Unspoken
by Teddylonglong
Please refer to chapter 1 for my disclaimer and warnings. Thank you.
They had just finished their lunch and settled down in the living room, when Mrs. Figg returned. To Harry's surprise, a small dog toddled behind her into the room.
'She has a dog? I thought she had only cats,' Harry thought, incredulously, as he silently admired the cuteness of the canine.
"Hi Harry, how are things?"
"Great." Harry cast the older lady a happy smile. "Thank you very much for bringing me here."
"You're welcome, sweetie," she replied and gently ruffled his hair.
"You have a dog?" he could not keep himself from asking, when the dog came over to lick his hand in friendly greeting.
The witch chuckled. "No, Harry. One of my colleagues has dogs, and they recently had two puppies, and this one I got from him for you. This is Lucy. She is only twelve weeks old, and she's yours now. Archie took Marlin, the other puppy. Archie is my older colleague," she explained in Harry's direction.
Harry stared at the small dog, who was now meticulously licking his right arm, with a combination of delight and disbelief. "Mine?" he mouthed, wide-eyed.
Suddenly, his happiness expanded tenfold, when he sensed that the canine let out a strong bout of magic.
'I've bonded with you. I am Lucy,' a soft voice penetrated his mind.
'Hello Lucy, I am Harry, and I am very happy,' Harry thought, guiding his thoughts to the canine. 'Thank you so much for bonding with me.'
"Lucy bonded with me," he informed the two ladies and the elf, who were observing them in what seemed to be amusement.
"That's wonderful." Mrs. Figg was the first to react. "She is a magical Borador, a mix of a magical Labrador and an equally magical Border Collie."
'She looks funny,' Harry thought, as he closely examined her fur, realising that one half of her face was black and the other half white with grey. 'Her ears are large and fluffy.' He gently petted the canine's ears, smiling when Lucy let out small noises of apparent happiness that matched his own.
"She seems very gentle," Regina commented, smiling. "Dolly, will you help Harry care for Lucy please?"
"Of course, Mistress Regina. Dolly will help Harry to look after the cutie." Dolly seemed as eager and happy as he felt, and Lucy quickly made her way over to the elf to carefully lick her face. "Thank you, Lucy," Dolly all but squeaked in apparent pleasure.
"I brought some of her favourite food, which my colleague gave me." Harry stared at the witch with a combination of surprise and amazement, when she took a small bag out of her backpack and with a flick of her hand enlarged it to a big box.
"Wow." Recalling that freaks should not be heard, he quickly pressed a hand against his mouth, before his curiosity took over. "Was that magic?"
"Yes, Harry, that was magic, and you're going to learn to do such things very soon." Mrs. Figg's voice was pleasant, and Regina nodded, smiling.
'Cool,' Harry thought in anticipation, as he continued to gently caress the canine's ears, before Lucy suddenly jumped down from the sofa, where she had been perched on his lap, and made her way straight to the box, sniffing the edges with apparent interest.
"Isn't she a cutie?" The older witch looked into the box, before she pulled out a bone, which she handed to the canine, who let herself sink onto Harry's feat and began to eagerly busy herself with her treasure.
'So cute,' Harry thought, feeling very happy at the idea of having a dog just for himself.
"Now, Harry." Mrs. Figg caught his attention again. "I believe that we must take you shopping, as you need clothes among other things. The problem is that no one must see you."
Harry stared at her in shock, the memory of 'No one wants to see let alone hear a freak' pushing itself to the front of his mind. He quickly realised, however, that that was not what the kind witch was implying, when she explained how the headmaster of Hogwarts had made himself his guardian and sent him to live with his relatives.
"He had no right to do such a thing, as I am your magical guardian, but he doesn't know that, and I believe that we don't want to fight him if not absolutely necessary. You must know that he holds several influential positions in the magical world. Therefore, my colleague and I have spent the morning developing something that'll help hiding you."
Harry looked up in surprise, when Mrs. Figg held out a necklace to him. It was of some shiny material with several colourful stones.
"Put it around your neck," she instructed him, before she waved her hand and produced a small mirror, which she held out for him to see his own face.
He hesitantly complied and put the necklace around his neck, only to realise in bewilderment how his own face in the mirror changed completely. Instead of green, his eyes were now brown, just like his hair, which had previously been black.
