18th July 1986
Remus's POV
"Thank you so much for doing this." Lily wraps me in a hug and I smile.
"It's fine honestly."
"Let him go Lils. He needs to get going." I smile at James. "Good luck mate, you're going to need when it comes to facing those two." I chuckle.
Harry's POV
My Saturday starts off like every other day. I get woken up to my cousin running up and down on the stairs above me. I make a full English breakfast for the three other in the house and eat the leftovers. Then I collect my list chores for the day which consists of:
1) Make all beds using clean bedding
2) Wash dirty bedding
3) Clean dishes
4) Dust the whole house
5) Weed the garden
I start on the list and only stop to make lunch at precisely noon. After eating two slices of bread I start on my chores again. I soon feel tired, I am only five after all, but I have to do it. If I don't do it I get punished for being rude and disrespectful. Then the door knocks. I quickly shove the remaining bedding that fits, into the washing machine and sprint into my cupboard. My uncle's standing at the door waiting for me to be safely hidden. I shut the door completely and bring my legs into my chest, wrapping my arms around them. I'm not allowed to be seen when any unexpected visitors come over.
I hear the clicking of my uncle unlocking the locks and pray that the person will soon leave. The cupboard isn't nice, even in day time, because it never gets cleaned; I'm not allowed to clean it.
"I don't know what you mean sir," my uncle is trying to disguise the anger in is voice, but I'm very used to hearing it when he's angry so I can tell. "Oh, please stop lying. I know for a fact that there is a boy living here under the name of Harry Potter and he is your nephew. Would it really be that hard to let me in to see him?" The voice is male and he sounds irritated. Why is he asking for me?
"Who are you? The authorities? I haven't seen you at his school."
"No I'm not from the authorities or from his school. I'm a friend of his parents." My parents?
"You're… you're one of those f-freaks." My aunt's voice can just about be heard.
"If by freak you mean wizard, then yes Petunia." He chuckles. "Your sister told me all about you two. Now I would appreciate it if you would let me in and I could see Harry."
"NO! We made a deal when we took him on that he would have nothing to do with your lot…" my uncle spits out the last two words. "... What makes you think that just because you've shown up on our doorstep that we're going to change our minds?"
It goes quiet, but I guess that they're whispering.
After what feels like days, the door to the cupboard gets a knock. "Get out here you freak the door's unlocked." Slowly I open the door and walk out. I roll up the sleeves to my shirt that is two sizes too big and look up at my uncle. I don't know what to do, so I just stand there. He grabs the back of my shirt and pulls me into the living room. All of Dudley's toys have been tidied away and Dudley himself is nowhere to be seen. My aunt sits me on the sofa and stands in the doorway to the kitchen while my uncle disappears from sight.
When he returns he has a slender tallish man with him. He has brown hair with grey streaks and hazel eyes. He looks slightly pale and has a few scars here and there on his face. Is this the person who claims to know my parents? He gives me a gentle warm smile before frowning. Oh no! I've done something wrong without even moving. He gives my aunt and uncle angry looks. "Hello Harry." He moves in from the doorway and crouches in front of me so that we are the same level. I can see the scars up close now; he must have been in some serious fight because they look awful. What if the other guy ended up worse?
"My names Remus Lupin and I'm a friend of your parents." I simply nod. He looks at me like he's searching for something. "How are you Harry?" If he's a friend of my parents why hasn't he come sooner? "I'm good." I don't dare risk saying anything that could result in punishment for me. He looks like he doesn't believe me, but doesn't press it. I glance at my uncle unsure of to react. I've never been allowed visitors before so I don't what I'm allowed to do or say. I'm scared and nervous, but excited at the same time. Then Remus looks between me and my uncle before sighing. "Do you have to stand watch, it's not like I'm going to hurt my best friends child."
"It's not that we're worried about. We don't want any funny business going on."
"Funny business?"
"Yes the stuff that you freaks do." My uncles getting angrier. However, Remus just chuckles.
"You mean magic."
