Author's Notes:
SURPRISE! Early publishing! I'm on spring break so I'm super busy and won't have time to do so tomorrow! I'm happy to say that this chapter includes NO CLIFFHANGERS! I promise, I don't want to always leave you with one! Sometimes it just happens. I both enjoyed and didn't enjoy writing this chapter. I really struggled with how I wanted to portray the Dursleys. I know some writers like to emphasize the abuse that Harry probably endured but at the same time he's still a toddler at this point and I would *hope* that Petunia would have held off the majority of the abuse Harry endured until he was 4 or 5. I'm sure I'll bring out that more happened during his time with the Dursleys than I wrote for this chapter but for now this is it. I found it difficult to push through this particular section but after this I'm going to get into the adjustment period for James and Harry and see what's going on with Sirius!
I'm hoping that there won't be too many pre-Hogwarts chapters but we'll see where the story takes us, shan't we?
To Midnitewanderer: Thank you! Sorry for all of the cliffhangers but I made sure to fix that this chapter for you! I'm sure I will have more, though! James definitely thought about cursing Fudge—hell, I wanted to curse Fudge—but that's why Remus was with him. However, just because James didn't this time certainly doesn't mean that Fudge won't get his comeuppance soon *Ah-Wink* *Cough Cough*.
Hinny FTW: Don't worry, James is 100% going to rock that bachelors life for a while. Lily was the love of his life and, to me, she isn't really replaceable.
Fast Frank and Dutchie: Thank you both for the positive words!
Now that I've forced you to endure my ramblings again, please enjoy chapter six of Ignoring Destiny!
Chapter Six: Harry's Home
Petunia let her hand fall to her side, anger building in her thin face, "Well it's about time, I should say! He's been here two years already," Petunia turned behind her and called out, "Boy! Come out here! Your father has finally shown up to take you home! Get your things!"
James' eyes widened. He had prepared himself for any number of outcomes but Petunia willingly and happily giving Harry back, almost forcing James to take him back, was not one he had thought would occur. James watched as Petunia scurried off around the corner in the house looking for, what James can only assume, Harry.
James stepped into the house taking in the sights around him. He first noticed how immaculate it was, sterile and cold. Glancing around, he noticed all the family portraits on the walls. His eyes scanned for one that depicted the mop of black hair that is Harry. Appalled, James realized that none of the photos contained Harry. In fact, there was no sign anywhere in the house that a fourth person lived there.
Petunia trotted back into the entry way dragging a skinny toddler behind her by the arm. His hair covering a good portion of his face and his body obscured by an overly sized shirt that more resembled a dress or a smock than anything else. The boy cried out as Petunia yanked him towards James.
"Well, there you are. Now you can both get out my house. Mind you don't come running back to return him; we won't take him in a second time," Petunia said, crossing her arms.
James opened and closed his mouth several times before he glared at Petunia, his eyes hard, "So, that's it? You don't even want to say goodbye to the boy you took in for two years? I know you and Lily had your problems, that you never got along, but I never would have dreamed that you would treat an innocent child this way. I should have listened to Lily and made sure you never had a chance to receive custody of Harry."
"Yes, you should have. I still don't know why I took the little freak in. He's been nothing but trouble from day one. Spoiled and greedy. He's been a terrible influence on my Dudders and I won't tolerate it any longer. I don't even know what Vernon and I would have done if his freakishness had rubbed off on Dudley," Petunia responded.
"A freak? Did you seriously just call a three-year-old child a freak?" James asked, his voice rising.
Petunia paled but didn't back down, "Yes I did. You and your son and my freak of a sister, the whole lot of you. Now get out of my house before I call the police!"
James looked down at Harry who was standing there, staring at him, "Am I to assume that he doesn't have any things, then?"
Petunia's nostrils flared as she pointed to the door, "Get. Out. Of. My. House."
James nodded curtly before bending down to pick up the confused Harry. The moment James touched him Harry stiffened and froze, but allowed James to maneuver him into his arms and then out the door. James didn't stop, he kept walking for a while, lost in his thoughts, until he heard sniffling coming from the little boy in his arms.
James sat down at a nearby bench and looked at the little Harry in his arms who was now silently crying. James sighed and hugged Harry close, stroking his long hair and kissing his head.
When Harry finished crying he looked up at James, his green eyes bright and alert, and asked, "Who are you?"
James looked into those green eyes, it was shocking to see them coming from what looks so much like his own face. Finally, after a moment, James smiled and said, "I'm your dad, Harry."
Harry furrowed his brow, his eyes curious, "No you're not. My dad dead."
James' eyes hardened as he looked at the small boy, sadness seizing him, "No, Harry, I'm not dead. I'm most certainly alive and I've come to take you home. Unless you'd rather stay with your aunt and uncle?"
