"Oh Lily, he's so beautiful and look he's got your eyes." I told Lily as I took Harry for the first time in my arms. He was so cute. He looked just how I imagined James would have looked like when he was a baby.
"yah, he is beautiful." Lily told herself more than to answer my question. "Hey Alice." She seemed a little nervous. Her body posture was similar to when she wants to ask me for a favour. I mean who wouldn't for the huge responsibility that she was going to give me
"Hmm." I reply.
"Will you give me the honor of being Harry's Godmother?"
For a while there I just looked at her trying to comprehend what she just said. "The honour is mine Lily."
That was the moment that made 31st of July 1980 is the happiest day of my life. It was on that day that I was able to be a mother of 2 sons, Neville Longbottom and Harry Potter. Though many may have forgotten about me being Harry's God-mother. It is the greatest honour that my best friend Lily Potter, nee Evans bestowed upon me. On that day Lily and I vowed that we would do what ever it takes to raise both of our children as the best we can so that they can become the greatest wizards of their generation. Yet when I look at the two of them now I feel as if I have filed on that promise.
I do hope that Lily will forgive me when we meet again in the spirit realm for all of my sins.
The wizarding world may know me as the mother of the Boy-Who-Lived now but he is more of Frank than mine. I do not see him as the son that I hoped for him to become. He is arrogant and big-headed. He thinks that he is the greatest wizard in the world yet he doesn't have any grounds for the claim. Its not uprising to me though, not with Augusta and Frank treating him as the second coming of Merlin. That and his fame has made my son a snob. I just hope that he comes to his senses by the time he finishes Hogwarts. He may be the darling of the Wizarding world now but they will chew him alive when things start going south.
While people may call me a bad mother if they knew this but I am more proud of what Harry has become than I am of Neville. Its sad when I have to admit that Andromeda did a better job at raising Harry than I could have ever done if he would have come home to me after that dreadful night of 1st November 1981. While the world celebrates and thank Neville what he did on that day I visit the grave of my best friend and cry. However the worst part of the day is when I need to plaster a stupid smile on my face for the grand ball Augusta organizes in honour of the Boy-Who-Lived.
The thing that I hate the most however is Neville gaining the title the BOY-WHO-LIVED. While many would kill to gain such fame as the Boy-Who-Lived, I however would do anything to wish that Neville was not the Boy-Who-Lived. That stupid title has brought nothing but sorrow in my life. It took everything away form me. First it was my best friend and sister in all but blood, Lily. She died protecting both Neville and Harry from Voldemort on that night. When the Frank told me that Lily had died, I think a part of me died with her.
Then it took away my family from me. It's not the same anymore. While I do love my family I can see the distance that has been formed between me and the rest of the Longbottoms. Many times I have voiced my displeasure of how Neville was being raised but it all felt to deaf ears, it was necessary for the greater good after all. Since the day Neville was able to have coherent thought, Frank and Dumbledore started to play an active role in raising Neville. They molded Neville in their own picture as the next leader of the light and I was not given any say in it. Its only our mutual love for herbology that has allowed Neville and I to bond as a mother and son otherwise I would be very similar to Narcissia Malfoy as a trophy wife. Nowadays Frank doesn't seem to care about me anymore either. We had so many dreams about our family before Neville was born. We were even trying for another child before that incident but since then Frank has now he says that we don't need another child till Neville is grown up.
Finally it took away Harry from me. When Harry was declared a squib I knew that he wouldn't be able to raise him like how I promised Lily I would but at least I could give him a home filled with love but Albus Dumbledore in all his wisdom just declared that Harry should be sent to that hag of a sister of Lily. I tried for months to convince Augusta, Frank, Minerva and Dumbledore that I could raise Harry too but they just wouldn't listen. All of them just told me that Neville would need my undivided attention and Harry would be just a hindrance. They said that it would be a crime to raise a squib in a magical environment. I knew how futile the effort was to convince them so I promised that I would take care of Harry from the shadows if I have to.
I begged everyone to not send him to the Dursleys but nobody listened. They thought I was just being overly emotional for the loss of my best friend. Dumbledore said it would be a loving family but I knew how loving that hag and her family would be to Harry. A few months after Dumbledore had left Harry at Number 4 private Drive, I gave them a visit. I was appalled by the way they were treating a baby. I was so outraged that I could have killed them that instant if they had said something stupid.
I knew they wouldn't love Harry as their own but I knew that they could give Harry a place to live. So I made a deal with them. I promised them that I would take care of all of Harry's expenses if they gave him a proper place to stay. They were skeptical about it at first but they agreed. They let Harry have a room for himself and gave him proper food but they did not shower him with love as they did to his son. That however I could not buy with all the money in the world.
As Harry grew up I was saddened by how he craved for love and affection. He tried his best to impress his Aunt and Uncle but all they thought was that he was an attention seeking brat. When Vernon lost his temper and hit Harry I lost it. The boy had learnt to cook, sew and read just to get a word of praise but is awarded with a slap. I transfigured Vernon into a pig that evening and threatened Petunia that I would sell him to the local butcher if he ever hit Harry again.
