Chapter 10:

Harry had sluggishly made his way back to his dorm. Putting away his quills and books he pulled out the one on defense Dumbledore had given him. The headmaster had heard of Harry wanting to learn defensive spells and had happily recommended some easy ones to start with.

He stacked some pillows and leaned a book against them so it would be believable he was disarming the book from it. Flipping open the defense book to the spell Expelliarmus he was told Harry practiced the wand movements without saying the spell. This wasn't very elegant, just a swish of the wand or a jab towards the person they wished to disarm. Feeling confidant about his spell form Harry started with the word.

"Expelliarmus!" he yelled pointing his wand at the book stacked against the pillows. The book wiggled a little and fell on it's cover. Harry sighed, oh well, it's okay for his first time. Righting the book he tried again.

"Expelliarmus!"

This time the book flew off the stack of pillows on to the edge of the bed. Harry knew he could do better. Righting the book once again Harry pointed his wand and screamed, "Expelliarmus!"

Harry's book flew onto the floor this time, but it still wasn't good enough. The diagram in the book showed the best wizards could make the object disarmed fly towards them and catch it. He threw the book back onto the pillows and tried again.

Several times Harry tried. Most the book just flew off the bed, the last it fell a foot away from his shoes. Harry smiled inwardly cheering. He was doing it!

Preparing to try one last time Harry was startled out of his concentration by a voice. He turned to see the portrait by the exit door speaking. This portrait he had never seen speak, or even move before.

"Mr. Potter. Headmaster Dumbledore will see you now," it said.

Harry nodded put away the book and headed back towards Dumbledore's office. "Whizzing Fizbees."

Entering the office Harry gasped. Sitting there with Dumbledore was a man he had never seen himself but had remembered through his dreams. "Moony."

The said man turned and smiled at Harry a bit astounded. Harry backed up and stuttered, "I mean Mr. Lupin, sorry."

"It's quite alright Harry. It was nice hearing that name in use again. Especially now that you can use the letter 'n'," chuckled Remus.

Harry looked at him confusedly and Remus realized what happened. "I'm sorry. The last time I saw you was around 10 or 11 years ago. Back then you called me Unc Mo'oey or Unc Wemus."

Harry smiled but then blanched at the word uncle. Remembering what he had heard from Dumbledore Remus paled as well. This first meeting was not going well. "But Remus or Moony are good now. You've grown up quite a lot."

"Thank you sir," Harry answered hesitantly walking forward.

"He definitely has Lily's manners," Remus told Dumbledore.

Dumbledore nodded. Seeing Harry was feeling a bit awkward the Headmaster asked a question himself. "How did the spells I recommended work for you?"

"I only got to practice the disarming spell sir," Harry replied not seeing where Dumbledore was going with this.

"Yes, then let's see it. Remus would you mind being a practice dummy?"

Lupin chuckled. "I'd love to see Harry show us what he learnt." Getting into a defensive stance with his wand out he nodded to Harry.

Harry pointed his wand and shouted, "Expelliarmus!"

Remus's wand flew out of his hand towards Harry. With the skills of the seeker the eleven year old caught it. Both older men looked at Harry whose grin could have split his face.

"That was the first time I did it that well," he told them.

"It's very good after just a hour or so of practice," Remus told him.

"A great job Harry. Now I must kick you both out of my office as I start staff interviews today. Why don't you go for a walk? The grounds are quite nice today and Mr. Lupin knows more about the castle than even the Weasley twins, quite possibly myself as well," Dumbledore said eyes twinkling.

Remus blanched for a second then smiled, "I don't know what you're talking about sir."

"The map," Harry said under his breath. Remus looked at him surprised as if he had heard the whisper.

"Do you mind going up to Gryffindor tower?" Remus asked as they walked out of Dumbledore's office. "I'd like to visit, it's been a long time."

"No," Harry said as they started walking to the dorm.

"So how did you know about the map? Did you find it?" Remus asked.

"You heard me?"

"I did."

"I had a dream about it," Harry told him. "You, my dad and the other guy were trying to put me to sleep. (Harry was sure not to say Sirius, the traitor's name.)"

"Ah yes, Lily was out for a few days. I forget what exactly for. James called us all in to help watch you," Remus told Harry.

"How did you guys make the map? Or discover all those passages? What happened to it? What were the marauders? " Harry asked.

