Parallel

Chapter 26 - Harry and Young James's Day Together

Harry knew his day had definitely improved by the time he awakened that early afternoon. Ginny had told him that an owl from Rose had arrived, then handed him a small blue envelope with his name written on it in a smooth, flowing feminine hand. "This just arrived, luv. Maybe it's Rose's answer to your question about young James," she speculated.

"I kind of figured that," Harry returned dryly, sitting up in bed and bunching the covers around his lower body. "Let's see what she's got to say." He opened the envelope and drew out a single sheet of paper decorated with a long-stemmed blue rosebud on the left side of the page and the following at the top:

A NOTE FROM ROSE

Harry ...

I have thought it over and decided that you're right. You may buy James an owl. However, since he is due to return to school within the next two days, I suggest you do so right away. Please owl me back with the time you plan to pick up James. He's so excited; he can hardly wait. Thank you again for your generosity.

Rose Shacklebolt-Black

His grin widened with every passing moment; finally Ginny asked, "Good news?"

"The best. Rose says I can buy James his own owl ... but we have to do it right away, because James is due to return to school in a couple of days. I'll have to be gone for a while with James; will you be all right with the babies? If I remember correctly, Molly is due to bring them back in a couple of hours."

"As long as you're not gone any longer than necessary," she gently admonished him before moving to kiss him as he got out of bed and began to dress. "Have a good time, and let me know what happens."

"Right," he said upon finishing. "I'm going to Apparate over to Rose's and see if she'll let me take James now. See you later--and kiss the babies for me." They kissed goodbye, and Harry was gone.

* * * * *

When Harry arrived, Rose greeted him with a warm smile and he could see James practically bouncing on his toes in the background, he was so excited and eager. "Calm down, darling. Harry just got here. You'll be going soon enough."

"Come on, Mum, I've waited a long time for this," James complained.

"It's all right, Rose. I can understand how he feels," Harry soothed her. "Ready to go, James? ... or need I ask?" He smiled and winked at the boy, who rushed over to his side. "I'm going to use Side-Along Apparition, James, since you're not old enough to do it yourself. That all right with you?" The boy nodded impatiently. "All right; hold on tight to me. You're going to feel a strong squeezing sensation, but it'll only be for a few seconds, and then we'll be at the Owl Emporium."

With a final smile and nod in Rose's direction, James holding on tightly to Harry's right arm, they Apparated out of the room.

* * * * *

A moment later, the two found themselves in Diagon Alley in front of the Owl Emporium; the door was open, and they could hear the hooting of several owls as they made their way to the door. Harry had to hang onto the boy's shoulder to keep him from running on ahead. "Best if you don't run on ahead. No sense frightening the owls."

Harry led the boy to where the owls for sale were caged; they examined several, including some that reminded Harry of his own Hedwig, and still others that reminded him of the owls owned by the Weasleys--Errol, Hermes, even Pigwidgeon, Ron's owl. "Have you got any specific type of owl in mind, James?" Harry wondered as they checked out bird after bird.

"Nothing in particular ... although I think I would prefer a young one, so I'll be able to keep him or her as long as possible."

"Probably a good idea," Harry agreed. "How about this one? She looks just like your mum's owl." He gestured to a cage which held a small honey-colored female owl.

"I think I'd prefer one that's a different colour so we can tell them apart," James said. "Like this one." He moved over to a medium-sized chocolate-brown bird in a large cage; James reached to stroke the bird's head. The owl pressed its head against the boy's hand, as if the choice had already been made ... which, as it turned out, it had. "Yes, I think I'll take this one, Harry."

"You sure?" The boy nodded determinedly. "Okay. We'd better tell the clerk." He motioned for the young witch behind the counter to join them. "We'd like to purchase this bird. How much is it?"

"It's a male bird, two years old," the clerk said. "Sweet disposition; doesn't bite. He is also the offspring of birds who set records for distance flying."

"How much is it?" Harry repeated.

"Oh, sorry. Ten Galleons for the bird. I also suggest a cage, water dish, treats ..."

"May we have the one the bird is in? My ... young friend here seems to like it," Harry noted upon seeing James examine the cage closely.

