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CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE!
— Limerence

" Ask your wife, noble stallion. "

TIME DOESN'T STOP WHEN SOMEONE DIES. Ember knew that her best friend's passing away wasn't a reason for Harry to suffer more. Even he was curious for the reason that Marlene and Ophelia had never come back to play with him. He was turning one, a big thing for any young child and their family.

Wanting to keep the party small, the couple invited the marauders, Lily, and then Alice and Frank so they could bring Neville. Kaylee and Erick were also invited but Erick would be the only one that was able to make it since Kaylee was caught up with work. speaking of work, Peter very reluctantly came to the party. Claiming he was swamped at his workplace. Eventually, Ember was able to convince him to join the party.

Harry waddled, to the best of his ability, around the home. On occasion, he would fall over and start crawling instead. He had attempted to help his parents clean up - it was still a few days until the party; they just wanted to be prepared. - but had spilled cereal all over the floors instead. Yeah, he wasn't allowed to help after that.

Whilst James was at Auror Training and Ember at work, Remus would be stuck with the task of watching both Harry and Valerie. Lily would join in at times, just helping in small bits.

"Oh my Merlin, Harry's an artist." Remus laughed, holding up Valerie who had an angry look on her face, marker scribbled all over her skin.

The four - Lily, Remus, Valerie, and Harry - had all been painting together. Whilst Lily tried to get Valerie to draw flowers, Remus had subtly trying to get Harry to draw a penis. He failed miserably when the boy found painting on Valerie's caramel skin more interesting than the parchment.

Lily covered her mouth with her hand to hold in her laughter. Her skin crinkled around her eyes, reaching for a paper towel. "Let's get you cleaned up Val." She smiled, picking the little girl up.

Valerie kept her grey eyes trained on the little boy. Glares shooting out of them the best she could muster at a young age. When the two girls disappeared into the kitchen, Valerie turned to Lily. "Harry bad."

Wetting the paper towel, lily smirked. "Harry is very bad isn't he?" Lily questioned the girl, wiping away some of the paint on her arms and face. The young girl stayed slump on the counter, crossing her arms as Lily cleaned her off.

Just as the ginger was finishing, the front door creaked open. "Looks like auntie Ember is here," Lily informed Valerie who instantly smiled.

"Help?"

Lily smirked, picking Valrie up and off of the counter. Lily sighed, rubbing her eyes before apparating out of the house. She was tired and Remus would understand where she went.

The young girl waddled over to Ember who was clashed in her lime green uniform and her blonde hair pulled back in a claw clip. The woman put up her house keys, wiping her eyes as if she could remove the horrible things she's seen today. Her eyes instantly brighten up as she sees Valerie, pushing the memories into the burner.

"Hey, favorite girl!" Ember says happily, picking her up. "Why are you wet?"

"Harry paint me," Valerie grumbles, playing with the few pieces of hair sticking out of Ember's clip. "Mean Harry."

The woman grins, still holding Valerie on her hip as she walks into the living room. Remus was sat on the floor, Harry in his lap as they painted on parchment. "Hey, Ember!" Remus smiled, raising a hand to greet her.

Harry lifted his head from his painting. He stared at Valerie for a moment as if he was coming up with a revenge plan in his head to get her back from taking his mom. "Mama." He greeted formally, going back to his painting.

Ember rolled her eyes and put Valerie on the ground. "Good to know you love me, Harry."

"I love you." He said happily, still painting away.

The woman snorted as she walked over to the small group. "What'cha painting, Harold?"

"No Harold," Harry grumbled, shielding the parchment from Ember. "I see."

Remus laughed, throwing his head back and shaking it. "Why don't you show her your drawing, Harry? You've worked very hard on it, haven't you?" He asked the little boy.

Harry glanced up, looking at Ember, Valerie, and Remus before shyly lifting the parchment of scribbles. His painting was one you would see hanging up in museums, selling for millions of dollars. His paintbrush swipes had rendered out to be a family of three, all holding hands. It was hard to tell from the pointless colors that danced along with the page, but three figures stood out from the smoke around them.

She smiled, scooting next to Harry as Valerie took a place on her side. "It's very pretty, Harry. Who are those people?" She asked, brushing hair out of his face. Even at Harry's young age, his hair was wild and curly like James's was.

"Daddy, Mama, and Harry. Uncle Remy helped draw." Harry said proudly. His confidence had been boosted from Ember's complement.

Ember smiled, one of those bright smiles that used to make people melt around her. They had become less rare by the day, a bar of rare chocolate worth hundreds of dollars just to see or taste. Though Ember was aging, everyone knew. She was twenty one with a husband and a son who was turning a year old in a few days.

Even as she became older, the blonde kept her old features. Her deep blue eyes that Harry was given, the signature 'White' smile that caught everyone's attention, her wavy blonde hair and fair skin remained as she aged. She still had the natural beauty she always had, it was just becoming hidden under her greif and loss.

She turned her head to look at Valerie, "What did you draw, Val?"

