Harry was looking out of his bedroom window as the snow fell. He loved the snow; it was so beautiful and pure. And because his five-year-old brother, Brian, found it boring, Harry was never bothered while he watched it.
Harry, a six-year-old boy, was the eldest son of the Potters, though the vast majority of people believed they only had one son: Brian Leonard Potter. This belief stemmed from the fact that his parents often forgot about him. In truth, almost everyone forgot about him. Only Uncle Remus seemed to acknowledge his existence; the others were usually unaware of his presence even when he was in the same room, let alone the rest of the house.
It was true that it made the child sad when that happened, but he was already accustomed to it, as it had been this way his entire life. When he was younger, he hadn't understood why his parents behaved that way, but now it no longer bothered him. He had learned that he would receive no answer, and his brother would simply have the perfect excuse to torment him however he wished.
Brian was also the reason Harry spent so much time alone by choice. Their parents adored Brian; to them, there was no better child, and in their eyes, he could never do anything wrong. Contrary to their belief, Brian enjoyed hurting his older brother. Whenever Harry was nearby, he would torment him, and if not, Harry would suffer some kind of "accident." Just a couple of days prior, the elder Potter brother had fallen down some of the house's stairs, and his parents' reaction had been to fuss over Brian, just in case he had hurt himself.
It was Christmas Day, and Harry hadn't even left his room. What was the point? He had never received a single Christmas gift from his parents or his "godfather," Uncle Sirius. Every year, the only thing that came of it was Brian's taunts, mocking him for having no gifts and being unwanted. Of course, Uncle Remus always brought him a gift when he came for a meal. Uncle Remus liked him; he always remembered him and, when he visited, preferred to spend time with Harry rather than Brian, which infuriated his brother.
Thanks to Remus, he had a library more typical of a fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy than a six-year-old, and he enjoyed it with all his heart. Books had become his refuge. When he felt sad, he only had to pick one up to feel better. He had read them all, along with a significant portion of his parents' library. He enjoyed narratives, but also the magic books; they were so interesting!
A knock on his door made him look away from the window and focus on the door. After a few seconds concentrating, he smiled.
"Go ahead, Uncle Remus!"
The door opened, revealing a young man with light brown hair and amber eyes who smiled while shaking his head in amusement.
"Harry, Harry... You'd have to be careful. What if Uncle Padfoot had been with me? How would you have explained that?"
"Uncle Padfoot never comes to see me in my room. Besides, I would have noticed he was by your side; his aura is unmistakable, just like yours."
The man smiled as he ruffled Harry's messy black hair and scooped him into his arms. He would never understand why his friends – or rather, no one – realised what an incredible boy he was. But since the prophecy, no one had truly seen Harry, missing the opportunity to truly know such a wonder.
"How come you haven't gone downstairs? Don't you get bored here?"
"It's snowing, and I like to see it snow, you know... Besides, nobody cares if I stay here all day cooped up... nor would they notice."
"I would notice." Remus looked fondly at the child before smiling and taking out a package. "Here, it's your Christmas gift."
"For me? Thank you, Uncle Remus!" the child exclaimed.
Eagerly, the boy took the gift offered to him and very carefully began to unwrap the paper, revealing its content: a book, as usual. The boy looked at it with attention and smiled when he saw the title: "Magic Elementary: Fact or Fiction?"
"Thank you very much, Uncle Remus!" exclaimed the boy when he hugged him.
"You like it?"
"A lot!"
"I thought you would. As I've noticed you've been interested in elemental magic lately, I thought you'd appreciate it."
"Really, thank you very much, Uncle Remus."
The boy seemed to be itching to start reading it, but instead, he placed it on his desk, ensuring it was hidden from the door. It was a precaution to prevent his brother from seeing it and deciding to take it away. After that, they went down to eat.
The meal unfolded as it did every year. On one hand, his parents forgot about him, so Harry himself had to set his own plate and cutlery. Then, while his parents talked to the others about Brian, Brian spent his meal tormenting his brother with insults and comments laced with malicious intent.
When the meal was over, the adults began to talk about the political situation, including the precarious situation with Voldemort. Over the years, the situation had degenerated further and further, and despite the opposition he faced, Voldemort continued to enforce his reign of terror.
Brian, bored by the adults' conversation, approached his brother, who, unlike him, was hanging on every word.
"I want to go outside," he demanded.
"You know we can't do it without Mum or Dad's permission," Harry replied very seriously.
"But I'm bored! And I want to go outside."
"But..."
"If we don't go out, I'll make sure Mum and Dad get angry with you and punish you."
Harry looked at his brother and eventually nodded. He knew from previous experience that his parents would believe Brian's words, and that his younger brother wouldn't hesitate to carry out his threat. He also knew that they would be equally angry if they were not asked for permission, so when his brother ran off to retrieve something (Merlin knew what), Harry approached his parents and told them he was going out. As his father was so immersed in the conversation and never paid attention to him anyway, he merely nodded absent-mindedly.
When he arrived outside with his coat, he discovered that the object Brian had gone to retrieve was a Muggle ball he had received for Christmas, and which he was too impatient to use for the first time. Harry, for his part, had brought one of his books – not the one that Remus had just given him – and he prepared to read in a little clearing that Remus had bewitched so that it always maintained a spring temperature. Letting his brother have fun with his ball, he began to read and learn.
As his parents never paid him any attention, they did not notice the great magical capacities he possessed. It was very easy for him to perform spells that, in themselves, should be impossible for a six-year-old child to do – even for a sixteen or seventeen-year-old. Any advanced spell he could study thoroughly, he could perform perfectly shortly afterwards, and without a wand. But since Brian was always the centre of their attention, his parents had never noticed the incredible capacity and power that resided in their eldest son.
