And another chapter! Because I'm enjoying this fic a lot.
Warning: More platonic-type relationship here. Warnings for mentions of verbal abuse, and mentions of death/killing self/verbal child abuse!
The Tales of the Time Keeper and Time Taker.
Chapter 2: You're like your mum you are.
"Did I ever tell you that you're like your mum?"
The Doctor had turned up just on time really, like always, but he hated that that was the case. Especially since little six year old Harry was crying in the corner of the garden, his little snake dead in the grass.
Petunia had always been such a harsh woman. SO hateful.
"I know I am sir." Harry answered, and the Doctor cringed at the title. "I'm a stupid freak just like she was. And if I know my place I'll die like my mother did."
And the Doctor heard something explode inside the TARDIS as Harry recited those words.
"Now that's not what I meant. You are brilliant, you're a little merlin! Not a freak. Now come on what happened?"
And Harry told him, about the friendly snake names Harper who would visit him often. "And Aunt Petunia killed him 'cause snakes are the devil and I must be too for talking to him."
And the Doctor kissed his teeth, sitting on the ground next to the little grave they had dug for Harper. "You're so like your mum, she'd have cried too."
Harry shook his head. "No, she'd have called me a freak too."
"Oh, she wouldn't have. She could speak to snakes too, strange little ability considering she was a mugglyborn. But oh boy was she powerful."
"Did my Daddy speak snake too? Is it normal for wizards?"
"Oh no, I told you before Harry, you are bloody brilliant. Being a parselmouth is rare, just like seeing the end of a star up close." The Doctor grinned, though Harry seemed even sadder. "Your Daddy couldn't speak naturally, but he was learning last time I saw him. He could almost say his name, but he could say yours and your mums."
Harry brightened at that. "So I'm not a freak?"
"Oh far from it. It's your aunt and uncle who are the freaks. No questions." The Doctor grinned when harry chuckled quietly.
"They wouldn't like that, being called freaks…they don't like abnormal."
"It's brilliant innit?" The Doctor cheeked back.
For a moment they didn't say anything else, and then Harry was pressed into the Doctor's side, little shoulders jumping with tears. Harry pressed his face into the Doctor's side, relishing the easy embrace. "I don't want to live here. I don't like it. I want to go home."
And wasn't it heart breaking that the boy didn't even have one. "I know. How about we take another trip, I have a little while before I need to pick Rose up from her mums. I can take you somewhere good and make you forget about these silly muggles."
Harry's face broke into a grin and he threw himself at the Doctor. "Oh please! Can we go somewhere with lots of dogs? Or can you take me to meet a king? Or or or can we go to the place with all the snakes again?!"
Harry continued to babble and the Doctor just scooped him up. "Well little prince, we'll go wherever you want! But first we're going to the restaurant at the end of the universe!"
"Yay!"
"Thank you, Doctor." Harry smiled widely as he hugged the short-haired man. He grinned as he stepped away from the TARDIS, so much happier for his weeks away with the doctor.
The Doctor sighed, a pain in his chest as he looked over the tiny boy in the garden. The little boy he knew would mean the world to him one day –after all, apart from his companions, Harry was the only person that the Doctor had ever returned to. And not just now either, Harry told him stories every visit of the other Doctors who came to see him.
The one thing the Doctor was incredibly grateful for was the fact that little Harry was at least in constant good company.
"You're so like your Mum you little runt." The Doctor smiles fondly, the Potter couple had been very dear to the Doctor and their deaths hurt still. "That being said, you're just as like your father, so stay out of trouble until I see you again."
Harry just grinned. "I'll try, but you're a pretty bad influence."
And the Doctor just laughed out loud, pulling Harry in for one last hug and kissing his temple before shoving him towards the house. "You little rotter." He laughed. "Be good, see you soon."
"I'm sure I will! Bring Aunty Rose next time!"
And it was curious in a way the Doctor knew never to question that Rose was an Aunty, but the Doctor was just that.
