Author Note: It seems with each new update, the people following this grows...I am stupidly happy right now :)
I do not own Harry Potter.
Edit: 10/02/2017: I finally have time to check this chapter.
Enjoy!
Xander, much to Harry shock, lifted him up gently and placed him on the seat next to him and told him. "Now Harry, since you've skipped breakfast, you going to have to have eat lunch. There's a reason why, cereal, is only eaten in the mornings, I don't want you to have an upset stomach later. So feel free to eat anything you want in front of you."
And like a unspoken signal, servants carrying silver trays walked into the room and placed them in front of Harry, three in total and the cleanest plate Harry had ever seen was placed right in front of him, alongside it, were several different sized forks, knifes and spoons that harry didn't why they were all different sizes.
While this was happening, each dish was being revealed to him.
A beautifully cooked jacket potato lay to his left, softly melted cheese dripping from it's insides and a dash of spice to fishes it off, the Jacket Potato was making itself comfortable alongside some salad dressing..
After that, the plate that was revealed next, turned out to be a plate of freshly baked chocolate chipped cookies so fresh that you could still see the steam rise from.
After that plate, was plate filled with beautifully dressed salad, lettuce and boiled eggs that had been finely chopped sat on top of each other, but the true master piece were king prawns place delicately on top, they had been fried to perfection with rich and exotic spices from all around the world.
A glass was placed in front of him and water was poured.
"Feel free to pick any one of these or a little bit of everything. Oh and Harry, feel free to tell me if you taste anything good in particular." Xander said, seeing the little boy's stunned expression. "After all, you need to grow up, big and strong, right?"
Harry continued to stare at the food.
Was he dreaming?
Chapter 3: Little Harry and the indoor zoo
It had taken him quiet a while to convince Harry that the food in front of him was indeed for him and not for somebody else, that he could truly taste it without somebody slapping his hand away, but Xander was patient with him, he had buckets of patients, he would get Harry out of his shell eventually.
He theorized that years of being ignored or being beaten, had made Harry a very quiet boy, always looking for approval if he wanted to even let out a breath.
Something that should not be happening, you would think growing up in the Potters house hold, would make him another mini James Potter with so many bad influences around him but it was the exact opposite.
He waited for the boy to finish his food, Harry had pretty much grabbed any fork, knife and spoon on the table and dug in.
Xander know that he would have to teach him the difference between each fork, knife and spoon one day, but right now, he would amuse himself with how Harry kept on giving him looks, every time he took a bite out of something.
The food, neither of them touched would be given to the House elves, like every food that was left untouched in this house. The difference between the Felix house elves and the Potter House elves besides how they held themselves, were only noticeable when you put them side by side to each other. The Felix house elf had a lot more healthier complex compared to the Potters house elves, as the result of their better diet.
And once Harry, finished and his plate and everything else had been taken away. Xander, know this was a good time to lay down some rules since Harry was now full and not starving.
"Now, Harry" He said, softly. "It's time for me to lay down the rules of the House"
At least that seemed familiar to the boy because he suddenly looked more confident.
"Number one" He said, "Do not lie to me, if something happens I want you to tell me the truth."
And Harry nodded, wondering if he would be punished if he told a lie.
"Number two" He said, "If your hurt or in pain, come to me or if I'm not around, go to one of the servants and they will take you to the private nursing office in the manor"
Showing that the house of Felix where quiet rich, the Potter manor did not have a nursing office, if they did, god only knows how many times it would be visited, the poor nurse would be working over time. The mere invention of flying brooms, were an accident just waiting to happen.
Harry nodded his head.
"Number three, I expect you to do all your work first, before you play, I'm going to be hiring private tutors, soon" He said, both muggle and magical, magical because of obvious reason's but growing up with a Muggle teacher ensured that when Harry makes contact with the Muggle world, he doesn't stare at everything not powered by magic like an idiot, like most people in the magical world.
The ignorance of most Purebloods astounded him, they still thought Muggles couldn't touch them, when all it took was a good bullet to the head before a spell was even on their lips.
