Chapter Eight – Home?
Three days later Harry was still asking himself how he got through that last afternoon at the hospital with all his body parts intact. True, after a bit of explaining almost everyone was totally fine with what they had seen. Except Ron. Harry still winced every time he thought of the insults Ron had flung his and Ginny's way once the adults had left the room.
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"Bloody hell Potter what do you think you are doing kissing my sister?" During the explanations Ron's face had grown, if possible, redder than it was to begin with. He paced the room menacingly muttering under his breath. Sebastian, as if fearing Ron's anger would lash out towards them, moved even closer to Serena and Jamilah. Hermione stood by the foot of Harry's bed wringing her hands, worry etched all over her face. Ginny stood by Harry's side gripping his hand and not budging an inch, even in the face of her brother's anger. Harry, on the other hand, was still in shock. First, he had finally worked up the courage to actually kiss Ginny. Second, his friends, his aunt, Sirius, Remus, and most importantly, Mrs. Weasley, had caught them in the act. Third, and finally, before he could process any of this, his best friend in the whole world blew up at him. And it didn't seem like Ron was going to calm down anytime soon. "Well? Are you going to answer me Potter? Are you even listening?" Ron stormed to the side of Harry's bed virtually shaking with barely controlled rage. But before Harry could say anything Ginny rounded the bed, stood toe to toe with Ron, and to everyone's surprise slapped him. "Bloody Hell, Ginny!"
"Don't you 'Bloody Hell' me Ronald Weasley; I am ashamed to call myself your sister. Don't you think Harry has been through enough without you tormenting him too? Grow up already! If I want to kiss Harry then I'll kiss Harry and you better get used to it because I like it and I plan on doing it a lot more in the future and nothing you can say or do will stop me." With that said she glared right into Ron's eyes and turned and planted a kiss on Harry in front of everyone that curled his toes. Ron just sputtered and then not knowing what to say he turned and left the room.
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That was the last time Harry had talked to him. Hermione had tried to convince Harry that Ron wasn't really mad at him just shocked that he was interested in Ginny of all people, but Harry knew better. Plus, Ginny said that he was avoiding her at home like she had the plague. Ginny. Now there was a topic that could make Harry smile no matter what was going on around him. Somewhere in the midst of the chaos that had become his life she had become his island, his oasis. When he was with her his problems didn't seem to matter and everything just made sense. But how could he stay with her knowing that her brother, his best friend, would hate him for the rest of his life? And not only that, but also knowing that their relationship was systematically destroying her relationship with Ron?
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Harry's musings were interrupted by a soft knock on his door. He immediately sat up straighter in his bed and called out cheerfully, "come in." Besides when Ginny was visiting this was his favorite time of day. His Aunt Bri stuck her head in the door and smiled at him. She came in and closed the door behind herself.
"How are you feeling today Harry?" She asked him this everyday, like she expected him to answer differently.
"I'm fine Aunt Bri I'm just tired." Here, as childlike as it seemed, she would plop herself on his bed and crawl up to rest her back against the headboard beside him. And everyday he asked her the same question. "Aunt Bri, will you tell me about my parents?" With tears in her eyes she would wrap her arms around him, rest her chin on his head, and tell him stories about Lilly and James and all the wonderful times they had before Voldemort.
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"Harry?" Jamilah was sitting cross-legged in the overstuffed armchair by his bed studying yet again to make sure she was caught up with her year at Hogwarts. Her posture and her intense studying reminded Harry vividly of Hermione and her late night study sessions before end of year exams. Thinking of Hermione lately always caused Harry to think of Ron, and thinking of Ron always brought Harry pain. "Do you think the kids at Hogwarts will like me?"
Harry looked up from his essay he was writing for Snape and smiled at her. "How could they not? You're a wonderful person. Besides, you're related to me, that means everyone but the Slytherins will love you." Harry grinned and wiggled his eyebrows at her and Jamilah burst out laughing. Then softly Harry said, "Well, everyone but the Slytherins and Ron." Harry was almost ashamed of himself as he felt the tears start to well up in his eyes. He could feel Jamilah watching him intently and quickly dropped his eyes hoping she didn't see.
