I’ve still got love for you
Chapter 2
“Harry, what do you mean?” Ron is the first to ask after a long moment of silence
“So you know how whenever I asked about my mum, he just said that I was a girl that he knew from school and that they fell in love over the summer but she wasn’t ready”
“Never told me that”
“Yes he did, you just forgot Ronald”
“Anyway. For the reopening, I was going through some old trunks, and this is the diary that he wrote from that summer”
“Wait, lemme see” Hermione is craning her neck to look at the diary
“Read it from the start Harry”, at this request, he grabs it back and jumps up onto a large rock, flicking through the pages before he finds what he’s looking for. He clears his throat before reading the diary out loud.
“The 6th of July 1997, I know I promised Lily that we could just be friends, but I can feel myself falling for again just like the first year. I don’t think it a great idea so I’m probably going to give her some space”
“That’s it?”
“Shut up! Lemme read it”
“Don’t have to be so dramatic”
“Yes I do, or you’ll never hear the rest of this”
“Fine”
“On the 13th of July 1997, I explained to Lily how I was feeling and she kissed me. I can’t believe it at all, but I’ve decided to try it and it's amazing. We danced to Waterloo in Paris and I think I’m truly gone. We’ve both changed so much since first year and she is such a force. We’re going to Greece after this, meeting up with Sirius and his twin sister “
“The 15th of July 1997, She took me to explore around Greece, I want to explore the islands but she was telling me how you’ve got to look at the one that connects it all, the big picture. I told her I would take her back here a thousand times over, one thing led to another and Dot, Dot, Dot”
“What! Let me see that, what does that mean”
“See there, it means Dot, Dot, Dot”
“It’s what they did in the olden days”
Honey, honey, how she thrills me, aha, honey, honey
Honey, honey, nearly kills me, aha, honey, honey
I'd heard about you before
I wanted to know some more
And now I know what they mean, she's a love machine
Oh, you make me dizzy
“The 17th of July 1997, We are meeting up with Sirius in two days but I’m worried about Lily, she’s become quieter. She said some food didn’t agree with her but I’m not so sure. I took her to the beach where we swam for hours, don’t miss this in Scotland that’s for sure. We went exploring again until I found a small bar, we danced for who knows how long, to such sappy serenades until we were doubled over laughing. She told me she’d serenade me one day, one thing led to another and Dot,Dot, Dot”
Honey, honey, let me feel it, aha, honey, honey
Honey, honey, don't conceal it, aha, honey, honey
The way that you kiss goodnight (the way that you kiss me goodnight)
The way that you hold me tight (the way that you holding me tight)
I feel like I wanna sing when you do your thing
“Her thing!?”
“Wait, so Lily is your Mum? What happens next?”
“That’s the thing, it doesn’t say”
“What?”
“19th of July 1997, Lily and I broke it off. I don’t think we’ll be friends after this. I didn’t think she hated me but why else would she say that? I’m meeting up with Sirius, and finally being introduced to his sister for the first time ever. Twins are so weird.”
“He’s got that right”
“Shut up Ronald, I'm so confused about this”
“Shh”
“21st of July 1997, I think I have a thing for people who are mean to me” Ron snorts at that while Hermione giggles. “ I know it’s bad, and I’m not completely over Lily but Adhara is amazing. The way she talks about the stuff she loves, it’s amazing. Sirius is leaving for a couple days to finally confess his feelings to Moony, If I’m right, he will probably extend his stay by a week. Adhara wants to explore the islands so she's staying with me.”
“Sirius has a sister?”
“Do you know how to be quiet?”
“24th of July 1997, I was right and now Adhara and I have a bet going to see how much longer Sirius will stay. I’ve told him that he should just stay for the rest of the summer, but he thinks he’s abandoning his sister. I’m still slightly heartbroken over Lily but I think it’s less now because it already happened before, it might’ve been my fault in the first place but I’m too afraid of the answer to ask”
“Poor James”
“30th of July 1997, out of all the islands, I think this one is the best-“
“That’s here, that’s Kalokari”
“It just feels right, like home, but that might just be Adhara. She makes me think about things that I would’ve never done before, she’s stubborn and challenges me. She’s so funny as well, I should use her insults on Snivellus”
“Does he mean Prof Snape?”
“Snivellus!”
“I’ve told you guys about this already”
“1st of August 1997, Adhara’s birthday is coming up soon and I’ve got to find something. I think I might take her back to the little island and stay there for a couple days. I know I’ve fallen for her, but I’m not sure if I should tell her”
“That’s not a great birthday present”
“If I took you to a romantic Greek island, that wouldn’t be a good birthday present”
“Not when you’re already travelling and have already been there”
“3rd of August 1997, we met this amazing man, he’s got an energy about him, but Adhara thinks he’s a shitty singer with too much confidence and money. She got up on the stage and sang instead, basically shoving Lazaros off, claiming she couldn’t hear him screeching anymore. We sang together, danced and one thing led to another and Dot, Dot, Dot”
Honey, honey, touch me, baby, aha, honey, honey
Honey, honey, hold me, baby, aha, honey, honey
You look like a movie star (you look like a movie star)
But I love just who you are (but I love just who you are)
And honey, to say the least, you're a doggone beast!
”Ha!”
“Does it actually say that”
“Yep”
“5th of August 1997, we found an old abandoned resort sort of thing. I’m not exactly sure, but Adhara and I have been staying there. I wanted to stay in the town but she seems to think there’s something special about this place. I’m not sure what it is yet. I dug around and found out it belongs to Lazaro's mother; Halina. She said we were free to stay a couple weeks”
“Is that here?”
