Disclaimer: Still not mine and by now I have given up all hope of it ever being mine.
Author's Note: Hello dearies! Thanks for your reviews and here's the next chapter for you. Also, I'm not sure if you noticed, but I replaced all the previous chapters by the now betaed and improved chapters. We only changed some minor details, but I thought I'd still inform you of this...
A huge thanks to my little Firebolt, Silver Lady, for betaing and improving my story! #huggles#
4. DIAGON ALLEY
"Ah, Mr. Malfoy, you are a bit early," the old wizard twinkled at him, "would you care for a lemon drop while we wait?"
Well, that went well, besides the disgusting lemon drops that were shoved under his nose. "No, thank you, Headmaster. Harry failed to inform me what exactly the purpose of this trip was and when we were scheduled to leave. Would you be so kind as to give me the details?"
It never ceased to amaze him how Malfoys could twist their words in such a way that they seemed absolutely polite and undemanding at first glance, but had a bitter aftertaste that could leave you feeling inferior and pathetic, not even worth the air you were breathing. Abraxas Malfoy was a master of this art and his son was catching up to him, fast.
Dumbledore smiled to himself as he studied the young blond closely. Lucius was tall and the lanky built of his teenage years (which he had still managed to make look elegant and composed) had given way to a lean, muscular body with broad shoulders and narrow hips. His face was perfectly sculpted, his nose straight, his eyebrows thin and defined, his lips swung in a graceful bow. Malfoy hair, the trademark of every born Malfoy, was silvery white, thick and sleek. Those silver eyes that made him special; he couldn't remember ever having seen another with that eye colour. Abraxas had dark-blue eyes, like the ocean, and they hardly ever looked at you with anything else than perfectly veiled scorn and contempt. Abraxas Malfoy was certainly not a pleasant man.
He thought that the eyes were even more of a trademark than the hair. Those eyes marked them as individuals, he had never seen two Malfoys with the same eyes (and he had been to one of their family reunions once!) and he had never seen anyone else with the Malfoy eyes either. It wasn't only the colour or the shape, it was this determined, stubborn gleam that set them apart. This gleam had always struck him as something so absolutely typical and at the same time so contradictory for a Malfoy.
Malfoys were epitomes of beauty and, though it was a well kept secret, there was a persistent rumour that they had Veela blood running through their veins, which seemed not so farfetched when you looked at them.
Lucius held himself perfectly still, another trait he had always secretly admired in the Malfoy family and though there was some youthfulness and rebellion shining through, with the way he tapped his fingers on the armrest of his chair, every line and curve of his body and his face told him exactly what kind of man Lucius would become.
Aberforth had once said the Malfoys were men of principle, they would kill the love of their life out of principle and they would choose one side of a war or the other because of their principles. Minerva had once said that a Malfoy did everything for his reputation, that they were opportunists and egoists and, though that definitely held some truth, it was so far away from it that you couldn't even make it out with an omniglass.
Dumbledore knew what he saw, he knew the rumours and he knew the facts and, since he knew all this, he had a plan. Yes, Dumbledore was scheming again; Harry had been right.
Lucius' eyebrows drew together almost imperceptibly when Dumbledore continued to study him, but he kept himself from reacting in any other way.
"Well, Mr. Malfoy, Harry asked me today if he could go to Diagon Alley to get his wand and a few other things he will need during his stay here," Dumbledore finally answered, "I trust that you and Miss Evans will be able to keep our little time traveller safe- I have a feeling that he has an unlikely talent to attract trouble," he allowed himself a happy smile and Lucius gave an internal smirk. "You will be leaving as soon as Miss Evans and Harry have found their way here and I expect you to return before dark."
Lucius was struck by the thought of how parental this last order sounded, even though no one had ever told him something like this before. There was no need to anyway since there were wards surrounding his entire family home and since the land that belonged to the Malfoy family was so large that you would need more than a day to get to the borders on foot. Besides, his father had thought it necessary to reinforce the belief in him that Malfoys always get what they want and telling him what to do would totally contradict this point- not that he didn't expect Lucius to obey him, of course. It wasn't that his parents didn't care about him, no, not at all, but they felt safe with the knowledge that the house-elves were inconspicuously monitoring his every move and that the age-old magic in every stone and every grain of dirt of the Manor grounds would protect the Malfoy heir. Therefore they didn't bother to take care of him and he was mostly left to his own devices.
Before he could dwell even more on his childhood there was a polite knock on the door and Lily Evans followed by Harry entered the room.
