Harry thought back to the Dursley household for some odd reason. He remembered when he was eight years old and one summer weekend they had shuffled him out the house Saturday morning with a list of chores to do. Of all things they'd given him a sack lunch and told him to get a drink out of the hose on the house. He was not to come in all day. It was only a blistering hot day, muggy as anything with a storm slated for that night according to the local news. Vernon and Petunia were hosting some friends over and apparently thought it better to get him out of the way the entire day vs. have him underfoot and others asking why some strange kid was locked in the cupboard.
By early afternoon he'd finished all chores save the last one: weeding the garden. He'd intentionally saved it for last as he could make it last the rest of the afternoon if he wanted. Normally it would have only taken him an hour or less to complete the task, but then Aunt Petunia would have only found more for him to do. So he intentionally took a long time on it. It was while working outside that several kids (younger than him even) came out to see what he was doing. They'd been told he was just the son of a vagrant looking for work and had been given a job to earn a few pounds.
Harry was so moved by the utter lack of references that Vernon always speckled his way to any listener (freak being the most common) that he decided to do something nice for the kids. He made them each a wristband and a crown made of flower petals. It was not an easy thing to do and required quite a bit of concentration to make sure he didn't rip the petals while spiraling them together.
The kids, ages 5 and 6, loved it. They ran back into the house and showed their parents who also loved it. Vernon made noise of having to give that useless vagrant's son a bonus for good work. Later, Aunt Petunia was upset that he'd vandalized several of her flowers in making those things. Harry wasn't allowed back in the house until Monday morning. He'd had to spend the ensuing thunderstorm huddled in the utility shed out back.
At least it was roomier than his cupboard. If only slightly more crowded with tools, mowers, and spiders.
Harry never made another flower crown or wristband again. Until now. He made one for each of Lily's wrists and a larger crown for her head. It was made of rose and pansy flower petals. A columbine flower adorned the apex of the crown. Harry made a great show of presenting a crown to "Princess Lily."
Lily giggled and said in her childlike voice, "What about mommy?"
Harry smiled and got to work on another crown for Queen Mum. "One crown for mum coming up!"
Lily clapped and then handed him some petals. "Me help," Lily insisted.
"Yes you did, Lily. You're a good helper."
Lily giggled some more and tried making a bracelet. It came out as a good effort for a first try but until Harry used some subtle wandless magic to make sure it wouldn't fall apart, no one would be wearing it. He had to admit, though, that for a little girl she sure learned fast. She was able to concentrate when she wanted to.
Harry's crown was made out of white, red and pink roses. Lily had made a bracelet of purple, pink and blue pansies. They ran all the way back to their parents to give their gifts to their mum, Lily giggling all the way especially since she beat her big brother in the foot race.
When they got both got back, everyone else had returned from swimming and were eating again. Harry watched Leon put away a turkey sandwich. Geez… the Potter's were worse than the Weasley's. Harry never thought it was possible.
Lily gave the bracelet and crown to her mother, who absolutely adored it.
"Oh Lily! Harry! They're beautiful. How did you two know how to make these?" Lily said while Harry's sisters were giving their mum jealous looks. They had to admit, those flowers looked good on their mother. Lily Sr. gave both her children a kiss on the forehead and admired her new "jewelry."
Little Lily giggled and pointed at Harry. "Big brother Harry showed me!" She showed off her spiral wristbands and crown to her sisters.
"Wow, I always wanted to know how to do that correctly but could never get the hang of it!" Shelia said eyeing her little sister's flower accessories with jealous eyes.
"Me too," Rose joined in. "If only someone could show us how to do it." She was trying to hint it (strongly one might say) to Harry she wanted a pair, but Harry was as clueless like every other male.
Leon rolled his eyes. He'd rather play Quidditch then play with flowers; sometimes his older brother act so girly - it was enough to drive him spare.
"Harry, where did you learn how to do this?" Lily asked.
His sisters sat up paying attention except for Little Lily who was playing with her spiral flower wristband.
"I read about it one day in school years ago. Then I just visualized how to do it and there you go," Harry said not having to lie at all since that's exactly what he did back at the Dursley house so many years ago. It hadn't been that hard, mostly time consuming and required a calm hand.
"It's so beautiful. Say bro, show us!" Shelia demanded, going for the straight approach. Rose nodded her head in agreement. Harry shrugged, smiled, and then got up, motioning them to follow. Little Lily stayed behind to talk with her mother as Rose, Shelia, and Sylvia raced to see what flowers they wanted to use.
James thought hard after they'd departed. Harry had certainly changed a lot these past few weeks. He'd grown, and as much as he had to admit it to himself, he'd matured. He shrugged. He knew one day Harry would have more responsibilities not only as the oldest Potter child, but also due to the fact he was the heir of the Potter name. He just didn't think those responsibilities would start so soon. After all, when your children began to act responsibly, it was a sign you were getting old. He hated getting older.
He still had so many pranks he wanted to do.
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