Disclai... you know the drill, loves.
His Boy
Chapter Fifteen: Zoo
"Amimals! Amimals!" Harry let out a squeal, waving about the lemon popsicle he had gotten at the little ice cream stand outside the zoo's front gate. He clung tightly to Sirius's hand, his eyes wide with excitement.
After lunch they had all packed up their things and headed back to the hotel. After Ronnie had whacked Hermione over the head with a shovel, Remus had decided it was time for the little ones to have their nap. Ronnie had done it purely out of grumpiness and had cried nearly all the way back into the hotel, his eyes drooping. By the time they'd reached the elevator, he was out cold.
"Animals!" Sirius laughed, scooping Harry up into his arms. With two other adults with him, he didn't have to worry so much about keeping an eye on three youngsters at once, making it more enjoyable for all of them. "What o you guys want to see first? We can go this way and see all the reptiles, or we can go this way and see the ooooh, Harry… this way has lions!"
"Lions!" Harry nearly dropped his popsicle, squirming. "That way, Paddy! Lions!" Sirius laughed, and righted Harry's popsicle, placing it more firmly in the little boy's hand.
"We'll go this way then."
"Yay lions!" Ronnie jumped up and down, gripping tightly to Lexie's hand. He had been wary of her at first, but after she'd transfigured all of his food orange during lunch, he'd been quite taken with her. Hermione was walking along quite the little lady, gripping Remus's hand and looking every which way with excitement. She'd been to zoos before, but never this one. And looking at animals never got old.
"LIONSSSS! Down, Paddy! Put me down, puh-eeeease!" Harry squirmed, his half eaten popsicle landing on the ground, forgotten at the sight of the great golden colored cats. Sirius set Harry down on his feet and let him run forward to the fence barrier that separated them from the lions' cage. Harry peered through the bars, his eyes wide with wonder as he watched the lions. Ronnie let go of Lexie's hand and dashed forward as well, getting next to Harry to see the lions as well. Hermione looked up at Remus and he nodded. She ran to where the boys were and pressed her face against the bars.
"Lions live on the savannah."She stated promptly, grinning as she looked at them. "The boys have manes and the girls don't. So that's a boy and that's a girl." She pointed and Harry and Ron nodded, listening.
"My lion is a boy." Harry smiled happily. He turned around and grabbed the lion hanging out of the baby bag Remus was toting along and hugged it. He held it up to the bars. "Rawr! Rawr! Lion is gonna eat chu, lion!" The lion hanging out in his habitat rose from where he was lounging in the sun, sat right up on his rock and roared loudly. Harry jumped back but squealed with delight. "Rawr! RAWR!"
"Rawr!" Lexie laughed, crouching down beside Harry and raising her hands at him as though they were paws. "Rawr!" Harry looked at her, laughing.
"Rawr! Rawr! Rawr! We're lions, Paddy! Rawr!"
"Rawr." Sirius laughed, scooping Harry back up as he continued to roar. "Lets go see some other animals now. There are tons and tons of them. We can always see the lions on our way back."
"Ok." Harry beamed brightly and waved his lion's paw at the real lions. "Rawr rawr! Bye bye, lions!"
They continued on through the zoo, Harry squirming to look every which way he could, eyes glued to all of the different animals he had only heard the names of, and some he hadn't. They saw tigers, and monkeys, and a giraffe that Hermione informed them all had a black tongue.
"Oh oh oh lookit, Paddy!" Harry would squeal at least once a minute, his eyes going round with everything he could see. This was a magnificent place, the zoo. He was absolutely loving looking at all the different animals and he couldn't believe how many there were or how gigantic they were.
Remus was enjoying himself immensely as well, toting Hermione along as she pleasantly pointed out facts and kept a nice hold on his hand, unlike Ronnie who kept trying to break free of Lexie and run from animal to animal. Lexie didn't seem to mind much though, she seemed pretty happy to be there as well.
"Oh look at that, Sirius." She grinned, pointing across the path. "That must be the Slytherin's home away from home."
Sirius turned around and broke down laughing. A reptile house, more specifically, a snake house. "Nice. And it's nice and far away from the lions."