"Ah, Miss Evans, Harry," the Headmaster smiled at them, "we were already waiting for you..."
"We?" Harry asked suspiciously, cocking his head slightly trying to make out someone else in the room, but since the Headmaster's office practically hummed with magic from all the little artifacts in it, this was as good as impossible.
"Mr. Malfoy already found his way here," Dumbledore noticed the small wince before Harry's head snapped up, but chose not to comment on it. "You should be going then. I already informed Ollivander that you would be coming and here is the key to the vault your grandparents set up for you," he said as he handed a small silver key over to Lucius, who was nearest to him. "If there is any trouble at all I want you to use this portkey and come back immediately," he added as he handed a moderate sized book to Lily. "The password to activate it is 'Tempus'."
"Why can't we just apparate?" Lily asked, but accepted the portkey nonetheless.
"The Ministry thought that since Harry is still underage he shouldn't be able to apparate and so they wouldn't give him his licence," the Headmaster smiled consolingly at the small boy as he let out a growl. "Besides, there could always be a situation where one of you might not be able to apparate on their own."
"Shouldn't we be going then?" Lucius asked casually, not waiting for a reply before he reached for the pot of Floo powder on the mantelpiece and took a handful, throwing it in the flames, which coloured green. "The Leaky Cauldron," he stated clearly, stepped into the fireplace and vanished.
"Ladies first," Harry bowed deeply and both the Headmaster and the Head Girl noticed that he seemed more relaxed now that Lucius was gone.
Lily sighed, she hated Floo powder. From it's dull grey colour, to the sandy feel in her hands, to the effect that it had. After a bit of hesitation she took some of the hateful stuff in her hand and disdainfully threw it in the fire before shouting her destination with as much conviction as she could muster up, following after Lucius.
"Harry, I hope you know that in this time Voldemort is still at large," Dumbledore stopped him as Harry groped for the pot. "Hogwarts' secrets and your secrets have to stay inside this castle and it would be a fatal blow if Voldemort was to capture you."
"I know, Albus," Harry sighed, "we won't be captured, trust me. They will be absolutely safe," he turned towards the fireplace and threw the powder into the grate. "The Leaky Cauldron."
If possible, he hated travelling with Floo powder even more since he had been blinded. He used to close his eyes, but now that was useless and the thought of landing so suddenly in a new and possibly unknown location scared him more than he was willing to admit. It was better when he could be sure that someone he trusted would be there to catch him when he tumbled out, but even that didn't prevent a slight panic to take reign of his body.
Lily was still grumbling, displeased, after she had picked herself up from the floor under the contemptuous looks of one Lucius Malfoy when the flames tinted green once again and, since it was a work day and they were about the only guests in the Leaky Cauldron, it had to be Harry. Lucius quickly stepped forward, pulling Harry to his chest before he could hit the floor and then helped him stand up, his arms still loosely wrapped around the incredibly thin waist.
"It seems that we find ourselves in this situation quite often," he smirked in satisfaction, leisurely stroking Harry's back. Harry tried to escape his hands and pressed closer to the blond, though he hastily struggled free when he noticed what he was doing. Lucius was doing. Lucius allowed it without comment, even going so far as to take a step back when the smaller boy had steadied himself.
"I hate Floo powder," Harry voiced disgustedly after he had composed himself. "Why can't wizards do something useful for once and invent another way of travelling?"
"There are portkeys," Lucius reminded him while Lily nodded whole-heartedly in response to Harry's exclamation.
"I hate portkeys!" Harry complained petulantly and tried to brush off the soot of his clothes- he just knew that his bandage was grey now.
"I don't know what you two are complaining about," Lucius declared haughtily, "it's not that difficult to land on your feet after travelling by Floo powder or by portkey."
"I would like to see you try to ride a bicycle," Harry snapped before grabbing Lily's hand. "Is this okay, Miss Evans? It's easier for me this way..."
Lily nodded before she became aware that Harry couldn't see her. "Sure, Harry, and you can call me Lily, just don't try anything."
"What is a bicycle?" Lucius demanded to know, catching up with the two smaller students.
"Thanks, we should go to Gringotts first," Harry said as he ignored the blond. "Why would you think I would try something? And what exactly would you define as a something?"
"Hello, what is a bicycle?" Lucius asked annoyed.
"Oh, shut up, Malfoy," Harry waved his question aside, "we are talking."
"And I want an answer to my question," Lucius pressed out. "Without me you would mostly likely still be kissing the floor."
