Chapter Text
Hal knew he still should overdo it, but he could tell his relationship with Ley was suffering from their time apart during the year, and they both felt like there wasn’t a minute of the summer holidays to waste when they could be getting up to their usual shenanigans – so to be honest, he wasn’t saying no to anything, as long as he could get away with it with his aunt . He paid for it sometimes in the evening, collapsing into bed sore and drained and feeling like he could sleep for a year, but he wouldn’t trade Ley’s happiness for the world. And he needed some sort of ‘back to normal’ himself, after this year.
Also, surely a pool party wasn’t too much exertion, right? Harry Tienman was hosting – Hal and Ley had known him since kindergarten, he was one of the Harrys that had made Hal’s nickname necessary (his was already short for Harold) and he'd invited all the old crew, Jeremy, Mike and Andy. It was great getting together with their childhood schoolmates again, they felt like they had some of their old mojo back. Some of them were still going to the same school as Ley, and the day before the party, the two boys spent hours elaborating stories about Hal’s special boarding school.
Some of the suggestions had gotten so ridiculous they were both choking with laughter by the end of it. In the end, they’d settled on the fact Hal had gotten a scholarship for the school’s special art program, and would a single mother with two kids like Mrs Dursley really pass on free tuition fee to a fancy school.
“So, you a posh lad now?” One of their mates asked.
“I’ll show you posh.” Hal replied before pushing him into the pool.
That was pretty much the end of that conversation. A kid they also knew from their childhood, but were less close to, suggested art was gay, but after Ley accidentally elbowed him in the stomach and made him throw up his barbecue, that was the end of that one too. The rest of their friends had seen Hal’s drawings and thought he could be like Banksy, and now that guy was cool.
Hal had a slightly harder time explaining away his new scar. His old school friends were used to the one on his forehead, even if he kept it mostly concealed, they’d spent enough of their earlier years together that they knew it was there and that Hal had gotten it in the car accident that had killed his parents (the official story). But while splashing around in their swimsuits, they didn’t fail to notice the fresh one on his arm.
“Mate, how did you get that?”
“I got stabbed.” Hal deadpanned.
Which might have been able to fly, and wasn’t even that far off from the truth. Unfortunately, Ley answered at the exact same time.
“He got shot.”
An oversight on their part not to have prepared that answer, but their mates laughed it o ff as one of their pranks.
“Your school sounds safe.”
“You have no idea.” Hal snorted.
“No, but for real?”
Hal sighed, like the ‘truth’ was embarrassing to tell.
“Climbed a tree.” He said. “Fell off the tree. A branch went right through my arm. It was ugly.”
That seemed to do it, and Hal and Ley exchanged a relieved look when the rest of them moved on. They weren’t that interested, to be honest – beyond the catching up, Hal was not, in fact, the main event at this party. Which was quite refreshing, if you asked him. No, the real excitement was the twins. Harry Tienman's father had had a previous marriage in Germany to a stunning model, resulting in twins who lived with their mother. The stunning model had a fashion event or other lined up, and rather than leave two fifteen year-olds alone in Munich for the whole summer, she’d shipped them over to England and their father.
The last time Francezka and Nils Tienman had been seen around here, they’d been twelve – beautiful children, with their blond hair, bright skin and brighter eyes, but twelve. Harry and his friends at the time were barely ten and not really interested. Now, though, Hal and his friends were thirteen or bordering it, very much starting to look at girls, and the twins were in full bloom – Fran was practically a woman and she definitely took after her mother.
“She’s so hot.” Andy said dreamily, probably for the fifth time, when Harry T. was out of earshot.
The other boys nodded enthusiastically, Hal among them, and he did agree – but he also found his gaze drawn to Nils more than he’d admit. Or maybe to the picture they painted together, all their glorious German gorgeousness doubled as they stood side by side, looking both similar and different enough to be alluring. It was like being in front of the ice cream counter and checking out all the flavours that all looked more delicious than the next, when your aunt had just repeated to you that you were only allowed one scoop, even if you tried to argue – But I can’t choose!
He didn’t mention it, of course. Maybe their close friends were cool enough not to think art was gay, but they’d definitely think looking at another boy this way was gay; and Hal did not particularly want to find out what they’d make of that. Plus, he didn’t really see the need to think about it too hard or make a decision of any kind. He didn’t feel read to explore what sex could entail just yet, were it with a boy or a girl.
O f course it turned out Hal wasn’t as subtle in his glances as he thought he was, and it was very lucky that the twins stuck together for a vast majority of the time, because when his friends started teasing him, at least they mistook who he’d been checking out.
“Hal has such a crush on your sister.” Jeremy snickered towards the end of the day, when they were all collapsed by the side of the pool with a cold drink , pleasantly tired .
“No I don’t.” Hal defended himself immediately.
“Mate.” Ley did not come to his aid. “You’ve been staring at her, like, all day.”
“Oh, like you haven’t.” Hal guffawed. “Andy’s the one who keeps making wounded puppy sounds every time she moves. She so hot. ” He mimicked in a whimper. “ She so pwetty. ”
Andy shoved him as they all laughed, though Harry T ’s laugh was a bit strained.
“You’re all gross.” He told them. “ And you should all stop, because Nils will probably murder you if you get close. Just saying.”