"You two are ridiculous." Remus shook his head as they burst out laughing, the kids looking up at them in pure confusion. Harry shrugged and started laughing too, Ron and Hermione soon joined in, none of them knowing what they were laughing about. Seeing the three preschoolers laughing because they thought they should had Remus cocking a slight grin. He was starting to get tired though, his body telling him that soon, he would have to make his way home to transform.
"Alright guys, let's go see the snakes!" Sirius smiled and kept a hold of Harry's hand as they went through the doos of the house and into the cool, dim building.
"Ooooooh…. That's a Bermese Python." Hermione pointed, reading the sign of the very first snake. "And that's a Boa constrictor… and a rattlesnake… and…"
"Oh Harry, this is a big one, you've got to come see him…. Harry?" Sirius looked down, but Harry wasn't looking at him. The little boy's head had turned to look dead straight through the window of the snake habitat next to the one Sirius was peering in. It was a really big glass, making it very easy for the little boy to see the snake up close, but that wasn't what had Sirius's face suddenly turning pale.
The snake in the habitat Harry was peering in had come right on over to the glass and rose up on it's belly so that it was perfectly eye level, gazing at the little boy with what could only be described as pure curiosity. It stuck out it's tongue, and hissed a little.
"Harry, come away from that one, I don't think he's very ha-…."
Harry shook his head, his hands pressing up against the glass, his mouth opening. A strange hissing noise came from between the little boy's lips and Sirius blinked, watching as the snake seemed to hiss back and rocked slightly from side to side. Harry laughed, clapping his hands. He let out more hissing noises and the snake twirled it's long body around. Harry imitated it, both of them dancing in a circle before staring at each other and rocking from side to side, hissing and smiling. He turned his face away from the snake finally, and looked up at the shock faced Sirius.
"Paddy! I like dis one! He is a nice snakey." Harry turned back to the snake and hissed some more. The snake seemed to enjoy this, pressing it's face against the glass just as the little boy was.
"Sirius? Harry? Where did…?" Lexie peered around the corner that led deeper into the reptile house and stared, watching Harry dance with the snake. "Oh my…"
"He… he's…" Sirius tilted his head to one side.
"He's a Parslemouth." Lexie finished for him. "Wow. That's unique. It looks like he's having fun."
"Yeah… but… I've never heard of a single decent Parslemouth… they all turn out dark and…"
"Don't worry about it, Sirius." Lexie stated simple, placing a hand on his arm. "He's a little boy… and there's nothing dark about him. He is Lily and James's son after all, it's probably just sometime he was born with, it happens. So he has a special ability, it'd be the same if he were born with extra toes. He's still Harry, and he won't turn dark, you wouldn't let that happen."
"Yeah… You're right, thanks." Sirius smiled at her, glad to have this logical and decent explaination. Alright, so Harry was a Parslemouth. Hhe'd have to tell Remus and Dumbledore, it was very important to let them know.
Crouching down, Sirius took Harry by the hand to get his attention. "Hey Prongslet, what's the snake saying?"
"He likes to dance wid me cause he dun getta talk to people really. He says I is a good little hooman." Harry nodded proudly, pointing a thumb to his chest. "You talk a him, Paddy!"
"I can't, but you can, because you're special, Harry. You can speak Parsletongue. That means you can talk to snakes. It's because you's a wizard, but it's very special to be a wizard who can talk to snakes too." He whispered this, not wanting any Muggles to overhear, but everyone else seemed too intent to pay any attention to a man and little boy and woman. To any outsider, they would have looked just like a regular family.
"Cool!" Harry laughed, beaming brightly at this news. He liked being told he was special, as most four year olds did.
"Alright, well, I think we had better catch up to the others, they're probably wondering where we are."
"Awww… otay, Paddy." Harry nodded and turned to the snake. He hissed something at it and waved with a bit smile. The snake nodded, looking a bit sad but gave one last twirl. Harry twirled back and then Sirius took one of his hands while Lexie took the other and they continued on down the hallway.
"It's a tortoise!"
"No, itsa tuuuuuurtle, 'mione!" Ronnie's voice echoed up the hallway and Sirius winced. Well, they had made it this far without a fight, probably because they'd been able to keep the kids pretty much each with their own adult.
