Life at House Sutcliffe
Chapter 3- Life at House Sutcliffe
It had been a week since that fateful day at number four Privet Drive, and nine-year-old Harry Potter couldn’t believe his luck. Not only did he not have to see his horrible and mean family anymore; but he got to discover a whole new family that he didn’t even know existed.
In the short time Harry had lived under the roof of the Sutcliffe summer house, he was sure that this was going to be the only place that he would ever really consider home. He had never been to the country before, but found that the air and quiet suited him. There was a big open field to one side of the house and dense trees surrounding the rest.
The house was also like nothing he had ever seen. It was at least two times the size of the Dursley’s, and Aunt Maya had mentioned that this was on the smaller side of homes that her family owned. It was large and white in color with bright green shutters. The outside of the house had changed since he had arrived.
Aunt Maya had declared the next morning on the first full day of his arrival to the home that they were going to do something about his clothes. He didn’t think that would mean that they would paint the outside of the house both the muggle way and magically. Harry couldn’t believe that once the house was finished in the matter of hours that he was given new clothes that had no holes in them, and that Aunt Maya threw his old ones into the fireplace.
So much was different about life with Aunt Maya. He had an actual room! It was green which was his favorite color. He didn’t know how his aunt knew, but found out from the very strange but lovable house elf Winnie that it was his aunt’s favorite color too since she was a little girl.
Harry couldn’t quite describe the feeling that came over him when he learned that Aunt Maya gave him her old room specifically. She had told him that he could change it in any way that he liked, but it meant so much to him that she wanted him to have something of hers, even if it was a room.
His bed was about three times bigger than his old one in the cupboard, and it felt like he was sleeping on a cloud whenever it was time for bed. The best part in his opinion was the faint stars on the ceiling of his room, that Maya mentioned reflected the night sky outside. He could just make out her mumble that it was something that her father did for her.
Living here felt like a dream, and if it was one, Harry certainly hoped that he indeed never woke up. Here he never had to cook, Winnie did that and always shooed him away when he tried to help. Aunt Maya just told him to give in, because Winnie had once gone after her with a carving knife when she had pestered the elf too much.
Harry’s eyes had felt like they were going to pop out of his head at that. Winnie had merely shaken her head making her big eyes shake. “That is only because Mistress Maya gets very naughty when she is in the kitchen.”
Harry had looked questioningly at his aunt at that, and she had merely let out an exasperated breath. Even though the house elf and his aunt bickered a lot it was never like the fighting that occurred between Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia. You could very much tell that Maya and Winnie cared for each other deeply.
One of the strangest things about living at Sutcliffe house though was baby Mattie. The infant had made an immediate attachment to Harry, and while he cared for the baby a lot, he wasn’t quite sure how he was supposed to interact with him. Mattie was the child of the house, not Harry. Mattie was Aunt Maya’s baby not Harry.
It made Harry at once both jealous and sad. Even though life was wonderful with his Aunt Maya, he still didn’t belong to anyone, not really. He was still Harry Potter, even if he was no longer with the Dursley’s. He was still just a kid with no parents.
Mattie made it incredibly hard for Harry to stay upset though, for he was always happy playing with Harry, and he especially loved it when Harry made funny faces at him. The only other person in the house that he still didn’t understand truly was his Aunt Maya herself.
She was often quiet and had a look on her face that seemed to be a million miles away; but there were times when she was positively happy. Most of those times happened when she was around Mattie, Harry, and Winnie. Harry didn’t want to ask about the times when she seemed unreasonably sad, or when she would moan out loud and hunch over grabbing her bad leg, for she was in so much pain.
What seemed to feel like thousands of questions raced through Harry’s head; but he didn’t dare voice them for fear that Aunt Maya would send him back to the Dursleys. He quite liked being at House Sutcliffe, and it suited him just fine to imagine that he was a Sutcliffe as well.
On his third day in his new living arrangements, he stumbled across the library. Harry had never been one to be overly interested in books, so that wasn’t what caught his eye. It was the giant tapestry on one of the walls. It was of a giant tree, but oddly enough there were pictures of tons of people with their names on it. Harry had never seen such a thing before.
He was proud of himself when he managed to find Aunt Maya on the wall and then Mattie. What confused him though was that there were no Potters on the family tree, so how exactly did it work out that Maya was his aunt?
It wasn’t until his fifth day of staying with her that he found out. It was one of the late nights when he couldn’t sleep well, he would sneak down the stairs to the library to look at the tapestry and imagine what it would be like to belong to something that big and grand?