Harry nodded again, he never had a tutor's before, he, like his brother Jamus, were just waiting for their Hogwarts letter, to really start learning, and everything else they learned was through observation and correction from those around them.
He had no idea, that, if, his new daddy had his way, he would never step foot onto Hogwarts soil for the rest of his life, to Xander, Hogwarts was the biggest joke in the world.
Each subject taught there, could not be taken seriously and the one's that could, always had the biggest problems in them and the phrase 'Safest Place in Britain' was the biggest lie he had ever heard.
Hogwarts was only good for killing you and turning you into an idiot that lacked common sense, teaching kids that just waving you wand around and everything would be just fine, instead of giving them the cold hard reality about the outside world and how Muggleborns should have stayed in the Muggle world because the likely hood of them being anybody important and living passed their twenty's, was the same chance of Voldemort being truly, just a misunderstood man who just needed a hug.
"And the fourth and final rule" He said, drawing the boy attention before saying to him softly and touching his hair. "Be a child, Harry. Have fun, childhood will be over before you know it and you'll be an adult. Isn't it best to make some memorable memory's that you can look back on in adulthood?" And to Harry shock, he pick him up and placed him on his laps, something he had seen only the Potters do to Jamus.
His body relaxed instantly when he felt the heat coming from his back.
It was so warm...
Now, he understood, why Jamus liked sitting on his former mothers laps so much, even though the boy tried to hide it, it was for the heat and comfort that came with it.
"Your not too big for me to pick you, so let's add this moment as your first precious memory." He said, while Harry flushed, he wanted to get off but his body just wouldn't move and strong arms pulled him closer and he didn't protest.
And thus Harry first precious memory with his new father was born, he would remember this day for years to come.
It was nice, the warm heat that engulfed him and when Harry looked like he was going to doze off again, Xander began to move and took Harry off his lap and said. "Don't sleep yet, the day is still young." Plus he really didn't have work to do today, so he had an idea and said. "Follow me"
Harry followed his daddy out of the room and into a wing he hadn't full explored yet, he got the feeling Xander was in 'fun' mode, right now.
Thankfully it was never something like the Marauders, no adult deserved to have that much energy and Harry didn't think his little heart could take being in the middle of all the crazy, Jamus could but defiantly not him.
They came to a white door and when he walked through it, Harry breath was taken away by the sight of a room that had been magically expended, to resemble that of a jungle.
He stared blankly at the cutest small monkey, he had ever seen, appear right in front of him, the only small monkey he had ever seen, looking at him curiously before hopping from branch to branch only to land on Xander shoulder.
"Harry, I want you to meet Pan, she's a Snow Monkey. I got her some years back in Japan." He said, of course he had the proper papers and there was always somebody looking after her, the monkey leapt off his shoulder, only to latch onto Harry who looked frightened before she gave him a big sloppy kiss on the forehead which caused him to giggle. "And she's very affectionate" adding the part, a little too late.
But the monkey didn't leave Harry, instead it went around his neck, parted his hair and went in search for any bugs that may have landed in it.
"it looks like she's taken a liking to you" He said, shooting the monkey a look of betrayal, the monkey responded with sticking her tongue out, making Harry giggle before he asked. "Would you like to see the other animals? Don't worry, their all friendly, their used to people." A total of twenty people were employed to take care of just one room, making sure the animals were cleaned up, well kept and groomed, and also to sooth Harry's worries, he took the boy by the hand, to reassure Harry that he was here before going deeper into the forest.
They than saw ducky's in an artificially made pond, one man was feeding them with bag of oats, the oats that fell into the pond were attacked viciously.
Xander, could tell that Harry wanted to feed the ducks but was too shy or scared to ask.
He approached the man and tapped his shoulder, the man spun around and looked shocked to see him, he almost tripped himself in bowing.
"M-Master Felix, what brings you here?" The guy stuttered, Harry gave the man a weird look, the man was acting like a shop owner who just saw Jamus Potter walk through the front door of his shop.
