CHAPTER FOUR
ANYTHING YOU RECOGNIZE FROM HARRY POTTER BELONGS TO JK ROWLING
"All right, Daniel, hop on this bed." Remus flicked his wand, conjuring a bed beside Teddy's and Sirius'. He watched as Daniel stumbled to the bed and looked helplessly at Remus. Remus walked forward and helped him sit on the bed. "I'm just going to scan you for any injuries." He waved his wand and waited as the health scan finished. He frowned slightly at the results. Daniel had two broken ribs, a twisted ankle, wrenched muscles, and several cuts, some fresh, on his back. He was also lacking nutrients in his body and his muscles were weak. He tsked sympathetically. "Can you lie down on your back?"
Daniel gasped when he tried. Remus bent down and felt his ribs. "Ow! You're hurting me!" Daniel wailed.
Remus stopped. "I'm sorry, Daniel. I did not mean to harm you." He stroked the boy's grimy hair. "You need to healed as quickly as possible." He tapped the twisted ankle and a cast wrapped itself around Daniel's ankle. He flicked his wand, making the cast waterproof. "I'm surprised you could even walk." Remus eased up the small boy's shirt and winced. The cuts would have to be washed out. Some looked as if they were infected. Remus wrapped bandages firmly around Daniel's hips and tapped it to make it waterproof. "There's nothing I can do about the broken ribs, I'm afraid. Time will be the true medicine for those." He frowned when Daniel winced as he gently tugged on of his arms. "Your muscles are all cramped. I'll give you some exercises once you've rested." He gazed into Daniel's brown eyes. "The cuts on some of your backs are infected. We need to clean it out." He picked up the six-year-old and carried him to the tub. He locked the door and started the water when he heard a whimpering sound.
"No! No bath!" Daniel was wailing.
Remus filled up the tub and put in bubbles. "Daniel, what's wrong?"
"You ... you're going to punish me. I didn't do anything!" Daniel wailed.
"Punish you?" Remus echoed, bewildered. "Daniel, I'm not going to punish you! I'm giving you a bath to keep you clean."
"You ... you're going to hurt me," Daniel sniffled.
"I won't." Remus stared at him intently. "I promise."
Slowly, Daniel came forward and allowed Remus to undress him. Remus picked him up and placed him gently in the tub. Daniel was shivering. "Is the water cold?" Remus asked quietly. Daniel shook his head. Remus transfigured a stone into a cup and gently poured water over Daniel's head, making sure none got in his eyes. He rubbed gently with soap and rinsed it out of his hair. Slowly, Daniel began to relax. "Feels good?" Remus murmured, massaging his tensed up muscles. Daniel nodded sleepily. Remus swallowed. Now was the hard part. He rubbed some soap onto his hand and held Daniel firmly. He began to gently rub over the cuts. Daniel jerked out of his drowsing, flinching.
"Ow!" he wailed.
"I'm sorry," Remus said softly. "But we need to get these cleaned."
"You ... you said you wouldn't hurt me," Daniel sobbed.
Remus flinched at that but continued. "It's okay," he said quietly. "We're almost finished." He poured water down his back. Then, hardening his heart against the soft cries, he rubbed some soothing cream onto his hand and gently rubbed them into the cuts. Daniel slowly relaxed again. "Does that help?" Remus asked quietly. Daniel nodded. Remus dried out Daniel and put him into some small clothes of Teddy. They fit him perfectly. Remus dried his hair for him and picked him up. Daniel buried his face in his shoulder, sniffling.
Remus placed Daniel in his bed and conjured blankets out of thin air. "Why don't you get some sleep?" he suggested. Daniel nodded. "Take this." Remus handed him a vial of Dreamless Sleep potion. Daniel swallowed the potion and fell back against his pillow, sleeping soundly. Smiling, Remus straightened up and walked out of the room.
THREE MONTHS LATER
Remus leaned against the wall, exhausted. Two days ago had been the full moon. He was in the busy Quidditch Shop with Teddy, Sirius, and Daniel. The three boys had grown fairly close and were always mischievous. Remus was worried they would turn out to be like the Marauders. Of course, Remus enjoyed pranks - but only harmless ones. He was anxious the three boys would go on arrogantly bullying students at school, like the Marauders had done. That was why he was so strict.
"Hey! Boys, none of that!"
Remus' eyes snapped open. He hurried toward the stern shout, knowing too well that it was his sons.
"Where's your parents?" the owner demanded.
"Here," Remus said wearily. "What trouble have they gotten into now?"
"They were doing stunts on the brooms!" The owner pointed at the small toy brooms that children rode on to test out their flying skills. "Nearly made me choke in shock! This one-" He gestured to Teddy "-was doing this sort of spiral. I thought he was going to break his neck! And I want you to know that we're not at any fault for accidents here."
"Yes. Yes, I know that. I'm sorry," Remus apologized. The owner left, nodding abruptly. Remus sighed. "Come on. Let's go to Uncle George's shop, shall we?"
"Dad, I want one!" Daniel pointed at a Nimbus 2001.
"No," Remus said firmly. "You're too young. When you're nine, I'll think about getting you one."
"No!" Daniel wailed. "I want one, I NEED one RIGHT NOW!"
Remus stared at him. Daniel had never acted like this before.
"I NEED TO HAVE ONE RIGHT NOW! RIGHT NOW! DAD, GET ME ONE THIS INSTANT!" Daniel shouted.
Remus gritted his teeth and turned to Sirius and Teddy, who were staring in shock. "Get to Uncle George's. No detours," he said. The two brothers hurried out.
"GET ME ONE!" Daniel yelled.
"Stop this tantrum this instant, Daniel Harry Lupin!" Remus said sternly.
"NO!" Daniel howled.
A few people glanced at him in disapproval as they walked past.
"I mean it, young man," Remus warned.
"GET ME ONE! I NEED IT!" Daniel shouted.
Patience snapping, Remus strode forward, picked him up and stormed out the shop. "I don't know what's gotten into you, young man, but you're to stop it right now," he growled. He headed toward the trees where a bench sat. Flicking his wand, he cast silencing charms and a notice-me-not spell. He sat down on the bench and placed the crying and wailing Daniel on his lap. "Now, we are going to sit here and I will wait until you calm down. You're lucky I didn't spank you there!"
Remus waited as Daniel's crying eased. He wiped the tears away with his thumbs and asked, "What happened there, Daniel?"
"I ... I threw a tantrum," Daniel whispered.
"That's right. You behaved like a spoiled three year old."
Daniel flinched. "I'm sorry," he whispered, now realizing how stupid he had been.
"Yes, I'm sure you will be," Remus agreed.
Confused, Daniel looked at him. When Remus flipped him over his lap, he began to squirm. Remus landed a blow on his bottom and he cried out. "Stay still." Remus swatted him nine more times and by the time he finished Daniel was sobbing. Remus drew him into a hug, murmuring comfortingly into his hair.
"I'm sorry," Daniel whispered.
"All forgiven," Remus replied.
"You all right there, Dan?" Teddy whispered as he handed Daniel a small lemon drop.
Daniel sniffled and popped it into his mouth, glancing uneasily at Remus. "He sure has a hard hand," he breathed, and Sirius and Teddy laughed.
END OF CHAPTER FOUR
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