“ Hal, Ley!” Harry’s father called from the house. “Your mom’s here!”
“ Gotta go.” Ley said as they both jumped to their feet. “Wave goodbye to your lover.”
“Bugger off.” Hal replied – and forced himself to not glance back at where Francezka and Nils were sitting.
T hey made their way into the house to find their clothes and get collected – they had walked ther e earlier, but it took about forty-five minutes, so when Hal’s aunt had offered to drive them back, they hadn’t refused.
“Oh, Ley.” She sighed when she caught sight of them . “What did I say about sun cream?”
“Hal didn’t use any either !” Ley immediately pointed his finger at his cousin.
“ Unlike you, Hal tans .” Petunia reminded him with a long-suffering sigh, gesturing herself at Hal’s golden skin, contrasting with Ley’s lobster-red complexion . “We’ve talked about this.”
L ey decided to go with his favourite strategy for getting out of an argument : ignore her. “Can we come back tomorrow?” He asked.
Hal’s aunt raised an unimpressed eyebrow. “Have you been invited?”
“ It’s fine, Mrs Dursley.” Harry intervened, him and the others having followed shortly after Hal and Ley. “Dad said I could have friends over to enjoy the pool whenever. Right dad?”
“It’s alright.” Mr Tienman confirmed. “We might as well make the most of this nice weather, who knows how long it’ll last!”
“That is very kind of you.” Petunia smiled at him. “But not tomorrow, Ley. Your aunt is coming to dinner.”
Ley made a face. His father’s sister, Aunt Marge, didn’t visit very often, but neither of the boys liked it when she did – Hal even less than Ley, as at least the woman doted on her actual nephew. She had nothing but scorn and slurs to offer Hal.
Upon a warning look from his mother, however, Ley did not voice his obvious disappointment, and they said their goodbyes to their friends promising they’d meet up again soon enough.
* *
*
Draco wrote to Hal every day, sometimes several times a day. He didn’t send all the letters – because Hal would answer every single one of them, with the same hint of desperation Draco felt, which he knew would be veering into the territory of co-dependency. And while Hal wasn’t a possessing evil maniac, Draco was pretty sure one co-dependent relationship was enough for a year, possibly for a lifetime.
Writing to Hal did uncomfortably remind him of writing in the diary, but at least his parchment wasn’t sentient and didn’t answer back, so Draco could just picture Hal’s smile and his stupid hair and bright green eyes at the other end, and it made him feel better.
T hey told each other about the nightmares. So far, Draco hadn’t had a single night without one, and from what Hal had written back, neither had he. Hal tried to joke about it – how his aunt must go through her coffee reserves quicker than usual these days and how his cousin was just about ready to club him over the head if he woke him up one more time – but they both knew it wasn’t good.
Severus had told Draco they would fade, that they both would get over the shock, and that things would be much easier when they had fully recovered their strength, both physical and phycological. On that front, b eing alone at home with only his mother, the house elves and Sev’s occasional visit wasn’t good for Draco, because he didn’t have much else to do but think about the even ts of the last few days of term. E ven if he felt much better now and his magical core was pretty much back to normal, it would probably take the entire summer for him to feel a hundred percent again.
He knew it’d be the same for Hal, though from his latest letter, he seemed to at least be partaking in some Muggle activities with his old school friends (Draco hadn’t entirely understood the concept of a ‘tenpin bowling’ but he’d gathered it was a fun thing to do) that provided him with a welcome distraction. Draco would have equally needed one, but he still refused his mother’s offer to invite some friends over. By friends, he knew she mostly meant other Pureblood children who lived nearby or just a Floo call away , and he couldn’t deal with them right now – except Pan, but he had his own issues to deal with at the moment. A s far as Draco kn e w, he was still trying to figure out a way to come out to his parents . He needed to spend as many waking hours with them as possible looking for the right moment.
Of the other people Draco did want to see, well, he knew Hal was spending some much needed time with his family, after the school year and before spending part of their holidays in France together, and taking a bit of a break from magic to help his recovery; similarly for Hermione, she seemed to be quite keen to have “Muggle holidays” and spend them with her parents just as she used to; Anthony was taking care of his little sister as both his parents were working; Draco knew Neville would just not ask his grandmother, who had very strong opinions about the Malfoys (probably all dating back to when they were formed the 1950’s and unchanged since); and Ron was in Egypt, a family trip the Weasleys had decided to take to visit Ron’s big brother Bill, after winning the Grand Prize Galleon Draw from the Daily Prophet .
A nd speaking of the Prophet , one thing that certainly hadn’t helped Draco’s stress levels was reading all about Sirius Black escaping Azkaban. However he had managed that, it was nothing reassuring, and Draco had had nightmares th e night after first reading the news that for once, didn’t have giant snakes chasing him or Hal lying dead and bloodied on the floor, but instead a crazed murderer coming to get him. He’d still woken up in a cold sweat, nauseous and a strangled scream stuck in his throat.
