New Awakening

The Potion

Lily approached father and son and knelt down by them with a smile. She didn't want to wake them up, as they looked really peaceful but she knew they were as anxious as her to get it done.

With his eyes closed, Harry was a mini version of James - their differences almost imperceptible. Lily wished she knew where her old camera was and made a note to look for it later. 

"Harry, James?" Lily said softly, pressing the power off button on the remote control of the telly and smiling at the duo. Green and hazel eyes opened confused before focusing on her. Harry rubbed his eyes and tried to get off his dad. Lily helped him sit up as James sat down beside his son.

"Is it ready?" James asked, looking at her wary. She nodded and motioned with her head to the closed vial on the coffee table. 

"Are you sure you want to do this, sweetie?" Lily looked at Harry whose drowsiness disappeared as they mentioned the potion. "You don't have to do it if you don't want to. It will be uncomfortable and you won't feel very well. And you won't be able to remember much of the transformation at first, just snippets." The now mother of two took her son's hand in hers. Harry nodded quickly and opened his mouth to say something but nothing came out.

"Go on, buddy." James said putting an arm around his boy.

"A-Are y-you s-sure I-I w-won't be m-more o-of a b-b-burden?" The little green-eyed boy voiced his fears looking down.

"Harry, look at me." James said gently, yet, firmly. The boy obeyed, the instinct to follow orders ruling his emotions. "You are not a burden. You are not now and certainly won't be so when you're younger - nor ever for that matter. We love you and want to take care of you buddy, to help you heal and give you at least a piece of the childhood you should have had." Harry nodded looking down, not believing a word. For sure his parents had other intentions, this was just too good to be true. They had to have some plans for him, something he'd have to do in a sort of bargain. The little boy wasn't worthy of any act of kindness; he learned to second-guess it from early age.

"Do you have any questions, darling? You can ask as many as you want." Lily said softly capturing the boy’s gaze. 

"W-Will i-it h-hurt a l-lot?" Harry asked his voice trembling. 

"It won't hurt exactly. The side effects of the de-aging transformation are a high fever and a temporary disarray of the limbic system - that is the main part of the brain responsible for the emotions and behaviour. Your body and mind will be oscillating, changing, between different ages until it settles on your new definitive one so your behaviour will be different. The results of the process are that you will be younger physically and mentally - though you will keep all your memories from being older. That's why we're asking you if you're sure. There's a lot to take in and a lot is at stake."

"What Lily is saying, buddy, is that once you take the potion there's no going back. We will still love you in the same intensity, no matter your choice." James said running a hand through his son's hair.

"W-W-Will you s-stay w-with me?" Harry asked his voice betraying how scared he was, almost begging for them to say yes.