Hopes and Wishes

Chapter 6: Boy No Have Name


The boy half chuckled. This grown-up was silly. This grown-up thought boy had a name. Maybe he didn’t know that only special children had names. Maybe he didn’t know that freaks weren’t allowed names. The man, Remus he said, must be special, he had a name. Maybe no one told him that boy was a freak? Boy should tell him.

“Boy no have name. Boy freak.”


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Remus blinked. He shook his head slightly, convinced he had misheard. “Pardon? What did you just say?”

Harry’s face creased slightly “Boy no have name. Boy freak.” he said, exasperated. “Speshuw people have name. Boy no speshuw… Remus speshuw?” he queried.

Remus wasn’t sure what to say. His mind had gone blank and his voice deserted him. He turned towards Severus, his face pleading for assistance. The calm mask had once again descended over Severus’ face. He took a deep breath and came to sit on the opposite side of the bed to Remus.

“Yes Remus is special.” He began.

Harry shuffled closer to Remus’ side of the bed, eyeing the new grown-up warily. He looked questioningly towards Remus. “Man speshuw?”

“That’s Severus. He’s special too. You’re special as well you know.” Remus said softly

Harry looked confused. He shook his head slightly but didn’t repeat himself again.

“Your bear is special isn’t he?” asked Severus gently. Harry nodded, smiling for the first time at Severus. “Teddy boy speshuw fwend.”

“He’s got a special name hasn’t he?” Severus continued. Harry nodded again, his expression perplexed now. He didn’t know what the man was getting at.

“His special name is Teddy and your special name is Harry.” He finished.
“Boy got speshuw name? Aunt ‘Tunia said boy no good. Boy no ‘llowed speshuw name.” Harry replied tentatively.

“You don’t have to worry about your Aunt and Uncle anymore Harry. You don’t have to live with them any longer.” Severus’ gentle tone belied the fire in his eyes. He kept his temper leashed by a thread. He would not scare Harry, he would wait until later, when he was alone.

“Boy no live wiv Aunt ‘Tunia? Where boy live?” equally tentative and containing threads of concern, Harry’s voice was quiet.

“Harry. Harry will live with us. Remus and me.” Severus stated firmly, smiling at Harry and including Remus once again in the conversation.

Harry looked first at Remus and then at Severus before slowly asking “Harry live wiv Remus an Sev’us?”

Remus reached out a cautious hand and stroked Harry’s soft black hair. “Harry live with Remus and Severus.” he confirmed. Turning to the newly fluffy bear Remus asked “Would Teddy like to come and live with Severus and me too?”

Harry smiled and it was like the sun bursting through the clouds. His green eyes sparkled and his perfect little teeth gleamed “Harry an’ Teddy live wiv Remus an’ Sev’us” he nodded.

“Well little man, how about Harry and Teddy come and have a bath? Remus and Severus need to get a bed ready for you in their rooms and I bet you’d like some nice clean pyjamas to wear.” Poppy encouraged, bustling across the infirmary and shooing Severus and Remus away from the bed.

She pushed back the covers and carefully lifted Harry, and teddy, into her arms. She perched him on her hip, her arm wrapped securely around his waist. Harry looked serious for a moment and then he shyly rested his head on her shoulder. Poppy turned her face and tenderly kissed the top of his head. Using her other hand she soothingly stroked his hair, ensuring that his head remained safely tucked under her chin. Nodding to Severus and Remus she walked out of the room, cradling her precious burden.


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For several moments there was only silence in the room. The sound of breathing hitched, stuttered and resumed deeper and thicker than before. Severus turned to where Remus was still seated. Remus’ hands clenched and unclenched against his legs as though the movement could hold him together. As Severus moved towards him Remus’ face lifted and Severus could see the full horror illustrated there starkly. Remus’ face was white, pinched and then it dissolved and so did he. His shoulders hunched and his first sobs echoed around the room. Severus moved forward and, abandoning for once his staid persona, he knelt and hugged his lover.

“He thought… he thought he wasn’t good enough for a name Severus. They didn’t even call him by his name. How did we…? They trusted us to look after him,” his eyes lifted in mute appeal “Lily and James trusted us. What have we done?” His control gone Remus buried his face in Severus’ chest and sobbed like his heart was breaking.

Severus soothingly stroked Remus’ back but his face remained set. His eyes were hard as flint and his mouth was fixed in a tight line. Visions floated through his mind. Thoughts of death, torture and blood filled his head. He knew countless dark spells and curses; his years in service to the Dark Lord had ensured that. The Dursleys would pay dearly for their sins. He would need to be careful as he plotted his revenge, no trace of guilt could reflect back upon him or Remus. They would build a proper home for Harry. A family.


