Author's Notes:
Aw, thanks for reading guys! I'm glad you guys enjoy the story thus far (I was trying not to make it too boring before I could really dive in.) Slight, intended minor slash in this chapter, but nothing major. Enjoy!
Lament of Innocence
Chapter Two: Amusing Boredom Leads to Unexpected Surprises
This was exactly why he never left the house.
He had been here all of ten minutes and he was already pissed off–not to mention bored–to hell.
His dad had all but pinned him down to the ground to put that stupid glamour spell on him before he was whisked away to Diagon Alley. Once there, he was told they would be meeting with a family friend–even though Harry had never met them before–and he was to spend the day with their son, whom was the same age he was before they all took him to dinner in celebration of his birthday.
"Happy Birthday Harry, you get a play date," he's joked sarcastically. His father had glared daggers at him and warned him to 'play nice' with the teen, whom also happened to be his godson.
Harry had simply rolled his eyes and decided to play along. Besides, his 'simple' plan could be carried out easier this way.
However, when he met the blond, he couldn't help but be thunderstruck.
He was, for lack of a better word, beautiful. Pale skin with thin, finely manicured hands, lean yet just muscular enough that his frame seemed fragile and delicate, yet eloquent and strong. Golden hair that reached his shoulders. Sharp stormy gray eyes that pieced through any and all things they looked at. A cold, yet calm demeanor though is face remained expressionless.
Oh yes. Harry could play nice.
Or at least, he had been willing to the first five minutes he'd known him–or maybe it was lack of knowledge of the boy that made him bearable at the time.
They went through the introductions, the family had been revealed to be the Malfoy's, the elder looking exactly like his son, though with a colder demeanor and longer hair. His wife was a beautiful vixen with golden curled hair and an almost impish smirk that made her look seductive.
Their little dragon, an only child, had shaken his hand firmly, Harry noting the blond was studying him before he finally pulled his hand away. (Or rather, Harry raised an eyebrow, squeezed his hand, gave him a little smirk and wink with a slight and unnoticeable tug before the blond's eyes flashed with surprise for a brief moment before he ripped his hand away swiftly.)
So the parents went off to have their little conversations and catch up while dragon—or Draco–explained that they would head over to The Leaky Cauldron before properly showing him around Diagon Alley.
It had been there, after taking a both far from the prying eyes of the other curious wizards and witches that Harry came to realize three annoying facts about one Draco Malfoy:
1. He talked. Far too much. About stupid, insignificant things he couldn't give a shit about.
2. He apparently, was straight. Maybe.
3. Draco + Lucius (his father) Puppet + Puppet Master.
All things Harry was more than willing to try to change though...not right at this second.
He sighed deeply as he rolled his eyes in a slow, dramatic fashion, not surprised at all that Draco was so busy listening to himself talk that he hadn't noticed.
"...father was so displeased, that he–"
"And I'm sure children everywhere coward in fear and clung to their mother's girdles or dresses or whatever," Harry replied loudly, cutting the teen off as he stood to his feet abruptly and started to walk away from the surprised–and now irritated– aristocrat.
"Where are you–"
"To the bathroom. Don't get up, I can find it myself. Just sit there. And um...entertain the masses," Harry added with a slight hunch as he quickly made his way around a few tables and ducked into a room with a door labeled "Wizards".
Five minutes. That's all he needed. Thirty minutes. About an hour away from the rather annoyed drawl of the blond dragon and Harry would be able to survive the rest of the day, thinking of ways to spike his father's drink without him noticing so he could laugh at how ironic it was to poison a Potion's Master.
Harry looked around the room, realizing quickly that it was empty before waltzing into a bathroom stall near the end farthest form the exit before closing the swinging the door to block himself from any curious spectators should anyone happen to walk in before he could finish.
He took his glasses that he's snuck in his inner robe pocket out and put it on the top of the toilet tissue dispenser. His father had placed charm to correct his vision but he knew as soon as he dispelled the glamour charm, he would be back to his near sighted self.
He could only hope against hope that Draco wouldn't recognize him: after all, his new appearance made him look as though he had more of his father's features: the wispy, almost greasy like hair, coal eyes and hook nose, instead of his mother's. So once he looked back to normal, he was sure the blond wouldn't recognize him. No one would–except for his father. Who would burst a blood vessel as soon as he saw him out of that stupid charm. And thus, making his day completely before he was punished into oblivion.
