Chapter 9 – The nameless boy

'Either you get out of that mood immediately or I'll call the dinner off!'
Harry was in a foul mood, just back from work. That day an important member of the Winzegamot had "suggested" him taking in the team a young bloke. The "suggestion" was made in such way that didn't leave Harry any choice in the matter and made him furious. The lad wasn't either physically prepared or particularly clever, surely a relative of some kind.
'Can't you just refuse to take him?' Ginny asked, trying to feed a reluctant Sunrise who was fidgeting and refusing to eat, ready to give vent to a tantrum anytime.
'I don't wannit!' she was grumbling sullen piercing her lips in two thin white lines against Ginny attempt to feed her some broccoli.
'But you always liked them, sweetie. Come on, they are good' she entreated her.
'Nooooooooo!' she shrieked turning her face away while Ginny was getting closer with the spoon.
'I cannot, Ginny!' Harry bellowed pacing up and down the kitchen 'If I do, it means starting a war I don't want to start. Especially with this Inferi deranged guy at large we still didn't manage to catch.'
There were people in the Ministry even too willing to point out to incompetence, many who considered him a nuisance, too popular and a threat. He could have certainly gone to the Minister to complain but that would have only exacerbated animosity making them more propense to throw mud over his name with the press. The popularity was a double edge dangerous thing that could turn against him any time. It had happened at Hogwarts; it could happen again. He had to be extra careful not to steps over any foot. Luckily the Minister didn't consider him a threat but more a tool to be used to win the approbation of people; he didn't have any interest at all in Harry's popularity being polluted, quite the opposite, and gave him all the support and back up he needed (even too much of it) nevertheless Harry could never be too careful, the tide could turn anytime.
He ought to strive continually to keep a balance between people hating him and people loving him.
'I must keep the useless guy, at least for the time being'
'I don't wanniiiiiiiiit!' Sunrise was screaming, her face congested squirming madly in her chair.
Ginny groaned rubbing her face, trying again with a sweet voice, to convince Sunrise to eat 'Come on sweetie, only a little bit. It's good. See? Mummy eats it too' she said coaxing, slipping one in her mouth and making an exaggerate pleased grimace.
'At least you will have more time off now. One position is filled already.' She said to Harry picking another broccoli with her fork while Sunrise was on the verge of the worst tantrum in history, her face all frowny and all her curls sticking out at odd angles from her head.
'What?! Are you kidding, I hope!' Harry barked bitterly 'Less time off, if anything. Somebody will need to cover for his incapacity. It's like having a person less!' he concluded taking a chair and slouching on it thunderous.
'Nooooooooooooooooooooo! Noooooooooooooooooooo!' Sunrise wailed.
'Well, you can give him paperwork filling or something of that kind. Sunny, if you don't eat this, you won't eat anything else' she snapped, irritation making way in her tone.
Harry grunted loudly and Sunrise threw her spoon rebelliously on the floor.
It was at that point that Ginny had threatened to call the evening off. They were waiting for Ted and Victoire for dinner and they were bond to arrive anytime. Ginny was hoping to feed Sunrise before their arrival, but the task seemed to be beyond her.
She slumped back on her chair exhausted leaving the plate with the offensive veggies on the table and then seeing the spoon on the floor she picked it up 'I'll ask Victoire to help me' she murmured under her voice and then turning to Harry who was staring darkly, arms crossed 'I won't have you in that mood with guests.' She cautioned waving a threatening Sunrise's spoon under his nose 'Go and have a run, a walk, whatever but I want you back in this house with a cordial smile, understand?!'
'I won't!' Sunrise hooted sitting up at her full size crossing her arms sulkily.
'I can put up with just one Potter's tantrum at the time!' Ginny concluded abandoning the chair to go to the counter where a pot was on the stove, the content simmering dangerously.
Harry left the chair and grasped his jacket from the entrance, venting out his spleen in slamming the door open.
He found Ted in front of it, his hand raised about to knock. Behind him there was Victoire, beautiful as an angel, her whitish hair framing her flawless face obscuring everything with her dazzling beauty.
Meeting her eyes, his knees grew suddenly weak 'Did you know I fought a dragon once?' he gushed out all in one breath before to be able to stop himself.
Bloody hell! Why do I have to make a fool of myself every time?!
Ted bit his lips not to laugh and Victoire smiled uneasy.
'I'm sorry' he mumbled darkly lowering his gaze immediately.
'It's all right uncle' she said reassuringly 'At least it's true. I usually get only farfetched tales. At Christmas I bumped in Uncle Ron in the corridor, and he told me that he brought one down singlehanded and without wand'
Harry half smiled, at least he wasn't the only one.
'Where are you going?' Ted asked brushing his feet on the mat.
'To have a walk. Apparently I'm not fit for company right now' he grunted annoyed all the sourness getting back in a second 'Ginny is in the kitchen with…..'
'Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo' a loud wail interrupted him.
'…Sunrise' he tailed off needlessly.
