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Chapter Text

The breeze blew through the forest as the creature scuttled by. It's poofy tail was lowered to the ground as it ran across the forest floor. Clawed paws gouged faint lines into the dirt as it scrambled home.

TWANG!

A faint whistle rushed past as the arrow was released from it's perch upon the bow.

THUNK!

The squirrel dropped onto the floor of the forest after being shot in the head. The camouflaged man briskly stepped out from behind the oak tree and into the clearing.

The man crouched gripping the animal's corpse in his calloused covered hands. He grabbed the arrow's shaft and yanked the arrowhead from the dead squirrel's own head. He flicked away the squirrel's blood and brain matter onto the sparsely grass covered dirt.

His name was Daryl Dixon and he was 33 years old.

He had an older brother called Merle, who left to join the army, and an abusive father, who spent majority of his time drunk, high or betting with his bar mates.

Daryl spent most of his time hiding away in the forest. The only place he really had to himself and nature. The forest was his hideaway from his family and the plants and animals were his only friends when his mother died from Will.

The forest was his sanctuary.

His home.

Chapter Text

Harry sat in his black SUV, he had taken the wrong road on the way to the hotel he had prebooked under an alias. The wizarding world kept trying to get their claws into him and Teddy, who was only 10 years old and really shouldn't be putting up with them and their stupidity.

Out of the window all he could see was trees, trees and more trees, green upon green upon green.

He sighed, leaning his head back against the leather headrest of the car seat. Teddy mumbled in his sleep.

Hearing this, Harry turned and smiled at the innocent teal-haired boy cuddling a tawny-furred wolf plushy.

Seeing movement from the corner of his eye, Harry turned to face a dark haired man coming out of the treeline and stood beside the road. The male had a quiver full of handmade arrows and a bow slung over his shoulder and dead critters grasped tightly in his left hand.

Emerald eyes met navy blue, causing the unknown man to subconsciously step back in surprise. Harry turned away to roll his window down to greet the brunette only to realise that the man wasn't there.

Huh, thought Harry, maybe I should go back and go the other way I saw. And with that thought, Harry pulled a u-turn and drove on in search of the hotel.

Whilst turning around, Harry saw a flash of dark hair move through the trees further down the road, Whatever, he thought. Teddy napped in the backseat unconcerned to the happenings around him.

Chapter Text

Daryl was on his way home, he had moved in with his brother as soon as he could to get away from his abusive father. With dead animals clenched in his left hand and his hunting equiptment slung over his shoulder, he noticed a car parked on the side of the dirt trail that ran through the forest to his home.

Seeing this, Daryl approached the SUV with the intention of telling them to leave, only to catch the gaze of the raven-haired male inside.

The brunette was instantly caught in the hypnotic trance which was the man's eyes.

Green in all it's various shades and colours swirled together until they met the pupil. The colours so intense, Daryl unconsciously stepped back in surprise.

His eyes intently stared at Daryl, a look Daryl returned in kind.

The emerald-eyed man turned to face his car door, effectively knocking Daryl out of his stupor. Quickly, he retreated back into the treeline, to watch from a distance.

When the man finally noticed Daryl's disappearance, he sighed and turned, disappointment evident on his face, to a child, who was sleeping peacefully on the back seats of the car, unnoticed by Daryl. What Daryl found strange about the child was the teal hair he sported.

Seeing that the man was about to leave, Daryl continued on his way home walking through the forest by the side of the road. As he left, he heard the sound of a car turning around and driving off.

Chapter Text

The gravel crunched under the wheels of the car as it drove up to the hotel. They had finally arrived at Pichit lodge, the hotel Harry and Edward (Teddy) prebooked online. The car lurched to a stop on the gravelled driveway of the hideaway hotel; the telltale noise of the vehicle abruptly ceased.

Stretching, Harry exited the car, breathing in the fresh forest air before turning back to the car and opened the rear car door. After debating whether or not he should wake Teddy or carry him inside, Harry slung Teddy's arms around his neck before dragging Teddy's lower half further out of the car.

Teddy being the deep sleeper he was, only snuggled further into his father's hold, briefly murmuring nonsensical words into Harry's shoulder.

Harry gently wrapped his arms around his son's waist before hoisting Edward onto his hip. With Teddy secured in his arms, Harry slammed the car door shut and walked across the gravel drive to the hotel's reception.

A bell dinged above the door as the father-son duo entered the sparsely decorated lobby. The cream walls were decorated with a mirror, photographs of various wildlife scenes and a white shelf holding glass sculptures in multitude of colours. The modest reception desk was adorned with a computer, a vase of blue flowers and a metal bell.

Sat at the desk was a 62 year old woman called Mary Andrews. The previous year, her husband of 40 years, died of leukemia, cancer of the bone marrow, so in tribute to him, she donates half of her earnings to cancer research for people like Dylan. She was a kind old lady with brown hair with grey roots tied in a plait that hung to just under her shoulder blades and a copper coloured eyes hidden underneath her fringe.

Chapter Text

Mary abruptly turned around at the sound of the bell, to face the twenty-seven year old man holding a sleeping eleven year old in his arms. "Oh deary me! You sure scared me!", Mary said, visibly shocked at the sight of the pair.

"Um...sorry?", Harry replied sheepishly, concerned for the woman.

Mary answered the unspoken question, "It's alright hun. Oops! Sorry I forgot to ask if you have a Booking here, I seem to be a bit forgetful without Dylan around anymore."

She seemed to get lost in her memories for a moment before snapping back into the present.

"Yes, I'm James Lillian, I booked a room online..?", he replied hesitantly, shifting the teal haired boy, to restore blood flow to his arms.

She looked at the computer on the desk before finding the name she was given.

"Ah, here it is!", she announced triumphantly, "I always seem to get so confused with technology nowadays! They seem to keep making them even more complex as time goes on. Honestly, computers are hard enough to use anyway! Right, I went off topic again. You will be in room 9, here's the key deary."

She handed over a small silver key connected to a tag indicating it as the ninth room's key.

With the key acquired, Harry enquired about the location of the room.

"Oops, silly me! It's the corridor to the left over there.", she pointed to the door on her right, "It's the fourth door on the right", Mary replied.

She questioned whether he needed anymore help and receiving a negative response and a 'thank you', went back to her work.

Harry, using the instructions given, reached the oak door with a metal nine emblazoned on it. He shifted Teddy in his arms to reach the lock with the key and push open the door gently.

He walked into the hotel room, closing the door behind him and carefully placed his child on the bed by the window. Surveying the room, Harry stretched his arms before covering Edward with the soft duvet.

The walls of the room were painted a light beige colour and the matching carpet and curtains were a soft, pale green colour.

There were two double beds, both adorned in a mint green duvet cover and three pillows in creamy white. A light grey blanket was draped across the end of each bed and a single oak bedstand to the right of each bed with a delicate lamp stood on the centre of the wood.

An ensuite bathroom was bathed in darkness, as the door was only slightly ajar, and a large oak dresser perched underneath the window with glass ornaments lit up by the evening sun. A modern television was mounted on the wall, with it's remote placed on Teddy's bedstand.

Locking the door and windows , Harry deemed the place safe enough to sleep in, having drove hours previously, he slumped back onto the empty bed by the door and fell asleep as soon as his head touched the pillow.

Harry's eyes were under shadowed by bruises from lack of sleep and his face, haggard after constant driving for 4 days.