Draco’s mother hadn’t commented, though he’d seen her lips purse slightly as she was reading about her cousin on the paper’s front page, and he’d not dared try and discuss it with her. He decided not to mention it to Hal either, in the letters he did send him. He didn’t know if Hal had heard about it – he obviously didn’t subscribe to the Daily Prophet , but the latest news were that Black was so dangerous they were issuing warnings in the Muggle press as well – but whenever he remembered the one and only conversation they’d had about the man who had been James Potter’ best friend, he felt like it would be best not to bring it up.
On the other hand, didn’t Hal deserve to know this one rather important element in the story of what had happened to his parents? This wasn’t public knowledge, but enough people knew and remembered the even t s of twelve years ago – Draco himself had heard his mother talk about it on the Floo, when he must have been maybe sever or eight, to a distant cousin who now lived in Italy. And w ith Black out and about, it was probably only a matter of time until Hal found out the ugly truth – Sirius had been James’ best friend, and he had betrayed him and his wife in the worst way possible.
Either way, Draco wasn’t going to put that in a letter. But he was going to have to think about whether he wanted to tell Hal – if he was going to find out, Draco thought maybe it would be better coming from him – and when. Summertime in France did not seem like an adequate place and time for it. Maybe on their way back to Hogwarts? It would feel like lying in the meantime, every minute he’d spend with Hal. But Draco hoped Hal would forgive him for that and understand he’d wanted to spare the holidays.
“Draco?” A soft knock on the door pulled him out of his thoughts, and he turned to see his mother smiling softly at him, two pieces of parchment in her hand.
“Another letter from Aunt Andromeda?” He guessed.
The two sisters had been exchanging owls ever since Narcissa had reached out. Andromeda had been wary at first, but when it had become clear her sister was sincere, she had been more than eager to make up for lost time.
“Yes.” Draco’s mother confirmed. “And this one’s for you.”
She handed him one of the sheets, which Draco could see was written in the same neat handwriting as the other.
Dear Draco,
Your mother had told me a lot about you in the past couple of weeks and I cannot tell you how impatient I am to meet you. I was always regretful that falling outs between adults prevented children like you and your cousin to meet and grow up together. Dora of course shares my enthusiasm and cannot wait to show you and your friends around. Your mother used to love France – I know she still does – and I am sure you will to.
Dearly looking forward to your arrival,
All my love,
Your Aunt Andromeda
“This is nice of her.” Draco commented.
“She’s right.” His mother nodded thoughtfully. “I am sorry I took that away from you – the opportunity to have more family. You are an only child, and after Lucius… it shouldn’t have mattered what choices Andy made, I should have realised that sooner. They are our only close relatives, now.”
Draco had a brief thought for his Aunt Bellatrix, but We Did Not Talk About Bellatrix Lestrange any more than We Did Not Talk About Sirius Black. At least it wasn’t her who had escaped from Azkaban, he thought with a shudder. The news about his mother’s cousin might have given him nightmares, but from what information he had heard and collected about her eldest sister over the years, Sirius Black’s antics were almost child play in comparison.
“ I understand.” Draco assured her – and he did.
He was still amazed she had even changed her mind at all, so it wasn’t like it felt long overdue to him. He knew his mother had always tolerated and navigated Pureblood society with graceful ease, but she didn’t have any real friends. Seeing her interact with Hal’s aunt was the first time Draco had felt like she could truly have one, and having her sister back on board was another step against her isolation. In his opinion, things were looking up.
Feeling cheerful for the first time since the holidays had started, he grabbed a quill.
“I’ll reply to her right away.”
* *
*
Hal had tried not to think about the beautiful German twins , because he found it confusing as hell, but as fate would have it, he was forced to face his own internal identity crisis .
The next day, on the condition they would be back before 3pm to help her make sure everything was ready for dinner with Aunt Marge, Petunia let the boys go and play in the park – Ley couldn’t get enough of the new football he’d received for his birthday.
It was a hot day, probably even hotter than the previous day – making the boys feel even more gutted they couldn’t be by the pool. The kind of heat that would make The Sun start popping out outrageous front pages about the probable end of times, people worry about a hosepipe ban and little old ladies comment that it wasn’t like that back in 1957.
So naturally, after half an hour of playing, they were both dying from the heat , and Ley decided to run to the park café and buy them some ice lollies. Hal sought some shade to wait for him, and found himself in a nice and cool little tree cove, where he challenged himself to throw the ball as far up as one selected branch, then another, higher and higher each time.
“Oh, hi.”
Startled, he missed the ball coming back down, which almost hit him in the face. He let it roll uselessly at his feet as he found himself face to face with Fran cezka and Nils.
“ Harry, was it?” Fran smiled.
“Err, yeah.” He answered, flustered.
She was wearing a yellow and orange dress in a flowery print , and her hair was up in a messy bun, and she looked absolutely lovely. Nils smiled at him too, shiny teeth, hair like sunlight , bright blue eyes, and Hal couldn't help but think Shit, he’s hot as well.
“We noticed you yesterday.” Nils said.
“Did you?” Hal swallowed, his throat suddenly dry.
“You were certainly the better looking of the lot.” Fran commented.
Nils rolled his eyes, but he kept grinning at Hal.
“We were pretty sure you’d noticed us too.” He added.
“Well.” Hal mumbled. “Everyone was looking at you.”
“Everyone was looking at her.” Nils argued. “You… you were looking at us.”
