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Chapter Text

There had never been a time when the Ancient and Noble House of Potter had merged with the Ancient and Noble House of Black. 

There had been many marriages in the past but due to one reason or another those couples never seemed to be able to have any children. Unknown to either family was the fact the two ancient family magics could not merge together peacefully without causing great destruction. So acting like two opposing magnets the two family magics made sure no successful conception was even possible between the two families.

That is until one Henri Jameson Vega Potter-Black was born, also known as Harry. 

How was Harry’s birth achieved successfully?

A loophole that not even Death thought about. 

When James Potter and Regulus Black fell in love against all odds, they believed that they would have to accept not having any children or having to take on single-child contracts in order to get heirs to carry on their name, magic, and line. But then spitfire Lily Evans nearly smacked both of them over the head with sense and a generous offer. 

Lily Evans, with the help of some potion brewing by Severus Snape, would act as a surrogate for James and Regulus to have two children, an heir for each line. The potion that would be provided by a reluctant Severus would combine both James and Regulus’ DNA and after Lily drank the potion would magically create a child that was of the both of them. Because the baby would be mostly sustained by Lily’s magic during the pregnancy the baby might acquire an Evans’ trait or two in the process, but neither James nor Regulus minded at all. 

On May 1st, 1979 James and Regulus met with Severus and Lily to add their blood and semen to the potion that would then mature for the next 6 months before Lily would be able to drink it. 

They were going to be Dads. 

Or they were. 

On June 28th, 1979 James was sitting with Lily discussing their upcoming plans regarding her moving into Potter Manor once she was confirmed pregnant when suddenly he felt his marriage bond, a normally warm hum in the back of his mind, grow cold and then snap.

The pain was immense. Nothing had ever felt like this. In that instance, he knew his beloved Regulus, his star, was no longer in the world. He was sure he scared Lily that day as he screamed and cried until someone had to stun him so he wouldn’t hurt himself in his grief. 

Lily, Remus, and Severus took turns caring for James while Sirius had gone tearing off to try to find what had happened to his brother. Peter had been taking longer and longer breaks away from his friends, a red flag that they would have paid more attention to if they weren’t so worried about James succumbing to the loss of his bond. 

Sirius returned to them in mid-August having found no sign or clue as to what happened to Regulus or even where his body was. There were rumors circulating that the Dark Lord personally dispatched Regulus for turning down his offer to join his ranks. That night Sirius crawled into bed with James and they held each other and cried. 

When October 31st, 1979 arrived James had made a decision. 

Severus was reluctant to agree but Lily thought that it might actually be good for him to help heal from the loss of Regulus.

So just as the day ended and turned into November, Lily drank the potion they had started back in May.

In nine months, James would have a small piece of Regulus back in his life in the form of the baby they had so excitedly talked about since Lily had mentioned her offer. 

The war was slowly getting worse the further Lily’s pregnancy progressed. 

Dumbledore had suggested they get the wards at the manor updated especially as the child would be arriving soon and needed as much protection as possible as he got older. Dumbledore even offered his cottage in Godric’s Hollow to them so they could stay somewhere comfortable and warded as the goblins began their work on updating the Potter Wards for the first time in a century. It was going to take them time, more than James had been comfortable with, but with the war going on they didn’t have enough wardmasters to go around. 

They would have to stay in Godric’s Hollow for 15 months, but after that, the wards would be stronger than most of the lowest-level vaults in Gringotts. So Dumbledore placed his home under the fidelius charm using Peter Pettigrew since both Sirius and Remus were gone on missions and Severus was already playing spy. 

Not long after they settled in at the cottage, Lily went into Labour on July 31st, 1980. She was in labor for most of the day. Madame Pomfrey came over to assist with the birth as the only healer in the Order that they could safely give their location to. 

At 23:59 a little boy is born. 

Henri Jameson Vega Potter-Black. 

Weighing 2.8 Kg with a height of 48 cm the baby was small but healthy. A full head of pitch black hair, the shade of Regulus’ hair, but the cowlicks that James could already see pointed to the poor kid having James’ hair issues. He was so beautiful. A perfect mixture of Regulus and himself. 

His precious baby. 

He would protect little Harry (as Lily had been calling the boy while on bedrest to recover from childbirth) from anything and everything. He already lost his other half but he was so lucky that  Harry held some very prominent reminders of Regulus. 

The first time little Harry opened his eyes he shocked all the adults in the room. Instead of normal baby blue eyes, Harry’s left eye was silvery gray like Regulus’ had once been and his right eye had probably started off with James’ hazel eye color but the outside of the Iris was Lily’s green shade.

