Authors note: I can't believe how many reviews I got. 13 in less than 24 hours! I'm so amazed. And more than 100 followers by now and over 55 people who faved it. Thanks so much to everyone for the support. Just the round about 200 times the chapter had been viewed by someone in less than 24 hours is amazing. I'm sorry that I didn't reply every review and skipped a few that "just" complimented the last chapter. I was very happy to read them of course but if I reply to all of those this chapter would be up later and I hope the thank here will be seen as sufficient. If you have a question just put it in a review and I will reply. Which reminds me, Hime (a guest reviewer) asked who will top, Draco or Harry, I won't write details about that in this story. Especially since they will still be kind of young when the story ends. For those that might wonder, since Harry being a magical animagus and a Phoenix will be rather powerful especially when his magic is more matured than at the start, this story won't go to the last year of Hogwarts and end after the fourth.

Since one reviewer asked about Sirius, he will be in later.

Shadow Phoenix

Chapter 5

Fighting

It's been a few years since Harry became his son and even though his depression seemed to get better quickly at first, it had started to slow and eventually seemed to stop. He's still very close to Draco and the young Malfoy is the only one Harry wants to visit. He occasionally plays with one of the Quidditch teams. But only because they ask him ever since his first stunt from that first time he caught the snitch had been the talk of the whole school for weeks.

He also is getting along with all the Weasley children individually but whenever he sees too many of them at the same time he gets clingy and quiet. He also never requests to see them but at least mostly goes when asked to play with one of them.

He is well behaved and sometimes Severus believes him too well behaved to be considered normal. Especially since his only outbursts of accidental magic happened when others tried to drag him into some sort of mischief. Harry seems to be so scared in such cases that his magic acts up and Severus never even had to punish him for calling himself a freak or interrupting grown-ups again. Never mind anything worse.

The flames when flashing still have some yellow in them. At least most of the time and when he appeared particularly happy beforehand the amount of yellow reaches to nearly a quarter of his flames. Sadly, there are still days though where his flames are completely blue.

Harry does accept Remus visiting them ever since he ran into the man in the castle. Remus had been there to see Albus and when he saw the boy he just smiled at him and had greeted him by his name and walked on. Harry had been asking Severus who it had been who had recognised him so easily Harry clearly had gotten curious about that man and eventually asked to see him again to talk to him about his parents.

Due to that, Harry had met Remus properly and the Marauder had told him about his dead parents and about how sorry he is that he hadn't been around but that he is happy that Harry had found a good home. He had also told Harry about his father being an animagus and what he was. Harry had immediately shown him his room and the stag on the wall only to have it confirmed that it was his father as well as being told that the doe looked like his mother's patronus. Remus obviously had to show Harry what that is and ever since Harry sees him on occasion and is told more about his parents. Severus is always present but rather quiet about the child's father but adds a few stories of his own childhood with Lily.

Harry turned 11 last week but is still reluctant to do anything when Severus isn't around. They are at Spinners end as usual during the summer. Harry enjoys the peace there and that he has his daddy all to himself. Today they are going to diagon ally to buy his school supplies. Draco will also be there and Harry is looking forward to it.

They meet the Malfoys at Madam Malkins and as usual Draco is talking enough for both boys with just the occasional word from Harry to keep him going. As soon as they're done they just about manage a quick stop at Amanuensis Quills to stock up on writing materials before Draco drags Harry and their parents by extension towards the quidditch shop, all the while complaining about the rule that first years aren't allowed to have one of their own.

"Maybe we get into a team." Harry mumbles, "We'd be allowed one for the team, right?" He looks towards his dad.

"You would be and I'm sure Harry that you'll be in a team about five minutes after the sorting ended. If it even takes that long." Severus sighs. "Which is why I might as well already buy you a broom." Severus has already heard from Rolanda that she's been asked by the Slytherin and the Gryffindor captain if she'll give permission that Harry play for them. She insisted that she can't since she doesn't know what house he'll be in yet and Severus is worried about just that.

