4

Author's Note - Yo. Er, I don't really want to explain why I haven't been writing. Not now. I don't know, check my profile at some point in the coming weeks if you want the DL but other than that just know that I'm back, inconsistent, but back. Sorry for the wait especially with the original story but I figured I should at least honor my promise here because, honestly, who know's how long that's going to take (actually not long if I could find the time to sit down in do it. Like two hours tops. I wrote an 8 page essay recently in less time than that).

Anyway, let's begin again

Chapter four - for Molto Alesato

Challenge of sorts: charaters - Remus and Harry

Plot bunny - The day Remus found Harry

So this will, obviously, will be Remus' story from the Prologue with much more detail hopefully. Please enjoy Molto Alesato! This is for you!

Down the streets of Surrey a man wandered aimlessly. A breeze ruffled his already disheveled light brown hair and he paused momentarily to enjoy it before continuing on. It was an oddly chilly afternoon for late September, enough so that a jacket was required but used to the oddities of English weather, the man ignored it and just walked.

Remus Lupin sighed silently to himself on the empty street. It was quiet days like this when children when the leaves were turning colors and school age children were still in class that he missed his friends the most. It reminded him of happier times back at Hogwarts when after having just settled back into routine at school, that either James or Sirius would come up with some hair-brained idea that would no doubt get them their first detentions of the year. It was things like that, annoying at the time, that he missed.

He missed Padfoot's bark-like laughter, James' mischievous gleam, Peter's shy grin and Lily exasperation at the lot of them… it seemed like so long ago but in fact had only been a few years. A few years since he'd seen all of them together and happy and smiling and doting over a green eyed baby that James and Lily had graciously decided to share with them…

Remus sighed again. Maybe it was time to move on. He had no one left here in England for him now except little Harry who he couldn't be with because he didn't know where he was. The ministry in true British style, had withheld that information from him on what would, in most cases, be valid claims, but they didn't know that he would never hurt Harry, not in a million years. So with the little boy gone from his life as well as his friends, what was here for him now? Sure he had a few acquaintances, but no one close enough to want to spend much time with and maman had been getting worried about him… The woman was insisting upon the fact he come home where he could be amongst family and older friends that he grew up with well before Hogwarts. Personally he thought she was going to try and fix him up with Collette again but she denied it (1).

But Remus couldn't leave, not just yet. Though he was leaving no-one behind, the memories this place still held for him, both good and bad, were something he didn't think he could live without. Not now and maybe not ever. All he had now were those memories.

In his contemplative silence Remus continued his walk and wishing that things could have turned out different. That James and Lily and Peter could have lived, that Sirius could have stayed loyal, that Harry could have had a family. It was, obviously, too much to hope for and there was nothing to be done about it now but it was still nice to dream, to imagine a world where none of the terrible things that had happened that October night had happened and he wouldn't have lost his dearest friends.

So caught up as he was in the past, it took Remus several moments to notice a noise penetrating the air that effectively distracted him from the dark feelings lingering in his mind.

It was the cry of a childe, a little ways off and punctuated with deep gasps for breath. Remus frowned as he stopped and looked around. What if the poor thing was lost? He couldn't just stand by in do nothing. But he couldn't catch sight of where the crying was coming from nor tell the direction as the wind carried the noise around the empty street.

Feeling downhearted at not being able to help Remus was about to move along when he spotted, out of the corner of his eye, a figure turning the corner. Precariously curled blond hair sat atop a head that was connected to a long skinny neck and an equally thin body that was partially hidden by a knee length double breasted jacket. The woman oddly enough, Remus thought, looked familiar but it was what she was dragging along behind her that was really much more interesting.

A smaller figure, miniscule when portrayed against the tall woman's body, was stumbling along after her and it was here that the cries were originating from. Remus couldn't see the face of the small person as the hood of an overly large jacket was pulled up but it was obviously a child, a toddler from the size, and Remus felt instantly indignant on the poor thing's behalf. Who did that woman think she was? What was she doing? The kid had probably just learned how to walk so why was she tugging him like a cart so roughly down street?

"Come on," a high pitched voice carried over to him and it was the voice of the woman, sounding stressed and highly frustrated. "Walk along you little brat, you should be grateful I'm even taking you to the doctors at all. I should be home getting lunch ready for my Duddy but instead I'm stuck with you. Come," the woman hissed and Remus was shocked by the viciousness in her voice.

A whimper interrupted the gasping sobs of the child as small legs made an obvious effort to keep up with her longer strides. Remus felt a subtle rage fill him. The full moon had only just passed and so the effects on his temperament were still very much present and the audacity of this woman was making him and Moony very angry. He opened his mouth, fully prepared to yell down the otherwise empty street at her when an angry huff from the woman distracted him and she turned around, arm raised.