Chapter Text

In his dream:

Indistinguishable images flooded past his eyes like a storm of colours. As soon as it started, it stopped. Complete darkness obstructed his view as he stood in the nondescript room. Light flickered into the room like a broken light being turned on.

"Hey Death.", Harry casual said into the cavernous room.

The shadow in the room contorted it's self in inhumane ways before stopping on a shape reminiscent of that of a panther's.

Death padded up to Harry, unsurprisingly silent, before rubbing it's black furred head against Harry's demin-covered thigh. It's teeth, long enough to belong to a saber-tooth tiger, clacked menacingly in a mockery of a purr when Harry's hand descended onto it's head and stroked behind it's ears.

"Hey there Death. How have you been?", Harry asked softly.

Death grunted in response to it's master's question and shadows condensed into gothic words, which hovered above Death's feline head.

'I am well Master, but there is a storm brewing amongst the horizon. In a year, death shan't be permanent as all will become infected with a virus. Master, I implore of you to stay in Atlanta for there is a group of people who will find the cure.'

"I see...", Harry replied thoughtfully, trailing off at the end of his sentence whilst getting lost in his thoughts.

A nudge against his leg awoke Harry from his trance,"Ah. Sorry. Hehe, I got lost in my thoughts for a second there.", he awkwardly explained, after chuckling in nervousness.

Death wrote in answer,'It's time for you to wake up, Master, it's dawn in a few minutes'

"I'll see you later Death!".

Morning:

And with that last sentence, Harry awoke to sunlight shining straight into his eyes from the small gap in the light green curtains.

Chapter Text

He groaned in dismay. Damn Sun!

Knowing he wasn't going to get back to sleep, he untangled himself from the duvet, he fell asleep on in his exhaustion.

Climbing off of the soft bed, he noticed that he fell asleep with his shoes on. 'It's probably my own fault for pushing myself so hard.', he thought sheepishly.

After taking his shoes and socks off, he walked into the bathroom and admired the room as a whole.

There was a mosaic mural that decorated the shower wall. It held a pearl coloured dolphin flying amongst a multitude of blues that laid crescented like waves in an ocean.

The rest of the walls were a sky blue colour. The shower was encased with a glass wall and there was an elegant silver shower head mounted to the tiled wall.

There was a cream-coloured toilet conjoined to a glittery blue marble sink with a silver faucet. There was an oak display cuboard that held white fluffy towels and a silver radiator next to it.

Harry shedded his clothes and walked into the shower area. He turned the handle of the shower and warm jets of water poured out. He stepped into the water, moaning in appreciation as his stiff muscles relaxed in the warmth of the water and allowed him to retreat into his memories.

*Flashback*

It was one o'clock in the morning and Harry was staying at the Weasley's house for their bimonthly family gathering. Everyone else was asleep, but Harry was hungry.

Honing his latent sneaking talent he developed at the Dursley's during his abusive childhood, Harry sneaked down the Weasley's steep stairs and just before he entered the kitchen he heard the voice of his wife, Ginny.

"Do you have it, Hermione?".

The woman in question answered briefly in a no-nonsense tone of voice,"Yes, one love potion, you will do well to remember to put it in his drink tomorrow at breakfast. It should last the rest of the month."

"Great! That means by the end of this month he will have gotten me pregnant and I will own the entire potter fortune and lordship and any other title he has when he gets killed in the fight we set up!", Ginny practically yelled in the silence of the house.

Shocked at this revelation, Harry retreated back into he and Ginny's shared bedroom, formally Ginny's old bedroom.

Chapter Text

An astonished Harry sat down on to his and his wife's shared bed.

'How long has this been going on for? Is the only reason I love Ginny love potions?', Harry mournfully thought to himself.

Harry's conscience answered meakly, 'Yeah. This has been going on for years. I had to hide all of the memories they supposedly obliviated from you, but I lost the ones from your younger years as I wasn't strong enough to go against Dumbledore. All I remember was a flash of light coming towards us then nothing, i don't even remember why Dumbledore was there.'

'Hey, do you want to see the memories I hid?', James asked softly.

'..Sure.', Harry answered.

*Start of flashback*

Images started to flash by like a roulette until, it suddenly stopped.

Focusing on the stairs by the Griffindor common room, Harry and James heard a mocking voice echo up the stairs to where the body of second year Harry stood, listening in.

"I hate that insensitive prick, always getting all the attention! I want attention too! Ooh, I'm Harry Potter, The-Boy-Who-Lived, I have lots of money, but I keep it all to myself, despite the fact I drag my 'best friends' into danger every year! I get sooo much attention no one pays my greatest best friend, Ronald Weasley, any attention at all!", Ron ranted to Hermione.

"I didn't know you felt that way, Ron.", Hermione said and at these words, Harry hoped that she was on his side and not Ron's.

Harry's hope was shortly crushed by Hermione's next words,"I feel the same, I mean Harry always gets higher grades in DADA than me, it's not fair! He doesn't even study like I do for the next lesson ahead of time! What's worse is that Dumbledore does nothing about it! It irritates me! Everyone always goes to Harry for help and never me! I am the smartest witch of the century not Harry James Potter! People should come to me for help not him!", Hermione shouted in anger.

Past Harry walked down the stairs and into the common room,"Are you guys planning on going to bed anytime soon? We have double potions tomorrow morning after breakfast and you don't want Snape to catch you sleeping in lesson.", he asked.

"Did you hear our conversation Harry?", Hermione questioned Harry sweetly.

Harry turned and looked shocked at Hermione,"Was I meant to hear it?", he asked confusedly.

"No, but Haaarry did you listen in on our conversation?", Hermione spoke in a sickly sweet voice as though she was speaking to a misbehaving child.

"No 'mione, I didn't hear a thing", said Harry trying to hide his decietfullness.

"We need to erase his memory of this conversation 'mione or Dumbledore will doc our payment.", Ron stated firmly.

"Okay Ron!", Hermione replied, suddenly chipper.

Harry backed away, the sudden personality change alerting him of the danger. He tried to dart back up the stairs, when a shout of 'stupefy' and a beam of red light collided with his body and subsequently stunning him and causing his body to collapse to the hard stone floor.

Knowing that an obliviate was coming in his direction, he thought 'Oh no! James can you hide the memories until I find out more information on their betrayal.'

James replied back in affirmative before securing the memories in small book to be placed into Harry's mental library. 'But why not...sooner?', James asked.

In reply, Harry answered,'I want to find out more about their betray before I escape from their grasp.'

Outside Harry's mind, Hermione stood in front of Harry preparing to obliviate Harry's memories. "Obliviate", she called out, erasing Harry's memories of their conversation.

*End of flashback*

Harry sat absorbing this information with a scowl on his face.

Was it worse that Ginny used love potions on him and Hermione helped make them or his supposed best friends hated him and only was his friend due to money given to them via Dumbledore?

Harry didn't know but he decided to get a divorce from Ginny and pass on the Gringott's debt to Ron and Hermione instead, after all he had a 5 and a half year old godson to look after.

Andromea was diagnosed with leukemia 14 months ago, with the medical treatment as well as her old age, she was incapable of looking after Teddy, her grandson.

So with these thoughts, Harry climbed into bed and fell asleep with a softly murmuring coming from a small bed in the corner of the room containing his godson.

Chapter Text

Harry awoke from his memories by the sound of Teddy's voice at the bathroom door.