They had been told because of Lily’s magic feeding into the pregnancy that Harry might develop some traits from her but this wasn’t what they had expected. Harry was beautiful though and James loved him and was so grateful to Lily for helping bring his boy, the last of his Regulus, into the world. 

Everyone who met Harry could tell he was different from a normal baby. There was just something about how Harry looked at someone that felt… odd. Harry would sometimes also look at blank walls or empty parts of a room and stare like it was the most fascinating thing in the world. Madame Pomfrey assured them that all babies did that and to not worry. 

Harry was also an amazingly quiet and well-behaved baby. Unless he wanted food, he never cried. James would sometimes sit in front of Harry and poke at him to make sure he was real and alive until Lily would chase him off for being absurd. Most parents would give anything for their babies to let them sleep through the night and not cry at the littlest of things. 

When James asked Lily to be more than Harry’s godmother but to be his Mum, Lily didn’t know what to say. It was a shock. But James’ argument was that since Regulus wasn’t here, Harry deserved to have a second reliable and responsible parent he could turn to especially when godfathers Remus and Sirius were causing mischief. Still, at the mercy of her hormones, Lily cried and agreed to officially be Harry’s Mum. 

As the months went by they all began to notice that Harry’s differences were definitely not just ‘things all babies do’ like Madame Pomfrey had told them. Lily, being the closeted Ravenclaw she was, began to do research. It took weeks for her to find what she was looking for and a new symptom to confirm her theories. Both James and Lily had chalked up their exhaustion to being new parents and trying to support the Order still in the war effort. Then their physical exhaustion began to turn into magical exhaustion and Lily then had her answers. 

Henri ‘Harry’ Potter-Black was a necromancer or would be when he got older. 

This revelation was a lot for her to try to comprehend, she worried about telling James, although she shouldn’t have. James apparently had a suspicion of something similar, being a pureblood though he was more aware of the possibilities than Lily was, and James never got enough credit for being as intelligent as he was. The man was just naturally lazy and people mistook that for a lack of smarts. 

Their baby wasn’t going to be a wizard. Not that any of them cared much about Harry not having traditional wizarding powers, but there was a sad moment when they realized that Harry wouldn’t be able to attend Hogwarts as they had. Necromancers had their own brand of magic, very different from wizarding magic, although some wizards like Voldemort were able to mimic or twist dark magic to create a false necromancy like inferi. 

The problem with necromancers, and why they were feared so much to be hunted down by the Ministry of Magic anytime one emerged or was discovered, was that they stole magic. Anytime they touched a witch, wizard, or magical being their passive necromancy began to suck out the magic of that being like a dementor sucked the happiness out of the air. There are no writings proving that a necromancer had any control over this side effect and as far as anyone knows no necromancer that has lived long enough to come into their power has been able to avoid taking the magic from others. If they spent too much time with particular people or touched someone too long, their soul would follow the magic and all that would be left is a husk of a person. The Department of Mysteries actually theorizes that Dementors are what a necromancer becomes when they die. 

How would James and Lily raise Harry if they couldn’t touch him? No child deserved to be touch starved. 

James, although a light-leaning grey wizard, did marry a Black. A Black who had necromancers in their bloodline before, quite possibly the reason Harry was a necromancer was due to Regulus’ genes. However, the Black Library had many good and bad solutions to a child being born as a necromancer. One of which was a well-used and bookmarked text that had a horrifying and complex ritual to completely drain a child of the necromancy powers entirely and reinvigorate them with wizarding powers through a sacrifice. James didn’t want to know just how many Black wizards had started out their life as necromancers, only to be changed due to prejudice and fear. What Lily hated about that ritual most was that it had to be performed within the first 3 moon cycles of the child’s life. 

Thankfully there were less drastic options available within the library as well. The ritual they ended up choosing wasn’t perfect and they argued about it for weeks, but finally, they came to the decision that it was the best of their bad options. It was a simple ritual, quickly done with few ingredients. Once they were done they could touch Harry again safely. They put a temporary block on his necromancy, one that would hopefully hold long enough for them to not only love their child, hold him, and care for him but would also allow him to learn about his unique powers without becoming overwhelmed by them. The block would eventually come down and they would have to come up with a new idea. They didn’t want to one day no longer be able to touch Harry nor did they want Harry to hold the guilt of possibly killing one of them just because he wanted something as simple as a hug. They had years to create a new and better solution. For now, they had the chance to kiss and cuddle their baby safely.

