Together Again
Chapter 25
POP!
Harry's stomach churned violently as reality spun up to meet him. A firm hand on his shoulder steadied him and kept him from falling.
James held his hand out in a grand gesture. "Welcome, Harry, to Potter Manor."
Harry raised an eyebrow. They were standing shoulder to shoulder in a dark, cramped privy. He glanced down at the orange rug in distaste. "Er… Thanks?"
His father chuckled. "This is just an apparition point, don't worry. My dad built this baby right before my sixth year," he added proudly, patting the wood paneled walls tenderly. "Padfoot and I accidently burned down the last one."
He shook his head, clearing his thoughts, before pulling out a spare bit of parchment out of his robes. "Read this so you can get through the wards. The Manor is under a Fidelus Charm, just like Grimmauld Place."
Harry nodded and adjusted his glasses. "Potter Manor. 44 Bridge End, Northumberland," he read under his breath.
"Got it kiddo?" He nodded. James crumpled up the parchment and dropped it into the waiting toilet. It burst into flames upon contact with the water.
Harry bent over the toilet in dismayed curiosity. "What spell was that?"
"Fiendfyre," his father said casually. "A very refined version of it, at least."
"Fiendfye? In a lavatory?"
James grinned. "Exactly. Anyone who didn't know better would step inside it, and-" he snapped his finger. "Just like that. It's ingenious really." Harry furrowed his brow in confusion. Why on earth would anyone step inside a toilet?
Abruptly, and without further explanation, James climbed up onto the toilet seat. "Enough, dilly dallying, Harry. Put your cloak on and meet me outside."
Before Harry could ask how to get it out, James stepped up onto the basin and disappeared through the wall.
He threw the cloak over himself and climbed onto the toilet, carefully making sure any stray corners didn't fall into the enchanted toilet. Balancing himself, he stuck his hand in the wall a few times before stepping through.
The first things he registered after passing through the wall were the sounds of waves and the smell of salt water. We're by the ocean! He thought excitedly. He'd never had the opportunity to see the sea before - not during the day at least. He'd holed up with the Dursley's by the sea before his 11th birthday, but he was pretty sure that fiasco didn't count as visiting.
James heard him readjust his book bag. "It's just a few yards away, and then you can take that cloak off."
IIIIIIIIIIIII
Harry's jaw dropped when they passed through the wards and he got a good look at the property spread out before him. "You live here?" he asked in astonishment. He tugged off the invisibility cloak and hung it on his arm.
He knew his parents had wealthy, but…
The house, if it could even be called a house, was a three story high brick-faced building with white trim that rose up against a backdrop of perfectly manicured lawns and gardens that abruptly turned to sand as it neared closer to the beach. The reddish brown color of the house gave it a warm and inviting feel. Each side was flanked by a round tower, each featuring a set of wide and expansive lead-lined windows. The graveled path beneath their feet meandered lazily around flowering plants or the occasional statue and fountain. It was amazing.
James squeezed his shoulder. "We live here. You, your mom and I… Well, and Padfoot," he amended pleasantly. "Mangy mutt. Almost set up shop here before I did. I'm still trying to convince Moony to just move in already – he spends most of his time here anyway- but I'm sure you know how bloody stubborn he can be."
Harry grinned wildly. "This is… Just – wow."
"Welcome home, Harry."
"Home." Harry tested the word on his tongue. He'd never really had a home before. Privet Drive wasn't ever anything more than a cage he was trapped in over summer. Harry would always have fond memories of the Burrow, with its patchwork construction, the gnome infested garden and his time spent with the Weasely's. But as much as it had been a refuge from the Dursley's, a small part of him had always recognized that it wasn't his home; he was just a visitor, even if Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had virtually adopted him. Even Hogwarts, the closest thing he had ever had to a home wasn't entirely his. But this…
"No more Grimmauld Place, and definitely no more Dursley's," His father intoned in an uncharacteristically serious voice. "Come on, let's get out of the cold and give you the grand tour."
IIIIIIIIIIIII
The foyer wasn't as grand as the exterior of the home had suggested. The dark wood floor was the smallest bit creaky and the walls were littered with moving photos of people Harry didn't recognize.
His father hung the invisibility cloak on a coat rack with small, gold lion heads near the door. Harry jumped in surprise when the lion closed its maw around the silky fabric with a quiet growl. James looked back at him and chuckled, before hanging up his own cloak.
He wandered in a little father. An oversized staircase loomed up ahead. Behind it, he could see the hallways continue for a good distance.
With a small POP! A house-elf in a green plaid pillowcase apparated next to him.
