Chapter Ten

It was snowing and Harry wasn't quite sure what to think of it. Sure, he had often been outside in the snow before. But usually it just meant that he would end up with his face covered in the cold stuff from Dudley and his gang either shoving it there or having had a hard lump thrown at it. Not to mention his lack of warm clothing—baggy, old, and airy—and without a hat and gloves too. All of his exposed skin was red within a matter of seconds and he had nothing to look forward to but tasteless broth from Aunt Petunia that only ever retained a pathetic amount of heat. Dudley; with his steaming cup of hot chocolate and winter play clothes that, to Harry's sole amusement for the day, made him waddle even more than usual. No, he decidedly wasn't too fond of the snow.

"Harry, give me your other foot."

The aforementioned boy blinked, having forgotten that Remus was currently crouched before him, shoving his heavy feet containing quite thick stockings into boots. Remus had asked if he wanted to play outside—play outside with him! Of course he had said yes—of course it wouldn't be like 'playing' with Dudley and his gang. But that did not exactly alleviate all of Harry's worries: how did one play in the snow? He remembered watching kids at school build snowmen, make snow angels, or build forts and throw snowballs (without intending to hurt one another). Remus would not want to do that—he was a grownup.

But—Remus smiled up at him, when both boots were securely fastened to his feet. "I have something for you."

Harry watched as a thick red scarf, with small owls knitted throughout, was fitted around his neck—as well as a matching hat placed atop his mop of hair. And Harry knew better than to ask why Remus bothered with giving him such gifts. Remus wanted him to be warm—like any other normal adult would. Besides, the small boy could feel the compassion rolling off of the man before him. He had only felt something similar with one of his teachers; though Remus' was not mixed with guilt. Not anymore.

Harry giggled when he saw Remus's scarf and hat—there were little wolves on his. Remus smiled brightly and muttered, "Hush you."

"Did you make these?" Harry managed to ask through his giggles.

"No," Remus said through a huge grin. "My grandmother did—when I was younger. But I didn't want to wear them."

Harry tilted his head curiously. "Why not?"

"She made them for me while I was at Hogwarts," Remus replied, his smile becoming wistful. "And I much preferred my Gryffindor scarf. I do recall the Christmas I got them. James made me wear it the whole day."

Whenever Remus spoke of his parents it not only made Harry wish he could have known them himself, but wish that he had friends like Remus. There was no one in his life with which he could share fun memories—would he have that once he got to Hogwarts? Or…would his fame get in the way? Harry was beginning to wonder if he thought too much, as Remus had told him as much.

"Are you ready, Harry?" Remus grabbed hold of his hand with a glint in his eye that he had never seen before, and tugged him out the door.

"Stop!" Harry managed through a fit of giggles as Remus continued his tickle assault. He flailed his arms about causing snow to fly in different directions, but Remus was unrelenting. Harry was unsure if he was ticklish or not and Remus had immediately sought to rectify this. As it turns out, Harry's sides were ridiculously so, and the small boy was starting to think that if Remus did not stop soon, he may explode from laughter.

"Oh no, you're not going anywhere," Remus said merrily as Harry attempted once more to break free, managing to flip himself onto his stomach, but not breaking the hold on his sides.

"No!" Harry continued to laugh furiously, his face hurting from smiling. "Remus," he begged, "please!"

"Oh all right," Remus said dramatically with a huff. "But you must decide on a name for your snowman here, Harry. Otherwise, his friends won't know what to call him."

The small boy raised a brow, still smiling. "I know snowmen aren't real. He won't really mind."

"Really?" Remus continued in an exaggerated manner, raising a brow as well. He pulled out his wand expertly—Harry almost hadn't seen it—and smiled broadly. "Anything can be real if you wish it to be, Harry."

"Animatum!"

Emeralds widened and a jaw dropped as the small boy noticed that his no-nosed, scarf-wearing, barely three foot tall, lopsided snowman had pulled off his hat and had given him a small bow and an almost imperceptive wink.

"Whoa…"

"Indeed," Remus chuckled, though watching the street for passersby. "Now what do you say, Harry? Can the poor snowman have his name?"

Harry tilted his head, mouth still open. Magic surely was amazing and Remus made it look so simple. "I'll be able to do that someday, won't I?"

A smile. "Yes, Harry. That and so much more…now, if you please," Remus gestured urgently towards the miniature snowman.

"Mmm," Harry bit his lip, looking at his now-still man of snow. "Er—how about Bramble Cold-Bottom?"

"Bramble…Cold-Bottom?"

The older man's brows furrowed before he gave into a bout of laughter. "Oh Harry," Remus chocked out, "you're going to fit in just fine in the Wizarding World!"

Bramble's smile, too, Harry noticed had become wider. "What?" he asked innocently.

