Writer: Azure K Mello
Title: A Bond Never Dies
Part: 108 of ? or part 23 of Part Three
Words: 701
James said, "I want him home. Did you see his face last night? I've not seen him this upset since we first got him back. He shouldn't be there. That's not where he's meant to be." He leaned into his mate's side and said, "Tell me I'm wrong."
Sirius shook his head, "It hurts to see him upset and I don't like seeing him in Dumbledore's protection. He'll use Harry all up until he's won the fucking war."
"Is it wrong for me to want him home?" asked James softly wanting an answer he could trust.
"No, I don't think he's safe there either. I mean, he can still have friends and a life here. They can all come over here to see him, he can go out with them."
"Not Draco Malfoy," said James with vehemence.
"James, if he wants to you have to let him," Sirius stroked his lover's hair and looked at the clock. "We should get up: it's nearly time for work."
James didn't actually have a job. Sirius worked for a designer spells company inventing different charms and charmed objects. James had been too busy being a house husband and father. Harry had been home school for three years. With a sigh he said, "Am I just selfish: is he better off there?"
Remus knocked twice and then opened the door without waiting. He was carrying cups of coffee and he said, "No. He's safest here and he can get better training. He's way ahead of everyone in his year, including Hermione Granger. Bring him home."
"We could be really adult about it and let him choose," suggested Sirius sipping the coffee he was handed, "maybe he's too grown up to want to be with a bunch of old guys. He's not a baby anymore he must want friends of his own."
Nodding James conceded but he was going to talk to Harry about this today. If the boy wanted, James would help him pack and have him reinstalled in the house before noon.
When he got to the school he realized that first period had started. He knew that Harry had told him about his schedule but he couldn't remember. He figured that he would start with DADA as he was close to the class. He knocked and was told to enter. He saw Neville Longbottom at one of the desks and knew that he had hit gold. But he looked around and didn't see his son. "Where's Harry?" he asked looking directly at the boy.
"He's ill in bed, sir." Said Dean in response. James could tell it was a lie and that Neville hadn't been able to answer. He nodded and shut the door before bounding up to the tower. He knocked at the portrait hole until an upperclassman who had first period free opened it for him. When the boy saw that it was James Potter he stepped back and allowed the man to enter. James asked, "Fourth year boy's dorm?"
"First on the left," the boy replied pointing to the stairs.
James climbed quickly and opened the door to see his son lying in bed eyes open but unmoving. "Hey, Daddy," he said softly. He was thinking about Draco Malfoy and how the boy was going to kill him in the end because Harry didn't want to be his lover. He wasn't surprised that his dad had come and he said softly, "Can we go home? I've learned everything I can learn here. Nothing can be taught to me here that I can't learn from you. I'll make friends and be normal. I won't get stunted, I promise. Let me come home. Please," the boy begged softly.
With a sad smile James wished he had been wrong, wished that Harry wanted to stay. He waved his wand and all of Harry's possessions flew into the boy's trunk. "Of course," said James softly.
"And I thought I was ready for this." Harry sighed sadly looking around, "Maybe when the war is over I can come back. Maybe there won't be all this pressure then."
Squeezing his son's shoulder James led the boy out to the fireplace with Harry's trunk floating behind them.