Explanations: Chapter Two
His most spectacular regret sat in front of him in the form of Harry and Rose Potter. 10 years, and not once had Albus Dumbledore, defeater of Grindelwald and the leader of the light, decided to check in on them. After all the shrill whistles of abuse whirled around in his head, it had taken their almost death to finally do them right.
So, with a tight smile, Dumbledore stepped forward introduce himself. "Mr Potter, my name is Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of wizardry and Witchcraft and as to where you are, you are in the home of your mothers Parents…your grandparents."
Harry's attention peaked as he took a look around the room. Looking at the two older people in the room he noticed that the older lady did indeed share his bright green eyes, but she also had Rose's bright auburn hair, flecked with streaks of grey here and there. Her face was kindly and her laugh lines were that of someone who smiled and laughed for most of their life, and yet her eyes also held pain and suffering. The older man in the meantime had lovely deep blue eyes, and greying light brown chocolate hair, much like his Aunt Petunia. However, much like his wife, he too had the signs of a happy and kind face, however it was evident that he was a hard worker. Dotted across his face were the tell-tale signs of hard work, with streaks of dirt still clinging to his pores and scars over some of his face. He felt comfort and love, but still his heart wanted to refuse.
"You're…you're our grandparents?" Harry asked, almost unbelievingly.
Juniper and Alex nodded, tears coming to their eyes as they launched forward and wrapped their grandchildren in tight hugs. "Yes my darlings, we're your grandma and grandpa."
Harry had to choke back a sob as his grandmother wrapped him in a tight hug, the first hug he had received from anyone besides his sister. He stiffened at first, and then relented as an unknown feeling overtook his body. He realised it was love. "W-why are we just meeting now though?" Harry asked through the sobs.
Alexander released his openly sobbing granddaughter and relinquished her only to be immediately be swept up into a tight hug from her grandmother. "I don't know son, but I was hoping the headmaster here could tell us." Alexander said as he took his grandson into his arms. The dark look that crossed Alexanders face would've made any man tremble.
Dumbledore sighed as he ran a hand through his long beard. There was no way of avoiding it now. "I suppose I must tell you all the truth, but for that, I need to explain to you Mr and Miss Potter, just what kind of world I and your mother and father lived in."
Harry sat up on the couch and made room for his grandparents, his grandmother pulling him into a tight hug as Rose took her place on her grandfather's lap. Rose squirmed a little, a bitter memory flooding her mind as she sat on her grandfather's lap, until she felt a loving safety come over her. Only then did she allow herself to relax.
"You see, there exists a world hidden from your own, a world full of magic and wonder. Your grandparents chose to be part of that world and so did your mother when she received her own Hogwarts letter. Your father however was born into the magical world.
"Our world, the magical world, is cut off from the non-magical world, what we call the 'Muggle world', the world in which you have been part of for the majority of your life. Before you were born however, there was a war waging throughout magical Britain. A wizard, self-styled as Lord Voldemort, lead a group known as the Death Eaters, trying to overthrow our government and enforce their beliefs on the world."
Dumbledore had to pause as the memories of those bitter, brutal years came flashing back. An image of an unseeing dark-haired man and auburn-haired woman flashed in his mind. "Your parents, alongside many other brave witches and wizards, fought to stop Voldemort from succeeding. You see, Voldemort believed in what is called pure blood supremacy."
"What's that?" Rose asked.
"It is the belief that witches and wizards who are pure in blood, in other words have both magical parents, are superior to other magical persons, most importantly Muggleborns, who are magical people born to muggles. Your mother was one of these people, whilst your father came from a long line of pureblood witches and wizards, making you two what we call half-bloods."
"Did our family believe in that Professor?" Harry asked.
Dumbledore shook his head, laughter leaving his lips uncontrollably. House Potter, dark? "Certainly not. No, the Potters have for many years been against such acts and beliefs, however this has been received badly in the past."
Harry and Rose nodded their understanding. Deep down inside their hearts they were relieved to hear that their family would never take part in such vile beliefs. "Professor, why did we have to live with our Aunt and Uncle?" Harry asked. A sliver of fear and anger simmered beneath the surface of his heart, supressed by the love flowing freely from his grandmothers' arms.
Dumbledore sighed as he looked at Juni and Alex. "The reason you had to stay with your Aunt and Uncle all stems from the act of sacrifice that your mother performed on the night they were killed, and the night you two were almost killed."
"How did they die professor?" Rose asked timidly.
