Chapter One: The Boy Who Lived
Authors Note: Thank you all who alerted my story and commented on it! I am very pleased you all found it interesting enough to read! As many of you said that you were not a big fan of Harry being raised by someone else, I agree with you. This story has been itching in my brain for weeks though, and I decided to give it go! To tell you the truth; I'm surprised it got that many reviews and comments! I'll do my best, Dearest Readers, to keep the story interesting and to avoid clichés as much as possible. While throwing in humor, family moments, and of course Magic!
Disclaimer: Seeing that I forgot to put this in the first chapter, or prologue, I will put it know. I do not own Harry Potter or any characters, creatures, and interesting magical words that are associated with it. I also do not own Hetalia: Axis Powers, any of the characters, creatures (such as Flying Mint Bunny), and interesting…magical words…? This is merely a fan fiction, written by yours truly.
Warning: Minor curse words may possibly occur.
.oOo.
Arthur felt confused, for lack of a better word. At his feet was a small child, jet black hair and closed sleeping eyes. The babe was wrapped in a tattered brown blanket and with the infant was a letter. Its cream envelope shone against the gray of England's weather; almost like Christmas lights or a newly cleaned window. The extravagant letter was sealed closed with red wax and on the wax were the initials A.B. stamped into it.
Arthur was almost certain that the child had been dropped off at the wrong house. Arthur was not, could not have been the infant's father! His morning was going fine until this point, all he wanted was his paper off his drive way and perhaps his mail from the box, not a stop from the Stork!
Carefully, the Brit picked up the child, making sure no one had seen him before retreating to his home. The child's pale skin looked dangerously cold while his nose was red and running. How was he not supposed to be concerned?
"Bloody Hell," Arthur whispered under his breath. Unsure of what to do with the child in his arms, he decided to place it upon the couch cushion, causing the infant to stir and awake slightly before returning to it's quiet slumber. "Who are you?"
He had almost forgotten about the letter before he plucked it from the blanket and opened it quietly, before reading it to himself.
Dear Arthur Robert Kirkland, the letter read.
The boy that has been presented to you if merely a young infant of 15 months, being born July 31st, 1980. Much to my grief as well as others, young Harry Potter's parents had been brutally murdered the night of Hollow's Eve, or October 31st, of this year. Leaving him orphaned with not a remaining relative present.
I have bestowed his upbringing on you, Arthur Robert Kirkland, knowing that you are a special man. Young Potter currently needs you and will continue to need you as he grows older. I hope that you find his presence equally satisfying for he may be the portal into another world that you always sought.
With Warm Regards,
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
Arthur looked stunned as he reread the letter several times. Analyzing it, making sure that is was his name the letter was addressed to. Arthur could have stood there, reading the letter a series of times all day if it wasn't for a quiet grunt coming from the infant on the couch.
His eyes shot to the small human. He was awake and seemed to Arthur on the verge of tears. All of his suspicions, of course, were soon proven correct when the sharp wale of a child ripped through the silence. In a panic, Arthur went to pick the child up, bouncing him softly against his chest as he often seen woman with their children do when they began to cry in public.
It seemed to be working for the cries stopped though tears still continued to fall. Arthur lowered the baby in his arms to get a better look at him. "Harry Potter," He said half to himself, half to the child. "Harry Potter." He repeated quietly. This time, really thinking about the name and coexisting it with the baby he had currently in his arms.
"What am I going to do?"
.oOo.
A week had passed since Harry's arrival and Arthur found it hard not to believe it was a dream. Not exactly a bad dream or nightmare, for Harry was a good baby. He ate a good amount and sleep through the night on most nights, but something continued to itch at the back of Arthur's mind.
It struck the Brit odd that child arrives at his house with nothing more than a letter and a blanket and yet, he is told to accept the strange ordeal and just raise the child with no questions or wonders? Not to mention tight money problems. Arthur made just enough to support himself, pay his bills, and stay out of debt. With a new person in the house, especially an infant, he would have to not only get another job, but a Nanny to watch Harry.
