The faint light of dawn filtered through the thin curtains of Harry's room, painting the cracked ceiling in shades of gold and grey. He blinked awake, the memory of the previous night lingering like a shadow. His conversation with Tom Riddle and the affection Sirius had shown him played on a loop in his mind.
With a sigh, he swung his legs over the side of the bed and rubbed at his face. Today marked the start of something he wasn't entirely sure he was ready for.
The house was quiet as he descended the stairs. The usual hum of morning activity not yet begun, as it was a bit early. In the sitting room, Mary Anne sat at the worn desk, her head bent over an account book. The faint scrape of her pen against paper was the only sound in the room.
"Morning," Harry said softly, stepping into the room.
Mary Anne looked up, startled, before offering him a warm smile. "Morning, Harry. You're up early."
"Needed to talk to you," Harry said, moving to sit across from her.
Mary Anne set her pen down, her expression growing serious. "What about?"
Harry hesitated, then exhaled slowly. "I spoke to Riddle last night. He explained my role a bit more clearly. I'll be spending afternoons and evenings at his place, looking after Sirius."
Mary Anne nodded slowly, her gaze searching his face. "And you're alright with that?"
"It's… manageable," Harry said carefully. "The funds he promised should help here, and Sirius… he's a good kid. I want to make sure he's safe."
Mary Anne's lips pressed into a thin line, but she nodded. "I trust your judgment, Harry. Just… be careful, alright? As I said before, men like Riddle offer nothing without strings attached."
"I know," Harry assured her. "I'll handle it."
Before Mary Anne could respond, a knock at the front door interrupted them. It surprised them both, as it really was too early.
"I'll get it," Harry said, standing. He crossed the small foyer and opened the door to reveal Colin, Riddle's manservant, standing neatly dressed and composed as ever.
"Good morning, Mr. Potter," Colin said with a slight bow.
"Morning, Colin," Harry replied, stepping aside to let him in. "You're here early."
"Mr. Riddle requested I take you to the tailor this morning," Colin said smoothly.
Harry glanced back at Mary Anne, who raised an eyebrow but said nothing. "Looks like I've got to go," he said with a faint smile. "I'll see you later."
Mary Anne nodded, her expression softening slightly. "Take care, Harry."
.
The car ride was quiet at first, the hum of the engine filling the space as Colin expertly navigated the streets. Harry watched the city pass by, his gaze drawn to the small shops just beginning to open, the street vendors setting up their stalls, and the bundled-up figures rushing along the pavement. It was the familiar chaos of morning routines, a world waking up to another day, yet Harry found his mind drifting.
He glanced at Colin, the man's profile calm and focused as he guided the car through the winding streets. There was something steady about him, a quiet composure that seemed at odds with the tension Harry had come to associate with anyone in Tom Riddle's employ.
"So," Harry said after a while, breaking the silence, "you've told me you've been working for Riddle for a while, but what about outside of work?"
Colin glanced at him briefly before returning his attention to the road. "Outside of work?" he repeated, as if the question had caught him off guard.
"Yeah," Harry said, leaning back in his seat. "Got any hobbies? Something you do for yourself?"
Colin's lips twitched into a small smile, his grip on the wheel relaxing slightly. "Photography," he said after a moment. "I've always enjoyed capturing moments, seeing the world through a different lens."
"Photography, huh?" Harry said, his tone genuinely interested. "That's pretty cool. What do you like to photograph?"
"Landscapes, mostly," Colin replied, his voice gaining a touch of warmth. "There's something calming about being out in nature, finding just the right angle to make an ordinary scene look extraordinary. Though lately, it's been more portraits than anything else."
"Let me guess," Harry said with a grin. "Sirius?"
Colin chuckled, a low, genuine sound that made him seem younger than his usual composed demeanor. "The young master does enjoy posing for the camera. He has a knack for it—natural confidence, I suppose. I've taken enough pictures of him to fill an album."
Harry laughed, picturing Sirius grinning cheekily at the camera. "That checks out. He's got that energy about him."
Colin nodded, his smile lingering. "He does. It's one of the reasons I enjoy my job. Capturing that kind of spirit—it's rare."
Harry tilted his head, his curiosity piqued. "You ever thought about doing photography professionally? Like for magazines or galleries?"
Colin hesitated, his hands tightening on the wheel for a moment before he shook his head. "It's a nice thought, but this job… it keeps me busy. And honestly, I don't mind. Working for Mr. Riddle and looking after the young master—it's fulfilling in its way."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "You don't seem like the kind of guy who just settles. Why not take a chance?"
