Chapter Text
"Harry come here," Morticia Addams said, her hand opened towards the sky while requesting her eldest son's attention. Harry walked over to where his mother was standing in front of a sundial to look at what exactly she was talking about.
"See how the sun burns through the smoke and through the floating disc," She instructed.
In front of the two was a large marble sundial with incense burning in the center, the smoke spiraling up through citrine disc that was suspended above the dial. Time appeared to slow down as he watched, transfixed.
"Do you feel the effects?" She said softly to her son, who nodded.
The two stood there for what seemed like an eternity for them but only a couple of minutes to anyone not affected by the smoke in their lungs. Harry looked up to his mother then back down at the stone fixture in front of them.
"Time appears to slow down when the proper combination is made. The disc is made of Citrine, do you remember what is said of it?"
Harry nodded.
"Citrine is a gemstone of light, happiness, and thoughtfulness. It can be a shield of protection against negativity and can absorb it. Also called a sunstone due to the color and warmth it can make someone feel," Harry recited from memory. The past month before their travels around the globe has been spent on using elements from the Earth to aid in the magic they used.
"Perfect. Now, inhale and tell me what you believe the scent is," Morticia instructed.
Harry closed his eyes and moved closer to inhale the smoke on the dial, taking a few moments before speaking and leaning back.
"There's sage, to mask the bitterness of the henbane…" Harry began.
"Very good. There is also vetiver oil," Morticia explained.
Harry nodded and took another deep breath while they savored the moment before walking away from the sundial to rejoin the rest of the clan. Harry's younger sister was pouting while looking at their father.
"I want to see the sacrificial chambers," Wednesday demanded while her younger brother was looking over the edge of where exactly they were.
"I cannot remember if there was a door in passing, Wednesday," Gomez said looking around them for the said imaginary door.
Wednesday immediately frowned deeper.
"Fine. I'm pushing Pugsley off the cliff. Maybe some of the Aztec gods here with us will take him as a sacrifice," She grumbled while walking over to her brother, getting his attention and talking with him coaxingly.
Gomez laughed while the two kids played, glad they were enjoying the trip. Morticia and Harry glided over to where he stood and took his wife's outstretched hand before kissing it as he always did.
"Must we return home so soon?" Harry questioned once he saw his parents finish with their usual antics.
"Of course Harry! Your birthday party is tomorrow evening and I'm sure there is a stack of letters for you to read on your arrival to who will be coming to celebrate. Have you enjoyed your trip, old man?" Gomez asked brightly, grasping Harry's shoulder firmly to bring him closer.
"Of course I enjoyed the trip, Father. Maybe next time we can go inside the temples," Harry said.
"It was a shame that they had to close all of the openings due to loiterers and fools who don't understand the magnificence," Gomez signed.
"Before we go, I wish to give my offering," Harry said, pulling out a pouch of his satchel that was always on his person. His parents nodded and walked away towards their two younger children to wait while Harry walked to a stone altar alone.
Opening the dark leather pouch, Harry took out a few small items, one being a small vial to pour out onto the stone. Speaking softly, Harry bowed his head and walked back to his family to head back to their home to begin preparations for his twelfth birthday.
-
"Welcome back!" Grandmama screeched as the five walked through the front door of their macabre mansion. Lurch stopped carrying the stack of boxes and birthday decorations to groan at the arrival of the rest of the family, Thing standing on top of them, stretching with excitement only a hand could have.
Once settled Harry quickly checked the mail, hoping to see a bundle of letters from his friends to read what they were up to over the summer holiday. He even hoped to read a few notes regarding the attendance of some of his classmates at his birthday party. To his dismay, there were no letters even addressed to the eldest Addams son. Only a few bills and an unmarked letter addressed to his father.
"Why the frown, old man? Sphinx got your tongue?" Gomez questioned while puffing smoke from his freshly lit cigar. He looked at the few envelopes that Harry held, taking them and offering another cigar to his son before being refused kindly.
"It's nothing," Harry shook his head before heading off to his room to get ready for the celebrations. He walked up the stairs, trying to figure out why there were no letters. Lighting candles once in his room, Harry busied himself with deciding on an outfit for the party and packing his truck for school, keeping some room in it for any last minute birthday gifts. He even wrote to Sirius about the trip to the Aztec temples since he was away handling his own business in Europe. Harry originally asked for more about where Sirius was going or what he would be doing, but no one said anything to him. One thing Harry disliked more than a sunny say was being lied to.
The day of the party left a foul taste in Harry's mouth. Not because of Wednesday's new poisons or a new potion from Grandmama, but another taste altogether. He couldn't shake the feeling of something about to happen while dressing himself when there was a knock on the door.
"Come in," Harry called out.
The door opened and Wednesday walked in wearing her signature black dress and braided hair, her hands hidden behind her back.
"Hello my black dahlia," Harry said, mussing his hair in the mirror before turning to look at the shorter Addams child.
"I don't have a gift for your birthday this year since we went to those temples over summer break. So I won't try to kill you tonight," She stated simply.
Harry smiled gently while moving over to sit down at his desk.
"A gift that I will cherish, little sister."
Wednesday stood in the center of Harry's room and looked around. A moment passed before she spoke again.
"Will you help me with something?"
"Of course, Wednesday, what do you need help with?"
Wednesday walked over to Harry at his desk and pulled out a small book that she was hiding behind her back. He looked at the book then at his sister.
"I want to become an Animagus like Sirius. Not a dog though, that's rather boring."
Harry looked at Wednesday before looking at the book opening, a list of ingredients and the proper procedure of how to perform the forbidden spell written on them. Harry let out a sudden sharp laugh.
"Of course you want to do an illegal and complicated spell…" He grinned darkly, looking into the black eyes of his sister. "Yes. I will help you. But you must let me be here with you to oversee the spell as it progresses and to make sure you don't do anything permanent."
Wednesday nodded, her own dark and twisted grin matching her brothers'. Harry skimmed through the ingredients and the procedure to begin the transformation to see what would be needed and when this could take place.
"I'll make a copy of the ingredients and see what I can get to send home for you while at Diagon Alley. Had you told me this sooner I would have been able to gather the ingredients sooner and we could have started this before I left for school," Harry said.
Wednesday nodded, pleased.
The grandfather clock chimed nine and both of the Addams children looked at the time before laughter was heard from outside.
"They're here," Wednesday said, her smile fading back her blank stare. Harry nodded and set the book down on his desk.
"Weren't you supposed to have friends come tonight?" She asked Harry while they made their way out of his room and down towards the party.
"I invited them, yet I have a feeling there is an explanation as to their absence."
The two were about to descend down the stairs when there was a sudden thud that came from Harry's room.
"Did you plant a bomb in my room again, Wednesday?"
The young witch shook her head before walking down the stairs, leaving Harry to go back and investigate what exactly was making the commotion in his room.