Disclaimer: me no own got it good.
Voldyismoldy: Hello all my lovely readers as promised in the other story I am updating this one as well. I
don't know what it is about flying on a plane but it always inspires me to write so aren't you all lucky. I think this story might have maybe two more chapters left after this one. Kind of sad all my stories are ending but it's really good too. So anyway without further ado the next chapter.
Warning: mentions of mild abuse and neglect.
Chapter 14. Making things right.
It was Harry who moved first rushing to his son who looked at him in fear and bewilderment. At the same time Draco wiped his wand out aiming it at the red head who glared back at him. The black haired man spoke soothingly to the child now in his arms and though the boy made no response he did look questioningly at Draco. The blonde haired man gave a slight nod of his head in response to his unasked question and the child beamed in delight.
"Papa," Siri asked all the pain and fear forgotten as Harry nodded and the boy hugged him back happily. "Daddy Draco found you just like he promised!"
"Yes he did and I swear I won't ever leave you again," Harry promised as he picked the boy up and put him on his hip." I never meant to leave you at all and I am so sorry I've been gone for so long."
"Yeah where have you been all this time Potter," Ron asked with a sneer ignoring the wand that was trained on him. "Didn't think I would ever have to see you again."
"Believe me Ronald I never wanted to see you again either," the green eyed man told him. The smile left Siri's face as he clutched his papa's shirt feeling the tension in the room rising. "But it's worth it to get my son back and keep him away from you. How many time have you hit him? I seriously doubt this was the first time knowing your temper Weasley."
"Please like you even care Potter you're the one who's been gone for the last five years," the red head snapped as Hermoine slipped into the kitchen and over to where her children were playing in the connected family room. "That boy's been nothing but a burden on my wife and I but we have been caring for him all the same with no help from you bloody bastard."
"Draco I want you to call the aurors right now," Harry told the blonde haired man never taking his eyes off his former friend as he adjusted his son's weight slightly. "I am not leaving here without Siri."
Draco nodded and cast a patronus charm ignoring Ron's snort at the sight of the ferret that appeared. He spoke softly to it and then the ghostly creature scurried away from them. Hermoine shot Ron a look before gathering up their children and leaving the room. It was obvious to all that she wanted nothing to do with them or the boy they were arguing over. Siri watched them leave sadly having always known his stepmother didn't like him and snuggled closer to his papa, who tightened his hold on him, wanting the comfort he gave.
They didn't have to wait long for the aurors to arrive after the ferret returned to Draco. Ron frowned but let them in the three of them moving to the front entrance to meet them. There were three of them altogether, two men in the robes of aurors and a third woman who wore a blue business suit. She was an older woman with brown hair that reminded Harry a bit of Umbridge except for the kind look on her face. She smiled at Siri and wrote something down in the notebook she carried with her.
"Mr. Potter good to see you again mate," the first auror said his Irish lilt identifying him as Seamus Finnigan much to Harry's surprise. The other auror elbowed him with a shake of his head. "I mean what seems to be the problem? Malfoy's message only said we were needed and it involved you. Which of course got an immediate response as no one's heard from you in years."
"Thank you Seamus, Draco recently found me and brought me back," Harry replied shifting the child in his arms who was starting to squirm a bit nervous around all these people Siri didn't know. "And I am glad he did as we just witnessed him strike my son in what I doubt was the first time."
"I see, hello Siri, how are you today," the woman asked looking at the little boy. Siri blushed and turned his face into Harry's shoulder trying to hide there. "It's all right little one I just want to talk to you ok. We will just go into the other room and have a little chat," Harry tensed as she looked at him. "If you would put him down please Mr. Potter I need to speak to him alone."
Harry hesitated for a moment and then giving Siri a squeeze he reluctantly put him down. The woman bent over holding her hand out to the boy who looked at Harry and Draco uncertainly. Both men nodded and he hesitantly put his hand in the woman's allowing her to lead him gently back into the kitchen. The men watched them leave and then Seamus's partner cleared their throat bringing their attention back to them.