The clerk seemed reluctant for a while, then said, "Why not? Technically it's only for display, but it's also the only one we have like that. Three Galleons for the cage. Now, the water dish and the treats may be found down this way ..." The clerk gestured to the other end of the aisle they were in, then began to move that way. Harry told James where he was going and that he'd be right back. It took only a few minutes to choose the proper water dish for the cage and several varieties of owl treats. He was pleased to note that James had not moved from where his new owl was, not fond of the idea of possibly having to tell Rose he had lost her son in Diagon Alley ... which fortunately did not happen.

Harry and the clerk made their way back to where James was and picked up the cage with the bird, carrying it to the counter along with the water dish and the bags of treats and placing them there. It took several minutes for the items to be rung up; finally, the clerk said, "That comes to thirteen Galleons and ten Sickles."

Harry fished in his pocket for his gold and opened the bag after placing it on the counter, counting out the various coins. "There you go," he told the clerk upon finishing.

"Thank you, sir." She smiled. "Oh, one question, if I may. Just what is your relationship with the boy?"

"He's the son of a ... close friend of mine. I'm getting him his own owl. I asked his mother, my friend's wife, if I could do so, since my ... friend is unable to do so."

"Why is your ... friend unable to do so?"

"He ... died a few years ago," Harry replied quietly, giving the clerk a hard look, not liking to be reminded of that painful time.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Forgive me. I was just curious. It's very thoughtful of you to do this for the boy."

"I believe it's what my ... friend would want me to do," Harry remarked, gathering up his gold and the bag with the treats and water dish in it. James was carrying the bird and the cage. "Thank you for your help."

"You're very welcome, sir. Please come again."

"We probably will," Harry assured her, nonetheless glad to be out of there once they departed the store. Once they began to make their way out, he asked, "Have you thought of a name for your bird yet?"

"One possibility came right off, but it sounds a little weird when I try it," James confessed.

"Why? What is it?"

"Chocolate," came the reply.

"Yes, that does sound a little weird. How about 'Brownie' or something like that?" Harry suggested.

Since James couldn't seem to think of anything better, he went along with Harry's suggestion. "That could work," he agreed. As they passed Madam Puddifoot's tea shop, James asked, "Could we get a drink? I'm kinda thirsty."

"I suppose so," Harry agreed. "Just keep an eye on your owl and make sure not to leave him behind

when we leave."

"No chance," James assured him. With that, they entered the tea shop and sat down at the nearest vacant table, Brownie's cage to the left of James's chair. Madam Puddifoot herself, a plump, middle-aged witch with black hair pulled back in a bun and pink robes, came over to wait on them.

"What would you gentlemen like today?" she asked with a smile.

"Butterbeer for me," Harry said. "What about you, James?"

"Make it two," James replied.

"Two butterbeers," Harry told her. She wrote down the order and bustled off to fill it.

While they waited, Harry decided to take this chance to speak further with Sirius's son. "Would you like to hear what your dad was like when he went to school? He told me a few stories of that time."

"Yeah, that'd be great," James replied with a smile. "I'd like to think that I'm not the only kid that ever got in trouble ... either at home or at school."

"Believe me, you're not," Harry assured him. "I've had my share, too ... more than my share, for that matter, but that's best left for another time. I want to tell you about your dad now." Just then, Madam Puddifoot brought their drinks. Once she was gone, Harry began.

* * * * *

Once he finished, James looked surprised, to say the least. "I thought you said my dad was a nice guy. Doesn't sound like it, what he did to that other bloke."

"For the most part, your dad was a nice guy, James. One of the nicest I'd ever met. It's just at that point in time, he was what one might call 'young and foolish'. So were some of his friends ... among them my father, for whom you're named. I assure you, I was just as surprised as you when I first heard. When I asked your dad about it, he said he wasn't proud of what had happened, but that many times one acts cruelly toward others when they're young. Not that the chap didn't ask for it many times, for he was in Slytherin, but still ..."

Harry chuckled in spite of himself. "It's for sure that my mum--or rather, the one who became my mum--

laid your dad and mine both out within an inch of their lives for doing it when she caught them tormenting the other bloke once!" Harry took a long swig of butterbeer, then asked, "Have you got a teacher you particularly dislike, James?"

