My Child

Chapter 10

It didn't take Dorea long to set the stage for the ensuring drama that was to occur. She knew she should feel some measure of guilt for depriving a child of its parents. Fortunately, she did not, for taking the parents away from the boy may just be his saving grace. To a life without crime, or worse, murder. That little boy was watching horrific things happening to a child just like him. Merlin, what had the boy thought? How could he have laughed over it? Then again, the young boy was likely still forming his own identity, his own sense of self and morality. His own moral code, and it was being twisted and manipulated by seeing his father harming a child his age, oh, it was just dreadful. So unspeakably evil.

They were pleased to find a café nearby Grunnings, which allowed them to sit and eat while they watched. The food was pleasant enough, nowhere near their usual fare to be fair. However, the coffee hit the spot, they were exhausted over everything they'd seen today.

"Have you ever heard the likes?" Dorea asked her husband, dabbing her mouth with her paper napkin. It was all the shop had so she made do with it. Seeing her husband giving her a curious look, his face entirely readable despite his difference in appearance. She couldn't wait to return home and get them both stripped of the different appearances. Elaborating on what she meant for Charlus. "He gave us over a dozen memories and all of us I believe able to Occlude our minds, one a master Occlumens as he said."

Charlus took a bite out of his sandwich, wishing he hadn't chosen this particular one. The bacon was burnt, the lettuce wilt, and the tomato soft. There was nothing fresh about it at all, don't even get him started on the bread. Frowning in silent contemplation as he ate the bite. "You know as well as I that accidental wish magic is so much more powerful than anything else we know. Children just aren't aware of the limitations of magic, and it's so pure and in the face of such determination, but yes, I am surprised."

Dorea laughed a little, shaking her head, honestly, she'd thought he was going to say he wasn't surprised. "But if he's done all this without a single drain on his magical core, what do we do, Charlus?" that sort of power in a child could be dangerous, not just to those with the child but the child himself.

"I think we would have had to deal with an extraordinary magical child regardless." Charlus confessed, "I wonder if our little Leo would have been as powerful, same sort of genes, just one Black blood behind." A soft sweet smile on his face for a moment, his little boy, he imagined him a lot like Harry, a lot like James, a lot like him and Fleamont.

Dorea smiled tremulously, finishing her cup of coffee, "I think so too," a bittersweet feeling consuming her. It hurt to think about him sometimes, but it was so much better than just pretending he didn't exist. In the beginning they'd done that, but it had made matters worse.

"Another coffee, my dear?" he asked standing up with his own, waiting for Dorea to nod, before he picked up both saucers with their cups and ventured inside. He had a bunch of muggle coins and a few notes in his pocket courtesy of Marius.

Dorea stared up at the sky, "I love you, my little Leo, nothing and nobody will ever replace you." She murmured quietly, believing that her son could hear her, "Lily will look after you, and I will look after Harry for her." Tears brimming in her eyes, as she spoke to her son. "We'll meet again, someday, wait for me. What for us." It was starting to darken, but not quite enough to see the stars. Oh, she was going to rain hell down on the Dursleys just as Lily would have done in her place.

Charlus put the cups down, and cupped the back of his wife's head, "Do you wish to head home?" he murmured quietly into her ear, warmth and love suffusing his voice.

"No," Dorea declared, she would not miss this for anything, she'd do this for Lily, for Harry, for James, for them, for her and her husband and for the little boy.

"Are you feeling well?" Charlus asked, his thumb brushing back and forth against her jaw, despite the change in appearance all he really saw was his wife who was stunning. He's a very lucky wizard.

"Just pondering on things long gone," Dorea said, smiling when her husband kissed her, and set her coffee cup in front of her. Only once he was sure she truly was fine; did he sit down himself. "He will need a tutor thought, not even James, or you began such strenuous accidental magic so soon."

"Ah, but my dear, neither Fleamont, myself or James had the childhood Harry did." Charlus said sadly, dipping half a biscuit into his coffee and eating it. "In fact, I think those that are met with…adversarial upbringings end up far more powerful than others their own age."

"I suppose our ruminating isn't going to change the fact we're guessing," Dorea conceded, stirring the milk into the coffee, only a dash of it. "However, the deductions are quite sound." Picking one of the biscuits up from the platter and enjoying one herself. Absently noticing that her husband had left the majority of his sandwich he'd bought.

Charlus nodded, "Most definitely," agreeing that the deductions were rather comprehensive. "I am glad we found him, my dear," glancing at his wife, gratitude and fear for the future wrapped up in one strong proud wizard who would not give in, especially not to the like of Dumbledore.