Harry is thoughtful and quiet which is more fitting to his snakes than Minerva's Lions but would he be truly safe in that house? Draco and Ron are the only children Harry's age that know him and there is no way to know how the other death eater children will react to the boy should he be sorted into that house. The Quidditch team won't harm him due to his talent, at least not until after the last game in his last year at school, but Severus knows that some of the death eater children are already showing their hatred towards him for raising the boy. They only do it when no other house is present and he doesn't mind too much and is just glad that at least most of them seem to be capable to think for themselves. Especially the older years. But some might harm the boy given half a chance and being in the same house and possibly the same dorm room where Harry sleeps would give them more than that. At least Harry can still stay with him. Albus has already agreed to let Harry stay with him should he be sorted into his house. They had talked about it during Albus' last visit at Spinners end. And it's also possible that he's sorted in either Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff.

"Draco is good too." Lucius adds, pulling Severus out of his thoughts, but Lucius sounds a bit more sceptical. Draco is good, that is true, but he isn't nearly as good or even as daring on a broom as Harry is. And Lucius has not only heard of Harry's talent, he has seen it twice by now and compared to Harry, Draco looks like a beginner. Harry flies like he was born on a broom and sometimes it seems like he feels more comfortable in the air then on his own two feet. Maybe he was just born to fly, being a Phoenix animagus and all.

"I wish I could be seeker too." Draco sighs. "I like that position most but if Harry is in the same house as me than he'll be seeker. No one is better at it then him and he might fly like a bird and be great in spotting the snitch and catching it too but his aim is terrible."

Harry pouts. "It got better."

"Does that mean you can finally hit the Quaffle through a goal when you're close enough to touch it?" Draco asks grinning knowing that he has missed it even being that close a few times.

Harry just blushes and refuses to admit that he still only hits sometimes and only if he really is close enough to at least nearly touch it and rather says, "I might not have a great aim but I can fly circles around everyone else and just reach through the hoop with the ball in my hand!"

Draco just grins and says "I know. But you're still a way better seeker than chaser."

"We might get into different houses." Harry points out. "I heard that both of my real parents were in Gryffindor."

"You can't be a Gryffindor." Draco replies outraged, "I'll be in Slytherin and Slytherins and Gryffindors hate each other."

"I wouldn't care what house you're in." Harry points out. "Why should you care what house I'm in? I'd still be me."

"True" Draco replies reluctantly. "But you still better make sure to be a Slytherin!"

"I also like the twins." Harry says, "They are my friends too and I want to keep them as well. They are funny."

"But they are lions!" Draco replies, "And poor!"

"But creative and they are two but it feels like they are just one person." Harry points out not for the first time. For some reason, they are the only ones that Harry doesn't seem to mind being around even though technically they are more the one person. "I like being around them and I'd want to be friends with them even if I'm a Slytherin so it doesn't matter what house I'll get into. If you're a Snake, I'll have a friend in each anyway."

Draco frowns and eyes his father before saying, "Maybe I should try to get into Gryffindor, then I'd be with you." He sees his father raise an elegant eyebrow and ads, "But I really rather go to Slytherin."

"It's not like we'll get to choose so how about we just ignore it for now and decide to stay friends no matter what." Harry suggests.

"I can live with that." Draco grins and puts an arm around his best friend's shoulder while Severus buys the best broom there is from Harry's money for the boy. He doesn't have enough for it but is buying the rest of his school supplies from his own money.

After that they buy the wands and Draco has one rather quickly while Harry seems to take ages. After a while Lucius suggests that he and Draco already head to the book store to get two books of each for the two kids and that they'll meet again at the ice cream parlour afterwards.

The blonds are gone for some time before Olivander murmurs to himself and then brings out a wand that finally seems to be the right one. After that it starts to be strange and Severus just observes the discussion between Olivander and Harry that lets him know that Harry's wand has a Phoenix feather as a core. So far that doesn't surprise him and he rather sees it as fitting, but then he hears who has a wand with the second feather that came from the very same Phoenix. He is shocked and gets Harry out of there quickly afterwards and just looks at him when they are outside and asks, "Are you okay?"

"Am I like him?" Harry wonders, "To have the same wand?"

"No Harry you are nothing like him." Severus replies, "And it is not the same wand. They have the same core but they have something that shows how different they still are. His wand is made of yew. Yours is of holly. I know that there are many wizards with Yew that protected but there are also many that became evil. Yew is usually known to choose power, that can be found on either side of a fight. Holly on the other side is mostly known to protect. That alone is prove that you are not like him. You may have things in common but if you look hard enough almost everyone has something in common with almost everyone. You Harry are a very special but good kid. You love so many and ask for so little. Don't ever think that you are like that monster because believe me, he isn't half the person you are, not even close!"

