AN: Hello all!
First of all, let me give my most sincere apologies for not updating last week. I have no excuses, though I despise excuses anyway, though I'll say I was stuck on a scene and it impeded my working on the rest. Now, however, I'm rolling again. As a way to make it up to all of my loyal readers and reviewers, if I get enough response from this chapter I'll post mid-week in addition to next Sunday!
I hope this chapter lives up to itself, seeing as how late it is. I made sure it was a respectable length (over 5,000 words) because of it's delay.
Again, here is something very important:
Disclaimer: I, Golden Sun, do not claim any ownership of the characters, places, or ideas from Harry Potter. You recognize it, and it most likely belongs to J.K. Rowling, genius that she is. I do, however, own all seven well-worn and well-loved books.
And this chapter is donated to Books101 and Lollypops101, two sister who have been invaluable with their help and support. Thank you so much for pointing things out in your reviews, offering advice and opinions, and answering my oftentimes confusing questions. It really helps me write when I can talk things out with people who have no attachments to certain plot parts, and the like. So again, thank you and keep reading and reviewing!
The Love of Family
Chapter 5: Day One, Shopping and Bonding Pt 2 (and a twin brother!)
Tips for reading:
Narration
"Speaking"
Thoughts
'Mental Twin Conversations'
July 8, 1991- 1:00 pm, Hidden Creek Village, Wizarding Side; Scotland Wilderness
Harry and Minerva had just finished their lunch and were now meandering around the square in the village. Minerva looked down at her young charge, who looked much younger than his actual age because of his unhealthy past.
She smiled. "Harry dear, how would you like to look at books, or maybe a broomstick? I think you'd like flying, seeing as your father was a natural flyer who was most comfortable in the air, and my home has plenty of room for practicing."
Harry looked up at her with wide eyes. "I forget if Matt mentioned anything about flying with magic- how does it work? Is it hard? My dad used to do it?" it was the most excitement she'd gotten out of him all day, and his eyes lit up with curiosity as she noticed a love of learning that rivaled her own.
Minerva blinked, though, surprised. She supposed she shouldn't be, but Harry had been very knowledgeable about the more fun and simple aspects of magic without her explanation before. But Rosie Peterson hadn't shown much interest in Quidditch the year before, so it was possible Matthew hadn't learned much about flying either. He had never been to Hogwarts himself, after all. And Harry had gotten all of his previous information from his brother.
She started to explain. "People with magic fly with broomsticks primarily, though there have been other less common ways known to be used before. It's quite easy for some people, though others require more practice, and some are never comfortable in the air no matter how long they try. I suspect both you and your brother will be quite at home in the air, so I was going to offer to buy you both broomsticks. Matthew's can be an early birthday present. I happen to really enjoy flying myself, and would be happy to instruct you both. I don't get enough time to fly in recent years."
She sighed nostalgically. She used to be found in the air in all of her free time, once upon a time. However, now as a teacher, responsible adult, Head of House, and Deputy Headmistress, she had no free time and it wasn't proper to fly on the Hogwarts Pitch. In fact, she sometimes thought because of that, her students didn't know their teachers could fly. They probably thought that it was a 'modern', 'teenage' thing, she thought ruefully. She was once the star Chaser on her house team, leading her team to the cup six years running.
The boy's eyes, to her amusement, got even wider with that information. It blew memories out of her mind as she watched him with pleasure growing inside of her. She loved seeing him happy, after his past. "Flying on broomsticks? Like the witches in stories? I'd love to learn!" he had a true smile now, and his eyes were lit up and glowing with excitement. "Where do we get a broom? When can I try it? It there racing and stuff, or is it only for fun?"
Minerva laughed at his enthusiasm and took his hand, leading him around the corner. She smiled again as he didn't even protest, but loosened up truly for the first time since she'd met him, and bounced along beside her like a true eleven-year-old boy should.
As she led him to the Quidditch store, which while not as large and well stocked as Quality Quidditch in the Alley would at least have the new models of brooms and maybe even a practice snitch, she started to explain to him about Quidditch and the joy of flying.
