Disclaimer: I own nothing you may recognise in any of my fics. I simply
borrow the odd character and play with them a little.
Not Alone Anymore – Precious Memories.
~~~
The remainder of the outing was spent visiting each store in Diagon Alley in turn. The last store on their list was the Twins' Joke shop; the shop that Harry himself still had shares in.
After Lily had yelled at both Sirius and James for purchasing some of the items there and warning them both not to pull anything at the school, the party of six made their way back to the Leaky Cauldron to use the Floo again. When they stepped back inside the small pub however, they were met with around 30 reporters.
Groaning out loud, Harry quickly picked up his daughter, making sure her face was carefully out of the line of view of the many flashing cameras around them both.
"Harry, go first and we'll follow." Remus whispered in Harry's ear. The man smiled his thanks before moving through the hoard of reporters, not caring it he pushed any of them out of his way.
"Mr Potter welcome back. Is this your daughter?" One man asked from his right but Harry ignored all questions, focusing on reaching the fireplace he'd earlier that morning stepped out of.
"HEY! MOVE OUT OF THE WAY!" The booming voice of Sirius Black could be heard all over the bar but no one paid him any mind.
"Mr Potter, where have you been for five years?"
"Mr Potter, William Lennet – Daily Prophet, can I ask you-''
"No you can't." Remus snarled from a few feet behind Harry and the Prophet reporter glared at him, keeping his mouth shut.
Growling in irritation, Harry stepped into the fire place, took a handful of floo powder and threw it harshly to the grate below him saying "The three broomsticks." Through gritted teeth.
*
"I don't believe them." James stressed as they all walked back up to Hogwarts. Behind him Harry had kept his eyes downcast.
"You get used to them dad." He muttered dejectedly. In his arms his child was starting to show signs of sleep and he smiled down at her small form. "You alright pup?" He asked quietly. The girl opened her eyes slightly.
"M'fine Daddy. M'tired." She admitted before allowing her eye lids to drop completely.
"I know the Potter family is well known in the world but that was ridiculous." James continued to rant.
"Pipe down Prongs. Harry's famous, deal with it." Sirius patted his godson on the shoulder, offering to take Lily from him. Harry carefully handed the man his daughter, grateful of the break. He didn't mind carrying Lily; it was just that he was beginning to feel tired also. He felt an arm wind its way around his waist and leaned into the touch.
When the group reached Hogwarts they were confronted by an extremely annoyed-looking man of 6ft with black hair and tanned skin. The Headmistress of the school was stood a few feet behind him with her arms folded across her chest; she too looked annoyed but it was focused solely on the man in front of her.
"Minerva, what's the matter?" Harry asked as he stepped up to the front of the group with Remus still attached to him. The Headmistress gave him a sympathetic look before opening her mouth to speak. Her explanation however was rudely cut short by the tall man.
"I am Minister Michael Kenaz." The man said promptly causing Harry to narrow his eyes.
"Minerva?" The saviour of the wizarding world ignored the 'Minister' and looked again at the Headmistress. This seemed to annoy the man more so than he already was. And Harry wasn't inclined to care.
"The mini-'' but again, the woman was cut off by Minister Kenaz.
"Mr Potter, if you please..." Harry snapped his head in the Minister's direction, anger in his eyes.
"If you interrupt the Headmistress again I'll make sure you never interrupt anybody else for the remainder of your career. Do you understand, Minister?" The tall man gulped and nodded. Harry's attention was back on Minerva who looked as though she was trying her hardest to hold in a smile.
"The Minister is here to speak with you and Remus regarding your child. And also he wishes to speak with your parents and Sirius about... well, you can imagine." The Defence Professor nodded his thanks then rounded back on the Minister.