"Wow."
"Magic is simply amazing." Regina's voice was as soft as usual, still Harry could feel that it was accompanied by a hint of sadness.
"Now, are you ready to go? Regina, will you join us?"
"Should I remain at home with Lucy?"
Mrs. Figg shook her head. "No, I believe that Lucy will want to accompany Harry wherever he goes, won't you, Lucy?"
Lucy immediately rose from Harry's feet, abandoning her bone for the time being. When Harry looked back from her to the witch, Mrs. Figg was holding out a stuffed cat. It was a marmalade cat, which Harry recognised, as there had been a few running around her place, when he had visited her before. However, he noticed in surprise that the stuffed cat had strangely long legs.
"This is a Portkey," she explained, "which will take us straight to the magical shopping centre of Diagon Alley. You must hold on tightly. Today, I will take care of Lucy."
Seeing how Regina held on to one leg, Harry grabbed another, and Mrs. Figg lifted Lucy into her arms and made her touch another leg with her front paws, before she held on to the fourth. "Shopping," she uttered, and an instant later, the world around him turned black.
When his surroundings manifested again, he found himself in what seemed to be a lively shopping street. To his surprise, no one took notice of them, as they suddenly appeared in the middle of the street.
"Stay close to me," he instructed Lucy in a small voice, and with Mrs. Figg on his left and Regina on Lucy's other side, they began to walk along the street.
Only once or twice had Harry been shopping with the Dursleys in London; however, this magical shopping street seemed completely different from everything that Harry had ever seen before.
He felt very self-conscious, when they entered a clothes shop, especially when a young witch stepped in front of him with a measuring tape that seemed to act on its own accord measuring the various sizes of his body. She then showed his two companions clothes of multiple colours and styles, and Harry was glad that, apart from the occasional question of which one he liked, his input was not needed. He merely hovered next to them and gently caressed Lucy's fur. Only when they proceeded to buy shoes and so-called robes, he had to try them on. By the time they were ready to leave the shop, they had bought two large bags of clothes, which Mrs. Figg shrank to two small items that easily fit into her robe pocket.
Finally, they made their way to the toyshop, where Harry looked around with a combination of interest and amazement.
"You may choose something you like," Regina told him, causing Harry to stare at her, wide-eyed.
Never before had anyone bought a toy for him. But, what to choose? He could only look around in amazement, feeling totally overwhelmed. When he followed Lucy in excitement, the canine led him over to a shelf that held various models of stuffed animals. She tentatively chose a stuffed dog and happily began to play with it.
"No, Lucy, you can't play here in the shop," he lightly scolded her, before he looked at Regina, who was standing there, smirking.
"May I perhaps have that dog?" It came out as a whisper, but Regina nodded, reassuringly.
"I believe that we'll have to buy that one for the cutie."
Just then, Mrs. Figg came over carrying several items. "I'm going to buy a Potions kit for toddlers. I'm sure you will be able to teach Harry brew the potions of the set, considering that you taught me, when I was about his age."
"True." Regina smiled, before she explained that the set did not afford magic.
"We should also buy a children's broom for him and a children's wand," Mrs. Figg added and motioned Harry to follow her.
HP
By the time they returned home, it was already dinner time. Dolly seemed pleased, when Mrs. Figg stayed over for dinner and even invited her fiancé over, a wizard that went by the name Artemis.
Harry immediately liked him. He told him a lot about the magical world and even about the Unspeakables, where he and Rebecca, as he called Mrs. Figg, were working. To Harry's relief, he patiently explained, when Rebecca was Arabella Figg, when she was Rebecca Lestrange, which only happened in private, and when Felina and wearing her Unspeakable robes. It was the same with Artemis, which was his real name. He was working as the Squib caretaker at Hogwarts, and when he was wearing his robes, he was Unspeakable Whisker.
"Thank you," Harry replied, glad that he now knew how to address them at what time.
"Are you going to send Harry to a muggle primary school?" Artemis quirked an eyebrow at Regina.
Regina returned a questioning look. "As I am working, even if from home, apart from my two classes at the university, I believe that it would be better for him to properly attend a primary school, wouldn't it?"
