Disclaimer: I own nothing, know nothing, hear nothing. If I say I do they'll be on to me…
Chapter Summary: Sirius and Remus discuss their predicament, and naive young Harry has a conversation with a person he shouldn't be having one with...
A/N: Sorry for the longer wait with this chapter you guys. I had a week's vacation at Myrtle Beach and couldn't get it up in time. But here it is for those of you how want it! Enjoy!
–Grins-
Chapter 20: Xantos & Harry
-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-
"His cousin, Padfoot. You remember. Who became a Death Eater shortly after James married Lily," Remus nodded; glad the screws in Sirius' head had started to turn.
"Xantos Potter! But we haven't seen …And he attacked Harry? Son of a Bludger! His own flesh and blood!" Sirius jumped to his feet, fuming, almost shouting in his anger.
"Sirius, you're going to wake him up!" Remus chastised, gaze flickering to their young charge whose eyes had shut tighter for a few seconds as though in pain before he looked relaxed again. Sirius studied his Godson's features and took a shaky breath.
He doesn't deserve to have to go through this…his own family member… Sirius thought to himself, the hatred toward Xantos still boiling as he sat down trying his best to stay calm and not burst from it. He found it mind boggling to try and understand how Remus could remain so calm and collected as he did, but, Sirius reasoned, Remus never was one to show when he was angry…often anyway. Minutes passed in silence between the two as they gazed at Harry's innocent and angelic-like face, allowing their minds to fully absorb the predicament they were now in. A horrid thought struck Sirius, who at some point during the silence had put his face in his hands, and his head shot up.
"He couldn't…I mean…no…he can't. …right?" Sirius muttered to himself.
"What are you talking about?"
"…Xantos has the ability to get custody of Harry," said Sirius, still not looking at Remus. Remus' eyes flashed with worry briefly before it was gone and he allowed himself to think logically.
"That can't …No, he's incapable of gaining custody of Harry," Remus stated knowingly, causing Sirius, whose mind had been lost in thoughts of losing Harry, to look at Remus questioningly.
"He's Harry's last blood relative on James' side; you don't think the Ministry would gladly concede to a request from him to have Harry?" Sirius asked incredulously. Remus shook his head 'no'.
"If Xantos could do that, he would have already done it. Instead he tried to get Harry by force which didn't go as he planned. The Ministry has no idea Xantos is a Death Eater; he disappeared from the face of the earth practically when you, me, James, Lily, and Dumbledore found out about him. If he went to the Ministry to request custody now, he would have to say where he has been and why no one has seen hide nor hair of him for years. Then even if he did come up with a plausible excuse and they tried to take Harry from us, we would reveal him as the bloody Death Eater he is and his plan would fall. Hence the reason for why he has not done it and will not do it. I highly doubt he'd be daft enough," Remus explained. Sirius let out the breath he had been unconsciously holding as he gave a sigh of relief.
"Besides," Remus continued. "James was no fool either and made sure to put in writing that he wanted you raising his son. Xantos would have to prove that you're the worst Godfather to walk the face of the earth to be able to get custody," Remus grinned. Sirius grinned back.
"Thanks, Moony. …I needed that."
A soft knock came at the door and Remus quickly got up and opened it to reveal Mrs. Weasley and her youngest son, Ron.
"Molly!" Remus greeted warmly. "Come in, come in. Thank you for coming," the Lupin smiled politely. Mrs. Weasley smiled back at him and entered, Ron at her heels. She gratefully took the chair Remus offered her as Ron went Harry's bedside.
"Molly," Sirius greeted with a nod.
"Sirius," Molly returned with a nod as well.
"Where's Arthur, Molly? And the other children?" Remus inquired curiously.
"Oh, Arthur thought it best to not bring all of them to the hospital. Fred and George would most likely start a racket and I'm sure Charlie or Bill would help. So Arthur said he would stay behind with them while I came to see how Harry was. And Ron here wouldn't let me leave unless I brought him with me," the red-haired woman explained, with a pointed look toward her son who grinned sheepishly.
"It's fine; it'll make Harry happy to see you," Sirius smiled at Ron whose face lit up at his words.
"How is he? Has he still not woken up?" Molly asked worriedly, looking at Harry's sleeping form.
"No, he was awake a while earlier. He's a little tired and such but he should be fine in a day or two," Sirius informed her. She smiled relieved at this.
"And this is because he used his…Elemental power?" she inquired tentatively, curious as to why it would affect the boy in such a way. She had read a few books on Elemental wizards when she was at school but never had she read about one's power doing this to them.
"Using his power usually doesn't do this. He can use it freely. And much more freely when he's older. But, being his age, too much is a huge strain on his developing magic and what he did today was very advance. That's why the Ministry does not allow Magical children to have wands or begin to learn magic until they're eleven years old. And even then using too much magic could drain them of energy, which is also the reason they can't use magic outside school until their seventeen years old...magically mature," Remus explained.
"Yes, that's understandable," she nodded.
"Harry has a funny look on his face," Ron stated, his head tilted to the side. The three adults looked over at Harry who had a look of concentration on his face.
"Dreaming, most likely," Remus answered.