"Let me get one thing perfectly clear to you Minister. My daughter has nothing to do with the ministry. Neither my husband nor myself has anything to do with the ministry, therefore you will be leaving us alone. I cannot speak for my parents or Sirius but I suspect that they wish to be left alone too. Now if you don't mind, my child is tired, she needs to get some sleep." He turned to leave and got all of 3 paces before he was called back.
"Mr. Potter we WILL speak this evening. Your daughter is a danger to the students here and the situation WILL be resolved... Tonight."
It happened so fast that the Minister didn't have time to blink. Harry turned around, grasped the man by the collar and shoved him up against a near by wall. No one looked to be trying to stop him.
"Now I may not have been around for five years, so I don't know you or what you're about. But no one, and I mean no one tells me what my daughter is. She is not a danger to anyone, neither is my husband... or me for that matter." His eyes flashed amber for a split-second before reverting back to the vibrant green that blazed with anger. The Minister's eyes widened in fear.
"M-Mr. P-P-Potter... release me at once." Kenaz demanded, albeit nervously. He obviously began to feel more confident because he had the guts to say what he did next; even though it was a mistake. "You should respect the Minister of Magic, Mr. Potter." The man spat and Harry let go of his collar.
Kenaz stood up straight and flattened out the creases caused by Harry's assault. When he looked up again he found that 'Mr. Potter' hadn't moved away from him at all. In an attempt to go around the obstruction, he side- stepped and made to move forward but stopped as a hand placed itself squarely on his chest.
"Minister Kenaz." Harry drawled, sounding very bored with the situation but no less angry than he was a few moments ago. "You will forgive me if I don't jump into the ministry's lap, won't you?" He turned the Minister around so they were again facing one another. "Now I'll say this once and once only. I don't know what it's like for you up in your fancy office with a secretary to see to your every whim, a junior that likes to kiss your arse at the first opportunity but," He spoke right over the Ministers protests, "down here in reality... we give respect where respect is earned." The young father took a threatening step towards Kenaz. "Now I earned the respect I receive; I defeated Voldemort for you all to live your peaceful and calm lives. But tell me Minister, what you did besides win an election... What did you do that was so great... that I have to respect you?" Sufficed to say, the man remained silent. "I thought so. Now leave me and my family alone." With that, he turned on his heel and stalked down the corridor, his family in tow.
*
"Sirius don't forget to give her this." Harry handed his godfather a vial of the Lupus Potion from the cabinet in his quarters.
"Harry, I'll be fine with her!" The man reassured with a chuckle as he took the vial. "Don't worry. You go talk... ant 'things' with Remus." He ducked the swinging hand aimed for his head and left the room via the Portrait hole with the four-year-old in his arms.
The young werewolf heard chuckling from behind him and turned around to see Remus stood leaning back against one of the sofas with his arms folded across his chest. Sighing, Harry walked over and stood mere inches from his former mate.
"Remus, I..." The other man wrapped his arms tightly around Harry's slender frame. "Gods I've missed you so much." He whispered into Remus' chest.
The older wizard led them both through the rooms and towards the bedroom where they then sat comfortably on the bed.
"Where's your pensive?" Asked the older werewolf and his companion gained a thoughtful expression for a fleeting moment.
"It's in the cabinet with the Lupus Potion. I've got a different method of viewing my memories. So," He said, "what memory do you want first?" Harry asked as he leaned back against the headboard.
"Lily's first smile." came the immediate reply from the other wizard. Smiling, Harry closed his eyes and concentrated, occasionally chanting the odd incantation in Latin.
After a minute, he opened his eyes to see a large screen stationed at the bottom of the bed. On the screen, images flashed one after the other at a fast pace.
"Lily, baby; first smile." The young father spoke clearly. The flashing images stopped on a shot of Remus and Harry's first kiss before moving on. Within two seconds an image of a small baby appeared on the screen.
~Screen-image~
Harry sat on a plush, sheepskin rug in front of a roaring fire in one of the many lounge rooms of the Potter Manor. Before him sat a red and white chequered bean bag and on that sat a small baby. The infant had a wild head of hair, ebony in colour. The child's eyes were such an unusual colour that Harry had only seen them before on one person and one person only.
