Harry Potter : A family??

Evelyn Hayes-Moriarty was trying not to cry over eggs.

Which, honestly, was ridiculous. She'd fought across continents, broken bones in five languages, and once single-handedly defused a magical bomb while bleeding from three separate holes in her abdomen.

But this?

This quiet little morning with a small boy blinking up at her as if he couldn't believe someone had made him breakfast?

Yeah. This was what did it.

She cleared her throat and tried to look very invested in her wand, which was currently causing the bacon to flip itself like it was auditioning for a Broadway show.

"More toast, Harry?" she asked, voice steady.

Harry, still wearing a slightly oversized dark green sleep-robe, looked up from the massive oak table. His wild black hair stuck out in all directions, and his glasses were a little crooked.

"...You made all this?"

Evelyn smiled. "I had help." She gestured at the floating silverware dancing above the plates.

Harry looked cautiously at the toast, as if it might sprout legs and walk away.

"I don't… have to do the dishes, right?"

She shook her head. "No chores. No punishments. Just breakfast."

From across the room, Maximus leaned back in a chair that looked like it had once belonged to a warlord.

"You'll do dishes when you're older and only if you burn the house down or do other bad things," he added dryly.

"Babe, that's so harsh. Don't worry, Harry, Max is just kidding with you. You can burn as many houses as you want." Evelyn muttered.

Maximus sipped his coffee. "Are you ready for the explosions, honey?"

Harry blinked. "Explosion?"

Evelyn handed him a spoon. "We're teaching you magic today."

Earlier – Evelyn's POV

The sun had barely crested the cliffs when Evelyn stepped into the hallway outside Harry's room.

She hadn't slept. Not really.

The bed was too soft. The air is too quiet. And her brain — always a battlefield — had decided to replay every moment from the Dursley house on a loop.

The cupboard.

His eyes.

The way he asked, "Do I have an uncle?" like it was a math question.

She stopped at his door.

Maximus was already there — leaning on the opposite wall, arms crossed.

"You too?" he asked quietly.

"Yeah."

They stood in silence for a moment.

"We're going to screw this up," she said, voice low.

Maximus smirked. "Without a doubt."

She laughed softly. Then opened the door.

Harry had woken up sometime before dawn and had been sitting by the window, staring out at the foggy moors.

He turned when she came in, but didn't speak.

"Want to see something cool?" she asked.

He nodded.

She pointed her wand out the window and whispered, "Avis."

A flock of golden sparrows erupted into the air, circling and darting in shimmering patterns. Harry's eyes widened.

"They're not eternal," she said. "But they feel real. Like memories made solid."

"Can I do that?" he whispered.

"You will."

Now – The Training Hall

The old ballroom of Moriarty Castle had long since been converted into a spell-testing chamber. it happened when two anti-social Rogues started living here. ' Who needs a ballroom anyway? ' Maximus said that day and just started blasting. The marble floor still bore scorch marks from that day years ago. The stone pillars were covered in arcane runes and family crests. The ceiling enchanted to look like a clear blue sky.

Evelyn stood beside Harry, watching as Maximus paced slowly in front of him.

"No one's expecting miracles today," Maximus said. "We just want to see what your magic feels like."

"Feels like?" Harry echoed.

"Magic is a muscle," Evelyn said. "But it's also a memory. Some spells are logical. Others are instinctual. Like throwing a punch — or making a promise."

Maximus handed Harry a wand — dark holly with a silver grip. A trophy from some dark lord he vanquished in Africa.

Harry took it carefully, holding it like it might bite.

"You won't break it, grip it tighter," he added.

"Say Lumos," Evelyn instructed. "It's a light spell."

"L-Lumos."

Nothing.

"Try again."

He took a breath. "Lumos."

A soft light glowed from the tip of the wand — dim at first, then brightened.

Harry gasped.

Evelyn nearly cried. Again.

"You did it!" she beamed. "Harry, you did it."

He stared at the wand like it was alive. "I… I did magic."

"Hell yeah, you did," Maximus said.

Then the wand sparked. Then popped.

The chandelier above exploded into a thousand glowing motes that rained down in glittering flakes.

Harry froze.

"I'm sorry—"

"Don't be," Evelyn said, laughing. "That was awesome."

"Welcome to Castle Moriarty," Maximus said, brushing a glowing ember off his coat. "Home of controlled chaos."

Later That Night – Harry's POV

Harry sat at the edge of his bed, wrapped in a blanket that smelled like pinewood and fire.

He stared at the wand on his nightstand.

I did magic.

Not the accidental kind that made glass disappear or turned Aunt Petunia's hair blue.

Real magic. On purpose.

He looked around the room. It wasn't a cupboard. It had bookshelves and windows and a warm lantern that floated in midair.

His lion plush was tucked beside his pillow.

He still didn't know what to call them. Maximus and Evelyn. His uncle and aunt? Mum and Dad?

Do I even get to have that?

He didn't know.

But he remembered the way Evelyn smiled when he lit his wand. The way Maximus ruffled his hair like he was proud.

No yelling. No chores. No one called him a freak.

He laid down and whispered to the ceiling,

"…Thanks. Thank you god"

The lantern dimmed gently.

And for the first time in as long as he could remember,

Harry Potter fell asleep without fear.

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Somewhere far, far away, an old man was playing Hogwarts Legacy on his PS5 when his ears twitched. He heard it that whispered, 'Thanks. '.

" Looks like these two lads are working overtime ... " he chuckled loudly, then resumed playing

"You are welcome, my dear child," he said, smiling

To be continued...