"So let me get this straight, you and Mr. Malfoy are claiming that Mr. Weasley hit the child and that this has happened before?" Seamus's partner questioned taking out a notebook of his own. Both men nodded and he turned to the red head who had yet to speak. "And what do you have to say about this Mr. Weasley?"
"Only that I barely touched the boy," Ron replied doing his best to hold onto his temper even as Harry glared at him. "It was a light smack meant only to discipline him after he broke a plate on purpose. Something he does a lot as he has no respect for us or our things."
Both Draco and Harry looked at their former classmate in disbelief. Draco knew well that Siri was a very respectful little boy and he had told Harry all about his many visits with him. The two aurors didn't look convinced either but said nothing as Seamus wrote his story down in the notepad he held and the other, his name tag identified him as auror Fitzbrow, began asking them other questions. Harry only half paid attention to the questions his thoughts turning constantly to his son and the woman who had left with him hoping his little boy was ok.
Siri followed the woman uncertainly back into the kitchen though all he really wanted to do was stay with his papa. He had only just gotten him back and what if he were to disappear again? What if when Siri returned to the living room Harry wasn't there? Then what would he do? Would Daddy Draco be able to find him again or would the blonde haired man leave him too. Maybe Papa would take him away with him and then Siri would be left here all alone with his father and Mrs. Hermoine.
Siri didn't want that. He didn't like living with his father and his wife. They were never nice to him and acted like everything he did was wrong. He tried to be a good boy, really he did, but he just couldn't seem to do it. His siblings were good, even when they threw fits, and got lots of hugs and kisses but Siri didn't. The only one who ever hugged him was Daddy Draco and he told Siri that he was a good boy too.
"Ok, Sirius, we will just sit right here and talk a bit all right," the woman told him pulling out two chairs from the table. Siri nodded, crinkling his nose at the use of his full name, and sat down in the chair she left open for him. "Now my name is Mrs. Merryweather but you can call me Sarah if you like all right?"
"Ok," Siri replied keeping his eyes lowered to the table instead of on the woman. "Um . . . you can call me Siri, that's what Daddy Draco and papa call me."
"Very well Siri it is then," Sarah agreed with a gentle smile as she scribbled something in her notepad. "Do you like your Daddy Draco and papa?"
"Yeah Daddy Draco is awesome! He gives me lots of hugs and presents and he says papa is really nice too so he must be," the little boy exclaimed bouncing slightly in his seat. His excitement started to drain a bit as he continued. "I hope he is and that he likes me. I've waited so long to meet him and it would be awful if now he doesn't like me. Do you think he likes me?"
"I am sure he does, Siri, you are a very likeable little boy," she told him reassuringly. The child frowned clenching his fists on the table a bit but said nothing. "Don't you think you're likeable?"
"I don't know father doesn't like me and Mrs. Hermoine doesn't either, not really," Siri replied. She was surprised that he sounded troubled but not sad as if it was something he had always known. "I try to be good but sometimes I mess up and then they yell at me and tell me how awful I am. Specially when my magic acts up they really hate that."
"Really even though they know you can't control it?" Mrs. Merryweather asked. Siri only shrugged in response still not looking at her and not noticing as she wrote down more notes. "Siri can you tell me if they do more than just yell at you?"
"Father hits me sometimes when I make him really mad and Mrs. Hermoine locks me in my room for a long time when she gets mad," the boy explained softly too young to understand why she was asking him these questions or what it could mean for him. "Usually they just ignore me unless I make them mad. So maybe there's something wrong with me and papa won't like me either. But I really want him to like me so I can go live with him and Daddy Draco. That would be awesome!"
"I'm sure it would be," the woman murmured carefully hiding her growing concern for the boy as she wrote down a few more notes. "Do they act the same with your siblings Siri?"
"Eric and Marissa? No their really nice to them. Tell them they love them all the time, and how proud they are of their magic, and stuff," Siri told her. For the first time he looked at her and there was real confusion in his eyes. "I like them, even though Marissa is annoying sometimes, but I'm not allowed to play with them even though I want to and I don't know why."
"I'm very sorry to hear that Siri and I don't know why either," Sarah replied putting down her quill and placing her hand on his shoulder comfortingly. "I think that's enough questions for now let's go back to your papa."
