A/N: Yay for another chapter! A big thanks to my two beta readers, Grim's Angel 13, Lil JL, and Riannya, even though I didn't have them do this chapter since it's been so long since I updated. YEAH BETAS! Next time you guys are on though, so don't slack off too much! Anyways, did you guys know fantastical was a real word? I thought Space Ghost made it up. Guess not. It's more fantastical. Anyways, if you didn't notice I changed my pen name. The Corpse Bride is a new Tim Burton stop motion animated movie coming out. Sure, it's not coming out for another like five years probably, but I was just so excited I had to change it. That was the first time I changed it this week. Now it's from my favorite book, the Perks of Being a Wallflower. It's amazing. Go read it.
And one other thing, for those of you who don't like HPOC, this fic won't have a lot of romance in it. It was originally planned for that but I decided to keep it on the low down. Mischa is Harry's crush right now (as you'll see in this chapter), but she'll eventually kind of die out for awhile and then towards the end she'll be back and maybe lightly paired with Harry. So don't freak out on me, this is a cutesy story about Harry and Brody!
Disclaimer: Look, marriage is about hiding in the dumpster behind your apartment, and not going in until the lights are completely out. Just kidding. Don't own anything HP related!
Isseronkadem: Haha, thanks for that flattering review! I'm so glad you're enjoying this story! I am slow on updating but it's coming along! Tell me what you want to see in upcoming chapters! Thanks so much!
LadyButtercup: If for some reason you're strange and decided to read my response to everyone, this right here is my very best friend ever. In fact, I gave her the cutename Buttercup. Anyways, I love you Megan! Thanks for getting your lazy but in gear to review!
MilesFromNormal: I absolutely love Perks. It's like a cult like thing for me and some of my friends. I am best friends today with one of my friends because of that book. Look, I met you through it! Anyways, I think everyone is a little like Charlie, and that's why it's so amazing. I really like it because it says things in abstract ways, which is also something I like to do. Anyways, I hope you liked my story. Did you just stumble upon my profile or what?
Hahahalemur: You're so welcome for the review! Thanks for doing the same for mine! I'm glad you like the story, and yes, without a doubt the Beatles are amazing. Bis spater!
Wren Craven: Thanks so much for reviewing my story! Yours was wonderful as well and you're so welcome for the review I gave. As long as you read and review my story I'll do the same to yours! Actually, I'll probably read yours anyways...because you're so fruit caking awesome!
Athena Dumbledore: Pft, looky here. An update, and I hope it's just as good as the last! Thanks for the review! You serve the salads until you get hurt!
Riannya: Hey girlfriend! Thanks for all your help and suggestions! I loved your review when I first got it. I was like 'wow, now that's a review.' It was nice and long and actually talked about my story! Thanks for reviewing and beta reading! Take her to 21,000 leagues!
ZWngDragon: No more new characters will come into play, but I will be bringing back more people from Harry's past. Thanks so much for reviewing! Role call!
Kery J. Wales: No, you're not crazy my friend to think that. After all, you're my HPOC special friend! I hope you like the pairing! Thanks for reviewing! The beans were on the menu. Murder was on the menu.
Zhemshug: Haha, sorry if I've replaced you with another woman for Harry. You are the most flattering reviewer I've ever had! You're more fantastical! Anyways, I move for faithful reviews such as yourself. I think the new phrase is 'I brake for....' Anyways. Where's the wrench I tried to fix the gas leak with, and made it leak?
Lil JL: A boy with a short attention span? Never! Haha, anyways I'm glad everyone has taken to Brody's character so much! Thanks so much for reviewing and beta reading! We should record everything I say and do. Think Walt'd be interested in that?
Jen: Thanks so much! Glad to see you find it cute! Thanks for reviewing! Walt Disney makes me sweat. Is he going to sue me?
Grim's Angel 13: I'm so glad you reviewed and became my first ever beta reader! You're such a great girl! Anyways, glad you like the story enough to commit to it! Thanks for reviewing! Don't look at me! I'm talking about dragons!
AuroraAbbie Snape: Thank you so much! Anyways, my dad only washed my hair (he's allergic to shampoo too) when I was little. He never even attempted to actually do my hair. Thanks for reviewing! I do not need intelligence drugs, my friend, because I don't know what they are? Alright? But I will put anything into my mouth, whether it goes there or not!
Gaul1: Thanks so much for reviewing! Do you like salmon, or trout? You know what, it doesn't matter. Because I love you guys so much it's time for you to go to sleep. Because that's what it means to love a person so much!
