Daddy’s Boy

Nanny

The French Riviera wasn't interesting in the winter, or that was the opinion Sirius expressed. He didn't need much effort to persuade his two friends to go to Chamonix, one of the French centres for winter sports, where they were sure to find many young women.

This was how they ended sitting at a table in one of the local restaurants. The three young men were dressed similar to the other patrons, yet the toddler who was sitting on a high chair with them seemed completely out of place. He was dressed with several layers of clothing which restricted his movement without providing much warmth, unless one knew of the warming charm cast on them.

The waitress approached them. She was a young woman, just a bit older than the three Marauders. "What would you like to eat?"

The three gave their orders, with Sirius paying more attention to her curves than to the menu. "What about the baby?"

James looked upset for forgetting. The others snickered.

"I'll bring something for him," she offered. "I have a girl about the same age." She now looked at Sirius and spoke very quietly. "Her father is an auror."

Sirius flinched and looked at the table, which suddenly turned very interesting, while the others snickered. The waitress bent towards James now, speaking just as quietly. "It would be wiser to dress your child with appropriate clothes. Warming charms are not good enough in this weather. I believe his mother isn't here, or she would have known."

"She's dead," James said, all mirth gone from his voice.

"I'm really sorry. Would you like me to lend you some clothes for the child?"

James thought for just a second. "I'd rather you direct me to an appropriate store."

She smiled at him. "I'll bring you an address and a map along with your order."

They visited the same restaurant the next day, with Harry dressed properly. They had another waitress, yet the one from the previous day passed near them, glanced at the baby and nodded approvingly.

James was not interested in anything there, except for staying with Harry. Sirius and Remus found out that very few of the young ladies around were unattached, and skiing was more demanding than they cared for. After a few more days there, they decided to return to the castle.

James was quite happy to let Sulis handle the physical needs of his child, yet he couldn't forget the shame he had felt when that waitress told him off. He knew he would need to find somebody to take care of the child and probably of the housekeeping as well. Sulis, while excelling at his job, couldn't replace a wife's caring for her home and family, or even a competent house-keeper, who would have a human point of view.

A few weeks after returning to the castle, Harry didn't feel well. He cried a lot, refused to eat and had a fever. James didn't want to take him to any English healer, not wanting to expose him to the British magical world, yet he clearly needed help. Remus asked at the nearest bistro about a doctor for children. There wasn't one in the village, but there was a young paediatrician at a near village, and an older, better recommended one at the nearest town. He returned to the castle with both addresses.

James didn't hesitate. He wanted only the best for his son. He apparated into an alley near the doctor's address. Not having set an appointment in advance, he had to wait, but the stern woman at the reception desk mellowed immediately when she touched Harry's burning face.

Doctor DuPont, a kind looking man about fifty, checked Harry thoroughly, paying special attention to the scar on his forehead. He then turned to James. "May I know your name, please?"

"Jacques DePoitiers," James answered. His British accent was quite evident.

The doctor looked at him as if looking at a child who was caught lying. "Now, now... You surely know that my oath prevents me from disclosing information about my patients without their permission. So, what is your real name, please?"

"James Potter."

"And your son's?"

"Harry."

The doctor frowned. "You were supposed to be dead, you know."

"I'll be, eventually, but right now I have a son who needs to get well. Help him, please!"

The doctor looked at father and son with a kind smile. "Luckily, I'm also a healer," he said, taking a wand out of his drawer. He waved the wand over Harry, chanting some obscure spells, causing different misty shapes to appear over the child.

"The fever is easily cured," he finally said, "but you'll need a curse-breaker for the scar." He looked at James, who seemed worried. "That scar was caused by some very evil curse. It's a miracle this boy is still alive, but if it's not treated soon, it may eventually kill him."

He thought some more. "There are a few good curse breakers in France, but I think Gringotts employs the best. You should contact them and have the curse removed as soon as Harry's fever is gone."

He looked once again at the green-eyed child. "Who's taking care of him?"

"I do it, with the help of my two best friends and my house-elf," James replied.

"Any feminine touch?"

"No. I've had no woman since my wife was killed."

The doctor looked him in the eyes. "As much as I appreciate your feelings and your intentions, such a small child also needs a mother figure, and you may also benefit from having a woman's touch in your house."

James looked stubborn. "I don't want any woman. Nobody can replace my Lily!"

"Nobody ever will, but you still need somebody to care for your son like a mother would and maybe tend to your house as well."

James was still reluctant. "I can't take just anybody. Harry is already showing his magic, so a Muggle can't take that post, and I know no magical folks in France."

"You could hire an English one," the doctor suggested.

"I don't want anybody in England to know. I have my suspicions about who's to blame for what happened."

The doctor thought for a moment. "May I suggest somebody?"

James nodded.

"My daughter, although quite a powerful witch, had shown no interest in any profession. She is fascinated by children, though. I can ask her if such a position may interest her."

"Fine. Send her to me if she agrees." He wrote down the address.

The doctor pulled a few potion vials and gave them to James with appropriate instructions. "I'll come in the evening to check Harry again. I may bring Eloise with me."

By mid afternoon, Harry was already feeling much better. He was babbling happily as he played with his toys. The three adults were sitting nearby, chatting and watching the toddler.

