Remus raised his hand and knocked lightly on his teens door. The man was more than surprised that Harry had not attempted to protest his sentence more that morning; it was a pleasant surprise but a shock nevertheless.

Harry called for Lupin to come in as he turned the door knob, pushing it open. Remus withheld the smile that wanted to fill his face as he realised the teen was sitting at his desk, completing his homework; perhaps the child really was sorry for the events of yesterday?

Forcing his features to turn neutral, despite wanting for everything to turn back to normal; Remus held up the newspaper in his hand and placed it down on the desk next to Harry.

Harry looked up at the man as he felt his stomach drop slightly as the newspaper slapped down next to him. Scanning the front headline quickly, the teen instantly felt worse.

"Oh."

"Oh indeed." Remus replied, leaning on the desk next to the child, crossing his arms over his middle. "Now can you understand why I was so upset with your actions yesterday, hmm?"

"Yeah." Harry replied looking slightly forlorn. His eyes scanned to the newspaper again as the moving photograph of Sirius Black, under the headline 'SPOTTED AT HOGSMEADE' continuously flashed in front of his eyes. "I promise I won't do anything like that again.'

"I know. However, I mean what I said yesterday, it is absolutely imperative that you keep yourself safe and follow the rules set out for you."

"Yeah, I promise I will."

Remus replied calmly, allowing the slight firmness that had entered his tone evaporate completely. "Then starting from now, yesterday is all water under the bridge."

Harry looked up at the man confused. "Water under the bridge?"

"It's a saying." Remus chuckled at the teen. "It means forgotten about; we will move on from it."

"Oh," Harry smiled slightly back as he picked up his quill, dipping it in the ink pot in front of his right hand.

"What are you working on?"

"Herbology, got an essay to hand in next week."

"What about that transfiguration essay you had? Did you get that finished?" Remus asked, folding his arms from his middle in the process.

'Not yet; I was gonna do that after lunch."

"Just a thought, but handing it in early to Professor McGonagall might help plead your case tomorrow?" Remus raised a humorous eyebrow.

Harry sighed and titled his head back. "I can't believe you won't get me out of that."

"It was your doing Harry; your head of house has every right to talk to you about breaking school rules. You left the grounds before it was even a Hogsmeade weekend. However, I would rather not keep going round in circles about all this." Remus stood.

"Do you need a drink or anything? I could grab you a snack?"

Harry rested his head in his left hand as he pulled his best puppy eyed face. "I could come and get a glass of water?"

"I'm sure you could walk to the kitchen and get a drink, however you are not allowed. I really did mean it when I said restriction Harry."

Harry sunk further down into his chair.

"Should I take that as a no for the drink and snack?" Remus replied, unable to keep a smirk off of his face at his teenagers sulking antics.

"Could I have pumpkin juice and some chocolate biscuits?" Came a mumbled reply.

"I'll be right back."

Harry listened to the man's footsteps walk out of the door before he sighed again and placed his head into both of his hands; elbows resting on the desk.

Remus was really serious about this restriction. Harry thought to himself.

The footsteps returned down the hall as the man re-entered the child's room, shaking his head at the boys new position.

He placed the glass of juice down on the desk, as he followed with the plate of three chocolate biscuits.

"Thanks, Harry replied quietly, lifting his head up from his hands, moving the plate towards him.

"Nipa retrieved your cloak and the map from the passage way last night, from now on they will stay in my office. You will need my permission to use that cloak of your Harry."

"But my cloak was the only thing I had left from my dad." Harry spoke with a trace of a whine, "you can't take it away!"

"I am not taking it; rather removing it from your bedroom to the office, where I can keep an eye on it. Come to me with a plausible reason to use it and I will give it to you. Otherwise, my office is out of bounds."

Harry scowled at the man.

"As for not having anything from James - it would appear that I have a solution for that." Remus smiled at the boy's change of facial expression as he reached into his pockets, pulling out what seemed to be a sharp fragment of metal.

"These -" the man passed one of the pair to Harry, "are two way mirrors. If you ever need to ask me something or need my help, just speak into the mirror and I will be able to answer you. A much easier way of contact, should you need it."

"Cool!" Harry replied as he shifted it around in his hands, "my Dad used these?"

"Yes, many times while we were at school. Mainly to contact his - friends," Remus paused slightly; the word feeling foreign on his tongue, "during detentions when they were in different classrooms."

Harry smiled warmly, seemingly fascinated to hold something other than his cloak that belonged to his father. "Do you have anything from my Mum?"

"I am not entirely sure. I had boxes of items placed in storage here at Hogwarts, I will have to ask Professor Dumbledore what happened to it all. Then perhaps we could look through them together."

"Sure." Harry replied, taking another bite out of his biscuit.

"One last thing," Lupin leant on the doorframe. "I had a meeting with Professor Dumbledore last night and he -"

"Dumbledore was here?" Harry interrupted.

"Yes, Professor Dumbledore was here, long after you were asleep; now let me finish please."

