Father Figure

Written by: HoshiHikari

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. All characters belong to J.K. Rowling.

Summary: All Harry wanted after the war was to fulfill his promise to Remus and Tonks. However his chance to raise Teddy Lupin is snatched away when he is placed in Azkaban for murdering Lord Voldemort. Thirteen years later Harry breaks out of Azkaban in hopes of perusing his role as Teddy's godfather. Despite being labeled as the new Dark Lord, Harry tries his best to be the father figure that would make his parents, Sirius and Remus proud.

Warnings: Spoilers from DH!

Chapter 2

Boy-Who-Lived Escapes Azkaban!

Last night while delivering dinner to the highest security prisoner in Azkaban, Auror Brian Packer was horrified to discover the cell empty. Immediately he alerted the Minister of Magic and within an hour, Azkaban was placed on lock down. Regrettably, the convict, Harry James Potter, has disappeared into thin air and now a man hunt is being issued for his recapture. The Muggle Prime Minister has already been informed of the situation and so with both the Muggle law enforcement and the Aurors searching for The-Chosen-One-Who-Is-Destined-To-Be-The-New-Dark-Lord, we here at the Daily Prophet are optimistic of a speedy recapture.

Harry James Potter, better known as the Boy-Who-Lived was born July 31st 1980 to the parents of James and Lily Potter. Though he is credited with the defeat of Lord Voldemort thirteen years ago, we here at the Daily Prophet would like to kindly remind the public that if it wasn't for his imprisonment, he would have become the next Dark Lord. Potter is a powerful, well connected and highly dangerous man. He is the godson of the notorious Sirius Black, the first Azkaban escapee and right hand man to Lord Voldemort and who is believed to be behind the massive breakouts in Azkaban, one of which included his cousin Bellatrix Lestrange, her husband Rodolphus and his brother Rabastan. The three Lestrange along with Crouch Jr., are the Death Eaters who are responsible for the attacks on Frank and Alice Longbottom at the end of the Voldemort's first reign. In addition to these connections Potter has with these two dark families, Potter is known to have been associated with dark creatures, mainly the half giant Rebus Hagrid and the werewolf Remus Lupin. Lupin, if one did not already know, is Sirius Black's cousin by marriage. Furthermore Lupin's wife, Nymphadora Tonks, is Bellatrix Lestrange and Narcissia Malfoy's niece, making Lucius Malfoy her uncle. Considering the histories of Blacks, Lestranges, Malfoys and dark creatures such as giants and werewolves, there is no reason to believe that he would not have become the Dark Lord himself if given the chance.

Now Potter has been given the chance. At the age of 31, he has finally broken out of Azkaban. Considering the ease in his escape, we here at the Daily Prophet believe that this was planned with care and yesterday, July 31st, was picked deliberately. Perhaps it was a self given birthday present to have himself achieve "freedom" at the same age of his day of birth or perhaps last night holds a deeper significance. His own godfather, Sirius Black, had escaped from Azkaban on July 31st, after spending the exact amount of time in prison as Potter has.

We shall never know why Potter has decided to escape imprisonment now. We do know that he broke out to complete the task that we have denied him for so long. His goal is to become the Dark Lord. Our goal is to prevent this. He will try to seek out his associates. To prevent this, the Ministry will be keeping a close on all who has had any connection with Potter in the past. Those who act suspiciously will be brought in for questioning and those who do not cooperate will be detained. Harry Potter must be recaptured. The terror that he will undoubtedly release on the public if let loose must be prevented. The public is again reminded that Harry Potter is a powerful, well connected and highly dangerous man. Do not let his Black charm seduce you or his Malfoy wealth and prestige lure you for surely he is a Lestrange at heart. Do not fall prey to the beast that belongs in his cage.

The public will do best to heed the warnings. Harry Potter has escaped from Azkaban. Now it is up to the cooperation of the public, the Ministry, and the Muggle law enforcement agencies to bring down this new threat to peace and prosperity.

