Chapter 2
John was right, Harry realized an hour into their cleaning. The flat was a disaster. John set to work on the bedroom Harry learned she would be staying in, his old room, while he left her to start the bathroom with Teddy.
He hadn't told her not to run off, and at first Harry had considered doing just that. But the longer she thought about it, the more she realized it would benefit both her and Teddy to stay there.
With Teddy sitting in the empty tub, his only toy (a plastic rubber ducky) in hand, Harry set to work cleaning the grime from the bathroom and neatening it up.
She didn't really know why she was staying. She didn't trust them, but if she did look just like John's sister, she could hide in plain sight. Especially if she worked in the house with Mrs. Hudson. She wouldn't even have to leave the house with Teddy. They could stay there, inside, and completely out of sight.
On top of that, they would be warm. And John seemed to know something about babies.
So Harry cleaned.
Sherlock, she decided, was a loose cannon. She still wasn't sure if he could read minds or not. He seemed to be able to, but Harry was certain he was not a wizard.
He also seemed much smarter than any normal person. He seemed even smarter than Hermione.
And that was saying something.
Her and John tackled the kitchen together. Harry had pulled her sling for Teddy out of the backpack and had Teddy sprawled across her chest, dingy duck in his hands as he babbled gleefully. The kitchen, to be frank, was appalling. John had to move a bag of thumbs from the main shelf of the fridge to the top one, claiming that Sherlock would be sulking for weeks if they threw them out altogether.
They were just finishing up the kitchen when Sherlock stomped into the place, arms filled with bags.
Arms filled with bags, and a blonde woman following behind him also carrying bags. Harry stiffened at the sight of the woman entering, and the woman stiffened at the sight of Harry. She seemed to almost recognize Harry, but as she didn't pull a wand out, Harry wasn't as worried.
"Sherlock, what's all this?" John asked, staring at him.
"You told me to get baby stuff," Sherlock said.
"Yeah, and I gave you a list," John pointed out.
"I called Mary," Sherlock said.
"She does look just like your sister," the woman he'd identified as Mary said. Oh. Mary. The person John mentioned. A girlfriend? Harry glanced at her, noting the ring. Fiancée then? John didn't have a ring.
"What all did you buy?" John asked suspiciously as Mary started putting food in the fridge.
"Is that my shirt?" Sherlock asked, eyes glued to Harry.
"We needed something for her to wear," John defended himself.
"And you picked my shirt? It doesn't even fit her correctly," Sherlock complained.
"Of course it doesn't. It's a shirt," John said. Sherlock huffed once more, causing Teddy to wiggle himself around so he was facing outward. He huffed right back at Sherlock. Harry bit back a smile. Teddy had seemed to be taking an instant disliking to Sherlock, and it amused her greatly.
Mary had finished putting the food in the fridge and started pulling things out of the bag.
"I should have called you to begin with," John admitted.
"You should have. When I got there, he was staring at dummies like they were a satanic symbol," Mary said with a chuckle. Sherlock just continued to scowl, especially directing his glare at Teddy who gave it just as much in return.
"God, Sherlock. The child even has your glare!" Mary chastised. Sherlock jerked back at her action, turning to Mary.
"I beg your pardon?" he asked, affronted.
"He does. He has your eyes and your glare. Hair's the same color, same as his mother's as well, but same color and similar curls. He looks like a mini you with her facial structure," Mary said.
"He does look just like you," John admitted, comparing the two.
"No wonder you were so quick to want her and the child to stay with you," Mary added.
"It's not my child!" Sherlock protested, looking puzzled at the conclusion.
"You have to admit, Sherlock, it looks like you're lying," John said quietly.
"Do a DNA test! That'll show I'm not the father!" Sherlock pointed out.
"No," Harry protested quickly.
"Why not?" John asked.
"No DNA test. He's my baby," Harry repeated, her grip on Teddy tightening as Teddy squawked at her.
"No one was saying he wasn't your baby," John reassured her, but both Mary and Sherlock were staring at her, both gazes calculating.
"We should do a DNA test on you. To make sure you really are John's cousin," Sherlock said.
"You're the one who said I was. I said nothing," Harry pointed out, feeling really small. Her stomach constricted at the thought of that.
Suddenly, Teddy's rubber duck flew out of his hands and at Sherlock's head. It hit before Sherlock could even register what had happened.
"No hurt Mummy," Teddy announced, still glaring at Sherlock. When Harry recovered from the shock, she dashed out of the room, locking herself swiftly in the bathroom. She climbed into the dry tub with Teddy, unhooking him from her sling and turning him to face her.
"Why did you do that?" she asked him.
"Meanie," Teddy said, his lower lip pouting.
"Yes, he was a meanie, but we can't throw things at him. What if we don't get your toy back now? Duckie might be gone," Harry warned him.
"Duckie?" Teddy asked, eyes wide. Harry nodded solemnly.
"Duckie. You threw Duckie at him. He didn't like it. What if he keeps Duckie?" Harry asked the boy. Teddy's eyes filled with tears.
"We can't throw things, Teddy. I know you don't feel good, but we can't throw things. We don't know what he'll do about it," Harry warned him.
"He hurt you?" Teddy asked, looking scared.
"I don't know, Teddy. We may have to run. We can't throw things. We gotta be safe. We gotta be good. All the time. We don't know when Sev'll come for us," Harry warned Teddy. She'd been telling Teddy about Severus since the beginning. She didn't want to talk about Tonks or Remus yet – not while they were on the run. When he got old enough, she would. Or once they were safe with Severus.
The door opened and Harry quickly ducked down, crouching protectively over Teddy in the tub.
John was standing there, looking highly awkward. He sat on the lid of the toilet, waiting for Harry to sit up and notice him. When she did, he offered her a small smile.
"Hey," he said. Harry didn't respond but watched him carefully, keeping track of any of his body's movement.
"He's sulking in the kitchen, but he's not mad. He won't hit you," John promised. Harry didn't say a word, just watched him carefully. Harry carefully climbed out of the bathtub, allowing Teddy to stand at her feet as he clutched her legs. Teddy rarely got the chance to stand and walk on his own – Harry had him practice every day with her, but he wasn't allowed to just wander like most children were.
There was a lot of things Teddy wasn't allowed to do, and it was painful for Harry to admit.
"In fact, he looked like he'd rather dissect the duck rather than throw it away," John said with a chuckle.
And Teddy was gone.
Harry blinked for a moment. Dissect. Teddy shouldn't know that word. But…Harry jumped out of her stupor and took off running out the door, catching a glimpse of Teddy entering the kitchen. She entered the kitchen to see that Teddy had leapt at Sherlock, surprising him.
"My Duckie!" he cried out as he all but climbed Sherlock's legs. Harry could only stare in horror at the sight. Teddy was glaring at Sherlock, reaching desperately for the duck.
And Sherlock's hand lowered.
Teddy snatched the duck out of his hands and dropped to the ground, stumbling back. He fell backwards but scrambled back to his feet. He grabbed Harry's hand and tried tugging her out of the room with a sense of desperation.
"Run, Mama, run," Teddy begged, eyes wide as Harry remained rooted in spot. Everyone else in the kitchen was frozen as well.
"What the bloody hell?" John asked, staring at them. Teddy stopped trying to pull her and put his arms up, both arms shaking as he did. Harry lifted the toddler in her arms, noting that he was shaking all over. He was terrified. His Duckie was cradled tightly in one arm as the other latched onto Harry with an iron grip.
And then he started crying.
It was his quiet crying. The only time Teddy ever wailed was when someone else tried to take him from Harry. Any other time, he knew they had to be quiet.
Harry wanted to run. Every instinct in her was screaming for her to run out the door. She was practically trembling to take off. She was just about to give into that instinct when John grabbed her elbow. Harry jumped at the sudden touch, only managing to stay standing when John steadied her.