Seeing how desperate Harry was becoming I decided to stop watching him from his shadows and be his first friends in this lonely world. At first our weekly interactions were nothing more than telling each other stories about how we spent the week but gradually as Harry started to grow up I started to direct his choices in his life. I convinced him to pick up reading and recommended most the books that he should read. I told him about the use of cooking, dancing and other sports that he should join in his school. I tried to mold him as Lily would have raised a non-magical son. Someone who could not only survive but also thrive in the muggle world.
Then one day comes to meet me with Andromeda Tonks. By the time Harry explained to me everything that had happened I was glad Harry finally found a home and I decide to step into the shadows once again. I had a very long conversation with Andromeda the next day and I told her everything about Harry's past. When I told her he might be a squib in the future she just said that she would raise her just like how she would have raised her own son. It didn't matter if he could do magic or not. After that day I stopped seeing Harry and would contact Andromeda to ask about how Harry was doing.
It was after Harry left with Andromeda did I also start having mother-son time with Neville. After his 8th birthday Neville started to shoe interest in Plants and Gardening. So when Frank would go to work. Neville and I would spend our day working in the greenhouse. It was fun and for once I didn't feel like a piece of furniture in my own house. I even started accompanying Frank and Neville in their father-son bonding time during the weekend. They would generally go out flying and I would wait for them on the ground till they finished. However even at those time I would wonder how it would be like if harry was there with me and was part of our family. Might be Harry would have helped me.
Everything was looking good at that time. Harry had found a good family for himself and my family was trying to salvage what they could from our relationship when the second worst day of my life happened. On 31 July 1989 I got two of the worst news that I could have wanted for both of my children. The first was that Dumbledore would take Neville as his apprentice and second was Harry being admitted to St. Mungo's.
Now the first news was not so much of a bad news till the time Neville went to Hogwarts. When Neville was home and was training under Dumbledore it was great. He showed a lot of potential and I was very happy that Neville would be trained by such a great wizard. But when Neville went to Hogwarts he let the fame get to his head. As he was Dumbledore's apprentice everyone just claimed that he would be the next leader of the light. Especially how his friends treated him with such hero worship. Just because of their arrogance and cockiness I have had multiple heart-attacks from the 'adventure' those morons have undertaken while they were in Hogwarts. And it's worse when a for me as I am the mother of the leader of that band of idiots.
The second news of Harry became a blessing after the ordeal had passed but before that, the image of Harry screaming for Death will forever be plastered in my mind. I wish that no one would have to suffer as much as Harry did for that month. His screams still haunt my dreams. I thought I would loose him that time. For a whole month Andromeda sat beside Harry and watch him scream for mercy. I still wonder how she could stand seeing such suffering. It was also during that month that I decided to take an active role in Harry's life.
Now that however was easier said than done. It took a whole year for Harry to forgive me. For at least 2 months I would go over to the Tonks household hoping to get to meet Harry but he would just lock himself in his room. It was really hard but slowly and gradually I was able to worm myself into his heart and since then I have seen Harry grow into a remarkable young man. Many a times I have wished that Neville would be more like Harry but alas that for now is a distant dream.
HARRY'S POINT OF VIEW.
(4 DAYS AFTER THE SORCERORS STONE INCIDENT IN THE HOGWARTS INFIRMARY)
Never in my life have I seen her so sad and worried. I wouldn't want my mother to be worried as she is now for Neville.
"He's going to alright Mrs. Longbottom. He just needs his beauty sleep." I tell her. She looks at me with a smile but her eyes show her worry for her son. I wonder if my mother would cry for me like she does if I was in Neville's place.
"Come here Harry" she motions me to sit on her lap and I comply. For a while he just embraces me but I know she wants to embrace Neville more than me. I just hope that I am a good substitute.
"Why can't Neville be more like you?" She asked
"Well that's because he doesn't listen to his mother." I know its cocky but it makes her laugh. I like her laughing, its better than her sad and gloomy look that she has had for a few days.
"I know that Neville will always attract trouble." I snort at her words but she just ignored me and continued. "It is the bane of being famous. I know that I will not be able to protect Neville forever but I know you can Harry. Promise me Harry that you will look after him. You are like a son to me, Harry and as a mother I want you to promise me that you will protect him."
I know what she wants and I give it to her. Partly because of how important she is to me and partly because of guilt but I do not tell her that. Maybe after a few years when I have graduated I might tell her that all this drama was unnecessary. That all of this was done for nothing but a fake Philosophers stone. Maybe I will tell her the role I played but for now I just promise her to take care of her son.
I do hope this clears some of the question of the last chapter and Yes Harry didn't tell Daphne all of his reasons as to why he tolerates Neville. Now I want to ask you guys about wether you want to see Harry compete in the tournament or not. please leave your comments.
Also do you like the Harry POV. I hope it gave you a tease about the broken Harry that hides behind the his cheerful mask.
