December 13: Your Shadow:
"Louis", the raven haired man whispered, crouching down in front of the child's shaking form, green eyes welling with concern, "Louis, what's wrong?"
Louis Potter sobbed, shaking his head as he hid his face in his hands, "Nu- Nothing! N-n- Nothing's wrong. I'm sorry!"
Sighing softly, Harry sat down on the carpet of Louis's bedroom, watching his son. Softly, he asked, "Louis. It's okay if something is wrong. You can tell me.."
"No- Nothing's wrong", the boy interjected, wiping at his cheeks with his hands, "I'm s- sorry for snapping at you and mama. I… I shouldn't have, and it was wrong and -"
His words were cut off as two strong arms wrapped around him in a warm embrace, pulling him in so his eleven year old body was nestled in his father's arms, head resting on his papa's shoulder.
"Shhh", Harry whispered, his voice warm and soothing and safe, "It's okay. I'm here. You don't need to tell me anything. Just let it all out."
With that, the dam broke. Harry cradled his son's form as the young boy's body racked with sobs, tears wetting his shirt. For a while, they just sat there, Louis' sobs the only sound in the room.
Slowly, the crying petered to a halt.
"Louis", Harry said softly, hand rubbing his son's back in gentle, soothing strokes, "Can you tell me what's wrong?"
The young boy nodded shakily. And began to speak.
He told his father of the comparisons, the expectations, the pressure, of how he couldn't seem to find a way out of his father's shadow.
He poured his heart out to his father, and when all was said, there was silence.
Harry said nothing. Yet, Louis could see his father's face. And it spoke volumes. Volumes…. Of anger.
"Those bloody twats!"
Louis blinked in surprise at the curse. He hadn't heard his father swear in front of him or his sister in a long time. Reflexively, he interjected, "Language, papa."
Harry froze, and for a moment Louis wondered if he'd done something horribly stupid.
Then, his father relaxed, chuckling, as he looked back at his son, "Oops. Maybe… not tell your mother about what I just said?"
Louis chuckled as well at his father's sheepish expression. Hesitantly, he spoke up, "So… you're mad?"
"Mad? Of course I'm mad!", Harry exclaimed, "at them!"
"Why?"
"Why? Why wouldn't I be? They're insistent on trying to find me in my son, they're missing the amazing, wonderful, - and handsome, if I do say so myself - individual my son is!"
And in his father's wide green eyes, Louis saw his own beaming face.
His papa saw him for who he was.
He was no longer in his father's shadow.