Hi,
Sorry for updating so late. RL has been complicated and my writing was not measuring up to my imagination. So here is Harry and his parents meet.
Chapter 8
Layla could barely believe that the boy in front of her is their son. Yet, she can easily see the similarities between them and him. Her green eyes, Jameson's messy hair, his smile. The boy in front of her was theirs. She felt nothing but love for this boy of hers. She knew at that moment that it doesn't matter that the only thing she can remember about Harry is his smile. The only thing connecting to her life as Lily was Harry yet Layla felt no shame in admitting that she would go to the end of the world for him. Like for all her children, for Harry she can fill the world with joy for him or destroy the world that has wounded him. And wounded he is. Layla could see the wariness familiar to her in his eyes. This wariness should not have been in a 12 yrs. old's eyes and yet Layla could clearly see that as he placed his hand in hers in trust yet his eyes held a wariness of rejection. If it was in her power, she would have destroyed the Dursleys over and over again just for the pain they caused him.
Looking at the boy, who is sitting politely on the sofa, Layla did not know where to begin. Oh, how much she wants to know about his life yet she didn't know where to start. Hearing Harry clear his throat, she turned to him as he asked "How long have you been here? After you received my letter?". At that moment, she was at a loss on how to answer but before she could say anything, the irritating lady known as Professor McGonagall answered Harry's question "they had just arrived two days before Harry." Even with the kindness in her tone, and softness in the way she is staring at him, Layla couldn't help but feel a discomfort in her presence. It is as if she is waiting for her to find a mistake and reprimand her. A mistake she knew would cost them Harry. Professor McGonagall seated herself beside Harry and she noticed how Harry became a little relaxed with her there. A pang felt in her heart as Layla remembers that even now they are still strangers to him. She bought herself back in time to answer Professor McGonagall question of her husband. A smile appears on her face, as she knows what her dear husband is doing. She said "Jamie will be back in sometime with breakfast."
Professor McGonagall frowned and said "that's no need. We can get the breakfast send in here." But before Layla could reply, the door opened and in rolled a tray filled to the brim with different breakfast items like pancakes, bacon, eggs, bread, jam etc. followed by Jamie who was rolling the tray. Layla smirked at the gobsmacked expression on Harry's face looking at the tray and she stifled her laughter as she saw the proud expression on Jamie's face seeing Harry's expression. Jamie closed the door after rolling in the tray and said "Next time do give a little more time in warning Professor. We have to impress our son after all." Harry blushed hearing those words but Professor McGonagall's posture became a little stiffer. Jamie rolled the tray and set the dishes on the table beside the window. The window offered the view of the Quidditch field which Layla knew would be comforting to Harry.
Harry, his expression still gobsmacked finally said "I can't eat so much." Chucking Layla said "we also haven't had our breakfast. We thought we can have it together." Harry bend his head hiding his smile at his parents having breakfast with me. Hearing a knock on the door, he looked up as the man known as his father opened the door. He saw a man standing at the door wearing clothes which seemed as if it had been worn regularly with patches. The man seemed young around his father's age yet a tiredness is seen in his eyes with lines and his hair showing early signs of grey at the temples. He saw him come inside and could feel McGonagall relax a bit until the man opened his mouth "Professor McGonagall, Professor Dumbledore is calling a staff meeting. He wants you and me to come right now."
Layla hid a smirk as she saw a hint of disapproval appear on McGonagall face however she couldn't refuse the summons from the Headmaster so she got up and went to the door saying that she will come to pick Harry up in time for his first class which was in 1 and half hour. Remus as Jamie told followed behind her hiding a smirk and winked at Jamie before closing the door. She turned back to Harry whose posture had become a little stiff asking "shall we have breakfast?".
Remus could see McGonagall's temper roll off in waves. After turning 3 corridors she turned and fixed him with a stare which at the age of 31 still reminds him of a kid with his hand caught in the cookie jar. She folds her hands and stares at him with an expression waiting for an answer. He said "Harry doesn't know us." McGonagall opened her mouth to answer as Remus continued "Harry knows you as his Transfiguration teacher and he doesn't know me at all. And as much as I would like to stay with Harry but in order for a relationship between all 3 of them it is important for all of them to be alone. If we are with Harry it will be awkward and even confusing for Harry also as he doesn't know why we don't trust them with him." McGonagall said "Harry is not the type of person to come and say if something is wrong. When Harry first came to Hogwarts, I could literally see the malnutrition in Harry's face and Madam Pomfrey has reported there are signs of malnutrition but we can't do anything. Yet he never came and reported anything about the Dursleys. Dumbledore also never said anything about Harry saying anything about the Dursleys. There is no proof. And now this. You saw how James and Lily are. They are something different Remus."
Remus replies "I know there are something different Professor. That was very apparent the moment James entered my home. But look at it from Harry's perspective. His parents are back and you told him that. Yet if you or I whom he doesn't know at all continues to hover when he is meeting his parents he will become confused. He trusts you but he also wants to trust them. Give him some time to develop that trust. Let him learn something about his parents. I will be there for Harry but I am also not going to stop James and Lily from developing a relationship with Harry."
McGonagall remained silent but Remus could clearly see the distrust in her expression.
Jameson looked on as Harry carefully filled his plate which in Jameson's opinion was very less. One piece of toast, two pieces of pancake and one piece of fruit only. He could see Layla physically clutching her hand into a fist to prevent herself from filling Harry's plate up to the brim. It was clear that Harry was used to having less food all the time. Jameson filled the plate and hand it to Layla knowing that in the process that their son ate she would not bother to eat anything. He also filled his own plate and started eating immediately seeing Harry's hesitation to eat first. Harry relaxed seeing him take the first bite and started eating the plate. Layla followed. For sometime there was silence and yet no awkwardness. It felt natural and at that moment both Jameson and Layla felt that they were a normal family. Hearing Harry clear his throat, they both looked at him with expectation. He looked nervously at them and asked the question that was foremost in his mind "Where were you all these years? Were you together this whole time?"