He led her to a chair and helped her sit down before sitting down across the table from her. He reached over, touching Teddy's head. Teddy flinched away from him.
"Teddy. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. Sherlock will not dissect your toys. I promise," John said solemnly. Teddy peeked up slightly and turned, watching John as he spoke.
"Do you understand him?" Harry asked Teddy. Teddy sniffled and shook his head.
"He promised that Sherlock would not cut up Duckie," Harry told him, watching Sherlock as she said the words. Teddy nodded, but still didn't look comfortable.
"That's what happened? You told the child I would dissect his toy?" Sherlock asked incredulously.
"I didn't realize he'd understand it. And I didn't realize he could run that fast," John admitted.
"It's his only toy," Harry supplied quietly.
"Not anymore. We picked him up a few toys," Mary said, watching Harry carefully as she did. She reached into one of the sacks and, without breaking eye contact with Harry, pulled out a plush wolf.
Harry's heart stopped.
"I thought so," Mary concluded, setting the wolf down on the table.
"What?" John asked, staring between the two of them.
"The reason Harry doesn't want a DNA test is because Teddy is not her birth son. She's his adopted son. Teddy's last name is Lupin," Mary explained.
"Lupin. Wolf?" Sherlock said. Mary nodded.
"I suspected when you mentioned a girl with no name and a son named Teddy. I heard of her. Did you do what they say you did?" Mary asked her.
"I'm not dangerous. Neither is Teddy," Harry said, swallowing the lump in her throat at the words.
"You killed a man," Mary said evenly.
"I did," Harry admitted without remorse.
"Is that why you wouldn't tell the police your name? You're escaping arrest?" John asked, eyes wide.
"Do you arrest the soldiers who kill the terrorists or other soldiers?" Harry asked him. John flinched at her words.
"Did you fight in a war?" John asked her, eyes wide.
"I ended a war. I won a war," Harry informed him. Mary had yet to pull a wand on her, so Harry doubted she was magical. She might be a squib, though. So she could still alert someone to where Harry was.
"If you did that, why are you hiding? Why do you fear your life?" Sherlock asked critically.
"Because the community she saved is a fearful one. How many seventeen year olds can defeat a man who had been instilling fear into the community for the last thirty years? And she just walks in and kills him in one blow," Mary explained, keeping it as Muggle-friendly as she could.
"Why have we not heard of this?" John asked.
"It's a small community. Private, keeps out of the way. A few of the events that happened two and three years ago were from the man. That bridge that collapsed, killing hundreds? That was him," Mary explained.
"So instead of thanking you, they're trying to…what? Imprison you for murder?" John asked, trying to wrap his mind around what she was saying.
"Death seems more likely," Harry admitted.
"What does Teddy have to do with this?" Sherlock spoke up suddenly, eyes focused on the child.
"They want Teddy dead because of who his parents were," Harry spat.
"Ah. So the society is highly prejudiced," Sherlock deduced.
"Incredibly so," Mary agreed.
"And you plan on staying on the streets until when? Forever?" John asked in disbelief.
"Someone is helping me," Harry admitted.
"They're doing a poor job at it," Sherlock said with a sniff.
"I lost contact. And he's on the run as well. He'll find me when he can. I trust him," Harry defended.
"And who is this man?" Sherlock questioned.
"My….father, of sorts," Harry said, not daring to give a name when Mary was present.
"Look, I don't care," John said suddenly. Everyone's heads turned to John.
"It's true. I don't care why you're running. So far, I've liked you. I've found no reason not to like you. Sherlock offered you a home; I'm backing it up. I'll tell people you're my sister. As long as Harry stays away, and she more or less will, you've got a cover identity," John said.
"I suppose, as long as you do not advertise it, you can claim me as father to the child. So long as he refrains from attacking me," Sherlock said with a sigh.
