Chapter Nine:
The Circus, an Anteater and a Muggle Postman.
Harry smiled funnily as he reached for Percy's enormous roaring lion doorknocker. Percy had obviously gone to great lengths to make his door look important. In fact, Harry had always privately imagined two huge English flags unfurling and a loud fanfare of "Rule Britannia" blaring whenever someone used the doorknocker. He didn't dare suggest this to Percy who would probably take the idea seriously.
The nanny opened the front door in her dressing gown and ruffled nightcap. "My goodness! Mr. Potter, are you all right? It's five in the morning!"
"I'm terribly sorry to wake you up," Harry apologized, "but I think I'll take Chloe home now."
"But, sir! She's asleep!" the nanny protested.
"Just take me to her, please." Harry pushed the door open wider and let himself in.
The nanny gave Harry a disgruntled look and grudgingly took him to Meghan's room.
Harry smiled softly at the sight of Chloe sleeping peacefully. Her soft brown hair spilled behind her like a halo and her long dark eyelashes were resting on her cheeks. Another lump in the sheets to the right and a glimpse of red hair was all Harry could see of Meghan. He gently lifted Chloe up, she snuggled against him her dreams undisturbed.
"Thank you," he mouthed silently to the nanny who was standing in the corner with her arms crossed and her nightcap bobbing sleepily.
There, that's better, thought Harry after he had tucked Chloe into her bed. He would rather have her under his roof with Malfoy tossing around threats. Too exhausted to take another step, he fell asleep on the couch in his study.
~*~
An early morning sunbeam shone right on Chloe's face and woke her up. She sleepily rubbed her eyes and looked around a moment before realizing she was home again.
Chloe pulled the soft yellow quilt off her bed wrapped it around her like a warm cape. She and Norbert --her stuffed dragon that had been deemed with that name the moment she had heard the story of the real Norbert-- wandered around the house until she found Harry.
Chloe stood on her tiptoes and looked at him curiously. She put her quilt over him and started to leave the room, but turned back.
"Be really really quiet and keep guard!" she whispered to Norbert seriously.
She made Norbert nod his stuffed head and plunked Norbert on Harry's stomach.
"Good dragon. Stay!" She whispered sternly. Chloe watched a moments longer until she was satisfied that Norbert would stay.
Chloe wondered what time it was. She stood in front of the grandfather clock downstairs and studied it. They had just learned this in school. She counted on her hands and then looked back at the clock. 7:25. At least she thought that was what it said. Maybe she and Meghan should have spent a longer time on the clock game. The clock game wasn't as fun as looking at books. Ms. Ginny would probably show her again if she asked. Ms. Ginny always understood. Ms. Ginny knew everything in the entire world.
~*~
Harry opened one eye drowsily. Something was sitting on him. He reached for his glasses and looked at Norbert grinning wildly at him. He looked down and found Chloe's quilt hanging halfway off his legs. Smiling as he pushed it off he grabbed Norbert by the wing and examined him.
Harry tucked Norbert under his arm and went to go search for Chloe. It actually didn't turn out to be that difficult, as he followed little trail of stuffed animals, blankets, and pillows. Downstairs, he found her under what looked like strategically placed piles of couch cushions, chairs, covered with a few blankets. He picked up a corner of a blanket and peered under it.
"Morning, Angel."
"Happy morning!" Chloe said brightly setting down her dolls.
"Happy morning?" he asked knowing she would obligingly explain.
"Uh-huh, we have Happy birthday, Happy Easter, Happy Christmas, and Happy Valentine's Day. Why don't we have happy mornings? Everyone just says good morning," Chloe seemed glad to spout her thoughts on this.
"Good thinking. Did you learn that at school?"
"Nope, I thought of it. Norbert!" she exclaimed spotting her dragon.
He placed the dragon in her outstretched hands and bent down to sit in her fort. "He was looking at me while I slept this morning."
Chloe nodded. "He must have flown in your room to make sure that the monsters didn't get you," she said with her eyes wide at the mention of the elusive monsters.
"He must have. He is an awfully faithful dragon, Chlo," he said playing along.
She giggled. "I put Norbert there!"