"No, that one is a tortoise! And that one is a turtle." Hermione explained, jabbing her finger towards the glass of two separate areas. Ronnie shook his head, stomping his foot.
"No!"
"Yes!"
"Oi!" Remus called over them, shaking his head. "It doesn't matter! Look, here comes Harry, Padfoot, and Lexie! Let's go see what's next."
"Otay!" Ronnie laughed, completely happy to do so. He ran foreward, hugging Harry, happy to see his best mate had caught up to them at last. Five minutes was a long time to wait when you were four.
"Ronnie, I talkded a snakey!" Harry laughed.
"Cool!" Ronnie laughed, understand perfectly. He was from a pureblooded wizarding family after all, he knew some things about his world. "So you is a Par…Parsle…tongue?"
"Mhm!" Harry nodded.
They continued on, out of the reptile house and spent another good hour at the zoo, making sure to give the lions another visit before they left at around six.
"Paddy, I is hungry." Harry stated, hugging his tummy with a frown and looking up at Sirius as he walked a little slower than he had been. It had been quite a long day for him and the other two kids. They were young and had had a good nap, but a day in the sun and of walking was beginning to get to them. It would be nice to sit down for a while.
"I know, buddy." Sirius lifted Harry up with a smile. "We're going to get something to eat before we go back to the hotel, don't you worry. Let's see…"
"I'm going to head back to my cousin's for a bit." Lexie smiled. "I'll cleaned up and see you guys at eight."
"Alright." Remus smiled at her and she waved as she turned to go in the opposite direction down the side walk.
"Lexie?" Harry frowned, squirming about in Sirius's arms. She turned around to find the little boy frowning at his quite sadly. "You is leabing?"
"Yeah, but don't worry! I'll be back in a couple of hours, we're hanging out tonight, remember?"
"Oh yeah…" Harry perked up a bit but held his arms out to her. She took him from Sirius and gave him a good hug.
"And I'll tell you more stories about your mummy, alright? We'll have lots of fun, but I have to go see my cousin now and you have to go eat dinner."
"Otay!" Harry nodded, nuzzling his head up under her chin. He quite adored Lexie, even though he'd only been around her for half a day. There was just something about her that was safe and nice, like Padfoot and Moony, he knew she wouldn't hurt him.
"Bye bye Lexie!" Ronnie waved, giving her a cheeky grin and Hermione smiled, waving as well. Lexie gave Harry back to Sirius and gave the other two kids a quick kiss each before waving and heading off.
"Alright you lot, let's get something yummy to fill those growling tummies!"
...
After a nice dinner at a restaurant (Hermione showed both boys up by using her perfect manners), the group headed back to the hotel. It was about seven thirty and the little ones were beginning to yawn after the long, exciting day they had had.
"Oof." Sirius flopped down on one of the twin beds. "Remus, I am going to need some Anti-Sleep soon."
"No problem, I've got some in the bathroom cupboard at… well... where we're going later." Remus smiled. This was going to be a better full moon than he had had in a long time, and he was actually kind of looking forward to it. After all, if he had to change, being able to have his best mate with him when it happened… well... it would ease some of his pain a great deal.
"My tummy is fuuuuull." Hermione sat down on the floor by the coffee table where Remus was setting down the crayons and paper he had packed to keep the kids entertained when they were in the room but it wasn't time for sleeping.
"I bet it is!" Remus smiled, patting her hair back and noting that it was all tangled. "Um… Sirius… did you remember to brush Hermione's hair this morning?"
"Yeah, I tried, but it was such a crazy mess I didn't want to hurt her with all the yanking."
"Mummy does it special so it doesn't hurt as much." Hermione informed them politely while she chose out a pink crayon and began to draw. Harry and Ron had chosen red and orange, respectfully, and were sitting on their own little sides of the table with their own pieces of paper.
A knocking came upon the door and Sirius heaved himself up off of the bed as Remus opened it. "Look who's here guys!"
"Lexie!" Harry pushed himself up off of the floor and ran to hug her around the legs, happy to see her again.
