New Awakening

Not Alone

On their way up the stairs to their new son's room the couple intertwined their fingers.

Entering the bedroom they saw their boy trying to sit up on the bed. His face marked from the pillow and his droll on the corner of his mouth. James and Lily would have laughed at his sleepy face if it weren't for the seriousness of the talk they were about to have. 

Lily rushed over to the boy and put pillows behind him so he was sitting while James conjured a wet clothe and cleaned the boy's face


"Did you have a nice nap, buddy?" James asked reaching out to ruffle Harry's hair. The boy shrank and flinched before looking down and nodding.

"A-Are y-you g-going t-to pu-punish me?" Harry asked quietly. He learned the hard way that it was best to get over it quickly, that way the one punishing him wouldn't have time to think of many creative ways to do that. 

Lily looked heartbroken at the words while James decided to see where this would lead him.

"Why would we punish you, Harry?" James asked putting two fingers under Harry's chin and raising his face so he could see the boys green eyes.

Harry was familiar with this question. Well, not in the same gentle tone but still. His Uncle sometimes liked Harry to recite everything he did wrong before hitting him.

"F-for c-crying, s-sleeping w-when I-I'm not s-supposed to, t-touching the f-furniture, b-being a b-baby a-and b-being a burden." Harry said, his eyes downcast.

"Oh, sweetie." Lily said crying and pulling the small boy onto her lap (he flinched violently). "You did nothing wrong, do you hear me?" The little boy stared at her confused.

"Buddy, what were the rules at your relative's place?" James asked taking his sons hands in his much bigger ones.

Harry didn't want to lie. What if he got caught? He would be punished even worse! 

He said everything without stuttering even once. Like he was reading a book he knew by heart. "No being a freak, no crying, no asking questions, no talking unless asked something, no touching the furniture unless to clean it, finish my chores without complaining, no stealing food and only eating what Aunt 'Tunia gives me, staying in my cupboard and not making a sound until my aunt or uncle come to open the locks and-" he then stopped and put his hands on his mouth, his eyes frightened and desperate. 

"What is it, son? You can tell me." James said urgently masking his horrified expression and squeezing his son's hand.

"N-N-Never t-tell any-anyone 'b-'bout t-the D-Dursleys." Harry said brokenly, tears of fear and shame falling from his emerald eyes.

"Oh, darling!" Lily said pulling Harry closer and burying her face on his hair inhaling his scent. 

"Listen to me, buddy." James said seriously getting closer and locking Harry's gaze in his. Harry looked terrified and tried to back away from his dad, only to find himself trapped into his mum's arms. "I want you to forget all their rules, alright? They do not apply here. There's no such a thing as "no crying" and "no talking" or any other rule they made up in their twisted minds. This is your home  now. You should be free to express yourself and feel safe in your home, you should feel loved and cherished." James said gently. 

"B-But I-I d-don't understand-" Harry said blinking at him owlishly.

"What is it that you don't understand, buddy?" James asked seeing as Lily's tears were falling freely now. James put a hand on his beloved wife's arm and squeezed it in support.

"Y-You m-must h-have m-made a-a-a mis-mistake, sir. I-I c-can't b-be l-loved. I-I d-don't d-deserve l-love." Harry looked down, his face red.

He would get it now, he had just said that an adult was wrong to his face. But at some point his daddy would realise Harry was not worth loving and it would hurt way more.