Chapter Three: Ministry

I was real nervous when Mom and Dad took me to London. I had heard from Taylor, who ran away from London, that the kids on the streets here were real mean. When I told Dad he just smiled and promised that no street kid was going to get me. "Besides," he said, "They won't be able to see where we're going,"

"What do you mean Dad?" I asked.

"We're going to a wizard's pub," he said, "Muggles can't see it,"

"What's a Muggle?" I asked. I know I heard them mention Muggles yesterday.

"A Muggle is a non-magical person Harry," Dad said, "You're mother's sister is a Muggle,"

"Is she nice?" I asked.

Dad blanched at that. I could tell he didn't like her very much. Mom had overheard that part of the conversation though, so she answered my question. "She's nice around other Muggles dear," she said, "But she doesn't like magic for some reason so we never see her that often. Just on Dudley's birthday and occasionally New Years,"

"Who's Dudley Mom?" I asked as we walked into the pub.

"You're cousin," she said, "Now; it's time to be quiet Harry. We don't want to get anyone's attention,"

I nodded, understanding what she meant perfectly. When you don't want to be caught, you've got to be real quiet. I always had to be quiet in New York. You don't want to get caught stealing something, no way, no how.

"Hold my hand Harry," Dad whispered, "There's some real bad people in here who used to work for a real bad wizard,"

I nodded and clutched his hand in mine. The blonde man who was staring at me was really creepy. It was like he wanted to kill me or something. "James Potter," the blonde man said, "It looks like you found your son,"

We were forced to stop as everyone crowded around us. I clutched Dad's leg. I hate being surrounded and I hated people staring at me. "He's adorable James!" a woman exclaimed reaching down to pat my head.

"He's shy Eve," Dad said, bending down to pick me up, "He hasn't had very many good experiences with crowds yet," Then everyone started to come closer and the blonde man actually tried to take me out of Dad's arms while he was distracted, but I think Dad noticed and held me tighter.

"What is this entire ruckus about!" a lady shouted. All the people stopped talking and went back to their seats. In front of us was an older lady with her hair in a bun. She looked strict but her face softened once she saw Mom and Dad.

"It's good to see you two," she said before she noticed me, "I'm guessing that this is Harry?"

"Yes Professor," Mom said as she followed the lady out the pub. Dad didn't put me down because he knew the blonde man was watching us and followed Mom out.

"Lily," the lady said, "Please call me Minerva. I haven't been your professor in years,"

So she used to be Mom and Dad's teacher? No wonder they trusted her. Dad put me down and I held his hand as we walked toward the Ministry place. Dad said that after we got done there we would meet Moony and then Mom would take me shopping for clothes. When I asked why he wasn't going, he said he had to pick a few things up and check on the new house. I really didn't see why he was going, but I understood they were important to him.

When we entered the Ministry, Minerva went off on her own to settle some Hogwarts business. "What's Hogwarts Mom?" I asked.

"Hogwarts is a school for wizards and witches," she said, "You'll be going there when you turn eleven. It's the school your father and I went too,"

"Is that where you met Mom?" I asked.

She nodded as another witch led us to a room. I read the sign and it said Wizarding Family and Children Unit. Did they have to sign adoption papers or something to make sure I wouldn't get put into an orphanage? I didn't want to go to an orphanage, they were small and crowded and smelled like old cabbage.

We walked in and a lady looked up at us. "Why, hello there Lily," she said, "I didn't expect to see you today,"

"I didn't either," she said and looked at me, "Wouldn't you like to say hi Harry?"

"I don't know her name Mom," I said as the woman stared at me with wide eyes.

"Her name is Amelia Bones," Mom said, "You can call her Aunt Amelia if you want,"

I looked at her again. "Hi Aunt Amelia," I said, "Nice to meet you,"

She smiled and waved for us to take a seat. Dad sat on my left, Mom on my right. She grabbed some papers and signed them. "Where did you find him Lil?"

"Sirius found him in New York," Mom said, "When I asked Sirius, he said Harry and Ron ran into him while he was investigating a lead,"

She nodded and smiled. "So I'll let the others know we found them," Amelia said, "Now, we just need you to sign a few papers and Harry can go home without having to worry about being put into another family,"

Mom grabbed a feather and Dad did too. I think their called quills. They signed the paper and it rolled itself up and popped away! "Where did it go?" I asked.

"To another Ministry member, honey," Mom said, "Now, let's get you some clothes and toys while your father takes care of some grown up things,"

I nodded and hopped off the chair, grabbing Mom's hand on the way out. I noticed here, everyone called their Mom, Mum. Was it an England thing? Did I have to call her Mum too? "Let's go get you some trousers Harry," Mom said.

"Are trousers pants?" I asked.

Mom stopped in the middle of the street and looked around. She made sure no one heard what I had said and got down to my height. "Harry," she whispered, "Here, when you said pants, everyone thinks of underpants,"

I blushed at that. "Sorry Mom," I said.

She sighed and smiled. "It's okay," she said, "It's a common mistake here,"

She stood back up and we walked to the clothes store. I gulped when we got in there. There were a lot of people and I was terrified of crowds. Crowds were never good to be in, especially if they start to panic.

Mom decided to get the trousers over with first. She got me some black, brown, and green ones. "I prefer to get these from the Muggle world," Mom said. I nodded and she went to get some pants while I picked out a few shirts. She made sure I was in sight and that I didn't steal anything. I sighed and picked out a shirt with a lion, a red one covered in the snitches Dad showed me last night and a green one with a dragon on it.

"Are these good, Mom?" I asked.

