HEDWIG, THE WOLF, THE CAT AND ME, HARRY

By Tansy1354

Disclaimer: I unfortunately don't own the characters they are entirely the work of J.K. Rowling.

Summary: While Remus is grieving the death of Sirius, he is surprised when Harry asks for his help. Luckily for both of them, Sirius has also provided unexpected help to those he cared about the most. Will it be enough to bring his godson and best friend through their grief?

Special note. Margaret River is a wine producing area in Western Australia which has some estates such as this; however the Pretty Creek Estate and the Wood Family are entirely my own creation. Oh and of course the unflappable Pixie is also mine.

Chapter 2. Wolf, Wine and Pixie

Remus' instinct told him that he should be prepared to leave at any time, so while Harry was sleeping, albeit not peacefully, he took the opportunity to collect Harry's things, except for his clothes. He packed them in Harry's trunk before shrinking it and putting it in one of his pockets. He then did the same with the food basket, before finally securing his new charge's glasses and wand and also placing them in one of his pockets for safety.

His instinct was proved right as shortly afterwards there was a burst of flame and Dumbledore's magnificent phoenix appeared. "Fawkes, will you wait a couple of minutes." Lupin asked before taking the sealed message.

He turned to Harry and pulled him up out of the bed with the blanket around him, "Harry wake up, we have to leave now." He stood up with the half asleep youth leaning against him.

"Fawkes, can you drop us off next to the Shrieking Shack?" The bird spread out his magnificent tail feathers then Remus placed one arm around Harry's waist and, making sure that the boy was holding the feathers, Remus also grasped the beautiful feathers with his other hand. In a burst of flame they left Privet Drive behind them.

In an instant they were outside of Hogsmead where Fawkes left them. Knowing he had to hurry, Remus quickly pulled out the portkey and placed his and Harry's hand on it before uttering quietly, "Marauder Haven".

Once more the two disappeared, this time they arrived outside a small single storied building made of stone and wood surrounded by the unmistakable dark silhouette of tall pine trees, somewhere nearby was the sound of water gurgling. The werewolf had to admit he was curious as to where they were but it was still dark so Remus placed the key in the lock and opened the simple wooden door.

Inside the walls were made of stained pinewood panels and the room was furnished in a style that was homey and matched the forest location.

The hall contained a hat stand and an ornate screen that had carvings of various forest dwelling animals and flowers. Behind the screen were hooks and shelves to store coats and so forth. The strange thing about this was the hooks were shaped like boomerangs and the animals and flowers were Australian.

On the left side of the door was a single step, which led down to an open living room. This contained two large stuffed chairs in a gold and red hued tapestry design, which were sitting facing each other in front of a large open fireplace. Over each chair was a golden coloured knitted throw rug.

Remus gently pushed the once more unconscious Harry down into one of the chairs by the fire and covered him with one of the throw rugs before making for the fireplace and starting a fire. He was just looking around the room and noticing the many bookshelves and paintings against the walls, when a very small house elf with a very large smile appeared in front of Harry. It was obviously a she, for it was wearing a large green knitted tea cosy sporting two spout holes which had yellow flowers embroidered around the bottom. The ensemble was finished with green knitted socks with yellow toes.

She jumped up and down excitedly as she addressed Harry, "Hi, young Mr. Potter and Mr. Potter's friend, I'm Pixie, can I get you anything? Would you like a bath, some food or just to be shown to your rooms?" She finished hopefully.

It was Remus who addressed the happy little being. "Hello Pixie, I'm Remus Lupin and the young Mr. Potter is Harry. For now we have had a long day and would like to rest, could you show us to our rooms. Oh, do you think you can rustle up some tea and biscuits for us to have before we retire to our beds?"

"No worries Mr. Remus, mate, just follow me." She replied happily.

"Thank you, Pixie." Remus couldn't help but grin as he gathered up Harry in the blanket and followed the little creature as she made her way down the hall.

She didn't go very far before stopping in front of a door with a small wooden plaque which contained a wooden carving of a stag with the letter 'J' below it. As the little creature knocked on the door, it automatically opened for her.

"Sir, is something wrong with young Mr. Harry? He's not looking too good?" She observed as she moved in ahead of them. Indeed Remus looked down and noticed that Pixie was right, Harry was sweating and clammy and pale and had begun to moan.

