Duckies and Flying trains
As they stepped back into the familiar surroundings of Grimmauld Place, Regulus felt a sense of relief wash over him. Despite the turmoil that had surrounded them, being back in the safety of their home brought a comforting sense of normalcy.
Harry was practically buzzing with energy and Regulus felt drained just from looking at the baby who was demanding to be placed on the floor.
Regulus was kind of terrified of letting Harry be unleashed among the catastrophe that was a Black house.
But he does set him down allowing the child to dash in and out of his legs, darting around to stare at everything.
“Reggie why are there demapitated heads?” Harry asks pointing to his mother’s collection of dead elves.
Instantly Regulus was scooping Harry back up into his arms turning him consistently away from the gruesome sight.
“Harry you are never watching those tv shows again,” Regulus demands, not bothering to correct the child.
“I second such a movement,” Bianca grumbles and waves her hand towards the staircase, removing the presence of his mother’s questionable decor choices.
“What!? Why!? They looked nice! What if they wanted to be my friends?” Harry demands, pouting, his cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk. “I never have friends! Duddy always tells them I am a fweak,” Harry’s bottom lip was quivering and Regulus has to keep reminding himself that this Duddy was a child and had a chance of redemption.
And besides, Jame’s muggleborn’s family was dead. And they deserved no less for what they did to Harry.
He plants a gentle kiss on Harry’s head, “I’ll introduce you to as many friends as you want. You’re not a freak Harry, you are magic just like us.” Regulus explains, plopping the baby on top of the table as his Oretta moves to clear it.
“I need to get him nutrition potions, and glasses and a health check and..” She was mumbling to herself and Regulus couldn’t help himself from smirking at how frazzled his mentor was.
The poor woman went from having one student, to a student caring for a baby and from the limited knowledge he had of the Dragel world, any of a mentor’s students children or bonded were inexplicably linked to the mentor and their own circle.
Family, in a way.
“I’m magic?” Harry asks, his nose scrunching in confusion.
And Regulus smiles, a bit more occupied with booping Harry's nose and humming when Harry scrunched up his face in response.
“Yes you’re magic,” Oretta ruffles Harry’s hair in response. “I would even dare a bet to say you’re a very powerful one,” She gives Regulus a meaningful look, who in turn inwardly cringes at the reminder of the bloody wards that had been so close to destroying Harry’s magical core.
Kreacher pops up beside Regulus, leaning up to peer at the baby, who was staring at Kreacher with wonder in his green eyes.
“You is magic too!” Harry claps, beaming in delight.
“This is young heir Potter?” Kreacher looked at Harry, unblinkingly.
“Yes Kreacher…and heir Black,” Regulus affirms, his words a magic vow and causing the Black family magic to latch onto the child…. his kid now seeing as he’d be raising the little tyke.
Kreacher blinks at Regulus before sighing and muttering about ‘Master Regulus’ stupid big heart,’
“Well, allow me to see the new heir of my house,” His mother snaps from her frame, not one to be ignored.
Regulus startles himself but then Harry peers sideways around his form to see who was speaking.
“Reggie, the painting is talking,” Harry whispers so loudly, that it wasn’t a whisper at all.
“Harry, this is Lady Walburga Black of the House of Black. She is my mother,” Regulus introduces, “And this is a magical painting,” He begins to lecture. He was not going to limit Harry’s very obvious desire to learn.
“The person in a magical portrait is actually alive due to the magic placed on the portrait by the painter. These painters have a special magical ability to breathe life into whatever they paint,” Regulus explains, heaving the baby back up and hitching him on his hip.
Harry kept looking back and forth between Regulus and the painting, his awe growing more and more. “They are usually painted before someone passes away,” Regulus explains a little more gently.
“So gwandma isn’t actually here?” Harry droops a little, his lower lip jutting out.
His mother makes a surprised sound but he could tell she was very obviously pleased by her new rank in Harry’s life.
“I’m not here physically, no child,” His mother confirms, her tone gentle. “But I am here in all of the other ways that matter,”
Harry’s eyes widen in fascination, his curiosity piqued, “Oh, I like that a lot,” Harry admits, his smile wide. There was a tried look in his eyes that Regulus’ heart ached at seeing, however he merely hikes Harry up higher into his arms.
