Nadia awakened, arching her back and meowing tiredly before turning to look at Harry. The events of last night caught up to her, and she smiled tenderly. "So I'm a mom now, huh? Heh... Man do I feel old..." She chuckled to herself before gently pulling Harry from the bed and cradling him like a baby.

Harry was still fast asleep, cooing softly as Nadia rocked him back and forth. "Still, if I was ever gonna be a mama, I'm happy it's for someone as sweet and precious as my little kit." She whispered, kissing Harry's sleeping face, earning a tiny coo, and slight squirm in response. Why was he so cute? It wasn't fair...

She took a seat on the bed, rocking the boy back and forth as she purred softly, planting the occasional kiss on his forehead, nose or cheeks. After several minutes, Harry slowly awakened, yawning cutely and looking around before noticing Nadia. "M-Mama...?" He mumbled softly.

"Morning, kitten... Have a good sleep?" Nadia said gently.

"Mmhmm... I didn't have any bad dreams..." Harry mumbled, still snuggled up against his mama.

"That's great to hear, kit." Nadia smiled down at him. "It's good for you when you don't have any bad dreams."

"You kept me safe." Harry said, more as a statement of fact than a question.

Her ear twitched, and she beamed down at him. "You bet I did, little guy..." She said softly. "And I always will... Just call for me if you're in trouble and I'll come running." She wasn't exaggerating either. Her sense of hearing was on a whole new level. She'd likely hear him from a mile away... Then she remembered something. "Hey... Kitten... Your voice sounds a loooot better." She said with a grin. "I think someone's finally comin' down from that cold!"

"Yay..." Harry mumbled happily, snuggling close. Nadia chuckled softly and patted his head. He was such a little cuddler. Sure he may have been affection-starved... but now, she intended to give him all the affection and love he wanted!

Chuckling, she kissed his head and carried him to the washroom. "Well, whattya say we start the day now? I know what'll wake ya up..." She turned on the shower, making sure the water was just right. "Okay, kitten, just get yourself undressed and hop into the shower. Get cleaned up and ready for the day while I make ya some breakfast." Harry nodded, and as she left the room, he got out of his pajamas and climbed into the shower.

He tensed for a moment, afraid of being burned like he had been so many times before. But then he remembered, his mama wasn't going to hurt him, she cared for him. The water was nice and warm, and it did indeed help wake Harry up. He cleaned himself off before waiting for his mommy to come collect him. A few minutes later, Nadia returned and smiled when she saw Harry peeking out from the shower curtain.

"Hey, hun, you good to come out now?" Nadia asked with a warm smile. Harry nodded, and she grabbed a towel as he turned off the water. Carefully bundling him up, Nadia set to drying him off, grinning and kissing his tiny face. "All right, all dried off... Now, let's get ya dressed up." She went back into her room and picked out a striped blue and white shirt and a pair of overalls for him.

Once that was done, Nadia tucked her son- 'Wow, that feels strange to think.' Nadia remarked mentally with a smile-into her arm and carried him to the kitchen, where she sat him down and put breakfast in front of him. Harry looked at it for a moment, then Nadia prodded: "Go on kit! Eat up."

Harry grabbed his fork and began to eat, smiling warmly as he savoured the taste of the meal. He loved his mother... She did so much for him... Nadia watched him with a sad smile. 'Poor little guy... Been through so much, and here he is trying everything he can to get back on his feet...'

When he finished, she smiled down at him. She was thinking about what they needed to do today, and a thought occurred to her. "Hey, kit." She smiled. "Would you like to go to town with me today? Or would you prefer for Aunt Minette to watch you while I'm out?"

"Um... I wanna be with you." Harry answered.

Nadia gave him a toothy grin and ruffled his hair. "You got it, my little partner in crime! Heh... That's just an expression, don't worry, just eat up." Smiling, Harry ate his meal, enjoying the taste of his mother's cooking. His mother... Miss Nadia was his mother... She'd accepted him as her child... It felt surreal, yet it made him so happy...

Well, she intended to keep him as happy as possible. She glanced out the window, and noticed that while the sun was shining, it was still rather cold just from the look of things. So, she turned her attention to the clothes Minette had bought for him. After a few minutes, she found a winter coat and bundled her son up in it, grinning as only his face was poking out now.

"All right, there ya go, all bundled up for the weather! Now let's get this show on the road!" She cheered before throwing on her thin trenchcoat that didn't cover her back end. Harry tilted his head, thinking she wouldn't be warm enough, but then remembered she had carried him around in her extremely revealing outfit when she'd first found him and seemed none the worse for wear. "Miss Nadia...? Do you not get cold?" He asked innocently.

"I used to, but I'm fine now." She replied. "But your concern is sweet, kit." She kissed Harry on the forehead and readjusted her son in her arms. The tiny boy giggled as he was held close, simply enjoying spending time with his mama. The pair began their walk to town, Nadia occasionally telling Harry about some some of the places they passed by. Harry was listening intently, both curious about his new home, and wanting to show his appreciation for his mother.

Nadia chuckled and set him down on the ground. "Well, let's go do some shopping. Gotta pick out some presents for Minette and the rest of my friends."

"Okay." Harry replied with a nod. Smirking, Nadia grabbed his hand and led him along. Then she remembered yesterday's news story and frowned.

"Oooh, I hope the townsfolk don't decide to swarm us..." Nadia mumbled.

Harry was a little confused, but didn't feel the need to ask what his mama meant. When they eventually arrived at the mall, Harry looked around in childish wonder at the surroundings. "Heh, it's pretty big, isn't it kit?" She smiled down at him.

"Mmhmm..." Harry answered, somewhat nervously.

"Hey, just stick by me and you won't get lost, okay Harry?" Nadia said kindly. Harry looked up at her and nodded.

He squeezed her hand tightly and looked around nervously at the large crowd surrounding him, feeling very small and insignificant as he looked at them all. Nadia noticed and squeezed back gently. She knew he'd prefer to be carried... But honestly, she thought he needed to walk on his own for some time... It didn't seem healthy to just carry him everywhere. She didn't want him to overrely on it.

As they made their way through, a few townsfolk came up to thank Nadia for helping rid the town of the hell hounds. Nadia laughed and talked with them, feeling happy that her work hadn't gone unnoticed. Harry was nervous. He didn't know anyone, and he was somewhat being surrounded. He wasn't sure if anyone saw him or not, but it didn't help his paranoia one way or the other.

