My Child

Chapter 2

Dorea and Charlus appeared outside of the school that Marius had mentioned, heavily disguised of course. They would not risk being noticed by Wizardkind. They had paid a lot of money to ensure their privacy, both by means of ensuring they could not be tracked via magic and a heavily modified glamour that could not be seen through any circumstances. The goblins had tested the strength of their work on the likes of Alastor Moody's magical eye, to enchanted glasses, and nothing broke through them, not even spells.

"Marius!" Dorea said in delight, as if she hadn't just seen him two weeks ago. Arms raised in delight, seeking out a hug, after all was said and done, she'd realized, she'd known what real family was.

Marius was handsome, despite his age, salt and pepper hair, he looked a lot like Arcturus, which Marius hated. Despite being disowned he still resembled the Blacks and the family that had abandoned him as a young teen. Still, he used his roughish good looks quite often!

"Dee," Marius murmured, hugging her tightly, as he always did. She had been his port in a storm for so many years. Eleven years old and he'd been abandoned by his parents, like he was trash to throw away. He'd never expected to hear from anyone again, so he wasn't surprised there was naught but silence in his wake. Then later…an owl, it had taken him days to open the missive, to read it. The joy he'd experienced was so strong, he wasn't entirely abandoned. His youngest sister, she meant the world to him. "Charlus," he inclined his head, a happy smile on his face. He was so glad that his little sister had married someone who treated her right.

"Good morning, Marius, have you had a chance to eat?" glancing around his surroundings, they had been in the Muggle world numerous times and had no trouble blending in, or eating out at their establishments. The extent it had changed since his youth never failed to surprise him.

Marius laughed a little, brushing his hair back sheepishly, "No, I got the letter from Norris, I came straight away. He's the right age, date of birth, right name. they'll be allowed out on a break at exactly ten thirty."

Charlus hummed, glancing at the time at the beaten old pocket watch he used every day, it was the first gift by his lovely wife and he cherished it. Inside a picture of him, Dorea and their little Leo nestled snugly. He had a dozen others, and he did pick one out on special occasions, but this was his preference for the every day. He was careful to not let it be seen, pocket watches had fallen out of favour in the Muggle world. They used watches now, and he had gifted more than one to Dorea. "More than enough time for breakfast, shall we?"

"I know the perfect place," Marius agreed, he had been dropped off in the Muggle world with only the clothes he had on and the money his mother had secretly given to him. He'd invested wisely, and he had more money than he'd ever need. Hell, he was probably better off than any of the remaining Black's the fortune he'd amassed. He was a Multimillionaire, and so he was still able to enjoy the finer things in life. "And we will finish with time to spare." Guiding his sister away from the front gates of the school. Heart hurting for her, hating the fact her and Charlus' little Leo had been taken from them far too soon.

"We'll see him soon enough," Charlus said, glancing back at the school with a look of saddened contemplation. The whole school for children idea was a good one. It would allow children to socialise, but no, the magical world stick to its traditions and hires tutors and keeps children isolated. All based on the foolish ideas they don't want to be embarrassed if the Hogwarts letter doesn't come. Thus, they're basically isolated with only a few select 'proper' friends that were usually family. He was glad he had a sibling, otherwise it would have been a very lonely childhood.

Before long they were at the restaurant which met Charlus and Dorea's expectations. They knew Marius by sight, and he was quickly swept up in being seated immediately with the rest of his 'party' receiving the best of welcomes, while they received everything, they'd need including menu's.

"One moment, my dear," Charlus said, moving the napkin from his knee and placing it on the table. Kissing his wife, "I need to talk to Marius for a moment."

"And you can't wait until he returns from the lavatory?" Dorea watched her husband a little puzzled. She was suitably distracted when someone asked her if she had decided upon what she would like.

Charlus at least waited until they were both done and washing their hands. Marius kindly gave to the bathroom attendant tip bowl, as he passed with a kind thank you by the Muggle.

"How sure are you that it's him?" he asked as he held the door open to let Marius go first.

"As sure as I can be about any of it, considering the evidence, I'm more inclined to believe it to be him." Marius explained, handing over a small book that held the information regarding Harry within.