"No way! Are you sure he didn't fly?" Harry looked amazed and was rewarded with her laughter.
The doorbell chimed and Harry looked at the clock. "Now who could that be this early?"
Chloe shrugged and crawled out of her fort to follow him. "Perhaps it's the circus," she suggested.
Harry glanced back at her. "That would be nice. I didn't know they made house calls."
He opened the front door slightly and looked out. He turned and grinned at Chloe. "It is the circus."
"Really!?" Chloe tried to look around his legs.
"No, you silly goose," Harry grinned and opened the door.
A rather portly postman stood at the door looking around nervously. A pile of packages were stacked behind him and he took a large step back when Harry opened the door.
"Oh, it's a Muggle," observed Chloe whispering loudly.
Harry thought for sure the postman had heard that.
"Er, hullo there… I had quite a time finding your house...are you a Mr. Harry Patter?" said the Muggle fumbling with a clipboard.
"Potter, Harry Potter," corrected Harry.
"Right-o, Mr. Patter. Could you sign for these?" he said thrusting the clipboard into Harry's hands.
"Sure, but it's Potter. Do you have a qui- er-, ink pen?" Harry stumbled slightly with the word, not having to deal with Muggle commonalities for quite some time.
"Oh bugger. I must have left it in the truck!" The postman looking wistfully at the post truck parked far off from the lengthy walk up to the manor.
"That's all right, I've got one. I'll be right back," he said.
Chloe watched Harry leave the room and then turned to make conversation with the postman. "It's too bad you're a Muggle," she commented to him as if it were a nonchalant thing to say.
"A what? What did you call me, dear?" asked the postman leaning to hear her.
"A Mug-gle. You aren't magic," she said pointedly.
"Oh, you're a cute little thing...tell me then, cupcake, are you a Muggle?" he said thinking she was playing a game.
Chloe gave him a silent stare for a moment. "No, of course not! I'm a witch!" she said sounding offended.
The postman chuckled. "Sure you are! Have you got a black cat too?"
"No, but we've got Hedwig, our owl. She delivers post much faster than you," said Chloe leaning against the door. The Muggle was beginning to bore her.
Harry returned with the clipboard and a quill. The man stared at the quill as it wrote in scarlet ink. "There you are," Harry said.
"Cute kid you got there, Mr. Patter, she's got quite an imagination. Talking on about me being a Muggle and all. Even told me ya got an owl that delivers your post for you," he chuckled and grinned at Chloe.
Harry gave a short fake laugh for him. "Uh, well, little Chloe is always thinking up new things…."
"Clever little girl! Owls delivering post! Ha! Seems to me I'd be out of a job if that were true," said the postman plunking the packages in the entryway one by one.
"Ah, yes. Wouldn't that be a shame?" Harry replied stepping into the other room for his wand.
"Innieresting house ya got here Mr. Patter. How'd you build it so originally?"
"Pot-ter. Well, it's actually magic," he said bluntly coming back into the entry hall.
"Is that a new building company?"
"No," said Harry.
"What do you mean no?" said the postman furrowing his brow.
"Look, I'm really sorry about this...Hal," said Harry leaning to read the name embroidered on his uniform.
"Sorry 'bout what?" said Hal taking several steps back.
"Erasing your memory of this entire conversation," apologized Harry.
"What!" said Hal stepping back even further.
"Obliviate!" said Harry pulling out his wand.
Hal's face went blank and happy and he stared at them dreamily.
"Bye!" said Chloe making Norbert wave a dragon wing.
"Have a nice day...uh, what was your name again?" he slurred turning to go to his truck.
"I wonder what's in these boxes?" said Harry making a thin beam of light from his wand slice the top.
"An anteater maybe?" said Chloe helping him pull off the top.
"Where do you come up with this stuff, Chlo? No, I doubt they'd send an anteater by Muggle post. Ugh. That's Dudley's handwriting. Never mind, I doubt it's not even half as exciting as an anteater in a box."
When they had yanked the top free, a shower of papers flew up and scattered in the entryway. Harry picked them up and riffled through them.
"What are those?" asked Chloe trying to read a few words.