"A bicycle is a vehicle with two wheels and you have to pedal to make it move," Lily said over her shoulder before turning back to Harry. "I only wanted to make clear that I have no need for another Potter getting on my nerves."
"So you need only one Potter?," Harry asked innocently and broke into laughter, clearly imagining the blush that followed instead of an answer.
"You can't tell him," Lily nearly begged, throwing a nervous look at the Malfoy heir, who was morosely following after them, but seemingly hadn't heard a word of their conversation.
"I won't," Harry promised earnestly. "But could you maybe give him a chance? I mean he has been crushing on you for how long? Six years? Maybe it would solve everything if you just went out with him once..."
"He's just so..." Lily made an elaborate gesture with her hands, not knowing what words to use. "Stubborn! He always does the same things, though he knows that it won't work on me. That does nothing to convince me he has any brains in his head."
Harry chuckled. "I've heard about that, but maybe it's time that you change your answer if he isn't willing to change his question."
"You seem to be awfully insistent on this," Lily muttered suspiciously. "I'm not your mother, am I?"
"It would be kind of unfair if I told you, but didn't tell my dad," Harry smiled at her.
"But it's also kind of unfair that Potter knows he's your dad while I could very well be, but have no clue."
"I assure you your not my dad," Harry smirked, "and maybe I'll tell you if you are my mother when you go out with my dad."
"Why would you want me to go out with your dad if I'm not your mother?" Lily reasoned.
"Maybe because I want my dad to move on," Harry shrugged. "We are there, aren't we?"
While the two of them had talked pleasantly Lucius had followed them, wondering why he was so obsessed with a boy that obviously had no intention to ever go near him again. Sure, he was beautiful, but beauty was no reason for his heart to beat irregularly whenever Harry was around, it was no reason for his eyes being glued to Harry's slim form, it was no reason for his skin to still feel so tingly where Harry had touched him earlier. He shouldn't be feeling like this, Malfoys shouldn't be feeling like this. He growled softly when Lily pulled the small boy closer to her to avoid collision with one of the small stands in front of the Apothecary before he focused once again on Harry's lithe form.
If he hadn't been so preoccupied with imagining it was his hand Harry was holding then he might have noticed the similarities between the two of them. The same straight posture, the proud tilt of the head, the pale skin, the slender build, the long-fingered and thin hands. They were about the same height, though Lily looked rather healthy in comparison to her son. It wasn't only the bandage over his eyes or Harry's skinny form; somehow he held himself with so much defiance that you couldn't be sure that he wasn't only hiding his blindness.
"Malfoy, can I have my key, please?" Harry jerked him from his thoughts.
"What happened to Lucius?" the blond replied annoyed. "What is your problem?"
"At the moment, I need my key," Harry stated, holding out his hand expectantly. "If you would?"
"What is wrong? " Lucius insisted stubbornly.
"My key, please," Harry said in the same way.
"Answer the question."
"Give me the key."
"Oh, honestly, boys!" Lily cried exasperatedly, taking the key out of Lucius' hand and giving it to the waiting goblin. "Malfoy, Potter, we are going, stop this nonsense at once."
Harry caved at once, Lucius noted displeased, and meekly followed the redhead to the carts. He looked chastised, grounded and, for one absurd moment, Lucius thought that Harry looked absolutely helpless when he gave up his control like this and he liked it. He wanted Harry to look helpless because of him, he wanted Harry to submit to him, yield to him. Now, that's more like a Malfoy! His father would be proud of him. Power, control, that was something Malfoys could relate to. He forbid himself from commenting on the other thoughts that followed, which weren't so worthy of the Malfoy heir anymore.
The goblin led them to the carts, telling them in a gruff voice to get in before the wild ride began. Lily had managed to take the seat between the two Slytherins, despite Lucius' attempts to change that, and so they lapsed into a brooding silence.
"We are here, Mr. Potter," the goblin croaked and Harry thanked him as he got up, waiting for the door to swing open.
"Let me help you, Harry," Lily offered as Harry hesitantly shuffled forward one hand outstretched. "I'll get your money."
She gently pushed him back to the cart, wondering briefly how she could like the smaller Potter so much after only a few hours, before she scooped a generous amount of money into Harry's bag.
Lucius at once took this opportunity, gentlemanly helping the black-haired boy to climb back in, and then sat next to him.
"Harry," he whispered near his ear, ignoring the small flinch for now, "don't be angry with me anymore, okay? Do you really want to not talk to me all day? I won't look at you like that anymore..."
