PLEASE READ:
If you didn’t read ‘But what if we could?’ Basically, James and Regulus adopted Harry at 6 months old, he is not genetically related to Lily or James. He is also a vampire like Regulus. And a baby.
James
James had been looking forward to fatherhood all his adult life. He’d been convinced he would be the fun dad, always taking his child on wild adventures and encouraging them to get into mischief. He was a doctor after all. He knew how to have fun safely, where limits should be drawn, and what do if things went wrong.
He knew how to treat stings, bites, burns, cuts, fractures, allergies, sprains and strains, choking, poisoning, infections, flu, fever, vomiting and whatever else a child could get into trouble with. James was one hundred percent, completely and totally prepared to keep his kid safe… that was… as long as the child was human… which… wasn’t… the species of baby he’d actually ended up with.
Harry was a vampire.
A sweet, adorable little baby that loved cuddles, fluffy toys and drinking human blood. The exact same liquid that was running through James’ veins and keeping him alive. He also just happened to burn in sunlight, had no heartbeat, and would be physically strong enough to best an adult man like James, in hand-to-hand combat by the age of four. Just minor differences. Tiny adjustments to the baby rulebook. Pretty much the exact same experience but at night. Right?
---
“What’s he need a bed for?” Regulus asked, confusion written all over his face as he curled up to an already sleeping Harry in the middle of their mattress. “Why can’t he just sleep with us?”
James frowned.
Is this not common knowledge?
“Because if we move around in our sleep, we could accidently roll onto,” James said like it was obvious. Because honestly, he thought it was obvious. If either of them rolled on top of Harry by mistake, he’d get crushed. Or if they accidently covered his face during the night, he could stop breathing and suffocate.
He thought the reasons he’d given were pretty self-explanatory, but rather than nod in understanding, Regulus just continued to look confused. Staring at him blankly, blinking like he was somehow struggling to understand how giant adults versus tiny infant could result in dead Harry.
James was just about to jump into a new explanation, when Regulus started to smirk. Smirk! Which turned into outright laughter a few seconds later.
“J-Jamm-es-s,” Regulus cackled, a few tiny drops of blood seeping out the corners of his eyes. He wiped them away but more replaced them.
What the fuck?
James watched in horror. How could Regulus find this was funny? How could he think Harry getting hurt this hilarious?
“Why are you laughing?” he exclaimed. “This is serious, Reg!”
Regulus shook his head and continued to chuckle. James shook his head right back, mouth gaping in half shock and half terror. Had he made a mistake bringing Harry here? Was Regulus going to be an irresponsible parent?
“James,” Regulus snickered, taking long deep breaths, trying to settle himself. “Why would it be a problem if we rolled on top of him by accident?”
Surely, he’s just playing dumb? Right?
“Because he’s a baby and we’re adults!? We could suffocate him! Or break his bones!”
Regulus pursed his lips, stifling another laugh as he raised an eyebrow.
“Us laying on Harry will break his bones.”
“Yes!”
“Or Harry might stop breathing and suffocate.”
“Yes!”
Regulus raised his other eyebrow and let loose, giving up all attempts to control his laughter.
It was disturbing. Honestly. What part of their baby dying was entertaining? They’d had Harry for less than a few hours. Was Regulus already sick of this? Had his husband finally succumbed to the crazy vampire genes his mother had-
James put his face in his hands and groaned. Vampire. Harry was a vampire. Like Regulus. He couldn’t suffocate because he didn’t need to breathe, nor could his bones be broken by something like someone laying on top of him.
I’m such an idiot…
That was like… the most obvious thing… how had that already slipped his mind!?
“You alright over there?” Regulus asked in a totally not at all teasing tone. “Brain kicking in now?”
James grumbled, his face burning as he collapsed down onto the bed and cuddled up to Harry and Regulus. Harry still in deep sleep and Regulus grinning like a very amused maniac.