Harry looked like he'd be knocked out of the air by a Quaffle instead of catching it, but he had the perfect build for a Seeker. And Minerva McGonagall was nothing if not an avid Quidditch fan and player and knew what she was talking about. Just ask Severus Snape: the hexes from her to him after the Slytherin Team won the Quidditch cup the last several years could prove her point.
An hour later showed Minerva and Harry leaving the shop with two 'Nimbus Two-Thousands' and one practice Golden Snitch. Minerva was smirking with satisfaction. After all, it hadn't been necessary to buy two of the newest brooms on the market, but she expected that Harry and Matthew would be very good flyers and it would be most fun for her to teach them on good brooms. And they had also had the exact snitch she wanted for Harry! It could be set to eventually play at the speed and level of a real game snitch, but it also had beginner, intermediate and advance levels before that which would vary in speed and difficulty for training and practice.
So she was very happy with the outcome of their trip. Harry, however, looked like he was still in shock.
"Auntie Min?" he asked quietly. She looked questioningly down at the quiet boy. He looked very different now with hazel eyes, but they suited him, somehow.
"Yes dear?"
"Why did you spend so much on me and Matt? I really didn't need this broom, and neither does Matt, I bet. I mean, I love it and I'm really, really excited, but it was so much money, and you don't even really know me, and-" But Minerva cut him off, not needing to hear anymore or watch the boy work himself into a panic.
"Harry, I got you and your brother those brooms for several reasons. Mostly because it is not difficult for me to spend that much money, and because I want you to have that broom. I owe you both many birthday and Christmas presents, even if you don't agree," she added as his mouth opened, "because if I had known where you were growing up, you would have gotten them every year. The other reason is a little selfish, but it is more fun to teach flying on good brooms, and I love to fly. I want to be able to teach you on a broom as good as mine. Mine was bought last year, a Nimbus One-Thousand and Fifty, but it's almost as good as yours."
She smiled at him. She realized she had smiled more this summer so far with one little boy than she did during the entire year with one class.
"I did it because I wanted to, and because you deserve a nice broom. And Matthew's will be his birthday present. Okay?"
"Okay," Harry said meekly, but he sent her a small, genuine smile that made her heart want to burst with happiness.
She just smiled wider. "How about we go to the bookstore, hmm? I'd bet you'd like some books to put on that shelf in your room?"
Wide, hazel eyes looked up at her. "Really? I can pick my own? Do wizards have novels? Are they expensive? What kinds do they have? What are magical fantasies like if they live in that kind of world already? Do they have history books? Because I was wondering…" she laughed, thrilled to find a lover of books like herself, and looking forward to introducing the child to the marvelous store this village boasted. It didn't have as many textbooks as the Alley, but many more muggle novels and wizarding fiction and nonfiction.
And as Harry chattered away acting for the very first time like the young child he was, Minerva smiled happily and took his hand to lead him to the bookstore. And he didn't even react, except to clutch tighter to her fingers.
July 8, 1991- 4:00 pm, Harry's Room, North wing, McGonagall Manor; Scotland
Harry knew he was grinning widely as he sat on the plush carpeting in the middle of his room, but he couldn't stop no matter how hard he tried. A part of him was saying that this was too good to be true, but the other part was reminding him that he'd always known this kind of life was possible. Look at Matt, after all. Come to think of it, that part of him sounded like his brother, too.
I guess I just never thought this kind of life was possible for me even if it was for someone else.
To Harry's complete surprise, an actual voice answered his thought. Well, an actual mental voice.
'Hey Ry! You're at Auntie Min's place, now? I've been waiting to talk to you till you got home. How was your day?'
'Hey Matty!' Harry was thrilled to hear from his twin- no day seemed complete without Matt there to talk to. 'My day was really good, besides having to try on all those clothes.'
The clothes trying-on really wasn't fun, but seeing as how Matt was in his head and knew him as well as he knew himself, he knew Harry had actually enjoyed something so new that it was actually exciting in an odd way. He didn't mention anything, though, to Harry's relief.
