Work Text:
After a quick trip to the Eye Healer, Harry’s “behavioral problems” during read-aloud time in class were resolved. But his up-to-date glasses only revealed more problems for his teacher to bring up — number one being that Harry was not at the same reading level as the rest of his classmates.
Sirius was subjected to a long lecture from Harry’s teacher about how important it is to ensure that Harry catch up now before it’s too late. Good reading habits start at home, she said, and children who are read to at home from an early age are much better off than those who aren’t. Sirius hates that this is just another thing that the Dursleys took from Harry.
He tries to encourage Harry to practice reading with him at home. But no matter how much Sirius gently encourages him and tells him it’s all right, Harry goes silent and flushes with shame when he stumbles over the words. Sirius reading aloud to him before bed goes over better, but he knows that it’s important for Harry to practice, too.
The teacher suggests letting Harry select some special books to read himself. If he gets to pick it out and is interested in what he’s reading, he’ll be more likely to go through with reading it. Even if it’s a comic book, reading is reading and he has to start somewhere, she says. (Though by the way she wrinkles her nose as she says it, Sirius is sure she would much rather Harry read a chapter book than a comic book.)
So, Sirius puts his plan into motion the next weekend. Harry is fascinated by magic and magical creatures, so what better place to select a few special books than a wizarding bookstore? They bundle up in cloaks, Sirius tugs a beanie down over Harry’s forehead, and they floo together to Hogsmeade under the assumption that it will be less crowded than Diagon Alley.
Harry takes in the cobblestone street and rows of thatched cottages with wide-eyed wonder as they slowly wander down main street towards the bookstore. The villagers and shopkeepers have already started decorating for the holidays, with enchanted candles strung from the trees and holly wreaths on every door. When the finally reach the bookstore, Sirius sets Harry loose in the children’s section with instructions to choose at least three books. He stays within sight, but tries not hover as Harry tentatively approaches the shelves.
Soon enough, he’s pulled into a conversation with the shopkeeper. She has at least a dozen recommendations for him — both children’s books for Harry and parenting books for himself. By the time he manages to pull himself away from her, he’s holding a stack of books and she’s looking very pleased about the sale she’s about to get.
Sirius steps into the children’s section to check on Harry, and is momentarily panicked when the little boy is nowhere in sight. And then he hears a quiet voice reading aloud. Sirius leans against a shelf and listens. Harry voice is tentative at first, but it grows in confidence the longer Sirius listens. Sirius suspects that Harry’s chosen book is a children’s version of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Him, because the boy is now enthusiastically reeling off facts about dragons. Sirius silently peeks around a book shelf, and his heart melts at the sight before him.
Harry is curled up in a little child-sized armchair in the back corner of the children’s section, an illustrated edition of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them open in his lap. A large, fluffy monstrosity of a kneazle is squished into the chair beside him, watching him read with keen eyes.
“Oooh, I see he’s found Bertie!” The shopkeeper whispers from behind Sirius. “Bertie just loves children. Did you know that reading to pets is a great way for young readers to build confidence? A pet might be just the ticket for your boy!”
Sirius hadn’t planned to get a pet for Harry yet, but he does have the next best thing: himself. That night, Sirius doesn’t say anything when their usual “reading practice” times comes around. Harry fetches one of his new books without prompting, and settles into his usual spot on the couch, his shoulders tight and a miserable expression on his face.
Without a word, Sirius transforms into Padfoot and climbs up onto the couch beside Harry, ignoring the perplexed look on his kid’s face as he spins in place a few times before settling down and placing his head in Harry’s lap. Harry tentatively reaches out and strokes his head, and then he begins to read.
Harry is slow and uncertain at first, but Sirius can feel the tension start to bleed out of him as he continues on. Harry’s voice becomes stronger and more confident with every line. He keeps reading even after his allotted reading time is up, when normally he puts down the book as soon as the clock hits the hour.
Finally, as bed time nears, Harry sets down the book. He leans down, wraps his arms around Sirius, and buries his face into his fur for a moment. “Thanks, Padfoot,” he whispers. “Can we do this again tomorrow night?”