“Shut up,” he mumbled through a sheepish smile. Regulus chuckled again, reaching over and gently rubbing his arm.
“I think it’s cute how worried you were.”
---
“HARRY!” James shouted, sprinting into the bathroom and yanking Harry out of the bath. He hugged the soaked baby right into his chest, as his heart thumped away. Adrenaline pulsing through him. Panic still driving his brain.
What was Regulus thinking!? Leaving an infant unsupervised in the bath was just asking for death! The water was up to Harry’s chest! He could have drowned! How had Regulus thought that was okay!?
Harry started giggling and poking James in the James, like he was tapping along to the beat of a drum.
“At least I found you in time,” James breathed. Clutching Harry even tighter, completely ignoring his behaviour.
His brain was still very stuck on the fact that Regulus, had left their six-month-old son, playing alone in the fucking bathtub! What sort of parenting was that? That could get child services called on you! That could get Harry taken away from them if someone found out!
James grabbed a towel off the rack and bundled Harry up, planting soft, still slightly panicked kisses on top of his head. Then stomped out of the bathroom, down the hall and past the kitchen. Out the back door and into the dimly lit backyard, where Regulus was listening to music and putting together the play equipment James had picked up after work.
He’s not even trying to listen out for Harry!
When Regulus noticed James, he smiled warmly, but James could do nothing but glare. Anger raging a war inside him and refusing to let even a single ounce of calm inside.
“Aww,” Regulus started, his eyes softening and face melting, as if he hadn’t just nearly killed their son with his negligence! “Look at you two being all-”
“What the fuck is wrong with you!?” James snapped, trying his best to breath normally and very tragically failing.
Regulus’ smile dropped, brows knitting together and his mouth forming a small ‘o’ as he stared up at James. As if he had no idea why James was upset!
“I don’t think I understand what-”
“You left Harry in the bath!? Alone!?”
Regulus titled his head to the side, frown deepening.
“Yes?” he said, like he was still puzzled. “He seemed happy splashing around with his toys, soi thought I’d get this ready for when he was done. Why? What’s wrong?”
James felt his jaw drop, and he just stared in complete and utter disbelief as he tried to process what Regulus had just said. Because, what the fuck!? Was he seriously asking that question? Did he really need James to spell it out for him why leaving a baby alone in a bath was bad!?
Regulus was constantly worried about James getting hurt. How he could he be so blasé about Harry!? Harry was a baby! He needed more worry, not less!
“Reg you… you can’t leave a baby alone around water!? What were you thinking? He could have-”
“James,” Regulus deadpanned, his expression half amused, and half concerned. “You do remember that Harry’s like me, right?”
“And!? That doesn’t mean you can just-”
James stopped talking. His lips snapping together as his brain finally caught up with the situation. Harry giggled in his arms, pausing his game of poking his chest and putting his hands on James’ face, where James could feel some extreme blush coming on.
“You were saying?” Regulus said with a very poorly supressed smirk as James took a long deep breath.
James looked down at Harry, who seemed to be having lots of fun playing with the red spots on his cheeks. And very clearly not bothering with breathing right now. Because why would he? He didn’t need to… Harry was a vampire. A vampire.
That’s why he kept giggling and poking my chest… he was interested in the heart beating inside me…
“You could have said something before daddy came out here and made himself look like an idiot,” he pouted.
Regulus snorted and James groaned, sitting himself down opposite Regulus, leaning against one of the lamp posts. They’d installed them about a month after getting Harry after realising that although Harry, Regulus and Zoe the cat could see perfectly fine out here at night, James could not. He was in fact not blessed with night vision and kept tripping over his own feet.
“I swear at this point you’re stressing me out on purpose,” James muttered, closing his eyes and tipping his head back.
Harry immediately put his face against James’ neck, sniffing around and drooling all over it. James ignored it, grateful he still could. He was really dreading the day the little white dots in Harry’s gums got bigger. It would be like having a puppy. That’s what Reg had told him anyway.
