1985
Their first Yule together was beautiful. Dora had made Harry a rather ugly scarf, not that Harry could tell, he absolutely loved it because it was so soft.
Harry had blushed when he gave her a book. Andromeda knew he’d spent hours scouring for the right one. He’d gotten Ted a mug, with a picture of him, Dora and Andy.
Harry got a book from Ted, and Andy gave him a textured Rubik cube.
Andromeda got a necklace from Ted, and Dora gave them both an album with pictures of her at school.
Dora told Harry all about flying lessons, which sounded really cool, and once again he wondered how he’d ever attend Hogwarts with flying being a required course.
It also snowed over break and Harry caught the snowflakes on his tongue with Dora, she let him feel the soft fluffy ice, and Harry immediately asked Ted and Andy for a book about how they formed.
Dora went back soon after Yule and Harry couldn’t help but feel left behind.
oOo
Harry tried and tried to not show how much he missed his sister, but it was hard. She let him sleep with her again when she was back for break and even though he still had Kreacher, he missed her warmth. Plus he didn’t feel right staying in her room, so he stayed in his own and it just didn’t feel right.
He loved his room, really he did. He didn’t really know what color it was, but it smelled like wood, and held his clothes. It had a chest for his toys and he had shelves of books on one wall. The bed was soft, smaller than Dora’s since he hadn’t wanted to sleep there at first and when Ted suggested that he get a bigger bed, it felt too lonely without her.
Andy kept telling him that Dora wouldn’t mind him visiting, but he didn’t want to mess up her time. He’d be a bother, he knew.
oOo
Since Harry had met Molly Weasley she had invited him over on the weekends. Ron and Ginny attended preschool during the week, the twins were at elementary and so was Percy.
Harry really liked Ron and Ginny, they were both sweet and didn’t seem to mind being quiet and playing something that Harry could, but they were both also young and full of energy, so they’d usually go outside after about an hour.
The twins liked to experiment, but they were also really good older brothers. They had a cauldron set, and like Harry told Snape, they let him touch and smell the ingredients as well as each stage of the potion.
Percy was quiet, and had the least energy of the bunch so when the twins got tired of having to slow down for him, Harry would go to Percy’s room and ask him about school. Percy was really helpful. He let Harry use babblesworth on his uncompleted homework sheets and books whenever he came up.
oOo
That summer when Dora came home she showed him how to brew the forgetfulness potion. First she started with an empty cauldron, reading the steps which Harry had memorized, the tricky part though, was the timing.
“We have to figure out how to get you to stir. This is clockwise” Dora said as she took his hand moving it in a circle to the right. “This is counter clockwise” she moved his hand the other way.
“Okay”
“Now show me clockwise” Harry did the first motion. “Counter clockwise” the second. “Good, we’ll come back to that later.”
Harry smiled.
“Okay, how do we know the time?” Harry could hear Dora pacing. “We’ll have to ask the twins, or a muggle” Dora said.
“Maybe Kreacher could help?” Harry asked hopefully.
“For now, probably. But you can’t take tests with him, they’ll accuse you of cheating. And how are you going to know the level of the flame?” Dora sounded pensive.
“Dora?”
“Yeah Harry?”
“Maybe I’m not cut out for Hogwarts.”
“No. You’re my brother, and you’re going to Hogwarts no matter what. A little blindness isn’t getting in our way.” Dora said sternly. “Let’s ask mum to take us to the Weasley’s tomorrow yeah?”
Harry nodded.
oOo
The next day they went to the Weasley’s. The twins didn’t have an immediate answer, what they did have was an updated babblesworth, it could now pause, and you could specify the starting point. You still couldn’t repeat paragraphs, search for words, and skip photo captions though, so they said more work needed to be done.
They also had something new. The quick quill was able to write for Harry, but it couldn’t draw anything. They gave Harry something they dubbed scribblescrabble it was an inconspicuous muggle pen, but the boys said it did much more, with a matching set of glasses that go on the wearers face. Harry couldn’t wait to try it out.