Hal didn’t think there was a point in arguing, so he just looked down at the ground churlishly.
“Hey.” Nils said softly.
Surprisingly cold fingers tipped his chin up, and the older boy tilted his head to scoop Hal’s gaze up in his, smiling.
“We don’t mind.” He said.
Both twins were right up in his personal space now. Hal could smell Fran’s sweet perfume – or maybe just her shampoo – and Nils’ sweat, just a slight musky scent, nothing unpleasant, and he found himself short of breath. They really were beautiful, and if they kept looking at him like they might want to lick him for a minute longer, Hal might have to review his assumption that he wasn’t particularly interested in exploring his sexual orientation yet.
“ Did you cho o se?” Fran asked sweetly.
“ Choose?” Hal repeated. He felt very hot, and it wasn’t only the weather.
“Which one of us you prefer.” She continued.
H al opened and closed his mouth uselessly, and both twins laughed lightly.
“You’re right, how can you choose.” Nils said. “It’s not like we’ve given you much to go by.”
“ Oh, no.” Fran pouted, falsely contrite. “There must be something we can do. Maybe this?”
And suddenly, she was kissing him, a moist press of her lips on his, her hand resting lightly by the side of his jaw, just about carding her fingers into the too-long locks of hair below his ear. She kept her hand there even as Nils cupped the other side of Hal’s jaw and leaned in, and Hal could only turn to him helplessly as his lips replaced his sister’s.
They both drew back, though remaining close with their hands on his neck, smirking.
“Again?” Fran suggested.
“Or me?” Nils challenged.
Both, Hal desperately wanted to say. Neither, he also wanted to say. He was hot, he was confused, and he didn’t want to play this game, though at the same time, the memory kept replaying of how Fran cezka had looked in her bikini, of the ripple of Nils’ back muscles when he pushed himself out of the pool, and he couldn’t choose . Didn’t want to have to choose. Them being both out of his league had removed the problem the day before, but now…
He sagged a little, feeling faint, and it happened to be towards Nils, who clearly took it as an answer as he grinned widely at his sister. Fran pursed her lips slightly as her hand fell back to her side, but then she shrugged, affecting indifference.
“Alright, fine.” She said. “You get him.”
She walked away, and Hal wanted to tell her not to go, but Nils’ other hand was suddenly on his hip, and he couldn’t say a word. The boy kissed him again, soft but insistent, and Hal could feel the tip of his tongue this time. He drew back again, smiling, lovely as anything.
“First time kissing a boy?” He asked him.
“Yeah.” Hal managed to answer in a breath.
Nils quirked an amused brow. “First time kissing a girl too?” He guessed.
Hal could feel himself blush, and Nils chuckled.
“I could tell you liked both.” He said. “It’s okay, I’m sure Fran wouldn’t mind spending a bit of time with you too, if you come back to visit. You really are cute, you know.”
He lifted his hand to brush Hal’s hair out of his face, and Hal batted it away as a reflex.
“Sorry.” He floundered. “I- have a scar there, I don’t-”
“It’s okay.” Nils repeated, pressing his lips against his again.
He backed him up a bit, until Hal’s spine was pressing against the tree, and Nils was pressing against him. He was taller and wider than him, and Hal suddenly felt scared. Where exactly was this going? Kissing was exhilarating, it was a novel experience and it had been completely unexpected, but as incredible as it was that Nils – and Fran! – could be up for it, exploring this further right there and then seemed to be going a little to far.
“Wait.” Hal tried to say.
Nils had leaned in again and was kissing the underside of his jaw. Both hands were now on Hal’s hips, sliding down and then back up in an almost subconscious stroking movement.
“Please, I don’t think-” Hal started again, but he was interrupted by his own startled gasp as Nils pressed against him with his entire body, his chest flushed against his, their knees knocking, and Nils’ groin – unmistakably interested.
“ I’m really horny.” Nils stated – obvious, thank you, Hal thought wryly. “Can you feel it? Summer always makes it worse, all these people barely dressed…”
He kissed Hal’s lips again, and pushed his lower body even closer. “You into this?” He asked. One of his hands moved from Hal’s hips to his crotch, and pressed down. “You are.” He grinned.
“ I don’t want to do this.” Hal heard himself whimper.
“It’s just a bit of fun.” Nils replied. “We can go somewhere more private.” He suggested. “Toilet?”
He didn’t wait for an answer and, peeling himself off of Hal, grabbed his wrist and started pulling him out towards the open field.
“Come on.” He smiled, like this was still just a nice game, obviously unable to see – or ignoring – the fact that Hal no longer wanted to play along.
“No.” Hal pulled back the other way.
“Oh, alright.” Nils kept grinning. “Bit of an exhibitionist in you? Kinky.”
He crowded Hal against the tree again, but Hal put a hand against his chest.
“I mean, no, sorry, this is just a bit too sudden and I’m not sure…”
“Aw, come on.” Nils complained. “It’s no big deal.”
He tried to press forward again, but it only cemented Hal’s conviction that he wasn’t ready for this, not here, not now, not with this guy.
“Let me change your mind.” Niels insisted, putting his hands in Hal’s neck again and drawing him in for a kiss.
