"A journey of a thousand miles
begins with a single step"
~ Lao Tzu
September, 1973
It was a gradual thing, like the changing of the seasons. There was no single day when I simply woke up remembering a past life, I had always somewhat remembered. I simply hadn't been able to comprehend what those memories meant until my body was old enough to handle more complex thought patterns. Not falling asleep every few minutes also helped. For the most part, I tried not to dwell on the past. What was done was done and I had no intention of missing out on my future. I would keep moving forward, one step at a time...literally, this learning how to walk business was hard!
"Come on, Lia, come to Papa! That's my girl!" Father beamed like the proud papa he was as I took my first shaky steps. My legs felt like undercooked noodles and sweat quickly gathered on my brow, but I persisted. I was a grown woman damn it! No way in hell was I gonna let a little thing like toddlerhood get in my way! I took one step, then another.
"Slow and steady, Lia. You can do it, just a little bit further!" he encouraged, arms extended out toward me as he knelt on the plush carpeting of the sitting room. The soft cushioning was precisely why I had chosen here to take my first steps.
Glancing back up, my eyes caught my father's face. His eyes were a rich chocolate, crinkled at the corners from smiling, and his messy ebony locks were parted stylishly to the side. His full lips, half-hidden under a pyramid shaped mustache, were stretched into a broad grin and a neat goatee adorned his square jaw.
He really was a handsome man, but it was still strange seeing people wearing such formal clothing.
A sky colored button up shirt under a plaid beige colored waistcoat, his dark brown blazer and navy bowtie tossed carelessly on the sofa. A pair of plain dress shoes under dark brown trousers and a bronze pocket watch completed his outfit.
My legs started to quake beneath me, I was running out of time. This was my moment of truth! Sink or swim, and I had no intention of suffering the indignity of crawling for any longer than absolutely necessary. Gathering my last bit of strength, I sprinted the last few steps, barreling into my father's arms with a muffled "Oof!".
Not a second later I found myself flying through the air as my father twirled in circles beneath me, his strong arms holding me aloft. The proud grin on his aristocratic features filled me with warmth even as I giggled in sheer joy.
"You did it! I'm so proud of you! Who's the smartest little girl to ever grace the earth? You are! Yes you are! You're growing so fast! Soon you'll be going off to school and learning magic with other children and-"
Abruptly the spinning stopped and I found myself looking into my father's uncharacteristically serious chocolate eyes.
"I need you to promise me something, Cordelia."
I felt my eyes unconsciously widen. Father never called me Cordelia. It was always Lia or princess or dearheart, but never Cordelia.
"No boys until you're thirty, ok princess?"
If I had been standing I would have face-vaulted.
:Really, that's why he was all grim? I thought he was gonna tell me something serious! Wait, did he say something about magi-:
"Really, darling? She's not even a year old yet, she's hardly going to elope with the neighbor boy." My mother's rich alto voice rang with amusement as she stepped gracefully into the sitting room. My father's face all but glowed with love as he turned to face her.
Dark amethyst orbs danced with mirth beneath arched brows, a smile tugging at the corner of soft pink cupid's bow lips. Her small, slightly upturned nose was set delicately on her heart shaped face. Pale blond hair swept up into an elegant chignon and a mermaid style black dress, topped with white floral lace, covered most of her creamy peach skin.
"It's never too early to lay some ground rules, my queen."
"Oh, I'm afraid I must disagree with this rule, dear. I'm quite looking forward to the idea of grandchildren." she said, a sly smirk stretching across her angelic features and mischief clear in her sparkling eyes.
"G-grandchildren?! But she's not-she can't-that's just-" He spluttered, vehement denials over my future love life randomly spewing forth as he clutched me tightly to his chest.
"As much as I enjoy making you suffer, I am actually here because it is time to put our little princess down for a nap. It is nearly a quarter past one and if she does not sleep now, she will be quite cross this evening."
My father wilted dramatically, a comical pout visible on his lips. Despite his overdramatics, father truly was loath to let me go. It had taken all of my mother's considerable wit to persuade him that it was time for me to start walking, as he was quite ready and willing to carry me around for the rest of my life. Not that I would have let him, but still.
As much as the adult in me wanted to kick up a fuss over having to take a nap, I really was exhausted. My eyelids were beginning to droop and a small yawn escaped me as I snuggled into my father's chest. The rich aroma of coffee mixed with parchment filled my nose, and the steady beat of his heart soon lulled me into a light doze. The feeling of being carried barely registered, though I did take notice when my father attempted to put me down into my crib. I whined plaintively at the loss of warmth, my eyes blearily blinking back open.
"Hush, my little princess. Daddy will still be here when you wake."
Feeling reassured, I let my eyes drift shut once more, lulled into a peaceful slumber by the gentle rocking motion of my crib.
From that day onwards there was no stopping me! I toddled and waddled everywhere I could, my mother trailing patiently after me. I spent countless days exploring the vast manor I called home. Parlours, guest rooms, a solarium, a sewing room, and even a library! It was during one of my many explorations that I made a life changing discovery. There, hanging on the wall of one of the many parlours, was a large tapestry artfully woven with the Potter family tree. Several of the names were frighteningly familiar and it didn't take long for all the little pieces to fit neatly into place.
"What is it, Princess? Are you looking at the tapestry? I suppose it's never too early to learn about your heritage." bending down she scooped me up in her arms, settling me comfortably on her left hip.
"This is your father and I, right here." she pointed a set of names near the bottom of the tree. "And this one here is you, Cordelia Lycoris Potter. See?"
"Mamamamama…" I babbled and giggled appreciatively, hoping it would encourage her to keep talking, I needed to know. It seemed to work as she smiled at me fondly before pointing out another set of names to the right of her's.
"This one here is your Uncle Fleamont, your father's younger brother, and his wife, your Aunt Euphemia. See that name beneath them, that is your cousin James. Can you say James? Juh-ames?"
"Juh, Juh-ay, Juh-aim, Jaim?" That was the best I was going to be able to manage, as the 's' sound was still eluding me.
"Wonderful! You certainly inherited my brains...thank the stars…"
:I don't think I was supposed to hear that last part:
"You will be seeing your cousin James soon, in just over a week, in fact. Aren't you excited, dear?"
:I don't think excitement is the right word. Try terrified.:
Dong. Dong. Dong. Dong.
"Goodness me, is it already that late? Come, Princess. It is nearly time for your father to return home from work. We should go greet him by the door, yes?"
The question was clearly rhetorical as she turned on heel and walked briskly out of the room. I was actually relieved to be carried, after a revelation like that, I doubt I would have been able to walk anywhere. Thoughts tumbled through my mind like leaves caught in storm. I was scared, and more than a little confused, but there were a few things I was now certain of.
I was reborn in the world of Harry Potter. I was a toddler in a world of magic, a first cousin to James Potter, and born eight years before the main character! It would be a miracle if I lived to see my baby cousin's birth.
:Well damn, that certainly changes things:
