Disclaimer - Harry Potter does not belong to me, nor do any of his friends and ememies, nor theplaces they may be at. The only thing that belongs to me are any changes in character, particularly Harry's character...

A/N - Second chapter up! It took me awhile to write this chapter, then edit it, asI don't have a beta as of yet. I could ask my sister, but I'm a bit particular about my writing, and am not too fond of her messing with it. Anyway,I hope you enjoy reading this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Chapter Two

The Toddler

There was a dull thump as Hermione fell to her knees in front of Harry, staring. Ron's knees gave way and he fell into the chair beside her. Harry stared back at them both, obviously terrified. Then, to everyone's horror, his eyes began to fill with tears.

Desperately Hermione moved forwards and, not sure what else to do, she pulled him toward her and let him calm down somewhat.

"What do we do now?" asked Ron, looking to Snape, hoping that he would have some sort of antidote.

But Snape was looking as bewildered as the rest of them.

"Take him to Professor Dumbledore," he said after a long silence. "The headmaster will know what to do."

Ron and Hermione looked at each other and stood up together. Harry looked up at them, still frightened, but scrambled to his feet anyway. Hermione bent to pick him up, but he backed away, the fear increasing. So she just offered her hand to him, which he tentatively took.

Ron led the way out of the silent class and Harry stumbled along behind them, hanging onto Hermione's hand for support.

His hand is so small, Hermione thought in wonder, involuntarily tightening her grip.

They travelled in silence, looking occasionally back at the still terrified Harry.

"Nearly there," Hermione gently coaxed and Harry determinedly picked up his speed.

Finally they reached the stone gargoyle, but then they realised that they didn't know the password.

"Now what?" asked Hermione.

Before Ron could answer the gargoyle moved aside to show the moving staircase. The sight of it made Harry stare, then suddenly burst into tears.

Ron and Hermione looked desperately at each other as Harry quietly sobbed in front of them.

"Come on," Hermione finally said and pulled the still crying toddler up the stairs.

When they reached the top Harry was still crying, completely terrified, and not having any idea of what was happening. The door swung open and they entered to see Dumbledore in deep blue robes sitting at his desk.

"Sit," he said kindly.

Harry's sobs quietened, but he still sniffled as he clambered up on one of the tall chairs and seem to shrink back in it. Dumbledore merely smiled and raised his wand. A stream of different coloured bubbles came from the tip and floated around Harry's head. Fascinated he reached out a small hand and touched one. It burst, only to be immediately replaced. Laughing in delight Harry set about the task of bursting them all and watching them reappear before starting the process again.

"Now," said Dumbledore to Ron and Hermione. "How about you tell me how Mr Potter has become considerably younger?"

"It was in Potions sir," said Ron as though that explained everything.

"Professor Snape insulted Harry yesterday and he walked out of class," said Hermione, explaining. "Today Professor Snape made him test h ageing solution, but it hadn't been completed… and this is the result."

They all turned their eyes to the toddler, who was now completely immersed in happiness as he played with the bubbles.

"It is quite strange to see him like this," Dumbledore finally said. "But I imagine that a lot of questions we have about Harry can be answered as we find out what his childhood was like."

Before anyone could answer Fawkes trilled from his perch and flew over to rest on the arm of Harry's chair, startling him from his task. He looked curiously up at the bird, then let a smile spread on his features.

"Bird," he said, tentatively reaching out a hand to gently pet Fawkes.

His voice was so child-like! So… so… unlike Harry! It didn't really seem possible to Ron and Hermione that the little toddler in front of them was once their sixteen-year-old friend.

"He's very gentle," murmured Hermione, not expecting a response.

"Harry," said Dumbledore gently to the little boy and he looked up. "Can you tell us anything about your aunt and uncle?"

The effect of those simple words were quite astonishing.

Before they could blink Harry's eyes were filled with terror and he jumped off the chair, startling Fawkes. Two seconds later he hid under Dumbledore's desk and refused to come out.

"Come on Harry," coaxed Hermione, kneeling on the floor again. "What's wrong?"

"Don't send me back," said Harry, shaking his head. "Don't send me back!"

Astonished Ron looked up at Dumbledore, who was looking troubled.

"We won't," Hermione promised.

"But we have to bring them here for a little while," Dumbledore added. "Then they will leave."

Warily Harry crawled out from under the desk again and looked at Dumbledore.

"Promise?" he asked in a small voice.

"Promise," agreed Dumbledore.

Dumbledore straightened and sighed.

"I'm not sure how long I will be gone," he said. "There are a few people I must inform. Please keep him occupied while I am gone."

He waved his wand a box suddenly materialised in the corner of the room, unnoticed by Harry. Then the Headmaster left, letting the bubbles all pop.

Ron and Hermione looked at each other.

"Well," said Hermione with a shrug. "I suppose we better occupy him, or he might hide again."

Ron nodded and strode over to the large blue box, pulling out the first thing he found. It was a brown teddy bear with a large red bow around his neck.