Harry smiles at his dad and hugs him before saying "I Love you daddy."

"And I love you my little Harry." After that Severus looks at him, "And you better get used to the idea that I keep calling you that now because even when you grow up and leave Hogwarts I'll still call you my little Harry."

Harry just grins and takes his hand. "That's fine, but we should go. Lucius and Draco are getting dreadfully annoying when they have to wait."

A little later both are waiting for the two Malfoys who show up shortly after them with all their books and two owls, each of those in a cage of their own. "I got a present for you Harry." Draco says, "To make sure that you don't forget to stay my best friend no matter what. Also, I saw her and thought of you. She's perfect, isn't she?"

He holds out the snow owl towards Harry. She looks at her new owner and for a moment Harry has the feeling she doubts him to be worthy of her but when he carefully moves a finger into her cage to pet her she seems to be pleased and he smiles. She's all white with only a bit of black. "Why did you think of me when you saw her."

"She's the contrast of Felix." Draco says, "All white where Felix is black and she has a few black spots like Felix has some blue. Still she's just as regal looking as a Phoenix and she seems smart too. I thought, she makes you a little happier. She's so bright and nice looking and maybe," And here he started to whisper, "Maybe she'll fly with you when you're Felix." After Draco looks to the other one, "That is mine, it's an eagle owl."

"How are you going to name it?" Harry questions.

"I don't know." Draco replies, "Does it have to have one?"

"Of course." Harry replies smiling, "Every creature deserves a name."

Severus rises an eyebrow remembering how Albus had once told him the same with the Phoenix. He remembers just now how curios the bird had looked at that moment and that Harry later had told him not to have known his name at the time. Meaning in that moment he hadn't had one.

"I don't know." Draco replies thoughtful, "Maybe Flyboy?"

Harry raises an eyebrow and says "That's not a name."

"How would you name him?" Draco questions. "And how will you name yours?"

Harry looks thoughtfully towards his bird, "I'll have to think about it. And maybe, read a bit." He looks towards his dad and said, "That's how daddy named Felix."

Draco watches him for a moment before saying, "What are you going to read?"

"I don't know." Harry replies, "I got her now with school things so maybe something that has to do with school or something that has to do with snow owls or something that matches why you bought it for me. But something that fits."

Severus smiles towards his son and a little latter they once again split up. Lucius and his son go to buy cauldrons while Harry and his dad go to Severus' favourite apothecary located at the north side of the ally. He refuses to set foot in Slug & Jiggers Apothecary where most students buy their supplies claiming that while being cheaper the quality of their ingredients are usually just about acceptable. In general, it's good enough to get a student through his or her owls but his newts students usually have enough sense and knowledge to realise that it won't cut for newts and buy at the more professional store he prefers. If they don't realise that themselves, then in his opinion they deserve to fail due to inadequate ingredients.

His son however shall get the very best from the start and since Lucius asked him to get the ones for Draco too while he'll get cauldrons, scales and such from Potage's Cauldron Shop, Draco will also start off with only the best.

A little latter all four meet up again at the leaky cauldron for a drink before going back to Spinners end.

They are just seated and have their drinks when a blond young witch walks over to them and says, "Harry potter? You must be little Harry Potter." Harry blushes and wishes they had headed straight back but only nods. "How are you poor little thing? You must be so sad to have heard the news!"

Harry frowns and looks towards his dad who minutely shakes his head. Harry just looks back at the woman who didn't seem to have noticed the interaction, too busy to get a green quill and parchment out of her purse. "I'm so sorry you lost what was left of your family. I'm sure you wished you could have stayed with your loving family rather than this man here but I'm sure everything will be better now that you're going to Hogwarts anyway. And I see you made friends with the young mister Malfoy, I'm sure he's a very nice young man being the son of Lucius and all."

His frown increases and he finally speaks, "I'm happy with my dad. I love staying with him and I wouldn't want to go back to my Aunt and Uncle."

This time it's the witch that frowns and says, "But those good people raised you for years. You must be sad they've been killed. I do hope Professor Snape didn't tell you lies to make you believe otherwise."

