Disclaimer: I own nothing.
"Sunshine and Daises"
Chapter 2 "Baby Steps"
Bringing the pair siblings through the Ministry of Magic was a task within itself. Dudley sulked behind Lily while Phoebe kept pulling on Lily's hand wanted to explore and asking a million questions. Lily pushed open the Wizarding Law Office.
'Hey there Lily, I just got your owl,' said a man getting out his chair.
'That's great Edgar, less I need to explain,' said Lily.
'Come on over into one of our private rooms,' said Edgar picking up a file off his desk.
There was a table with one chair on one side and two on the other. Edgar flicked his wand conjuring another chair. Lily sat down the kids. Edgar chuckled as Phoebe barley could see over the table in the chair.
'Can I see the original letter?' asked Edgar.
'Of course,' said Lily passing the envelope over.
Edgar said several incantations to prove the legitimacy of the letter. After he was done he slid it across the table. Lily picked it up and stuffed it back in her purse.
'This type of situation doesn't happen in the magical world. It really comes down to what James and you want to do. There is guardianship, adoption, or blood adoption. Both have about the same legal stuff to go through. An blood adoption can be best with young children that are receptive to it. The older the child the more complex that route is. Now if the parents were incarcerated you would want guardianship. I don't really need to explain adoption. But first we have to start with the basics," said Edgar sliding the file across the table.
'Here is the basic paperwork. You have to take them for a fully medical checkups at St. Mungo's. It's a lot of stuff but it's pretty simple. You need to be approved by two Ministry officials but you don't need to worry about it. I'll be able to approve it and I'll probably send it to Amelia,' said Edgar.
'Do I have to make a special appointment to have an medical exam?' asked Lily.
'Nah, not with this order form,' said Edgar pulling out a slip of paper signing it with a fountain pen from his pocket..
'Thanks Edgar,' said Lily.
'No problem,' said Edgar 'have any questions just owl me or visit the office.'
'I'll get this back to you soon,' said Lily
They took the Floo to St. Mungo's. That was an interesting experience with the small children. Dudley brushed dust off himself. Phoebe's hair was bright pink and she was trying to get Lily to let her do it again. Lily handed the note to the Welcome Witch at the desk. The Welcome Witch took them to a pastel yellow room with a few toys. Dudley was too sure what to make of the Quidditch figurines however, Phoebe took to the unicorn and hippogriff toys.
Lily smiled as her best friend, Alice, walked in as the healer. Alice had been working here since she had gotten out of school. She took off a couple of months each time she had a kid, which they had stopped at three. All of Alice's kids were completely adorable to Lily, not that Harry wasn't.
'Hello Lily. I was going to reply to you letter on my lunch break. Saturday sounds great. Maybe go to the London Zoo, Anna's been begging to go,' said Alice.
'Saturday it is,.' said Lily.
'And who are these little cuties?' asked Alice ruffling Dudley's hair.
'I'm not cute. I'm handsome,' said Dudley.
Phoebe giggled her hair turning neon green. She stuck out her tongue playfully at Dudley who stuck his back.
'Metamorphmagus, that's interesting,' said Alice writing it down on the clipboard in her hand with a self-inking quill.
'Where did you find them?' asked Alice.
'On my porch. Petunia just left them on my doorstep,' said Lily,
'Poor things,' cooed Alice.
'I have no idea what they even want done,' said Lily.
'Pretty simply really. We examine their magical core and test it, to see how it is developing. Then we give them vaccines for the typical magical illnesses,' said Alice.
'Dudley come here,' said Lily.
Dudley didn't complain getting up onto the examination bed. To Lily it seemed like a normal doctor visit for a muggle kid. It was nothing strange or unusual.
'He's malnourished. I can order a potion for that, it has to be taken in the mornings,' said Alice writing on her clipboard again.
Alice took out a strange pair of glasses. She put them on continuing to write on her clipboard.
'He has a blockage in his magical core limiting his magic. That's going to have to be treated after he's weight is at a healthy weight. When we do fix the blockage he's likely to have explosive accident magic, tantrums and possible emotional eating. It's a defence he built. His magical core shows a lot of anger. Shows an inclining towards water magic, meaning most of his accidental magic will be water based. Expect breaking in water pipes and stuff,' said Alice.
'You can tell all that form a pair of glasses?' asked Lily.
'Cool stuff wizards have,' said Alice 'has Harry been in for his exam yet?'
'I'll make the appointment after we're done,' said Lily.
'You can hop down now,' said Alice.
