Chapter Twenty- Four: Connection?

Brian sniffled and curled against his aunt's chest letting her warmth wash over him. Even though Derek had been holding him before it wasn't the same as this. He finally felt safe and somewhat content. He was also exhausted and wanted to sleep, but knew in a few minutes Derek would bring up his 'second daddy.' He hadn't missed the man's confused look every time he had mentioned it. Brian lifted his head as Derek said his name.

"Earlier you said something about your 'second daddy,' which I really don't understand. I know you're really tired, but could you please tell us before you go to sleep?" Kristy stroked Brian's hair as he sighed before beginning to explain.

He began with telling them how Harry had seen him while his real daddy was beating. He then went on to tell them about Harry volunteered at the day care, how he got sick, Voldemort capturing him, Harry arriving, the spell Voldemort cast, how Voldemort died, how his real daddy died, and finally how much he loved, trusted, and relied on Harry.

Kristy and Derek both stared at the child for a few moments. Even though they were not officially part of the wizarding world they still knew who Harry Potter was. "So Harry Potter basically unofficially adopted you?" Brian frowned and shrugged,

"What's unofficially mean?" Derek shook his head, smiling.

"Never mind, I just thinking out loud. I wouldn't have though him doing that, or really any teenager doing that." Brian scowled thinking Derek was saying something bad about Harry.

"Well, he did, and he took real good care of me! No one's taken better care of me, and you don't deserve to judge him! I love him, and he loves me! Don't say bad things about him!" Brian was helpless to stop the tears running down his cheeks. Kristy immediately set to calming him.

"He wasn't saying anything bad about him. He just thought it was unusual that a teenager would take on such a responsibility. It takes a lot of work to care for a child," she said reassuringly while shooting Derek a look over the distressed child's head.

"He… sniff… said I made him feel better. He said it took some of the pain away from his godfather dying. He said I have him something to live for when he thought there was nothing left." Brian paused before pushing back from Kristy to look her in the eyes. "Please, let me go back to him, please. They took me away! They said he was abusing me that he was unfit to care for me, but they're wrong. Please, I want him. He promised to take care of me. He wouldn't ever hit me, he told me so. He promised he wouldn't even spank me though it's legal. Please, I want to go back to him!"

The child dissolved into sobs as thoughts of his surrogate father his brain. He wanted so bad to be back with him, but all these stupid adults weren't letting him. Why couldn't he be happy like everyone else? Why were some people allowed everything, had loving parents, while he had been through so much? Why wasn't he allowed to be happy and loved?

Kristy held the child tighter as she caught some of his thoughts and emotions. She did everything she could, but nothing worked. Derek came over and rubbed the child's back, but Brian still ended up crying himself to sleep.

Harry sighed and he exited the room after taking his first N.E.W.T test. They had shortened the tests for him so it would only take three days instead of a whole week, which Harry was eternally grateful for. He was surprised he could concentrate on anything with Brian still missing. There had been no leads, no sittings, or anything for them to go on.

Harry knew the child was out there somewhere, he was sure of it. He could still feel his connection to Brian through the spell Voldemort has placed on them. Harry doubted it was just the spell, but it was reassuring to still feel it. It calmed his fears that Brian was lying dead in a ditch somewhere.

Hermione had helped him study for the tests, and he was confident he would pass them all and go looking for Brian. He already had a plan of where to look. He wanted desperately to back to his relatives and kill them, but that would completely erase his chances of ever getting Brian back. He was sure once he got to the store Petunia had been shopping at he could find him, but that was still a while away.

Harry stopped dead in his tracks as he heart clenched painfully, suddenly overwhelmed with longing to have Brian back in his arms. The breath was literally knocked out of him as he slid to the floor, tears running down his cheeks. He tried to take deep breaths, but it was extremely difficult while trying to suppress sobs. Dimly he heard footsteps approaching and then Remus' concerned voice.

"Harry, what's wrong? What happened?" Harry tried to answer him, but he only succeeded in letting sobs escape. He felt Remus' arms wrap around him while Remus told him to take deep breaths and to focus on his voice. Harry did and after about ten minutes he was breathing normally and no longer sobbing. Remus pulled back slightly to look at the teen. "What happened?"

Harry swallowed while trying to gather his thoughts. "I'm not sure. I… I just started missing Brian really bad all of a sudden and somehow I think the breath was knocked out of me. I just started crying and couldn't stop." Remus frowned.

"Has this ever happened before?" Harry thought for a moment.

"Yes, but I didn't get the breath knocked out of me. It was night to, and I'm pretty sure it was because I was looking at the pictures he had drawn for me." Remus nodded and wiped away a few stray tears. "Do you think it could be because of the connection Brian and I have as result of the spell Voldemort cast on us?"

"I suppose it could be, but there's no way to tell since we don't know what spell he cast on you. Where were you heading?" Harry paled.

"Oh no, now I'm late! I was going to take me second N.E.W.T test!" Harry immediately stood and gathered his things.

"Slow down, Harry. I'll go with you and tell them it was my fault. I ran into you and made you late. Besides, they're only testing you. It's not like it's going to make everyone late." Harry stopped frantically trying to get his stuff together.

"I hadn't thought of that," he said sheepishly.

"It's fine. Also, you're never going to get your stuff together the way you're doing it." Together they gathered Harry's things and set off for Harry's next test.

Brian rubbed his eyes and sat up letting the covers fall of him. He blinked and looked around. He was now lying on the couch where Kristy has previously been holding him. Listening for any sounds he stood up. He could hear his aunt and uncle's voice coming from the other room. He headed toward the door a few feet away and hesitantly knocked. The swinging door moved slightly, surprising the child. He entered as a surprised voice called come in.

Kristy and Derek were seated at the island in the room with a sink, stove, and fridge behind them. "Did you have a nice nap?" Kristy asked while coming over to where the child was standing awkwardly. She scooped him up into her arms and brought him over to where Derek was sitting. She sat him down beside his uncle, surveying him. "Do you want anything to eat, or drink?" Brian nodded.

"A drink, please. I'm not hungry."

"I didn't think you would, but figured I would offer anyway. What do you want to drink? We have milk, water, juice, soda, and kiwi lime flavored water soda." Brian thought the last choice sounded very odd, but didn't comment.

"Juice, please." Kristy poured him some apple juice while thinking how polite he was and how she would have to get him more comfortable around them.

Author's Note: Once again I apologize for the wait, but I've been sick. I have/had walking pneumonia, and then the medication the doctor gave me messed with my stomach, and I really haven't felt like attempting to do anything until today, and I still don't feel good. Sorry for the length, but it's all I can get as me medicine kicks in along with the body aches.

Thanks so much for all the reviews!