Inside the room Pixie clapped her hands once and as if in answer to her summons the room was illuminated by warm gentle light. She bustled over to the bed and turned the covers down before starting a fire in the small wood surround fireplace.

Once that was done, she disappeared with a pop and returned almost immediately with a tray containing a bowl, a pitcher of steaming water, a cloth and towel, which she placed on the simple bedside table.

Next she disappeared through a door on the opposite wall to the bed. When she returned she was carrying a pair of dark blue track pants with matching sweat shirt and handed them to Remus. "You will need to spell them to fit; Mr. Harry seems to be a bit on the short side."

He took the clothes from Pixie and made them a little smaller then added a warming charm as well. Quickly he undressed the boy and put on the new things before placing him in the bed and covering him up.

Harry opened his eyes and looked up just then, "Professor, I don't feel so good, my head is aching and I think I need a bucket." From out of nowhere one appeared just in time for him to use it.

While Remus concentrated on gently supporting Harry, he heard Pixie say behind him, "Ginger tea coming right up Mr. Harry, oh sorry, bad choice of words." With that there was another pop.

Grateful for the little elf's forethought in bringing the bowl, it didn't take long to clean Harry up and a quick cleaning spell took care of the sweatshirt and pants. Harry watched all of this too tired to react, until he was comfortably sitting up against the pillows in bed, being handed his glasses from the pocket of Lupin's robes

In a strained voice the boy now addressed his Professor, "Thank you for coming and helping me. You know when I was feeling particularly sick one night all I could think of was I wanted someone I could trust and who loved me to take care of me. After all other people had someone like that. The only one I knew of for sure who would have been there for me was Sirius."

He stopped and sighed heavily before continuing, "Then it suddenly occurred to me, the one person that Sirius would trust in the same situation was you. My relatives would have been happy to let me die up there and unfortunately I've learnt from past experience that no-one else would have done anything." He gulped trying to hold in his emotions.

Luckily for Harry and the surprised Lupin, that was precisely the time that the ever beaming Pixie popped into the room carrying a steaming mug of tea.

"Here you go Mr. Harry, mate; my special ginger tea with honey will soon settle that stomach of yours and warm you up as well. Be careful, it's best sipped slowly. Guaranteed to clear your sinuses and put hair on your chest, you'll soon be right as rain." She laughed brightly as she handed the mug to Harry before turning and picking up the tray from the bedside table.

"I'll be bringing your tea and biscuits now, Mr. Remus, mate. By the way there is a connecting bathroom through that door over there, and your room is on the other side." Then she was gone again.

It was only then that the two really looked at the room. The first surprise was the bed, for it was a king-size sleigh bed covered in a lavish gold and burgundy themed patchwork quilt. On the floor was a plain matching burgundy carpet. The wall opposite the bedroom door contained a large picture window which was currently covered in beautifully embossed gold curtains.

On the side of the bathroom door which was closest to the window was another door which at Harry's insistence, Lupin investigated and found was a walk in wardrobe. He pulled out Harry's trunk from his pocket and restored it to its normal size before storing it in the wardrobe. He also pulled out a pair of slippers and heavy dressing gown before finally closing the door.

Again he spelled them to fit Harry then placed them at the bottom of the bed. Meanwhile Harry had been sipping the tea and was starting to feel a little better although somewhat drowsy. Remus returned just in time to remove the mug from the youth's hand and his glasses from his nose before he covered him up.

Finally he allowed himself to sit down in a comfy chair, which was next to a small round table in the corner near the drapes and contemplate what he had done. Suddenly he remembered Dumbledore's note, which he fished out of this top pocket and opened.

Dear Remus

I have been advised by those at HQ that Harry has written and requested you visit. While I have no objections to the visit itself, I must insist as soon as you ascertain his circumstances you are to inform me.

DO NOT TAKE THE MATTER INTO YOUR OWN HANDS.

If he is not in any immediate danger, then you are not to get his hopes up of an early flight from his relatives as it is still the safest place for him.

Please send your report back with Fawkes.

Dumbledore.