"You have your Daddies eyes, Lily." He cooed; face alight with love and compassion.
He reached out a finger and gently tickled his daughter's stomach causing her to wriggle. "Yes, you do." His voice had taken on a rather silly-cooing tone. He repeated the words and continued to tickle the child. It happened then.
Her eyes were wide, filled with the happiness and innocence only a child of her age could possibly possess. She opened her mouth and gave her father a large, gummy grin. A grin that he'd remember forever.
~End Screen-image~
The picture on the screen stopped with the happy sight of the infantile Lily smiling up at her Daddy.
"How did it feel?" Remus asked in an almost inaudible whisper. Harry looked at him and smiled sadly.
"It's indescribable. She just smiled like that and... I couldn't believe it. I wish you could have been there." He snuggled up further to his former mate and the other man made no move to turn him away.
"So do I." They both sat there for a while before moving on. "Her first steps."
For the next hour Harry showed Remus almost all of Lily's "firsts" as well as a few other amusing yet embarrassing memories. They laughed as the child threw food at her father's face; they looked on proudly as she pulled herself up using one of the arm chairs by a fire, turned around and walked three steps towards Harry before falling down on her bottom.
The evening was an eye opener for Harry; he'd never shown anybody these before and to now share them with his former mate was... the feeling inside was completely beyond description. It hit home that he was no longer alone, he had a family that loved him. He had his child, his parents, his godfather and his partner. And he loved every minute of it.
That night, the pair fell asleep in each others arms, underneath the covers of the bed in Harry's bedroom.
~~~
With thanks to Heather for editing or... 'beta-ing'. Iuno, but thank you. Also, I'd like to thank Chris, as always, for his input.
This chapter was relatively short due to the fact that my brain was mush throughout its entire development so I apologise if it doesn't meet up to standards.
I hope you enjoyed it. Review! :]
Thank you!!
Not Alone Anymore – Precious Memories.
~~~
The remainder of the outing was spent visiting each store in Diagon Alley in turn. The last store on their list was the Twins' Joke shop; the shop that Harry himself still had shares in.
After Lily had yelled at both Sirius and James for purchasing some of the items there and warning them both not to pull anything at the school, the party of six made their way back to the Leaky Cauldron to use the Floo again. When they stepped back inside the small pub however, they were met with around 30 reporters.
Groaning out loud, Harry quickly picked up his daughter, making sure her face was carefully out of the line of view of the many flashing cameras around them both.
"Harry, go first and we'll follow." Remus whispered in Harry's ear. The man smiled his thanks before moving through the hoard of reporters, not caring it he pushed any of them out of his way.
"Mr Potter welcome back. Is this your daughter?" One man asked from his right but Harry ignored all questions, focusing on reaching the fireplace he'd earlier that morning stepped out of.
"HEY! MOVE OUT OF THE WAY!" The booming voice of Sirius Black could be heard all over the bar but no one paid him any mind.
"Mr Potter, where have you been for five years?"
"Mr Potter, William Lennet – Daily Prophet, can I ask you-''
"No you can't." Remus snarled from a few feet behind Harry and the Prophet reporter glared at him, keeping his mouth shut.
Growling in irritation, Harry stepped into the fire place, took a handful of floo powder and threw it harshly to the grate below him saying "The three broomsticks." Through gritted teeth.
*
"I don't believe them." James stressed as they all walked back up to Hogwarts. Behind him Harry had kept his eyes downcast.
"You get used to them dad." He muttered dejectedly. In his arms his child was starting to show signs of sleep and he smiled down at her small form. "You alright pup?" He asked quietly. The girl opened her eyes slightly.
"M'fine Daddy. M'tired." She admitted before allowing her eye lids to drop completely.
