New Awakening

Home is Where the Heart is

Harry didn't even notice when his dad stepped out of the fireplace with him in his arms. That's how deep into James' neck his face was buried. His grip on his father's neck was almost choking the older Potter.

James looked at Lily surprised at the strength Harry was displaying and red in the face. Lily went to the rescue.

"Harry, darling, your daddy can't breathe. It's over now." Lily rubbed her son's back making him flinch and unwrap his arms from his father's neck brusquely.

"S-Sorry, s-sir. I-I di-didn't mean t-to." Harry said putting his thumb in his mouth and looking down, his body was rigid.

"Hey, little one. Not to worry. No harm done." James said with his voice strained but smiling at Harry and moving his son's arms to his neck again, pulling the thumb out of the little boy's mouth and rubbing his back. Ignoring when Harry put his thumb back again in his mouth. "Welcome home, Harry."

Harry looked up to his father's face and then to his mother's who were both smiling at him before taking a look around.

The first thing he noticed was the scent of herbs and wood. They were in some sort of living room. There were two cream-coloured couches and two armchairs. A coffee table with a vase full of lavenders and lilies and a muggle television. There was also a small shelf in the corner full of moving - moving! - photographs that Harry couldn't make out from this far. It was so welcoming, so different from the Dursley's that Harry couldn't help the smile or the question.

"Home?" He asked, his thumb leaving his mouth.

"Yes, darling. This is your home from now on." His mum said coming to his line of view, her eyes watering when a true, innocent and somewhat surprised smile broke out on Harry's face. It was a first.

Along with Lily, James gave Harry a tour, showing him the kitchen - that had a table in the corner which was where they had breakfast everyday), as well as light blue details that harmonised with the wood of the counters. Then they showed him the dinning room, which was very fancy with its' crystal chandelier and marble table. There was also a cabinet full of crystal glasses and bowls and a big window with a cream coloured curtain that made it possible for them to see the garden.

In the ground floor there was also his dad's study and the basement which was turned into his mum's potions lab. The study was coloured mahogany and red. There was a bookshelf in the corner and a plushy armchair with a round red rug in front of it. 

When they stood in front in front of the door of the lab his mum turned around to look at him.

"Now, Harry, this is the only room in this house that you are not to enter alone. It's dangerous and you could get hurt, and we don't want that." She said seriously.

"If you want something with your mum while she's in there just come and get me, and if I'm not at home, just knock and she'll come up and get you." His dad said misinterpreting the confused look on Harry's face.

"B-But h-how w-will I c-c-clean it?" Harry said, genuine confusion in his eyes.