“Obviously, Ronald”
“ 18th of August 1997, I think we might come back here every Summer, I’m so in love with her. But something is up with her and I don’t know what. She found a horse on the island and took it back to the little house. I haven’t told her I’m terrified of them yet. I made us a picnic on the beach where we had our own little bonfire. One thing led to another and Dot, Dot, Dot”
Honey, honey, how you thrill me, aha, honey, honey
Honey, honey, nearly kill me, aha, honey, honey
I heard about you before
I wanted to know some more
Now I'm about to see what you mean to me
“So which ones is your mum?” Ron demanded
“I don’t know, that’s the thing”
“Ok so after the reopening I say we find Lily first, Harry why do you still have that look?” Hermione already starting to plan before she stares at Harry.
“So, I might’ve invited my mum”
“To the reopening!”
“Harry, what have you done?”
“Wait. Which one?”
“Both of them?”
“So are you going to explain to me why we are here?” Draco crossed his arms over his chest, looking expectantly towards Regulus.
“Are you going to explain to me why you felt the need to stalk me across multiple countries, without telling anyone?”
“I already told you that. If I’d told someone you’d be even more mad. What if I’d told Cassie?”
Regulus sighed before looking over at Draco.
“Come on, I need to find James”
They walk through the town and towards the stairs that Regulus used to slide down and curse James for running up them.
Regulus continues up the stairs until he can’t hear Evan and Draco anymore and turns around to see them panting, still two flights down. He sighs and practically jogs up the stairs, curious and desperate to see James after all these years. When he finally gets to the top, any possible hope plummets after he looks to his left to see the infamous Lily Evans, living on the island.
‘They must’ve gotten back together after all. ‘ he thought before looking away to see someone he thought he never would. The boy made him stop in his tracks, taking in every inch of his face.
‘God he looks like James’ his mind is racing with every possibility
“James’ he breathes out.
‘Sorry, what?’ Harry looks at him now, confused.
“You look like James, is what I said. Almost the spitting image of him.”
“Except for eyes,” Lily adds in.
“Sorry I hate to ask, but who are you guys?” He looks in between them, something with hope towards Lily. So James hasn’t spoken to Lily after all this time either… he doesn't know what James could want, maybe he figured it out?
"Regulus Black"
"Lily Evans"
Harry looks in between them eyes wide, then looks back at Regulus, eyebrows furrowed as he thought.
"Are you related to Adhara Black? Is she here?"
"So you are expecting us. I thought it might have been a prank."
"Yes. Why would you have thought it was a prank?"
"If your father has not told you then it is not my place to. I’m Adhara’s cousin"
"Fair enough, here I’ll take you guys to your rooms." Harry goes to move before Regulus clears his throat again
"Sorry but could we possibly wait for my friend and nephew of sorts? They’re struggling with the stairs."
"Ah." Harry had a look of recognition and then a grin.
"Don’t worry about it Black, I’ll wait for them while you two find your rooms," Mary piped up, Regulus hadn’t even noticed her.
"Thank you, now if you’ll follow me" Harry began winding his way through storage rooms and an old basement where he and James found a horse.
Memories fly up like dust from an upholstered couch and it puts a lump in his throat. They continue quietly until they go over to the old makeshift stable for the horse. A second floor was added, and there’s a ladder leading up there. Lily is looking at it with apprehension.
Once they’ve climbed up they both look to Harry before Lily says, "Look loving the scenic tour, but when are we going to get to our rooms?" Harry is about to answer before the man, Regulus says
"Don't hold your breath Lily, but I think this is our room. No more rooms left with the reopening I'd imagine, correct?" Regulus then turns to Harry, arching up an eyebrow to ask for confirmation. Harry just nodded because he could never lie, the hotel had more than enough rooms available, and that's why they were having the reopening in the first place. It was to try and create more business.
"Alright, I guess. Well then I should go see James" Lily starts to move back towards the trapdoor, Regulus following before Harry jumps in front of them, holding his hands up.
"So here's the thing. I sent the invites, not Dad. I want to surprise him after the reopening dinner with some of the people who he used to be such great friends with, he's always talking about you guys and the good old days"
"This makes so much more sense now. " Regulus sat down and buried his head in his hands, black curls spilling over.
"Why, what's wrong?"
"Harry, my cousin disappeared nearly 17 years ago and I came to tell James because if he had sent the invite then for some odd reason, he didn't know. But of course, he knew because Adhara's brother is James' best friend. Obviously, your father didn't tell you and it's not even my place to tell you" The hope in Harry's chest sunk to the bottom as he was rendered speechless.
"Harry, your father and I did not end on good terms. I said something horrible to him and he never forgot it, rightfully so"
"As well as my cousin was told that he never wanted to see her again after she married my best friend"
"Please I'm begging you to stay, it would mean so much to me"
"Why you?" They say in unison, looking at him with strikingly similar suspicious faces. He hesitates before continuing on
"It's just been me and my dad for as long as I can remember, with meeting up with my uncles occasionally. I want to see him happy and not stressed all the time."
"Harry, that's sweet but-"
"Ok, I know what you're going to say but don't you think there's a reason you came here? Like you don't speak to each other for years but even after all this time you came here. It could be a higher motive or a siren call, I'm not sure" Regulus looks back up at him, a small smile on his face.
"Oh, you are just like your father aren't you?"
"I though-"
At that point, Lily was cut off by the sound of James whistling to the Beatles downstairs, shuffling boxes. They both move towards the trapdoor again.
"Ok please, I'm begging you, just in two days and it will be the best surprise he's ever had"
Lily and Regulus look at each other, both reluctant but then nods to Harry. He scrambles out the window and climbs down a nearby tree before sprinting to get Hermione and Ron.