Take a Moment
“The pause is as important as the note.” Truman Fisher
Petunia and Summer stood unmoving for who knows how long. What did he? Did he just? What? Summer was first to snap out of her shock, she looked over at Petunia and saw a look full of hope and so full of pain. She looked towards Harry and immediately rushed to his side.
“You’re ok Harry. You did nothing wrong,” as she reached for a hand, “We are not angry, we were surprised. We loved hearing your voice so much you froze us where we stood. You are simply amazing. I am so proud of you!” Summer said in a soft but firm tone.
Hearing her words and feeling her firm, but gentle grip on his hand, Harry slowly opened his eyes. He saw the soft smile on Ms. Summer’s face, and he felt the warmth he had come to associate with Ms. Summer. Taking a deep breath he looked over at Aunt Petunia and stilled. He saw she had crumbled where she had once stood, silent tears rolling down her face and she just, sat.
Harry forced himself forward, letting go of Ms. Summer’s hand, he walked gradually towards Aunt Petunia. When he stood just in front of her he was lost at what to do. What did people do when other people cried? Why do people cry? Don’t they know that their face is wet? Shaking his head, as if to clear the questions from his mind, Harry sat down. He hesitatingly reached a slightly trembling hand towards Aunt Petunia and gripped one of her hands in his own. He was so focused on Aunt Petunia’s hand in his that he didn’t notice that a box of tissue was hovering next to him until it bumped his shoulder. Jumping slightly he noticed and grabbed the box and offered it to Aunt Petunia.
”It’s ok,” he whispered to her, “I’m sorry I made you cry. I didn’t mean to.”
He was moving to withdraw his hand and stand up from in front of Aunt Petunia when her grip tightened startling him enough to look at her face. Aunt Petunia had stopped crying and saw a soft look on her face and wait, is that the warmth I feel from Ms. Summer coming from Aunt Petunia? What is the warmth? What does it mean? It feels nice.
“Oh Harry, you didn’t make me cry. I was just so surprised you spoke. I’m honored that you feel safe enough and comfortable enough to allow me to hear your voice. I thank the Gods and Goddesses, for you Harry are truly a Blessing.” Aunt Petunia stated. Harry could feel the truth in what she had spoken, even if he didn’t know how.
Feeling the truth in her words he did the one thing he had always longed to do, but couldn’t. He leapt into Aunt Petunia’s lap and tightly squeezed her hand. After a moment he felt her other arm wrap around him and hold him in place. The warmth grew. He swore to himself that as long as Aunt Petunia allowed it this is where he would sit, or he’d be as close to her as possible, the feeling of safety only grew bigger from sitting in Aunt Petunia’s lap.
Watching the scene unfold in front of her and realizing just how important it was to both of them, Summer began to clear the table from supper. After everything that’s taken place today and knowing just how bad things had to get for Petunia to make the choices she made, Summer knew that her two guests were going to seize every chance given to them that felt safe and peaceful. Her only hope was that she was able to remain apart of their lives once everything was all said and done.
Hearing Ms. Summer working in the background brought Harry and Petunia out of their bubble. Harry finally stood up from Aunt Petunia’s lap and just started helping with the dishes like it was something he did every day. Petunia stood from the floor and made her way to the dessert and brought it to the table. Once dishes were done Summer told Harry to go sit at the table and she made her favorite tea she made on days when she had had a stressful day. It was a camomile and passion flower blend with lavender and lemon balm. It was a nice, soothing tea and it helped her sleep peacefully after such a day. She brought the tea, honey sugar and cream to the table.
Once everyone had a slice of treacle and a cup of tea, Petunia decided to discuss what she had been thinking about earlier. “Summer, do you know how I would get in contact with for the property down the road?” Harry gasped, “I’m quite interested in purchasing the place, I just don’t know where to start.”
Smiling Summer lowered her teacup, “Yes, it was going to be discussed that you would be going to Gringotts at some point. They own the property you’re interested in, you could discuss it with them then.”