"I didn't think magic exists" it comes out before I realise. Instantly I put my hands over my mouth and look down, hoping that I was too quiet for anyone to hear. "What do you mean Harry? Of course magic exists. How could you think it doesn't when you yourself are wizard?" I look up at him. This man must be crazy, but then again my aunt and uncle aren't saying anything to deny it.
"M-magic is a fairy t-tale. It's not real." He looks shocked and angry. I take a deep breath once I realise that I've just spoken out of line. "I'm sorry sir."
"It's fine. I was just surprised that your aunt and uncle haven't told you. Honestly! Your parents were some of the best wizards there ever were. Amazingly talented people just ask anyone. Except your aunt and uncle of course…" he leans in closer "… but just between you and me I wouldn't trust anything they said." He chuckles and it takes me all my will power to not join in. "Listen to me Harry, you are a wizard, just like your parents were and just like I am." I choose not to say anything. He sighs and pulls out a stick from his sleeve. "Accio table clock." A clock that was on the side-table flies into his hand. I can't help but audibly gasp. Remus smiles. My uncle looks about ready to kill him.
"I SAID NO FUNNY BUSINESS!" I look down. Wait, this means that magic is real, but how can I be magic I'm nothing special or extraordinary. I see Remus roll his eyes. He stands up and sits next to me. "Now Harry, it's now clear that your uncle and aunt haven't told you a thing, so do you have any questions?" he doesn't sound annoyed at me. I'm not allowed to ask questions, so I just sit there not sure how to reply. "Harry you can ask me anything you want to, this must be a lot to take in."
Eventually I reply: "I d-don't mean to sound r-rude sir, but how can I be a w-wi-wizard?"
"Your parents were wizards Harry." I look around.
"It's true. Both your mother and father were freaks. Your mother could always do strange abnormal things, when she got her letter of acceptance into that freak school it just confirmed it." it's weird to hear my aunt talking about my parents; both my aunt and uncle refuse to talk about them.
"What your aunt really means by saying that your mother was a freak is that she was a witch and went to Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry the same as your father and I."
"What do you do there?"
"Well…" Remus get cut off
"I WILL NOT HAVE YOU CORRUPTING THE BOY WITH YOUR FREAKISH WAYS AS LONG AS HE'S UNDER OUR ROOF." My uncle half shouts half spits. Remus stands up. "CORRUPTING! If I was going to corrupt him I would let him think he was a muggle his entire life, which wouldn't work. Just you wait until he starts showing signs of accidental magic. You can't stop it any more than he can! But don't worry he'll be out of this place soon enough." He takes a deep breath before he looks at me and smiles. "Do you want to go out to get something to eat?" should I go with him? He seems trustworthy and he's offering me food. Maybe he'll tell me more about my parents. I nod my head without looking at my aunt and uncle. Remus gently puts his hand on my shoulder and I try to hide my flinch under his soft touch. He helps me up. "Come on then, I'm sure there's a muggle place somewhere around here." Then we leave. I leave. I leave without giving my aunt and uncle a second thought. I do what I want to do. I go with a strange man who's a wizard claiming to be a friend of my parents. I probably shouldn't. My uncle is probably going to punish me later, but I guess if I get to eat and have some fun then it's worthwhile… right?
After walking a couple of streets we find a café. It's just a simple one. I order a ham sandwich and a bottle of water; this man is offering to pay for me and I don't want to put him too out of pocket. I sit there and I eat my food while he watches me. He looks almost sad. "Thank you." I say once I've finished. "It's no problem Harry. Honestly, it looks like you haven't eaten much."
I shrug. "I don't really eat much, just whatever is available."
"Your uncle looks like he gets lots of food." He looks confused.
"Well yes."
"So why don't you?" I look down and shuffle in my seat. I don't know how to tell him this or even if I should tell him this for that matter. He sighs. "Would you like anything else? I saw you looking at the cakes and crisps."
"You don't have to spend any m-money on me." I really mean it. Yes I would like that stuff, but I don't want him to go out of his way to buy me things. "Harry, I want to. So how about ready salted crisps and a chocolate chip cookie."
"That w-would be nice." He smiles at me and leaves.
