What Do You Mean by Not Strong Enough?

7 Advanced chapters on Patreon: Fiction Haven

===

The following week, Harry spent his free time to recuperate. While the world was busy talking about him and the ministry preparing for Voldemort's return, he was busy reviewing his fight with the Kraken. Despite Dumbledore's insistence that it was a most impressive performance, Harry knew it was sorely disappointing.

Unlike most wizards, Harry was blessed with enhanced analysis prowess, an empowered body, a potent Magic power thanks to his circuit, and top combat skills to boot. Although the Kraken was certainly strong, he should not have been injured. Harry was being harsh on himself, but he wasn't wrong to think he needed to improve.

As such Harry was spending his week training in the Room of Requirement, located on the left corridor of the seventh floor. He wasn't sure at first that the room would provide him with what he needed, but it did. As soon as he entered, he was greeted by rows of Golems ready to give him fighting experience. Thus, it was a very productive week.

You might wonder what kind of recuperation that was. You would be very wrong to think Harry was recuperating from his injury. He was recuperating from his damaged pride. He used to bash mentally impaired main characters—he called them retards—back in his past life because they couldn't use their power well. He had done the same thing, so he was rightfully ashamed.

"I have been wasting my Magic for all this time. How could I forget about intent!?"

The thing he realized from his week-long training was that intent mattered greatly in casting a Spell. A large amount of Mana might power up a Spell, but the right intent shaped it more clearly thus making it more potent. Harry's Aegeas was even made using that method. He thought about Protego Maxima which had enough durability to withstand a meteor when he made the Spell.

"I think I don't need the Spellcrafting Mastery anymore," he mused.

Harry immediately shook that silly thought off. Even though he could already make Spells, he still needed the mastery. Even without mastery, he could tell Aegeas was still not perfect. So, he didn't have any plan to concede the Triwizard Cup to anyone. Although if he changed his mind, he would give the cup to Fleur just to piss Karkaroff off.

Thinking about the cup made Harry wonder if the Third Task would still be held. In canon, the Third Task was supposed to be in June. It was still four months ahead, but given the circumstances, it wouldn't be weird if the tournament got cancelled. Either way, Harry had decided he would hunt the damned Death Eaters.

"Hm? Someone is accessing the room."

Harry frowned when he sensed a presence inside the room. He had told the room not to let anyone enter or even find it except for one. Standing up, he patted his pants and looked at the woman on the other side. A redhead beauty was eagerly making her way to him.

"Harry!" she jumped into Harry's arms.

"Hello, Lily…" Harry caught her with ease.

Lily took a deep breath of Harry's scent and sighed blissfully. Harry was sweaty but still smelled good. Harry felt a little self-conscious but let Lily do what she wanted. Although not as much, he also missed the woman. They hadn't met any contact whatsoever for a week.

"I miss you."

"And so do I."

Lily let go of Harry and stared at Harry's naked torso appreciatively. His body glistened thanks to his sweat. The sheen on his skin made him all the more appealing. Lily couldn't help but bite her lip sensually.

"It was so hard to find you," Lily complained. "I spent an entire day looking for you."

"Yet you found me," Harry replied smoothly.

"Please, take this with you from now on." Lily handed Harry a palm-sized mirror case. Harry observed it for a moment before opening it. "It can connect you to my mirror. Just think of me when you want to call me."

"I didn't see this being sold widely in the Magical world," Harry commented.

"Of course, not. It is still in development. Well, it is ready, but I want to keep its circulation in our circle for the time being. Imagine how easy it is for Death Eaters to communicate with each other with this artefact."

"A sound judgment."

Lily smiled brightly at Harry's praise. She looked like a child showing off her awesome schoolwork. Appreciation and admittance. Those were the two things Lily wanted most from Harry. Those were the two things Harry didn't give her until recently. A mix of guilt, fear of rejection and determination was what made Lily ignore her morals. She was willing to do anything to make Harry accept her, even if it was wrong.

Harry had naively thought it was purely romantical at first. However, the moment he saw her for the first time after getting Big Brain Moment, he could instantly tell the reason behind Lily's love for him. It was conflicting. Harry wanted to ignore it and go with the flow, but his conscience was against it. He also wanted to set things straight but was not ready to part with his lifestyle.

"Lily. If I tell you I can treat you like my mother even without us being intimate, will you stop?"

But in the end, Harry's principle won. As deprived as he was, he wanted a genuine relationship too. Harry liked to have fun but preferred not to hurt anyone in doing so. What he had with Lily would be a painful one. Lily would one day realize what she was doing and regret it. Harry didn't want that to happen.

"Is it because of Fleur?" Lily asked neutrally.

"I have been thinking…" Harry began. "What would happen if I had called you Mum that time? How would you react if I hadn't given you mixed signals at the Three Broomsticks? What would our relationship be like if we had agreed to forget the kisses we shared? I have been thinking…about what would happen if I just accepted you. Would we still be like this?"

Lily remained silent. Harry's observation told him she was thinking about a lot of things. Her Occlumency was up, so he didn't have much information to read. He couldn't tell what she was thinking about. For the first time since coming to this world, Harry was nervous. His face might not show it, but his heart was beating loudly in anticipation.

"Are you stupid?" Lily intoned. "I thought you were a mature young man, but in the end, you are just a boy. Weren't you the one who initiated this relationship? Why are you doubting it now?" Her words burned him, causing him to smile wryly. "I think it would take longer, but I am sure we would still end up this way even if you had accepted me as your Mum. I am a deprived lady and embrace that identity, unlike a certain someone."

Harry chuckled emptily as he covered his face with his hand. Although not as intense as Lily's, Harry was sporting a blush. Harry ran a hand through his hair and grinned roguishly. His blush was no longer. Wrapping Lily in a tight hug, he buried his face on her neck. It was the first innocent he had initiated, so Lily couldn't help but smile fondly.

"What are you going to do with James?" Harry struck to the core.

"What is it? A marriage proposal?" Lily teased.

"What if it is?" Harry shot back, seriously considering it.

"O- Oh… I think you shouldn't be hasty. Although incest is widely practised in the Magical world, they rarely do it with their Mum. Besides, you still have Fleur. You may like her better than me later," Lily pacified and then realized she sounded like she was rejecting him. "Oh, about James, I can divorce him anytime. That twit cares about his job more than he cares about me."

"Hm…" Harry hummed, tickling Lily's neck. "Then, I will break up with Fleur. I can't fool around while having a devoted woman on my side, can I?"

"That's fine, Harry. I am not going to limit your spouses. I am aware of my age. One day, I will be unable to satisfy and you will still be an attractive man full of stamina. Have as many as you like. I am fine with it as long as you keep loving me."

Harry had never considered himself a romantic. He had a hard time empathizing with others and barely felt the love everyone loudly talked about. However, at this moment, he could confidently say he loved the woman he was holding. Harry had fallen in love. He wanted to cherish Lily and care for her tenderly. All his lewd thoughts about her disappeared.

"I have fallen in love with you, so please don't hurt me. I swear the most notorious Dark Lord won't be Voldemort the day my heart breaks," Harry said vulnerably. "I am not threatening you, so please love me sincerely. I am just telling you the truth."

"I am not going to hurt you, Harry," Lily assured with a giggle. "And no one shall hurt you under my watch," she whispered.

For the first time, Harry and Lily's hearts unified, forming an unbreakable bond between them.