Nadia noticed his extreme discomfort after a while and led him away gently, squeezing his hand in a reassuring manner. "Sorry, kitten. It's all right, they're gone now..." She was second guessing whether or not it was the best idea to bring Harry out in public so soon.

Harry, to her disappointment (mostly at herself) didn't reply. He just looked up at her and held onto her hand tighter. The fear on his face was clear, and it was also clear he was trying to be brave for her. Nadia smiled and gave him a hug. "It's okay hon, I'm proud of you." She said soothingly.

Harry seemed to relax when he heard those words, a smile forming on his face. Nadia grinned and pressed her forehead against his affectionately. "You're making a real effort here... You're doing great. We'll be done soon enough, okay? We'll finish shopping and I'll take you out to lunch at Yu-Wan's, how's that sound?"

"Mkay." Harry nodded. It was tentatively, but Nadia didn't blame him. She took his hand once again and they continued on their way. Thankfully this time, most people waved or said hello, but kept going on their way as well. Harry had relaxed somewhat, he felt safe with his mama.

Nadia would give him the occasional smile of encouragement and a gentle hand squeeze to ensure he knew she was right there with him. It all worked well... Until the rush really picked up...

Nadia frowned, she knew Harry didn't like crowds, but she was also having a hard time moving throughout the crowd. She groaned in irritation as people kept milling about. "You okay, kit?" She asked.

She got no response. "...Kitten?" She looked over, and her eyes widened in shock when she saw that she had lost Harry in the crowd. "No... No no no no no..." She muttered to herself, fighting against the shoppers to find her missing son. Currently, she was cursing the very existence of the special items out of towners came from all over the kingdom to buy as gifts for their loved ones. The vast majority of these shoppers she'd never seen in her life! She would know! She's met everyone in town! What she didn't know was that a massive man that looked like a walrus was in this very mall, in search of a gift for his son...

Vernon hadn't been paying too much attention to the town he was stopping by, and hadn't realized he was back where he had left the freak. It was strange... He found his feelings towards the situation flip-flopping constantly. Sometimes he didn't care. Sometimes he feared consequences. And sometimes, he wanted his chore boy back. The large man kept making his way through the mall, looking for...

"No..." He muttered in disbelief.

Indeed... There he was... The bloody freak in the flesh, looking around the mall like a scared lost puppy. Now, if he were in his right mind, he'd have left the boy be... But the blood wards had twisted and corrupfed him over the course of the years, and any and all logic was gone, his instinct screamed at him to grab the boy, drag him somewhere private and beat him to within an inch of his life...

Harry was terrified. Absolutely terrified. He was all alone again...! Where was his mother?! Would he have to go back to living on the streets?!

Harry was disoriented now. Despite having spent time alone on the streets, he had never been in the mall before. Therefore, he was left completely lost and frightened as to what was going on. Harry looked around in confusion before seeing someone he hoped he would never see again. Harry blinked in horror before deciding to do what he used to do best. He slipped out a nearby door and tried to hide.

However, he was spotted. He hid inside a nearby alley, hugging his knees and praying that he would not be found by his uncle. When he heard familiar heavy thuds, he knew he'd been found... "So you're still alive, are you, boy? I'd hoped you'd have frozen to death by now. Worthless ruddy freak... Can't even die right." Harry whimpered and buried his face in his knees, only to yelp as he felt himself being roughly grabbed by the wrist. Eyes snapping open, he found himself meeting his uncle's hate-filled gaze. "Look at me when I'm bloody talking to you, boy." Harry wanted to call out for help. He wanted to struggle, fight, scream for his mommy... But he was paralyzed. Absolutely frozen with fear as he flashed back to the beatings he'd received from this man.

Harry looked at his uncle, the fear in his eyes the same as the day he had been abandoned. Harry felt like everything over the past few days had been a dream, and he was back on the streets, and his uncle had came to torture him once again.

Meanwhile, Nadia was in a full blown panic at this point, trying desperately to find her son. She hadn't seen him or anyone she knew to stop and ask.

Finally, out of desperation, she started grabbing random strangers by the shoulders and pleading for them to tell her. But none of them knew where he was. Nadia was terrified... Where was her boy?!

Outside in the alley, Harry laid whimpering on the ground, clutching at his injured stomach that Vernon had punched multiple times. The fat man had dropped him unceremoniously onto the ground and kicked him in the side, sending him tumbling slightly. He then kicked him again, this time in the face. Harry cried out and began to tear up. "Mommy... Mommy, help... Help..." He sobbed softly.

Snarling, Vernon grabbed him by the throat and hoisted him up to eye level. "Who said you were allowed to cry?! Who?!" He snarled through gritted teeth. "And who is this 'mommy'? You have no mother! What woman would want you?! Now shut up! You're coming back with me! Leaving you behind was a mistake... So many damned chores, no ways to vent my frustrations..."

Harry's blood ran cold. He was... going back...? Back to the Dursleys...? Away from his mother who loved him and back to being abused and hated...? No... No... He couldn't lose his mother... He wanted his mother right now... Tearing up, he screamed one word at the top of his little lungs...

"MOOOOOOOOOMMYYYYYYYY!"

She heard him. Against all odds, against the bustling of the crowds, through the walls of the mall, Nadia Fortune heard her child calling out for her to come and save him.

Tearing off at speeds she hadn't known were possible, she ran through the doors and down the road. She only heard it once, but she knew where he was. Rounding the corner, she saw some inhuman monster attacking her son. Without a second thought, she ran forward and slashed the large man across the chest with her claws. The main cried out in pain and dropped Harry, turning to see who had attacked him, only to receive a large slash across his face, the claws digging deep into his face.

Nadia wasn't someone who tended to get angry often, maybe it was a benefit of being effectively immortal, but when she saw this monster attacking Harry, the anger of everything she had been through came flooding back. The fear, the pain, the loss, but this time, instead of sadness, they all culminated into absolute fury.

As Vernon screamed and clutched at his wounded face, Nadia threw off her trenchcoat and tackled him to the ground. Her claws glinted dangerously and she let out a low growl before viciously attacking, striking him with repeated claw slashes all over his body, eventually forgoing the claws completely in favour of simply punching the fat man in the face non-stop.

