Disclaimer- I do not own Harry Potter.... sigh

A/N- I hope you like this story. I started to right it inbetween writing 2 other stories. So I hope you like it.

Remus/Harry SLASH! folks. if you dont dig that sort of thing.. dont read. Reviews please!

Misery Loves Company

Chapter 1-Say Hello to your New DADA Professor

The train lurched and began to move. Children and young adults hung out the windows waving goodbye to parents who they wouldn't see until Christmas. Yells of joy and laughter rang through the compartments. Freedom from the rules of no under aged magic were gone. Uniforms taken out of their trunks, wands at the ready, badges being pinned to the new prefects. The seventh years were bustling and raving about what this last year would bring. Girls already chatting about the graduation dance. Who they would take. What they would wear. A pot was already being formed as to who Harry Potter would take.

This was the first summer Harry didn't want to go back. He had had the best summer of his life. He sat in the compartment with Ron and Hermione, staring out the window. His two best friends had gotten together in the middle of their sixth year. He felt like a third wheel. Ron had his arm around her shoulders and they were chatting about the things they had done together over the summer. Something in Harry stirred. Was it jealousy? Yes, yes it was. He wanted so badly to have someone to lean against and have mindless conversations with. Even an intelligent conversation would be awesome. Last summer floated into his head again. It was the best. He didn't have to go back to the Dursley's.

He had shown enough distress over his summer after his fifth year and half of his six to arise alarm. Mentally he was completely disturbed. He had locked himself up in his mind, not letting anybody in. Nightmares ran rampant. Sirius falling through the veil. Volemort's red eyes laughing. Harry had his worst nightmare at 12 Grimmauld Place.

It was Christmas break of sixth year. He dreamt he could see Sirius beyond the veil. Reach out for him calling for help. His body rotting away right in front of Harry's eyes. The next thing he knew, there were strong arms around him, willing him to wake. He opened his eyes to see Remus Lupin above him looking down on him with worried eyes.

"You're alright Harry. I'm here," Remus said in a whisper, running a hand down Harry's fluffed up hair.

"Yes you are… Oh, Remus… I can't do it anymore.." Harry said, gripping the werewolf's night shirt. He let it out. He cried. He cried for the first time. Remus cried with him. Later on he would find out that it was the first time Remus cried over Sirius too.

That's when it started. The rest of the break Harry and Remus started spending more and more time with each other. They understood what they were going through. Harry felt he could tell Remus anything. Ron and Hermione were always there for him, but they treated him like he was made of glass. They would never truly understand how Harry felt. Sure, they missed Sirius, but they were never close to him the way Harry was, or how Remus was for that matter. Before Harry knew it he was getting better. He was smiling and laughing….. for real. Dumbledore thought it would be best for Harry to continue to spend time with Remus. They seemed to be what the other needed to recover from their loss. It eventually led to the old man allowing Harry to spend the summer in Remus' care. The summer was everything he ever wanted. He'd sleep until noon and lounge around in his underwear after he felt the need to get out of bed. Remus always somehow knew when Harry was going to be getting up and always had warm food waiting for him. They would stay up late and Remus would share stories of his Marauders days. Harry came to learn that Remus had a bigger part in the group then he thought. Remus was more or less the brains of the outfit. Sirius and James would come up with the ideas and Remus would figure out the mathematical aspects or the needed potions to carry out the attack.

By the end of the summer, Harry had become closer to Remus then he was to Ron and Hermione. Remus had to drag Harry kicking and screaming to platform 9 2/3.

"No! Remus.. Don't make me gooooo… pleeeaaseee. I wanna stay home and bake cookies with you!"

"We bake cookies once and all of the sudden it's the only thing you want to do!"

"Please let me stay. I don't want to leave you. I neeeeeeed you!"

Remus pulled Harry into a hug. The truth was he needed Harry too.

"Don't worry, cub, I'll be there when you need me. Say hello to your new DADA professor," Remus said with a stunning smile.

Harry continued to look out the window thinking about the past summer until Ron threw a chocolate frog box at his head.

"Huh? What?"

"Harry, are you listening?"

"Honestly, no."

Hermione chuckled. "Well, I'll see you two later. I have to go to the head students meeting."

"Ugh.. I'm so sorry Hermione."

"Why, Ron?" Harry asked.

"Malfoy is head boy."

"Oh , goodness.. Whatever shall she do? Big bad wittle Dwakie Malfoy… the shock the horror," Harry teased as Hermione left the compartment trying to contain her laughter.

"Not funny Har," Ron said, as he glared.

"Yes it is. She can handle herself. So anyway, how was your summer. I didn't see much of you."

"Yeah I know. It was good though. I went with Hermione and her family to France. It's nice there. What about you?"

"I sat around in my boxers all summer eating cookies and watching the telly with Remus. It was the best summer ever."

"I envy you, mate. Hermione dragged me to a new museum everyday. I tell you, you can only see so many Monets until they all start to look the same."

Harry shook his head and chuckled. At least being with Hermione hadn't changed his convictions.

Harry plopped himself next to Ron in the great hall, and scanned the head table to get a look at the new DADA teacher. Ron was fidgeting with his collar when childishly Harry jumped up and ran to the front of the hall. Ron leaned over to Hermione looking confused.

"What got into him?"

"Holy cricket! Remus!"

"What? Holy Shit!"