Dudley hoped down and went back to the toys. Alice took off the glasses and sat them back down on the shelf.
'Phoebe, come on,' said Lily.
Phoebe had to be lifted onto the exam table. She couldn't reach the table even with the step stool. She giggling when Lily picked her up.
'I'm guessing Dudley is turning five and Phoebe is three or four?' asked Alice.
'I'm four,' said Phoebe holding up three fingers.
Phoebe giggled seeing she had the wrong fingers and she put up one more finger.
'She's actually average for her age, Dudley's just tall,' said Alice.
Phoebe kept giggling when Alice was trying to examine her. Her hair was a bright yellow. She kept swinging her legs back and forth.
'Phoebe is a bit underweight but not malnourished. That will go away with proper diet. She obviously doesn't eat red meat, just give her a vitamin supplement and shell be fine. She could do with some more sleep,' said Alice.
'Meat yucky' said Phoebe.
Alice put on her glasses. She suspected it to be similar to Dudley but found it to be almost the complete opposite. She was surprised on how vibrant her magical core was for her age but then she hadn't taken in account the fact she was an Metamorphmagus either. Alice started to write again.
'Her magical core is actually more developed then average by six months, that should even out as she gets older. Being an Metamorphmagus this is normal. She doesn't seem to have much blockage or build-up. She has more control with her magic. It seems to lean towards earth magic, so don't be startled by ivy growing up more around her window or if she seems to talk to plants and trees. That's typical for someone that leans towards earth magic,' said Alice.
'Maybe she can help my garden,' chuckled Lily.
'Mummy likes to garden,' said Phoebe.
'Yeah, because she obsessed with it,' muttered Lily under her hair.
Phoebe jumped down and went back to playing. These kids were so quite it just didn't seem right. If you didn't know they were there they would be so easily forgotten. Alice left and got a week supplies of the potion for Dudley along with liquorice wands.
'Come back in a week and we'll see how they are progressing. We can decrease or increase Dudley's potion or put Phoebe on a low strength potion,' said Alice.
'Alright,' said Lily.
'Phoebe, Dudley, would you like a Liquorice Wand?' asked Alice.
Phoebe took one first. She started to chew on it. Dudley took more time with his candy.
'I'm thinking we wait until next week for vaccines. I don't want to be making Dudley sick,' said Alice.
'Does this potion have side-effects?' asked Lily.
'It may make him nauseated and have a lack of appetite for the first day or so,' said Alice.
'Thanks Alice,' said Lily.
Lily stopped back at the reception desk. She pulled out James's medical card from the Ministry. That's the nice thing about James being an auror. He had some of the best health care out of all the Ministry workers. Medicals bills weren't really a problem not as if they would be anyways.
'I'd like to make an appointment in a week for Harry Potter. Can we possible do their checkups at the same time?' asked Lily.
'That we can. Quite adorable kids you have Mrs. Potter,' said the Welcome Witch waving at Phoebe, whom waved back.
'They are-' said Lily.
'We'll see you in a week. Have a good day,' said the Welcome Witch.
Lily took Dudley and Phoebe back to the house. It was a cool spring day but Phoebe still wanted to go outside. Lily forced Dudley out as well. Lily attempted to tend to her garden. Phoebe was running around jumping in puddles. Lily didn't have the heart in here to tell her not to jump in them. Dudley sat on a chair pouting.
'Dudley, why don't you play with your sister,' offered Lily.
'I don't wanta,' said Dudley.
'Why not?' asked Lily.
'She's a girl,' said Dudley.
'I see. I have to go pick up Harry in a few hours,' said Lily.
'That is AGES,' said Dudley crossing his arms.
'I guess your just going to have to sit there and pout,' sighed Lily deciding she had done enough weeding.
As Lily put away her dragon hide gloves she say Harry's old training broom. She thought about it for a moment. It was a good way to get Phoebe and Dudley into something they could relate to others with. She knew the neighbours on either side were wizards and they were at work anyways. She decide to bring it out.
'Phoebe! Dudley! Come here I have something to show you,' called Lily.
Phoebe was there before Lily could even blink. However, Dudley stomped his way over angrily.
'It's a broom,' said Dudley flatly.
'No it's a training broom,' said Lily.
'It's not that hard to sweep. You don't need a training broom,' said Dudley.
'Dudley, it's a flying broom not a cleaning broom,' sighed Lily.
'Oh,' said Dudley.
'Who wants to try riding it?' asked Lily.
'Not me,' said Dudley jumping back.
'Me! Me!' said Phoebe jumping up and down.
