Water Lily | E. Riddle

[07] Meeting Uncle Perseus

Eridanus had stayed at his grandparents' place that weekend but returned to his house along with them in the morning. His mother greeted him at the door and he noticed that she looked happier than usual.

A beautiful smile played upon her lips and seeing her as such made him feel happy too. He might have been just a child but he was very observant and caring towards his mother. Seeing her happy was rare and he wanted to do all in his power to take away all the sadness from her life.

"Mother, you won't believe what happened yesterday," Demelza had taken Belvina's arms gently as she spoke, "Perseus came back home."

"Perseus?" Surprise dawned on the woman's features as both she and her husband seemed to be shocked to hear that.

"Yes. Please come in first, I will explain everything."

Eridanus hadn't heard much about the Perseus his mother had just mentioned. But seeing her happy to have him there made him feel as if he was someone close to her and very important to her too.

Demelza was explaining her cousin's state to her parents who were listening with a concerned look on their faces. Eridanus, on the other hand, made his way further in to find Nathan.

Nathan had stepped out of his room and a smile took over his face to see the little boy who had rushed to meet him.

"Dad!"

A warm feeling engulfed Nathan to hear him address him as such. He might not be his real father but he wanted to make sure that he fulfilled the role and did as much as he possibly could for the boy. And it felt very rewarding to see him return the affection.

He ruffled the child's head gently, "looks like you had a lot of fun at your grandparents' house."

"I did," he nodded, a tiny hand closing on to his wrist as the two went to the dining room together, "Luc came to stay as well. We enjoyed a lot."

"Good to know." Nathan bid his greetings to Herbert and Belvina who had by then understood the entire situation with Perseus.

Demelza had laid out breakfast so they all sat down while she excused herself to check up on Perce and bring him downstairs.

Eridanus felt curiosity brim inside him; he was always very eager to meet new people even though it didn't show from his attitude. Even when he was excited, a rather serious expression stayed on his features and one could never guess what he was really thinking.

It was a trait he had inherited from his biological father. But that wasn't the only trait that had been passed down to him by the Heir of Slytherin. Just like his father, he was a Parselmouth and had the gift of Legilimency. Though he wasn't fully aware of the extent of those abilities and had never openly discussed it with his mother as he didn't want her to get worried.

He had sat down beside Nathan and filled up his plate, but his eyes flickered towards the corridor from where Demi and her cousin would enter soon.

Shortly after, Demelza brought Perseus out and Danny's curious gaze locked upon the man who was accompanying her mother. He observed the resemblance between the two as they shared a similar complexion, hair color, and eye shape. The few differences were that the man was limping slightly and had bright blue eyes.

Belvina's eyes had welled up to see him and she had stood up from her seat, approaching them, "Perseus, my dear boy..."

She reached forward and engulfed him in a warm motherly embrace. The man by the name of Perseus had stiffened at the sudden embrace but eventually softened, accepting the gesture.

After her, Herbert too embraced him, patting his back affectionately, "you left us for too long, son."

It seemed as if Perseus was experiencing such emotions for the first time. The warmth and safety he felt just by being with those people was a strange but comforting sensation to him. He had a family. He had people who cared for him. He was loved. Even though he wasn't what he used to be, he was finally back with the people who called him their own.

He sat down with them for breakfast. Demelza brought out fresh bacon and buttered toast for him. She had just set down the plates and was about to leave when Eridanus stopped her by grasping her hand in his dainty one, "Mum, who's this?"

"Ah, we almost forgot to introduce you, did we?" she smiled, "Danny, this is your Uncle Perseus. Perce, meet Eridanus; your nephew."

He extended his hand for him to shake. Perseus was a bit reluctant, but seeing the boy look back at him with wide innocent eyes made him soften a little and he grasped the offered hand. "Hello, Danny."

A small smile spread on his features, "hello, Uncle."

Eridanus felt as if his Uncle was being wary of him for some reason and he noticed that he had almost flinched when they had shaken hands. A weird sensation had gipped him too upon having contact with him but he shrugged the feeling. 

Perseus was looking at him closely as if trying to remember him and after a long while of him simply staring in his grey eyes, he turned to face Demelza, "is this the first time I've met Danny?"

"Yes. He was born after you had gotten lost."

Confusion spread on his features, "oh..."

"Uncle Perce, where had you been?"

Perseus looked at him closely as if considering what to answer him. There was only one word that came to mind as an answer. "I had been in hell..."

The words cut through everyone present but it made Eridanus even more curious regarding him and the words he said next roused Perce's curiosity as well. "But you're back home now. I hope you will be happy with us."

A smile broke out on his face at last, "I am happy now. I am with my family at last."

Eridanus smiled back, feeling that he could trust the man. He might seem somewhat detached and not used to how things were around them but Danny felt as if they would bond well together.

And his instinctive feeling wasn't wrong regarding him. 

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