Realisation.
Em.
Authors note:
Another chapter, that's two in twenty-four hours. I dedicate this chapter to Aaren for not only a long review, but also an empathetic one. I know the last one was short, but I promise RJLL I'd post and post I did and I had to write it then and there, but here's another short one to make up for it. Thank you all for the response and as always here are my replies to each and everyone!
Sakrchan…thankyou. Everything is better in this one and in the next it gets even better than that. I'm really looking forward to writing Dumbledores turn and as you can see I've been building up to it.
Lady foxfire…thankyou.
Luna rose or phoenix child…thankyou.
Nicky…thankyou for realising I hadn't explained the letter, it was late and my mind seemed to have jumped, but all is revealed in this chapter. Thets just consider it an indirect cliffhanger.
Tidmag…thankyou, I'm glad you like my other fic.
Dark Moon…Thankyou.
Laura…Thankyou.
Aeren…Its not a back in time fic, I just used the grim because all Harry Potter fanfic readers should be familiar with it. Genius? Me? I'm flattered. I know this chapter isn't amazing but I wanted to character build, it's the next chapter that I'm really excited about…and when I say excited I'm practically bouncing off the walls, but don't expect it to be for a few days because I want it to be long! Really long!
Swzet…thankyou and I've hurried.
Kuroi Atropos…the beneficial Trelawney has started.
RJLL…I'm glad you like my descriptive skills. Not so great in this chapter, but in the next one I'm going to go all out, of course not too much, a nice balance.
Vmr…thankyou. I still think you should write something or at least set up an account. I've put you down as someone very mysterious. What does VMR stand for anyway?
Little Ear Big Ears sis…thankyou.
Jona…another chapter to make up for the shortness…happy? And when are you going to update?
Nell…I'll keep that suggestion in mind.
The sun burst forth from behind the grey-tinged cloud and shone brightly into the office. The small child flicked open his eyes and began to stir thus waking up the old man that was cradling him. The man smiled a little as if savouring the sight before him, the little treasure that he was holding and then the smile faltered as if he was sad at having to let go of something so precious.
"G…g…good m…morning." The child named Harry mumbled, trying to shake away the last dregs of sleep. "I…I'm s…s…sorry."
"Hush child, you did nothing wrong." Harry began to smile and in his eyes flashed a bout of confidence, growing brighter at the smile mirrored on the old mans face. "How about we have a small picnic by the lake. I know for sure that Minerva will want to come." He paused at the now toothy smile before him. "Of course Professor Trelawney will have to come as well." He added in an almost hesitant manor. The teeth began to disappear, but Harry didn't protest, instead he moved into a more upright position, resting his right hand firmly on the mans chest, revealing a very screwed up and crumpled letter. "What do we have here?" He asked removing it from the child's hand. "A letter, its addressed to you. Do you want me to read it to you?" He asked and was rewarded with a vigorous nod. "Dear Harry, it reads." A small pause. "How are you? I'm fine at the moment and will probably be seeing you soon. Say hello to Moony for me, I hope he's teaching you alright! I still cant gat around the fact that a Marauder is now a teacher. How are Hermione and Ron? I expect the three of you are up to your usual tricks." Albus paused to register the confused look on Harry's face. "You better not be up to too much though, I don't want you getting into any unnecessary trouble although I know my simple letter probably wont change anything. Try to keep to the castle, please? I ate rhubarb crumble with custard today, not a rat in sight! I think I'm going to get fat soon, ah well, you only live once and I've defiantly found that out the hard way. For the umpteenth time I cant tell you where I am, only that I'm safe, as this letter should prove. I've got a roof over my head, my belly is full and as long as you're safe I'm the happiest man alive. Lots of love, Snuffles." Albus finished with a slightly distant look on his face. He'd forgotten to inform Sirius and he didn't know how to break the news to him. Sirius was very compulsive and had a contradictory nature not to mention that he was a family man, Albus wasn't sure whether he'd be delighted that he'd get to spend time with Harry at the age he missed or upset that something was wrong.
"Whose Snuffles?" The boy asked with a clearly evident look of confusion across his face.
"He's your Godfather."
Thirteen minutes later a very hyperactive Harry ran across the grounds towards the lake, leaving the grownups in tow. Albus was walking briskly behind with the same feeling of excitement and a wistful expression. Minerva and Trelawney flanked him from behind, both keeping a safe distance from the other. It was strange to see the boy so happy and so suddenly full of life, when before he was entirely subdued and afraid. As the trio neared the lake they could see Harry thinking deeply and sitting on the grass under the speckled shade of a large tree, his little back leaning against the rough bark. A step on a twig from one of the grownups signalled their arrival and broke him from his reverie; he immediately sat up straight no longer using the tree for support. This action was a sudden reminder that this was not a carefree child. Perhaps a few days of love might make him more at ease, but there would always be a reminder of his terrible childhood. He would not so easily become at ease and what most would consider 'normal behaviour'. It was also then that they could see similarities of this Harry and the Harry they knew. Their Harry was always kind, polite, caring and sometimes tentative, yet always he was strong, outgoing, cheerful and brave for others. Not for himself but for others.
