Shopping and bonding
Iris could vaguely hear Tony telling her to get up, but didn't he understand? She had her Harry back!
He was all she had left of her mum, of Lily and James. And he looked so much like James, her dad.
But he was too skinny. She would have to fix that. Fatten him up. And his glasses were broken, she would fix them. His clothes were too big, she would buy more. She would look after Harry. Lily asked her to look after him. She would make her mum proud. She would keep Harry safe.
Her Harry.
He probably needed to breathe though, Iris thought.
She laughed through her sob and got up, pulling Harry with her. Hagrid was laughing a booming laugh and clapped Harry on his back, and McGonagall was smiling. The older witch turned to Tony, who had a fond smile on his face and said something before she disappeared with a crack.
Poor Harry though just looked confused, lost and awkward. Iris hated that he was uncomfortable with her and wanted to fix that.
''What's going on? Sorry, but who are you?'' He asked.
''Hi, Harry. Look I know this is going to be a lot to take in, but I'm your older sister.'' she answered softly, sniffling slightly. Harry looked shocked and turned to Hagrid.
''That's right lad, told ya I had a surprise for ya didn't I?'' The half-giant said with a wink.
''Bu-but I don't understand! How come I didn't know about you?'' he asked Iris, who smiled sympathetically.
''I know it's a lot to process Harry. We got separated when we were taken to the Dursleys. I don't know how but instead of going to live with them like you, I ended up in America.''
Harry looked dumbfounded and kept flicking his eyes back and forth between her and the floor.
''Take your time Harry. This isn't easy.'' Iris reassured.
''You're my sister?'' Harry asked. At Iris' nod, he continued. ''And you're a witch and I'm a wizard and we're going to go to a magical school together?''
Iris nodded again and Harry took in a shaky breath.
''This is a lot,'' he breathed. Iris gave a watery chuckle and nodded.
''Ok then,'' he said looking up again.
''What now?''
Iris smiled softly. ''Can I hug you again?''
Harry nodded hesitantly, and Iris hugged him. It was softer than the first one, lighter so that Harry could get away if he needed to. She saw him flinch when she reached for him and she didn't like it. Harry took a minute before he hugged her back. They stayed like that for a minute before Iris pulled back and held Harry at arm's length to get a proper look at him. He was a little bit shorter than her, but not by much, and his hair was incredibly messy. His glasses were being held together by tape, and his clothes were far too big for his frame. Under his bangs, she could see his lightning bolt scar that covered half his forehead and cut over his eyebrow.
Iris had a matching scar on her neck, that started at the base of her hair and extended down to her back. At some points little fractures broke off from the main scar to wrap around the front of her neck, like fingers closing around her throat. Those scars were small and light enough that Iris could hide them if she ducked her head a little, but the scars on the back of her neck were much darker. Luckily her hair covered them when it was down.
Looking at Harry made Iris want to cry. Looking at his face was like she was looking up at her father again whilst he rocked her to sleep. But his eyes. They were her eyes. They were Lily's eyes. She missed them both. Missed the times when things were simple. But she had Harry back. Everything would be better now.
Harry smiled a little at her and she beamed at him.
''Come on,'' she said pulling on his arm. ''We still have some shopping to do.''
Hagrid shrugged and looked at Tony who shrugged back.
''Might as well get yer uniform,'' said Hagrid nodding towards Madam Malkin's robes for all Occasions.
''Listen, Harry, would yeh mind if I slipped off fer a pick me up in the leaky cauldron? I hate them Gringotts carts.''
So Harry, Iris and Tony, who had introduced himself, entered the shop. Madam Malkin was a squat, smiling witch dressed all in mauve.
''Hogwarts dears?'' she said. ''Got the lot here - another young man being fitted up just now, in fact.''
In the back of the shop was the blond boy from the bank. They were standing on a footstool while a second witch pinned up his long black robes. The two siblings stood next to him as they were being fitted. Tony stood and browsed through some of the fabric options.
''Hello,'' said the boy, ''Hogwarts too?''
''Yes'' said Harry.
''My father's next door buying books and mothers up the street looking at wands,'' said the boy. He had a bored drawing voice that made it hard for Iris to listen to. Instead, she caught Tony's attention and started making silly faces at him. Tony, who knew what she was like when it came to dress fittings, or just standing still in general, played along and made silly faces back.
