I'm really sorry about the wait, I' been home for two and a half week now, and I'v just been too lazy to write something. I wasn't planning on writing any time soon, really. But this chapter just came to me this morning. We have hedgehogs in my garden, and the cub was just so adorable and it wasn't afraid, it willingly came over to sniff my hand. and so this story came to mind. I'm jumping a little bit in time in this chapter, as I'v been trying to let the years past as the chapters come. But this one was too adorable not to write. So here you go. Please tell me what you guys think.
I'm also looking for a beta if anyone is interested. I'v been going over my story, and found a trillion grammar mistakes I'v somehow overlooked. I'd really appreciate if anyone would like to help me.
I hope everyone had a nice summer vacation. I start at school at Monday again. bleerh.
Chapter 10
It was a sunny day, and too hot for anyone to be inside the house. The wind was chilly and swept over the Dursley's garden. The emerald green grass shone slightly in the heat and swayed a little from the calm wind. Among the green grass a little boy sat and played with some broken toys. He didn't care that they were broken, they were just as good even if they missed their head or a foot. No one was paying attention to him, the grown ups were too busy reading today's paper and chatting among themselves. The raven haired boy was used to be neglected and was doing fine on his own, but just in case James was holding an eye on his five-year old son.
James had managed to pursue the Dursley's to let Harry outside. Yesterday had been a hot day as well, but Harry hadn't been allowed to step a foot outside the door. He had stared longingly out the windows, watching the other kids play in one of the neighbor's swimming pool. The entire night Dudley had done nothing but to talk excitingly about his day, and Harry had looked crushed down in his plate, not being allowed outside to play. James had spent most of the night whispering into Petunia and Vernon's ear. When the morning came Vernon had promptly ordered Harry out in the garden, saying that only spoiled kids stayed inside in such a warm weather, and that he didn't want Harry inside before dinner. Harry had practically beamed at his uncle and ran out. He didn't care he wasn't allowed to go with Dudley to the swimming pool, he was just overjoyed that he could play in the garden, as he loved the garden.
There James had found is son playing a couple of hours later. He was happy that it had worked, he hated seeing his son sad and alone. The child giggled and moved a legless cowboy around, fighting imaginary monsters. At times he would look up at James and beam at him happily, like if he could tell that the spirit was there. Every time James felt this warm feeling sprout inside of him. He loved seeing that Harry was so happy for just these small things that James could do for him.
James looked around thoughtfully. It was really a gorgeous garden. With pretty flowers in every color and shape. The spirit could see roses, red and white and yellow ones. He could see green and blue lilies, pink and purple petunias, and lots of others James couldn't place. He didn't really know that much about flowers. But it was pretty none the less. In the middle of the garden there stood a big cherry blossom tree. Right now the flowers where in full bloom, giving the garden an almost magical look. When the breeze shook the branches, pedals would fall off and float in the air. When that happened Harry would jump up and try to catch the pink pedals. The cherry tree had been bought three years later and it was beautiful. James imagined that his wife would fit perfectly into the garden. He could imagine her sitting by the flower beds and dig in the soil to plant lilies, thay were her favorites. The spirit smiled to himself. If only he could'v bought her a garden like this.
James looked back at his son, only to discover that he was gone. He looked around with big eyes, trying to locate his son. "Harry?" He called uncertain. He knew the little boy couldn't hear him, but he yelled non the less. "Harry?!"
A giggle reached his ears and he looked around ones more, less alarmed this time. He followed the noise and found his son sitting under the cherry blossom. Around him stood four hedgehogs. A mother and her three kids. The mother had curled herself into a protective ball, while the three kids looked at Harry curiously. Harry stuck his hand forward and giggled again when one of them sniffed his hand. "What's your name?" The little boy asked. The hedgehog look curiously back at Harry, and stuck his nose against the warm skin. They both jumped a little before Harry giggled and patted it's head carefully, careful not to hit the spikes.
James chuckled slightly and crouched down. "Careful Harry. They might look innocent, but the spikes hurt."
The other two hedgehog children trudged towards him curiously. One of them made a small sound. Harry giggled. "I think I'll call you Robert." He said to the one who made that noise. "Robert is one of the neighbors dog, he's little and always bark. So keep away from him, alright?" The little boy explained. "Robert" cocked his head and made a little noise again. The mother hedgehog looked up from where she was curled up, but didn't move any closer. Harry looked at the mother and beamed. "I'll call you Lily, mama headhok, that's my mama's name." The little boy practically beamed at it. James widened his eyes a little in surprise, before smiling down at his boy.
"Yeah. Lily is a great name."
Harry continued naming the other two. One he named spike, because he had spiky quills and the last one he named Angelina, as it was only fit that they were two girls and two boys in the family.