"What?" Harry asked dumbly, not sure she was registering his words properly.
"The child looks like a genetic clone of the two of us. It would further explain why you are sticking around here when you did not in the past. We'll keep this from Mycroft as long as possible; the last thing I want is Mummy showing up in search of a grandbaby," Sherlock said with a wince.
"You want me to stay here? Pretend to be part of your lives?" Harry asked in disbelief.
"Someone has to teach the brat proper behaviors," Sherlock said, sniffing in Teddy's direction. Teddy's glare intensified and he looked ready to throw Duckie again, only to control himself. Instead, he sniffed at Sherlock and turned his head away, a look of disgust on his face only too reminiscent of Sherlock's.
"You won't have any problem convincing people he's yours," Mary said wryly.
"Now, I do recall asking just what you two picked up. Should I be alarmed?" John asked his wife. Mary picked up the plush wolf and held it out to Harry.
"I really did think it was a good idea. I just needed to know the truth," Mary said. Teddy turned at the sound of her voice and glanced at the proffered toy. Harry tentatively took it and held it out to Teddy.
"Mary got you a toy. His name is Moony," Harry said, blinking back a tear as she did. Teddy stared at her and then the toy, as if he didn't quite understand the concept. He reached out and petted it gently before grasping it in one hand, cradling it to his chest. He turned to Mary.
"Thank you," he said quietly.
"I'm the one that thought he needed a stuffed animal," Sherlock huffed.
"You did?" John asked in disbelief.
"He was holding it and a dog plushy when I arrived," Mary admitted.
"Either would have been perfect," Harry admitted quietly.
"Good. Because I also got the other one when Mary said he would need more than one toy," Sherlock said, pulling a black dog from the bag.
"How long do you suppose we can keep this from Mycroft?" John asked.
"Depends. Does she look enough like your sister that software matching technology could compare the two?" Sherlock asked.
"I'd say so. As long as she didn't look directly at a camera, they could be twins," John said.
"Good. Maybe awhile then," Sherlock mused.
The two of them pulled quite few things out, things Harry had no idea how to use. With each item she felt even more overwhelmed. John seemed to notice and glanced at a clock on the wall.
"Why don't you head down and see if Mrs. Hudson needed some help? Didn't you tell her you'd come down today? You can test your new identity out on her," John suggested.
"Hungry," Teddy whispered as Harry stood.
John heard.
"Christ. We didn't get you anything to eat, did we? We've been so distracted!" John said, sounding distressed.
"I'm fine. Teddy just needs some food," Harry said, her voice small.
"When's the last time you ate?" John demanded, watching her.
"Recently. Teddy needs food. I don't," Harry insisted. And it was true. She was used to going days without food. Even when she'd made it to Hogwarts, she couldn't force herself to eat every day. She had gotten really good at pretending to eat at every mean, but she usually only ate a meal or two every two days.
The only time she'd ever tried to eat properly was when she was pregnant. And at that time, she really couldn't eat properly since they were on the run.
"I want a day. What day did you eat last?" John asked her sternly. Harry had to think about it. It had been awhile. Still recent. She could make it a week before she really started feeling the need to eat.
"Two days ago," Harry finally said.
"No wonder you're so thin. Come on. We're getting food, then you'll go talk with Mrs. Hudson," John ordered, bringing her into the kitchen and physically sitting her down in the chair. Mary pulled another bag up, causing John's eyes to light up.
"I figured you'd need food," she said.
So she dished up takeaway for each of them and pulled out a jar of baby food for Teddy. At least, that's what Harry learned it was after she read the label. She managed to open it and spoon it into Teddy's skeptical mouth. She steadily ignored her own food, preferring to finish and make sure Teddy was full before she dared eat anything.
"I can feed him for you," Mary volunteered when it became obvious that Harry wouldn't touch her food til Teddy was done.
"It's fine," Harry said, knowing better than to allow anyone else to try holding him.
