Dorea sighed.
"You know, I wish you didn't feel like you had to do all of this" she said sadly.
"So do I" Harry whispered. "But I have to protect you all, no matter what and I will do whatever is necessary to do that" he declared firmly.
Dorea nodded.
"I know" she mumbled emotionally. "You're a good boy Harry, just please try to be careful" she pleaded as she pulled him into a hug.
Harry immediately stiffened, not being used to such affection.
"I'm sorry" Dorea stammered as she pulled away, noticing how tense the boy was.
Harry shook his head. "No, I'm sorry, I'm just not used to it" he explained with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
He saw the look of anguish on her face and he sighed and pulled her into a hug as best he could.
"I guess I should get used to it though" he conceded and couldn't stop a smile forming on his lips as the woman returned the hug happily.
"You should" Dorea mumbled. "Now how about we get some food before Sirius eats it all" she suggested only half jokingly.
Harry chuckled and led the way into the kitchen where the other members of the house were eating.
"It's ok, he hasn't shoved it all down yet" Harry observed loudly as the pair entered the room.
"What do you mean?" Sirius questioned with a frown, his mouth full of food. "How do you know I meant you?" Harry returned.
Sirius just shrugged and reached for the plate of chicken, which Harry wandlessly summoned away from the boy and offered it to Dorea. "Oi" Sirius yelled, obviously affronted.
"We are going flying" Harry reminded him. "If you eat much more you'll spew" he warned. Sirius just huffed and pouted.
"I always tell him that but he doesn't listen" James cut in. "He eats like a Niffler too" he pointed out.
"I do not" Sirius whined petulantly.
"Half of your food is on your top" James sighed, gesturing to the soiled garment.
"I have a healthy appetite" Sirius proclaimed. "For a Hippogriff" Charlus piped up causing both James and Harry to snort amusedly. Sirius shook his head.
"It's bad enough with two of you against me but three is just unfair" he sighed in mock sadness. "Don't worry Sirius" Harry comforted the boy with a pat on the shoulder. "We still get to have some revenge on James for the prank he pulled on you yesterday" Harry pointed out.
Sirius's eyes lit up mischievously.
"What?" James questioned fearfully. "You were in on it too" he reminded the pair.
"It was your idea and you're supposed to be a good influence on me, you're older" Harry responded with a grin.
James looked towards his parent's who merely shrugged at his predicament.
"Thanks" he muttered sarcastically with a scowl. "Maybe you deserve a taste of your own medicine" Dorea replied. "Now why don't you go flying and forget about your silly pranks" she suggested with a raised eyebrow.
James immediately shot to his feet and ran to fetch his broom.
"Come on Harry" Sirius encouraged " Let's see what you're made" he requested taking the boy by the arm and leading him from the room.
Charlus chuckled.
"They are in for a surprise" he stated gleefully.
"What do you mean?" Dorea asked.
"Come and watch, you'll see" Charlus answered with a smirk.
It was less than five minutes later that found the Potter's and Sirius on the grounds of the manor ready to take flight. "I haven't flown this yet, just give me a minute to see how it is" Harry requested, gesturing to his brand new broom.
James and Sirius both shrugged and Harry kicked off from the ground for the first time in months.
He immediately felt comfortable on the broom and instinctively knew what it was capable of. It was no firebolt but it was very good considering it was a much more basic model.
"Ok, release the snitch" he instructed James who was holding the tiny ball in his hand.
He did and Harry counted to ten before he tore after it, pushing the broom to its very limits.
The other's watched on in sheer amazement as Harry pursued the snitch, never losing sight of it once. They watched as he corkscrewed, rolled and climbed with ease, gasping as he became little more than a dark speck in the distance.
Harry was having the most fun he had had for a very long time and was not aware of anything other than the snitch, his attention focused solely on the glint of gold.
The snitch descended vertically at full speed and Harry followed it knowing that it was his and it would not allude him any longer.
He caught the ball and only just managed to pull up in time to avoid crashing, the tips of his toes skimming the grass below.
He grinned triumphantly as he turned to face the others, only to be caught off guard by three looks of shock and a smirking Charlus.
Dorea shook of her shock and it was replaced by a look of relief. "Can you not do anything safely?" she questioned weakly. "You damn near gave me a heart attack" she chided, smacking him on the shoulder.
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