A drop here, a drop there (a one-shots/snippet book)

A Sense of Home 5-10 (WtNV/HP)

"Usually, if there are more than one possible future parental unit for the child there would be a fight to the death. Or a competition to hunt the most vicious of creatures in the Scrublands or the Depths Below Us to prove their worth by showcasing their ability to protect the child," Cecil informed. "It's quite touching."

Carlos slowly nodded in thought. As much as it seemed needlessly violent for someone from outside, in Night Vale it made sense in a way. Carlos was lucky in that he hadn't seen a child die in front of him in his time here. The same can't be said with some of his scientists.

"Not that your way is bad, of course," Cecil suddenly added as if the thought just came to him. "There's certainly less clean up to do. And you won't have to mourn the loss of one of your scientists."

"Me?" A grin smile started to form on his face. "But what if Nilanjana wins this hypothetical battle to the death? She's quite fierce."

"No," Cecil immediately said, "Not possible."

Right. Carlos had almost died. He leaned against his boyfriend in apology, feeling relieved when he felt Cecil's shoulders relax. "Sorry, for joking about it."

Cecil gently squeezed their intertwined fingers with a smile that was absolutely smitten. "It's okay, my dear perfect Carlos."

After their successful date, Carlos called Nilanjana to report the process of adoption to her. She was silent as he talked about the steps in the ritual and the adjustments Cecil suggested for those with magical gifts, which is apparently what Harry's abilities are. Cecil's not sure how many there are of Harry's kind, he just knew that there have been times in the past where an Interloper arrived in town who can wield not-dark magic. Maybe there are other people like Harry outside town, maybe it's hereditary and his parents had the same abilities too.

Carlos was in the middle of theorizing that maybe Harry's relatives knew of magic and that's why they treated him...well, the way they treated him, and if so, then that would mean they themselves don't have magic, and if it's hereditary then what is the difference in Harry's genes that he had magic, when Nilanjana spoke up with a hint of fond exasperation in her voice, "Boss."

He coughed, sheepish. "Right, sorry. We can talk later. You wanna pick up the raw steaks or shall I?"

"I'll get it, I'm closer anyways."

7.

"They swarm around you, inside you, pressing forcefully against the alveoli of your lungs and diffusing into your bloodstream to enter every single speck of your cells. They cradle you, gently, in their suffocating grasp. They cradle you and you are drowning. But you don't care.

You have never felt freer.

Target. Do you want to be the next?

This has been, a word from our sponsor.

Listeners-" Harry blinked out of the slight trance he found himself in during the advertisement. He glanced around him to the scientists at work, before looking back at the radio.

"-the child found in his lab, whose name is Harry Potter and who is not an undead messenger child from The City Council. Well, he's getting adopted!" Harry grinned happily at the reminder. "And no, not by Carlos and me!" Cecil let out a nervous laugh, probably a little flustered.

"We're not that far into our relationship yet, come on. No, he's gonna get adopted by one of his scientists! Lucky kid. And he's staying with them at the lab, specifically at one of the spare rooms. Being surrounded by all those science all day must be really exciting!