"Thank Marius, we wouldn't have found him without my brother," Dorea murmured, glancing up when she saw a car heading out of Grunnings rather hastily. "That's him on the move." It was the right registration plate, on the car and the correct colour.

"Shall we return to your brother? Hmm?" Charlus questioned, standing up, he poured a generous helping of milk into his coffee and drank it. "Foolish man, he remained in that office over half an hour after being called about his own wife." Shaking his head in disgust, if that had been him, he would have left immediately.

"If he's still there, you mean?" Dorea asked, pointedly glancing at the pocket watch in her husband's waistcoat pocket. Unobtrusively watching her husband cast the Imperius Curse at the unsuspecting Muggle.

"It's hardly my fault he's taken so long to take the bait," Charlus pointed out seriously, actually checking the time before sighing softly. "Let us go, we do have things to do before the next stage."

With that the pair left, having paid at the time of purchase. They made their way passed Grunnings, to the tunnel and apparated when nobody was around to see them.

"Well, it's about time," Marius complained, loudly, "I knew I should have brought a car with me." It was freezing cold, to be fair, and he'd been loitering around for what felt like hours. He was not dressed to be out in the cold.

Charlus immediately warmed him up, "Our apologies, we didn't expect him to remain in Grunnings for half an hour after the call." Which he knew had happened likely immediately after they apparated away from Marius.

Marius stared in incomprehension, "I'm sorry, what?" there was no way a husband would just stick around for half an hour after the call he'd made.

"I know, we expected five maybe ten minutes," Dorea replied, definitely not long enough to drink a coffee or eat a sandwich. Yet they'd had two coffees, she'd enjoyed the sandwich even if her husband hadn't liked his. Well, enjoy might be a stretch, but it was eatable. "That would have been enough to get out of whatever meeting he was holding and get to his car." What he'd been doing in that extra time she had absolutely no clue.

Marius pursed his lips, disgusted beyond belief at this man's actions. Shaking his head, utterly foolish so he was. "We cannot stay here the entire time, the woman across has been looking out of her window every three minutes." They did not wish to have anything 'inconspicuous' happening when all this was going down.

Luckily Charlus could repair the damage they did to the Muggles house with cutting the wire. There would be no suspicion on that front. They'd just assume that Petunia hadn't answered the phone or not been available or some such rot.

"Then let us depart and return behind their home, I've taken a look," Charlus agreed, seeing the nosy muggle woman peering through the curtains, eyeing them suspiciously. He refrained from cursing her for her nosiness, it would be the least she deserved.

They did indeed, make it look like they were leaving, but once they were at the deserted park they apparated back to the Dursley's, invisible to all, including Petunia Dursley. Who was humming happily, without a care in the world just not caring that her nephew was missing. Surely the school had alerted them to what had happened?

"I want to kill her now, how can she sit there as if nothing has happened!" Dorea aghast, "He's just a little boy, what does everyone think happened?" how could Muggles be so cold and callous? It made her so relieved she was a witch and had no interactions with Muggles, they were barbaric and disgusting. Her nostrils were flaring, as she stared in seething fury at the Petunia.

"Easy, sister, you'll have your revenge," Marius murmured, squeezing her shoulder in silent support.

"Indeed, we will," Charlus agreed, hand pressed against his wife's back letting Marius console her with words. Honestly, he wanted to torture this woman, make her feel what she'd put that child through. Harry did not deserve what they'd done to him, and he felt so much guilt that they couldn't have found him sooner. Nothing could have found him sooner unfortunately.

"As for what they believe, the school is under the impression that Harry is an unmanageable child, up to mischief and in trouble all the time. They lied and told the school that Harry had made his way home. That they apologised profusely for their seriously disturbed nephew." Marius commented, "Their words, not mine, that perhaps it had been too much all at once, and to give him a few days to 'recover' and try again."

"They were completely ostracizing him," Charlus murmured in disgust, "Isolation, deprivation, and loneliness could have a detrimental affect on children."

"You mean break them?" Dorea asked, swallowing back the sickness building in her throat.

"Makes for easier control," Marius groused out.

"Dumbledore," the three echoed, believing it and knowing it without a doubt.

"You'll also be pleased to know that I've had someone looking into anyone within three mile radius of the Dursley's who moved in directly after the attack on the Potters." Marius explained, "I've not had any word back, but I should soon." A muggle would have far better success than any of them would.