Ron and Ginny were over at other friends’ houses that day, and Bill and Charlie were on the pitch. They landed to come see Dora.
“Hey Tonks, how’s it going?” Charlie asked. “Hey Harry” He said as he ruffled the boy’s hair.
“It’s going alright.” Tonks said. “Bill?”
“Yeah Tonks?”
“Would you take Harry up in the air? I don’t have as much practice.”
“You okay with that Harry?” Bill asked
“Yeah!” Harry said with a huge smile. Bill pulled him to straddle the broom behind him.
“Hold on tight alright?” Harry nodded.
They were up in the air, while Bill’s larger form cut some of the wind out, Harry still felt weightless, not to mention the magic in the broom was excited.
“Wotcher” Dora said.
“Dora are you flying too?” Harry asked.
“Yes, little brother” She said as she bumped his shoulder lightly. “So’s Charlie”
“Charlie, are you better than flying than you are at potions?” Harry asked.
“Much!” The boy said with a laugh.
The four landed back on the ground and the three older kids were watching Harry’s face which held a huge smile. “That was awesome” He breathed. “Dora, can I hold your broom?” He asked and she handed it over.
“There’s a team that rides brooms, it’s called quidditch, maybe you can come and watch Bill play next year little brother.” Dora said.
“Yeah.” Harry smiled. “That’d be cool, but I couldn’t see it.”
“Someone announces it, I’m sure you’ll be able to keep up” Charlie said with a smile.
“Dora?”
“Yeah Harry?”
“Is your broom different than Bill’s?”
“Yeah, they’re different makers.” Dora said.
“What about Charlie’s?”
“How about you guess?” She said as she grabbed her broom from Harry and gave him Charlie’s.
Harry held it for a moment. “It’s more like Bill’s, but still different.”
“Yeah, Bill’s is a Cleansweep 32, Charlie’s is a Cleansweep 34, and mine is a Thunderbolt.” Dora said.
“Do you think any of the broom makers would let us go to their shops?” Harry asked.
“Probably not” Charlie said, Dora gave him a glare. “How about wands?”
“Brilliant!” Dora said. “Wands please.” Bill and Charlie handed theirs over. “Alright Harry, let me know if you can see these.” She handed him all three wands.
“Oh!” Harry said surprised. “They’re all different” Harry felt each one carefully.
“Wanna take a guess at whose is whose?” Dora asked.
Harry nodded enthusiastically. “This feels the most like Bill” he passed the wand over. “Charlie, and Dora” passing each one in turn. “Was I right?”
Dora smiled as the other two nodded. “Yeah, you were. Want to know what each of them are made of?”
“Yes Please!” Harry was jumping in excitement.
“Black Walnut, ten and one quarter inch, unicorn hair core” Bill said.
“Cedar, twelve and three quarter inches, unicorn hair core” Dora said.
“Chestnut, nine and one half inches, dragon heartstring core” Charlie said.
“Wow, who makes wands?” Harry asked with wide, unseeing eyes.
“The most famous near us is Ollivander, I think he’d like you” Dora said.
“Do you think Andy would take us to meet him?” Harry asked.
“We can see.” Dora said.
oOo
“Mum?” Dora asked at the dinner table that night.
“Yes love.”
“Do you think that we could visit Ollivanders?”
“Why?” Andromeda asked.
“We went flying with Charlie, and Harry could feel the magic in the brooms. He wondered if the manufacturers may allow us to see the process, but we didn’t think they would. So Charlie suggested trying our wands. He was able to correctly match each one with its owner.” Dora said.
Harry was blushing a fierce red.
“I’m sure Ollivander would be happy to meet you Harry, although no wand until you’re eleven yes?” Andy said.
“Thanks Andy” Harry said with a large smile.
oOo
Early July found all four Tonks and Kreacher at Ollivanders wand shop. No one tended to frequent the shop at this time of the year, so they felt reasonably sure that they could go without disrupting his business.