"I…I'm sorry." The boy quietly spoke, his head to the ground or rather his knees that were in the way of the ground. Albus lifted his hand up in a gesture that was supposed to quiet the child and tell him that everything was all right, but his action were misinterpreted and he was met with big, wide eyes, full of shock.
"Hush, you've done nothing wrong. Ly back down, we'll sort out the picnic that the house elves have prepared for us." Any adult not acquainted with the wizarding world would of shouted 'What?' at the referral to the house elves, but Harry being a child dismissed any notion of surprise and excepted that house elves existed and did prepare the picnic, because of his readiness to trust the man and his childish naïveté.
A few minutes later Minerva had spread out a tartan woollen blanket on the grass; perpendicular to the tree and shore of the lake as well as smooth out any sign of a possible crease. Albus had unpacked the basket and was then sat down, cross-legged on the blanket. Trelawney was arranging the food in the most jumbled way possible not only causing Minerva to go slightly red in the face, but making all of her own favourite foods being mysteriously near her and no-one else. Harry had remained seated, looking out at his surroundings. The large expanse of lake before him mirrored the sky. A few ripples were breaking the illusion and catching the sun, making flecks of gold flash valiantly, reinforcing the grandeur of the lake. Large, jutting rocks framed the water, shining where they were wet, their silvery colour making them look cold and uninviting on the warm day. The trees that littered the grounds stood still and cast deep shadows upon the ground, their leaves rustling lightly, making the atmosphere cheerful. A slight breeze swept at the grass making it move and change shade as the light hit it. The faint twitter of far off birds made the too near forest seem less foreboding and just secretive. Harry then got up and made his way towards the others, sitting purposefully between Dumbledore and Minerva.
The quartet began to eat, their silence highlighting every noise they made. Albus decided to eat pudding first, especially because it was a gooey chocolate fudge combination with chopped bananas and cream. Harry, of course took a few sticks of celery, a slice of bread and a Jaffa cake.
"Why don't you have some more food?" McGonnagall asked, trying to coax him out of his shell. He made no move and so she began piling his plate full with a bit of everything. Of course this didn't include desserts, because that was for after the main meal. That was the methodical way, the proper way, the orderly way. The divination teacher was pouring everyone cups of tea save for Harry because Albus gave her a look that could kill. "There you are, a nice big plate of food, just what a growing boy needs." Minerva said smiling, not realising exactly how much she Reminded him of his aunt and his cousin. Yet the words didn't upset him as most would think, they elated him. She was talking to him as a mother does to a son. She was treating him like her son. She loved him. She truly wasn't still mad at all, the picture did work and he was loved.
When the last of the tea was drunk, the divination teacher grabbed Minerva's cup and stared into its depths.
"Oh my, a dark path awaits you! Something to do with a beast, a beast of terror, evil and cruelty!" The now all too common hand on forehead gesture and wail proceeded.
"Piffle!" Minerva exclaimed. "Absolute piffle. For once in my life I have to agree with Serverus, you have as much inner-eye as a blind Cyclops!" she paused for breath but was stopped from further remarks by a scathing remark from the headmaster.
"I think it is time for a game." He said, rescuing the situation by preventing Sibyl from retorting and drawing Harry's attention away from the fight, because it was upsetting him. "How about eye spy." His cheery nature dropped slightly when he realised that eye spy wasn't exactly the best idea after the argument. "I'll begin. Eye spy with my little eye something beginning with B." The others began to look around, trying to spot the object.
"Biscuit."
"Basket."
"Blanket." They all yelled in unison, the old man smiled.
"It was basket, Minerva its your turn."
"Eye spy with my little eye something beginning with T."
"Tree." She shook her head quickly at that suggestion.
"Twig." She nodded with agreement and so it was Trelawney's turn.
"Eye-spy with my inner-eye something beginning with S."
"Stars, um sky." The three playing began shouting out suggestions left right and centre. A little while later the words got more and more obscure until they trailed off into one every few minutes. It was finally Harry that guesses it with 'shriek' when he remembered how fond she was of doing that.
The hours passed by and the sun rolled further across the sky. Somewhere at some point during the game and the activities that followed, the four became friends. Minerva and Trelawney's dislike for each other was mended to be replaced with a little fondness and a little understanding. Harry felt happy and the mother-son and grandfather-grandson bonds were strengthened. It was a content group that made their way back to the castle, their bellies full from the day long snacking and their eyes heavy from all the fresh air. Tonight Harry was going to sleep in the Divination teacher's quarters, but for some reason he didn't feel quite so apprehensive.
Thus ends the seventh instalment.
I want to continue one of my other fics along side this one…which one should it be?
Thankyou for your time.