"You should have added a few days before," Charlus grimaced, "I wouldn't put it past him to have…anticipated their deaths." Unable to use the word he actually should, but that was life for you really.

"You think he arranged it?" Dorea gasped, hand over her mouth, shaking her head, it was one thing…oh, who was she kidding, it was a gigantic possibility.

"I'll get in touch and re-arrange the dates," Marius nodded unseen by his two other companions. It wouldn't take long to do once he was home for the evening. "Be careful about casting any magic here."

"I didn't even think of that," Charlus said ruefully, shaking his head, "We've got Vernon already, he shouldn't have too much resistance in getting his wife to collect their son together…right?"

"They might be putting on a united front because of the whole debacle but she might not want to go because of that problem." Dorea pointed out, "If she doesn't go, what do we do?"

"We'll think of something," Marius agreed.

"We certainly will," Charlus agreed with a bite to his tone.

"Just wait and see, if she gives us trouble, I'll force her at wand point." Dorea declared; she was taking no prisoners. They were going to die, and nothing was going to stop her, even if she had to be cautious because of that fool of a headmaster.

There was a round of murmured agreement, as they watched and waited.

Petunia begun to prepare dinner for her family, almost dancing around as she did so like some sort of fifties TV housewife with her pinny on. Everything done just so, appearance mattered to this woman, more than anything else. Image and appearance, why would they endanger that with abuse?

"PETUNIA!" Vernon thundered as he blasted into the house, breathing like a bull, face red in seething fury as he stared at his clearly un-injured wife. The Imperius on him had him acting normal, and would remain so until the time was right. "WHAT ON EARTH IS GOING ON?!"

The woman in question jumped as if she'd just been electrocuted. Utterly bewildered by her husband's anger being directed at her. She shuffled back from him, flinching him, he was a rather portly (understatement) man, and she had gotten a fright. "Vernon? What are you doing home so early?" not realizing that her husband was under the Imperius Curse.

"The meeting was cancelled, I came home to spend time with my family," Vernon said, chins wobbling, "How about it, Pet, shall we do get Dudders?"

Petunia despite the fact she should have had alarm bells ringing, due to the fact Vernon had never once in their relationship left work early or wanted to collect Dudley. Vernon liked his peace and quiet, it's why he refused to have more than one child. Dudley was the equivalent of ten children anyway, as proud as he was of him. He preferred getting home to having dinner and then his son going to bed an hour later, anything more was too much for him to handle. Kids were a woman's responsibility after all.

Petunia instead beamed, pleasantly surprised, "Why not eat out as a family?" she added, "You have just had a raise and that deserved a Celebration!" not even waiting for a reply, she shut off the cooker, and collected her handbag, ensuring her purse and the keys were inside, happiness thrumming through her. They'd gotten rid of that freak, and her husband and son were perfectly happy and normal.

Vernon grunted, and snatched the keys from her and shuffled towards the car. "Hurry up!" he told her, eyes narrowed as he packed his bulk into the car.

Petunia locked the house, strutting towards the car as if to say, look at me, look at us, look at my perfect husband. Our perfectly normal house, perfectly happy marriage, always comparing herself to others, wanting to be seen as the perfect person, and always failing to live up to it. She gets into the car, buckles up unaware of her oncoming fate as her husband starts the car.

They would never emerge alive.

The three quickly begun to make their way to the bottom of the street, emerging out of Privet Drive itself. They watched as Vernon slowed down, and Charlus moved over to the passenger window and murmured "Imperio!" and now both of them were under the Imperius curse. They were both aware, both knowing it was magic causing it, and they'd be very aware of their impending deaths.

The group followed the car, until they found the perfect spot, waited until the order to drive faster was accomplished, before Charlus used magic to puncture the tire. The desired effects were immediate, the car flipped over, and over and over again as both Vernon and Petunia screamed in fear and terror. Charlus ensured that the other cars were able to avoid the intended target. As much as they hated muggles, they didn't want innocent bystanders hurt.

The flipping and smashing of the car against the road, the barrier between road sections, and even a lamppost must have caused some sort of spark and leakage, which caused a massive fireball –added with a spell from Dorea so nobody would chance it in trying to help the couple – fanned out consuming the car, bystanders tried but it was just too blazing hot.

They could do nothing but watch as the fire burned the two occupants, the smoke did inevitably knock them unconscious as the fire lapped at their bodies. It was a mercy the smoke showed them that the wizards (and squib) would not.

"Has someone called the fire brigade?!"

"An ambulance!"

"Oh, my god!"

"Call 999!"