When she saw Hagrid in the window she started making silly faces at him as well and he laughed before joining in. Soon the three were shaking their heads with their tongues rolling around looking a little demented.
Iris was having lots of fun but was snapped out of it when she heard Harry talking to the blond boy.
''They're dead,'' Harry said shortly.
Iris decided to intervene. It seemed like this boy was going into a sensitive topic, and Harry didn't sound all too happy. Not that she knew what they were talking about, but typically when you mention someone being dead, things can get a bit emotional.
''But luckily Harry has me, don't you Harry? I'm his sister by the way.'' Iris said sticking her hand out for the blonde boy to shake. Harry mouthed thanks to his sister.
The blonde boy looked at her hand disdainfully before it was pulled back by the witch taking her measurements.
''What's your name anyway?'' she asked the blonde.
He stuck his chin up proudly and declared: ''Malfoy, Draco Malfoy.''
Iris nodded, not knowing the name.
''That's you done dears''.
Madam Malkin said. Iris didn't know how they were both done before Malfoy when he was there first, but Iris wasn't complaining.
The siblings hopped down from the footstool and Harry left the building rather quickly. Iris turned to the boy that she decided she didn't like and said something she knew would make him regret not being nicer.
''I'm Iris Potter by the way, and that was Harry. Well, see you at Hogwarts.''
When she was leaving she made sure to lift her hair enough that he would be able to see the legendary lightning bolt scar on her neck.
Harry and Hagrid talked a little about what Malfoy had said and Hagrid explained what quidditch was to the three of them. Tony was very interested and wanted to see an actual game after the gamekeeper had explained it. Iris was super interested when he explained Hogwarts and its houses.
The group went to the bookstore to get their school books. The shelves were stacked to the ceiling with books as large as paving stones bound in leather; books full of peculiar symbols; books the size of postage stamps covered in silk and a few books with nothing in them at all. The group looked around and got the books they needed. Iris found a few that Luke and Annabeth would like as well as a few for herself. Tony got some as well. When Hagrid looked at Tony questioning he just shrugged.
''I want to be involved in my daughter's world, and I can't do that if I don't know anything about it.''
And that was that.
They got a few other things from the list before Harry had to get his wand. Iris already had hers so she could skip that. Hagrid wanted to get Harry an owl for his birthday and Tony went with him to get an owl each for him and his daughter. That left Harry and Iris to get the wand.
Before they entered the shop Iris pulled Harry aside. She took her backpack off and pulled out a picture frame from it. Iris grabbed it when she went to get the emergency bags, she carried it with her everywhere, and now she wanted to gift it to her brother. She handed Harry the picture and watched for his reaction.
''Happy birthday Harry.'' she said softly. Harry looked up at her surprised.
''How did you know?'' he asked. Iris breathed in and explained.
''I have a memory condition that means I remember everything that has ever happened in my life. And I remembered the day you were born even though I was only one.'' Harry was even more shocked now.
Iris smiled and nodded towards the picture. ''That's our mum when she was 10. It's the only thing I could find of her. Because she was magical she kinda disappeared from the system altogether, and this is the only school photo she had taken. You have her eyes. I remember James was so happy when you opened your eyes for the first time. He loved our eyes.''
Harry rubbed away the tears furiously and smiled at her.
''Thank you,'' he whispered before he hugged her. Iris kissed his forehead. ''Come on let's get your wand,'' she said. ''I will tell you about them later. I promise.''
Getting Harry's wand was certainly an experience, and Iris was glad that she got hers from the vault. Olivander jumped when he saw Iris.
''My God,'' he had said ''it's like looking at Lily again.''
To say the man was creepy was an understatement.
He had tried to start taking Iris' measurements as well as Harry's but had been curious when Iris had declined and said she already had one.
''May I see it?'' he asked.
Iris nodded and handed it to him, wondering what harm it could cause.
The old man took the wand gingerly and turned it in his hands slowly. When he caught sight of the ring on it he lifted the wand to his face to inspect it more.
Olivander paused for a minute and then a look of understanding crossed his face before he looked knowingly towards Iris and nodded to her, handing her wand back with a little smirk, as if the two of them shared a secret.