'I'm glad you had a good time! What did you end up getting?'
'Besides a boatload of clothes, more than I've ever seen in my life, much less worn, Auntie Min brought me to the Quidditch shop. You know, broomsticks and such?'
'Yeah, Rosie mentioned something, but she didn't really say much. She said that she didn't like it.'
'Well get this- apparently our dad, James, was amazing at Quidditch! He played on his house team and won every time, according to Auntie. So she thinks we'll be good at it too, and seeing as she likes to play, she got me a broom and said she'll teach us!'
Matt was almost jumping with excitement as he wiggled in his seat, and Harry thought it was a good thing no one else was in the living room where his twin was sitting and reading a book. 'Matty, you're going to have to work on your physical reactions when we talk. That will be really awkward for your friends at school, if you suddenly laugh or fidget when they're doing work, or eating, or something.'
'Yeah, yeah, whatever.' Matt dismissed Harry's concerns in his excitement, 'I can't believe Auntie Min will teach us to fly! It'll be fun to learn about our birth parents from her, even if my mum and dad are my parents now. Ry, it doesn't bother you that I call them mum and dad even though we share different birth parents, does it? I mean, I call them my birth parents, but you call James and Lily mum and dad. It's just something that Rosie brought up the other day, and I was worrying…'
'No Matty, not at all. It's just been that way forever, hasn't it? It's not like we really talked much before you were adopted- it was more just comforting each other. And then Anna and Rich were your mum and dad, and it seemed natural. I would probably have called different people mum and dad had I ever found a family. We didn't know anything about Lily and James Potter at that point anyway!'
Matt seemed to let out a sigh of relief, if one could do that mentally. 'I'm glad you're not upset.'
'I couldn't be upset with you, you know. It's too hard- like being mad at myself.'
Matt chuckled, 'I understand; it's the same with me.'
'Oh, I forgot!' Harry exclaimed, 'Auntie Min was going to floo call your mom now, but I was going to ask you anyway if you could come over for dinner and a couple of hours after? Auntie Min wants me to go to sleep early-ish, but I really wanted to see you. We haven't been together in person with me conscious in years!'
'Really? Yes! I've been waiting and waiting! They kept saying you were sleeping, or recovering, or couldn't have visitors! Let me ask mum, and I'll be over soon!'
'Great! Can't wait to see you, Matty!'
July 8, 1991- 4:30 pm, Living Room, McGonagall Manor; Scotland
Harry was bouncing on the soles of his feet, waiting anxiously for the fire to roar and turn green- previously scary to him, it now would symbolize that his twin was coming through to see him for the first time in years (that Harry would be awake for, that is).
And then there it was- a flash of bright green and a shape taking form in the flames, steadily moving closer to Harry.
And then there was a boy stepping out of the brick fireplace, clambering awkwardly down onto the rug, and looking up at Harry.
Bright hazel eyes met ones just like them but with more green and a hint of brown, and suddenly both boys broke into identical grins.
The differences were emphasized with both standing next to each other: Matt was taller, either by genetics or because of Harry's malnutrition, but he was; Harry's stature was slimmer and leaner, and would stay that way even with proper meals; Harry's eyes were greener even with the contacts; Harry's hair was nowhere near as unmanageable as Matt's, and was a midnight black to Matt's auburn red; Matt's nose was a little longer and wider than Harry's.
But both had the slightly crooked grin that went up on the left that had made James such a teenage heartbreaker at school, and both their eyes twinkled with joy and excitement in the same way Lily's always had when faced with something that she was looking forward to.
And both didn't even notice the differences as they leapt forward to embrace the other.
'Matty!' Harry cried silently into their minds.
And Matt responded, 'I'm here, Ry. We're here; together.'