Harry was jumping up and down with excitement as he walked into the shop.
“Andromeda Tonks…and family, what can I do for you today?” Ollivander asked.
“Hello Mr. Ollivander” Dora said.
“Hullo” Harry said, still jumping but gripping Dora and Kreacher’s hands in his now.
“And who is this?” Ollivander asked.
“I’m Harry Tonks” Harry said.
“You’re not looking for a wand are you, because you seem a little young, Harry…Tonks” Ollivander said.
“No” Harry giggled. “I’m blind Mr. Ollivander, and I can see the magic in some things.” Harry started. “Wands are one, and I was wondering if you could show me some more.”
Andromeda watched her son with a small smile.
“Well, what wands have you seen thus far my dear boy.”
“Dora’s is Cedar, twelve and three quarter inches, unicorn hair core. Bill has Black Walnut, ten and one quarter inch, unicorn hair core. Charlie has Chestnut, nine and one half inches, dragon heartstring core. Then Andy’s is Vine, eight inches, unicorn hair core. Ted’s is English Oak, ten inches, dragon heartstring core.”
“You have been trusted with many a wand, dear boy. We may make a wand maker of you yet.”
“Come, come” Ollivander said waving his hand as they made their way to the backroom, piles of wood, feathers, and more were in the room. They seemed to have no organization at all.
“Here” The man said and handed Harry a block of wood. “Oh.” He seemed discouraged. “I usually can see the wand and make a sketch when I hold a block like that.”
“We can try the scribblescrabble.” Dora said, taking it out of her backpack. “Do you have a piece of parchment Mr. Ollivander?” The man handed one over. Dora put the pen on the parchment, and the glasses on Harry’s face.
Harry saw a wand, twelve inches in length, with a handle that was carved in the shape of snake.
“Brilliant!” Ted exclaimed when he saw the drawing.
“Here, let me see.” Ollivander said as he took the block. “Hmm…I don’t see exactly the same thing young man, but, that does not mean you are wrong.”
Harry left the shop with instructions from Ollivander to go to the park and get sticks of all kinds, drawing what he saw in each one.
oOo
Kreacher was dreadfully sick, so he didn’t want to sleep with his young master. But Dora was going to a sleepover, and Harry hadn’t slept along before.
“Mistress Andromeda?” Kreacher asked in an even scratchier voice than usual.
“Kreacher, you sound awful.”
“Kreacher is being sick.”
“Oh, can I do anything for you?”
“Kreacher is be needing the elder Tonkses to sleep with the young master tonight.”
Andromeda’s face softened. “Alright, but can I do anything for you Kreacher?”
“No Mistress, Kreacher is be going to his room so as not to be getting the young master sick.”
Andromeda smiled after the house elf, he wasn’t her favorite being in the world, but he loved Harry and that earned him a place in her heart.
“Harry love?” She called out, it was after dinner and nearly Harry’s bedtime. He came out of the living room sleepily rubbing his eyes. “Do you mind sleeping with me and Ted tonight? There’s supposed to be thunderstorms and he gets frightened.” She wasn’t a Slytherin for nothing.
“Okay mum” Harry said as he walked over to her. Andromeda held in her gasp of delight and carried him to bed, where she lay down next to him and started reading a book.
Two hours later Ted came in “Dromeda, Harry’s not—“ Ted paused. “Oh. What’s going on?” he said lowering his voice to a whisper.
“Kreacher’s sick and Dora’s out, so Kreacher asked if Harry could stay with us tonight” Andromeda said while she ran a hand through her boy’s hair. “If he asks, you’re afraid of thunder.”
Ted stifled a laugh. He looked at his wife critically. “Did something else happen?”
She looked up at him with a smile. “He called me mum.”
Ted smiled back at her, since they’d adopted him they had told him when he was ready he could call them mum and dad. He had yet to use the names, they didn’t quite know why but they didn’t push. This was a huge step. He climbed gently into bed on the other side of the boy.
