A New Daddy for Harry

A New Daddy For Harry
Chapter 2 - Harry's Life and the Receiving of Letters

Harry had been laying on his cot in the cupboard for several hours. Aunt Petunia hadn't bothered to turn on the light when she had left Harry in his "room". Harry hated the pitch darkness of the cupboard. The mattress on his cot was lumpy and hard. Harry had spent many sleepless hours lying on his uncomfortable bed trying to remember if he had ever been happy. He had vague memories of having a comfortable crib to sleep in and he remembered being given a bottle of milk. He couldn't quite remember the taste of the milk. His aunt and uncle would only give him water to drink. He remembered red hair and glasses. At age one year and four months, Harry's memory wasn't fully developed.

Harry wore oversized blue cotton pants and a white T-shirt that could easily fit a normal sized two-year-old. Dudley was only a month older than Harry, but he was shockingly over-weight and was now wearing clothes that wouldn't fit Harry for another few years.

Earlier in the day, Aunt Petunia had given him a small dish of liver and onions baby food (Dudley's was banana flavored). Dudley, who had been sitting in the high chair next to Harry, had grabbed hold of Harry's meal (before Harry could eat his fill) and threw it on the floor. Petunia had briefly left the room to fetch the mail and hadn't seen what Dudley had done. When she had returned to the kitchen, she saw the food and broken dish on the floor and blamed Harry for making the mess. Petunia had banished Harry to the cupboard for "wasting good food".

Harry was uncomfortable and there wasn't anything inside the cupboard that could distract him from what was causing his discomfort. He had a leaky diaper, a diaper rash, and he was hungry. His clothing and bed sheet were wet. Harry's natural instint was to cry but he kept his silence. In his past experience, the Dursleys would either yell at him or ignore him if he made any noise. Harry let out a cry and rolled over unto his stomach when he felt a spider touch his bare foot. He tensed for a moment before he realized that nobody had heard him.

Harry had forgotten the few words that he had learned during the time he had lived with his parents. He had been able to say 'Ma', 'Da' (the names he used for his parents), ba-ba (bottle) and he had called Sirius 'Pafo', Remus had been 'Mooey' and Peter had been 'Worm'. Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon were not helping Harry to improve his language skills. Dudley was already speaking in complete sentences. Harry had started to respond to 'Boy' as if it were his name since that was what they usually called him.

Petunia finally took him out of the cupboard at bedtime. She took him upstairs to Dudley's room. Dudley was already sleeping peacefully in his crib. She laid Harry on the changing table and changed his nappy and dressed him in hand-me-down footie pajamas that were obviously too large for Harry. His aunt didn't say a word to him or make eye contact. This was just an unwanted burden that she had to bare. Harry could have used a bath, but Petunia only bathed him once a week. She placed Harry back into his cupboard with a bottle of water. Harry positioned himself on the cot so that he wasn't laying on the wet spot.

He drank his water and fell asleep. Harry fell into a dream about a flying motorcycle. Harry was unaware that his unhappy life would soon be changing forever.

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Ever since he had set the wheels in motion to become Harry's legal guardian, Sirius would constantly be on the look-out for the familar form of an owl flying in his direction. He had bought all the needed supplies and some un-needed supplies; he had finally convinced Moony that a toy broomstick was essential. Although he had to promise Moony that he wouldn't give it to Harry for a few years. The broom was marketed to children ages 3-7 (with parental supervision). He had ordered the broom from a catalog called 'Toy Broomsticks for Tots'.

It was the on the morning of the fourth day that he entered the kitchen and saw an owl on the window sill. Sirius rushed to the window as if he were afraid the owl would fly away before he could get there. He opened the window and the owl slipped inside. He untied the letter that was attached to its leg, and gave the owl a treat. The owl flew off after eating its treat. The letter was address to Mr. Sirius Black, Marauders Manor, Kitchen. Sirius tore open the letter and read it.

Mr. Sirius Black,
Your request to become the legal guardian of Harry James Potter has been received. We are currently in the process of reviewing your request.
In order to make a determination as to whom would make the most suitable guardian, we have arranged for you to be interviewed on February 12th, in the Ministry Building, at the Child Protection Council office on the tenth floor, room 121 at 2 o'clock pm.
The current guardians of Mr. Potter will also submit to a similar interview.
The custody hearing will take place on February 18th at the Ministry Courthouse in courtroom #22 at 3 o'clock pm.
Sincerely,
Celest Diggory
Chairperson of the Child Protection Council

Remus walked into the kitchen. He took out his wand and made toast and strawberry jam appear on the table. He sat down at the table and took a bite of his breakfast. He noticed that Sirius was reading a letter with a big goofy grin on his face.

"Is that the letter from the Child Protection Council?" asked Remus with anticipation.

"It sure is, Moony!" said Sirius excitedly.

"When is the interview?" asked Remus.

"Here, read it," said Sirius as he handed the parchment to Remus.

'February 12th - that's only two days away!' thought Remus as he read the letter.

Even though Remus had been trying to not get his hopes up, he couldn't help but imagine what it would be like to have Harry living here. The house was too quiet. Remus allowed himself to indulge in a fantasy of hearing a child's laughter and imaging the adventure of raising a child.

Sirius seemed to read his mind. "It'll be great having Harry live here. We'll teach him to play wizard chess, teach him to fly and take him to Quidditch games! We'll raise him together, Remus!"

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Harry awoke to the sound of loud voices. His aunt and uncle were shouting. He couldn't understand what they were saying but Uncle Vernon kept using the word 'Boy', the word they used in reference to him.

Vernon Dursley was angry. Those freaks had actually sent him and his wife a letter! Petunia had let out a startled scream when she had seen the owl sitting on the kichen window sill with a letter attached to its leg. After the angry shouting had died down, they sat at the kitchen table to discuss the matter. The letter lay before them.

"I think we should read it, Dear," said Petunia in a trembling voice.

"Why should we? I don't want anything to do with their kind!" Vernon roared angrily.

"Vernon, we don't want to anger them," said Petunia with a note of fear in her voice.

"Alright," said Vernon in an effort to quell his wife's fears. He picked up the letter carefully as if he expected it to explode. When nothing bad happened, he opened the letter and read it.

Vernon and Petunia Dursley,
We have recently received a formal request from Mr. Sirius Black regarding your nephew, Harry James Potter. Mr. Black would like to assume guardianship of the child. We are seriously considering Mr. Black's request due to allegations of child neglect that Mr. Black claims you have committed against the child.
We have arranged for you to be interviewed on February 12th at 4 pm at your place of residence. While the interview is taking place, Mr. Potter will be taken to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries for a medical exam. If the alleged child neglect proves to be true, Mr. Potter will be removed from your care immediately and placed in a temporary foster home until the custody hearing takes place. The purpose of this hearing is to decide on a permanent living situation for the child.
The custody hearing will take place on February 18th at the Ministry Courthouse in courtroom #22 at 3 o'clock pm. Your transportation to the hearing has been arranged.
Sincerely,
Celest Diggory
Chairperson of the Child Protection Council

After reading the letter, Vernon smiled. They were finally going to be rid of this boy that they didn't want. Petunia looked equally pleased.

End of Chapter 2 - Harry's Life and the Receiving of Letters