October 31, 1981, was the day before they would officially be moving back to Potter Manor and everyone was both excited and exhausted. The wards were finally finished. They would settle for the next 12 hours and then Lily, James, and Harry could move back into the Manor. Remus and Sirius would join them once they returned from their current missions and Sirius was also going to go pop in and check on Wormtail since they hadn’t heard or seen him since Harry’s 1st birthday party. 

Lily was putting Harry to bed while James was cleaning up the kitchen when something dark and evil crossed over the wards. James had his wand out and was slowly creeping towards the entryway when a bombarda blasted the front door open and into pieces. 

“Voldemort.” James spat before conjuring the strongest shield he knew in front of the cackling dark lord. “Lily! It’s him! Take Harry and Run!” James yelled he needed to give them time to get out and get to safety. His shield shattered like a rogue firework and the duel was on. James had gone through Auror training even if he had never officially joined afterwards so he could hold his own pretty well. But he had never had to fight Voldemort alone before. His fear for Harry and Lily kept him going, but it wasn’t enough. One step wrong and James’ vision was filled with the green of the Avada Kedavra curse. 

James’ body hit the floor and the Dark Lord was quick to move up the stairs. 

Lily had warded the door to Harry’s room the best she could when she discovered the anti-apparition ward that was surrounding the property. As she heard James’ body hit the floor and Voldemort’s evil laugh echo in the halls of the cottage she stood over Harry casting every light and dark protection spell that she knew. The wards wouldn’t hold for long and Lily may not be able to save herself but she would be damned if she didn’t save Harry. Harry who had been entrusted to her by both Regulus and James. Harry called her mama and would tangle his tiny hands in her bright red hair when he was tired. Lily had never wanted kids of her own, but she had wanted her two friends to be able to have the children they deserved. Harry was the greatest thing Lily had ever done. 

The door to the nursery was blasted open and Voldemort stepped into the pastel green and yellow room. 

Lily knew this was her end, but she would make sure Harry lived. 

When the killing curse hit Lily Evans she knew that Harry was going to make it. She only hoped Sirius and Remus made it back soon to help the little boy. 

When the Dark Lord stepped over the body of Lily and stood in front of the boy prophesied to defeat him, the boy did not cry. The boy’s peculiar eyes stared at the monstrous form of Voldemort and did not waver. 

Voldemort cast the killing curse one final time and then he was forcefully ejected from his body, feeling worse than when he tore his soul for his Horcruxes. Voldemort fled. 

When Sirius found the destruction of the cottage, he felt nothing but fear and devastation. Wormtail had betrayed them. Finding James’ body was like losing Regulus all over again. Sirius wasn’t sure how much more this war could steal from him and Sirius still come out sane. Sirius then found Lily’s body in the blown-apart nursery and he was sure if he looked in the crib his nephew and godson would also be gone. Until he heard the rattling sound of Harry’s favorite stuffed cat. 

Seeing Harry alive was a relief but also terrifying. He needed to get Harry away from here and to Potter Manor. Remus would be out on his mission for another two weeks. He was all that Harry had. Summoning what he could from the room he packed a bag for Harry and then picked up the quiet little boy, sucking on one of the ears of the cat plush. 

“I promise to take care of you little deer,” Sirius said quietly, kissing Harry’s fluffy hair. They moved quickly through the house, Sirius would return later to secure James and Lily’s bodies for burial. Harry’s safety came first. 

As Sirius made it to the edge of the wards Hagrid of all people arrived. 

“Hagrid?” Sirius said in confusion, lifting his wand just in case it was someone in disguise. 

“Sirius, good to see yer al’right.” Hagrid boomed out, causing Sirius to look around nervously. 

“I’m fine Hagrid, why are you here?” Sirius asked impatiently. 

“Professor Dumbledore sent me of course. He felt the wards go.” 

That made Sirius relax some. “James and Lily -” Sirius started but felt himself getting choked up. “T-they are dead. But Harry made it. I am taking him to safety. Would you make sure nothing happened to them before I can return?” Sirius asked.

“Ah, the Professor sent me to get little Harry. He will be okay with the Professor while yeh deal with this.” Hagrid said gruffly. 

“No, no. Harry is my responsibility now. They would have my head if I do anything but make sure Harry is okay first.” Sirius said, turning to head out of the wards. He never expected to be hit in the back with a stunner from Hagrid of all people. 

When he woke up next he was sitting in a cell in Azkaban. 

That night Albus Dumbledore left Harry Potter on the steps of Petunia Dursley’s house and enacted the next phase of his plans. He would be ready once Harry was old enough to attend Hogwarts and then the final chess game would begin.