"Master James! Nimsy is so happy Master James is home!" the house-elf squealed excitedly. "And he's brought a guest! Would Master James like tea for him and his guest?"
James pushed his glasses up his nose. "No tea, but thank you." He looked over at Harry, standing a few steps away. "Nimsy, I'd like you to meet Harry…"
Nimsy's ears perked up. "Harry?" she squeaked. "Master Harry?" she looked Harry over hopefully with her oversized brown eyes.
"Er- yes?" Harry replied awkwardly. "It's nice to meet you. You can just call me Harry though-"
Nimsy grabbed onto his leg and started sobbing uncontrollably. "Nimsy has a new Master! Master James and Mistress Lily have a son. And he is so kind to Nimsy. Oh yes," Harry managed to make out between sobs. He patted her back, but that only seemed to make things worse.
His mother emerged from a doorway by the staircase wearing a floral apron overtop a green sweater. "Harry!?" She asked in surprise, frowning. Her gaze shifted to James. "Is everything alright?" Her voice sounded worried.
James stepped over and kissed her on the cheek. "Everything's fine, Lily-flower. I was just introducing Nimsy and Harry." He sniffed the air. "Is dinner ready? It smells delicious…"
Upon hearing her name, Nimsy tried to regain some of her composure, wiping her nose on her pillowcase. "Nimsy is sorry. She is just so happy to meet Master Harry."
"Don't worry about it," Harry reassured her. "It happens to everyone."
Her lower lip quivered as if she were about to start crying again. Harry groaned internally. What was it with him and house-elves?
Having sensed his plight, Lily interjected, wiping her hands on her apron. "Nimsy? Would you take Harry's bag upstairs to his room?" Harry shot her a grateful look.
Nimsy perked up. "Is Master Harry staying the night?" she asked hopefully.
"He'll be staying for the weekend," James answered. Nimsy nodded excitedly, and pulled Harry's bag off his shoulder before disappearing with another POP!
Lily raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms against her chest. "Not that I'm not happy to see my son, but why is he staying the weekend when he should be at school, James? And what did Dumbledore want?"
"Dumbledore wanted to talk to you?" Harry asked worriedly, looking between his parents. "Is everything alright?"
James patted him on the shoulder reassuringly. "Nothing's wrong, Harry. We were just having a chat, is all. I'll tell everyone after dinner." He looked back at his wife. "I was leaving his office when I thought Harry might fancy seeing the house, now that the wards are up. And I figured he could use a respite from all the detentions he keeps getting," he added with a mischievous grin. He ruffled Harry's hair playfully, before sauntering down the hallway. "Like father, like son."
Lily rolled her eyes. "Are you hungry, darling?" she said to Harry. "I was just finishing up dinner when you showed up."
He nodded. "Dad got me on my way down to the Great Hall. Dinner would be great."
She nodded and ushered him through the doorway and into a large kitchen. He beamed when he saw Remus and Sirius sitting at a large table – his father was pulling up a chair across from them. His mother pointed him towards the table and told him dinner would be finished any minute.
The kitchen reminded him of the one in Grimmauld place, although it was much brighter and there was a large window looking out onto the lawn. Harry inspected it with interest.
"Well, look what the stag dragged in," Sirius said excitedly, patting the bench between him and Remus, who was busy folding up his newspaper. "What are you doing here? You haven't done anything mischievous, have you?"
"No he did not, Sirius" Lily glared at the dark haired man from across the kitchen. "Harry is a good child. He was busy studying for his O.W.L's and keeping his nose out of trouble. Isn't that right?"
Harry rubbed the back of his neck counting the things he'd been doing in the last few weeks. Planning an illegal DADA club, behind on homework, and making no progress with Snape's Occlumency lessons… "Of course, mum. I've been studying loads." His father snorted.
"I nabbed him on his way to dinner," James answered from across the table, as Harry squeezed in between his Godfather and Professor. Remus greeted him happily, offering to pour him a cup of tea. "Figured I'd need him around if I'm to put up with you lot all weekend."
"You seemed pretty happy about them being here earlier," Harry pointed out, taking a sip.
James gave him a dramatic scowl and waggled a butter knife at him. "Respect your elders, mini-prongs."
Sirius leaned in once Lily had returned to her cooking. "She's gone now. You can tell us what you've really been up too," he whispered, conspiratorially.
"I can hear you," Lily said warily from across the kitchen.
James rolled his eyes. "Don't listen to your mother, she's lying. Hearing's the first thing to go when you get old. Right, Padfoot?" Sirius pointedly ignored him.