Hopefully he was just messing with me…
“Sorry I yelled,” James sighed. “I just panicked when I saw him and-”
“It’s alright,” Regulus chuckled, shuffling over to James and grabbing one of his hands. “If Harry was human and you left his curtains open or something, I’d have probably had a panic attack myself.”
“You really think so?”
“Sure! Its possible. Probably. Sort of. Maybe. If it makes you feel better.”
James snorted. “You could have just said yes and left it at that.”
“True but,” Regulus grabbed his other hand and lifted it up, letting his cold lips graze the skin in a soft kiss. “You love me anyway.”
James rolled his eyes, but didn’t deny it.
---
“Oh no,” James cried out dramatically, pretending to trip and fall onto his stomach. “Help! He’s gonna get me!”
“Dada,” Harry giggled as he raced toward James with his arms outstretched. Waddling as fast as hit little legs could carry him. Which was still normal twelve-month-old speed.
James pretended to try crawl away, sighing and groaning as he dragged himself across the deck at a snail’s pace. Harry quickly closing the gap between them with sweet bursts of laughter.
“Arrgghh!” James shouted when he felt two tiny hands trying to wrap around his ankles. He played along and pretended to struggle against Harry’s weak grip. “Someone help! Save me!”
Harry giggled as he gave James’ legs a soft tug, the sound becoming a hysterical laugh as James screamed. Ever since he’d figured out walking, all Harry ever wanted to do was play this chasing game. Regulus said he was practice hunting, that he and Sirius used to do as kids too. James probably should have found it slightly disturbing, but as usual, he didn’t, he just thought it was adorable.
James rolled over onto his back, breaking Harry’s grip on his ankles. But Harry was quicker than James expected. Before James could even register than he was looking at the sky, something heavy jumped right on his stomach and Harry’s face invaded his vision.
“Help!” James called out as Harry wriggled around, his little hands grabbing James by the shoulder and attempting to pin him to the deck. James played along, pretending to fight against Harry. Flailing his arms around like he really couldn’t escape. “He’s got me!”
“Dada,” Harry giggled, working very hard to make sure his victim stayed in place. “Dada!”
James started slowing down, as if the fight was wearing him out. He stopped swinging his arms, his cries became more muffled, until eventually he laid very still, playing dead.
Harry laughed, poking James in the chest. Tapping along to the rhythm of his heartbeat, as if to say, ‘I know you’re faking’. James couldn’t hold it anymore and chuckled with him, suddenly sitting upright and wrapping Harry up in his arms. Tickling him everywhere he could reach.
He squirmed around as he laughed, before somehow managing to break free.
“I’m gonna get you back,” James grinned as Harry waddled clumsily away toward the-
“Harry! Stop!”
But he was too late… Harry reached the stairs and tumbled straight over them, bouncing down the wooden steps headfirst with a horrible crash, crack and thud. Then nothing but silence…
Shit. Shit. Shit.
James jumped to his feet, shifting into doctor mode as he dashed over to find the dead still, not breathing, bloody, scraped and bruised, body of little Harry…
“No…” James gasped as rushed down the stairs and knelt down beside Harry… Tiny, baby Harry who wasn’t moving… who was bleeding from so many places on his head that James could barely look… whose small arms were all scraped up and… and…
“REG!” He cried as his arms and legs tingled on their way to numb. His head pounding and breath stuck in his throat. Eyes stinging and lower lip trembled. “REGULUS!”
No, no, no, no, no…
James reached down for Harry’s neck, pressing his fingers against the spot where his pulse should have been… but there was nothing there… no beat at all… nothing… and his skin was ice cold… why was he so cold… this wasn’t… how could this…
“H-Harry,” James stammered, reaching across to the centre of Harry’s little chest. His doctor brain taking over as he pressed two fingers to Harry’s sternum.
