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Harry wasn't sure how long he had been asleep when a knock at the door woke him. The door opened before he had a chance to respond or get up from the bed. He turned his head just in time to see his mother walking into the room slowly, carrying a plate of food and dressed in her nightgown. She switched on the desk lamp, and only then did he notice how dark it had become outside the window.
"I called you earlier for dinner, but you were out like a light," she said, smiling. "I made you a plate. I just heated it up in the microwave. Fried chicken with rice and frozen spring rolls."
It was his favorite meal, or at least it had been before he left. He suspected it still was. He just hadn't had a home-cooked meal in such a long time.
"Thanks, Mom." Harry groaned and tried to summon the energy to sit up. "I'll eat it in a minute."
"Take your time."
Bellatrix sat on the edge of the bed and touched his leg. It was almost as if she was keeping her hand on him to confirm that he was still there, that he wouldn't disappear like before. Her touch was soft, and it made it surprisingly difficult for him to concentrate, her fingers and hand resting on his knee over the blanket.
"Daphne and I have always had our spats," he said, preempting what he knew was coming. "It should reassure you that we're arguing like old times."
"That's not my only worry," his mother replied. "It's not just that."
"I'm listening."
Harry finally managed to sit up, took the plate from her, and took a bite of the fried chicken. It was delicious. It tasted like home.
"Astoria had a tough time at Hogwarts. Daphne... well, I suppose you could say she had a rough patch too, though I think in her case it's more self-inflicted. They could both use a brother in their lives. A brother and a friend."
"Is that one of your therapist's suggestions?" he asked, trying to tease her with his tone. "Are there new studies showing that mental well-being deteriorates in the absence of amazing brothers named Harry?"
"Whether there are or not, I'm going to need you to be that amazing brother named Harry." Bellatrix smiled at him and squeezed his foot. "I could also use my amazing son Harry. We just want you in our lives. I guess that's what I'm trying to say. I don't quite understand why you left and... stayed away for so long."
Harry nodded, knowing it wasn't for lack of trying on her part. She had often sent him emails, though he replied much less frequently. His mother had left England and pursued magical studies while he was at Hogwarts, changing her career path from teaching and massage therapy to becoming a full-fledged therapist. He remembered the change in her demeanor, the way she started talking about their emotions, fears, and beliefs.
"I'm not going anywhere." He set the plate aside and looked at her seriously. "At least not right away."
His mother smiled warmly and leaned in to plant a kiss on his cheek. It was just a brush, but it sent a wave of strange emotions through him, all the more so when he caught the faint scent of her shampoo or conditioner. "I love you, Harryy." She pulled back, ruffled his hair, and her hand slid off his shoulder.
"I love you too, Mom."
She left his room. Harry ate slowly. He got up to brush his teeth when he finished, and the bathroom upstairs was much cleaner than he remembered it from years ago. He tried to tiptoe back to his room, but it turned out to be unnecessary.
Daphne was playing music in her room. He could hear the bass through the wall, a low, rhythmic hum that seemed to resonate in his skull. Harry would have been able to tune it out if he hadn't napped earlier. The combination of jet lag, music, and a disrupted sleep cycle promised a sleepless night.
He looked for a T-shirt but didn't bother putting on jeans over his boxers as he stepped into the hallway. The idea of going to his mother's room and asking her to intervene crossed his mind, but he dismissed it. It felt too childish, too much like something he would have done at twelve.
He knocked on Daphne's door, trying to be heard without resorting to aggressive pounding.
"Hey, Daphne. Can you turn the music down?"
He waited for a few seconds, already starting to suspect that she hadn't heard him, when the door swung open. Daphne stood on the other side, wearing the same tight t-shirt and boyish shorts she had on earlier. However, now that she was much closer and he was wearing much less, it seemed far more provocative.
"Why should I?" she asked irritably. "I always play my music this loud."
"I'm sure it was fine when you didn't share a wall with someone else."
"Deal with it." Daphne jutted out her chin and crossed her arms over her chest. "This is my house, not yours."
Harry resisted the urge to say something he might regret when the tension dissipated, and the air suddenly felt hot. He just wanted to push past her and turn it down himself. He could, being taller and stronger, but that would only cause more chaos. "Seriously, Daphne?" he finally said. "Can't you just—"
"Seriously." She slammed the door in his face. Harry resisted the temptation to punch it one last time before heading back to bed to try sleeping again.
**CHAPTER 4**
Harry finally managed to fall asleep. He woke up the next morning and went downstairs, where he found breakfast ready and his mother working on her laptop at the dining table.
She was already dressed, wearing a gray blouse and a black skirt, with light makeup under her glasses. She looked like a therapist in a way Harry didn't remember from before he left.
"Good morning," she said. "Breakfast is ready. I made eggs, sausage, and toast with orange juice. Help yourself."
