The redhead allowed herself to smile in between bites of food. When the topic of a family vacation had been brought up when they arrived home she had been concerned. What if her sister wasn't recovered enough to enjoy it? What if she needed help? What if her brother wasn't physically healed? What if he started having nightmares now that they were in an unfamiliar place?
Thus, she had paid extra attention to both, at least until she noticed the lack of fear in either of their eyes. Harriet had been reading books like normal, not staring at pages blankly but actually reading and going through them at her normal pace, and apart from a few 'staring off into the distance' moments, Harry looked okay as well.
He sat on the beach and enjoyed the warm sand, he splashed around in the ocean, he laughed and joked. The only remaining two 'tests' were their eating habits, which she had seen were normal as indicated in the past few minutes of a family dinner, and how well they would sleep at night.
That last assessment was one of the more important ones. She knew that Harriet hadn't been sleeping well since recovering from her petrification, and while there hadn't been any late-night screams, she was aware of the occasional tossing and turning that was far from normal for the raven-haired witch.
As for Harry, what was his normal nighttime routine? She knew that he was a light sleeper, and an early riser, but other than that most of it was unknown.
Then the morning… encounter had happened.
If someone had told her the previous year, she would be involved in such a thing she would have laughed or hexed them. Now though? Now all she could think about was…
Would it happen again?
She shouldn't, naturally, because there was still some concern, they might have taken advantage of Harry's kindness, but it felt as though he enjoyed himself, that they weren't pushing him to do something he didn't want.
He certainly wouldn't have been so enthusiastic if it was forced… right? Apart from Harry she had been uncertain how awkward it would be with her sister in the room, but other than some initial weirdness it felt almost normal.
Normal, to have a threesome with her siblings.
What in the world was their life becoming? Such thoughts plagued her up until the wizard opted to take a dip in the ocean and emerge moments later. She had overheard one of her classmates make the claim that 'everyone looks better soaking wet'. Amaryllis thought it was just some stupid rumor or boast.
Now she was seriously reconsidering because holy shit, Harry was gorgeous.
Soaking wet hair, a bright smile, muscles toned and accentuated with the reflection of water, droplets making their way down his body, down towards his swim suit and what it hid…
She was going to need to go for a swim herself if these thoughts kept up, otherwise someone was going to notice the wetness that was not caused by the ocean.
****
There was nothing quite like a sunrise on the beach, and while the water was technically in the opposite direction Harry found himself up and sneaking out of the cottage early enough to enjoy the peace and quiet anyway. There was something about the morning air, the cool ocean breeze, the first rays of light peeking up over the landscape.
It served to wash away any anxieties that might have been building up, cleanse him of any uncertainties he had pertaining to the previous, and upcoming, years.
At that moment life was simple and peaceful, it was so easy to just let go and allow himself to believe that everything would be okay, that there wouldn't be any further problems or trials, that this was his family, that his life could be what he had always dreamed of.
Harry had been deep enough into the fantasy that he didn't even notice James' approach until the man gently called out to him. He spun in place, hand reaching for a Wand that he hadn't brought, hadn't even thought of bringing.
Strange, how a few days into summer had cause his guard to relax to such an extent.
"Everything okay?" the man inquired, clearly noticing the boy's twitching fingers and change in demeanor.
"Yeah! Yeah, everything's fine I just… wanted to wake up early and enjoy the sunrise is all."
James Potter nodded slowly, before letting out a sigh, "It is very pretty in the morning, isn't it? Planning on coming into the water again today?" The younger wizard nodded almost automatically, barely paying attention to the question as he closed his eyes and enjoy a cool gust of wind. "We were worried you know, your mom and I about not just the girls but you as well. This past year… this had really been hard for everyone, really made us question whether keeping you three at Hogwarts is a good decision. I mean, this is the second year something dangerous had occurred, something that you were directly involved in."
For his part Harry agreed but did so with a shrug. There really wasn't any thought of not going back to Hogwarts. Even when he had been targeted by a literal sociopathic Dark Lord, he went back each time.
His friends were there, and back then they were all he had; Magic was all he had. Without it he was just some useless brat to be discarded or ignored. Being a wizard was the first thing he had ever been good at, the first thing he ever enjoyed.
The day he met Hagrid was the day his life had begun.
"I think everything will be fine from here out." he answered, the certainty in his voice masking any hidden doubts. "Not like anyone is going to break out of Azkaban and come after us."
________________________
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