CHAPTER 46: IN THE HEART OF GRIMMAULD PLACE

Lily and James had arrived at Grimmauld Place just a few hours ago, their recovery from the hospital still fresh in their minds. Despite the lingering exhaustion, they were eager to settle in, even if temporarily. They had been discharged early, eager to escape the sterile walls of St. Mungo's, but their search for a new house had yet to begin. For now, Sirius had insisted they stay with him.

Harry had come over to visit, but he couldn't shake the feeling that the headmaster had allowed him to stay home a bit longer to gather information from Sirius. It wasn't like Dumbledore to leave things to chance, and Harry wondered what his purpose here truly was.

The group entered the kitchen, a large, dimly lit room filled with the lingering scent of old wood and faint traces of magic. As they settled in, Harry noticed the air of ease and familiarity between his parents and Sirius, yet there was an underlying tension in the room. Adrian, who had been accompanying them, quietly observed the scene from the corner. Harry suspected that Dumbledore had allowed him to come along for a very specific reason — to collect information from the people who were, in one way or another, closest to the war effort.

James was the first to speak as he dropped into one of the old chairs by the table, his weary eyes crinkling in amusement. "So, Harry," he began, a playful glint in his eyes, "how's school? Are you managing to stay out of trouble for once?"

Harry shot his father a half-smile before turning to his mother. "Mum," he asked softly, "would you like something to eat or drink? Maybe a cup of tea?"

Lily shook her head gently, a warm smile gracing her tired face. "No, thank you, sweetheart," she replied, her voice as comforting as ever. "We're fine for now. You should be resting, not worrying about us."

Harry wasn't convinced. His mother looked too pale, her movements slow despite her best efforts to appear well. He could tell that the ordeal had taken a toll on her, even if she tried to hide it.

"Are you sure?" Harry asked again, his tone a little more insistent this time. "I can make something if you'd prefer. You should eat, Mum."

Lily reached out and gently cupped Harry's face with her hand, the warmth of her touch grounding him. "Absolutely, just relax, Harry. You don't need to take care of us." She gave him a reassuring smile, but Harry noticed the lines of worry etched deeper on her face.

"Yes," James chimed in with a chuckle. "We're quite grown-up now, you know." He gave Harry a wink and a nudge.

"Physically, maybe," Harry quipped back, his lips curling into a teasing grin. "But I've noticed a few wrinkles starting to show up, Dad."

James' eyes widened in mock horror. "What?!" he exclaimed, leaping to the nearest reflective surface he could find. His frantic gaze searched his reflection as the sounds of laughter filled the room. "Oh, so that's how it is? Playing pranks on an old man, are we? I didn't think you had it in you, Harry. Are you pulling tricks like a Marauder now?"

Sirius let out a hearty laugh from his seat, resting his arms casually on the table. "That wasn't much of a prank, Prongs," he chuckled. "Just a little fib and a grand overreaction on your part."

James turned to Sirius, feigning indignation. "You're not helping," he muttered under his breath.

"It was pretty funny," Sirius added, his grin widening. "But now that we're all here, might as well have lunch, yeah?" He glanced around the kitchen, eyeing the cupboards with a sort of hunger that only Sirius Black could muster.

"Does this place have house-elves?" Adrian interjected, looking around curiously. "I could do with a bit of help setting things up."

Harry stood up, stretching slightly before calling out to the air. "Dobby, Kreacher!" he called, his voice echoing through the kitchen.

With a sudden crack, two house-elves appeared in an instant. Dobby, still wearing his oversized socks and looking as peculiar as ever, gave a small, eager hop when he saw Harry.

"Master calls Dobby?" Dobby asked, his big, round eyes sparkling with excitement.

Harry smiled at the little elf. "Yes, Dobby, we need your help in the kitchen. Could you make us lunch?"

"Of course, Master Harry!" Dobby exclaimed, his voice almost bubbling with enthusiasm. "Dobby is so happy to help! Dobby will make the best lunch ever!"

At the same moment, the much grumpier figure of Kreacher appeared. The old house-elf barely spared anyone a glance, grumbling as usual. "Master calls Kreacher as well?" he sneered, his voice dripping with disdain as his beady eyes narrowed at the group.

"Yes, Kreacher," Harry said, his tone unbothered. "We need something decent to eat. Something filling."

Kreacher muttered under his breath but reluctantly nodded. "Fine, Master Harry. Kreacher will do as asked, but don't expect anything fit for royalty."

"Thank you, Kreacher," Harry said, giving the elf a curt nod. He could almost hear the elf's low grumbling in response, but it was always the same. Still, Kreacher had grown somewhat more bearable over the past few months.