"They were murdered by Lord Voldemort himself, after your parents refused to join him on multiple occasions. Your mother gave her life to try and protect the both of you and because of that sacrifice, an ancient magic formed a protection around both of you that would protect you from the forces of the darkness." It wasn't a lie, at least not all of it. It just missed key parts. It almost made Dumbledore feel better. Almost.
Dumbledore let out another sigh. "Unfortunately, the protection had to be placed around someone who shared your blood and at the time, the most obvious choice would have been your grandparents, however believe it or not Juniper, Alexander, you were known to the magical world and as such placing the children with you could have been a disaster. Death Eaters would've tracked you down and killed Harry and Rose. Another family had the same happen to them." Dumbledore thought back to another boy he'd almost failed, "So, with that in mind, I formed the protection around your Aunt and Uncles home, knowing that they were unknown to the magical world. However, I did not foresee the harm that would fall both of you from within."
Harry nodded his head in understanding, until another thought popped to the front of his mind. "Why didn't you ever visit us? Any of you?"
Alexander and Junipers eyes widened a bit before they both gave each other a sad look. "Your uncle…he made it incredibly hard for us to see you once they took you in. He went through the courts to make sure that we could never see you again, placing all sorts of restraining orders on the pair of us. We tried…we really did. We tried to get them reversed and tried to fight the orders but they kept being thrown back in our face. Your uncle had quite a bit of money and influence." Juniper took a stuttering breath as she gripped onto Alexanders hand, urging him to continue. "They claimed to the court that your Grandmother and I were unfit to look after you, or even see you. Vernon stated that Petunia had been abused as a child, and the death of Lily was a direct result of that 'abuse'. Codswallop the lot of it. Petunia was poisoned by that man, and we lost both of our daughters."
"Believe me when I say I did try to make movements for you to at least see your grandchildren." Dumbledore interrupted, "But indeed, Vernon's influence was strong back then. Now however, I shall be making the necessary legal changes in both the wizarding and muggle courts. You don't need to fear them being taken away again, Alexander, Juniper."
"So…we can stay here now, right?" Rose asked, hope laced in her voice.
"I would see that as the best course of action now seeing as that the overall threat to your lives has diminished in recent years. However, I shall be placing your mother's protection around this house for safeguarding should anything happen to harm any of you. Let us pray the forces of darkness never find you here."
Harry and Rose looked at their grandparents, letting a smile break through their guarded expression, desperation shining through. "Will you let us stay with you? Please?" Harry all but begged his grandparents.
"Of course, you can! What kind of silly question is that, you're our grandchildren, we wouldn't want you to be anywhere else!" Alexander exclaimed as he wrapped his arm around Harry's shoulder. The boy flushed in pleasure as love surged through his body.
"Then that settles that, I will leave the Potters in your care. Now, if that is all for tonight, I shall depart and place the protection over the house. If either of you two have any questions, do not be afraid to ask them, myself or your grandparents would be happy to answer them for you."
Harry got up from the couch and offered a hand out to the headmaster. "Thank you, professor, truly. I…I see the regret in your eyes." Dumbledore recoiled a little at the statement, but grabbed Harry's hand anyway, "For what it's worth, I forgive you. You made a mistake, but you've corrected it. We would've died if it wasn't for you. Thank you."
A small tear trailed down Dumbledore's cheek. The memory of Lily was strong within the two children. 'You still failed them' the voice in his head whispered. 'I failed them…but I shall fail them no more' Dumbledore held himself to that. The old man gave Harry and Rose a sad smile as he let go of Harry's hand. "Thank you, Mr Potter, you have relieved my old heart. Now, I must depart, I wish you all a goodnight. Until we meet again!" And with a twist of his body, sending his robes billowing around, the professor was out the door and into the night.
"Well, he certainly has style, that much is for sure" Alex smirked as he got up from the couch, "For a stupid old man. Now, are the pair of you hungry? We have some leftovers from dinner if, just a pot roast I'm afraid, nothing fancy."
Rose nodded her head. "That would be amazing thank you, sir."
"None of that sir rubbish now you hear? It's grandpa, or pa, or old man if you're feeling cruel." Alex answered with a smile.
Rose looked at Harry for guidance. Harry just shrugged and smiled his small smile. "Alright Grandpa." They replied in unison.
"And before you get any ideas, I won't accept anything but grandma or ma, but please not granny, that makes me feel my age." Juni sighed as she smiled at her grandchildren. It had taken 10 years, but at least now they were finally being called Grandma and Grandpa by their actual grandchildren.