"Boy,
you gotta carry that weight
Carry that weight a long time
Boy,
you gotta carry that weight
Carry that weight a long time
I
never give you my pillow
I only send you my invitation
And in
the middle of the celebrations
I break down
Boy, you gotta
carry that weight
Carry that weight a long time
Boy, you gotta
carry that weight
Carry that weight a long time" –the Beatles
Eight Days a Week
Chapter 4
After spending the rest of his day being nagged by Megan (and later Draco) about his health, they helped him clean up his apartment after Harry had briefed everything that had been said at the adoption center. Draco and Megan both seemed skeptical about the adoption issue, and he could catch them giving each other looks every once in awhile when his back was turned. They however both agreed his place could use a cleaning, and after Megan had properly fed him they started.
"So, what do you think Harry? Muggle proof yet?" Draco asked as he stepped back and surveyed the living room. With their help (mostly Megan's), the apartment officially looked its best, even better than before he had moved in.
"I think there are a couple things in the laundry room, would you mind getting them for me?" Harry mumbled over the stack of wizarding objects collected in his arms. He momentarily sat them on the counter as he wiped off the sweat from his forehead.
"No problem," Draco replied quickly before disappearing into the next room over. Harry sighed as he took a moment to gather his thoughts, which didn't last long before Megan interrupted them.
"So, this Mischa girl," she started as she struggled with her full belly to climb onto the high chairs.
"Here, let me help you," was a late reply as he had already scooped her much into the chair. Megan just lightly swatted his hands away as she started again.
"This Mischa girl sounds nice."
"Yeah, I guess she was." There was a shake of a young man's shoulder as this was said.
"Well?"
"Well what?"
"Oh come on Harold," Megan rolled her eyes. She was gingerly rubbing her stomach, which he could have sworn looked like it was carrying more like three babies instead of one, but hey, what did he know about pregnancy?
"You're cleaning for this woman, whom you hardly know, so I am guessing there is something else," Megan continued. She was now casually strolling through some of the photos collected in front of her, waiting to be shoved in some desolate corner.
"I happen to be cleaning so I can have a chance at making a little girl's life a little better," Harry stated as he crossed his arms. Draco was now walking back into the more open room and looking back and forth between them smirking.
"Uh huh, you do that," Megan mumbled, deciding to drop it now that her husband was back in the room. She leaned in a bit closer for a minute before adding, "Harry, if you're serious about this, don't mess around with this woman. You'll need her on your side to do anything with Brody again."
"Drake, are you sure you're only expecting one child? I mean, with her-" Harry asked, quickly changing the subject.
"Harry Potter!" Megan screeched. She lightly battered him on the head. Draco only laughed, though if you looked hard enough you could see the worry lightly etched into his face, the same worry that was always present when the baby was brought up.
Harry smiled, though his mind was now wheeling. He thought about his reputation as the team's lady man, and wondered if Mischa could somehow find that out. He wondered if it'd hurt his chance.
A chance at what Potter? He asked himself. At the little girl who stole your heart or the one that's currently holding the keys to that other little girl?
Either way, Harry Potter had been dubbed the bachelor of the decade, both by publications and his fellow team mates. He hadn't spent more than a month with any one given girl, but he hardly saw that as his own fault. He just couldn't see any reason to stay together with someone who didn't make him happy. Speaking of the bachelor of the decade, another runner up could now be heard knocking at the door.
Glancing at his company, Harry jumped off the counter and made his way to the door before laughing when he saw who was standing outside.
"Harry! Open the door! It's fucking cold out here! What in the world processed you to move here?! While everyone is back in Britain, you're all the way over here. Makes my trips a real pain in the-"
"Yeah? And how many times do you visit me now, Sirius?" Harry said through the door before swinging it open. There his godfather stood, getting older by the day but still looking healthier than ever before. After being given his freedom a little over a year ago, he was still recovering and gaining all of his weight back. Even better than the weight gained or the dark circles removed from under his eyes was his smile. He looked like Sirius Black again with that smile.
"I've been getting around to it! It's not like Hermione and Ron have made it over here yet either, and you want to know why? Perhaps it's the trip over here, I mean, I have to take three wizarding transportation services to get over here, and not only that, but when I get here it's hell froze over and-"
"You know you're still standing outside?" asked an amused Harry. Sirius' mouth was still open at this point, looking as if he was to continue, but he quickly closed it when he could feel the warmth radiating out of the apartment. He then nearly knocked his godson over hurrying into the cozy place.