The only reason she did not end up killing Vernon Dursley was because the sound of her son crying caused her to come to her senses. Eyes wide, she slowly turned to look at him. He didn't even seem to know she was there... And her heart clenched at the sight of his face. His lip was busted, he had a black eye and a swollen cheek, his nose was slightly bent, and he was bleeding from the forehead.

"Mommy... Mommy, help... Mommy, where are you...? Please help, mommy, I need you, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts..."

Scooping her son up, Nadia held him close to her chest, silently crying, Nadia felt like she had failed... How could she have let this happen!? The tiny boy seemed as broken as when she first found him, he was shaking uncontrollably. "Harry... Harry... I'm here..." She said softly.

"Ma..mama?" Harry whimpered. "I'm sowwy... I didn mean to get lost..."

His voice broke Nadia's heart. He could barely speak! She was furious with herself for letting this happen. What should she do!? Minette... maybe Minette's healing water could help.

She retrieved her trenchcoat and pulled out her phone, shakily sending a text to her best friend. Once it was sent, she turned her attention to comforting her child. "It's okay, kitten, mama's here... I'm here for you..." Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Vernon trying to limp away and scowled. "Stop. Right. There. Vernon tensed up and looked at her with narrowed eyes. Nadia glared right back. "So you're his uncle, huh...? You're the fat loser that abused my kid!"

"What...? Your... kid?" Vernon wheezed out. Nadia set Harry down for a moment, then kicked Vernon directly in the face, sending him into a wall. Without waiting for an answer, Nadia began beating his face in again. She paused for a moment, then breathed angrily, finally asking:

"WHY?"

Vernon coughed up blood. "I... I..." He grumbled under his breath. Snarling, Nadia held her claws up to his neck, drawing blood in the process.

"You WHAT? What excuse could you possibly have for hurting a defenseless little boy?! A member of your family?! Go on! Tell me right now!"

"Because... Because I hate him... I hate him so much... With all my heart I hate him... I hate what he is, I hate what he stands for... I think he deserves to suffer..."

"Huh." Nadia blinked, surprisingly calm all of a sudden. "Well, in that case, the same thing can be said about you."

"Wait. wha-"

Nadia then cut him off by kicking him in the side of the head, then clawed his face again.

"Hurts, doesn't it?" She scowled. "How does it feel knowing that all someone needs to justify your death is that they hate you and everything you stand for?"

She sunk her claws deep into the fat man's side, causing a nasty gash that caused him to gasp in pain, Snarling, Nadia removed her claws, then grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and held him up to eye level.

"Get out. Get out of our town right now... You fat...disgusting MONSTER. If I catch you anywhere NEAR my son EVER again... I won't hesitate to cut it off. You get me?"

"C-Cut...what off...?" Vernon stammered fearfully. Nadia's glare intensified.

"You know what 'it' is. And then I'll feed it to you... And then, I'm gonna rip your guts out of your stomach. Now get out and don't even think about coming back."

Nadia could hear the overweight man groaning in pain as he pulled himself up and ran away. She didn't care what happened to him, she had an injured child! Scooping up Harry, she began rocking him back and forth in her arms, whispering a soothing melody to him to try and calm him as he continued to cry into her shoulder.

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry kit..." She whispered. "I should've been watching you..."

She kissed his head gently before hearing a buzzing coming from her phone. Minette had answered. She picked up her phone and read the text message...

'OHMYGOSH, WHY DOES HARRY NEED HEALING WATER?! IS HE OKAY?! WHAT HAPPENED?!' Nadia sighed softly and texted back.

'It's a long story... Bring it to my house... I'll explain it to you there...' After sending the message, she turned to look at Harry. "You wanna just go home, kitten...?" Harry nodded.

"Okay, don't worry. We're going home." She cooed softly. "Miss Minette is bringing healing water, we'll get you feeling better in no time!"

Despite her best efforts, Harry didn't seem to perk up, and she didn't blame him. She had been trying to help him get away from his abuse... and then it just came flying back... As she walked, she tried a few more times to cheer Harry up, but it was clear he was absolutely terrified beyond words.

She gently stroked his back and sighed softly. "All right, hun... Here... Just let mommy kiss it better for you..." Leaning down, she kissed Harry's swollen cheek, then his blackened eye.

Oh God the sight of his injured face broke her heart... She found herself wishing she'd punched that fat freak at least thirty more times...

"I'm so sorry, Harry... I know I promised this before, but he will NOT hurt you again... Mommy scared him off..."

Harry remained silent, just trying to stay close to his mommy. He knew she would take care of her, but that didn't change his fear of what had just happened. It took a few minutes for them to return to Nidia's home, and Minette came running out when she saw Nadia carrying Harry.

"OHMYGOSHWHATHAPPENED!?"

The Dagonian rushed towards them and gasped in horror at the state of Harry's face. "Oh my gosh, Harry, sweetie..." She breathed. Nadia sighed softly.

"You got the healing water?" She asked. Minette nodded wordlessly and gestured inside.

"I have a bath ready upstairs, but... How did he get like this, Nadia...?"

Nadia exhaled and tightened her hold on her son. "...His uncle found him..."

Minette's eyes widened in shock, she gasped silently and covered her mouth. Her eyes showed pain and shock, and began water up.

"Wh..di...did... did his uncle...?"

"Yeah." Nadia frowned. "He just... I don't know why, and I don't know what happened... But when I got out there, he was in bad shape."

"You can tell me more later, let's get the poor dear healed." Minette said quietly.

Nadia nodded, then gently rubbed Harry's head. "Thanks Minette... It means a lot that you care so much..." She carried him upstairs to her bathtub.

Gently, she removed his clothes and set him in. Harry relaxed slightly as the water washed over the bruises and bumps on his stomach and side, causing the injuries to vanish near instantly.

"So... what happened exactly? Minette asked quietly, still shook up at the sight of Harry so wounded and not wanting to upset him. "You said his uncle found him?"

"Somehow, yeah... Harry and I were at the mall and we got separated I think he got scared and ran off to try and find me, he was in an alley near where I first found him and... it was horrible." Minette replied sadly, seeming uncharacteristic down and self-loathing. "I... I wasn't there Minette..."

Minette put a hand on Nadia's shoulder. The feral sighed softly and clenched her fists. "I promised him he wouldn't be hurt living here, and I wasn't there to protect him..."

