Home.

(5.5) Harry

Slow blinking eyes and furrowed brows were all I got.

'What do you mean?'

'Well, I don't get much time off when in the program,' I explained, 'and then I'd jump right into working as an auror. Assuming I pass.'

Percy turned to face me head-on, still obviously perplexed.

'First off, you'll pass. I know you will. And secondly, this doesn't really change much.'

It was my turn to be befuddled. 'Of course it does! I'll be in Europe all the time. And we won't have summers together. And you all will be busy just like me, so visits will be hard. And I've only just got back.'

'Oh, Harry, honey', Aunt Sally said softly, reaching out to offer her hand. I grabbed hold of it tightly. 'You're growing up. Becoming an adult. We knew you wouldn't have free summers forever. This is a good thing.'

'How can this be a good thing?' I yelled. 'I feel like I'm losing my home. I feel like I'm losing you!'

Uncle Paul decided to join the conversation. 'Hold on just a minute now. No one is losing anything.' I was about to argue, but he rushed to say, 'Just hear me out.' He paused until I nodded that I'd listen. 'You weren't going to live here forever. Heck, Percy's moving out to live with Annabeth soon. He just doesn't know it yet.'

'Wait, what?' Percy sputtered.

Uncle Paul paid him no attention. 'Every kid grows up, and when they do, they leave the nest to fly on their own. And that means you're making something for yourself. That's the good thing your aunt was talking about. But it doesn't mean you're gone forever.'

'But I told you,' I tried to reason, 'I'll be gone for years. I don't know when I can come back!'

'Then we'll come to you', Aunt Sally promised, as of it were the most obvious thing. And to her, it probably was. 'You know we don't have financial troubles. And if we were ever to use the money for ourselves, it would of course be to visit you in London.'

'Mom's right', said Percy. Guess he got over the moving in with Annabeth thing. 'Every job allows time off. But even if you can't be in America and we go to Britain, you're not losing your home', he reassured me. 'This will always be your home. Wherever I'm apparently moving to', maybe he didn't get past that part, 'will always be yours to call home too. Because we are your family. Home is with us, no matter where.'

I looked from face to face. The image was quickly blurring from unshed tears. 'I'm so sorry. It was so selfish of me', I said between gasps.

The three got up and embraced me. And bloody hell were they all good at hugs.

'You were thinking of your future,' Aunt Sally told me with no room for argument, 'and we support you in that.'

Percy pulled away, but he kept his hands on my shoulders. 'Maybe this is not the best topic, but we still own the other apartment in the building. The one that was meant for Sirius. It's warded for secrecy, guaranteed. You could apparate directly there, we could install a fireplace to connect to that thing, or you could use a porky when you want to visit.'

I chortled at Percy's mistake. 'It's a portkey, not a "porky".'

That had all of us lightly laughing.