Three
The last week of Septiembre is when Harry takes his “end” of year exams for his familia. Why? He doesn’t know, but it’s just how it is. However, it means that he gets his scores in Octobre on most occasions which marks the beginning of spooky season (as Mary likes to call it). So, when Harry heads down to dinner one weekend and sees dozens of boxes lining the walls he smiles. Those boxes can only mean one thing: decorations. And Harry would be a dirty liar if he said he didn’t enjoy such a thing.
“Decoration time?” Harry asks as he pushes the dining room door open.
The room is large, but modest, walls a mix of red and dark wood, and floors covered in a cream carpet. Along the walls wooden cabinets line the room, them often covered with pictures and candles (and decorations when the time calls for it). In the middle of the room is a rectangular table that can fit eight people, but only five chairs are present, two on the right and two on the left of the table and one at the head. Mamá, being the Head of House sits at the head, and Remus and Sirius beside each other leaving Harry to sit beside Mary and at Mamás right.
As he walks to take his place Mary grins. “You mean spooky season?” She asks.
He rolls his eyes good naturally at her as he begins to eat, the rest of the table following. “That’s just Samhain and Halloween, Mary. We celebrate three holidays, so it’s not just spooky,” he tells her with a smile.
“Ah, but it’s still spooky season,” Sirius says indigently.
“Oh no, not you too,” Harry groans.
“Poor Harry,” Moony laughs, the thing slightly weak from the full moon two nights ago. “Never will you be able to escape the spookiness of Halloween and Samhain.”
“Día de Muertos is better,” he declares sending them all into laughs.
“He’s not wrong,” Mamá tells them.
“You just say that because Prongs infected you, damn parasite he was,” Moony says with a grin.
“Now that I think about it, didn’t he say the same thing at the Halloween feast when we were kids?” Sirius asks.
“He did,” Moony laughs. “He spent the whole meal complaining about how the food was plain and how Mexico does it better. Actually, I’m pretty sure he complained about the food through all seven years.”
“I mean…” Mary starts, “he’s not wrong. I came over once and Effie made us food, my life was forever changed.”
At this Mamá bursts out laughing. “Listen, the first time I ate beans on toast in front of him he almost lost it. He actually ended up hiding all the bread in the house from me.”
Everyone at the table starts laughing. “That’s definitely something he would do,” Sirius says as he wipes away a tear.
“Definitely, now, it’s time for Harry to know how he scored on his exams,” Moony says, drawing the attention of everyone.
“How’d I do?”
“First exam: physical combat; graduated to level four,” Mamá starts. “Second exam: knife throwing; 28/30 still targets, and 0/20 moving targets, improvement. And third exam: knife combat; graduated to level three. Good job Harry, you did well.”
Moony nods in agreement. “In no time you will be able to properly hold your own against us. I say you’ll be able to do it by 15 if you keep up the practice,” he tells him.
“Good job, Harry,” Mary says. “You scored a 96% on my exam, an O on the grading scale.”
“Does that mean I get that treat?” He asks and she laughs.
“Oh, a treat you say?” Padfoot asks with a mischievous smile.
“Yes, a treat, and not one for you,” Mary says. “And yes, Harry, you won my treat. I’m going to take you on a week trip long to some historical sites in Latin America.”
Harry stares at her wide eyed. “Wait, seriously?”
“Yes seriously,” Mary says, “your mamá has even approved it.”
When he looks to Mamá she nods. “¡Gracias, gracias, gracias!” He chants as he jumps up and hugs the pair, his excitement boundless. The pair laughs and tells he’s welcome before sending him off to go sit down.
When he sits, still excited, Sirius clears his throat and Harry turns his attention to him. “On my first exam you got a 100%, meaning we may move onto recognizing the type of magic.”
“What about the second exam?” Harry asks with a frown and Sirius smiles.
“That wasn’t an exam, it was more like a preliminary test to see what you were capable of. So, I didn’t score it,” Tío says and Harry nods.
The familia spends the rest of their dinner talking about simple things, their laughs flowing through the manor. Once they finish they start to go through the many boxes, putting aside decorations they won’t be using that year and making a list of things to get. By the time everyone goes to bed the great hall is a mess, the floor almost invisible underneath the decorations. Penny and Emery are going to throw a fit when they see it, but they know not to touch the decorations without someone there, it’s well known they aren’t allowed to decorate alone (they can’t have all the fun, after all).
Tomorrow will be dedicated to decorating and Harry can’t wait.
——
“Woof!” Padfoot barks before pouncing on Harry, who is curled up in bed.
Harry’s eyes shoot open as he bends over the bed coughing as Padfoot goes to sit next to him, tongue lulling to the side with a big canine smile. Once Harry’s coughing fit calms he looks towards him with a glare. “Was that really necessary?” Harry asks in exasperation.
“Bark!” Pads responds and Harry rolls his eyes.
“Fine, I’m up,” the boy says as he sits up and stretches.
Padfoot nods before jumping off the bed and prancing out of Harry’s room. Harry, to his dismay, has to close his door after his tío, the man refusing to close doors in dog form. He quickly gets ready before heading down for breakfast. When he enters everyone is sat down eating, Emery and Penny joining them today.
“What is up with you guys waking me up in such unpleasant ways?” Harry asks as he takes his seat.
The question causes everyone to look at him unimpressed, even the eleves, and that’s no small feat.