Chapter Text

Sometimes Harry Potter felt like a ghost. Unwanted. Invisible. Unnatural. 

On the other hand though…

The Dursleys were a very normal family and they were proud of that.

Harry Potter was anything but normal. Everything about Harry stood out and was quite far from normal—from his crazy hair to his weird-colored eyes, and tendency to talk to the air. Harry was definitely not ordinary and the Dursleys hated anything not ordinary.

The Dursleys hated Harry, but that is okay. Harry didn't mind the Dursleys' unnatural loathing. Harry knew he was weird, that he was different. But there were plenty of people who had no problems with Harry being weird.

It wasn't Harry's fault that those people happened to be ghosts that only he could see.

Harry had always been able to see ghosts for as long as he could remember. Unlike Dudley's stupid horror movies, these ghosts weren't scary or malicious in any way, Harry had never been scared of what he could see and hear. His constant companions were actually his parents, all three of them. Kind words and soft reassurances always fell from their ghostly lips to comfort Harry after a particularly bad day with his Aunt and Uncle. As far as Harry was concerned, dead people were better than the living anyway. They were the only ones who understood him, cared for him, loved him, and Harry was grateful for their company.

When Harry was 10 years old both he and his parents had had enough.

It was Dudley's birthday and Harry had to make a breakfast feast for his rotund cousin as his Aunt and Uncle prepared for the day's festivities. Harry was exhausted though. He had stayed up late the night before talking with his Papa about the history of the House of Black, a family Harry apparently belonged to. By the time his Mama came along and ordered his Papa to let him sleep it was very late and the time between closing his eyes to rest and being jerked out of his cupboard in the morning was sadly brief.

So bleary-eyed Harry tried his best to fight his exhaustion to make breakfast.

But then the bacon burned before Harry could take it out of the pan and the smell of burnt fat and meat filled the kitchen and alerted Aunt Petunia to his blunder.

"BOY!" she shrieked and Harry winced, knowing what was coming next. "LOOK AT WHAT YOU'VE DONE!"

She stormed into the kitchen, her face twisted in anger. "You useless boy!" Aunt Petunia screeched, her bony fingers clenching into fists. "You've ruined everything!"

Harry flinched at her words, tensing up to brace himself for the hit that he was sure was coming, but instead, he felt Aunt Petunia grab him and jerk him away from the stove. The sudden movement made him drop the pan he had been holding and the hot grease from inside the pan splashed onto his skin, causing him to cry out in pain.

Harry's vision blurred from the tears that streamed down his face. He couldn't take it anymore. He couldn't take the constant abuse, the verbal degradation, the endless chores, the feeling of being unwanted and unloved. The last thing he saw before losing consciousness was Aunt Petunia swinging the hot frying pan toward his head. 

"My sweet boy, I am so sorry." his mama’s voice was soft and sad, slowly pulling him out of his unconscious state. He hated to hear his Mama so sad. It took him a while to convince his eyes to open but when he did he saw the frowning faces of his Mama’s and Daddy's ghost, iridescent tears glittered in both of their ghostly eyes.  

“Mama? Daddy?” Harry’s voice croaked quietly, his throat dry and aching. 

"It is time my little deer. We cannot see you hurt any longer. I need you to close your eyes, wish as hard as you can, and call the names ‘Jupiter’ and ‘Moxie’ so you can go somewhere safe and far away from your Aunt and Uncle. We will find a way to care for you but you can't stay here any longer." His Daddy's smooth voice patiently instructed him as Harry’s eyes adjusted to the darkness, revealing that he had been shoved back inside of his cupboard after being knocked out.

“What about that old man?” Harry asked confused. They had discussed him leaving the Dursley’s house before, but if it wasn’t concern over how he would take care of himself at his age, it was concern over what Dumbledore would do if he discovered Harry missing. And what the old man might do to get him back under his thumb. 

His parents had taken turns watching over him since their deaths. Regulus and James had watched as Hagrid betrayed Sirius on Dumbledore’s orders. Watched as their brother was thrown in Azkaban and their son left with abusive muggles. They took turns on rotation watching Dumbledore’s moves while the other two watched over Harry. 

“We are going to have to risk it. Now quickly, close your eyes and call for Jupiter and Moxie. They are the Potter family house elves and they will make sure you are safe and cared for until we can come up with something better. I will not stand by and watch helplessly as my sister tries to kill you.” Lily growled protectively. When Petunia eventually passed over the veil, Lily would be waiting to have words with her sister. 

Harry closed his eyes, trying to meditate like his Papa had taught him to when they practiced occlumency. He focused on the feeling and imagined himself far away from the Dursleys, in a place where he could be himself and not be punished for it. He kept imagining this place and pushing all his magic towards that thought before speaking the names that would hopefully whisk him away to safety. 

