Chapter 9: Baby Room
Author's Note: This is my favorite chapter in the whole story. It is slightly longer. There are only two more chapters left after this one. I'll probably write a sequel.
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They had finally arrived. He could not believe he was standing in the place his parents' had made their lives and then died at the hands of Voldemort. A wave of undecipherable emotions swept through him. He did not know if he wanted to smile, make a leap of joy, laugh, cry, scream to the top of his lungs, or punch something or someone. He decided to remain as he was, standing near the front door, observing the living room. Sirius had told him before dying that several spells were made to the house to keep it as his parents had left it out of respect. It had remained deserted ever since that fateful night. This always gave him a tiny warm feeling inside. He supposed it was probably gratitude but now he could not really distinguish what he was actually feeling anymore. So many strong emotions were there that he had never felt before, that it was hard to set one apart from the other.
He walked around the living room, not really looking. It was too hard. The walls and spaces were covered with pictures; pictures that he knew he would not stand watching. After all they represented what had been ripped away from him. Ron and Hermione watched him cautiously. They were not sure as to what to do.
"Are you alright, mate?" Ron asked him clearly concerned.
"Yeah Harry, you know you can tell whatever it is you are feeling. We are here for you." Hermione told him using the same tone of voice as Ron. He hated making them worry about him.
"I am ok guys. It is just a little weird…being here…"
"Yeah we understand." Hermione started walking towards him.
"I'm going to check upstairs. You two check down here." He had to get away from them. He loved them to death, but if he remained downstairs with them, they were going to make him cry. He chuckled a little at the thought. As he climbed up the stairs, he started imagining things. He started daydreaming about what his life would have been like had his parents still been alive. He set the thoughts aside. He knew they were hopeless.
As he reached the second floor, he looked down the hall to the left. The last door facing him had a sign with little baby animals surrounding it. Harry's room. He stopped breathing. He stood there transfixed, his eyes as big as plates. He could not move. Finally he was able to close his eyes. A few loose tears rolled down his cheeks. He willed himself to walk towards the room. He reached the doorknob after what seemed like hours. His heart was pounding so hard it almost hurt. His fingers barely touched the knob. He asked himself if he was ready for this. 'Well, you have come this far.' He told himself reassuringly. He opened the door and his heart stopped. He could not believe he was looking through the doorway of his baby room, the room that would have been his, were his parents still alive. The room in which his mother had died trying to save his life. Tears damped his eyes but they did not come. He was in too deep in his state of shock for that.
He looked through the things in the room grabbing a rattle or a toy every now and then. But he refused to look at the pictures. It was too much for him just yet. The room was a mild combination of yellow and blue; with clouds and baby ducks on the walls. Stuffed animals were all over the place as the sole inhabitants. The cradle was in the far side left hand corner. He walked tentatively to it. He looked inside and found a blanket. It was a soft yellow color with the letters 'HJP' in cursive blue handwriting. He grabbed it, looked at it for a long moment, and then shoved it into his backpack. Deciding he could not take anymore, he started towards downstairs. He decided no to investigate anymore, in order to avoid the risk of reaching his parents room. He was definitely not ready for that. He decided to send an owl to Ginny with their location. The letter did not say anything else. His emotions were in a jumble, he would not be able to organize any of his thoughts.
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PS- I know Mrs. Weasley was out of character in the last chapter, but bear with me people. It was for story line purposes. I needed to get Ginny out of the Burrow.