“Has yous really just asked that?” Penny asks.
“Sí…”
“I think the heir has hit his head,” Emery declares with a shake of his head which causes everyone to break out in laughter, except for Moony who continues to eat as if nothing happened, and Harry who’s utterly confused.
“¿Qué?” Harry asks confused as everyone around him gasps for air. “What’s so funny?”
“Wow, you managed to unimpress the elves, I’m impressed,” Moony says with a smirk. “That’s no small feat.”
“What did I say?” Harry asks his tío desperately.
“Ask why you’re woken up the way you are, of course. What else would it be?”
“Why?”
Finally Mamá recovers enough to respond. “Darling, there’s literally no other way to wake you. Trust me, we’ve tried.”
“Por favor, it’s can’t be that bad,” he says indignantly as he crosses his arms.
“Oh yes it is that bad,” Mary says.
Harry opens his mouth to respond, but unable to find a remark clicks his mouth shut. “That’s what I thought,” Moony says with a smile and Harry sighs.
“Fine, you win. Anyways, what’s the plan for today?” He asks.
“We’re first going to go shopping, then we’re going to put everything up. Next weekend we will be cleaning and visiting graves,” Mamá tells him and he nods.
Once finished with breakfast Sirius takes him to go shopping for pumpkins, wheat, apples, incense and more. By the time they get back all of the stuff is organized and ready to be put up. Mary and Emery work on Halloween decorations, Sirius and Remus on Samhain and Mamá, Harry and Penny work on Día de Muertos.
Fall colors soon fill the house, candles and pumpkins everywhere to be found. On the ceiling fake Halloween ghosts hang along with the plethora of papel picados. In corners fake skeletons stand with large Halloween decorations that move when you walk past. On every surface there is a vase of marigolds, sugar skulls, bowl of candy or a cat, pumpkin, bones and crystals. Once done decorating there isn’t a place in the manor you won’t find a decoration, even the bathrooms have at least a tiny ghost to watch you do your thing.
They then move onto the alters and ofrendas. Sirius and Remus make a Samhain alter in the entrance hall, the alter made up of candles, gourds, herbs, crystals, bones, wheat, a pumpkin and an apple or two. The alter even has a small little crow figurine, runes carved into the candles and bones.
Harry and Mamá work to make ofrendas in the sitting room, beginning with one for Mamás parents. They make an arch made of several different flowers such as petunias, lilies, marigolds and some more to place on the wall above it. They then cover the base of it with a baby blue cloth before they begin to decorate it. They place four white candles in the cardinal directions, place a pitcher of water, sprinkle salt and marigold petals on the cloth, hang papel picados off the side and then they begin the more personalized objects. For Mamás dad they place down a fishing lure, a few science textbooks, a flag with the name of the college he worked at and some gifts his students and children had given him before placing down his favorite cologne. For Mamás mum they place down a quilt her own mother had made her as a child, a textbook on biology along with a children’s story book, golden pendant, a perfume, poem and a stethoscope. Finally they place a large photograph of the couple in the arch before sprinkling photos of them throughout the base of the ofrenda.
They then move onto the one for Papá and his parents. They make the arch entirely of red, yellow and white marigolds, the base covered in a cream cloth. They place water, salt, petals, papel picados, and candles as well but the candles are purple to more easily guide Papá back to them. For Papá they place a snitch in its case, red converse, pranking items, a transfiguration text book, a piece of paper with two inked paw prints and a deer hoof, and a red and gold jumper with the Gryffindor crest embroidered in the corner of it. For Abuela there is a beautiful floral rebozo, gold jewelry, defense book, a record, a drawing by Papá and bull riding gloves. For Abuelo they place a potions book, potions ingredients, a pocket watch, his glasses and an enchanted music box. Photos of them all scattered about as well, three different one in the middle of the arch, one of Effie bull riding, James flying and Monty brewing.
Finally, they make one for Marlene McKinnon and Dorcas Meadows. The arch is made of red roses, anemones and marigolds. Their ofrenda has all the same as the others, their candles purple as well to help guide them back. For Marlene they place a thing of red nail polish, guitar picks, a beaters bat, Gryffindor tie, crystal bracelet, some candies and a pair of odd socks. For Dorcas they place a few herbs, crystals, a book on creatures, a necklace with a guitar pick, some pressed flowers and a pair of yarn fingerless gloves. Just as the others they have photos, the main one being of them kissing at a Gryffindor party.
As they create each one Mamá tells him stories of the people they’re dedicated to. She tells him about how her mum couldn’t cook to save her life, but baked like there was no tomorrow. How her mum was obsessed with flowers and there was never a day there wasn’t a vase of flowers in their house. She talks about how her dad loved fishing and took her and Petunia a few times, her once falling overboard to the amusement of her sister. About how her father was the sweetest man alive, but gave Papá quite a scare during their first meeting. She retells the story of how Papá poorly tried to get her attention, how he wasn’t always smart or kind, but overtime how he became the man she fell in love with. Talks about how he used to curl up with them in the garden as a stag on late nights when she couldn’t fall asleep. Mamá speaks of her first meeting with Abuela, how the woman dotted over her and then cooked for her, how she made her feel welcomed. She also speaks of just how powerful of a woman she was, but caring nonetheless, the way she taught her some traditional dances. She explains how Abuelo was always brewing potions, always trying to make the next big thing to help others. Finally, she reminisces on how Marlene and Dorcas finally announced they were dating after dancing around each other for years. Tells him how Marlene was a formidable beater and could play the electric guitar like no other. Explains how Dorcas knew such obscure magic even Mamá didn’t know it, and how she loved creatures of all types.