“Jupiter. Moxie. Come get me please and bring me home where I belong.”

Suddenly, he felt a burst of energy and warmth surround him. It felt like he was being hugged tightly by someone. When he opened his eyes, Harry found himself in a small, cozy bedroom with a comfortable bed, a desk, and a window that let in a warm breeze. He felt confused and disoriented, but also happy and relieved. He knew he was not at the Dursleys anymore. He was safe.

Much to the relief of his parents, Harry had managed to call the house elves successfully and the elves were able to pull Harry through Dumbledore’s wards safely to bring him home to Potter Manor. The wards here were stronger than ever and no one would be able to find Harry unless he wanted them to. Luck seemed to be with them as the entire family of house elves was still alive and in residence, they were keeping up the care of the manor and now they could care for their young master.

Here they can keep Harry safe while teaching him everything he needs to know about the Wizarding World, Harry's heritage, and the manipulations of Albus Dumbledore. Harry being hidden behind the wards of Potter Manor would be enough to keep Dumbledore and the Ministry of Magic out until Harry was older and prepared to face the world as a full-fledged necromancer.

No one stopped to consider that leaving Harry alone with only ghosts and house elves for socialization might have a negative effect on the boy’s socialization skills.

As time passed, Harry grew lonelier and more isolated from the world outside of the manor. The ghosts of his parents were always there for him, but they couldn't offer the same kind of companionship that living beings could. And the house elves, while kind and helpful, were still servants and couldn't fulfill the role of a human friend.

Harry would spend his days wandering the halls of the manor, reading books from the library and learning more about his family’s magical abilities, even if he couldn’t perform most of them himself, limited by both his necromancy and the still active block on his magic. He became adept at passive magic such as runes, occlumency, arithomancy, and even some tarot. He was a quick and eager learner and soon had a vast knowledge of magical theory with a heavy focus on necromancy and what his powers would one day be like, as well as their consequences, but he lacked practical experience with the block on his magic active. As much of an academic as he was, he still longed for friends and the touch of a warm human being. 

When Harry turned 15 he decided to leave the manor wards against the adamant advice of his parents so he could visit the nearby muggle town.

Harry had missed the outside world since retreating to Potter Manor, he knew it was safer for him to stay inside the wards, but he was still a teenager. As a birthday gift to himself, Harry wanted to walk amongst the living again, even if it was just for a short time. Harry knew he was making his parents worry, but as he always reminded them, Harry couldn't spend the rest of his life hiding away in the manor.`

Harry never even hesitated when he crossed over the warding line of Potter Manor. He was so very ready to be back out in the world. Harry’s grin couldn’t get any wider, he knew it was going to be a long walk to the nearby muggle town, but the hour-long trek through mostly forest was worth it when he made it into the small muggle town. Harry's grin only got wider as he took in the sights and smells of the first pub he passed by, filled to the brim with living people and smells of alcohol and greasy food. 

Harry felt pretty safe coming into a muggle-only town. Even if there happened to be for some strange reason any wizards in the town Harry felt confident that he wouldn't be identified since the descriptions of him in all of the books he had read hadn't been accurate; they didn't even get his parents right. People seemed to expect a James Potter lookalike with Lily Evans' green eyes. His parents had found that amusing, but his Papa had sulked at people thinking James and Lily were married instead of James and Regulus.

As he walked down the street, he felt a thrill of excitement run through him. This was it. He might never get to be a part of the world his parents had belonged to, due to his necromancy, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t find joy within the non-magical world. The bustling crowds and colorful storefronts filled him with a sense of excitement he had never felt before. He walked around, taking in all the sights and sounds around him.

Harry had gotten one of the house elves to exchange a pouch of gold for muggle money the day before through the goblins, he had wanted to be prepared for his first foray back into civilization. Harry made his way to the shops, eager to explore everything the muggle world had to offer now that he didn’t have to look over his shoulder for his relatives. He bought some new fancy muggle clothes, everyday casual clothes, books, supplies for his muggle studies, and he even found an ice cream shop where both his Dad and Papa argued over how the flavors were dull in comparison with Fortescue’s ice cream until Mama hit them both over the head to tell them to shut up. But what Harry really wanted was to make some friends, even if he was supposed to be lying low and not drawing attention to himself or his location.

After ice cream, Harry wanted to explore some of the side streets branching off of the main shopping district he had been meandering down all afternoon. Enjoying his quiet exploration while keeping half an ear on his parent’s talking behind him. Sometimes having ghosts around could be really distracting and being back out in public it was hard to refrain from just talking to them as he normally would. 