"Just sightseeing" Xander said, used to it. "I assume, the animals are taken care before their release back into the wild?" Of course some of the animals just refuse to leave, like the monkey that was currently on top of Harry head.
And who could blame them, it was better living here, than out in the wild, where they could get slaughtered at any time, it was the survival of the fitness in the jungle, everybody know that.
"Y-Yes, sir, with the utmost car.e" The man stuttered.
"Good" Xander said, "You wouldn't mind..." Pointing at the man's hand that held the bag, naturally the man eye sight followed it.
The man said nothing and gave him the bag of oats and took a step back to watch.
"Harry" He said, drawing the boys attention and asking. 'Would you like to fed the ducks?" The boy seemed shocked and was about to say no, when in reality he did, when he remembered one of his daddy rules.
Do not lie to him.
"Can I?" It was almost too quiet for anybody to hear, but Xander clearly heard it and smiled and said. "Let's fed the ducks together" sprinkling some in Harry hand and some in his own before placing the bag down.
He sat on the artificial grass and Harry sat next him.
He throw the first oats and they both watched amazed as the ducks rushed to them as if it was last meal of their lives.
"Now, you" he said, and Harry shyly throw some and got the same result, drawing a smile on his face and the onlooker, seeing his eyes light up with childish delight, it only got brighter when one of the small ducks came to Harry and started eating the oats out of his hand, careful not to nip any skin, it was used to be fed this way.
Harry giggled, since it tickled.
It didn't take long for the bag of oats to finish and Harry sadly, said, goodbye to ducks and they want to see the Dolphins, Harry smile grew bigger when one of them brushed harmless against his finger.
"Daddy, it touched me" Harry said, and Xander was thankful that he had enough control over his emotion to not show the pure shock of having Harry call him that and so soon, he thought he would need several weeks at most to get comfortable with him to call him that.
"Would you like to feed them?" He said, getting a bucket full of fish and Harry nodding excitedly, finally feeling like a child at a zoo.
He showed Harry what to do and Harry eyes, lit up in awe as the dolphin jumped out of the water, showing a jiggered scar on it underbelly, and took the fish from his hands, than did a back flip in thanks, getting an even bigger smile from Harry, sure that his brother had never been to a place like this.
He said goodbye to the dolphins and they went to see the Meerkats, who scattered like cockroaches when Pan landed in their habitat and out of curiosity.
After that, they visited several other animals, each of them, had unique treats that brought a smile to Harry's face, but it was getting late now and his six year body was beginning to tire, despite him insisting that he wanted to see more animals.
It was even harder for Xander to separate Pan from Harry face when they were leaving, he pretty much told Harry to run as soon as he created a chance, they both ran the moment the monkey was far away enough and closed the door before the monkey could reach Harry once more.
He had to sigh in relief.
This was why, he didn't like going in that room that much.
He immediately went to smell himself and draw back instantly, he smelt terrible, and he was willing to bet Harry did too.
He took Harry to his room, and the boy's tired eyes pretty much came alive when he realized that this was the first time he saw his room and drank it all in, it wasn't too grand and it was fairly plain by Harry standards but Harry couldn't help but notice the amount of books stacked on shelves all around the room, he had never seen a room with so many books that wasn't the Potter's family library.
Aside from that, there was barely any other books in the Potters manor.
He could just feel the culture rolling off each book, there was a medium sized desk in the corner that had lamp, an old looking book open and beside it, were several rolled up penchants but what was odd about it, was that the desk also had a quill and a muggle pen.
The bed was just normal, nothing too grand or fancy, just normal.
"Alright, bath time." He said, gently guiding Harry to the Bathroom where he prepared an average birth that wasn't as grand as the one he had earlier today and got in, he was than surprised to see Xander start taking off his clothes, revealing the surprisingly amount of scars that littered his body and his toned and muscular frame and usually the hidden object underneath his collar, but was now on view, it was some kind of necklace that had a pendent on it, with a lion's mouth in mid-roar.