Harry looks surprised towards his dad. He hadn't heard about those people dyeing but since his dad still isn't saying anything he just pretends he knew and says, "I'm sorry, but I don't want to explain why I couldn't stay with them but believe me, I'm positive that dad never lied to me and I didn't wish them to die but it's not like I'd have seen them ever again anyway."

"Just ignore it Harry dear." Severus says certain that Skeeter will only twist his words around.

"It must be so hard to be kept from your loving family by this man." She sighs.

"Please leave." Lucius orders and glares at her.

She looks at him upset for a moment before turning her frown into a sickeningly sweet smile, "Of course, I think I've got what I need anyway. Good bye mister Malfoy." After that she looks at Harry saying, "I hope we'll see each other again soon."

"I fear she'll make you look rather bad in her next article." Lucius sighs.

"I don't fear it." Severus stats, "I know she will, after all she's done it before. But with you behind me as well as all the major figures on the light side they can't take Harry and that is all that I care about."

Harry looks from one to the other before asking, "What did she mean with my family? Did something happen to them?"

"Some death eaters somehow found out where they lived and without you living with them, the blood wards that used to protect everyone inside are gone." Severus explains. "The death eaters thought to harm you by hurting those close to you and believed you'd still care about those monsters. They killed them."

"How did they hear about it?" Harry asks looking at Lucius. He knows that he's a spy or at least going to be one when Voldemort returns and that he still has friends that are loyal to the dark side.

"I have no idea. I only heard later that apparently one of them heard that they live around London from a woman he sees sometimes, a friend of his heard from another woman that they are called Dursleys and yet another from that group heard from his wife who somehow heard it from some gossiping woman, who must have seen you with them years ago, that they must have a son about your age and I have to admit to my shame that I gave the information that they have a four bedroom house in some suburb since I believed that information to be harmless but it seems it was the last thing they needed to know to rule out another family with that name that lived in another area close enough to London to fit and had a son too." Lucius sighs knowing that Narcissa had feed Miss Goyle some information since she has an affair with Macnair and Miss Zabini another since she has an affair with Yaxley who sees Macnair regularly at the Ministry. Narcissa also made sure to tell Miss Crabbe the information about them having a son since she's the sister of Miss Parkinson and would tell her as certain as the sun sets each night and who in turn would tell her husband who would definitely brag about it when Yaxley and Macnair brag about their information's and Lucius had only to wait for them to use his connections to the boy to pump him for information's without telling him why to keep him out and get praised for the deed someday. It had taken them longer than he thought to piece it together but they had asked just a month ago, and he had been close to accidentally drop the details on Yaxley's desk when the man isn't around to see that he did it. They had taken forever to find out where those monsters lived. But at least they seemed to have had their fun with them.

The news has been printed two weeks ago, and he assumes that Skeeter had been hanging around Diagon ever since to catch Harry and a statement from him.

The next day he is proven correctly. Severus is pictured to poison the boy's mind making him uncaring towards his family and she even dares to print that Severus is trying to raise him to become the next dark lord.

As usual when that woman writes an article Severus is just vanishing all mail that is sent to either him or Harry unless he knows the sender well.

What isn't usual though is that Harry heard everything he and Lucius said the day before and had seen the strange woman and talked to her too. Both of those cause him to look out for the Daily Prophet and to sneak it from the bin after Severus quickly threw it out before the boy had seen it.

Harry is quiet and withdrawn afterwards since he's worried that some will want to take him away. He knows that he can't be forced back to his Aunt and Uncle since some death eaters killed them. He is sorry for them since he doesn't wish anyone to die but he is relived that he won't have to go back there.

A few weeks Harry sees on occasion how Severus lets some of their letters disappear. He sees in the daily Prophet another degrading article every day and is even considering to talk to a reporter and tell them why he is glad that he doesn't have to see his so-called family again.

Before he goes through with that though he hears someone come through the floo one night after he's in his room in Spinners end and sneaks down to listen in on the conversation. By the time he reaches them they already seem to be in a discussion.

"What do you mean a mind healer?" Severus questions.

"The minister insists. It seems a lot of complains have gone to him personally about Harry's placement and he claims to be worried too after the boy's statement in the Prophet." Harry recognises Albus' voice. "I tried to get out of this but the best I could do is that the mind healer that is to determine where the boy should live isn't allowed to use legilimens on him and has to do an unbreakable vow with Harry swearing not to reveal anything that he hears from him. All he may say afterwards is what he thinks is best for Harry's future placement."