The older couple led their grandchildren down the hallway and into the modest looking kitchen where there sat a round table with six chairs around it. Alex set them down on a chair each and gave them some cutlery as Juni quickly heated some of their left-over dinner up in their microwave.
"So, you two must have a lot of question. Your grandma and I will try our best to answer what we can but as wise as Dumbledore makes us out to be, we're not as familiar with the magical world as some." Alex explained as he sat down at the table.
Juni joined them, sitting herself down next to her husband. "We know a wizarding family on the other side of town that I can contact in the morning. They have a couple of children your age that we can introduce you to."
Harry and Rose looked at each other briefly before giving their grandparents a small nod. "Are you two okay?" Alex asked. He still wasn't sure how badly his daughter had treated the pair. 'God only knows how fucked their childhood was' a voice from inside his head said, the gruffness a long-ago memory.
"It's just that, well, besides each other we've never had any friends." Harry explained.
Rose nodded her head. "Dudley tended to scare whatever friends we made at school, so people eventually stopped trying."
Juni pursed her lips as she looked at her husband. "Well, that won't be happening ever again. I assure the both of you that you can make as many friends as you like and that they are always welcome here."
"This family is quite friendly anyway, they worked with your mother and father during the war so they're not exactly strangers. Your grandmother goes to see them on and off as well don't you dear?"
Juni nodded her head. "I do, I often go into town and bump into them while I shop."
The two young Potters nodded their heads as they continued to listen on. Eventually the conversation turned towards their parents and upon learning that they had never even seen a picture of them, Juni promptly went to fetch a photo album from their living room.
"This was taken on their wedding day." Juni explained as she passed a photo to Harry and Rose.
The couple in the photo were an almost spitting image of Rose and Harry with slight differences between them. Harry had inherited their mothers' eyes and nose, whilst Rose had inherited their fathers' eyes. It was then that Harry realised that it was his parents who flooded his happy dreams. James and Lily Potter, their parents. Together with them even after death. The thought made Harry smile.
"They look so happy there." Harry lamented as he looked at the image of his smiling parents.
"Your mother and father were very much happily in love. It took a while for the pair of them to stop dancing around each other and for your father to mature, but eventually they got their heads together and decided they were meant for each other." Alex said, a chuckle just barely hiding his sob.
Juni nodded her head, a few tears coming to her eyes. "They were so happy together, never have I seen a more in love pair. Except maybe for us, even though I have to put up with you." Juni laughed at the look on her husband's face.
"Pot calling the kettle black, my love." Alex smirked.
Harry and Rose smiled at the obvious love their grandparents shared. It was widely an unknown emotion to the pair of them, the only love their ever received was from each other, but they never felt the love of a parent. They hoped now that love wouldn't be a stranger to them.
"Alright you two, had enough to eat?" Alex asked as he stood up.
Giving nods of agreement, Rose and Harry made to stand up and take their dishes to the sink. "Leave those there, I'll deal with them in a moment. Let's get you into bed first. And cleaned up, you're both covered in soot." Juni assured them.
Harry and Rose had to give a double take as they left their plates on the table, "Are you sure Grandma? We're quite happy to wash up." Rose said, the dampness from her fear now causing her legs to feel uncomfortable.
"I'm sure my darlings, you've had a long day…and a long life already. Come on, we'll set you up in your own rooms." Juni said.
Rose started to fidget as she listened to her grandmother assign them different rooms, "Um, Grandma…is it…is it okay if I sleep with Harry?"
Juni cocked her eyebrow slightly, "Are you sure sweetheart, there's more than enough bedrooms for the pair of you to have your own."
Rose nodded her head franticly. "Please, I don't think I could sleep if I didn't have Harry next to me. We've slept in the same bed our entire lives and frankly…it scares me a little to have him taken away from me."
"It's alright Rose, you can bunk with me, you know I don't mind," Harry assured his sister as he slung his arm around her shoulder.
"Oh, my poor sweethearts, my poor, poor babies," Juni started to tear up once more as she grabbed the pair of them and pulled the young Potters into a tight hug. "You are going to have such an amazing life here, I promise you. Your grandpa and I are going to spoil you rotten."
Rose was openly sobbing by now as she gripped onto her brother and grandmother. Alex came around to wrap his arms around all three of them as he laid his head atop his wife's, sharing a knowing look between them. Rose's last outburst was the last straw on her frail body, as the group soon found out. In amongst the hugging and crying, Rose had slumped into her brother and fallen to sleep in his arms. The dead weight of his sister was almost too much for Harry, but he refused to let go.