“Oh that’s just perfect! Harry, I know you don’t like strange places, but I saw you look at all the gardens and you’ve been so relaxed here I figured it’d be the perfect place for us to move to. Would you be ok with that? Or do you want to look elsewhere?” Petunia asked.
”NO!” Harry practically shouted, “No, it’s perfect! And I could make my own gardens! And the kitchen has to be like this kitchen! And a library full of all kinds of books. And you’ll be there and Ms. Summer is here!” He rambled. Listening to him you wouldn’t know he wasn’t usually this talkative. His hand started tapping his leg rather fast. The tingles were brushing close to his skin, with his eyes open he saw several items on the table float up into the air and dance around. Remembering Severus said the tingles were his magic, Harry pulled the tingles into himself and took a deep breath in. He slowly felt the pull of his magic tighten into him, almost in the same area as his diaphragm, butnot? Weird. As his magic was slowly calmed down, the items floating looked like they were about to crash into the table. Harry reached out with a little bit of magic and stopped the items from crashing into the table. That would have been loud. Don’t like loud.
Watching Harry ramble then gain control of his magic had Summer shocked again. Not only did he gain control of his magic he was able to use it to lower the items gently to the table. It shouldn’t be possible. But then again accidental apparition shouldn’t be possible either.
Petunia just sat and smiled drinking her tea. Once Harry was sipping his tea and taking the last couple bites of his treacle did she speak again, “I’m glad you agree Harry,” she chuckled, “I’m sure whatever gardens you come up with will be wonderful, if we have a kitchen as awesome as this you have to share it, I’m sure between you, Summer and Severus we could create a library so marvelous even the Queen would be jealous! Of course I’ll be there, someone has to watch out for you, you silly child.” She looked over to Summer, “I am also sure, that if you only asked, Ms. Summer would very much like to have a part of your life. Our lives.”
Harry couldn’t contain himself anymore. While the tea was wonderful, he enjoyed it with some honey, listening to his Aunt Petunia answer all his questions had him so excited. He jumped up from his seat and started dancing and waving his arms around the kitchen. He had never felt safe enough at Privet Drive to do this before now, but something told him he was safe enough to do whatever made him happy. So he did. Eventually, Aunt Petunia had talked him into drinking just one more cup of tea, if she had to bribe him with a small slice of treacle tart to do so, well, she would never admit to it. Summer led them to a room, she had found some lounge pants that were small enough to fit Harry and a soft longed sleeved shirt to go with it as well, they would be ok to sleep in for tonight.
Aunt Petunia was pulling down the covers of the bed. It had been a long day, but reflecting back on the events had her hopeful for the first time in a long time. Harry climbed into the bed and Aunt Petunia covered him up. She didn’t tuck him in, she knew he hated feeling trapped. As she was preparing to step away and say good night Harry gripped her hand. She saw the flash of emotions run across his face. With a shaky breath he asked softly, “Can you stay?” He breathed in, “It’s a new place. I feel safe, but it makes my skin itch to left alone. Please.” His eyes clamped shut tightly. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, his magic rushing out, he took a deep breath in and pulled his magic back in and waited. Maybe he shouldn’t have asked.
Aunt Petunia smiled and walked around to the other side of the bed and settled in next to Harry, close for him to know she was there, but not touching. As she sat there after a while she assumed he had calmed down enough to sleep, until she softly heard him again.
“Aunt Petunia, we need to talk to Severus, I think. Something feels wrong. I don’t think my magic should be acting like this, and it feels strange when it rushes out. But Severus should know. We should tell him. Will you tell him?”
“He is coming over tomorrow Harry, we can tell him then. But you must go to sleep child, it’s been a long day and you need your rest.” Aunt Petunia said softly.
Nothing more was said, Harry just rolled over and closed his eyes. He never let go of his hold on Aunt Petunia’s hand, so eventually she settled down and fell asleep next to her nephew. Hoping Harry wouldn’t have any problems sleeping tonight knowing what tomorrow would bring. They would need all the rest they could manage over the next few days, of that she was certain.