He took a deep breath and stating the incantation, pointed his wand at himself and began the counter spell. Within three minutes, his emerald eyes could barley see his hand in front of him, his wild raven hair had returned, layered and all over the place and his nose was small and normal size again, his skin tone just a bit more tanned than it had previously been. (Though barely noticeable.)
He put his wand away and placed his Ben Franklin glasses over his eyes before slowly opening the door to his stall and walking over to the mirror over the sink to examine himself. He smirked. Perfect, he was completely back to normal, down to his smirk.
"Julian! There you are mate!" a voice called to him, almost sounding relieved. Harry snapped his head in the direction of the exit just in time to see another teen completely entering the room. He was tall, maybe six feet and a few inches, with short red hair, a face spotted with light freckles and sparking sapphire eyes that was studying him curiously as his face screwed up into confusion.
Harry raised an eyebrow at him as the boy frowned. "Hey...what'd you do to your hair? And your eyes?"
Then the red head smacked his forehead, letting a 'duh' look cross over his face before he shook his head in shame and rolling his eyes slightly. "That's right! You tried out some of Fred and George's 'Caramel Apples' earlier today. I knew they put something in them–they wouldn't let mum have one after all. Must be a side effect, right?"
"Uh...yeah." Harry replied, rolling his eyes slightly before walking past him and heading for the exit.
"Hey wait!" he called, grabbing his arms and causing Harry to glance back at him in irritation. "Where you goin?" the red head insisted, pointing his thumb over his shoulder and pointing toward the exit. "We gotta go! Mione and Liz are in the bookstore and I told them I'd only be gone for a second And we better hurry," he paused to role his eyes. "You know how Mione gets about books!"
Harry continued to study the red head. He was a bit on the lanky side. And he wore second hand clothing: a pair of faded jeans, dirty sneakers, and a plain white–or what he assumed was white at one time because now it was beige– t-shirt.
He looked rather simple– not very attractive though not ugly either. Harry tilted his head to the side slightly, contemplating his next step. He defiantly wasn't attracted to him–not even remotely– but never the less, since the red head already seemed to think he was someone else, why not have a little a fun with him? He was bored after all and he needed something of interest to occupy his time before his father finally came hunting for him and seeing the charm broken, flip out in the middle of wherever they would be and scare every sane wizard or witch for miles.
"Julian? Anybody home?" the red head laughed, waving his hand in front of his face and Harry blinked out of his thoughts and gave him a sly–flirtatious–smirk. "What's your name again?"
The towering teen stared at him confused, not catching on to Harry's sudden demeanor change. "Ron. You know that."
"Ron– sil-ly me, of course I remember your name is Ron," Harry cooed as he sauntered over to the teen that was now glaring at him as if he were the craziest person he'd ever met. Harry stood on his tiptoes so he could wrap his arms around the boy's neck before he let his left hand play with his short hair.
"But I think I like WonWon better," he smirked seductively, bringing his face inches from Ron's, hiding his mirth as he caught blue eyes darting around the room as if looking for the nearest exit.
"Julian...are you alright mate?" he laughed nervously, trying to look anywhere but in Harry's face. "W-what are you playin at?"
Harry took the same hand that was playing with Ron's hair and put it to the side of his face, using his index finger to turn his face back toward him, the tip ghosting over his cheek before he began wrapping a strand of loose bang around it playfully.
"Wooon" he sang seductive and followed the notion with a slight giggle and the red-head's eyes went as wide as saucers as he tried to bring the red head's lips down on his own...
0o0o0o0o0o0o About twenty seconds later... o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"Won-Won wait!" Harry pouted trying as hard as he could not to break the act and burst into laughter as he sped after the sprinting red head who looked back at him over his shoulder , his eyes widening in slight fear before he ducked into a bookstore called Flourish and Blotts.
He had never seen anything bolt as fast as this guy had when he thought he was going to be pulled into a 'man kiss'. Ron, or 'Won' as he'd been calling him, had down right whimpered before pushing him back into the sink and bolted as fast as he could clear out of the bathroom, then tavern.