Siri nodded eagerly and the two left the room to join the others in the front room. By this time Hermoine had been brought down as well and was standing by her husband with Marissa on her hip.
Eric stood next to her and when he saw his brother he tried to go to Siri but his mother kept a firm grip on his hand so he couldn't. Siri frowned and went over to his papa who immediately picked him up and cuddled him. The little boy smiled snuggling against the man and the woman made another quick note in her book before rejoining them.
"Mr. Potter and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, my name is Sarah Merryweather and I am a social worker at the ministry. It is my job to make sure that children are in safe and caring environments do you understand," the woman began looking between the three of them. They all nodded tension filling the room as she went on. "Then aurors Finnigan and Fitzbrow it is my professional opinion that young Siri is not safe here at this time," Harry's hold on the boy tightened while both Ron and Hermoine gave her looks of disbelief that quickly turned to horror as she continued. "I also feel that, at least temporarily, all three children should be removed from Mr. and Mrs. Weasleys care. Much more questioning and evaluation would hve to be done before I would be comfortable letting any of the children return here."
She didn't even finish speaking before the uproar began. Ron's hold on his temper vanished as he shouted at the woman that she didn't know what she was talking about. Fitzbrow had to restrain him as he tried to make a move toward her, to do what no one was sure of but they weren't taking any chances. Tears filled Hermoine's eyes as she clutched her daughter and backed away from them making Eric stumble who looked up at her in confusion.
"No you can't take my children from me," she told them shaking her head in denial before her eyes landed on Siri and she glared at the boy. "Take the little brat if you want, I never wanted him here anyway, but you're not taking my son and daughter."
"I'm afraid that's not possible Mrs. Weasley any suspicion of child abuse must be taken very seriously especially when such young children are involved," the social worker replied icily as Siri whimpered and buried his face in his papas shoulder hurt by his stepmothers words. "All three will come with me but I assure you they will be well taken care of and will be kept together. We wouldn't want to separate siblings after all." Hermoine bristled under her pointed look but said nothing.
"Excuse me Mrs. Merryweather?" Harry's soft voice cut into the tension in the room. As one they all turned to look at him while he rubbed his sons back soothingly. "Might I make a small request?" The woman hesitated and then nodded curiously. "Would it be possible for the children to go to their grandparent's home? I trust the elder Weasley's to care for them and follow any rules you might have and it would be less distressing for the children."
"We don't normally allow that . . . ," the social worker began thoughtfully. She looked at the three children all of whom looked varying degrees of upset and afraid. "How ever given the circumstances and that one is an infant I think we can do that in this case."
"Thank you," Harry replied feeling his son calm against him slightly. Ron had picked up Eric after he was released by the officer and he and Hermoine looked relieved as well to know their kids were going to their grandparents. "If it's all right I'll take my son to his room and pack something's for him."
The woman nodded and Draco led him up a flight of stairs to the right of the front room. Behind him Harry could hear someone following them and assumed Hermoine or Ron were doing the same for their children. Once they reached the landing Draco led him down the hall to another flight of stairs that appeared to lead to what looked like an attic type area. Harry frowned as he was brought to a small room at the top of the stairs that was in a way a reminder of the cupboard where he had spent the majority of his own childhood.
Like Harry, Siri, had been kept away from the rest of his family and made to feel like an outcast in his own home. It pained him that his son had been treated as he had and his arms tightened around the boy as they went inside the room. It was bigger than his cupboard had been though not by much and sparsely furnished. A small bed under the only window, a stool with an old lamp near it a wardrobe, and an old rug on the floor. But there were toys and books too and the open door of the wardrobe showed a bunch of clothes so Siri hadn't been totally deprived as Harry had been.
"Draco can you please start packing up I want to talk to Siri for a moment," Harry asked softly. The blonde nodded, conjuring a trunk, as the other man sat down on the bed with the boy. "Son are you all right."
"I don't know I'm kind scared Papa," Siri told him clutching the man's shirt in tight fisits as he looked up at him in uncertainty. "Why does that lady want to take us away and why can't I go with you and Daddy Draco?"
