Alternate arrangements

Friday could not come quickly enough; he did not know three days could last so long. It had been horrible, he never knew he loved him the way he did and relied on his simple presence so much until he was gone. Yes he already knew how much he liked hearing the carefree sounds of childish laughter as he ran about after the house elves; indeed it was not a sound he thought he'd ever hear. He did not particularly like the school children, he taught them and protected them, and guided them like his job demanded, but he couldn't say he actually liked... many of them anyway... a few of them were... blast it, that was why he was a teacher god damn it!

He never thought he'd have one of his own, adopted or no, there was not a woman alive who would let him crawl on top... now was not the time muse over that, his thoughts trailed off. Children were not his forte, not young ones, in fact he did not even like the ones who were not at O.W.L stage, and sometimes and N.E.W.T level ones were worse. Then again, he'd been looking after those emerald eyes marvellously so far and he could honestly say he'd been a pleasant breath of fresh air, no trouble at all, he laughed, but how fate played with him. Not only had he gone an adopted a child, figuratively and for all intents and purposes if not in the legal and paperwork way, but he had gone and adopted Harry bloody Potter.

Yes, and fate just continued to play with him. He sent him a child, a child who he was meant to hate and a child who he, probably inevitably ended up loving. Then so soon after he fell in love the horror he'd been through was revealed to him and just as his protective urges were thrown into overdrive because of this, he was forced to give him away. He knew how much he liked the company for his potions and he was not sure he could survive without him after all. He should have given Harry to someone who he could find, but if he could find them a death eater could probably do the same. But that was the reason he had given him to Remus because he knew the man just disappeared easily and was never heard of again until he wished it.

He wanted to be able to see him to stop him from going crazy but could hardly visit him the same day. Although they had made a point to be cordial to one another Remus was sure to quip something inwardly even if not out loud even if he had just come to warn him that Dumbledore was actively hunting Harry. Of course there was nothing certify they were still even at the Leaky Cauldron, Remus could have worked fast. He had the tendency to do that, he was a wolf after all, and after spending so long alone he was an alpha, the thing about alphas is that they knew what was best for you before you did, yes, he would have disappeared by now. Severus tried to convince himself this was a good thing.

He was half an hour early to the Leaky Cauldron and he had no idea why. He was never early, he was never late either, he had the habit of turning up just on time. He reminded himself that he had no right to be angry, not yet, but he was, he was aggravated because he wanted to see Harry now and warn the two of them and make sure he was being looked after correctly, and he wasn't here. He ordered some food to be brought up to the room they had agreed to have their meetings in and watched the clock. Ten to the hour came and passed, five to the hour came and passed, Remus appeared the second it turned seven.

Damn that man, he had just started to think of barbs to throw at him as well. Severus could see the marauder inside Remus wanted to quip something about him being early, but instead he just smiled and gestured for Harry untangle himself from around his neck. They had apparated and Harry liked it as much as any child would and had wrapped his arms and legs around Remus, who held him on his hip, and buried his head into his neck. At least he had not thrown up, that was not something he could say for even several adults he could mention who apparated.

"Why didn't you floo?" He snapped before the calming influence could get to him too much, "you could have splinched, do I need to reinforce the 'if you return him to me damaged rule again?" They both knew Remus was far too skilled to splinch either of them.

"You know that wouldn't have happened," he said softly. "I apparated us here because the place I am staying is obviously not on the floo network and not anywhere near it." Damn him and his reasonable explanations. Severus chose to huff and turn away to swear at himself for behaving immature again before schooling his expression.

Harry was sitting on Remus' lap, snuggled into his chest, looking perfectly happy there while Severus spoke. "We need to find a different place to meet."

Remus looked slightly startled, "already?"

"Dumbledore knows he is not at the Dursleys, he checked, and his suspicions went to me, thankfully he was already with you by that point, but he is out looking for him, he thinks Harry ran away from home and will probably enlist the help of every witch and wizard he knows, which is practically everybody he trusts not to blab to the ministry or the dark side. If you will he is getting too close to you, move, if you need money, I'll provide it, if you need my influence to get Dumbledore off your tail, I'll do what I can, I just don't think I can fully trust him yet. He broke my loyalty when he told me to place Harry back with those muggles, admitting his mistake once won't cut it for me."

Now came the difficult bit, "I think it is best you have Harry this weekend, just in case Dumbledore pays me a number of visits." He had been looking forward to his weekends, but when it came to Harry there was nothing more important than saving him. If he had to never see the boy again then so be it, Remus was a more than capable guardian. "Don't expect this to happen every weekend," he was the only one who needed a comment tinted with his usual snarkiness to combat the apparent nice tone of his previous announcement.

Remus just nodded, not in the least bit unfazed by his tone, for a former enemy Remus knew him far too well, it was a little worrying, "I understand," he nodded with his ever present smile, Merlin this man was worse than Dumbledore with his incessant calm smiling. "Would you make me some Polyjuice potion? Harry would like to get out of the house and visit the wizarding world, I'll get some hair from some random muggle boy a number of counties away, Dumbledore might be able to see through it if he is with his boy for a prolonged amount of time, but other than that it should be ok, people may be keeping an eye out for him but polyjuice potion will make a day out a lot less stressful. Keeping up glamours for any length of time on someone with unlocked magic is rather power draining."

