Some Sort of Magic - Chapter 2

Harry jolted upright in bed. His head was throbbing, and his body was covered in sweat. It had been a nightmare. A rather detailed one, but just another nightmare. He was no stranger to them. He reached over to the bedside table for his glasses. His vision cleared up once they were on. In fact, he hadn't seen this clearly in his entire life.

That observation was quickly replaced by another. This wasn't the Dursleys house. The bed was too comfortable and didn't look like it had been previously used as a dog bed. The walls were a rich wood paneling rather than faded egg-shell wallpaper. His second year quidditch jersey hung on the wall next to a picture of what looked to be Gryffindors celebrating the Quidditch Cup. A broken Nimbus 2000 along with a deactivated snitch were displayed below it.

This was his room.

Animated Quidditch posters of various teams were scattered along the walls. There were a few dueling posters mingled amid them. Some were signed, others looked to be cut from magazines. A signed poster from The Weird Sisters that was framed had been given a place of honor alone on the wall directly across from his bed. The lead singer winked at him while the drummer stared at him with clear interest.

It was then that he realized that he was only wearing a pair of boxers. They were good quality fabric and actually fit. He was even further distracted by his body. Harry knew he was small for his age, scrawny too. There were more than a few younger students who were taller than he was. Now, that didn't seem to be the case. He had grown a few inches and put on some much-needed weight. Instead of scrawny and underfed, he was svelte and lithe. He had been borderline sickly before. Even his skin tone was richer with a gentle tan.

He scanned the room again. There wasn't a dresser, but the closet door was ajar. He crossed over and opened it completely. It stretched out farther than it should. Either the closet had expansion charms, or it took up a portion of the room next to it. It was a walk-in with a standing mirror against the far wall and plenty of space to get changed. However, it wasn't too big to be considered obnoxious.

The clothing was a mixture of muggle and magical styles. They were all made from high quality materials. The muggle clothing looked like it could have been from a high-end store. Except on closer inspection, it was clear that the materials were the same as the ones used in the magical style. He had no idea they made magical denim, or how it was different from the mundane version. Thankfully, the few dress-robes were closer to a tuxedo with an overcoat than the type he had worn for the Yule Ball.

He paused his perusal through the clothes when he caught sight of himself in the mirror. The earlier appraisal of his body was correct. He was taller and in better shape but hadn't expected a lack of scars. The warped orb on his forearm from the basilisk fang was gone, as were the multiple bite marks from when Marge sent Ripper after him. Most notably, the scar on his forehead was gone.

Had it really worked?

Harry stepped out of the closet wearing a pair of jeans and a simple red shirt. The fabric didn't bunch, wrinkle, or settle out of place on his body. Both the shirt and the pants fit like they were made specifically for him.

An odd mixture of hope and trepidation settled into his chest as he stopped in front of his bedroom door. His hand hovered over the knob. He wasn't going to get any answers by hiding. Harry opened the door and stepped out into the hall. Nothing exploded. No one ambushed him. He was still in one piece. The hall was made of the same rich wood as his room had been. Various framed paintings, magical and mundane dotted the walls. It wasn't as packed as Hogwarts, nor as lively. He was thankful he wasn't going to be chased around by some deluded knight who didn't understand the meaning of quiet. The sound of someone moving around came from down the hall. He recognized the clink and shuffle of a kitchen.

He stalked toward the sound with his wand in a loose grip and pointed down. The noise from up ahead was enough to cover his steps. Years of sneaking around Hogwarts and the Dursley's taught him how to move quietly. The Invisible Cloak was amazing, but it didn't cover the sound of footsteps. After some experimenting they discovered that a silencing charm on shoes didn't stop the floor from making sound.

Harry slid against the wall as he got closer. The scent of eggs further proved that the kitchen was directly ahead. House Elves were adept at working in near silence. Whoever was cooking didn't make as much noise as Mrs. Weasley, but they made enough.

The door to the kitchen was open. Harry leaned forward to take a quick look into the room beyond. He froze once he caught sight of the person.

A fit red-haired woman moved through the room with ease. She hummed a song to herself that he didn't recognize, but it was still the most beautiful song he had ever heard.

Lily Potter. The few pictures he had of her did not do her justice. Even facing away from him there was a vibrancy to her. It was as though the sunlight moved to be closer to her. Her hair was done up in a messy bun with a single wooden stick holding it in place. She wore a pair of lounge shorts and a tank-top.

His wand dropped to the floor in a clatter. Lily spun around toward him. Her hair splayed out as she moved. The stick had been her wand. It was now in her hand rather than her hair. Her green eyes, the ones everyone said he had, glowed as her magic woke. The expression on her face was a mask of adept violence.

The hard look melted away in an instant as she saw it was him. A playful smile chased the last bit of the expression away.

"Awake and dressed before noon?" Lily teased. "Who are you and where is my son?"

