Can I Call You Dad
Chapter 10
When your long day is over
And you can barley drag your feet
The weight of the world is on your shoulders
I know what you need
Bring it on home to me
Little Big Town – Bring It On Home
Harry sat on the bed; he traced circles on the rich green fabric of the bedding while he waited. He didn't know what he was waiting for; all he knew was that he had to wait, no matter how hard it was for him. Harry had always been one of those kids who hated to wait; he always felt this unexplainable erg to do something, be somewhere, and so on and so forth. However, very early on in his life he had also learned that sometimes one just had to sit and wait. Not that he was patient at all, he wasn't, he just knew that there was nothing for him to do at the moment. Even planning an escape wasn't helping his erg to be doing something!
There was a popping sound at the end of his bed, and even though Harry didn't greet a house elf, he was very happy to see his school trunk. Remus must have sent it over for him; poor Remus, he was a good man! Just because he was bitten as a kid didn't mean that he didn't know how to care for people. Remus was always forgiving and he was always understandable. You could tell that man all the worries you had (no matter hoe stupid it was!) and he would nod his head, say you were right and figure out how to put your worries to an end.
Remus had once told Harry that he would sing a French lullaby to him in order to get little baby Harry to sleep – he had even taught it to Lily, who would also sing the song to her baby. Remus had also said that he would read any sort of book to Harry in order to keep him entertained. Baby Harry had loved the Quidditch books that were made specially for little children and that James and Sirius would fight about what position the baby would play.
James said it would be Chaser, while Sirius insisted on Beater and Remus had voted for neither of those positions at all. So in the end, Remus won their bet, even though he knew that he would never get paid. It was just one of those memories that kept Remus going. Harry hoped that he and Remus had made enough memories to keep them both going while Harry tried to figure out a way to escape the Malfoy's.
Noticing that he was just sitting and staring at his trunk, Harry went over and opened it; he was sure that Remus put in some extra books and his homework for him to do over the last summer holidays. Harry sighed, he wouldn't be able to go to Paris with Remus this summer, it was a plan that they had both been looking forward too.
It was the book on top that caught Harry's attention first, it was his fathers journal. A note was attached to it.
Dear Pup,
I am so sorry about this situation; I am trying to contact your Father (Padfoot) as I write this. But he seems to not be answering. Once he hears of this he will do something about it and I shall help as much as a rejected Werewolf can. I am afraid that I don't have much say in what happens.
However, Professor Dumbledore is going to also try and put things to rights. He may not like the fact that Padfoot adopted you, but he hates, no, he loathes the fact that Mrs. Narcissa Malfoy has laid claim to you; at least, as much as she can with the title of 'AUNT'.
I have in-closed with this letter a charmed piece of parchment, it works like the one Padfoot and I use. You can contact me at any time, I'll make sure to check it all the time.
One other thing, Pup, James never did anything without planning and re-planning. He always had a plan B and he always ran it by me first. If you are planning anything, make sure to tell me. And make sure that you have a plan B, just in case. Padfoot always had a plan C, but those were usually very dangerous and I would hope that you don't do such a thing.
Remember, I love you, I don't want to lose you! I'll get you back soon.
Love you deeply, Uncle Moony
Harry carefully folded up the letter – he felt tears prickling at his eyes and demanded that he stop any rubbish that included crying. He wasn't going to be weak! He hated being weak and it wasn't going to happen. Harry tucked the letter into the journal before clawing at the other things in the trunk. He found the clothes that Remus had bought him. The robe shad the new Potter-Black emblem that Sirius had traced and Harry pulled one on.
In the pocket of this robe he found a small box; it was wrapped in gold an another note was attached to it.
Mr. Prongs would like to present young Pronglet with this gift.
It is charmed so that only a Potter can take it off, if anyone else even tries it shall shock them.
Mr. Moony and Mr. Padfoot are also charmed to be able to take it off.
Wear it all the time son, it shall protect you.
There are also other charms that are secret; it shall help you when you are in a bind. I hope that you have fun figuring out what this pendant does.