"Hey!" Lexie smiled, placing a hand on top of his head to and ruffling his hair gently. "It's good to see you all again." She came into the room, a duffle bag slung over her shoulder. She set it on the floor by the door and lifted Harry up so she could walk easier. "My goodness, Harry, I guess you missed me too?"
"Yeah." Harry nodded and wrapped his arms around her neck happily, hugging her. He liked Lexie a bunch. She set him back down by his spot at the coffee table.
"I cannot thank you enough for coming, Lexie." Remus beamed brightly, hugging her, his smile wide. "It means so much to us."
"It's not a problem, really. We'll have a blast, won't we guys?"
"Yeah!" Ronnie laughed, holding up a crayon to agree with her. He resumed his coloring, tongue pinched between his teeth as though concentrating particularly hard.
"Right, so… if anything happens, just…"
"I'll send a Patronus, just like in the old days."
"And they've had their dinner, so that's all set. You don't need to worry about bathing them, unless you want to, and they can sleep wherever, considering we won't be back tonight… so, wherever you want to put them is fine. And…" Sirius turned to look down at the kids before lowering his voice. "Harry really likes you, but he is still kind of wary of people sometimes. His aunt and uncle didn't treat him very kindly, so try not to raise your voice if they get out of control. Ron and Hermione will fight, but it's easier to just let them work it out unless it gets physical. At bedtime, just turn out the lights and open the music box, they'll all be out like lights… oh, and make sure they've all got their toys. Harry's lion, Ron's bear, and Hermione's otter."
"We'll be fine, Sirius, I promise you. I'm sure if I forget anything at bedtime, I'll be reminded." Lexie smiled, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You and Remus go and have the best time you can. Be safe, we'll be waiting for you when you get back."
"Thanks." Sirius smiled at her and then moved over to scooped Harry up from his coloring. "Alright, Prongslet. Moony and I are going to go now, but we'll be right back in the morning."
Harry's lip jutted out and her hugged Sirius tightly around the neck. "I don't want you to."
"Oh, Harry…. I have too. But you're going to have fun with Lexie, remember? And when I'll be back in the morning. It's only for tonight. You're going to play with Ronnie and Hermione and Lexie."
"Otay." Harry nodded, hugging Sirius tighter.
"You be a good boy, Harry." Remus stated, kissing the little boy's head and giving him a nuzzle before Sirius set him down. Harry waved, and then watched as they apparated with a loud crack. He whimpered slightly but Lexie scooped him up right quick and sat down with him on the couch.
"Hey there, Harry. What do you say to another story about your mummy?"
"Yeah!" Harry perked up, his smile coming back as he looked up at her excitedly. He enjoyed stories about his mummy. He knew plenty about his dad already, but not nearly enough about his mummy.
"Did you know your mummy was one of the best Potion makers in Hogwarts? And she could cast charms like you wouldn't believe! She was a wonderfully powerful witch and people couldn't believe she was Muggleborn. But she was horrid at transfiguration, that's when you turn something into something else. So your Daddy had to help her with her homework in our seventh year. So, that's where our story begins…"
Harry listened intently, his eyes wide with wonder as Lexie told him about the time his mummy had accidentally turned his daddy into a teacup instead of the turtle she was supposed to be working with.
"Hmmm…" Harry slid down off of the couch when Lexie finished the story and picked up his crayon again. He began drawing again, but this time, he had a great look of purpose. Lexie smiled and stood up.
"Well, I know Sirius said that I don't need to give you guys baths, but you sure look like you could use some washing up." She was quite right. Harry, Ronnie, and Hermione had been changed into other clothes before their naps, but they still looked kind of sandy, not to mention grubby and sticky from their popsicles and dinner. "Hermione, why don't we go get you cleaned up first?"
"Alright." Hermione nodded, willingly setting down her crayon and getting up. She could do with a wash.
Following Lexie into the Bathroom, Hermione shut the door and tugged off the dress she'd put on after being at the beach that morning. Lexie turned on the shower, thinking it would be easier to just get them all scrubbed down quickly instead of taking long baths.
"Oooo… it's like rain!" Hermione laughed as she was helped into the tub. Lexie got her clean, taking a little extra time to get the sand out of the little girl's mess of hair. She'd have to fix that before bedtime as well. Once finished, she wrapped the little girl in a towel and got her dried off before bringing her her nightgown.