"I still don't like this." Severus grumbles. "There has to be a way around this."

"I doubt it." Albus replies, "I fear I even doubt that they'll stop if the mind healer agrees. They will at the very least try to get a second opinion."

"I can't let Harry go through this." Severus grumbles. "I promised him that I wouldn't let anyone take him from me and now he'll have to talk to some stranger so this stranger can decide if he may stay? I've got to do something Albus."

"There isn't anything we can do." Dumbledore replies. "I've given you all rights that I had before but they are questioning that he's safe here and state that he might be abused by you due to his small stature. They use what the Dursley's caused and blame it on you. If you try to fight this with force Severus they will take the boy. We have to let the mind healer see him and hope that Harry will talk honestly with him. I know the chances he'll say anything are slim since he won't trust anyone easily but that is our only hope. If they do take him afterwards, he can always flash back to you and hide as Felix until school starts. No one can take him from Hogwarts"

"When will the mind healer come?" Severus questions.

"Tomorrow at nine." Albus sighs, "They don't want to give you enough time to quiet Harry or teach him lies." Harry can hear how ridiculous Albus thinks this is. "I wish I could protect both of you from this."

Harry listens for a little longer how they worry about what they'll do should the ministry place Harry elsewhere. Seemingly sure they will since they doubt that Harry will talk to them. After a while Harry goes to his room and flashes right into Draco's.

"Draco wake up." He says and shakes the already sleeping blond.

"Harry?" Draco mumbles when he sees him. "What's wrong?"

"They want to take me away." Harry says starting to cry. "I heard Albus say so to daddy. The ministry sends someone to talk to me a mind healer. He's not allowed to legilimens or what that means and has to make an unbreakable vow not to tell anything to anyone but what if he breaks it anyway?"

"He can't." Draco says, "He'll die if he breaks an unbreakable vow."

Harry stares at him, "But what if he wants to send me away? What if I have to leave?"

"I'll tell father. I'm sure he has an idea." Draco tries to calm him. "We'll help you Harry."

"But how?" Harry whines.

"Come on." Draco says and stands up getting into a dressing gown and leads the still distressed boy downstairs to the living room where his parents should be at this time. "Father" he says after entering. "Harry woke me, he came to tell me that he heard Dumbledore tell Uncle Severus that some mind healer is going to him and possibly send him to live elsewhere."

Lucius frowns and looks at the distraught boy. "Do you know what time he'll be with you?"

"Tomorrow morning at nine." Harry cries.

"Can you be sure that he'll stay quiet about what you tell him?" Lucius questions. "I'm sure Professor Dumbledore and Severus tried to make sure of that."

"He can't use legilimens, whatever that is, and has to make an unbreakable vow not to tell anyone anything other then what he things is best about my placement." Harry says disgusted with that.

Lucius smiles. "In that case Harry, I'll go to the minister at eight and try to dissuade him from such a silly notion. In case I can't, do try to tell this mind at least a little about your time with the Dursleys. I know it's not easy for you to be reminded about it this way but he'll be more likely to understand some things. Also, tell him how much you like Severus and tell him honestly how you feel. Tell him as much as you can so he'll understand why you want to be there and if he has questions, answer them if you can." Lucius looks at the boy for a moment before he adds, "And be assured that should the fool say that you would be better off elsewhere, I'll make sure to influence the minister to let you come to us and Severus will just have to move in here too during the summer and once Hogwarts starts, you'll be with him anyway correct? Don't worry, you'll be with your dad either way."

"Promise?" Harry questions worriedly.

"I promise Harry." Lucius replies, "After all, even if nothing works and they send you elsewhere. All you have to do is disappear into thin air while Severus and Draco get a more frequent visit from Felix while it's quiet around them during the summer break."

Harry smiles a little while Draco takes his hand and says, "You see, father will help and I'm here for you too."

Harry nods still looking worried. "I should go back before Severus notices that I'm gone."

"I strongly suggest you hurry in that case." Lucius replies, "He'll want to see you when Albus leaves, unless you waited for that before you came?" Lucius has hardly finished before Harry is gone and once the boy disappeared in blue flames says, "I'll take that as a no. Go back to bed Draco and don't worry, I'll take care of this."

"Thank you, father." Draco replies while Harry just about makes it back to bed before Severus opens his bedroom door.