July 8, 1991- 6:00 pm, Harry's Room, North Wing, McGonagall Manor; Scotland
Harry ginned widely yet again as he yet again sat on the plush, gold carpet in his bedroom, but he couldn't help it this time, either. He was just so happy, sitting, talking, and just hanging out with his brother for the first time either of them could remember. After Matt had gotten to the Manor, Auntie Min had immediately come in to call Matt's house through the floo and assure his mother that he'd arrived safely.
Apparently she'd told Matt to call upon his arrival, but had assumed (correctly) that he'd forget when he saw Harry. Hence the comment to Auntie Min in their earlier conversation, saying that anytime that Matt flooed over she'd like a call to tell her he didn't fall out of the wrong fireplace, or something.
As a muggle, she had said, she assumed she had the right to worry.
Auntie Min had said that even more than that, as a mother she had the right to worry.
After Anna had been appeased of Matt's safety, they boys had shouted a hello and goodbye to Auntie Min as they raced up the large staircase towards Harry's room. The small, dark-headed boy had pointed to various doors and windows with hurried explanations of areas of interest, but was too excited to show Matt anything in detail until they'd seen his room.
His room. This was the first time Harry had had anything to show, or anyone to show it to.
And it hadn't been disappointing. Matt had been just as amazed by Harry's room as Harry himself had been when he'd first woken up there. They boys had sat on the huge, soft bed for a while together, simply talking about their summers, their lives, how things had changed for the better, and how difficult Hogwarts would be in terms of their relationship.
"You know," Matt had said, "We went years and years talking only at night and never seeing each other. This won't be much different, will it? Except we'll sometimes get to see each other during the day as well."
Harry had disagreed. "But now I'll know what it's like seeing and talking to you everyday and I'll know what I'm missing."
But both boys agreed that it was for the best, no matter how difficult it would be.
"You know," Matt said thoughtfully after that, studying his twin's face, "I know I haven't seen you in years, but something's different, isn't it?"
"Yeah," Harry had laughed lightly, "A bit. I got contacts instead of glasses, though I got some of those too, and these are colored." He then concentrated hard on clearness as he touched his closed eyelid, and thought clear. He had opened his eyes and Matt gasped, so Harry had assumed it had worked and that his eyes were emerald green again.
"The sales woman said this way it would be easy to see my real color, which I like, but Auntie Min thought the greenish hazel color would work to disguise me a bit. I guess mum's eyes were really distinctive." He had shrugged a little before quickly changing the contacts back to colored.
"And my hairs different," he had announced to his brother with a small grin.
Matt had studied him. "How? You've always had black hair, right?" while the boys knew each other mentally better than they might know themselves, the only descriptions of physical appearance had been ones they'd given the other, any memories they might have shared that had included them looking in a mirror (not many), or some memories of their baby years (though those were fuzzy and they had changed a lot from their baby selves)
"Yeah, but it used to be shorter, like yours, and really messy. Though not as much as yours," he had said smilingly, teasingly ruffling Matt's nest of red tangles as the boy grinned ruefully, "But Auntie Min said it was a lot like dad's, and I guess magical hair places don't just cut, color and style hair, but grow it too." Harry had fingered his hair, which was now grown to where it almost brushed his shoulders and pulled casually back into a low tail very easily.
"Like this it's easier to take care of and it's nothing like dad's. Auntie Min said the texture and wave look like mum's, actually. It's also nothing like what I've had my whole life, and I like that things are different physically now. My hair's just another thing separating me from that place." He had spit the word out with such venom that Matt had sent him a mental nudge of calmness to steady out the bitterness, anger, sadness, and hurt.
"I know, Ry." He had said softly, "And I really like the hair. It suites you." And so it did. As the hair stylist had said, it emphasized his sharp cheekbones and drew attention to his eyes and longish face. He had some shorter bits that were like bangs, to cover up his scar in the event that whatever method Auntie Min came up with for that purpose not work. Or even for when he was in his normal appearance- he still didn't like his forehead and scar visible then either, even if people already knew who he was.
Finally after an hour of talking, they had realized that Harry's shopping bags had yet to be unpacked. And because even though it was shopping, it was Harry's first trip of the kind, they had decided to empty Harry's bags together instead of waiting for the elves to do it.