"Why does the child refuse to let anyone else near him?" Sherlock asked, staring at Harry curiously.
"Why would he let anyone else hold him? Who was there for me to trust to allow them to hold my baby?" Harry asked him seriously.
"So he hasn't ever been held by anyone other than you?" John asked, eyes wide.
"Not since he was three months old," Harry said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as she cleaned Teddy up. His eyes were drooping – his full stomach was making him tired. That rarely happened – it was hard for Harry to procure enough food to fill him up every time she got him food.
Harry shifted him, allowing him to bury his face into her shoulder. She waited until he was comfortable before she picked up the fork with her left hand and slowly began the process of attempting to eat.
"You're right handed." Harry nodded, not even bothering to offer words.
"Why don't you use your right hand then?" Sherlock asked her, eyes drilling into her.
"It would disturb Teddy," Harry said simply.
"So instead of shifting him slightly, you'll eat with the wrong hand and inconvenience yourself tremendously? Why?" Sherlock asked, confused.
"It's called being a mother," Harry informed him.
"It sounds tedious," Sherlock dismissed before standing up.
"Where are you going?" John asked, standing up as well.
"I'm sure Lestrade has something I can do. I'm bored," Sherlock said flippantly.
"Why don't you work on child-safing the living room? We took care of the kitchen, bathroom, and my old room. I didn't dare touch the living room," John pointed out.
"It's child-safe," Sherlock said, furrowing his eyebrows together. John walked into the living room and pulled – a knife? – off of the fireplace mantle.
"This is the definition of a hazard to children," John said dryly.
"He couldn't have reached that," Sherlock argued.
"You saw him climb your leg. I'd wager, give him a few weeks to settle in, and he'll be in everything. EVERYTHING. So no poisons, no chemicals, no sharp objects, no guns. No bringing home bloody harpoons," John said pointedly.
"Once," Sherlock said, irritated at the accusation.
"Teddy'll be fine. He'll be with me always," Harry said.
"Hopefully he'll be able to learn to be away from you," John suggested.
"No," Harry immediately countered.
"He can't always be with you," John tried, but Harry shook her head.
"Yes. He can. I can't trust him with anyone," Harry said automatically.
"Hopefully, you'll be able to trust us, soon," John said, giving her a weak smile.
"John, she's been on the run for a long time. You can't expect her to just trust you immediately. She's only known you for a few hours, and most of that time you've been all but keeping her prisoner," Mary pointed out.
Harry really liked Mrs. Hudson. Her and Teddy were doted on by the old lady. Harry had a list Mrs. Hudson wrote up of tasks for her to do, and Harry wasted no time on starting.
She doubted Mrs. Hudson realized how much of a hard worker she was.
She did, however, start to realize that when Harry told her a few hours later that she'd finished the list.
After that, the two of them sat down and came up with a list of everything Mrs. Hudson wanted her to do on a daily basis. Harry nodded with each task, even asked her if there was anything else when she finished.
Harry was used to doing twice that much in a day, back from the Dursley's.
They also discussed payment options, something that Harry was hoping she wasn't being taken advantage of. Mrs. Hudson didn't seem like the type of woman to take advantage of a young mother, but Harry had learned early on that you can't trust someone based on stereotypes.
Still, when she'd finished, Harry made her way back to the flat and locked herself and Teddy in the room for the night.
She took off Teddy's suppressant bracelet and allowed him to change his hair color, eyes color, and face to his heart's desire. It had been a few days since she'd allowed him to do so, and he was gleeful at the opportunity. When she went to put the bracelet on again, she urged him to morph back into the exact appearance he was in before. Usually, he changed his appearance slightly each day.
He couldn't do that anymore, not with Sherlock being as observant as he was. So Harry told Teddy to morph back, looking like her and Sherlock. It took about five minutes for him to be morphed so completely that Harry felt their secret was safe.
It was only then that she allowed him to curl up into her and fall asleep.
Soon, she was unconscious as well.