"You did it again, Lucius," Harry stated furiously, "I could feel it. I'm not one of your bimbos and I will not allow you to treat me like that."
"Harry," Lucius whispered insistently, "I mean no harm with the way I'm looking at you. I respect you. I never met someone as fascinating as you. Don't take me for some perverted idiot, Harry. You do know that there were a lot of people staring at you, don't you?"
"We can go," Lily squeezed in on the other side of Harry, nodding to the goblin, and they were brought back to the main hall.
Lucius, as if naturally, took Harry's hand this time; who was so deep in thought that he didn't protest. "I suggest we go to Ollivander now." Lily nodded her agreement and so they made their way to the wandmaker.
"Ah, I've been expecting you, Harry Potter," the soft voice of Ollivander drifted out of one of the narrow aisles in the tiny, shabby looking shop and soon after Harry felt himself being scrutinised very thoroughly as the old man moved close to his face. "Ah, Miss Evans, ten and a quarter inches, willow and unicorn hair, a charming wand for a charming young lady," Harry was relieved that the wandmaker had focused on someone else now, "and Mr. Malfoy, ebony, twelve and a half inches, a powerful wand, an excellent wand for a young man with your resources. Now, I heard you had the wand of another wizard?" Ollivander asked as he turned back to Harry, who instinctively took a step back.
"Yes," he said defiantly.
"Can I see it?"
"No. I keep the identities of my spies a secret," Harry protectively wrapped the wand in his sleeve.
"Do you know, Mr. Potter, what it means if another trusts you with their wand?" the old man changed the subject.
"We were all rather desperate," Harry shrugged his shoulders, "could I have my own wand now? Holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches."
"May I inquire how you managed to fight He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named with that particular wand?" the wandmaker whispered curiously.
"Priori Incantatem only works once," Harry answered and Lily gasped.
"Priori Incantatem?! But then that would mean..."
"Brother wands," Harry nodded. "I would like my wand now."
"Let's see," Ollivander waved his own wand and the tape measure started to sizzle around him, "perhaps this one?"
He tried to press a thin wand into Harry's hand. "This is not my wand, Mr. Ollivander," said as he held out his hand imperiously. "Accio my wand."
There was a bit of rumbling in the background and one of the boxes clattered to the floor, until Harry finally felt his own wand in his hand again.
"Quite impressive, Mr. Potter," Ollivander said, seemingly a bit disgruntled, "we can expect great things from you, I'm sure."
"I already fulfilled everyone's expectations," Harry smirked lightly. "I look forward to seeing you again, Mr. Ollivander. I'll send the wand back when I return to my own time. Let's go."
"How did you do that?" Lily asked curiously after they had left the small shop.
"You don't exactly need your wand to do magic," Harry explained, "it's what small children do- the Ministry calls it accidental magic. Once they get their wands they tend to forget about this ability, purebloods especially, since they get their wands sooner. I never had the opportunity to forget about it..."
"Then why did you need your wand?" Lucius asked a bit miffed. "I mean you could use that other wand, couldn't you?"
"Yes," Harry nodded slightly, "but that wand demands too much of my magic, therefore my spells can easily turn out too powerful. It's a wand for someone who's used to holding back his emotions and therefore his magic. Someone who's able to replenish their magic very quickly. I don't like the feel of it; and wandless magic is very draining."
They silently passed one of the shop owners who curiously stared at the blind boy, earning himself a glare from cold silver eyes. Finally they reached Flourish & Blotts and Lucius pushed the door open allowing the two younger students to step through. Lily at once was mesmerised by the variety of books, quickly and, with an air of implicitness, she walked over to the Charms section, leaving the two Slytherins to themselves.
"Ah, young Mr. Malfoy," Mr. Flourish had entered through a small door behind the counter, carrying a stack of shiny, new books, "to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit? I trust everything was alright with the last delivery? I rather thought it was still the school term," he chuckled a bit. "Well, I guess sometimes I'm a bit behind the times..."
"I'm here because my friend Harry here," he gently pushed the younger boy to stand in front of him, "needs new books."
"Ah, yes, I think there was a note," the slender wizard put down his books and shuffled through some papers until he held up a crumpled paper triumphantly. "I always have some problems with reading Mr. Blotts' handwriting, I'm afraid,... Mr. Porter, is it?"
"Potter," Harry corrected him gently, "could you help me find my books, please?"
"Of course, Mr. Potter, I must apologise," the shop owner bowed lightly. "I'll be right back, just one moment."