He was about to start compressions when arms wrapped around his shoulders and dragged him back. No! Stop! James tried to fight them. He had to help Harry! He had to save him! He had to-
“James! Stop! He’s fine! It’s alright! Harry’s okay!”
Regulus?
James gasped trying to push against the grip holding him back.
“L-Look at him!” James breathed, as his heart raced almost painfully. Stomach in knots as his chest caved in. “That’s not fine!”
Harry’s blood was splattered against the ground, still seeping out of his probably cracked skull… he wasn’t breathing… his heart wasn’t beating… he was… Harry was… Why wasn’t Regulus trying to help get him back?
James twisted and shook but Regulus just held on harder, keeping James firmly in place.
“It’s alright,” Regulus urged as James wheezed. “Harrys like me! He’ll heal! Just watch! Just breathe! Harry’s gonna be fine!”
James was far too panicked to make sense of what Regulus was saying, the words flying right over his head. Tears now streaming freely down his cheeks as he struggled against Regulus, the fight leaving him the more he stared at Harry…
This can’t be happening…
But fuck… it was happening… this was real… Harry was… he was…
Before James could make himself even think the words… he noticed something odd…
“See… He’s already healing… He’s alright…”
The blood had stopped leaking out of Harry’s head…
Probably clotting, he told himself, except… that wasn’t the only thing different… James blinked, trying to see through the blur of falling tears…
“Harry will be fine… Just breathe…”
Is that his fingers…
“Relax James… It’s alright… I’ve got you…”
Are Harry’s fingers… twitching?
They were! The tips of his fingers were moving ever... But how was that possible? That shouldn’t be possible!?
“Harry?” Regulus’ voice was soft and soothing. “Are you alright, buddy?”
Why is he acting like Harry will be able to hear-
Harry’s whole body shivered. His arms tensed and his hands flexed.
“Hmmm…”
James gasped. That was… He bit his and his whole body trembled against Regulus… James stared… eyes wide and starting to burn from not blinking… he couldn’t blink… this was… he couldn’t stop watching this… Harry was…
Harrys eyes opened and James’ brain short circuited.
But his heart… he wasn’t breathing… he was…
“Hmmm,” Harry groaned. Very, very slowly shifting and forcing himself to sit upright. His face was all scrunched up like he was confused. Rubbing the back of his head and staining his hands red.
“How are you feeling, Harry?”
“Papa…” Harry mumbled, glancing at James and Regulus, before pulling his hand back and staring at the red colour. His face scrunched up even more. Head tilting to the side as he examined his bloodied fingers. He lifted it up to his face and curiously put his fingers in his mouth.
Instantly, his eyes widened, and he spat his hand out of his mouth with a surprised squeak, looking at his hand like it had grown an extra thumb. He looked back up at James and Regulus, reaching out his head toward them like he was trying to show them something.
“Ha-wy?”
“That’s right,” Regulus said calmly behind him. “That’s your blood. Harry’s blood.”
Harry’s face crunched up again as he brought his hand back to his chest. Staring at it while he nodded. Like having a conversation about blood after watching a one-year-old come back from the dead was completely norm-
Oh…
“James?” Regulus asked softly. “Are you alright?”
Oh…
“James?”
Oh…
A cool hand cupped James’ cheek.
Oh…
“Can you hear me?”
James swallowed, staring as Harry babbled and shook his bloodied hand back and forth.
A thumb gently stroked his cheekbone.
“H-Har-ry…” he choked. Relief still too muddled with fright to let a coherent sentence out.
“That’s right,” Regulus assured him. “Harry is right there. Safe and sound cause he’s like me, remember?”
James nodded slightly.
A vampire… Harry is a vampire… He heals… He doesn’t have a heartbeat to begin with… He doesn’t need to breath… His skin is always cold…
---
Regulus
Watching James try and adjust to look after a vampire baby was usually entertaining. When James got himself into a panic, he often forgot what Harry was and fell back on the humans’ rules that Harry wasn’t bothered by. Like breathing or avoiding injury.
