A rocky beginning
When a second strong rap on the large oak door remained unanswered Dumbledore sighed. “I assure you they were aware we were coming, I can only assume they are too busy preparing to hear the knock.”
“Naturally, my confidence in them may just overflow.” Replied Damion sarcastically.
Harry chuckled, glad to see Dumbledore too looked amused. The headmaster was smart after all, any initial similarities between Tom and Damion were quickly rendered mute once one saw the giant heart beneath his brother's prickly exterior.
“I believe we can ourselves in.” Continued Dumbledore. Sure enough, the door was unlocked and they were able to go straight inside.
“So much for great danger! They don’t even lock the door!” Hissed Damion.
“I assume there are magic protections?” Harry asked Dumbledore.
“Yes many, I’m afraid a locked door wouldn’t even slow Voldemort down.” Dumbledore replied.
“Might do if you hit him with it.” Harry muttered to his brother who snorted.
“Well,” added Dumbledore, “ideally you will never be anywhere near him, but I suppose in a situation where fleeing is impossible, there would be worse methods of attack.”
“It’s not like he’d expect it, he’s a wizard, right? So he’d be too busy creating walls of water or conjuring ghosts” Harry continued making sure his knowledge of magic was somewhat inaccurate. “Then bam! Door!” He waved his arms for effect.
“You’re such an idiot.” Damion chuckled shaking his head.
“Maybe he’s not. Wizards can be rather susceptible to the non-fantastical.” Dumbledore agreed conspiratorially. “But it certainly wouldn’t be worth testing. While I do not fault you for seeking humour, you mustn’t let it dull your perception of the danger he poses.”
“Fine, fine.” Harry joked with an exaggerated eye roll. “I won’t seek out Voldemort so I can see what happens if you chuck a door at him.”
A pained squeak sounded out from across the room. Harry hadn’t been paying attention to where they were going, instead focusing on following Dumbledore and keeping his brother distracted. As such he hadn’t noticed they’d entered a room of people who all seemed to be frozen in place.
At the back stood Remus and Sirius who were in the midst of trying to attach a giant, ‘welcome back’ banner to the wall. James and Lily were closer, a bowl of salad held out between them as if they’d been struggling over possession of it moments before. Lastly, Jamie, his older brother sat in the middle of the room covered head to toe in glittering green slime.
A bark-like laugh seemed to once again start time, and the salad bowl dropped with a crash. Damion shrunk behind Harry immediately, peaking over the top of his head at the room.
“We did knock.” Said Dumbledore calmly.
“Oh boys!” Lily said as she surged forward arms open. Harry mirrored her instinctively before a hand gripping the back of his shirt stopped him. A glance back revealed that looked Damion terrified.
“Stop!” He said firmly.
Lily did, barely a foot short looking absolutely heartbroken. She then moulded her face into a grimace-like attempt at a gentle smile and said, “I’m sorry, I’m just so happy to see you both, we’ve missed you so much.” She said emotionally.
Harry nodded at her before turning his back on them all to instead face his brother and take his hands.
Dumbledore was quick to speak, “The boys have been through a lot, especially as of late. Perhaps some time to acclimatise before anything heavy wouldn’t be remiss, how about dinner for now? While everyone’s settling down.”
“You okay?” Harry asked quietly. Damion was shaking slightly. When he got no response he stood on his tiptoes to press their foreheads together. “Hey, I’m here remember, it’s going to be okay.”
“Yes. Dinner.” James managed stiltedly. “Give everyone time to adjust”
Damion's eyes met Harry’s, and while he didn’t stop shaking he let out a breath and a jilted nod.
“You’ll stay right Professor? Damion can sit between you and me.” Harry implored.
“Well…”
“I want to sit next to Dumbledore!” interrupted Jamie.
“I thought you wanted to sit next to your godfather?” Replied Sirius, his voice jovial other than a slight crack.
“I have two sides.” Jamie replied with a roll of his eyes.
“How observant.” Muttered Damion weakly his voice coming out much higher than usual..
Much to both Harry and Damions surprise, Jamie laughed loudly in response replying, “You’re quick I like that.”
Harry sent him a warm smile in return.
“I couldn’t impose.” Began Dumbledore but Lily was quick to encourage him to stay.
Damion remained as Harry’s shadow to the table. Everyone, except Jamie, was moving awkwardly, Harry almost wanted to laugh. They looked like poorly articulated puppets.
