Project Motherhood: Filia

Chapter 6

The next day, things were relatively quiet. Harry was saddened when Filia had to leave for school, but Carol had done everything she could to comfort him. After feeding him breakfast, Carol decided to read Harry some stories, and the pair had snuggled on the couch while reading him some fairy tales. Harry was happily resting in his aunt's lap while she read to him.

Yes, his auntie Carol was amazing. He'd never love anyone quite as much as he loved his mommy, but his auntie Carol came very, very close. Carol finished reading the book, then smiled down at the little boy. "Well, we've read a story now... How about we um... Play a game?" She offered.

"Okay." Harry smiled up at his aunt. Carol smiled back and picked him up. Carrying him to the kitchen table, she sat him down before pausing, remembering she didn't know her new home too well.

"Um, where does Filia keep her games?" Carol awkwardly asked, feeling a bit embarrassed about having to ask. Harry pointed to a cabinet about two steps to her left. "Of course..." Carol sighed. After a minute of deliberating, she chose Snakes and Ladders, and Harry seemed excited to play it. His energy was contagious, as Carol found her socially reclusive side melting away.

As they played, Harry told Carol the story of when he had stayed the night with his mother for the first time during the storm. "...And then the dice flipped back to snakes, and Uncle Samson was so mad!"

Carol put a hand to her mouth and giggled uncontrollably. "Oh, that Samson... He's a funny guy, isn't he?" She said with a merry twinkle in her demeanour.

"Yep! He got really grumpy and pouted a lot after that. He couldn't get any ladders at all." Harry explained.

"Well, let's see if we can do better." Carol smiled and handed Harry the dice. He rolled them, and immediately landed on a ladder. Carol smiled, watching his happy expression. However, she couldn't help but frown slightly when she rolled snake eyes. Oh well, it was still the first turn. About five turns later, Harry had reached the top and was only a few spaces away, and Carol was still struggling to get past the second row...

Carol rolled the dice again, and got ladders. She sighed in relief...only for it to immediately flip back over to snakes. "What...? You're kidding, right...?" Harry giggled softly. It was just like what happened with Uncle Samson, except Auntie Carol wasn't as mad as he was. The game ended with Harry as the winner by a landslide. Carol planted her face against the table and groaned loudly. "These dice are weighted..."

"I'm sorry Auntie Carol..." Harry mumbled shyly, nervous he had done something wrong. Carol looked up and laughed gently.

"You did nothing wrong, Harry... it's these stupid dice..." She replied before shaking her head. "I'm not gonna let some dice defeat me."

They played three more games. All had the same result. "I give up, that's it. The dice win." Carol said flatly, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Mommy didn't have this problem when I played with her..." Harry said softly, looking at the dice curiously. They were both just wondering if the game was cursed.

"Hmm... How about we just watch some cartoons now?" Carol offered.

"Okay!" Harry said happily. Carol smiled at his energy as she scooped him up and sat on the couch with Harry in her lap. Flipping through the channels, she felt Harry relaxing into her embrace and blushed slightly.

They stumbled upon a movie called Hercules, about a boy who was born to gods and raised by farmers after an incident with the god leaders' jealous brother. However, the beginning of the movie hit very close to home for Harry... The part where all the people in his village called him mean names and wouldn't like him...They treated him like...like a freak...