Harry curled up into his side “Love you dad” He murmured, still completely out of it.
Both Ted and Andromeda had Dora, so they’d been called mum and Dad before, but this. This made both their hearts constrict, it wasn’t better than Dora’s love, just different. She’d never known anything but love, Harry had known hate so his trust was worth more than all of the galleons in the world.
From that day forward, Harry called his parents mum and dad.
oOo
Harry and Dora enjoyed the rest of the summer, going to the park to pick up sticks, drawing wands, visiting the Weasley’s, going flying. They’d also gone on a trip to the stables.
oOo
Andy and Ted decided to take the kids to a stable one weekend in the summer.
“I grew up riding them” Andy began “don’t think it’s a useful skill though but I thought you both might like them.” She said as she placed Harry’s hand on the horse’s side.
“Dora, you haven’t been here before?”
“No little brother. I never heard that story before. And I preferred zoos”
“What’s a zoo?” Harry asked
“A bunch of different animals in one place” Ted said.
“Oh I guess of little interest to me then” Harry smiled. “I like this though. She’s warm”
Dora laughed “this is a male horse”
“Oh. What’s his name?”
Dora looked around finally resorting to going to the stall door “Polo” she read off.
“Hello Polo. You’re very nice” Harry said.
“Would you like to ride him?” The stable owner asked.
“Mum?” Harry questioned.
“Can they ride together?” Andy asked the man. Both of her kids were hopelessly clumsy, although Dora had been getting better since Harry came to them.
“Sure. Up you go little lady” he said as he hoisted Dora up onto the horses bare back. “Little man” Harry giggled.
“Now what?” Dora asked.
“We ask him to move” Harry said like that was the most reasonable explanation ever. “Polo, onward my good stead” he said taking a haughty tone. “I think I heard that on the Telly once”
To everyone’s astonishment the horse moved forward in a walk, not minding the door and Dora hastily gripped onto its mane. Harry laughed delightedly.
They were out on the pasture safe within a tall fence when the owner came up to Andy and Ted. “Polo usually hates everyone. Refuses to move with anyone on his back. Your boy is something special” he said.
“We know” Andy replied. “He’s blind” she said looking back at her smiling children.
“Carries himself quite well. You can bring him back any time. Polo would appreciate it, and so would I. Wouldn’t have to work him as much” the man said.
“Thank you.” Ted said. “Do you think he’d be able to ride alone?”
The man seemed to look critically at Harry for a minute before nodding “Yeah. I think he could. Plus Polo would keep him safe. Strong bonds between horses and their riders, he’s obviously chosen your boy as his.”
oOo
They went again to Diagon, to get what they needed. And once again the Goblins were quick, Bogrod seemed to like young Harry and this time brought him a magical compass from his vaults. “So you don’t get lost” He’d said as he put the compass on a chain around his neck. “The chain’s goblin made.”
Dora had never seen anything made by a goblin before and was quite excited by it but Harry frowned. “The compass isn’t though”
“The compass isn’t what?” Dora asked.
“No, the compass is wizard made.” Bogrod said, answering Harry’s question.
“They feel different.” Harry said with a frown. “The chain feels better. Do Goblins make compasses? I think I’d like one of those better”
Bogrod smiled. “One second Harry Tonks” He scurried off and Dora frowned.
“What do you think he’s doing?” Dora asked. Harry shrugged.
“Harry Tonks, this is Head Goblin Brumeck, he is going to give you a goblin made compass.”
“Really?” Harry asked.
“Yes” Brumeck said. “You obviously have a taste for craftsmanship, but when you are done with it, it comes back to the bank.”
“Of course, thank you Brumeck.” The compass replaced the wizarding one on Harry’s chain. “Yes. That feels much better.”
