Chapter 14
Apparating was still Harry's least favorite mode of travel, as he never felt quite right upon landing, but Joseph said it would be better to walk up to the doorway than to pop through the Floo. Besides, his parents had several protections over the Floo as a precaution. They still didn't trust the world around them, and Harry really didn't blame them. He believed that Joseph handled the situation better because he has been living in the muggle world for years now.
Once Harry was able to get his bearings together, he finally had a good look at his surroundings; the building in front of them was a two-storey château, the outer walls were painted white and the roof tiles were a bluish-grey. The building in the centre was surrounded by gardens with dozens of flowers in bloom. Joseph took out his wand, casted a quick spell on the wrought iron gate, and took Harry's hand when it opened, making the Gryffindor smile.
"The place is beautiful, you know," Harry whispered as they walked along the brick pathway to the front door.
"Did you expect anything less?" Joseph asked with a smirk.
"Of course not," Harry said. "Still, I think it's important to note."
"Let's not talk about this place, though" Joseph said. "This place may be big and beautiful, but it was like a prison, a gilded cage. I had it easier since I stayed here during the summer and Beauxbatons during the school year while finishing my studies."
Harry felt Joseph hold his hand a little tighter. Harry squeezed his hand back comfortingly, and the taller raven smiled at him. Joseph knocked when they got to the front door, and they were greeted by a house elf. Joseph brought out two dishes from his pocket and unshrunk them before handing them to the house elf. Harry wondered why Joseph brought two dishes. As he recalled, they had only bought enough stuff for one. He thought, perhaps, that the second dish was a dessert, and that his boyfriend bought it while he and Jess were out. Harry didn't really have time to think about it because they entered the lounge, and there were Joseph's parents.
"Harry, it's my pleasure to finally introduce you to my parents" Joseph said. "This is my mother, Alyssa, and my father, Stephen."
"It's a pleasure to meet you both" Harry said with a smile, stepping forward and offering his hand.
"The pleasure is all ours, Mr. Potter" Stephen said as he and Harry shared a firm handshake.
"Thank you for having me over on such short notice" Harry said, taking Alyssa's hand and giving it a quick kiss.
"You're welcome in our home anytime, dear" Alyssa said with an approving nod. "Besides, it's glad to finally meet the person our son feels so strongly about."
"Thank you" Harry said with a blush. "I also have something for you."
"Thank you, Harry" Alyssa said as she admired the bouquet of blue and white flowers. "These are beautiful."
"Thank you also for this" Stephen said. "I've been meaning to start researching on potions and ingredients from different parts of the world."
As Alyssa went to put the flowers in a vase and Stephen moved to place his new book on the shelf, Harry moved closer to Joseph.
"Am I doing alright?" Harry asked Joseph nervously.
"You're doing perfectly, love" Joseph said with a smile, and Harry smiled back.
Joseph's parents returned and had each taken to their typical chairs, leaving Harry and Joseph to sit across from them on the loveseat.
"So Harry, how are things back in England?" Alyssa asked. "I get updates when my friends write to me, but they only usually talk about themselves."
"Well, Kingsley has been doing great as the minister" Harry replied. "A lot of the damage has been repaired, and they have been funding plenty of programs to help those gravely affected by the war."
"Yes, I've heard nothing but praise for Kingsley from my colleagues" Stephen said.
"And Lady Narcissa's charity is doing extremely well" Joseph said, before turning to Harry. "A big reason being you."
"Well, I'm not the only reason. Mrs. Malfoy has put in a lot of hard work and dedication into it" Harry said. "She's providing shelter, food, and clothes to orphans, as well as finding them good homes."
"Yes, after the final battle, she wrote to me about how distraught she was at seeing the many students who lost their lives or their parents" Alyssa said.
"We were saddened by the news, as well at the fact that we couldn't do anything to help" Stephen added.
"You shouldn't be. There were huge targets on your backs" Harry said. "And I apologise for that."
"Harry…" Joseph began, but Harry shook his head.
"It's my fault that you all had to flee the country" Harry said. "It's also my fault that the manor you, and several generations of your family, was burned down. It's my fault that you had to be trapped here for ten years. I'm very sorry about everything."