Hal turned his head, wanting to make it clear that he wouldn’t so easily be swayed, and… was suddenly face d to face with a large black dog, who barked loudly, making them both jump.
“Oh, hey doggy.” Nils greeted him, undeterred. “Shoo, we’re busy.”
“He must be with someone.” Hal seized the chance for a polite way out, even though he thought the dog looked rather like a stray. “We shouldn’t-”
“Go away.” Nils tried again.
But the dog barked again, and again, and actually started growling until Nils released Hal to find a stick on the ground.
“Hey.” He said enthusiastically when he’d grabbed one, waving it in the animal’s face. “Look at the nice stick. Go fetch!”
He threw the piece of wood, but in that time the dog had placed himself between the two boys, and he didn’t budge, only giving him Nils was seemed like an unimpressed look. Nils held out a hand for Hal.
“Hey, come on, let’s-” The dog barked again. “Harry, he looks dangerous, why don’t you-” Bark, bark.
“I think he likes me.” Hal replied calmly. “I’ll be alright.”
Nils threw his hands up in the air and muttered something that could have been Oh, fuck this , or its German equivalent, and finally got the hint and left.
The dog’s stance immediately changed, as he turned to Hal happily, wagging his tail and smiling one of those toothy dog smiles. Hal let out a laugh, and patted the dog’s head.
“Thank you, mate.”
“ Was that Nils?”
Ley’s voice made Hal turn around and his stomach clenched uncomfortably because Oh, God , a few moments earlier and he’d have arrived in the middle of a really awkward situation. He had a half-eaten ice cream in one hand, dripping on his fingers, and handed Hal the other wrapped one.
“Thought I saw him walk away.”
Hal shrugged, thinking he could pretend they hadn’t crossed paths and he didn’t know if it had been him at all, and pointed his chin at the dog instead. “I made a friend.”
They played with him until it was time to go back home to help Petunia, and get ready to face Aunt Marge.
* *
*
Petunia might have gotten into the habit of berating Hal and Ley for expressing obvious displeasure every time Marge came to visit, but it did not mean she enjoyed her sister-in-law’s presence in her home any more than they did. She would much rather have, that evening, spend a nice evening with her boys as they told her all about their adventures playing with a dog in the park and hunting for potion ingredients. (Even though Hal wasn’t to do magic over the holidays, he’d argued potions did not count as you didn’t need your wand. It was like cooking, he assured.)
At least, they had a great time before her arrival, as the boys helped her cook – well, Hal helped her cook, and Ley made a lot of mess. Even when he attempted to clean , he seemed to make it worse, but he sure was excellent at making the whole thing a lot of fun. Hal made a brilliant-looking cake, which they agreed to pretend was from an artisan bakery nearby ; Hal, probably not unjustly, was convinced if they’d said he made it, Marge would find it disgusting (if she even tried it).
“ Is she coming with a dog?” Ley asked, only a few minutes before she was due.
“You know she is.” Hal grumbled back. He had already taken care to lock Little John Silver in his room.
Petunia nodded defeatedly. Marge never went anyway without one of the beasts – and really, Petunia didn’t have anything against bulldogs at large, but Marge always seemed to bread the nastiest creatures. She always made some excuse regarding why she just couldn’t have left this or that one with her neighbour with the others.
“ How many does she have now?” Ley continued.
“A question you can ask your aunt.” Petunia raised as the doorbell rang. “I’m sure she’ll be delighted you’re showing interest.”
“Don’t even-” Petunia heard Hal start saying, as both boys darted into the garden.
S he refrained from showing amusement, schooling her features before she opened the door to her dearest sister-in-law.
“ Petunia, dear.” Marge opened her arms for an unpleasant hug.
Her dog barked behind her, and Petunia now forced herself to smile.
“Marge, it’s so nice to see you. Come on in – the boys are out back.”
“How is my little Dudleykin, how is he?” Marge was already cooing as she barged past Petunia, bulldog on her heels, and made her way through the house to the door leading to the back garden.
Hal and Ley had tucked themselves as far away as possible, delaying the inevitable for a few further moments; t hey were perched on the pile of stones that had been Petunia’s attempt at an alpine rock garden, one summer after they’d visited the botanical gardens in Edinburgh , which had made a big impression on the boys.
“Good lord, he’s as brown as a Paki.” Marge commented upon spotting Hal.
“He tans easily, that’s all.” Petunia said defensively.
“Honestly, Petunia.” Marge said to her as if she’d had the poor taste to pick him out in a home furnishing store. “Are you sure he’s even British?”
“I think his great-grand-parents may have been Greek or Italian.” Petunia conceded non-committally.
She vaguely remembered one of Lily’s letters mentioning something like that – she’d honeymooned with James around the Mediterranean. Marge made a derogatory Humph, but thankfully moved on as the boys came near, having exhausted the number of minutes they could pretend not to have noticed her arrival without being rude.
“Dudleykin!” Marge squealed as she enveloped Ley into a great big hug.
Ley did a really good impression of being delighted to see her – and really, Petunia knew he was in fact a little bit happy when she visited, as she always brought some expensive gift for him or even slipped him some money, sometimes both. Hal stayed carefully to the side, but it didn’t save him from receiving a dirty look from the woman. Petunia wished she wasn’t so obvious in her dislike of the boy, at least of her and Ley’s sake, if not for Hal’s ( who had long stopped caring if she liked him or not).