"Harry!" His brother's angry shout made him leave his refuge, leaving his book there.
"What's going on?"
"My ball!" he exclaimed angrily as he pointed towards the lake. "Go and look!"
Harry looked, and he could certainly see his brother's ball in the middle of the frozen surface. The boy looked at his younger brother, scared. He must have been joking, right?
"Brian, there isn't enough thickness to walk safely. The ice could break... It is best to ask an adult to cast a summoning spell for us to recover it."
"I want my ball, now! Go get it!"
"But Brian..."
"I don't care! I want it now!"
Harry sighed, and stepping hesitantly, he began to make his way across the icy surface. He was incredibly scared, but aware that if he went to look for an adult – unless it was Remus – Brian would tell them that he had thrown it there on purpose.
Once he had it in his hands, he turned to return to the shore and finally be at peace. But just as he was about to start back, a slight sound at his feet made him freeze and look at the ice, terrified. Knowing his brother, he threw the ball to him just before the creak he had heard moments ago repeated itself, and the ice broke, sending him falling into the frozen waters with a scream.
The only thing he felt was pain, searing from every nerve ending in his skin, his chest burning. Before he could close his mouth, he began to swallow water. He was going to drown, and no one could do anything to stop it. Just before he lost consciousness, it seemed to him that he was grabbed by one arm.
When he regained consciousness, his entire body ached, though his lungs burned especially. It felt strange, almost as if he were lying on a strange bed... a bed that wasn't his. Moreover, he had the sensation that something was stuck through his nose, and his arm hurt a great deal.
With great effort, he opened his eyes and discovered he was in a white room, a strange ward. There was a strange beep to his right, and when he turned his head a little, he discovered a machine. That meant he was in a Muggle place. Also next to him, he discovered Remus sleeping in a chair.
"Remus..." he tried to call him, but as soon as he spoke, a coughing fit seized him.
"Merlin, thank goodness... You've had me very worried."
"D... Where am I?"
"In a Muggle hospital," the werewolf answered. "What happened after you fell into the water?" Seeing the child's reluctance, he continued. "Apparently, when you fell, a Muggle was passing near the lake. When he saw you fall, he ran to help you and pulled you out of the water. Then he called a Muggle ambulance, and they brought you here. You've been unconscious for two days."
"Dad and Mum?"
"They're at home, with Brian," Remus replied, his voice flat. "They were here on the first day, but then they left." Seeing the child's sad expression, he added, "Brian gave his version of the story, painting you as the culprit of everything."
Harry did not respond for a while, staring at the ceiling. As always, their parents had believed Brian faithfully, and since his brother wasn't hurt, that meant his parents didn't even bother to worry about him.
"How long do I have to stay here?"
"Until you are cured."
"Won't they even let a healer cure me?"
"James was so angry that you'd put Brian 'in danger' that he decided Muggle healing would be your punishment," Remus said with a sigh.
A new coughing fit caused Remus to get up, frightened, and go to look for a nurse. But the child's hand stopped him and made him sit down again.
"What's wrong with me, Uncle Remus?"
"You were submerged in the water for a long time," the man explained. "Too much. A Muggle would have died, but your magic saved you... but, there was damage to your lungs..."
"Damage?"
"Yes... they still have to see what repercussions it will have, but there was permanent damage."
"But... A healer will be able to cure it, right?"
"I don't know, Harry... if a healer had treated you instantly... perhaps... but I don't know. What happened?"
Harry explained in as much detail as he could what had happened two days before: how his brother had demanded to leave, how he had sent the ball into the lake, and how he had demanded that he go and get it. It was a long and slow explanation, as on more than one occasion he had to stop because of a coughing fit. When it was over, he looked at the silent werewolf.
"It's a very different version than the one Brian told your parents."
Harry was silent; there was no need for him to say anything. After all, he knew the truth. His parents didn't care, and he knew the reason too. He had heard them one night commenting on it and knew that to them, he was just someone who represented a burden. How could he compare to his younger brother, prophesied to destroy Voldemort? He was sure that if he didn't come home, they wouldn't even notice. Only Brian and Uncle Remus would notice he was gone, and obviously, for very different reasons.
"Uncle Remus, you'll be tired... It would be better if you went home and rested... I'm fine, don't worry."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"I'll be back tomorrow, okay?"
"Okay."
Remus left the room and, after telling the doctor that the child had woken up, went to his friend's house to have a few words with him. James had to know that his behaviour towards his son was unacceptable. Surely even Snape wouldn't behave like that.
As soon as he was able to do so, he appeared in front of James Potter's house and knocked on the door with determination and anger. Lily opened the door, smiling at him.
"Remus! Come in, come in... You're just in time for dinner. Fancy a cup of tea?"
"Thank you, Lily... but I've come mostly to talk to James and with you," he said as he entered.
"Talk to us?" James Potter, who was in the dining room, said. "And of what?"
"Harry's, perhaps?"
"Ahhh... of him."
"What's going on, Remus?"
"I hope you are aware of the damage you have done to him by denying him the right to see a healer."
"He is already receiving medical assistance, and Muggle treatment is the least he deserves for endangering his brother!" James was furious. "Forcing him to leave the house... And without permission! What if he had been attacked by Death Eaters? What would have happened if something had happened to Brian?"
"In case you haven't noticed, Brian's fine! It's Harry who isn't! Harry asked your permission to go out right in front of you, and you told him he could... And if you knew anything about your eldest son, you'd know he'd never force someone to do something he doesn't want, unlike Brian." Remus continued, his voice rising. "Harry was almost ten minutes immersed in water with a temperature of almost twenty degrees below zero... It's a miracle that he is still alive... The consequences will be far too few compared to what could have happened to him... you better keep that in mind."
After that, Remus left the house, without bothering to say anything else, for everything had already been said.