Harry was so absorbed in looking at all of the portraits, that he didn’t hear Maya trod down the steps painfully, and stop in the doorway of the open library.
“Good evening, Harry.” Maya says softly limping into the room before sinking down into one of the arm chairs near him.
“I-I didn’t mean to get up…” Harry stutters not sure of how his aunt will react to him being out of bed when he’s not supposed to. She levels him with a contemplative stare, her blue eyes indiscernible.
“It’s fine Harry. I only worry about your sleep. There should really only be one person shambling around in the middle of the night.” She says with a dry chuckle and wry smile. Harry can’t help the small smile that pulls his lips. Maya turns her attention back to the tapestry that is holding Harry’s attention. “I see you’ve found the Sutcliffe family tree.”
“Yeah. It’s amazing. I didn’t know someone could have that many people before.” Harry says flitting his gaze back to the tapestry. He focuses on the branches closest to the bottom. He sees Maya and her deceased brother Matthew. Below Maya is Mattie.
“I know, but; there are some things that tapestries like this cannot hold.” Maya says cryptically. Harry shoots his gaze back over to his aunt and he can see that she’s looking wistfully at her brother’s portrait.
“Aunt Maya? Can you tell me… how exactly we’re related?” Harry asks finally getting up the nerve to ask the question. Maya’s eyes widen at the realization that she forgot to tell the boy yet. He had been so willing to come with her and so excited about the house that it slipped her mind.
“Of course, Harry. I meant to tell you earlier truly. I just got caught up in actually having you here.” She chuckles again. “As I said when I picked you up, my brother James is your father.”
“But he’s not on the wall.” Harry says pointing at the family again. His aunt gets a faraway look on her face again.
“That’s because I had two brothers Harry. Matthew and James. My father Henry…” she points to the man above her. “He is my adoptive father. My mother and James’ father had me together. They weren’t supposed to since James’ father was married and expecting James.” Maya trails off awkwardly. Is she supposed to be telling a nine-year-old stuff like this? Boy, can she screw up.
“That… doesn’t seem right. So, why is my dad not on here if he’s your brother?” Harry asks still trying to puzzle this all together.
“Because James is only my brother and a Potter. He’s not a Sutcliffe so my grandmother never would have allowed it. Besides, Fleamont, your grandfather didn’t want me on his either. James and I didn’t even know that we were siblings until we were fourteen. That doesn’t stop me from loving or missing him though.” Maya explains, earnestly hoping that Harry will understand. He sits there silently for a minute staring at Mattie’s portrait now.
“Am I on one of these somewhere?” He wonders. Maya smirks at the longing in Harry’s voice. This boy could long for practically anything in the world, but; it’s a space on a family tapestry that he wishes for most.
“I’m nearly a hundred percent positive that you’re on the Potter tapestry.” Maya says, before taking a breath. “But if you want… someday depending on how you feel… I could add you to this tapestry as well.”
Harry can hardly believe what he’s hearing. His aunt would give him a space on this tapestry just because? “Really?” he breathes.
“’Course, as long as it’s truly what you want. I want you to feel like this is your family. I mean, I know it’s not much. I’m a right sour puss most days, Winnie can get annoying, and I know you didn’t sign up for living with a baby. Just, give it some thought and let’s see how things play out. I was thinking that we could go shopping tomorrow.”
Harry stares at his aunt for a long moment before a brilliant smile pulls at his lips. “I’d love to be part of your family Aunt Maya. You’re the best Aunt I could ever ask for!” Harry states reaching forward and enveloping Maya in a tight hug. She hesitates for a moment before returning the hug. A shudder goes through her as she holds James’ son in her arms. There was so much in life that is shitty and downright wrong, but this is not. Harry is where he belongs.
Harry couldn’t believe that he was actually getting to go to a department store. He’d heard Dudley and Aunt Petunia talk about them before, but they never brought Harry. Apparently, he would cause too much trouble by being a freak. Now though, he was standing outside the building dressed in jeans and a soft yellow tee shirt that fit him, standing next to his new Aunt Maya and his cousin Mattie in the pram.
“Are you sure? I don’t need anything else Aunt Maya, honestly!” Harry says earnestly looking into his aunt’s tired blue eyes. They soften and a soft smile pulls onto her face.
“For the last time Harry, you are my nephew and you deserve to have things that you pick out and actually like. I know that you fit into Matthew’s old clothes, but you deserve more. I’ve already missed so much time.” Maya tells him, reaching out and giving his hand a quick squeeze.
“Come on then. Which section shall we start in first?”