They finally add offerings to the ofrendas, their favorite foods and drinks along with the traditional sugar skulls and pan de muerto and light the candles. Once they finish both Mamá and Harry grab a stick of copal incense and light it. They coat each ofrenda with the smoke, the smoke purifying them. When they finish purifying they press the ends of the incenses’ against a ceramic plate to stop the burning.
When done the pair takes a step back to admire their work. Papás and his parents sits in the middle of the other two. Harry looks over at Mamá and when he sees her face he frowns. She suddenly seems older, her eyes dulled with grief and face downturned in pain. Silently Harry reaches for her arm and holds it, his head resting against her shoulder, her other hand coming up to run through his hair. They stay like that for a while, simply taking in the glow of the ofrendas. However, unable to stay there forever the pair eventually turns in for bed.
——
On Saturday, Octobre 13th, Harry is woken up by the sound of pans being hit together. He groans at the sound and requests five more minutes before rolling over. Someone huffs as they stop banging the pans, and it’s his only warning before he’s being levitated out of bed and suddenly dropped onto the floor, him yelling in surprise.
Harry groans as he opens his eyes and sees miniature boots. Lazily he rolls over to stare up into the large eyes of Penny who is staring at him with her hands on her hips.
“¿Qué?” He groans.
“Gets up, Lady Lily and the rest are preparing to visit graves,” she tells him.
Harry sits there for a moment, working to get his groggy mind to process what she said before it clicks. He sits up quickly and looks at her in excitement.
“Really?” He clarifies and she nods. He jumps out of bed and runs to the bathroom, not caring that he’s only had four hours of sleep, only thinking about visiting Papá.
He’s ready to go in record time and flies down the stairs, his destination the sitting room. When he opens the door his familia stands near the fireplace talking casually. Mamá has a bag hanging off her shoulder, Mary holds a picnic basket, Moony carries a backpack with cleaning supplies, and Sirius has a picnic blanket thrown over his shoulder while carrying a bag filled with drinks.
“Ready to go, pup?” Sirius asks.
“Yup,” Harry says.
“Well then, let’s go then. Come here Harry, I’ll be apparating you,” Mamá says as she holds out an elbow for him to grab.
He hooks their elbows together and suddenly he feels the pull of apparation. He stumbles slightly when they land, but Mamá keeps him up right. He smiles at her and soon the group starts to walk down the streets of Gordics Hallow, Mamás arm still hooked around his. Some people call out to the group in greeting and they respond in like. The village folks greetings welcome among the group.
This is the only magical place in Europe they show Harry’s face. The people here will never make a big deal of his presence, knowing it’s the final resting place of his Papá and the home of Mamá, Remus and Sirius’ grief. They’ve heard first hand the scream of sorrow and cries of a baby that had haunted the village on Halloween of 1981, seen the familia visit the grave of a lost soul. These people, they were affected by the death of Papá just as they were, he was their neighbor once, after all. He was the man who sacrificed his life to give his wife and child time to run. Here he’s regarded as a hero, and his familia is respected, never seen as a spectacle like they are elsewhere. Here, they are the people closely associated with a tragedy, not celebrities, and Harry appreciates it.
They pause for a moment to speak with Profesora Bagshot. She’s growing old, her mind slowly deteriorating, but the shadow of intelligence of the once bright witch still lingers. She asks them how they’re doing and tells them of some of the things she’s been up to before letting them go to continue on their way.
When they make it to the large gates Mamá unhooks his arm. Beyond the gate hundreds of bodies lay to rest, some forgotten and others deeply cherished. A grand yew tree stands tall in the middle of the land, ribbons tied to its branches, each one representing a persons grief and the wish to reunite with the lost. Hundreds of ghost like owls perched on the tree and headstones, many turning to face them.
He looks to his familia, silently asking for permission and they nod. The boy pushes the gate open before dashing through the graveyard, easily ignoring the birds. He avoids stepping on graves, easily winding around headstones as if he lives there, his eyes easily pinpointing where it would be disrespectful to step. Finally, towards the back he catches sight of three graves with two flower pots resting on either side of their headstones, flowers still blooming regardless of the weather. When he gets to them he slows, stepping around the others to stand in front of them.
JAMES FLEAMONT POTTER
27-03-1960 — 31-10-1981
May the sun of our hearts continue to shine beyond the realms
Contigo la milpa es rancho y el atole champurrado
FLEAMONT HENRY POTTER
29-11-1909 — 16-12-1979
Forever may your legacy live on and continue to bring hope to those less fortunate
EUPHEMIA ALEYDA POTTER
08-06-1910 — 10-12-1979
Incluso en la muerte te extrañaremos
El amor todo lo puede
Harry slowly kneels down into the damp grass, positioning himself between Papás grave and the joint headstone of his Abuelo and Abuela. “Hola, Papá, Abuelo, and Abuela,” he says, the early morning sun beginning to peak out from behind the autumn cloud cover. The wind picking up slightly, it twirling around him and causing his hair to dance with the fallen leaves.
