AN: i got no excuse

Sorry, I just keep forgetting the post this and end up getting distracted with other stuff

Harry firecalled Hermione the next afternoon, sue him he was worried. Ever since Delta had suggested keeping the horses she seemed happy, but a few minutes later she looked upset.

Was she not feeling well? Why was she so sad looking? She looked like a kicked puppy, cuddled up to his side on the couch. Harry put on a movie thinking it would help, Homeward bound had ⃒⃘lways been her favorite. Sadly it just seemed to make her more upset.

When she left Harry had the mental image of a crying baby's seal, Her eyes were big and sad and she was wrapped up in the blanket like a burrito. It broke his heart to see her go into a distressed state but he didn't know what to do.

So, the next day he called Hermione. She answered the call immediately and told him to come over. Luckily for him the kids were outside with Ron.

"Come here Harry, we can talk about it over in the living room." She said sympathetically. Harry nodded and they sat down.

"So if I got the situation right, your kid is sad and you don't know why. Am I right?" She asked, pouring herself tea.

Harry chocked on air, "She's not my kid!"

"Isn't she?" Hermione asked unconvinced.

"Technically no, she's a wingless dragon reptile." Harry defended weakly.

Hermione sighed exasperated, "Harry, that's doesnt matter and you know that, Neville's kids are plants. The only difference between Delta and Rose is that they are different species." Then she paused and with all the sincerity in the world, she said, "Delta is as much your daughter as Rose is mine."

Harry nodded and sat in silence, "What kind of parent am I if I don't even know why Delta is upset." He said sulkingly. "At least you have time to figure it out." He said bitterly.

Hermione sighed, "parenting isn't easy, for anyone. I'm not sure why Rose is upset half the time but I'm sure your doing a great job." She paused for a moment, taking a sip of tea.

Harry frowned, "sorry, shouldn't have said that, I know how difficult she's been since she found out you were pregnant.

Hermione laughed, "actually she stopped after I explained that I wasn't going to replace her."

Harry's head shot up, "replace her?" He asked incredulously.

Hermione smiled sadly, "she thought that once the baby gets here we weren't going to want her anymore. That's why she was acting out."

Harry stilled, "do you think… Delta thought I was going to replace her if we kept the horses?"

Hermione hummed in response and thought for a minute, "maybe. It's hard to tell if she hasn't said anything. It might help if you reassure her that you're not going to replace her, just in case."

Harry nodded determinedly, "I'll do that."

They sat in silence for a few minutes while Hermione sipped her tea. Harry pondered over the new information and desperately hoped the Horses would be gone before Delta arrived.

Their silence was interrupted by the door swung open as Rose stumbled in, laughing at something Ron said. Ron entered next, smiling at Harry before bending down to give his wife a kiss.

Harry was distracted by his niece, Rose was excitedly telling him about what they where doing outside.

"-and and then we went WOSH and daddy flew SUUUUPER high. It was sooooo cool!" She exclaimed, as she waved her arms about, telling him all about it.

Harry smiled and chatted with the family before making his way out. After all, he still had to figure out what to say to Delta.

After he arrived home he made himself a sandwich and sat on the couch. He thought it over as he ate, pondering on what he could say, how he would say it, but nothing felt right. 'Hi delta, i know your upset about the horses but I promise I won't replace you.' He scoffed inwardly, it sounded bad even to him.

He sighed, sinking into the couch. What if Delta didn't feel that way? Was he just putting thought into his head? Should he ask what's wrong first? Or is it more to do with her life away from him? Is she unhappy with it?

He sighed, all these what if's are stressing him out, he has enough anxiety about the day without adding to it. Maybe it would be best if he got out of the house, he still had some wood to chop from earlier.

Harry got up and made his way outside, grabbing the axe from the shed he decided to fo it the old fashion way. He grabed a peice of wood and began swinging.

The repetitious movements calmed him as he kept going. Swing hit, swing hit, swing hit… the movements where repetitious strikes with only a tight body adjustments as he cor into the wood, leaving indents in the wood as he stuck it. The occasional peice of wood coming off as he went.

ooOoo

Delta cawed happily as she thanked Owen, with one last look towards the group she fled into her pen.

When they put her in the big metal contraption Delta was hesitant to go in but with some persuasion from him she got in.

The large box wasn't very comfortable but it was roomy. The sounds it made reminded her of the large thing Harry has. The biggest difference being that Harry's was smaller and didn't have a lot of space for her to stand on, he called it a 'motor-cycle'. It was rather fast and they occasionally raced with it but wasn't as fun as Harry's stick though, the broom can go suuuper high and he doesn't need to go around the pond.

Anyways, the box she was in could go fast too. She knows because as they went faster the greenery just blurred together and the civilization faded as they went on.

After a few minutes of looking around Delta decided to just lay down and enjoy the view. The 'clouds' moved gracefully though the sky, occasionally getting blocked by trees.

When they finally arrived back at the place Delta was taken out of the big box and Owens told her to go through the gate. Said the gate in question was rather large, she had seen it a few times when scouting hunting but since it wasn't in her space she didn't wander there often.

It took a few minutes for the gate to open, for sone reason it didn't open like the gate Harry has. Maybe it's because it's bigger? Was it too tall to open properly?

Delta wasn't sure but after the odd sound of it opening was over Owen motioned her to go in. Debra nodded automatically and ran in, going to her nest to make sure it was untouched when she was moved.

After making sure everything was still there she ran around and rescented everything, making sure the smell of unknown people was gone.

It didn't take long for Echo to find her, she called out to Charlie then blue. And while they didn't get along, Blue worried for her. No two leggers entered their next other than the noble one.

Echo called out hesitantly "River mouth?" She asked. Tapping her claw against the ground to ask for entry into the territory.

Delta hissed out a greeting, " hello Echo." She said, kicking up some leaves to try and clean up the nest area. It was mostly just a pile of leaves and small sticks under a big tree.

Charlie and Echo walked closer. "Help?" Charlie asked, offering a stick.

Delta stared for a moment before nodding, and accepting the stick "okay."

Charlie perked and began picking up leaves, Blue tilted her head at Delta. "Rivermouth okay?"

Delta nodded, "I'm okay." She said, turning in a circle showing that she was unharmed.

Blue mimicked her nod from earlier, it was a rather stiff attempt but Delta recognized it. "What two leggers want?"

Delta flicked her tail in thought, absently collecting more in her pile. "I don't know." She hissed, shaking her head in an odd way.

Blue frowned at the unfamiliar fraze, "what mean?" She chirped.

Delta blinked and tilted her head, "what does what mean?" She added, unintentionally saying the same thing Harry says when she asked that question.

"This" Blue said, shaking her head like Delta did.

Delta huffed, "means no."

Blue tilted her head, "odd… where learn how.." she shook her head again , as she didn't know the word.

"Shake head" Delta Offred.

Blue chirped in affirmative, "where learn shake?"

Delta hesitated, should she tell her? "Home Ruler." She finally said. It wasn't like Blue could tell Owen anyways.

Blue accepted the answer and looked towards Echo and Charlie who were trying to climb the tree, unsuccessfully.

Delta laughed when Charlie fell on her face after slipping on leaves. Charlie scowled at her setting her sights for the tree again, wiggling her butt as she went to pounce.. only for her to miss and land on Echo instead.

This time Blue was laughing too, they watched as Charlie and Echo began wrestling, nipping and trying to pin the other as they tumbled around.