The next morning, Daddy and Papa allowed me to sleep as long as I could. Papa woke up fairly early, and I heard him get up and get ready for the day, but I decided that I wanted to sleep more so did. I finally woke up around eight thirty. I stretched and opened my eyes looking around the room. Both Daddy and Papa were gone, and I assumed that they were probably both in the kitchen.
"Daddy?" I call walking out of the bedroom and into the hallway.
"We're in the kitchen Harry!" I hear called back, so I head that way.
"Are you hungry Harry?" Papa asks as I sit myself down at the kitchen table, and I shake my head no. "You aren't? Are you feeling alright? I hope you aren't getting sick," and I shrug my shoulders.
"He maybe feels a little warm, but he doesn't feel too bad. If he says he's ok then I don't think there is much we can do," Daddy says to Papa, feeling my forehead. "Now, what would you like to eat? Maybe just some cereal and juice?" I shrug my shoulders again, but it must have been taken for a yes, because soon the food is placed in front of me.
I ate a couple of bites before deciding I don't want anymore, and I finish my juice. I sit back as Daddy and Papa begin to discuss the day and what we need to do. I soon get bored just sitting there, so start to swing my legs, kicking the table leg in the process.
"Harry, go wash your face, brush your teeth and get dressed. The faster we leave, the faster we get back and you can do whatever you want," Papa instructs, pulling me out of my musings.
As soon as I am dressed, I run back down the hallway and into the great room. Once there, Papa leads me back to the bathroom where he cleans my hands again and puts on clean bandages. Then, Daddy makes me put on my sneakers while Papa calls Happy to come and pick us up. Uncle Tony loaned him to us for the day since neither Papa nor Daddy have their license yet.
"Alright, the first stop, I think is for us to stop and get Harry's clothes. Remus, you could probably do with some new things as well."
"But, before we can go shopping we need to get our finances in order and in order to do that we need to go to the ministry and see the American Minister of Magic," Papa says as he hustles us out of the door.
We all pile up into the car, and Papa hands me Patches. I lean back in the seat and relax watching the scenery as we drive by. We finally stop in the middle of the city and walk into a small pub. Once inside, Daddy exchanged words with the bartender, who leads us into the back room. Once there we walk over to the fireplace intending to Floo. Papa goes first before Daddy picks me up and steps in himself. I turn my face into his robes to keep away from the ashes.
We step out of the fireplace into what I can only assume is the ministry, but we move through so fast I barely get a glimpse of the place. We walk farther into the building and to the elevators. We are quickly whisked away from the lobby and step out of the elevator into a large room with a single desk and a woman sitting behind. Papa and her exchange words, while Daddy sits me down and hands me a book to look through.
We don't have to sit long before we are led into the office and introduced to a middle aged man wearing royal blue robes. He has a kind face, and bright blue eyes and black hair.
"Hello, I am Minister Johnson. My secretary said that you had an urgent need to meet with me, and that you pulled a code green on her. So, what can I do for you men today?"
"Well, my partner, our son and I are seeking shelter in your country. The three of us have gone to some extents to disguise ourselves, and to protect our son here. We blood adopted him to keep him safe. We wanted to let our presence be known to you but because of the sensitivity of our… situation, we decided that it would be for the best for us to meet one on one," Papa explains taking a seat. Daddy sits down next to him and pulls me up into his lap. I think it is more for his own peace then anything else.
"What's the sensitivity? You aren't running from the law are you?"
"Oh no," Papa says with a chuckle. "How much do you know about the goings on in England currently?"
"Not much to be honest. Ever since Minister Fudge was elected we haven't heard a word… we have tried on multiple occasions to contact your government but every attempt was denied."
"What about Voldemort? Ever heard of him?" Daddy asks pulling me back so that I am leaning against his chest.
"Of course, who hasn't? What does he have to do with this though? He died right? Killed when he tried to kill that baby," the minister says sitting down behind his desk.
"Well that's the thing, he didn't really die. And that baby is our son…" Daddy says staring straight at the minister.
"It's a long story, but I think it is best if we start from the beginning," Papa says and he starts our tale. He tells all about the night my parents died, how Pettigrew was found and Sirius was determined free, and about fourth year when Voldemort came back. Papa pauses here and exchanges a look with Daddy, I can tell that they are having a silent conversation.