The topics moved from subject to subject smoothly, nothing at all awkward despite it being their first time together like this in memory. Matt actually was interested in Harry's new clothes after hearing that they had enchantments on them, and the time putting them into the new wardrobe was spent coming up with the most absurd and silly charms that could be put on clothes, such as singing ones, ones that would magnetically pull towards certain colors, and ones that would make the sleeves of the shirts taste like chocolate when sucked on.
That was a favorite.
But after those were gone and put away, there was only a couple of bags left. Harry was most excited about these, as his broomstick had been put into the shed already so he couldn't show Matt. Otherwise that would have been the most exciting. (Besides, Auntie Min had said that Matt's was to be a surprise, and Harry wouldn't want to learn to fly without Matt learning as well. So it was really for the best that his broomstick had been put away.)
These bags were full of books from the store he'd visited, and though Matt didn't love reading as much as Harry who had found a refreshing comfort in books all his life, he also had a fondness for them because of his brother.
"Look, Matty!" Harry exclaimed, "It's a history of Quidditch! Remember I was telling you about it?"
The boys had discovered that while Matt was well informed about a lot of the magical world, the game played on broomsticks was not part of his knowledge, as proven by their mental conversation earlier. They attributed that to the fact that, "Rosie was terrible at flying, so she probably didn't want to admit to her awful skills by lingering too long on the subject," at least, according to Matt.
"Really? Does it say when it was started? And what players get hurt the most? You said Auntie Min wants to teach you Seeker, but I don't want those big, black things to knock you off your broom when you're so high up." Matt sounded uncertain, and Harry smiled a little at him.
"Lots of people play Quidditch, and it's allowed to be played at a school, so I'm sure it's safe enough. 'Sides, I won't be allowed to try out until second year, that is, if I decide to play at all. I haven't even been flying yet, so I don't know if I'm any good. And I might just decide to fly for fun instead of playing on a team. You know I don't like attention…"
"Yeah, I know. But this kind of attention is different than us being famous for something we couldn't control, or getting attention for doing chores badly," noticing his brother's wince, Matt quickly moved on, "or for doing accidental magic. This would be people watching you play, but also watching both teams as a whole. You know?"
"Yeah, I know. But it's really not worth debating right now, cuz like I said, I don't even know if I'll like it."
"Not like it?" Matt laughed, "This is the most excited I've ever seen you about something. I think you'll love it."
Harry laughed a bit too. "Yeah, I think I will." He admitted, "Anyway, look at this Transfiguration book. Auntie Min wants me ready for her class, she said, so she picked up a couple for me. I guess this is a beginning book that a lot of magical families will sometimes buy if they want to tutor their kids early with the theory or if they get their wands a bit early, or something. It looks really interesting. I was looking at all the books she got, and unlike defense (which seems really neat) or Charms (which seems really useful) Transfiguration doesn't use incantations, exactly. While all magic, according to the theory book, uses intent, Transfiguration uses it the most. You need to concentrate and imagine the object changing, and focus that intent through your wand, somehow. I don't really get it, yet, but I assume it'll be easier to understand when actually using a wand."
Matt just stared at his brother for a minute, mouth gaping. Then at Harry's confused look he snapped his mouth shut and shook his head slowly with a fond chuckle.
"Ry, you really amaze me. You just got these books today and you have already read most of them, haven't you?"
"Well," Harry said sheepishly, "Not most, just some. And that's just skimming, too. I haven't actually read them, or anything."
"Ah, same difference. Did you get any fun books, or just texts and such?"
"Hey!" Harry was indignant, "those are fun! And the history ones and just are like storybooks!"
Matt just looked at him silently. One thing about being in each other's head for years: you always know what the other means, so pretending you don't doesn't work.
"Yeah, yeah. I know what you meant." Harry admitted in a mutter, "and yes, I got some others. Some tales that muggles know, like King Arthur and Merlin, actually were real people and stories, once." To Matt's astonished and amazed look, " Yeah I know- I was surprised too. So they're kinda like history, but also fairy tales used to put kids to sleep with. I got a couple of books about Merlin alone, too. He's the one who modernized magic."