"Wooon!" he screamed at the top of lungs in desperation, not caring that he was causing a scene and gathering odd and startled looks–after all, if worse came to worse, this 'Julian' person would more than likely take the blame. "Woooon baby! Come baaaack!"
He threw open the doors to the bookstore and all but stormed in, his eyes darting around quickly trying to spot something 'tall' with a mop of scruffy red hair on top of it's head.
"Woooon..." he whispered in a playful tone as he began to look around the store, a predatory smirk playing over his lips. "You're too tall to be playing hide n seek Wooon."
He saw a flicker of red sink low and smirking, he waltzed over in that general direction, ducking behind a bookshelf close by once he realized the boy wasn't alone.
"...and he tried to kiss me!" He heard Ron's desperate–and slightly disgusted voice whisper. 'I was about to kiss him and he's the one complaining,' Harry thought to himself with a frown as he slowly slide a thin book out of it's spot on the shelf and peered though the hole it created to the other side, seeing Ron standing there, with two girls he didn't recognize.
"Oh Ron, are you absolutely sure?" a girl with chestnut bushy hair and a arm load of books asked him with a skeptical glance before going back to browse the bookcase on the other side of the trio.
"Why yes Hermione, I am absolutely sure when my best mate tries to kiss me!" Ron snapped angrily and the second girl, one with raven black hair that he wasn't sure what it was doing, pulled herself away from the bookshelf Harry was peering though to put an arm around his shoulder and ruffled his hair with her free hand. "Aww. Ron's finally got himself a boyfriend! And with my whittle cousin no less! And here I thought you'd stay dateless forever."
"It's not funny," Ron snapped, pulling back from her and bumping hard into the bookcase, making it connect with Harry's nose and thus, making him step back and mutter a curse. Unbeknownst to him, all three teenagers heard him and the raven haired girl, noticing the missing book hole, peered through it.
"Hey, there's Juli," she replied, pulling back enough so she could point down at him and Harry looked up in time to see her hand disappear, followed by three sets of footfalls that were advancing on him.
"Great," he muttered, still touching his nose just as the trio appeared in front if him. He gave them a curt nod, finally releasing his nose when he realized it wasn't bleeding.
The trio stared at him, Ron hiding behind both of them, the raven haired girl glancing over his appearance looking mildly interested while the bushy haired girl frowned at him, her eyes trained upward.
"What happened to your hair?" she asked curiously.
"What happened to your hair?" he countered bluntly and she looked a little startled by his response and tone.
"Hey mate, what's your problem?" Ron snapped, coming out of his frightened state and Harry instantly pretended to flinch and look ashamed.
"I'm sowwy Won-Won," he sighed as he took the few strides needed to be right next to the boy, passing between the two girls before snaking his arms around Ron's waist and rested his head on his now stiff shoulder. "I got my hair done for you and when she made fun of it–"
"I was not making fun of your hair Julian, I was simply inquiring–wait," she took a moment to properly look at the situation, Ron glancing over at her then down at Julian with a 'Help me!' look plastered on his face while the raven haired boy glanced over at her, frowning. "Julian–what are you doing? With Ron?"
"Cat-fight," the raven haired girl coughed, looking more than amused as she leaned back on the bookcase Harry had been peering through.
Harry pretended to glare daggers at her before wrapping his arms tighter around Ron. "Why do you want to know? What business is it of yours?"
"Yeah Hermione, what business is it of yours?" the raven haired girl teased with a knowing grin and the bushy haired girl shot her a look before glaring back at him. "I was simply curious is all! You certainly didn't like Ron–in this manner– this morning!"
"How do you know that Hermi–hemi–girl with strange bushy hair!" he snapped immaturely, cursing her silently for having a name he couldn't pronounce as of yet.
Well whatever she was about to say faded from her lips as instead, she took the time to study him further with a quizzical frown, taking a few steps closer to him, her eyes narrowing as she studied his face closely first, then his wardrobe.
Harry faked an annoyed grimace and buried his face in Ron's shoulder. "Make her stop Wonny!"
The red head sighed and looked down at the bushy haired girl. "Give it a rest Mion–wait! Get off of me!"
He pushed him a back but not successfully completely off. But Harry let him go nonetheless and stomped his foot and glared at Ron in mock hurt.
