Time skip, Itachi is now age 8, Harry is age 5.
Itachi's early childhood with his family and his little brother, and their mishaps. Or as Itachi would say, trying to stop his little brother from getting into crazy problems at five and not going crazy from his antics. Harry blames his teddy bear all the time and says he does it to make his brother more relaxed and not so serious. Their parents help they find the whole thing funny, especially their father.
"Blast it all, Harry!"
"But Itachi, Mr. Snuggles made me do it!"
"Mr. Snuggles again? He's responsible for the enchanted pygmy puffs now terrorizing the garden gnomes?"
"He said it was for your amusement, Itachi. To relax you."
"Amusement? Relaxation? He nearly turned your unicorn plush into a three-headed dragon!"
"Only two heads. And it breathed glitter!"
"Glitter that's now permanently embedded in the Aubusson rug."
"Lily, James, help!"
"What's the commotion, my little wizards?"
"Harry claims Mr. Snuggles orchestrated the gnome rebellion, and now the pygmy puffs are loose!"
"Mr. Snuggles, eh? That scoundrel teddy bear again?"
"He's framing me, Dad! He's truly evil!"
"Oh, I'm sure of it, Harry. A clearly diabolical teddy bear with a penchant for chaos. Itachi, darling, are you alright? I have a calming charm..."
"No, Mother. I am managing. It's merely... inconvenient."
"Inconvenient is having your homework spontaneously combust. Or, maybe it was just Mr. Snuggles' influence?"
"Perhaps, Father. One can never be too cautious around a villainous teddy bear."
"Oh, don't be so serious, Itachi. Even you are having a giggle, right there? This is why your crow has feathers that are a bit like shiny black licorice, you know?"
"Mother..."
"Anyway, how's your Ancient Runes revision going, my love?"
"Progressing. Though Mr. Snuggles did try to use my quill to write a love poem to are cat."
"Oh, he's got a type," James chuckled. "Well, that's just what we need, more of a furry love story! But look who's got the serious business face again!"
"Father, please," Itachi sighed.
"Right, right. Back to your books, you two. And Harry, keep Mr. Snuggles under close surveillance. We wouldn't want another incident."
"He's promised to be good, Dad. He just wants to see Itachi smile more."
"Does he now? Well, I guess that counts as a motive. Or should I just ban the bear and the garden gnomes from interacting?"
"Father..."
"Alright, alright. No more gnome battles. But we'll keep Mr. Snuggles under observation – the teddy bear might just be a mischievous character, you know?"
"He is truly wicked, Dad!"
"We'll see about that, Harry. We'll see."
Later that day at dinner
Itachi sighed as he watched his brother, Harry, stuff another roast potato into Mr. Snuggles' mouth. We were having a quiet family dinner, or at least, we were trying to. Harry, ever the energetic five-year-old, was more interested in feeding his teddy bear than eating his own dinner.
"Harry, stop playing with your food," I said, my voice carrying a hint of exasperation. "And Mr. Snuggles doesn't need any more potatoes; he's already had enough for both of you."
"But Itachi, he's hungry!" Harry protested, his eyes wide and innocent. "He told me so himself."
I raised an eyebrow at the teddy bear, who seemed to be giving me a cheeky grin. "Did he now? Well, I suppose I could make an exception just this once. After all, we wouldn't want Mr. Snuggles to starve."
Harry giggled, and I felt a small smile tug at my lips. Despite my best efforts to maintain my serious demeanor, it was hard to resist my little brother's antics. Our parents, James and Lily, exchanged amused glances, well used to the dynamic between their sons.
"So, Itachi, how are your studies coming along?" Lily asked, her green eyes shining with pride. "Any more trouble from that mischievous quill of yours?"
"It's going well, Mother," I replied, my voice steady. "And no, the quill has been behaving itself lately. I've been practicing my Ancient Runes, and I think I'm making progress."
"That's wonderful, darling," she said, reaching over to squeeze my hand. "Your father and I are so proud of you. And we're sure your hard work will pay off when you start at Hogwarts ."
I felt a warm glow at her words, but before I could respond, Harry piped up. "Itachi's going to be the best student Hogwarts has ever seen! And he'll protect me from all the bullies and monsters when I go after I turn 11, won't you, 'Tachi?"