Charlus accepted the information, it was a photocopied information regarding the child. Name, date of birth, gender, basic information that one fills out to become a student it seemed. He noticed that the parents' section was not filled in, but the guardian section was. "Dursley, it's not a name I'm familiar with."

Apparently though he worked at Grunnings, a drill company. He had been the Director of the company for five years now. Employed there since 1975. Good work ethic it seemed, no pictures, but very strong work ethic, he was pleased by this.

His wife Petunia Dursley – no maiden name how odd – had worked there for a brief time, and a few other places never quite settling. She had a child in 1980 and had been a stay-at-home mother with her child, Dudley.

"Dudley Dursley?" Charlus asked, grimacing a little, "Are we sure they aren't wizards?" it was a very wizarding thing to do, the names they gave their children.

Marius laughed, not too loudly that he attracted attention. There were people enjoying their breakfast, and they expected decorum in a place such as this. "Very sure, at least, moderately sure as can be. You'll find out soon enough, their address is at the bottom."

Dorea watched her brother and husband return. Not concerned about them, merely curious. She'd get it out of her husband later. "They know your order, how often do you venture here to eat breakfast?" it must be very frequent surely, for the Muggles to remember his order by heart.

"At least four times a month, sometimes more if I've meetings in the area," Marius told them, "I give my help Sundays off, the peace and quiet is welcomed." He grumbled a little, but he wouldn't live without the help.

Dorea barely refrained from rolling her eyes, as breakfast was brought to them. "I noticed pancakes were part of the menu, Marius, when has eating pancakes for breakfast been considered normal?" not adding 'here' or 'The Muggle world' she had more awareness than that.

"Oh, that's for the American customers that come here," Marius informed her, "They are getting a lot of foreign customers, and they're catering to them as one does to expand and keep business' running. I've had them for lunch, they're really quite delicious."

"We would be quite happy to provide you with a few of our own servants." Dorea chided him. They had taken

"No, I'd never do that, they've been with me nearing twenty-five years." Marius was a fair man, treated them well, knew their families, and gave them days of when they needed it. He also paid them more than the going rate, they went above and beyond for him and they deserved it. Plus, he had it to give, that sort of loyalty he knew, was irreplaceable. "Plus, who would I have to talk to?" the blasted House-elves fell over themselves to please their masters, were loyal, but they couldn't hold a conversation, not really.

"Us," Dorea said, staring at her brother, showing just how serious she was. She wanted a full bustling house, with family all around her.

Marius smiled, it was a sweet thing, and he had a twinkle in his eye, "I know, Dee, but it's not been my world for a long, long time now." sure, he went to see them, visited, however briefly, with the use of a Porktey but that was all it was, visits.

Charlus rubbed his wife's back, gently soothing her, "The new company, how's it going?" he changed the subject.

Marius threw a grateful look at him, "It's doing well, the projections are spot on." he added smugly, "We should soon see a good sizable profit coming in." he had invested well, luckily, he had been more…interested than his brother Pollux when it came to listening (admittedly uninvitedly) to the heir lessons his big brother had received. It had been a good thing really.

"That's good, I'd like to invest as well, send the projections and profit margins." Charlus replied, more paperwork, he must be mad.

"With a little luck, we can add to the Potter estate as well," Dorea said, "For Harry."

The waitress smiled politely and charmingly as they delivered their food. The remained silent, and left almost immediately after serving them. Nodding at the thanks they received from the trio.

"If the paperwork can be found," Charlus corrected, a little frown on his features. Godric's Hollow had been gone over a dozen or so times. Nothing of official note could be found, technically he couldn't ask the goblins at Gringotts to read the will or if there was even a will. The Ministry certainly didn't have a copy of a will, delayed or otherwise.

They'd gone over it with a fine-toothed comb.

"Please, nobody will blink knowing we have him. We are his closest living relatives. No magical child is ever put with Muggles over their own magical relations unless they prove unfit." Which she had not seen done since Maude Bulstrode she wasn't mistaken. Her mother's grandmother, if she recalled correctly – which she did – her mother Violetta had mentioned it often. "If the magical world found out what he had done, you know they'd be furious."

