DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything that is related to Harry Potter… I just really enjoy creating new plots with J.K. Rowling's marvelous characters!
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Please don't hate me. I really do appreciate the reviews you guys have entered, and I do read them, but I simply don't have the time to respond to all of them. So I'll just answer a few of your frequent/important question now:
A few of you asked why I didn't have Madam Promfrey or another healer check over Harry? Well, Harry didn't have any extensive injuries, like broken bones, and Madam Promfrey wasn't at the school when Sirius took Harry there (I forgot to mention that… sorry). But Harry will be going to St. Mungo's for a normal check-up in either this chapter or the next one (I haven't decided) because Sirius is being his protective self.
Another question was why does Harry have such good vocabulary… or what is with his speech? Well, I'm making Harry a tad bit more intelligent than other three year olds (and you'll soon find out how much when Harry goes to the healer). However, he was never allowed to express his intelligence with the Dursleys so his speech couldn't improve much resulting in an excessive vocabulary, but insufficient pronunciation. Sorry for the confusion on that.
Why does Harry talk so much? To answer that you have to think back to when you were a kid and your parents left you with a baby-sitter or something. When they got back didn't seem like you had loads to tell them? Well… that's what's happening to Harry. He was hardly allowed to speak at the Dursley residence. So naturally when Harry learns that Sirius is interested in what he has to say, Harry's going to take full advantage of that and spill out his heart and soul.
As for why Harry's afraid of water, you will find that out in this chapter via nightmare. And just to warn you… It's heart breaking… Well… I guess the rest of the abuse is too though…
And a few of you asked how long I am planning on making this? To be honest I really have no idea. I'm just going to keep writing until the story has come to a definite ending, but I don't see that happening anytime soon. Actually, I was quite hoping to get through all of Harry's years at Hogwarts… But we'll see how that goes… Tee Hee…
Anyway, I believe this is the longest author's note I've ever had. But anyway on with the story!
Chapter Four: Revelations and Nightmares
"Harry?" Sirius called over the dinner table.
Harry's head snapped up to meet his godfather's eyes.
"You need to eat up, kiddo."
"I-I'm awowed to eat dis?" the child questioned. He had thought that Sirius, like his Uncle Vernon, had placed the delicious-looking food in front of him to taunt him with it. He knew better than to eat without being instructed to do so. So he had sat patiently, looking into his lap solemnly.
"Of course you're allowed to eat it," Sirius replied. "Why? Don't you like lasagna?"
"I-I dunno, sir – I mean S-Sirius. I never ever twied it befowe," the three-year-old replied truthfully.
"Really? Well go ahead and try it… I must say I did a pretty good job on it."
"Rwelly? I'm not donna dit in twouble wight?"
"Yes, really. And no you're not going to get in trouble," Sirius replied smiling. "I have to fatten you up!"
Harry giggled. "Like Dudley?"
"No!" Sirius laughed. "Not like Dudley!"
"Dood! Betause I don't wanna look like Dudley," Harry snickered.
"I don't want you to look like him either," Sirius chortled. "But you do need to eat up. Because I don't want you to be so skinny."
"Otay," Harry said, picking up his fork and cutting into the mouth-watering lasagna. Then, with one more tentative glance at his godfather for reassurance (Sirius nodded), he stuffed the bite into tiny mouth and chewed. It was the most delicious thing he had ever tasted.
"Mm…" He voiced his liking.
"Is it good?" Sirius asked chuckling at the little boy's reaction.
"Uh-huh!" Harry answered after he had swallowed. "Lasanyum's dood!"
"I'm glad you like it," Sirius told him. "So now all you have to do is finish up what's on your plate, and then we'll go see Dumbledore, okay?"
"Otay."
While he ate, Harry thought back throughout his day. Remus had come over that morning and stayed until well after lunch. Sirius and Remus had told Harry all sorts of stories about his parents, which dazzled the boy, of course. They asked Harry all kinds of questions about what he liked to do and what he didn't like to do. They asked him what his favorite color was. It happened to be red, much to Sirius's delight (he wanted Harry to like Gryffindor colors, so that they could paint his bedroom scarlet and gold). Harry was put down for a nap after lunch and woke back up at two. Remus finally left around three and Sirius and Harry played with the mini-dragon set until it was time to make dinner.
Once Harry's plate was empty, Sirius swept it away and into the sink. He turned and looked at the boy with a smile.
"All right, kiddo, we're going to visit Dumbledore!" he exclaimed.
"O-otay," Harry replied, a bit nervously.