'Phoebe you sand over here,' said Lily moving Phoebe to the side of the broom.
'Now you say up,' said Lily.
'Up,' said Phoebe.
The broom rolled on the ground a bit.
'Up,' said Phoebe.
The broom lifted an inch.
'Up!' said Phoebe.
It flew it and hit Phoebe in the head. Phoebe started to cry. After that Phoebe was done with the broom for today.
'Dudley, come on and give it a go,' encouraged Lily.
Dudley lurched slowly forward. He wasn't too optimistic about riding the broom after it hit his sister in the head. He actually felt angry at it. It hurt his little sister. He moved to the side of it after watching Lily show Phoebe the same.
'Up,' said Dudley.
The broom did nothing.
'Up!' said Dudley.
The broom hovered then plopped back down on the ground.
'Up! You bloody thing!' yelled Dudley.
It snapped up into Dudley's hand so quickly it stung a bit. Phoebe giggled at her brother's language.
'Dudley no need to swear at the broom and Phoebe don't encourage him,' said Lily.
'Now you take one leg over like a horse,' said Lily.
Dudley hadn't ridden a horse before but he had seen it on telly. The broom was small for him and rather uncomfortable sit on. He tried to move over to avoid the wedge like movement and nearly fell off.
'Kick off lightly and just hover,' said Lily.
Dudley kicked off. He clung to the broom for dear life as his feet no longer touched the grass. He eventually sat up properly on the broom. He kept looking down at the ground unsure of the sensation of hovering.
'What's everyone doing out here?' asked James walking out the house.
The sudden appearance of James made Dudley jump. He slipped off the end of the broom and fell on his but on the ground. The broom whacked him in the head. He rubbed the top of his head but didn't cry.
'I was letting the kids play with Harry's old training broom. It doesn't seem to like Phoebe, it got her in the face. Dudley was hovering alright,' said Lily.
'Your letting them play on a broom the day after they arrive,' chuckled James kissing Lily's cheek 'I knew there was a reason I married you'
Lily slapped James's arm playfully. James chuckled helping Dudley back up off to his feet.
'It's not going to work for Phoebe. Remember it was designed for boys. Some brooms can be very fickle about who rides them. I'm sure Sirius has an extra girls one we can barrow,' said James.
'You're home early,' said Lily.
'Some kid bite me today when we broke up a brawl in Diagon Alley,' said James holding up his bandage hand.
'I swear the weirdest of things happen to you,' chuckled Lily.
'I know, right. But they sent me home early, procedural stuff,' said James.
Dudley had no interest getting back on. Phoebe wanted to try again but James put it away. He knew even if Phoebe was able to get on it would fling her off. He didn't really want her first time on a broom to terrorised her.
It started to rain again so everyone ran inside. James settled on the couch listen to the radio. He was listening to an magical radio host talking about Quidditch teams, who had the greatest chance of winning the tournament and such. He was a bit startled when Phoebe decided to curl up next to him to take a nap.
'What Quidditch?' asked Phoebe.
'It's a sport where you fly on a broom scoring points to win, like football,' said James grimacing as it hurt to talk about Quidditch in such simple terms, but a four-year never really exposed to it wouldn't have a clue about it if he didn't make it simple.
'Okay, I'm going to sleep now. Nigty-nite,' said Phoebe.
'Okay then,' said James.
Dudley was quietly playing with marbles on the floor. Lily left James in charge of the kids while she went to get Harry. James went into the kitchen to check on dinner to make sure it didn't burn the house down when Lily was gone.
BANG! CLUNK!
James jumped sending his wooden spoon flying. It had been dead silent. Then came the ear-piercing wailing. It wasn't a little cry it was full blood curdling scream. James came running out with his wand drawn. He found Dudley holding two large metal platters in the air. Phoebe was sitting up crying woken up from her nap. The platters suddenly turned into snakes. Dudley jump letting go of them. Phoebe screamed when one of them landed on her.
'Vipera Evanesca,' said James waving his wand.
The two snakes disappeared into a puff of smoke. James had no idea who conjuring the snakes. It could have been either of them. It was simply accidental magic but that surely didn't help calm down Phoebe. It took James ten minutes just to get Phoebe to stop crying. Dudley sat away in a corner looking guilty. Once Phoebe stopped crying James dealt with Dudley.
'Dudley it doesn't matter who conjured the snakes, accidental magic happens. However, it was uncalled for waking up your sister,' said James.
Dudley stared wide-eyed and James looking frightened to death. He had himself pinned against the wall. Dudley wasn't saying much of anything.
