Thanks a lot to my beta-reader, Orodruin, for correcting my mistakes.

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to J.K. Rowling, and I am not earning anything by writing this story.

I'm not a native speaker of English!

Dear readers,

Many of you wanted James back and here he is.

Sunny

Chapter 35 – Lunch

"Oh, Merlin, you two look like Gnomes yourself," Ivy said as Draco and Harry came into the quarters. She grabbed Harry's chin and tilted his head. His neck was dirty as if he had wallowed in mutt himself. "Draco, you can use the children's bathroom, and Harry you can use our bathroom upstairs."

"I can go and shower in the Slytherin bathroom," Draco said pleadingly. Harry grinned and was happy that Ivy had sent Draco to use the charmed bathroom.

"Oh, no, we want to eat as soon as possible, Draco. Using our shower will be much faster. I will call Paul to get you new clothes from your dorm," Ivy said as she gently pushed Draco in the direction of the bathroom. Harry sprinted to his room to get his clothes so that Ivy couldn't change her mind.

Twenty minutes later Harry joined the others at the table. He looked at Draco, who was neatly combed and perfectly dressed. Slightly embarrassed, Harry ran his hand through his still wet and only quickly combed hair and tried to smooth his creased shirt. When he looked at Ivy, she just grinned. Severus' face was more disapproving, but at least he didn't comment on it.

"So, you two have finished the first part of you punishment well. At least Hagrid was satisfied," Severus said in a tone Harry couldn't judge.

"Yes, sir," both boys said quickly.

"You will start your essay at two o'clock." Looking at Harry, Severus added, "When we have finished the meal you will—"

"I will go and read like you said," Harry said quickly. Oh, please don't say that I have to nap in front of Draco, Harry thought frantically and looked pleadingly at Severus.

Severus rolled his eyes and said, "Yes, you will read and won't stop before two. Is that clear? James will come and have a look at you soon so don't read too hard."

"Yes," Harry said and sighed relieved. A look at the grinning Draco showed him that he knew what Harry really had to do. So Harry concentrated on his food again in the hope that Draco wouldn't see the blush on his face.

"You can use the time to rest in your common room, Draco, and I await you here at two," Severus said while looking at his godson.

"Ehm…" Harry started and looked uneasily at Draco. When the other boy didn't look up, Harry decided to just go on. "Draco wanted to speak with you, Severus. Maybe you can use the time to speak with him while I… read."

Severus looked at Draco who suddenly was very interested in his food. "Is that so, Draco?"

Shyly, Draco looked up. "Yes. I never had the possibility to speak with you about what I wanted to tell you on the day Harry hit me."

"You mean the day you hit my applicator out of my hand," Harry said grumpily.

Severus growled and both boys looked down on their plates immediately.

"You can speak with me after lunch in my office, Draco," Severus said and finished his meal.

James came just in the moment when the last one, Eathan, had grumpily finished his vegetables. "I hate green stuff," he had pouted. That caused his father's angry reply, "And I hate to tell you again and again that it is healthy and therefore you have to eat it."

FLASHBACK

"But it tastes ugly," Eathan said and pushed his bottom lip out.

Severus took deep breath and started to count to ten to calm himself down. "It is healthy and if you don't stop pouting you will have your midday nap in my office and we both know how much you will like that!"

The silence in the room was almost hurtful; everyone hoped Eathan would not speak back again and just finish his meal.

"I thought you wanted to become a good Quidditch player, Eathan. All Quidditch players eat a lot of vegetable. It gives you good reflexes and makes you strong," Harry said when he saw that Eathan wouldn't stop talking back to Severus.

Eathan looked at Harry with awe, and then at his vegetables. He took his fork and poked the broccoli with it sceptically. "This stuff? Are you sure?"

"Absolutely sure. Why do you think I eat all my vegetable?"

Lysander grabbed for the spoon in the broccoli bowl and put another spoon on his plate. "I will become better than Eathan in Quidditch," Lysander said and forked the vegetable in his mouth.

Seeing this, Eathan quickly started to eat his own vegetables as well.

END OF FLASHBACK

"Oh, am I too early?" James asked when he saw the whole family at the table.

"No, we have already finished, James," Ivy said and went over to James to greet him.

"Good, then I would like to check on my two patients," James said, and eyed Harry and Severus.

"I have no time for this, James," Severus said grumpily. "I have a meeting with my godson in my office."

"Then that has to wait until we are finished, Severus, or have you already forgotten about our conversation yesterday?" James scolded.

"Ten minutes Healer, not one more," Severus said challengingly.

"I'll take all the time I need, Severus," James warned.

The tension between the two was tangible. "Ehm… I'll wait in my room for you, James," Harry said to escape the tense mood. He was out of the room before James could reply.

Severus stood up as well. "Wait here, Draco, I will be back," –he paused shortly and looked at James– "soon."

___________

Harry was lying on his stomach, looking at his photos when James knocked and came into the room.

