A/n: So I know it's been almost a year, but it's been rough including a new college schedule and the death of my step dad. I am finally pushing past my writers block and getting back to my writing. I haven't abandoned either of my stories and have no plans to ever do so. *Also see poll on my page.*
Chapter 12. Emotions and emotions.
Morning came, and with it a flurry of excitement. Benny had attempted to make omelets. Harry stumbled into the kitchen to shouts and chaos. Apparently Kiki had stolen the bacon and Dudley knocked over the bowl of beaten egg trying to catch her. Cut vegetables were everywhere, the cat was on top of the fridge and Benny was nursing scratched fingers. In the middle of it all Prince –Briar- stood with tomato in his platinum hair glaring at the mess.
"Oh my!" Harry rubbed at his eyes but the scene didn't change. A sudden pressure built in his chest and he was furious. "What the hell are you doing?" he snapped at Dudley first who was snatching at the cat and yelling. "You come into my kitchen, trash the place, spoil breakfast and attack my cat!? What is wrong with you people?" Just as suddenly as he started yelling he stopped shocked.
"Ree-" Prince began but Harry fled back to his room.
Prince watched as Kiki lept down and followed the teen, tail stuck proudly in the air. He blinked bemused and turned back to the mess and the gaping boys. "Start cleaning this place up, I'll handle this."
He ignored the half-hearted protests and slipped down the hall and into the blue room. Harry had huddled under his blanket. He approached quietly and sat on the bed, gently tugging at the covers.
"I'm sorry." Harry peeked up through his lashes. I shouldn't have…"
"Hush Little One. I don't believe that was entirely your fault, and even if it were you wouldn't be in serious trouble for a bit of yelling. In case you didn't notice, your cousin and Benny yell at each other all the time."
"What?"
"Your cousin and Benny get in these arguments all the time. They yell at each other for a while, the laugh it off later. It is part of-"
"No not that." Harry cut Prince off, knowing the other was being deliberately obtuse. "What did you mean it wasn't all my fault?"
"Harry, little bit, what have we been studying about for the past week?" Prince questioned him gently.
"Empathy" he responded slowly, uncertain.
"Empathy, and just two days ago we talked about anchors remember?"
"Yes, but, I yelled at you. Why would you be mad at yourself?" Harry hated how pitiful his voice sounded and wanted to hide beneath the blanket again. I can't believe I yelled at Prince!
XXxx
"Oh wizardling" Prince closed his eyes and focused on reassuring feelings. "Being an empath, feeling your anchor's emotions doesn't mean that the reasons behind the emotion would be the same. You may get caught up in m-someone's emotions, but they can't influence your own thoughts and beliefs really." He watched as Harry cocked his head clearly confused. "In the kitchen, I was very angry at Benny for making a racket, at Dudley for flipping tomato at me, and at Kiki even for stealing the bacon and instigating the whole ordeal. You picked up on my anger, probably most strongly when you came close to me in the kitchen and you were overwhelmed. Because I am an anchor for you the high emotions in the room probably had you reaching towards my emotions for guidance. You became angry because I was angry, but you weren't angry for the reasons I was, so you turned your anger towards reasons you were upset over. Do you understand?"
"You were angry about the noise and the tomato and the bacon. Your anger made me angry, but I didn't care about those things so I was angry for my own reasons?"
"That's it exactly." Prince smiled relieved. I'm glad he understood it, I nearly confused myself. "It would have been like that for other anchors you've used in the past. Strong feelings from your anchor would seem almost like your own feelings, but no one can influence your personal thoughts and opinions. At least not because of your empathy."
"Ron."
"What was that?" Prince lifted an eyebrow.
"My friend Ron, I think he was my anchor. I remember getting into fights that I shouldn't have. Normally I'd walk away or talk everyone down so it didn't come to blows. I thought I really needed to work on my temper and not let the Slytherins get under my skin so much, but it wasn't all me." Harry looked as if he'd solved a huge mystery.