"Good to see you too Sirius," Harry said dryly. He watched as Sirius grabbed something he couldn't see out of his pocket and with a flick of his wand later, he had two large suit cases lying at his feet.
Well it looks like I'll be having a guest anyways for awhile, thought Harry. He signed and swung both bags onto his shoulders and moved them to the guest bedroom while Sirius exchanged greetings with Draco and Megan. However when he walked back into the kitchen/living room, he could only hear whispers and noticed a stern look on Sirius' face.
"Harry, we need to get going," Draco said. "Megan looks about dead on her feet now. I'm sure Sirius can help you with anything else you need."
Here it comes, Harry thought to himself again. Nevertheless he nodded and smiled as both he and Draco helped Megan off the stool and to the door.
"Watch him for me Sirius, he's still sick!" Megan called behind her back as she wobbled down the stairs while still clutching to her husband. Both of the men still standing indoors smiled, though one of them was a bit forced, before Harry could close the door.
Harry wished he didn't have to turn back around. All he wanted to do was to crawl into bed right now, hell, even staring at the door was betting than facing Sirius. He had been working on his apartment all afternoon and was exhausted, not entirely sure he could handle this right now.
"Harry."
No flinch. No blink. No movement. No acknowledgement of any kind. Just a door. A plain white door and two simultaneous sighs.
"Come on Harry, you send me a letter that basically says you saved a little girl and you're pretty much illegally keeping here with you and now I hear that you want to adopt her? You can't expect me to not care about this. You seriously need to think about this before you do anything."
"Sirius! Please! How can you say that?!"
"How can I say...Harry do you have any idea what you're doing? This is a kid we're talking about here! A living breathing person, not a pet! You don't know anything about kids! You don't even understand women!"
"Sirius please! I saved her life! I just...I...can't you understand what that feels like?"
"And what about all the other people's lives you saved. Didn't they mean anything to you? Hell Harry, what about me? Or Remus? Dumbledore? Don't we mean anything to you anymore?"
"You course you do! Sirius, you know you're the only father I've ever known..."
Sirius sighed. "Harry, we had just gotten you back...after you defeated Voldemort...I...you were sick for so long. They kept telling me you weren't going to make it. You have no idea what it was like for me...then half way through your recovery you decided to move all the way over here. You left all of us behind like we were nothing and all the while we were still praying that you'd pull through for a complete recovery. You were everything to me. Everything."
"Then why didn't you come after me? Check up on me?! You barely sent me letters!" Harry snapped back. (A/N: This sounds like a lovers spat, doesn't it? Haha, no worries...this is strictly father/son kind of stuff. If you like HPSB then read my other fic!)
"Harry-"
"If I really mean all that much to you, then why can't you see how I feel about Brody?" Harry yelled as he stepped even closer to Sirius. Sirius was no longer taller than him, and probably didn't have the muscle tone either. Nonetheless, there was still something there that kept Harry from totally going at it.
"Brody?"
"Yeah. Brody. That'd be the little girl you're trying to rip out of my hands right now."
"Merlin Harry. You spent a day with this girl! You don't know her! I've been there for you for years! You're my own pup practically! How could you just..." Sirius was shaking his head back and forth and the look on his face made Harry really want to scream. It displayed something akin to pity but Harry was sure that if his eyes were open there'd be anger rooted somewhere in there.
"Sirius, get out!"
"...What?"
"Get out! Now!" Harry yelled as he yanked open the door and shoved a finger in that general direction. Sirius was looking at him shocked now.
Shaking his head Sirius walked slowly out the door after shrinking his suit cases and thrusting his hands somewhere deep within his coat pockets. The way he walked and his ultimate composure made Harry start to cool off already, and the minute he slammed the door shut he regretted everything.
Leaning heavily against the door, Harry took a few deep breathes and closed his eyes. He tried to imagine Sirius lashing out at him, throwing a punch, anything to justify what he had just said and done but nothing was there. All he could see was his godfather's downcast face and haunted steps as he walked out the door.
After about ten minutes in which he had acquired a major headache, Harry let out a groan and
with a burst of motion had swung open the door and ran out into the harsh weather. He had no coat and had left the door wide open, but he ran as fast as he could. Looking around, he saw no sign of Sirius anywhere. His illness was starting to flair up in his chest as he frantically searched. Changing his direction a bit, he started jogging to a now ominous lake.
A/N: Yay for another chapter being done! Don't worry; I'll be explaining a lot more later about Harry's defeat of Voldemort. Again, there won't be too much romance in this story so don't worry about that either. Also, what other characters would you like me to bring in? Review!