"She's right, it would be a knock to Dumbledore's fame. Might even make people leery at the idea of sending their heirs to Hogwarts. If the purebloods boycotted the school the Ministry would have no choice but to remove him. you know as well as I do that the most of the funding comes from the purebloods." the Muggle-borns attended on a discount, sometimes full, sometimes half. Admittedly some purebloods were also on scholarship.

"More so if we can prove he overrode James and Lily's wills," Charlus added, "That would definitely alienate the old fool from his allies, except his hardcore followers."

"They need to be taken to St. Mungo's is what they need," Dorea said haughtily, as they ate breakfast, anticipation almost making it impossible. She'd soon be meeting Harry, oh, she couldn't help but wonder what he'd look like. Lily and James were a stunning couple, if Harry ended up with their looks, he was going to be an adorable little boy. She'd missed out on his life for four years, but at least it was now and not by the time he was due to be at Hogwarts.

Unbeknown to her, they would have passed away before Harry began Hogwarts. They would never have gotten to know the little boy they looked so long and hard for.

Both men agreed without a shadow of a doubt.

"Oh, I do hope that it's him," Dorea fretted, even after a glass of Mimosa and a stomach full to bursting. She kept a keen eye on her watch and the time. She didn't want to be late for her first glimpse of him.

"There is one thing we need to agree on," Charlus pointed out, his concern evident. He cursed himself for not thinking of this particular problem before. It had always been a theory, finding Harry. Because after so long, they hadn't really expected to. "We cannot just take him; it must be what he wants."

"He's been with them for five years; it might be a better to seek visitation first." Marius cautioned.

"Not if his guardians are Dumbledore supporters." Dorea pointed out, "For all we know they may be squibs." Unimpressed with the suggestion they leave Harry there for a second longer. They'd tell Dumbledore in a heartbeat, and then Merlin only knows what will happen to Harry as a result of that. It was enough to give her nightmares.

"It would make sense if they were," Charlus conceded, "However, it will confuse him if we essentially kidnap him, Dorea. I know, we got overexcited and forgot to see it from a child's point of view. Regardless of Dumbledore's plans for him, the boy is just a child. He won't understand adult matters."

Dorea deflated, seeing her husband's point all too clearly. Pursing her lips, unsure of what to say or what she could do.

"Coaxing him with talks of magic might be a good way to go about it. Children love magic, his own won't be active really for a few more years." As a child a few instances of accidental magic is to be expected, such as summoning something to you or something small. "Whatever plans Dumbledore has for the boy…won't be good."

"See, it's for his own safety." Dorea pointed out, even though she knew it wasn't as simple as that. "Damn you, Charlus." She muttered quite distressed. She'd come out here with the hopes of taking Harry home, even he had been on the same page as her.

Then he had to think about it like that.

Marius leaned forward; lips pursed index fingers pressed against them. "We wouldn't be kidnapping him, that's essentially what Dumbledore did. You are his rightful guardians, both by family law and legal matters. You and Charlus are the only ones left that can take on the mantle as Harry's guardians as by stated in their wills. Yes, the child will be confused for a while, but children at that age with stability and repeated understanding will adapt much easier than you imagine although, he has a playmate, same age as him, he's used to company that will be harder to replace."

Oh, the trio had absolutely no idea what they were about to uncover. Or the plans they were going to mess with. They would do it quite gleefully regardless, if they knew it was Dumbledore's plans, they were messing with.

"Oh dear," Charlus murmured, recalling the child, Dudley Dursley, of course, Harry had a playmate. Going from having someone with you every moment of the day, to being cut away from them was dreadful business. No doubt they were as close as twins, even if the child didn't have magic, Harry's own was probably not very active at the moment. "That's something we can't give him." they couldn't take the Muggle child with them, not from his parents. They'd do no good to Harry in Azkaban prison after all.

"No, it's not," Marius agreed, he had grown up with two older siblings – whether he liked to admit it or not – and a younger sibling. It had been very difficult to get used to being on his own.

"I don't know what I would have done if Mont was suddenly gone when I was five." Charlus declared, "Probably screamed the house down until he was back, like I did when he was seven, he suffered a broken arm and had to stay in St. Mungo's overnight."

Marius laughed, "What did you do when he went off to Hogwarts?"