"James Charlus Potter…"
Harry shrugged. "School's been pretty uneventful, everyone's been studying. It's quite boring. Professor McGonagall has doubled our homework. And Snape is only taking O students next term.
Remus sighed. "Leave it to Severus to only take in the best. Our fifth year, we were only required to have an Exceeds Expectations." He took a sip of his tea. "Do you mind if I take a look at your hand?"
"Er… Sure." Harry held his hand up to the older man. Remus pulled it closer, inspecting it.
"Any pain?" he asked? "It looks just about healed."
"No. Just itchy." Remus nodded, running his thumb over the cuts.
Sirius leaned back in his chair. "So, why'd Dumbledore ask you for a meeting, Prongs?"
"Asked for a favor is all," James replied casually. "I'll tell you more after dinner. I stopped at the Great Hall on my way out," he added. Sirius grinned. "The Um-bitch's office furniture is still floating on the ceiling."
Remus looked up from Harry's hand. "Still? She hasn't gotten it down yet? One would think she would have gotten help from the other professors by now."
It was Harry's turn to grin. "None of the professors have been trying very hard to help," he told them. Remus let go of his hand and returned to his tea. "Hermione thinks Professor McGonagall's been replenishing the spell at night. She's probably right too. McGonagall's been so happy lately, she didn't even give the twins detention for lacing everyone's breakfast with skiving snackboxes."
"Good," his mother said shortly, levitating several plates of food onto the table. "It's the least that toad deserves. She should have been sent straight to Azkaban!" She handed Harry a glass. "Here darling, I brought you some pumpkin juice," she added gently.
"Thanks." He took a sip and grimaced. It tasted dreadful. He inspected it curiously.
"I put a nutrient potion in it," his mother explained. "You're too thin."
Sirius smelled the air dramatically. "Smells delicious. I knew moving in was a good idea!"
"Freeloader," James teased.
"Minger," he replied.
"Coffin dodger."
"Coffin Dodger? You're the one who's been dodging coffins, you sh-"
"Now, now, children," Remus sighed. "Behave. It's time for dinner."
IIIIIIIIIIIII
"Thank you for dinner," Harry said as he helped his mother clean up the table. A chorus of gratitude followed after from the rest of the table. "Would you like to me to wash the dishes?" He noticed out of the corner of his eye that his father had disappeared from the kitchen.
His mother waved him off. "No need. I'll just scourgify them later."
"You know, you're going to make Nimsy angry if you do all the housework," Sirius warned her. "You know how they get."
Lily sighed. "We came to an agreement. I have the kitchen and she can have the rest of the house. I enjoy cooking too much to give it up." Harry returned with her to the table. She looked over at Remus. "Did you look at his hand?"
Remus nodded. "It's healing well. The flitterbloom potion did its job well. However, it's going to scar, I'm afraid," he added, glancing at Harry. "Dark magic scars rarely go away. But I'm sure you already know that."
Harry deflated a bit. "I'll add it to the collection."
Sirius patted him on the back. "Don't worry. The chicks love men with scars. Makes you seem mysterious."
James returned, carrying a bottle of firewhiskey and a stack of glasses.
Lily raised an eyebrow. "Dumbledore had good news then?"
"Lady and gentlemen – and spawn," he began cheerfully. "I'm pleased to announce that I have been asked to replace the Um-bitch as Defense Against the Dark Arts professor."
"That's brilliant!" Harry said, excitedly.
Lily leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "Congratulations. Dumbledore's mad to put you in a position of power, but congratulations."
Sirius chortled. "Professor Potter? Moony, I expected. But you? What was Dumbledore thinking?"
James plopped down next to Harry. Remus took the glasses from him and began to pour. "It's mostly a sham. The toad will still be around as Inquisitor." He looked at Harry. "Unfortunately, I'll have to continue her rubbish for the most part. But at least, I'll never give you detention."
"Wicked," Harry grinned. Lily rolled her eyes.
"I'm fairly certain nepotism is frowned upon in academic circles," Remus advised pleasantly.
"Shut it, Moony," he replied, cheerfully. "That speech didn't work when I was Head Boy, and it certainly won't work now."
James handed him a glass, much to his surprise. He sniffed it curiously.
Sirius lifted his glass. "To you, you old Codger. Even though Dumbledore only gave you the position because I am a recently pardoned crazy mass murderer. You're welcome," he ended graciously.
"Cheers!"
Harry took a swig and promptly fell victim to a coughing fit. How can anyone drink this stuff? He wondered, fighting to breathe. It felt like someone had stuck a red hot poker down his throat.
Everyone burst into a fit of laughter.