"Modernized?" Matt questioned.
"Yeah, before wizards used to do only wandless magic, or what we know it as, so only really powerful wizards commonly did everyday magics. Others used potions or rituals or other methods for their power. Merlin made a staff that the common wand is now based off of, and that's what made it possible for others to focus and center their power to use it easily. Although Merlin did that for others benefits- he could do wandless magic really easily. I want to learn wandless magic," Harry informed his brother, who was listening avidly to the now interesting topic, with a wistful sigh, "because I think it would be really interesting and totally useful. Besides," he said, reaching over for a red and brown leather bound book, "in this book about old, pureblood families, it says the Potters are some of the oldest in Brittan that there are. And the older the family line, the more likely the power for wandless magic. But the ability can also just come for extraordinarily gifted witches or wizards, muggle borns included."
Matt was still listening with attention. "So some of those stories are real?" he asked, going back to the previous topic. Harry didn't mind- he knew his brother had different interests, and might not find the academics as fascinating as Harry would.
"Yeah, I don't know how much, though. Like I don't know if there was ever a sword and a stone. But I bet one of these books," he gestured at the ones he'd put in the 'history' section of his bookcase, "will tell me."
Matt just grinned at his brother's enthusiasm. While he might not enjoy reading all that much, he loved seeing Harry so excited and seeing his eyes light up with happiness.
"And did you know," Harry told Matt here, "That some books like The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings and Alice in Wonderland were written by wizards? They were adapted a bit for muggle publication, and some parts are what wizards wish could be accomplished by magic but isn't really possible, but they were originally written for the magical public!"
"Wow, really?" Matt thought about that for a minute. "Actually, it kinda makes sense. I always thought that Lewis Carroll was pretty crazy for what he came up with, but with magic being real he's just a little crazy."
Harry laughed. "With what I've seen so far, I think most magical people have a little crazy in them."
The boys continued to laugh and look through the books, basking in the feeling of being together at last, until the house elf Kippy came to inform them that "Mistress is wanting young Masters to know dinner is ready, she is," and they went down for a feast in honor of their first afternoon together.
July 8, 1991- 9:30 pm, Living Room, McGonagall Manor; Scotland
"Does he have to go, Auntie Min?" Harry asked with a whine to his voice, "There's plenty of space in my room for both of us! He can share the bed, and we promise not to make a mess."
As much as she was glad Harry was comfortable enough to argue with her, Minerva mused, she didn't think she particularly liked the pleading side of him. She didn't want him to be so sad and disappointed, but she'd stick by her decision lest it set a bad precedent and make him think he'd be allowed to get away with anything in the future.
"No, Harry. I'm sorry, but he needs to go home now. We told his mother that he'd be home by nine-thirty, and if he's not then she might be hesitant about letting him come back again. Besides," she added quickly upon seeing Matthew open his mouth with, she was sure, a persuasive argument to rival one of James Potter's on a good day, "you need sleep to keep recovering and you promised you'd go to bed at a reasonable time. We both know that wouldn't happen with even the best intentions at a slumber party. I want you almost back by full health by mid-August. Remember, I return to the School early as Deputy Headmistress."
"Yes, Auntie Min," Harry sighed, and she allowed herself a small smirk. Victory! She knew the bit about her being concerned for his health would win it, as Harry still wasn't used to anyone caring about him and he seemed to like seeing her in that position. And she had meant it truthfully- the sooner he was healthy, the happier she'd be. Harry turned then to Matthew, and Minerva could tell they were having a 'mind-talk' conversation, as she and Anna Peterson had dubbed the method of speaking. She turned away a little to give them privacy as they hugged goodbye.