Some moments were stressful, but James always recovered quickly and considering what a change in logic this was, Regulus was impressed with his adaption so far.
Regulus however… was not immune to having some issues with taking care of Harry. Just not in the same way as James. While he forgot that Harry wasn’t fragile, Regulus often forgot that he still had to treat Harry like a fragile Human when people were around.
Even after all these years, he still had a tendency to forget their social norms. Particularly when it came to Harry. With James it was alright because James just took lead if Regulus was unsure, but with Harry… Regulus often didn’t realise what the lines were and since Harry didn’t know either…
---
“They’re so beautiful,” Regulus muttered as he eyed the wildflower bouquets with a little smile. Violets and Buttercups. Yarrows and Cornflowers. They were all flowers James had randomly picked for him at least once, and he was pretty tempted to buy one of the bunches for home.
“Almost as beautiful as the person complimenting them,” James whispered from behind, his arms tightening around Regulus’ waist.
Regulus chose to ignore his deepening smile and the cold blush rushing to his cheeks, instead focusing on the display. On the harmony of purple and yellow. On the highlights of white and the blue. I don’t know how he’ll ever top this idea…
Tonight was the first time the spring festival was holding an evening event, and James had jumped at the chance to get them all tickets. The gardens and stalls were lit up with fairy lights and lanterns, and the cloudless sky was filled with bright twinkling stars. Regulus was really enjoying it.
“What do you think, Harry?” Regulus asked the toddler in his arms, face buried in Regulus’ shoulder. Harry didn’t have much experience being around Humans yet, and though he’d been fed before coming, it was clear all the people were a little overwhelming for him. Not hunger inducing, but definitely overwhelming.
But that was part of why they’d brought him along. Regulus wanted to get Harry as used to Humans as possible before his strength started increasing. That way he wouldn’t repeat any of Regulus’ childhood incidents… hopefully…
He gave Harry’s back an encouraging rub. “It’s alright. You can look.”
“We’ve got you,” James added softly, giving Harry a gently kiss on the head.
When James pulled away, Harry twisted his head just enough to see the garden.
“What do you think?” Regulus asked gently, turning to the side so Harry could see better. “Do you like all the colours?”
Harry nodded, eyes darting over the stalls display.
“Do you want to have a little look standing up?”
Harry hesitated, cuddling into Regulus a bit more, but after a minute he nodded, and Regulus put him on the ground. He nervously glanced around for a moment, hugging his arms into his chest and very clearly not letting himself breathe. Likely to help him ignore all the strong Human scents.
There weren’t too many people, but there were enough.
After another nervous minute, Harry stepped a little closer to the flowers and away from his parents. Reaching out and brushing his fingers through all the different plants, a little smile gracing his face as he did so.
It made Regulus smile too, and he relaxed happily into James as they watched Harry’s confidence grow. Waddling clumsily into the stall, looking all the different flower combinations and gardening tools on sale. The tools piqued his interest, and he started picking through them, eventually grabbing a pair of little pruning scissors.
Harry’s face lighting up as he used both hands to pull the handles apart, cutting the air rapidly and giggling at the shnip, shnip noises they made.
“Err, Harry!” James suddenly called out, and the warm body hugging him was replaced with cold air. James twisting around Regulus and dashing into the stall. “Put those down buddy. Give them to me please.”
Regulus frowned. What’s he doing? Harry was happy playing with those…
Regulus followed James inside, seeing James trying to replace the scissors with a little spade. But the toddler was refusing to let go.
“No!” Harry cried, trying to pull it back from James. He wouldn’t grow into his strength for a few more years, but James was very awkwardly trying not to get stabbed while Harry jabbed it back and forth. And when Harry’s face started scrunching up the way it did before tears started falling, Regulus hurried up behind James, grabbing his arm and leaning in.
