Chapter 2
Harry threw his jacket on the table by the door and sighed. It had been months now since he had stepped foot inside Grimmuald place. He had left immediately after Hermione gave birth to the twins, fearing that should he leave earlier she might have his head. The house seemed dark now, compared to all the places he had visited. Had it always been this grim? Or was the rest of the world just that bright?
He tossed his bag down on the floor and stretched his arms as he contemplated it. Wandering into the sitting room he felt the sudden urge to rip down the heavy velvet curtains from the window. Without thinking he walked over and yanked at the fabric which gave way surprisingly easily. Along with the fabric came down a large lead curtain rod, smacking him in the face and sending him tumbling backwards.
“Fuck.” He moaned as soon as air returned to his lungs.
“If Master Potter wished the curtains down, he only had to say.” Kreacher had lurked into the room with his signature scowl.
“How many times will I ask you to call me Harry?” Harry asked, pulling himself off the floor.
“Master will have a bruise.” Kreacher said, ignoring him and gathering the curtain. “Shall I have these washed?”
“No Kreacher, please throw them out.”
“But these are Master Black’s.”
“It’s my house now.” Harry breathed in the dust with a cough and looked out the window onto the sunny street.
“Very well… Master.” Kreacher begrudgingly removed the curtain from the room. It was his house and this year he was determined not to be depressed in it.
The next morning Harry rose early and headed out to town in his car, or the muggle mobile as the weasleys sometimes teased. It only made sense to Harry, if he was to live in both worlds, that he have transportation for both. He punched directions for the nearest hardware store into his navigation and headed out. Music filled the car from the speakers and a woman’s voice soon harmonized to the troubles of heartbreak. Harry parked in the back of the lot and took a deep breath.
“You can do this. You know what you are doing.” He said to the rearview.
Inside he found quickly he knew nothing about what he was doing, or what he needed. In a panic he settled in a section of light fixtures and stared at them intently despite the burning of his eyes.
“Can I help you?” Harry looked through spots at a girl in a green smock.
“I don’t know.”
“Umm..”
“I mean, I don’t know what I need.” He tried to laugh.
“Oh, well what kind of project are you doing?” She asked in a friendly voice.
“I’m redoing my house, I think maybe it’s too dark but I don’t know what to do to fix that.” He sounded like an idiot, even to himself.
“Maybe some paint?” She offered.
“Yes! paint , that would be good.”
“This way.” She giggled and pointed behind her.
“Can you paint wallpaper? The house has lots of wallpaper.”
“Best to take it down first.” She said not looking back. “But we have stuff for that too.”
An hour and half later Harry’s car was loaded down with supplies and he was driving home. He had to admit being out of the store was a huge relief. He always felt uncomfortable in places where it seemed you had to know what you were doing to be in them. Like potion shops, and hardware stores, and garden centers. He felt as if he must have a universal sign on his forehead saying ‘I’m too dumb to be here’.
Kreacher did little to help him get the haul organized on the kitchen table. Harry stared down at it all, lost again.
Where to start? The entry way, he thought, that’s where the house starts. He moved the furniture out of the narrow strip and look at the space. He touched the wallpaper curiously, it didn’t feel like paper at all but cloth. He pulled out his phone and searched. Linen wallpaper, he found, was used in old luxurious homes. He looked at the Forrest scene before him. The wallpaper could stay, but it needed cleaned. He searched again, How to clean linen wallpaper.
The next hours were spent carefully cleaning and searching the internet. Ron never understood the attraction of muggle phones - unnecessary he branded them. Harry found on his travels they were expert companions.
With the linen paper cleaned and the wooden wainscoting waxed the entryway began to look alive and vibrant. The main offense of the room, Harry noted, was the criminal lack of light. One small fixture with one small bulb was responsible for the dim shadows. Another trip to the hardware store was in order and this time he knew the exact section he needed. Grabbing his keys from the table he set off with intent.
A new chandelier and two how-to videos later Harry was up on a ladder removing the ancient light. As he reached for the wire cutters and placed them on the spot where the video instructed he suddenly wondered if he had flipped the right breaker off.
The ceiling eventually came into focus as he opened his eyes. His throbbing head and aching back advised him not to move. Rolling his head to the left he saw a small silver platter with tea service charmed to stay warm. He must’ve been out for awhile to miss tea. Harry looked back at the ceiling and saw the new chandelier installed. Sitting up he noted that the ladder and clutter of boxes were gone too. The furniture had been dusted and returned. Standing wobbly he reached for the light switch and the chandelier flickered to life casting glistening crystals of light across the corridor. It was bright and wonderful and luckily completed.
“Master is very poorly with housework.” Kreacher spoke, making Harry jump and turn suddenly. His head began throbbing again and he groaned at the movement.
“Yes Kreacher, completely incompetent.” Kreacher only nodded in reply while reaching for the tea tray.
“It is dinner time now.”
“Do you like it?” Harry pointed up to the light.
“It is very bright.” Kreacher decided and then left. Well, Harry thought, That’s not a no.