Three days the boy had been living with him and he was already disrupting his life. Not that he ever saw the boy, he planned his meals, but that didn't help. He had gone through a half dozen elves in three days. Kreacher may have been the family head elf but he had served Arcturus for the past two years as well. He had liked the elf the moment he met his daughter in law's elf. He lacked the cheerful disposition of other house elves and he knew what his master liked. Arcturus had no qualm about taking him from Wallburga to make him head elf when the last one died. It seemed he lacked another competent elf, they all needed trained and even when they were, they were always cheerful. He had come close to beheading them but he simply switched elves.

Grumbling after the last failed attempt he headed to the dining room. He knew the boy would be down there. He had permitted Harry to use the gardens in the day. He knew he could call a nanny elf for the boy and take Kreacher back but the boy seemed to like him. He told himself it was simply that he thought the boy would make life hard if his elf was taken.

Kreacher looked up when he came in. 'It raining outside. He only playing down here while I cook."

Arcturus noticed the boy who to his utter confusion was playing ball with Zar. "What have you done to my cat?"

Harry looked up at him. "Zar like play ball. He play unlike Grandpa."

Arcturus glared down at the scene. "My cat does not play."

Kreacher stepped in. "Master not like his tea?"

Arcturus looked at the tray in his hands. "The elf added too much cream."

Kreacher took the tray. "I prepare master tea. I can bring up."

Arcturus instead took a seat. "And lunch."

Harry looked up hopefully. "Grandpa eat lunch?"

Arcturus ignored the boy and looked at Kreacher. "I will eat my meals at the same time. You will prepare both."

Kreacher bowed. "Of course Master."

Harry happily crawled into a chair next to him. "Grandpa have cheesy with me?"

Arcturus smirked at the boy. "I have no idea what a cheesy is and I can assure you I am not."

Kreacher brought him his tea and lunch before placing a sandwich and milk before the boy. He assumed the sandwich was cheese and what the boy referred to. For a moment he perhaps remembered his grandsons eat such a thing once. He certainly would not be joining the boy in his dietary choices any time in the future. He dug into his own food and had his mind set he would simply have to eat with the boy. Eating Kreacher's food he was reminded why he had come down here.

Neither noticed they were not alone until suddenly there was a hiss behind them and Harry sent a worried look as he saw Zar flee the room. Both Harry and Arcturus turned to the door to see the newcomer. In reality the two.

Pollux was the first to speak. "I thought we had sent him home."

Arcturus smirked. "The Potters are not so soft hearted as we thought. That old bastard was about to send the boy back."

Wallburga cleared her throat. "Father? Fathers?"

Harry looked at the woman. "Grammy."

Wallburga looked startled at the child. "I am no such thing."

Arcturus looked at Kreacher. "Take the boy to his room."

Harry stood but asked his elf. "We go play room since rain."

Kreacher looked at the adults and back. "Maybe later. It nap time."

Arcturus glared at the elf. "Play room?"

Pollux smirked when the elf was gone. "Not well trained. Perhaps let me behead him and choose another."

Arcturus grunted. "Not as easy as it seems. Let us go to the den."

Wallburga reminded her father. "He was my nanny elf and yours."

Pollux grunted. "Why I gave him to you when you married. He seemed of little good for anything else."

Pollux had not been unhappy to see the elf go and was shocked when Arcturus chose him. Wallburga and Orion never used him as a nanny, they used a main elf for that, Kreacher ran their house for them. Arcturus was surprised to learn Kreacher had been a nanny as elf he never seemed the type. It would explain why he was good with the boy other then he usually was all about old bloods. He tried to tell himself the elf had simply gone a bit soft in old age. He needed to learn what the playroom comment was.

Pollux and his daughter demanded answers when they got into the den. Pollux of course knew Fleamont was alive but not since the first visit. Arcturus poured them drinks and found himself explaining what happened.

Wallbuga spat. "I knew those stories about Fleamont were lies. He simply tried to take my son."

Arcturus had to ask. "What is this about?"

Wallburga was confused. "About father?"

"Don't play innocent. My son acts as if he knows that boy. Kreacher knew him."

Wallburga was startled. "He is asleep."

"The boy woke him. How did the boy wake him? And how does my son know him?"

"You will have to ask my husband. I certainly have nothing to do with the child."

Pollux smirked. "Did not think to ask him yourself?"