Rebecca and Artemis nodded in apparent agreement. "We could also take him with us to the Unspeakables' Office after school and make him our Mini Unspeakable. We can teach him various things, which he wouldn't be able to study anywhere else."
"I'd like that," Harry replied, returning Artemis' smile.
"I've already spoken with Croaker, and he agreed that we should bring him with us during the last two weeks of the summer holidays to see if he's interested."
"Thank you, Artemis." Regina nodded in apparent appreciation.
"Thank you," Harry echoed, when a sudden thought crossed his mind. "Eh, sorry, what about Lucy? May I bring her?"
"Of course, you may bring her, and she'll be happy to see that her brother will be there as well." Turning to his fiancée, he asked, "What was his name?"
"Marlin."
HP
Harry was almost disappointed that he had to wait until Monday morning, before he could accompany the two Unspeakables to their office, when they told him that tomorrow, they were going to take Regina and him to a Quidditch match.
"Quidditch?" Harry mouthed, giving Artemis a questioning look, causing him to dive into a long story about flying on broomsticks, Quidditch at Hogwarts and the various Quidditch teams in Britain.
"If you're interested, we'll teach you to fly tomorrow afternoon," the older wizard promised, to Harry's delight.
'It sounds interesting,' he thought, inwardly grinning at the idea of his Aunt Petunia learning that a broom was good for something else than cleaning.
HP
The Quidditch match of the Chudley Canons against the Appleby Arrows was the most interesting thing that Harry had ever witnessed. However, he could not comprehend why it took the Seekers so long to catch the Snitch.
'It's over there on the left. Why don't they catch it already?' he thought to Lucy, who was sitting between his legs apparently observing everything.
'Perhaps, they haven't seen it yet,' she then replied, letting out a huge yawn.
'I can't wait to fly myself this afternoon,' Harry thought, feeling extremely happy.
HP
Flying turned out to be the best that Harry had ever experienced. Regina, Rebecca and Artemis took him out into the garden, which surrounded Regina's house, and Rebecca handed him the broom, which she had bought for him on the previous day.
"I'll take care of the cutie." Regina gently caressed Lucy's fur.
However, Lucy seemed to have other ideas. As soon as Harry sat on the broom, impatient to finally take into the air like he had seen the Quidditch players fly earlier, she dashed over to him, put her front paw onto the broom in front of him and let out a demanding yowl.
'What's wrong, Lucy? I'm going to fly now, so can you please stay with Regina?'
'No. Take me with you. We'll both fit on that broom.' Without waiting for a response, she jumped up and came to sit in front of him.
'Hold on tightly,' Harry advised her, before he took off, pressing his arms against the canine's body in concern. However, he should realise soon that Lucy was well able to hold on to the broom and that they both absolutely loved flying.
HP
"I thought the two of you were going to teach him?" Regina quipped, as the three of them observed child and dog fly. She would be worried, however, seeing Rebecca and Artemis calmly observe the scene, she relaxed.
Artemis shook his head. "He doesn't have to be taught. He seems to be a natural flyer, just as his father was."
"Is it safe for them flying together?" she could not help asking.
"The doggy is keeping her own. They're fine," Rebecca replied, reassuringly.
Artemis nodded. "I believe that you have a very happy child here. Nevertheless, he should only be allowed to fly, when one of us is with them."
"Of course." Regina nodded, more than ever regretting that she did not have magic. 'I could be a much better mother to him if I was a witch,' she thought in devastation.
As if she had been able to guess her thoughts, Rebecca gently patted her arm. "Don't worry, Regina. You're going to be a wonderful mother to him."
HP
When Harry was in bed that evening, seemingly happy with Lucy cuddled against his stomach, Artemis added a golden Snitch to the curtains around his bed, which moved around for a minute, before it hovered at the same spot for another minute.
"Thank you so much for helping me with Harry," Regina said, feeling very happy at the idea of having a five-year-old son.
"I wonder if Mrs. Figg should notice that Harry isn't living with the Dursleys anymore." Rebecca seemed pensive.
Artemis shook his head. "They won't tell you that he's gone. They'll only tell you that he went to see a friend. The only person who might miss him is Minerva. She probably spent the weekend on the Dursleys' garden wall in her Animagus form."
"Oh, that's right." Rebecca sounded surprised. "And if she came to talk with me, she'd notice that Arabella was away the whole weekend as well. Oh Merlin. This has completely slipped my mind."
