Home.

(5.2) Harry

A/N: If I could add a tag to part 5 it would be "unreliable narrator." Please keep this in mind when reading further.

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Walking in after using my key to my home felt good. I was greeted with smiles and cheers and hugs all around.

'Harry, honey! We missed you so much!'

Aunt Sally bounced around with a smile on her face as she sat me in a chair at the kitchen table. Uncle Paul took over cooking while she fussed over me. He kept sending me winks every time I was smothered. He and Percy laughed at all the affection shown my way, but I knew they were just waiting their turn to do the same. Uncle Paul would probably pull me aside and tell me how proud he was and demand all the details. Percy would undoubtedly take me out someplace in the city or maybe the beach. We'd have fun together, share stories, laugh over pointless things, and forget our troubles until I was ready to talk about them.

It felt nice to have a support system at home with people I knew would be there for me if I only asked. People who didn't do things to help me because they felt they owed me or were indebted to me or followed my parents' wishes. They helped me because they loved me unconditionally. It's something that can include friends but usually goes beyond the platonic form of love into a familial one. It may be romantic or sexual in nature between spouses, but I think the love we have for each other is stronger than even that. I don't know quite how to describe it, but I do know I can count on it. That it's real. And it might be the truest thing I've ever come to know.

'I've missed you too, Aunt Sally', I said warmly.

Uncle Paul paused his chopping to ask, 'You'll be sticking around this summer, right?'

'Yes, I have no plans. Could do with some of that normalcy you all talk about. A quiet summer sounds bloody fantastic.'

Percy chuckled. 'Can't make any promises when you're dealing with Jacksons. You're shit out of luck there.'

'Don't tease him, Percy', Aunt Sally chastised lightly. 'Oh, Harry, we have a surprise for you!'

In all honesty, I was tired of being surprised. Surprise! Snape is evil (and then not evil). Surprise! The Horcrux is fake (but you've got to find the real ones). Surprise! Dumbledore has a brother (that low-key hates him). Surprise! I am a living Horcrux (who lived only to die but not die). Surprise! I own the elder wand (even if I returned it in favour of my original one).

And to think it all started with Hagrid. Surprise! You're a wizard (whom everyone knows a little too much about)! Not cool.

But my family all wore smiles. And they were all infectious. So despite my new hatred of surprises, I found myself genuinely excited to hear what they had planned.

Paul took over the explanation. 'Well, we missed your birthday last year, so we wanted to celebrate a bit. How does a trip to the Bronx Zoo sound?'

'That sounds great! Brilliant! Wow, I can't believe you got Percy to agree to a zoo over an aquarium.'

Aunt Sally and Uncle Paul laughed at the pout Percy gave. But he winked at me as he poured everyone drinks. And I grinned back, feeling truly as light as air. I was certain this trip to the zoo would go loads better than the one with the Dursleys.