"Where did Lily go off to? " Harry asked Lucius, who had one arm loosely resting on Harry's hip, though the black-haired boy didn't seem to be enjoying it very much.
"She's up the stairs to your right," Lucius answered soothingly, casually pulling the other Slytherin closer. "So, what else will we need to buy after we are done here?"
"Lucius, please, let me go," Harry struggled weakly against the tight hold and to his surprise found himself free a moment later.
"You just have to tell me, Harry," Lucius murmured softly, capturing one of the small pale hands. "I meant no harm to you."
"I know," Harry blushed a little, "and thanks for yesterday."
"What do you mean?"
"You told the other Slytherins that they were not to attack me, thank you," Harry explained.
"I thought you couldn't hear us," Lucius replied, surprised.
"I know," Harry smiled at him, "but what kind of Slytherin would I be to pass up such an opportunity?"
"So, if you know that I protected you, why were you so strange this morning?" Lucius raised an eyebrow expectantly, tugging Harry closer when the small boy made to turn away.
"I already told you..." Harry snapped in annoyance, but it didn't come out as strong as he had wanted it to.
"Yes, I know, the way I looked at you," Lucius sighed, "and that was all? Salazar, Harry, half of the school was staring at you and it's not like I was about to rape you..."
Harry winced. "You are a Malfoy..."
"And?" Lucius prompted.
"I know Draco and I know how he thinks. He thinks that everything he wants rightfully belongs to him and he won't give up until he has it," Harry whispered.
"So you are afraid that I will get you eventually?" Lucius concluded, but Harry shook his head.
"I'm afraid of what lengths you would be willing to go to get me and that you won't even realise it when you've gone too far..."
"So are you afraid of my son too?" the blond inquired, not sure how else to respond to that revelation.
"No," Harry protested, "he's my best friend! He would never hurt me!"
"And yet you compare me to him?" Lucius raised an eyebrow incredulously. "You say that you are afraid of me because Draco gets what he wants and yet you are not afraid of him? I fail to see the logic in that statement."
"I don't know you, Lucius," the smaller boy sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Sure, I've seen you and I know what Draco told me about his childhood, but other than that you are a stranger to me. I know Severus and the Lestranges and most of the other Slytherins better. I know which side they're on and I know what to expect from them. I don't know that from you. You could be Voldemort's right hand man or Dumbledore's top spy, you could be a twisted pervert or a loving father. I just don't know what to think of you, Lucius. You can't expect me to trust a literal stranger."
"Do I at least get a chance?" Lucius asked, strangely flattered by Harry's explanation- it seemed whatever way he would choose he would be successful and, really, who wouldn't want to be a mystery?
"Would you accept it if I said no?" Harry asked quietly.
"No," Lucius smirked, relieved when a small smile flittered over Harry's pale face. "Then you have your answer."
"My excuses," Mr. Flourish gasped, putting down a stack of books on the counter, "here are your school books, Mr. Potter, and if I may ask a favour of you? This book has been lying around for some time now and can't seem to remember what it is. Could you tell me?"
Harry smiled slightly, nodded and began to glide his hands over the uneven cover and Lucius had the stupid thought that the book didn't deserve such attention while he most definitely did. "'Nightingale' by Stella Starbright," Harry said finally, handing the book back, "it's a collection of fairytales."
"Ah, thank you, Mr. Potter," the wispy-haired man hummed gratefully, putting the book under the counter. "I was wondering why no one wanted to buy it, but I guess that's rather understandable as I had put it with the Arithmancy books..."
"Excuse me," Lucius spoke up, "I would like to buy that book."
"Why?" Harry asked, confused, "You can't read it."
"But I have every intention to learn it," Lucius replied haughtily, just as Lily joined them again with a dreamy look in her eyes. "Maybe you could teach me?" he added huskily, whispering in Harry's ear.
"That would be seventy-three galleons and sixteen sickles and three knuts for you, Mr. Potter, and five galleons and eight sickles for you, Mr. Malfoy," the book shop owner stated cheerfully. "Anything for you, Miss Evans? I remember this new book on creating your own charms, it just came in yesterday..."
"Yes, I saw it," Lily sighed blissfully, "maybe I'll come back later to buy it. I don't have any money with me..."
"I can buy it," Harry offered at once.
"No, you can't," Lily insisted, snapping back to reality.
Harry cocked his head in confusion. "Why not?"
"Because I don't want anything bought with Potter money," Lily stated stubbornly.