“I expect you to do the Black family proud, do you understand me lad?” Walburga was saying. “You are now the heir of the family and you must do your best,”
“Mother!” Regulus demands, “I just got the child,” He was exasperated but Harry nods a hand held out as if he wanted to touch his mother’s painting.
"I understand," Harry replies, his voice surprisingly steady for a child his age. "I'll do my best gwandma.”
Walburga nods approvingly, a hint of warmth softening her features. "That's a good lad,” She says, her voice filled with pride.
Regulus can't help but feel a swell of emotion at the sight of his mother and James’ son bonding, even if it was only through a magical painting of his mother. It's a bittersweet moment, tinged with the knowledge of what could have been had his mother managed to survive.
“Come on, both of you,” Oretta interjects, “Harry needs a shower and some new clothes-”
“I shall secure a new wardrobe for the young heir,” Kreacher interjects and then the elf was gone almost as quickly as he had appeared.
Bianca sighs, exhaling through her nose, “Well that’s done at least,” She grumbles, “Regulus you go help Harry shower and I’ll prepare some potions and food for him,” She waves off her student proceeding to open up the small handbag she kept on her at all times and beginning to rumble through it.
Regulus nods, already moving towards the stairs with Harry in tow. The young boy looks up at him with wide eyes, a mixture of curiosity and apprehension dancing in their depths.
"Alright, Harry," Regulus says gently, "Let's get you cleaned up and into some fresh clothes, alright?"
“Can I have hot water?” He asks, making Regulus force himself to breathe and not do something that might get him locked up in Azkaban.
“You can have all the hot water, okay love?” Regulus smiles at him softly and Harry beams, kicking his legs in excitement.
“Aunty aways made me shower in cold water and I always feel sick after,” Harry started to babble away, each word another strike against Evans’ dreadful muggle family and against the despicable man who placed Harry with them to begin with.
“You always felt sick after,” Regulus corrects and Harry -little baby Harry- gives Regulus such a look of adoration, he really felt like crying.
“Thank you for cowwecting me. No one did that before,”
Regulus swallows and plants a succession of kisses on Harry’s tiny head, causing a gaggle of giggles to escape the child.
“Like the mwahs. More mwahs,” Harry’s tiny hands plant on Regulus’ face and the baby starts to plant little kisses all over Regulus.
“Mwah, mwah, mwah!” Harry laughs and it causes Regulus to chuckle softly as well.
They reach the bathroom, and Regulus helps Harry into the bathtub and starts running the warm water for the shower.
Once Harry is safely inside, Regulus leans against the cupboard with a heavy internal sigh, a constant smile on his face as Harry’s eyes kept darting back to Regulus to make sure he wouldn’t leave.
“Reggie stay with me. Don't leave,” Harry points to Regulus who nods.
“I will never leave you again Harry. I promise, love,” Regulus swallows down the lump in his throat at how happy that single sentence was making his baby.
The realization settles in like a heavy stone in Regulus's chest. Harry, this innocent child, was now his responsibility, his to protect and care for. The thought of anyone trying to take Harry away from him ignites a fierce determination within Regulus, a primal instinct to safeguard what was his at all costs.
Because Regulus was going to adopt this child. Blood adopt. Harry was going to be his. And he would kill anyone who tried to take this baby away from him.
And now that Regulus was thinking things through…. He had a bloody bone to pick with one Albus Dumbledore.
A suspecting orchestrator of this tangled web of events. Regulus's mind raced, piecing together the puzzle with a sharp clarity born of years of cunning and ambition. Nothing about Harry's placement with a abusive muggle family seemed coincidental, and Regulus's Slytherin instincts warn him to be wary of convenient explanations.
It was suspicious how everything seemed to line up much too perfectly.
And as a Slytherin, Regulus knew nothing was ever too convenient.
“Reggie!!” Harry shrieks, “What soap do I use?” Harry’s lips were jutted out in thought and Regulus scoots forward, kneeling on his knees on the harsh porcelain floor.
He grabs some of his favourite shampoo and placed some of it in his palms, starting to gently massage it into Harry's hair, the familiar scent of the shampoo filling the air. "This one," Regulus replies with a soft smile, watching as Harry's face lights up.