"Alright, I think it's time to get you both into bed, do you want me to take your sister Harry?" Alex asked as he brushed Rose's hair out of her eyes.
Harry nodded his head as he allowed his grandfather to pick up his sister and carry her down the hallway and up the stairs to the upper floors.
Up the stairs was another smaller hallway, with four doors jutting out from the wall, two on each side. The group came to a stop at the first door on the right, which had a sign attached to it reading 'Lily Evans Room. No Boys'. Harry couldn't help but let out a snort as he read his mother's sign. Alex grinned a little as he heard his grandson laugh at his mother's antics.
"Your mother certainly was a character at times, I can tell you that much." Alex said, a sad smile coming to his face as he remembered his long-lost daughter.
Opening the door, Harry had to supress a gasp as the room came into view. It was a rather large room, at least to Harry, with cream coloured walls accompanied by the golden cornices that lined the top of the walls. In the middle, pushed against the back window was a queen sized four poster bed, decorated with a deep moss green blanket and duvet which stood out well against the oak floor. In one corner there stood a desk with numerous photos along it alongside a pot of pens and a book that looked like it hadn't been moved in a number of years, judging by the dust coating it. A fully stocked bookshelf decorated another corner and alongside that was a deep oak coloured tallboy and matching dresser. All in all, Harry had never felt that a room could feel as homely as the one he was standing in right now.
As Harry sat there in the entrance way, Alex walked over to the bed and softly placed Rose down on the bed. Harry finally snapped out of his wonder and made his way over to his sister, as Juni followed him in and sat down on the bed next to the pair of them.
"Are you sure you're okay sleeping in here with your sister Harry? There's another bedroom that you could have." Juni said.
Harry shook his head. "It's alright grandma, Rose needs me with her and to be completely honest I think I'd be much more comfortable to know my sister was close by." He didn't trust this all to be a dream, a trick to separate them both. And if that was the case, Harry wouldn't let them take them apart without a fight.
Both Alex and Juni nodded their heads in understanding. "If that's what you want sweetheart then we won't stop you. We'll leave you two alone now, just remember that if you need anything your grandpa and I are just down the stairs and the first door on the right in the downstairs hallway."
Harry nodded his head as he gave his grandparents a hug goodnight before they retreated out of the room. Looking over at his sleeping sister, Harry softly brushed the hair out of his sisters' eyes as he let out a soft sigh.
"Well Rosey, looks like our dreams come true. We're finally out of that hellhole."
Rose softly stirred in her sleep, signalling for Harry to finally hop into bed with her. Taking off his sisters' shoes and his own shoes, Harry pulled the duvet over the pair of them and tucked the pair of them into bed. As soon as Harry had turned off the beside lights, Rose snuggled into his side, wrapping her arm around his chest. Harry just smiled as he pulled his sister close, listening to her snore as he finally shut his eyes and let sleep overtake him.
Fate watched with a careful eye. His sword ready to smite his wards enemies.
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The next morning, Harry had a small panic attack as he woke up in an unfamiliar room. Rose was gone from the bed and his eyes were still blurry from missing his glasses. Scrambling around the bedside table, Harry finally found his glasses and slipped them on, allowing him to see again. As he took in the room, the events of yesterday finally came back to him. It hadn't been a dream, Rose and himself had finally managed to escape the Dursleys and they were finally with people who would love and care for them. Harry allowed himself to breath again and his body to relax. He wouldn't have to fight to survive today.
Swinging his legs off the bed, Harry stretched his legs and arms out, hearing the popping in his arms as he stretched out his bones. Done with his morning ritual, Harry made his way downstairs where he found his sister sitting around the kitchen table with his grandparents enjoying breakfast. She looked happy, relaxed. She looked like a 10-year-old girl instead of a slave. Harry let himself smile.
"Morning everyone." Harry called out as he walked into the room. He bent down to kiss Rose's cheek before he took a seat next to her. His eyes almost bugged out from the amount of food on the table.
"Morning Harry, sleep well?" Rose asked as she pecked her brother on the cheek in return. A smile was on her lips, her belly felt full for once. She'd briefly felt shame when she woke up realising, she'd slept in soiled knickers, but her grandmother had hugged her and soothed her whilst she cried.
Harry loaded his plate with a decent portion of food, nodding his head to his sister. "Probably the best sleep of my life."
