A sound mind in a sound body is a goal, not a prerequisite

He'd tried to sleep when Hatter had first tucked him in. He really had… but the room was so strange. Well, that wasn't really fair. It wasn't strange in the sense that it was a bad room, so much that it was having a room all of his own that was strange. He'd been living with Hatter for almost a month now and his new relative was so much nicer than his old ones. But none of the rules he'd been raised on seemed to apply any more, and he was confused as to what he should. Hatter didn't seem to mind that Harry followed him around, and had even given him this room -which was larger than even Dudley's room! - but whenever he tried to clean or cook like his Aunt had been teaching him as payment for all of Hatter's kindness, his new cousin always stopped him with a smile and said he didn't need to do those things. Harry was very confused as to what he should do then to earn his keep when nothing he knew how to do seemed to be acceptable. Surely Hatter wouldn't want him anymore if didn't do something, right? He was so worried the answer would be yes that he was too afraid to ask it…

Harry tried rolling around to get comfortable as he wrapped the blankets tightly around him and screwed his eyes shut, but it did nothing to lessen his anxiety. His eyes opened to look at the door leading out to the hallway. Maybe if he went into Hatter's room he could sleep in there again…or maybe he'd be angry that Harry wasn't sleeping in this wonderful new room he'd given him…

After going back and forth on the idea several times, Harry finally gave into temptation as he crawled out of bed and started walking towards Hatter's office. He'd just go see if the stairs had been left down. If they weren't, then maybe he'd just sleep on the couch and if they were then he'd ask if it was ok, but only if he was awake. If not, then it was the couch. His new room was in no ways tiny like his broom cupboard had been, but sleeping in it was making him feel like he was just as boxed in thanks to all his worries. He took small uncertain steps all the way into Hatter's office and saw the stairs had in fact been left down tonight, which caused him to debate his decision once more; anxiously twisting his nightshirt as he stood there. It didn't sound like his new cousin was still up with how quiet everything was. Maybe he should just go to the couch after all?

His eyes glanced over at it and his anxiety dissipated for the moment as he saw boxes stacked up near the couch and his curiosity overtook him. Since he would probably be sleeping over there now anyway, Harry didn't see any harm in looking inside one as he calmly walked over to inspect them. Most still had the lids nailed shut, but one had been opened already that would be easy to lift the top off of, and Harry did just that; setting the lid to prop up against the boxes so he wouldn't accidentally touch on the exposed nails. The moonlight from the windows lit the room enough so that when he pulled one of the glass items out he could clearly see what it was, though the shape made it easy to identify anyway. It was a bottle of Emotion Tea that Hatter must have gotten ready to put out on the shop floor based on how full the container was. The liquid inside was a pretty blue color and as he turned the bottle around the moon light lit up the word 'Calm' on the label. An internal debate rose in him now as he stared at the bottle in his hands. Hatter had told him that people felt whatever emotion they drank with these teas, and maybe if he took a sip, just this one time… He could go back to his new room, and his new bed, and fall asleep right away.

Harry worried his bottom lip as he glanced over at the spiral stairs. It would just be one little sip, and then… then he wouldn't be a bother and maybe Hatter would be proud of him for sleeping on his own. He glanced back at the glass jar and its slowly swirling contents from his turning it. Hatter had said people became addicted when they drank pure emotions, but just one little bit tonight wouldn't be so bad, would it? Hatter would never know and then after sleeping tonight he was sure tomorrow would be better, and he'd never need the tea again.

Looking forlornly back at Hatter's staircase and then the hallway door, Harry sighed. Hatter would know if he did though, and once he found out -as Harry was sure he would- he knew his new cousin would be upset. Harry gave a small sigh again as he set the bottle back into its spot gently. No, disappointing Hatter would make him feel worse than the Dursley's ever had. He turned away from the box to stare at the spiral stairs once more. So should he go up, or should he go back to his room? Cause he definitely didn't want to try sleeping on the couch now. Not with the tea right next to it.

