Chapter Twenty Four

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Zakari enjoyed his time that he was able to spend with his father one on one while his mother worked, especially since it gave him time to teach him father. While Roderick was learning the basics of sign language, there were actual signs that Zakari had come up with over the years that were only recognizable to his family or to Franklin as he had taught him during their time at Hogwarts. He was also trying to gain the confidence to speak more. He had only really spoken with his mother as she had helped him develop his speech when he was younger, but he didn't want his father to feel left out, so more than often while he was home, he decided to speak to his father.

Whenever he did speak, he could see his father's face light up, which definitely brought about plenty of confidence for the boy to continue speaking when he wanted to. During the day, he tucked away any other forms of communication and the two would sit in the living room across from each other.

"Daddy." He called out to the man trying to grab the man's attention as they sat down. Roderick turned to watch him.

The two continued to communicate back and forth, but there was a question in the back of Zakari's mind that he had been wanting to ask his father since he received the letter back in Hogwarts. He remembered the crow that had been on the castle grounds, and while it seemed coincidental at first to the child, realizing that his father had been released and was able to take the crow form, Zakari had a feel he had met his father long before they met formally at Christmas.

He looked at the man and signed to ask him if it was actually him at the castle that had shown up many times and kept him company.

Roderick clearly didn't get the question as he signed "what?" back at him.

To make it easier on his father, Zakari decided to finger spell it out for the man, knowing it was much easier for Roderick to read it.

"C....R.....O....W." He spelled out with his fingers. He watched as his father's eyes became wide in surprise before he picked himself up off the floor. In a few moments, there was the crow standing before him. Immediately, Duncan when on the defense, moving towards the bird in crouching position as he was getting ready to pounce.

However, before the corgi could launch his attack, Roderick was back in his human form causing Duncan to crash into the man's legs.

Zakari giggled as the dog remained in shock from the occurrence before the boy lifted him up into his arms.



A little while later, Zakari was sitting on the sofa reading with his father. His father had his own book propped up on the arm of the sofa while Zakari read his own, when another thought ran through his head that hadn't crossed his mind since being home.

He tapped his first two fingers on each hand to grab his father's attention. Immediately, Roderick placed his book down and gave him his full attention.

Zakari wondered if his dad had gone to Hogwarts along with his mother that surely one of them had experienced the sound in the wall. He began to tell his father about the feeling of the movement that he felt before coming upon the scene of petrified victims.

Roderick seemed alarmed at first but not wanting to alarm the child, he kept his reaction calm as they spoke.

The Chamber of Secrets had been a myth that he had heard when he was a boy, but it had always just been a myth. There had been prior incident before that he had heard about but it had been solved and the student responsible had been expelled.

Zakari's father seemed to think it had to be a student behind it who probably had a warped sense of humor and decided to do such things as a prank. At least, that's what he told Zakari, but the child was sure that his father did not want to disclose all the information on the subject at the risk of scaring him.

But really, Zakari just wanted as much information on the subject not only for his benefit but for Harry's. The Gryffindor boy seemed to be just as wrapped up in the situation and many believed he was the Heir of Slytherin, according to Eve and Jean.

He didn't believe that Harry had anything to do with the problems that were occurring in the castle, but he wanted to help clear his name. After all, it was the least Zakari could do since he hit the boy in the face with his wand and it seemed Harry was having a rough year as it was with injuries and people treating him wrongly. 


Eventually, while his father left to the kitchen to get dinner ready before his mother was due home, Zakari rested on the sofa on the living room and continued reading. Duncan was on the sofa as well, resting over his feet with his entire body sprawled out. With every sentence he read over in his book, Zakari could feel his eyes growing heavier and heavier. He wanted to wait until his mother came home so he could tell her all about his day, but the sleepy feeling was just too much for him.

Before his father had even gotten the dinner fully going, Zakari was sound asleep.

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