"How adorable!" said Hermione happily, taking the bear from Ron's hands, who was looking stunned. She went over to Harry. "Look Harry! Do you like the teddy bear?"

Harry blinked up at her and stared up at the bear, which Hermione was holding just out of his reach.

"Do you like the teddy?" Hermione continued, taking the whole business of occupying Harry entirely too seriously. Harry looked ready to run again and he had a look on his face that suggested he was not too pleased with all the cooing. "He's really cute, isn't he Harry? Do you…?"

"Hermione!" snapped Ron. "Just give him the bear!"

Hermione started and stared guiltily at Harry.

"Sorry," she murmured, giving the bear to Harry.

Harry blinked again and stared at the bear, surprised. He looked up at Hermione again, as if seeking confirmation that he could have the bear, and she smiled and nodded, pleased.

Hesitantly Harry reached out and took the bear and then hugged it, staring at Ron with his suddenly vulnerable looking green eyes.

"Hey Hermione," said Ron suddenly. "What did you do with Harry's glasses?"

"They're in my pocket," said Hermione distractedly, watching Harry cuddle the bear. "I knew he'd want them when he turned back."

Ron nodded and went to the toy box again.

They spent the next hour playing with Harry, letting his experience the joy of children's toys. He had seemed hesitant, wary, at first, and Ron knew that he was waiting for them to take the toys away again. But then he had warmed up to the toys and let them coax him into playing, though he did so shyly.

Finally Harry sat back and, clutching the bear, yawned widely. It was then Hermione and Ron realised that Harry was also going to have the sleeping patterns of a toddler.

Impromptu naps and all.

"I will not have anything to do with it!"

Ron started when he heard the bellowing voice, but quickly looked at Hermione when she nudged him, hard, in the side.

"Harry?" she asked hesitantly.

Harry used that as all the incentive he needed to dart behind his best friends and seem to become even smaller, looking frightened.

Harry's uncle, Ron suddenly realised.

As if on cue the large beefy man Ron had only met once and seen too many times came storming into the room, followed by an only slightly calmer Petunia Dursley, a rigid looking Mrs Weasley, a concerned Mr Weasley, a calm Remus Lupin, an angry Sirius Blackand a slightly amused Dumbledore.

All the visitors stopped in shock when they saw the small boy cowering behind Ron and Hermione and staring at his uncle. Vernon Dursley took a few steps toward him… in one fluid movement Hermione and Ron stood protectively in front of Harry, staring icily at Vernon.

"How did this happen?" asked Petunia, shocked.

"There was an accident in his Potions class," said Dumbledore.

"I HOPE YOU AREN'T SUGGESTING…!" Vernon started.

"No, I am not suggesting you take him," said Dumbledore, all trace of amusement gone now. "I am merely informing you of the change. If he has not been returned by the summer holidays then I am afraid you will have to take him for a few weeks."

Petunia and Vernon stared at each other, obviously horror-struck.

"We looked after him when he was a real child," growled Vernon. "And we will not take him when, through his own carelessness, he has somehow gone back in time. We are not, and never plan to ever be again, equipped to deal with toddlers."

Dumbledore looked only slightly taken-aback by this, as though he had not been expecting resistance. But then a childish voce spoke up.

"You promised," Harry said, standing and looking at Dumbledore. "Don't take me back."

There was stunned silence as Harry looked at his uncle and then returned his impossibly penetrating gaze on Dumbledore. It was so much like the headmaster's gaze that no one knew what to say.

And in that instance Dumbledore knew that Harry couldn't go back to his relatives.

"Alright Harry," said Dumbledore. He turned to Lupin. "Remus, would you be so kind as to escort Vernon and Petunia back to their home."

Lupin smiled, a bit scarily perhaps for the Dursleys cowered, and nodded.

"Of course Albus," he said, and beckoned the Dursleys to follow him into the room adjoining the office.

There was silence for several minutes before Remus returned, scowling.

"It must have been an act of supreme…" he started angrily, but that was as far as he got.

"Moony?"

Remus started and looked down at Harry who had somehow moved to his side without anyone noticing. He was suddenly struck by the familiarity…

Flashback

"Hey Remus," greeted James warmly and Lily, holding Harry behind him, smiled brightly at him.

"Hello," said Remus, entering the Potter's home.

Harry smiled at him, fixing him with his large green eyes, and reached out his arms towards the werewolf.

"Hold on Harry," Lily laughed. "Wait until we get to the living room!"

The three adults went into a large comfortable room, but before Lily could hand Harry over, the little boy spied something and began squirming in an effort to get down.

"So," said James as they sat on the lounge. "How has life been treating you Moony?"

Harry's head jerked up and he fixed Remus with a stare that made him feel slightly uncomfortable before picking something up off the floor. Lily and James laughed.

"Don't worry about that Moony," said James. "He does it all the time. He scared Lily the first time he did it!"

"Must I remind you that the first time you saw it James you got so scared you contacted Dumbledore?" asked Lily sweetly.