"That lady is a social worker and it's her job to make sure that children are in homes where they are well taken care of," the green eyed man explained. The child only frowned in response and Harry knew that he didn't really understand nor did he really expect him too. "She has decided that you and your brother and sister may not be safe here so you're going to go stay with your grandparents for a little while until they decide what place is best for you which is why you can't come with us yet either."
"But I will soon right?" the boy asked eagerly as he looked between the two men with his innocent eyes so like Harry's own. "Cause she'll know you and Daddy Draco are better for me real quick and then I'll go live with you and Grandma Cissa and Uncle Sev and Remy."
"Yes Siri before you know it you will be home with all of us," Draco agreed moving to sit down next to them the trunk fully packed sitting in the middle of the room. "Daddy Draco has the best lawyers and they will make sure you're with your papa and I before you know it I promise."
"Good cause I told Mrs. Sarah that I wants to be with you," Siri replied nodding his head in an understanding he didn't really have but he trusted his daddy and papa. "Just don't leave me again Papa promise you won't."
"I promise Siri I won't go away ever again," Harry sore embracing the little boy and feeling Draco slide his arm over his shoulders. He sighed stealing himself for what he had to say next not knowing how his son would handle it. "Siri there's something else I need to tell you." He hesitated as Siri looked up at him with a smile eyes big with curiosity. "There's someone else waiting for you at our home you see you have another little sister. Her name is Arianna and she's very eager to meet you."
"Another sister?" his son repeated thoughtfully. Harry nodded silently tensing as the boy went on looking at him now with hurt and confusion in his eyes. "Is that why you left me Papa cause you liked her better than me?"
"No Siri, never. I love you both the same and Ari wasn't born when I left, she came after that," the man told him hastely wanting desperately to reassure the little boy in his arms. "I . . . I left Siri because I
was a coward and because after they took you away I felt so alone and lost that I couldn't stand to stay but it had nothing to do with you Siri. You were perfect and no one could ask for a better son."
For a long time the child only stared at him as he thought about what he had said and then suddenly a grin formed on his face and his green eyes sparkled.
"Ok then Papa I'll be a good big brother for her too," he told them excitedly. Harry smiled in relief and leaned a bit against Draco grateful for his silent support. "So that's another reason to bring me home soon so I can meet her right away."
Harry and Draco both laughed in agreement and preceded to answer all of Siri's questions about his previously unknown little sister. The boy wanted to know everything and seemed to never run out of questions but eventually Draco reminded them that the others were waiting for them downstairs. Reluctantly Harry stood with his son still in his arms despite how heavy the boy was getting, he wanted to hold his little boy for as long as he could. Draco shrunk the trunk, holding it in his hand, and then they walked back downstairs again.
When they returned to the front room Ron was trying to calm down his son who it seemed at the sight of the bags had started crying at least partly understanding what was happening now. Hermoine was cradling her daughter and feeding her a bottle her eyes wet as well. For a moment Harry felt a pang of sympathy for them until he remembered what they had done to his son and that this was their own fault. No one had made them treat Siri the way they had and they now had to face the consequences of their own actions. With this in mind he kept his face expressionless as he moved past them and over to the social worker who was talking quietly with Auror Fitzbrow.
"Mrs. Merryweather we have all of Siri's things," Harry told her as Draco handed the shrunk trunk to Finnigan who took it while smiling at the little boy. Siri gave him a small smile in response. "We're sorry for making you wait for so long."
"Not to worry Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley just finished speaking with his father and though they are not happy they are willing to take the children," the social worker told them. So that was probably why Eric was so upset then, he had heard his father talking to his grandfather, and now knew what was happening though not why. "Now the children will come with me to their grandparents and they will remain with them while we question and evaluate both of your families to determine where the best place for Siri is and if it is safe for Eric and Marissa to return here. A judge will decide that and while during that time you will have visitations they will be supervised visits with either myself or another social worker present."
"How long should all this take?" Ron asked having succeeded in calming his son though the little boy was still sniffling and rubbing at his eyes as he lend against his father's chest. "How long are we to be without our children?"