Teddy called through the door in a concerned voice,"Dad! There's steam coming out of the gaps in the door! "

Harry, noticing the bathroom was filled with steam, swiftly finished washing himself and turned the water off.

He dried himself off quickly with a towel and then wrapped said towel around his neck and another around his waist.

He opened the window and admired the scenery outside.

It was beautiful.

Another knock sounded at the bathroom door and a preteen voice called out,"Hey Dad have you finished yet?".

Harry replied guiltily,"Yeah I'm finished. Sorry to keep you waiting."

"It's fine, Dad. I just need to brush my teeth and use the loo."

Harry left the bathroom, steam following him out before disappearing.

He finished drying off and then gathered the clothes he was wearing before and climbed back into them.

He forgot to bring in their stuff from the car in a rush to got to sleep.

"Dad, you forgot to bring the toothbrushes and toothpaste inside.", Teddy's call came from within the bathroom.

"I'll go get our stuff from the car now, are you going to be fine on your own while I'm gone?", Harry asked, concerned for the safety of his only child.

"I'll be fine, Dad", the preteen whined.

"Okay, just checking.", Harry replied teasingly.

A groan echoed from the room as Harry exited into the hallway.

He chuckled then locked the door.

Thinking to himself, he pondered upon the memories he viewed in the shower.

Why had his past decided to pop up now? And what was going to happen in a years time?

At the end of the hallway was the lobby and seated within was the same lady who greeted them yesterday.

"Hi there deary, have you had a good night's sleep? The wind was a bit rough last night.", The woman asked, wrinkles becoming deeper set on her face.

Harry replied politely to the older woman's question,"I slept like a baby, I didn't even notice the wind. However, I don't think I know your name."

The tension in her face smoothened out as she answered,"Mary Andrews, pleasure to be accquainted to you.", She drew a thin wrinkled hand over the desk in greeting.

He withdrew his own hand from by his side and met her in the middle.

Gently, he placed a soft kiss to the back of her hand in a formal greeting.

She giggled and reminisced,"No-one has done that to me since my Husband Dylan died of leukaemia last year.".

Her cheeks turned pink and she tucked a bit of her fringe behind her ear.

Suddenly, he remembered what he was doing and swiftly apologized as he had to go and get his stuff from his car.

He left the building, gravel crunching underfoot, and walked to his boot.

He quickly unlocked the car and fished out their stuff before shutting and locking it.

He had 4 bags hanging from his arms and another bag on his back.

He returned back to his hotel room, waving at Mary as he walked by.

He knocked at the door and the teen answered by opening it.

"Ooh that looks heavy!", Teddy stated moving out of his dad's way.

Harry dumped them on the bed,"It was. You could've helped, Teddy."

"What would've been the fun in that?",he answered.

"I don't know, not making me suffer!", Harry bantered, teasingly nudging an elbow into his son's side.

"Alas I'm evil, Dad. You just have to accept that!", Teddy bantered back.

"This is betrayal of the utmost kind! Do you apologize?", Harry asked, crowding his son into a corner.

"Never!", Teddy yelled attempting to run past Harry.

"You're just going to have to be punished them", Harry replied, catching the boy in his arms and pinning him to the floor.

"No!", The child returned, struggling futilely in his father's grasp.

Harry pinned his wrists with one hand before launching the other at the boy's ribs, tickling the boy till he was gasping for breath.

"Do you relent?", Harry asked mock seriously.

"Ye..yesss!", The tealnette giggled out, face flushed a bright red.

"Alright, it's time to brush your teeth!", Harry said looking no worst for wear than before.

The tickle assaulted boy shakily stood up, still gasping for breath.

"We need to go get breakfast, it's the most important meal of the day.", Harry stated chirpily.

He changed into clean clothes and put the bags on their dresser, in wait for the younger of the duo.

Teddy, having finished brushing his teeth, entered the forest coloured room.

"Let's go Dad, before all the good food is gone.", Teddy said energetically.

They exited the room and went through the other door in the lobby leading to a small diner/pub on the other side.

It was painted a pale blue colour and had large floor to ceiling windows that showed a  decking, a decent sized garden and a forest that stood just outside of the fence.

All in all it was a beautiful sight to tired eyes.

"Hello there, my name is Theresa, can I seat you?", A blonde girl with olive green eyes asked.

"Yes please!", Teddy replied, tugging on his father's hand.

The girl laughed and showed them to a small table by a window. "Here's the menu, when you have decided just call me over!"

She left and both men sat down at the table.

"Dad, can I get the pecan pancakes and bacon with maple syrup?"

"Sure, do you want a drink with that?"

"Oo oo oo orange juice!", Teddy bounced in his seat in excitement.

Harry chuckled at his son's exuberance and said, "I'm gonna get the English breakfast and some water."

Teddy quickly called over Theresa and recited their orders dutifully.

She, having wrote down their orders, left to give them to the kitchen staff.

A few minutes later a delicious breakfast feast was brought to their table and was soon devoured by their resident metamorphagus and wizard.

They paid their bill and then left to their room to grab a empty bag and Harry's wallet.

They climbed back into the car, this time with Teddy in the front seat and drove to the nearby town.

Harry briefly noticed the road he went down after a wrong turn and then thought about the handsome, rugged stranger in the forest.

He flushed as thoughts of those muscled arms entered his mind.

He wondered if he would see his stranger again.

Chapter Text

The door slammed shut on it's rusted hinges. The half-peeled off mesh screen slapped against the aged wood of the old door.

The man launched himself on to the broken and cracked black leather of the sofa. Chair creaking at the sudden force slammed against it. Some of it's holes were hastily taped up whilst others were left in disrepair.

He let out a large sigh as he relaxed into the seat; eyelashes fluttered closed. Tangled strands of brown hair drifting into his face with every breath.

His thoughts veered off to the man he saw on the drive, pretty emerald eyes gleaming with curiosity and without animosity completely mystified him. He released a gruff sigh as he flipped over onto his back.

The man looked to be in his twenties, but the kid in the back of his car spoke different.

Daryl hauled himself up and off the sofa, it was time to go to work. 

~{Magic line}~

He sat down at the bar, a glass of whiskey in hand, the voices he could hear were a low murmur.

The subtle sound of ice clinking in glasses, and quiet conversations around the room just about lulled him into a false sense of security.

Suddenly he overheard a conversation that concerned him.

"We need to move the product tonight Lee."

"I know, the truck is scheduled for midnight though Charlie. We just have to get it to the warehouse 6 before then and then we will get our money."

"I am so prepared for this, the money is ours."

Daryl decided to walk by them to the toilets where he checked for people and cameras. Seeing as there wasn't anyone or any cameras he could find, he locked the door determining it a safe place to call the chief.

"Hello, this is Chief Sandwell from the police department, how can I help you?", was heard through the phone.

"It's Dixon, we got a location and a time of a drug bust.", Daryl answered.

"Great work Dixon, I will get the team ready for the bust. Text me the location and time in ten. Put a tracker on the suspects to follow their movements."

He grunted in response before ending the conversation and shoving his phone back in his pocket.

He sighed, before leaning his face towards the mirror and then releasing another sigh.

Swiftly he left the bathroom before dropping a tracker in the guy's, presumably Lee's, pocket. Then dropping back infront of his drink, ice melted to the point where it was more water than whiskey. He sighed again before pushing the drink away from him.