Sometimes he wonders what life would be like if they were still alive. He wonders if Abuelo would’ve taught him about potions, told him stories of his travels when he was young and how he met Abuela. He wonders if Abuela would have taught him how to cook, maybe even taken him to bull ride one day. Sometimes he wonders what it would be like to chase a snitch with Papá, to play high up in the sky with him and speak to him in Spanish. He wonders what it would be like to celebrate his culture by the side of two people who are connected to it in a way nobody else in his familia is.
Soon he’s pulled from his thoughts by his familia arriving. Remus, Emery and him work to pull the weeds that have claimed the graves and Mary, Sirius, Penny and Mamá lightly scrub the headstones. Once they finish they all go about decorating the grave. They place several bouquets of marigolds around the headstones, some in vases and others simply on the ground, petals and flower heads coating the ground. On the left is a group of candles in red, orange, gold, yellow and white. They scatter photographs of them in the assortment of things and an Xoloitzcuintli statue for each person before placing the personalized items. For Papá they place small stag, wolf and dog stuffies, Quidditch gloves, a lily pendant and a picture of Harry. For Abuelo they leave a travel map, potion bottles, and a pun book. For Abuela they put a wide rimmed hat, boots, and a bundle of traditional Mexicano recipes.
“I don’t know why more cultures don’t do this, it’s healing in a way…” Mary says as she admires the graves.
“That’s because nobody can compare to Latino culture,” Harry says matter of factly.
Mary and Sirius snort. “You sound just like Effie when you say that,” Remus tells him fondly.
“Merlin! Remember when she would hound us for not sending her letters every week? Or when she would lecture us and halfway through she’d switch to Spanish and we had to just stand there and nod along and James would have to translate it to us afterwards?” Sirius grins and Remus laughs.
“I remember that one time James was being particularly annoying and she ended up throwing a—a, I can’t remember what they called it, but a sandal and James ran away screaming about how he was terrified for his life. Monty thought it was hysterical,” Remus laughs.
“It’s called a chancla,” Harry tells them with a roll of his eyes. “You’d think after spending so much time with Papá and raising me you’d know that”
“Please, those two could never retain such information. Their minds are taken up by useless pranks,” Mamá tells him as they grin at each other.
“Hey!” Sirius says indignantly as Remus just shakes his head in amusement.
Soon the group set down a picnic blanket and have breakfast at the graves. They tell stories and laugh for an hour. Before they go they leave chilaquiles, and café de olla at Papás grave. For Abuela they leave a cup of atole and a bowl of menudo. Finally, they leave a cuppa of tea and plate of bubble and squeak for Abuelo. The familia packs up, stretching before they go to their next destination, Marlene and Dorcas’ graves.
Mamá quickly transfigures everyone’s features to make them not easily recognizable and they disapparateto the graveyard. Unlike Gordics Hallow, they don’t apparate on a street nearby, but directly at the graves. They get to work cleaning up the graves and then decorating. For Dorcas they leave a few crystals, a few trinkets and a white knitted sweater. For Marlene they leave a pair of boots, rings and a few bottle caps. They leave the pair some food as well before going to their final destination, Penny and Emery leaving for home being unable to join them.
Mamá cancels the transfiguration on everyone before they all disapparate to an alley between two large buildings. The sound of cars and smell of gas immediately meet them and Harry scrunches his nose up slightly. The group begins their walk to the muggle graveyard, Harry holding on tightly to Mamás hand. Finally they see the church, the graveyard resting beyond. Harry doesn’t run through this graveyard, carefully following everyone as he doesn’t know the way very well.
In front of two graves stands a woman with black hair tied up into a neat bun, dressed in a white dress with small pink polkadots adorning it. She wears warm black leggings under them and a light jacket. When they get to the graves she stands in front of the group halts. She looks up, her pale green eyes meeting Mamás ivy ones, and he watches as surprise flashes across her face. Mamá looks at her with recognition but distantly, as if she’s almost a stranger. The woman’s eyes quickly flicker around to everyone before resting on on him slightly longer, her eyes widening slightly before returning to Mamás.
“Petunia,” Mamá greets.
“Lily, what are you doing here?” She asks, her eyebrows furrowed.
“Same as you, I assume,” Mamá says as she gestures to the graves. “We came to pay Mum and Dad a visit.”
“Why would you do that?” She asks, some anger bleeding into her voice. “You abandoned us to go marry that wizard. I thought we didn’t matter to you,” she sneers and Harry tightens his grip on Mamá.
He glances at the others and sees Sirius and Remus bristle slightly, but they don’t do anything. Mary just watches on emotionless. “I never abandoned you or Mum and Dad, Petunia,” Mum tells her, sadness bleeding into her eyes.
“Don’t you lie to me, Lily!” She snarls. “The moment you married that man you disappeared from our lives, stopped sending letters, visiting, you didn’t even go to their funerals!”
Pain flashes across Mamás face at the wake of her sisters anger. “I know,” she whispers, “but I had to keep my distance.”
“And why did you ‘have’ to abandon your family, pray tell?”
Mamá takes a deep breath before speaking again. “I was fighting a war, Petunia. I was on a black list, and if they found out about you guys they would have killed you. I ended up having to go into hiding, and in the end lost James at the hands of a murderer and nearly lost my own and Harry’s. I know this does little to ease your anger, and you have every right to be angry at me, but it’s the truth. I never wished to abandon you or our parents.”
Petunia seems slightly taken aback before her expression hardens again. “Doesn’t mean you couldn’t have reconnected afterwards!”