Juni smiled as she set a plate full of sausages, eggs and toast in front of her grandson alongside the continental breakfast Harry had plated up himself. "That's good to hear dear. I'm not sure how your beds were at Petunia's but I can only imagine that anything was better than that."
Harry and Rose nodded their heads in agreement as Harry dug into his food. It tasted like mana from heaven. Harry couldn't remember the last time he had so much food available. He briefly remembered an international food day at school, tables worth of curries and stir fry. It was one of his only fond memories, sharing a piece of Naan bread with his sister as their mouths burned from the spice and flavour of a particularly hot curry.
"So, I was planning on bringing over some friends of mine to meet today, remember the family I was speaking about yesterday?" Juni said, breaking Harry away from his memory.
Rose and Harry nodded their heads "We do, what was their name again?" Rose asked,
"The Weasleys, they're a lovely family and their youngest two are the same age as the pair of you. Their youngest son is heading off to Hogwarts as well this year so you'll at least know someone before you go Harry" Juni explained.
A spike of fear ran down Rose's back. Hogwarts. The separation of herself from Harry. She wouldn't stop him from going. Would she?
"That sounds great thanks grandma, are they coming here?" Harry asked.
"I sent a message to them this morning, they should be here around lunchtime, so we have plenty of time to get ready." Juni said.
Alex cleared his throat to get himself some attention. "And if you want, I can show you around the property, in case you ever wanted to explore or what not."
"That would be lovely thankyou grandpa." Rose answered, the spike of fear replaced by a curiosity.
The group fell into a comfortable silence as the young Potters finished up their breakfast and Juni and Alex cleaned up the dishes. Having a quick shower after breakfast, Rose and Harry, led by their grandfather, went about and explored the grounds. Alex explained to them what they were growing out in the fields, mostly wheat but also barley, alongside the orchard where they grew a number of citrus trees and all sorts of other fruit trees. Harry and Rose were in awe of the beautiful Cyprus trees that grew alongside the drive up to the house and their grandmothers rose garden just to the side of the house. Rose especially enjoyed looking at the parts of the garden that their mother had grown and maintained before her death.
"Well, I guess it's up to me to continue mums work then." Rose pondered out loud.
"Only if you want to sweetheart, but if you really want to, I'm sure your grandmother would be happy to give you a hand and help you to pick out your own additions from the nursery in town." Alex said.
Rose nodded her head and smiled. "That sounds like a lovely idea, thank you grandpa!".
Alex couldn't help but beam at the happiness his granddaughter was radiating. He knew then he'd do anything for the two children in front of them. "You're very welcome my sweetling."
They continued their tour around the grounds, losing track of time. By the time Alex looked back at his watch it was almost half past midday. Coming back around to the front of the house, the group noticed a parked Ford Anglia.
"Bugger, the Weasleys must be here already. Come on you two, best get you inside before your Grandmother has my hide." Alex hurried along the siblings.
Stepping into the house, the sounds of voices coming from the sitting room drifted into the entryway.
"No doubt their grandfather has forgotten the time already, he was never very good at keeping time." Came the voice of Juni.
Another voice that Harry and Rose didn't recognize came through. "Oh, don't be too hard on him Juniper, you know what men are like. Arthur is constantly forgetting where he puts things or what the time it."
"Are my ears red? I do believe I heard my name mentioned." Alex said with a grin as he came into room, the Potter siblings close behind.
Juni rolled her eyes as she smiled at her husband, kissing his cheek in greeting. "About time that you got them back here. Rose, Harry, I'd like you to meet Mrs Molly Weasley and her youngest children Ronald and Ginevra."
Harry eyed up the group of people sitting in the front room. His immediate thought was how homely and comely Mrs Weasley looked, with her bright, happy smile and comforting features. She looked like a loving mother. Harry thought for a moment what his own mother would be like. Ronald, the young boy, looked a little bewildered and awkward if Harry was honest, but still had an honest face to him. A face of bright curiosity, yet the way that his body was angled, protecting his sister, suggested to Harry a protecting heart. 'So, we can relate.'
What caught all his attention however was the youngest Weasley female there. Guinevere? No, Juliet? Isolde? No, these were all past names. Ginevra. That is what she was called now. Harry's heart started to beat rapidly and his mouth became dry as he eyed the redhead ahead of him, with her warm chocolate eyes, fiery, darker red hair then her mother or brother, and cute pixie nose that adorned it all. Harry couldn't help but be drawn to her, it almost felt like it was completely natural, like something was clicking into place for the first time in his life. 'Or at least once again.'
