ARC I
- 07 -
Moments
November 27, 2000
Prongs' Estate
Uknown, UK
"So this is Junior," Clint grinned as he gingerly held the kid in his arms. Intelligent verdant eyes stared back at him with the corner of the babe's mouth seemingly itching upwards.
"Not quite," James chuckled. "He's named after two old men he has never met. Don't let his middle name fool you."
"He's got Lily's eyes." The American commented before slyly looking at his new close friend. "I think they're his best feature but Harry?"
"Yeah," James shrugged. "He was named after my grandfather Pappy Harry or Henry Potter who first introduced me to the joys of pranking others before he died of old age. Would have named him after my dad, Fleamont but Lily did not think it wise."
"Magicals have interesting name choices. Fleamont really?"
"Yes! Dad was infamous of us all Potters to have invented and quadrupled Sleekeazy's Hair Potion before retiring from being so wealthy."
"That stuff still doesn't seem to work on you." Clint chuckled. James sighed; he wasn't about to reveal that the potion hadn't worked for his dad or Pappy either even if it worked for everyone else.
The duo sat in the lounge of the Potters' new dwelling after a mysterious fire destroyed their first one after their wedding back in August. Clint had come by to visit for the first time since early July before Harry's birth after a successful mission to Croatia. He'd contacted James who met him in an undisclosed area near Sirius' home to take them to the Potters' new digs. He felt privileged to have gotten even this close. Apparently apart from Clint – only Sirius and Remus knew that Harry wasn't biologically a Potter. It was safer truth be told seeing as recent betrayals meant the Potters had to be extra vigilant.
"How are you and Lily dealing?" Clint finally asked. Harry seemed to have a fondness for the buttons on the American's bomber jacket as his little fingers seemed to keep aiming for them.
"If you're asking about in general, we are well enough. Together we've been inventing ways to bring some muggle items and concepts into the wizarding world. If you're asking about how we are doing after what the rat did? No promises I won't curse even in front of my son." James replied. "I still cannot believe none of us knew his involvement until Regulus pointed it out to Sirius."
"I am definitely asking about how well you and Lily were doing. Who cares about that rat? He's an as…buttock; although my boss is now aware and is tracking him." Clint stated.
A familiar redhead entered the lounge with a drifting tray of tea as she sniffed. "I'm glad you withheld your usual language Mr. Barton. If only my dear Mr. Prongs shared the same manners."
"I'm incorrigible Lily," James grinned. "Professor McGonagall said so."
Lily arched a brow. "Are you planning on finishing the rest of that line?"
Clint looked at the two of them only to be distracted by a wriggling Harry who had seen his mother. He bounced the babe a couple of times before passing him off to the redhead. Mother and son both cooed at each other.
"What's incorrigible?" James laughed causing Harry to giggle l. "Good man Frederick."
The American looked baffled towards Lily. She sighed.
"We just saw Sound of Music through the Magiplayer." She shrugged. Clint lifted both eyebrows.
"You've been inventing." He addressed the duo. Both shrugged.
"In a way," James uttered. "Seeing as we are targeted by attacks and moving constantly with strict orders to just stay out of sight; we had to amuse ourselves somehow."
"The Magiplayer was just for fun and to see how effective Arthur Weasley would be at discovering our misdeeds." James noted. "Plus since Halloween and because we've been doing things the Muggle way lately; we wanted to watch some of those new Digiton Vid-ee Discus (Clint nearly choked on his spit) but because eclectinics (The American had gone scarlet by this point) does not work around us - oy!"
Clint gave a belly aching roar of laughter. Harry who had been cuddled to his mother having "lunch" seemed to have been distracted as he started wiggling about. Gold sparks dancing across his fingertips.
"Oh!" Lily exclaimed in wonderment. Warmth filled her up as if she had received a dosage of Pepper Up. "James! Oh, he's doing magic!"
