The Contract

Chapter 147

Harry was quick to get dressed in the winter wear that had been purchased for the holiday. The House-elf had been hard at work and storing it all in its appropriate place. He wasn't going to miss a second of this holiday, even if it was in a country that was rather cold at the moment. He did wonder if Switzerland was frozen all the time, if the snow was constantly present, he knew next to nothing about the country, but this was a chance to find out. For surely there were pamphlets and such with information about the country they were visiting, giving tourists fascinating information.

"Where are you going?" Sirius asked, observing his godson fully dressed and on the move. "You aren't leaving already, are you?" wasn't he going to decompress? This was meant to be a time to chill out, just embrace being a family without work getting in the way.

"Are you kidding? We're not wasting a second of this holiday!" Harry was quick to state, moving on the balls of his feet, almost jumping out of his own skin in his excitement to move, to just do something other than wait and stand there.

"Don't you want to relax for a bit?" Sirius asked, laughing softly, Merlin, he was getting old and maudlin. Or was it being a parent that completely took it out of you? Even with help he was tired nearly all the time. He'd felt like that after being introduced to Harry, but that had been years of Azkaban to blame...ah, no matter. The healers had said he'd have a difficult time of it when he aged, Sirius knew this to be true, over a decade of living in a dank, freezing prison, it caused aches in his bones, but the potions were able to take care of that problem at the moment.

"Not a chance!" Harry laughed, shaking his head.

Sirius smiled, pleased to see him happy and without a book for a change! It was the whole purpose of a holiday though, he supposed. To get away from what you do in everyday life, to relax, to have fun. He definitely took too much on his shoulders, it was good to see Harry relaxing and just having fun. Perhaps they should take another one in six months' time, Harry definitely needed to decompress more. He had taken on too much at too young an age.

"Hurry up! Rabastan!" Harry hollered through to the bedroom where he was still getting dressed.

"Less vocalizations please, there's no need to be yelling like a hooligan." Corvus chided Harry, from where he sat watching the twins, a fond twinkle in his gaze. Right now, they looked so much like his sons when they were young, it seemed Rodolphus was their favourite right now. Their grey eyes were hidden by brown eyes, their abilities caused him an unending fascination. Even reading about the abilities couldn't stop his wonderment.

"Do you have a headache again?" Harry immediately asked, approaching Corvus with a worried frown on his face. His worry for the wizard he considered a father written plainly across his face. He didn't even react to the slight reprimand, well aware that Corvus wasn't really upset with him. He'd come a long way since he first met Corvus.

Corvus took Harry's hand in his own, giving it a gentle squeeze, "I'm well, I assure you," he was not oblivious to Harry's...devotion to him. It was understandable that he'd care, Corvus had been the only thing in Harry's life for years before he collected more and more people to love, from Rabastan, Sirius, Tom, Bill and all the others, and the twins of course. "I shall enjoy the view with a lovely cup of hot chocolate by the fire, and perhaps a good book or two."

"If anything changes the house-elves will come and get us." Harry told him, giving him a gentle squeeze back.

"Nothing will, go on, enjoy your holiday, and have fun," Corvus said, shooing him away, he was quite looking forward to some peace and quiet with a beautiful and breathtaking view. He wouldn't change his life for anything, certainly not silence, but it was lovely to have it.