Valerie grinned, holding up a photo of a painted boy with a mushstashe and bushy eyebrows, his blue eyes staring back at them. "Harry!" She giggled.

Harry pouted, hiding his face in Remus's sweater. "Ugly. Valerie draw ugly."

Valerie gasps offendedly and shares a quick glance at Ember, barley able to contain her laughter before she bursts out in giggles.

🖇

Presents sat on the end of the couch, Harry sitting on Ember's lap as he fiddled with all the bright colors that were on the wrapping. Sirius, Remus, Erick, and a sleeping Valerie were all cuddled up on one side of the couch. Peter and Lily sat on the floor near the fireplace, having their own enlightening conversation about Hailey, Peter's girlfriend. Alice and Frank sat near the Lupin-Blacks as Neville sat on James's lap talking animatedly with Harry in baby-blabbering.

Harry wasn't going to actually start opening the presents yet. Ember wanted him to choose his first one and he was taking his time. Not trying to pick the biggest or smallest but more so the brightest. "Harry, pick one please." Sirius complained from the couch. Valerie shuffled in his arms and he immediately shut his mouth closed.

It wasn't a surprise Sirius melted around his daughter. Everyone quite expected it actually. The usual 'bad boy' persona Sirius held had dropped when him and Remus adopted the young girl. He practically became mush around her and it was easy to tell she would be very spoiled- and humbled since Sirius and Remus couldn't go five minutes without some sort of lighthearted insult thrown at someone.

Harry looked up at the sound of his name, tightening his eyes at Sirius before he went back to his presents. "This." Neville said simply, handing Harry a yellow and white package.

It wasn't Harry's normal pick, he had mainly been looking at the bright wrapping paper. He gave Neville a look, taking the box. "Okay?"

Harry fumbled around the paper, barley making a tear. Laughing to herself, Ember ripped a bigger hole in the paper to reveal a box with stuffed animals inside... a doe and stag. Ember looked away, staring at Remus knowing he was the cause of this. He and Peter were the only ones in their living group who knew of her patronus.

James smirked holding the stag up for Harry. "Look at this! It's a stag. Moony, why did you get a doe?" James asked, taking notice of the other deer in the box.

He raised his water bottle as if it was a thing of wine, taking a sip he winked at Ember. "Ask your wife, noble stallion."

James turned to Ember, his eyebrows raised. She laughed awkwardly, using Harry's hands to sheild her front her red cheeks. Thinking it was peek-a-boo, Harry removed his hands from her face. "Traitor." She pretend scolded him under her breath. "So I may have lied to you... just a few white lies. Cause... surprise! My patronus is a doe." She laughed awkwardly as she gave Harry another present.

Alice laughed loudly, clapping her hands together. Neville glanced over at his mom and scrunched up his nose. Beside the flower place, Peter shook his head, a large smile on his face. "I still knew before you, James."

"This is an outrage!" He said dramatically, squishing Ember's face in his hands. "You could've told me you were my soulmate or whatever. Do you not love me, Ember Potter... or... or should I say White."

Ember laughed, patting his hands. "I do love you very much. And I will keep the last name Potter only if you let Harry finish his birthday."

"Right- oh my Merlin is that a-"

"Broom?!" James and Smber exlaimed at the same time. One of their voices sounding excited whilst the other one seemed to hold more anger in the under-tones.

"Sirius, did you get my son. My one year and a few hour old son a broom for his birthday." Ember asked, raising the item from Harry's hands. He whined pulling it back down.

Sirius bit back a laugh, knowing Ember was just doing a bit and she wasn't actually upset with him- right? "Hey... just because you hage wuidditch doesn't mean Harry has to aswell! Look, he loves it."

Sighing, Ember let Harry play with the broom as he carelessly opened up the rest of his presents. Sure, she wasn't jumping with joy at the chance of her son getting hurt on a broom... or that he would like quidditch, but as Sirius said, he loves it. So, Ember liked quidditch a little more on July 31, 1981.

After the party, Ember found a box underneath her bed. She furrowed her eyes, not remembering it ever being placed there.

A little note sat on the top, she reluctantly picked it up and read the words to herself

dear Potters!

This is for Harry! Hope you don't mind we kept it underneath your bed for a few weeks. Not like anyone will take it before July 31. We just wanted to keep it there because of Ryland... anyway, we will see you soon! Not like we just saw you two seconds ago before you went to go pee. We really hoped you enjoyed that piss enough to leave us.

- Ophelia and Marlene

P.S. Marlene is cooler than Ophelia - Marlene

Wiping away her stray tears, Ember lifted the dusty lid off of the box. A few fake wands were on the bottom, a folded up blanket, but the thing that really caught her eye was the stuffed owl that looked suspiciously like Ugly Turkey.

ASHLEE SPEAKS !

I am not joking when I say my sleep schedule has gone to SHITT. What happened to me going to sleep at 10:30PM or earlier and not 3:00AM 😭😭😭

I kinda look hot today, I cant show you. But I do

I loathe the first part of this chapter but the last part is actually very awesome. Okay goodbye, I am out