Harry had heard Dudley complain for hours on end about how horrible shopping was with his mum, but Harry has quite enjoyed shopping with Aunt Maya. She brought him into the boys’ section and told him to pick some of everything, and she meant everything. Harry was now the owner of tee shirts, jeans, shorts, jackets, underwear, socks, belts, hats, and trainers. He even grudgingly got dress pants, shirts, and shoes.
Aunt Maya never told him off for what his selections were. She merely made suggestions and he mainly agreed with them. The part Harry really enjoyed was helping to pick out baby clothes for Mattie. Harry was pleased as punch that Aunt Maya let him get the baby pirate onesie that had ‘bootie’ written on the rear.
He had to practically shove his eyeballs back into his head at the final price tag for all of it. Maya just waved away his concerns about the cost stating that she had more money than she knew what to do with and that her boys needed stuff. A warmth bloomed through Harry at being called one of her boys. He’d never really belonged to anyone before.
The trio took a break after leaving the department store for the rest of the mall. When Aunt Maya was sure that no one was looking she performed some sort of spell that shrunk all the bags and then stuffed them into her pocket. “Wicked.” Harry breathes. A grin passes over his aunt’s face.
Harry then gets to have his first ever ice cream. He didn’t know that cookie dough could go inside ice cream. When Maya fed a hungry Mattie, she managed to eat some of her cookies and cream. Today is shaping up to be one of the best of Harry’s life. “Are we going home when we’re done?” Harry asks gesturing to his frozen treat.
“Nope. We still have a few more stops and things to get.” She replied cryptically. Harry is bursting with curiosity, but no matter how much he begged she didn’t give in. Surprisingly, they end up in a glasses store where Aunt Maya has Harry get his eyes checked out. It turns out that he needs a new prescription.
“Harry, do you want to get new glasses, or would you like to try contacts?” Maya queries as the doctor explains to them what contacts are and what they do. Harry is really tempted by the contacts, but he hesitates.
“Aunt Maya, did my dad wear glasses all the time?” Harry asks her. He watches as his aunt swallows visibly and closes her eyes for a second. He notices that she does that a lot when he mentions his parents. He reckons that she misses them just as much as he does.
“Yes. James was always having something or other go wrong with his glasses because he was goofing around.” There’s a fondness in her voice as she answers him.
“Then glasses please.” Harry tells the doctor. He likes that he looks like his father. Aunt Maya told him that they both looked almost identical. He loves that he has his mother’s eyes though, he really wanted something from her as well.
They have to come back for his new glasses in two weeks. His aunt got him two pairs so that he always has one as a backup in case he loses one. They walk much slower to the next store. Maya is limping heavily now, using the pram for more support.
“We can take a break. I don’t want you hurting.” Harry says with a serious face. His aunt looks conflicted for a moment before Harry leads her over to a fountain where they can sit down. The sound of the water is very relaxing to him.
“What… what happened to your knee?” Harry asks softly, worried that she’ll get mad. Aunt Maya tenses, and for a long few minutes neither of them speak. Harry is beating himself up that
he had to go and put his foot in it.
“Eight years ago… a very bad man shot a very dark curse at me.” Maya says softly so that only Harry can hear. “It caused the bones in my knee to be shattered. Since dark curses can’t be cured— not fully, I can’t walk like I used to. Running is out of the question.”
Harry gasps softly, his eyes flicking from his aunt’s bad knee that she’s massaging to her pained face. “Why would someone want to hurt you? You’re the nicest person I know, besides Winnie, but she’s a house elf not a person.” He states.
“This is not the place to speak about this. We’ll talk tonight when we get home. You have the right to hear this because it’s your past too.” Maya tells him solemnly. Harry sits up a little straighter. He’s never been treated much like an adult before, but here’s his aunt letting him know something really important.
After a few more minutes they make their way into one of the biggest toys stores he’s ever seen. Harry feels his jaw drop and his aunt snickers. “I’ll admit that while I’m partial to magical toys, these all do look rather exciting.” She says, as Harry grins at the pram and pulling her along with the slumbering Mattie.
Harry can’t even find it in himself to be disappointed that he can’t get any electronic toys for they won’t in a magical house. Aunt Maya lets him get Legos, action figures, toy cars, a football and some books that look cool. Some baby toys are thrown in for his cousin as well. By the time they make it back home, Harry is ready to collapse. The rest of the evening is light with going through the new stuff and showing it to Winnie.
That night Harry falls to sleep in his wonderful bed after actually having Aunt Maya read to him some from one of the books that he got at the store. So yes, Harry James Potter was indeed enjoying hid new life and home with his aunt Maya at the Sutcliffe family summer home.