Remus's happiness was tenfold as he reached over to pull Harry into a hug. Although Harry thoroughly enjoyed the contact, he was sure that he would probably always flinch a little at the onset, and he hoped that is was imperceptible to Remus. He hugged back slightly, settling his head beneath a chin—he was happy, too. "Your parents would be very proud of you, you know. You have your father's wit without having his...uh, bolstered self-esteem."

Harry wrinkled his nose and looked up. "Bolstered self-esteem?"

"Arrogance, rather," Remus continued smiling. "That isn't to say that your mother didn't have a temper. James was always relaxed, at ease, when he was around her…even if she cursed him six-ways-to-Sunday and back. They balanced each other out, somehow." His countenance turned thoughtful.

"What," Harry started, suddenly shy, "what were you like at school?"

Remus turned his gaze to meet the young boy's. "I was…quieter than James. I liked to study, although I wasn't exactly a bookworm—" Here, he snorted, "—it was hard to be when James and Sirius were your best mates. I didn't encourage their…antics, but I partook of them none-the-less." There was a significant pause before Remus hugged the small boy tighter and breathed in the winter air. "I was happy."

Harry still really wanted to ask about Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew, but felt how intensely conflicted Remus' emotions were on this point. Something bad had happened, something Remus thought he should not have to worry about. Concern for his reactions to past events was not something the boy was used to and frankly, although he would never tell Remus, he was sick of being left in the dark about his past. If he had known he was a wizard, and that he would one day be leaving the Dursleys to attend a magic school, might have made life with them easier—would have given him a light at the end of the tunnel.

"I wish I could live with you," Harry said instead, before he could stop himself. He instantly regretted it as he felt Remus's own sadness at the statement wash over him.

There was a soft sigh, and Harry began to turn his head downward before he felt a few fingers under his chin stop him. "I wish you could, too, Harry," Remus muttered softly. "But I will be here for you, I promise. Your Aunt and Uncle won't be bothering you anymore…but it's very important that you live with them."

Harry nodded. It was because of Voldemort that Harry had to remain with the Dursleys, not because Remus didn't want him. His parents had wanted him…Remus wanted him, and, being famous in the magical world, Harry got the feeling it would not have been hard to get adopted.

It had never been because no one wanted him.

-HP-

Later that evening after both Remus and Harry had changed into drier clothes and left Bramble Cold-Bottom a carrot to rectify his lack of nose, the pair was sitting on Mrs. Figg's sofa attempting to play a card game.

"People truly find this entertaining?" Remus asked skeptically, looking down at his hand.

Harry smiled shyly. "I really don't know. It's just a game I saw Dudley try to play once."

"Well," Remus started, "what do you say to some hot chocolate and a snack? Because Arabella was threatening to bake again."

Harry's eyes widened, thinking of her stale biscuits. "Can I help?"

"Exactly what I was thinking," Remus said, and without preamble, picked Harry up and started walking off to the kitchen. He set Harry down on the counter by the oven.

"So, Harry, do you like chocolate cake? My grandmother always had this secret recipe she liked to make me when I was your age."

Harry tilted his head. "But if it was secret, how do you know it?"

Remus's smiled turned sad. "She left them to me before she died. And before you apologize—" Here, Harry's mouth promptly closed, "—never be afraid to ask me questions. She died shortly after I graduated Hogwarts. She was always very supportive about my, uh, monthly problem." Remus squeezed Harry's hand briefly. "It's good to talk about those who you love, even when they're gone, Harry. Especially when they're gone."

Remus made the hot chocolate first and gave Harry the cake ingredients to mix together while he made them each a sandwich. Harry was doing rather well, since he often had to cook for the Dursleys, until he got to the flour. It opened with a 'poof' and ended up all over him.

"Oops."

But instead of an angry Aunt Petunia yelling at him to clean it up, Remus's face broke out into a wolfish grin and Harry immediately knew what to do. Before either of them could blink, there was a storm of flying food and soon both were covered from head to toe in it.

"Come here!" Remus exclaimed, chasing Harry around the kitchen table with a tomato.

"No!" Harry giggled, managing to hit Remus with some more flour. He accidently slipped on some on the floor a second later, landing with a small 'umpf'.

Remus was there a blink later, crouching and putting a hand on his arm. "Harry, are you all right?" Harry turned over, grinning brightly.

"Ooof!" Remus exclaimed, getting a face full of flour. "You little sneak!" He tackled the small boy back down to the floor, laughing. Remus pulled him into a hug and they sat on the floor in comfortable silence, covered in there would-be cake and sandwiches.

"Remus…" Harry started timidly after a few minutes.

"Yes, Harry?"

"Is this was it's like to have family?"

Remus squeezed his eyes together tightly. "Yes," he choked.

"I like it."

"As do I."

A/N: Like always, thanks for the feedback! I used www dot quizopolis dot com slash snowman-name dot php to make up Harry's snowman name. If anyone can tell me what combination of Harry Potter character's names I put together to get Bramble Cold-Bottom… I'll update in within a month! Seriously!