Chapter 1

Disclaimer: I obviously don't own anything.

It was a peaceful looking abode Dumbledore had to admit as he swung open the gate and strode up to the doorway. He rang twice and after a pause it opened to reveal the expectant face of Remus Lupin, looking far healthier and better off than Dumbledore had ever remembered seeing him.

"Dumbledore," Lupin acknowledged and then ushered him inside. The sitting room was still and dark, as all the blinds were drawn and shadows were everywhere. "I suppose you've come to ask about Harry."

Dumbledore waited looking at his fingers. "I knew he was alive, based on the Hogwart's registry and I assumed that since he survived unharmed he must be in good hands. But this was not what I had intended for him."

"This house is fidelius charmed, as you may have noticed," Lupin replied, "in a decent neighbourhood. He's had a decent childhood, we have tried our best. But that's not the point. We know about the prophecy."

Dumbledore jerked upright to survey him and looked aghast. "And you have told him?"

Lupin inclined his head.

"He is just a child-"

"Better for him to be prepared than to die needlessly later. We have trained him the best we could, and tried to balance in a normal child's life."

"Who is we?" Dumbledore asked stoically, although a part of him already knew the answer.

"This time," Lupin said, "Sirius is secret keeper. We felt the need to make amends to James and Lily."

"Tell me everything that has happened since then."

And so Lupin began. He told Dumbledore what Sirius had told him before ten years ago. Upon hearing the news of Peter's betrayal, Sirius had arrived at breakneck speed to Godric's Hollow to rescue the infant Harry from among the ruins before anyone had time to react. Then he had sought him out and the revelations that he revealed had made him so confused, so miserable, so powerless, so furious but all doubt and anger was erased when Sirius showed him his memory and the fatal moment when James decided that Peter would be Secret Keeper. Together they lay low with Harry while the Wizarding world simultaneously rejoiced and condemned Black but they both knew that his chances of getting off were partial at best and so they focused their energy on hunting down Pettigrew. But when months passed without any news, they had decided to settle down intent on raising Harry and preparing him from the threat that they knew he one day would have to face.

"How did you come to know of the prophecy?" Dumbledore had so many questions. But he already knew why the pair of them had not confided in him at all. There would have been no question if a challenge over Harry had erupted, that Dumbledore would have won. He who had the entire country behind him. He kept his head bowed low for the moment, not showing his reaction, thinking…

"You don't need to know about that yet." Lupin smiled awkwardly. He pulled his wand from out his back pocket and withdrew the silvery strand of memory from his temple; which Dumbledore accepted into his small tube-like container.

"Examine it all you like. But think about it, if Sirius really wanted to harm the Potters could he have been here all these years and Harry still be alive? You'll find him in the other room."

Dumbledore stood quickly at that and moved rather boldly towards the door and exited back into the entrance hall. "In the study!" he heard Lupin call from behind him. He could not deny his slight but throbbing excitement at the prospect of seeing the boy whose fate had been uncertain all these long years. Surely the magical world would rejoice at his reappearance. There would also be plenty of scrutiny on him as to where he had been and plenty of excuses would have to be invented for that.

There was a childishly drawn sign on the wall that declared quite untidily STUDY and crayons that scrawled familiar pictures, flying broomsticks, wand/stick duels and flying sparks and stick figures and wizard hats. He smiled gently, knocked and turned the knob.

Inside Harry Potter was reading with his face bent low at the desk. He looked up expectantly and Dumbledore caught the lucid stare of his green eyes that left him feeling without any doubt, relieved.