James frowned thoughtfully, then shook his head. "No, not particularly. There are some I like better than others, though."

"Then consider yourself lucky. I had one so bad that I positively dreaded going to his class. Didn't help matters, either, that I didn't generally do well in it."

"Why would you dread going to his class? Was he ... unkind to you?"

"Yes, he was. Fortunately I wasn't the only one he was ... unkind to, but he seemed to take an especially intense dislike to me. I wondered why for a long time, then your dad told me it was because of how he and my dad had always treated him. As it turns out, this teacher was the very one your dad and mine had once tormented. Just the same, I think a lot of his dislike of me stemmed from the fact I was my father's son and resembled him so strongly."

"But why? You're not responsible for what your dad did."

"That was beside the point, as far as this chap was concerned. He was definitely not one to forgive and forget. Let me warn you right now, don't cross a Slytherin if you can avoid it. They think nothing of hexing you simply because they don't like you ... so it's best not to give them a reason if you can help it. Might also be a good idea to learn some defensive spells to use just in case of emergency, though. I know a few; I'll teach them to you at the first opportunity. It also helps if you can cultivate the friendship of the head of the school as I did. Ever heard of Albus Dumbledore?"

"Yes; he was a great wizard. Did you know him?"

"Very well; he was one of my role models. He was also head of the school when I went there."

James looked up at the sadness in Harry's voice. "Why do you sound sad, Harry?"

"Dumbledore ... was killed a few years ago," Harry confessed quietly. "And the very teacher I mentioned was the one who ... killed him. The worst part of the whole thing was that Dumbledore had always trusted him, always defended him--even to me. I tried to stop him after it had happened, but he ... got away. To this day, they haven't found him, but if I ever do ... he'll be sorry." Harry's voice had taken on a hardness and coldness rarely found there, and it was not lost on young James.

"Because I'll kill him ... and what's more, enjoy doing it. Just the same, hate is a very bad thing, James. Always. Never forget that. Just the same, there are times you'll run into people that you will feel just such an emotion for, as I have ... and when I have, the hatred has been very, very mutual. And for what he has done to Dumbledore, this man has earned my undying hatred. I will ... hate him for as long as I live--and possibly beyond.

"I should not be burdening you with such things, but at the same time, you should be prepared to deal properly with such negative emotions when you begin to feel them ... and know how to channel them constructively. Your mum would likely be upset with me if she knew I'd said anything like this to you, so let's keep it between ourselves, all right?" Harry's voice had returned to its usual softness and gentleness. "If you begin to feel such things for someone, tell me, and we'll discuss how to deal with it. Fair enough?"

"Deal," James said; the two shook hands.

"I'd better get you home now; don't want your mum to worry. I've got to get home myself. Ginny is expecting me. Her mother took our kids for the day, but they're back home now, and she needs me to help her with them."

James smiled understandingly and the pair stood up, leaving the empty mugs on the table to be cleared away later, heading out toward the nearest Portkey which would put them within walking distance of Rose's home. They then made their way there and Rose met them at the door, as if she had known they were coming. Was she a Legilimens or something? Harry made a mental note to ask her at the first opportunity.

"Here's your boy back, Rose ... with his very own owl, which he picked out himself. And for future reference, we named him Brownie. I've got to go now. See you both later." With that, Harry Apparated back to his own home, making another mental note to tell Ginny about his having purchased Spinner's End so they could move in.

He found her nursing one of the babies in the living room rocking chair while the other slept nearby in his cradle. He touched her shoulder; she looked up and smiled tenderly and they kissed. "How did your time with James go, luv?" she asked.

"It was fine. We chose a young male, dark brown bird which we named Brownie. I also got a cage and all the necessary accoutrements to go with it. It cost over a dozen Galleons, but I think it'll be worth it."

He noted that little Elizabeth was finished, and so took her away from her mother, putting her over one shoulder to burp her while Ginny fixed her clothing, placing a small towel over his shoulder in case the baby spit up, something Molly had told her was best to do, especially with babies such as theirs.

"Did you already feed little Sirius?" Harry asked.