The two Goblins smiled rather creepy smiles, if Dora was the judge, but they left soon after.
oOo
September 1st found Harry in a rather bad mood. He’d been fine since he visited his sister in November and she came back for Yule. It wasn’t until the spring when he really truly missed her. Though Andromeda had told him that he could visit. Harry insisted that he’d be a bother and so he’d stuck it out until late June.
That had led to him clinging to his sister on the platform while he cried into her chest. The elder Weasley’s had shielded him from view while they waited for their parents.
Now that he knew Dora would be away again he wasn’t happy. So Andromeda had asked if he could ride on the train with Dora, after her daughter made the suggestion of course. McGonagall had said yes, as long as they got there and boarded as soon as the train was in the station. And so Harry rode with Dora to the Castle. Andromeda didn’t mind her daughter leaving a few hours earlier than necessary if it made her son happy.
When they got off the train though, her grip on his hand suddenly was gone and he found himself rather lost. He could feel the crisp night air around him and the amount of people was disorienting. He tried to stay in place but ended up backing away from the noise.
And then he bumped into something. Not two seconds later the familiar feeling of magic swirled around the being “Oh! A horse. Sorry I bumped into you. I lost my sister” He said as he stroked the horse’s neck. He heard a small huff.
“Harry!” He heard Dora behind him.
“See she’s coming to me”
“Harry, who are you talking to?”
“The horse.”
“There’s nothing there Harry” But he grabbed her hand and held it to the horse.
“Wow” She said
“Thanks for listening to me. Sorry I didn’t have anything for you.” Harry said as he was led to the carriage.
oOo
Dora wondered why none of the upper years had to them of the invisible horses that pulled the carriages. In her mind that was way cooler than horseless carriages. But she didn’t share her secret with anyone until she saw her house had at the feast after Harry left.
“Professor Sprout!” She called after the woman.
“Yes dear?” She asked.
“Why did no one tell us of the horses that lead the carriages?” Dora asked
“You can see them?” Sprout looked disturbed.
“No, Harry was on the train with me and he bumped into one when we got separated.”
Sprout smiled. “He’s special, your brother. I hope I get him.”
Dora smiled. “So what are they?”
“Thestrals, I’ll get you a passage on them to send to him. I’m sure he’s curious.”
“Thank you Professor Sprout.”
“Of course dear.”
oOo
“Mum” Harry smiled as she caught him from the floo “Hogwarts has horses!” He exclaimed.
“What?” Andy said as her heart stopped.
“Yeah they lead the carriages. I accidentally walked into one” Harry said.
“Those aren’t horses love.”
“They feel like horses. Obviously of the Magical variety” Harry said.
“No. They’re thestrals love. Not horses. Only can be seen by those who have witnessed death. I never saw them myself” Andy said.
“Then how do you know?”
“I’m a Slytherin, I know everything” Andy said with a smile.
Harry smiled back then looked to his feet, it was a strange gesture. She didn’t know where he got it from. “Do you think Carlyle will let me take Polo there? And McGonagall?” Harry asked.
“We can ask.” Andy didn’t hold much hope for that but she didn’t tell her son
“Do you think I can go back and visit them?”
“Who love?”
“The thestrals”
“I can ask McGonagall about that too” Andy said. “Alright off to bed with you.” Harry made his way to his room where Andy was sure Kreacher was waiting.
“Hogwarts Headmistress’ office” she called into the floo.
“Andromeda. I thought I might get a call from you.”
“Yes. Harry felt the Thestrals”
“As did Dora” McGonagall said. “No need to worry she couldn’t see them”
“Thank Salazar” Andy said.
“A Slytherin to the core” McGonagall said.
“Two things. Harry wants to come and visit the thestrals. Would that be possible?”
“Of course. He can have Hagrid accompany him. And the second”
“Harry has a horse.” Andromeda blurted “well horses live like twenty to thirty years. He’s the same age as Harry, same birthday even, Harry asked if he could come to Hogwarts with him”
“Quite an unorthodox pet” McGonagall said.
