Chapter 2
Harry jerked awake on the train. Luckily, he’s stop was only one or two away.
To his side, he could hear a video that the two girls beside him were watching. Something about a princess detective? When they looked at him, he looked away, his face no doubt turning red as they mocked him under their breath.
Harry knew how he looked, gangly and thin in the old, oversized clothes that his aunt and uncle pawned off to him when his cousin outgrew them.
He was quick to get off after that.
As he was walking to Grimmauld Place, he got a notification on his phone.
A glaring red eye icon greeted him. What the-?
For a moment, it was like the whole world froze. Everyone but him seemed to be still, like a picture.
In the distance, he saw a blue flame that seemed to be growing. Then, the flame shifted into a vaguely humanoid figure. It looked like it was smirking.
Then, that moment was gone and the world resumed. Harry shook his head, must be imagining things.
He deleted the app.
He wandered down Islington until he found the place. When he knocked on the door, though, no one answered.
As he double checked that this was the place, a voice came from behind,
“You looking for Mr. Black?” Harry nodded, too nervous to speak.
The man in front of him seemed to be a delivery guy. He pointed to the shops nearby,
“He’s usually at his cafe, LeBlanc.”
“Thank you.” Harry told him before heading to the stop.
After another few minutes of wandering, he found the cafe. He hesitated. He wondered what his Godfather was like. He had been from the moment he found out about him. About why neither he nor his aunt and uncle knew about him before. And why didn't he take Harry in instead of the Dursleys.
He took a breath before walking in. There didn’t seem to be a bell on the door. It was near empty, only two people resided inside. A woman and man.
The woman ,who was seated, had light brown hair and dark, but kind eyes. The man was standing, leaning against the cafe bar. Harry first noticed the man’s striking gray eyes and his casual sort of elegance. He also noted his black hair and fair skin.
The two seemed to be having a pleasant conversation, before turning to the news.
“Another train crash?” The woman spoke, her voice and face both showing concern.
The man pursed his lips, “I hope the kid’s okay.” Was he talking about Harry?
The woman perked up and smiled, “Oh, that’s right. You’ve taken in James’ boy.” James? Was that his dad?
Harry hated to interrupt, but, “Hello?”
Their heads seem to snap towards him. Harry shrinked, waiting for the yelling.
The adults, however, merely smiled at the boy. The woman stood up, revealing her tall figure.
“Well, I must be off, I need to cook dinner for Dora.” She turned to Harry, “I hope to see you soon, dear.” She turned back to his Godfather, “Do give the boy something to eat, Sirius.”
And with that, she was off.
His Godfather, Sirius, turned to Harry, smiled wide, and gave him a big hug.
Harry froze, in all of his seventeen years of living under the Dursley’s roof, no one had ever hugged him before. Luckily, he didn’t get the chance to hug back as Sirius back off,
“Sorry, kid, I just haven’t seen you since you were a baby. Now look at you! You look just like your father, ‘cept for the eyes. That’s all Lily.” He seemed almost embarrassed at his emotions.
“What were they like?” Harry asked before freezing, he knew wasn’t supposed to ask. He leaned away, slightly.
Unlike his aunt and uncle, though, Sirius’ eyes lit up, “They were some of my best friends. You know, one time, when James was trying to impress your mother he-” Sirius began to go on and on, telling stories of his parents. Harry listened intently, this was the most information he had ever gotten about his family.
Sadly, after a while, Sirius stopped, “You must be tired. We can talk more tomorrow after we get back from Hogwarts.”
“Hog-what?” Harry couldn’t help but ask.
Sirius scowled, but, somehow, Harry could tell it was not aimed at him, “Your guardians didn’t tell you?”
Harry hesitantly shook his head, scared of how Sirius would react.
He cursed before moving on to explain.
“It’s the school you’ll be going to while you’ll be staying here. You know, me and your parents went there together.”
Harry smiled at the thought of going to the same school as his parents.
Sirius seemed to grimace before speaking in a stilted way,
“Look, kid, I don’t exactly have room in my house for you.”
Harry’s smile disappeared and Sirius was quick to continue,
“But, you can stay here, upstairs.” Harry was confused as they walked up the stairs. When they reached the top, however, he saw an empty, big room. It had a nice looking bed too.
Sirius looked sheepish, “I know it’s not the best, but I thought you’d might like to decorate it yours-”
He was cut off by Harry giving him a strong hug. He chuckled as he patted Harry’s fluffy and untidy hair.
“Glad you like it, Harry.”
“Thank you.”
Sirius left and Harry got ready for bed.
As he laid in bed, though, he thought about why he was here.
Probation. A year of it to be exact. All because he saved that woman.
He sighed as he got another notification on his phone.
Red glared at him once more. The same app from before.
“Didn’t I delete that?” Harry shrugged and deleted it again. He let himself be taken by sleep.
When he opened his eyes, however, he wasn’t met with the ceiling he fell asleep to.
If he had to describe his surroundings in one word, it would be blue.
He could hear the slow dripping of water and the rattling of chains. When he sat up, he realized he was wearing black and white prisoner-like attire.
He heard giggles to his left. When he snapped his head towards it.
He was met with two little girls in blue warden clothes. Both wore eye-patches over one of their eyes, only leaving them one burning yellow eye each. Their striking white hair looked gray in the lighting.
They both gave him a creepy smile before parting, creating a window between them. In that window was an older-looking gentleman, who would have looked kind, if not for his face stuck in a permanent, large, and uncomfortable smile.
“Welcome, trickster, to my Velvet Room.”