13. Not a Perfect Little Angel

A/N: Stuff between -...- is in French. I considered putting the actual French in, but decided it'd be too much work.

Harry was quite happy to be spending the night with Aunt Poppy and Uncle Al. Happy to have a 'Dad' now; he was rather bouncy and energetic. Uncle Al had trouble keeping up with him, because of his wooden leg, but Aunt Poppy seemed to enjoy chasing after him. Slipping through a half-open door, he found himself in a library and decided to explore, breathing deeply of the scent. For some reason, he liked the smell of books. As he wandered the dim room, he spotted a picture book on one of the tables. Picking it up, he left the room and immediately ran into Aunt Poppy. "There you are, Harry."

"Hi, Aunt--oof!" The last of his sentence was lost as Aunt Poppy scooped him up, causing the air to rush from his lungs.

She carried him into the living room, where Uncle Al was seated on the couch. "What were you doing in the library?"

"Just looking," Harry answered, pushing his hair out of his eyes. "I found a book!"

Aunt Poppy sat down with Harry in her lap. "Oh, what did you find?"

"This one!" Harry held it up, grinning.

Aunt Poppy looked at it and her face went pale. Turning to Uncle Al, she said, "-Alastor, I thought you put this book away?-"

"-Which book?-" Uncle Al replied, looking over at Aunt Poppy.

Harry watched, puzzled, as the two adults spoke. He knew it was French, but he couldn't understand it in the least. Aunt Poppy held up the book. "-This book.-"

"-I thought I did,-" Uncle Al replied, scratching his head. He glanced at Harry. "-Did Harry find it?-"

Harry recognized his name, but nothing else, as Aunt Poppy nodded. "-Yes, he did.-"

"-Oh, well, give it here and I'll put it away.-" Uncle Al held out his hand and Aunt Poppy put the book in it.

Harry watched as Uncle Al rose and clumped out of the room. "Where's he going, Aunt Poppy?"

"To put the book away, Harry," she told him, cuddling him in a comforting way.

Harry, annoyed, pulled away. "I wanted you to read it to me!"

"Not tonight, Harry," Aunt Poppy told him sternly.

Harry folded his arms across his chest, feeling particularly stubborn. "I want to read it now!"

"Laddie, didn't your mum tell you to be good?" Uncle Al asked, clumping back into the room.

Harry glared. "I don't care! She's not my real mum!"

"That's enough, Harry," Aunt Poppy inserted. "I think it's time you went to bed."

Harry stayed where he was, but it didn't do much good because Aunt Poppy just picked him up and carried him into the guest bedroom. Though Harry didn't do anything to help, Aunt Poppy had him changed, his teeth brushed, his face washed, and tucked into bed in under fifteen minutes. "Aunt Poppy, do you have any children?"

"Yes, but they're all grown up now with children of their own." Aunt Poppy smiled as she told him this, smoothing the covers over him.

Harry smiled back. "I thought so."

"Why did you ask?" Aunt Poppy asked, obviously curious.

Harry grinned. "It didn't take you as long to do all that as it takes Mum."

"Good night, Harry," Aunt Poppy told him with a laugh.

He kissed her cheek. "Good night, Aunt Poppy."

Since it was still the spring holidays when Albus and Minerva got married, they had some time to adjust to the new living situation before the students came back, as well as report that Karl had violated the restraining order against him. The response? The spell keeping him away from Minerva had lost its potency. Luckily, Albus was able to give the spell a boost that would keep Karl away for a long time.

The new family adjusted to the change in their situation with little fuss. As Minerva had pointed out, they were pretty much a family already. Albus and Minerva had to admit, though, that the change in sleeping arrangements was a very nice bonus. When the new term started after the holidays, a few of the students noticed a difference about their Headmaster and Deputy Headmistress, but none of them could guess what the reason was. They had chosen not to announce their marriage, because Albus firmly believed that Voldemort wasn't completely gone and Minerva agreed. Harry, of course, didn't understand this, but figured it, again, was something he would understand when he was older.

The last term of the school year was fairly smooth. Everyone was used to seeing Harry at the staff table, or wandering around the castle. Bill and Charlie seemed to adopt him as a seventh brother and Molly, their mother, had even sent a small chocolate Easter egg filled with toffees for Harry over the spring holidays. Rolanda, Poppy, and Alastor never minded when they were asked to baby-sit Harry so Albus and Minerva could have "alone" time.

"Welcome to our summer home, Harry-lad," Minerva told the boy as they arrived at Leómann Cottage a few days after the students had gone home for the summer holidays.

His eyes wide, Harry could only stare. It had two stories and was modest in size, looking very cozy and homey. Albus and Minerva's eyes met over Harry's head. "I think he likes it, my dear."

"I think you're right, my love." Minerva smiled back at her husband as they started up the front walk.

As he walked along between his parents, Harry's head swiveled back and forth, trying to take everything in at once. Albus and Minerva had agreed to use Leómann Cottage as their summer home, because the Dumbledore home wasn't in good condition and Leómann Cottage was much cozier and more welcoming anyway. It sat on a beautiful plot of land with all kinds of interesting nooks and crannies for a growing boy to explore and discover.