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Harry stood awkwardly next to Poppy. The mediwitch was chattering away happily as filled the bath with bubbles from the magical taps.

“Once we’ve got the water ready for you Harry would you like to play with some toys in the bath?” she asked cheerfully. “I’m sure I’ve got a rubber duck here that will swim about in the water with you. Maybe even some little swimming fishies too?” she offered.

“Boy play toys?” he asked looking up at her innocently, a hopeful gleam in his eye.

“Harry play toys darling, Harry play toys.” Poppy countered.

“Harry play toys Poppy?” he tried again, same hopeful gleam shining.

“Yes poppet. Harry play toys. Robe off now sweet pea and let’s get you into the bath. Shall Teddy sit on the end here and watch?” she asked with a smile.

Harry thought carefully for a moment and then gave one decisive nod. He raised his arms up and Poppy carefully lifted him into the bath. The bubbles tickled his nose and he giggled, his little hands patting the bubbles away. One particularly powerful pat sent a flume of bubbles into the air, clumps of them stuck to Poppy’s clothes, face and hair.

Harry froze. The joyful smile on his face disappearing in an instant, a look of terror replacing it. He flinched back as Poppy’s hand raised towards him and lowered quickly. Her hand impacted with a slap, another flume of bubbles shooting up to cover them both. Poppy laughed. Harry took a moment to process what had happened before he too started to chortle. It didn’t take long before both of them were laughing joyfully and there were more bubbles outside the bath than in it.

Blowing a few remaining bubbles from her nose; Poppy reached up into a basket on one of the shelves and brought something down. She tapped it with her wand and placed it in the bath with Harry. The yellow duck floated serenely for a few moments before it seemed to shiver and then flutter its wings. Its tiny webbed feet began to paddle and it swam around the bath tub quacking energetically.

Harry squealed “Duck!” excitedly and watched avidly as the little rubber creature paddled around in the water. Whilst he was occupied with the little duck Poppy reached once more into the basket and removed some more items. Tapping them with her wand she lowered them into the bath with Harry too.

The little fish swam and wriggled, every so often nibbling at Harry’s legs and toes. Harry’s gurgling laughter rang through the room as he squealed “Fishies tickle Poppy, fishies tickle!”

Poppy laughed and watched Harry play for a few more minutes. He was such a beautiful boy, so sweet. How those muggles could even have considered abusing him Poppy could not understand. Sighing, she emptied the water from the bath and wrapped Harry in a big fluffy towel. She dried him quickly and carefully before placing one smacking kiss on his tiny button nose.

“What colour pyjamas would you like sweet pea?” she asked, ruffling his damp hair.

“Wan gween jamies pweas Poppy.” he asked decisively, his cherubic face peeking up at her.

“Anything you like angel” she answered, conjuring a pair of the softest pyjamas that Harry had ever seen.

Once Harry was dressed warmly in his new pyjamas Poppy sat back on her knees and looked at him. “There’s something missing” she mused. Smiling to herself she waved her wand once more and conjured a small pair of fluffy bunny slippers. Slipping them on Harry’s feet she pronounced him ready.

Teddy carried under one arm and fluffy bunnies wriggling on his feet Harry slipped his hand trustingly into Poppy’s and walked with her to find his new family.

A/N

I had thought that this chapter would contain a big explosion and Sev causing mayhem. My muse, however, had different ideas; I hope that it hasn’t disappointed anyone. It turned out rather wetter than I expected. ;-)

Thank you to those who have suggested punishments for Vernon, Petunia and Marge. I still haven’t made my mind up yet so all help is gratefully received.

Review Replies

Arcee1000: Thank you for your kind words. Your friend doesn’t want to come and mow my lawn do they? I’ve been so busy typing that I haven’t got round to it!

Wolfcathope: I’ve no plans to stop yet! I’m not sure quite how Harry is going to turn out yet. There will be fun and games along the way for Sev and Remy though. Harry’s a spunky little thing (or he will be)!

Qwerty: Thank you. I’ve really tried to get as much emotion in there as possible. It’s the kind of thing I like reading in a story so I’m trying to emulate it. I still believe (possibly naively) that Dumbledore does mean well. He may be misguided in his approach and actions but I genuinely think he wants what is best.

Kurai: You have a very good point. The things they hold most dear are normalcy, Dudley and dogs. I shall ponder and see what my muse says.