Three pairs of eyes ogled the young mother who covered her chest with the blanket she used to often cover Harry when feeding. The baby boy had decidedly stopped eating and was wriggling with happiness. The gold sparks in his fingers glowed and lifted up as if they were like fire bugs. The display surrounded both child and mother in a halo of light.
James grinned. "That's my boy."
000
November 28, 2000
Northern Wales – 01:13
Hidden Location
"You failed me Mr. Pettigrew." The silky voice of the man feared by all stated. "I have no use for you."
"B-b-but sir!"
"Your snivelling is useless to me."
The death of Peter would have been an unforgettable thing indeed; if it weren't for some acrobatics completed by a hooked nosed man who saw potential. A potential to protect the one girl he let get away.
000
November 28, 2000 – 03:07
4 Privet Drive
Little Whinging, Surrey
The peaceful morning was what she needed. She crept into the nursery seeing her son sleeping in his pram. Her arms and body were feeling sore as she watched his little chest go up and down. Her thoughts went to another mother and another babe.
Not saying anything she quickly went to the small tiny cache she had found in the room beside the pram. It was a loose floorboard that she had hidden from her husband as having opened one day. She stretched her hand, listening for Dudley to ensure he wasn't awake. In the soft light of the moon she looked down into the floorboard with about three envelopes wiggled in that space.
From there she saw the shoebox she had wiggled into the spot below. Her fingers brushed the face of it gingerly. The contents of the box hiding everything she needed from her husband. She wiggled the floorboard back into place, rustling it slightly without waking Dudley up.
Quietly she went back to bed; wincing when she heard his snoring. It was another long night in a string of long nights and doubts.
000
November 28, 2000 – 12:00pm
Stark Mansion
Malibu, USA
He stared at the scene before him, his head feeling fuzzy and tired. It had been another long night in a string of long nights. He'd fallen asleep after having another strange woman in bed.
In the back of his mind he felt a nagging feeling that had been growing day by day. He didn't know why. However, any time he saw a flash of red – his mind wandered. He remembered scents and sounds.
The weapons he engineered still continued to protect the masses. His new projects continued to produce some odd satisfaction to his ego. No one made weapons like he could and did.
"Sir, Miss Potts is attempting to reach you, shall I let her through." JARVIS stated. It was another colourless day. A part of him wondered fleetingly that this life he had was all there was. That thought didn't last long as he took his secretary's call.
000
November 28, 2000
Prongs' Estate
Uknown, UK
Lily cuddled the young life to her chest as he breathed in soft quiet huffs. It was afternoon and close to lunch. She was quietly thought to the many events that had happened before, during and after her son's birth. She also had to take some time to adjust that The Bastard was after her and her family now.
She had contingencies in place. How well they would do was another matter completely. She stared at her son and closed her eyes wondering what her life had become and why. Her son wriggled in her arms as if sensing her discomfort. Only going back to sleep as she soothed him as she was able.
All was not well; but it would be well enough.
Author's Notes: So similar to the last chapter this one is a bit more into moments that are happening within the context of showing the eye of the storm; or the peace before the storm. Basically, stuff in the next chapter is going down. I'm fine tuning the action bits as that's not exactly my forte but there you go. Now to address some of the reviews from the last chapter.
Thank you to Vi38 for still sticking around! I'm glad I haven't put you off this story yet.
To Guest: Thank you for your lovely and lengthy review! It's highly appreciated and mum's the word on Harry's distant (or not so distant but could still be distant) relations. If I know my DNA correctly; redheads don't always come out of some redheaded families. Thank you for noticing that though; wasn't sure if anyone else actually did. I almost had forgotten about it too until you mentioned it. Ha! :)
To PappyOldGuy: Thank you for your kind words of encouragement!
As for those who followed and favorited this story while also judging whether I've hyped up my upcoming action piece. Thank you. I hope I do more justice to both words. More reviews (especially long ones) will be a bonus. Stick around, more to come! Thank you again; bon nuit!