Author's note: I know Sirius was Harry's godfather but in this fic they both were. I would like to thank all my very very very kind reviewers especially X-Lily-Evans-X and morphox though really I LOVED them all. You are all very nice and you really encouraged me to write! By the way I have also written another of this sort of fic which is called Are you cross and in that one both Sirius and Remus rescue Harry. It won't follow the same sort of story line to this though so that they don't repeat each other. It is also a lot longer because I started it a while ago. If you do read it please let me know what you think. You can find it on my profile page. Enjoy the chapter!
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The next day was bright, sunny, Monday morning. Despite his restless night Remus was feeling oddly optimistic and whistled while he got ready. Breakfast was a quite affair, Arabella seemed to be in her own little world and Remus felt that it would be rude to bring her down to earth. The second he had finished his breakfast he hurried to the window, glancing at the grandfather clock as he passed it. It was 7.30.
Remus knew it was far too early to see his godson walking to school but he didn't want to chance missing him. He had waited for this moment for so long, he didn't want to mess it up. He had decided that he wouldn't say anything, he might scare Harry if he was too forward. He would bide his time, wait for the right moment.
His mind drifted to the day Harry had been born, that had been one of the happiest days of his life. The little tuft of black hair just poking out of the blanket that was cocooned around the small body. The emerald eyes peeping up from the folds of velvet (which James had insisted Harry had had to have, only the best for a son of his) and the tiny little fingernails, so tiny and yet so perfect. The little wrinkles in his new born face, Remus could picture it as if it had happened yesterday instead of several years ago.
Lily had been propped up on a bed watching him cradle her son. James had been smiling proudly and Sirius had been bouncing around begging for his turn just like a little child at Christmastime. Sirius, just the name of his ex-best friend made his heart hurt. They had been so close, and Sirius had betrayed them. Sirius had killed two of his friends and almost killed little Harry, innocent little Harry; The only thing Remus had left.
James and Lily had asked him and Sirius to be godfathers that day, he had been so proud. He had thought Sirius had been proud too but obviously it was just an act.
Remus wiped his sleeve furiously across his eyes. He would not cry! He had cried all the tears he was going to cry on that fateful night… Remus shook his head angrily to clear the horrible thoughts that were haunting his head. He would stop thinking about Sirius and that night, it was essential if he wanted to be able to pull this off. Harry must not be reminded of what he had lost. That would be too cruel for words.
Remus glanced at the time again, five past eight. Time seemed to be going so slowly. As if to taunt him for a little bit longer, to prolong that moment. Suddenly he heard voices and the scuffling of feet along the pavement. He pressed against the glass and strained to see the faces of the people going by.
There was a very fat boy with blonde hair, that wasn't Harry. A boy with straggly brown hair who held a remarkable resemblance to a rat, that wasn't Harry. The final boy had thick, curly ginger hair, that wasn't Harry either. Remus sighed and rested his head on the glass. Every time he thought he had found his godson it turned out to be the wrong person it felt as though he had lost him all over again.
He refused to give up though. He would never give up, even if he had to stand at this window for the rest of his life he would. Just for one little glimpse of his godson.
"Remus?" Arabella Figg called from somewhere behind him.
"Hmmm?" Remus replied absentmindedly.
"Any sightings?" She asked coming over to stand next to the young man.
Remus shook his head, not looking away from the window so that she could see how downcast he was. She seemed to sense it though as she rested a hand reassuringly on his shoulder.
"It won't be long" She promised "He normally comes around this time, though I have to admit some days I don't see him at all"
Remus looked at her sharply "how often?"
Arabella looked at him curiously "I'm not sure, maybe once a week though I don't always look out for him"
"Do you think he skips school?" Remus asked bluntly.
He began to wonder if his godson was very well behaved. He hoped he was because his eventual plan was to raise him himself, He would start to put that plan into action the second he was sure Harry trusted him. He had experience with children but he wasn't really sure how to deal with a naughty child.
"No" Arabella said firmly "He is a very well behaved child, I can't imagine him skipping school. He probably just walks a different way sometimes"
Remus nodded, he felt relieved although he still wasn't entirely convinced. Suddenly Arabella looked worried.
"Or maybe-" She started and then covered her mouth, shaking her head slightly "Oh I'm getting all carried away now"
"Or maybe what?" Remus turned to look at her though he still kept glancing outside just in case Harry did walk by.
"Oh just ignore me, it was nothing" Arabella began to walk backwards out of the room.
"Or maybe what?" Remus repeated.
"Well, I just thought maybe… Harry wasn't allowed to go to school sometimes?" Arabella sounded very uncomfortable.
