Dahlia had finally finished, she made sure not a single bit of dust was left so Harry will be the most comfortable in his new room. And in the process she wished she had some magical powers to just get things done in an instant because now her entire body was sore.

It took her almost the whole day and sweet Harry, patiently sat in the chair nibbling on snacks watching her clean as he asked questioned about his parents and Dahlia tries her best to provide satisfactory answers.

Whenever he would ask something about his Dad,  a look of regret would paint itself on Dahlia's features and she'd answer Harry calmly telling him that she regrettably did not know the answer.

Dahlia now stood once again in the kitchen, preparing dinner and her thoughts drifted back to Harry's mysterious Father. Dahlia wonders why Lily kept the man such a mystery to her when Lily was an open book to her, she shared everything to Dahlia.

The woman only now wishes that James, whoever he is, had some friends that Dahlia can track down for Harry.

She heard shifting behind her and found Harry blinking at her, Dahlia fought the urge to assault his adorable blushing cheeks and proceeded with her cooking until she was done and presented the food to the boy.

"Are you gonna eat with me?" Harry asked, and Dahlia fetching two plates nodded.

"Of course, I only didn't join you earlier because I already ate." Dahlia smiled and began serving him food, gauging his reaction to guess when to stop and pushing the plates towards him.

Harry sat on the stool next to the counter, while Dahlia remained standing across him, elbows propped on the table and eyes meeting the boy's.

"I like eating with people." Dahlia didn't even let her thoughts wander to the possibility of the Dursleys tossing food at Harry carelessly while they ate as a family and he's left to be treated like some pet.

"We will eat every meal together from now on." 

***

It was time for bed, and Harry had been yawning non-stop throughout the process of Dahlia bathing him and brushing his teeth. Dahlia took note of how skinny he was and in just one day she was ready to plan a family's murder.

Dahlia kept the lights turned on, remembering how Harry disliked the dark and was about to head out the door when the boy hesitantly called out her name.

"Dahlia?"

"Yes, love?"

Harry parted his lips then shut it again, a good three times, obviously debating with himself.

"Go on, what is it?"

"Can you stay with me?"

Dahlia turned back to the door to close it, as she headed towards the bed - Harry told her he was fine with the lights off as long as she was around and she continued making her way to where Harry laid and slipped under the covers with him in the dark.

Harry snuggled close to her, draping his short and skinny arm around her middle, and they both quickly fell in a comfortable position.

Dahlia listened to Harry snore softly as she goes through different emotions all at once. She's not too occupied right this moment so she has the liberty to overthink whether she'll be a good parent to Harry, how she'll even have a relationship when she's too busy raising a child and what about his school?

Lily always talked about how she wanted Harry to attend her school, she was looking forward for the boy to treat it like a second home like she did, but Dahlia has no idea where that school is. Along with James Potter, the school was a mystery to Dahlia, and all the secrets make her head hurt.

But nevermind all that, she can worry tomorrow. For now, she can sleep cuddling such a cute child in her arms.

***

"We're going to buy you clothes today." Dahlia informed Harry who happily devoured his stack of pancakes heavily coated in honey. 

"Buy clothes?" Harry asked, blinking.

"Yes." 

"I wear clothes Dudley doesn't need any more. Saves money."

Dahlia gripped her fork and remained smiling. "Well, things are different here because I'm not like your Aunt Petunia. I'm Aunt Dahlia, which is better. You get great food, new things and a comfortable room."

Dahlia realized how she sounded like she was advertising herself and cringed, but the feeling was quick to go away when she saw the bright smile appear on Harry's face.

"So eat up and we'll leave after you have a bath and get ready."

Dahlia thanked her younger self for always wearing clothes that many considered were "for boys" along with flowery dresses and skirts because she liked all kinds of clothes no matter the style back then. 

She loved dresses to match with Lily, skirts to feel good running around on a windy day, pants to move freely when playing, jackets to keep her warm and cosy and tank tops to keep her feel refreshed on summer days.

So now she's able to lend old clothes to Harry that is not a dress. But rather simple pants and a shirt. She shrugged. Clothes have no label anyway.

Harry looked at himself in the mirror and all he saw were blurry patches of colour, was he standing too far?

"What do you think? Should we get the other shirt instead?" Dahlia asked and noticed how Harry stayed quiet. "Harry?"

Harry rubbed his eyes with a pout, staring at his reflection before tilting his head to look up at Dahlia with a look of sadness.

"I can't see myself."

Dahlia frowned, trying to decode whatever the child just said. She knew kids talked weird sometimes, but how was she to handle this one? She looked back and forth at the mirror and Harry until he spoke again.

"My eyes are broken."

Oh.

Dahlia paused and lowered her head to level gazes with Harry. 

"Can you see me when I'm this close?"

Harry shook his head and took a few steps forward, his face 3 inches away from Dahlia's. "I can see you now."

That's when it clicked.

"Good thing you told me, let's get you some glasses along with clothes. How long have your eyes been broken, Harry?"