Harry nods eagerly, leaning into the soothing touch of Regulus's hands. "It smells nice," He murmurs, closing his eyes as Regulus works the lather into his hair. “Smells like Reggie,”
Regulus can't help but feel a rush of tenderness towards the child in his care.
James had always liked the way he smelled as well.
Caring for Harry was going to just as rewarding as it was going to be painful. Because every second with this child reminded him of James.
And Regulus hoped that it’d get easier as time went on.
Regulus wraps a summoned towel around Harry, plucking him up from the bath, and applying a warming spell onto the baby by tapping his head.
Regulus would cry if Harry ended up sick under his care.
He gently dries Harry's hair, recalling how his Oretta had done the same for him back in the cave. The thought made him smile.
Harry gasps loudly when he sees the pyjamas Kreacher got for him, “Are those duckie jammies?” Harry whisper screams because the child had no sense of volume control at all.
Regulus can't help but chuckle at Harry's enthusiastic reaction to the duck pyjamas. "Yes, they are," he confirms with a smile, kneeling down to Harry's eye level. "Do you like them?"
Harry's eyes are wide with excitement as he nods vigorously. “Love duckies!” He exclaims, his voice filled with pure joy. Without hesitation, Harry starts pulling on the new pyjamas, eagerly.
“They are all for you, love,” Regulus murmurs, “You can have all the pyjamas you want,” He runs a hand through Harry’s thick black curls.
Regulus helps him into the soft, fluffy fabric, watching as Harry beams with delight, giggling, his cheeks flushing with happiness. He raises his hands up to Regulus and makes grabby hands.
Regulus laughs helplessly, “You are so adorable… tinybaby,” He tells Harry, cooing a little, as he raised the baby into his arms.
Harry giggles, his cheeks flushing with happiness, “I no baby. I’m giant.” Harry proclaims, and kisses Regulus’ cheek, “All the Mwahs for Reggie,”
Regulus’ chest was so impossibly warm, “Oh really?” Regulus nuzzles Harry’s cheek, causing him to shriek out a delighted laugh, “How are you a giant when I’m much bigger than you?” Regulus mockingly bites Harry’s cheek and the poor baby is shrieking from how loud his laughter is.
“Reggie is big because he is giant too!” Harry giggles, moving to bite the finger that Regulus uses to boop him on the nose again.
Regulus manages to escape… only barely and instead he proceeds to run his hands through Harry’s hair, drying it as gently as he could with the magic that danced around his fingers.
“Will Reggie teach me magic?” Harry asks him and Regulus smiles.
“I will teach you everything,” He vows, making Harry perk up in delight.
“In- in ex-excha…” Harry’s lips purse as he thinks on the word.
“…exchange??” Regulus guesses, making the baby nod quickly.
“Yes! Exchange! In exchange I will give Reggie all of the huggies,” He announces like it was one of the most important decisions of his life.
Regulus snorts at the sight, but nods as well, just as serious. “I don’t need anything in exchange for loving you Harry. But I will take all the hugs and all the kisses anyways, deal?” Regulus asks and Harry nods, green eyes alight with happiness that made Regulus so proud to have been the reason for.
“Deal!” Harry agrees.
It takes them a bit, but they’re downstairs in the kitchen a summoned high chair already in place beside the breakfast table.
Regulus thanks Kreacher softly and places Harry in his chair.
He immediately starts to kick his legs back and forth, watching in awe as Kreacher snaps his fingers and a plate of fruits appear in front of him.
“Wow! Kweacher is amazing!” Harry claps his hands in delight.
Kreacher blinks once and then grins a frighteningly large grin that has Regulus instantly checking on Harry to make sure he wasn’t frightened.
He wasn’t.
The brat was evilly grinning right back at the preening elf.
“Master Harry is too kind. Kreacher is just doing his job,” The elf gives Harry’s foot a fond pat and then he vanishes again.
His mentor rushes inside, her blonde hair showing signs of scorch marks on the tips and Regulus stands up in concern.
“Oretta…?” He trials off, questioning what was going on with her.
She waves him off instantly, “Oh hush, child. I’m fine-” She starts to cough instantly after and Regulus rushes to lead her towards a chair.