“But would you have accepted?” Mamá asks and Petunias expressions falters. “Last we spoke you held resentment towards me, resentment for having magic, for having a good support system, for having a place to belong. And then I failed to go to Mum and Dads funerals? Me and you both know I would have been unwelcomed.”
Petunia opens and closes her mouth a few times. “Fine,” she concedes, “you’re right, I wouldn’t have accepted. However, I still want to know why you’re truly here.”
Before Mamá can speak Harry talks instead. “We’re leaving flowers and stuff to honor them and help guide them back to this realm for Día de Muertos,” he tells her and she stares at him in confusion for a moment.
“Dia what?” She asks.
“Day of the Dead,” he translates for her. “It’s the day we honor and remember the dead.”
“I’ve never heard of it. Is it a witch thing?” She asks, slight curiosity sparking in her eyes along with jealousy.
“Nope!” He tells her happily. “It’s a non-magic celebration, well, I guess it can also be a magic celebration, but not typically,” he tells her.
“Then why haven’t I heard of it…?”
“It’s from México, which means it’s only really known in the Americas,” he tells her.
Petunia looks to Mamá with confusion. “Why are you celebrating a Mexican holiday?” She asks with a raised eyebrow.
“James was Latino, and Harry, being his son, is as well, so I’m going to educate my son on his culture,” Mamá says, her chin tilted up in challenge.
Petunia stares at her for a moment before sighing. “Fine, but why are they here,” she asks, indicating to Harry’s tíos and tía.
“They’re my family, so they are welcome to honor my parents with me, and they do.”
“Oh…” she says slowly. “Well, I’ll be going now, it was… nice seeing you Lily.”
The woman begins to walk away, but she doesn’t get far before Mamá calls out to her. “Oh, and Petunia?” The woman stops walking at her name. “If you’d allow me, I’d love to meet again. Maybe one day we can be sisters again, like we were as girls.”
“…Maybe one day,” Petunia says, not even glancing back before continuing on her way.
Harry watches her retreat before looking back up at his mamá. She also watches Petunia, sadness etched into her face as she watches her sister retreat. After a few moments she sighs, her eyes falling away, leading the group around the graves so they can take Petunias place.
“How charming she is,” Sirius grumbles as they walk.
“She’s never been the biggest fan of us, eh?” Mary remarks.
“That’s putting it lightly,” Moony growls.
Before the headstones two bouquets of a variety of flowers sit. Mamá kneels down and takes them, holding them to her nose as she smells them. She then puts them off to the side with the rest of their decorations as they clean. Once finished Mamá takes the bouquets of marigolds they brought and combines Petunias flowers with them, intricately combining them and then adding lilies and petunias. Once done she puts them in a weighed down vase before they begin to sprinkle marigold petals and flower heads over the graves. Finally they put down some candles and a Xoloitzcuintli statue. They refrain from putting anything else, knowing it’s also Petunias right to decorate the graves, and that the muggles would find it weird.
With that they finish decorating and cleaning graves for Día de Muertos. They take their leave, going back to the alley they apparated to to disapparate back home. When they get home it’s time for lunch, the familia eating over easy conversation.
——
Harry wakes on Octubre 31st with the feeling of being watched. He rubs his eyes and checks the alarm clock to see it’s only 3:00, he frowns and gets up. He never wakes so early, if anything he stays up till 3:00. However, last night he went to bed early because he didn’t sleep the night before. He closes his eyes as he stands in the middle of his room and reaches out with his magic. He feels the brush of feathers against his cheek, but when he opens his eyes there’s nothing. He frowns slightly before his eyes fall to the bones he’s collected from the forest.
He narrows his eyes slightly at them and watches as magic shimmers around them slightly. However, that isn’t surprising to him, that’s to happen to objects surrounded by magic constantly. What’s surprising is how the shadows around him are beginning to move unnaturally. The feeling of being watched growing more and more as the seconds tick by. As he focuses on one shadow in particular he watches as it begins to flow almost like fabric in the wind. Somehow he knows deep in his bones that these “shadows” are far more than that.
“Child,” a raspy voice whispers from behind him.
Harry whirls around to be met by nothing, his heart rate spiking. He whips his head around in search of the source of the voice, but is unable to find it. He begins to back up only to freeze in terror when he feels a pair of cold hands press into his back. The air catches in his lungs and the heat seems to leave his body as the icy chill of terror seeps in.
The hands slowly move till one leaves his body and the other rests on his shoulder, his eyes catching sight of a blackened hand. The thing finally comes into view and he has to bite his tongue to stop the scream that wishes to tear through the deathly silent room. A woman in a torn and dirty white nightgown stands before him, her face deathly pale and brown hair matted with what appears to be blood. She tilts her head, the movement causing her hair to fall away from glowing hazel eyes that lack eyelids. Her mouth slowly opening into a smile filled with sharp teeth.
“¿Qu-quién eres? {who are you}” Harry forces out as she reaches a hand forward to tilt his chin up.
“Child,” she says again and he winces, “you’ve been chosen. Be prepared, for only misery comes to those They claim.”
Harry’s vision suddenly starts to go black, his legs giving out beneath him, the woman slowly lowering him to the ground. The last thing he sees is the woman kneeling beside him, hears is the whispers of what sounds of thousands filling his ears, and smells is the scent of rot and blood.