Harry muttered a soft "sorry."

"He informed me that all secret passageways out of the castle will be blocked up for the foreseeable future,"

Harry groaned.

"And -" Remus raised a numerous eyebrow at the child's noise, "the Minister for Magic would like to meet with yourself and I for a meeting later today."

"Today? Really…" Harry whined slightly.

"Believe me, I am just as enthralled by the idea. I think it is just to see how you are getting on."

"But I'm fine. You know that."

"I know, however the Ministry does not. As much as I would rather not go to the meeting; the Ministry are well within their rights to request a meeting of a new guardianship." Lupin stood up straight.

"I guess," Harry spoke softly with a sigh. He picked up his pumpkin juice, taking a few gulps, before wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

"I will leave you to your school work and I'll bring up your lunch when it is ready." Remus tapped the frame. Not missing the slight fall in his child's expression.

"I can't come down for lunch?"

"Harry; you know the answer to that. It's hardly different to eating lunch at your desk."

"Is so," Harry replied, turning his head away from the man.

"We shall agree to disagree." Remus replied. "If you behave well during the meeting, I will think about ending your prison sentence before dinner time."

"Okay." Harry mumbled.

Remus nodded, despite knowing the child could not see, whilst closing the bedroom door slowly.

The man walked down the short hallway and into the kitchen, taking a sigh of relief that his teen had, somewhat, reacted okay to the news of the meeting and his grounding.

He only hoped, Harry's mediocre attitude kept up during their meeting with Cornelius Fudge.

Harry glanced at his guardian. The man's features were a mix between concentration and sternness. For the first time in a few days however, such a negative facial expression was not aimed at himself.

Fudge was a short, plump sort of man who's brows were a constant state of furrowed. Something Harry quite disliked.

Dumbledore had excused himself promptly as himself and Remus entered around three quarters of an hour ago. Harry had rather hoped the headmaster would have stayed.

The awkwardness of greetings quickly turned the conversation to Harry's trip to Hogsmeade yesterday. How the ministry had found out about such an event neither Remus or Harry was sure.

Fudge had emphasised multiple times that Remus was not a fit guardian for Harry and that Harry's continuous risking of his own life was not being adequately controlled by his parent.

Remus would have quite liked to have told the man where to stuff his assumptions but knew he had to keep his cool for the sake of the teenager seated to his right. There was not a single doubt in the man's mind that he had inherited James' quick, and Lily's fiery, temper.

"I would have thought after Mr Potter's actions yesterday, he would have been on some kind of restriction?" The minister snarled questioningly.

"Harry is on restriction until this evening and has received consequences for his actions, however I was not aware that the ministry required knowledge of this?" Remus shot back, attempting to ignore the flushed expression that filled his teenagers face.

"Well, if Mr Potter continues to place his life under inherit danger, the Ministry will have no choice but to take him in as a ward of our own."

"That will not be -"

"I wouldn't go with the Ministry anyway." Harry interrupted Lupin before the man had a chance to finish.

Remus tapped the child's leg warningly.

"It will not be necessary for the ministry to take Harry in as he will not be placing himself at any risk from here on out. Yesterday was not a representation of Harry as a whole."

"Mr Potter, both this year and last, has shown that he will place his and his friends' lives in danger for the thrill of an adventure. The Philosopher's stone incident, the flying car, going down to the Chamber of Secrets; all events in the past two years that the child has caused havoc in the school."

"I'm not a child." Harry snapped back at the man. He hated that they were talking about him as though he wasn't there, "And my name is Harry, not Mr Potter."

"Harry." The first warning.

Harry felt the heat rise to his cheeks.

"And this right here is the very example of why the ministry will be starting the process of talking Mr Potter into our care."

"Minster," Remus took a deep breath to control his frustrations, both with Fudge and Harry, "Harry is very happy in my care. I have been able to provide him with stability, care and kept him in good health and spirits which is more than can be said for his life at Mr and Mrs Dursley."

Harry involuntarily shuddered at the mention of their names.

"Please allow this arrangement a chance to settle in and allow Harry the stability in the home that he deserves. Moving him from place to place will not resolve any issues we are currently faced with."

Fudge frowned deeper, thinking over the man's words. "I will arrange for a meeting to be held in one months time. Failure to see improvements and the process of transferring Harry's care will begin."

"I already told you, I won't go." Harry folded his arms over his middle.

Lupin glared harshly at the boy. "Thank you for your time Minister. Come on Harry -" the man stood and tapped the child's shoulder with purpose. "Let's go."

Harry stood up, not even giving the Minister a second glance, before following his guardian out of the office.

The pair walked through the empty corridors in silence evidently heading back to their quarters.

It was not until they passed through the living room door that the man turned around and spoke with the stern expression that filled his face in the office, still present. "What was that?"

Harry sat himself down on the sofa, kicking off his shoes. "What was what?"

"The attitude and disrespect I just witnessed in there? Did I not ask you to be respectful at all times right before we went into that meeting?"