Eros smiled, maybe this time would work.
Rose had noticed the look on her brothers face and decided to give him a slight kick in the shin to bring him back to reality. A spike of jealousy rose up like bile in her throat. Nobody could just steal her brother.
Feeling Rose's foot connect with his shin, Harry supressed a groan of pain as he bit his tongue and was brought back to reality. "It's very nice to meet you Mrs Weasley, I'm Harry, Harry Potter, and this is my sister…"
"Rose Potter, it's lovely to meet you all!" Rose finished, jealousy replaced with politeness.
"You're really Harry Potter?" Ron asked almost unbelievingly.
Ginny slapped her brother across the back of his head before Mrs Weasley had time to scold him. "Ronald Weasley! How rude a question to ask, I brought you up to have better manners then that young man! And Ginny, don't hit your brother, as tempting as it is." Mrs Weasley pursed her lips as she eyed her two children.
"Honestly it's okay Mrs Weasley. Yes, I'm Harry Potter, although I'm not really sure why that's so important." Harry rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment.
Ginevra's eyes widened for a second as she eyed Harry. The wooziness that had accompanied his entrance fading. "You're famous though Harry, you were the one who defeated You-Know-Who!"
"Ginny! Do I have to remind you of your manners now too!" Mrs Weasley scolded.
Ginny shrunk a bit at her mother's lashing. "But its true mum! Harry's a hero!" 'Not just any hero.' She thought.
"For something neither of us can remember? How does that even happen." Rose asked.
Juni cleared her throat to speak. "It's just like what Professor Dumbledore said last night. No one really knows what happened that night, but the theory is that it was your m-mothers sacrifice that protected you and that in turn helped you defeat Voldemort."
The Weasleys all gave a small shudder at mentioning of Voldemort. Alex continued on for his wife. "You two are quite celebrated in the wizarding world. Like Dumbledore said last night, those were dark days and when you managed to either destroy Voldemort or banish him or what not, you gained cult following overnight."
Harry suddenly didn't feel very well at all. The revelation that whilst yes, he may be famous but at the cost of his parents' lives didn't sit very well with him. Harry needed to get out, he couldn't be in that room any longer, so he turned on his heels and made for the front door, making a beeline for the orchard.
Rose sighed as he watched her brother storm out, her own pain coming through. "I'll go talk to him. I'm sorry about that, Harry's quite sensitive sometimes." Better she caught him before this Ginevra comfort him.
Rose followed off after her brother searching through the orchard trees until she found him sitting at the base of an old apple tree. His hands cradled his head and even from there Rose could see his body shaking as the sobs overtook his body. "There you are, are you okay Harry?" Rose went to kneel in front of her brother, taking both of his hands in hers and giving them a squeeze.
Harry shook his head as he cleared the tears out of his eyes and focused on Rose. "I didn't want any of this, why couldn't we have been just a normal family. Why did we have to lose our parents! And for what, having some bloody fame in some bloody world we didn't even know about!" Harry let out a sob as he collapsed into his sisters outstretched arms. "Well I'd give it all up just to have mum and dad back with us."
Rose stroked her brothers back in circles as he let him cry out his frustrations and anger, whilst she let her own tears roll off her cheeks. After all the times he'd held her, it was time to repay the favour. "It's okay Harry, we have a family now and a chance at life. No matter what, I will always owe it to you for everything you've done for me, all through our short lives." Rose laid a soft kiss against her brothers' forehead and rested her head against his as their sobbing came to a stop.
The sound of leaves and twigs snapping alerted them to a new presence. Harry and Rose looked up just in time to see the Weasley siblings come walking up to the tree that the Potter siblings sat under. "Hello, we thought we'd come and keep you some company" Ginny offered the pair a bright smile.
A spike of anger rose in Rose's heart, before she saw the genuine care in the girl's eyes, not just for her brother. Perhaps this Ginny isn't so bad. "Thank you, that would be much appreciated." Rose responded, anger turning to relief at having company "It was Ronald and Ginevra wasn't it?" Rose asked.
"Yeah, although I prefer Ron if I'm honest and Ginny hates being called her full name." Ron smirked at sister as she shot him a glare.
Rose chuckled in sympathy, another girl who hated her full name. She had a feeling Ginny and her were about to get along just fine. "Don't worry, I know your pain. My full name is Madeline-Rose but I prefer just Rose."
"Just Rose hey? And here I've been calling you Rose. Well it's a pleasure to meet you Just Rose." Harry joked, earning him a soft glare from his sister as she untangled herself from him and gave him a whack on the arm.
