Author: FantasyDreamer23
Disclaimer: Harry Potter Not mine. :(
Chapter 4
They arrived in front of a small cottage. From the few fairy tales Harry had heard during his lifetime…he thought this was definitely from one of them.
It was small, no doubt about it. It was made of brick and there were woods behind it. There was a small yet colorful garden out in front with a cobblestone walkway in a curvy pattern leading to the front door.
"It is small, but I hope you like it. There is a town about a mile or so up the road," Remus told Harry.
Harry just stared at the beautiful cottage. He couldn't believe this was where he was going to be living, for what he hoped would be a very long time.
"There is also a pond in the woods if you want me to take you there sometime…" Remus looked down at Harry and noticed that he was staring at the cottage. Remus grew a tad bit nervous. I mean come on, if Harry didn't like the small house, it would mean that he'd leave. Remus started to panic and asked in a shaky voice, "Harry…d-do you like it?"
Harry noticed Remus' stutter, and that pulled him out of his stupor.
"I love is Mr.…eh…sorry, Remus," Harry finally stated. With that, Remus' panic quickly turned to happiness. He smiled down at Harry.
"Well, I'm glad you like it Harry. You really have no idea how glad I am that you like it. It really means a…" He was cut off as Harry hugged him fiercely. Needless to say, Remus was shocked, but he quickly returned the embrace.
From all that Remus had said, Harry could tell that Remus really did want him to be happy. It seemed that he really did love him.
They broke apart a minute or so later and Remus led Harry inside. When they entered, there was a cozy looking dinning room on their left, which could seat six people or so. It had a large window looking out over the front garden. The kitchen was through a door in the far right corner of the dinning room. They went back to the front hall and turned left, next to the bathroom which was adjacent to the kitchen, Remus opened a door which led to a very comfortable library and office space. There were bookcases along the walls. There were two windows on the back wall looking out into the backyard and the woods. There was a window on the right wall looking into the woods. In the back right corner of the back wall, there was a door which led to the backyard. There was a desk in the front right (towards the front of the house) corner. In the middle of the room, there were three comfortable arm chairs and a sofa. Remus led Harry through a door near the desk, into the living room. It was carpeted and the room had a warm, welcoming feeling to it. There was a fireplace on their left with two armchairs on either side of it, and a sofa in front of the fireplace. They looked so comfortable that Harry just wanted to go over and lie down and never get up. Harry could definitely tell that Remus liked to read. Not just because of the library, but because there was a whole wall of bookcases, filled to the brim with books. Remus then led Harry out a door, which took them to the front hall again and then up the stairs. He turned to the right and pointed out his, Remus' room, which was down the hall and the last door on the left, the bathroom, which was just before Remus' room. Remus then showed Harry the guest bedroom, which was right next to the stairs. They turned and walked past the balcony which overlooked the library on the right side, and the front hall on the left. Remus turned to look down the hall to his left and pointed out the only door on the left and told Harry that that would be his study room, for when he goes to school. Remus turned to the first door next the balcony and opened the door to reveal a mini-library. After that, Remus turned to the door diagonal to the mini-library door. He opened the door to reveal, Harry's bedroom. He had worked hard on that room and he really hoped that Harry would like it.
Harry walked in and saw that there was a huge bed in the far right corner with a red canopy hanging over it. There was a golden bean-bag chair in the opposite corner with two wings on it. 'Wonder what that is,' thought Harry as he continued to scan the room. There were a few bookcases with tons of books. 'No surprises there,' Harry thought. There was also a desk with a chair, a few lamps, dresser and a nightstand. The floor was covered with a red carpet with gold tints every now and then. The walls were a gold-ish color that had some pictured hanging on them. Harry saw that the pictured were moving and was about to ask Remus about it when he said, "Don't worry, Cub. I'll explain that after dinner. Sooo…do you like your room?"
Harry stared at Remus for a moment before saying, "Are you kidding?" Remus looked a little sad and disappointed. "I don't like it…I love it!"
Remus' head shot up at Harry. "Really? You really like it?"
"Of course! It's really nice!"
Harry hugged Remus and said, "Thank you!"
Remus picked Harry up, while still hugging him, and said, "Don't thank me Harry. This is everything you should have had. This is everything you deserve. Honestly you deserve more after what you've been through."
Remus put Harry down and looked at him, then crouched down to look at him eye to eye.
"Harry I want you to know that you really do deserve this, not the way the Dursleys treated you. You deserve to be loved and cared for. If you ever feel that you aren't loved, don't hesitate to tell me. Ok?"
Harry nodded and smiled at Remus silently thanking him for everything he had done for him. This was definitely the best birthday ever.
"Now before we get dinner going…let's fix up those bruises, ok?"
"Ok…it won't hurt will it?"
"Harry another thing that I promised was that I was never going to hurt you…intentionally."
Harry looked away feeling a bit ashamed but looked back up and said, "Thanks Remus."
Together, they walked down the stairs where Remus pulled out some salve and started to cover the bruises on Harry's arms and cheek. He had asked Harry if there were any other cuts or bruises he should fix while Harry shook his head.
Once the cuts and bruises were all but memories, Remus told Harry that he could explore a bit if he wanted to, while he cooked. Harry took this opportunity and asked if he could go outside and look about. Remus told him it was fine as long as he didn't go in the woods and if he heard anyone coming toward the house, he wanted Harry to come straight back inside. "The last thing we need is for Death Eaters to get you."
"What are Death Eaters," Harry inquired.
"I'll tell you sometime later. I promise."
With that, Harry got up and left. He walked out into the backyard and saw the woods. The backyard was HUGE! There was so much space to run around in. There was also another small garden with a patio. He went back inside and started looking around the house. Remus told Harry that there was a basement and a secret room in the house. Harry was determined to find the room. He was looking around when Remus called Harry in. Harry thought he was in trouble for looking somewhere he shouldn't.
"Why do you look guilty Harry? You didn't do anything wrong you know."
Harry let out a sigh of relief as Remus told him that he was just calling him in for supper. They sat down and ate, chatting about this and that. Once they'd finished, Remus cleaned up and led Harry into the living room where he lit the fire magically. Harry just stared in amazement.
"Harry, there are a few things I should tell you."
Harry sat down on the sofa and Remus pulled him close as he told Harry all about the Wizarding World and… Harry's past.