Family Night
Harry sighed as he walked to the part of the castle in which his so-called "parents" stay. This was going to be a nightmare.
He'd only lived with these people for five years. Four of those years had been horrible. But the first one? Sometimes he wondered what the first year had been like?
From what he had heard, Colin had always been favored, but it was a lot more equal than it had been after That Night. Would life be better if That Night never happened?
No. Without all of that, he'd have never met Allyssa. He'd never have grown up in Yorkshire with all his muggle friends. Never would have felt so normal. Never would have known proper love. Have the full attention of someone. He'd always have been second place.
In a way, That Night had saved his life!
Finally, he finished climbing the stairs to the portrait. The portrait had a centaur, tall and grand, standing guard with a stern stony face.
"Hallows' eve," he mumbled. James had told him the directions and password in class.
The creature smiled as the door swung open.
Here we go. Finally. After so long, this is happening.
"Harry," Lily greeted as Harry walked in.
The room was huge. The walls a calm shade of red, furniture was dark, a lot of varnished wood with brown and black sofas and carpets. Facing Harry was a roaring fireplace, fire high and hot. On a sofa facing the fire was the three Potters.
Harry gave a quick thought about why Colin was even there. The letter had said that he would not be here. Liars as usual. It didn't really surprise him.
They were all sat on a black leather sofa, all turned around to look at him. James and Lily had a mix of relief and interest on their faces. Colin had a sulky look to him, annoyed that all the attention was not on him, but his eyes held a similar look of interest.
"Should you be talking to me without my Mum's permission?" Harry asked, childish, of course, but he was also a bit serious.
Lily turned away, Harry wondered if she was annoyed or angry. Probably both.
"Sit down, Harry," said James, turning around to face an armchair on the left, closest to James.
Harry rolled his eyes but walked to the chair and sat down with a slight huff.
Colin slouched back with his arms folded, clearly trying to show his parents that he was annoyed and wanted someone to talk to him, if his parents noticed, they ignored him. All eyes were on Harry, and Harry wasn't sure how to feel about it. He secretly wished his Mum was here.
"So...Harry," James began. "How has your time here been so far?"
This was so weird.
Harry stared at him for a second. "Fine."
"Got a favourite subject yet?"
Yes. Harry loved Defence Against the Dark Arts and his flying lessons. Quirrell was a terrible teacher, he seemed to be scared of everything, but the books were interesting, and his Mum had already taught him loads so he was happy to relearn and read ahead. And any excuse to fly was great.
But Harry just shrugged.
James faltered for a second, then smiled. "I heard Snape wants you on the Quidditch team?"
Harry just stared.
"Apparently he wanted you to be a keeper? They've been looking for one since the beginning of term. Their last one left last year. But I talked to him. You're playing seeker."
Harry glared. "Why do you get to decide that?"
James was taken aback. "Ummm...you're smaller, quicker, it'll be better for you."
Harry sniffed and looked away. Seeker? He liked the idea of being a keeper or a beater, maybe even a chaser. But seeker? They just hang around doing nothing a lot of the time...wait...
"You're worried about the Gryffindor team aren't you? So you want me out of the way so you have a chance."
James rolled his eyes. "Why are you so suspicious of us all the time? I'm trying to connect with you here. If I wanted you off the team, it would not be hard for me to do."
"Whatever," Harry answered, arms crossed and eyes narrowed.
James went to speak again, but Colin interrupted.
"Why does HE get to be on the team?! I want to play on the team, dad! Get ME on the team!"
James looked uncomfortable. Harry understood why. Colin could not fly. At all. He was useless at broom control. Putting him on the team would be the worst move possible. Worse than just not showing up to a match at all.
"We can talk about that later, Colin," Lily soothed. "So, Harry, what's Miss Rose like?"
It took everything in Harry not to laugh.
"She's great!" Harry answered.
Lily held her composure. "Good to you then?"
Was Lily jealous? No way...
"Very!" Harry answered again.
"Mum!" Colin interrupted, furious at being pushed aside.
"Yes?" Lily answered with a tired smile.
"What is he even doing here? I want him to go! This is so stupid!"
"Colin, please son...please be quiet," said James.
Harry decided to be daring. "Why is he even here?" he asked, pointing at Colin.
"What do you mean?!" Colin yelled sitting forward quickly.
Harry shrugged. "What I said. Are you stupid?"
Yes.
"That's enough! Both of you!" Lily quickly butted in before the fight could escalate.
Colin looked shocked, almost betrayed, looking up at his mother with tears in his eyes. Clearly Lily had never put him in his place before.
Harry just rolled his eyes and flopped backwards against the chair.
"We wanted to talk. That's why we asked you here, Harry," Lily continued.
"About?" Harry asked.
"To make sure you're okay."
Harry held in his laugh. This was stupid. If they ever cared, they'd have looked for him.
"And," James continued. "About the guardianship."
"I'm leaving," Harry announced, standing up from his chair.
"Wait! Just-listen!" Lily stood up. "This is serious. We need to discuss this!"
"Write to my Mum," Harry snapped.
"We have!" James snapped back. "We understand you want to stay in your house. Fine, whatever. But we are your real family! We deserve to make these decisions! We deserve to-"
"You don't deserve anything! Write to my Mum! I'm going back to my dorm. This was so stupid!" Harry yelled, walking to the door.
"Listen to me, Harry. Will you at least give us the chance?"
Harry turned to them. Lily and James were stood up. Colin was still sat down with a scowl.
"To what?"
Lily took a deep breath. "Maybe we could all just...talk every now and then. Get used to each other."
"Whatever," Harry scoffed, he opened the portrait and left.
Inside, the three Potters sighed. That went well.
*
"That was awful," Harry said to his friend upon finding them in the Common Room.
"What did they want?" Draco asked, moving over on the sofa so Harry could sit down.
"To talk, it was so weird. And to tell me I'm playing seeker, because James said so," Harry rolled his eyes for what felt like the hundredth time today.
"Seeker isn't bad," Theo shrugged. "At least he's letting you stay on the team."
"Isn't that Snape's decision?" asked Pansy looking at Blaize who just shrugged.
"He wants me out of the way, I know it! He wants me off chasing the snitch so Gryffindor has a chance to get more points! His son isn't even in Gryffindor! Why does he even care!" Harry complained.
"Maybe he wants a son to play in his old position? Let's face it, Colin won't be!" Draco theorized.
"Well, whatever the reason, I'll show him, it must kill him if Slytherin wins the cup..." Harry smirked.
"Is that the only reason they invited you to talk?" asked Pansy.
"I don't know..." Harry trailed off.
It felt so odd... Why did they want to see him? Well, he was never going to go to their home again.
The guardianship was not going to be changed. His Mum had raised him, he was safe with her, with them, all he felt was hollow.
He needed to write to his Mum.
*
Dear Mum,
I hope everything is okay.
I have good news and bad news. But you probably won't be thrilled about the good new, but I am!
I'm on the Quidditch team for Slytherin! I'm probably going to be the seeker. I love flying so I'm very happy. So...I might need a new broom? Nothing too expensive or anything! Just something I can play with. That was the good news.
The bad new is my old family are here. They invited me for dinner, but we never actually made it to dinner. We had an argument. Colin was there too. They said they wanted me to get used to them, whatever that is. And they wanted to talk about the guardianship. Is everything alright with it? They can't take me away can they?
Say hello to Erin for me!
Love,
Harry