A/N: Hey everyone! I Hope y'all like this chapter! Please review and tell me what you think! Thank you for all the story alerts and favorites, but I'd also like to know what you think, even if it's just a "This sucks!" or an "update!" XD Special thanks to MoonlightSecret7 for her lovely review! (: I hope you like this chapter!

And without further ado, here's chapter 14!

Chapter 14

"Harry James Potter, you get back here!" Ginny Potter yelled, chasing after her husband. Laughing uproariously, Harry dodged her grasping hands and nearly barreled into Hermione.

"What's he done now?" Hermione asked the flaming red head.

"He's got–" Ginny widened her eyes meaningfully.

"You mean-? From the…"

"Yes!" Ginny said anxiously, glancing around for Harry. Spotting him behind the couch, she grinned in relief. He hadn't snuck off yet.

"Does he know what's in the bag?" Hermione whispered.

"Not as far as I know."

"You know, we really should tell the boys soon anyway. We can't leave them out of this. Besides, they might have some good ideas."

"Yeah, you're right." Ginny nodded. "Harry, come out from behind there! We need to talk to you. Where's Ron?" she mumbled to herself.

Harry popped up from behind the couch and did a flip, landing on his back. Righting himself so that he was sitting comfortably on the upholstery, he grinned charmingly at his wife and sister-in-law.

"I think he's with Remus. Want me to get him?"

"What about Remus? We can't just take Ron and leave him by himself. He might think something was wrong." Hermione pondered.

"I've got an idea. Leave it all to me." Harry replied. When he was out of the room, the two women glanced at each other. What convoluted ideas did the Boy-Who-Lived have up his sleeve now?

**…*..**…*..**…*...**…*..

Harry found Ron and Remus in Ron's room, rolling around on the floor with Neva. The boy was giggling happily, and his cheeks were bright red with happy exertion. Smiling, he stood in the doorway for a moment, just watching. His heart warmed at the sight; ever since he had seen that memory of Remus' childhood, he'd wondered and worried about him. Seeing Remus so happy now just confirmed his thoughts that in time, everything would be all right.

"Hey Harry!" Ron smiled, waving at him from his place on the floor.

"What mischief are you two causing now?" Harry grinned, kneeling down to their level and tickling Neva's exposed stomach gently. The dog squirmed happily, and Remus smiled.

"Oh, you know the usual; enchanted pillows flying around and children being mercilessly tickled—" With that, the red head pounced once again, long fingers poking and prodding gently at the boy's small stomach. Remus giggled breathlessly, fruitlessly trying to push Ron's hands away. His eyes widened when he saw what Harry hadn't. Apparently, Ron wasn't joking about pillows being enchanted. Harry realized this a moment later when one of said pillows walloped him on the back of the head. Glancing at the pair on the floor, he spotted Remus watching him as he fought Ron's tentative playfulness. Harry knew, just as well as Ron did, that at any sign of pain or fear he would stop instantly. Harry put his finger to his lips in the universal sign of silence and snuck stealthily behind his best friend. He grabbed Ron around the middle and his fingers immediately poked exactly where he knew would make him squirm the most.

"Ha-ha-haaaryy! You git, get off me!" Ron kicked and howled with laughter.

"Not until you get your arse into the living room! The girls need to talk to you." Harry replied calmly.

Remus tentatively stuck a finger out and prodded Ron in the ribs. When he saw Harry's encouraging grin, He joined in with the torment of Ron, along with a couple of enchanted pillows.

**…*..**…*..**…*..**…*..**...*..

Once the three of them were calmed down, Harry turned to Remus and asked, "Remy, how would you like to take Neva out on her first walk?"

Amber eyes lit up in delight. "Can I? Really?"

"I don't see why not," Harry said with a smile. TO prove that there really was no problem with it, he conjured a collar and leash. Carefully, he inscribed 'Neva' on a dog tag, and their address on another, just in case the dog ever ran away. He sincerely doubted this would happen however. It seemed that she was attached to Remus like glue. He slipped the collar over her head, and clipped the leash onto it.

"Harry," Ron said, glancing at him. "Are you sure it's safe?" he asked quietly, not wanting to scare the child but needing to confirm it. All four of them had very quickly grown attached to the small boy and he knew that if anything happened to him, they would all be heartbroken, especially the girls.

