Insomnia, last pre-Hogwarts chapter I believe, half tempted the kids get wands made in France to avoid the Voldemort connection but not sure yet. Oh further chapters will likely be fullsized, 3 to 4k words, I can't really call this a drabble anymore. Only reason this chapter was so short was because I didn't want to write it, and it only got written because Lily was willing to deal with me hemming and hawing over it.
Seriously people you have no idea how much random BS that woman has to deal with from my at times insane mind, give her props.
Anyway, yeah, after this we stop with the buildup and get to the actual game, but expect Draco to cheat hardcore to get things to go the way she wants. After all, whats the point of replaying if you don't use the cheat codes?
August 12, 1990
Over the next two years Harry had slowly yet consistently begun accepting that his new found family was in fact a reality and not some soap bubble fantasy that would vanish in an instant when he was least expecting it.
They were, thank whatever deities that may or may not exist, nothing like the Dursleys.
He was cared for, loved, and even doted on a bit by the Black sisters and their families, the Longbottoms, along with his Godfather's family, and it was sometimes a bit overwhelming even for the attention starved boy.
Through it all though Dancia had become his rock in the storm; somehow being able to tell when Sirius's antics were getting to be a bit much, when Aunt Cissa's etiquette lessons had dulled his brain to boredom, or when Bellatrix was being a bit too...Bellatrix.
Not that anyone could do anything about Bella regardless. The only person she listened to was Aunt Andi really, heck he had even recently found out she was basically squatting in Malfoy Manor because Lord Malfoy was too wary of her temper to tell her to leave.
Harry didn't blame the man in the slightest, Malfoys it would seem had ingrained survival instincts when it came to easily offended witches.
Still though, with Dancia at his side, and occasionally accompanied by his kind hearted cousins Neville and Susan, Harry learned much about his magical heritage and responsibilities from their elders.
From Padfoot, which Sirius insisted he be called, and Lord Malfoy teaching him of his future Lordly duties, to Aunt Andi explaining Pure-Blood customs, Aunt Cissy enforcing proper manners, and Bella violating the laws of nature for her personal amusement, Harry learned a lot.
Not that it was all work though, his sister Dora had basically conscripted him as her 'Third Apprentice of Mayhem', as she put it. The first two were apparently her boyfriend Charlie's twin brothers, and that basically meant unmitigated chaos was a constant in his life.
Seriously, so much chaos ensued in the house of Black, especially when she involved Padfoot, and the entire time during the manor wide prank wars they both insisted Harry take notes on what they did to each other to carry on the family tradition at Hogwarts.
He had been... Nervous about that, until Dany reassured him nothing short of killing a fellow student would actually get him expelled, so he dutifully took said notes even though Aunt Andi gave him disapproving looks for doing so.
Thankfully Uncle Ted thought it all was rather hilarious, especially since it didn't all take place in his own house, so that kind of balanced it all out.
Today though, today was chaos free, which Harry was rather thankful for truth be told.
Although in all honesty today he was determined to beat his Godbrother into the bloody ground which he was failing hilariously at.
That was admittedly a bit annoying.
"Stop. Taking. My. Star. Cards!" Harry growled out as Luigi dodged his strike and managed to snatch Mario's Star Card while avoiding getting hit by an oncoming Koopa.
"Stop making it so easy bro," Neville replied with a grin as he began rapidly tapping his NES controller. Gritting his teeth Harry resolved himself to a Blood War against the House of Longbottom when he was taken out by a random spawn, effectively losing the fight.
"O...k..." he ground out as Neville shot him a nervous look, a moment later his brother moved Luigi across the screen and loaded the next level where he was being constantly chased down by the Sun itself.
Good.
Glancing over to Susan and Dancia Harry smiled slightly when he saw the redhead playing with Dany's long hair, weaving it into braids while chattering about whatever she and Hannah had done the day before.
It was, nice, really, having nothing to truly complain about other than your friends being annoying, Harry still could not quite grasp it after all this time. He still tried though, even though it was rather difficult and...blast it Neville.
"Got it!" his Godbrother stated with a flourished twirl of his controller as he collected a Mushroom Card upon clearing the level leaving the murderous Sun behind him.
Eyes narrowing Harry decided then and there that it would be his Mushroom Card in a few moments, or rather that had been the plan. His revenge was derailed seconds later as the front door was kicked open and his older sister entered the room tailed by her long haired redheaded boyfriend.
"I'm back bitches! We've got movies, pizza, pop, and for the big kids a couple beers! Now clear off the TV we're gonna watch the Goonies!"
Sighing Neville sat up and helped Harry clean up the game console, cords, and Nintendo Power Magazines while quickly placing them on the shelf, best not to stall when sis was on the move after all.
After they were done Dany approached Harry with an off look in her gaze, "Err...Dany are you-"
"Never again Harry," she began without preamble, "never again shall I be subjected to being a test doll for a redheaded prepubescent psychopathic wannabe sa-"
"Pizzas up!" Dora loudly shouted which immediately gained Dancia's attention.
"Oh, pizza, lets eat!" She chirped out happily seemingly forgetting her earlier tirade.
Harry grinned, his best friend had her priorities after all and he could respect that.
Taking a red plastic cup filled with 7up and a plate loaded down with pizza slices Harry munched on the meal while his sister slapped the Goonies cassette tape into the VCR. Moments later she plopped onto her boyfriends lap while taking a drag from one of the beers they had brought with them before letting out a rather uncouth belch.
Susan looked disapproving but kept her tongue, while it was illegal for Dora to be drinking at her age, they were also all ten so anything they said would mean next to nothing to the adults.
That, and if Susan came off too strong she'd be denied Saturday Movie Night privileges and no one wanted that, least of all her.
As Cyndi Lauper's 'Good Enough' played through the room Harry couldn't help but feel for the Goonies, doing everything they could to keep what they had.
He wouldn't do anything differently himself truth be told, if anything ever threatened his home and family, he would do everything in his power to make those responsible pay for it.
Such dramatic thoughts were dropped a moment later as a smile crawled across his face.
Dany sidled up to his side and dropped her head to his shoulder without word, Harry then threw his arm around her shoulders while lightly dropping his head to hers.
Yeah, he would always protect what was his, and... he would ignore the fact that his sister was making out with her boyfriend because otherwise he would have nightmares.
Gross.
Focus on his friends, not the face sucking, yeah, that was for the best.
Neville was leaning back in his chair, Susan resting at his side while she munched on a slice of pizza, both of them looking content as they did so watching the movie.
Dany though had her eyes closed and was holding Harry's torso in a death grip, as if she were afraid he would disappear. Harry ran a cursory hand down her arm a moment before she opened her eyes and met his gaze with a questioning look.
"What?"
Harry shrugged, "Just wondering what's on your mind is all."
She snorted while snuggling further into his side, "I'm just happy dummy, watch the movie now before I get your sister involved. And since she is so busy I can't imagine she would be too happy with the interruption..."
Harry coughed lightly and did just that, having no desire to have an annoyed Dora aimed in his general direction.
For Dancia's part, she sighed happily and soon passed out on her best friend, completely content with the current turn of events.
After all, not everything in her life needed to involve unnecessary drama.
Well, that would be the truth of the matter if her mother hadn't shown up while she was napping and had gone out of her way to take pictures, but that was an embarrassment for another day.