“We didn’t mean to get him. He apparently chose Harry. According to the stable master at least. We visit him every day. The stable masters a squib so he doesn’t mind if Kreacher takes him”
“He has a way with living things that one” McGonagall said. “Maybe, maybe we can move him here now? The Hogwarts horse. I’ll have to ask Hagrid and Kettleburn but it should be fine. Then it won’t be a favorite’s thing. It’ll just be a Hogwarts horse.”
“You’re a blessing Minerva”
“Don’t say that until it’s done.”
oOo
“Can’t say I’ll miss Polo” Carlyle said “But Harry. Him I’ll miss”
“He’ll come back to see you I’m sure. He quite likes you” Ted said as they watched Minerva transport the horse to Hogwarts.
Harry ran up and hugged Carlyle’s legs “I’ll be back Carlyle. No telling what’ll happen after Hogwarts. Not to mention I’d miss you long before I ever left”
Ted laughed “Told you so”
Carlyle wasn’t even that old. He was nineteen and had grown up on the land he now owned. His biological parents, purebloods, had sent him off to a squib orphanage. He’d been there until he was ten, then was adopted by an older couple who had no children of their own. His father had shown him how to work with the horses and when he passed away two years ago Carlyle had taken over.
His mother, after losing her love, battled cancer for a year and a half before succumbing to the disease. Two months later, his father’s favorite type of horse, a challenge, had taken to the young raven. And Carlyle’s heart wasn’t far behind.
oOo
It was the weekend and the Headmistress had allowed Harry to come visit the thestrals. After a brief stop at the Hufflepuff common room to say hi to Dora she led the boy to Hagrid’s hut.
They weren’t even out the door when the horse of Hogwarts, known too few as Polo, came trotting up to them.
Harry giggled. “I missed you too Polo. I’ll be coming daily hopefully, like at Carlyle’s. But I had to stay home. I was sick” he said to the horse.
Minerva honestly though Andy had been mistaken. That the horse hated everyone. She’d gotten him from the stables and he’d been aloof since. While he loved roaming the vast grounds, none of the students could go near him. He barely put up with Kettleburn, who fed him.
But before her very eyes the aloof and scared beast turned into a cuddly loving pet. Harry Tonks never ceased to amaze.
“Come Polo. We’ll introduce you to Hagrid” and again to Minerva’s astonishment the beast followed its young rider, who stopped after two steps. “Am I going the right way?” He asked which took her out of her stupor.
“Sorry. This way” she said as she took his hand.
Neither noticed hundreds of pairs of eyes watching the three in astonishment from the castle.
“McGonagall” Hagrid greeted then stopped at the sight of the horse. “How’d you get beasty here to follow you?”
Harry giggled “this is Polo Mr. Hagrid. He’s my horse. But that’s a secret. I’m Harry Tonks, I came to see the thestrals” he said hopefully.
Hagrid looked at the boy with pity. “Hopefully you can’t see them”
“Oh.” Harry exclaimed and McGonagall cursed herself. She didn’t explain well enough to Hagrid it seemed. “Mr. Hagrid. I can’t see at all. But I can feel some magical creatures in a weird way”
Hagrid made a face “like goblins and house elves?”
Harry scrunched his nose “unfortunately no. Not Goblins and house elves. But Thestrals and magical plants, so far” he said one hand in McGonagall’s and one on his horse.
“Strange” Hagrid said. “Well this way then. Not sure if they get along with horses” he muttered to himself.
McGonagall had been able to see the thestrals, she had seen them after the first war. It was startling at the time. But what she had never seen was one willingly walk up to a human that held no meat. And she most definitely had never seen one nuzzle, NUZZLE, a human!
“Hello” The youngest Tonks said. “Would you introduce me to your friends?” He asked and a skeletal wing fit itself behind the boys back before leading him to the newest colt. Harry reached out his hand. “Oh!” He exclaimed. “A baby”
McGonagall walked with growing fascination as the young boy was led around the herd, introduced to each member. “Is that all?” He asked the first one who bowed its head “Polo!” he called out. The horse dutifully went to him and seemed to be sized up by the herd. “This is Polo, friend” Harry said putting a hand on each muzzle. The thestral bumped the horse with its head. Harry smiled.