As the house-elves set to work, Harry sat back down beside his parents. James, ever the optimist, immediately tried to distract Harry from his thoughts with more banter.

"So, Harry," James started, his eyes twinkling mischievously, "tell me—how's the romance going? Any special someone I should know about?"

Harry felt his face heat up slightly, but he quickly regained his composure. "Mum and Dad, please, not now," he muttered.

Sirius leaned back in his chair, his eyes gleaming with unspoken amusement. "Oh, come on, Prongs," he said with a wink. "Let the boy have some fun. I can't believe you're asking him about romance with everything that's going on."

James just laughed, and Lily shot her husband a knowing look. "James," she said, shaking her head. "You never learn, do you?"

The laughter and the easy banter made Harry feel, for a moment, as though nothing had changed. The sound of familiar voices filled the room, and the weight of the world seemed to lift off his shoulders, if only for a moment. But as his gaze shifted to Adrian, standing in the corner with his quiet observation, Harry couldn't shake the feeling that they were all caught in a web much bigger than they realized. There was something about Adrian's presence, something that didn't quite sit right with him.

Before Harry could ponder it further, the sound of Kreacher's voice cut through the air, dripping with disdain. "Mudbloods and blood traitors and..." he muttered, casting a venomous look at the guests.

"Kreacher!" Harry snapped, his voice sharp and authoritative. "If you dare insult my mother and father again, I'll tear off your ears and make you eat them." His tone was low and menacing, and the threat was clear in his eyes.

Kreacher flinched at the intensity of Harry's words and immediately lowered his head in submission. "Kreacher is... sorry, Master," the elf muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Good," Harry said, his voice steadying. "Now, Dobby," he turned to the other elf, "I want you to prepare food for all of us. Something hearty. We need it."

"Yes, Master Harry," Dobby replied eagerly, his big eyes glowing with excitement. He gave a quick bow and scampered off to the kitchen.

Harry then turned his attention back to Kreacher, his expression turning serious. "Kreacher," he said, his tone brokering no argument, "I want you to prepare two more rooms. One for my mother and father, with a king-sized bed. And the other... for the idiot."

"Hey!" Adrian exclaimed, stepping forward with a raised eyebrow. "I'm standing right here, you know!"

Harry barely glanced at Adrian, his voice unwavering. "And the rooms better be royal, understood?" he added, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.

Kreacher muttered something under his breath but nodded in acceptance. "Yes, Master," he said, and with a flick of his long, crooked nose, the elf vanished.

Turning around, Harry found himself met by the curious gazes of Lily and James, who were watching him with a mixture of surprise and admiration.

"Wow," James said slowly, his lips twitching into a smile. "That was... something."

"I know," Sirius added, his usual grin widening. "Kreacher has never behaved this well since Harry's been here. He's got the elf wrapped around his little finger."

Harry's lips curled slightly at the praise, but there was no time to dwell on it. He'd dealt with Kreacher for so long, learning to manage him, that it had become second nature.

Before he could respond, a quiet voice interrupted him from the doorway. "Harry?"

"Hey, Rose," Harry turned around, his heart lifting as he saw the shy girl standing in the entrance. He moved quickly to her side, and without hesitation, Rose gently pulled him into a hug. Harry wrapped his arms around her, feeling her warmth and the familiar comfort she always brought.

"Rose, these are my parents," Harry said, stepping back and introducing her. "This is my dad, I got my looks and my Quidditch skills from him. This is Mum, I got my eyes and my brains from her." He smiled fondly at his parents before turning back to Rose. "Mum, Dad, this is Rose Flight. She's basically my sister in everything but blood."

Lily smiled warmly at Rose, though the girl was clearly more than a little shy. "Nice to meet you, dear," Lily said gently, though she couldn't help but notice how Rose was clinging to Harry's side, her eyes darting nervously around the room.

James, ever the charmer, leaned forward slightly and gave her a welcoming grin. "It's a pleasure, Rose. Harry's told us so much about you."

Rose's cheeks flushed crimson as she quickly ducked behind Harry, clearly uncomfortable with the attention. Harry chuckled softly, glancing at his parents. "She's shy," he explained, hoping they wouldn't take offense. "But she's one of the best people I know. I trust her with my life."

Adrian, who had been leaning against the wall, seemed unable to resist chiming in. "She's scared of everything, that's what," he said with a bit of a sneer.

Harry immediately turned to face Adrian, his expression hardening. "I wouldn't point out other people's flaws if I were you, Adrian," he said, his voice low and warning. "Especially when you've got more than anyone else."