"This past year, we became aware of a connection between Harry and Voldemort. When we became aware of it, we decided that it was best for Harry to learn occulmency. Unfortunately we were not fast enough. Voldemort became aware of the connection and used it to draw Harry to the ministry. He wanted the prophecy that was about the two of them in the department of mysteries. Harry fell for it, and went with a group of friends…" Papa pauses for a minute and Daddy picks up where he left off.
"It took us two weeks to find them. By then, they were not in the best of shapes. We don't really know much of what happened to them there. One of the children didn't make it out alive. One is still in a coma, and the another they think will be paralyzed for life. The three that are home may be physically well, but they have not been very forthcoming on information."
"Harry here in particular. We know that he is still haunted by what happened, and he has nightmares about it but so far he has not opened up about it," Papa says, and Daddy wraps his arms tighter around me. "In order to protect him, we changed our name, and blood adopted him. We are trying to keep these people off of our tail. Harry has had a hard life, so we are allowing him a chance to grow up again, in a real family."
"Well, I have to say that I am surprised that your ministry has yet to make contact with ours. Do you want to become citizens? I am assuming that is all I have to know?"
"Yes, we would like to become citizens. We plan to raise Harry here in the states, with Remus' cousin Tony. We want to stay here until they have handled the Dark Lord issue. There is absolutely no reason why the fate of the world should rest on the shoulders of this young boy. We also thought we should let you know that Remus is a werewolf. We haven't had a full moon since the blood adoption, so we aren't sure how the moon will affect Harry, or even if it will," Sirius concludes. He adjusts me on his lap so that I am sitting sideways and he can see my face. He smiles at me before turning his attention back to the minister.
"Alright, well let me call my two head aurors up here. For your protection they will be the only ones who know of you and your situation. They will process your citizenship papers and will be on call if the ministry is ever contacted regarding you. They will be in charge of everything you," the minister says, and he picks up his wand quickly sending off his patronus, it is gone before I can determine its shape.
"Thank you, I can't tell you how much we appreciate your help," Papa says.
"Do you think you'd be able to help me transfer my money from England? I want to put it in a muggle bank here in America. I have a smaller private vault that I put under my new name. It is enough for us to live off of for years, but not so much that it would draw too much attention," Daddy explains. "Once things have calmed down in England, I have plans to get the rest transferred accordingly."
The minister quickly agrees to do what he can.
Dad pulls out my book again, giving me something to do while they go over the details of what is to happen once the aurors have come in. It takes a while to bring them up to speed, and I zone them all out. I have to sit for a minute while they take a picture of me for the citizenship papers, but otherwise they are easily ignored.
Once we are done and all of their questions are answered it is lunch time. Papa and Daddy lead me onto the streets to a small restaurant where we stop to eat.
"How about chicken nuggets? They are in the shape of dinosaurs! That's pretty awesome," Daddy asks once we are sitting down and looking over the menu. I again just shrug my shoulders.
"Are you sure you are feeling alright Harry? It's ok if you don't. One of us could easily take you home if not, and I am sure we can help make you better," Papa says. I just shrug my shoulders. I think I fell ok, I am tired but I am not worried about it, and I know I am not hungry but I have never been a super hungry person. I've never been able to put away food like Ron, Hermione used to always nag me about it.
Thinking of Hermione takes me back to when we were kidnapped. I can't help the flashes of images that start in front of my eyes. I quickly remember how we pressured her into helping us escape to the ministry in the first place. She didn't really want to go, and tried to stop us, telling us that it was not real and probably a trick. We didn't believe her, we should have though. She was always right.
She was the first person they started to torture. They knew exactly what to do to each of us to make us suffer the most. They knew that I would do anything to protect my friends, and they made sure to make me feel powerless against them and helpless in shielding my friends.
"HARRY!" I hear suddenly yelled in my ear. I jump and turn my head to find Daddy staring at me in concern. I look over at Papa and see him with a similar look on his face. "Are you alright pup?" I nod my head, still reeling over the memories that I have been trying to keep hidden that just came forward.
"Maybe we should just head home, we can easily do our shopping tomorrow," Papa says in concern and he places a hand on my forehead.
"No! I'm alright, I swear!"
"Alright, but you have to pick something for lunch. If you eat a normal amount and at the end are sure you are still ok, then we will continue shopping," Daddy decides after sharing a long look with Papa.