"The Marauders were what we called ourselves," Remus told Harry. "We were a group of friends, two of which mostly wanted to cause mayhem. So we were the schools greatest pranksters. More than that we liked to explore; we wanted to know everything about the castle. We wanted to be the best at everything. Honestly, we were quite cocky and not at all good role models."

"I'm sure that's not true."

"Your mother would strongly disagree," Remus replied. "So we discovered several passageways and a lot of other interesting stuff in the castle. We used them to sneak out to Hogsmeade and to prank."

"But you kept getting caught," Harry finished.

"Yes, so in fourth or fifth year we started a map of Hogwarts. With help from the Homunculus charm it showed who was in the castle and where. There were a few things that we didn't think of but we couldn't fix the map after. It's still quite useful but we lost it to Filch."

Harry shuddered. "It sounds useful. Even with the-" he stopped not sure if Remus knew.

"Even with the cloak you can get caught? Harry, I've heard you caused a little trouble yourself, it's okay to tell me."

"I don't cause trouble, it finds me," Harry insisted stubbornly.

"It seems so from what Dumbledore told me," Remus chuckled.

"Would Mum and Dad have been mad?" Harry asked.

"Disappointed maybe, that you put your life in danger. Sad that you couldn't get help from adults, but no not mad. They would've been especially proud of your bravery," Remus told Harry as they reached the Fat Lady.

"Ah, Mr. Lupin," the Fat Lady sad with a sad chuckle, "Welcome back."

"Thank you, you look as beautiful as ever," he flattered winking at Harry.

"Come in, come in, see the tower!" She insisted.

Harry and Remus walked into the tower and took armchairs near the fire. Remus chuckled and told Harry, "The Fat Lady is very vain, Sirius and James figured that out and used it to their advantage. She never told anyone when we went out."

Harry noted that for later.

"Now Harry, tell me about yourself," Remus asked.

"There's not much to tell. I'm not as special as everyone thinks. The Boy Who Lived and all that."

"You're not special for being the Boy Who Lived, you're special because your you. Now I want to hear all about you," Remus assured him.

"There's not much. I like Quidditch and I'm on the team."

"One of James' biggest dreams for you. He was the chaser since his second year and Captain during our last two years of school. "

"I play seeker," Harry said. "We haven't lost a game yet."

"Your father would have been ecstatic, he always knew you would be a great player. He only managed to convince your mother when she saw you on a toy broom."

"Did my mother play Quidditch?"

"No, she liked to stay on the ground. What else do you enjoy?"

"Ron's been trying to teach me Wizard's chess but I'm not very good. I like Gobstones and other wizarding games though. Mostly I like being with Ron and Hermione, they're my best friends."

"I heard. Good friends are important to have," Remus said.

"They are," Harry agreed.

"Then I must apologize for not being a good friend to your father or you."

"Why?" Harry asked confused.

"For not trying harder to take you from the Dursleys. I asked if I could once but they told me no, even if your parents would have wanted it. I gave up then, thinking you would be better off without me. For that Harry I'm sorry," Remus's voice cracked with sincerity.

"Why wouldn't they let me go with you?" Harry asked. Staying with Remus would have been much better than staying at the Dursley's.

"I'm very poor Harry and no one will hire me, mainly for the same reason they wouldn't let me see you."

"What's that? I'm sure it's not a good reason."

"It is. You see Harry, I'm a werewolf."

"So it's not a good reason. You're only one on the full moon. It's only a problem for one day of the month. Nothing huge, so why wouldn't they let you take me!"

"Your just like your father. He used to call it my furry little problem, people were under the impression I owned a horrible bunny or cat. But not all wizards are like you and James. They think because some werewolves are evil we all are."

"But you're not!"

"I'm one of the few good ones Harry. It's hard to see past all the horrible stories and things people say about werewolves."

"It shouldn't be. "

"No it shouldn't. James, Peter and Sirius," Remus winced at the last name. "They saw past all of that. They cared that I was their friend and not a werewolf."

"So if you're a wolf and you're called Moony, why did the others have their names?"

"A story for another time. It's dinner I believe," Remus said.

"Already?"

"Yes."

"Will you be staying?"

"We shall see. If not I'll visit and you can owl me."

As they walked downstairs Harry and Remus talked more discussing a number of things. Mostly Harry smiled feeling like he had even a part of his family again. Remus, he felt the same. Having Harry there was like having Lily and James, or pieces of them. Harry wasn't either of them, but it was nice to have just a bit of his family again.