"Ready Matthew?" she asked kindly, and the redhead looked up at her. She almost sighed again at how much he looked like James, since she knew what to look for, though it wasn't blatantly obvious. And he shared so many traits with Harry, too, such as the tilt of their heads slightly to the left as they looked up at her, their stances as both slouched with sadness and disappointment, their broad foreheads under Matthew's red mess and Harry's black bangs, and their identical pouts as their lower lips jutted slightly and they looked at her with wide, sad, hazel eyes. The darker ones, the ones that were greener like her own with the same brown tint, almost broke her resolve.
"Ready Matthew?" she questioned again to distract from this, and he sighed.
"Yes, Auntie Min. Can I come back soon?" he blurted out suddenly as she held out the jar of floo powder.
"Yes Matthew, you may. As long as it's all right with your parents I see no reason why you can't come by tomorrow for an hour or two, or this weekend to stay the night. Now we can talk by owl later, or your mother can floo me, but you need to go now."
"All right, all right." He grumbled, "Nite Harry, nite Auntie Min." he said sadly. Harry waved a little goodbye as Matthew took a handful of floo powder. With a shouted, 'Peterson House!' he was gone.
They waited in silence for another moment, and then the chime that meant a call was coming through rang. Minerva pressed the button on the mantle, and Anna Peterson's face appeared in the flames.
"He's here, Minerva. Thought I'd let you know."
"Thank you, Anna. Call me tomorrow about another time for Matthew to come over."
"Sounds good, and thank you so much for having him today. He was almost glowing with happiness when I asked him how it was."
Minerva looked over at Harry, who was now sitting curled up on a couch reading a book. His face looked more cheerful and relaxed than she'd ever seen it.
"It was good for Harry as well. I think they both had a excellent time."
"All right, all right! One minute!" Anna called to someone behind her. She turned back to Minerva with a sheepish smile. "Rosie misplaced something, so it's obviously the end of the world." She rolled her eyes and Minerva grinned, "Preteen girls," she shook her head. "I'm glad to hear Harry had fun. I'll call sometime tomorrow morning?"
"That should be fine. Goodnight, Anna. Give my best to your family."
"Same here, Minerva. Tell Harry I say hello."
"I will." And then Anna's face was gone and Minerva was left looking at Harry as he read, watching with pleasure as he smiled slightly at entertaining parts of the book.
"Harry?" she questioned, watching as he looked up at her, "I think it's about time for bed. I don't know if you're too old now, but I was going to offer to read to you, when I come in to say goodnight."
She wanted to read him a bedtime story, wanted to have that time with him. But she understood that Harry was old enough to resent that in a guardian, and to want his own time before sleep. But he had missed out on so much of his childhood…
He was deep in thought, his forehead crinkled with his eyes drawn together. Suddenly his face cleared as he smiled, and Minerva resolved to do whatever she could to see that smile as much as possible. It lit up his whole face.
"I would like that, Auntie."
"Very well," she smiled back, "go get into your pajamas and brush your teeth. I'll be up in ten minutes."
Ten minutes later she'd gotten into her own lilac nightgown with her silk, royal purple robe fastened neatly over. It had been a Christmas present from a niece of hers last year. She was barefoot because that was her most comfortable preference of footwear- none. She liked to be able to feel the ground, whether it be grass, sand, hardwood floor, or plush carpet like in Harry's room. Her long, brown, hair was down from its normal tight bun and almost reached her waist, though now it was braided and slightly shorter, thrown casually over a shoulder. The students at school never saw her in such informal attire, but she wanted to feel comfortable like this with Harry, in the comfort of their home.
She liked that, having someone to share the Manor with. It was far too big and lonely for just her. It needed a youngster around.
She knocked on the door to his room. "Harry, child? Can I come in?"
"Yes, come on in, Auntie!" he called back.
She pushed the door open to see him standing by the bookshelf on the far side of his room, with all of his books organized and put away carefully and lovingly. She was happy to see from his treatment of them that she'd been right earlier that day in the bookshop- she'd found a fellow book-lover in this young boy.
He was wearing a pair of red flannel pajama pants and a white t-shirt, his hair newly tied into a loose ponytail to keep it from tangling horribly as he slept. He looked over at her and she smiled at him.