"Nadia..." Minette said softly.

"I blame myself. I took him out on the worst possible time of the year... I knew how shy he was... What was I thinking, taking him out shopping during Christmas season...?"

"Nadia..." Minette said softly again. "You've always been about making friends, you're an extrovert. Even before everything that happened to you happened you were always about meeting new people. Harry... Well, I think Harry may be more of an introvert. But regardless, you were trying to take care of him. You've rescued him and were trying to help him come out of his shell. But you coudlnt've expected this."

Nadia sighed again, looking at her friend sadly.

"I know, but... I should've been there for him."

"And you were. Sure, you were there a little bit late... Maybe a little bit TOO late for your liking... But in the end, you did get there to help him when he needed you."

Nadia frowned and remembered the fat man. "...You better believe I beat the hell out of that bastard, Minette... You have no idea how badly I wanted to kill him..."

"I mean, yeah." Minette frowned. "After all he did, who wouldn't? But it's not like killing the hellhounds, people may have taken issue with that. Not to mention it probably would've terrifed Harry."

"I know, I know..." Nadia sighed. "I just... I can't believe I let this happen! Minette, what am I gonna do!? He may never trust me again!"

"Nadia?"

"Yeah?"

"Calm down."

Nadia sighed softly, taking a seat and hugging her knees, biting her lip so hard that her fangs drew blood. "I made him a promise that I failed to keep..."

"It wasn't your fault, Nadia... And... well... Think of it this way... Did he see you fighting his uncle...?" Nadia blinked, then nodded her head slowly. "And you won?"

"Yeah, it was easy... I beat his face black and blue."

"Then... Maybe that will help Harry get some closure on this whole thing."

Nadia blinked, thinking it over, then let a small smile form on her face.

"Heh... yeah, maybe." She said softly. Looking down at Harry who seemed to have fallen asleep in the tub, breathing peacefully once again. Nadia didn't have the heart to wake him up, so she gently took him out of the tub and wrapped him up in a towel.

"Agh... I just remembered... everything I bought is still at the mall..." Nadia sighed in annoyance.

"I could take care of Harry for a bit." Minette smiled.

Nadia gave her a grateful smile and hugged her. "Thanks, Minette... You're a pal... Just stay with him though... He'll have nightmares if he's alone..."

Smiling, Minette took Harry from Nadia and cuddled him close, running her fingers through his hair in a soothing manner, causing him to snuggle up subconsciously.

The Dagonian giggled and kissed his head. Nadia leaned over, kissing his forehead and cheeks. "Mommy'll be back really soon, Harry..."

Minette's eyes widened. "Mommy...? Nadia, does that mean...?"

Nadia grinned, and Minette's eyes widened and a huge grin came across her face.

"Yay!" She quietly cheered. "I'm so happy for you!"

Nadia chuckled before quickly heading out. She didn't want to be gone from Harry for too long. Minette sat on a couch with the sleeping bundle in her arms.

"Mama Fortune?" She thought. "Never really thought of Nadia as someone who'd wanna be a parent, but I think I'd adopt the little sweetie if I had found him... *Gasp* does that mean I'm Aunt Minette?!

She bit her lip and let out a soft squee at the thought. The thought of this precious child being a member of her family, even in a roundabout way, warmed her heart.

Still, she decided to ask Nadia when she came back. She wasn't the type to jump to conclusions. She smiled down at Harry. "Soooo cuuute..."

At that time, Harry began squirming about as he woke up. His tiny eyes opened and looked around, suddenly snapping to attention.

"Mommy!?" He exclaimed as loudly as he could through his sleepy tone. "Mommy?! Wher..."

"Harry, it's okay!" Minette said softly, rocking the bundle in her arms. "Hey, Harry. Nadia's just ran back to the mall, she'll be back in a few minutes."

Harry blinked and looked around. Finally seeing Minette, he seemed to calm down a little bit.

"M-Miss Minette..." He spoke softly. Minette smiled sadly and gave him a kiss on the cheek, squeezing him tightly and protectively to keep him feeling safe.

"Yes, Harry, Miss Minette's taking care of you until your mommy comes home, and... Aww... Harry, you're crying..." The young Dagonian said sadly.

"I..I...I...I..." Harry tried to get out, but the fear of what had just happened caught up with him again.

"It's okay cutie." She smiled down at him, kissing him again. "You don't have to talk about it. How about you get comfy and we can watch something? Or I could tell you a story."

Harry's stuttered breathing finally seemed to calm down.

"Mama?" He asked timidly.

"She'll be back soon." Minette spoke softly. "She just went to town real quick."

Harry nodded and nestled into her arms, resting his tiny head against her chest and clutching at her shirt. Minette let out a soft giggle, putting a hand to her mouth.

"You're such a sweet little guy... So cuddly and adorable..." She cooed softly, rubbing his back. Grabbing the remote, she flipped through TV channels, settling on something educational.

Harry didn't seem to be paying much attention, however. He seemed to be focusing on cuddling up with her. Evidently, he just wanted to cuddle with his mother... But he saw her as a suitable substitute.

Minette smiled down at him every now and then, making sure he was comfy or content. She could tell he wanted to be with Nadia, but could also tell he didn't mind being with her. She patted his head gently, and felt Harry snuggle closer. The Draconian smiled to herself, thinking about what would've happened if she had found Harry.

'Probably not much would be different...' She mused. 'Except I'd be Mama Minette and Nadia would be Aunt Nadia. Heh, Nadia would probably keep stealing him though. Besides, I think it was for the best that she found him, I dunno if I could handle the hell hounds as well as she could.'

Sighing softly, she looked down at Harry with a sad smile and gave him another kiss on the temple. "You've been through a lot... Haven't you...?"

Harry tensed up slightly. "I...I don't... I um... Mommy will tell you..." Harry said softly, clutching at her shirt and shaking slightly. Minette smiled sadly.

"I know you don't want to talk about it... And that's okay... I just wanted to tell you that you're part of not just Nadia's family... But mine too." Minette said softly.

"...thank you Auntie Minette." Harry mumbled quietly, looking away slightly, as if he was embarrassed or afraid to say it aloud. Minette blinked and gave a slight gasp, then a wide grin spread across her face. She wanted to scream in joy, but knew the tiny boy needed comfort right now. So, she readjusted him so his head was resting against her chest.