With great confidence in the English Ministry of Magic,

Amy Trent

Daily Prophet Correspondent

He placed down the prophet with an outer air of indifference, though inside he was fuming. He could already feel a headache beginning to brew. Though expected, Potter's escape could prove to be problematic. With Potter on the loose, the very delicate way of life he had painstakingly rebuilt after the downfall of Voldemort was bound to be unhinged.

"I see you've read today's paper." A cold and calculating voice broke the silence. With as much dignity as he could manage after being caught off guard, he slowly turned to face the head that was bobbing in the green flames that lit the fireplace.

"Good morning to you too, father." He said as he straighten his back against the back of the chair.

"What do you think?" The head in the fireplace asked.

"Potter's escape was inevitable. As far as the rest is concerned, it's a whole bunch of rubbish." He gave a deep sigh. "Potter is as likely to become the Dark Lord as I am to joining the Order of the Phoenix."

"Azkaban can change everything." The head in the fire continued with hardened eyes. "Nobody has ever gone in without coming out unchanged."

Silence fell at the end of the declaration.

"I must be going now." The head in the fire broke the silence. "An official Ministry letter arrived this morning requesting my appearance at 10 o'clock sharp. I suspect this has to do with the breakout. I suspect you'll be getting a notice soon if you haven't already."

"Not yet." The man in the chair replied. "Besides, it makes little sense to think that we would be involved in the breakout or that he would decide to turn to us for assistance. This is absurd!"

"If Potter broke out not because he's aiming to be the Dark Lord, then why did he break out at all?"

Again silence followed as the man on the chair thought of the reason. Then suddenly the answer came and his eyes widened.

"I expect that you'll be having a visitor soon." The head stated with certainty. "When that time comes, do remember your manners Draco." Then as an afterthought he added. "Send my regards to Astoria and the boys."

"And my regards to mother." Draco Malfoy responded. He watched his father give a curt nod before ending the fire call. When he was sure his father was gone, Draco leapt up from his chair to begin his day. He had much to do. The first was to inform his family of Potter's breakout and the second was to make preparations for his visitor.


The moment the door shut behind Luicus and Narcissa Malfoy leaving the two alone with the Minster of Magic, was the moment that the friendly facial façade dropped was dropped by both parties.

"I'm sure you know why you're here, Malfoy" Shacklebolt began, "so I'll be blunt. Did you provide Harry Potter assistance with his escape? Are you currently harboring a criminal?"

"You and I both know that I'll rather see Mr. Potter dead, let alone aid in his escape or provide assistance with his hiding. He has been nothing more then a hindrance to our cause," Lucius replied with little thought. "both in the past and currently in the present."

"Oh? I beg to differ." Shacklebolt said, leaning forward on his desk. "I have reason to believe otherwise."

"and what would that be?" Lucius asked casually.

"Teddy Remus Lupin." Came the Minister's explanation. Kingsley gave the Malfoys a cold glare as he pronounced the name with extreme clarity.

"Has no relevance to this discussion Minster." Lucius interrupted.

"He has everything to do with this discussion." Kingsley corrected.

"and prey tell me how a thirteen year old boy can be involved in a discussion about an Azkaban escapee?" Lucius asked in a quiet whisper. Before Shacklebolt could reply, Malfoy continued. "The problem here rest with Mr. Potter being Teddy's godfather and Teddy being raised by Draco and so you and the world automatically assume that because of this connection, we the Malfoys would help a foe."

"Why not?" The Minister challenged before adding with a sneer. "Draco Malfoy had no right to raise Lupin."

"Teddy's one of us." Narcissa interrupted. "We protect our own."

"Potter is essentially one of you." Kingsley stated. "Sirius and Remus all but adopted him…"

"Black and Lupin are probably rolling in their graves because of this accusation that Harry's one of us from a so called friend." Lucius remarked with a smirk. "then again they probably already were rolling in their graves the minute you placed Harry Potter in Azkaban. And Dumbledore, what would he think of your actions for discarding the savior like used goods."