Screwing up his courage, Harry took a deep breath in at one last attempt to calm his nerves as he slowly walked over, and then up the stairs that led to Hatter's room. He hesitated outside the closed door one more time. Okay, he'd just crack it open and see if Hatter was awake. If he was, he'd ask to sleep here and if not…if not he'd go back to his own bed and try to sleep again. After one more deep breath and a nod to himself in confirmation, Harry reached out to slowly open up the door half way. The moonlight dimly shone through the sky light on the ceiling, and Harry could just make out his cousin's form sleeping with his back to the wall in that large bed of his. Feeling dejected and not wanting to wake Hatter, Harry started to close the door when it made a loud creaking noise and he froze; staring wide-eyed at his cousin's bed. He could see Hatter immediately jerk into a sitting position and rub the sleep from his eyes as he tried to focus on Harry. This was stupid. He was being stupid, and he should never have come up here. He should have known better and now, now…

"Harry?" his cousin's voice groggily called out, "Everything alright?"

Knowing it was too late to turn back now; Harry swallowed nervously and walked fully into the room. "I'm sorry," he whispered, "I was just…I didn't mean to wake you…but I, I couldn't sleep and…" Harry trailed off as spoke to his feet and nervously played with the hem of his shirt. Hatter had yet to yell at him, but maybe this would be it. This would be the moment that pushed him too far and he wouldn't want Harry any more. His breath caught in his throat as waited only a few seconds that seemed much longer until Hatter spoke up.

"Come here, Little Potter," his cousin softly beckoned and Harry snapped his head up to see Hatter was even waving him encouragingly over to him. The sight reassured him, but didn't wash away his fears as he slowly padded over to his cousin's bed side. As he got closer, Harry could see that Hatter was smiling kindly at him and not looking at all mad or upset. "Pen told me something like this might happen," Hatter stated with a knowing look that was interrupted with a yawn, "You have a night terror?"

"No," Harry blushed in embarrassment and glanced down again as the words started spilling out of him, "I. I just. I mean. I really like my room, but it's so different and I couldn't fall asleep and then I was worried you'd be upset at me if I woke you and I'm really really sorry, cause I didn't mean too-"

"Harry. Harry, it's alright," Hatter interrupted and Harry looked shyly up at him, but saw none of the anger he thought might be there. Instead, Hatter had that same smile on his face. "Really Little Potter, I'm not mad at ya." Harry felt a rush of relief sweep through him and he gave a small smile back at his cousin. Hatter glanced over where the extra bed pulled out of the wall and seemed to be thinking about something before he suddenly pulled back the covers beside him where Harry was standing. Thinking he was going to get up and pull the bed out, Harry was surprised when his cousin beckoned him to come up instead. "Hop on up then," Hatter declared, "You can sleep with me tonight."

Harry felt filled with that warm happy feeling he'd never experienced before coming to live with Hatter at his words (except when he imagined having his own parents to pour affection on him like his schoolmates did). It had quickly become his favorite thing and it was the fear of losing that that had originally kept him up tonight. Harry did as he was asked and crawled up into Hatter's bed and laid down as his cousin pulled the covers back over him, before ruffling Harry's hair and laying down again himself, making sure to lie on his side so he could face Harry.

"I don't want you to think you can't come to me if something's bothering you, alright?" Hatter softly told him, "I'm not gonna get angry with you when you do and I'm not gonna get rid of you. We're a family now, and I said I'd take care of you didn't I?" Harry felt himself flush in embarrassment, but was also reassured by his cousin's words and he nodded his understanding.

"Good," Hatter affirmed, "Now you get some sleep, yeah? We're gonna start you on some lessons tomorrow and you'll need to be at your best for that." Already feeling more relaxed then he'd been back in his own bed, Harry yawned and easily closed his eyes.

As he drifted off to sleep, he idly noted that he really didn't need the Emotion Tea to help him, and promised himself that would never try any either. It was bad for you and if Hatter didn't use it any more, then he didn't see a reason when he should either. Life was better now for Harry than it had ever been, and he wasn't going to throw something wonderful like that away. Not when he'd wished so hard for it in the first place.

A/N: Takes place during chapter 4 of Tumbling into Madness. Just an extra scene of some early Hatter & Harry family bonding feels that didn't fit into the flow of the chapter. Some days I think I could legit write all the found family feels with these two. I just adore their little family so much. 💜