A/N Ok now I'm kind of losing hope for this story. I'm a little depressed by the statistics. People are not reviewing, they are not reading past chapter one, and they are not telling me why. I'm more concerned about the whole not following the story issue. I know that I keep on mentioning it and I really didn't expect anybody to even find this story, but there is a good number of people tuning in to the story, but they lose interest after reading one chapter. Maybe I should just keep posting and end the story soon, I don't know.

Self-pity aside, this chapter will start off with Harry's POV from last chapter.

Also as I wrote this chapter I was listening to Hedwig's theme. I cried when she died. She inspired me to create Archimedes.

Some details do not match up with the last chapter so just go with it.

Major fluff ahead not the romantic kind, but the parent/son kind.

For those who have come his far, let me be clear on Adrian's personality. He is someone who values being calm and collected. However he does have his own anger issues and triggers. He likes to plainly show his emotions and he is a nurturer, meaning he mothers people even though he's a guy. He doesn't care that people see his actions as feminine or unmanly, he loves to take care of people just the same. He likes to leave people confused with random acts of behavior and has a strong sense of right and wrong, hence the whole game and helping everyone he comes across.

Harry will be OOC and a little childish. I believe that Adrian will bring out this side of Harry by treating him with family love and respect.

To NightSkyWolves, sorry about the gender mix up. I just call anyone who I respect by the title sir as in like a sir. No offense, sorry. Also as you're probably my only reader, besides Lady Cocoa, I will try and update as fast as I can to thank you.

To Lady Cocoa, sorry about not mentioning you. Thank you for reviewing first, I just thought you stopped reading. I was just being stupid. Consider this update my apology.

Also I noticed I use the word As a lot. Ugh I already have a bad habit.

Enjoy


Chapter 7: Reluctance and Acceptance

(Harry's POV from CH 6 for those who do not read the author notes.)

When I woke up from a surprisingly good night sleep I felt that today was going to be monumental and things were going to change.

As I shook the sleep from my eyes, I cringed in pain and grasped my arm. It looks like it was still bruised from yesterday.

I sighed and stood up slowly minding my injuries and walked to Hedwig's cage and woke her up.

I said to her, "Morning girl. How was your night. You sleep as well as I did."

Hedwig chirped happily. Her chick finally got some peace for once.

As I petted Hedwig, I heard the sound of locks being opened and turned to find my aunt standing in the doorway with a sad expression.

She motions with her head to follow and I leave the room, closing the door behind me.

It is early in the morning and my aunt had made some food for me before her husband got up.

She changed and became kinder to me, probably out of guilt, but it was better for all of us.

As I quickly inhaled my food so that if uncle Vernon came down early he would not know that I was eating.

When I finished my food I quickly did the dishes and got to work on the chores that uncle Vernon gave me. Aunt Petunia stopped giving me chores so that I would not strain my injuries too much.

As the morning past I went out side to mow the lawn with an old push lawn mower. Uncle Vernon did not want me to have an easy time doing this so he never bought one with a motor.

While I was mowing the lawn I suddenly heard a shout from inside. The backdoor opened and out came my uncle, looking mad as ever.

He quickly grabbed my hair and dragged me inside. I knew what was coming next.

He dragged me up the stairs and threw me into my room. Hedwig started screeching at my treatment.

Vernon started to beat me with his fist, yelling at me that it was my fault that he lost out on a deal for his company and that I was a freak. After awhile he switched to his belt.

As I started to lose consciousness, the beating stopped. I tried to look up and see what happened, but I had no strength left in me.

I felt a warm set of hands checking my body and heard a sigh of relief before the person snarled and charged at what I guess was my uncle.

I try once more to move my body, but all I got was pain and I let out a whimper. Suddenly those warm hands were back. I hear Hedwig's wings flapping and suddenly I feel the man pick me up, I was sure it was a man for no woman could have such a flat chest. I felt safe in his arms and I shifted myself to lean in closer.

I suddenly feel a rush of magic and then I hear shouting.

The man walked a short distance with me in his arms and then I felt the cool sheets of a bed on my back.

I hear hurried voices and then I felt my pain start to lessen a little. The soothing touch of magic suddenly stops and is soon replaced with an even greater amount of energy.

I could feel my body mending itself and the pain disappearing. Suddenly the warm hands are back and they soothingly check my body for injury. How I know this I will never know.

When the hands disappear I hear the tell tale sound of Madame Pomfrey's shoes and a chuckle.

As I finally start to drift off I feel the man from before sit close to my side. I drift off feeling safe.


(Back to third POV)

As Adrian sat by Harry's side, Madame Pomfrey told him the boy's name, he started to drift off. Hedwig had taken off a while ago to hunt and the matron had retreated to her office.

When he started to close his eyes Harry started to stir. Adrian quickly snapped awake and turned his attention to the small boy. Adrian was sadden to learn that Harry was 14 yet he looked like a twelve year old. (Now do you see my total divergence from canon.)

Adrian quickly sat up straighter and waited for the boy to wake up.

Harry drowsily opened his eyes and turned his head to look at Adrian. As Harry stared at him Adrian smiled warmly and reached forward to soothe the young wizard.

Apparently Harry was still not all there as he leaned into the touch and sort of rubbed his head against the hand. Adrian chuckled and allowed the young wizard to indulge himself.

Harry cracked open his eyes and stared at Adrian and asked in a slurred voice, "Who're you?" (I don't know how to write dialogue to make Harry sound sleepy I'll try my best.)

