Chapter 8
Harry stared at us. The ravenclaw from the night before had come this morning with me to the hospital wing and we'd just told.him about the book, after explaining that he could keep the toys my mother had left.
He looked back and forth between the dragon and niffler still in his arms, the book and the two of us. "I can keep them? And the book?" There was wonder and a desperate longing I'd never heard before in him. I nodded and he picked up the book from the nightstand reverently, like he was holding a priceless Dragonfire glass bowl. His hand shook a little as he gently stroked the cover.
"Do you know how to read, Raven?" My eyes widened at the nickname is given him, and his head snapped up. He looked like he was going to cry.
" Harry, what's wrong?" The pesky ravenclaw asked. Harry had to calm himself down a little before he could answer.
" I never- no one's-- thank you so much." This time he did start crying and he got up and hugged me tightly. " Thank you, thank you, thank you!" He wispered and you could hear the joy and pure graditude in his quiet voice. He hugged Ms. Welling too, just as fiercely and thanked her.
" You.should thank my mother Harry. She's the one who brought them for you." Harry looked up nervously and then nodded. He climbed back on the bed.
" When can I see her?" He asked.
" You can see her at breakfast in a little while. We have some time before we need to go down. " He nodded. He picked up the dragon and niffler and set them in his lap hugging them briefly before picking up the book and the started reading. He had a small smile on his face and when I looked over at welling she seamed to be holding in an awww.
" If there's anything you don't understand, you can ask any of us. Okay Raven?" I jolted a little when I said the nickname again it just slipped out. He looked up and nodded beaming the most adorable smile I have ever seen. As he read he grew more relaxed is ever seen him and stared moving more. Fidgeting in the way you'd expect a little kid to do.
We headed down to breakfast after assuring Harry that the toys would be there when he got back. He held my and with one and his book with the other.
" Do you like reading Harry?" Ravenclaw girl asked. He smiled at her and nodded quickly. " What have you read before this?" Harry looked down and hugged the book tightly to him. He looked guilty almost.
" Not, not allowed.to read the books. But sometimes when aunt petunia and Dudley and uncle Vernon go out, and forget to lock me up I go and read the books in Vernon's study. " Welling and I shared a look. Damn those muggles.
" Do you remember what some of the books you read are about?" Harry no longer downcast, smiled.
" World war II and economics, and the poems. And I read one about the the planets." Harry and welling talked about astronomy the rest of the way to the great hall but when we got there he grew quiet again. He tightened his hold on my hand and nervously looked past the doors to the long house tables. He held his breath for a minute then we started walking again and he let it out. I started heading for the ravenclaw table but Harry stopped. He looked up at me clearly anxious but determined. I crouched down in front of him and rubbed his arm reassuringly.
"What is it Harry? " It took him a few tries to get the words out because people had started staring at us.
" Naraissa. I need to thank her." He hugged the book. " For the book." He looked down at his shoes like he was expecting me to refuse or something. I smiled at him.
" Of course, we just have to find her. Do you know where she is?" Harry looked around, finally he spotted my parents and pointed to them at the teachers table. My mother was talking with professor Snape while my father was writing a letter. We walked over to them and nearly every eye in the room was on us. Professor Snape looked up as we approached. He smiled softly at Harry before turning to me.
" Did you need something?" I shook my head and ruffles Harry's hair. He pulled on my sleeve so I knelt down again.
" Will you hold it for me?" He asked holding out his book. I nodded again.
" Of course" Harry to the surprise of everyone except myself and welling walked around to my mother and hugged her. She quickly and gently hugged him back. He pulled away and smiled at her.
" Thank you for the book." He said and smiles at her. My mother grinned at him.
" You are very welcome dear, if there is anything you need or want just let me know and I'll take care of it. " Harry blushed and looked at his feet. He seamed like he wanted to say something. And when he glanced at the book I was holding I recognized the longing in him.
" We might as well start teaching him some potions or something since he very clearly has no problem reading. Some more books would be great. Of all different kinds" Harry snapped his head to me and hugged me and looked shyly at my mother hopeful.
" That's no problem at all. We'll bring you some more this afternoon." He smiled that blindingly happy smile and hugged her again thanking her profusely. She stroked his hair. When started walking back Harry paused then headed for the Hufflepuff table and sat down next to the Hufflepuff fifth years. All of them looked like they had won the lottery. They spoke softly to him and though he didn't say much he was glowing faintly sunset orange.
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Harry had finished the book my mother gave him by my second class so I pulled some of my potions books from my trunk and set them in front of him in charms.
He lit up again glowing pink and yellow. The griffendors have kept their distance though I could see most wanted to rush over and steal him away from me. Granger walked up to the table we occupied before class started and set a stack of books in front of him. He stared at them then looked at her in awe. He jumped at her and hugged her. I smirked at her.
" Well it seams you've figured out how to get him to warm up to you Granger. What are these?"
" Story books, both wizard and muggle. I figured he hadn't read them and I thought he might like them. " Harry pulled away and happily started reading something called Robin hood. I'd never heard of it so it must be muggle. Charms started so she left and we listened to flitwick tall about the warming charm.
As I was practicing Harry stopped my wand hand and put a book in front of me. It was my charms book open to the warming charm. I had been using the wrong wand movement.
" Thanks Harry." He went back to Robin hood. Harry is really smart, I wonder why he acts like an idiot when he got older.