Adrian raised an eyebrow, not backing down. "Oh, really? Like what?" he said, his voice tinged with challenge.

Harry took a slow step toward him, his gaze narrowing. "You want me to start listing them?" he asked, his tone cool but filled with unspoken threat. "Let's just say I don't think you'd like me to."

James, sensing the tension between the two, let out a deep sigh. "Alright, alright, enough of that," he interjected, his voice light but firm. "We're here to relax, not to start a war."

Harry shot Adrian one last glare before turning back to his parents, determined to keep things calm.

Sirius chuckled under his breath. "Well, looks like the old Potter temper's alive and well," he teased, but there was warmth in his voice.

Lily smiled, though there was a slight edge to her voice. "Harry, dear, no need to start fights. Let's just enjoy the lunch. There'll be plenty of time for disagreements later."

The room fell into an awkward silence as Adrian stared at the staircase, still trying to process what had just happened. Harry's apology had been unexpected, and he wasn't sure if he'd ever seen Harry act so genuine, especially towards him. There was something different about the way Harry had said it—no sarcasm, no hidden agenda, just sincerity. Adrian couldn't help but feel a pang of confusion.

Lily, who had been watching the exchange with a soft smile, turned to Adrian with a knowing look. "Don't take it personally, Adrian," she said gently. "Harry has a way of showing his feelings, but it's not always obvious. He's protective of the people he cares about."

Adrian nodded, trying to mask his discomfort. "Yeah, I get that. But that apology…" He trailed off, still in disbelief.

Sirius, who had been quietly observing, leaned back in his chair with a grin. "Harry's got a way of surprising people. Don't let it throw you off."

James chuckled, clearly amused by Adrian's reaction. "It's not every day you get an apology from Harry. He's more likely to throw a prank at you than say sorry."

As the tension started to dissipate, the conversation began to shift again, this time to less charged topics. However, a small part of Harry remained unsettled, even as he and Rose made their way upstairs. He had always been the one to hold everything inside, to keep things under control, but today had shown him how easily things could shift. The apology had been a rare moment of vulnerability, one that he didn't fully understand himself.

Once they reached the privacy of the hallway, Harry exhaled slowly. "I needed that," he admitted, more to himself than to Rose, who was standing quietly beside him.

Rose, ever observant, looked at him with soft eyes. "You've always been the strong one, Harry. Maybe it's time to let someone else help carry the weight."

Harry smiled faintly. "Maybe," he said, though he wasn't entirely convinced. He had always carried the weight of things alone, even when others were there. It was a habit that didn't come easy to break.

"So, what do you think of them?" Harry asked, changing the subject as he leaned against the wall. "Mum and Dad, I mean."

Rose hesitated, biting her lip before answering. "They're... lovely. I see where you get it from."

Harry chuckled softly. "You'd think they were just ordinary parents, right? But no, they're kind of famous in their own way."

"Yeah, I can tell," Rose replied with a grin. "They seem like they could handle anything... just like you."

Harry shifted uncomfortably, not sure how to respond. The idea of being compared to his parents, of carrying their legacy, wasn't something he ever really enjoyed talking about. But Rose had a way of making things easier to discuss, even when they were difficult.

After a brief pause, Harry sighed. "It's not always as glamorous as it seems. I mean, I still don't fully understand everything about their past. But maybe that's the point... Maybe it's not about understanding everything, just being there when it matters."

Rose looked at him with quiet understanding. "You're already doing that, Harry. You've always been there for the people you care about."

Harry smiled at her, grateful for her unwavering support. "Thanks, Rose. You're a good friend."

Downstairs, Adrian's voice floated up to them, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "If you want to apologize some more, Harry, I'm sure I could find a few more things for you to apologize for."

Harry rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress a grin. "You're a real piece of work, Adrian."

"Hey, I'm just trying to make you a better person," Adrian called up the stairs with mock sincerity. "If you need more life lessons, I'm your guy."

Harry shook his head but didn't reply, instead turning to Rose. "Let's just get back downstairs before he starts offering me relationship advice or something."

"Good idea," Rose agreed, her tone lightening as they made their way back down the stairs.

When they returned to the kitchen, the atmosphere had shifted back to a more relaxed one, though Harry noticed that Adrian was still looking at him with an unreadable expression. The apology was clearly still on his mind, and Harry wasn't sure how to navigate the awkwardness that lingered.

As they sat down, the conversation resumed as if nothing had happened, though Harry couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed. Maybe it was just the heaviness in the air, or maybe it was the realization that, for once, he had let down his guard. Either way, Harry knew one thing for sure: things were never going to be the same again.

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