It was a lot for a man of twenty-one that never planned on having kids to handle.
From the kitchen Arthur could hear Harry in the front room. He was most likely watching television and playing with the few toys he had purchased for the youngster. It had become extremely obvious to Arthur that the toddler given to him was extraordinarily bright. Already capable of spelling out his own name in letter blocks and letter cereal.
And while Arthur could admit that he had made Harry's stay so far very comfortable, he was at a loss of that to do with Harry when they boy wanted him Mum. Several times already, at least two a day, the young boy would walk around the house, clutching a stuffed rabbit crying, "Mummy". Arthur was unsure how to explain to an infant that his Mum was never going to answer.
Arthur hoped that with time, Harry would finally forget about his parents. After all, infants and toddlers of his age don't remember anything from that time period of their lives when they grew older.
Some could say that, within that week, Arthur has grown a soft spot for Harry. Despite still finding the whole situation odd. When his brother called earlier, he asked Arthur why had missed work. Naturally, the Brit would want to tell the truth to his brother but, "A baby showed up on my doorstep and Imma told raise it!" just didn't seem right. So instead, he replied by telling him that he was simply sick and would be returning shortly.
It didn't seem fair though, Arthur had thought, keeping a child from society just because he was incapable of either coming up with a legitimate excuse to why he has a child or being able to tell anyone the truth. On the other hand, Arthur also didn't seem it fair the situation he was force into by some Albus guy.
"If I was a smart man," Arthur said to Harry, placing a little bowl of Cheerios next to the boy. "I would bring you to an Orphanage, were professionals could handle you and get you a home."
Harry's little fingers when for the cereal before placing one in his mouth. He chewed on the snack before he looked up at Arthur smiling and clapping. "Yay!" Harry expressed, unaware what Arthur was taking about and honestly, didn't care all that much to find out.
Arthur sighed. "Yeah, yay."
Harry smiled again; bottom two teeth visible to Arthur before he lost interest in the blonde and went back to his Cheerios and television; happily eating another three or four and watching Rosie and Jim with complete, other interest.
Arthur sighed once again, which he found himself doing that a lot lately. He went into the kitchen that was right off of the living room. The letter he has received the night Harry was put on his doorstep was on the counter. Open.
Or, at least, Arthur thought it was open.
The letter that he had previously opened a few days ago and read a good hundred or so times; was sitting on the counter, once more sealed shut. Arthur looked at it bemused. He was sure he has opened it right after he had come into the house with Harry. It had told him of his "task", and yet, there it lay closed. At it had been the night it arrived.
Arthur picked up the letter cautiously. After all, if it could re-seal itself; chances are it could bite as well. It letter looked no different from when he first obtained it; other than the fact it was closed. He thought for a while, wondering whether or not if he should open it or whether he had actually opened it the night it came.
"A dream Arthur," He said to himself, trying to be convinced that this was nothing more. "A bloody weird one." Thin finger ripped the envelope, no longer wishing to keep it intact. This time, Arthur found that the envelope was no longer holding the letter it had once. This time, however, Arthur pulled out a paper, and then another. And another. And another.
A stack of papers at least thirty pieces high came from the envelope. Arthur was awestruck. "How was this possible?" Arthur thought aloud. "What in the hell is going on?"
The papers presented themselves as Birth Certificates, parent names addressed as Lilly and James Potter. As well as Adoption Rights forms, a new Birth Certificate with Arthur's name, even equipped with the names witnesses, and everything else that went along with adopting a child.
Stunned, he stared at them. Incapable of processing what was going on. Thousands of questions came racing though his head all at once! Suddenly, Arthur could feel a headache come on. He needed a nice quiet nap, and perhaps a nice cup of tea. Perhaps, even a few shot of tequila.
He was a legitimate father to an unexpected child.
.oOo.
Author Note #2: I hope you all enjoyed the first real chapter to Different Circumstances. During the end I felt it was a bit sketchy with the whole letter thing, but I worked with it. I hope you all felt like it worked well.
Leave a review to tell me what you think!