Love you, your father, Prongs (James)
Harry opened the box to find a pendant of a Stag; he laughed, it would be just like his Father to do that. The stag had emerald eyes though. It was gold (for Remus' sake no doubt) and it shone brightly in the sun that filtered through the windows of his room. Harry put it on and all of a sudden, a green mist swirled about him! Harry looked around, and even though Gervais was watching avidly, nothing else was happening.
The green mist disappeared and Harry was left bewildered.
Do you know what that was? Harry asked the snake.
Yesssssss, it issssssss to keep you ssssssssafe from mossssssst dark spellsssssssss. The Malfoy child hassssssss one (hissssss isssss a ssssssssnake like me), anyway, it reboundssssss ssssssspellssssssss; which, I am not ssssssssure, I'm not ssssssschooled in sssssssssuch thingssssssss. Gervais explained.
So, Dad must have had it waiting for me, wish I had it sooner…
Your Mother probably wanted to re-sssssssspell it for some reason. The Lady with the long blond hair hassssssss to do it for the Malfoy Child every year or sssssssso, Gervais replied.
I'm going to keep this a secret; if they don't know that I have it than they can't try and take it away, Harry said.
What dosssssssses the note sssssssssay?
It says that only my Adopted Father and Uncle Remus can take it off. Maybe Remus charmed it so that the traitor, Pettigrew, can't take it off either. That would mean that I would have a semblance of protection if I get caught by Death Eaters or something, Harry replied.
Your Mother isssssss very ssssssssssmart, Gervais hissed.
I don't know why you refer to Uncle Remus as my 'Mother', but it does make sense. He's taken care of me for only a little bit now, but he loves me, and so does my Adoptive father, Harry sighed.
Little One, pleasssse don't be afraid, you sssshall be free, Gervais tried to comfort.
Thank you, Gervais, I appreciate your concern…
Do not thank me, I have a feeling that you need someone,
I do, I think I'd be terribly lonely without someone to talk too; and I don't mean those bloody gits! Harry replied.
Too true, Little One, too true! Gervais agreed.
Entry 2
Today, I got Sirius Black good! Even though he's in Gryffindor I figured that I should do something! Besides, I'm not going to prankt he teachers for a while, I need some practice! It was really funny because I cursed his hair pink! And on the back of his robes, I charmed the words Pink is the new BLACK!
Remus got a kick out of it; I could tell even though he assured Black that he wasn't laughing. Peter laughed though, he thought it was brilliant! After that he's been sort of following me around. I don't know why. Remus says he has Hero-Worship-Ism and that it's contagious! Remus doesn't normally make jokes; he's a quiet bloke and he likes to read and he tired all the time. Don't know why but it isn't my business!
After I played my joke on Black; he promised to get me back one of these days. He says that he can't let it go without some sort of retribution! Ha! I am the great and all mighty JAMES POTTER! No bloody way will he get me!
Okay, so I'm acting like a spoilt brat, but come on, who can resist my charms? Hehehehehehe, get it, charms! Hehehehe, all right, bloody bad joke!
What else did we do today? Not much, ran into a bunch f Slytherin gits but I hexed them good (all right) Black and I hexed them good, lost twenty points but it was bloody well worth it!
Ta,
James Potter
"What do you mean that you can't do anything?" Remus asked, shell shocked.
"Cornelius won't listen to me, he thinks that the Malfoy's is a better place for Harry to be than with you," Albus explained.
"What the bloody hell gave them that idea?" Remus asked, not realizing that he had just cursed. He had lived with James and Sirius for seven years, they were bound to rub off on him!
"Just what I said; you can't get Harry back,"
"The hell I won't! we'll see what Sirius has to say about this!" Remus said and he stomped out of the room. Even though the full moon was just passed and it would be another month till it reared its ugly head again, Remus was still in a wolfish temper. No one stopped him as he left. Minerva turned on Albus just then.
"You didn't do a thing now did you? Did you?" she asked.
"I tried my best,"
"Albus, I've known you ever since our own first year, don't give me that rubbish! when you want something you usually get it! Now, why didn't you help Remus get Mr. Potter-Black back?"