Quietly, after making sure there was no one too close by to hear him, he asked his parents a question. “Do you think I will ever be able to visit Diagon Alley?”

All three of his parents paused and then looked at each other without speaking, Harry hated when they did this. 

“I don’t know baby,” Mama responded first, running her hand over Harry’s hair, even if neither could feel the touch, it was usually reassuring. “I don’t want to say never, but with Dumbledore in control of everything that he is in control of it would be dangerous to be seen within any part of the magical world. But also as you get older it will become hard to hide your natural gifts and the Ministry of Magic has always hunted down and killed any necromancer they discover. I wish we hadn’t died so soon in your life. I wish we could have taken you to all these magical places and provided you the love and protection you need.” 

“It’s okay Mama, I understand.” Harry tried to reassure her before she could cry. He knew she felt a lot of guilt over what her sister had done to him over the years. 

His Dad had suggested maybe trying the magical shopping district over in France that would be safer for Harry to explore while he was young, but that made his Papa pinch his Dad. "How the hell do you expect our son to get over to France huh?"

Harry laughed softly. He was grateful that he still got a part of his parents, even if they weren’t there physically. 

It was beginning to get dark and Harry knew he needed to be making his way home soon, especially since the walk would probably be longer getting back since his feet were starting to ache. As Harry made his way back to the edge of town, his eyes were drawn to someone exiting a shop across the street. 

Harry was pretty sure what had attracted his attention was the person’s hair at first, but then Harry found himself distracted looking over what appeared to be a male teenager near Harry’s age if he wasn’t mistaken. The guy had white hair. Not just platinum blonde, but straight white hair that had been pulled up into a messy bun on top of his head, several strands had escaped and were framing the guy’s equally pale face. 

Harry’s first thought when seeing the other teenager was: Wow he is pretty. 

And the follow-up thought to that: Oh my gods, I think I am gay.

His sudden epiphany had caused him to stop walking, drawing the attention of his parents to the object of his distraction. 

“Oh, now that is a pure Potter look, right there,” Lily said amused, wanting to cackle when her words didn’t even pull Harry out of his thoughts. 

“What’s that supposed to mean?” James frowned making Regulus laugh and kiss James’ cheek. 

“It means that you Potter men have an identifiable look when you get infatuated with someone.” Regulus teased. 

Lily snorted at James’ confusion. Both she and Regulus waited while James took the time to connect the dots between his son’s face and the boy who was walking away from them down the street.  

“No! My baby is too young!” James finally wailed. 

“Oh my dear Jamie, remind me what age were we when we started dating?” Regulus cooed at his dear panicking husband. 

“....fourteen.”

“And how old is our son?”

“............fifteen……..” James was now pouting. 

Finally, Harry was pulled from his thoughts, as the guy he had been watching had turned the corner and gone out of view. Blinking, he looked between his parents. 

“Why is Dad pouting now?”

Lily just cackled some more.

Chapter Text

“Your son is turning into a stalker.”

“Why is he suddenly just my son?”

“Because this has your Black genes all over it Reggie,” James said helpfully. Lily was away for the day, checking on Sirius and Remus, as well as seeing what Dumbledore and the order were up to. They knew they needed to start making plans to get in contact with Sirius and Remus. Still, as they had their memories modified when Sirius had escaped Azkaban, they couldn’t guarantee that contacting them wouldn’t also bring Dumbledore and his manipulations. 

“I never stalked anyone!” Regulus huffed. 

James raised one skeptical eyebrow. “You stalked a lot of people throughout Hogwarts, so well that you turned it into a profession after we graduated. And your brother stalked Remus for years even after they started dating. This is all you, my love.”

Regulus just muttered curse words under his breath in French.

James and Regulus were following behind their poor darling gay son as he stalked his newest obsession. Never mind that Harry wasn’t a very talented stalker and they were all sure the boy Harry was stalking knew that Harry was there at least half the time. 

James had to give the kid being stalked bonus points for 1- not calling the muggle aurors on his son, and 2- pretending like he didn’t see his little gremlin son watching him nearly constantly over the last two weeks. 

One thing had been bothering them though. The muggle teenager looked rather suspiciously like a Malfoy. They hadn’t said anything to their son, but Regulus thought it would be rather hilarious if Harry had accidentally discovered a long-lost Malfoy relative. 

On the other hand, Lily was the more paranoid of them and wanted them to be cautious just in case it was a trap for their boy to be dragged back into the magical world. 