Arcturus growled. "Of course I did. He seems to be taking a page from his sons and refusing me."

"You never could control your line." Pollux shot.

"You are not one to speak." Arcturus spat.

Wallburga went to leave. "I will leave you to your discussion."

Arcturus watched her leave and he was sure she left the house. He felt like insisting she go speak to her husband. If there was anyone that would get him to talk it was Orion's wife. But then again he never thought that his son would refuse to speak with him either. He was reminded Wallburga had yet to wake her husband and needed time. He was sure she would be turned to Pollux and spoke for a time. Though Pollux thought he was going soft he admitted the man had made a good choice. Arcturus was shocked to hear that. Pollux was not a man for sentiment even for his own family. The child seemed an odd choice

Pollux went to leave. "It is always useful to have a favor owed. Fleamont will not want the world to know how he treated his heir."

Wallburga had not in fact left the house. She was surprised that neither man had tried to stop her from leaving. The two men didn't often talk in front of women, even their wives, but she had been the exception. She knew Arcturus would soon be after her to talk to Orion. She was not as shocked as she had shown to be. Oh she was shocked the boy was here. But she was not surprised he called her Grammy. But she had learned well to hide her reactions.

She knew without asking where to find the boy. She did not worry Kreacher would reveal anything. Kreacher may be the head family elf now but if Arcturus thought the elf took his orders as law he was mistaken. Kreacher still considered her his main mistress.

She noticed the boy napping. She was shocked to see Arcturus' flea bag. That cat was demon possessed. "That beast."

She was surprised by her husband' voice. "Do not wake him."

Wallburga turned to her husband who was above the fire. "I thought you in the den."

Orion motioned towards the bed. "The boy was scared of the dark and father didn't take kindly to him sleeping in the den."

Wallburga walked over to the bed. "He will not stop until we tell him."

Orion knew his father well enough. "It is too dangerous."

Wallburga reached down and brushed a hair from the boy's face."I remember his….sleeping in this bed."

Orion actually had a small smile."Though not as peaceful as I recall."

Wallburga turned to him. "Our son is in prison due to that boy."

Orion grunted. "I thought you had made peace."

Wallburga saw her husband's eyes never left the bed. "I have accepted the child. That doesn't mean I had to forgive that man."

James Potter she blamed for so much. Her son would never have left home without him. Her younger son she doubted would have fallen in the wrong crowds if Sirius had not fled. The audacity to convince her son she was dark simply because wasn't affectionate like Euphemia Potter sickened her. She wondered what Euphemia would have thought if she heard about her husband's actions with the boy. Even her and Orion, as cold as they were accused of being, would never send the boy away.

Orion listened to his wife as she ranted, finding out the fate of their son. He had only been slightly fonder of James then his wife and father were. He had managed to make some small peace with his son before his death.

:"I assume we will have to speak to father." Orion grunted.

Wallburga looked at the boy. "Is it the right time to tell him?"

Orion shook his head. "Not about the boy. But enough to aid in freeing our son."

"And if he learns about the boy? He will be angrier we kept it from him."

Orion made a sound that could have passed as a dignified snort. "He will not find out on his own."

"Fleamont could tell him."

Orion smirked."If he planned to rush and reveal he would have. He is playing his cards and that gives us time."

Her response was cut off by a little mumbled whisper. 'Grammy."

Wallburga turned back to the bed which had been turned half into a crib. She saw the little boy sit up. "Yes Prince."

Harry looked close to tears. "Grammy mad? She not smile in kitchen."

Wallburga bent and scooped up the boy. "Because grandsire can't know yet. You can only call me Grammy when alone."

Harry snuggled against her. "I miss Grammy."

Wallburga found herself kissing the boy's curls. "Grandfather and I have missed you too."

Orion smiled. "But we need you to keep a secret."

Wallburga explained. "I will visit but for now you can't call me Grandmother. Its very important."

Harry pouted a bit but nodded. "But Grammy visit?"

Wallburga smiled and assured the boy she would. It had been her home for years and now her husband was known to be awake, it would be no surprise she came. Harry had not actually woken him though he could have. Orion had been awake all along. He only revealed himself when the boy came. Neither had been warm parents, they didn't deny their son was right about that. But the little boy seemed to be different for them both. Though it was still only proper when in private.

Orion reminded his wife. "You need to leave before father notices."

Wallburga smirked. "He will not come up here and he doesn't know the passages. But I should go."