"I don't know."

Dahlia nodded.

"That's fine. You're all dressed. Let's go."

***

Dahlia underestimated just how much she would enjoy dressing up Harry. The boy was far too adorable that everything fit! With Dahlia's money that her parents left her- she's tempted to waste it all on Harry's closet after seeing him try 5 outfits.

The boy now had round glasses he picked out for himself and stood awkwardly in front of Dahlia who tried her best not to squeal in public the moment she sees Harry wearing another outfit. She was enjoying herself too much but after 8 outfits - she had to stop.

She just picked out clothes that was his size and tossed them in the cart, apologizing to Harry and promising she would get him ice cream and so she did.

Here they are, occupying a table at an ice cream parlour. Harry sat across her, eyes barely reaching over the table with an ice cream cone in hand. Dahlia across him is enjoying her strawberry-vanilla scoops while Harry happily ate his chocolate.

When they finished, Harry looked like a mess. As if he fell on a puddle of mud face first and had Dahlia laughing. She grabbed tissues from the dispenser on and bent over the table to wipe Harry's face clean.

Harry was giggling with her, the two looked like a picture perfect mother and son duo.

"Oh he is adorable." Some old lady spoke up, startling Dahlia and she set aside the dirty tissues now that Harry's face is free of chocolate ice cream. "What's his name?"

Dahlia turned to Harry and nodded, the boy smiled up at the old woman. "My name's Harry."

"He's beautiful, congratulations." The old woman told Dahlia and she stiffened in place, muttering a quiet thank you and sitting still in place while the woman walked off.

Harry noticed the shift in the atmosphere, he blinked at Dahlia who sat there frozen in place and staring blankly at the table. The old woman didn't say anything bad, so he wonders why she's upset.

Dahlia is conflicted. The woman was right, Harry is beautiful and she feels incredibly lucky to be his guardian but that woman thought he was his Mother. And she can't be farther from that - she's barely keeping herself together - she's no mother.

And no one can ever take Lily's place.

"Dahlia?" Harry asked, making Dahlia snap back to reality and she gave the boy a small smile. 

"Done with ice cream? Let's head home," Dahlia nodded and got up from her seat, acting as if her little moment didn't happen. "You must've been tired, we were out all day."

Harry didn't probe and just nodded, taking her offered hand and walked with her to the car.

 ***

3 months have passed. Harry's birthday is nearing and he's about to turn 4. The time he spent under Dahlia's care was the best ever. He knew he would be loved better than back at the Dursley's and Dahlia was not lacking in any way.

There were nights he'd walk to her bedroom and ask her to stay with him but then he'd hear her cries, that was the only time she allowed herself to break down. Every night, alone in her room and she didn't think he would know.

But Harry knew and every time he'd catch her, he'd just quietly retreat to his room and count sheep to sleep. He didn't want to inconvenience Dahlia, she was clearly going through some things, and he's only glad she still managed a smile and a laugh whenever she's with him.

"What do you want for your birthday?" Dahlia asked him while she washed the dishes after their breakfast. Harry's birthday is in 5 days and she's excited.

She planned to make up for his missing years as a child by spoiling him until she felt she took back those years already. 

"I don't need anything."

Dahlia's smile dropped, she put down the plate she's currently rinsing and quickly dried her hands on the towel. She turned to Harry and levelled gaze with him, leaning on the counter and giving him a small smile.

"Why not? It's your special day, you only turn 4 once.  You can ask me anything and I'll see what I can do to make it happen."

Harry smiled, knowing her good intentions but he still shook his head. "I already have everything I want."

Dahlia's small smile is quick to drop again. Her hand reaching out to hold his that was resting on the counter and Dahlia kept herself from crying. A child shouldn't treat the bare minimum to be 'everything he's ever wanted'.

Dahlia might actually get into voodoo and curse the Dursleys.

"Harry, love - " Dahlia almost choked out a sob. Harry looked up at her expectantly, pretending not to see the gloss in her eyes. "Are you sure? Any toy? Anything at all, I'll get it."

Dahlia didn't want to just provide Harry the bare minimum - Lily would have been so disappointed in her and Dahlia knew that if Harry's mum was still alive - he'd be spoiled rotten.

He'd be so full of love and so full of everything that he might develop a terrible personality - but how could he when his mum was so amazing and kind?

Harry could tell Dahlia's upset by his answer, but he meant it. He didn't want anything else but he didn't want to make her sad so he pondered. "I want video games, I remember Dudley has them and I'm never allowed to watch him play."

With that, Dahlia is satisfied and she nodded with a wide grin. She honestly have no knowledge on the new and developing technology but she's seen other kids enjoy these video games.

In a way - it's sad how Harry is so well-adjusted. He never gave Dahlia any trouble and he can read her so well and respond accordingly. A child shouldn't worry about an adult like that - it should be the other way around.

-

hello,  been a while since I updated. Anyone still reading?

vote and comment <3