"Ronald!" he snapped, remembering his full name that the bushy haired girl had called him. "You promised you would acknowledge me in public! Did you just say all those things to get in my bed!"
Even if he didn't know the people, the expressions were priceless. Hermiowhatever had snapped her head up to glare at Ron in pure shock, her eyes wide and ablaze as the red head's mouth flew open so wide that a thousands flies could come in. Meanwhile, the raven haired girl was sliding down the bookcase in a fit of full blown laughter that had her face turning red.
"Julian, I never–Mione! He's lying! We're not–!"
"Is this the whore you're trading me for," Harry snapped melodramatically, pulling away from Ron finally and glaring at Hermione. "What does she have that I don't Ronald!"
"Breast!" the red head snapped before both glared at him for his bluntness but Ron glared at Harry. "And we never went out! What the hell is wrong with you mate? What the hell did George put in those damn apples!"
Harry opened his mouth to protest but instead , looked past them to see an approaching blond he hoped he wouldn't run across until dinner. He knew he said he only needed a two hours, but he was having a far more pleasant time without him...
"Well, well, if it isn't Potty and his little followers," Draco Malfoy sneered, looking from person to person before finally letting his gaze rest on him.
"Bugger off Malfoy, we're not in the mood," Ron snapped angrily at him.
"You tell him Won-won," Harry beamed and Ron glared down at him while Harry simple gushed and clung to his arm.
Malfoy paused to look at the scene for a brief moment before scuffing, a nasty smirk forming on his lips. "So, kissing up to the Potters finally benefitted you, eh Weasel?"
"Shut your face, ferret," Ron snarled but Draco didn't look phased in the very least and turned his attention to Harry. "I would have thought you'd have better taste Potter," he sneered and Harry silently agreed that he did. "But then again, the notion is a bit ridiculous, what with you always soiling yourself with dirty weasels, mudbloods and mangy mutts."
"Watch your mouth Malfoy," the raven haired girl snapped coldly, already back on her feet and no longer finding the situation funny. "'Mangy Mutts' bite."
Draco looked a little unnerved but the look smoothed over into cold indifference as he took the opportunity to sneer at him and Ron again. "I don't have time to watch this disgusting display. I have more important people to find."
Harry groaned inwardly. It was great Draco didn't realize who he was (he'd probably threaten to ' Tell father about this...') but it annoyed him slightly that he was searching for him since he ditched him in the tavern.
"Though sad isn't it Granger?" Draco questioned, giving the bushy haired girl a side glance of ridicule and breaking him out of his thoughts. "You're not even good enough for Weasel."
Harry felt a teeny-tiny pang of guilt as he saw the hurt flash in the girl's eyes–he was after all, just having fun– before it melted into anger as the blond teen smirked at the lot of them before rolling his eyes and turning on his heel to waltz off and continue his search, the raven haired girl growling and swiping her hand at him as if she would scratch him, making Draco nearly jump out of his skin before he all but sprinted away from her, causing her to smile smugly while she flexed her fingers.
Harry frowned inwardly and decided to find out what that was all about later.
"Oh...Julian," Hermione called sarcastically, inches away from Harry now as she glared angrily at him and Harry found himself loosening his hold on Ron's arm in favor of backing away slightly–and right into the raven haired girl who was glaring down at him.
"So Juli," the raven haired girl added, tilting her head to the side as she crossed her arms over her chest and Harry raised an eyebrow. Are they trying–trying being that key word–to intimidate him now?
"Have you seen where my mum went? She was with you last after all. And what happened to you getting your racing broom for this year?" she asked causally.
Harry adverted his eyes and stood up straight, glaring slightly at Hermione in a 'back up' fashion, the girl simply shifting the books she was holding in her arms as she continued to glare at him, Ron simply staring at him with slight confusion and irritation. It was a funny look on the red head honestly.
"Well maybe I didn't want the stupid racing broom," he replied matter of factly. Then he looked at the raven haired girl. "And how should I know where she went? For all I know you mum–"
"Ha!" the raven haired girl shouted, pointing at him and startling both Hermione and Ron. "You're not Julian! He–and embarrassing enough Uncle James– practically begged Aunt Lily to let he get a new broom for this Quidditch season and my mum is a 'he' not a 'she'!"
It became silent for a second and Harry blinked at her. "Yeah that's something you want to shout to the heavens: my mother's a guy!"