"More than safe." Harry nodded firmly. They both knew that it was much more secure in this time period than it was where they had come from, but it was better to be safe than sorry. He also knew that there were non-magical threats out there which could very easily harm the fragile boy. "I made sure to put wards up over this house and the yard against anything that wished the occupants harm." He looked reassuringly at his partner in crime. "Don't worry, Ron. Nothing will hurt this precious boy if we can help it. Never again."

Ron nodded solemnly.

"Remus, let's go see what the back yard is like." Harry said.

Remus, who was in a bit of shock after Harry's last comment, nodded and picked up one end of Neva's leash. Harry caught Ron's eye and mouthed, 'Living room! Go'. The red head nodded before getting up and leaving the room.

"Alrighty, Remy. Here you go," Harry said, handing the brown-haired lad a blue coat. "It's nearly spring, but there's still a chill in the air. We don't want you catching a cold," he said, kneeling down and zipping it up once it was on the small frame.

"Thank you," Remus said shyly, gingerly taking Harry's hand as they walked to the back door. He had never had anyone care about his health before. All this was a fairly new concept for him; he was still trying to get used to people caring for or about him.

"Any time, Kiddo." The man replied, squeezing the hand in his ever so slightly.

As they stepped out into the brisk evening air, Remus gazed around in wonder. He could see some woods a little way from the edge of the property. Trees swayed in the wind, and small critters rustled around in the bushes. He could imagine what it would be like when spring was fully here; there would be so many bright colors and birds everywhere…

He was brought out of these wonderful visions as Harry placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Remus? Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine." Remus smiled up at one of the people who had given him so much in such a short time.

"I need to go back inside to talk to the adults for a moment, but I'll be right out again to see that you're ok. Walk with Neva for a bit and let her do her business-" he smiled when Remus giggled. "-but Remus, you have to promise me that you'll stay in the yard, ok? We haven't gone in the woods yet to see if they're safe for you to play in." For the first time, Remus found Harry's gaze upon him stern.

"Yes, Sir. I promise." He replied quietly, looking down.

"Hey—" Harry placed a finger under his chin and lifted Remus' head gently. "There's no need to call me sir. We just want to make sure that you'll be safe." He carefully wrapped the small body into his arms and gave it a squeeze. "Now go take your dog for a walk; she's looking pretty desperate."

They both laughed and Remus ran off with his new friend in toe.

Harry sent out a spell that would alert him if anyone left the warded area and went inside. He left the door open, just in case. Remus saw this from across the yard and felt a little safer, knowing that he could escape inside at any sign of danger.

**…*..**…*..**…*..**…*..**…*..**…*..

"So what's this plan of yours, love?" Harry asked his wife, coming and planting a kiss on her lips before flopping onto the couch beside her.

"Wait – where's Remus?" Hermione questioned him.

"Don't worry, 'Mione. He's out in the back yard with Neva."

"Harry, are you sure that's safe?" Ginny asked, concerned.

"He'll be fine, Gin. There are wards up, and I've warned him to stay in the yard and out of the woods. There's also a tracking spell on Neva and his coat."

Placated, Hermione and Ginny began to explain their plans for the young boy…

-Outside-

A small hand gripped a leash as a gust of wind tousled brown hair. Remus Lupin watched his dog, Neva, chase after a stick that he had just thrown. If you had told him 3 days ago that he would be happy, warm and well-fed, Remus would have told you that it wasn't ever possible. Such things were only for children who were normal; the children who didn't turn into a monster every month and rip at their own skin in agony and loneliness. But now, he was more content than he could ever remember being. It was only his first full day with Harry, Ron and Hermione, and he was quickly realizing that not all people were cruel and unfair. The mistrust that he'd had for them just that morning was slowly but surely beginning to lessen. He also thought that maybe, just maybe, the loneliness in his heart would dissipate too. Only time would tell.

**…*..**…*..**…*..**…*..**…*..**…*..

That night, Remus received his first ever bed time story –courtesy of Hermione- and four good night kisses on the forehead. A warmth that he had never experienced before spread through him. He knew that he was still a freak and that they would realize this soon and wouldn't want him anymore. But he was so wrapped up in the new sensation of happiness that he dropped into a deep sleep, where thoughts of cruel words and hard blows couldn't penetrate.