Hooo! We're in the top 10 of power stones—I can't believe it! Well, here's an extra chapter as a thank-you for all the support you've given. Hope you like it!
HARRY¨S MOTHER IS WANDA
Some time later, Susan arrived alone at the tea room, carrying a couple of shopping bags. Mrs. Weasley couldn't join them"what with all her children causing a ruckus, she had decided to postpone her break. Still, before leaving, she had warmly invited them to her house another time, promising to prepare something delicious to drink.
"I can't believe you don't find Lockhart attractive… Just look at him!" said Susan with an amused smile as she placed one of the bags on the table and pulled out a book, its cover dominated by Gilderoy Lockhart's dazzling smile.
"He looks like an idiot to me," Wanda said with complete seriousness, taking a sip of tea.
Susan brought her hands to her mouth, pretending to be scandalized, as if Wanda had just uttered a blasphemy.
"Oooh!" Harry and Hermione said in unison, mimicking Susan with wide eyes.
"She said a bad word!" Harry exclaimed, laughing.
Hermione played along, pointing at Wanda with a giggle.
"My bad," Wanda said without losing her composure. "I meant to say he appears to be a person with… limited intellectual capabilities."
The children tilted their heads, confused by the elegant phrasing, while Susan burst out laughing.
"If you don't like Lockhart… then what kind of man could win that little heart of yours?" Susan teased, nudging her with her elbow.
"I'm not very interested in romance," Wanda replied, lowering her voice slightly and gazing into her teacup, where the tea stirred itself slowly. "The only one I had… ended badly. Twice, technically."
Susan stared at her silently for a second before speaking.
"Sometimes you talk like you've murdered all your exes. You should stop doing that… it gives me chills," she joked, hugging herself theatrically. "So let's find you a woman instead!" she added with a cheeky grin.
"Oh, really? And do you want to be the first to see if she suits my tastes?" Wanda asked suddenly, leaning closer to Susan with a mischievous smile and gently tracing a finger along her jawline.
"Don't do that! I'm straight… and I have a husband!" Susan said, pulling away immediately"though the blush on her cheeks gave her away.
Wanda laughed heartily at the sight of her flushed face, and the children took the chance to tease her too.
"She's as red as a tomato!" said Harry.
"Tomato, mommy!" Hermione repeated, pointing at her with innocent delight.
"Ah… and to think I bought each of you a storybook at the bookstore," Susan sighed dramatically, crossing her arms. "Maybe I'll give them to Mrs. Weasley's children instead…"
"A storybook!?" Harry exclaimed, freezing. "I'm sorry, Auntie Susan! You don't look like a mommy tomato… maybe a baby tomato, but not a mommy one."
Hermione nodded earnestly, as if that would fix things.
Susan and Wanda burst into laughter. Then Susan pulled out two books from one of the bags, one for each child.
"Here. They're yours."
Both children's eyes widened as they read the title:
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander.
Each page showed magical creatures of all kinds, illustrated in detail and accompanied by explanations about their habitat, behavior, diet, and danger level. It even taught what to do if one were to encounter them by accident.
Harry and Hermione wasted no time and eagerly began flipping through the books, pointing at creatures here and there.
"Look, Wanda! A giant chicken!" Harry exclaimed, showing her a picture.
"It says 'cockatrice,' sweetheart," Wanda replied with a motherly smile, patting his head. "It's not a chicken… but it's definitely giant."
…
As Wanda leafed through a storybook to read to Harry before bed, he interrupted her just before she could begin.
"Wanda… did you have a Mr. Wanda, like Auntie Susan has Uncle Granger?" he asked suddenly, with that disarming childlike sincerity.
Wanda blinked, surprised by the question, and gave him a gentle smile.
"A Mr. Wanda?" she repeated, holding back a giggle.
"Well, your last name is hard… Maxilof…" Harry tried to say, frowning.
"Maximoff," she corrected sweetly. "And yes… I had a 'Mr. Wanda.' But sadly… he's no longer with us," she added, her voice barely cracking as she lowered her gaze for a moment.
Harry fell silent, until, with the same spontaneity, he asked:
"And who are Tommy and Billy?"
Wanda froze. Her eyes widened, and for a moment she lost her breath.
"How do you know those names?" she asked quietly, her heart pounding in her chest.