She glared at him. "My 'mum' is the best 'mum' in the world and if you insult my 'mum' one more time–"
"I insulted her–er–him as much as I said I was this Julian guy he keeps accusing me of," Harry replied matter of factly, pointing in Ron's direction with his thumb and Ron's mouth flew up as he pointed back at him with his index finger but Harry cut him off before he could begin. "I never once said I was Julian. You said I was Julian. I was just goofing around cause you know–boredom."
He let a false bright smile form on his lips at the red head's dumbfounded look before he stuck his right hand in his pocket and waltzed away, giving a curt nod a the raven haired girl before giving Hermione a little finger wave. "See ya bushy."
"Hermione! My name is Her-mi-o-ne!" she snapped angrily, dropping her books and glarind down at them, let out a frustrated sigh as she bent down to pick them up, pausing to glare down the aisle at his retreating form disappearing behind the bookcase to their left.
"And my name is Jul-i-en!" a short haired raven boy screamed right in Ron's ear, making him jump slightly as he came to stand right by his the raven haired girl, a smile plastered on his face and his new racing broom wrapped and slung over his right shoulder. They all glared at him and his smile immediately faltered into that of confusion.
"Erm...what?"
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o Nightfall: In London Fog's Fine Steak Restaurant o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"Guys! Look!"
The quad looked up in time to see someone heading for what looked like the restroom, his raven ponytail swaying from side to side with each step he took.
"Do you think that's him?" Elizabeth murmured lowly so that the rest of the table–which was comprised of their family save Hermione's and a few missing Weasleys–couldn't hear her.
After telling Julian about the occurrence, they had come up with four different theories about the strange 'Julian' they'd seen:
Elizabeth's Theory: That Julian was playing a prank with them, though he'd insisted for an hour he had nothing to do with the look alike that hit on Ron.
Hermione's Theory: That someone had gotten a lock of Julian's hair and tried to pretend he was him, via Polyjuice Potion, and messed the potion up as it didn't get all of his features right. (And they had no idea how to act like Julian either.)
Ron's Theory: This Julian was from another dimension where the two of them were some kind of couple and had gotten confused because nothing ELSE could explain the weirdness of having a guy, let alone, his best mate hit on him. (Though Lizzy joked it must have been weird for anyone to hit on him and Julian had slapped him over the head while Hermione berated him for having such a 'silly' idea.)
And finally Julian's Theory was that maybe–just maybe–they boy had been Harry. Though why the hell he had a thing for Ron was far beyond him. (One he didn't want to explore.)
In the end, they had decided that they would keep a look out for the boy for there remainder of the trip but until now, as they waited along with everyone else for their main course, they hadn't seen anyone that looked remotely like him..
"He's not wearing glasses," Hermione pointed out in a whisper.
"And his hair doesn't look as unkept either," Julian frowned as Ron got to his feet, ignoring the glare his mother gave him for scrapping the chair against the wooden floor. "Well mate, there is only one way to find out, right? I'll go follow him and if he's the one, I'll bring him back to the table."
"Try not to make out with him on the way," Fred and George finally teased in unison as they both had been listening in on the otherwise private conversation.
Ron glared at them as he began to walk away. "Shut up."
"Ronald!" his mother frowned in disapproval. "Don't tell your brother's to shut up. And where are you going?"
"I'll be a minute mum!" Ron replied, giving a small wave and smile as he kept going. "I need to go to the loo!"
The table watched him suddenly go into a jog and as quickly as he could without sprinting, went into the bathroom.
James looked over at Molly and Arthur. "Guess he really had to go."
Molly sighed. "I suppose. But then Ron has always been in a hurry."
" Unless he's eating," Fred smirked.
"Or sleeping." George finished with a smirk of his own.
"Or when he's hanging around Her-mi-o-ne," Ginny teased, poking the bushy hair girl on the side as she blushed, giving a shy smile and hid behind her menu.
"The kids are growing up so fast," Lily smiled, looking at Molly who nodded agreeing before smiling and clasping her hands together. "Soon my little Ronald will be all grown up and before Arthur or I know it, he'll be married and have his own little Weasley's running around."