"Why would they not let him go to school?" Remus said in confusion.
But Arabella had gone, she definitely didn't want to tell the boy's godfather her suspicions. He would march over to number four and kill the Dursleys. It was that simple, besides she could be wrong…though she doubted it.
Remus frowned at the, now empty, doorway. What had she meant by that? He glanced out the window. A small figure was dawdling down the road. Remus moved so close to the glass that he actually bumped his nose against it. It was Harry, he just knew it.
Suddenly the boy turned and looked straight at Remus, his emerald green eyes met his for a second. Remus smiled at him reassuringly. Harry tore his eyes away and began to run. Remus sighed and came away from the window. It wasn't a good start. But still he had seen him. He cheered up immediately, after all he had done the thing that he had always wanted to do.
He hurried into the kitchen and began to pull on his jacket and shoes.
"Are you going out?" Arabella asked curiously.
"I am going to get a present for Harry" Remus answered determinedly as he tried to shove his left shoe onto his right foot.
"What are you going to get him?"
Remus paused, he had been so excited about the idea that he had never considered what the actual present was going to be.
"Erm… I guess I will look around" he replied.
Arabella was looking purposely at his feet, he looked down and blushed as he saw that his shoes were on the wrong feet.
Five minutes later Remus was sitting on a bus, his shoes on the correct feet and his blood pressure sky high. He had never really bought a present for a child before at least not since he had been one himself and had got stuff for his friends. He had absolutely no idea what his godson would like.
The bus ride didn't take very long and Remus soon found himself in a muggle shopping centre. First if all he looked in the clothes shops and he found quite a few nice things which he was sure Harry would love but then he remembered (rather bitterly) that he had no idea what size his godson was. Guilt churned through his stomach, after all what kind of godfather doesn't even know what size his godson is? But what kind of godfather doesn't see his godson for six years?
He (slightly despondently) wandered into the sport shop next after all James had loved sport, even muggle ones. But he didn't know if Harry took after him or not and so it was no good getting him something that he might not like. Remus was getting more and more dejected as it became clearer to him just how little he knew his godson.
He sat on a bench for a while to try and think of something all children liked. Half an hour later the only thing Remus had come up with was sweets and sweets just didn't appeal to him. It just wasn't enough. How could Remus show how sorry he was for all the years he had missed of his godsons life with a bag of sweets?
He began to trail around the town melancholy, he was about to give up and go back to the bus stop when he saw it. A large department store with a rather colourful sign proclaiming 'Toymania'. He stared at it in awe for a moment, (this was just what he was looking for!),before hurrying in as though he was afraid it was going to vanish if he didn't get in quickly.
He scoured all of the shelves for the perfect present. He was on the final aisle when he saw it. It was a small stuffed stag, just like the one that was destroyed the night that James and Lily had been murdered. Harry had loved the toy when he was a baby, he probably wouldn't remember now but when Remus told him about it then it would show Harry that he really cared and had thought about the present.
He bought it quickly, before he could change his mind. He walked back through the town and down the street which led to the bus stop. He rounded the final corner just in time to see his bus pulling away from his kerb. He had missed it. That was just the way his life seemed to go and he kicked a nearby rock to vent his anger.
He studied the bus rota, the next bus wasn't coming for over three hours. There was no point standing at the bus stop. He might as well find somewhere to sit down. He looked around the street for cafes or anywhere else that he could just relax for a while but the only nearby sign was for a park. Deciding that it was better than nothing Remus followed the arrows and ended up in a rather shabby park. It had a few worn swings, a broken slide and a dirty sandpit. Thankfully it did have a few rusty old benches most of which were occupied. Remus didn't understand why so many people would want to come to such a run-down place but he sank down on the only vacant bench gratefully.
He found just sitting there boring and so he began to look around at all the other people in the park. Most of them were young women with babies though there was a few men smoking. In one corner of the park some teenagers were kicking a ball around, Remus liked studying other people and trying to guess what their lives were like. He was just deciding whether the goalie of the football game was really poor or whether it was in the fashion to wear trousers full of holes when a small figure caught his eye. The figure was tiny, Remus guessed he or she must be about five years old. The child also seemed to have something wrong with his legs as he was limping slightly. It didn't take Remus long to summarise that the child did not lead a happy life. His heart went out to the small figure, what sort of parent would let a child as young as this one seemed to be out by his self. The figure turned slightly and his eyes met Remus'. His eyes were green, bright green. Eyes that Remus would recognise anywhere. Lily's eyes.
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Guess what day it is today? Today is my birthday! So you could all give me a present and review pleeeeeeeease.