"How dare you imply that…."

"But isn't that exactly what you implied Minister? Isn't that exactly what you did Minister? No need to be modest Minster. You authorized Mr. Potter's imprisonment under the campaign for the Greater Good. You sanctioned this because of the ring of fear that was building against Mr. Potter for casting an unforgivable. Well I'll tell you what. You should be fearful of Mr. Potter, be very afraid of him. You and the world have done him great injustice. What do you think he'll do to you at your next reencounter with him?"

"Is that a threat Mr. Malfoy?"

"Perhaps, but this threat hardly concerns me. This is a threat from the one whom you stripped thirteen years of Molly Weasley's cooking from, the one whom you denied the chance to be godfather. I'm rather curious if the Weasleys would have been on your receiving end of this conversation if they did manage to be given the opportunity to raise Teddy. My guess is they wouldn't because they are one of you and if Teddy was raised by them, then he would be yours. Then again if Teddy was raised by the Weasleys then it is very likely that the Boy-Who-Lived would not be in this situation and if he wasn't in this situation to begin with, then there would not be a need for the Weasleys to raise Teddy in the first place as Mr. Potter would have been able to do so himself. Unfortunately for you, this is not the case. You did stripped Mr. Potter of the only true purpose he had of the world. Now Mr. Potter has escaped. We both know that Mr. Potter has too much good in him to become the Dark Lord by himself. However, because Teddy is one of us and because the light did betray him, you're afraid that this just might be enough motive to tip the balance. You've seen first hand what Mr. Potter can do when he's riled up with emotion. I doubt you'll like to be on the receiving end of his anger. "

"Is that a threat Mr. Malfoy?" The Minster repeated.

"No. I am merely tearing down your false presumptions, protecting my assets and distancing my family from anything that can further ruin our name." Lucius took a deep breath and continued. "Now if there is anything you'll like to discuss that doesn't revolve around Teddy, then please do so. Otherwise we shall leave. Teddy Lupin is one of us, and I will not permit him to be thrown…"

"One of you." Though he tried to hide it, Shacklebolt's voice was laced with disappointment and regret at the outcome of this child.

"Yes, Teddy is one of us." Narcissa confirmed with a protective ferocity that wasn't expected of someone who didn't blink an eye when her own sister and cousin were disowned. "We protect our own."

"Harry Potter…" Shacklebolt began again as he changed the topic. "may still come to you for assistance as he may find himself unwelcomed by others."

"And whose fault is that?" Lucius questioned. "Besides, what makes you think he'll approach us and if he does, then why should we help him?. Contrarily to what you believe, we do not benefit by aiding Mr. Potter. He is a threat to us as much as he is a threat to you. He is bound to topple what my son has so painstakingly rebuilt of the Malfoy name." Lucius heaved in a deep breath. It appeared that it was impossible to continue this conversation without mentioning Teddy.

"Sirius left everything to Mr. Potter. If anything were to happen to Mr. Potter, he would most definitely leave everything for Teddy. Through Teddy, the Malfoy's would be able to keep Number 12 and the Black fortune which should have rightfully gone to Narcissa. If Mr. Potter were to succeed in reclaiming Teddy, the Malfoys would loose everything. The Black family is the backbone in which the new generation of Malfoys are built upon."

"Indeed." Kingsley Shacklebolt murmured.

"Yes, indeed. I can assure you Kingsley Shacklebolt that Mr. Potter will not find aid with us while I'm still head of the Malfoys. We only protect those of blood, and even then only those of great interest."

The silence that engulfed the room thickened as the true purpose behind the Malfoys raising Teddy sunk in. In the eyes of the Malfoys, Teddy Lupin was nothing more then another Malfoy asset to accumulate wealth over time.