“What are you doing!?” he hissed. “He was happy playing with those and if starts crying then-”
“Toddlers can’t have scissors,” James hissed back.
Regulus shook his head. How many times do we have to go over this?
“He’s like me,” Regulus spat as quiet-loudly as he could. “If he gets a little prick, he’ll just heal and know not to do it agai-”
“I know that,” James cut in. “But the other people don’t. Do you want child services called on us?”
Regulus quickly glanced around the room. And oh... yeh… James definitely had a point… Most if not all the people around the stall were giving them very judgmental looks or very concerned looks…
Right… Human rules… Shit…
He always forgot about those when it came to Harry.
Regulus darted between the two boys and snatched the scissors out of Harrys hands, shoving them back on the shelf. At a faster pace than he probably should have, he picked Harry up and pressed his face against his shirt, right as he started sobbing.
Thank God I wore a black shirt…
“Thanks,” James muttered as the pair quickly started walking out of the shop, ignoring the stares they were getting.
“I’m sorry,” Regulus muttered back. “I should have known. I didn’t even-”
“It’s perfectly fine. We got through it,” James chuckled, slipping an arm around his shoulders. “Call it payback for all my screwups.”
---
Regulus grinned as he read the movies description. Perfect.
“What about the cinema? Get us all out of the house for a bit?”
James nodded, swallowing his mouthful of cereal. “I’m happy with that. Anything good on?”
Regulus grinned.
“Remember The Belko Experiment?”
“Yes?”
“The cinema is doing a reshowing tonight at ten. Wanna go?”
Regulus fully expected James to enthusiastically say yes. He was an absolute scaredy-cat when it came to horror, spending the whole time shaking and screaming every time they watched them. But just in case there was any doubt left that James was a bit of a masochist, he loved them. Usually suggested them before Regulus did.
Regulus enjoyed them too, and really got a thrill out of listening to James get all panicked. And as a bonus, James usually let him enjoy a little drink while the fear was still in his system.
So, when James frowned at him, tilting his head like he was confused, Regulus was lost.
“I thought you liked that movie?” he asked, trying to think of a reason why James wouldn’t want to see something like that tonight. There weren’t any obvious ones.
“I do but…” James trailed off. “What about Harry? I thought we were doing something together?”
Now Regulus was really lost.
“What about him? Won’t he just come with us?”
James’ jaw dropped and his eyes narrowed, brows and nose scrunching up in bewilderment. Which really didn’t help Regulus understand any further.
What am I missing?
Harry loved gory movies. Anything with lots of blood or violence got him immediately hooked and he spent the whole time glued to the screen. Sometimes drooling a little. He never cried in them either, so it’s not like James could be worried about him making a fuss in the theatre… And since it would be dark, they could easily get away with giving Harry a bottle if he did get bored or hungry…
“Reg… we can’t take Harry to watch The Belko Experiment…”
Now it was Regulus’ turn to just blink and stare.
“Why not?” he spluttered.
“Reg we…” James shook his head. “We can’t take out our toddler to watch a horror movie.”
“But he loves horror? I don’t understand-”
James held up his hand and just shook his head… but his face wasn’t angry or anything… he actually looked a little… amused?
I’m so confused...
“Regulus… the cinema isn’t going to let us take Harry in there…”
“Why not? They let us all in for that Disney movie and he was fine. Why would they deny extra customers for-”
“Reg…” James chuckled. Chuckled? Why is chuckling? What’s so funny about my question? “Human babies can’t be taken in to watch a horror movie.”
“And? Harry isn’t-” It clicked. “Human…”
James raised his eyebrows, not even trying to supress a laugh.
“Figured it out now?”
“Shut up,” Regulus groaned, his face freezing.
---
“Eeeeeee!” Harry squealed as he flew through the air, his wrists held tightly by James and Regulus as they swung him between them.