"I know the Potter family is well known in the world but that was ridiculous." James continued to rant.
"Pipe down Prongs. Harry's famous, deal with it." Sirius patted his godson on the shoulder, offering to take Lily from him. Harry carefully handed the man his daughter, grateful of the break. He didn't mind carrying Lily; it was just that he was beginning to feel tired also. He felt an arm wind its way around his waist and leaned into the touch.
When the group reached Hogwarts they were confronted by an extremely annoyed-looking man of 6ft with black hair and tanned skin. The Headmistress of the school was stood a few feet behind him with her arms folded across her chest; she too looked annoyed but it was focused solely on the man in front of her.
"Minerva, what's the matter?" Harry asked as he stepped up to the front of the group with Remus still attached to him. The Headmistress gave him a sympathetic look before opening her mouth to speak. Her explanation however was rudely cut short by the tall man.
"I am Minister Michael Kenaz." The man said promptly causing Harry to narrow his eyes.
"Minerva?" The saviour of the wizarding world ignored the 'Minister' and looked again at the Headmistress. This seemed to annoy the man more so than he already was. And Harry wasn't inclined to care.
"The mini-'' but again, the woman was cut off by Minister Kenaz.
"Mr Potter, if you please..." Harry snapped his head in the Minister's direction, anger in his eyes.
"If you interrupt the Headmistress again I'll make sure you never interrupt anybody else for the remainder of your career. Do you understand, Minister?" The tall man gulped and nodded. Harry's attention was back on Minerva who looked as though she was trying her hardest to hold in a smile.
"The Minister is here to speak with you and Remus regarding your child. And also he wishes to speak with your parents and Sirius about... well, you can imagine." The Defence Professor nodded his thanks then rounded back on the Minister.
"Let me get one thing perfectly clear to you Minister. My daughter has nothing to do with the ministry. Neither my husband nor myself has anything to do with the ministry, therefore you will be leaving us alone. I cannot speak for my parents or Sirius but I suspect that they wish to be left alone too. Now if you don't mind, my child is tired, she needs to get some sleep." He turned to leave and got all of 3 paces before he was called back.
"Mr. Potter we WILL speak this evening. Your daughter is a danger to the students here and the situation WILL be resolved... Tonight."
It happened so fast that the Minister didn't have time to blink. Harry turned around, grasped the man by the collar and shoved him up against a near by wall. No one looked to be trying to stop him.
"Now I may not have been around for five years, so I don't know you or what you're about. But no one, and I mean no one tells me what my daughter is. She is not a danger to anyone, neither is my husband... or me for that matter." His eyes flashed amber for a split-second before reverting back to the vibrant green that blazed with anger. The Minister's eyes widened in fear.
"M-Mr. P-P-Potter... release me at once." Kenaz demanded, albeit nervously. He obviously began to feel more confident because he had the guts to say what he did next; even though it was a mistake. "You should respect the Minister of Magic, Mr. Potter." The man spat and Harry let go of his collar.
Kenaz stood up straight and flattened out the creases caused by Harry's assault. When he looked up again he found that 'Mr. Potter' hadn't moved away from him at all. In an attempt to go around the obstruction, he side- stepped and made to move forward but stopped as a hand placed itself squarely on his chest.
"Minister Kenaz." Harry drawled, sounding very bored with the situation but no less angry than he was a few moments ago. "You will forgive me if I don't jump into the ministry's lap, won't you?" He turned the Minister around so they were again facing one another. "Now I'll say this once and once only. I don't know what it's like for you up in your fancy office with a secretary to see to your every whim, a junior that likes to kiss your arse at the first opportunity but," He spoke right over the Ministers protests, "down here in reality... we give respect where respect is earned." The young father took a threatening step towards Kenaz. "Now I earned the respect I receive; I defeated Voldemort for you all to live your peaceful and calm lives. But tell me Minister, what you did besides win an election... What did you do that was so great... that I have to respect you?" Sufficed to say, the man remained silent. "I thought so. Now leave me and my family alone." With that, he turned on his heel and stalked down the corridor, his family in tow.
