HP: The Magical Gamer [Chapter 70: James? Wise?! ] (Patreon)

It was the morning after the tragic Halloween which thankfully wasn't tragic anymore. Lily and Harry were already at the breakfast table, waiting patiently for Iris who soon came stumbling into the kitchen and took her seat beside him.

"Good morning, Harry. Good morning, mum." She greeted them cheerfully. They smiled at her and returned her greeting. They ate their breakfast in silence. And when they were done, Lily cleared her throat to get their attention.

"Iris, Madam Pomfrey will be here in a couple of hours to check up on you. The school staff was immensely grateful and relieved to hear that you weren't dead. Maybe that's why Dumbledore easily agreed to give you both a small vacation. You and Harry are on holiday. You will go back to Hogwarts after Christmas. I can teach you whatever you will be missing in the meanwhile." Lily informed them.

Iris furrowed her brows in confusion and asked, "Okay, mum. Any particular reason why we are getting a vacation? If it's about my health then don't worry, I am absolutely fine."

Lily shook her head.

"No, it's not about your health. It is for me. I can't bear to see you go just after last night. I need all the time available to get over the fact that you were dead and are fine now. If it was up to me then you both would be homeschooled instead of getting your education at Hogwarts.

"But I shouldn't do that. I shouldn't let fear rule my decisions. Anyways, it won't matter where you are if Voldemort ever attacks again. Better you be under Dumbledore's care than mine. He is more powerful and more capable of keeping Voldemort at bay. And after last night, he will be more careful and protective of the school." Lily thought out loud.

Iris shot her fist triumphantly.

"A vacation! Yes, that's what I needed after the monotonous life of school. Thanks, mum." Iris grinned, looking at the positive side. Harry chuckled and shared a look with Lily.

It was nice seeing her smiling and full of life.

"I hope you are not ignoring the ' I can teach you whatever you will be missing in the meanwhile' part. There will be studying too, young lady." said Lily with a smirk.

"Do we have to? After I woke up from the dead, I realised that there were better things to do than study. Life is too short and fleeting to waste it on studying and homework." Iris said sagely, nodding to herself.

Harry and Lily just gave her a deadpan look.

"Fine! We will study too." She pouted when she realised her mother wouldn't fall for her act.

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After Iris left, Lily held Harry back. She looked reluctant and hopeful as she stopped before him. She took his hand and led him to her bedroom. Harry was curious to know what this was about. She closed the room and asked.

"Harry, can you revive James like you did to Iris?" She enquired in a whisper.

Harry felt his heart tighten in a painful knot. He didn't want to let her down, but he had no other choice. "I am sorry, mum. I can only revive those who died in the last five years from the current day." He revealed softly.

Lily sucked in a sharp breath and fought back tears before nodding slowly.

"I see. Okay… no problem. Thank you." She mumbled, biting her lip as tears fell down her cheeks. Harry closed the distance between them and put his arms around her.

Lily held onto him like he was her lifeline after her hope was dashed.

"I am sorry, mum. If I had the power to revive Dad then you wouldn't even have to ask. I would have already revived him."

She just pressed her face on his head in response.

"Though I can call for Dad's soul for once so you can properly say goodbye to him." Harry added after a minute.

Lily's body stiffened as she pulled back and looked at him vulnerably.

"You can?"

"Yes. But it will be just for a brief time. Do you want me to?"

"Yes. Please." She answered eagerly. Harry gave her a small smile and used his spell.

[Soul Searcher]

After using that, he prepared to leave the room.

"Why are you going? Don't you want to meet him?" Lily couldn't help but ask dubiously.

Harry shook his head.

"No, mum. I don't. It is better this way. If I see him now it will just hurt more and will make me go down the spiral of 'what ifs'. I think the 'all happy and wise' imaginary version of dad in my head is all I'll ever need." Harry said as he closed the door. Though he heard her amused chuckle before he went away.

"James? Wise? Haha."

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In the afternoon when Harry and Iris finally got some free time, they discussed Harry's adventure in detail. They lounged on Iris' bed while she gave him many tearful hugs and kisses as he told her about his stay in the other world.

Funnily enough, she was most perturbed that he was technically a year older than her now. Which she instantly denied.

No, Harry was still her twin and would be considered the same age as her. It didn't matter that he went frolicking in a different world.

All that mattered was the time he spent in the original world. So, by that explanation he was still her twin and not her elder brother. That was the final decision the committee issued. The committee in which Harry had no power and Iris was the boss. He just nodded at all the right times while she ranted and gave explanations against him being considered older.

"Did you get it?" she asked in the end.

"Yes, ma'am."