The Shadows Solace Book I: The Growing Years Prequel

Chapter XXII: A Mother's Love and a Father's Wisdom

The ghostly form of one Lily Potter was silently crying rivers of silvery tears as her spectral body held her precious son to her; feeling him crying too, but because Harry felt like his soul was breaking apart. Her son was her precious treasure; she had given her own life to ensure Harry had lived to grow up, have a life to live full of adventure, fun, and happiness; only to now maybe have it stripped away from him.

Stripped away by his soulmate who had hurt her baby so badly that he wanted to return to her now.

Lily eyed her son as she rocked and bounced him; to try and soothe his tears so she could try to speak to her son. But Harry was seemingly inconsolable for now. And to make matters worse; Lord Death was enraged by this; not that she thought he should not be, but at the same time...she realized that Tom was still adjusting to having emotions.

He understood them now in a basic way due to his soul being whole again, but the man hardly understood emotion and all it's different faces for each one.

Harry hiccupped as Lily smiled amid tears, "It's okay, Little Prongs. Everything will be alright in the end of this, you'll see. Tom is very upset with himself; he knows now that he made a bad mistake and he's trying to reconcile it. You are a little too over-reactive like your dad and your godfather, Harry."

Harry sniffled and large green eyes so like hers looked to her full of water still as Lily swallowed, "It's okay. He really didn't mean to hurt you, Harry. He's just...wary and conflicted. He's a lot older than you are, and he hasn't realized yet that this bond of yours to him is not one that can be broken between you; not unless he acts to break it purposely with someone else, and he internally doesn't want to do that."

Harry sniffled again, "But...Me esplain. Me esplain to Tom..." He whimpered as his eyes threatened to start crying as Lily clutched him to her and rocked him softly, "I know Harry. I know you did; but adults are sometimes very dense and stubborn. They don't always accept an explanation at first glance or saying.

We like to think we are always right or that we know better, but that is almost always not true. At least it is mostly untrue for a lot of situations. And when it is; most of us try to act as if it is otherwise."

Lily then held her son up to her and smiled as tears shined in her ghostly eyes, "You know my son, you know..." She whispered, "You know how old he is inside; you feel it. Tom is not...not even remotely close in age to you. He worries about what that will mean for you as you grow up; knowing that you are bound to him and of who he is...what he's done..."

She let her voice become a soft whisper at that as her gaze dimmed and her son seemed to still to that and become sad.

Lily breathed to calm herself, "He worries what his reputation and actions will mean for you both later. Worries for how being beside you will affect you and the people who are around you."

Lily hugged him to her, "He loves you Harry and he wants what is best for you; yet he...he doesn't always seem to recognize that what he thinks is best...is not actually helpful."

Lily clutched him to her, "Little Prongs, close your eyes and listen a moment. Listen to his end of the bond; feel his sorrow for what he has let happen. He cries out for you and wants you to heal; to come back to him and the others."

Harry made a face of indecision as best as a two-year old could; Lily saw that he didn't want to. Harry didn't want to do this and to be disappointed by it. But, her son eventually trusted his mum not to lie to him. He leaned to her and closed his eyes. Lily smiled a little more when his small fingers curled to whatever he sensed from Tom's end of the bond; silent tears leaking out from underneath his eyelids.