"Well, from our perspective Harry, you're not the one at fault" Stephen said, surprising the Gryffindor. "Our home being burned down, being trapped here and us having to flee all leads back to Voldemort. If fault were to be placed on anyone in this room, it would be on Joseph."
"Indeed. Our instructions to him were to keep a low-profile, help his friends, and try to make him look more valuable off the field rather than on it." Alyssa added. "He followed our instructions until he met and fell in love with you. The only question is if he regrets acting on his feelings."
"Well...do you?" Harry asked as he slowly looked up at the raven beside him.
"No" Joseph immediately replied before pressing a kiss on Harry's forehead.
The kiss was short, but it made a wave of relief wash over Harry. Up until this moment, he thought that Joseph's parents hated him. He even thought a part of Joseph hated him for what his family had to go through, but they didn't.
"Now that that's settled, shall we eat?" Alyssa suggested and the boys followed her to the dining room.
The two couples sat across from each other, with Harry facing Stephen, and Joseph facing his mother. Dinner started with some artichokes with hollandaise sauce, which was followed by the dish that Joseph made; duck confit. While conversation was limited to talking about how things were back in England and how Joseph's parents were enjoying France, as the meal progressed and everyone ate the delicious food that had been prepared, talking became easier and more relaxed. By the end of the main course, Harry and Stephen were talking about the Quidditch teams they were rooting for.
"I would have never pegged you for a Falmouth Falcons fan" Harry said.
"Stephen's been obsessed with that team since we were in Hogwarts" Alyssa stated.
"I thought you always bet on Puddlemere United for the St. Mungo's Qudditch pool?" Joseph asked.
"Of course majority of people will bet on PU when something's at stake. It's the smart and safe choice" Stephen explained. "But I will always be a Falcons fan."
"I get that" Harry said with a nod. "I'm usually torn between Puddlemere and the Harpies."
"Men are all the same" Joseph said as he rolled his eyes when Harry and his father began discussing the teams they wanted to be in the World Cup Final.
"When they say they're different from everyone else, they just mean ten to fifteen percent" Alyssa remarked before taking a sip of wine. "I think we should have dessert now."
The house elf cleared the plates and cutlery, replacing them immediately and in between them all was a dessert that Harry was very familiar with.
"I'm surprised you chose to make an English dessert when all the other dishes were French" His mother stated.
"Well, it's a special occasion" Joseph said. "Today's the day you and father were going to meet Harry, and Treacle tart is his favourite."
Joseph cut a slice each for his parents first, then a single slice for him and Harry. The taller raven handed Harry a dessert fork, offering the slice for him to try first. Harry took the tip off the slice and as he ate it, he made a pleased sound.
"It's absolutely delicious" Harry said with a smile. "Thank you for making this for me."
Joseph smiled back and gave Harry a peck on the cheek before the four returned to conversing over dessert. Once all of them had eaten their fill, they returned to the lounge, where they were served tea or coffee.
"So, what are the else do you have planned before Harry returns to England?" Alyssa asked.
"Well, Harry wants to explore the Ville de Flamel, so we're going tomorrow" Joseph replied. "The day after is his last day here before he returns home, so we'll spend it doing whatever we both want to do. And next week, I'll be visiting England for Blaise's birthday."
"So, have you made a decision?" Stephen asked his son. "On whether to return to England or not?"
"No I haven't" Joseph said with a sigh.
"Well, you'll need to make a decision soon" Alyssa stated.
"Why the sudden urgency?" Harry asked.
"Since we fled years ago, we've been living here under the protection of the French Ministry" Alyssa explained. "It's been a decade since then and while we may hold England dear in our hearts, we might want to officially be French citizens."
"Joseph has made friends here, graduated from Beauxbatons, and has a career here" Stephen added. "Even his mother and I, while we were only confined here and left when Alyssa's friend from the French ministry and a dozen aurors were with us, we still made a life here."
"Wait, so you guys are staying?" Harry asked Joseph's parents, who nodded.