His feet hit the wharf with soft thuds and immediately Harry started tugging on their hands and jumping on the spot to go again. Regulus grinned. How his parents had been the way they had; he would never understand. He never wanted to stop doing fun things like this with Harry.
Regulus looked over at James, intending to swing Harry again but James shook his head and Regulus rolled his eyes.
Bloody human stamina…
“I think dada needs a break sorry Harry,” Regulus put in, as James breathed a sigh of relief and dropped Harry’s arm, heading straight for the nearby benches.
Harry pouted for a moment, clearly unhappy with the change of plan but when Regulus suggested he “go see if there are any ducks on the water”, he brightened up. Making a clumsy waddle for the edge of the wharf while Regulus followed after James.
“I think it’s time to start running more,” James huffed as he flopped onto the bench. Closing his eyes as he sucked down deep breaths and leaned back. “You two are wearing me out.”
Regulus chuckled, taking a seat beside James and leaning into his warm torso, watching Harry play at the wharfs edge while James took a break from seeing.
“You already run three days a week and hit the gym in between. It’s not your fault you’re genetically handicapped.”
“Yeh, but I could be fitter…” James groaned, letting his head rest against Regulus’. “I was running double that plus the gym when I did those marathons…”
“You also developed Anaemia, Plantar Fasciitis, Achillies Tendonitis and Shin Splints in that time,” Regulus snorted. “So, I wouldn’t say you were the pinnacle of health just because your heart rate was down to forty-eight beats per minute.”
James sighed.
“I hate it when you have really good points…”
“Yes, we all know that you’re the perfect stereotype of a doctor being a terrible patient so-”
“I am not a terrible patient,” James gasped, leaning away and opening his eyes to glare at Regulus, his heart rate spiking.
Thump, thump, thump
Regulus had to supress a laugh as he raised an eyebrow. James’ glare really wasn’t effective. His little frown and racing heart just made him look and smell sweeter than normal.
“I don’t think you-”
“HARRY!” James shouted, suddenly jumping out of his seat and sprinting across the wharf. “COME HERE! GET DOWN!”
Regulus spun around to see what all the fuss was about, unsure what on earth Harry could be doing that was so dangerous… only to see Harry playing. Just as he’d been doing the whole time. He’d managed to climb up onto one of the low wooden benches that lined the edge of the wharf, and was peering down over the side, babbling, pointing and laughing. Having fun.
What’s James so worried about? I suggested he do that so James could have a rest?
“Harry! I said come here!” James doubled down when Harry refused to budge, if anything just wobbling, as he pushed the absolute limits of his ability to balance and not fall in. “Harry, get down!”
Is he worried about him falling in the water or something?
Regulus shook his head. They’d been over that so many times it wasn’t funny. Harry couldn’t drown or get permanently hurt from falls. He was allowed to do things human kids couldn’t, even if it was just so he could learn his own limits properly.
“James?” Regulus called out, following after James. “What are you doing?” he asked when they were close enough that the whole wharf wouldn’t hear them speak.
“It’s alright, I grabbed him in time,” James replied as if he did want the whole wharf to hear them speak. “I can’t believe he just ran off like that.”
Huh?
“What are you talking about?” Regulus muttered. “I suggested he go play while you got your breath bac-”
“Toddlers shouldn’t be this close to the edge of a wharf alone,” James muttered back.
“Yes, but Harry’s like me. He doesn’t need the same level of supervision as-”
James shook his head and leaned in a little closer, giving Harry big hug and tickle.
“They don’t know that,” James said, subtly nodding at the groups of people around of the dock. Several of whom had their hands over their hearts and breathing heavily, others glaring at Regulus and James with one eyebrow raised and very pointedly holding their children’s hands.
Oh… right…
Regulus swallowed and looked very quickly back at James. His face growing cold and bright red.
“Forgot about the playing human thing again?”
“No…”