——
When Harry wakes he wakes with the feeling he had forgotten something important. He turns off his alarm clock and stares up at the ceiling, raking his memory for the misplaced memory. However, no matter how long he looks the only thing that comes to mind is a horrible stench. Finally, the boy gives up and gets up. As he stands he notices what seems to be the imprint of feet much to big to be his own on the carpet and he feels his stomach drop at the sight.
His mind whirls as he tries to find a logical explanation for it. Maybe Mamá, but she always comes in with shoes or socks and it’s much too small to be Moony or Sirius’. Mary never passes the doorway unless it’s to wake him, and those are the only adults to ever enter his room. He takes in the rest of his room, taking into account where everything is. Nothings seemed to have been moved or taken. His body is also unharmed, nothing off about it.
After a few more minutes he decides it must have been Mamá. She must have came in to check on him during early morning and must not have put on any socks. However, no matter how many times he tells himself that he can’t fully convince himself. In the end he decides to stop thinking about it and get ready for school.
It is currently around 13:30 in England where Potter Manor is located, but Harry doesn’t go to school in Europe. Papá was half Latino, and Mamá, wanting to bring Harry closer to his family, enrolled him in a primary school located in México. This means that he goes to school in a country who’s clocks are seven hours behind where he lives and it gets annoying at times. It means he can’t see Mamá in the morning and only sees his familia at night, but only for so long since they go to bed before him. It also means he has to lose sleep on the weekend to spend time with them.
However, even if he doesn’t have as much time with his familia as the average child, he can’t say he hates it. There’s something special about being able to speak your abuelas first language and your padres second. There’s also something exhilarating about celebrating the same holidays as your ancestors and connecting with them through it. He also will admit that the culture in México is something he’ll never get tired of. The country is also so disconnected from the going on’s of Europe that he and Mamá can go to the magical areas there without being recognized.
It’s also quite fun being able to annoy your friends from both countries by speaking your other language, especially when your speaking to familia and they’re trying to be nosy. He also enjoys being able to amaze Ron and Neville with the cool things he brings back. Overall, going to school in a different country can be difficult, but he’d have it no other way.
Harry chooses a pair of Panam’s to wear along with a simple baggy orange long sleeve with a red stripe through it and cuffed jeans. He doesn’t spend very long on his hair, simply attempting to brush it, and then promptly giving up after a solid two minutes. When he’s done he grabs his simple red backpack with a few keychains and heads down for breakfast.
As he walks the halls of Potter Manor warm autumn sunlight shines through the grand windows. Decorations line the walls and flat surfaces of the manor, the smell of pumpkin spice filling the air. As he walks the halls he listens carefully, paying attention to anything that might be off. Ever since the beginning of Octubre pranking has become a daily occurrence, which really is no surprise since two of the original Marauders reside here. He’s already had water dumped on him, shampoo switched to turn his hair pink, had his shoes turned into frogs, toothpaste switched for a horrible paste made of Bertie Botts Every Flavor Bean, and unknowingly walked into quicksand.
As Harry turns a corner a ghoul decoration jumps forward into his space with a scream. Harry, having expected nothing less on Halloween, doesn’t even blink and just raises his eyebrow at his tío. Sirius stands just past the decoration with his hands on his knees cackling with laughter, the look on Harry’s face clearly not helping the situation as the man laughs harder when he sees his expression. It takes the man a few moments before he regains enough composure to speak.
“How mind numbing,” Harry says unimpressed and Padfoot just smirks.
“You know, sometimes I forget you’re part English, and when you say our slang it throws me off,” the man says matter of factly.
“And sometimes I forget you’re a grown man, but here we are,” Harry retaliates.
Sirius gasps, a hand flying to his chest. “Oh, how you wound me!” He exclaims before falling into another fit of giggles, Harry laughing with him.
Harry moves once his lighter calms and continues his journey to the kitchen, Sirius joining him. They talk a bit and when they make it to the kitchen Sirius leaves to go do whatever the man does.
“Hola, Penny, Emery,” he greets as he enters the kitchen.
The two house elves look up and smile broadly at the boy. “Good morning, Harry!” They chirp back.
“What would yous like to eat this morning?” Emery asks with a tilt of his head and Harry smiles.
“Could I have huevos a la Mexicana? If you don’t mind, of course.”
“Oh, wes never mind, you knows that,” Penny says simply as she gets started.
They finish quickly and Harry eats breakfast in the kitchen alongside them. The three of them converse as he eats and in no time he’s finished. He bids them farewell, but only after grabbing some pan de muerto.
Harry, having a few more minutes till school decides he’ll set out some offerings for the ofrendas. Harry walks to the sitting room and when he enters he makes a bee-line for the ofrendas. When he gets to them a places some pan de muerto on each one and then grabs a copal incense stick. He grabs the muggle lighter next to it and lights it. He moves the copal around the ofrendas, coating the whole thing in smoke, purifying it. When he finishes he presses the tip of the copal against the small ceramic bowl to stop its burning and then returns it to where he got it. Once done he takes a step back and three ghost like owls are perched above the ofrendas. Harry smiles at them, one of them tilting its head. The birds he sees only appear like this around Día de Muertos.
“Buenos días,” Harry says before pulling out his necklace from under his shirt. He presses his thumb to the flower. “El ciervo retozará siempre,” he whispers, the portkey activating and transporting him to school. A hoot following his departure.
——
“¡Hola, Harry!” Lucía, Harry’s friend, calls when she catches sight of him.
