Chapter 6
The remaining three weeks of that summer are the farthest from anything that Harry could have imagined.
Upon his return with Miss Ana to her home on Magnolia Crescent, he had been quite literally bowled over by Astrit and Ylli with happy shouts of “HARRY, Mum found you!” as baby Lule toddled over to cling to the baggy knees of his trousers before he plucked her up and sticky fingers attached themselves to the lenses of his taped glasses.
Once the excitement of Harry staying with them instead of just playing with him at the park whenever they had been able to find him there, he settled in to what had been the spare room next to the twin boys and spent his days actually doing his summer homework (Miss Ana reviewed it and he had to do it again much to his chagrin), actually learning proper potions techniques by helping in the kitchen, and actually playing in the garden with the younger children. The three weeks passed in a whirlwind of chaos and family that he soaked up like a sponge.
The only odd thing that irked Harry about his time with the family was that, like the Dursley’s house, there was someone missing from all of the photos, wizarding or muggle stills. Which was odd, because Miss Ana and the children talked about Raba often and with love. But there were no pictures of him anywhere. And the children don’t really mention him and when they talked about him it was like they were repeating stories that Miss Ana had told them, not their own memories and stories of time with him.
Before he knew it, Harry’s school trunk was packed and shrunk down into what he now knew was Miss Ana’s “Going Out Bag”, a purse that Mary Poppins would have been envious of. A quick Floo trip had them back in the Leaky after breakfast had them popping into Diagon Alley like ducklings, Harry bringing up the rear with Lule held tight in his arms. “Miss Ana, we already have all my things, we triple checked last night!”
“I know dear. But with how much you have improved in the last three weeks – and will continue to do so, Morgana willing – this is one stop that cannot wait until you come home for the Yule Holidays.” Yule holiday, instead of Christmas. That was another thing that Harry was trying to get used to, that Wizards – Wixen – had different holidays. The discussion of that after dinner one night had sent Harry to bed with his head spinning and Miss Ana red in the face, muttering in …he still wasn’t sure what language… but it wasn’t English.
Knowing at this point, that any further questions were futile if he wanted to keep up while carrying a very excited three year old, Harry put a lid on his curiosity and trotted along the alley until they turned into a rather plain and quiet looking shop simply labeled “D’Armati’s”. Charts of letters and rows of different types and styles of eyeglasses lined the small shop.
“Ah. Madame Berisha, right on time.” A thin, bald man stepped from behind the counter toward the back of the narrow shop. “And who needs my services this morning?” he asked, looking over their small group until his sharp eyes landed on Harry. “Mm, yes. Mr. Potter, if you would follow me please.”
Handing Lule off to her mother, Harry followed behind Mr. D’Armati into the dark back room. “Please sit. This will only take a minute. Madame Berisha has told me a little about your issue when she made the appointment. Remove your glasses and look straight ahead, try not to blink.” Barely giving Harry time to comply, a flurry of spells wash over his face, prickling his eyes and glowing in his periphery as they document whatever it is that the man was looking for.
“All finished, out you go.” Shooing him back out to the main area of the shop not 10 minutes later with instructions to pick out some glasses that actually fit his face “Dear child, you should never trust the person who told you that those suited your face or eyes.” New frames – and a pair of quidditch goggles – picked out, they were spelled to resist breaking and rain as well as to adjust to his eyes as they continued to adjust to his increased health.
Harry stepped out of the shop and just stopped. He could see. He could see everything. Up close. The displays across the alley. He could see. Lule reached up and tugged on him to be picked up again. This close he could see the midnight flecks in her bright blue eyes.
“Ree sad?” A tiny hand reached out to squish his face.
“No, Lu-Lu. I’m not sad, just …” Harry trailed off.
“Jus’ big feelings? No words?”
“Yeah, Lu-Lu. No words.” Harry’s voice caught in his throat.
“Is okay, Ree. Nënë says big boys can cry. Astrit and Ylli cry a lot.”
“I do not!” Astrit and Ylli defended themselves as they slowly started to make their way back up the alley toward the Leaky.
“Do so!” the three continued to go back and forth with Harry and Miss Ana rolling their eyes and chuckling as they reached back entrance to the pub. Making their way through and out to the Muggle side, the group trekked toward King Cross Station and Platform 9 ¾.