Harry didn't answer. He rushed across the room so fast it felt like he was flying. Lily squeaked as he wrapped her in a tight hug. He buried his face in the crook of her neck and closed his eyes tight. Her scent washed over him. He took a step back and smiled at her brightly. How had no one told him how gorgeous she was?

A highlight reel of memories played across his mind. They weren't his though. It was like he was watching them on a screen rather than experiencing them himself. Yes, this was Lily Potter, but it wasn't his mother. This Lily Potter didn't die for her baby son. In fact, Voldemort didn't exist in this world. The memories showed him a world where Voldemort was a footnote in history as a minor Dark Lord that was put down by a competently run Ministry. They had no patience for another magical war so soon after Grindelwald.

His life wasn't without tragedy though. James Potter was dead. He was killed while on assignment as an Auror. A routine dark artifact raid turned deadly when the owner was not just a wizard but a vampire as well. James had killed the vampire but died in the process.

That was ten years ago.

"What has gotten into you?" Lily laughed as he stepped away.

"I'm just happy to see you." Harry smiled brightly at her.

Her gorgeous green eyes narrowed. She studied him for a long moment.

"Harry James Potter." Lily spoke sternly. "Did you convince Padfoot to tell you what you're getting for your birthday? Again?"

"What?" Harry couldn't stop smiling. "No. My birthday? What day is it? It's not my birthday is it?"

"Very funny, young man." Lily shook her head. "Nice try, but you've still got a week."

Harry scrunched his brow in thought for a moment. His birthday hadn't been for another month, now it was just one week. Lily broke his concentration with a kiss on the cheek.

"Let me go." She teased. "I need to finish breakfast. I didn't expect you to be awake yet, so I'll have to add a few more eggs."

"I'll help." Harry stepped away.

Lily watched in wonder as Harry began to cook. He didn't just help, he took over. She shook her head and stepped up to prepare some coffee. A smile settled on her face as he moved around the kitchen with practiced efficiency.

"When did you learn to cook?" Lily asked as he served two plates.

"It's a hobby." Harry shrugged.

Harry pulled out her chair for her to sit. He couldn't stop his eyes from roaming over her body. She was absolutely gorgeous. Thankfully, she had turned to face away from him. He snagged a mug of coffee for himself before he joined her.

"Coffee?" She arced an eyebrow.

"It's a bad habit I picked up." Harry shook his head.

He couldn't stop smiling at the woman across from him. Lily rolled her eyes and started to eat.

"What are your plans for the day?" Harry asked.

"My morning is free, but this afternoon I am interviewing a potential apprentice." Lily replied.

Another flash of memories played through his mind. Lily had a Mastery in Charms and Potions. She had added a significant amount to the Potter fortune with her spell and potion creations. Her research into brewing techniques and ingredient preparation was groundbreaking.

"One for each?" Harry asked.

"No." Lily laughed. "Just potions. I would run myself ragged if I took on two apprentices." She paused. "Are you sure you're going to be ok with someone else living with us?"

Harry cocked his head to the side.

"My apprentice." Lily prompted. "The master-level potions require quite a lot of attention. I told you this before."

"I don't like the idea of some random guy alone with you all the time." Harry grumbled.

"Aw." Lily preened. "Are you jealous of mommy giving attention to another boy?"

Harry felt his face flush. He looked away and nodded. Lily's mouth dropped open.

"Oh, honey." She flashed him a warm, loving smile. "You are so sweet."

Lily stood from her spot and moved closer to him. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Harry let out breath at her touch.

"Is something wrong, honey?" Lily asked as she continued to hold him.

"Bad dreams." Harry muttered.

"Hey." Lily kissed the top of his head. "Look at me."

Harry tilted his head up to meet her gaze.

"I am more than happy to spend time with you." She whispered.

She leaned down to kiss him. The sight of her lips getting closer was too much of a temptation. Harry shifted in her arms so that they kissed full on rather than his forehead where she had aimed. Lily froze as their lips touched. Their magic sang to each other. She pulled back, her eyes were wide in shock.

"Oops." She blushed.

A rush of desire flooded through him. He stood and turned to face her. Lily gasped, she took a step back, but found herself pressed against the kitchen wall. The same hunger stared back at him, only he wasn't fighting it. Her deep breath made his wonderful breasts bounce in a way that made his mouth water.

"Harry." Her voice came out as a whisper. "What are you doing?"

"I'm going to make you mine." He growled.

Lily shuddered at his words.

"But…" Her voice got even quieter as he took a step closer. "I'm your mother."

Harry continued to approach. He prowled forward. His green eyes seemed to glow with barely contained energy. Lily didn't realize that she had leaned in once he was close enough. Their lips met again. They lost themselves in the kiss. Her lips felt amazing against his. She welcomed his tongue into her mouth without an ounce of resistance.

Lily wrapped her arms around her son. It had been so long since she'd felt the touch of a man. As much as she didn't want to admit it, her body begged for this to continue. His skin against her sent small shocks of pleasure along her nerves. Each little jolt made her care less and less about who he was.