1991- Spring
Spring was upon them, Yule was rather uneventful, Carlyle had gone to buy a new colt and therefore wasn’t there, Maimeo had to be at some strange hearing that Harry didn’t understand, and Kettleburn had gone to a dragon reserve, which meant it was just the Tonks family at their house, and it felt a little strange.
Dora had pulled him aside before they went back though. “Harry, I have to tell you something.”
“What is it Dora?” His sister sounded worried.
“I…I think I like Bill.” Dora said.
Harry didn’t understand.
“Remember when I had a crush on Carlyle?” Dora asked.
“Yes.” Harry answered.
“I think I like Bill like that.” Dora said.
Harry smiled. “Really? Bill could be my big brother, for real?”
“You’re getting ahead of me here, little brother. He might not like me back.” Dora said.
“How could he not like you back, you’re awesome.”
Dora laughed. “Thanks for the booster little brother.”
Harry smiled, anything that made Dora happy was good.
“Do you like anyone, little brother? I think I started to like boys at your age.” Dora said.
Harry thought about it for a second. “I don’t really know what liking someone like mum likes dad means or feels like Dora.”
There was a pause and the only reason that Harry knew that Dora was thinking about it was because he was holding her hand and her magic was swirling around.
“Well…It kind of feels like butterflies in your stomach, or sometimes heat rushes to your face…or your heart does an almighty thud when you realize they’re near you.” Dora explained.
“Oh…That’s never happened to me. Do you think I’m broken?” Harry asked.
“No, you’re not broken little brother. You just probably haven’t met someone like that yet. Or you haven’t realized that you like someone in that way. Look how long I’ve known Bill and I’m just now realizing that he’s an amazing person that I’d like to try and be with.” Dora said.
Harry thought about that, they had known Bill for seven years now, if Dora just started to like him that way it could take that long for him to like someone that way too. “Thanks Dora.”
Dora huffed a breath, since Harry couldn’t see the small smile on her face she’d started to unconsciously make up for it in audio clues.
oOo
When they got back they got even further into Divination, Harry kept getting the same message when he touched the crystal ball until April fools. He had come in early seeing as the students were now stressing over the OWLs, Trelawney had placed him in front of a Rose quartz ball that she had ordered special, something about the energy being different. Apparently there were all manner of crystal balls out there, including: clear quartz, smoky quartz, black obsidian, rose quartz, citrine and amethyst. She had only the basic clear quartz for most of the students but was getting one of each type for Harry. The Rose quartz had arrived first.
Harry placed his hand on the ball only to hear something different. “The Tricksters fall upon the sun…Should one hold a feather… the other a cream…the tricksters fall upon the sun…their reign be gone with the new moon.”
Harry was gasping as he pulled back, while the Rose quartz seemed to channel less magic, a new prophecy was overwhelming at a good time. He had gotten used to the amount of magic that had come with the old one.
“That is strange” Trelawney said. “Tonight is a new moon, and the sun has not yet risen. It is strange that we would have such a prophecy on such a day.”
“Do you think I’m meant to do something about this one?” Harry asked.
“I…I do, which goes against most of my lessons. But for you to have a prophecy on the same day that fits the criteria…Do you know any tricksters?” Trelawney asked.
“The twins!” Harry shouted. “Tinky!”
“Tinky be coming for Master Harry.”
“Can you take me to the Weasley twins?” Harry asked. They were gone in the blink of an eye.
Harry had expected to end up in their dorm room, but instead he knew they were by the lake. He’d taken to not wearing shoes, which was semi-dangerous but allowed him to “see” almost everyone, usually they were just blank spots were magic should be, and he knew that was a person.
“Fred! George!” He called out.
“Harry, mate” George said. “I think you’ve deafened me!” He shouted. “I can’t hear a thing, can you Forge?”
“Gred, I can’t hear! I can’t hear” Fred joked. Harry reached out his hand in the direction of Fred, they hadn’t told anyone what the requirements for him to “see” them were, and so he still couldn’t see George.
Fred took his hand and Harry could see that something was in his hand “What are you holding?” He asked.
Fred started but answered. “A cream.”
“George what are you holding?” Harry asked.
“A feather, why?” George said.
“Whatever you two are planning, don’t do it.” Harry said with a serious tone.