"They can't have survived that," came a quiet but grim voice, who was staring at the car, half way out of his own vehicle. "They're gone." They'd be put into body bags now, if they were even still in one piece. Given that fire, and its' heat, might even be charred bones they'd be collecting.

"I think now our part is done, we should head home, yes?" Marius seeking their agreement since he couldn't see them. He could feel them, side by side as they were, keeping close especially to Marius who couldn't remove the invisibility charm. Luckily they were far away from the others, so weren't heard by any stray muggles.

Dorea just stared at the wreckage; the two disgusting Muggles couldn't be seen. The flames were lapping up the metal, obscuring everything it was burning from view. It was viciously hot, and another explosion had everyone in the vicinity jumping. The tank exploding had debris flying in all directions, missing the invisible trio by inches.

Cars had stopped at a standstill, all of them watching helplessly. Inside their cars or outside of them, shocked. The sound of sirens was the only thing heard except the occasional sound of stretching metal, and crackling of flames.

It took the trucks far longer to get there than it felt.

"Come, let us return to Harry," Charlus commented, holding onto both his wife and brother-in-law as he apparated them back home. It was a small home, but it was a home nonetheless. It wasn't an empty home they were returning to for the first time in a long time. He wondered what he'd been thinking letting all the Potter properties remain under the Lordship instead of claiming one and having it in his name. At least then his wife would have a house and home that was fit for her station.

Upon entering their home, they found Harry asleep on the floor, surrounded by pillows and a throw. Dorea stared as if hoping that Harry's image would disappear. Not even House-elves slept on the floor. Their animals even had beds, what on earth was Harry doing on the floor?

"He's shying away from the furniture," Severus explained, as if he had heard Dorea's question loud and clear. "It was a miracle to get him to use a pillow, he wasn't allowed on the furniture." His tone bland and empty, but his eyes spoke of a fiery fury with the likes that only killing the Dursley's would sate.

"He went on the sofa easily enough before," Charlus couldn't help but point out entirely perplexed, as he glanced at the little boy, and his heart sank. They'd treated him worse than any animal he'd ever owned? It was bad enough they deprived him of a simple bath but stopping him from getting on the furniture? "Just how bad is this situation and how long will it take to rectify?"

"I would suggest a healer once he's feeling more secure here," Thorfinn hypothesised, "Which as you've guessed will take a long time. You must understand, while I'm not an expert, he'll begin closing down if he's pushed too far too soon."

Dorea frowned, as she sat down, glad to take the weight off her feet. She had been on the move for hours, the only time she'd really sat down was to have coffee and a sandwich earlier. Not that she regretted it, in fact she would do it all over again. "What do you mean by pushed too far?" the last thing she wanted was for Harry to break down, she knew she had to be careful, but how careful?

Marius and Charlus joined them, finding it increasingly odd to see a child sleeping on the floor. Marius hadn't had a child, neither had Charlus, and were unaware that it was a rather frequent thing. Children could fall asleep wherever they were.

"His fortune has changed drastically; he's been treated worse than how you'd treat a House-elf." Severus spoke, his voice pained, he prayed Lily would forgive him. He wasn't sure how his magic could forgive him for this. He had sworn a vow to protect Harry and he'd fundamentally failed. "He's known no other way, it will take time for Harry to realize he isn't doing anything wrong. You have to be easy with him, let him do as he likes while making it clear he has the right to sit wherever he pleases."

Charlus nodded slowly, "I think I understand," he'd had a similar encounter with Harry, they could do this.

Dorea nodded, "I'm glad they've been taken care of," she stated curtly, still seething in fury but happy that they were gone. "Do we tell Harry?"

"It might help him with the knowledge they can't come back for him, can't hurt him anymore," Thorfinn explained, glancing at Severus, "What do you think? Would it be detrimental to actually tell him the full truth?"

"A child should be protected at all costs; Harry has been failed by every adult in his life. It's true knowing they're gone will help. However, it won't help the general fears he has until he begins to recover. Telling him you've killed someone? It would need to be done gently and under the family magicks." So that Harry didn't accidentally reveal family information, which he would likely do, he was a child. He would sooner or later make friends, attend Hogwarts.

"Then we should wait until he's actually adopted by us when the wills are found?" Charlus pondered, rubbing his chin. He understood the value of family magicks being used to prevent information being passed on. It was a good thing otherwise he feared James would have revealed all Potter family secrets. He couldn't keep anything to himself, but that was just his personality he reckoned. "If they're ever found." Under no illusion it might be found, if Dumbledore had found them then he would have most certainly destroyed them.