Today’s stalker itinerary included following the teenage boy from the local library to the coffee shop where the boy worked in the afternoons. Harry was currently ‘hiding’ (rather unsuccessfully) in the small park across the street from the coffee shop, swinging on the swings absentmindedly as he watched the white-blonde boy work. The boy had 100% seen Harry today, and James could only wonder if this was what he had looked like when he had become obsessed with Regulus. 

“So Harry, you ever gonna do something besides be creepy with your new-found crush?” James asked, drawing Harry’s eyes briefly to him before they flicked back to the boy. 

Harry blushed furiously at his father's teasing. "Dad!" he hissed under his breath. Though he knew his parents were invisible to everyone else, he still felt embarrassed discussing his crush so openly. "I'm not being creepy!" he protested, though it sounded weak even to his own ears.

He couldn't help but watch the handsome barista across the street. Everything about him drew Harry in - his fine aristocratic features, those intelligent sky blue eyes, his silky ethereal-looking white hair, the way he moved with elegance and poise. But most captivating was his smile, small and shy, though it lit up his whole face.

"I just...I've never felt this way before. I don't even know if he's...you know...into guys," Harry confessed softly, scuffing his shoe in the dirt. "And I don't even know his name."

"Well there's only one way to find out, son," James said wisely.

Harry groaned. "What if I make a fool of myself?"

"You won't," Regulus assured him gently. "Just walk in there and strike up a conversation. Get to know him."

Regulus and James exchanged an understanding look. "We know it's scary, putting yourself out there," James said gently. "But you'll never get to know him if you don't take that leap."

Harry took a deep breath, gathering his courage. His parents were right - he'd never get anywhere just pining from afar.

"Start small," Regulus chimed in gently. "Maybe go into the coffee shop and order something. Compliment his drink-making skills. Ask him about school or hobbies. Get to know him a bit first before you try to ask him out properly."

Harry sighed, dragging his feet through the dirt as he slowly swung back and forth. "I don't know, Papa. What if he doesn't like me back? What if I make a fool of myself?"

James ruffled his already messy hair. "Oh, kiddo. That's just part of growing up and putting yourself out there. You'll never know if you don't try."

Harry nodded, thinking it over. "Yeah...yeah, maybe you're right." He took a deep breath. "Okay, I'm going to do it. Order a coffee, talk to him a little."

James grinned. "That's my boy. Go get him."

Harry stood up, brushed the dirt off his jeans, and marched with determination towards the coffee shop. His heart pounded rapidly in his chest. He kept walking before he lost his nerve.

The little bell above the door jingled cheerfully as Harry entered, the rich aroma of coffee enveloping him. The object of his affection looked up, an easy smile gracing his handsome face that made Harry's knees weak.

"Hey there. What can I get you?"

Harry choked out his order, blushing furiously. As the boy turned to make his drink, Harry scrambled for something to say.

"Uh, so how long have you worked here?" Lame, but it was a start.

The boy glanced over his shoulder, still smiling. "Just a few months..."

From outside the window, James and Regulus exchanged delighted grins. Their boy was so very awkward but he was growing up.

Harry admired the elegant lines of the barista’s profile, the way his slender hands moved gracefully over the coffee machine. When the drink was ready, their fingers brushed lightly as Harry accepted it. The boy's cheeks turned the faintest shade of pink. Harry's cheeks weren’t far behind as he mumbled a thank you.

“My name is Elio, by the way.” The barista, Elio, informed Harry in a rushed tone.

“Harry. I’m Harry. It’s really nice to meet you Elio.” Harry stumbled over his words some but still managed to speak at least. He watched Elio smile wider with fascination.

“Nice to officially meet you," Elio smirked just slightly, clearly amused by Harry's awkwardness.

Harry smiled shyly back at Elio, his heart skipping a beat. "Yeah, you too," he said softly.

He lingered at the counter, searching desperately for something else to say. Elio tilted his head, regarding Harry with curiosity in those intelligent blue eyes.

"I, uh, really like the coffee here," Harry managed after a moment, which was stupid to say since Harry had not yet had the coffee here at all. "It's the best in town."

Elio's smile widened. "Thanks! I try my best. It's a passion of mine, making the perfect coffee." He gestured around the cozy shop. "I'm hoping to own a place like this someday. Just a little hole-in-the-wall cafe where people can relax and enjoy good coffee and conversation."

Harry nodded, intrigued. "That sounds amazing. You'll make a wonderful owner."

Elio ducked his head almost shyly. "You really think so?"

"Definitely."

