It Ended With Our Song

The Books

The glass slipped straight from Harrys hands.

Kam reacted instantaneously, reaching out and steadying the cup before it even had a chance to smash. He seemed to be reacting before Harrys hands had slipped.

"Sorry, that was my mistake," he muttered, carefully pulling his hand away and watching as the liquid inside settled, "I didn't think before that one."

Harry just sat, staring wide eyed at the man before him, "You knew my dad?"

The words left his lips in a whisper.

Kamau nodded gravely, though a reminiscent smile seemed to be hiding in his face, "God did I know him."

The words were heavy with unspoken meaning.

"I-," Harry was at a lost for words, "When, how?"

"We grew up on the same street as kids, inseparable we were," Kam eyes dropped to his hands that were clasped together tightly, "He went off to Hogwarts at 12 and I moved out here."

"So you didn't go to Hogwarts?"

"No, oh no, Hogwarts wasn't the place for me."

"So are you a muggle?"

"No."

"You're a wizard then?"

Kam chuckled, "Something like that," he ran a hand over the stubble on his chin.

"Something like what," Harry challenged.

"You know what, sure, I'm a wizard."

Harry frowned, "But you didn't go to Hogwarts."

"No, I moved out here instead. I didn't see James again until his last Summer of school. He came up here for a few weeks to help me out with a project."

"A project?"

Kam nodded, "That was the last time I saw him."

Harry swallowed, "Merlin, I'm too drunk for this."

Kam shot him a sympathetic smile as Ali came back out of the kitchen, handing her father a glass of whiskey.

"Maybe we should continue this conversation tomorrow, you're more than welcome to spend the night."

Harry nodded, "As long as I'm not intruding."

"We have a couch in my office," Kam smiled, "Ali can you grab some blankets."

And soon enough Harry found himself sprawled out on a couch in a dark room, covered in blankets.

He didn't realise how drunk he was until he let his eyes close, and he didn't remember much after that.

-

Harry squinted in the warm morning light, lifting a hand to his face.

His head ached, a steady pounding thumb as he forced his eyes open.

Light spilled into the study, stained by the orange tinted glass windows.

He glanced around the room sleepily. Books lined the walls, floor to ceiling. The ones that didn't fit being piled up on carpet.

"Morning," Kam spoke, making Harry jump.

He was standing with his back to Harry, staring up at the wall of books.

"Morning," Harry responded, becoming more aware of his surroundings.

"How are you feeling, need anything, food, water?" The man offered.

Harry shook his head, his head throbbing, Maybe he did have a bit too much too drink.

"What's with the books, you a big reader,"

"You could say that, it all explains itself."

Harry frowned, "Is this about my father again."

"Oh yes James, I guess I should explain. Come, there's waffles on the table."

And so Harry followed trying to ignore the pounding ache in his head.

The smell of waffles hit him instantly as he made his way out of the room. A plate sat in the middle of the dining table, stacked high.

Harry sat on one side, Kam taking the seat opposite and serving both of them.

"So my father," Harry pressed.

"Right yes, well, how do I even begin. I grew up on the same street as him as I told you last night. We became close friends until he went off to Hogwarts and then I didn't see him for years. You see I am a wizard but a different type to you and your friends."

Harry raised a brow, "I didn't know there were different types of wizards."

Kam chuckled in response, "We are far and in between, there's not many of us left and most of the time we stay quiet."

"So what sort of magic can you do?"

"The future writes for me."

A frown graced Harrys face, "The future writes for you?"

Kam smiled at his confusion, "Those books you saw, each correlates to a witch or wizard. They continue to write everyone's stories years ahead and I just make sure they stay on track."

"So you can see what will happen to everyone before it happens?"

"Not exactly. The books tell me when something major will happen and I just have to make sure it all happen on time.

"But doesn't that mean anyone could read and change the future, isn't that dangerous?"

"No, no, the books only read for me, if anyone else happened to open them, they would see nothing of any importance."

"So where does my father come into this?" Harry questioned, eager to know more about his past.

"Well there's where you come in Mr Potter, your father could read the books as well."