The Shadows Solace Book I: The Growing Years Prequel

Chapter XX: Harry 2nd Birthday II

By two in the afternoon, all of the small ones had exhausted themselves out from playtime in the sun and the lake, so the adults decided to let them have a nap in the shade of the trees. When they woke up later; it would be time for a semi-early dinner and then presents and cake. Cedric was off looking at the Quidditch Pitch with his father and Cho; surprisingly, the girl seemed interested in the sport as well.

Not that there was anything wrong with that; there were many famous Quidditch players who were female.

Harry, however, he had refused to be placed with the others and insisted he be allowed to stay with Tom for his own naptime. The older wizard had been smilingly wanly to the protestations of his little mate while watching Petunia roll her eyes at him and seeing Lucius smirk at him from behind. All as he was not having the desire to deny his small treasure.

So, he obligingly carried him around in his arms gently as he went from one group to the next to socialize. Harry sleeping peacefully and not seemingly bothered by the soft talking or other outdoor noises. Though Tom did sense an underlying agitation to Harry's magic and his core; though he was not sure why or what for.

Currently, he stood with Lucius, Narcissa, Severus, the Greengrass lord and lady, Teodore and Lady Zabini; discussing inconsequential things. Teodore then eyed him a moment as Tom looked to him in question, "Is something the matter, Lord Nott?" He asked soft

Lord Nott shook his head and quirked his lips some, "Not really. Just marveling how one child can change the world so impactfully. Change someone else so much. Marveling at how similar you are to the young man I knew before; yet, also seeing exactly how different. The one I knew would not have asked me that just now...merely silently asked with his eyes in his own way."

Teodore smiled, "There is a sort of elegance and sophistication to the silent way of words and to the use of gestures, but words are nice to hear and to acknowledge from others."

Tom smiled a little now, "Yes, I suppose I am a bit different than I was. I now fully have control over my own core again. Plus, a new understanding of emotions; how they affect the mind, the soul, one's own magic and more. Something I didn't have and wasn't born with originally."

Tom then had a look, "Teodore, I want to express my apologies for your son...I know that you were one of the first who served; like Abraxas had been..."

Teodore roughly waved his hand as those from the Light-side watched this conversation with tension, "No apologies for that. I knew even as a very young teenage boy what I signed up for when I agreed to serve as one of the Knights of Walpurgis and then later on as one of the Death Eaters.

All of us did, Tom; none of us regret it despite what happened, and my son Thaddeus," He sighed somewhat, "He knew that as well. Since I was already gearing him for it even before he officially began his education at Hogwarts.

Like most of the families that began as the first of your circle." he told him sincerely

The Light members stayed silent to all this; to realize that the man who had been so steeped in darkness had garnered such devotion, faith, and loyalty from those who supported him and worked for him. That they had been prepared to risk everything to restore their rights to society and to preserve Magic.

Teodore smiled sadly, "There was always a chance for you to lose yourself to the taint...as any dark magic practitioner could. It is why Great Britain has endured so much war between Light and Dark; the innumerable Lords and Ladies of Shadow battling the Lords and Ladies of Light for fair treatment and their rights to practice our sacred gifts.

You just happened to progress far more rapidly with the deterioration. My son knew to back out and to avoid matters that would harm him and his reputation; I had warned him that if you seemed to begin to succumb to the taint...to back away.