He waved the barista over for the bill, paying then leaving.

He leaned against the bar wall, cigarette in hand as he released clouds of smoke that dispersed into the cold moonlit street.

He grunted before grabbing his phone again and texting Sandwell the information he gathered.

He stared at the forest pondering upon the man he saw. The treeline hid all of the secrets of the forest and it's creatures, kind of like the man and his secrets.

Just who was he and why did he view him with such unbiased, curious eyes?

He kicked off the wall before climbing onto his brother's bike and driving home.

~{Magic line}~

The bust was a success and he got his pay for the month.

He decided to go get some cheap celebratory beers from the town store.

Donning his shoes, he stepped out into the forest, following a worn down trail that cut through the wilderness.

~{Magic line}~

He reached the town in record time, and from where he stood, he noticed the man and his son? getting out of a car. The child laughed at his father? as he twirled around in the carpark only to slam the car door shut.

The teal haired kid yelled jokingly, "That was really unnecessary dad!"

"What? I am just enjoying being out of the car finally!", The ravenette responded teasingly.

The boy laughed once more before grabbing his father's arm and tugging him towards the diner.

As the man jerked in surprise, he fell into eye contact with Daryl who stood at the end of the path in the woods.

They stood still as time passed infront of their very eyes, trees froze in the wind, people stopped mid-walk and birds hovered where they once flew.

Until it ended abruptly with a harsh yank to the arm and a shout of "Hurry up Dad! I am hungry!".

Daryl stood dazed, staring at the place where the father once was.

'My God, he is gorgeous.', he thought to himself.

Daryl awoke from his daydream when he realised the man had left son in tow.

He looked around to find the tail end of the beautiful man walk into Holly's diner.

He almost felt compelled to follow but decided that was much too creepy and just went to the store as planned.

~{Magic line}~

Later that day he got called into the office.

"Your brother has been given permission to leave prison today but on the terms, he is monitored constantly by a officer. Can I count on you to watch him? He will have his ankle bracelet monitoring his movements as well.", The pudgy police officer asked.

Daryl looked around the room shifting foot to foot before asking,"Is he aware that an officer is supposed to monitor him?".

"No he wasn't informed yet, why?", Sandwell questioned.

"...He probably wouldn't take the fact I work with the police well.", Daryl said biting his thumbnail.

"Ah I see well we don't have to tell him if you agree to the job", Sandwell bartered.

Daryl sighed, " ...sure I'll do the job but I better get a pay rise, this is not in my job description."

The man waved off Daryl complaint and agreed to Daryl's terms.

"I want a report every week!", was yelled over Daryl's shoulder as he left the office.

A quiet "Yeah, yeah.", came from the hunter as he departed.

~{Magic line}~

"Hey little brother, how ya doin'? They gave me a fancy new bracelet, it's a pain in my ass!", Merle said, salacious grin on his face.

Daryl grunted in response.

"Aww, don' be like that lil' bro, i am back from vacation, aren' ya glad ta see me?", Merle questioned,  lecherous grin turning down at the sides.

"Let's just go home Merle.", Daryl answered, nodding his head to the police officer standing guard at the entrance of the cell, who unlocked the cell door.

Merle threw an arm over his brother's shoulders as he asked, "You had any hot chicks over whilst I was away lil' bro?".

Daryl shrugged him off before leaving to his truck, Merle obediently following after him like a lost dog.

"Come on lil' bro, tell ol' Merle all the stuff you did whilst I was away." He demanded.

"I do what I usually do when you go to prison!" Daryl replied harshly. He got in the truck as Merle got in the other side.

"Oooh that hurts me little brother, right in the heart I tell ya.", Merle answered spitefully, "Don't I mean anything to ya Darlina?"

"Other than be a complete nusiance, no. You are almost completely gone all the time, be it drugs or prison, the last I actually saw of you was just before you left to the army!", He cried out.

"Aww f*ck man, why do ya gotta be like that?", Merle said in shock, his actions made his brother cry, he realised.

"Just be quiet! .. please just shut up.", Daryl practically whispered. Head in hands as tears ran down his wrists, he sobbed.

Merle sat in silence as his brother cried his heart out of all the abuse he suffered.

Merle saw that little boy he left behind all those years ago and wished he stayed instead of leaving him to become the broken he was today.

When was the last time he had an actual conversation with his brother? When did he last spend some quality time with him? When did I last become myself?

Chapter Text

It was the middle of the afternoon when Harry next woke up.

The walls of the Weasley family house were lit up with mid-day sunlight as the sounds of screams of delight sounded from outside.

Harry sat up, duvet gathering around his waist, fumbling clumsily for his glasses on the bedside table.

He slid them on his face then scanned the room for others.

Seeing that both Ginny, his soon to be ex-wife, and Edward were both out of the room, he climbed out of bed with sleep's claws digging in deep.

He stretched before deciding to change out of his sleepwear and into something more appropriate for the day he had ahead of him.

He walked down the stairs before looking around for his godson, Teddy.

Seeing he wasn't in the kitchen or living room of the Weasley patriarchy, he looked through the kitchen window, only to find the source of the childish screams.

The youngest siblings of the Weasley family, the backstabbers, and the other traitor, Hermione.

They squealed like the money stealing pigs they were as another threw joke jelly filled balloons at the others.

Harry, remembering the conversation he overheard last night resigned himself to going without breakfast.

He sighed, leaning back against the kitchen he hadn't eaten since last night's dinner and missed his usual midnight snack so all in all this day was going terribly.

The creaking of the door awoke Harry from his brief daydream and a multicoloured stained Ron entered.

"Hey mate, where you going? Bit fancy for going to work.", Ron asked, a judgemental look on his face.

"Oh I just have an important meeting with the Minister and the Deputy-head of DMLE. I will be back around dinner time and I will pick up Teddy from daycare.",responded Harry, brows furrowed.

"Oh ok", Ron replied disinterestedly, stuffing his face with food despite probably having ate only a few hours ago.

Harry quietly sighed as the information he found out was confirmed, he really did hate him.

"See you later then Ron", Harry said as he threw the magical green dust into the flames.

A mumbled dismissal sounded through what sounded like porridge as Harry stepped into the green flames and shouted, "The Ministry!".

~{Magical Teleporting Line}~

Harry stumbled out the fireplace in a cloud of soot, practically coughing his lungs out.

"Are you okay sir?", A young woman asked, holding out a handkerchief to Harry.

"Yeah", he replied before coughing again, "Are you working here?", He asked, finally looking at her.

"No, just a friendly passerby. Why?", She questioned, looking confused at Harry.

"I don't know, you just seem vaguely familiar to me.", He answered.

"Ah I see, I think you might have seen me around in public before.", She said sheepishly, backing away slowly.

"No I definitely know you. What's your name?", Harry asked, a frustrated look on his face.

She sighed, "Fine, Addison Dalin. So do you recognize me now?".

He shook his head with his eyebrows furrowed in concentration. Suddenly his entire mood changed as he was reminded of why he came.

"Ooh Merlin I am late!", He said as he turned around and started moving to the exit of the ministry.

He waved a hand over his shoulder as he said his regards.

With Harry gone, Addison turned to the fountain and walked away. Under her breath she whispered in a ghostly voice, "Seems like I need to hide better, Master can't find me yet."