"Stephen will be starting an independent clinic with five other healers he's made friends with over the years, and my friend has promised to find me a position in the ministry if I want one" Alyssa said. "But to be honest, I've grown tired of politics. I think I might apply to be a teacher at Beauxbatons."
"Well, father does keep saying I got my skill for Potions from him, and skill for Charms from you" Joseph said, and turned to see Harry looking up at him. "I haven't decided where to live, Harry."
"But you do have friends, family and a career here" Harry stated. "I can't imagine all of those things are easy to leave behind."
"Those aren't issues. I have friends back in England, and Draco and Theo have offered me a job at their apothecary, should I return and need it" Joseph replied. "As for my parents and friends here, I can easily visit them."
"Well, where would you like to live, Harry?" Alyssa asked. "I assume where you both want to live should be taken into consideration."
"While England is where most of the people I love live, I couldn't care less where Joseph and I are as long as we're together" Harry said, making Stephen nod and Alyssa form a small smile. "I've spent that last ten years apart from him, and I don't ever want to be separated again."
The four agreed to let the topic rest and as it was getting late, Joseph and Harry decided to head back to Joseph's flat. They said goodnight to the taller raven's parents before heading out of the house, and apparating to an alleyway close to Joseph's building.
"So, do you think I did well?" Harry asked as they were getting ready for bed in Joseph's room
"Are you kidding?" Joseph asked. "You got my mom to give a genuine smile. Not even Draco has done that."
"It isn't the first time I've beaten him at something" Harry said with a smirk.
"Don't get cocky" Joseph said as they lied down in bed.
"Like this is the first time you've seen an arrogant Gryffindor" Harry said, pecking Joseph's cheek. "And it's not like an arrogant Slytherin is better."
"An arrogant Slytherin still weighs the risks of an action, but will take it even though odds are stacked against them" Joseph returned. "An arrogant Gryffindor will jump into something head first, risks be damned."
"Shouldn't you support Gryffindor now since we're together again?" Harry asked with a pout.
"I love you, not your house" Joseph said, pecking the shorter raven's nose.
"Maybe I can sway you" Harry said with a mischievous grin. "Like with threatening to show everyone back in England that picture of you in the Beauxbatons uniform."
"Show that picture to anyone, and I will make facing a Hungarian Horntail preferable" Joseph threatened.
Harry chuckled, giving Joseph a peck on the lips before burying his face in the crook of the Slytherin's neck. He was extremely happy, but something bugged him; the decision Joseph had to make. While he completely meant it when he said it didn't matter to him where he and Joseph lived, he had worries should Joseph choose to live in France. He doubts he'd be able to go a week without talking with Ron and Hermione, and Molly and Arthur took care of him like their own. There were his friends who he met up with to play a friendly match of Qudditch or football, or just to talk and hang out with. Then there was Teddy. Andromeda absolutely loved her grandson, but she's just getting too old to keep up with him. And the young metamorphagus has Marauder blood in him, and he's been causing trouble since he could start walking.
"You're worried about my decision, aren't you?" Joseph suddenly asked.
"How?" Harry asked with a mixed expression of confusion and awe.
"I'm not sure, I just had a feeling" Joseph said, running his hand up and down Harry's back gently. "So, what's up?"
"Well, while I'd be fine with you choosing to live in France, I'm just having hard time thinking about what life would be like not seeing Ron, Hermione and everyone else as much as I'm used to" Harry replied. "And there's Teddy. I'm not sure Andromeda will be able to keep up with him as he gets older, and starts making more trouble."
"I'm sure it doesn't help that you're his godfather, someone who's broken school rules since first getting to Hogwarts" Joseph said with a smirk before hugging the Gryffindor tightly. "Look, I don't know what I'll end up choosing, but I agree with everything you said earlier tonight."
"Really?" Harry asked, looking up into Joseph's amber eyes.
"Whether we need to make arrangements so we can see your friends and family or mine, we'll make it work" Joseph replied. "I love you Harry James Potter."
"I love you too Joseph Duskgem" Harry returned with a huge smile. "Wherever you choose to go, you can be assured I'll be right next to you."