James flushed and mumbled something.

"Is Harry talking yet?" Remus asked, changing the subject.

"No," sighed Lily. "I've tried teaching him mum and dad, but he doesn't seem to want to learn them…"

"Moony."

Lily broke off in the middle of her speech and gaped at the young boy suddenly standing right beside Remus, gazing up at him solemnly. James' jaw looked about ready to hit the floor.

When no one answered something, perhaps annoyance, crossed Harry's face.

"Moony," he said again, clearly, holding out what he had.

Remus took it and started. He was holding a wolf doll.

"Moony," Harry repeated, seeming delighted and proud of his new… first… word.

"How does he know?" James asked, dumb-struck.

"I don't know," Remus said, shocked.

Harry merely smiled shyly at him and went back to playing with his toys.

End flashback

Remus shook himself out of the past and knelt beside the toddler, looking like he was perhaps only two.

"Yes Harry?" he asked, as he had done since the day Harry had first pronounced his nickname.

"Where Pafoot?" Harry asked innocently.

Remus was struck by how the boy did not ask for his parents. Which meant he already knew they weren't coming back. So young…

"Right here kiddo," Sirius spoke up cautiously and stepping forwards.

He had every right to be cautious. There was no way Harry would recognise him…

Sirius knelt beside Harry nervously. Harry looked at him blankly for a moment, then his face lit up as though he had just been told Christmas was early.

"Pafoot!" he said eagerly, and Sirius laughed, sweeping the young boy up in his arms like he had done so often in the past.

Harry laughed and pulled gently on Sirius' ear. Sirius chuckled.

"Still haven't given that up, have you?" he asked.

"It seems Harry is starting to get his childhood memories back…" Dumbledore began, but he too was cut off by Harry's exclamations.

"Granda!"

Everyone, including Dumbledore, froze as Harry reached out to the headmaster. Looking as though he were in a daze Dumbledore moved forwards and took the little boy.

"He remembers that too, it appears," said Sirius with a smile at Dumbledore's shocked face.

"I remember Albus looked just like this the first time Harry said it," Remus chuckled. "James was laughing and teasing Albus, asking if Dumbledore wanted to be Harry's grandfather and, out of the blue, Harry came up with that, which stuck. From then on James called Albus 'dad' whenever he came by."

"Don't forget 'grandma'," chuckled Dumbledore, coming out of his stupor.

"Ah yes," said Sirius. "Lily's 'mum'."

"Who was it?" asked Mrs Weasley curiously.

"Minerva," said Dumbledore, which set Sirius and Ron into explosions of laughter.

"You're kidding?" gasped Ron, quite forgetting he was talking to the headmaster, until his mother gave him a disapproving glare, making him turn red.

"No Mr Weasley," said Dumbledore. "I think it time that Harry gets to know everyone else too."

Ron and Hermione were chivvied forwards by Remus, and Harry looked at them curiously.

"This is Hermione," said Remus, pointing to the girl.

Hermione smiled nervously, shuffling her feet a bit as she faced her younger best friend.

"Mione," Harry tried to repeat.

"It's good enough," Hermione beamed.

"And Ron," said Remus.

"Won!" yelled Harry in delight, making Ron scowl and Hermione giggle.

"Ron," said the redhead clearly.

"Won!"

"Ron!"

"Won!"

"Bloody hell!" groaned Ron.

"Won!' said Harry in a scolding tone. "Language!"

Everyone laughed at Ron's expression.

"He got that one from Lily," Sirius laughed, collapsing in a chair.

"So?" grumbled Ron. "I already have Hermione on my case, I don't need a two year old toddler!"

Harry frowned at him, but before Ron could take another blow to his ego Remus intervened.

"This is Mr Weasley," he said hurriedly, pointing out the head of the Weasley clan.

"Mr… Wea… Wea…" Harry frowned, struggling with the unfamiliar word.

"Arthur," Mr Weasley said hurriedly.

"Artur," Harry repeated, relieved.

"And Mrs Weasley… Molly," Remus said, correcting himself.

Harry opened his mouth to repeat it, then closed it, looking curiously at the woman. He reached out to her and Mrs Weasley gladly took him. Gently Harry took a bit of her flaming Harry in his hand and looked at it. Then he smiled shyly at her and closed his eyes, obviously exhausted.

"You got hair like mamma," he said sleepily.

Mrs Weasley stared down at him as he fell asleep. Everyone else was watching her closely to see what her reaction would be. Finally she smiled and looked up, unshed tears in her eyes.

"The answer is yes Albus," she said firmly.

A/N - Once again, thank you for the reviews on this story, and my other one. And, to clear something up, yes, I know that this is a sixth-year fic, and I know that i have put Sirius in the story, but I forgot what happened to Sirius whileI was writing andI didn't really want to change it. Hopefully later in the story all will be explained. IfI get too far into the story and I haven't written an explanation, just remind me, because chances are I forgot. Thanks!