Ch. 12.

Walking back into his son's bedroom, Sirius finds Harry curled up in a corner of the room. "Harry? Pup? What's gotten you so uptight? Was it what Ron was saying about being adopted?" When Harry just continues to stare off in space and doesn't answer, Sirius continues. "Being adopted is really a good thing Harry. Someone chooses to be your family and that is really something special. is there anything you would like to say about how you are feeling?"

When he doesn't receive an answer, he says "Well, whenever you want to talk just come let me know. I'll listen and help you all I can. I love you very much Harry James Potter Black! You were special to me when I met you as a tiny babe and now you are even more special to me because you are my child."

Checking on Harry three hours later, he finds him still in the corner only this time he's sucking his thumb with a glazed expression in his eyes. "C'mon Pup, let's get you bathed and ready for bed. I hope you'll feel like talking tomorrow. It's too quiet around here without all your chattering!" Sirius teases hoping to get a response.

Harry doesn't respond or even attempt to do anything for himself. Sirius resorts to bathing him and dressing him as he did when Harry was a baby. Tucking Harry into bed, he finally hears Harry speak. It's quite soft and he doesn't quite catch it. "I couldn't quite hear you little one. What was it you said again?"

"Where's Mummy and Daddy? When are they going to come get me? They said they'd come back sssooonnn. " Harry whispers beginning to cry.

"Oh, Pup! Mummy and Daddy aren't here. I'm here though. I'll take care of you. Alright?" Sirius feels his throat tightening up and tears welling in his eyes. "Just go to sleep, little one. We'll talk more in the morning. SHHH! It's alright, you're alright, settle down son and sleep." He says laying the boy down and gently massaging his back. Eventually he feels Harry relax and soon he can tell the child is asleep.

Feeling the need to talk to someone and to get some advice, Sirius floo calls Professor McGonagall. "Min, There's something wrong with Harry. I need some advice. Could you step through please? Harry's asleep and I don't want to leave him alone right now."

"I'll be there in just a minute. I've just put the tea on. Let me take it off and I'll be there." Minerva McGonagall answers. A few minutes later she is stepping through the fireplace into Sirius living room.

"What's wrong with Harry? I noticed when I saw him at breakfast, he seemed unusually quiet. I would've thought he would be the opposite what with getting to have Ron go to Hogsmeade with him." She says.

"He seems to have withdrawn. I left the boys at the Quidditch store to go over to the bank. When I returned Harry had disappeared. Ron says they were just talking and he brought up the fact that Harry was lucky to be adopted. Harry just left the store and by the time I found him he was very withdrawn. He said something about me not being his real Dad. Tonight he curled up in a corner sucking his thumb. He stopped sucking his thumb and was out of nappies at eighteen months. Tonight he reverted back to needing sucking his thumb. I had to carry him in to the bath and do it all for him. He was non responsive the whole time. He didn't do or say one thing. Finally right as I was tucking him in he asked about his Mum and Dad. He wanted to know when they were coming back to get him."

At Minerva's gasp, Sirius nods. "I didn't know what to say to him. He seemed to really believe they were going to come get him."

"What did you tell him, Sirius?"

"I basically just comforted him to get him to stop crying. I think I told him they weren't here but I was and would take care of him."

"That sounds just right to me. I would have done the same."

"What do you suppose has triggered this setback? He's always seemed to handle the tragedy just fine. Even right after it happened he didn't seem this upset. I know he wasn't acting so young then. He seems to be three or four right now." Sirius asks.

"Let's get Professor Snape's opinion on that." At Sirius' look, she says "Didn't you know he is a qualified healer as well as Potions Master?"

"No, I didn't know that. If you feel he can help then let's call him in. I need all the advice I can get right now." Sirius answers.

Thirty minutes later, having told both Professor Snape and Minerva the events that led up to Harry's behavior, Sirius asks again "What do you suppose has triggered this?"

"Well, it sounds as if he's reverting back to being younger to avoid dealing with some emotions he's not ready to face right now. This usually comes after a child has done something they perceive as wrong or have been told was wrong. It could also be caused by over extending their magical ability." Snape answers him.

"He did use his magic last week to lift the squid out of the lake. The irritability and tiredness he's been showing lately could be from that. I also disciplined him a week ago for misbehavior and at the time mentioned he wasn't acting his age. Could that have anything to do with the way he's acting?"

"It's very possible! I'm thinking it could be what triggered this setback. You say he was asking for his parents?" Snape replies. Then seeing from the look on his face that Sirius is blaming himself, he clarifies what he said. "The overextended use of magic is the trigger here, not your disciplining of him. I would never suggest imposing proper discipline is harmful. Children need discipline. As you know I am a very firm believer in consequences for misbehavior! You say he was asking for his parents? "

"Yes, just tonight for the first time since he came to live with me, he asked for them. He was asking when they were coming back. I really had no words to tell him. I just told him I would be here for him."

"We are coming close to the one year anniversary of the tragedy. It's actually in just a little more than a week, two days after Halloween. It's slipped up on me. I really didn't know it was coming so soon." Sirius says.

"MUMMY! MUMMMMMYY NOOO!" The three adults hear from Harry's room. Sirius is across the room and beside Harry's bed before the other two have even registered what is happening.

"SHH, It's alright, Pup. I have you now, little one. Calm down, you're here with me and we're safe. I promise you, nothing is going to hurt you." Sirius says as he holds Harry rocking back and forth on the bed.

"Paddy? Why are you holding me so tight? What's going on? Where's Mummy? I need her. I had a bad dream." Harry asks.

Looking up, Sirius sees the other two adults have followed him into the room.

"Hello again Harry! It's nice to see you. How old are you now?" Minerva asks quietly.

"Hi, Auntie Min. You were here last week for my Birfday and you fer got how old I am?" Harry asks.

At her nod, he says "I'm four now! Mummy made me a cake and the Quid dutch players looked like they were flying. Member Paddy? You made them fly for real. Mummy got mad at you and you turned into Padfoot the dog!"

"I remember Pup. That was a good birthday." Sirius answers. "We can talk more in the morning, but right now it's time to go back to sleep. Do you need anything? A drink or to go to the loo? "

When Harry shakes his head No, Sirius gently slides him down to lie on his back as he pulls the covers up.

"Paddy?"

"Yes, little one?"

"I want Dragon. I can't sleep wif out Dragon. Grandpa gave him to me an I neeeeed him now!" Harry whines tiredly.

"I'll get him for you just give me a minute to find him, OK?" Sirius says stalling to give himself time to think.

Knowing Harry had turned his stuffed toy into a real dragon earlier that year, Sirius decides to just conjure another hoping it would look right to the child. Going into the next room he quickly transforms a pillow from the sofa into a toy dragon.

Walking back into the child's room, he hands the toy to Harry. "Here you are. Here's Dragon. Now let's go to sleep and we'll talk tomorrow. Sleep well, little one. Have only good dreams." Sirius says rubbing his hand over the boy's hair.