"You don't have to worry about anything, pup. I'll be right there with you the whole time, okay?"
Harry nodded.
"All right then. Let's go get your shoes on." Sirius led Harry up the carpeted staircase gently. When they entered Harry's room, Sirius automatically began looking for Harry's shoes.
"What is you wooking fowr?" Harry asked after a while.
"Your shoes… Where'd you put them?" Sirius replied.
"I doesn't have none… member?" Harry told his godfather timidly.
"Oh! That's right! I forgot," Sirius said. "Well… I'm afraid I only have one pair of shoes and that's the pair I'm wearing… So I'll just have to carry you there, okay?"
Harry nodded. "Awe we donna go thwough the firepwace adain?"
"We sure are!" Sirius smiled. He watched in bliss as his tiny godson's face lit up considerably at the thought. The man chuckled.
The two of them headed back downstairs. Harry, being shoeless, was on Sirius's hip. However he rarely tensed at the contact anymore. Once downstairs, Sirius tossed a handful of floo powder into the hearth. Then, with Harry still resting on his hip, he stepped into the green flames.
"Dumbledore's Office!" he called out.
WHOOSH!
Finally the two of them stopped swirling and Sirius stepped into the Headmaster's office. Harry was giggling hysterically. Sirius grinned at the joyous sound.
"I take it he finds pleasure in the floo network then?" the old man chortled.
"Obviously," Sirius replied, chuckling himself. Harry finally calmed down and Sirius decided it was time to get to business. He set Harry on the lounge couch and took a seat next to the boy. "All right, Albus, what is it you needed?"
"Well, it seems that we have quite the little wizard on our hands," Dumbledore replied. His twinkling, sapphire eyes rested on Harry and he smiled. Harry blushed and looked down at his feet.
"What do you mean?" Sirius asked.
"Well, it has come to the Ministry's attention that young Harry here has been able to produce very advanced, wandless magic. Especially, considering his age, Harry has produced substantial powers that the Ministry hasn't seen in decades."
"Really?" Sirius said, shocked. "Like what?"
"He has produced countless shield charms, dozens of silencing wards, a few transfiguration spells, and not to mention the number of times he has been able to transport himself to an alternative location."
"Harry, did you know you could do that, kiddo?" Sirius asked his godson.
"Well, sometimes when Uncle Vewrnon would twy to whoop me I would cwose mine eyes and den dere would be a big light and it would push Uncle Vewrnon away fwom me," Harry told them naively. "Is dat bad?" He ducked his head regretfully. Both Sirius and Dumbledore smiled at the innocence.
"No, kiddo. It's not bad," Sirius told him. "All facts considered, I'd say it's actually very good!"
Yes, indeed it is!" Dumbledore chuckled. "But little Harry, here, needs some help with controlling the power… If not he could accidentally use those powers in front of a muggle and the secret of our world would be vulnerable."
"Vummerble?" Harry mumbled to himself, trying to figure out the word's meaning in his head.
"It means in danger or out in the open," Sirius told Harry, gently.
"Oh!" Harry answered back, absorbing the new word like it was the key to the future.
'Boy, he sure enjoys learning. He must have inherited that from Lily,' Sirius thought to himself as he observed the toddler.
"So, Sirius, I believe that little snag is up to you," Dumbledore chirped, breaking into the other man's thoughts.
"So, are you wanting me to teach him to control his magic?" he asked.
"Well… yes… That is precisely what I want you to do."
"But, I've never done anything like that before… How will I know what to do? How will I know if I'm even teaching him the right things?" Sirius asked, panic-stricken.
"Well I can always help if you need it, and I'm sure Remus Lupin would have no problem helping you and Harry, either," Dumbledore replied calmly.
"How do I know where to start?"
"Well I would start by making Harry feel completely comfortable living with you, so that he does not feel the need to use his magic to get what he needs or protect himself. Make him come to you instead."
"That's it? That will help him control his magic? Trusting me?" Sirius said.
"Why not? After all emotions are the spark to magic!" Dumbledore replied. "Trust is a deep emotion."
"Yeah… I suppose," Sirius replied absently. "Then what?"
"Well we'll have to wait and see. The trust may just be enough, but then again it may not. We'll just have to see."
"All right, then. I'll do my best. For him," Sirius said looking down at his godson, who didn't seem to be paying attention to the conversation at all. He was too busy staring at all the marvelous, surrounding trinkets in the room. They were truly fascinating in Harry's young mind. Of course he had no idea how any of them worked; he just liked how all of the items seemed to glisten in the light of the torches around the office.
