Chapter Fifteen: Some Truths at Home


Chapter Summary: Henri gets a weekend at home and has a heart to heart with his mother.


Henri spent an extra day in the hospital wing before being released. Before leaving, a sheepish-looking Fred Weasley stopped by to thank him. He had been released the day before. It wasn't hard to tell the twins apart now—Fred was the one with the bandage on his head. Besides the physical difference, Henri had noticed that though they were identical, the twins had very different personalities. George was the quieter, more reserved one, while Fred was loud and confident. That's not to say George was a wallflower; he just seemed reserved compared to his brother, but they were both very extroverted.

Later that day, Henri was surprised when a harassed-looking Professor Flitwick came to escort him to London. As soon as they arrived at the Leaky Cauldron and Henri saw his parents, he understood. His Maman must have demanded to see him and likely wouldn't have let Flitwick rest until she got her way. No wonder Flitwick looked so flustered. Henri couldn't help but smile -his Maman was not one to be trifled with. He ran to embrace her and his Papa, laughing with joy. Flitwick quickly informed his parents that he would return in the evening to take Henri back to school before hurriedly excusing himself. It was clear that he had developed a healthy respect for Henri's Maman.

Henri's parents took him home, and the rest of the day was spent with his Maman fussing over him, which Henri didn't mind one bit. Even his typically reserved British Papa stuck around, inspecting his head to make sure there were no injuries.

His Maman was torn between being proud of his bravery and expressing her concern for his safety. As always, when she was feeling emotional, she reverted into speaking mostly French.

By the end of the day, his parents were reluctant to let him return to Hogwarts. Henri found it amusing when Professor Flitwick who had returned to collect him, quickly agreed to his Maman's request to let him stay home for the weekend, as it was already Thursday. Henri spent the weekend lounging in bed or the living room while his Maman refused to let him lift a finger—not that he was complaining. He got to chat with Philippe on the phone and play video games.

He also remembered his Game Boy, he could recharge it while he was home, but since he hadn't known he'd be going home, he hadn't brought his it with him. But then he remembered something, Mispy always told him that if he called for her, she'd come. He wondered if she'd come when she was in Scotland and he was all the way in London. Curious, he called out for her, "Mispy." He said startling his Papa, who was reading quietly nearby.

"What did you say?" his Papa asked, but before Henri could answer, Mispy appeared in their living room, causing his Papa to fall right off his chair in shock.

"Mispy! You came!" Henri exclaimed, rushing to embrace her.

Mispy immediately burst into uncontrollable sobs. "Oh, little master, Mispy was so worried! Mispy heard that little master was in the infirmary, Mispy visited. Did little master see all the treats Mispy left him?" She sobbed in between her words.

Henri almost laughed at the sight of his poor Papa sitting on the floor in disbelief, still holding his book.

"Come on, Mispy, it's all right. I'm okay now," Henri reassured her, guiding her toward his parents. "Meet my parents."

His Maman had just entered the room, having heard the commotion. It took a while to calm Mispy down. But after that, she was introduced to Henri's parents, who thanked her profusely for looking after their son. Mispy, moved by their gratitude, burst into tears again. Henri shrugged at his parents' questioning looks. He didn't fully understand house-elves either, but he knew they were very emotional creatures.

Once Mispy was composed, she eagerly answered his parents' questions and even offered to help with any tasks around the house. Henri explained that house-elves loved doing chores, though he didn't know much about them beyond that, having only known about house elves for a few months. His parents watched in amazed fascination as Mispy zoomed around their home, performing various tasks with her elf magic, a look of sheer delight on her face.

During dinner, Mispy had wept again when the Grangers had asked her to sit at the table with them. Henri was starting to wonder, alone these incidents seemed cute, different cultures and all but add them up and you got something different. Henri made a point to have a talk with Whispy when he got back.

It wasn't until after dinner that Henri remembered his Game Boy. Mispy was more than happy to pop back to Hogwarts to retrieve it for him. She stayed with them a while longer and only leaving reluctantly when she was summoned by Whispy back at Hogwarts. Before leaving, she made Henri's parents promise to call on her whenever they needed anything, getting emotional once more and weeping, "Oh, the big Grangys are so kind to poor Mispy."