Dressed for bed and clean, Hermione happily sat back down at her spot at the coffee table and resumed her coloring. "I got a shower." She bragged.
"Alright boys! You're next!"
Harry laughed looking at Ronnie and they made a mad dash for the bathroom, excited to see what a shower was like as well.
"Yay! Rain!" Harry laughed, dancing slightly.
"Careful, you don't want to slip." Lexie warned, smiling as the little boys delighted in having the water 'rain' on them.
Once both little boys were clean and dressed, Lexie sat down behind Hermione with a hair brush and gently began to get the horrid tangles out. Hermione sat perfectly once she realized what was going on, not squirming because Lexie was able to do it just like her mommy, without too much pain.
"There we go, sweetheart." Lexie smiled as she ran the brush through Hermione's hair with ease, the locks now silky and well behaved, not frizzing out due to still being wet. "Whaddaya say to a braid? It'll make brushing it easier in the morning."
"Oh! Yes please, Miss Lexie!" Hermione nodded delightedly and sat even stiller as Lexie French-braided her hair back into one long ponytail that hung down her back, out of her way. Hermione reached a hand back to feel it and she spuned around, hugging Lexie tightly. "Oh thank you!"
"Not a problem. It's getting on bedtime guys, so finish up your pictures."Lexie stated, looking up at the clock that said it was nearly nine. Remus would be transforming soon.
"I'm done." Ronnie held up his very orange picture. "It's da Chudley Cannons!
"Oh wow, Ronnie, that's fantastic!" Lexie smiled and took it from him. "We'll place it right here so Sirius and Remus can see it when they get back. She placed the picture on top of the back of the couch so it was angled into a standing up positing by the couch and wall.
"I'm finished as well." Hermione indicated her lovely picture. "I drew our crabby from earlier." She smiled, admiring her picture and offering it to Lexie who placed it next to Ronnie's.
"It's lovely, Hermione! Well done."
"I made my mummy and my daddy, only my daddy issa teacup." Harry beamed brightly, his picture hugged to his chest.
"Oh, very good Harry." Lexie admired it for a moment and then set it next to Hermione's. "I'm sure Padfoot and Moony will love to see all of these beautiful pictures.
"I drawed anudder one." Harry offered her a second piece of paper and Lexie took it, grinning down at the stick people.
"Ooooh, let's see… who are all these people."
"My famibly." Harry grinned, pointing to each one in turn. "See, dere's Mummy'n'Daddy'n'me'n'Paddy'n'Moony'n'you'n'Ronnie'n'Mione'n'Luna'n'Ginny'n'Neville'n'Miss Tricia'n'Mr. Xeno'n'Mrs. Weasley'n'Mr. Weasley."
"It's wonderful, Harry." Lexie beamed, hugging him and grabbing up a crayon. "would you like me to write who is who on it for you?"
"Yeah!" Harry clapped his hands together and pointed to each one in turn, watching as Lexie write under each one with nice pretty printing that he could sound out if he wanted to.
"Alright, that looks like it's everyone. Time for bed." Lexie put the picture on the back of the couch with the others and ushered the children into the bed area where all three of them promptly climbed up onto the big bed together. "Is this where you all sleep?" Lexie asked as she pulled down the covers.
"Yes." Hermione nodded, moving to the middle where her otter was waiting for her. She laid right on down there, Harry and Ron taking the spaces on either side of her and hugging their own plushies.
"We like to sleep agedder." Ronnie informed her brightly, cuddling close to Hermione as Lexie pulled the covers up over them all and tucked them in snugly.
"No bad dreams wid my Ronnie and my 'mione." Harry nodded confirmation, snuggling himself up against Hermione's other side. The little girl smiled, cuddling down against her pillows, quite happy to be so safely snuggled between her two best friends.
"Well, then that's the best way to sleep." Lexie smiled at how cute they all were, kissing their foreheads. "Would you like a story before you sleep?"
"Oh yes yes yes!" Hermione clapped her hands.
"Great! I've got a book right here…" Lexie went to her bag and pulled out an old looking book. She came and sat on the edge of the big bed. "there aren't many pictures too look at in this one, so you have to make them in your minds alright?"