Doctor DuPont arrived after sunset, accompanied by a shy young woman whose hair was tied back and covered with a scarf. She looked quite young and hesitant. Harry was already tired and sleepy, but seeing the young woman he raised his hands towards her and said, "Mummy!"

That word seemed to change the atmosphere at once. James looked puzzled and a bit annoyed; Sirius looked amused while Remus looked surprised. The young woman moved purposefully, sweeping the child up, cradling him to her bosom and murmuring sweet words to him. Harry also moved his hands around her neck as if not wanting to let go of her.

Dr. DuPont smiled at the scene. It confirmed his suspicion that a femainine hand was badly needed at the household. He checked the child, finding him on his way to full recovery and left some more potion vials. Harry didn't let go of Eloise the whole time. She then gave him his supper and a vial of potion and put him in bed.

James had tears in his eyes as he noticed how much Harry missed his mother. He didn't fail to notice the immediate affinity between the boy and the young woman. He made up his mind even before speaking with her.

"Will you stay for dinner?" he asked the two, once Harry fell asleep.

"I promised my wife to be home for dinner, but we expected our daughter to stay a bit later, trying to see if she'd like to take your job offer," Dr. DuPont replied. His daughter only smiled her acceptance.

Dinner was awkwardly silent at first. Eloise resumed her shy attitude and James wasn't sure about what would be right to say to her. It was Sirius who broke the ice first.

"So, do you think you'd like to care for Harry?" he asked her.

She seemed to lose her shyness once the child was mentioned. "Yes, please. He's so adorable!"

"Why has he called you 'mummy'? You don't look like my deceased wife," James said, quite forcefully.

"I can't answer that," she said sadly. "I'll never be able to replace his mother, no matter how hard I try. I only hope I can give him love as close to a mother's love as can be."

James took a moment to look at her, making her blush under his stare. She had nice oval face, reminiscent of Lily's. Her eyes were brown with some honey specks in them and the few hairs that escaped from her tightly wound scarf were reddish brown. She was quite beautiful, really, even if she looked almost plain compared to Lily.

"How old are you?" he asked, no longer frowning.

"I'm twenty, yet it's not very polite to ask a woman of her age, Sir," she answered with a shadow of a smile.

James blushed at her response, making the two others laugh. Eloise turned and glared at them, making them stop immediately.

"Aren't you a bit young for the job?" James asked.

"I don't think so. While some women become mothers close to thirty, others do it even before reaching twenty, and make just as good mothers. I believe you're not much older, and so was your wife."

"Yes, I'm twenty-one, as are my friends here and my Lily was the same age."

Her face softened. "You loved her very much, I see."

James couldn't answer. His eyes filled with tears and his voice choked. Eloise didn't hesitate. She brushed his hair with her hand and hugged him, caressing his back with her other hand. "It's alright. Don't be ashamed for loving someone so much..."

An hour later, when Remus accompanied her home, she knew that she was starting a wonderful new chapter in her life.

Eloise moved in the next day. James intended to give her a whole wing for herself, but she preferred a small bedroom, adjacent to the nursery. Sulis seemed to like his new "Miss Louise" and tried his best to make her comfortable and feel welcome.

James found it more difficult, though. Her presence reminded him too much of Lily, despite the obvious differences. He was glad that Harry seemed to get attached to her immediately. Although he wanted Harry to remember his mother, he knew Harry was too young for that. He was glad that Harry had a mother figure to love him, even if it wasn't his real mother. Harry now called her Liz only and didn't use "Mummy" at all.

Gringotts of Paris was willing to help for a fee, as usual. The curse breaker worked on Harry several hours, and eventually managed to remove the dark magic that resided in the scar. It then took only a simple charm and some ointment to heal the scar until just a faint lightning shape stayed visible, and just if one was looking very attentively.

They didn't stay in the castle, though. Liz, as James started to call her as well, thought that such an old castle was not the best place for raising a child. James bought a house near the shore, close to the centre of a village, where they moved when Harry turned two. Sirius had already returned to London, to restore his house and claim his position as Lord Black. Remus, although not having such a position, also left, trying to find adequate living for himself, despite his affliction.

Harry started meeting other children his age. Two years later he was speaking fluent French, just like all the other children around him. He only spoke English with James and Liz and with the two Marauders.

James had also made it a habit to join the fishing fleet once in a while, gaining a lot of respect for Monsieur Jacques. Nobody needed to know that he actually owned the fleet.

While James was glad for Harry making friends and learning French, he was a bit concerned that Harry would not know his heritage and would be viewed as a stranger by his British peers, once they returned to England, as he always intended.

When Harry reached his fifth birthday, James decided it was time to return.

"Why are you sad?" he asked Liz.

"Well, Monsieur, you're going to England and I'm going to miss Harry... and you."

"Why should you miss us?" James sounded bewildered.

"You're leaving, while I..."

"Why? Don't you want to come with us?"

Liz looked overwhelmed for a moment. "You mean I'll continue staying with you two?"

"Of course, Liz. You're the closest Harry has to a mother. He would be devastated if you didn't come with us, almost like losing his mother again," James said sincerely.

He took her hands in his. "I want you to come with us to England. Will you come, please."

She smiled and teared. "I will." Wiping her tears she added, "It would be a good chance to improve my accent, I believe."

"Of course, as well as get to know the lovely English weather," he added.

"Oh, You!..." she smacked him lightly on his head.