Definatly creepy.
When Harry finally got his wand it was a holy and Phoenix feather, eleven inches. As it turned out the wand's twin belonged to Voldemort.
After that was done they stepped outside where both adults were waiting. They were both holding owl cages. Hagrid handed Harry the snowy owl and Tony gave Iris the tawny owl whilst he kept the grey one.
Hagrid had to go then, and he handed Tony two tickets for platform 9 3/4. Before anyone could ask about it Hagrid had already left.
Shrugging Tony led the way down the street back to Hestia Street. Once they reached it they walked along the path of restaurants and bars and hotels before they found one that they decided to stay in. They asked for a room for three, and the server offered to send the bill to the Potter account when she saw the heirship ring. Once they had put away their stuff the three went to find a restaurant to eat in. They got a few odd stares because of their clothes and then when they realised they were looking at the Potter siblings.
Iris had insisted that Harry tell her all about his life, and it was safe to say she wasn't happy. Harry had left a lot of stuff out, she could tell, and she noticed him flinching at loud noises. She knew Tony saw it too. How could he not? He had been dealing with this stuff since Iris was adopted, he saw the signs. When they went back to the hotel Tony pulled Iris aside.
He sat her down in a chair whilst Harry waited with the luggage near the reception desk.
''So Iris, what are you thinking of your brother so far?'' the man asked casually.
The redhead worried her lip between her teeth. ''He's great... But...''
Tony crossed his arms and leaned back in his seat, a sigh escaping him.
''You noticed it too?'' he asked.
Iris nodded, a frown on her lips.
"I don't like it, he shouldn't be this skinny, or this jumpy. He shouldn't flinch at loud noises or back away like I'm going to hit him. What if his family don't look after him?"
"I know," Tony said, reaching for Iris's hand, "I'll fix it, baby. You don't have to worry. We've found him now, so everything will be alright eventually."
When Iris continued to frown in worry, Tony got on his knees in front of his daughter so she had to look at him.
"Iris, I mean it," he began. "Harry is family, and we look after family. I'm not gonna leave him if he's in a bad home, princess, but it might not even be that." Tony brushed the hair from her face. "I'm the adult, let me worry about it, and I'll find a solution."
Iris smiled a little and leaned forward to hug her dad. "How?" she asked.
"I'll talk to Harry privately, and I'll talk to his relatives. If he's not looked after, if he doesn't want to live there, he can come live with us. He might have a perfectly nice family, and it's something else that's bothering him. But in the meantime, he will be at Hogwarts. At least then we can build his trust, and we will know he's safe whilst we are doing it.' Tony smiled hugging his daughter back.
"You'd really take him in?" Iris asked happily.
Tony leaned back and took the redhead's face in his hands. "He's family, of course, I would. I'd give you the moon if I could, and now I'll do it for your brother too."
'How do you plan to go about it?' She asked, smiling.
''Bribery, give them money for him if they don't give him up the first time round.'' Iris snorted at her dad. Money would never be a problem for him. Half of his solutions always involved bribery.
''Do it when we go to school, I'll convince Harry to come back with me for Christmas and you can tell him then.''
Tony smiled and messed up Iris' hair. ''Good idea kiddo.''
Then he frowned.
''You going to be ok in Scotland on your own? What if something happens? Monsters?''
Iris shrugged. ''I'll deal with it,'' she said. ''Besides I think that all the magic might hide my smell. And I have a pouch of drachmas so I can easily Iris message you or Chiron if I need to. Actually, I should probably do that soon.''
Tony chuckled at her forgetfulness.
''Alright princess, let's get to our rooms to get some sleep yeah?''
"Alright Dad, love you.''
For the next week, the trio spent time looking around the different streets and reading about Hogwarts. Iris told Harry many stories about James and Lily, and the house they lived in and the cat they used to have. At one point Harry asked why she called them James and Lily instead of Mum and Dad. Iris found this tough to explain but told him it was because Tony became her dad the day he adopted her despite knowing how different she was. That didn't mean she didn't still love James and Lily. Harry had smiled sadly but understood.
All three of them bought some more clothes from Fern Alley, casual and wizard traditional. Tony looked hilarious in a cloak and pointy hat. They had lots of fun exploring together.
Then came the day they were going to Hogwarts.