The three children nodded and Lexie began. "A long long time ago there was a kind old wizard with a magical cauldron…"
…..
"How were they?" Sirius asked as he entered the hotel room looking a bit disheveled at around six in the morning to find Lexie nursing a cup of tea, a copy of the Daily Prophet on the coffee table in front of her.
"No complaints." Lexie smiled, looking up at him. "Harry asked a few times in the middle of the night if you were back yet, but other than that, things really couldn't have gone smoother. No fights and everyone had a shower. They drew pictures as well."
"They were probably too tired to do much else." Sirius smiled, taking the pictures off the back of the couch and admiring them. "How are you even awake yet? The Lexie I remember hated being out of bed before nine at the earliest."
"I'm always up early in strange places." Lexie shrugged and rose from the couch, her pajamas a bit big on her. "Do you want some tea?"
"No thanks, I've got a ton of Anti-Sleep in my system, if it weren't for that stuff I think I'd probably pass out."
"How was the night?"
"It was good. Remus is taking a long rest before he comes back here, but he said it wasn't nearly as bad as it normally is. He felt more himself, I think."
"That's great, I'm glad." Lexie smiled and sat back down. "Those are some really awesome kids."
"Yeah, they are." Sirius beamed and headed into where the little ones were still out cold. Hermione was sandwiched between the two little boys, forming a weird little stack with Ronnie on the bottom, Harry on the top and pressed against the wall, two thirds of the bed completely abandoned. "They're always so funny in the morning… Yesterday, Hermione was sucking Ronnie's big toe instead of her thumb." He picked the camera up from where he had left it last night and took a picture. He was excited to get these ones developed, they would be an excellent addition to the walls of their home.
"That's hilarious." Lexie laughed slightly. "You've really taken to this parenting thing, haven't you? I mean, you seem to be doing a great job from what I saw yesterday, Lily and James would be pleased."
"Thanks." Sirius smiled back at her. "It was kind of nerve racking at first, because I wasn't sure it I was doing the right things, but I just followed the old schedule Lily had Harry one when he was a baby, and it's worked out. The Healer said once he starts getting into normal little kid trouble, then I'll know he fully trusts me, and we're getting closer."
"Or maybe he does fully trust you already, and he's just a good boy in general?"
"With his parents?"
"Good point." Lexie laughed, remembering exactly how Lily and James had been. Lily had been less trouble than James but she had definitely had her moments. She sighed. "Merlin, I miss them."
"Yeah…" Sirius frowned sadly. "But… they're still here with us, and they're in Harry."
"That's true. At least there's a little bit of them still around." Lexie nodded, smiling at the little boy who mumbled something in his sleep that sounded quite like Parsletongue. "I'd like to see him as often as possible, if that's alright with you? I mean…"
"Well, he is the son of your best friend too." Sirius nodded. "Of course you can, I'd really like that and I think Harry would probably be sad if you didn't."
"Great! Thanks, Sirius." Lexie beamed brightly.
"Paddy?" Harry sat up, rubbing at his eyes. He blinked as they adjusted a bit, making out the blurry figures at the end of the bed. He couldn't see very well without his glasses, but he did know what Padfoot looked like blurry. "Paddy!"
Sirius laughed as Harry crawled down to the foot of the bed and picked him up at soon as he got there. "I told you I'd be here in the morning, Prongslet."
"My Paddy." Harry beamed, closing his eyes contently, nuzzling against Sirius's neck and hugging onto him tightly, getting cuddly as he normally did.
"My Harry." Sirius kissed the top of his head. A night gallivanting as a dog could never compare to feeling of holding his sweet little godson.
I am truely and sincerely sorry about how long this has taken me to finish and get up, I know you guys have been waiting for an update. It took me a little while to figure out where this chapter was going, but I did and I hope you enjoyed it even though it didn't come out as well as some of the others. Please let me know what you think, I really appreciate hearing from all of you and do take your imput into consideration. Any ideas for future chapters would be much loved, I'd love to know what you want to see them do next! And do let me know what you think of Lexie as well!
Love as always, mwah!
S.Q.O.