"Mum stayed a little while after bringing the babies back and I let her feed him. I've decided that it's best if we alternate breast- and bottle feeding just in case of emergencies. When they need to eat again, you can bottle-feed Elizabeth, and I'll breast-feed Sirius."

"You know we'll have to think about moving soon," Harry remarked even as he felt and heard little Elizabeth give a healthy burp, then her head became heavy on his shoulder as she drifted off to sleep. "Since the twins came, we're pretty cramped here. Which reminds me, there's something I did along those lines that you need to know."

"Like what?" Ginny prompted as she took little Elizabeth back and placed her in the double cradle alongside her brother, although it didn't look any larger than an ordinary cradle, because it had been magically enlarged.

"You remember I told you about Spinner's End, my family's ancestral home?"

Ginny nodded.

"Well, I made inquiries and it was for sale, so ... I bought it. It's ours now."

Ginny was quiet for a time, acting as if she had been hit with a Stunning Spell--then said, "When did you do this?"

"Something over two weeks ago, just before the twins came," he revealed. "Escrow closed the day they were born. We need to furnish it, but it's ready for occupation otherwise. It's a big place, too, so we're going to need help. Might be a good idea to enlist everyone possible from your family. Maybe even get Ron and Hermione to help out, if not Rose and some people from the Order who aren't busy ... not to mention Fred and George. That is, if they're not too busy with their business."

"They'd better not be or I'll hex them into the middle of next week," Ginny threatened softly. "Especially if they expect us to let them see their nephew and niece on anything resembling a regular basis." She was standing by the cradle, watching the babies sleep; Harry soon joined her there. For a time, they just marveled at the little miracles they had created with their love, then moved to sit on the nearby couch. Ginny curled up next to her husband, resting her head on his shoulder while he slid his arms around her and laced his fingers, resting them on her once-again slender waist.

"Are you upset about something, Gin? I don't generally hear you talk like that about Fred and George, even at your worst," Harry asked his wife.

"I guess I am," she confessed. "I got an owl from my Healer not too long ago. He said that we weren't to ... make love for at least six weeks after the babies were born. It's only been a little over two, and it seems like a century! How are we ever going to make it through another month at this rate?"

"A lot of necessary things aren't easy, luv, you should know that by now," Harry reminded her, almost infuriatingly calm. "Besides, I'm sure the Healer knows what he's talking about."

"He couldn't possibly have been married; otherwise he'd know what he's asking of us," she groused. "Since we've been together, we've hardly gone more than a day without making love, and now are expected to ... refrain from doing it for six weeks."

"Then all we can hope for is that you heal more quickly than normal, luv."

"How can you be so infuriatingly calm about it, Harry? Surely you know what it means for both of us."

"It takes longer than a few days for a woman's body to get over having children, from what I understand. We'll just have to figure ... other ways to satisfy each other sexually in order to get through these next few weeks, that's all."

"Easier said than done, Mister," she shot back. "And if it's hard for me, it's got to be that much harder for you, being a man. Particularly a young man."

"Then we'll have to start thinking all the sooner on the subject, in between the moving plans and taking care of the twins," came the reply.

"You can't possibly tell me that you aren't going to want us to join physically at some point, Harry. I know your sexual appetite too well for that."

"Of course I am; I never denied that. As I said, we'll just have to figure other ways to do it."

"If you like, I can ask Mum what she and Dad did in this kind of situation," Ginny offered.

In spite of himself, Harry felt himself flush at the thought of Ginny telling her mother about their sex life, but made himself say, "That might be a good idea. She's had seven children; she should be able to give us some pointers as to what to do."

* * * * *

And Molly did give pointers, some of which Harry had never heard of before ... but as the old Muggle saying went, "Don't knock it until you've tried it." But he was sure they would try virtually all her suggestions at least once over the next four weeks. At least part of that time, however, he and Ginny were too busy preparing to move and recruiting everyone they could to help them with their move in between taking care of their children, Ginny's going back to work as a Healer and Harry resuming his work as an Auror to think about sex for very long at a stretch. But both knew that once they'd both gotten into the proper frame of mind, it was only a matter of time until they did ... and when they did, their old magic would almost literally explode between them all over again!