"…ry… Harry?" Sirius voice broke into his musings.
"W-what?" Harry said in a little voice, shaking himself back into reality. "S-sawy…"
"Oh, it's okay, kiddo," Sirius replied with a smile. "I was just telling you that it's time to go home, okay?"
"Otay." Harry reached up and wrapped his arms around his godfather's neck as the man lifted him gently off the couch. "Yay! Were donna use da fwoo!" Harry quietly cheered.
"Yep, " Sirius chuckled. He tossed the powder into the grate and stepped into the green, blazing flames as they whisked around joyously. "Padfoot Residence!" The two of them whipped out of sight.
"My, my," Dumbledore chuckled once they disappeared. "That little boy's enough to brighten anyone's day!"
Back at their house, Sirius stepped out of the fireplace with a giggling Harry on his hip. He loved it when Harry laughed. He only wished that he could let the child know that it was okay to do so. He didn't want Harry to always quiet his laughter like he was doing now.
"What do you want to do before bed tonight, Harry?" Sirius asked. "Do you want me to read you something?"
Harry nodded enthusiastically. He'd never been read to before! He must have really done something to make Sirius happy with him if the man was willing to read to him before bedtime.
"All right," Sirius replied smiling. "I'm sure I put those children's books somewhere, upstairs. Let's get you ready for bed first, okay?" The two of them headed up the stairs and into the bathroom. Sirius helped Harry use the loo, wash his hands, and brush his teeth. Then, he led Harry into his bedroom and put him into some shrunken, red pajamas.
'I really need to get this kid some clothes. We'll have to do that tomorrow. Plus, I need to take him to St. Mungo's to have him checked over. Just in case. I don't want him getting sick or anything like that! That would be awful!' he thought as he dragged the pajamas over the little boy's body.
Harry finally climbed into bed around 8:20 p.m. Sirius tucked him in and sat on the edge of the bed. He then pulled out his wand and said, "Accio children's book!" For a moment nothing happened, but then Harry watched in enthrallment as a thin book sailed into the room and into Sirius's hand.
"Amulgo the Amazing…" Sirius began. He read on and told the tale of Amulgo, who was an extremely skilled Quidditch player. And, being a children's book, it went on to tell about all the different balls and all of their colors. However, Harry didn't get to hear Amulgo's entire tale, for he fell fast asleep as soon as the Quaffle had been described.
"Goodnight, Harry," Sirius whispered as he kissed the little boy on the forehead. He walked out into the hall and, leaving the door slightly cracked, he walked downstairs to read his own book.
The book he would be reading, however, was one over parenting. He wanted to be as prepared as possible, and if that meant he had to read, then that's what he would do – for Harry. The book was actually quite intriguing, considering how dull it could have been. However, the day's activities had left Sirius drained, and very soon he found himself asleep in his chair, only to be woken suddenly by a scream of terror.
Sirius instantly dashed up the stairs and burst into Harry's room, where the little boy was screaming and thrashing around violently.
"N-no, p-pwease! Uncle Vewrnon, I didn't mean to, I pwomise!" the boy sobbed.
Sirius rushed over to the bed and gathered Harry into his arms, rocking him. "Wake up, Harry. It's okay! Shh! It's all right. It's just a bad dream."
Harry's emerald eyes snapped open. At first he struggled against the arms as if his life depended on it, but then he heard his godfathers soothing voice. He relaxed considerably and sobbed into the man's robes. Sirius stroked Harry's hair and continued to murmur soft, reassuring words to the toddler. After a while Harry pulled back from the hug and sniffled pitifully. His round green orbs were bright with tears.
"How 'bout you sleep with me tonight?" Sirius offered. Harry merely nodded miserably. Sirius lifted the tot off of the bed and carried him down the hall and into his own room. He set Harry on the bed, transfigured his clothes into pajamas and crawled in next to the little boy. He wrapped his arms around Harry protectively, which allowed Harry to lay his head on Sirius's chest. Harry was out in minutes, and it didn't take long for Sirius follow.
And that's precisely how Remus Lupin found them the next day.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: It looks like the St. Mungo's Diagon Alley trip is going to be in the next update. Sorry! Anyway, I'm sorry about the delay in updating this story. I've been pretty busy lately, with my schedule planning, and work, and homework, and setting up art portfolios, and… well you get the point. It may be about a week before I get the next chapter posted because I need to update Much Needed Family… Anyway leave a review if you'd like. : )