Chapter Text

Harry spun and fell into reality on the floor of the Gringotts' side chamber. Swiftly he stood up, brushing off nonexistent dust; it was, of course, a mark against the goblins' good reputation if there was a single speck of the stuff in Gringotts.

Harry straightened himself out before pulling open the well-worn, yet still a display of dominance and pride, spruce doors.

To his left, a hook fanged grimacing creature stood ornately yet well prepared for battle at the door. Intricately detailed shield and spear designed specifically for protection of the bank.

To his right was a familiar face, Griphook, the goblin who helped him acquire the goblet horcrux; though he did later betray Harry.

"Griphook?", Harry asked, confused and shocked to see someone he thought had died.

"Oh, Lord Potter, my name is Snarlhook. Griphook's son.", The goblin replied with a surprising degree of politeness.

"I see, well nice to make your acquaintance and I am sorry for your loss.", Harry replied sheepishly, knowing he was partly responsible for Griphook's death.

The goblin just shook his head. The saviour always seemed to apologize for things that weren't his fault; one of his many qualities that made him such a good leader.

"Anyway Lord Potter, what brings you to Gringotts today?", Snarlhook asked, a snarl clawing its way onto the goblin's face.

"Ummm... couldyouperhapsgetmedivorcedocumentsandadoptiondocumentsformeplease?", He said rapidly, a blush working its way up his face.

"Will that be all, Lord Potter?", A furrowed brow appeared on the goblin's face as he struggled to interpret the man's words.

"Ah .. maybe also check out my account history? I think something might have happened there that I didn't authorise.", The widened emerald eyes relaxed from their alarmed state as he eased into the goblin's questioning.

"Are you certain?", Snarlhook asked, lips coming to a stern stop as he shifted on his feet.

"Absolutely, I want to make sure my vaults are not used without my consent.", Harry frowned before he reiterated his statement, "Not that I think Gringotts has done anything to them without my knowledge.".

"I see, well Lord Potter, I could get that taken care of in about an hour at most. During that time you can do as you wish.", Griphook's son said before swiveling around, like a certain ex-potions professor, and walking briskly down the hallway.

"Ah ok", Harry replied, he stood in the hallway; unsure what to do next.

~Magical Line Break~

Teddy sat down at the table as the sound children playing assaulted his sensitive ears. He wondered where Godfather was, he should've picked him up by now. Is he ok? Did something happen to him that no-one knew to tell him about?

Worry for his father figure consumed his thoughts. Was he forgotten?

The sensation of tears trying to emerge made him even more awful. Was he even worthy of Harry's love?

"Teddy, your Godfather is here to pick you up!", The matron of the nursery called out.

Teddy replied back, excitement audible in his voice, "Okay, I am going to get my stuff Ms Aberconwie.".

He ran through the classroom parting crowds of children like Moses and the red sea. A few children waved their goodbyes before returning to their games.

A smile emerged on his face as he drew closer to the coat hangers and storage boxes; his Godfather had come for him, he wasn't forgotten!

Quickly he grabbed his coat and bag before racing to the classroom door.

Harry was seen chatting quietly to the matron, "Harry!", Edward cried out and Harry turned to face his soon-to-be son.

"Hey pup, did you mis-", Harry greeted before being cut off by Teddy slamming into him, small arms wrapping around his legs.

The sensation of tears soaking through his jeans shook him from his mildly shocked state and he slowly crouched down in front of his godson.

"Edward why are you crying?", The Godfather asked, hands coming up to wipe tears off the 4 year old's face.

The toddler sniffled as he grasped onto his father figure's shirt, "I thought you left me like auntie Ginny said you were going to do. I thought you hated me or forgot about me or you had died or something.".

The child cried harder until he heard his Godfather whisper to him,"Sorry pup I was doing something super important that you will love. Ginny is no longer your Aunt; neither is Ron or Hermione.".

The man hesitated before asking uncertainly, "Plus, I may have gotten adoption forms for you to become my son... if you want that is."

The child cried harder but this time in joy, "Yesss! Hawwy I wanna be your son.", His small arms tightening around Harry.

Harry smiled in delight as he picked up his favourite person the world and spun around.

Behind them, the matron stood smile upon her face at the beautiful scene before she turned around to go back to looking over the other kids.

"Ok then now we just need to go to Gringotts and then we can go see your Nana in Saint Mungos.", Harry said, putting Edward back on the ground, the tealnette's hair changing to raven.

Harry pet the boy's hair gently as he picked up the previously-unnoticed bag on the floor.

The coat surprisingly still in the toddler's grasp. Teddy sniffled as his tears ran dry and a blooming smile broke out on his petit face.

His Godfather was all his and no-one even Aunt Ginny could take him away from him.

~Magical Line Break~

The sound of a stick snapping underfoot alerted the bounding deer to the danger as a harsh cursing voice answered it's unspoken call. The chill from before slowly died down in the hunter but he swiftly ignored it.

It appeared there would be no new meat for lunch as he was sure his previous outrage at his own foolish mistake had scared off all the prey around him.

He shook his head softly before deciding to head home.

~Magical Line Break~

Snarlhook sat down at the desk, a stack of important papers clutched in his clawed hands.

The two boys that sat across from him were practically drowning in their excitement, he felt bad about bringing such bad news to the table.

"Right then Lord Potter-Black-Slitherin-Griffindor excetera excetera, turns out that you have a lot of accounts and titles given to you in lots of wills and your inheritance.

As of which you have been stolen from three major ones; Potter treasury, Potter main vault and Potter trust fund. All of which have stolen by Dumbledore, Molly Weasley, Ginny Weasley, Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger-Weasley.

Is there anything specific you want to do to the blood-traitors and mudblood?", Snarlhook sneered, sharp yellowed teeth gleaming ominously in the dimly light office.

Harry smiled equally as sadistically.

Chapter Text

Harry stood up scroll underarm and hand in hand with his almost son. Harry smiled genially at the goblin and said his goodbyes before heading back to the apparation point.

"Alrighty then, visiting Gran?" Harry asked, eyes soft with adoration for his child. The toddler squealed, tugging on Harry's hand in excitement before nodding rapidly; appearing as though his head would fall off.

"Gran, Gran, Gran, Gran, Gra-" Teddy chanted before being cut off by his almost dad chuckling at him. He pouted before tugging Harry's hand more to stop his laughter.

He finally stopped then quickly said "hold on tight" before doing a half turn and apparating to Saint Mungos.

.....

Landing awkwardly on his feet, Harry stumbled, pulling the dizzy toddler after him. Harry fell, feet tangling together though he managed to quickly manhouver himself onto his back to stop Edward from being harmed.

Air knocked out of him, both from the fall, Teddy landing on him and the magical traveling; he panted.

The tealnette's face entering his line of sight, concern creasing his brow. "Yew alright, Dad?"

Harry nodded before remembering the important scroll he had dropped. He abruptly sat up, Eddie sliding into his lap, as he scoured the hospital apparation room with his emerald eyes.

Not far from his foot was the Gringotts' scroll he needed. Quickly he accioed it into his hand before pulling Teddy up as he stood.

He dusted them off before moving to the door leading to the hospital reception, holding Teddy's small hand in his.

"Let's go see Gran, hmm?" Harry asked, the child nodded furiously.

.....

The door closed softly behind the visitors as the went into the long-term care ward.

Sunlight beamed through the large arched window panes as the pair walked down the corridor hand in hand.