He squashed himself against the wall to let them pass in the wish to be as far away from Victoire as possible and once they were in the corridor he swiftly sneaked outside before they could add anything.
'I'll be back soon' he piped up closing the door behind him, blocking Ted stare from his view.
The park was dark and quiet, and that already helped him in checking his temper. The days were still short and cold, transforming his breath in a cloud in front of his mouth. Not many people were around, a few joggers and some people out with their dogs. Lamps were illuminating the main path and he followed it randomly trying to shake off the anger. He buttoned his jacket up to his chin to block out the chill and tucked his hands in his pockets to keep them warm. He walked for some time cherishing the stillness of the evening and then he sat on a bench staring absent minded to an empty flower bed.
There wasn't any point in getting so upset really, there wasn't anything he could do about it and perhaps he could find a way to make use of the guy after all. As Ginny said there was always so much paperwork to fill and file, maybe he could be useful after all, perhaps he could even train him and see if he could amount to something.
This reflection sobered him, but he didn't feel like getting back just yet, in no mood for company. So, he sat back, resting his arms on the back of the bench reflecting about the morrow just when a figure appeared throwing a long shadow over him. It was giving his back to the light so he couldn't see his face well but only his contour and that was enough to gather his age: it was a lad. Probably James' age, but much more childish looking, with still all the features of a teenager, too long limbs compared to his thin body.
The lad stared intently at him, his expression unreadable and just when Harry was about to open his mouth to acknowledge him, the lad spoke first.
'You are Harry Potter…' he only murmured.
Harry felt a tinge of annoyance. How was it possible that he couldn't be left alone for more than ten minutes without being bothered? Why people always felt authorized to disturb him every time? One wouldn't go to a stranger to harass him if he is having a walk in a park, so then why they would take that liberty with him?
But as he always strived for politeness in these occasions, especially because the person in question was a very young lad, he assented forcing away the frown in favour of a smile.
'I thought that much. I recognised you straight away' he gabbled sheepishly balancing on one foot. Like all teenagers, it seemed he didn't exactly know what to do with all that overabundance of limbs 'Some girls told me you come here often' he carried on 'I hanged around every day hoping to meet you, but I never did.'
Harry didn't know what to say, he was expecting a request for an autograph or something of the kind, but it wasn't coming, so then after a long pause he said 'Yeah, I'm not coming here very often anymore'
The young lad nodded clearly abashed and Harry was about to ask if he could help in anything when the boy spoke again.
'I'm sorry to bother you and everything, I know it must be a pain the arse.'
'No problem' Harry said the irritation far gone in the mild curiosity to understand where this conversation was meant to lead.
'I would hate it if I were you' the lad said looking at his shoes.
'It's all right. I'm used to' he lied wearily. He hated it all right but there was no reason to make the lad feel uncomfortable.
The boy was tracing with his trainers a line in the gravel and nodded slightly.
'Can I help you in anything?' Harry asked starting to feel slightly uneasy.
The boy opened his mouth to speak but he didn't say anything. He looked about distractedly and then fleetingly on him 'I know it sounds silly but I kinda wrote a letter and I was wondering if you could read it' and then added quickly before Harry could reply 'I mean, if it's not too much trouble. You are not forced to, you know, if you don't feel like.'
Harry was a bit surprised. It happened very often of course to receive letters but not very often by guys, it was usually girls, or children, or women, or elderly but seldomly male teenagers. However, he replied reassuringly 'Sure, give it to me. I'll read it, no problem' and he wasn't laying this time, he was actually curious to know the content.
The boy tugged out a somehow crumpled letter from inside his jacket and gave it to him.
Harry took it and as he was about to open it, the boy stopped him alarmed 'No! Please, not here. Read it at home'
'Alright' he said puzzled tucking it in his pocket.
'Cheers' the guy said 'You don't have to answer, you know. I'm not expecting any. Just thought, you know…' he tilted his head on one side, a dog was barking not far off, and his attention was caught by it '… to write…' he tailed off looking at his trainers.
'Right'
'I'll go now.' The boy said stuffing his hands in his pockets 'It was nice to meet you and everything' he added eager 'And I'm sorry if I bothered you…'
'Don't worry. It's fine'
The boy nodded 'See yah then' he concluded coyly with a shrug of shoulders and strolled off without turning back.
Harry followed him with his gaze until he was out of sight puzzled by this bizarre encounter.
He took the letter from his pocket and observed it curiously turning it in his hand. The envelop was empty of any writing. He teared it open and eased out a single crumpled paper. There wasn't much written on it. And as his eyes travelled on the firsts sentences, he lifted his head quickly to see if the boy was still in sight, but he was gone. Disappointed, he returned his attention on the letter going through it attentively and when finished, his gaze rested again on the empty flower bed, the letter still in his hand and sighed. He never answered to any of those letters, never even read them most of the time and it struck him as odd that the only time he felt inclined doing so, the letter in question didn't report any address on it. Nor it was signed.
Harry was suddenly sorry not to have asked for the boy's name.