Time to put your galleons where your mouth is

Chapter 2

A Tale of Three Brothers

Harry was eight years old now. This body, he reflected, was smoother than the last, flowing better with any and every movement he made. The face was pretty too, with the dark grey eyes and black hair that fell in an almost messy wave. Their Uncle Alphard had once joked that had it not been for the wave, he's have mistaken his face for a Potter. Walburga hadn't been impressed with the implication there.

Though, like every body he had, it seemed like he was to remain forever short, having never grown more than five foot nine at the best.

Currently it was eight o'clock at night, October 31st. Both Walburga and Orion had gone out to a party -a not so questionable activity for them- leaving the three of them in the tender care of Kreacher.

Both Sirius and Regulus were currently sprawled out across his bed, seven and four respectfully. Sirius' birthday had passed in September, whilst Regulus' was fast approaching for January. Harry loved every moment of it.

Throughout all the lives he'd been reborn, not once had he been gifted any siblings. Now he had two, both of whom he planned to protect and cherish above all others. With his magic he'd made Sirius a huge Padfoot shaped hat, which enchanted all of his senses when worn.

Walburga had commented once again on his impressive magic though thought the idea hideous, but Orion had laughed. He was working on a small fox head for Regulus, while he himself had that of a Demiguise. His Animagus form.

However, today Harry had made Sirius leave the hat in his room, which had led to the middle child sprawled out across the bed and taking up as much room as possible. Regulus was sat with his legs curled up to his chest, not half hanging off the bed like Sirius.

Harry smiled again, snatching up a cone of card and fixing it around the light fittings. Instantly the lighting in the room changed, leading it to look more like an artificial sunset was setting in the North. With a set of carefully placed books, Harry had a scene placed upon the Southern wall of his room, Sirius sitting up in interest.

"What're doing 'Rais?"

Harry twisted around to look at Regulus, who was frowning at the sight before him, but paying just as much attention as his brother.

"I'm making a scene. Kreacher's not read you the tale of the three brothers, right?" Harry knew for a fact he'd not, for he himself had ordered that story to be stricken from the list up until he could really tell it to the boys, show and all. It was something he held close to his heart, the creation of the three items that'd made him who he was today.

"There's a story about three brothers?" Sirius had scooted to the edge of the bed now, Regulus following after them.

Both still just as in awe of his magical talents as always. He'd overheard their parents discussing both Sirius and Regulus, their accidental magic. He'd heard them bemoan how neither seemed to be showing the same power that he had. But they'd never said anything in front of the boys, and Harry had resolved to keep them away from that as long as possible.

Neither of his siblings were weak, Sirius had managed to vanish his entire cot as a toddler, wanting to run free and wild. Regulus had summoned every cat in the neighbourhood last year when Walburga refused to let him pet one.

They were both going to be strong wizards.

He'd just overshadowed them. Harry prayed neither would hate him for it.

"Once, there were three brothers, who were walking along a long twining road at twilight," with an almost careless wave of his hand, Harry saw to it that a shadow of three brothers were stood upon one of the shadow banks upon the wall, created by the books situated just before the light. "Now, they came to a river, which was far too dangerous to cross over. However, since the three were wizards, they gave a simple wave of their wands, and made a bridge grow from the side of the bank."