They approached a doorway that looked as though it was carved into the wall, the door laid ajar. Harry reached out, pushing open the florally embellished door, exposing the pair to the homely decorated hospital room.

"Ah hello darlings, I wasn't expecting you today."

Andromeda sat in the purple velvety armchair under the warm sun rays making her appear more lively than the past times they had visited her.

Book in hand and glasses on the bridge of her nose, she looked over at the

"Hi Gran Gran!" Teddy replied, pulling away from Harry and squirming excitedly in front of the elderly lady.

She let out a soft, almost scratchy, laugh at the toddler's behaviour before reaching out an aged hand to ruffle the child's hair.

"How was nursery, Teddy?" Andromeda hummed inquisitively, resting her arm back on the chair, eyes examining the man who lurked by the door.

"It was really good! Jasmine let me play with her and Sabina and we played house and I was the mom! It was really fun! And then I had chicken nuggies for lunch and ..." The child rambled on enthusiastically.

She looked over at Harry, noticing the scroll on his hand inscribed with the Gringotts and Potter symbols, sighing; it was finally time.

The child's speel ended as he noticed his soon to be father draw up behind him, solemn look upon his face as he opened up the parchment legal document.

"I am guessing that's for Edward's adoption, correct?" Receiving a nod, the elderly lady sighed "Well let's see it then."

Silently, Harry handed over the unravelled scroll eyes focused on the child, who grasped his trousers in a tight fist.

Hand carding through the toddler's hair, he watched the elderly lady push up her glasses and take in the information the scroll contained.

"Are you sure you want to become his father, Harry?" She asked, a hard look in her eyes as she peered over the lenses of her glasses.

"Absolutely, I have loved Teddy since he was born and I want to continue to love him just as his father instead of his godfather." Harry announced, adoration showing in his emerald eyes for the teal haired toddler that stared up at him.

She sighed "At least you are the one adopting him, not that Ginny girl, she will send him away the second she sees him."

"I divorced her earlier today, she... she was feeding me love potions for years and stealing from me too! Everyone I thought I could trust-" he drew in a deep breath and wiped away the tears that had accumulated.

"-They betrayed me." Harry composed himself, feeling a tug on his trousers, he saw the young boy at the edge of bawling his eyes out.

"Gin Gin, Won and Herminny hurt you, didn't they dad? I no likey them anymore!" He pouted, crossing his small arms across his chest before letting himself be tugged into his father's arms, where he wrapped Harry's neck in a damp hug.

Harry laughed self depreciatively, pulling the toddler closer into his arms. "I've let them get to me for far too long, I'm my own person now, nothing to hold me back."

"What if you went to some new to start over? I am sure most people won't even know who you are then. A completely blank slate." Andromeda asked, scroll put down in favour of watching the pair before her.

Harry frowned pensively. "That isn't a half bad idea. Teddy, we could travel the world!"

Edward cheered, squirming again to be put down, "I wanna go to Germany! We can take nan too, right dad?"

Harry deciding, Teddy had enough of being trapped, crouched down to release him. "I don't know, she isn't in the best condition right now, baby..."

"B-But she-" The toddler began to tear up again, cheeks aflame with anger and frustration as he didn't get his way.

"Your Dad is right, I am in no condition to travel anymore, darling. I have creaky joints and wrinkles and I sure won't be the best person to be around considering the bad back pain." She laughed jovially, leaning back into her plush chair.

"I am happy here, my child. You have your whole life ahead of you without needing me to drag you down. Go, have fun whilst you are still young-" she rolled up the scroll; the blue ink emblazoned upon the cream parchment.

"-and I mean you too Harry."

Harry flushed with the accusation "Will do Andromeda." He muttered, embarrassment evident in his voice.He stood up, Teddy holding his hand.

"Aren't you forgetting something?" She extended her arm, scroll grasped in her hand.

Quickly, Edward ran forward and hugged his grandmother before grabbing the scroll and running up, proudly showing off the important item he collected.

"Thanks Gran Gran! Cyaaa soon!" He then pulled a surprised Harry along to the door, the last time he saw her and he didn't even get to say goodbye...

Chapter Text

The truck came to a halt on the splotchy grass that lead up to the place they called home.

Merle sat in the truck, reminiscing over the bad and good memories he had in that place he used to call his home; mostly bad memories.

Daryl sighed, rubbing his sore red eyes.

The dried up salty trails, tugged at his skin when he ran his hands over his cheeks, leading down his face into the rugged dark caramel coloured goatee that adorned his chin.

Merle awkwardly shuffled in his seat as he waited for his younger brother to do something; anything would be better than this immense load of nothingness Daryl was giving him to work with.

Rain splattered on the window of the dusty blue-gray Ford F-250 truck leaving clean lines that cut through the dirt from the off-road paths in the forest.

The sound of the rain grew louder, almost becoming loud enough to cover the stifled sound of sobbing in the truck cabin.

Merle's lips parted as if to say something but looking over at his brother he knew there was nothing he could fix this; fix his past mistakes.

He drew up his knees to his chest, ankle monitor dragging irregularly against the patchy leather seats, arms wrapped around his denim clad shins.

Dog tags tinkling together upon his chest as he squeezed his legs closer to him, the shuddering sound of his brother's mucus filled breathing making him hold in his own tears.

"I- Daryl... I know there's nothing I can say to erase my... mistakes, erase our shitty past, your past but.. I-" Merle uncoiled, pressing his hand into the worn leather seat between them, his right hand hesitantly crossing the gap between the siblings.

Daryl held his breath as he took in his brother's words, his brother who raised him when his father was out gambling and getting deadass drunk on their couch with his friends, his brother who protected him from the sharp lashes that swooped down from the man he was supposed to look up to.

His brother who spent years of his life working just to make sure they had a home, food and water; so he could live.

He sharply inhaled, he couldn't blame his brother for wanting to escape that harsh abusive environment.

Hell, he knew he wanted to when there was no one to hide behind anymore, no older brother to provide for him, protect him from that alcoholic redneck of a father.

He swore his old man's belt was stained with the evidence of his misdemeanours, much like the scars left engraved on his back; evidence of his weakness.

Daryl pulled away from the approaching hand as he rubbed at his face, his lip trembling before he let out a teary incredulous laugh, "He really fucked us up didn't he, Merle?"

Merle bit his lip as he flung himself back into the seat, arms limp and head facing skywards at the stained cream cab ceiling.

"Tha' he did, tha' he did Dar." Merle closed his eyes, tears falling down his face as he raised his hands to hide his watery blue eyes from the eyes he felt staring at him.

"I-I wish I could go back in time and kill that bastard for what he put us through, for what he did to us, for what he didn't do, for what we have to dream about every night for years onwards." Daryl raged, his tearstained face growing redder as he expelled all the negative emotions he kept under wraps for years.

He balled up his fists before launching them at the edges of the steering wheel, the hard plastic and metal splitting his knuckles open and turning them red as he screamed out in anguish. He pressed his eyelids together trying to block out the world around him.

Finally he lashed out and accidentally punching the horn, making the still running Ford let out a shriek; blood smearing on the crossbar as he rested his fist against the wet leather.

He pressed his forehead to the top curve of the steering wheel, panting in the iron tinged air, leaning forward more until his chin rested on the top and his arms dropped weakly to his side.

A large cool hand touched his shoulder, startling Daryl away from his remorseful and painful memories, he turned to the hand's owner.

