mostly ghostly

1996

#1996

"Are you sure you'll be okay alone?"

Louis nodded courageously with fresh tears in his eyes and stained on his cheeks.

Earlier today, Louis was at the school's playground, playing a game of tag when he tripped over a backpack and fell.

He scraped his right knee and both hands bad enough that he couldn't move without wincing.

Jay sighed, wishing her dinner plans with her sister could cancel right now.

"I'll come home soon. Don't open the door for anybody, understand?"

"I know. Tell Auntie Sarah I miss her."

Louis smiled reassuringly at his over-worrying mother and waved goodbye.

Hay smiled sadly and closed the door, minutes later pulling the car out of the driveway.

An hour passed by and the peaceful silence in the house soothed the six year old to slumber.

He had shut his eyes for a few seconds when an icy breeze blew irritatingly on his face.

"Louis?"

A deep voice cooed, awakening him.

There was the same-looking tall man who, seen up close, seems to be around one of Louis' cousin's age.

Around nineteen or younger.

Louis had slightly forgotten about his yearly visitor and felt guilty for not remembering.

After all, he only sees him for less than a day out of three hundred and sixty-five days in a year.

It's easy to forget about the brief meetings during the time when sleep partially hazes Louis' consciousness.

"Haz!"

Louis sat up abruptly and yelped when the sharp pain of his knees cried out.

This worried Harry deeply.

He walked over to see if the little boy was alright.

"How you get in? Did-use your magic?"

Then everything came back to Harry: the plan, the purpose of this annual checkups, the reason why he was there in the Tomlinson abode.

He stood up and created some distance between him and Louis.

"Did mummy tell you t' come?"

Harry had to think quick and thoroughly or else things will get even more complicated than it already was.

In the rush of things, he blurted out an excuse he'll punch himself for later.

"I'm close friends with your mum..."

Even speaking the words boiled his blood and made him snarl.

Friends?

Not even close.

More like the complete opposite: enemies.

"She sent me here to watch you."

He prayed that the kid would believe him and his shoulders relaxed when Louis nodded.

Louis turned to his right, facing the older boy with much spark in his heart.

He held so much adoration and fascination towards Harry.