"It's hard to say but it does depend a lot on the amount of cooperation we get from everyone involved," Mrs. Merryweather replied as Hermoine finished feeding her daughter and put her in her baby carrier, the infant having fallen asleep after her meal. "We need to be as thorough as possible and it will ultimately be up to the judge how long it takes."
"When will we know about when we can visit them?" Harry asked as he reluctantly put his son down at last smiling slightly as the boy wrapped his arms around his leg. "As well as the court session to determine where the children should go."
"You will know both of those things as soon as we are able to tell you but I can nearly guarantee that your first visits will be sometime within the next week and a half," the woman assured them taking the baby carrier from a reluctant Hermoine who was struggling to keep herself from crying aware of her son watching her and wanting to be strong for him. "Until then you will at least know that your children are with people you trust and you know will take good care of them in your stead. Now we should get going I want to get everything started as soon as I can."
"Ok Siri you have to go with them now all right but Daddy and I will see you again very soon I promise," Harry told his son as he knelt and hugged the boy tightly. He could feel his shirt growing wet as Siri started to sniffle softly. "Be good for your grandparents and I will bring you home with us as soon as I can ok."
"Ok Papa I'll be really good promise," the boy replied reluctantly letting him go as Draco knelt to hug him as well. "I love you Papa and Daddy don't make me wait too long."
"We won't Siri I promise you," Draco told him as he let him go and stood with Harry to watch the boy walk over to the waiting auror who took his hand. "And I will take good care of your papa while we wait to bring you home."
Siri grinned at that and took the aurors hand nervous but trusting in his papa and daddy that everything would be fine. Eric however was not so certain and started crying again as Ron gave him to his mother and the two tried to console him. It took them a while but eventually the little boy reluctantly nodded and stopped crying again as Hermoine handed him over to Finnigan after kissing him on the forehead. She took a few steps back and Ron took her hand in his squeezing it gently as the two men left the house with the two boys in tow.
"You will hear from us very soon Mr. Potter, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, good day for now," Merryweather told them before following the two men out of the house with the baby who was surprisingly still sleeping despite her brother's outburst.
"I hope you're happy now Potter, getting our kids taken away from us," Ron snapped once they were gone. Hermoine said nothing only hurried up the stairs trying to stifle her sobs. "Get out of my house you're not welcome here."
Harry and Draco left the house without a word neither one wanting to stay there any longer then they needed to. As they walked down the path to the apparition point Draco took the other man's hand in his giving it a gentle squeeze and Harry gave him a small smile in return. Draco knew how hard this was for him, to lose his son even if only temporarily so soon after seeing him again, but he would make sure that it wouldn't be very long at all until Siri was home with them. As soon as they got home he would contact his best lawyers and get things started.
There was no way he would ever let that little boy return here and he was determined to get Harry full custody of his son. What happened to the other two was of little concern to Draco, not that he would want any child in an abusive environment, but he was fairly certain that any of that had been directed solely at Siri. There didn't seem to be any evidence that Eric and Marissa had suffered any abuse or neglect at their parent's hands but it was possible that they had and if so the social workers and aurors would figure that out eventually.
Draco's only concern was bringing Siri home to his papa and the others waiting for him at his house. As well as to keep Harry from stressing too much as he was sure the other man was doing by his silent brooding next to him. Knowing this when they reached the end of the path Draco drew the other into his arms and brought his lips to his own in a deep and reassuring kiss. Harry leaned against him thankful that he was there and holding onto each other they apparated away together from the Weasley home.
A/N: well there you go the next chapter of this story, hope you all enjoyed it and that it made sense. Just to clarify a couple of things Harry, because he has been gone so long, has no custody over Siri which is why Merryweather (and yes her name is from the fairies of sleeping beauty) would not just let him take his son home with him. Also she did not address Draco at all, who was awfully quiet in this chapter, because he has no legal right to Siri at this point so he in her eyes is not important to what's going on. I also know that social services would never let the kids stay with relatives but I didn't want them going to some foster place or something so I changed that. Anyway the court scene will be in the next chapter and this time it will end a lot differently than the last time. So wait for that and review, review, review.