He did just that, grabbing a plate and piling on a generous portion. He ate in silence for a minute while his mother typed on her laptop, pausing only for sips of coffee. Astoria came in next, dressed in her school uniform. Harry didn't realize how short her skirt was until he saw her lean slightly forward to grab a piece of toast, her skirt riding up and almost exposing her underwear.
"Good morning, Astoria."
He glanced at his mother, catching the moment she also leaned forward to grab some food. Her blouse parted slightly, revealing more cleavage than was comfortable. Harry cleared his throat and looked away.
"Good morning, Harry," Astoria said. She set her plate down and carefully pulled out her chair before sitting.
"Is Daphne joining us?"
Astoria shrugged. "I don't know."
"She usually wakes up a bit later," Bellatrix said. "But I hear footsteps upstairs."
Harry looked toward the hallway as Daphne came downstairs. She was wearing sweatpants, but her tank top was tight and revealed both her tattoos and ample chest. Once again, he didn't know where to look. All three women were stunning, and the time away had made their beauty seem novel and strangely intriguing.
"There's coffee too, if you want," his mother said.
"Of course." Harry poured himself a cup and went to the fridge for milk.
Daphne was already there, letting out a tired sigh as she shook the carton to see how much was left.
"Leave some for me if there's not much," he said.
She glanced at him, finished pouring, and handed him the carton. "Too late."
"Seriously, Daphne?"
"First come, first served. Aren't real men supposed to like their coffee black?"
He exhaled slowly and took the carton from her, reminding himself that his sister had always had a sharp edge, one that had only grown sharper over time. He poured what little remained into his coffee and tossed the empty carton in the trash.
"Don't argue," Bellatrix said. "It's good to have you back, Harry."
"Thanks, Mom," he said. "I'm trying not to argue, but Daphne makes it difficult."
"Screw you, Harry." Daphne rolled her eyes and sat down.
For a moment, no one spoke. The silence was noticeable, not because of Harry and Daphne's argument, but because of the circumstances. He glanced at Astoria, who was reading a book next to her plate.
"Do you need to catch the bus, Astoria?"
"No," she replied.
"Usually, I drive her," said his mother. "She prefers it over taking the bus."
Harry raised an eyebrow but didn't ask further. Daphne pulled out her phone, looking uninterested in sitting at the table. He began to understand what his mother meant when she said his sisters needed a brother and a friend. He also felt that becoming that version of himself would take more than a few breakfast questions.
"Speaking of which, we should get going," said Bellatrix. "Ready, Astoria?"
Astoria nodded and slowly stood up. She smiled at Harry, looking nervous in a way that tugged at his heart. She touched his shoulder as she passed his chair, and he caught the scent of her shampoo and the dampness of her hair.
"Don't disappear without checking in with me," his mother said. She hugged him from behind, wrapping her arms around his chest as he still sat in the chair, and kissed him on the cheek.
"I won't," he said, smiling. "Where would I even go?"
"Some abandoned alley with a cardboard box is always an option," muttered Daphne.
Harry scratched his nose with his middle finger. Daphne stuck her tongue out at him.
"I'm going to watch some TV," he said.
"Knock yourself out," Daphne replied. "Literally." He didn't care about TV, but he suspected that staying at the table alone with Daphne would lead to a fight. The living room had changed slightly. The TV and the stand it was on were new. The couch pillows had new covers. Otherwise, it was the same familiar space, with family photos on the walls and a potted plant basking by the window.
He looked around for the remote, initially seeing nothing. Knowing his sisters, he assumed it was probably lost in the couch. He lifted the cushions and confirmed his suspicion. The small remote had been forgotten underneath, but he frowned when he picked it up and examined it.
It had a power button, an up arrow, a down arrow, a MAX button, and a RHYTHM button. He tried turning it on, even though he started to suspect it was something else. Nothing happened. He turned it over and read the words on the back. "Master Pulse...?"
His heart sped up as he realized what he was probably holding. A remote that worked with something that pulsed, judging by the incredibly specific name. His mind jumped to sex toys, but he calmed himself. LED lights could pulse. A back massager could pulse.
He felt a strange excitement and had to take a breath and shake his head. He was still getting used to being home. It was strange seeing both his sisters grown up. It was almost the same problem but reversed with his mother, who suddenly seemed so young and feminine, smaller and lighter now that he was a man.
"Are you just going to hang around the house all day?"
"Jesus!" He jumped in surprise, slipping the remote into his pocket. "Did you have to sneak up on me like that, Daphne?"
"Get your hearing checked, idiot," she said. "But first, answer my question."
"No, I'm not," he said, irritated. "I'm going out for a walk as soon as I take a shower."
"Good."
Harry stood up and headed toward the stairs. "And save me some hot water!" she called after him.
He didn't respond, vividly remembering how she had saved the milk for him.
Chapters 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 ,13 and 14 are already available at Pat re on.
If you want to support me, read the next chapters of the story and more, I invite you to my
Patreo n .com(slash)BoobsHunter (Remove spaces)