"Do you know what you'd like me to read?"
He thought for a minute, looking back at the shelf. "You said that Huckleberry Fin was good, though I've only read Tom Sawyer before. Will you read that to me?"
Minerva smiled again at him, marveling at how she'd smiled more genuine smiles in one day than she had in three previously the past few years.
"I'd love to, dear heart. It is a favorite story of mine, and one completely muggle. How about we read a chapter a night, and see if we can get done before school starts?"
"Okay," Harry agreed shyly but happily, selecting the book off the shelf to hand to her on his way to the bed.
He snuggled down under the covers, relaxing into the pillows. Minerva looked around the room and spotted the armchair in the corner- she knew it was as comfortable as it looked. She pulled out her wand from the sash at her waist and summoned the chair over, before replacing the wand to its former location. Harry watched with the same amazement he'd given to anything magical that he'd seen lately, as she settled into the chair by his bedside.
She cleared her throat. "I hope you enjoy this as much as I did, and still do," she told him, before beginning to read the first paragraph that she knew and loved so well, her voice taking on a soft, slight imitation of a southern accent much to Harry's amusement, "You don't know about me without you have read a book by the name of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer; but that ain't no matter. That book was made by Mr. Mark Twain, and he told the truth, mainly. There was things which he stretched, but mainly he told the truth…"
After one chapter Minerva looked up to see that Harry was mostly asleep. She chuckled softly and conjured a thin, leather bookmark to mark her place in the novel, before setting the book on the small table beside Harry's bed.
"'M not slee-eepy yet," Harry protested, though the drowsy quality of his voice and the yawn that had interrupted his argument negated that statement.
"Go to sleep Harry," Minerva murmured, "We'll read more tomorrow." She used her wand to turn the lights off and return the chair to its proper location, leaving a soft, silver glow from a globe on a table in the corner as the only lighting. It had been purchased earlier that day, and when turned on it would project a realistic sky with stars and a moon onto the ceiling, an image that would change with the real phases of the moon. When off, it functioned much like a night-light, giving enough light for a soft glow for comfort but not enough to actually function with.
She moved quickly across the room and pushed the small button on top to turn it on, watching with happiness as it lit up the ceiling and made Harry's room look like it opened directly to the heavens. She left the heavy, blue curtains around his bed open, hoping for him to wake at a reasonable time the next morning with the sun. Then she turned to look at the small boy curled up in the soft, warm blankets, and felt an unfamiliar, quick tug in her gut. It was protective, and fierce, and loving. It was telling her that this was her boy, and that she needed to protect him at whatever the cost.
It surprised her, because although she cared for Harry, she'd always thought of him first as James and Lily's, with her loving for him now. But now she was feeling maternal, and she wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not. She didn't want to scare the boy away, after all, by trying to be a mother and taking Lily's rightful place.
Giving into her instincts, she leaned down and tucked the covers more securely around him, before placing a soft and gentle kiss on his forehead. He was mostly asleep by that point, but he snuggled deeper into the bed and smiled at that gesture.
And Minerva smiled to herself before leaving the room and closing the door gently behind her. She went to her room to read a bit of her latest Transfiguration journal, and think about just what Harry James was to her.
AN: Thank you for reading!
Please review and tell me what you thought- I happen to like this chapter, as it had some Harry Minerva at the beginning, but had some Matt to break it up. I was worried that I'd overdo the shopping and such, so I cut it short a bit. Okay?
I actually didn't plan that end part with bedtime, but I had to add it. That was a favorite part of my childhood, and as I grew up my family moved onto chapter books, reading a chapter a night. I actually still read with family members up to ten years old.
So again, please let me know any thoughts you might have. Reviewers will again get a preview. The next chapter will probably be skimming the next couple weeks, as it's been two or more chapters of the same day, which was moving much too slow for me. I'll be speeding it up till the end of July, and our twin's birthdays, I think.
Again, thanks for reading and tell me your thoughts! That's actually my favorite part of writing on this site- the readers reactions and opinions.
-Golden Sun
