiled, nodding at Harry.
"Sorry, brother." She said, "Don't worry. You can sleep now. In the morning, I will arrange us proper beds. For now, you are tired enough to sleep comfortably on the floor?"
Harry nodded, smiled back.
"Goodnight, Angel," He said.
"Goodnight, Harry," Angel returned and kissed his forehead before letting herself fall asleep.
She woke to Harry's greeting, "Good morning!"
He was crouched in front of her, holding a bowl and spoon. There was some kind of food instead – ah, it was beans.
"Here, Angel," He said, "There isn't a working stove or microwave or anything, so it's cold, but I found some dishes. I cleaned them, don't worry... the water doesn't work either, but in the backyard, there's a sort of stream."
"I remember the stream," Angel said, "It is another reason this is such a perfect habitation for us."
"Thank you, Harry," Angel continued, sitting up, "It's good of you to fix our breakfast."
Harry smiled and blushed, clearly happy with the praise, and sat back to wait for her to eat.
There was nothing special to the meal. It was only cold canned beans. Protein and calories – good for their health. Harry told her he had also eaten.
After rinsing the bowl and returning it to where Harry had found it in the kitchen, Angel took a walk-about to survey the house. Harry, as always, followed at her heels.
Little had been altered, except by the hands of time. Someone must have made the decision to leave things as they were. It had clearly been ransacked once or twice since the death of Lily and her husband – someone searching for cash or valuables or perhaps only children or teenagers exploring and having fun.
If Angel could get the gas back on, they would have heat and cooking. On the other hand, gathered firewood for the fireplace would accomplish those two requirements easily enough. She would need to be sure to teach Harry proper fire safety before allowing him to cook on the fire as she allowed him to cook in the kitchen.
The couch was in a bad state from weather and disrepair. With Harry's help, Angel tugged it outside. Similarly, Angel disposed of the bedding left on the beds. At some point, a mouse family had moved into one of the mattresses. They'd since vacated, so Angel felt the mattresses themselves were salvageable. She replaced the bedding with some found fortuitously in the linen closet. Their own blankets and pillows would offer further comfort, along with a sense of familiarity that might help put Harry at ease in the new home.
Old food in the kitchen cabinets. Angel turned up her nose at it. Most of it had also been raided by mice. That was years ago, however. Now, the house was dead of life. She disposed of the old food and set their own meagre supplies in its place in the cabinets and pantry.
There was no refrigerator here, but there was an old-fashioned ice-box. Easily charmed, Angel imagined, for winter inside.
The pile on the couch outside grew. More unusable junk Angel had found. At some point, she'd have to haul this all off, or at least bury.
She set Harry to work with a broom they had found and went herself to explore town.
Her 'little brother' seemed happy enough so far. That made Angel smile as she walked. She could be, at times, awkward, but held a deep affection for the boy. Motherly, maybe, but certainly sisterly. She felt, at times, she was simultaneously coddling him and not doing nearly enough for him. She wondered if Lily, in that other place, would be proud of her.
Lovely little town. Dying out, somewhat. More of a village now. There was at least grocer's. It was, as well, a fully magical place. She was early enough in the morning to be alone on the roads, but were it later, could easily imagine wizards and witches wandering about on their errands. There was a potioneers rather than a pharmacy. An owlery rather than a post office. For now, she would have no need of the muggle equivalent, but it was of note for the future. Should she wish for muggle products, she'd have to make a day journey to a nearby muggle village. Quite a pain.
As for a replenishing food source... she entered the grocer's and had a look-about.
Seeds, yes please. A little nylon rope. Tools, they had already at the cottage. Some fresh vegetables, that would be good for Harry. Her as well, she needed to remember herself. Her 'childhood' had been a struggle of remembering her human needs.
She brought her products to the counter.
Oh, an unforeseen problem.
"Sir, do you take muggle money? My family has only recently moved here, we haven't been to exchange as of yet." Angel applied a 'cute' face. These could be useful.
The man attending the store and sporting a bushy moustache.
"Well, little miss, normally I'd have to say no, but I can make an exception today. Just moved here, aye?" He smiled at her and began to add the things on a piece of paper – likely also converting to British pounds.
"Yes, sir, thank you, sir." Angel said, "We are used to living the muggle life, sir. The house here in Godric's Hollow is one inherited from our family."
"I see. Well, now you have a very good day, miss." He said, then told her the amount.
They exchanged and Angel began making her way home.
Cash registers were far more efficient.
She returned swiftly with her purchases.
"Hello, Harry," She called, "I have returned! We shall be as outdoors-men, Harry. I have purchased nylon with which to make snares. Seeds also – I would like you to make us a garden. Furthermore, I will educate you on what wild plants are edible. You may attend to gathering and gardening, I will work the snares. I have read about these matters in a book before we left home."
"Great!" Harry called to her from upstairs, "I've neatened things up a lot. Still dusty, but I think that'll just take some living in."
"Very good," Angel said, coming upstairs.
Harry had indeed done well. He'd cleaned and unpacked their bags too. The room he'd chosen for himself seemed to be the old nursery. Angel considered that appropriate. She chose to take the third bedroom, which had been used as James and Lily's shared office, as her own.
Comfortable and neat.
"Harry, please take a break," Angel said, "You may play with your toy, if you should like. When you are rested, please go explore the open areas nearby and acquire a small amount of firewood. I will begin patched the broken windows with boards and nails."
"Okay, Angel," Harry said. Unlike other mortals, Harry seemed quite all right with her... loquaciousness. Her wordiness. Many others considered her odd – more often, annoying. Harry, however – likely because he had grown with her.
She was able to find some unused boards to nail over the windows. What she couldn't scrounge up, she used the cabinet doors from the kitchen for.
Cabinet doors were unnecessary for the time being and served better function keeping out the cold and weather.
"Is this enough?" Harry asked her, coming in from the back door. His small arms were full of good, dry wood.
"Thank you, Harry!" Angel exclaimed, "Very good, that!"
"You're welcome," Harry said, bringing the wood over the fireplace.
"For lunch, we shall have the vegetables I purchased this morning, but for dinner, we can use that firewood you've acquired to heat the canned meat." Angel was pretty pleased with how things were going. They were already getting comfortable in their little home.
"Will it really take three weeks to get ready?" Harry asked.
Angel laughed a little – that light, strange sound.
"Perhaps not," She said.