"So cute." She smiled.

Harry clutched tightly to her, using her chest as his makeshift pillow. She giggled and rocked back and forth in her seat, gently humming a soothing tune.

After she'd finished, Harry lay prone in her arms. He was awake, but his eyes were closed and he was sucking his thumb innocently and happily.

"Auntie's here, honey... She cooed before kissing his forehead.

The tiny boy sighed contently in his sleep, seemingly in the midst of a peaceful dream.

Meanwhile, Nadia was almost home and her mind was still racing. Should she have left Harry with Minette? What if he had a nightmare? What if Harry didn't want to see her again? What if she had ruined her relationship with him? What if-

As she entered the room, she saw Harry sleeping peacefully in Minette's arms, and all her fears melted away.

Taking a deep breath, she entered her home, extending her tendons to set her bags on the counter so she could approach the two of them.

Noticing her, Minette perked up with a smile, carefully handing Harry back to his mother without waking him up.

"Is he okay?" Nadia quietly asked.

"He work up frightened, but he quickly calmed down, the little cutie called me Auntie Minette." The Draconian smiled fondly. "But it was clear he was missing you, he didn't want to be separated from you again."

Nadia smiled and kissed her son on the cheek lovingly.

"Mama's home sweetie." She cooed softly.

Harry smiled in his sleep and nuzzled in closer. Chuckling, Nadia took a seat with her son in her arms, cuddling him tight against her breast.

He quickly stirred in her arms and yawned adorably before looking up at her smiling facs, perking up almost instantly. "Mama... You came back..."

"Of course kit, I'd never leave you." She smiled down at him, hugging him close. "I'm glad to see you're feeling better."

"Mmhmm... Miss Minette's water feels nice." Harry said softly, smiling up at his mama.

Nadia chuckled softly and nuzzled him with her cheek. "Yep... It's made to heal, after all..." She fell silent for a moment before speaking again.

"Kitten... I really am sorry... I really messed up back there. I should have carried you or had Minette babysit... If I hadn't lost ya, that fat loser never would have gotten his blubbery mitts on ya..."

"Um." Harry mumbled, unsure of what to say in response. "It..it's fine, I-"

"No kitten. No." Nadia cut him off in a slightly stern tone. "You didn't deserve this, any of it. Please don't let yourself believe that. You're a precious little boy, don't let anyone ever tell you otherwise."

Harry looked up tentatively, then simply tired to hug Nadia, thankful his mama was back.

Nadia blinked, then chuckled softly and rested her chin on his head. "Aw, kitten... I'm glad you're not mad at me..." She said softly. "Are you okay though? Do you wanna sit down and talk about it?"

Harry hesitated for a moment before he slowly nodded his head. Nadia took a seat next to Minette. "All right, kit... If you have anything to say about what happened, get it off your chest..."

"W..why?" Harry finally got out. Clearly he wanted to say more, but his fears were keeping him from doing so.

"Why? ...kit. I'm sorry." Nadia sighed. "I didn't mean to lose you. I just... I shouldn't've set you down. I-"

"Um. I meant why do they hate me?"

Nadia's eyes widened at those words. The sheer sadness and confusion in his tone... It truly broke her heart to hear, and she held him tighter.

"I'm... I'm a freak..." Harry mumbled. "I don't wanna be a freak mama... I don't wanna be hurt anymore."

Nadia was left silent, trying to think of a response. All she could do was hold her son close, afraid to let go.

"You're not a freak kit." She whispered.

She gently nuzzled him before holding her forehead against his and looking into his big green eyes. "If anyone's the freak, it's him..." Harry looked at her.

"H-Huh...? Uncle Vernon...? What's so freaky about him?"

"Well, he's a massive mountain of pure blubber, he looks like a walrus, his fashion sense is tacky, he can literally turn purple... And above all else... He doesn't see what a good boy you are... Child beaters... They're the real freaks, the scum of the world..."

Harry didn't reply right away, he didn't know what to say. He just wanted to feel safe...

"Mama?" He asked timidly.

"Yes love?"

"Um... he... he's not gonna hurt me anymore, is he?" Harry asked quietly.

Nadia smiled sadly down at the tiny boy, holding him closer nuzzling the top of his head with her cheek.

"No, absolutely not, not a chance in hel-" She began, but cut herself off when she saw the look Minette was giving her.

"Not a chance in HECK." She 'corrected' herself sheepishly. Harry buried his face into her chest and shook slightly. "Th-Thank you... mama..."

Nadia kissed his head and rested her cheek atop it. "Hey... Any time, kitten... I'll do anything to keep ya safe... Because that's just what moms are for."

Harry smiled, believing his Mama. He nuzzled closer and finally spoke after a few moments.

"Aunt Minette is nice, she held me while you were gone."

"Oh, Aunt Minette?" Nadia smiled.

Minette smiled brightly. Harry nodded. "Y-Yes... I called her... auntie, and she was happy about it... Just like you when I called you mommy..."

Nadia smiled and kissed his head. "Well, it's only right... She is your godmother after all."

Minette's grin was huge at this pint, she stepped forward and kissed Harry on the cheek, making him coo cutely.

"Do you two need anything?" She asked. "I can go to the store if you need food or something... or..."

"Honestly, I think if you stay for a bit, that'd be best." Nadia admitted, a somewhat saddened tone re-appearing in her voice. "The little guy needs all the comforting he can get..."

Minette looked sad and nodded, taking a seat next to Nadia and Harry. "Okay, I'm not going anywhere... Poor little Harry, so cute and quiet and shy..."

Harry gave her a grateful smile before looking at Nadia. "M-Mommy...? What's a godmother...?" Harry asked softly.

"Well, Harry... Basically, if anything happened to me, which it won't, Minette here's the one that'll take care of you for me."

Minette looked sad and nodded, taking a seat next to Nadia and Harry. "Okay, I'm not going anywhere... Poor little Harry, so cute and quiet and shy..."

Harry gave her a grateful smile before looking at Nadia. "M-Mommy...? What's a godmother...?" Harry asked softly.

"Well, Harry... Basically, if anything happened to me, which it won't, Minette here's the one that'll take care of you for me."

"Oh..." Harry blinked before trying to hug Nadia's neck. "But I don't want anything to happen to you..."