Colin's smile turned a touch wistful. "Maybe one day. But for now, I'm where I need to be."
There was a pause as Harry considered the answer. He recognized that tone, the way Colin spoke as though his choices were made more out of necessity than passion. It was a sentiment Harry understood all too well.
"You ever thought about getting a proper camera?" Harry asked, steering the conversation to lighter ground.
"I've been saving up for one," Colin admitted. "Right now, it's just an old secondhand model. Does the job, though."
"Well, if you ever need a subject," Harry said with a grin, "I'm not great at posing, but I'll do my best."
Colin laughed again, a softer sound this time. "I'll keep that in mind."
The conversation drifted into lighter topics—favorite places in the city, quirks about their jobs, and the strangest things Sirius had ever done during a photo session. Colin shared a story about the boy insisting on wearing mismatched shoes for a portrait, claiming it made him look more adventurous.
By the time they arrived at the tailor's shop, Harry felt a surprising sense of camaraderie with Colin. The man wasn't just another cog in Riddle's carefully crafted machine; he was someone with his own dreams, his own perspective on the world. It was a small connection, but in a life filled with uncertainties, it was one Harry was glad to have made.
Though as the car pulled up to a stop outside the tailor's shop, Harry's stomach let out a loud, unmistakable growl. The sound was so abrupt in the quiet that it startled him, and he quickly glanced at Colin, who was trying—and failing—not to grin.
"Sounds like someone missed breakfast," Colin said, amusement flickering in his eyes.
Harry scratched the back of his neck, feeling slightly sheepish. "Yeah, I guess I was in a bit of a rush this morning."
"Well, there's no rule saying we have to go straight in," Colin said, gesturing toward a small coffee shop across the street. "We've got time. How about we grab a bite first? My treat."
Harry hesitated, glancing at the tailor's shop. It loomed with the promise of endless measurements and fashion jargon he didn't fully understand. The idea of delaying that ordeal with food was tempting.
"Alright," Harry agreed. "But I'm paying for my own."
Colin smirked. "We'll see."
The two crossed the street, entering the cozy café. It was a quaint little place with wooden beams and mismatched furniture, the scent of freshly brewed coffee filling the air. A chalkboard menu hung above the counter, listing pastries, sandwiches, and steaming bowls of soup.
Harry ordered a simple sandwich and tea, while Colin opted for a black coffee and a croissant. They found a small table near the window, and Harry settled into his chair with a contented sigh as the warmth of the coffee seeped into his skin.
"So, you're pretty young. What made you stick to this kind of job?" Harry asked, taking a bite of his sandwich.
Colin took a sip of his coffee, considering the question. "I suppose it's the stability. And Sirius, of course. The boy's a handful, but you can't help but care for him. He's got a way of making you feel like you're the most important person in the world when he's talking to you."
Harry smiled faintly. "Yeah, he's got that effect on people."
Colin tilted his head, his gaze curious. "What about you? Seems like Sirius took to you faster than anyone I've seen. What's your story, Harry?"
Harry hesitated, caught off guard. It wasn't that he didn't have an answer—he had plenty, depending on how much he wanted to reveal—but Colin's question felt genuine, not like the probing inquiries he'd faced from others.
"Not much to tell, really," Harry said, shrugging. "I've done a bit of this, a bit of that. Never stayed in one place too long."
"Doesn't sound boring," Colin said, smiling. "The young master seems convinced you're a hero."
Harry huffed a quiet laugh. "That's just Sirius being Sirius. I'm no hero."
Colin studied him for a moment before nodding. "Maybe not in the way people usually mean it. But saving someone's life, looking out for them—that's a kind of heroism, isn't it?"
Harry shifted in his seat, feeling a flicker of discomfort at the praise. "I just did what anyone would've done."
"Not everyone would've stepped in the way you did," Colin said simply, his tone matter-of-fact. "But I'll drop it. Don't want to make you uncomfortable."
Harry glanced at him, surprised by the perceptiveness, and gave a small smile. "Thanks."
The conversation moved to lighter topics after that—how Sirius had recently declared himself the best tree-climber in the world, how Colin had once accidentally dropped a tray of tea during an important meeting and nearly fainted when Tom Riddle merely raised an eyebrow.
"Ready for the tailor now?" Colin asked, grinning as they crossed back to the shop.
Harry sighed theatrically. "As ready as I'll ever be."
"Don't worry," Colin said with a chuckle. "He's strict, but he's not so bad. Just try not to let your stomach growl again, or he might take it as an insult to his craft."
Harry laughed, shaking his head as they stepped into the shop. For the first time that morning, he felt like the day might not be so overwhelming after all.