“ Alright?” She asked him quietly as the larger woman dragged Ley into the house, asking him to tell her about school and his friends and everything about him.
Hal shrugged. “It’s only dinner.” He reasoned.
Thank God, Petunia thought. When Vernon had been alive, he’d sometimes invited his sister to stay for a whole week . She actually remembered now, with a shudder, how they had both taunted Hal once, jeering that he couldn’t walk properly – Marge’s bulldog kept running into him, knocking him over, though Hal simply got to his feet every time with the determination of any three year-old, even laughing at first thinking the dog wanted to play. They had even roped Ley into it, and when encouraged by his father, he’d start pushing Hal to the floor every chance he got (he also thought it was a game), Hal had stopped finding it funny. Cue the jabs about him being a crybaby. Petunia even remembered Marge suggesting maybe crawling on the floor was all he was good for.
“Are you okay?” Hal asked her with a little frown.
She shook herself, realising she must have been staring at him vacantly for a moment with probably a slightly horrified look on her face. Bless him, he didn’t remember that time. At least she hoped he didn’t – because Petunia did not absolve herself, she remember she had laughed at the poor child too, at the time, going with the flow.
“ Yeah.” She smiled back at him, ruffling his hair and willing that all her love for that boy could erase her earlier misgivings. “Come on, let’s go in.”
“ Party time.” Hal sighed.
W hen they joined the others inside, Ley showed them, predictably, the new video game Marge had brought him for his birthday, the new pair of trainers she had brought him for no reason at all, and several large Euro notes she had given him so he could “enjoy France properly”.
“ And you don’t have to share this.” Marge felt the need to specify to Ley, not without casting Hal a nasty look.
“ Oh, Hal shares his money with me so I can do the same.” Ley replied without thinking.
Marge immediately stiffened. “So he should.” She snarled. “That’s your money, after all.” She rounded on Hal. “ I h ope you realise how much you’re taking from your cousin. How much is sacrificed for you, to his detriment. Poor Petunia working her hardest, and she has to split pocket money between you to protect your feelings. Of course you would just take it .”
“ Actually, he did mean my money.” Hal replied drily. “From my parents.”
“Ah!” Marge scoffed. “Like you have anything from your parents. What’s that lie you’ve been telling him now?” She asked, turning to Petunia. Without waiting for an answer, she looked back to Hal to continue her charge. “You parents died in a car crash and they had nothing .”
“They didn’t die in a car crash.” Hal retorted, his eyes flashing.
Marge briefly showed surprised, which quickly turned to sneer again. “Told him the truth, have you?” She addressed Petunia again.
Petunia had a bad feeling about this. She had had no idea that Marge knew the car accident story was just that, a story, but she also didn’t doubt her idea of the reality of what had happened to Lily and James Potter had nothing to do with the actual truth. Vernon had always been too horrified to tell her. But what had he told her then, at the time? Well , clearly Marge was on a roll, and she was about to find out.
“Yes, boy .” The large woman spat at Hal. “Your parents did n o t die in a car crash. That would have been unfortunate. But not, they had to bring it on themselves.”
H al faltered a little, darting an uncertain look to Petunia who tried to communicate that no, there was no way she knew the actual truth.
“Junkies, that’s what they were.”
Oh.
“Overdosed, died in utter disgrace .”
Oh no.
“ Left you with nothing but the kindness and charity of your betters. If Vernon-”
She suddenly interrupted herself as her voice had turned so high-pitched on the last word it had sounded like the squeal a dog makes when you step on their paw. Petunia cast Hal a worried look – he was livid, his nostrils flared, and there was that electric feeling in the air she remembered from some bouts of accidental magic he’d occasionally manifested as a younger child. But Marge cleared her throat and carried on.
“They were parasites.” She asserted. “And that is what you are too. Leeching on your aunt’s generosity. Taking what belongs to your cousin.”
“ None of that is TRUE!” Hal shouted back.
A photo frame on the mantelpiece cracked loudly, making Ley jump – he was watching the scene with what was starting to look like fear in his eyes – and Petunia grabbed Hal by the shoulders, pressed his back against her chest and wrapped her arms around him. She almost put her hands over his ears, out of an instinct to protect him.
“Get out.” She said.
The steel in her voice seemed to immediately calm Hal down, judging by how the electric tension in the room dropped suddenly as the boy stilled in her arms.
“Beg your pardon?” Marge blinked at her, bewildered.
“I said, get out.” Petunia repeated. “You are a guest here, and you are behaving like you own the place. Well, you don’t, and you are not longer welcome.”
She felt Hal relax, as if he’d believed for a second that the first get out was addressed to him, just as Marge’s anger looked to flare up again.
“Now then, Petunia-”
“No, I’ve heard enough.” Petunia cut her short. “You are being abusive to Harry, you look down on everything you see in my house , and you insult everyone in your path.”
“I only insulted this worthless little-”
“Enough!” Petunia shouted, just as Hal slipped from her arms and ran upstairs. Ley gasped, but he stayed where he was, frozen. “You are not only insulting him.” Petunia continued. “You are insulting my sister. You are insulting me and your nephew, who love him .”