His innocent tone and sweet gesture made Nadia's eyes widen further than she thought possible. She was thankful for the life gem, as she believed her heart may have just stopped and the gem was the only thing keeping her alive. A huge grin formed on her face and she patted the tiny boy's back.

"Awww..." She sighed.

"Nothing's gonna happen to me, kitten. Not a chance... But even if I am wrong about that, you still have your auntie Minette to look after ya..."

Harry felt grateful towards Minette, but the mere concept that something could happen to his adoptive mother made him sick to his little tummy.

Nadia sighed and sat down on a couch, holding her son close before adding:

"If you need to cry some more, go ahead. I'm here for you kit."

Harry looked with with watery eyes, but he didn't feel like he could cry. He was terrifed, but for some reason he didn't feel tears coming the way they used to.

Nadia gave him a sad look. "All cried out, huh? Heh... Ya sure did a lot of it on the way home... You must be thirsty from all that crying... C'mon..."

Rising to her feet, she looked at Minette to inform her she'd be right back, then carried Harry into the kitchen to get him a glass of water.

Filling the glass, she held it up for him and helped him gulp it down. She smiled and set the cup down when he was finished. "I'll make today up to you with a good supper tonight, kitten... And... I bought you some Christmas presents... I'll give you one now to cheer you up."

"But... but I..."

"Kit, you deserve them, you're a sweet little boy." Nadia cut him off, assuming that he would say that he didn't deserve them. She rubbed his back and smiled at him. However, she wasn't expecting what he said in response.

"But I didn't get you anything."

Nadia blinked, tilted her head, then gave him a warm smile and pressed their foreheads together, her sky-blue eyes meeting his emerald green ones.

"That isn't true at all, kitten... You gave me the best gift of all." Harry blinked and tilted his head, much like her. "The gift you got me is the opportunity to be a mom."

"Oh... um..." Harry mumbled, but didn't say anything, eventually just leaning into the embrace. Nadia heard Minette give an "Aww!" at the sight, and she didn't blame her. Sure, Nadia woulnd'tve left Harry to be attacked by the Hell Hounds, but she honestly had expected to grow so attached to him. But at the same time, she was happy she did. Harry seemed to add something she needed in her life.

She went over to her purchases, and Harry noticed something sitting on the table... It was a giant fluffy teddy bear. He looked up at it with wide eyes.

Nadia smiled at his reaction and leaned down, kissing his cheek. "Like him, kitten? He's yours." She said gently. Harry looked up at her and she smiled back at him.

"You love your cuddles, right? So a big old cuddly teddy bear's perfect for ya!"

Harry didn't respond. For a moment, Nadia was nervous she had done something wrong. But then it occurred to her; she was the first person who actually gave a damn about him. so it was possible that this was the first gift he was ever given, and as such, he may not have known HOW to react.

Smiling sadly, she grabbed the bear from off the table and set it down on the couch next to Minette. "C'mon, kitten... Try cozying up to the big guy. I think you'll like him."

Gently, she set him down in the bear's lap in a manner that made it look like the bear was hugging him.

Harry still seemed awkward, but eventually leaned against it. It felt like a big fuzzy mattress. He liked it! He squirmed slightly and then nuzzled down, enjoying the warmth of the literal bear hug.

"Ithinkmyheartjuststoppedthatisthemostadorablethingiveeverseenohmygosh." Minette said so quickly, even Nadia had a hard time following it.

The cat feral chuckled and rubbed the back of her head. "Heh... Yeah... He's a cute little guy. Think I'll keep him." She joked, smiling at her adopted son.

Minette hugged her friend. "Nadia, you're the sweetest mom I've ever seen... What you told Harry in there... It was the most beautiful thing I've ever heard."

"You think so?" Nadia asked, a slight hint of uncertainty in her tone. "I mean, I hope it was, I meant every word. I just..."

"You're used to helping people, but this is making a deeper connection." Minette finished. "But that doesn't change the truth, you really are the best fit for him. I'm not his mom, so take my word for it as an outsider."

Nadia's ear twitched slightly and she gave her friend a smile. "Heh... Thanks, Minette... I really appreciate it." Nadia gave her friend a grateful hug, which she returned.

Smiling, Nadia remembered something. "Be right back, guys!" She said before running upstairs. When she came back down, she held the three plushes Minette had bought.

"Here ya go, kitten, the rest of your stuffies have come to your little get-together. Heh..." She placed her son's cuddly toys in his arms.

Harry felt oddly content. The giant bear was really comfortable and warm, and his mama had given it to him, so that made it extra special! He smiled with a close-eyed smile as he felt his mama set the stuffed animals into his arms. He seemed to be falling asleep in the bear's embrace.

"Heh, little guy had a really stressful day." Nadia remarked with a sad smile.

Reaching down, she gently stroked the little boy's hair, earning a soft coo and a content kitten-like lean as her reward for the display of affection.

Harry fell asleep, and Nadia beamed down at him. "Heh... Well, I'd say that I picked out a pretty good gift here, huh, Minette?" The Dagonian didn't answer. She was too busy cooing over Harry.

Nadia scoffed and shook her head. Minette could easily get caught up in stuff like this... but at the same time, she couldn't blame him. Harry looked so content and cute sleeping in the large bear's arms. she smile down at her son, feeling relieved that Harry was safe.

She exhaled through her nostrils and reclined in her seat, smiling contently. "So, Minette... I think you're really gonna like your gift this year."

Minette gave her an excited grin. "Oooh, I got you a great gift too, Nadia! You're gonna LOVE it!" Nadia's tail swished about behind her.

"I always do. Heh... The benefits of your dad being rich, huh? Oh! By the way, did you get Harry any Christmas gifts? I wanna make sure we don't have duplicates. That's tacky."

"I got him one of those snugezz." Minette replied. Nadia blinked in confusion and she added: "It's one of those blankets with arms. Sure the only size I could get was the adult one... but you can hold him while he wears it! It'll keep him warm and make him even more cuddly."

Nadia grinned with a soft chuckle.

"I think he'll like it." She remarked.

She looked over at the table, where all her gifts were laid out. "Wanna come and help me wrap up Harry's presents? I betcha seeing a bunch of 'em under the tree will make him happy."

Minette perked up and smiled brightly, hopping to her feet. "All right! I'll go and get them!" The Dagonian made her way towards the living room, but was stopped when Nadia extended her arm to grab her shoulder.