"You said them once while you were sleeping," Harry replied sadly. "You looked very, very sad."
Wanda swallowed hard and gently caressed his head with infinite tenderness.
"They… were my children," she confessed in a barely audible voice. "But now they're with their father. And I… I can't see them anymore."
"Then you have me," Harry said quickly. "So you're not alone."
Wanda looked at him with teary eyes and a trembling smile.
"No, sweetheart… you're not here to replace anyone," she whispered. "You're Harry Potter. My dear boy with messy hair and beautiful eyes. I keep you close because you make me happy just by being you. Don't ever forget that, okay?"
She leaned in and gave him a gentle kiss on the forehead.
"Okay," Harry said with a big smile, feeling warm inside. "Wanda… can I… call you mom?"
The question left her speechless.
He hid under the blanket shyly, only his eyes peeking out, nervous about his boldness.
Wanda looked at him for a few seconds… and then her face lit up with a deep, almost sacred tenderness.
"Of course, baby. Of course you can," she said, hugging him tightly, feeling her heart mend a little.
Harry couldn't stop smiling.
"So now I have two moms and one dad," he said suddenly, thoughtfully. "But if I listen to Auntie Susan… maybe I'll have two… Papas? Or three moms?"
Wanda burst out laughing, the tears now escaping freely.
"What a cheeky little rascal!" she exclaimed, tickling him and making him laugh uncontrollably.
Afterward, Wanda finally read him the story. Harry fell asleep holding onto her clothes tightly, as if afraid she'd disappear if he let go. So she stayed by his side, cradling him in her arms.
And that night, for the first time in a long while, Wanda had no nightmares. She didn't chase ghosts. She didn't cry in the dark.
She just slept.
With Harry.
"Thank you, Lily," Wanda whispered with her eyes closed, while the boy slept warm against her chest.
.
The next day, just like the past two weeks, Wanda woke up early. She helped Harry get dressed and waited patiently while he brushed his teeth alone, floating a few centimeters above the floor thanks to a charm cast by his "mom."
Afterward, they met up with Susan and Hermione to take the kids to preschool. As always, Wanda stayed outside, waiting patiently until pickup time.
"I forgot to mention," Susan said more seriously as they walked, "Yesterday, while I was at the bookstore, I overheard some housewives talking about a criminal who's hunting dark wizards. But it seems this time he attacked one of those 'nobles.' The whole Ministry is mobilizing."
"That doesn't worry me much," Wanda replied calmly. "They're probably just putting on a show to calm the other pseudo-nobles. I'm sure they got scared and started pressuring the Ministry to act."
"That's true. We're in the Muggle world, as they call it. What happens there doesn't concern us," Susan said with a calm smile.
"Besides, it seems this hunter only attacks the truly evil ones. He even leaves a list of their crimes at the scenes. Do you think he'd consider running a red light a crime?" Susan added, pretending to be scared.
"Maybe…" Wanda replied with a teasing smile. "But most likely, he'd just tell your husband… so he can give you a spanking and you don't do it again."
Both laughed, lightening the conversation.
When they arrived at preschool, they left the children at the entrance. Wanda, as usual, went to sit on the usual bench by the fence, her regular spot.
"I can't say what you're doing is wrong…" Susan commented as she watched her settle in. "But I'm a little worried. Have you thought about finding a job? I'm not saying you should stop taking care of Harry, but maybe it'd be good for you to clear your head every now and then."
Wanda glanced sideways at her without answering immediately.
"You could work as a florist… or in a bookstore. I can totally picture you in those environments," Susan continued enthusiastically.
"I like waiting for Harry," Wanda finally said, in a soft but firm tone.
"I know…" Susan said with a knowing smile. "But as he grows, you won't be able to be stuck to him all day. And it's not good for him to feel like he depends on you for everything."
Wanda said nothing, lowering her gaze slightly.
"Think about it," Susan added before leaving. "You could even be the receptionist at our clinic. I'm sure it would fill up with clients just to see you."
She winked and waved goodbye before disappearing into the crowd on her way to work.
Wanda stayed thoughtful. Not because Susan was right… but because something inside her also knew it. She needed to be a functional adult. Not for others.
But for Harry.
She didn't want to be a bad influence on the little boy who called her "mom."