“Why not? This is a great plan!” George defended.
“What’s the plan?” Harry asked.
“We made something called a canary cream, it turns the eater into a canary, we’re going to feed it to the squid and then smuggle him into the great hall.” George said proudly.
Harry started to go red from indignation. “You touch one tentacle on that squid and you will have me to deal with.”
If someone were to be spectating the event, they would see a bright red child, standing at about four feet tall with messy black hair yelling at two older teens, standing at about five foot seven and looking completely cowed.
“Alright mate” George said.
“We won’t touch him.” Fred finished, a rare occurrence around Harry, but it was habit. They usually tried to cater to him and speak in their own sentences.
oOo
Later that day it was found out and announced to the school that the giant squid had lain eggs that evening, apparently the assumed male squid was actually female. How she got impregnated, no one knew. But squids only lay eggs once in their lives, and luckily no one had used magic on the squid since she was impregnated because she would have lost them all.
Dora saw the twins looking at her brother strangely at dinner that night. She didn’t know why, but Harry had stayed for each meal. The twins were looking at Harry with their mouths hanging open, she made a note to ask him about it later.
oOo
Harry was sitting on the pitch enjoying the wind. Polo had gone to the herd, apparently he’d been able to sire a colt with the thestral Harry was very worried about it and so was Kettleburn but the herd would only allow Harry near them for so long and Kettleburn not at all.
“Hey harry” Fred said as he nearly crash landed. Both the twins had made the team as beaters, that’s not to say they were necessarily good, but they were the best Gryffindor currently had to offer. Cedric was also on the Hufflepuff team as seeker. “Here” he said as he placed something in Harry’s hand.
“What is it?” Harry asked.
“Open it” Fred said, Harry could make out the sound of Oliver, George and Charlie in the background.
Harry opened the small package to hear fluttering wings, he reached out to feel a snitch he was confused when he let go though. Reaching back out and holding the snitch in hand he felt something different about it.
“I came up with it after Bill took George and me to the muggle train system” Fred said “there was a woman there, she was blond and she had this dog, you know. A guide dog and I knew you were struggling flying and so...it’s keyed to you and you can disable it with a word so it’s on hand”
Harry was busy studying the magic.
“And the goblins made it cause Tonks said that you like their magic...and I did all of the spells and it should fit on your chain that you have the compass on, though that might get in the way…we might have to get another chain…it should avoid people, it still has those spells but it’s supposed to stay near you…” Fred rambled and probably would have kept on rambling except Harry engulfed him in a hug.
“Thank you Fred. You and George are brilliant.” Harry said.
“Oh…well…actually this one’s just me. I’m better with charms, George is better with potions.” Fred said.
“Well thank you. I know you guys like to work together on things like this.” Harry said with a large smile.
“It was no problem Harry. I’m hoping it works out. Do you want to try it out?” Fred asked hopefully.
“Actually, today is my day for lunch with Dora…I can’t miss it. I think it’s about that time. But I’ll try it out soon, you can bring me to the pitch when you have a spare minute.” Harry said.
“Oh…Okay…Have fun with Tonks then Harry!” Fred said in a fake cheery voice and went off. Harry was a little confused by his behavior but went inside to find Dora.
oOo
“Ready for lunch litter brother?” Dora asked.
“Yep” Harry said.
“Everything alright?” Dora asked.
“Yeah…no…I don’t know…Fred was acting weird.” Harry answered.
“What do you classify as weird for the twins? They were serious?” Dora asked jokingly.
“No he gave me this snitch to help me fly but then was weird when I said I had to go to lunch with you.” Harry said.
Dora raised an eyebrow. “Can I see?” She asked. Harry handed over the snitch, she was amazed at the spell work. “He made this for you?” Harry nodded. “What does it do?”
“It’s supposed to work like a seeing eye dog but for flying. It’s keyed to me, and avoids the other people on the pitch.” Harry answered.
Dora raised both eyebrows at that. It must have taken the twins a while and a lot of thought to make Harry this. “The twins are really clever” Dora said.
“It was actually just Fred for that.” Harry said.
“Oh.” Dora said a little startled. And then it started to make sense. “Ooooh!” she chuckled. “Don’t worry about it Harry, just make sure he’s there when you try it out.”
Harry nodded.