"It looks like all of your medical records, your birth certificate...and a few other official things we'll need someday. How kind of your dad to shove them in here all out of order. He was always so thoughtful," said Harry reading a few things.
"He's not my dad," Chloe said loudly stomping her foot.
Harry looked up and pushed his glasses up his nose. "Biologically, he is Chlo."
"I don't care. You're my REAL daddy," she said with finality.
He picked up Chloe and hugged her. Chloe kissed him on the cheek.
"Chloe, It would make me the happiest person on earth to be your Daddy," Harry said speaking from his heart.
"I never-ever have to go live at that house again?" she said double- checking.
"Never-ever, not even for a minute will you live there," he said.
"It's a deal!" she said jubilantly shaking his hand.
Harry laughed and set her down. "Deal," he said shaking her hand and Norbert's wing.
He opened another box. "Pictures! Look, Chloe. They had baby pictures of you!" he said holding some pictures up.
"That's me?" said Chloe not believing him and squinting her bright green eyes at the photograph of an adorable baby girl.
"The very same."
Harry was elated to receive the photographs. They must have taken these before they realized that Chloe was a witch. Well, he would certainly display them around the house proudly if they wouldn't.
The next box had a few clothes, socks and shoes. Chloe wrinkled her nose at them. "I don't have to wear those do I?" Harry picked up a hot pink polka dotted pinafore with an orange shirt to go with it. Obviously Gardenia's taste….
"No, the clothes that we bought you shall do nicely," Harry said shoving the box into the corner.
Chloe was examining her baby photos. "I didn't smile very much," she observed.
"That's understandable," said Harry looking at the photos.
"I must have been a horrible baby," she said sadly.
"No! You were a beautiful baby even if you didn't smile. These are nice pictures."
Chloe hung off his robes. "I don't have to go see them anymore, do I?"
"You don't have to," said Harry kissing the top of her head.
She didn't respond, but continued to hang onto Harry's robes while he sorted through the papers.
"I tell you what," Harry said cheerfully, "go put on something other than your pajamas and we'll take our first family portrait."
~*~
They put the last picture out of the box on the mantle in the living room, right next to the Weasley's family picture. The pictures they had taken together were still in the camera yet to be developed.
"Can we play now?" Chloe asked hopefully.
"Yes, but I have to ask you a question first."
"What?"
"Would you like to have my last name or would like you to keep Dursley?"
"I want to be a Potter too!" Chloe shouted jumping up and down.
"You know this means you'll be Chloe Grace Potter, right?" he said making sure.
"Yes! I don't like making letter D's anyway!" Chloe said happily.
"Well, you'll have to write them no matter if it's your name or not. But, I'll have your named changed," Harry laughed.
"You can change names?" Chloe was impressed.
"Of course. I'm magic aren't I?"
"Can we play now?" Chloe was not to be swayed away from the idea of playing.
"Yes. What are we playing?" Harry asked crawling into the fort.
"Christmas ball," she said handing him a doll.
"Oh, how exciting," Harry chuckled.
"Did you dance at the ball?" asked Chloe.
"Yes, I did. With Ms. Ginny in fact."
"Really?"
"Yes, for most of the evening actually."
"Look what Meghan gave me yesterday!" Chloe said excitedly. She produced a figurine from under a pile of dolls and thrust it into Harry's hands. "It's you!"
Harry shook his head and laughed. "It just looks like me, but it isn't me." Wait. He looked at the doll a little closer. It did look like him.
"It's you!" insisted Chloe, "It came with a storybook they have about you. Meghan's got two so she gave me that one."
Harry examined the doll. It was him…complete with Auror robes. When had he become a doll? "Wait a minute, where's my arm?" Harry exclaimed, noticing that the doll was missing it's left arm.
"That's why Meghan's got two," explained Chloe. "Hunter broke the other one."
"Oh," said Harry, still feeling a bit weird about seeing himself in doll form. Why was Percy purchasing Harry toys for his children?
"It's okay," consoled Chloe, "you can just pretend that a dragon chomped it off or something exciting. That makes it more fun. You be him, okay?"
"I am him," laughed Harry.
~*~
Disclaimer: I don't own J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter characters.
Join Chloe's Bookshelf! You can find us here!