“¡Hola!” He says back as he walks over to her and her familia.
When he gets to them Lucía hugs him before pulling away. Señora Pérez, Lucía’s madre is the next to hug him. The two of them wear flowing dresses covered in floral stitching, Lucía’s yellow and her madre’s red. Señora wears a beautiful shawl and Lucía wears a floral headband. Señor Pérez wears a charro suit, his sombrero adorned by flowers. All of their faces covered by sugar skull makeup. Harry himself wears a simple black suit and top hat decorated with marigolds, his face not yet painted.
“¿How are you dear?” She asks him when she pulls away.
“I’m well, ¿how are you?”
“We’re well,” Señor tells him with a smile.
“¿Are you eating well?” Señora asks him.
“Always, Señora.”
“Good, ¿will your mamá be joining us today?”
Harry frowns and he knows it doesn’t go unnoticed by the familia. “I’m not sure. Mamá has been extremely busy lately. However, knowing her she’ll find a way,” he tells them.
“I hope so, Señortia Potter is lovely,” Lucía tells them and Harry nods in agreement.
Señora and Señor smile at their daughter. “I quite agree, Lily is a wonderful conversationalist,” Señora says.
“¡Oh! Mamá, Harry needs his face painted,” Lucía suddenly says, her head whipping around to face her mamá.
“Come here dear, let’s find a place to do your makeup,” she says as she grabs both his and Lucías hands and begins to steer them through the crowd.
Señor Pérez chuckles as he follows, his eyes dancing with amusement. “They got me too this morning,” he tells Harry with a wink which makes the boy laugh.
They finally find a place and Señora makes him sit. She pulls out some face paint from her bag and sets to work. The cool paint gliding smoothly across his skin. She works meticulously, her eyebrows furrowed in concentration. She uses the typical black and white and then gold and green for the colorful details.
When she finishes she steps back and looks to her daughter. “¿Good?” She asks.
Lucía smiles broadly when she sees him. “¡We’re matching!” She squeals.
Lucías details are blue and silver, them making up the petals around her eyes and elsewhere. “¿Really?” He asks and she nods excitedly.
“It’s beautiful, Mamá.”
“Well, if that’s finished, ¿shall we get going?” She asks and the pair nod.
The familia goes shopping for a bit, exploring the displays. Harry ends up buying some candied pumpkin and shares it with Lucía. Señora, deciding they needed something more nutritious than candy, buys them chicken tamales.
“¿When does the parade start?” He asks them as he eats his tamale.
“13:00, so we’ll be heading down around 11 to get a good spot,” Señor tells him.
“We’re then going to one of the festivals after. You’re going to dance with me after,” Lucía tells him with a mischievous smile.
“Lucía,” he groans, “you know I can’t dance.”
Lucía snorts before waving a hand at him dismissively. “Please, we both know that’s a lie. Besides, this is your last Día de Muertos with us before you have to leave for that stupid boarding school, the least you can do is dance with me one last time,” she tells him, sadness bleeding into her eyes.
Her parents look at her in pity and Harry frowns. He reaches a hand out and rests it on her shoulder. “¿Lucía?” He says, silently asking her to meet his eyes, and when she does he continues. “Who said it was my last Día de Muertos? Sure, I may not be able to return for a few years, but I’ll come back eventually. Also, you’ll see me during the summers and we still have several months before I leave, this won’t be your last opportunity for a dance,” he tells her.
She thinks for a minute before responding. “Okay, but you’re still dancing with me,” she says as she crosses her arms, leaving no room for argument.
Harry groans in dismay which causes her lips to twitch slightly. Soon they leave for the parade. As they walk through the crowd he notices someone in the crowd. Standing to the side a woman with long deep red hair stands looking at a display. She wears a wide-brimmed hat adorned with a veil and flowers, her dress black with lace and adorned by beautiful jewelry, her hands covered by skeleton gloves. Her makeup dramatic, floral designs around her mouth.
The moment he spots her he breaks off from Lucías familia. “¡Mamá!” Harry yells as he pushes through the crowd, the woman turning to face him.
“¡Harry!” She calls back as she opens her arms for him to hug her.
“I’m happy you could make it,” he whispers into her dress, taking in the sweet floral scent he associates with her.
“I am too, my fawn,” she says she she strokes his hair.
After a moment he pulls away from her and looks her over. “You’re beautiful,” he tells her sincerely and she smiles, putting a gloved hand to her chest.
“Aw, thank you, dear. You’re quite my handsome boy, yourself. I see Maria has already done your makeup,” she notices.
Harry laughs. “Lucía was adamant I have my makeup done as soon as possible,” he tells her with a grin.
“I’m sure she did,” Mamá laughs. “Now, ¿shall we join them?”
Harry grabs her hand and drags her through the crowd to his friend and her familia. “¡Lucía, my mamás here!” He yells when they come into view.
The girl looks up and when she sees Mamá she smiles broadly. “¡Hola Señortia Potter, it’s good to see you!” The girl calls out.
“¡Hola Lucía! ¿Doing well?” She asks and the girl nods.
“Ah, there you are Lily, we weren’t sure if you’d be able to make it,” Señora tells Mamá.
“It’s good to see you Maria, and I’m glad I could make it.”
“You came just in time for us to head to the parade, let’s go so we can get good spots,” Señor tells her.