The rest of the weekend was spent talking about house-elves and enjoying some much-needed family time. On Sunday, a reluctant Maman finally sent an owl to Professor Flitwick, asking him to come collect Henri.


Before it was time to leave, Henri's Maman came into his room and sat him down.

"Henri, tu es mon enfant. You're also a wizard. Just being a wizard means there will be parts of your life I'll never fully know or understand. But that doesn't stop you from being my son, and it doesn't stop me from worrying about you. I don't know what goes on when you're at Hogwarts; I'm not even allowed to set foot there.

"So I worry, every day. Your letters are the highlight of my day, but I'm always scared of receiving bad news. I know you're smart enough to understand that our situation isn't conventional. You're not a normal kid at a normal boarding school.

"So I'm going to need your help, mon petit prince. I need you to be honest with me, to be careful and responsible, and to come back to me whole. Comprends-tu?"

Henri nodded. "Je comprends, Maman."

"I don't want to hear any more about you experimenting with dangerous magic." She continued wagging her finger sternly. "You have your whole life to learn all the magic you want, but that won't happen if you hurt yourself by recklessly trying spells you shouldn't. Do you hear me, young man?"

Swallowing Henri replied. "Oui, Maman."

"I don't need to know every detail of your life," she continued, "I'm your Maman, not your jailer, but I need to know the big things. I might not be able to solve all your problems, but I still need to know, because I'm your Maman, and you're my baby."

Henri broke down then, telling her everything. He spoke of Draka and her torment, his loneliness, and how he had decided not to return to Hogwarts the next. His Maman listened quietly without interrupting. When he finished, he looked at her hopefully.

She gently wiped away the tears he hadn't realized he was crying, kissed his forehead, his eyelids, and then his nose, making him laugh.

"I'm sorry, Maman. I didn't want to lie to you. I hate lying to you and Papa, but I didn't want you to worry. I was also scared you'd pull me out of school. I promised myself I'd at least finish the year, then say goodbye to magic." He sighed and looked down. The thought of saying goodbye to magic felt like giving up a part of himself.

"Firstly, chéri, I'll always worry—it comes with love. When you love someone, you worry about them. Secondly, I don't want you giving up on magic; it's a part of you. If Hogwarts doesn't work, we'll try something else. I'm sure there are other magic schools out there." She smiled, and Henri's spirits soared. He hadn't realized until now that he was hesitant to tell his parents because he didn't want to say goodbye to magic. He had made the promise to himself not because he didn't want to seem like the kid who couldn't last a year, but because he hoped things might get better, and he could stay. And things were getting better—he still didn't have friends, but he wasn't lonely anymore, and that fear that he had of Draka and her goons was no longer there, he hated her sure, but he was no longer afraid of her, and his classes were becoming interesting, despite the potions accident.

He looked at his Maman, hope shining in his eyes. "Really?"

"Yes, baby, really. If Hogwarts doesn't work out, we'll try something else. You're my child, and I love you—all of you. I would never make you choose or abandon a part of yourself," she said.

Henri threw himself into her arms with such force they toppled onto the bed, laughing. She shifted so they lay side by side, tracing lines on his face like she used to when he was younger and couldn't sleep.

"Really, Maman? Even if you don't understand everything?"

"Really, baby. Besides, no one understands everything. I've been married to your Papa for 16 years, and I still don't understand everything about him." She laughed.

"That's because he's British. British people are weird, Maman," Henri said, making his Maman laugh.

"You're British too," she teased. "Does that mean you're weird as well?"

"I'm only half British," Henri protested. "But then again, I am a wizard, so who's to say?" He shrugged.

"Indeed, darling, who's to say?" She stood up, pulling him to his feet. "Come, darling, let's get you ready. We don't want to take too much advantage of Monsieur Flitwick's kindness."

"But what about my schooling and everything?" he asked.

"Don't worry about that. Your Papa and I will discuss it and start looking for alternatives. Just make sure you tell us if anything happens. We'll talk more when you come home for Easter and again at the end of the year, okay?"

"Okay. Oh, I just remembered! I have a gift for you—it's amazing! You're going to love it. I'll bring it over Easter."

"Can't wait!" she said, smiling.