Merle stared down at him sympathy and understanding in his red-rimmed eyes, "I know what you are going through Daryl. I just wanted to protect you from the horrors of this life, but in the end I abandoned you to my own personal demon.

I understand that now, all this time I was only thinking about saving my own hide. That man didn't touch you did he? I swear to god if he did I will hunt him down and kill him myself." Merle ranted in self depreciation, guilt and anger at the idea.

Daryl stared silently at his brother's face before pulling off his jacket and moving to pull off his shirt, Merle's face changed from imploring curiousity to dread in a matter of seconds.

Merle halted his unbuttoning with a shaky hand, "Oh fuck, he really did that to you... too."

Daryl noticed his brother curling into himself at the thought of their shared past, limbs shaking in what seemed to be a mix of sadness and restrained fury; he rested a steady hand on Merle's bicep.

"... It's in the past now, he died about 5 months ago from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease... It's where pollution from the air blocks the lungs from taking in as much oxygen as they normally could and it makes the lungs inflamed... He basically suffocated to death in other words." Daryl changed his answers as his brother increasingly looked confused and uncomprehending as he spoke.

"Serves the bastard right! Still I wish I could've gotten at least a few punches in before he kicked the bucket." Merle scowled but his eyes weren't as dark as before.

He covered his brother's hand with his reassuringly and quirked his lips into a smirk. "You've now got me by your side Brother."

"I don't know about you but we shouldn't let his bad choices influence us anymore, we shouldn't let that man control our lives. He is dead now and we aren't."

Merle replied, slinging his arm across the shorter male's shoulders, "Not going to lie but maybe we should start off small mainly getting that house sorted." The blonde man nodded his head towards their dilapidated shack of a house, a smirk on his face.

Daryl nodded, smiling and his mind made up, he was going to live his life to the fullest from now on with his brother.

Sharp green eyes invaded his mind and he grew lost in thought.

Chapter Text

Going back to the Black house and the Order of the Phoenix's old headquarters was probably a bad idea but it was better than having to put up with Ron, Hermione and Ginny.

I mean what were a few nightmares in the grand scheme of things.

Protecting Teddy and his own sanity came first in his list of priorities. He couldn't risk being poisoned by that bitch again.

His magic felt almost cleaner, unclogged by the sickening stench of dark magic that polluted his veins for years.

The dust, that clouded the room with a musty sick stench, was immediately vanished once Harry's dizziness faded away and the smell reached his nose.

"Ewww. It smelled horrible in here, Dad! I can still smell it in my nose." The young boy whined, nose wrinkled and eyelids scrunched up.

Harry laughed softly, rubbing his upper lip sheepishly, "I was so used to smelling it a few years ago, Sirius didn't even notice the difference between here... and Azkaban..."

He trailed off into silence, the memories of the past assulting him with the love and care Sirius had shown him despite not being the best role model.

He didn't notice the tears that sprung to his melancholic green eyes until his arm was tugged by the small boy he had claimed as his new family.

"What was serious like? Was he serious all the time, Dad? Was he super stric-" Ah-choo! Suddenly the toddler sneezed, pulling him out of the rambling as well as pulling Harry out of his sadness completely.

The 20 year old man laughed, tears of happiness replaced the sadness that was dwelling.

The 4 year old boy sniffled grumpily as he was laughed at, tugging at his father's arm to stop him from being mean to him.

"It was only a sneeze" he grouched, pouting angrily and tugged harder; werewolf strength kicked in and the raven haired man tumbled to the ground, successfully stopping his laughter.

Teddy let go of Harry's hand before climbing on top of the gasping man, "I won Dad! You can't laugh at me again!"

The toddler smirked wickedly upon his human perch's stomach as he drew he chubby to his father's sides preparing to launch his own battle.

Harry gained back his breath at last, only to just realise the small hands clamping down on his waist, then the torture started.

Teddy tickled at his father's ribs causing the man to rapidly lose the breathe he just took, his arms flailing and his legs shaking under the tear wrenching pressure on his diaphragm.

Laughter spilled out into the hallway, waking paintings and notifying the nearby house elf.

Hearing his father laugh, Teddy giggled and tickled the man again, until a snarling shark-toothed house-elf burst into appearance; dusty and sooty rags covering his aged body.

It was Kreacher, the old Black's loyal house-elf, blessed with a wretched hate for muggles and all with impure blood.

Harry pulled Teddy from his stomach, sitting up and pulled the young boy behind his torso in an attempt to protect him from the wrath of the loyal house-elf.

"Master Harry, what is that impure bastard child beside you." Kreacher snarled maliciously, hatred staining his voice like a bloody knife; his clawed hands curling at his sides with rage at the sight of the impure blooded swine in the halls of his great mistress's home.

Harry drew his legs under him, standing up and dusting off the dust that decorated his black slacks with one hand, the other steering the toddler further behind him.

"... Hello Kreacher." Harry replied cordially, maintaining a blank facade under the yellowed eyes of the house-elf.

"You have decided to... return to the House of Black." Kreacher scowled at his own words as if they were a bitter taste in his mouth.

"Ah. Uh yes I have Kreacher. Along with my godson, Tonks' son, My son." With those words, he smiled down at the young boy below him before looking at Kreature for a response.

"...Ms Tonks had a son?", Kreacher asked, hands uncurling slightly before tightening again. His frowned deepened but in thought rather than rage as it was previously, "It must have been Lupin, he was one of the only ones good enough for our Black blood."

Kreacher nodded to himself as if verifying his own thoughts to be correct. He then focused on the raven haired wizard before him, "Are you planning on staying in our great and noble house of Black, Master Harry?".

Harry crouched down to look at the boy at his side, "Teddy would you be okay staying here? This place has it's own library and you'd get your own personal room. There is also a room in the basement for when your transformations occur.".

Harry gripped the toddler's other hand gently whilst looking him in the eyes with warmth and love, "We will do whatever you like, love.".

Teddy squirmed slightly in thought before tugging at his father's hands, pulling him in the direction of Kreacher.

Kreacher's eyes grew wider with surprise as the child grabbed his hand too and didn't show any signs of fear like other children he had met previously. They all ended up bawling their eyes out, Kreacher immediately left; deep sadness dwelling in his heart but he convinced himself he didn't need love, he just needed his Mistress Walburga.

But this child was different, warmth in his smile as he pulled the old house elf along.

He reminded him of Young Master Regulus; the thought made tears bloom in his eyes, but he quickly wiped them away with his spare hand and smiled melancholically towards the child.

Harry watched Kreacher and Teddy, following along behind them as Edward explored the house in unbridled enthusiasm.

Chapter Text

Clang, clink, woosh.

Harry woke up to the sound of pots banging, glasses being placed down and fire roaring downstairs.

The early morning sun was blocked by the turquoise velvet curtains. But it was the smell of food being cooked in the kitchen drifting up to his room that woke him.

His tummy rumbled ominously as he rubbed his eyes before reaching around on the bedside table for his glasses. Having found his bounty, he equipped his glasses and finally focused on the room he was in.

He swung his feet out from beneath the covers and over the edge of the bed before observing his room for any changes that may have occurred during the night.

He took the smallest bedroom in the entire house and Kreature threw a fit but it still felt too large for Harry, who had grown up in a cupboard and then a 1 by 2 metre room during the summer and a crowded shared room for his teenage years.