“You are soft.” Marge snarled. “You’ve let him trick you, a delinquent posing as a helpless boy, you-”
“You’re a bully.” Ley suddenly interrupted. “Leave my mom alone.”
Marge’s eyes went wide, but he added with determination. “Leave my brother alone. And just, like, leave.”
And with that, he left the room himself, going after Hal, giving his aunt a last spiteful look that oddly made pride swell in Petunia’s chest.
“You’ve heard the boy.” She concluded softly.
It took several more minutes and a lot of barking (both from Marge and her dog) to see them both out of the house, and by the time Petunia went upstairs, Ley was coming out of Hal’s room, looking worried and sad.
“He won’t talk to me.” He said.
“ Go heat up dinner.” She told him, planting a kiss on his head as he went past.
In his room, Hal was sat in a ball on his bed, back against the wall, knees up, arms over his head. Petunia had seen the pose before – football try-outs at school when they were eight, for example, and Hal wasn’t sure he was good enough to make the team. This was Hal’s deep insecurities rearing their heads.
“ Darling.” She sat next to him, and started to pet his hair.
“She’s right.” Came Hal’s small, woeful voice.
“How can you say that?” Petunia protested. “Of course she isn’t.”
“She is.” Hal replied, and this time it was followed immediately by a sob, and he started hiccuping as the words poured out, painful and scared. “She’s- right, I’m, I’m worthless and I’m weird , and you love Ley more because he’s- you r son, but I, I only cause trouble and, and I’m different, I’m weird and I get into trouble and you have to- and I can’t- I’m not even normal-”
“Hal, stop it, stop!” Petunia called out, alarmed, trying to wrap her arms around the resisting bundle of limbs. “Darling.” She repeated, as soothing as she could make it. “ I love you so much. I love you as my own son, I love you just as much as I love Ley.”
“ I’m a freak.” Hal said wretchedly.
“ You’re magical.” Petunia retorted. She meant that as much figuratively as literally.
“All I give you is trouble.” Hal still seemed inconsolable.
“You’re brave and you stand up for what is right.” She told him. “You protect your friends. That’s worth a little bit of trouble.”
Hal sobbed again, and brokenly added something that sounded like ‘I think I might like boys’. Petunia didn’t dare ask him to repeat. If that was what he’d said, maybe that was a discussion to save for another day.
“ Hal, there is nothing wrong with you.” She simply said firmly. “You are great just as you are, and I love you. Okay? Look at me.”
H al lifted his head, accepting to look at her with drowned green eyes. She brushed some of the tears off his wet cheeks, some of the hair off his forehead to plant a kiss there.
“You’re perfect, and I love you. We both love you. Do you know what Ley told Marge?”
Hal shook his head, still looking miserable though he had minutely perked up.
“He told her she’s a bully, and to leave his brother alone.” Petunia reported.
Hal had a wet chuckle, and Petunia smiled. There he was, finally.
“My silly boy.” She said tenderly. “Come on, let’s have dinner.”
He held her back, catching her sleeve as she started to stand.
“I almost did magic.” He reminded her sheepishly. “You… you’re not angry?”
“ No, darling, I’m not angry.” She assured him. “But you know you can’t get mad like that.”
“I know.” He looked down. “She was just being so… so…”
“I know, love.” Petunia kissed him on the forehead again. “She’s gone now.”
“It’s reaaaadyyyy!” Ley’s cheerful call sounded from downstairs.
Hal and his aunt both laughed as they look at each other.
“Ley’s stomach waits for no man.” Petunia teased.
“I’ll just go wash my face.” Hal nodded. “Be right down.”
Petunia watched him dart off. Not for the first time, a little nag of worry settled in the pit of her stomach. They were growing up so fast. Was she really equipped to handle two teenage boys, with their pains and their doubts, and help them grown into men?
* *
*
On the morning of Hal’s birthday, a pile of gifts had come to join the ones Petunia had placed on the kitchen table before going to bed (she’d left the window open purposefully to allow for owls coming in and out, even if the thought made her a little uncomfortable). Hal was so excited he couldn't sit down – in fact, he was up at 6 am, and had already made two different types of muffins by the time Petunia came down. Surprisingly, Ley wasn’t far behind.
“It’s barely eight.” He pointed out to Hal. “I’m up. This is my birthday present to you.”
Hal scoffed and shook his head, knowing Ley would have gotten him something, and threw a chocolate muffin at him. Ley caught it and shoved it almost whole in his mouth. Petunia decided she needed coffee before she started argu ing against his table manners.
Hal set out to opening his presents, still bouncing up and down, though his movements became more measured as he actually handled each wrapped gift, in case there was anything breakable inside the parcels.
His friends from Hogwarts had pooled together as they had for Draco in June (and Neville – they’d gotten him a book of gardening spells), deciding it was a nice way of doing things as they could buy larger, nicer presents this way. For Hal, they had found some “Translatoffee”, which were sweets that would apparently allow him to understand any language spoken around him – handy for a holiday in France. Hal and Ley shared one to test out if it worked on cats, which it didn’t, which didn’t stop them from making up an entire conversation with Little John Silver that left them crying with laughter.
