As the weeks of summer progressed Harry came to both love and hate his little cousin. He loved her because she was sweet and innocent. She made his aunt happy. The times he had charge of her made him happy and it wasn't long before she had him wrapped around her fingers. He hated her because she was even less of a blood relation than he was, but she was doted on, by everyone even Aunt Marge.
Aunt Marge, who had come for the baptism, had taken a few days to warm up to Rose. She had questioned Uncle Vernon as to how he could take in someone not of his blood and love her so well.
His answer had caused Harry to develop a bit of sympathy both for Rose and Aunt Marge. "Marge, Rose's mother is a sweet girl who reminds me of you a bit. You see Rose isn't just any baby. Rose's mother is pretty, sweet, and naïve. She reminds me of you when you were a girl. You remember what happened to you, don't you? How Lord Brierton's son took you out, romanced you, and then didn't listen when you said, 'no'.
"Well Melody was dating young Viscount Waverly, and the same thing as what happened to you happened to her. She got pregnant from a date rape. When she told him, it was in a restaurant where I sometimes take clients. I saw and heard what that little prick said to her. Were I her father I'd have gone after that toe rag and given him a good hiding. Her parents wanted her to kill the baby same as ours did yours, but she said "no". So they kicked her out. Petunia was volunteering at the hospital the day she went in to get an abortion because she didn't think she had a choice anymore. She knew Melody from the dance studio and she could see that she didn't really want to kill the baby. So we gave her a choice, she moved in with us until after Rose was born then she went back to her parents.
"I know you drink to forget. It has damaged your life, what Mother and Father made you do. Melody is young she deserves better, just like you deserved better. Pet and I took Melody in while she was pregnant and we've adopted her daughter because Petunia has always wanted more children and I couldn't help you but I can help Melody. I could do something to prevent another young girl from feeling what you have felt all these years. Come on, have a good cry then you'll feel better."
The sound of Marjorie Dursley's tears was enough to startle Harry back into motion.
Harry went through the days keeping busy, but he resented how his uncle and even his aunt doted on the baby while he was mostly treated as an unwelcome guest/ and sometimes servant. It wasn't as bad as when they weren't getting the stipend but it still rankled. He was their blood relation but they didn't love him because he had magic. His stomach burned with fury at Albus Dumbledore for putting him in this house, and at his Aunt and Uncle for not loving him. Before Rose, he had told himself it was because he wasn't their son, but now that Rose was here that excuse wore thin. Harry redoubled his efforts in his magical world studies.
Harry's sensei was concerned. He saw Harry's emotional turmoil and was afraid for Harry's mental health. One day he cornered him.
"Care to tell me what has got you so worked up?"
"I… No, Sensei, it's stupid. Talking about it won't change anything."
"Sometimes if we unburden ourselves we can lighten the load. I'm concerned, Harry. You come back from your boarding school you're just here for the summer and you're wound so tight I'm afraid you'll snap. Add to that you had me ask Samantha about book for rape victims that are boys. Is there something you want, or need, to tell me?"
Harry got a shocked look on his face as he realized what his sensei was thinking. "What? You thought? Ooh, um, oh boy. First off, Sensei, um those books really weren't for me . See this last year there was a teacher at school. He tried, well… what you're thinking but not with me, but with another student. I stopped it, kicked his ass while I was at it. But the other boy, it was all but done and it messed him up badly… his family has hang-ups about… well, you know, psychiatric care I wanted the books for him not me. No, the reason I'm so…
After a moment of silence Sensei prompted Harry. "Is?"
Harry felt like a girl as tears sprang to his eyes. "My family doesn't love me. They tolerate me, if I'm useful. Sometimes I think everyone views me that way. I hate it. Sometimes I hate myself . I really hate myself when I look at little Rose and feel so angry and resentful. She's so sweet and perfect. But I get so angry at her.."
"She's got what you want, your aunt and uncle's attention and affection and you're jealous."
Harry, blushing in shame, nodded his head.
"There's not a lot I can tell you, Harry. The lack isn't in you, it's in your aunt and uncle. You are an incredible and special child, with a huge heart. You're smart and you have an almost limitless potential. You always have. You don't think I asked you to help here in the dojo as a nine year old because I pitied you?"
"Didn't you?"
"Harry, I gave you a job here because I knew even then that you were honorable and I saw your enormous potential. I wanted a part of shaping that potential. It's not every student I teach survival, or astronomy, or code-breaking, or go to. Most I teach them karate, that's it. I see you and I see someone with the capacity to be a renaissance man; someone who is solider, artist, scientist, and statesman. Such men are rare and their paths are seldom easy, but cream always rises to the surface. Don't let others force you down."
"Thanks, Sensei."
"It's my honor and pleasure, Harry. I hope with time you'll be able to put aside your negative feelings regarding your new cousin, and will come to love her as she deserves. If you do, the love you bestow will reap its own reward.
"Now would you care to spar?"
....
Join my P@treon and get 60+ advanced chapters.
Link: p*atreon.com/0LordSilvere0 (Remove the *)
Free members get 5 chapters free.
Join Right Now