"Nice try, Minette. I haven't forgotten your present's over there too. You're not gonna peek at it." The feral chuckled at her friend's pouty expression.

"Fine..." She muttered. Nadia smirked and left, bringing a few bags back with her. For the next hour or so, the two friends talked, made bad jokes, wrapped presents, and made sure Harry was sleeping soundly.

"I hope he likes these." Nadia remarked. "It's kinda hard to say what he likes and doesn't like... Still, maybe this will help us understand a bit more about him."

"I thin if you give it to him, he'll be happy." Minette replied. "I mean... did you see his reaction when you wanted to give him that bear? His first reaction was guilt that he didn't get YOU anything."

Nadia sighed softly and looked at her sleeping son. "Yeah... I hope he gets past this whole self-deprecating phase soon... It hurts to think that he thinks he owes me..."

Minette giggled with a closed-eyed smile. "Well, just tell him he can repay his debt in cuddles. That'll make you both happy!" She chirped.

Once they were done, the two set to putting the gifts under the tree. As Minette set one down, she turned around and frowned.

"Hey, Nadia? I think the kid's having a bad dream." She called, seeing Harry squirming uncomfortably in the bears embrace. Before she could say anything else, Nadia was there and had scooped him up, holding him close and rubbing his back. Thankfully, it seemed to work.

Just to make sure, the cat woman purred softly into his ear and nuzzled him gently, doing everything in her power to soothe her frightened son's fear.

The tiny boy seemed to squirm for a minute, but when he felt Nadia's warm embrace, he seemed to settle down, drifting back to a peaceful sleep. He nuzzled closer to her chest and Nadia gave an 'Aww... So cute.' as she looked down at her son. How could anyone have hurt such a sweet little face?

Sighing, she sat down on the couch next to the bear and scratched his back gently, smiling as she watched Minette wrap up the last present.

"Wow, Nadia, you went all out for the little sweetie. There's like... thirty different gifts here." Minette remarked with a small smile. Nadia shrugged.

"Yeah, well... Kids are easy to shop for, it's a parent's job to spoil their kid on Christmas, and... Well, I just really love my little kitten." She kissed Harry's cheek gently.

Harry murmured something and began to wake up. Nadia adjusted him in her arms so the first thing he saw when he woke up would be her smiling face.

"Mama?" Harry mumbled.

"Hiya kit." Nadia cooed, kissing his forehead. "Have a good nap?"

Harry smiled and snuggled closer into his mother's embrace. "Mm-hmm... I like my new teddy... He's really soft... Thank you, mama..."

Nadia let out a small coo, then looked over at the tree with a toothy grin. "Heh... Well, kitten, if you're happy now, just you wait till Christmas morning."

She gently grabbed his chin and turned his head to look under the tree. His eyes widened at the sight of the presents.

At first he seemed like, well, a kid on Christmas, then his joy melted away to a mixture of sadness and regret. Nadia adjusted him in her arms and smiled down at him.

"Harry, don't feel bad about any of this. I did this because I love you, and you've given me the best gift anyone could." She said matter-of-factly.

Harry seemed to relax slightly at that, but he still wished he could do something to repay his adoptive mother... Minette seemed to catch onto this and donned a thoughtful smile.

'Hmm... I wonder if Harry likes arts and crafts...' She mused to herself. She thought if would be the sweetest thing ever if he made Nadia Christmas gifts himself...

She'd have to bring this up with the little guy, but she didn't want Nadia to know...

"So, did you have a good nap?" Nadia cooed, re-asking a question, just wanting to see her son happy.

"Mmhmm..." Harry nodded.

"So... Why don't you and Auntie Minette have some time together while I go make dinner? I won't be long." Nadia said, handing her son over to her friend.

Harry nodded obediently and allowed himself to be passed over to Minette, who took him into her arms with a delighted smile and rocked him back and forth.

After Nadia walked into the kitchen, Minette took a seat on the couch and cuddled her little nephew close to her breast, kissing his cheek gently.

"Hey, Harry. I thought of something you could do for Nadia." Minette said quietly. Harry's eyes widened in excitement.

"Really?!" He said.

"Yup." Minette smiled. "And we can do it in secret so you can surprise her."

She smiled at Harry's reaction. He clutched tightly to her apron and gave her his full attention. "Sooo, have you ever done any crafts?"

Harry blinked and tilted his head to the side. "Crafts?" He asked, curious.

"Well... It's when you make things out of stuff you find around the house."

"M'kay." Harry nodded as Minette got up and began carrying him through the house. She found some paper and some markers, thinking about what else Harry might need. Harry seemed to be thinking things over, as if trying to think about what to do.

Giggling, Minette kissed his cheek. "You should make Nadia a card. It's simple. Here... Let me get you started!" She grabbed some paper and folded it up for him, then opened it up. "See? Now you can draw or write whatever you want on it!"

Harry nodded in understanding and seemed to get deep into work. Minette thought it was adorable as he seemed so focused, so determined, it was clear that this card meant a lot to Harry and he was going to give it his all.

"Bless his little heart..." Minette smiled.

He spent a long time carefully drawing things on the card, from little cats to hearts to pictures of himself and Nadia cuddling one another or holding hands.

He added a little bit of glitter to the front of the card, drew a large picture of him and his mother holding hands, then opened the card to write something.

'Thank you for loving me, mommy. You're the best mommy in the world. I love you. -Harry.'

Minette was watching with a huge grin. It was clear Harry cared so much about Nadia, and she cared just as much about him. But there was something about the amount of work he was putting into this that... Minette didn't know how to explain it, but it felt so genuine, so passionate, she knew Nadia would love it.

She took a seat beside Harry, watching him work hard on his card, and periodically giggled into her hand at how sweet it was. Harry clearly adored his mommy...

Eventually, Harry decided he was satisfied with his work. He held it up for Minette to look at. "Do you think it's good enough? Will mommy like it?" He asked timidly.

"She'll love it sweetie." Minette said softly, kissing Harry on the head as a sign of affection. Harry blushed and leaned into the affection.

"Hey, Minette? Where's Harry?!" Nadia suddenly called, a noticable amount of fear in her voice.

"He's in here! I was telling him a story!" Nadia called back.

Nadia leaned into the room and smiled at her son. "Heh... Ah, teaching the little guy how to do crafts and stuff, huh? Heh... Well, a hobby would probably be good for him."