“Bet you're regretting staying now.” Harry murmured to Dumbledore as everyone took their seats.
“Not at all.” He replied despite the gleam of amusement in his eyes.
The dishes flew onto the table with one small flick of Lily's wand. With no hesitation, Jamie and Sirius began spooning various foods onto their own plates. Damion shot Harry a disbelieving look.
“I assume we can help ourselves?” Harry asked when the others too began to dig in leaving only him his brother and Dumbledore waiting.
“Oh! Of course sorry I should have said!” Lily assured frantically.
“Thank you It looks wonderful Lily.” Dumbledore said gently.
He was right, Harry hadn't seen such a spread since Mrs Weasleys. Harry started piling a bit of everything onto his brother's plate. When Damion shot him an unimpressed look at a particularly big spoon of greens Harry said, “They're good for you.”
“We are wizards now. Maybe we don't need them. Professor Dumbledores not having any.” Damion complained quietly.
Sure enough, Dumbledore's entire plate was filled with the most unhealthy of options. Harry shot the man an unimpressed glare.
“Age isn't always sense, you need at least some good stuff.” Harry said eyeing Dumbledore sceptically. The man looked healthy enough but he was certainly getting on in age and was rather thin. Harry wondered if he took proper care of himself.
“Right you are Harry.” Dumbledore acquiesced, “I should make more of an effort…”
He was cut off when Harry, perhaps out of habbit or due to the stress of the situation, absent mindedly added a large spoon of greens to his plate.
Damion laughed loudly at this, “You wanted us to come here, it's only fair that you should suffer Harry's mothering too.”
Harry upon realising he had just forced food upon the man went to scoop it back up, “Sorry I wasn't thinking.”
“No, no need as I said I should make an effort. One should always endeavour to practice what they preach.” Dumbledore said calmy.
Now rather embarrassed Harry filled his own plate ignoring Damions snickering. At least his brother had cheered up somewhat.
The silence of dinner passed too swiftly, the weight of the incoming conversation pressing upon the entire room. Until someone broke the silence.
“Okay, I’d… I'd like to speak.” said James.
“You don't sound sure.” Damion muttered.
James grinned, “Hello Damion, I've missed you.”
“Hello, man who resembles Harry. I assume you are our father?”
“Yes.” James replied his voice now clouded with pain, “I'm your father.”
“On the other hand.” Damion motioned to Lily. “You share Harry's eyes, so I assume you're our mother?”
“Yes sweetheart, I'm your mother.”
“Professor Dumbledore explained why you threw us away.” Damion started and a rush of pained gasps wrung out.
“They didn't throw you away!” spat Jamie angrily, “They didn't have a choice, You Know Who is after us!”
“So you say.” said Damion dryly. “And yet they kept you.”
“I couldn't leave, I'm the chosen one!”
“The chosen one? Clearly. Well as the not chosen. I don't see any reason for us to be here.”
“We want you here because we love you! We thought you'd be safe but you weren't!” implored Lily.
“Is that so? You've got a poor way of showing it.”
“I'm sorry,” she said again.
“Damion.” Harry said gently, “believe me I understand but lets at least give them a chance?”
Damion's face scrunched as if he had eaten a particularly sour lemon before he continued. “Fine. Who are the rest of you then?”
“I'm your older brother, Jamie Potter, you prat.”
“I'm Sirius… Jamies godfather.”
“I'm Remus… I'm your godfather.”
Harry stopped Damion before he could say anything further which would no doubt be particularly vicious and said, “Its nice to see you all again.”
“Dose Harry not get a godfather?” Damion asked not to be cowed.
“He died.” Lily said shortly.
“So he at least has some excuse.” Damion replied.
“He!” Sirus started but Remus kicked him.
Right, by some cruel twist of fate Wormtail had been his godfather in this world. He wouldnt complain though, it meant his brothers got Sirius and Remus.
When a long silence permeated the room Damion turned to Harry saying weakly “Im tired.” devoid of all his earlier venom.
Harry stood quickly. “Yes, Its been a long day, could someone show us to our room?”
“You've got rooms each.”
Damion gripped Harrys hand.
“Weve been together all our lives. I think we are experiencing enough change at the moment.” Harry replied.
“Of course, we will move a bed, I can take now.” said lily quickly, “James get the beds sorted!”
“Thank you for staying Professor. Hopefully we will see you soon.” Harry said as they where sheporded away.
“That you will.”