The little boy played a little with the hedgehoga, but he was careful with them. After a while the mother stared to push on the children, as she wanted to get going. Robert made a little sad sound before following Lily. Angeline ran up to her mother and rubbed her body against her mothers quills. Little Spike stood left and stared sadly up at Harry. Harry smiled back at him with tearful eyes.
"It's alright, go with your mama. I'll see you another time, okay?" The child stroke a finger over the spikes before rubbing his eyes. Spike stared at him for a couple of more seconds, before turning around and running after his family.
James and Harry sat staring after the hedgehog family. The raven haired boy sniffed and waved his hand after them. The spirit smiled at his son and patted his head. "It's alright, Harry. Don't be sad." They sat there until they disappeared under a shrub. Harry picked up his cowboy doll and started to play with it, less enthusiastic then before. The father smiled softly and closed his eyes, ready to pass on again. He was tired and exhausted, and Harry didn't need him.
A loud screech made the spirit open his eyes again. Before he could react, Harry jumped up on his feet and ran towards the bushes. James swore and followed him quickly. There, on the other side of the fence, the hedgehog family was surrounded by a big snake. Lily laid on the ground, a bleeding wound over her stomach, where the snake had attacked. The three children whimpered and stood behind their mother, shivering in fright. Angelina had curled up in a small ball next to her mother, while little Robert cried loudly. Spike stood protectively in front of his siblings, growling.
The snake hissed and moved closer to the three children, he tightened his body and made himself ready to attack again. Harry started crying. "No! Don't harm them!" He tried to climb over the fence, but he was too little. James looked at them with a lost expression, there was nothing he could do to save the hedgehog family.
"Harry," he mumbled. "Go back to the garden, please." He tried to push his son, but his hand only went straight through him. Harry didn't move, he looked up at his angel and cried. "You have to save them! You can't let them die." The spirit felt his chest tighten and look down with a sad expression.
"Please, Harry. Go back to the garden." He tried pushing him again, but it didn't work. Harry wouldn't move, he just stood crying, staring at the snake and the four defenseless hedgehogs. Lily tried to stand to protect her cubs, but was quickly hit by the snake's tail and pushed away from her children. Normally hedgehogs would have no problem beating a snake, they are usually enemies as the hedgehogs eats snakse. But this snake had taken her by surprise and she had tried to protect her little cubs.
The snake turned towards the three children and hissed in glee this time. Robert started crying even more and moved backwards, away from the snake. Angelina stayed curled up on the ground, hoping her little quills would protect her. The snake loomed over her and opened its mouth, to big fangs appeared and he moved forward, ready to gulp the little cub up. Suddenly Spike jumped on his face and tried to stick his spike's into the snake's eyes. The snake hissed angrily and shook his head, and little Spike was thrown into the bushes. Robert cried.
Harry started to sob in earnest now and yelling for the snake to stop and for James to help them. James tried to stand in front of Harry to block his view, but it didn't work as Harry looked straight through him. The spirit felt so useless and powerless. There was nothing he could do to help or to shield Harry from the sight.
The snake moved towards Angelina again, ignoring the crying human on the other side of the fence.
"No! Stop it, don't hurt her!" Harry cried. James crouched down and took his arms around his son, careful so his arms didn't went through him. "Close your eyes, Harry. Please close your eyes," he begged, but Harry did no such thing. Suddenly a hiss escaped his son's lips, ans the snake froze. The snake looked curiously towards the crying child. He hissed. Harry nodded at the snake and hissed something back. The snake gave a slight nod, before turning around and disappearing into the forest. James stared after the snake with big eyes. He looked back at his son and let his hands fall.
"Harry? What did you just do?" The boy stared after the snake and gave a little wave before turning towards the hedgehogs. He lowered himself down on the ground and smiled at Robert.
"Don't worry, Robert. The snake won't hurt you again. She promised. She just didn't want you guys anywhere near her nest and eat her children. She just wanted to protect her children." Harry smiled softly and stood. Robert looked up at him and blinked his eyes.
"Meep?" Harry nodded and started to walk backwards. "Bye Robert. Bye Angie, bye Lily." He looked over to the bush that Spike had been thrown into. The little hedgehog looked out from the bush and started to limp towards his family. "Bye Spike." With that the boy turned around and walked out of the shrubs. James sat staring after his son. Had he just seen what he just saw? Had his son just talked to that snake? James shook his head. No, he must have seen wrong. Harry couldn't have the gift of parseltongue. None of his family had ever had that ability. It just had to be a coincidence.
The spirit stood and looked down at the hedgehogs with a thoughtful expression. The kids surrounded Lily and started to lick the wound. Little Robert was still whimpering softly. James looked away and closed his eyes. Hopefully the mother would survive, no child should ever be without the mother. A couple of seconds later, James disappeared, too exhausted to stay any longer.