*
"Sirius don't forget to give her this." Harry handed his godfather a vial of the Lupus Potion from the cabinet in his quarters.
"Harry, I'll be fine with her!" The man reassured with a chuckle as he took the vial. "Don't worry. You go talk... ant 'things' with Remus." He ducked the swinging hand aimed for his head and left the room via the Portrait hole with the four-year-old in his arms.
The young werewolf heard chuckling from behind him and turned around to see Remus stood leaning back against one of the sofas with his arms folded across his chest. Sighing, Harry walked over and stood mere inches from his former mate.
"Remus, I..." The other man wrapped his arms tightly around Harry's slender frame. "Gods I've missed you so much." He whispered into Remus' chest.
The older wizard led them both through the rooms and towards the bedroom where they then sat comfortably on the bed.
"Where's your pensive?" Asked the older werewolf and his companion gained a thoughtful expression for a fleeting moment.
"It's in the cabinet with the Lupus Potion. I've got a different method of viewing my memories. So," He said, "what memory do you want first?" Harry asked as he leaned back against the headboard.
"Lily's first smile." came the immediate reply from the other wizard. Smiling, Harry closed his eyes and concentrated, occasionally chanting the odd incantation in Latin.
After a minute, he opened his eyes to see a large screen stationed at the bottom of the bed. On the screen, images flashed one after the other at a fast pace.
"Lily, baby; first smile." The young father spoke clearly. The flashing images stopped on a shot of Remus and Harry's first kiss before moving on. Within two seconds an image of a small baby appeared on the screen.
~Screen-image~
Harry sat on a plush, sheepskin rug in front of a roaring fire in one of the many lounge rooms of the Potter Manor. Before him sat a red and white chequered bean bag and on that sat a small baby. The infant had a wild head of hair, ebony in colour. The child's eyes were such an unusual colour that Harry had only seen them before on one person and one person only.
"You have your Daddies eyes, Lily." He cooed; face alight with love and compassion.
He reached out a finger and gently tickled his daughter's stomach causing her to wriggle. "Yes, you do." His voice had taken on a rather silly-cooing tone. He repeated the words and continued to tickle the child. It happened then.
Her eyes were wide, filled with the happiness and innocence only a child of her age could possibly possess. She opened her mouth and gave her father a large, gummy grin. A grin that he'd remember forever.
~End Screen-image~
The picture on the screen stopped with the happy sight of the infantile Lily smiling up at her Daddy.
"How did it feel?" Remus asked in an almost inaudible whisper. Harry looked at him and smiled sadly.
"It's indescribable. She just smiled like that and... I couldn't believe it. I wish you could have been there." He snuggled up further to his former mate and the other man made no move to turn him away.
"So do I." They both sat there for a while before moving on. "Her first steps."
For the next hour Harry showed Remus almost all of Lily's "firsts" as well as a few other amusing yet embarrassing memories. They laughed as the child threw food at her father's face; they looked on proudly as she pulled herself up using one of the arm chairs by a fire, turned around and walked three steps towards Harry before falling down on her bottom.
The evening was an eye opener for Harry; he'd never shown anybody these before and to now share them with his former mate was... the feeling inside was completely beyond description. It hit home that he was no longer alone, he had a family that loved him. He had his child, his parents, his godfather and his partner. And he loved every minute of it.
That night, the pair fell asleep in each others arms, underneath the covers of the bed in Harry's bedroom.
~~~
With thanks to Heather for editing or... 'beta-ing'. Iuno, but thank you. Also, I'd like to thank Chris, as always, for his input.
This chapter was relatively short due to the fact that my brain was mush throughout its entire development so I apologise if it doesn't meet up to standards.
I hope you enjoyed it. Review! :]
Thank you!!