"What do you think? I sulked, then wrote to him every day, I got used to the new way everything was." Charlus chuckled recalling how he'd reacted. "Still, it's not a bond one wishes to break." Not even they wanted to do such a thing.

"No, no it's not," Dorea admitted, staring at her brother, understanding just as well as Charlus that if they did do this, they were making a mockery of all sibling bonds they held most dear.

There was a tense filled sobering silence, "We have to go," she told them, glancing at her watch, which sat daintily on her wrist, "If we are going to do this." her mouth set in a grim line, grey eyes boring into her husband and brother.

"At the very least, we should speak to Harry," Charlus agreed, "If he wishes to remain there, then we will visit, make sure he is happy and not full of Dumbledore's ideals." He refused to let Harry go the same way as James.

Marius raised his hand gesturing for the check, and paying before Dorea or Charlus could think to ask their portion. Once again giving their thanks, they left the restaurant without further fanfare.

"Do you know what he looks like?" Dorea asked, almost gushing, she'd love to raise Harry. Her little Leo had been taken from her far too soon. In that time, he'd been with them, she'd loved him so fiercely. It hurt sometimes, to think on him, especially during important dates.

"No, but he'll stand out like a sore thumb," Marius said in amusement, "He'll look like his father, grandfather and uncle." He teased them, as they sought out the alley to Apparate back to the primary school.

Just as they were rounding the cull-de-sac after apparating, they heard the screaming and shouting of the children. 'What's the time Mr. Wolf' and mentions of hopscotch and tag 'you're it' by the boisterous youngers.

Ah, the energy of youth.

"Hmm, I can't see him," Charlus said gazing around seeking James' son but seeing nobody that resembles him. "Perhaps he doesn't strongly resemble the Potter's of the past." He may actually take after Lily. With red hair perhaps?

Charlus winced, wand out in a second, glaring to his left, where Marius had a grip of his upper arm so tightly that his nails were digging into him. "That hurts," he grounds out, refraining from using his magic only because it was decidedly unfair.

"That's…that's him, isn't it?" Marius asked, his gaze never wavering from to Charlus' left. "But it can't be." his voice lowering, subdued.

Charlus narrowed his gaze, following Marius' gaze, seeing what had caught Marius' attention. His breathing hitched, oh Merlin, he looked so much like Mont and James…but surely it cannot be him. The clothes he had on were dyed to match the primary school's uniform, badly at that. Also, three sizes too big for him.

The child himself looked to only be three or four years old.

"We need to talk to his guardians, if he has a sickness that can be easily cured by us, I will sue Dumbledore for emotional distress and everything else I can think of." Dorea pursed her lips, nostrils flaring furiously.

"What do you think you're doing?" Dorea snapped at the four children surrounding the young boy, glaring at them in only a way a mother could get away with when it came to their children. Marching towards the gates, opening them and stalking straight to them.

"Ma'am…" before the adult Muggle with purple hair! – who had a duty of care and wasn't living up to it – could say anything else, her eyes glazed as she moved sluggishly back to her position.

"Dorea!" Charlus and Marius reprimanded her.

The children had scattered, leaving Harry on the floor, bloody and wounded, wiping his glasses and sliding them back up his nose green eyes watching the adults suspiciously, going so far as to back away.

Adults and children alike all hurt him, they were all a danger to his health. It was no surprise he was wary of anyone that approached him.

"Hello, Harry," Dorea positively cooed at the five-year-old.

Harry gasped; he'd only just learned his name when he started school. How did she know it? Were they from the Orphanage his Uncle Vernon always threatened him with? Had they finally had enough of him? He hadn't been the one to turn his teachers hair a different colour. Never mind an pretty purple colour.

A/n – Ooo, I've been looking forward to updating this one 😊 and my Marcus/Harry story! I hope you're enjoying it anyway, poor deluded Dorea, Charlus and Marius…they have no idea what Dumbledore condemned our Harry to do they? Will he be sued and fired after Harry's first year then learn who Harry's lived with? Or will it all fall apart prior to Harry going to Hogwarts and Harry having a lot of fun at Hogwarts? What about Voldemort? Will the adults brand together to deal with him leaving Harry to have an uncomplicated childhood? R&R please

As for the pairing, I'm thinking Regulus Black/Harry or Antonin Dolohov/Harry 😊