He pretends to wake up when Severus walks in and looks confused. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah." Severus sighs, "Go back to sleep."

Harry lays back down wondering why Severus didn't tell him anything.

The next morning he's up early and worried when Severus call him to sit with him for a moment. "Harry, I fear that the recent articles have caused the minister to send a mind healer to make sure that you are safe here. He'll be here after breakfast but you don't need to worry. He'll have to make a vow to you. An unbreakable vow which means that if he breaks it, he'll die…" Severus continues explaining everything while Harry stays silent. After that Severus tries to talk Harry into eating a little already regretting that he told him before breakfast. But he'd been worried he would be too late afterwards and didn't want the boy to go through this without warning.

Five minutes before nine the floo flares and Severus glowers towards it while the minister himself steps out followed by a mind healer and to Severus great surprise Lucius came through right after. Severus looks at him but he just shakes his head.

Minister Fudge walks up to Harry and says "Mister Potter it's so good to finally meet you personally. I'm Minister Fudge and when I heard that there could be any risk of your welfare I came as fast as I could to make sure you are safe. You don't have to worry about anything. I'll take care of everything my dear boy."

Harry just glowers at his outstretched hand but doesn't take it. He had been awake all night and thought about what he should do. He still glares at the man and says, "I want that Skeeter here to witness the vow and I want the healer to vow that he won't tell what I tell him and I want him to vow to give his honest opinion no matter what others might want him to say. I want that he vows to me to do what he believes is best for me and I want to make a vow too. I'll vow that I'll tell him the truth. Not necessarily everything but the truth!"

"Why would you need Skeeter as a witness when I'm here?" The Minister questions.

"Because she's the one that made everyone doubt my dad." Harry insists. "You're just doing what everyone says. I want her to see that she was way off and that no one is better than my daddy. If I vow to be honest there should be no doubt left after this right? Oh, before I forget, you have to vow something too. If this one healer decides that I should stay with daddy, you'll leave us. No second opinion or anything."

The Minister looks at Harry and sighs, "Fine. I'll send for Skeeter and you get both Vows and may do one of your own but I can't. There might be something in the future that would force me to reconsider and I can't be held back by an old vow then."

Harry just glowers at him but still nods and says. "I'll be in my room till that woman is here."

He does as he said and leaves for his room until miss Skeeter is there. It doesn't take more then the duration of a floo talk to the daily prophet though since luckily, she was there at that moment.

Harry returns to the living room once he's told she's there and the vows are given as Harry wanted and after that he asks Severus to make sure no one will listen in before he goes with the mind healer into his room.

The mind healer looks at the artfully decorated walls. It has the same pictures as the room he has in Hogwarts in his father's quarters. Only the sky isn't the same. "The room is lovely." The mind healer says to start of easy. He planned to talk to Harry for as long as it takes and kept the rest of the morning free in case the boy would be reluctant to talk to him or seemed to lie which now won't be possible. He's glad about that since it will make this so much easier. Severus had made sure that Harry only had to tell the truth for this one session meaning from when they enter the room until they left it. The mind healer is impressed that Severus made sure of that clearly to protect the child from future harm.

"Dad made it. My room in his quarters in Hogwarts has a better sky but this one is a little bigger." Harry explains.

"Was it his idea?" the healer questions further.

"In Hogwarts it was, but here he asked me and I wanted it to be the same." Harry explains, "But the one in Hogwarts he did after asking me what I liked and I said I liked it here with him, while I was there. I've never been here so I clearly meant Hogwarts." He points towards the stag, "That's my real dad but that is a secret because he hadn't registered his animagus form. The doe is like the patronus of my mother." After that Harry points to the blond boy, "That's Draco and the Shadow Phoenix that is also a secret but since you can't tell anyway." And here Harry turns into it and flies around the room before landing on his bad. "I found out I could turn into one and flash when I tried to hurt myself and hoped to die from it."

"You what?" The healer exclaims shocked.

"I said, I wanted to hurt myself and hoped to die from it." Harry repeats shaking a little.

"Why would you do that?" The healer asks.

"Because I wanted to be a good boy and not a freak." Harry whispers.

"Who told you you're a freak?" The healer nearly whispers the question.

"Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon and their son Dudley." Harry replies, "They told me I'm a good for nothing freak and that my parents died driving a car while being drunk and that they were alcoholics that didn't work and were a burden to everyone and in the end died, leaving me to burden good and hardworking people like them and that it would have been best if I'd died with them."