When they get to the parade Harry and Lucía pass the time by messing around as the adults talk to each. When the parade starts beautiful floats go by, people dressed up in intricate costumes walk by as bands play. Some throw candy, Lucía and Harry scrambling to get as much a possible. When it ends it’s about 15:00, the afternoon sun starting to begin its decent from the sky.
As they near the festival they hear mariachi, and Harry grins. Some of the best music in his opinion is traditional Mexicano music, even if he loves modern music. Truly, it’s places like these Harry feels most at home, surrounded by his culture and people. All around him the streets are decorated and people dressed up. It’s muggle magic, and in his eyes it’s the most beautiful kind there is. Wizards may believe muggles have no magic, but if they were to just go to one event like this, they would realize just how mistaken they were.
“Papá, ¿can we go see the Aztec dancers?” Lucía begs as they walk.
“I don’t see why not,” he says, his eyes watching his daughter fondly.
Señor steers the group till they can hear the drums the dancers dance to. When they get to the crowd Lucía grabs his hand and pulls him through the crowd. They make it to the front and she stops, her breath catching, her eyes lighting up in awe. Before them people adorned in great feathered penachos (headdresses), intricate tunics, chest pieces and shell-embellished ankle cuffs dance. Some of the dancers even wear body paint. Their outfits colorful, bold and lively.
The dancers move in sync to the beat of the drums, their ankle cuffs shaking and creating more sound to add depth to the music. The way they move isn’t quite elegant, but it’s beautiful, strong, empowering even. The dancers move back and forth, turning and their feet moving expertly with practice. The dance is enthralling, drawing the audience in. Harry unconsciously starts tapping his foot to the drums.
“They’re beautiful,” Lucía whispers, just loud enough for Harry to hear.
When Harry turns to face her he sees her eyes still locked onto the dancers, them never once straying. As he looks at her he sees more than just awe on her face, her eyes speak of a hunger, of a desire to join them.
“They are,” he agrees with ease.
“¿Do you—do you think I could join them one day?” She asks, her eyes finally meeting his.
As he looks at his friend he ponders her question. “I don’t see why not,” he finally says. “Mamá always says to follow your dreams.”
“¿Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“¿If—if I learn Danza Azteca will you come and watch me one day?”
“Of course, but I’ll do you one better, I’ll even learn the music so I can play for you,” Harry tells her and her eyes go wide.
“¿You’d do that for me?”
“¡Of course! You’re my friend, I’ll do anything for my friends,” he tells her and she smiles.
“¿Swear?” She asks as she hold out an elbow.
“Swear,” he echos as he bumps his elbow against hers.
They stay a bit longer till they wander out of the crowd to return back to their parents. Lucía declaring that she’s going to learn Danza Azteca and that Harry will learn the music when they get to them. Their parents smile fondly at them as she says it, them beginning their exploring again. Soon Lucía grows impatient and drags the group away from the festival telling them it’s time for the community dance. They leave and soon they hear the sound of laughter drifting through the air.
They walk only slightly longer till they make it. Decorations are everywhere, painted pumpkins, sugar skulls, marigolds and so much more. In the middle people in traditional and typical everyday clothing dance, a food stand off to the side. A mariachi band plays and Lucía only smiles before grabbing him and dragging him away onto the dance floor. She stops in the middle of the floor and turns to him with a wide grin.
“Well, you wanted to dance with me, so, ¿what’s the dance?” He asks her and her grin widens.
“Polka norteña, that’s what I want to dance.”
“Nooo, not polka, I suck at it. ¿Can’t we do la raspa or something? Something I can do,” He pleads, but he knows she won’t listen.
“Now listen here Harry Potter, just because it’s harder doesn’t mean you can’t do it. Me and you both know Mamá has drilled the moves into your mind, all you need to do now is practice. Now, let’s dance already,” Lucía says as she holds out her hand for him to take and takes her spot next to him.
“You, Lucía Pérez, are going to be the death of me,” he tells her as he takes her hand.
“Good,” she says as she swings their hands forward promptly starting the dance.
The music may not be the right one for the dance, but they don’t mind. Music doesn’t truly matter when you’re just trying to have fun. They quickly transition into their normal, him easily twirling her as she glides across the floor. Harry may not be the biggest fan of dancing, but even he can admit it’s fun, especially with the people you love. Sometimes Mamá will dance with him, both Mexicano and English. It’s funny, how a fighter like his mamá can dance with the same elegance as a professional dancer like Señora Pérez, just lacking the skill.
Soon their dance comes to an end, but Lucía wastes no time dragging him into another one. Time flies by and their mamás’ have to drag them away from the dance floor to eat before sending them off again. Harry catches sight of Mamá dancing with both Señora and Señor Pérez, and when she isn’t she dances alone. She draws eyes with ease, which is no surprise considering his mamá is stunning, her outfit bold. He watches some men come up to her, but she brushes them off and it makes him smile. She’s never been one to entertain men.
Finally, throughly exhausted, the pair returns to their parents. When he makes it to Mamá he practically collapses into her embrace, causing a laugh to leave her lips. She hoists him up, his legs resting on either side of her, arms around her neck, and his head on her shoulder. She turns to the Pérez familia bidding them goodbye before carrying him away from prying eyes. Once alone she activates her portkey and they land in the sitting room.
Last thing he remembers is a white silhouette by Papás ofrenda before falling asleep, Mamás warmth and perfume lulling him to the realm of dreams.