"Slytherins?" bemused he watched his wizardling blush.
"Ron always loses his temper around the snakes. I don't always get caught up, but I definitely remember times where I felt not myself when around some of the Slytherins, less sensitive and more emotional."
"That would be right. You would be able to tune out emotions from everyone except your anchor, and you would feel your anchor's emotions at extra strength. What makes you think it was Ron and not your other friend, Hermione?"
"Just thinking about when we had fights. Hermione always felt sad when we fought but Ron would get mad. Even if I was fighting with Ron, I stayed close to him and I'd be mad at him too. I thought in first year that maybe it was Ron making me mad at M-certain people, but I was upset at him for different reasons than he always was so I didn't think that could be it."
"Mystery solved then." Prince gently ruffled the multi colored hair. "Feel better Little One?"
"Yes." Harry peeked up shyly. "What was going on anyhow?"
"Benny J decided to make breakfast. Kiki wanted to help." Prince offered a grin.
"You still have tomato in your hair." Harry looked fascinated at the sight.
Prince grimaced not wanting to think about the mess. "I'll go shower. What are you going to do?"
"I think I'll go start breakfast. Or at least start cleaning-"
"No. If the kitchen is a mess still, you leave it to the boys. They made the mess; they can clean all of it without assistance. You need to be resting still, and it is not your responsibility to keep the house neat."
"I just thought, 'cause Kiki…"
"No cleaning. Thank you, but no."
XXXxxx
Two days later Harry brushed the sleep from his eyes and froze. The flat was buzzing. Excitement and anticipation seemed to fill the place and the green eyed wizard swayed before he caught himself and pulled on his glasses. Nervous about the cause, but filled with the ambient happiness, he shuffled out of the room twisting the hem of his blue pajama top.
Whispering was coming from the front room and he followed the slight noise until he spotted all three of the other residents hovering over the coffee table. Prince glanced up sharply then grinned at him. Harry blinked and smiled back, shy.
"Oy Ree! What are you doing up! You're supposed to be asleep still!" Benny J shouted suddenly, causing him to jump slightly.
"Easy Benny, do you have to be so loud all the time?" Dudley elbowed his friend as he smiled at his cousin. "Happy Birthday!"
"Happy Birthday Ree!" the other two echoed.
Harry froze, his eyes going wide. I forgot. I didn't count down last night. No one owled. Dudley just wished me a Happy Birthday. "Oh."
After a beat where the three waited for more, Prince gestured towards the kitchen. "I made pancakes and strawberry topping. It's not overly sweet, I promise. Come eat."
Harry followed still shocked as they moved into the kitchen. No one's ever. I…What? I don't know what to do now…Prince-Harry reached for the blond wrapping around one arm even as he accepted the plate. This is okay. I'm okay. Safe here. Happy.
XXxx
Prince glanced down as Harry clung to his left arm. He ruffled the calico hair enjoying the mix of blond red and raven, as the wizardling sorted himself out. When he felt the younger boy relax a bit, he guided him to the table and gently sat him in a chair. Glancing up he spotted Dudley's guilty look and Benny's uncertainty.
"Well eat." He commanded gesturing to the large tray of pancakes and strawberry slices. Pleased when they obeyed, he turned his attention to the birthday boy. "You've never celebrated your birthday have you?"
"I have." Harry matched his quiet tone. "Usually I stay up till midnight and count down. And the Weasleys send me presents. Hermione too."
"I meant with other people. Dudley said you never had a birthday party" Or received much for presents besides scrap or trash meant as a joke. "Have you ever had a celebration?"
Harry shook his head in response looking lost.
"Well today is about you okay? If you get overwhelmed or want to be alone that's fine. Today is supposed to be fun for you. If you aren't having fun we can stop." Prince smoothed his hair in a way he knew his wizardling found soothing. "Now enjoy your pancakes."