Disclaimer: I own nothing. Harry Potter belongs to J.K Rowling.
A/N: Reviews are Good. This has been a subtle hint from the author - Please return to your regularly scheduled reading.

chapter fourteen: water and air

They stay in the one bedroom apartment for longer than Petunia initially had planned (the six month lease – all that the landlord would agree to over the phone at the time – lengthened to a year). And, in the end it is her decision to stay longer in this place, out of sheer practicality - it gives her time to save a bit, a buffer, a solid knowledge that they will be able to make their payments when they move into a two bedroom. That is surely worth being just a little cramped for a while longer.

When it finally is time to move she is slightly worried that Harry will not like it, will be stressed by the process (even if the new place is only a level up and down the hall from their old). But she really should have known better – Petunia has no experience with other children's moods but Harry is amazingly resilient.

He is very excited about packing their belongings up (puts disparate things – her hair brush, two boxes of uncooked spaghetti, loose crayons, and his stuffed animal shark - in boxes that she often has to take back out again with an amused shake of her head), about the prospect of getting his own bed (another reason she wanted to wait until she had a bit of spare cash, mattresses were one of those things you just shouldn't buy second hand), and that there is another child his age on their new floor as well (their old floor, since it consisted of one-bedroom apartments, had been all adults. A wonderful thing now that she has more volunteers than are really needed to help move her bed, the sofa and a heavy chest of drawers – a heirloom from her mother, passed down for generations to the eldest daughter – but it probably would have eventually become lonely for Harry).

She keeps an ear open, the weeks surrounding her move, for sales - and is rewarded for her patience when she ends ups getting that needed mattress (with basic frame and bed-spring) from the closest mall, two days after they moved in (just when she had been starting to bite her lip in worry every time she looked at that empty space in the second room where Harry's bed should be. Almost resigning herself to dipping into the money from the sale of the house that she had been keeping untouched), for much cheaper than she had feared.

Thinking the same sale that had slashed the price on that purchase, might be inclined to cover bedding as well she had taken Harry over to a different section of the store. A smile curling over her face when she saw the "Half Price!" signs placed everywhere.

Going over to the wall and finding the right size, Petunia started through the process of trying to get a toddler to make a decision – when Harry was older she wanted to feel she gave him a choice in these sort of things, but at times it could be frustrating.

Finally they settled on a soft light blue comforter with navy and green wavy lines (Harry had a bit of an underwater fascination lately). And she picked up the bulky bundle – but not before bopping him gently on the top of the head with it making him squeal and giggle.

In comparison, finding sheets was very easy. His eyes lit up and he started bouncing on his toes, pointing. She followed his finger and set down the comforter for a moment to reach the sheet set - navy blue with birds on it – all sorts – all in flight.

She sighed even as she smiled: Water and air? At least those will be nice dreams, perhaps.

And put the set back ignoring Harry's sound of disappointment and confusion as she hunted for one that didn't say "Queen" - and made her own sound of triumph in the back of her throat when she pulled "Single" from the very back, wouldn't do if it didn't fit his new bed after all.

Harry grinned widely as she deposited it in his arms, looking down at the soaring birds and then at her again once she got a grip on the edge of the plastic of the comforter's bag (this would be awkward on the bus ride back) and reached for his hand.

He'd do fine at the new apartment she thought as the familiar small hand grasped hers. They both would.