The healer nearly cries while Harry goes on to tell him about his last day. Harry too is fighting the tears but he loses the battle and tears run down his face during his story about how he appeared with Severus. He tells him that the rest got even more fuzzy but continues telling him how the Professor had healed him thinking him a bird and that he found out who he is when he went with Albus after hearing that Harry had been missing. He leaves out the notes but it's not lying since Severus did find out who he was that day and not sooner and had believed that it was a bird at the very start. No one asked when Severus found out that he's not a bird.

The healer looks at Harry before he says, "That is why you weren't more upset about their death. I truly understand that. If I were you, I'd want them dead too."

"I didn't" Harry says, "I just wanted to be sure that I don't have to go back. I'm also not really sad and more relieved that I can't go back now, but I never wished they'd die."

"What does Severus do to punish you?" the mind healer asks. So far, he knows that the small stature might be only from the old abuse the poor lad had to suffer and that it probably was much better here but that doesn't mean that it's the best place for him.

"He made me write lines once but I try to be good." Harry says. "I don't want to give him a reason to hate me."

"What do you think he'd do if you're not good?" The healer wonders.

"He said he'd make me write lines, or stay in my rooms but not lock it and I'm supposed to go out should I get hurt or be in danger of getting hurt or need to use the bathroom or feeling sick or anything like it. Or that he'd take one or two of my favourite toys for some time." Harry says.

"I see." The healers says, "But you only told me what he said he'd do. Not what you think he'd do."

Harry blushes at being caught. He'd hoped to get around this and fidgets a little looking around the room.

"You don't have to answer if you don't want to." The healer tells him. "But it might be better if I know. You made me swear to do what I think is best right? I can only find that out when I know a lot of what you think and feel. I might think that something is good for you even if that isn't the case if I don't know everything."

Harry watches him a little and considers telling but is still clearly unsure.

"Are you scared that I won't say what you want me to say?" The healer questions and Harry nods. "I can't promise you now that I won't, especially after that other vow I made out there. But I did vow to do what I think is best for you and I gave that vow because I truly and honestly want that. I didn't hesitate to give either because I wanted you to trust me so you'd tell me everything just to make the best choice there is. I want you to have a happy life. Sometimes that is not what you want it to be, but I think if you'd give it a try it might get even better then here but that doesn't mean I'd force you to go anywhere. If you tell me how you truly feel, I probably understand why you want to stay here just like I understand why you didn't want to be with your family."

Harry watches him for another moment before he whispers, "I'm scared that dad won't want me when I'm not a good boy."

"Why do you think that?" The healer asks watching the sad looking boy closely.

"He said we're closer than a normal family because we aren't forced to be a family, we chose to be one." Harry explains. "But to chose it, means he can chose differently again. And now others want to take me and daddy can't do anything and he said that, well you saw that I'm that bird there and I can flash too like a real phoenix and I could go here with that and he said so too but he didn't say he'd fight for me to stay." The healer sees a tear run down the boy's face. "Maybe he would have, if I'd been even more polite or smarter or more helpful or, I don't know, just better."

"You love him very much don't you?" The healer asks.

"He's my daddy." Harry whispers and looks at the stag on his wall. "I lost one daddy, I don't want to lose another. I've got to make him want me."

"Tell me a little about what you do when you're at Hogwarts with him." The healer asks.

"I read and do the work he gives me to learn my numbers and other things. After that I play by myself or sometimes I turn to Felix, the Shadow Phoenix, and I fly outside a little or I go flash to Draco and play with him. Dad said it's okay." Harry explains. "I also sometimes flash to dad and listen to his class. Dad always comes for lunch and sometimes takes me to the great hall but he never makes me go there when I don't want the noise there. Than we eat down in our rooms. I like that best. When the class is done, he reads to me or plays with me or goes with me to the pitch where I play with one of the teams. They invite me sometimes you know. But I'm not allowed to fly as fast as I can or to dive as low as I can because he get's scared." Harry smiles "I did that the first time because he never said I shouldn't and now the captain of the Gryffindor and the Slytherin captain too want me to join when I start school soon. But Madam Hooch hasn't given permission because she doesn't know which team she can give it. But she told me I'd get permission once I'm sorted."