The Circus, an Anteater and a Muggle Postman.
Harry smiled funnily as he reached for Percy's enormous roaring lion doorknocker. Percy had obviously gone to great lengths to make his door look important. In fact, Harry had always privately imagined two huge English flags unfurling and a loud fanfare of "Rule Britannia" blaring whenever someone used the doorknocker. He didn't dare suggest this to Percy who would probably take the idea seriously.
The nanny opened the front door in her dressing gown and ruffled nightcap. "My goodness! Mr. Potter, are you all right? It's five in the morning!"
"I'm terribly sorry to wake you up," Harry apologized, "but I think I'll take Chloe home now."
"But, sir! She's asleep!" the nanny protested.
"Just take me to her, please." Harry pushed the door open wider and let himself in.
The nanny gave Harry a disgruntled look and grudgingly took him to Meghan's room.
Harry smiled softly at the sight of Chloe sleeping peacefully. Her soft brown hair spilled behind her like a halo and her long dark eyelashes were resting on her cheeks. Another lump in the sheets to the right and a glimpse of red hair was all Harry could see of Meghan. He gently lifted Chloe up, she snuggled against him her dreams undisturbed.
"Thank you," he mouthed silently to the nanny who was standing in the corner with her arms crossed and her nightcap bobbing sleepily.
There, that's better, thought Harry after he had tucked Chloe into her bed. He would rather have her under his roof with Malfoy tossing around threats. Too exhausted to take another step, he fell asleep on the couch in his study.
~*~
An early morning sunbeam shone right on Chloe's face and woke her up. She sleepily rubbed her eyes and looked around a moment before realizing she was home again.
Chloe pulled the soft yellow quilt off her bed wrapped it around her like a warm cape. She and Norbert --her stuffed dragon that had been deemed with that name the moment she had heard the story of the real Norbert-- wandered around the house until she found Harry.
Chloe stood on her tiptoes and looked at him curiously. She put her quilt over him and started to leave the room, but turned back.
"Be really really quiet and keep guard!" she whispered to Norbert seriously.
She made Norbert nod his stuffed head and plunked Norbert on Harry's stomach.
"Good dragon. Stay!" She whispered sternly. Chloe watched a moments longer until she was satisfied that Norbert would stay.
Chloe wondered what time it was. She stood in front of the grandfather clock downstairs and studied it. They had just learned this in school. She counted on her hands and then looked back at the clock. 7:25. At least she thought that was what it said. Maybe she and Meghan should have spent a longer time on the clock game. The clock game wasn't as fun as looking at books. Ms. Ginny would probably show her again if she asked. Ms. Ginny always understood. Ms. Ginny knew everything in the entire world.
~*~
Harry opened one eye drowsily. Something was sitting on him. He reached for his glasses and looked at Norbert grinning wildly at him. He looked down and found Chloe's quilt hanging halfway off his legs. Smiling as he pushed it off he grabbed Norbert by the wing and examined him.
Harry tucked Norbert under his arm and went to go search for Chloe. It actually didn't turn out to be that difficult, as he followed little trail of stuffed animals, blankets, and pillows. Downstairs, he found her under what looked like strategically placed piles of couch cushions, chairs, covered with a few blankets. He picked up a corner of a blanket and peered under it.
"Morning, Angel."
"Happy morning!" Chloe said brightly setting down her dolls.
"Happy morning?" he asked knowing she would obligingly explain.
"Uh-huh, we have Happy birthday, Happy Easter, Happy Christmas, and Happy Valentine's Day. Why don't we have happy mornings? Everyone just says good morning," Chloe seemed glad to spout her thoughts on this.
"Good thinking. Did you learn that at school?"
"Nope, I thought of it. Norbert!" she exclaimed spotting her dragon.
He placed the dragon in her outstretched hands and bent down to sit in her fort. "He was looking at me while I slept this morning."
Chloe nodded. "He must have flown in your room to make sure that the monsters didn't get you," she said with her eyes wide at the mention of the elusive monsters.
"He must have. He is an awfully faithful dragon, Chlo," he said playing along.
She giggled. "I put Norbert there!"