Dorea pursed her lips displeased, as the same thoughts plagued her, they'd been looking for years but found nothing. Nothing in the Ministry, nothing at Gringotts that they could access. She sorely wished that James had left them a copy, then this heartache could have been avoided. They'd have had Harry since day one, and he wouldn't be sleeping on the floor and so afraid.

"Have you eaten?" he asked his guests, it had been very remiss of him, his parents would have cursed him to hell and back for his lack of manners or grace today.

"Your House-elf was gracious enough to serve us dinner," Severus said, "Harry has eaten a small portion, he should be eating more, I informed the house-elf if he should wake in the night hungry, to give him something. It's unlikely that he would ever actually ask." It had felt good spending a little bit of time with Harry, even if he'd been an anxious mess the entire time they'd been away. Scared they would never return to him. He wasn't sure when he'd get to spend time with him again.

"I'm going to go check on my other patients, I'll settle Harry in bed." Thorfinn murmured, moving over and scooping the sleeping child in his arms with care. Careful not to wake him up, who knows when he'd go back to sleep if he did.

"Thank you, Thorfinn," Dorea said, feet aching, she wanted to remove her shoes but wouldn't do that while they had company.

"Dumbledore gets the Muggle newspapers," Severus stated, staring at them, "You'll need to make sure that the Dursley family doesn't get a mention in it. Do you understand?"

Marius straightened, he hadn't thought of that, "Why does he procure the Muggle newspapers?" rather stunned as he stared at the Potions Master. Wondering if the wizard could even begin to have an insight into Dumbledore.

"I do not know. I also do not know the area in which he's choosing the newspapers from. However, if I had to guess, I would deduce that where Petunia lived…is where at least one of the newspapers originates." Severus confessed seriously, rubbing his temples, "It would be easy to find out, the House-elves deal with the mess left behind. He gets them every day, it would be a simple thing in getting the titles."

"Could you get them before Dumbledore sees them for a few weeks?" Charlus pondered, vexed by Dumbledore's just being. He was a thorn in his side, and had been for so long.

"And do what? dry out articles?" Severus asked dryly, it would be noticed by the old fool. By dry out he meant actually bleed the ink from whatever section he pleased. Leaving it completely blank, a white block which yes, would rouse Dumbledore's attention.

Marius laughed, "He raises an excellent point," he defended himself from Charlus who looked cross. "I can buy the news outlets and sell them on later," he conceded. It would need to be far more than the buying price for a quick sale, which meant he'd be at a loss. Anything for his sister though.

"It might be the only possible thing that works," Charlus said grudgingly, "Blasted interfering old fool, even when he isn't sticking his abnormally large nose into other people's business."

Severus snorted, inclining his head, "Be grateful that you don't have to live with him. His expectations for his so called 'second chance' is never ending." Bitter beyond belief that he was having to educate children when all he wanted to do was invent and brew to his hearts content. The best years of his life were being wasted, and he hated it. Don't get him started on his lack of acquaintances or friends. He couldn't risk spending too much time with even his own godson.

"Will you need to come up with a reason for your absence from Hogwarts today?" Marius asked, staring at Severus in worry.

Severus shifted, not used to grey eyes and dark-haired wizards caring about him. Sirius did look quite like Marius, all the Blacks actually looked alike to be fair. Narcissa was the only exception, she took after her mothers' side of the family. "No, he has duties overseas today, the ICW." He was thankful for his consideration though, even if he didn't state as such.

"I shall leave you all to talk, excuse me," Dorea stood, "Please enjoy the rest of your evening." Making no excuses for her exit, but leaving nonetheless, she left to dress down, and finally take her shoes off. Nipping to check on Arcturus and Melania before checking on Harry only to feel like the heart was about to explode, he wasn't in bed.

She was just about to shout for her husband when she saw the cupboard door was open just a tad. Right next to it was a piece of fabric, the throw that Harry had gone to bed with. The relief she felt nearly bowled her over.

A/n – well you all wanted to see the revenge enacted so I hope it lived up to your expectations 😊 it's been fun writing it, I actually missed this plot if I'm entirely honest 😊 there's a lot going on of course 😉 between the Black's, Harry, Severus, Thorfinn and of course Dumbledore 😉 will he be around to continue causing havoc for them all for a while? Or will he die quickly? What about Voldemort? Would you like to see a Tom similar to how he is in The Contract? Or will he be taken out for the safety of Harry? Will we see a sane Bellatrix in this one? I don't think I've done that yet and since this is Black centric what better time? 😊 R&R please