There was an extra little gift from Draco, a small framed print of a Saint Michael painting by Raphael. The small winged figure was standing on a dragon, sword raised, looking nonplussed, almost like he had just hopped onto the creature’s neck, no big deal. It made Hal chuckle. This made me think of you , the note accompanying it said. Maybe we can go and see the real one in the Louvre . Hal knew they were spending their holidays somewhere that was nowhere near Paris, but he supposed Wizarding France would be more quickly connected than Muggle France, if they wanted to pop there.
H al found a card from Narcissa as well, a delicately embossed picture – was that real silver? – of a white peacock on thick creamy paper, with the Malfoy crest on top. Inside read Happy birthday, Harry. You are welcome in our home any time and I am looking forward to seeing you again for the holidays. Hal su spected it was a ‘thank you for saving my son’s life’ card as much as it was a birthday wish.
There was also a large, heavy and shoddily wrapped present, which Hal frowned at, wondering who it could be from, until he found a card. He did not recognise the ( atrocious ) handwriting, but he saw it was signed Hagrid.
You childran saved me from goin to Azkaban last yer. Sank you. Im sendin each of yous this book, I sink you will find it usefool!
Hapee birthdae Harry, sea you at Hogwarts
“Wow.” Ley commented. “Never seen an adult whose spelling was worse than mine.”
Hal opened his mouth to answer, but he was distracted as he tore off the paper and the book (book??) inside jumped up at him with a growl and tried to bite his face off. After a few minutes of battle, combined efforts from Hal and Ley had subdued the thing, and Petunia gave it a good few wraps of brown parcel tape to tie it shut. The Monster Book of Monsters, the cover read. What the hell, she very much refrained from saying.
“What the hell.” Hal and Ley both did not refrain from saying.
“Is there anything that isn’t dangerous with your lot?” Ley added. “Books that try to eat you, like, really?”
“I don’t know, man.” Hal shook his head helplessly. “This is weird for me too.”
He carefully put the… book aside, and turned back to the rest of his presents. From Ley, a recipe book full of fantastic-looking bakes (“This is a gift for you, isn’t it?” Hal called him out) and from Petunia, mostly clothes, Hal having outgrown a great part of his current wardrobe. She’d gotten him a new pair of jeans, dark blue and the current cool brand that boys seemed intent on having, and a couple of soft t-shirts (she’d noticed Hal had a little bit of a thing for soft fabrics). In addition, some cat treats and a little toy in the shape of a snake, which made Hal snort.
“Look.” He showed it to Sil. “You won’t need a sword for this one.”
H e made it wriggle, and the cat immediately pounced on it. Hal beamed at Petunia, and got up for a hug.
“I love all of it.” He told her.
They headed out after breakfast. They had agreed not to have a party with all their friends this year, since they were leaving for France the next morning – an d that sounded more of an adventure than it actually was, because really what they were doing was walk half a mile to a Portkey Narcissa had arranged for them to reach the Manor, from where they would Floo to her sister’s house after a spot of lunch. However, Petunia had let Hal chose whatever he wanted to do on the day (within reason) and that was how they ended up having a picnic in the park even though it was raining more than it wasn’t. They'd found space under a gazebo from where Petunia was happy to watch the boys play in the rain and get themselves covered in mud.
She almost shrieked when the dog appeared, and only didn't rise in alarm when she saw how excited Hal and Ley were, as they started running across the field towards him. She guessed this must be the one they had told her about a few days ago . But when they'd said they'd been playing with a dog in the park, she hadn't quite imagined that . It was a massive black dog, too thin to look healthy – not old, clearly still playful, but scraggly. She watched it carefully as it bounced up to the boys and Hal have him a scratch behind the ear, but he didn't seem too boisterous, in a way that he might hurt them while playing, and she let herself relax minutely.
Hal trotted back up to her half a minute later, something in his hands.
“What's that, darling?”
“A gift?” He said, looking a little confused.
She raised a brow. “From the dog?”
“Well, I'm sure it's a coincidence.” Hal flushed. “But we were talking the other day and...” He shook his head. “Never mind.”
She smiled at him kindly. “It's a nice coincidence.” She agreed, and played along. “What did he get you for your birthday then?”
“Birch bark.” Hal brandished the large flat pieces of wood, looking pleased. “It's just what we were missing to do that waterproofing potion from my kit!”
She couldn't help a little frown. “That is an odd coincidence.” She corrected.
“It is a bit.” Hal said quietly, looking back at the dog, who was happily catching the Frisbee Ley was throwing him. “I guess dogs can be really clever, right? We were looking for Birch trees when playing the other day. Maybe he understood.”
“Maybe.” Petunia said, feeling a bit uncomfortable about it.
Hal just shrugged, and ran back out to play with Ley and the dog. As soon as he joined them, the dog crowded back to him, and as Petunia watched them play, she noticed he stuck to Hal a lot more than he did Ley. She had noticed the same trend with Little Silver, and thought it was mostly because Hal took the cat to school and it was more familiar with his presence than with Ley’s and hers, but maybe Hal was also just good with animals. He had mentioned picking Care of Magical creatures as one of his electives for the next year, after all.
As long as it wasn’t creatures like the one that had recently just almost killed him…