"No way! Are you sure he didn't fly?" Harry looked amazed and was rewarded with her laughter.
The doorbell chimed and Harry looked at the clock. "Now who could that be this early?"
Chloe shrugged and crawled out of her fort to follow him. "Perhaps it's the circus," she suggested.
Harry glanced back at her. "That would be nice. I didn't know they made house calls."
He opened the front door slightly and looked out. He turned and grinned at Chloe. "It is the circus."
"Really!?" Chloe tried to look around his legs.
"No, you silly goose," Harry grinned and opened the door.
A rather portly postman stood at the door looking around nervously. A pile of packages were stacked behind him and he took a large step back when Harry opened the door.
"Oh, it's a Muggle," observed Chloe whispering loudly.
Harry thought for sure the postman had heard that.
"Er, hullo there… I had quite a time finding your house...are you a Mr. Harry Patter?" said the Muggle fumbling with a clipboard.
"Potter, Harry Potter," corrected Harry.
"Right-o, Mr. Patter. Could you sign for these?" he said thrusting the clipboard into Harry's hands.
"Sure, but it's Potter. Do you have a qui- er-, ink pen?" Harry stumbled slightly with the word, not having to deal with Muggle commonalities for quite some time.
"Oh bugger. I must have left it in the truck!" The postman looking wistfully at the post truck parked far off from the lengthy walk up to the manor.
"That's all right, I've got one. I'll be right back," he said.
Chloe watched Harry leave the room and then turned to make conversation with the postman. "It's too bad you're a Muggle," she commented to him as if it were a nonchalant thing to say.
"A what? What did you call me, dear?" asked the postman leaning to hear her.
"A Mug-gle. You aren't magic," she said pointedly.
"Oh, you're a cute little thing...tell me then, cupcake, are you a Muggle?" he said thinking she was playing a game.
Chloe gave him a silent stare for a moment. "No, of course not! I'm a witch!" she said sounding offended.
The postman chuckled. "Sure you are! Have you got a black cat too?"
"No, but we've got Hedwig, our owl. She delivers post much faster than you," said Chloe leaning against the door. The Muggle was beginning to bore her.
Harry returned with the clipboard and a quill. The man stared at the quill as it wrote in scarlet ink. "There you are," Harry said.
"Cute kid you got there, Mr. Patter, she's got quite an imagination. Talking on about me being a Muggle and all. Even told me ya got an owl that delivers your post for you," he chuckled and grinned at Chloe.
Harry gave a short fake laugh for him. "Uh, well, little Chloe is always thinking up new things…."
"Clever little girl! Owls delivering post! Ha! Seems to me I'd be out of a job if that were true," said the postman plunking the packages in the entryway one by one.
"Ah, yes. Wouldn't that be a shame?" Harry replied stepping into the other room for his wand.
"Innieresting house ya got here Mr. Patter. How'd you build it so originally?"
"Pot-ter. Well, it's actually magic," he said bluntly coming back into the entry hall.
"Is that a new building company?"
"No," said Harry.
"What do you mean no?" said the postman furrowing his brow.
"Look, I'm really sorry about this...Hal," said Harry leaning to read the name embroidered on his uniform.
"Sorry 'bout what?" said Hal taking several steps back.
"Erasing your memory of this entire conversation," apologized Harry.
"What!" said Hal stepping back even further.
"Obliviate!" said Harry pulling out his wand.
Hal's face went blank and happy and he stared at them dreamily.
"Bye!" said Chloe making Norbert wave a dragon wing.
"Have a nice day...uh, what was your name again?" he slurred turning to go to his truck.
"I wonder what's in these boxes?" said Harry making a thin beam of light from his wand slice the top.
"An anteater maybe?" said Chloe helping him pull off the top.
"Where do you come up with this stuff, Chlo? No, I doubt they'd send an anteater by Muggle post. Ugh. That's Dudley's handwriting. Never mind, I doubt it's not even half as exciting as an anteater in a box."
When they had yanked the top free, a shower of papers flew up and scattered in the entryway. Harry picked them up and riffled through them.
"What are those?" asked Chloe trying to read a few words.