"How are you, Harry? I heard you had a great day in Hogsmeade yesterday," James said cheerfully.

Harry sat up. "Yes, it was great."

"Ah, and that must be the famous Osy; Lysander and Eathan never stop speaking about it. They even asked me to have a look at him because he looks so ill." James grinned.

"I'm sure he is well, as well as a plushy can be," Harry said, and rolled his eyes.

"And how are you?"

"Well. I'm a bit tired but that comes from the De-Gnoming. My back still hurts."

"Did you take your potions this morning?" James asked while pulling out his wand.

"Yes, I did," Harry answered honestly.

"It's normal that you would feel tired now. You shouldn't overwork yourself at the moment. This afternoon you have to write an essay, right?" James asked.

"Yes," Harry said sullenly.

"Lay down, please," James said and the moment Harry was lying he started to wave his wand over him. "Is it okay if I scan you as well, Harry?"

"Sure, but I can't promise to stay awake. You know how I react to it." Harry already started to close his eyes. James' healing magic would be great to help him to fall asleep.

James had laid his hand on Harry's chest, but didn't start the scanning. "Harry, if you feel too tired this afternoon, I want you to tell someone. You can finish your punishment another day."

"No," Harry almost sat up again, but James' hand on his chest was preventing it. "I want it to be over with."

"I know, but tomorrow is also a very important day for you. It's your first day back in school and you will go with Severus and Ivy and your godparents to the Ministry to sign the adoption papers. You don't want to be ill or too tired to do that, right?" James looked worried.

"No, but I want it to be over, James. You don't understand." Harry looked at the wall to avoid meeting the Healer's eyes.

"Then tell me about it," James prodded calmly.

"Severus will forgive me when I have finished it, and if I'm not able to do it, he will not forgive me. I can't live with this still on my back, James. Please, I want it to be over," Harry said miserably.

"Severus has already forgiven you, Harry. It doesn't matter when you write the essay."

"It matters for me," Harry said still not looking at James.

"Come on, Harry, please look at me!"

Harry sighed and turned to face James. "I want to write it today, James!"

"We will see after the result of the scan, Harry, but the diagnostic spell already told me that you are very exhausted. The potion gave you more strength than your body would normally have at the moment."

"Writing an essay won't exhaust me like De-Gnoming. It's just writing. Please, James, let me try it!"

"Okay, but you will rest longer than planned. I will inform Severus that you will start with the essay at three and not two, and you will stop and tell someone if you aren't feeling well!"

"Yes, I will. I promise!" Harry said eagerly.

"One last question before I start the scanning, okay?" When Harry nodded, James went on. "How are you sleeping? Still having nightmares?"

"Last night was okay," Harry said in a small voice.

"What, exactly, does okay mean?" James prodded.

"It wasn't as bad as the other nights," Harry said and turned away.

"Harry, I told you that you don't have to go through this alone. Speaking about the dreams would help, and I can also give you some potions or Albus could cast a sleeping spell on you in—"

This time Harry pushed so hard against James' hand that he managed to sit up. "NO! Please don't tell them."

"What do you mean? You haven't told them?" James' expression turned from worried to very worried. Long crinkles were forming on his forehead while he studied Harry's shocked face.

"They are my dreams; they don't have to know about them. It's no big deal. I've had them for a long time."

"Having nightmares on a daily basis is a big deal, Harry. You parents would like to know about them. That's nothing to be embarrassed about, and you aren't a burden for them because of this. Is that what worries you?" Harry's attempt to turn completely on his side facing away from James was answer enough.

"Harry, this isn't something I can keep private. It's concerning your health, and so I have to inform Severus and Ivy about it," James said strictly.

Harry turned. "But they will go away. They are all about… about… They have nothing to do with this. You know?"

"No, I don't know, Harry. Why don't you tell me about them?"

"Speaking about them doesn't help. I'm sure. I will just dream of it again now."

"They won't disappear just because you want them to. Only speaking about them could help. You are right, we should not do it before you have to go to sleep, but one day you have to speak about what is bothering you. I will inform Severus and Ivy, and if you give your okay, I would like to inform Albus, as well, because he is the only one who could cast a deep sleeping spell on you at night. Potions all have side effects, and Sleeping Potions can all become addictive."

"They will think I'm a freak," Harry whispered loud enough for James to hear it.

"You know that isn't true, Harry. They would never think something like that about you. They will be worried, and I'm sure they will also try to speak with you about it, but they would never see you as a freak or a burden," James said, determined. "So, what do you say, can I ask Albus and we try the spells first before we give you more potions?"

"Okay!" Harry said in small voice. "Can I sleep now?" he asked, defeated and sad.

"Relax, Harry. I will start with the scanning now," James said calmly. It wouldn't do any good to push Harry more. At the moment he was much too exhausted.

When Harry felt the soothing feeling of the scanning, he sighed in relief and minutes later he fell asleep.

PLEASE REVIEW!