When he returns he has the crisps and cookie. I smile at him. "Thank you."
"Anytime." He looks like he really means it. I start eating. "So what do you like to play with?" I swallow my remaining food. "I don't really play sir."
"Please stop calling me sir, call me uncle moony." He chuckles at the look I give him; it is a strange name. "It's a long story." I nod my head. "Right well, I'm sure you have questions."
"Did you really know my p-par-parents?" I blurt out. He shifts in his seat.
"Yes. They were both very good friends of mine. I suppose you already know a bit about them but would you like to know a bit more, I could probably tell you stories that your aunt and uncle don't know of."
I shake my head. "They haven't told me anything about them." He mutters something under his breath. "Well the basics is that you look almost the same as your father apart from your eyes –they definitely are your mothers."
It continues from there we spend what feels like hours talking, mainly about my parents and what they were like. He tells me plenty of stories from when they were younger and all about their little gang – although he seems uncomfortable when he talks about the two named Sirius and Peter. He explains all about the different types of wizard and witches. A lot of the pure-bloods appear to have really unusual names, but I guess they seem normal to them. I'm a half-blood like Remus because my mum was a muggle born and my dad was a pureblood. I tried to ask him how they died but he didn't answer and changed the subject. He also sometimes speaks about them like they're still alive, but I don't push the matter because he's probably just really upset and still misses them; I know I wish I could at least meet them. I don't really have the right to say that I miss them because I don't remember anything about them.
"Look at the time, I should probably take you back ready for dinner." I shake my head. "What?"
"It won't be proper dinner, not like they get themselves I mean. I would much rather stay here talking to you." I finish the sentence without realising what I've just practically asked. "But it doesn't matter, I'm sure you're very busy."
"You have to have dinner. Come on." And he takes me to a restaurant. Eventually he has to take me home though. I get locked in the cupboard for the night. I wonder if Remus will come and visit again.
Lily POV
"James he's not back yet, what if something went wrong? What if he couldn't find Harry?" I haven't moved from the bed since Remus left to see Harry this afternoon. They tried to get me moving and doing stuff to distract me, but how can I do stuff when Remus went to see my baby boy. Anything could have happened, especially when my sister and her whale husband are involved. "Lily calm down, they probably just did a lot of catching up."
"Hey."
"Moony you couldn't have come at a better time, this one was about to start having a fit." He wraps his arm around my shoulder and shakes me a bit. "I was not!" Remus raises an eyebrow to show that he doesn't believe me. I fold my arms and pout. James just chuckles, so I elbow him. "OW!" I smirk. "Anyway, come on Remus tell me…"
"Us…" James cuts in, causing me to roll my eyes.
"What happened!"
Remus sits down on the end of the bed that James and I are sat on. "It's worse than I thought Lily. He knew nothing and I mean nothing about our world, about you about anything really. They… they call him a freak and he looks like they barely feed him. The clothes he was wearing were two big for him and look like hand-me-downs. It was just awful." I take a deep breath. Both James and Remus are looking at me like I'm a bomb about to explode. I can see the anger in James' eyes but it's trying to stay calm for my sake. I just keep taking deep breaths trying to calm myself – ending up in a body bind from attacking people won't do me or Harry any good. "I… I knew we should have gone to see him earlier." Then it happens and I can't stop it – I start crying. James takes me into his arms.
"It's ok. It's going to be ok. We're almost ready. You heard the healers, they said that we're almost ready. He won't be with them for much longer now."
"And I'll keep going to see him. I'll take him on days out, make sure he has enough food to eat. I can even take him shopping." I wipe my tears and smile at them both. They're right. I nod.
"We're almost ready."
"And as soon as we're ready, we'll get him. I promise." James always did find a way to keep hold of his promises, no matter what they were. My baby is going to be ok, I am going to get him and make sure that he's ok.
author note: wooo! sorry it took me a while but I've been on holiday. anyway so this is my longest chapter yet and I want 5/6 reviews minimum before I upload my next chapter. I hope you liked but please tell me your thoughts. thank you xxx