'Look Dudley, it's okay. It was an accident. Phoebe's not hurt, it just scared her,' said James calmly.
Lily was so much better at this stuff. James wasn't too good at being the nurturing one. Not that he wasn't a good father he just didn't know how to calm down children. He usually let Lily calm Harry down.
'You-you-you aren't going to hurt me?" said Dudley confused.
'Of course not,' said James a bit appalled Dudley would suggest he'd ever do something like that.
Dudley moved untrustingly passed James and hugged Phoebe. Phoebe didn't really fight the hug but she rather be left alone. Her hair was jet black, James assumed that wasn't really a happy colour.
James wanted to ring that whale's neck if he could wrap his fingers around it. It was clear to James that Dudley was petrified of someone hurting him, he knew Petunia certainly wasn't capable of it. There was a bit of static magical energy in the room but it started to die down by the time Lily got home.
'It feels funny in here,' said Harry.
'Just a bit of accidental magic,' said James coolly.
'Ah okay, Harry why don't you get your Wizarding Chess set and if Dudley and Phoebe want to play,' said Lily.
'Okay,' said Harry dropping his backpack on the floor and running up the stairs.
Lily sighed as she picked up Harry's backpack and hung it up. She didn't feel like yelling at Harry to come pick it up. She looks a bit flustered and Phoebe picked up on it as her hair turned lemon yellow.
'What's the matter, love?' asked James.
'I'm so glad the school year is almost over. They are getting suspicious there. I just told him that Harry has an overactive imagination like any kid,' said Lily.
'He's turning five Lily he's still learning to control his abilities,' said James.
'No, he keeps talking about Quidditch, flying motorcycles and wands in school,' sighed Lily.
'I'll talk to him,' said James.
'While the kids play we should work on that paperwork. And when were you going to tell me wizards had special magical checkups?" asked Lily.
'Sorry, it didn't really come to mind,' said James.
'It's alright,' said Lily.
Lily and James stayed in the kitchen working on the paperwork to make sure that dinner didn't burnt. They listened to the kids absently. Harry was explaining Wizarding Chess. Phoebe was completely happy just watching her brother and Harry play.
'We may as well do the blood adoption but we better see what Alice thinks about it. I mean it may not be in the kids best interest,' said James.
'We plan on going to the zoo on Saturday. I'll ask her then,' said Lily.
'Dinner is done kids. Go wash up,' said Lily pulling the Sheppard's Pie out of the oven.
Bedtime came faster then anyone expected. Lily had gone to bed early with a headache leaving James with three kids to get to bed. It wasn't that hard with just Harry. But with three over-tired kids it was torture. James was able to wrestle Harry into bed.
'Buddy, no more talking about magic in school,' said James.
'Why?' asked Harry.
'Remember we don't talk about magic with muggles,' reminded James.
'Okay,' said Harry.
'Goodnight,' said James.
'Can we go flying tomorrow?' yawned Harry.
'We'll see,' said James.
'Goodnight, daddy. I love you,' said Harry.
'I love you too, Harry,' said James turning off the light and closing the door.
Dudley had already climbing into bed. Phoebe was walking around the rooms trying to pull her nightshirt over her head but couldn't. James pulled it down. Phoebe smiled and hugged James's legs. Phoebe climbed into her bed.
'What's it like to fly?' asked Phoebe.
'Well, it's one of the freest sensations in the world. The wind rushing through your hair. A buzzing in your ear at air soars by. Soaring higher then the birds and then rushing towards the ground, a rush of excitement fills you. But you have to remember to close your mouth otherwise you might catch bugs in it, Sirius caught a bee in his mouth once. He couldn't eat for a whole day, he acted as if his world was ending. If you want to go super fast you better have goggles otherwise bugs can be really annoying,' descried James.
Phoebe giggling at the idea of someone eating bugs.
'It's time to sleep. I know you took a nap but you can't be up all right,' said James.
Before he even finished his sentence Phoebe was out. James sighed as he unwrapped his hand treating the wound with the salve he was given and wrapped it in new bandages. He plopped down on the bed. Lily didn't even stir. James rolled over and turned on his alarm clock.
Author's Note:
Thanks everyone for such the great reactions. I just went back and changed Sirius's son's name. It was really pretty awful. I hope everyone likes it. I really appreciate all the reaction I've gotten from this story, I was completely surprised by all the followers and my one review. I hope all the adults seem like they are being characterized right. I really got mutative to get this done. I'm trying to keep some realism to the story though I know nothing about medicine or law.