"You must have done well the first time you played with them." The healer replies.

"I caught the snitch from Charlie and everyone said he was the best ever and could have gone pro." Harry says proudly. "I dived so close and spun to get it because the snitch was nearly touching the grass and I felt it tickle my back after I spun but I didn't hit the ground but dad still got scared."

"I would have too." The healer chuckles.

"He cast charms on the ground to cushion me if I hit it." Harry says with a shrug, "I knew he would so I wasn't scared."

"You trust him, don't you?" The healer smiles at the boy.

"Of course I trust him," Harry says, "He's my daddy and he loves me."

"Then I think you can trust him not to start hating you for some small little thing." The healer says. "But before I tell everyone what I think I asked you enough questions. I'm sure your dad is worried about you by now. But I'd like you to do me a favour. Because of your vow for honesty, you should come out with me but I'd like you to go back in here while I'll tell them that you're going to stay right where you are. I don't want Skeeter to annoy you with questions afterwards okay?"

"Okay." Harry says smiling and goes out with him and right back inside before anyone can say anything.

The healer walks up to the others and says. "I must say this conversation was very informative."

"And what is your suggestion? Should the boy be removed immediately?" The Minister questions while Skeeter already has the green quill hovering over some parchment.

"On the contrary." The healer says, "It be detrimental to the boy's mental health to remove him from his clearly loving and caring father figure. Harry needs him and from what the boy told me, and here I'd like to remind you of that vow, it is clear that Professor Snape is ensuring that Harry is safe and is present when needed even with his work. Professor Snape does not poison the boy who has very good reason to react in such a manner about his relatives and I believe that he is in no danger of turning evil on the contrary, he seems to be rather forgiving and very caring. There is a lot of trust from Harry on most aspects. However, there was one thing that as you know I can't explain leaves me to worry about the boy even when in Professor Snape's care which is why I would strongly advice for Professor Snape to adopt him as soon as possible."

"There you have it Minister." Lucius grins "I told you I've been around them a lot and Severus does everything in his power to be there for the boy and I know about the circumstances and agree with the mind healer. I'm just glad Harry managed to trust the man enough to talk to him."

"I believe he trusted his dad's explanation about the vow and that I'm forced to keep quiet about what I heard and would have to do what is best for him and that Professor Snape is just that." The mind healer replies. "He never trusted me, he trusted his father figure. And I mean it, the boy needs to be ensured that this father figure will be a stable one. He needs stability more than anything right now and I believe that an adoption would give him some security on that."

"Can I adopt him?" Severus questions the Minister. "I would on the spot I care about him like he's my own and would do anything for him even if miss Skeeter and some of her readers doubt that. I would have adopted him from the start but believed it impossible."

"You may file for it." The Minister replies, "But I'm usually not the one to decide that."

"Would you mind giving us your suggestion in writing?" Lucius asks the mind healer, "If yes I'm sure Severus will have no problem and I happen to have the papers to request an adoption already here. I assumed it might come to this should the boy talk."

"Of course," The healer says and summons a quill and parchment to quickly make a short, written statement. Since he can't write what the boy said he just writes about the boy moving from his proper home to the muggle family towards yet another home and how after a thorough questioning it is clear that he needs more trust in a stable placement and that an adoption seems to be in the child's best interest.

While the healer writes that Severus fills out the form and Lucius says that he'll take care of this and leaves right away. Minister Fudge also leaves shortly after him. Claiming that he is glad that the allegations were disproven and everything solved but that Severus must understand that he had to make sure, after all, it was in the boy's best interest. Miss Skeeter leaves with the Minister probably to return to her desk at the prophet and perfect the article together with the oldest picture of Harry she can find apart from baby pictures. Just to make sure to point out how the boy must feel abandoned by his now deceased relatives after they refused to take further care of them for those secret private reasons that clearly weren't good enough for the poor orphaned boy to understand their need to leave him alone for those.

At least such an article won't be as bad as the truth for Harry and while possibly being reminded whenever anything is written about them, it is better then everyone knowing the truth.

Authors Note: What will the article include and how bad will the adoption go smoothly? What name will he have afterwards? Will Skeeter's next article put everyone's mind at ease or will people try to stop the adoption? Either way, now that the school supplies are bought the orting will be at the end of the next chapter as well as a little twist that you'll find out tomorrow, if I find the time.