True Family

Chapter 1: A New Start
Harry groaned as he stirred, his body aching in that deep, bone-weary way that spoke of more than just physical exhaustion. His mind felt like it was wading through fog, and for a moment, he wasn’t sure where he was. He remembered pain, fire, and the cold bite of betrayal. But as his senses returned, so did the realization that he wasn’t in a dungeon, a battlefield, or the afterlife—at least, he didn’t think so.

The room smelled of fresh linen and something warm, like cinnamon and honey. A ceiling fan whirred above him, stirring the soft summer air. He turned his head slightly, taking in the unfamiliar but cozy space. The bed was soft, the quilt thick and handmade. Definitely not St. Mungo’s.

The sound of a chair scraping against the floor caught his attention, and Harry tensed instinctively, his fingers twitching for a wand that wasn’t there.

"You're awake," a woman’s voice said, relief clear in her tone.

Harry blinked, his vision focusing on the kind yet sharp-eyed woman sitting beside the bed. Her blonde hair was pulled back, a few strands escaping to frame her face. She looked tired but determined.

"Where—?" His throat was raw, and the word barely made it out.

"Shh," she said gently, reaching for a glass of water on the nightstand. "Here, drink this."

Harry hesitated for only a second before accepting the glass. The water was cool and soothed his throat instantly. He swallowed a few gulps before pulling back, his gaze never leaving the woman.

"Where am I?" he asked again, voice steadier this time.

The woman sat back in her chair, studying him. "You're in Bon Temps, Louisiana," she said. "My name is Adele Stackhouse. And you, young man, are my great-nephew."

Harry stared at her, his brain scrambling to process her words. Great-nephew? That didn't make sense. The Dursleys were his only living relatives—or at least, that’s what he had always been told.

Adele seemed to sense his disbelief because she smiled, though there was sadness in it. "Your mother was my Lily’s daughter," she explained. "My older sister, Catherine, was your great-grandmother. She moved to England a long time ago, married a man named Henry Evans. Lily was born there, which makes you—"

"Family," Harry finished, his voice hollow.

Family. The word sat heavy in his chest, foreign and unfamiliar.

"I know this must be a shock," Adele said gently. "Hermione Granger contacted me. Told me what happened. When I heard what they were trying to do to you, I knew I had to bring you here."

Harry stiffened, his fingers tightening around the quilt. Hermione. Of course, it had been her. She had always been the one to make the impossible happen, even when he hadn’t wanted her to.

Adele reached out, placing a warm, steady hand over his. "You’re safe here, Harry."

Safe. Another word that felt strange.

Harry exhaled slowly. "How long have I been here?"

"About a week," she said. "You were in bad shape when you arrived. Fever, exhaustion, some lingering magical burns. But you’re healing now."

A week. He had lost an entire week.

Harry rubbed a hand over his face, trying to ground himself. "And no one—no one from England knows where I am?"

Adele’s eyes darkened slightly. "Not unless you want them to," she said firmly. "Hermione made sure of that. She sent you here because she knew they'd never look for you in the States."

That... that was a relief. He wasn’t sure how to feel about any of this yet, but at least he wouldn’t have to face the people who had turned on him. Not now.

Before he could respond, a voice called from another room. "Gran, is he awake?"

Adele smiled. "Come on in, Sookie."

A young blonde girl, maybe a year or two younger than him, poked her head into the room. Her blue eyes widened when they met his. "Wow, you really do look like your mom," she said.

Harry blinked, caught off guard. "You—you knew my mum?"

Adele nodded. "Not as well as I would have liked. She and her parents didn’t visit often. But I remember her as a sweet, brilliant girl."

Sookie stepped closer, her expression curious but kind. "Gran told me everything," she said, then hesitated before adding, "You’re really a wizard?"

Harry nodded slowly. "Yeah."

Her face lit up with excitement. "That is so cool."

Harry couldn't help the small huff of amusement that escaped him. "It’s... complicated."

Adele chuckled. "That’s an understatement, I imagine."

Harry hesitated for a moment, then met her gaze. "Why?" he asked finally. "Why take me in? You don’t know me."

Adele's expression softened. "Because you’re family, Harry. And family takes care of each other."

Something in his chest tightened at her words, and for the first time in what felt like forever, he let himself hope—just a little.

Maybe, just maybe, he had finally found a place where he could belong.