"Harry, could you follow please." Dread pooled in his stomach. It wasn't often a student was summoned by the Headmistress herself up to her office and while he did share a closer relationship with the woman than most did it was more than likely to be related to Defense class earlier in the day.
He shouldn't have been so forthcoming, should have kept his mouth shut, shouldn't have freaked out his classmates and professor. Ever since his little speech most students had opted to keep just a bit more distance between themselves and him.
Even his sisters and friends looked concerned but unsure of how to speak with him. All because he couldn't just stop and think before speaking. Dumbledore must sense sothing because she glances over at him and offers a warm smile, "You aren't in trouble Harry, I promise."
It isn't convincing enough for the worry to disappear though and the mont he enters the office, and saw who else was already present, his heartrate skyrocketed.
"Harry, sweetheart." His mother intoned, gently, rising from her seat and walking over to give him a hug, one that despite the circumstances he gladly reciprocated, forcing himself not to tear up like usual.
His father was next, mumbling sothing soft and encouraging that didn't quite reach his ears before they both sat back down, guiding him to an open chair next to their own.
Riddle was also present, but he had been expecting her at least.
Augustina spoke once more, "As I said earlier Harry, you are not in trouble, not in the least bit. Grace and I contacted your parents and asked them to co in because… well we are concerned."
"Most students cannot na even one of The Unforgivables" Riddle interjected, "Much less all three along with their effects."
Harry stared off into space, past those present, past the objects in the room, past the window and out into the open evening sky. A part of him, especially in that mont, longed for the freedom of flight once more. "The Boy who Lived."
The other adults in the room blinked in confusion at his statent, sharing a few glances but seeing no understanding in any of the other eyes.
He went on monts later, "That's what they called you know, back where I ca from. The Boy who Lived. I always hated the title, hated that I was famous for sothing like that, famous for sothing I couldn't even rember."
"Because the other Lily and Jas died… but you didn't."
Harry nodded, still without making eye contact, to the other man's statent. "But because I lived. I was the only known survivor of all three curses… The Boy who Lived."
Understanding set in monts later along with wide eyed expressions. "That's not… possible." Grace protested, earning a shrug and an empty laugh.
"Yeah, I know, at least that's what everyone told ." He muttered the phrase once more to himself before shaking his head, "As for what I know about them. Our defense instructor went over all three during my fourth year. Even demonstrated them in class."
If a feather had fallen in that mont, it would have sounded as thunder in the office with how silent it had beco. Slowly, almost dangerously, Dumbledore spoke, "A professor demonstrated all three Unforgivable curses to your class in your fourth year…"
Harry shrugged, "On spiders mostly. Although he did make a show of practicing the Imperius on students to show them how difficult it was to resist."
His parents looked horrified, Dumbledore was visibly ill, and Riddle looked as though she was monts away from trying to rip a hole in the universe just to murder the person in question.
"What? Despite all that he was a decent teacher compared to so of my other years."
"Harry…" Dumbledore sounded almost pained in her gentle interruption. "No one should be subjected to even the presence of those spells, much less children."
Again, the boy shrugged, to him it wasn't worth arguing or being upset over. It wouldn't do any good at that point anyway. Monts passed before Jas noticed sothing for the first ti, the weariness and exhaustion in his son's posture. They had seen it before, he was sure of it, but probably waved it off as nerves.
After all the revelations of the day though, Harry was probably physically, and more important emotionally, drained. "Harry, why don't you head back to your dorms and get so rest, you look tired."
The words drew all the attention back onto the youngest present, and in a flash, Dumbledore had a pass in her hand and was standing to hand it to him. "Your father is right, there isn't anything more to do today. Try and sleep, things will be better tomorrow."
He slowly took it and nodded before standing. Before he could take a step, Lily had him in a hug once more, muttering how much she loved him into his hair, holding him through the slight tremors that followed, trying her best to ignore the wetness of his eyes on her robes and how much effect those three simple words had on him.
Jas was next and shortly after the young wizard was gone from the room, leaving only the four adults to ponder what had been said.
****
"Harry?" Grace whispered cautiously as she slipped into her private quarters. It was more than just a bedroom, more like a slightly smaller version of her own apartnt. A small area with a bed but also a separate dining area along with a third room to relax and grade papers in, and naturally a private bathroom. Despite the size, however, she found it surprisingly cozy, especially with Harry living in the sa space.
Now it felt a bit too cramped. Did he feel stuck in here with her? Did he feel forced to be there, forced to be with her at night when her hands occasionally went wandering? Did he feel as though there wasn't any options?
The door to their shared sleeping area was cracked open and she peeked inside, both relieved and concerned at the sight. He was sitting on the bed hunched over and staring down at the floor. "Harry?" She tried again, and once more received no reaction. "I… do you…" did he what? Want to talk about it? She wasn't sure how to deal with this type of situation, with obviously traumatized children who were also years ahead due to ti travel and also had jumped dinsions and thus had lost all their friends to then try and reacquaint with society and a family they never knew.
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