Chapter Text
The last two days Harry had been texting with his uncle. Which seemed to be going well . He actually felt excited to meet him. They had texted about what to do and bring. Which seemed to be nothing. When Harry had asked what to bring and wear. will told him nothing and anything. But he didn’t turn down the offer of chocolates. He also offered to buy him a plain ticket if needed. Which he had hastily turned down not wanting the hassle but appreciating the sentiment.
They had talked about other things too. Mostly about me in school and his work. Which fittingly for the subject was a teacher, but a Muggel school. He also briefly mentioned , or hinted at him having children. How many Harry did not know because he had not explicitly stated it strangely enough, just implied.
He had thought about texting one of his friends about it but had decided not to. He felt like it needed to be his decision. If he was to reach out to anyone it would probably be Hermione. Which he would but after. He didn’t really have the time to procrastinate and it was definitely too late now.
He had packed lightly which included various chocolates and other candies( in case there were kids) and to wills request no wine. Evidently they already had too much. And was now fixing himself up in the mirror. Although his uncle had told he could wear anything he wanted. He also had mentioned that his husband liked to get them all dolled up, and that he was a snob, on multiple occasions. He ran a little moose through his hair looking at his reflection. He ended up with dress pants, a loose button up and possibly a tan trench coat. Which he knew was basic but never seemed to fail. Especially when you’re trying to look like you’re not trying too hard.
He glanced at the time then back to his own reflection, deciding he looked presentable. Picking up his bag and taking a deep breath. He WAS going to have a good time, he promised himself. He was. He took one last look at the address and photos then he apparated.
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It was a clear sunny day and the wind brushed against my cheek. Looking up I saw the house. It looked nice, big, friendly. Hesitantly I started walking to the door. Preparing for the possible embarrassment of going to the wrong house. Which I had sadly done on multiple occasions. Up the patio to the double doors. I reached out hesitantly and nocked ‘dun dun du dun dun’. Not long after I heard a click and the door opened. But I didn’t expect it to be a young girl.
She had light curly hair, dark hazel eyes and was smiling up at me.
“ you must be Harry right!” She exclaims and I smile back “ yes I am, I guess that means I’m at the right place.”. She nods and starts to turn “ unless there’s anywhere else in Baltimore you need to be. follow me!”. So he supposed that was a yes on kids. Walking in is a bit …different from what he expected.
She stopped me in the hall and took my coat hanging it on the rack then led me to the living room. It was finely furnished. Filled with flowers, floral designs, and animal skulls. Expensive looking paintings of gods and goddesses and a piano. They were all very nice. Which only confused me more because it made the feeling of unease I was experiencing even more ridiculous. The girl called out to her dad telling him that I was here. I hear steps and walks in a well built man with curly brown hair. He is looking at the ground but when he looks up he smiles. It’s my uncle.
“ Harry! You’re here” still not looking in my eyes but smiling all the same. “ oh, yes I am, thank you again for inviting me” I say with a chuckle. His eyes look dull. “ Thank you for coming. I see you have already met my daughter , everly.”
“Eve, why don’t you show him to his room so he can set his stuff down?” She looked up from where she was zoning out. “ huu, ya ok!” She grabs my hand and pulls me along with her. Will looks back at me as I’m whisked away “ come back once you're done” he calls back to us. She lets go soon after and looks quite a bit embarrassed about it. The rest of the house was the same as the living room. Very nice and a bit creepy. She pointed out a few things along the way like the dining room and the loo. Then she stopped at a door and opened it. “ this one will be yours”. This room was like the others expected for it being a bit less personal. I walked to the bed and set my stuff down.
“Oh , I just remembered I have a gift” I say , pulling the chocolate from my bag. Her eyes are practically shining as I show her the basket filled with treats upon treats. Chocolate frogs, jelly slugs, butterbear lollipops, chocolates and any other form you can imagine. Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, Chocolate Cauldrons, Sherbet Lemons, an assortment of canary creams, fudge flies,blood pops, and last but not least some more respectable chocolate. He may have gone a little overboard…. But she seemed to be happy about it. “ thank you very much!” She says as I place it in her hands.
“ You're very welcome…so Everly, how old are you?” I say trying to make small talk as we make our way back to the living room. “ I’m like, about to be 12”
“Oh really, I thought you were older?”
“ yep, guess i hit puberty fast” she chuckles out.
“ oh so are you going to hogworts?”
“ still thinking about it” she shrugs “ so…you’re British right? What’s that like?”
I blink at her for a moment. Not knowing how to answer.
“ What an odd question, yes I am British and it’s like …. Ummmmm "I winced trying to think of something. Just then I am saved by us arriving at the living room. Where Will was sitting, pouring 2 glasses of wine. “ Daddy! Look what Harry’s got me!” She exclaims presenting the basket of chocolates to him. “ oh that’s kind of him, did you say thank you ?” His hand reached out and patted her head “ Mhhu! I did, can I ?”. “That’s good but you know you can’t eat sweets before dinner” she sticks her pink lip out in a pout “aw ok”
“ take it to the kitchen and check in on your father” and with that she prances off.
“ she seems like a good kid!”
“Yes, sit-“ he gestures to the seat next to him. Settling in I noticed him scanning my face except for my eyes which he refused to look into. “She um… said that she was turning 12.. is she going to go to wizarding school ?”
“ yes, she didn’t want to go at the time. scared to be alone, you know. She is a timid girl, even though she is older , when a nightmare comes she still needs to be held.. we might send her second year though.”
“ so, how has work been?” He sighs at my question. “ stressful, Jack won't let me live a peaceful life as a teacher. He feels the need to drag me in to more work”
“Oh you do other work?”
“Crime consultant” he hums out.. my eyes widened. That was also definitely not what I expected.
His eyes never left my face. Looking for something? I squirmed in discomfort. And, finally, his eyes widened in realization of my discomfort.
“ oh sorry..” he turned away sheepishly” it’s just …. You look so much like him”
Suddenly the discomfort building up dispersed. Of course he missed his dead brother. Of course seeing someone that looked like him would make him stare.
He chuckled “ you probably have heard it a million times before”
“ yes, yes. You look so much like your father… except your eyes of course, like your mother’s” as soon as I had said it his eyes flicked up to meet mine.
It was a subtle thing really. Getting your memory rummaged through. Except when you realize what’s happening. Not all your barriers broken, no, more like a needle through fabric, or water through the cracks of a rock. Inescapable.
Then as soon as it starts it stops. Will is turned away looking like he had made the worst mistake in his life.
“Oh ummm.. Harry, I didn’t mean to.. it's just that-““ that will has an exceedingly beautiful mind and strong enough magic to rival it.” Comes a voice from the hallway.
“ oh, Hannibal”