Ron and Ginny made themselves comfortable on the ground next to the Potters. "So, have you learnt much about the magical world yet?" Ginny asked, shyly biting her lip as she looked at Harry. The boy made her heart race. If she'd known meeting her childhood crush would be this intense, she'd have prepared. Except she had a feeling this wasn't a crush anymore.
"No, not much at all. Until yesterday we were living with my Aunt and Uncle who were non-magical people I suppose. They…weren't very nice." Harry shook his head to get rid of the memories resurfacing. It didn't work, until Rose laced her hand with his.
"But you have so much to learn then! Like Quidditch, and all the magical foods we have, plus wicked spells, did I mention Quidditch?" Ron gushed as he began to look excited at the prospect of teaching the famous Potters about the magical world.
Rose chuckled, her anxiety which she didn't realise she had, fading. "Well, I guess we'll have an excellent teacher from the pair of you then."
The pair of siblings stayed underneath the tree for a good part of the afternoon as Ron and Ginny taught all they knew about the magical world to the Potters. Rose couldn't help but notice how her brother and Ginny would occasionally watch each other from the corner of their eyes, blushing whenever they caught each other looking. Ron of course was completely oblivious, too caught up in demonstrations and hand waving to notice his sister watching Harry Potter of all people. Rose's spikes of jealousy came and went, but they couldn't stay long. She started to like this Ginny Weasley quite a lot. She was funny and kind, and knew how to deal with her brothers.
Eventually Alex came and fetched them to come inside and enjoy some food that Juni and Molly had cooked up. Making their way back inside, Rose talked to Ron as Harry and Ginny went in front. Rose managed to catch them rubbing hands as they swung their arms, causing them both to blush but continue on anyway. Rose couldn't help but smile that her brother very obviously had a crush on the youngest Weasley. The jealousy was gone, replaced by a deep happiness for her brother. Lunch was an interesting affair as the Weasleys told the two Potters all about their family and what else Molly could spare about the magical world that Ron or Ginny hadn't included in their small teaching lesson. Rose had to occasionally bash her elbow into her brothers' side to remind him not to keep staring at Ginny, something that earned her a glare and a promise of retribution later on.
"So, Rose, Harry, did my lot teach you what you needed to know about the magical world?" Molly asked as they finished up their meals.
The two siblings eagerly nodded at Molly and began to retell what they had learned from the two Weasley siblings. Harry in particular was quite taken with the idea of Quidditch and flying a broom in General. His Grandmother spoke up at this point telling him just how much he was like his father.
"Oh yes. Your Father was quite the Quidditch player, or so Lily would tell me. He used to play, what was it dear? Chaser? Yes, that's it, he used to play as a Chaser, although I have no idea what that meant, all I knew was that he was very good, and Lily always said he could become a professional."
Harry smiled broadly at the thought of his father flying around on a broom, throwing quaffles through goal hoops and buzzing around the pitch like a bird. Ron was quite eager himself by the look on his face. "Your Dad was a chaser Harry! That's amazing, see, Quidditch is in your blood!"
Harry merely smiled at his newfound friend as he continued to tuck into his morning tea, giving Rose a broad smile, happy that for once in their life they were where they belonged and they were happy. The day continued on much the same, with the siblings going off once again outside to discuss even more interesting aspects of the magical world. At one stage, Ron was talking about the 'Ministry of Magic', intriguing both of the Potter siblings.
"You mean, the magical community has a government? Right alongside the muggle government? How do you not get seen or discovered?" Harry was astounded that a whole different government could operate from the shadows. Just how far did the magical community go?
Ron took a sip of his water to quench his thirst before he answered Harry. "Well you see, there are all sorts of rules and laws that stop us from doing magic in front of muggles and what not. And then if we do accidently perform magic in front of muggles, then we can just change their memories, it's really complicated but not impossible. There's whole departments at the Ministry which handles that sort of thing."