It was Severus' turn to nod, that was a good idea, it would help them both keep safe and Harry happy, he would also be able to go out into the world with hardly any stress, it was a very good idea. Of course it was, it was Remus, the star of the year in many ways, it was almost a shame he had lycanthropy it prevented him from the top jobs he was capable of getting. Of course he could be an auror, in fact he might be, it was not as if he kept tabs on the mutt. But then again Aurors were steadily becoming unneeded with no wizard or witch quite having the courage or power to take steps to become the next self claimed Dark Lord.

He was quite capable of being a minister, even with his calm demeanour he could be a good leader, he was always the mastermind behind the marauders and the most tolerable. His calm demeanour managed to calm him, a man who loathed him and originally the boy in his charge, but Remus somehow made him docile. He had grown to trust him, not like him, but he could feel he could be reasonable to him if locked in the same room. When had he become Remus instead of Lupin or mangy mutt anyway? Remus knew a lot about the ministry, in fact given the right chance and no prejudice he would bow to him, it was quite a big shame really.

Snape could not help but follow his every movement, Harry growing sleepy and burying his head into the chest of Remus Lupin to settle down for a sleep, Remus wrapping an arm around the boy so he would not fall off and make him comfortable. It was not that he wanted to take part in anything so paternal, but Remus was well aware that was watching the little interaction. Remus was an alpha male and he was commandeering the responsibility for his cub... no, child... no, ward, yes that's it. He did not like the idea of being overruled in anyway, Remus had no right to grow possessive, he'd only had Harry for three days, he did not car if he loved him as much or even more, he didn't care if he knew the boy's parents, he didn't care if he knew Harry as an infant.

Remus acted as if none of this was even happening. "How about the alleyway where Diagon Alley meets Knockturn? It is dark, usually empty, and remote."

"Too close to Diagon Alley, nowhere in Hogsmeade will do either."

"How about the Shrieking Shack."

Severus opened his mouth to tell him how stupid and preposterous suggestion it was but it was perfect, not everyone even knew of its existence and certainly not how to get into it, nobody would search there. "That is satisfactory."

"Thank you," Remus said. Satisfactory from Severus was the equivalent of someone else saying the idea was excellent.

"It wasn't a compliment."

"Yes it was."

Harry had now completely dozed off against Remus, "so, what did you do in the three days you were together?"

"Read together, he is very advanced despite the setbacks, he has learnt well under your tutelage, but he writes about everything he reads. He likes to brew potions, unfortunately he had to make do with flying on broomstick, and no, not alone of course before you blow up in my face Severus, as a hobby instead, I don't think he minded too much. We did not go out, too noticeable, both of us are, but we played chess and had fun. But Severus, has he always been apprehensive about sleeping in a bed? It's just in the morning I found him huddled in the corner, fast asleep."

"He feels threatened," Severus answered, so Remus had found that out the very first night, it took him three bloody weeks. Remus was right, he was not all that good with this parenting thing, blast it, how did a werewolf manage to beat him when it came to caring? It was because he did not care at first, the truth could hurt. He was blinded by hatred, hatred for a child no less and did not keep an eye on him. Well at least he could tell Remus what he knew, while he would otherwise have feigned ignorance to make him find out the answers himself, Harry's welfare was his top priority. "His uncle scares him, he prefers to be enclosed."

"Well I stayed with him the following nights; he will grow out of it eventually I'm sure." Harry wriggled in his seat and emitted a low keening sound. Remus immediately reacted and started to stroke Harry's dark hair; he removed his glasses and put them in his front pocket. "Poor mite," he said quietly, "scared to death of anyone who looks even slightly familiar to his aunt and uncle, I showed him some pictures with his mum and dad in see." He continued the stroking as if Harry was some pet he'd taken a liking to. He hoisted the child up in his arms amazingly not waking him and stood up, stretching his stiff legs, they always cramped if he was still for too long.

"I will see you Friday, Remus."

The man smiled, "yes, Severus." He looked nervous, "I really am sorry you know," he swallowed, looking slightly pained, "am I forgiven yet?"

He bit back the spat answer of no, but was not sure about the truth of that statement. Since taking custody of Harry a lot of his perspectives on things were changing. Remus had been a huge help, there was no one else who would take good enough care of him in his opinion and it was not like there had been any fear of Remus saying no, but it had still been a relief. Harry changed a lot of things, manipulated the world without even realizing it. "I forgive you." Severus was sure judging by the beam on the werewolf's face that had Remus not been holding Harry at that moment he would have hugged him.

On that note he apparated and Severus was left alone in the Leaky Cauldron. A house elf brought some food up to him after a little while, he didn't order it, Remus must have made the order just before or after he left. He sighed, why not? He had adopted Harry Potter, tortured a muggle child and its idiotic parents and gone against Dumbledore; he may as well have a marauder looking out for him. He decided to stay there the night, his house just seemed so empty now. Now it would be another seven days before he saw him again, perhaps he could see the Dursleys to amuse himself. He felt an evil smile crawl over his face, yes, that seemed like a very good idea.