-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-
-Harry's Dream-
Harry sat on the ground in a clearing of a forest. The sun was high in the sky and warmed the young Potter's skin as he plucked flowers, a smile on his face. There was a soft and gentle breeze in the air that ruffled his hair while he hummed to himself and plucked flowers. He would give these to Moony and Padfoot whenever he went back to the house. They had given him so much, that 'thank you' was not enough in Harry's opinion. He wanted to give them something as well and he hoped that they would like the pretty flowers. A change in the wind caught Harry's attention and he abruptly stopped picking the flowers and looked up at the trees. A figure calmly walked out from behind them. Harry knew this person, he'd met him once before, although that meeting had not been the kindest, Harry recalled. And the young Potter had to wonder if this meeting would be the same. The man's golden-brown hair was tousled by the wind as he came up to a few feet away from Harry and sat down, as well, his hazel eyes falling on Harry easily.
"Hey again, Harry," he greeted kindly. Harry looked at him then back at the flowers in his hand and did not answer the man. The hazel eyed wizard sighed tiredly.
"You're upset with me, aren't you? About what I said earlier about not seeing Black and Lupin," the man stated knowingly. Again Harry did not reply.
Wonderful, The man thought sarcastically, He's going to make me work to get his trust…
"I can see there was a misunderstanding between us then. Did you think I meant never see them again? Because I meant that you would hardly ever see them here. They can't exactly come to this place," the man informed the small boy. Harry looked up at Xantos, again, trying to read any emotion he could get off him, but could read nothing...which struck Harry as odd. The emerald eyed child looked back at his flowers pensively trying to figure out whether or not Xantos was lying to him. A silence passed between them for a few minutes while Xantos looked around the clearing.
"You know, James and I used to come here all the time when we wanted to talk," Xantos stated. This caused Harry to look up at him for the third time.
"You knew my daddy?" the Potter heir asked, unable to control himself. Xantos grinned; at least he had gotten the boy to talk. That was a start.
"Knew him? Kid, James and I were cousins. Real close too, we used to do everything together," Xantos told the boy who smiled slightly. Xantos was a Potter! But then a sad look crept on to Harry's face.
"My cousin never liked me. We never did anything together."
"Really? I can't see why he wouldn't like someone like you. Anyone would want someone like you to be friends with them," Xantos smiled.
"Maybe…"
"I would. We're cousins too you know. Second cousins, really, but cousins none the less. We could be friends," said Xantos. Harry fell silent. Something felt funny to the young Potter about all of this. And he was not willing to agree to become Xantos' friend until he knew for certain that he could trust him. Padfoot had told him that there are many good wizards in the world, but that there are lots of bad ones too.
He's my daddy's cousin…so my feeling can't be from him… Harry reasoned with himself, but still could not bring himself to say they could be friends for some reason. So instead he changed the subject.
"Padfoot says he was my daddy's bestest friend and that they did everything together," Harry stated looking down at his flowers again, missing the bitter coldness that flashed through Xantos' eyes.
"Well…that's true, Harry. James and Black did become best friends. A good quarter of the way through our First Year at Hogwarts if I remember correctly. But after Fourth Year, I don't know, because I left Hogwarts..."
"Why?"
"Heh, you're more like your father than you know," Xantos smirked "He never knew how to 'not' ask why this and why that, either. Suffice it to say Black and I didn't get along that well and I hadn't wanted James to become friends with him."
"Oh…" said Harry, he felt compelled to ask why but did not think it would be a question Xantos would answer.
"So, Harry, how's your life then? How goes it, buddy?"
Harry took a few seconds to answer with a short, "Good..."
"You just live with the two of them, then?"
Harry nodded.
"Do you know Dumbledore?"
Harry nodded again, still not looking up as he continued to look at his flowers.
"He comes to visit you often?"
"Sometimes…"
"Hmm…" Xantos looked thoughtful for a moment before he slowly stood.
"You'we leaving?" Harry asked abruptly, looking up at him.
"For now, yeah, I'll make sure to see you again, though," Xantos stated with a disarming smile. "Trust me." Harry smiled tentatively back. It had been somewhat fun talking to a cousin that was not like Dudley. Harry stood as well and handed the hazel eyed male the flowers he had picked.
"Here. You can have them."
"Umm…well…thanks. But...er...I thought these were for your Padfoot and Moony."
Harry took a second to wonder how Xantos knew that he had wanted to give them to Padfoot and Moony, but quickly dismissed it.
"I'll pick them more later," said Harry. Xantos nodded curtly, turned and left through the trees, disappearing out of sight. The Potter heir sighed pensively, looking after the dark golden-brown haired wizard.
-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-
"…next weekend sounds fine! I'm sure Harry and Ronald will love it. Ronald's been asking me for days," Mrs. Weasley chuckled.
"It's a plan then," Remus smiled, and Sirius nodded his agreement.
"Harry!! You're awake!!" Ron squealed happily, as well as rather abruptly, from the bed causing everyone to look at the two friends with amused smiles.
-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-
A/N: There you go! How'd you all like it? Hmm? I do hope it made up for that horrible cliffy I left in the last chapter. –Grins sheepishly.- You guys are going to have a lot of questions. That much I'm sure of, though, hehe. Anywho, at least now you know how Xantos knows James. One of the questions now it, "What is he planning?"
Thanks to all of you who stuck by me this far into the fic and will hopefully stay with me till the end of it! I dedicate this chapter to all of you faithful reviewers! If you would please do the same this time and review. If you all do, I might just post sooner than usual… -Grins-
Until next time…