At this point, everyone save Molly and Lily (though Lupin not so obviously) looked directly at Hermione and this caused a few of them to snort in their laughter while Hermione decided it would be a great time to try and sink underneath the table. Feeling a little sympathy for her, Lupin finally spoke up, turning his attention to Mrs. Weasely. "I don't think Ron's quite ready to settle down, if at all, find a girlfriend. He may be interested in anyone."
Mrs. Weasley, never missing a beat, shook her head. "My Ronald can be a little oblivious sometimes but Hermione's such a smart girl. I'm sure she can get him to see things clearly sooner or later."
This time nearly the entire table erupted into laughter while Hermione tried in vain to shrink out of sight before shooting up and pointing, looking far to relieved. "Look! Ron's coming back!"
The entire table looked up to see the red head coming their way–or rather storming his way–back toward them only he was dragging someone behind him.
"Where the fuck are doing?" they could hear the raven haired boy snap loudly but Ron refused to hear any of it as he dragged him behind him, heading toward the large table in the corner. As they got closer, they could see the boy's hair was long and indeed shaggy but his face was hidden by the fact he had his head down just enough for the side of his hair and his bangs to cover it.
But he must have been the right boy because Ron had brought him along. But then again–this was the same Ron that thought his best mate was hitting on him after knowing him for fifteen years.
"Are they holding hands," George smirked to Fred and said twin raised an eyebrow as they continued to watch, Hermione shooting them a disapproving glare before turning her own attention back to the approaching pair.
" I certainly hope it's the right one, I'd hate to think your boyfriend dragged some perfect stranger out of the loo just to prove your point," Elizabeth muttered to Hermione and at this, the bushy haired girl looked up and frowned. "Me either. Though it's nice to have Ron's stubborn streak on my side for once. "
"So he IS your boyfriend then?" Julian teased and she flushed pink before snapping her head in his direction. "I never said that!"
"But alas, you didn't deny it," Julian teased with a hopeless sigh.
Hermione opened her mouth to retort but was silenced by the angry fuss of Molly Weasley. "Ron!" she cried as she stood, loud enough to get a few stares and causing Arthur, James and Sirius to pretend like they just weren't sitting there. "Put that boy back this instant!"
"But mum, I had to bring him over for Elizabeth!" Ron all but whined and Lupin immediately sent his daughter a disapproving glare while Sirius raised an eyebrow at his daughter. She then gave nothing in particular a side glance while she yawned out, "And you're welcome to leave me out of this Won-Won."
He shook his head. " Not just Liz–but me and Mione and Juli as well."
"'Juli'," the raven haired boy scuffed. Ron glared over at him but turned his attention quickly back to his mother.
"He's here to prove that I'm not crazy," he continued with an almost pleading look and said raven haired boy looked up at him, though his hair was still hiding his face. "So pulling me away from a urinal while I'm peeing just to drag me over to a table full of people I don't know proves you're not crazy?"
Ron cut his eyes at him and glared before turning back to the table. (Though his ears were pink.) "We had to prove we found this guy that looked like a guy we know and now I can prove it!"
"You're sounding saner all the time," the raven haired boy sighed sarcastically trying to pull his arm away lightly only to have it roughly pulled by Ron. He looked up at Ron. "You're so forceful Wonny. You missed me– didn't you?"
"It seems Ron found him," Hermione scowled as the boy snickered while Ron quickly released his arm, then thinking better of it, took hold of sleeve of his shirt instead as tightly as he could.
"Ron, will you take him back where you found him already before his parents wonder if he fell in the toilet?" Auther sighed and the raven haired boy slowly looked the his way but his hair still obscuring any view of his face properly.
"So he normally kidnaps and/or meets people at the restroom. Well that certainly explains things," he muttered softly as if discovering something and Ron yanked his arm roughly.
"Watch it," the red head warned and the raven haired boy smirked. "Again with the forceful behavior WonWin?" And Ron jumped back, letting him go instantly while the boy snickered. "You're so easy to tease it should be a sin."
"Will you knock that off!" Ron snapped before his mother gently pushed him out of her way causing him to whine and back up further as she nudged the raven haired boy further away from Ron softly.
"Sorry about that dear," she replied, glaring at Ron who was rubbing his arm before looking back at the strange boy. "He can be rash."
"So I noticed," he replied sarcastically. "Though it might have been my fault; when a stranger grabs me while I'm in the middle of using the bathroom, I just get a little startled."
