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(P).(A).(T).(R).(E).(O).(N)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
She gently reached up and rested a hand on his cheek. He leaned into the warm touch, grasping her hand. He didn't give a second thought on why they were solid.
"I'm thirteen. Fourteen in a week."
The two shared a stunned silence.
"But that means…" James said softly.
"You died over eleven years ago?" Harry asked with a sad smile.
"…I guess times flies when you're dead." James tried to joke, but ended up choking instead.
"Oh my beautiful little boy." Lily swallowed sadly as she pulled Harry into an embrace.
Harry didn't even notice he was crying until he felt Lily wiping them away.
"Shhhh." She hummed.
He sank to his knees and soon found himself sobbing in her arms. All he'd ever wanted, all he'd ever wished for was to see his parents. And now he had them here, standing next to him and stroking his hair like he'd always wanted.
.-.
"….And now I'm opening a café. It's called 'Through the Looking Glass' and it'll be open for everyone, creature, muggle, and magic-user alike." Harry said, eyes glittering with his delight.
"I'm so proud of you." Lily laughed as she kissed his forehead.
He leaned back against her and smiled. At some point they had found themselves sitting and Harry telling them everything. Hedwig and Keiruim sat on his shoulder having been introduced to his parents. Lily thought Hedwig was adorable and James had thought Keiruim looked like a lot of fun.
"Harry."
All three looked up at Harold who had peeked up from the stairs.
"I can only hold them for another five minutes." He said softly, almost regretfully, looking strained around the edges.
Harry felt like he had been punched in the gut. He offered a weak smile.
"Thank you."
The man gave a curt nod and vanished again. Harry looked up to the faces up his remorseful parents and stood, hugging them tightly. He was crying again.
"Don't worry Harry." Lily murmured. "You're doing great in life, and you have so many wonderful people to look out for you."
"I know." Harry shuddered.
"Harry." James said resting a hand on his shoulder. "We'll both love you, no matter what you do or how you live."
"I know." Harry said again, the words catching in his throat, coming out as barely a whisper.
"Harry." James said again.
Harry looked into his eyes and was struck by how guilty and sad they were.
"When I was alive, in school, I wasn't the nicest."
Harry blinked in shock. All he'd ever heard was how brave, how fun his father was. Everyone had always told him his father was a gallant hero who did good. The only person who had ever said otherwise was Snape…
"I was actually quite arrogant and I was a bully."
Harry winced and looked down, already guessing who his main target had been. James tilted his chin to face him again.
"I was like Dudley."
Harry swallowed. His dad had always been his hero, the person he wanted to be like. But Harry also hated bullies with a passion.
"I made many mistakes. I wish I was alive so I could make them up for many people. But I'm not alive. And I won't ask you to go ask for forgiveness for me. What I want is for you to not be like me. I want you to be kind, and strong, and considerate. I want you to be honest and modest. But most of all I want you to be happy."
Harry brushed a tear away and nodded determinedly.
"We love you so much Harry." Lily said kissing his cheek.
He noticed she was crying. But so was he.
"Can you do something for us Harry?" Lily asked.
He nodded vigorously.
"Tell Severus I forgive him." Lily smiled softly.
"And tell Snape I'm sorry." James swallowed. "And tell Mooney and Padfoot to keep having fun."
"And be happy." Lily said. "Even if you have to run away. Be happy even if you have to leave everything behind because they're being too cruel or demanding. This isn't your war with Voldemort. We fought, but that doesn't mean you have to. We died so you would live freely, not fight half finished battles. Just be happy, for us. And remember, we'll always love you. You could join Voldemort and we'll still love you. You'll always be our precious, beautiful little boy. You make us proud."
Both of them hugged him. They had barely wrapped their arms around him when suddenly they shattered, like glass figurines. Wisps of grey floated away and vanished and the circle's glow vanished and Harry was alone again. He stood for a moment, barely breathing. A hand rested on his shoulder and he looked up at Harold. The man gave him a comforting smile. Harry stared. Then he fell back in a dead faint, exhausted.
Harry woke to Hedwig's barking, the harsh irritating noise that told him to wake up now or she would get impatient. He slowly blinked away his sleepiness, noticing the sunlight that bathed the room. He lifted his head and realized he was in his bed. Slowly he sat up, feeling the ache of tiredness in his body. As he stretched, Hedwig barked again, hoping near his desk making him glance at a stack of letters on his desk. It appeared his friends had written again. He'd deal with that later. For now he headed for the bathroom.
He looked into the mirror and stared for a moment, trying to find what was different. Something felt different, something was different. He just didn't know what. He decided to ponder on it later and slid into the shower.
When he had finished his shower, dried off, and dressed he decided to seek some breakfast. As he entered his first floor he ignored Harold who was reading the paper at the table and headed for the fridge to get some milk. When he had a bowl of cereal and an apple in front of him he sat down at the table and dug in. Harold and he both shared a comfortable silence as Harry finished eating and Harold finished reading.
When that was done Harry reached into his pocket and pulled out the jewel he'd got from his vault for Harold. He set it gently on the table in front of the man, the jewel making a soft clinking sound. Harold looked away from his paper and then at harry a moment. Gently he lifted the diamond up to the window light and examined it.
"If this is real, which I know to be true just based on your character and that of the goblins who you work with, then this is worth much more then what I did." Harold muttered.
"No, what you did is worth much more then that." Harry corrected, a soft smile on his face, remembering the smiling faces of his parents.
"Well, that cements my decision." Harold smirked at him, lowering the diamond and pocketing it.
Harry blinked at him.
"Decision?"
"Yes. I've decided to train you."
"Train me?" Harry asked in surprise. "In what?"
"Everything, but specifically necromancy."
Harry stared in shock.
"What?"
"You have the gift". Harold grinned. "I noticed when the summoning circle flared beneath you. There aren't enough necromancers in the world so we try to train those that appear with the ability."
"Oh." Harry muttered, shocked.
Harold stood and smirked.
"Until you are at an acceptable level I shall be staying in London. I will try to find a place near here so we do not spend all day travelling to have lessons."
Harry blinked but then smiled.
"You could stay here if you wish. I have an extra room."
Harold turned to him fully, folding the paper and standing.
"I think I shall accept that." He said standing. "I shall be off then, to go get my things and put this little thing in my bank vault."
He headed for the door and Harry smiled slightly as Alice rubbed against his leg.
"Oh, and you seem to be a bit lighter today, more relaxed." Harold said as he opened the door.
"Do I?" Harry asked himself as the man left.
He rolled his shoulders and realized he felt so much lighter, as if some sort of weight had lifted from him.
He felt ...happy. or at least content.
.-.
"What's your age?" Harry asked making notes.
"I turned twenty eight last week." The lady said curtly.
The woman was tall, about five nine with long straight brown hair done in a curt bun. Her face was very pretty, but with a stern expression on it. She had beautiful blue eyes and a long elegant figure.
"And do you have any past experience?" Harry asked.
"I worked as a waitress in a muggle restaurant. I have also taken Food Safe if the kitchen needs extra help."
"Hmm." Harry hummed looking over the papers. "You're a squib correct?"
Loving the story so far? There's a whole world of magic and mystery waiting for you with over 85+ chapters still to come! By supporting my Patreon.
You not only get early access to new chapters but also exclusive content, behind-the-scenes insights, and special perks just for fans like you.
Join us on this enchanted journey and help shape the future of the tale. Your support makes all the difference—discover more and become part of the adventure today!
http//patreon.com/BLAKE025
(P).(A).(T).(R).(E).(O).(N)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~