Night had fallen yet Harry Potter still found himself carefully rounding the corner. After a week of traveling, he had finally made it back to London. How he had traveled safely from Azkaban to London was still a mystery to him. Wanted posters with a photo taken a month ago of him was plastered on every wall he passed by and the streets were littered with discarded scraps of the poster. Everywhere he went he could see himself and so he was surprised that he still hadn't been caught. He supposed this was because he had successfully passed off as a beggar and as a beggar he attracted little to no attention. When he was given attention, the attention came in the form of hostility and receiving hostility was many times better then being recognized. If there was one thing Azkaban had taught him, it was that he lived in a two faced world. In order to survive in this two face world, his own godfather had taught him that first being an animagus was highly useful and that second, being reckless was not. Though Harry was proud to say the he wasn't a reckless person, in fact far from his emotionally charged hero driven childhood self, he was disappointed to say that he still couldn't change into a dog with his own free will or any other animal for that matter. Still not being an animagus was the least of his worries. Harry's top worry was also his top priority as well as the main thing that plagued him in Azkaban and also he very thing that helped keep his sanity.

As Harry approached Number 13 Grimmauld Place, he was surprised to note that Number 12 was not visible to him, even though it had been thirteen years ago when he had been on the run.

Number 12, Grimmauld Place, London

Harry's heart thumped loudly when the House of Black did not appear before its rightful master. Sirius had left the house to him and even though he had allowed the Order to remain at the house after Sirius had died, Harry was still the owner of Number 12. Unless something drastic had occurred during the time of his imprisonment, there was no reason that Grimmauld Place would not answer to his call. Of course there was another way of checking, but Harry had hoped it wouldn't have come to that as calling for the sole occupant of the house would attract too much unwanted attention onto him. But he didn't seem to have a choice. Besides, his main reason for coming to Grimmauld was to have a chat with the current sole occupant of the house, and not just to find a safe refuge for the time being.

Harry slowly made his way to an abandoned alleyway. He hesitated for a minute longer before he spoke the single name in a hoarse whisper.

"Kreacher."

The name had barely left his mouth when Kreacher materialized silently before him. Harry was about to speak again when the house-elf raised one finger to cover his own lips in the gesture of silence. Kreacher then reached out a hand, grabbed Harry's sleeve and the two disappeared from the alleyway.

When Harry and Kreacher reappeared, Harry found himself standing in the middle of the kitchen of Grimmauld Place. Looking around quickly he noticed that time had halted in this house. Everything was just as he last remembered, left untouched in their positions by time and the house elf. Slowly moving around the kitchen, Harry felt himself being attacked by memories of the fight he had with Lupin. He could vividly see the fight play out scene by scene as he moved from spot to spot in the kitchen.

"Master Potter must be exhausted from his long journey. Is there anything that Kreacher can get for Master Potter?"

Harry's memories broke. He turned to face Kreacher and found the house elf staring intently at him.

"Teddy." Harry replied automatically. "Teddy Remus Lupin."

The house-elf frowned deeply as he thought of how to reply to that.

"Master Potter's godson is not under Kreacher's care and therefore I cannot bring him to you. Even if he was under my care, I cannot bring people to Master Potter no matter how much Master Potter wishes it."

"He's not in your care? But I saw you take Teddy right before I was escorted out of the Tonks' residence."

"Indeed I did have Mr. Lupin under my care until I was able to safely transfer him into the care of a more adequate family."

"The Weasleys?" Harry asked automatically.

Kreacher shook his head from side to side.

"You didn't leave him at an orphanage or in front of someone's doorstep did you? Harry asked, sounding desperate.

"No."

"Where did you leave Teddy?"

"With family."

"The Lupins? Mr. and Mrs. Lupin?" Harry asked, thinking of Remus' parents. They would have been very adequate parents, especially since they were able to raise their son into one of the kindest people that Harry knew, despite Remus having grown up facing so many obstacles.