He took a small step back to get her to leave his clothes along but Molly didn't seem to notice–or care–as she took a step forward and still fixed them to her liking. "I"m sorry about that dear, though I don't know why he went and grabbed you."
"Maybe he was aiming for something else," Fred and George teased in unison and Elizabeth snorted while Ron turned red and began to ramble a curse at them.
"Here, let's fix those bangs of yours," Molly replied even though she was already pushing his hair back behind his ears, ignoring her son.
Then everyone that wasn't paying attention looked up when she gave a startled cry and jumped back slightly, in turn making the teen leap a little backwards at her sudden movement and louder tone.
"What?" he replied with wide eyes.
But nobody said a word. Lily and James had gotten to their feet, gawking at him as if they were muggles that had seen ghost, Sirius staring at him with his mouth hung wide open, his face completely in shock with a single eyebrow raised, Lupin looked just as shocked though shot worried glances at James and Lily while Arthur looked as though he didn't know what he should be doing.
" He could be his twin,"Fred began, not so quietly to George as they studied the boy, then looked over at Julian who looked as though he'd just seen something straight out of Knockturn Alley. " Good deduction brother dear, save the longer hair and eyes and such–wonder what he sees in our Ronnikins– but do you think he's really him?"
"Only one way to find out," Elizabeth cut in hooping to her feet as she pulled a small comb from her father's back pocket as she passed by him and without warning, she tried racking it through his hair–before getting halfway through and having the comb break in half, a few of the teeth flying all over the place.
The small group stood stunned while she smiled, content, tossing the other half over her shoulder, ignoring Julian's "Ow!" "Yep. He's a Potter all right. "
He cut her a bewildered look as Lily and James made there way around the table closer to him.
"Gracious," Molly gasped, absently reaching to touch his hair, then his shirt as if she didn't believe he was standing there while Sirius pointed to Elizabeth's seat to tell her to sit down (which she complied with) as he tilted his head to the side slightly to get a better look at him.
As Lily took a few timid steps forward toward him, Molly finally stepping back and out of the way, leaving the red haired woman and her husband in clear view to study him closely. Then Lily sniffled, clamping her hands over her mouth before she pressed them together and put them down slowly.
"...Harry?" she called to him softly, her eyes tears falling down her cheeks still studying the boy with awe and hope.
The raven haired boy frowned at her, puzzled then slowly nodded. "Yeah...my name IS Harry...but how do you–"
But Lily caught him off as she erupted into a full sob–one that made her eyes shine as she tried her best to smile at him before she took the few short steps over to him and engulfed him in a tight embrace. "My baby...my little Harry," she sobbed happily.
He froze, his eyes darting around slightly as she continued to embrace him in a strong, motherly fashion before finally pulling away from him, wiping a few tears away from her eyes, laughing softly and hugging him again.
"Um..." he called softly, looking over at her as best he could in concern in the embrace but Lily barely noticed as again pulled out of her embrace just enough to brush a few stands of bang out of his eyes and take a good look at his face again. She smiled brightly at him as she continued to sob. "Where have–how have–are you–" She turned around to look over at her husband. "James! Harry! He's–look!"
She finally let him go and Harry only had a brief second to look–and breath–before James took him into his arms, hugging him tightly as Lily took a few steps back to give them enough room, James closing his eyes to fight back the urge to cry like his wife had.
Fifteen years. He had waited fifteen long years for this moment–to finally be to hold the son he'd lost so long ago in his arms again. To know that his son was alright–alive. There couldn't possibly be a better feeling then one a parent had for their children.
"My boy," he whispered finally before pulling back with a toothy smile, his hands on either of Harry's shoulders while he got a good look at him. "I can't believe it. My son–"
"Get your hands of off my son," a cold voice sneered and everyone looked up to see Severus Snape glaring at the lot of them in disgust, his arms folded over his chest while Lucius Malfoy stood right behind him, his cold gray eyes glaring dangerously at James.
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Author's Notes:
Hope you enjoyed the new chapter. I haven't decided exactly what James will do in the next chapter, though I've got a list. XD Won't say too much else because I have a bad habit of giving away plots. :sobs: Thank you so very much for reading and please leave feedback if you wish! Happy reading!