HI guys, thanks for reading this, and please review.
This story as a whole is dedicated to my bestest friend, Elisa, and this particular chapter to Xx Tohru xXx Seraphina xX
Also thatnks to my wonderful beta, RoMaNTiCiLLuSioNS
Disclaimer (for whole story): Characters JKR's, rather pathertic attempt at matching her writing and ideas mine - got it?
Harry sat on his bed at the Weasleys', not thinking, not doing anything. He was afraid that if a thought crossed his mind, it would be of Sirius. The young boy of nearly 16 did not want to share the memories of his godfather with anyone. He didn't even wish to allow himself to remember; for fear that the aching pain within him would increase.
Thankfully, he was alone, for once.
Dear Hermione had sensed that he had needed to be on his own and had tactfully asked Ron, ever so sweetly, to show her how to fly. After a few minutes Ginny had caught on and gone to watch, claiming that she did not want to miss "this joke." Ron, being the thickheaded, emotional-range-of-a-teaspoon prat that he is, bluntly asked Harry why he was not coming. Ginny and Hermione allowed themselves the small indulgence of sharply slapping the redheaded counterpart of the Golden Trio.
So now he was in this current predicament, alone.
A thump and a shriek that sounded like Mrs. Weasley downstairs alerted Harry to the fact that someone had just fallen through the fireplace. Another crash and Harry could hear Nymphadora Tonks assuring Mrs. Weasley that no, she was not hurt and no, she had not broken any Weasley family heirlooms. Soft footsteps were on the stairs, then on the landing, pausing only when they reached the door of Harry's new room, Percy's old one. The person on the side of the door knocked and waited for a reply. None came. Harry held his breath and hoped that the intruder would give up and go away – no such luck. The door handle turned and Remus poked his graying head around the door.
As Harry's empty emerald eyes met Remus' broken ones, the tears started to fall. Thick and steady they came, turning up in their millions. So many were there, as this was the first time that the powerful young wizard had cried since Sirius' death, that Harry didn't see the werewolf Marauder cross the room and opened his arms (in true Molly Weasley fashion) in a hope to comfort the hurt and broken boy, as a father would a son. Harry buried his head into Remus' neck, just like a young child would do, relishing in the fact that, for once, Harry had a father figure to be comforted by when he was lonely and in need of a parent– before, Sirius had been on the run, and Vernon, well, he was a joke. Clutching at Remus, Harry thought about how the only embraces Harry could remember from a kind-of dad, were from Sirius, and the memories of those rare comforts were fading, and altogether too few. This thought caused a fresh blanket of tears to fall.
As he pulled away, Remus thought about how now was not the best time to tell Harry his news, but knew that now was the only time. Harry needed to make a choice. The boy in question pulled a tissue from the bedside table and mopped up his tears. He rose from the comfortable chair and walked around the small room. Remus could see Harry beginning to close down and decided to speak for the first time since entering the room.
"Harry, I know you've just lost Sirius – I have too, but . . ."
"Please, Remus, just don't talk about it." Harry interrupted. His voice was unstable and almost distant. His emerald green eyes shone with the remnants of tears and were hard and demanding. When the former DADA professor elicited a grieving sigh, Harry spun on his heel and faced away from Remus.
"Harry, look at me," the sandy-haired, graying man requested softly.
"No!" came the strangulated reply. When Harry remained facing away from Remus defiantly, the aforementioned Marauder laid a gentle hand on the emotional teenager's shoulder and spun him around. He took hold of Harry's chin and forced his face upwards. Bending down, Remus tried to make eye contact with the young wizard, although Harry was trying desperately to look anywhere other than at Remus.
"Harry, look at me," the request had now become a forceful demand, which Harry found harder to ignore than Voldemort's Imperio. He reluctantly raised his eyes and saw only concern in those of Remus'. He plonked himself back onto the hard wooden chair, and almost felt ashamed when Remus lowered himself onto his own chair in a calmer and dignified manner. Frustrated, the boy-who-lived waved a hand luxuriously in the air, motioning to Remus to continue.
Remus took a deep a shuddering breath, that same shudder being the only thing other than the slight shake in his voice to betray how affected he really was. He opened his mouth and began.
"Dumbledore has just finished a potion and a spell he was working on for Sirius. Sirius was planning to legally adopt you, not only because he wanted you to have a family for real, but because the spell and potion would have transferred Lily's protection from Petunia to him. You would never have had to return to the Dursleys' again."
"What?! I never have to return . . ." Remus smiled slightly at the awe in Lily and James's son's voice. However, the smile soon fell off as he remembered that Sirius was dead, so they couldn't partake in the adoption. Once more, hating to be the messenger, but knowing that he had to, for Harry's sake, for his dead friends' sake, Remus spoke the last of his news.
"There are only three days left for this potion to be able to work, and it can't be made again.. You see, Sirius was the one who perfected it, and, well, he didn't write down the process, so we have no idea of what is in the potion."
"You're joking," the blunt statement acted like a knife through Remus' heart. "My one chance at happiness and Sirius ruins it. Twice! First, he dies. Like that wasn't bloody hard enough, and then we find that he hasn't written the bloody ingredients down. Bloody, bloody hell!"
Remus was quite obviously shocked at the outburst, and even more so when Harry leapt from his seat. However, he was not quick enough to hide from the werewolf with the way that his eyes were shining with tears. He spun around and aimed a violent kick at the dresser, creating a scuffmark from his shoes. The bookish man decided to voice his last statement. He was dreading Harry's reaction to this more than anything he had said so far. Better get it over with, Remus thought.
"I am the only real Marauder left, and I love you like a son. Harry, will you please allow me to take the potion and legally adopt you? Harry, would you like to live with me as my son?"
Question: Did Voldie-Mouldie-Shorts go to school at the same time as McGonagall and James Potters parents etc.
