Chapter Sixteen: Complications

School started back far too quickly for both. Harry attended classes while Brian went to daycare. They ate meals together, and Harry took care of Brian after dinner was over unless someone wanted Brian or Mrs. Warner had something planned. Brian usually did whatever little assignment Mrs. Warner had given them, or played chess with some of the other students leaving Harry to his homework until he was done.

Harry had started a new way to do his homework, a more organized, and effective, way. He did at least half of assignment he had been given during the day, and always had all of it finished by Friday night so he was free to spend the weekend with Brian. It had worked so far and things had been going wonderfully. Brian seemed to have overcome all his insecurities, including about being punished and left alone in a room.

Harry looked down from his paper to Brian sitting contently on his lap looking at a illustrated book that Hermione had given him for Christmas. Harry was thankful the child had something to do, and wasn't asking him a ton of questions. He would occasionally ask what something was in one of the pictures. Harry worked for another fifteen minutes without interruption.

Just as he was putting his book away silence fell over the common room. Harry looked up and spotted Professor Thomas Dumbledore standing at the entrance, a very grave look on his face. "Mr. Potter, I need you and Brian to come with me." Harry nodded and finished putting up his work. Brian's small voice rang across the room.

"Can I bring the book?" Harry looked to the headmaster.

"I see no harm in it."

Harry could hear whispers breaking out around him and dreaded the questions he was going to be bombarded with. Harry gathered Brian into his arms and followed Dumbledore out of the common room.

"Sir, what's going on? What's wrong?" Brian continued to look at his book, oblivious to his father's concerned voice, and the headmaster's worried frown. Thomas sighed heavily.

"Word has reached the Department of Children Services, and the Ministry, that you are caring for Brian, and that he sees you as his father."

The child looked up at hearing his name, but went back to his book when neither addressed him.

"Okay… what's wrong with that?" Harry asked suspiciously. Why couldn't he just come right out and say it?

"They don't think you're fit to be a parent. They think that Brian accepting you as his father so quickly, and completely, is… unhealthy. Since you're underage also, legally, you can't care for him." Harry stopped walking, barely registering Dumbledore's next words. "I've been holding them off since a little after Christmas, but they're sending someone by the end of the week to get Brian." Harry stared at him. Brian had abandoned his book, and was now clinging tightly to Harry. Dumbledore looked at them with eyes full and sympathy.

"What? They can't do that! I won't let them! Who cares if I'm underage? I'm treating him right, and his real father wasn't. Why do they care who raises him as long he's treated the way he's supposed to be?" Harry was almost yelling mad and scared. He sighed again.

"They think you're abusing him." The man tried to say more, but Harry's yell cut him off.

"WHAT? I would never do that! I know what it's like to be abused, and I promised him that he wouldn't ever be in that situation again! If he gets put in foster care that's what going to happen! Why do they think I'm abusing him?"

"A lot of children who are abused carry their habits into adulthood, and more often than not, end up abusing their own children because that's all they know. They don't know any other way to act. Like I said before, they think that you relationship is… unhealthy, is the word I believed they used. Do you understand what I mean by that?" Harry shook his head, confused, mind not working as fast as it should. "Think for a minute." Harry did but come up with nothing.

"I don't know. I can't think of anything," he said annoyed.

"They think you're sexually abusing him, and that's why he's so close to you because you tell him to be. I know that's not the case, but I can't convince them to observe you to together. I'm going to try again when they come, but I don't know if it will work." Harry stared at him with his mouth open.

"But he doesn't do that. My other daddy did, but Harry doesn't. He wouldn't ever do that to me. I don't want to leave! I want to stay with you!" Harry rubbed his back and held him tight as he cried onto his shoulder. Harry pushed back tears of his own. This could not be happening. It was just all a bad dream.

"Haven't there been cases where a minor was allowed to take of a child?"

"Yes, but they weren't suspected of child abuse."

"I'm not abusing him!! I never have, and I never will! I promised him that, and I'm not putting him through that again! They're not taking him away. I won't let them." Harry glared angrily at him before storming away.

"Daddy?"

Harry looked down at him on the bed. He had brought them to the Room of Requirement. "Are… are they gonna take me away?" The child was holding back tears, and looked positively terrified. Harry shook his head, and gathered Brian into his arms.

"No, they aren't. I won't let them." Brian nodded, but Harry could tell he wasn't convinced. Harry wished he could soothe the child's fears, but knew nothing would work.

"What are you going to do to stop them?" Harry frowned. He had idea, but he wasn't sure if it would work, or if he could do it without getting caught. If he got caught it would only make things worse, but it he succeeded…

"I'll think of something. Go to sleep, it's late. You need you rest. I love you."

"Love you to."

Brian settled down beside him and soon fell asleep.

IMPORTANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! READ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have six stories going at the moment, three on here, and three on fictionpress. Needless to say, it's really hard to update regularly. So, I'm going to put four stories on hold kind of, and focus on two stories. One on here, and one on fictionpress. I need you know which story to focus on. All the stories will be updated, but only two will be updated regularly. If I'm lucky, once a week, but probably a week to a week and a half. Tell me which story you want me to focus on!! I think almost everyone reads both, but tell me!!