"No, Master Potter." Kreacher said.

"Then who?" Harry asked with impatience. "Where is Teddy, Kreacher?"

"Kreacher left Mr. Lupin with Narcissa."

It took a minute for the name to sink in. When the minute passed, Harry exploded in anger and disbelief.

"Malfoy? You left Teddy with the Malfoys?" Harry screamed at the house-elf who looked up at him unafraid.

"Master Potter is displeased." Kreacher said flatly.

"Displeased? Master Potter is more then displeased!" Harry continued his rant. "How can you even think of leaving Teddy with the Malfoys? I know you use to be loyal to the Blacks, and I know Narcissa use to be a Black, but she's a Malfoy now. Malfoys are dark. Mafloys are known Death Eaters!" Harry took in a deep breath as he tried to calm down. "I am your Master Kreacher, not her. It will do you well to remember that."

A heavy silence descended upon the two occupants of Grimmauld Place. Harry's head was still spinning with the nightmare of Teddy being raised by the Malfoys while Kreacher was staring intently at him.

"Kreacher did what was best for the young Lupin." Kreacher said quietly. "In time Master Potter will come to realize this."

"What's best for Teddy would have been to grow up with his godfather!" Harry retorted harshly.

"Master Potter was away." Kreacher said defensively. "Master Potter was unable to care for Mr. Lupin. Kreacher had to make a decision. Kreacher made a decision. Would Master Potter have preferred if Kreacher never interfered and therefore would have left Mr. Lupin to the aurors?"

Harry's anger slowly deflated after being reminded of the reason why Teddy wasn't in his care in the first place. Of course he was still angry, but he couldn't stay angry at Kreacher, even if Kreacher had left his godson to the Malfoys. Kreacher was right. As much as Harry hated it, he would rather have Teddy raised by the enemy then have him killed by the aurors for something he had no control over.

"Master Potter must be tired from his journey." Kreacher said after a short period of silence. Though he could feel the last of his master's energy sap out of the man after the house-elf's verbal defense, Kreacher could still see the anger reflected in Harry's eyes. "Why don't Master Potter retire for the night? Perhaps a good night's sleep will help ease your readjustment into life after imprisonment." The house-elf paused to let the words sink in before adding, "Would Master Potter like anything before he heads off to bed and Kreacher heads back to Hogwarts?"

"Hogwats? Why are you at Hogwarts?" Harry question. "Is that why this place looks like no one's set foot here since…"

"One of Master Potter's first orders was for me to work at Hogwarts." Kreacher replied. "Since Master Potter hasn't given an order that said otherwise, I've been at Hogwarts during your absence." Kreacher reminded. "Kreacher would like to return to live at the noble and most ancient house of Black." The house-elf added hopefully.

"Stay at Hogwarts for a little longer." Harry said. He watched as the house-elf's face fill with disappointment.

"Master Potter was a kind master." Kreacher said softly. "Kinder then his godfather was to Kreacher. Kreacher has tried to return this kindest in full. Kreacher used house-elf magic to add wards to this house to make sure this house remains in Master Potter's possession. Kreacher answered Master Potter's call when he needed someone to save his godson. Kreacher…"

"I'm very grateful Kreacher. You have no idea how grateful I am. Until I can find other means to keep up to date with the outside world, I need you to stay at Hogwarts. You're the only one I can trust right now."

Kreacher bowed his head in acceptance.

"I understand."

"I promise you Kreacher that when everything settles, I'll have you living here in no time."

"Thank you Master Potter." Kreacher replied. "Now is there anything Master Potter needs before Kreacher leaves? I must go before my absence becomes noticed."

"A sandwich please."


Consider this chapter an interlude to help set the direction of the story. Teddy's mentioned a lot in this chapter though he hasn't appeared yet. Hopefully he will get a chance to appear in the next chapter. Do remember to Review!