"Fine, then," Harry sighed, "could I buy this book, please?"
"What are you doing?" Lily asked in confusion.
"I happen to be interested in this book, too," Harry groaned (which excited Lucius on a whole new level), "and I have no qualms about buying something with my money. I'll take everything."
"I can get my book on my own," the blond spoke up, catching Harry's hand that was handing over the correct amount of money.
"I still owe you for freeing your house-elf," the black-haired boy argued and waited for Mr. Flourish to put the books into a bag for him before shrinking them. "You two should just learn to accept a gift, honestly, you spoil all the fun."
Lily seemed rather uneasy after that last sentence and Lucius highly suspected that she had been told something like this a lot of times before, and they spent the short walk to Madam Malkins' Robes for all Occasions in silence.
"Let me help you, deary," Madam Malkins greeted them cheerfully and guided Harry to the stool that stood in front of the mirror. "You must be the exchange student Headmaster Dumbledore informed me about. New school robes, sweetie?"
Harry nodded mutely, seeming very subdued for some reason, as the witch slipped his old robes from his shoulders and replaced them with new ones and started to mark where she needed to take out some material and where the robes where too long.
"What colour, dear?" she asked after she had finished.
"Black," Harry murmured, stepping from the stool, and shrugged into his old robes.
"And what house crest would you like?" the witch smiled at the black-haired boy, her quill perched expectantly.
"Slytherin," Harry muttered once again. "How much do I owe you?"
The witch named the price, helping Harry to sort out his money. "I'll send them directly to Hogwarts once they are ready. This way you won't have to carry them all day long."
"Thank you," Harry gave her a tentative smile before he left the store, not bothering to check if the other two students were following him.
"Hey, Harry, wait," Lily grabbed onto his arm. "What is wrong?"
"Nothing is wrong," Harry snapped irritably, freeing himself from her grasp.
"You're sure not acting like it," the green-eyed girl argued back. "Now, tell me what is wrong."
"Do you despise James Potter so much that you wouldn't accept his parents' money, nor mine, even if it was for such a short time?" Harry asked desperately. "Do you hate him that much? Do you want the answer to your question? Yes, yes, you are, and now I'm wondering how that worked out. I always thought that my parents were madly in love with each other, that they loved me so much that they were willing to die for me, and it was okay like that, but if you can't even muster up the strength to accept a gift from me, I would rather have died... Damnit, Lily, I don't know my father and all I have from him are some photos and what Sirius and Remus told me and now you come and make him sound bad and then force me to believe it..." Harry choked out, putting his arms around his head protectively as if he feared it would burst from so many emotions.
Lily was shocked to say the least. Her son! Her son! James's son!
"Could you leave us alone for a moment, Malfoy?" she asked quietly and her throat hurt slightly as she forced the words past her lips.
She didn't wait for the blond to turn around reluctantly before she carefully cradled her son to her chest, sitting down on the steps of the shop, Harry's limp body in her arms. She could feel the bones and ribs as she cautiously started to rub his back, rocking him slightly like her own mother used to do when she had been upset. Finally the hiccoughing and sobbing abated slightly.
"I don't hate James," she whispered reassuringly, "and I know he would never hurt me, Harry. He wouldn't rape me or feed me a love potion. If we married in the future, I'm sure we loved each other. He is kind of cute after all. And I'm sure we loved you, I already like you very much and James does too."
"Then why are you so bitter about James?" Harry sniffed.
"Because I want him to make an effort. No, I don't want him to ask me every chance he gets if I'll go out with him. I want him to do something nice for me first, I want him to really get to know me, to do something just for me, Harry, do you understand? I don't want to be number thirty-tree on his list..."
"Can I help him?" Harry asked hopefully and Lily smiled in return. "Yes, maybe that'll hurry things up."
Harry laughed happily, hugging his mother fiercely. "Thank you!"
"I have something in common with James," Lily smiled down at her son, who was totally oblivious to it, "you; and if we get such a great son, I'm sure it's worth to go out with Potter."
Harry blushed brightly, murmuring something Lily didn't quite catch, before he stood up once more, extending his hand to help her up.
I'll spend the weekend reading the seventh and last book so if you want me to update before that you'll have to give me a bit more motivation. I know I should be grateful for even getting this many reviews, but after you guys showered me with so many reviews for Unintentionally Yours I'm a bit spoilt.
And unless you want to try it with a shock therapy which might result in a very heavy writer's block, you had better write me a review right now! #stomps foot# #throws a tantrum#...