They smiled at each other, the moment stretching between them. Harry's heart pounded in his ears. Just ask to meet on one of his days off, he urged himself. The worst he can say is no.

He opened his mouth, willing himself to be brave, when a customer came up behind him. Elio's attention shifted away.

"I...I guess I'll see you around," Harry managed lamely.

Elio gave him a little wave as Harry headed for the door, cursing himself for chickening out. When he looked down at his coffee cup though, he realized that Elio had written him a note. 

Meet me here at 4:30 pm tomorrow

~Elio ♥️

A large smile broke out on his face.

And then panic immediately filled him. 

He needed to buy clothes appropriate for a date, nothing he had at home would be good enough. 

What does one even do on a date?

Oh, Harry was going to spend the next 26 hours panicking. 

James and Regulus shouldn’t find their son’s panic as amusing as it was, but they were laughing like hyenas when Lily showed up. 

She shook her head exasperated already. “I cannot leave you two clowns in charge ever. Now update me, I have some troubling news about the Order.”

James, Regulus, and Lily hung back, keeping Harry within their line of sight as he flitted between various shops to find an outfit for his date tomorrow. James and Regulus updated Lily on Harry’s boy troubles and his possible date. Lily was proud of Harry but still concerned over this strange boy, especially after everything she heard during the order meeting she sat in on. 

“What has you making that face Lils?” James asked concerned.

Lily didn’t bother trying to soften the blow. “If Dumbledore is to be believed, Voldemort has made his return.”

Both James and Regulus blanched. 

“I thought he was still in Albania?” Regulus hissed.

“Apparently not anymore. But he is lying low, probably trying to recruit or rebuild strength. I am sure coming back from the dead didn’t feel good.” Lily sighed. 

“Well, Harry is safe for now. Everyone either thinks he is dead or missing. They aren’t going to look for him here. We will keep a closer eye on the Order and maybe try to find Voldemort to spy on him too.”James calmly suggested a rare voice of calm and reason. 

They would watch over everything, so Harry could just focus on being a kid. The world shouldn’t and wouldn’t rest on Harry. They refused to let that happen. 

While his parents secretly made plots to ruin both the Death Eaters and the Order from beyond the grave.  Harry wandered through the shops, his mind racing with possibilities. What should he wear? Something casual, or more formal? He wanted to make a good impression on Elio but didn't want to come across as trying too hard.

In the end, he selected a pair of black jeans and a soft green jumper that brought out the flecks of emerald in his heterochromatic eyes. Paired with his favorite black boots, it was an effortlessly stylish look.

As he headed home, arms full of shopping bags, he couldn't stop the nervous flutters in his stomach. He was excited, yes, but this would be his first real date. But also his first real interaction with someone who wasn’t dead or a house elf in years. What if he messed it up somehow? What if Elio took one look at him and changed his mind?

Back in his room, he meticulously styled his perpetually messy hair until it looked artfully tousled. Trying to practice for his date tomorrow. His hair never behaved though, so he wasn’t sure why he was trying.

"You look so grown up," Lily said softly as she appeared beside him. Her ghostly hand reached out as if to straighten his collar before passing right through.

James clapped him on the back. "You’re gonna knock him dead, kid. But not literally!"

"Have fun, but be safe," Regulus added seriously. Underneath his stern tone was genuine warmth and care. “We will stay out of the way tomorrow so you can focus on this boy without us embarrassing you.”

“Just remember you can always call on us or the house elves if you need anything darling,” Lily said softly, her ghostly lips kissing Harry’s forehead. Even though Harry couldn’t feel her lips on his skin, warmth, and happiness still filled him at the gesture. 

“Pro tip that got your Dad to lose his mind over me on our first date: Black eyeliner. Just a little. Especially with your eyes, you’ll definitely affect the boy.” Regulus winked with a wicked grin on his face. If James had been alive his entire face would have flushed red, still utterly besotted with Regulus. 

“I’ll uh… try to remember that Papa. I just want to get through this first date without stuttering too much.”

“Stutter all you want sweetheart, if that boy is as intelligent as he looks, he will still enjoy your company even if you stutter.” Lily insisted, trying to advise in addition to enjoying her son’s awkward embarrassment. “But for now you should get to bed, get a good night of rest so you are fresh-faced for your date.” 

Both Regulus and James nodded in agreement. 

Harry laid down in bed that night, falling asleep easily while picturing soft white hair and endless sky-blue eyes. He couldn’t wait to see Elio again tomorrow. He had this happy giddy feeling in the back of his mind that he would not ever get enough of seeing Elio. 

Only time would tell if this was going to be the greatest thing he ever did or a mistake.