Adrian chuckled and continued to soothe the boy by playing with his hair. He replied, "I'm Adrian. Who are you?" The question was asked to humor the boy.

Harry replies sleepily, "…m 'arry. Your hand izzz warmz."

Adrian chuckles again. He knows that the kid would be embarrassed at what he is doing, but Adrian could not help but feel like they both needed this.

Adrian asks him, "So Harry how do you feel?"

"…m 'ine, you make me 'eel safe." Harry replies still half asleep.

Adrian blushes a little at the compliment. Deciding to let the boy sleep some more, he tried to put him back to sleep.

As Adrian tried to put Harry to sleep, Harry whined in protest, not wanting to go back to sleep.

Adrian smirked at the behavior and decided to totally embarrass the boy later with this information. He then got a brilliant idea to put Harry to sleep. If he was going to act like a young child then maybe he would respond to a young child's approach.

Adrian started to sing a lullaby.

"Don't be weepy sleepy puppies.

Slip your slippers on your footies.

In the morning you'll get goodies.

Puppy hats and puppy hoodies.

No stripes or polk-a-dots.

Heather gray and feather soft.

Baby pink or baby bluuueee.

All the draw strings you can chew."

When Adrian finished singing, Harry drifted off to sleep once more and settled down once more.


Adrian heard a soft chuckle from behind him and turned to look at the door. Standing there was the Headmaster.

The young professor stood up and raised a finger to his lips to signify to be quiet and motioned for the Headmaster to follow.

Adrian led the Headmaster out of the infirmary and up to Dumbledore's office.

Dumbledore then led Adrian up into his office and settled down behind his desk. Adrian sat in the chair in front of the desk.

Dumbledore asked him, "Would you like some tea my boy?"

"Yes please, two lumps for whatever you're having." He replies.

As Dumbledore made the tea Adrian looked at Fawkes who was asleep and then looked out the window and saw that it was dark outside.

His attention was then brought back to his uncle again as he handed him his tea.

As Adrian sipped his tea, Dumbledore asked him, "So, what do you plan for young Harry?"

Adrian decided to be direct replies, "If he accepts I would like to adopt him. I know I am young yet, but I believe that I can help him better if I became his legal guardian."

Dumbledore responds evenly, "Why the sudden course of action? You would not normally do something like this." He pauses and thinks for a moment and continues, "On second thought you would do something like this."

Adrian responds calmly, "Yes I know that this is very sudden and doesn't make much sense. I mean, I know that I have no reason to do such a thing, but in the infirmary, we just kind of clicked, as corny and sappy as it sounds. My reasons aren't very clear, even to me, but I will watch over him either way. I mean, its better to make me an official parent if I'm going to fuss over him anyway, right."

Dumbledore closes his eyes in thought, he leans back and thinks. After a moment he says to Adrian, "I for one think that it is a fine idea, however I do not think that it will go over well with his godfather and honorary uncle. Though I will help you if Harry accepts."

Adrian frowns, Dumbledore had informed him earlier about their profiles. He takes a breath and says, "I will not try to replace his father, but I will be one if he needs it. As for his uncles, they lost the right to dictate his life when they left him alone for all these years. Sirius's first action should have been to insure his godson's safety and his innocence, and Lupin should not have left at all. However the choice is his and since Black and Lupin are unable to take custody, I will. I do need you to get the right papers though and push them through the right channels."

Dumbledore hums in agreement and nods. He sighs and leans back heavily in his chair.

Adrian notices this action and understands what is on his uncle's mind. He says to him, "It's not your fault you know. You didn't know that it would turn out like this and there was no one else to give him to."

Dumbledore gives Adrian a sad smile and replies, "I know but… I should have checked on him. I said that he was like a grandson to me and I did nothing."

Adrian sighs and says, "We all make mistakes uncle, if you regret them then you can be forgiven. I'm sure he does not blame you for the deeds of the whale, uncle."

Dumbledore gives a sad chuckle and says, "Sometimes I forget how young you are Adrian. You've grown up so much."

Adrian smiles and says, "Nah. The wiseness is from me being a Sorcerer of Balance. I'm still young at heart, but I have my head on tight and my priorities straight."

They sit in comfortable silence for about an hour. After a while Adrian stands up and says that he is turning in for the night and heads to bed.

As he arrives in his room Adrian notices that Archimedes is out hunting. He quickly bathes in the bathroom connected to his room and turns in for the night, promising to visit Harry in the morning.


A/N: Don't worry I will update soon. Like as in maybe today.

If you know where the lullaby is from, you get an Internet cookie. Also as I said before I have moved the story up a decade so that this is happening now. I want to add in some pop culture references and they only exist after 2000.

In the previous chapters you may have noticed that I have capitalized some things weirdly. This is on purpose and is used to introduce or properly announce important items and places. For example I capitalized Lemon Drop to draw attention to it then I didn't capitalize it after. I also Capitalized the Great Hall so that people will immediately know where the characters are.

To Lady Cocoa a forum is where people chat online and post things. I use mine to Role Play, receive characters and talk. For information on OC applications please refer to the previous chapter, I forget which, for information, and follow the posted guidelines to write out your character. To go to the forum, click the link at the top of every page that says forum and navigate your way to Wizard101 forums under games.

Warning Important Information

If you don't know what wizard101 is and still want to submit your OC. Just omit the guidelines that pertain to the game specifically, posted in my forum.

Thanks for reading. Leave a comment.