Spur of the Moment

Chapter 54

Warning: minor m/m sexual content at the end (just kissing)

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Harry sighed as he stared contemplatively at the simple cardboard box his cousin had given him. He figured since it had come from his aunt's house it was a box of his mother's things and that was also the reason he had never gotten it before now. He wasn't only contemplating the box. No, he had a very official looking envelope sitting beside the box and staring up at him as well. It had the Gringotts seal on it and Harry was nearly terrified to open it. If Severus had been there, he'd feel better about opening both the envelope and the box, but no...Severus was up in Dumbledore's office still helping out with Dudley and everyone else in the castle was doing their own thing. So, Harry was sitting alone on the sofa in the quarters he shared with Severus, staring at the unopened letter and the unopened box.

Honestly, such little things caused such big trouble...or anxiety. Harry blew out a breath and shook his head at himself. He reached out and fingered the envelope.

"Hello, dear," Ivory said as she landed on the sofa next to him.

"Hey," Harry said absently, still letting his fingers drift over the letter.

"What is it, Harry, dear?" the raven asked.

"Nothing, really. Just apprehensive, I suppose," Harry told her.

"What is in the box?"

"I don't know specifically. It's a box of my mother's things most likely."

"And the letter?"

"From Gringotts."

"Both are very important, it would appear," Ivory said.

"More than likely." Harry nodded.

"Perhaps you should open them then, my dear," Ivory said, sounding amused.

So much like her Protected. It's honestly ridiculous, Harry thought with a silent chuckle.

"Do you know if Severus will be back soon?" Harry asked.

"He is still speaking to the headmaster about your cousin," Ivory said.

"Damn," Harry muttered. "I suppose I'll open the box first."

Maybe he'll be back in time to open the letter with me, Harry mused as he pulled the box closer. It really wasn't a big box and it was relatively light. There obviously wasn't much in it.

Taking a deep breath, Harry pulled the top open. Staring at the contents, Harry's heart jumped. Directly on top was a Muggle picture of Lily laying in a hospital bed, a blue bundle in her arms, and James was beside them, talking to his newborn son. Neither was looking at the camera, instead gazing at their baby.

Under the photo were two stacks of envelopes, held together with an elastic band. There was also a scarf, a dark blue book, a quill, and various other things, including more pictures. As he moved a picture of Lily and Petunia as children, his eyes caught a blue velvet box. Frowning slightly in curiosity, he pulled the box out. It wasn't very large, but it had some weight to it. He pulled it open and gasped. Sitting on a bed of satin were two badges, one for Head Girl and the other for Head Boy. His parents' badges. He wondered why his Aunt Petunia would have had the badges.

"I am surprised that those were not put in a vault for safety," Ivory said, looking at the badges.

"Maybe they never got around to it," Harry said quietly, still staring at the things. Several minutes passed before he finally closed the velvet box and put it back in the cardboard box. "I probably never would have gotten this if my relatives hadn't died," he said, putting the box back on the coffee table.