"I don't know her, but would she keep the secret if you told her the truth?"
Rebecca nodded. "I believe so, and if not, we could simply obliviate her. Regina, would you mind if I called her here?"
"If she keeps the secret, of course, I don't mind."
"Rebecca, are you willing to reveal your identity to her?" Artemis looked at his fiancée, seemingly alert.
"I shouldn't." She remained pensive for a moment, only to add, "but it wouldn't make sense if I didn't."
"I believe that we can trust her. At least, it is worth an attempt. Regina, would it be all right if Rebecca invited her over tomorrow after dinner?"
Regina nodded. "If it's not too late. Remember that Harry is only five."
Rebecca sighed. "I'll call her over right away. She doesn't need to talk to Harry immediately. This is just to inform her about him and his whereabouts. We can still invite her over for the next weekend."
Regina and Artemis agreed, and Rebecca changed into her Arabella Figg persona and popped away.
HP
Rebecca as Arabella leaned into the fireplace. "Minerva McGonagall's office, Hogwarts."
It only took a few seconds for the older witch to reply. "Arabella, what a surprise. Did something happen to Harry?"
Inwardly chuckling, Rebecca replied, "Harry is fine. Will you come over for a moment, please?"
"Of course."
Rebecca stepped away from the fireplace, and a moment later, her former Transfiguration professor arrived and was immediately surrounded by about a dozen cats. They all liked her, apparently able to sense her feline Animagus form.
Rebecca sighed. "I am sorry to ask for this, but will you please swear me a witch's oath to keep my secret, that of my fiancé and that of Harry? Knowing Albus, this is necessary."
Minerva stared at her in apparent surprise. "You have a fiancé? Oh, right, yes. I will." She swiftly took her oath, before she looked at her in uncharacteristic excitement. "Please tell me."
Rebecca nodded. "We'll need to use the fireplace. The destination is 'Regina Lestrange's home.' Would you like to go first, or should I?"
"I shall follow you."
HP
Arabella waited, before the professor followed her through the fireplace, before she changed into her real form, causing the older witch's eyes to widen in apparent shock.
"Arabella? Rebecca Lestrange?" Only then, she seemed to become aware of Artemis' and her presence. "Artemis Nott?"
Regina noticed that her right hand wandered into her robe pocket, seemingly gripping her wand.
"Professor, please relax. We are who we seem to be. Arabella Figg is my second persona, which I took on for some reason, which is not relevant at this time. This is my sister, Regina Lestrange, and you already know my fiancé, Artemis."
"Regina Lestrange?" Her eyes narrowed in apparent confusion.
"I am a Squib," Regina quickly explained. "It is my great regret that I was not able to attend Hogwarts."
"Regina is a professor at a muggle university and also works as a mind healer, which made her predestined for taking in young Harry. He was not only neglected but also abused by his relatives." Ignoring the older witch's gasp, she continued, "What I did not tell you, as it did not match my Arabella persona, is that I checked on Harry once a week, ever since he was sent to the Dursleys. Once a month, I had to take him to a healer, and last week, it was so bad that I decided to not return him to that hellhole."
"Where is he?" Minerva looked around in apparent confusion.
Regina smiled. "He had a long day of watching a professional Quidditch match in the morning and flying in the afternoon. He's asleep already. Come." She led the old witch into Harry's room. Even if the light was dimmed, she could see enough to realise how the professor's expression changed to display true love for the little boy.
"He has a dog?"
"This is Lucy, his puppy. Rebecca brought him for him yesterday."
Back in the living room, the professor smiled. "Thank you so very much for taking Harry away from his relatives and raising him here. I appreciate it very much, and if there's anything I can do to support you, please tell me. He has always been like a grandson to me."
"Harry will be happy to have a surrogate Granny." Regina smiled. "He's a very cute boy, and I believe that my sister took him away from his relatives right on time, before the mental and physical abuse would have caused irreparable damage."
"Will you have him attend a muggle primary school?"
"We decided to try it out. If the other children harass him for doing freaky things like the Dursleys apparently did, we will think of other ways of education for him." Regina's voice was firm, and the professor nodded in agreement.
"Thanks for allowing me to be part of his life and your secret. I appreciate it very much."