Ron and Hermione saw one Remus Lupin sitting in the DADA professor's chair smiling broadly. By the looks of things, Harry had jumped over the head table and was now sat in the professor's lap shaking him by the shoulders.

"Why didn't you tell me!?"

"I did!"

"No you didn't!:

"Yes I did.. When I said 'say hello to your new DADA professor' I meant me."

"Well I didn't know that. You know I don't get it half the time when you're all cryptic."

Ron and Hermione stood back and watched the two ramble on. The young lady of the pair had a huge smile on her face. The red head just looked plain confused.

"Um.. Love? Don't you think it's odd that Harry is in Professor Lupin's lap?"

"If it was anybody else but Harry, yes I would. But it's Harry so I don't."

"What makes Harry so special?"

"Remus has taken the reigns of being Harry's father figure. Harry, never having that before, has in a way, regressed to a younger age when it comes to being a 'son'."

"Oh.. Okay. Whatever you say."

Harry walked with Ron and Hermione back to the tower. He was going to visit Remus later on that evening, but was giving him time to settle in. Hermione loved the way Harry was bounding around like a kid in a candy store. He was the complete opposite then what he was like a year ago. A year ago, you could barely get three words out of the boy. Now he wouldn't stop talking. They made themselves comfortable in front of the fire as Harry told them the stories of his dad and Sirius that Remus had told him over the summer. James and Sirius still held the reigning record of most detentions. Believe it or not, Remus was up there on the list too. The Weasley twins didn't even have them beat.

"No wonder why they loved those guys so much. Made them looked like princes," Ron said with a look of disbelief.

Harry also told them of how it took him three weeks to find out what Remus' middle name was. He had to chase the man around the house and tackle him to the floor to get the upper hand in the battle. But what did it was a threat of tickle torture. Werewolves mist be ticklish creatures because it only took Harry two pokes in the ribs to get him to confess.

"So what is it?"

"I think it's John."

"Ron, Honestly, do you really thing that Remus would try to withhold the information if it was John?"

"Well, I don't know."

"No, it's not John, it's Jamie."

"Oh that is just soo cute. He looks like a Jamie."

"See that's why he doesn't like it. Everybody thinks it's just so cute. He doesn't want to be cute. He hated being known as the cute one. And don't tell him you heard this from me. He'll have my hide if he finds out. But, anyway, I have to go. Don't want to be late. Cheers." Harry got up, waved bye to Neville, who was sat in a chair reading, and walked out the door.

On his way to Remus' rooms he took a short cut that passed by the main hallway that led to the dungeons. On a normal day he wouldn't have taken this route, but he feared being late. When he thought that he was in the clear he saw a group of Slytherins making their way towards him. Great. He was the only Gryffindor in Slytherin territory. Fantastic. He got the usual sneers and insults, but all in all it wasn't that bad. Malfoy nodded to him- they had called a truce when Draco decided he didn't want to follow a half breed- and Pansy scoffed. Crabbe and Goyle didn't know what was going on and just kept on walking. Blaise was the only one who talked to him.

"Evening Harry, "

"Umm… Hullo… Blaise."

"How was your summer?" He had a caring smile on his face, like he actually want to know.

"It was good. Yours?"

"It was alright. Nothing too eventful happened, thank god. But, hey, I have to catch up with them. I don't know the password yet. So I'll talk to you tomorrow then?"

"Yeah, okay."

"Cool, cheers then," Blaise said, as he patted Harry's shoulder before he walked away.

'Weird.'

"Oh hey Harry."

"Hi Remi. Sorry I'm late," Harry said as he walked into the living room and plopped down on the sofa. Remus had tea ready and waiting, so he began to make himself a cup.

"You're not late at all. I just got the tea ready in fact. Sandwiches are on the way," Remus said, patting Harry on the head before he sat down next to him. Before he could make himself comfortable the food appeared. Harry picked one up and began talking.

"So the weirdest thing happened to me on the way over here," Harry said with a mouth full of turkey and bread.

"Oh yeah, what's that?"

"Is there cheese on this? Sorry A.D.D. moment. Anyway, I was on my way here when I ran into a bunch of Slytherins. For the most part they ignored me, until it got to the end of the group, that is. Blaise Zabini stopped and started to chat. Really nice like too. Smiling and he even touched me. Weird huh?"

"Um, yeah weird." Remus felt odd. It sounded like the boy was interested in Harry, but why? Well that was obvious. Why shouldn't people be interested. By why Zabini. Remus had a bad feeling about it all. I'll jut keep an eye on the kid. One wrong move and he's done for. No one hurts my cub.

"What do you make of it?"

"Well, I don't really know. He may just be being friendly….. Or….um, I really don't know Harry. So, cub, how are the sandwiches?"

"Really good actually. Have a ham one. Deeeelish. The bread is nicely toasted too."

"Oh, goodness, remember what happened when we attempted toast," Remus said before biting into the sandwich. "Oh wow, this is good."

"Oh no, don't remind me. I thought Mrs. Weasley was going to kill us. We nearly burnt down the house. But I still say that toaster was faulty. It's not supposed to spew out flames."

"I agree… pancakes were a disaster too."

"Yeah I know. But remember, when it doubt, take out."

The two went on chatting for the next few hours until Remus noticed the time and shooed Harry out. He wasn't going to be the one to blame when Harry didn't show up for his first class. Before parting Harry hugged Remus tightly, nuzzling his face into the man's chest. Remus cherished the moments they had together. He loved being the one Harry turned too, and Harry loved turning to him.