I felt a rush of affection for my little brother, and my obsidian-black eyes softened as I looked at him. "Of course, Harry. I'll always look out for you, no matter what."
James cleared his throat, a twinkle in his eye. "Well, I'm sure Itachi will be an excellent role model for you, Harry. Just make sure you don't get into too much mischief while he's watching."
Harry's eyes widened, and he glanced at Mr. Snuggles, who was now wearing a tiny potato beard. "But Dad, it's all Mr. Snuggle's fault! He tells me to do it!"
We all burst out laughing, and I felt the tension of the day melt away. Despite the challenges of having a younger brother like Harry, I knew that our family dinners were something special. And as I looked around the table at the loving faces of my parents and brother, I felt grateful for the life I had, even if it was a little unconventional.The next morning, Itachi woke up to the sound of his brother's laughter. Rushing into Harry's room, he found the five-year-old playing an elaborate game of make-believe with Mr. Snuggles and a host of other stuffed animals. They seemed to be on an adventure, battling imaginary monsters and casting pretend spells. Itachi shook his head, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Good morning, Harry. What mischief are you and Mr. Snuggles up to now?"
"We're on a grand quest to save the kingdom from the evil dragon, 'Tachi!" Harry exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Mr. Snuggles is my brave knight, and we're almost at the dragon's lair!"
"I see," Itachi said, his tone indulgent. "And what about the other toys? Who are they?"
"Oh, they're my loyal subjects, of course!" Harry waved his hand at the assortment of stuffed animals arranged in a semicircle around Mr. Snuggles. "They're cheering me on as I go to face the dragon!"
Itachi couldn't help but join in the fun, kneeling down to address the teddy bear. "Well, Sir Snuggles, it seems you have quite the adventure ahead of you. But be careful, for that dragon is fearsome and breathes fire that can melt even the strongest armor."
"Don't worry, Itachi, I won't let any harm come to your brother or your kingdom!" Harry said, his voice full of determination. "Mr. Snuggles and I will prevail!"
As Itachi watched Harry's imaginative play unfold, he felt a surge of protectiveness for his little brother. Harry's world was full of wonder and magic, and Itachi knew that his role as the older brother was to nurture that sense of adventure, even as he prepared for the more structured world of Hogwarts.
The days leading up to Itachi's ninth birthday were filled with the usual Potter family antics, with Harry's imaginative play and Mr. Snuggles' mischievous influence keeping everyone on their toes. But as Itachi's birthday approached, Harry seemed to sense the importance of the occasion, and his behavior took a turn for the thoughtful.
"I want to get 'Tachi the best present ever!" Harry declared one morning, his eyes sparkling with determination. "Something that will make him smile for sure!"
"That's very sweet of you, Harry," Lily said, her heart warming at her younger son's sentiment. "Why don't you and I work on a special project together? We can make something just for Itachi."
Harry's eyes lit up at the idea of a secret project with his mother. "Okay! But what are we making?"
"It's a surprise," Lily said with a mysterious smile. "Now, let's go to my potions lab and get started. And no peeking, Itachi!" she called out to her older son, who was studying in the next room.
As Itachi's birthday drew closer, the Potter family home buzzed with excitement. James and Lily put the finishing touches on the celebration, enchanting the cake to sing a personalized song for Itachi. Harry always full of energy, ran around the house, checking the decorations and making sure everything was perfect for his brother's special day.
"Dad, is Itachi going to like his presents?" Harry asked, his eyes wide as he took in the stack of carefully wrapped gifts. "I helped pick them out, but he's so serious sometimes, I can't tell if he likes things."
"Of course, he will, Harry," James assured him, tousling his younger son's hair. "Itachi might be serious, but he loves you more than anything. And your thoughtfulness will mean the world to him."
Harry beamed at his father's words, his faith in his big brother's love unwavering. "I know, Dad. Itachi's the best brother ever. I just want him to smile more, that's all."
Little did Harry know that Itachi, with his quiet, watchful nature, noticed every thoughtful gesture and felt a deep warmth in his heart because of his brother's unwavering affection. And as Itachi blew out the candles on his birthday cake, surrounded by the love of his family, he knew that his wish for his brother's happiness and their enduring love had already come true.