Several things happened in quick secession for Remus. As the woman's face twisted in anger he suddenly realized why she was so familiar. The blond hair and irate blue eyes, almond in shape, were a part of a long forgotten memory of the first and only time he had the displeasure of meeting Lily's sister, Petunia. That knowledge gave way to another thought just as quickly as the woman raised her hand to the child- the small child that now that he looked properly had wisps of black hair escaping the hood- he could almost certainly identify. It would make sense wouldn't it, to anyone who didn't know the horrid woman, for Lily's child to be sent to her sister?

A sharp crack echoed down the street and Remus stood stock still as the childe let out a equally loud wail that only lasted a moment and a hand clutched a surely stinging and tear stained cheek as his hood fell down. Remus took one look at the teary, vivid green eyes and pulled his wand. There was no hesitation in his actions, no thought, and not even a spell was uttered but the flash of light hit the woman in the back before she even knew what happened.

For several moments there was silence. Remus was frozen as his mind slowly caught up with his actions. The little boy across the street while still having tears rolling down his cheeks had been shocked quiet by sudden falling of his aunt. Wide eyes watched her fearfully and Remus noticed belatedly due to his enhanced hearing that breaths the child was taking were deep and rapid; he was hyperventilating.

Taking a claming breath of his own Remus pocketed his wand and made his way over to the child who had yet to notice him as he watched the slumped form of his tormentor. Remus paused when he reached the boy and knelt. "Harry?" he whispered hesitantly and the green eyes snapped to his, water logged and bright. The child's mouth moved shakily but no sound came out but a sob as the little once more dissolved in tears still breathing much to rapidly.

"Harry," Remus called again. "She's okay, Petunia's okay. You have to calm down cub."

A little black head shook wildly in denial and not knowing what else to do Remus gathered the child into his arms. Harry froze in surprise and looked up at Remus. "Calm down," the man soothed. "It'll be okay."

"D-d-didn't m-m-mean t-to," Harry whimpered out and Remus inwardly cringed.

"No, cub," he tried. "It's not your fault,"

"B-but sh-sh-she's- she's-"

"Shh," Remus muttered and rubbed small circles in a much to thin back. Green orbs looked at Remus and than back to the woman on the ground and only seemed to grow more distressed. "Come now, Harry. Come on cub, breath. You have to breath."

Harry seemed to listen as he tried to take a watery breath but in only ended in a hacking cough and more sobbing. "Shh-"

"Ugh…"

Remus' amber eyes settled on Petunia's body uneasily at the sound. Surly-?

"Uhung…"

Blue eyes blinked open and Remus could feel Harry shudder in his arms and his breath was becoming halting at his lack of ability to get air. It seemed Petunia waking up was upsetting him more than the idea that he had hurt her. Remus stood swiftly, child in arms and watched bewilderedly as the woman groaned again and looked up at him trying to orient herself.

Remus could tell the exact moment she saw him and the sub sequential realization of who he was. Her eyes widened in both open hostility and fear as she gasped out "You!"

Remus, of course, did the only thing he could do in such a situation. He apparated.

Remus breathed heavily at the now sleeping boy on his bed as his mind went wild with all that had just happened.

What had he done? What had he done?

He'd just kidnapped Harry Potter! In front of his aunt no less! Remus groaned as he sunk down on the bed next to the little boy. There was no way out of this one, he had royally fucked up. But… it was Harry. Harry the green eyed, laughing, happy and beautiful baby he'd loved for 15 months before the child was ripped harshly out of his life.

What could he have done? Left the precious boy there with Petunia of all people where his green eyes would grow dull, his laughter would turn into crying, his happiness would turn to sadness and his beautiful skin would be covered in bruises? Because that was what was happening, already the place where Petunia had slapped him was swelling and darkening and looking at the spot filled Remus with a nearly uncontrolled furry.

Remus sighed as he ran a shaky hand through Harry's hair not worried that the child would wake. Remus, after apparating, had had to give the poor child a sleeping draught as all the shock and… 'excitement' had caused him to nearly faint.

He would explain properly when the boy woke up. Well, as much as you could explain this sort of situation to a three year old. He would do it though and he would take care of Harry, no matter what. He had him now and he wasn't going to let him go.

A/N - I fear it's rather short but I hoped you liked it lovely and I'm so sorry for the wait and beg forgiveness.

This was totally kidnapping. Despite the prologue I didn't actually know Remus truly had it in him :)

(1) I don't think I've ever mentioned Collette in the original but a few months ago I was entertaining the idea of writing another side story to The Lupin Childe, a Christmas Break fic in which the Marauders spend the holiday at Remus' house. I thought it would be fun and Collette is, yet another, OC- a neighbor like Maxie's mom- who happens to have a crush on Remi.

love you all, hitori