Chapter six.

Nell's mobile shrilled as they were on their way back to her flat. The two of them had left her mother's house quite late on Sunday night, and Harry hadn't quite woken up for the walk out to the car. He didn't even twitch when Nell pulled to the kerb and answered the call.

"Hello?" she said quietly, keeping an eye on Harry.

"Nell, darling! Where have you been? None of us have seen you for a week – we've been worried sick! And I thought we were going to meet up at McKinnion's tonight. You're about an hour late, which, even for you, is a bit of a stretch. Did you get lost again?"

Nell laughed. "Calm down, Emma. I'm fine, no I'm not lost –"

Her friend cut her off with a laugh. "That'd be a first!"

Nell said, "Oh, ha bloody ha. I thought you wanted to know what was going on?"

Emma sighed dramatically. "Oh, my dear, forgive me! Do go on!"

"Well, as it happens, I've – I'm – I should really tell you this in person, actually. I'm not sure you'd believe me, else." She looked fondly over at Harry. He looked so peaceful curled up on the seat. Even as she watched him, though, he stirred and woke.

"Nell?" he asked sleepily. "Where are we? Are we almost home?" Through the phone, Nell could hear Emma's indrawn breath; she had heard.

Nell moved the phone a bit away from her mouth. "Not quite, Harry," she said. "I just got a phone call, that's all. You can go back to sleep, I'll tell you when we get home."

Harry yawned. "'Kay," he assented sleepily, and curled up once more.

Emma asked quietly, "Who was that? It sounded like a little kid. Nell, have you kidnapped someone? Are you on the lam?" By now she seemed more amused than anything.

Nell took a deep breath. "Not exactly. That was Harry. I'm – I've adopted him."

There was a shocked silence.at the other end of the line. "Okay, that's it," said Emma briskly. "Come to my flat tomorrow at six. Bring – Harry? And be ready to explain yourself!" And she abruptly rang off before Nell could object.

Nell collapsed her mobile and sighed. It wasn't going to be pretty. But she glanced at Harry once more before pulling into traffic again; they'd love him, she just knew it.

They did. Nell dutifully took him with her to Em's flat the next evening. He had been rather petrified, poor darling, at the prospect of another emotional conversation with more people who would think him a freak.

But they walked through the door into a surprise party. Emma, bless her, had managed to pull together a welcoming party for Harry in the seventeen or so hours since she'd learned the news, and a surprising number of people had been able to attend.

At the initial burst of noise, Harry had hidden behind Nell's legs, but he had been willing to be coaxed out and feted by a number of fawning uni coeds. He was entranced with the idea that the party was all for him, shyly confiding that he'd never been to a party before.

Disbelieving, one of Nell's friends had incredulously asked, "Not even your own birthday parties?"

A shadow had crossed Harry's face and he pouted a bit. "I never had a birthday party. Aunt Petunia doesn't like extra mess."

The surrounding celebrants had looked shocked, and the attention paid to Harry was suddenly even more lavish.

Only a little bit away, keeping a weather eye on Harry, was Nell. She was explaining the situation, and had paused in her explanation to allow Emma and Audrey to hear Harry's confession. Understanding and horror had blossomed on their faces; they hadn't wanted to believe that people would be so horrible to a child.

"See?" said Nell softly. "They didn't pay any attention to him, they hated spending time or money on him, and they made him sleep in the cupboard under the stairs. Sometimes, he says, they'd lock him in for punishment. How could I leave him there for a second longer when I heard that?"

Then Audrey was the one to ask the question that she'd come to expect. "But why –"

This time, Nell cut her off. "I just – had to. I'm not quite sure I understand it myself, really. Something about him just –compelled me. Don't you see it?"

Emma and Audrey exchanged a glance. "Well, he is a nice enough lad," Emma said cautiously. "I don't know if I'd go so far as to say compelling, myself. But it's done, all nice and legal, so all that's left for us is to show him the high life!"

"Don't you dare corrupt my precious boy, you harpy!" exclaimed Nell, and the three girls fell into giggles, planning treats and excursions for Harry in the near future.