Remus sighed because the demand only confirmed what Harry had hinted at earlier. Although he cheered up, as he pondered the wonderful irony of using Dumbledore's own messenger to make their escape.

The bubbly Pixie returned with a tray for him and set it upon the table. When he surveyed it however he found not only tea but toast, butter, jam, two plates of biscuits and a bowl of freshly sliced fruit. She took one of the plates of biscuits which contained crackers and placed it next to the bed.

"Come Pixie, won't you join me; I wish to find out where we are."

Nodding enthusiastically, the elf settled herself down without ceremony and proceeded to pour tea into one of the cups on the tray. "Well, Mr. Remus, you are in a place called Margaret River which is in Western Australia. The Potters bought the estate as an investment around three generations ago.

The Estate is called Pretty Creek after the creek that runs along the bottom of it. It produces Pretty Creek Wine, the vineyards are on the other side of the pine trees and I can assure you from personal experience it's a nice drop too. There are bottles stored in the cellar going from when this place began. Would you like to try some? Won't take a moment to get a bottle for you."

"No thank you Pixie, not right now. By the way please call me Remus; now tell me about this cottage, can it be seen by Muggles? He asked curiously.

"Oh no worries there, Mr. Remus, mate. The area on this side of the pine trees can only be accessed by a specially made Potter portkey or via a secret path from Pinenut Cottage which is on the edge of the pine forest on the same side as the estate.

You see according to the terms of the investment, there is always supposed to be a cottage on the estate to be used by the Porters, the name the investment is under, whenever they wanted. Hence Pinenut Cottage was built. The Estate is currently being run by the Wood Family who have been running it as a family concern since its first years.

The current Wood family members in residence are Sam and Susan Wood, their eldest sons Jared and Michael who help run the business, their two daughters, Casey who is seventeen and Kylie who is about to turn sixteen, their youngest is fifteen year old Nathan. You arrived at just the right time as it is school holidays so Mr. Harry will have some kids his own age around if he wants some company." She stopped to take a quick sip of tea.

Remus could have almost hugged her as this information would go a long way towards his godfather duties as specified by Sirius. He smiled sadly as he thought of the opportunity Sirius missed by hiding the key, he would have been in his element here. But he was determined that Harry was not going to be allowed to waste this opportunity.

"Pixie, are we the only wizards here in this area?" he asked cautiously.

"As far as I know you are, Mr. Remus." Pixie answered while draining her tea.

"I don't suppose you know where I can change some money to local currency? I need to go shopping for Mr. Harry and myself."

"No need to go anywhere, Mr. Remus, mate, there is a vault downstairs in the cellar that is opened by the same key that opens the front door. I was told by Mr. James when he came that it was a safety precaution in place at all the Porter properties. He actually spent some of his time travelling to each property and making sure there was more than sufficient local currency in each vault and that all was running smoothly at each property." She answered.

"Mr. Harry looks so like Mr. James that I thought at first it was him coming back for a visit." She said a little disappointedly.

"That would be because Harry is his son." Remus replied quietly.

"So he did go off and marry that wonderful Miss Lily, well good for him!" The elf squeaked with joy. "She was so nice she made this for me cause she knows that it does get a little cold here in winter. In fact she made me another set one in purple just like the grapes and that has green leaves around the bottom." She proudly pointed at the tea cosy and socks as she spoke.

"It is strange you know of Lily but not me." Remus said thoughtfully.

"But of course I know who you are, you and Mr. Sirius and Mr. Peter. He spoke a lot of the Marauders and Hogwarts. It must be such an interesting place the way he spoke of it." She replied enthusiastically

"I don't suppose you have any wizard pictures of Mr. James around here do you? It would mean a lot to Harry and me to see them." Remus asked hopefully.

"My word there is, there is one in the den of Miss Lily and Mr. James on their graduation day from Hogwarts or there is one of Mr. James with his parents. Just tell me which and I'll be back here with it in a jiffy."

"Could you hang the one of James and Lily in my room for the moment please Pixie, I don't think Harry is any condition to take any surprises just yet. So it will be just our little secret, alright." Barely containing his emotion at the thought of seeing the two again.

"Alright Mr. Remus, mate, I'll just go and move it for you now." With that she disappeared, leaving a quietly weeping werewolf behind her.