The cottage itself was warm and welcoming from the moment they stepped inside. The McGonagall tartan, Albus' preference for purple, and the Gryffindor colors all blended together in the decorations of the home. The furniture was sturdy and protection charms had been cast on breakable items to protect them from Harry, who happily spent several days exploring his new home.

Once the three of them had had a chance to settle in, Minerva brought up a subject that had been on her mind for some time. "Harry-lad, your birthday is coming up. What would you like to do for it?"

"Can I have a birthday party?" Harry immediately asked, his face lighting up.

Minerva raised an eyebrow at her son. "May I..., Harry-lad."

"May I have a birthday party?" Harry obediently recited, rolling his eyes.

Albus chuckled and Minerva smiled. "Of course you may, Harry-lad. Who would you like to invite?"

"Bill and Charlie," he answered promptly. "Aunt Poppy, Uncle Al, Aunt Ro, Aunt Sylvia, and Uncle Filius. Oh, and Mrs. Figg, too."

Minerva and Albus exchanged an amused glance. "What do you say to inviting the entire Weasley family so you can meet them?"

"Yeah!" Harry agreed enthusiastically. "Thanks, Dad!"

Minerva sighed, a little surprised and dismayed by the length of the guest list. "Yes, thank you, Albus."

"You're welcome, Harry." Albus ruffled his son's hair, and then kissed Minerva's cheek. "You're welcome, my dear."

Minerva noticed that Harry was watching them, a smile on his face. "Are you finished with your dinner, Harry-lad?"

"Yep!" Harry held up his empty plate to show them. "May I be excused?"

Minerva nodded. "Yes, you may, don't forget to take your plate in the kitchen."

"Yes, Mum." Harry slid down from his chair and carried it into the kitchen.

Now alone, Albus looked at his wife with some concern. "Are you mad at me?"

"For suggesting that the entire Weasley family be invited?" Minerva asked. Albus nodded. She shook her head. "No, I'm not mad. It will give him a chance to play with kids his own age."

Albus nodded his agreement, but waited until Harry had walked through the room and headed into the playroom before answering. "Exactly. Not to mention that Molly anxious to meet him."

"I know she is." Minerva sighed, bemused. "She's written me several times already, asking when she'll get to meet him."

Albus chuckled as he kissed her temple. "She can meet him at his birthday party."

"I like that idea." Minerva turned her head and captured his lips in a warm kiss.

The moment was interrupted by a young voice. "Mum, will you play with me?"

"To be continued," Minerva told Albus before rising and going into the playroom with Harry. Behind her, Albus rose and took their plates into the kitchen.

Together, the small family planned a birthday party to remember. Harry taught his parents several Muggle party games and they, in turn, taught him several Wizarding party games. After much discussion, they decided to play both Muggle and Wizarding games. The three of them chose party decorations and food. Sometimes, Minerva felt like she was dealing with two little boys instead of one little boy and a grown man.

The day of the party arrived soon enough. Nothing truly earth-shaking happened, but Minerva and Albus were pleased that Harry was so happy. He and Ron took an immediate liking to each other and little Ginny just ended up tagging along after the two boys because Molly told Ron to, "Keep an eye on your sister."

The Weasley twins, Fred and George, had a grand time exploring the cottage and had to be removed from several places they shouldn't have been in the first place. Percy preferred to sit with the adults and listen to them as they chatted. Bill and Charlie, for the most part, kept an eye on their younger siblings.

Of the adults, Arthur, Molly, and Arabella were the only ones who hadn't known of Albus and Minerva's marriage. When informed of the marriage, Arabella's only comment was, "Took you two long enough."

"I'm so happy for you two!" was Molly's response as she hugged Minerva.

Minerva hugged her back with a laugh as Arthur shook Albus' hand. "Congratulations, both of you. May I kiss the bride?"

"Yes, you may," Minerva offered her cheek, which Arthur kissed while Molly hugged Albus.

When the children got tired of playing, they gathered in the living room and Harry opened his gifts. He was quite happy and Albus took plenty of pictures, but the best moment came when Minerva brought in the cake and set it front of Harry. "May I make a wish, Mum?"

"Make a wish?" Ron asked from where he sat nearby.

Harry looked at his new friend as he explained. "Before Muggles blow out the candles on their birthday cakes, they make a wish and it'll come true if they blow out all the candles in one breath."

"Go ahead if you like, Harry-lad," Minerva told him. "No one can stop you from wishing."

Grinning, Harry closed his eyes for a moment before opening them and blowing out all six candles in one breath. "What did you wish for, m'boy?"

"I'm not supposed to tell, Dad," Harry replied as Minerva removed the candles and began serving the cake.

"Why not?" Ron asked, scratching his head in a puzzled manner.

Harry turned to his friend again. "Then it won't come true."

"I thought it wouldn't come true if it took more than one breath to blow out the candles," Ron still looked puzzled.

Harry nodded. "But it also won't come true if you say what the wish is."

"Oh, all right, then." Ron shrugged and accepted the piece of cake Minerva handed him.

When Minerva was tucking Harry in that night, she asked, "How'd you like your party, Harry-lad?"

"It was great!" Harry exclaimed. "Thanks, Mum!"

Minerva smiled as she hugged her son. "You're welcome, Harry-lad."

A/N2: Harry didn't even tell me what he wished for. Sorry.