She looked up and smiled. "They're perfect Harry," she said, "Let's get you some robes, socks, pajamas, and some winter clothing and we'll be done,"

I smiled and followed her to get the rest of the clothes. I don't see what some of the other guys were complaining about. My mom wasn't being totally crazy about shopping. I think their moms didn't take their opinion about what they wore. Mom was always asking what I liked. I think she's worried about not being a good mom.

"Mom?" I asked, "Are you worried?"

"Worried about what Harry?" she asked as she looked at another pair of pajamas.

"Being a good mom," I said, "You're already the best one ever,"

She froze at that and I was afraid I had hurt her feelings. Then she smiled and hugged me. "I just want to make sure I'm doing this right," she said, "I already missed out on some of your life and I want to make sure the rest of it's perfect,"

"But you're already perfect Mom," I said, "You feed me and let me sleep in a bed. You get me new clothes and books and toys. You and Dad love me a lot. I don't need to be spoiled to be happy Mom; I just need you and Dad,"

Mom didn't say anything for a minute. All I said was the truth. I know a lot of kids who would love to just have a parent. No money, no toys, no books, just a parent that loves them to death and would never abandon them in their time of need. That's all I've wanted since I was about four and now I've got it. A family that I know loves me, even though I don't know how long it'll last.

Mom finally snapped out of whatever she was doing and pulled me into a hug. "I couldn't have asked for a better son," she whispered.

I smiled and we finished off our clothes shopping. I was feeling tired, but I wasn't sure if Mom would take me home if I told her. "We're just going to pick up a few books and some toys for you and then we're done," she told me, as if she had been reading my mind.

"Okay Mom," I said, struggling to hide the yawn.

We walked into the book store and she went straight to a small section. She picked up three books, but the one I saw her grab was called 'The Tales of Beetle Bard.' "Why did you pick that one Mom?" I asked.

"Which one?" Mom asked.

"The beetle one," I said.

"It's a book all Wizarding children get Harry," Mom said, "It's like the wizard version of Cinderella and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,"

"Oh," I said, "Terry used to read those stories to Ron, me, and the other kids all the time,"

We went to pay for the books and went to the toy store. I clung to Mom's leg the moment we entered. I really didn't want to seem like a spoiled brat and I knew that the toy store might make me seem like one. "Come on Harry," Mom said, "Let's pick you out a plushie,"

"A plushie?" I asked.

"Every child needs a plushie to sleep with," Mom said, "I had one when I was about your age,"

She led me to this display covered in stuffed animals. There were lions, ravens, hippos, an even a dove. But the one that caught my eye was an owl with bright, white feathers. I reached up and grabbed it. "Is that the one you want?" Mom asked.

I nodded and held her close. This was all I needed. She was the best toy ever!

But we weren't done looking at toys. By the time we were finished I had three other plushies; a stag, a dog, and a wolf. I also had a few coloring books, crayons, a toy truck, and a little toy castle with people that actually moved! It was the best toy ever! Well, right after my owl.

Once we bought everything, Mom shrunk the bags to fit in her pocket, except my owl. "What are you going to name it Harry?" Mom asked.

"Her name is Snowy," I said, clutching Snowy close to my chest.

"That's a beautiful name Harry," Mom said, "Now, let's hurry home, your dad might be there any minute,"

"Mom," I said, "What was Dad doing?"

"He was looking at the new house," Mom said, "He was making sure your room was all ready for you and he had to pick up something I rather you not be able to use yet. But, with your father being who he is, there's really nothing I can do about it,"

"Mom," I said, "When can I meet Moony? I remember him, but he wasn't at the Burrow. Where is he?"

Mom decided to pop us back to the house before answering me. After she made sure I wasn't going to throw up, she said, "Your Uncle Moony is out of the country right now. I can owl him tonight and see when he'll be back,"

"Mom, what do you mean by owl?"

James' P.O.V

I used the Floo to get home from Coral's Hill. Lily and Harry are going to love it! There's no Muggles around for miles, so we can fly, and there were a few horse stalls so we can teach Harry how to ride! It was going to be the best!

I stepped into the living room to see it covered in bags. Lily must have gone a little overboard with the clothes. "But Mom, doesn't that hurt the owl?" I heard Harry ask from the kitchen.

Stepping into the kitchen, I saw Lily sending a letter by Iggy, our Barn Owl. "It doesn't hurt them unless you're rough Harry," Lily said.

"Okay," Harry said, watching Iggy fly off. Then he turned and saw me. "Dad!" he shouted, launching himself into my arms.

"Hey there Harry," I said, holding him close, "How was your day?"

He was about to answer when he blushed and tried to pull away. "Do you want me to let you go?" I asked, not shocked at the reaction, though it did hurt.

"No," Harry said, "But I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable,"

"I've been dying for a hug from you for years bud," I said, causing him to latch onto me tighter. He told me about the pants and trousers blunder and I just smiled and rolled my eyes.

"It's sort of like how we say friends," I said, "Normally we say mate,"

"Oh," Harry said, "So that makes Ron my mate, right?"

"Right," I said.

"Harry," Lily said, "Why don't you show Dad Snowy?"

Harry leapt out of my arms and showed me an owl plushie, with big golden eyes. "This is Snowy," Harry said, "Mom let me pick her out,"

"She's mighty pretty Harry," I said, "Do you want to see your new room at the new house Harry?"

Harry's eyes widened and he started bouncing around. "Did you hear that Mum?" Harry said, "We're going to the new house and I've got a new room! Can Ron come over one day Mum? Please? I really miss him!"

"He can come over any time Harry," Lily said, "I'll ask Molly tonight,"

Harry smiled and couldn't stop bouncing around. If this keeps up, he'll feel like a part of the family in no time at all! Now, all I've got to do is keep that maniac Pettigrew away from my son and everything will be fine.