“Okay.” He said as he walked away from them both. “Hagrid? McGonagall?” He called out and the headmistress went to him. “He’s part of the herd now”
McGonagall smiled. “I think Kettleburn will like you Harry”
oOo
Harry went daily to visit his horse, sometimes Dora would be seen with the two, and other times he’d be alone. Kreacher, was made a member of the staff of Hogwarts so that Harry had free reign to come and go as he pleased, Kreacher was not expected to do any work, he just was keyed into the wards.
Harry quite liked Kettleburn. Kettleburn was apparently also a Hufflepuff, and he let Harry meet some of the magical creatures on his daily trips to the castle. Kettleburn was annoyed that Polo didn’t like him, until he saw the horse shun even Harry’s closest friends. The only other person allowed near him was Dora, and only when her brother was present. If anyone else was with Harry the horse would make himself scarce.
Kettleburn was quite astonished to see the thestrals get along with the horse, and to see the boy get along with the Thestrals. He told Minerva as much, and hoped that Harry would come back the next year. They’d have to talk with his parents of course, but he was pretty sure they’d say yes.
oOo
For his present at Yule Harry asked if Carlyle could join them. His parents were all too happy to agree.
“Thank you for inviting me” Carlyle said. “How’s Polo?”
“Fine, I think he’ll need his hooves trimmed soon.” Harry said, “Can you do that? You can come to Hogwarts and meet his herd!”
“His herd?” Carlyle asked.
“Harry introduced Polo to the thestral herd when he visited” Dora said. “Apparently they took him under their wings, literally.”
“What’s a thestral?” Carlyle asked. Harry ran off, Carlyle was always amazed at how well the boy moved.
“Here” Harry handed him a book. “It’s a loan from Professor Sprout, I’m sure she won’t mind you reading it.”
Carlyle looked at the book in shock, he knew it to be magical. “Thanks Harry”
“You’re welcome. Polo quite likes them. He doesn’t like the students though” the face Harry made had everyone in stitches. “What?” Harry asked innocently.
“Presents” Andy said without preamble.
“Oh!” Harry exclaimed. “Open mine first!” He said as he sat on the floor next to Kreacher.
Carlyle was surprised to have one from Harry as well, but he didn’t understand. “Harry?”
“Yes?”
“I’m a squib you know.”
“Yes.”
“I can’t use a wand.”
“Not a normal wand, no.”
Carlyle cocked his head at the child.
“I think squibs aren’t necessarily without magic, but rather are good with one subject, not enough magic to ‘count’ in the wizarding world. And certainly not enough to get through school. So we have to find your subject” Harry said. “I think its magical creatures, but it could just as likely be something else.”
“But-“ Carlyle began.
“Don’t argue” Dora said. “He made that especially for you”
Carlyle looked at the wand in question. “What?”
“I made it” Harry said. “It’s Yew, seven inches, the core is experimental” He said. “It just felt like you when I found it in the forest” Harry said.
“Thank you” Carlyle said. “What’s the carving?”
“I think it’s Celtic, but I don’t know. Ollivander carved what I saw, he said it was very short.” Harry said.
Carlyle watched as Kreacher opened Harry’s gifts for him. He got a surprising amount of books.
“He has a reading device” Dora had whispered to him at one point in the evening. “And a drawing one, would you like to see a drawing of his?” He had nodded.
“It’s a thestral, or what Harry sees a thestral as” Dora said as she handed over a drawing, it looked similar to a horse, although mostly made up of lines, including a skeleton and wings. Most of the drawing was the skeleton only a few red lines thrown in.
Carlyle left the Tonks’ household that night feeling like a member of the family. They were accepting of him and his past, and Harry especially was a kind-hearted boy. He hoped he could spend more time with him.