Harry and Rose nodded their understanding and the foursome continued their conversation. Before long, Molly announced that it was time for the Weasleys to head home for dinner. Before they left, Molly invited the two Potters and Juni to come with her to Diagon Alley to get school supplies when her other children came back home at the end of the month. Agreeing with Molly, Juni began to plan when they would go, and also planned to have the whole Weasley clan around the Evans house. As they were saying their goodbyes, the Potters and Weasleys promised to catch up tomorrow if possible, promising the Potter siblings to take them around the village and introduce them to some of the locals. Happily agreeing, the Potters farewelled the Weasleys and retreated back inside where Juni was hurriedly preparing dinner for the whole family, but not before Harry and Ginny could share a look that could almost be described as longing. Much of the night was spent reminiscing on what they had learned through the day, and even some stories of when Petunia and Lily were growing up, including the day Lily got her Hogwarts letter. Harry enjoyed himself as he continued asking his Grandparents about his and Rose's mother and father. Before long, Juni was pushing them off up to bed, and the two Potter siblings readily agreed, feeling exhausted after all that had happened today. Making their way back up to their room, Harry was rounded on by Rose as entered the room. "So, got yourself a little crush on Ginny hm?" Rose smirked as Harry turned crimson.
"Hey now, that's not fair! Just because she's very pretty…very very pretty…doesn't mean I have a crush on her!" Harry tried to defend himself.
Rose wasn't buying any of it however, "That's rubbish and you know it. You fancy Ginny don't you!"
"And so, what if I did, she's an amazing young girl who makes my blood thrum and my head spin when I just look at her! She's funny, smart, charming and caring, who wouldn't like her!" Harry shoved his hands over his mouth to avoid saying more as he turned an even brighter shade of red.
"I knew it!" Rose exclaimed passionately, "Of course you fancy her. I'm sorry for embarrassing you Harry, there's really nothing wrong with you for liking her," Rose made her way over to wrap her arms around her brother. Her brother was right about one thing though, it was hard not to like her. Rose thought the girl would become her best friend, soon if not already.
Harry returned the gesture and placed his head on top of Rose's. "But that's the problem…this feeling that I'm feeling…it's different than anything else I've ever felt." Harry cleared his throat as he continued, "I've had crushes before, remember that girl I liked when I was in year three? The one Dudley chased off."
Rose nodded her head. "Well, what I felt then and what I feel now is completely different. It's like my heart has gone into overdrive." Harry said.
"Well…I don't know what to say. But like you say, Ginny is a lovely young girl, so what's the problem?" Rose rubbed her brother's cheek with her thumb, "You can feel these feelings, there's nothing stopping you and if I'm honest I think she quite happily thinks and feels the same way."
Harry's eyes went wide and his retreating blush returned, "What! Y-You think she fancies me too?" Harry stuttered.
Rose rolled her eyes. "Of course, I do. I watched the pair of you. You were basically flirting with each other."
"F-Flirting!" Harry spluttered, "But…but…how?"
"Just by the way you were looking at each other, or rubbing hands as you walked. How you drifted away when you stared at each other. And let's not forget that look as they went home, you looked like a kicked puppy."
Harry unwrapped himself from his sister and went to stand by the window, his arms crossed in thought. "when I first saw her…it felt like something I've been missing my entire life just popped into place into my heart. It was like I'd known her my entire life and I was finally reconnecting with a part of myself."
"Really? That's incredible." Rose said as she went to take a seat on the window seal.
"But we had just met, how is that even possible?" Harry let out a sigh, "It just felt so…right to focus on her, to care for her…to…love her"
Eros smiled in his success.
Rose's eyebrows shot up into her hairline. "Love? You think you love her?"
Harry nodded his head. "I do. It's like how I feel when I think of you, but different. When I think of you, I think about how much I care about you, how special to me you are and how much I want to protect you." Harry cupped his sister's cheek as a tear streamed down her side, "But when I think of Ginny, I don't just think about all of that, I think about how amazing it would be to hold her, to hold her hand…to…kiss her." Harry blushed once more.
"You want to kiss her?" Rose asked.
Harry nodded shyly as he retreated back to their bed. "Well…there's nothing wrong with that. I mean, that's what people do when they love each other, or even just fancy each other." Rose explained. She thought about her Grandparents and then her parents. She hoped she found someone like that one day. 'Someone who wouldn't mind broken goods.' Rose thought bitterly.
"Maybe you're right. Why don't we leave it for now and talk about it later hey?" Harry said.
Rose nodded her head and gave her brother a peck on his cheek. "You'll be alright Harry, we'll figure things out, I promise."
Harry nodded his head, believing his sister. For the first time in a long time, they had time to worry about the other things in life then just survival. They now had a life to worry about the better things in life, like love. Harry thought that he could get use to this kind of life and certainly hoped Rose would find someone that thought about her like he did for Ginny. But that was a long time coming, or at least he hoped.
Fate gave Eros a cup of wine, a successful milestone reached.