James could feel Harry physically relaxing while his little brain thought, his eyes staring at him, analyzing him, "But Aunt 'Tunia said my mommy and daddy died in a car ac—acc—assident."
"Petunia told you I died in a car accident?" James asked, appalled.
Harry nodded, his eyes wide.
James pulled Harry into a tight hug and felt the boy stiffen in his arms. Letting go, he looked down at the boy and said, "Harry, I don't know how to explain this but you aunt was wrong. I never died; I've just been really sick and couldn't come get you until now. I haven't even gone home yet."
"Are you sure you're my dad? I don't 'member you," Harry asked skeptically.
James nodded and then pointed to his hair, "Did you think you just happened to come by that mop of a head of hair? You got it from me. See? We have the same hair."
Harry reached out and tugged on a lock of James' hair before holding up some of his own and examined it. Then, Harry looked at James, seemingly satisfied, before asking, "Do I have to go back to aunt 'Tunias? I don't want to go back."
Shaking his head, James said, "If you don't want to go back, you don't have to."
"Ok, good. Can we go home now? I'm hungry."
Taking in the boy's skinny frame, James asked, "When's the last time you ate, Harry?"
Harry shrugged, "Dunno. Aunt 'Tunia said I was a freak and freaks don't get food when they've been bad."
James simply stared at Harry for a long time while he took in the boy's words. It wasn't until Harry started swinging his legs and back and forth while he sat that James responded, "Well, then, why don't we go get you some food and, maybe, we can go shopping, too. But only if you're up to it. I'd also like to see you get a haircut."
Harry shrugged and then said, "I don't know what shopping is."
"What—haven't you ever gone with your aunt and uncle to the grocery store or to the clothes store?"
"No," Harry said, shaking his head, "I stay with Mrs. Figg."
Ignoring what Harry said, James asked, "What would you like to eat, Harry?"
Harry looked at his little belly which let out a loud rumble, "What do you want inside of you, belly?" Harry looked up at James, "Tummy says it would like a sandwich, please. Is that ok?"
"Anything you want, buddy. Anything you want."
~ID~
Later that day James and Harry found themselves walking back into the leaky cauldron. They had spent the entire day shopping in both muggle and magical London for all sorts of necessities for the both of them. Since the cottage at Godric's Hollow had blown up, James had lost the majority, if not all, of his possessions. He had yet to muster up the courage to go back to the little house and look through the wreckage for anything that might have survived.
James had bought for both of them several weeks-worth of shirts, pants, socks, underwear (James had been surprised to learn that Harry was already completely toilet trained), sweaters, bathing suits, shoes, wellies, coats, and a muggle suit each from muggle London. James had also gotten them necessary toiletries and, for Harry, several toys for his new room as well as a bedding set.
From Magical London James had purchased for himself several sets of robes in a few different colors including one orange set that he was fairly certain he would never wear but couldn't for the life of him pass up. He had also gotten several sets of black, green, and navy dress robes for himself and a small green set for Harry. James also bought Harry a small, pointed wizards' hat for special occasions. They had also purchased some basic potions ingredients and a female owl that they named Archie at Harry's insistence. And in Flourish and Blots they had purchased several books for young wizards about everything from basic math and reading skills to simple magic control. James had also purchased Harry a small toy broom like the one he had had at Godric's Hollow. Harry was most excited for that toy; the idea of flying excited Harry more than anything else.
As they stepped into the Leaky Cauldron James scooped Harry up and hurried towards the door, not even acknowledging as Tom the bartender extended his greetings. He did not want Harry to be noticed, that wasn't something Harry needed right now. Just as James reached the door, it burst open and an overlarge man stepped through the door.
Hagrid nearly ran into James and Harry as he moved towards the bar but he was able to stop himself in time. James' eyes darted around nervously before looking at the man before him. Maybe Hagrid wouldn't recognize him?
Hagrid looked at James and Harry for a moment before smiling at them and saying, "James! I 'eard ye'd woken up! An' ye got 'Arry with ye. 'Ello, 'Arry, do ye remember me?"
Harry looked at the overly large Hagrid, his eyes wide as he shook his head and then hid his face in his father's chest. James looked at Hagrid nervously before saying, "Hagrid, it's really nice to see you but we were just on our way out."
People in the bar had started looking around at the odd exchange; Hagrid hadn't exactly been quiet in his statements.
Hagrid beamed, "O'course, o'course. Ye should come an' visit me soon, though. Ye know where to find me!"
James nodded as he scooted around Hagrid, "Definitely. We'll floo out to Hogwarts soon, I promise. It was good to see you, Hagrid."
General murmuring had broken out in the bar now. Statements like "Is that Harry Potter?" and "It is Harry Potter!" were flying around as James tried to exit the building quickly. Just as people began standing up to move towards them James was able to slip out the door and apparate to Potter Manner.
End Notes:
Please like and review Ignoring Destiny! Thank you for reading