"It looks like all of your medical records, your birth certificate...and a few other official things we'll need someday. How kind of your dad to shove them in here all out of order. He was always so thoughtful," said Harry reading a few things.
"He's not my dad," Chloe said loudly stomping her foot.
Harry looked up and pushed his glasses up his nose. "Biologically, he is Chlo."
"I don't care. You're my REAL daddy," she said with finality.
He picked up Chloe and hugged her. Chloe kissed him on the cheek.
"Chloe, It would make me the happiest person on earth to be your Daddy," Harry said speaking from his heart.
"I never-ever have to go live at that house again?" she said double- checking.
"Never-ever, not even for a minute will you live there," he said.
"It's a deal!" she said jubilantly shaking his hand.
Harry laughed and set her down. "Deal," he said shaking her hand and Norbert's wing.
He opened another box. "Pictures! Look, Chloe. They had baby pictures of you!" he said holding some pictures up.
"That's me?" said Chloe not believing him and squinting her bright green eyes at the photograph of an adorable baby girl.
"The very same."
Harry was elated to receive the photographs. They must have taken these before they realized that Chloe was a witch. Well, he would certainly display them around the house proudly if they wouldn't.
The next box had a few clothes, socks and shoes. Chloe wrinkled her nose at them. "I don't have to wear those do I?" Harry picked up a hot pink polka dotted pinafore with an orange shirt to go with it. Obviously Gardenia's taste….
"No, the clothes that we bought you shall do nicely," Harry said shoving the box into the corner.
Chloe was examining her baby photos. "I didn't smile very much," she observed.
"That's understandable," said Harry looking at the photos.
"I must have been a horrible baby," she said sadly.
"No! You were a beautiful baby even if you didn't smile. These are nice pictures."
Chloe hung off his robes. "I don't have to go see them anymore, do I?"
"You don't have to," said Harry kissing the top of her head.
She didn't respond, but continued to hang onto Harry's robes while he sorted through the papers.
"I tell you what," Harry said cheerfully, "go put on something other than your pajamas and we'll take our first family portrait."
~*~
They put the last picture out of the box on the mantle in the living room, right next to the Weasley's family picture. The pictures they had taken together were still in the camera yet to be developed.
"Can we play now?" Chloe asked hopefully.
"Yes, but I have to ask you a question first."
"What?"
"Would you like to have my last name or would like you to keep Dursley?"
"I want to be a Potter too!" Chloe shouted jumping up and down.
"You know this means you'll be Chloe Grace Potter, right?" he said making sure.
"Yes! I don't like making letter D's anyway!" Chloe said happily.
"Well, you'll have to write them no matter if it's your name or not. But, I'll have your named changed," Harry laughed.
"You can change names?" Chloe was impressed.
"Of course. I'm magic aren't I?"
"Can we play now?" Chloe was not to be swayed away from the idea of playing.
"Yes. What are we playing?" Harry asked crawling into the fort.
"Christmas ball," she said handing him a doll.
"Oh, how exciting," Harry chuckled.
"Did you dance at the ball?" asked Chloe.
"Yes, I did. With Ms. Ginny in fact."
"Really?"
"Yes, for most of the evening actually."
"Look what Meghan gave me yesterday!" Chloe said excitedly. She produced a figurine from under a pile of dolls and thrust it into Harry's hands. "It's you!"
Harry shook his head and laughed. "It just looks like me, but it isn't me." Wait. He looked at the doll a little closer. It did look like him.
"It's you!" insisted Chloe, "It came with a storybook they have about you. Meghan's got two so she gave me that one."
Harry examined the doll. It was him…complete with Auror robes. When had he become a doll? "Wait a minute, where's my arm?" Harry exclaimed, noticing that the doll was missing it's left arm.
"That's why Meghan's got two," explained Chloe. "Hunter broke the other one."
"Oh," said Harry, still feeling a bit weird about seeing himself in doll form. Why was Percy purchasing Harry toys for his children?
"It's okay," consoled Chloe, "you can just pretend that a dragon chomped it off or something exciting. That makes it more fun. You be him, okay?"
"I am him," laughed Harry.
~*~
Disclaimer: I don't own J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter characters.
Join Chloe's Bookshelf! You can find us here!