Jamilah reached out and took Harry's hand in hers. Harry still tensed up a little whenever someone touched him, but he was slowly getting accustomed to being touched with love. Jamilah cupped Harry's chin in her hand and forced his head up slowly, meeting his unnaturally bright green eyes with her sparkling blue ones. "He'll come around Harry, I promise. He doesn't hate you, he's your best friend, and he will come back to you." Still holding Harry's hand she stood up, leaned over the bed, and pressed a soft sisterly kiss to Harry's forehead. "I love you Harry, no matter who is or isn't your friend you'll never be alone again, your family will always be here. Don't forget that." Without another word Jamilah turned and walked out the door, closing it softly behind her leaving Harry to his thoughts.
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"More pancakes Harry?" Serena teasingly waved the platter of pancakes under Harry's nose.
Harry grinned, rolled his eyes, and rubbed his stomach. "No thanks Sera, I think eight is about all I can hold at once." The whole table erupted into laughter, everyone was so excited to see Harry doing so well. With just a week to go before the start of the Hogwarts school year, Harry and his family sat around the breakfast table preparing for their trip to Diagon Ally. Sebastian sat beside Harry, his new permanent spot at the table. Sebastian was happier than he could have said to have a new "brother." Yes, he knew that technically Harry was his cousin, but he had a deep feeling that the relationship between him, his siblings, his mother, and Harry was going to be much deeper than that. Add to that equation his two slightly crazy but always fun "uncles" and Sebastian was sure that his family would never be "normal" again.
As if his thinking about them conjured them Sirius and Remus popped their heads in the kitchen door from the family room. "Come on you slow pokes, are we going to Diagon Ally today or not?" Sirius whined playfully. Remus pushed Sirius the rest of the way in the kitchen and everyone laughed as Sirius stumbled and barely caught himself on the table almost turning the table over and dumping its contents on the floor.
"Serves you right," Remus said chuckling. "Never wake up a sleeping werewolf without expecting retribution." Harry, still laughing softly, got up from his spot at the table; put his arm around Sirius, and the two wandered towards the family room talking excitedly. Remus plopped himself at the table and smiled at Bri as she tried to wipe the tears from her eyes without letting her children see them. "Jami, Bastian, Sera, run and get your cloaks and Harry's cloak so we can go. Oh, and Jami, don't forget your wand, we'll want to get Ollivander to check it over." The children excited about their first trip to the famed Diagon Ally scampered up the stairs without having to be told twice. Remus covered Bri's hand with his. "Harry?"
Smiling softly at Remus, Bri nodded. "I'm just so happy. I never realized how much I missed him until now. And I just wish Jamison could meet him. And that Lily and James could see him. They'd be so proud of him. He has been through so much, but look at him, laughing, smiling, teasing the twins, helping Jami study, soothing her fears about being accepted into her class, and believe it or not, he's even helped me to start dealing with the pain of losing Jamison. I know we've only had him for a few days but already I couldn't imagine our family without him."
Remus smiled at Bri, the tears running silently down his cheeks matching the ones she was shedding. "That's what family is, Bri. Harry's never had one, and you've never had one with Harry. He's a pretty remarkable young man, Bri. There may be tough times ahead, some trials, and maybe even some losses, but this family will come through it all the stronger and bonded closer to each other than ever before." The two friends hugged tightly for just a moment and then went to join the little group huddled excitedly in front of the fireplace in the family room.
Bri immediately slipped back into her take charge personality. "Ok Sirius, you go first, then the twins, the Remus, then Jamilah, me, and lastly Harry. Speak clearly, keep your elbows tucked in, and stay put until we all arrive." Here Bri focused her gaze specifically on Serena and Sebastian, "got it?"
They nodded together sheepishly, "Yes mum."
"All right then. Sirius." Bri stepped back and indicated that Sirius should take a pinch of floo powder and get the migration to Diagon Ally started.
Sirius grinned, took a pinch, and threw it on the fire. Saluting the twins playfully he stepped into the fire and called out clearly, "Diagon Ally." With a flash and a loud whoosh he was gone.
Slowly, one by one they made their way through the fire place until Harry was the only one left. Taking a pinch of the floo powder he tossed it on the fire watching the flames turn green. Turning to survey the family room one last time his gaze fell on a framed picture taken just the day before. The whole family, including Sirius and Remus, smiled and waved at him. Harry smiled and waved back whispering softly, "Home. That's where I am. Home at last." Stepping backwards into the fire he exclaimed loudly, "Diagon Ally." And with a flash and whoosh he followed the rest of his family through the floo network.