HP-A New Future

I am 15 chapters ahead on my patreón, check it out if you are interested.

https://www.patréon.com/emperordragon

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Chapter 15: Sleepless Reflections

The Potter household was unusually quiet that night, save for the soft crackling of the fire in the hearth. In one of the guest rooms, Harry lay peacefully, his chest rising and falling in the even rhythm of deep sleep. His face, usually guarded, now held a rare expression of tranquility.

But the same could not be said for the rest of the family.

Dorea sat in the sitting room, her hands wrapped around a cup of tea that had long since gone cold. Charlus sat across from her, his face thoughtful as he stared into the flames.

"What kind of life has he lived?" Dorea asked softly, breaking the silence.

Charlus sighed, leaning back in his chair. "One that's forged him into a weapon," he said, his voice heavy. "You don't gain that kind of power, that precision, without enduring things no one should."

Dorea closed her eyes, her grip tightening around the cup. "He saved us so effortlessly, Charlus. But... the way he fought, it wasn't just skill—it was necessity. He didn't hesitate. He didn't flinch."

Charlus nodded grimly. "He's seen death before. Probably more than once."

The thought made Dorea's heart ache. She thought of the young man upstairs, her grandson, who carried the same eyes as Lily and the same quiet strength as James. How much pain had he endured to become what he was now?

"It's not fair," Dorea whispered, her voice breaking.

Charlus leaned forward, his hand covering hers. "It's not," he agreed. "But he's here now, and we'll do whatever we can to help him. To give him something he hasn't had before."

Dorea nodded, her resolve hardening. "A family."

Elsewhere in the house, James and Lily sat in their bedroom, the atmosphere tense. James paced back and forth, running a hand through his hair, while Lily sat on the edge of the bed, her face pale but determined.

"He's our son, James," Lily said softly.

"I know," James replied, his voice thick with emotion. "But I can't wrap my head around it. He's... he's not just our son, Lily. He's him. The one who saved Mum and Dad. The one who fought off twenty Death Eaters like it was nothing."

Lily looked up at him, her green eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "He's ours," she repeated. "And he's grown up without us. Without anyone."

James stopped pacing, his hands falling to his sides. "He didn't tell us much about the future," he said quietly. "But I can see it in his eyes, Lily. He's been through hell. And it kills me to think we weren't there for him."

Lily wiped at her eyes, her voice trembling. "We have to be there for him now. Whatever he needs, whatever he's here for—we have to give it to him."

James sat down beside her, his hand reaching for hers. "You're right. But, Merlin, Lily... I look at him, and I see someone who's been carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. How do we even begin to help him with that?"

Lily squeezed his hand. "We start by being his parents," she said firmly. "Even if it's strange. Even if it's hard. He's ours, James. And we won't let him carry this alone anymore."

James nodded, his jaw tightening with resolve. "Alright. If he's here, if he's ours, then we're going to give him something he's never had before."

"What's that?" Lily asked softly.

"A home," James said, his voice steady.

The two sat in silence, their hands intertwined, their minds racing with thoughts of their son—this powerful, mysterious man who had suddenly appeared in their lives. They didn't have all the answers, but they knew one thing for certain: they wouldn't let him face the future, or the past, alone.

In his room, Harry stirred slightly, his face twitching for a brief moment before settling again. Whatever dreams visited him were fleeting, and for the first time in a long while, he slept easily. For now, the battles that haunted him were at bay, and the family he had always longed for was only a few rooms away.