Chapter Twenty-Five - Welcome Home

Days passed in a blur of diagnostic charms, potions and exercises to strengthen his muscles. Yet, most of the time, he slept. A lot.

Harry was quite sick of it but honestly, he couldn't keep his eyes open. Nevertheless, everything was good for once. Sirius and Remus were always next door, keeping Harry happy with long stories of their time at Hogwarts. Of his mum and dad. Stories of ridiculous pranks, only if Sirius was able to keep in his barking laughter in time to finish the story. Most of the time Remus ended up finishing their stories anyhow.

It was good. Time passed slowly, there was too much time to think, to have nightmares and to worry, b Harry had never had these moments of pure joy, of something to look forward too. And so, Harry healed.

The promise that once he was healed enough they could go open Potter Manor, was a never-ending irritation in Harry's head. Remus became quite exhausted by Harry's (and sometimes Sirius') pestering. Apparently blood had to be given at the entrance to reveal the Manor. That even shut Sirius up. Albeit a bit begrudgingly.

With the care of the godparents (and a sour Snape), Harry slowly but surely recovered. Healed enough that one morning Remus told them during breakfast that today they could go and open Potter Manor. Harry and Sirius screamed, actually screamed. Most breakfast went flying to the ground after Sirius had finished bouncing around as Padfoot. Breakfast was quite finished after that.

Harry couldn't eat much after having choked twice when falling of his chair of laughing at Padfoots' ridicule.

It was so much easier than Harry had expected. After never even having known of the existence of Potter Manor, all that was necessary was his presence of flowing Potter blood, and someone (Sirius) actually knowing its location.

Soon Padfoot was running through the sunflower beds and corn fields behind the gigantic white establishment. Wooden windows, stony chimneys, balconies and rose bushes covered the small castle that Harry assumed must be Potter Manor. He gaped with open mouth at the fairy tale in front him, as Potter Manor was an extravagant small castle but cosy and inviting at the same time. How was this even possible?! Frozen in place Harry was stuck till he felt a slight nudge between his shoulder blades pushing him to take a step.

A breeze of magic embraced him the moment he stepped inside the borders of his family's home. He felt warm acceptance of the magic flowing from the house.

"Welcome home Harry" Remus's warm voice said, placing a soft hand upon his shoulder.

He was home.

Padfoot turned to Sirius after having slobbered both Harry and Remus before the front door was reached. But before Harry could open the massive doors, they opened themselves and in the centre of this opening stood a tearing house elf with as big a smile as Dobby had when he was freed.

"Master Sirius is home!" is all Harry heard before Sirius had crouched and enveloped the house elf in crushing hug.

Only before Harry had realised what was happening, the house elf (who was now freely letting her tears flow) was already bowing to Harry with ears flapping of too much excitement, and with a squealing voice she raddled

"Young master Harry sir, how excited Tilly is to see you so grown up and with master Sirius sir. You are so big now master Harry, sir. I is Tilly, I is the Potter house elf for many years, and I is taking care of you from now on."

The bow had slowly changed to a shaking house elf. Eyes big and teary, while she raddled on most determined.

"Tilly greeved a lot master Harry, but Tilly hoped that master Harry would come home and so Tilly kept Potter Manor as clean and beautiful as it always was. As Mistress Euphemia would have wanted it."

Her sad distant eyes turned to look Harry in the eyes "Tilly is so proud of young master Harry sir. May Tilly please hug young master Harry?"

Which is how Harry ended up being hugged fiercely by the Potter house elf.

The time before dinner was spend by exploring Potter Manor. Sirius and Remus, along with a bouncing Tilly, showed Harry around. Large halls, too many bathrooms, way too many bedrooms and the best kitchen Harry had ever seen. But his favourite place for sure was the main the sitting room.

Exhausted of the tour Harry fell on the couch, taking everything in. Large windows overlooked the garden, a whole wall was made up of books, the other wall was full of moving pictures (which Harry was not sure he was ready to look at) and throughout the whole room, huge couches were placed with pillows scattered around. The plants hanging from the ceiling were lit up with some magical spell that made it look like fireflies were flying around slowly. Entranced with the ceiling and the exhausted day Harry fell asleep on Sirius' lap within seconds.

"Harry", a light nudge to the shoulder woke him up slowly. "good evening Cub, it's time for dinner." Sirius was smiling down at him, still in the same position as Harry was when he had fallen asleep.

" We thought we would let you sleep as long as possible, but now Moony insists you have to eat something."

Grin growing Harry looked up at his godfather, "I'm starving! Terrible godparents you are, to not let me have lunch"

"Ohhhh you little minx!" Sirius bellowed as he picked up a pillow and smashed it right into Harry's face.

Harry screeched and fell of the couch "NO FAIR, attacking when I am still blind." and even though his glasses were not found on the ground, Sirius' feet were close enough. And that is how both of them resulted in half a fighting, half tickling match. Until Sirius cheated, and padfoot fell right on Harry's belly.

"You cheater!" Not accepting defeat Harry tried to get away from under padfoot.

Somehow this ended in Remus dropping the glasses when Harry came barging in the kitchen, piggyriding Padfoot. No control whatsoever. Remus sighed. He wondered whether bringing Harry and Sirius back to Potter Manor really had been such a good idea.

After what seemed like days of touring the Manor, they finally arrived on the backside of the house somewhere in the evening, on the third floor, where Remus had apparently decided Harry was going to sleep from now on. It made him feel safe, being on the top floor at the back of the house. He wasn't certain whether Remus had done it on purpose, but the small smile on his face when Harry told him made Harry love him even more.

As Harry opened the door slowly, some light already peeked through the crack. Inside, the room was filled with Christmas lights and candles, hung across the ceiling, giving the room the warmth of fire and Christmas, a feeling like Hogwarts, a feeling of home.

A huge four poster bed was aligned against the right wall, painted a gorgeous red colour, making the room feel incredibly cosy. The walls were smattered with posters of quidditch stars, muggle bands and what seemed like everything that was available in the Gryffindor catalogue. Harry loved it.

His bedside table contained stacks of books, from quidditch, to baking, to romance novels. His desk was quite the same, an old oak desk with a comfortable wooden chair and a beautiful stationary set on top.

The bed was faced straight towards the large windows, with a door to a beautiful balcony overlooking the quidditch pitch and large gardens. It was more Harry could ever have dreamed of.

As he was taking in the whole room, a warm hand placed itself on his shoulder. "I hope you don't mind, Remus said it had to fit you, so I might have gone a little overboard."

Harry smiled, "It's perfect."

This was his bedroom, his domain, his home.