The Animator (Larry Stylinson)

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - SHARING MEMORIES

Black was everywhere and he was aware that he could no longer feel Louis' hands on his. He was certain his eyes were open because he didn't remember closing them and he couldn't seem to open them even if they were closed.

Slowly his vision started coming back and as it did, Harry noted that they were no longer in the forest. He looked around him quickly for Louis wondering if somehow Louis had just transported him to some other place that still had't quite come into focus.

Louis was stood beside him an he felt his heart rate slow slightly from its irate rhythm that coming to in a random mid space had created.

Once he'd noted Louis' presence he looked back around him as the scene slowly came into focus, he could tell even before the features became sharp that they were in Louis' bookshop.

"What's happening?" Harry asked quietly as the scene flickered slightly in front of them.

"I pulled you into my head basically," Louis replied to him as Harry stared at him curiously, "It's about to start so you may want to listen."

Harry nodded and turned away from Louis to look at the scene in front of them as a figure seemed to flicker into focus at the counter that hadn't been there a moment before.

They watched as another walked passed them towards the woman behind the counter, dressed in a long black cape which was hiding her from their vision but she appeared to be holding something.

Harry focused more on the other woman, behind the counter because he knew her. It was Louis' mother, he'd met her a few times before she got ill.

Harry eyed Louis quickly and saw his eyes focused unblinking on his mum and he cautiously reached out and took Louis' hand. Louis let him, and swallowed but squeezed Harrys hand lightly as acknowledgement.

"Oh good, you're here." Jays voice said, it was obvious this wasn't real because things were fuzzing at the edges and the voices were a little fuzzy and distorted.

"I came as quick as I could," The other woman replied. Harry continued watching wondering what this all had to do with what people weren't telling him but he listened and watched despite it all hoping things would be pieced together.

"Come through to the back," Jay said pointing to the door leading out back. Harry flinched as they both moved, like they'd hurt him if they hit him and Louis snickered next to him.

"It's a memory you fool, they can't see or hear us."

"So if it's a memory," Harry said after nudging Louis with his hip for being sassy to him, "Where are you."

Louis pointed over to a corner Harry hadn't even bothered to look at and his eyes took a moment to see the small figure sat in it. Louis couldn't have been much older then two and he was piling books on top of each other in rather wobbly looking piles.

"Awh, look." Harry smiled, "You're playing book keeper."

He got a jab to the rib for that and knew he deserved it. He was quick to look around to check on what else was happening, he didn't want to miss whatever was going to let him know exactly what people were hiding from him.

The woman in the cloak holding the bundle was waiting by the door to go out back while Jay was going to the door to lock it. On her way back she looked over into the corner where young Louis was playing.

"Come with us, Lou baby. You can play with your books again later." She said and Harry sent Louis beside him a fond sort of look as the little one got up looking a little resentful as he followed his mother to the door leading out back.