"It isn't as easy as it looks,"
"Rubbish!"
"Minerva…"
"No, don't give me that, Albus! You know as well as I do that Sirius appointed Remus as Harry's temporary guardian, despite the Werewolf laws, and if you won't do something about it, than I will!" she replied before she too stormed out of the office.
Minerva made her way down the stone gargoyle steps and with a dignified but hurried pace, she went strait to her office. She was going to do something about this mess! How dare those pureblood idiots do this to Remus and Harry! Sirius may be innocent, but he couldn't be around for Harry. He'd be arrested and packed back off to Azkaban to rot!
Sirius wasn't about to let that happen, and neither was Minerva McGonagall.
Are you joking me? – Padfoot
No, the Malfoy's have Harry and there is nothing I can do! I've tried to talk to the Ministry but they just won't listen to me! – Moony
Is Harry safe? – Padfoot
I've made sure that he got the pendant that Prongs and Lily charmed when he was first born. I undid the charm that allowed Pettigrew to take it off though. And I added some of my own charms – Moony
Well, glad to see that you've been able to do something! I am close to Pettigrew myself but I don't know how close, I'll write the ministry straight off! They won't be able to do anything if I specifically insist that Harry goes back to you – Padfoot
I am sorry that this happened, I don't know what I should have done though, it was the full moon and I had sent Harry to stay the week with Mrs. And Mr. Weasley. You remember Arthur right? Anyway, his son, Ronald, is Harry's best friend – Moony
Ah, yes, the boy with that rat – Padfoot
Poor Ronald, I feel bad that he doesn't have a pet any more – Moony
We'll take care of that once we get Harry back – Padfoot
Right you are, catch Pettigrew quick, I don't think we have a lot of time – Moony
Ta! – Padfoot
Remus cleared the parchment and turned to the other one that was keyed to Harry. Nothing, Remus hoped that meant well. Harry should have written by now, but maybe Harry didn't know exactly what to write, or maybe he hadn't found it yet. Well, whatever it was, he hoped that the little Pup would write to him soon!
Narcissa looked in on Harry, he was wearing a robe that she had not supplied, and he was reading his transfiguration book. He was also taking notes as he did so. She stepped into the room, her movement brought Harry's notice to her.
"Harry?"
"Yes Ma'am?"
"Are you feeling all right?" she asked, not knowing exactly what to say.
"Why can't I go home? I'd feel better if I could go home," Harry replied.
"But this is your home,"
"No it isn't, no matter how much you want me here, or how much you insist upon that idea, it will never be my home," Harry replied quietly. Narcissa closed the door and walked towards Harry, she lowered herself beside the boy and turned his face from the book so that she could better see his emerald eyes.
"I understand that you are worried, but don't; you are much safer here than you ever were with that Werewolf," she said gently.
"How do you know? Uncle Remus is the best and most brilliant man I have ever know, he helped me last year with loads of things, and he took me in and he made me feel welcome in his home, not a burden like how I usually felt and…I have no clue why I'm telling you this!" Harry sighed.
"It's those muggles, isn't it?" Narcissa asked.
"Well, I won't pretend that it isn't," Harry muttered.
"Harry, dear, I am sorry that your homesick, but please, give this a chance," she said, before she gently kissed him on the forehead, and got to her feet. She silently made her way to the door and left him alone again. Harry heard the locks go into place, and he closed his eyes, hard. He wouldn't cry.
A/N – I am not sure about that last part with Narcissa, is she a bit soft or what? Please tell me what you think of her characterization so far. I noticed that some of you are having trouble spelling Gervais' name. It is G-E-R-V-A-I-S, that is the male form, if I wanted the snake to be female but with the same name, I would have added an 'E' onto the end of that, but I wanted the snake to be male! Don't worry about the misspelling of Gervais, it is a rather hard name to remember and such. But I honestly thought that it would be too cliché to do 'Slithers' or such rubbish as that.
I hope you enjoyed this update!
Ta,
Poppy