The room was painted, courtesy of Teddy and himself, a mint green colour on the top and a crisp white below with a pecan wood rail separating the two. The floor was matching rustic pecan herringbone that he and Kreature had worked together to put in place.

Soft woolen tapestries decorated the room depicting beautiful wildlife scenes that drew you in to the point they sometimes felt like you were flying over mountains or standing in a forest clearing with critters puttering about.

Sometimes he could swear he could see a man walking through the scene out of the corner of his eyes, but Kreature denied any knowledge of the lone man.

He inhaled the succulent scent of breakfast cooking downstairs and sighed. He climbed out of bed at last; stretching in a way that was very reminiscent of a cat before shaking himself out of the sleepy daze that lingered from the previous hours he spent sleeping.

He exited his room and headed down the hallway, which was distinctly less dreary and more homely than previously. The floorboards creaked beneath his feet as he reached the landing at the top of the stairs.

The sounds below in the kitchen halted before continuing with a click of the elderly house elf's fingers, albeit this time with magic.

'Master Harry! Good morning, I made breakfast! Bacon, eggs, toast, and for the Young Master Teddy, bacon with maple syrup and a stack of pancakes!' Kreature rattled off, chirping with happiness.

The house elf swayed on his feet proudly at the bottom of the stairs, practically grinning in his enthusiasm despite it being 6am in the morning.

Harry paused for a moment to process the excited state and proud words of Kreature, rubbing his face in the process before groggily responding, 'G'd m'rnin' Kreature...'

'Th'nks for makin' breakfast for us-'

'Its not a problem for Kreature, Master Harry! Kreature loves to cook for his masters!' Kreature cut in almost giddily, twisting his fingers together.

Suddenly, a door slammed open and fast stomps rang down the hallway above them.

Harry jerked in surprise and impulsively fell into a fighting stance despite not having his wand in hand and braced himself. Before he realised that the sound was that of Teddy running down the hallway.

He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

'Edward Remus Lupin! What have I told you about slamming doors and running in the halls?!' Harry called out, a mixture of annoyed and exasperated.

The sound of bare feet hitting the floor skidded to a halt before resuming sheepishly at a slower pace.

'Sorry Dad. I just smelt pancakes and bacon and you know how that's my favourite breakfast food and and and... Yeah so I'm sorry uh... Yeah.' Teddy's voice echoed down the stairs as he continued to walk.

Harry sighed harshly before turning back to Kreature only to find out the house elf apparated away to the kitchen to oversee the food cooking.

(Also to avoid the shouting that had become almost routine everytime he cooked pancakes and bacon. Which was often because he loved to please his young master's appetite and witness his happiness early in the morning.)

The footsteps had now reached his side before they stopped, he turned to meet the eyes of his son, now aged 8.

Teddy all but slumped into Harry's stomach, mumbling another apology before pulling away from the hug. 'Good morning Dad. Can I go eat my pancakes now? Please please please plea-'

Harry groaned before nodding briefly to which a cheerful 'YES!' was exclaimed, before his son continued to race down the stairs.

'SLOW DOWN!' Harry called down at Teddy to which a despondent groan replied before continuing yet again at a slower pace.

Harry smiled gently before making his way down the creaky stairs and finally entering the kitchen.

Kreature stood at the side of the table, smiling admiringly in front of his hard work, Teddy already scoffing down his food wolfishly, only just managing to use his cutlery to delve in.

Harry sat down at the table, before looking over at the tidying house elf.

'Come on Kreature. Join us at the table, before Ted eats all your food.' Harry teasingly called out, grabbing his fork and knife and stabbing the food on his plate.

'Will not!' Teddy refuted, before hungrily digging back into his food.

Kreature shyly approached the table, 'I really shouldn't Maste-'

'Sit.' Harry cut him off firmly.

Kreature sighed but squirmed happily at being included. It wasn't the first time but everytime it happened he was reminded how different his new family was compared to the cruelty of Mistress Walburga and Master Orion and their son, Sirius.

They consumed and cleaned up their kitchenware after themselves, (much to the chagrin of Kreature) and sequestered away for their tasks for the day.

Teddy and Kreature had gathered at the Black library to peruse more educational books that were safe for children; most of which Harry had to buy himself due to the sheer lack of said books.

Harry had decided to go on a walk at the local park as a break from his literary research and summation. 'I'm taking a breather at the park. Be back in an hour or two!' He called up the stairs.

Engrossed murmurs responded and he smiled, I'm glad they're still getting along.

He opened the door, sun beaming down at him as he departed from his home, heading down the street.

~timeskip~

Harry had relaxed and unwinded on his walk but the sun didn't last causing a chill to enter the air. He huffed but decided to cut his walk short and head home.

Turning the corner of Claremont Square, Harry spotted a group of what could be viewed as fancy dress party goers to anyone else (muggles) but to him screamed enemies in his mind.

Wrapped in dark cloaks, a group of roughly 20 people stood upon the stairs/driveway of 12 Grimmauld place. Wands held aloft, pointed towards the door. The glow of ward-breaking spells chipping at the shimmering iridescent shield that protected his home caused him to inhale sharply at the sight before turning back around the corner, hiding.

Oh god, what should I do? Teddy and Kreature are inside and so is my wand. If i tried taking them down bare handedly, I would be taken care of swiftly. 1 vs 20 isn't in my favour at all. Harry deliberated intensely, sweat coating his palms as he repetitively curled his hands in and out of fists.

He abruptly came to an idea, I could apparate inside and leave with Teddy and Kreature before they manage to break in.

He nodded to himself in resolution. Wandless apparating was difficult but not impossible, it just required a lot of focus.

He spun on the heel of his foot and disappeared with a sharp but quiet crack.

~scenery change~

Kreature grunted, gnarly hands grasping and twisting at the air, magic gathering and chasing after his movements as he weaved.

A sudden whip crack sounded behind him in the hallway, he flinched before glancing over his shoulder and noticed his master had returned.

"Kreature, what is the situation like?", Harry asked, calling his wand to his hand from upstairs. He then brandishes it to connect his magic to the fragmenting wards that are being pelted by the magic from the wizards trying to break in.

"Master Harry! Master should prepare to leave immediately, Master won't be safe here for much longer." The house elf said groaning in strain as he tried to patch together the holes being torn into their protections.

"But Kreature-"

"NO MASTER HARRY YOU HAVE TO LEAVE NOW!" Kreature flicked his wrist and items started to float before cramming themselves into bags at a fast pace.

Harry jittering, came to realise how urgent the house elf was as he shouted at him, turning around and calling Teddy downstairs.

Teddy ran downstairs cradling his teddy bear crying, before clinging onto Harry's waist. Harry charmed the luggage small and put it in a briefcase before closing it up and grabbing the handle. He faced Kreature, hesitance in his eyes as he faced him.

"Come with us Kreature-" Kreature interrupted.

"No Master Harry, I have to do this. I have to protect you and Young-master, they will follow your apparating residue so you'll need to jump a few times, okay?" Kreature glanced at them, his eyes hardened but softening when he glanced into Teddy's fearful eyes.

"Now go!" He grits out, his hands working furiously as he tries to keep out the wizards.

Harry nods, holding Teddy close to him, "Come find us, Kreature." Harry then turns on his heel, starting to apparate, Teddy calls out tearfully, reaching out a hand, realising they were abandoning Kreature. "Kreat-"