Chapter 19

Settling In - Part One

Everything had been moved to Grimmauld Place by lunchtime. Harry had been responsible for transporting everything there, while Hermione and Jamie had sorted their things out from the rest so they could go straight into their own rooms. Now he was just waiting for them. Hermione had asked him to give her and Jamie a few minutes on their own to say goodbye to the house, so he'd apparated back and since Jamie was too young, they were going to floo.

So he was stood in front of the fireplace, waiting. Actually he was pacing in front of the fireplace. He wasn't scared they weren't going to turn up this time, he was just worried in case they didn't like the house. In case they preferred living in France, without him. For some strange reason Harry found himself trying to make his hair lie flat. It was ridiculous really; Jamie's hair was nearly as messy as Harry's and Hermione had known him forever and wouldn't be bothered would she? He remembered when she used to tease him about his untidy hair and how he used to spend hours before a date trying anything to make it flatter, always without success. Then one time she'd caught him trying to make it flat by magic and had got really cross with him. He'd been totally baffled until she confessed that she liked his unruly hair, almost as much as his eyes, which he knew she adored. He stopped fidgeting with his hair and instead occupied his hands by flicking through a book.

As soon as he heard them arriving he discarded the book and moved further towards the fireplace to greet them. Unfortunately he moved too far forward and collided with a dizzy Hermione. As Harry gazed down at her, he felt someone's eyes on him, and remembering where he was he got up suddenly and helped Hermione to her feet.

"Sorry." He said apologetically.

"It's ok."

"Hey!" he said to Jamie.

"Hi" came the reply, but the voice was not the happy one Harry had been used to hearing; Jamie sounded sad. Harry realised he must be sad to be leaving his house, but earlier Jamie had been happy at the thought of coming to England, to live with him. Harry felt worried; he wondered if Jamie had changed his mind about wanting to move, about wanting to live with him. He felt sick; it was his fault Jamie was unhappy; he should have moved to Paris, that way Jamie would still feel settled.

She saw the frown form on his face and noticed the guilt in his eyes. She'd known he'd blame himself for asking them to move and she was right. But as well as Hermione knew Harry's ways of thinking, she knew Jamie's better. She knew he was happy to be here, happy to finally have Harry in his life, and just a little sad at having to leave the house he'd always known. And she knew all it would take to cheer him up; and that would cheer up his Dad as well.

"Is everything put in the right room Harry?"

"Huh?" he mumbled. "Yeah-um- all the boxes from the house are put in the rooms you put on the labels, ready for you to sort them out. Your stuff is in your bedroom and Jamie's is in his room." Harry finished, unhappily.

She saw Jamie's ears twitch slightly and continued-

"So do you think we ought to unpack the house stuff first, or our own rooms?"

"Dunno."

"What do you think Jamie?"

He shrugged his shoulders a little too quickly and thought about it for a few minutes-

"We could unpack our bedroom stuff first and then the house stuff, and then that way if we don't finish unpacking all the house things today, then at least we've already unpacked out own rooms before bedtime." Jamie said proudly.

"That's a great idea sweetheart." Hermione replied, resisting the urge to smile- "Harry did you say Jamie's room is finished or is it one of the rooms that needs redecorating?"

Jamie's eyes light up as he turned to face his father.

"Well I decorated it." And then-seeing Jamie smile- said "but if you don't like it we can change it when we've finished unpacking."

"Good-that's sorted then." Hermione said, ruffling Jamie's hair. "So Harry-why don't you show us Jamie's room.

Harry was feeling better when they arrived outside Jamie's new room. Jamie smiled when he saw the "Jamie's Bedroom" sign on the outside, with a realistic Gryffindor lion above it-

"Wow!" Jamie said "That's so cool- mum look its just like a Gryffindor lion."

"Yeah" Hermione said. She was smiling too, Harry noticed.

"Gonna go in then?" said Harry.

Jamie rewarded him with a huge, familiar grin before opening the door. He yelled for joy when he saw it. He seemed to be trying to take it all in at once-

"Wow! Quidditch!!! Quidditch stuff mum!! In my room! Look at that-I want a broom like that – Wow – that looks so cool-"

This went on for some time and Harry and Hermione just stood there beaming at their little boy. Then Jamie ran up to them both and gathered them all together in a huge hug, still squealing in delight.

It took them both by surprise, but they hugged him back-

"So you like your new room?" Hermione asked.

"Its BRILLIANT!!" Jamie yelled. "Thanks" he said.

"Your Dad did all this not me sweetheart." Hermione said standing up from the family hug. She was near to crying she knew, but was determined to keep it together. But then Jamie turned to his Father and looked right into his eyes and said "Thank you Daddy – it's brilliant!" They hugged, and tears leaked silently from her eyes. She met Harry's and noticed he was crying too.