Harry pouted when she went to leave. "No stay?"

She smiled at him. "I will come back."

Orion added. "And we have time for a story before dinner."

Wallburga called Kreacher before she left. "This playroom?"

Kreacher guiltily admitted. "I make in pantry near kitchen. Old Master not see."

Wallburga simply said. "You know where my toys are in father's house."

Kreacher understood. "Yes mistress."

Walburga turned to look once more at her husband and the boy. She knew Harry was best where he was for now. As much as her father in law seemed aloof this was the safest place for him. The manor had too many people coming and going. Until they saw their son free they had no claim on the boy and didn't need Albus finding out where he was. The boy would not be taken.

She said to Kreacher before leaving. "I will have daily updates. I am not happy you did not tell me he was here."

Fleamont and Severus had spent a day discussing all he missed. He assured the man he would make a full recovery he simply needed to give it a few weeks. He had concerns beyond his grandson. He needed to see Sirius free from prison. The Blacks were not the only ones with that on mind. He and Euphemia had seen his brother's nephew as a second son for years and it had gone deeper. No one in their right mind would think that the man had anything to do with his son's death. Even those who didn't know the full truth. He knew one person who could be of aid and he had his elves tracking down the wolf. He could be useful.

Severus found himself summoned to Grimmauld. He usually didn't have time for old bloods but he had found benefits to having a working relationship with the man. Beyond Lucius, Arcturus was the only old blood he tolerated for any period.

Severus was surprised to find dinner"Decided to feed me?"

Arcturus motioned to a chair. "I have had you working for days."

Severus eye him as he moved towards the chair. "I have feeling it is more."

Arcturus didn't give an inch. "Hospitality Severus."

Severus noticed the third plate when he did. "Company?"

"The boy should be down soon."

"And I thought this may be quieter then the hall." Severus grunted.

Arcturus reminded. "Certainly one child is quieter, even during Christmas."

Severus wasn't convinced. "A toddler and a Potter at that."

"He seems calmer then his father even at his age. From what I have seen."

Severus doubted he had seen much of the boy. Severus was still not sure about Fleamont's scheme. The boy would have been left to elves mainly in either home. He thought of Lily and how much she had loved that little boy. He had not quite understood why but the baby had been everything to her. He had not been surprised when it was Lily and not James in front of the crib in the end. Oh he knew the man loved his son but Lily had a bond he could never truly understand.

Harry appeared not from the stairs but from a door which led to the backyard. Severus saw Harry's surprise when he saw them both at the table. He crawled up into a booster which Kreacher transformed but eyed Severus.

Arcturus glared at the boy. "You were not in your room."

Harry smiled. "I play. Kreak cook."

"I thought it was still raining and you seem dry."Arcturus snarled.

Harry simply picked up his sippy cup. "I play."

Severus lifted an eyebrow. "Problem?"

"Blasted playroom."

Kreacher appeared with dinner."Dinner."

Arcturus looked at the boy. "You remember this man?"

Harry peered at Severus. "Ouchy arm."

"From your parents."

Harry smiled. "Bandy man."

Arcturus sent a look at Severus but he got no further answer. Severus now understood that Arcturus was using Harry to try and find out what he knew. Unfortunately for the man while he had seen Lily only a month before she died, it was months before that he had seen the boy. Harry remembered a lot but he doubted the boy had much memory of his first birthday or before that. Lily had convinced him to come to the party as they were about to go into hiding. He had brought a cauldron puzzle. The last time he had seen the boy was a week after they went in hiding when Harry had got hurt. Severus had indeed brought bandages.

As Harry was taken for a bath Severus stood to leave. "I should return to school."

"You have not told me yet."

Severus turned back. "Told you?"

"Don't play dumb his mother and you were close. You will tell me what is going on."

Severus put his cloak back on. "It is not as if James confided in me."

Arcturus demanded. "You will stay and tell me."

"We do not wish Albus poking around. And he will wonder whee I am."

With that the man was gone and Arcturus was more confused and frustrated then ever. He went to the door Harry had come through determined for at least one answer. He was reminded as he got there, there was a small pantry back there. The door was not hidden from sight as usual from humans. He pushed the door open and was standing in a playroom, light coming from a new window, and saw what Kreacher had been up to. He realized though many toys were too old to be his grandsons'.

He picked up an old bear and he noticed a monogram.'WIB? Wallburga? What is her bear doing here?"