“I was just experimenting with some of the potions I have from Nevarah and some of the potions I found in the lab downstairs. Most of those potions are awfully ancient. I’m surprised wixen are even still alive at this point!” She was astonished, only stopping her rant to give Kreacher a little thank you when he delivers her a cup of tea.
Regulus does the same when the elf sets a cup of coffee in front of him.
“But anyways! I managed to find the ingredients I needed to create some child friendly potions for our resident baby,” She cheers, making Harry cheer too, little feet wiggling in excitement.
“I made you some candies darling,” His Oretta announces, grinning as she allowed a bunch of -what Regulus assumed was- vitamin gummies to fall in front of Harry. “Delicious and nutritious!” Bianca tells Harry who blinks blankly at her.
“Etta, are you twying to twick me?” Harry gives her a suspicious look and Regulus has to fake a cough to hide his laugh.
Oretta gasps, a hand to her chest, “I would never!” She announces and then to prove her point, she even pops one of the gummies into her mouth. Regulus would bet one of his Gringotts vaults that it was a normal gummy she’d made just in case Harry got suspicious.
“Hmm….” Harry stares at her silently before he just stuffs his whole face with all of the five gummies she’d made for him.
“Not all at once!” Bianca tries to save her inventions but Harry was looking at her with stuffed cheeks and confused, big eyes and Bianca sighs, sinking into her chair exhausted.
“No, no it’s okay darling. Eat away,”
“Ommmay!” Harry exclaims and Regulus clicks his tongue.
“Chew before you speak love,” Regulus tells Harry who nods at Regulus and then starts gulping down his orange juice like a parched man.
Bianca and Regulus stare at each other for a second, both of them feeling the exact same amount of amusement.
They then spend the rest of the day discussing how to break Sirius out from Azkaban, as well as what he was to do with his accounts, especially when they were intent on moving to Nevarah as soon as possible.
“How is your day going Harry?” Walburga asks the baby who Regulus had placed on the floor in the company of a multitude of magical toys from his own childhood.
Harry was finding anything magic, interesting and Regulus was sure that if he could, Harry would spend hours upon hours just watching and learning as much magic as he could.
"I found Reggie and Etta, and I met Kweacher and Gwandma Burga. I got Duckie jammies and twied fwuits for the first time,” Harry informs her, some of his r’s not managing to come out right. He was currently watching the flying train set he was playing with.
Walburga hummed. "A productive day indeed."
Harry nodded. “Reggie chased me, and it was really scary, then Reggie gave me chocolate, and told me I was magic and kid-kidwapped me and then Etta expwoded Aunty’s house and it was AWESOME!” Harry was explaining this to Regulus’ mother, waving his arms around in excitement and Walburga was looking more and more horrified by the second.
“REGULUS ARCTURUS BLACK! YOU KIDNAPPED THIS CHILD!??” She screeches.
“He was living with despicable muggles mother,” Regulus doesn’t look up from the account books he was reading.
“Oh. Well in that case, excellent work my son. I’m proud of you,” Walburga preens, instantly changing her tune. And continuing to listen to her grandchild who was waiting for her to focus back on him.
“Continue, darling,” Walburga gestures, her eyes soft and Regulus was certain he was in a different dimension… or universe. Because his mother was certainly not the same woman she’d been four years ago.
Perhaps losing both her sons, truly had changed her for the better.
“And I run but they chase me, so I hide under the flowers,” Harry was gesturing wildly and Walburga was humming and ahhing at the right moments for Harry to feel listened to and appreciated.
“That was very smart.” His mother praises and Harry beams up at her, practically glowing.
“Yes, and I get chocolate 'cause I twicked Reggie.” He said proudly.
“You did not trick me,” Regulus grumbles, a tad insulted at the insinuation but his mother and Oretta were smirking at him all the same.
“Harry managed to outrun him as well,” Oretta comments and his mother snorts.
“I need you to replay that memory for me, I would like to see it.”
Great, they were getting along. Just what he needed.
“Yes, Harry is the best." Harry says so out of pocket that the three adults had to purse their lips in order to not burst out laughing.
“Yes you are, my actual darling,” His Oretta beams, hurrying over to squeeze the ever-loving daylights of the child.
Regulus sighs to himself, it was going to be such a long week. And they had so much to do. But he’d never been this hopeful before in his life.
So for Harry, he’d bear it.