Seizing the opportunity, Harry grabbed his card, rising to his feet and making his way over to his mother. He slowly reached up to pass it to her.

"I...I made this to say thank you, mommy... Um... I hope it's good..." He said softly, looking down at the floor bashfully.

Nadia blinked in confusion and took the paper. She realized it was a card and her heart melted at that alone. As she read through it, seeing the image Harry had drawn, it seemed familiar... Then it hit her. It was the same one he made on the cake.

"Ooh, Harry..." She cooed, scooping her son up and holding him close. "It's perfect."

She gave him a kiss on the cheek, then looked back down at the card. "All right, let's crack this guy open, shall we?" She opened up the card.

His little drawings melted her heart almost instantly. They were so cute! The little hearts especially delighted her. It was a clear sign that love was put into the card.

Then she read the little message Harry left in the card. The one thanking her for loving him, saying she was the best mommy ever, saying he loved her...

Nadia felt tears in her eyes as she looked down at Harry, who was looking up with hopeful eyes as she held him tightly, covering his face in kisses.

"D..do you like it?" Harry timidly asked.

"I LOVE it kit." She said softly. "It's WONDERFUL."

Harry giggled as his mama kept kissing him all over, holding him close and showing him nothing but love.

She nuzzled his face gently, purring softly in joy, her tail curling into a heart shape. "I love you too, kitten... This is the best thing I could ask of you..."

Minette teared up as she watched their interaction. Their relationship was something truly beautiful...

Harry smiled and nuzzled into her chest, a smile on his face. He had made his mama happy, that's all that mattered to him. Nadia sat on the couch, rocking the tiny sweetheart in her arms. She didn't care if anyone was watching, she didn't care if the smoke alarm was going-

Wait...

"Agh! The food!" Nadia exclaimed.

Setting Harry down, she hurriedly rushed downstairs to shut the stove off, pulling out her meal to find that, much to her disliking, it was burned to a crisp.

"Shoot... And it was made special too..." She groused to herself, ears drooping. "Well, guess we're gonna have to order in instead..." She looked back up at the stairs.

"Better make sure Harry doesn't think it's his fault..."

She made her way back upstairs to explain the situation. "Uh... Heheh... Sooo, funny story, guys... I let myself get too distracted aaaand dinner got burned..."

Harry looked down with a visible wince. "M'sorry, mama..." And there it was...

"No... sweetie..." She cooed, picking him up and holding him close. "This isn't your fault. Please, I need you to understand. Everything that you've been forced to endure, everything you've been blamed for. It's not your fault."

Harry looked up in genuine confusion.

"But..."

Nadia put a finger to his lip and smiled sadly at him. "You have to stop blaming yourself for things, kitten... You didn't do anything wrong."

"I was the one who-"

"You just wanted to give me a card. And it was a sweet card that I loved very much. It was my own fault for letting myself get distracted."

"Oh. Okay..." Harry timidly replied, seeming to get the idea. However, he nuzzled closer to her and rested his head on her breasts, trying to remain close.

"Awww..." Nadia sighed. "Why are you so adorable?"

Minette giggled into her hand. "I could order from the restaurant if you want... I have an employee discount, after all." Nadia turned to her with a smile and nodded.

"Sounds good, Minette. I promised the little guy I'd take him there for lunch earlier before... Well... Y'know..." Minette bit her lip slightly before nodding.

"Okay! So, you want the usual, and... Hmm... What do you think Harry would like?"

"Ooh. Good question." She remarked, thinking quickly. "He liked the clam chowder you made."

Harry noticable seemed to perk up at that ,looking up at Nadia, who realized that and grinned down at him.

"Heh, something tells me I'm right about that one." She chuckled.

"Yes please." Harry said quietly.

Minette nodded with a smile. "Okay, but let's give him some rice too... Just as a side dish. Ooh, I want some sushi too..." Nadia stuck her tongue out.

"Blech... I'll never understand how you like that stuff..." She muttered. Minette huffed and crossed her arms, cheeks puffing out in irritation.

"It's delicious! You're just a picky eater."

Nadia laughed and shook her head, returning her son to the large bear. Harry let out a tiny whine, not wanting to be put down.

"I'll be right back honey." She smiled.

Harry nodded obediently and watched his mother walk off to place the order. Minette huffed and stuck her nose up in the air indignantly.

" Hmph... There's nothing wrong with sushi, Harry... It's super good. I'll let you try some when our food gets here. You'll love it. I promise you that."

Harry smiled up as his mama as he snuggled back into the bear. He felt reassured, his mama was taking care of him, and he was beginning to believe maybe everything wasn't his fault. But... his family had made that so clear! everything WAS his fault.

"It's not your fault. Everything they made you believe was a lie." Played through his head. His mama had said that, and she wouldn't lie to him, would she?

He tried to focus his memories on what his mother had taught him. She had taught him that he was worthy of being loved and cared for...

She had taught him that it was okay to cry when he was sad or scared...

She had taught him that he could come to her when he needed comfort...

And she was now teaching him that he didn't have to blame himself for everything.

She was an angel. Harry decided. He had heard stories from his cupboard about beautiful women who cared for people. That's what his mama was! She was an angel. And if she told him it wasn't his fault, then maybe it wasn't... this was an odd feeling for Harry. But it felt nice, and it made him feel... Happy? Yeah, that's what it was...

Nadia returned soon after with a smile, reaching down and picking her son up in her arms. "Well, kitten, food's on the way. Well, food and yucky sushi..."

"Just because you don't like it doesn't mean it isn't food!" Minette protested. Nadia just snickered, causing Minette to pout.

Harry giggled and tried to hug his mama. She was so warm! and she made him feel safe. He knew she wouldn't let his family hurt him. Today was... Harry didn't know how to explain it, but he knew Miss Fortune would NEVER let that happen again. She didn't even inted for it to happen this time. It was a mistake... That's all it was.

He buried his face into the crook of his mother's neck and hugged her tightly. "I love you, mommy..." He said softly, smiling brightly all the while.

"I love you to kit." Nadia grinned, rubbing his back ,earning content hums from the tiny boy. Heh, it almost sounded like he was purring. He was a gift. The best gift anyone could've ever given her. She hadn't expected being a mother was something she wanted, but now... she wouldn't have it ANY other way!