Naturally Harry was curious about it but he didn't say anything, he was too shocked at the fact, his own daddy got in the bath with him.
"We both need a good scrub" Xander said, not caring that he's completely naked before calling out. "Drabble"
There was a soft pop and the sight of a familiar House Elf graced Harry presence once more.
"Yes, Master Felix, sir?" The House Elf said.
"Can you find us some fresh pair of clothes, both mine and Harry size?" He said.
"Yes, Master, Felix, sir" And with that, the House elf was gone, it was back five minutes later with two sets of PJ's, they were getting ready for bed so there was no need to get day clothes.
Harry shock's of the day, just kept on coming when they both got out, and Xander began to dry his messy hair with a soft towel and helping him in his clothes, he had seen his former Parents do this lots of times to Jamus but he never thought it would happen to him.
Xander changed into a blue bath rub underneath with light blue standard PJ's, Harry was dressed in something similar, they really looked like father and son.
They went to the main dinning hall where food was already waiting for them, this time Harry was a little less shy when eating, which meant today had, had a positive impact on him and Xander made sure, Harry finished everything on his plate, even the vegetables, before offering him ice cream.
"Daddy, what's ice cream?" Harry said, asking the one question Xander was sure would never come out of a child's mouth, let a lone a six year old.
All Xander could do was keep himself from looking at Harry with some kind of horror.
What child did not know, what Ice cream was!?
Wasn't Lily Potter a muggleborn!? So why the hell, did she deprave her own children of the wonders of Ice cream!?
This thought made him call for ice cream quickly, as if it was life and death and before Harry know it, he had a shall plate, in front of him, full of something he had never seen before, the same plate appeared in front of Xander.
"Harry, you need to eat this slowly, it's very cold." Xander warned, picking up a spoon and taking a chunk out of his perfectly formed plate of ice cream and savouring the taste, he might not look like it, but he had a sweat tooth for ice cream.
Harry copied the motion and found it cold, when it fell into his mouth, but that quickly disappeared when he felt flavour, that he didn't expect to come from such a small scoop.
It was good.
Really good.
He took more, each time faster than the last, before the dreaded brain freeze occurred, Harry face scrunched up in pain and said. "Daddy, it hurts"
"Harry, I told you to slow down" Xander said, "Take too much and it really goes to your head, the pain will pass in a few seconds."
And it did, Harry was fine again within seconds, and this time, the boy made sure to dig in more slowly and more cautiously, but he still managed to enjoy it.
In that moment, Harry decided that he liked Ice Cream, despite it being a double edged sword.
It tasted good but too much of it, made his brain hurt for a few seconds.
And once they had both finished their portions of ice cream, Harry was feeling very sleepy and could hardly stay awake, Xander thought he would guide the sleepy boy back to his room by picking him up, since he clearly couldn't walk on his own two legs.
Harry didn't protest at the touch and yawned every few steps and snuggled closer to him to the warmth that his daddy provided him, looking absolutely adorable in the process.
Several women who they passed, kept in their squeals at the sight of a sleepy little Harry.
They made it to his room, where Xander placed the child on the bed, tucked him in and said. "Good night, Harry." Kissing him on the forehead before quietly walking out and switching off the light before closing the door.
He smiled, before going back to his room, where he read a book until mid-night before finally deciding to get some sleep, he hadn't even shut his eyes for ten minutes before he heard.
"I'LL BE GOOD! I'LL BE GOOD! PLEASE STOP! PLEA-"
All sleep left his body immediately as he suddenly sat up.
Alarm bell's rose within him.
That was Harry voice.
Harry was having a nightmare.
And scene!
Wow, really long chapter, it's about nine at night and my eyes are dropping, I don't have time to check this chapter, four times like usual but I will have time tomorrow so sorry for the mistakes, I just wanted to put something out there, it will be corrected tomorrow, when I'm more fresher and more willing to spend three to four hours to check this. Next chapter, a rough night lay ahead for Xander, as he ventures into Harry mind to help him fight his nightmare. Review/ fav and follow!