Harry shrugged his shoulders. "They are trying to take me away from you."

"And you think your responses to Mr Fudge's questions helped the matter?" Remus asked with an exasperated tone, taking a seat opposite Harry in his armchair.

Harry shrugged his shoulders again, picking at the skin around his thumb.

Remus sighed. "I will promise you one thing, and one thing only, I will do everything in my power to keep you under my care. But you are going to have to pull your weight too. I know you are not fond of him and, in all honesty, nor am I; but the point remains that they have the power to remove you from me and am I correct in believing that that is something neither of us want?"

"No…" Harry replied quietly.

"Do I have your word that next time there is a meeting you will be on your best behaviour and answer any questions asked of you with respect?"

"Yeah, I guess." The teen shifted his position so that his legs hung off the edge of the sofa. "Is it because of your condition?"

"I do not believe that it helps the matter, no" Remus replied honestly.

"That's bloody stupid then."

"Language," Remus chastised lightly. "However, I agree, yes, it is a silly reason."

Harry leant his left elbow on the arm of the sofa, placing his head in his palm.

"I believe your room is calling your name Harry. Can you hear it?"

The teen rolled his eyes at the man. "Can't I just stay out here? I mean I'm already sitting here now."

"No you can't. Go on, there's only a couple of hours until dinner; I have decided that we can have it together before you go back to your dorm tonight."

The teen sighed.

"Alright," he answered after a short pause, knowing it would not be wise to argue with the man, seeing as he was going to be allowed out later.

Lupin picked up Harry's dirty plate as the pair finished their dinner together. Washing the plates up quickly, Harry moved towards the sofa, where he sprawled his legs out in front of him, head resting on the arm.

Remus followed, flicking his wand to cause the fire to light; keeping the small living room warm and toasty; every so often there would be a crackle as the wood burnt.

Lupin took a seat in his usual armchair, opposite from the child.

"Remus?"

"Mmm?" The man hummed in reply.

"Do you think you could show me some of those photos you talked about? You know the ones with Sirius and Peter in, as well as you and my dad?"

"I could do that."

"Should I go and get them?"

"They are in my office so I will find them, give me a moment." Remus replied, slapping his knees lightly.

Standing up and walking to the office, the man unlocked the cabinet pulling out one of three photo albums that were currently in his possession. He was sure there was more somewhere but he knew it would take quite a while to find them in the vast rooms of Hogwarts.

Walking out, shutting the office door behind him, he sat down again, this time on the sofa next to Harry.

Blowing some of the dust off from the album, the man passed it to the child, in gold writing on the front it read '1978'. Harry gently opened the album that seemed full to the brim of polaroids; some faded more than others.

The first photo was clearly a summer's day, there was a group of people sitting on a hill, underneath a large oak tree; some were squinting depending on their position in the sun, waving to the camera.

Remus glanced down at the photo; a warm smile filled his lips. For the first time in many years the man allowed himself to look at the photos fondly, without feeling too upset at the loss of his friends.

Harry allowed his guardian to gently take the photo from his grip, as the man held the polaroid in his right, his left hand served as a finger to point.

"There's myself, your mum and dad, then Sirius, Peter and Lily's friend Marlene. It was our last evening at Hogwarts in our seventh year; right before we left for good."

Harry glanced up at the man, expecting a look of sadness but was surprised to notice the man smiling. It was a small smile, but a smile nevertheless.

"We spent the rest of the afternoon in the Three Broomsticks, drinking ourselves silly as we were then of age. James definitely had one to many that evening."

Remus chuckled out loud.

"What did he do?" Harry asked, smirking back, despite not quite knowing why.

"He challenged us to do a lap around Hogsmeade with a shot of fire whiskey still in our mouths. If we finished back at the Three broomsticks, we won. James somehow, and I'm still not quite sure how, ended up in the lake." Remus laughed. "None of us would dry his clothes for him so he ended up being soaked through for the rest of the evening."

Harry smirked at the story, feeling a warm, fuzzy sensation in his tummy at hearing the story. Remus looked, for the first time in a while, happy.

"Mind you, don't be getting any ideas. You aren't nearly of age yet." Remus warned extremely lightly.

"A shot of fire whisky wouldn't hurt."

Remus raised his right brow.

"I'm joking, I'm joking" Harry muttered, picking out the next photo that took his interest.

The fire continued to crackle as the flames died down. The pair looked through almost every photo in the album as Remus recalled his parents' adventures. Their trip to the seaside; their groups first holiday together, some photos of just Lily and James house hunting, and even some of Sirius standing next to a motorbike which caused Lupin to suggest they moved quickly on.

Remus was not sure why he was still not quite able to talk openly about Sirius and their friendship with the child; he hoped, in time, it would come but for now, he was most content with explaining the bare minimum of the man and moving onto a much happier photograph that held a story to tell.

Harry neared the back of the album as a moving photograph in a white dress caught his attention. The woman, of auburn hair, twizzled round as a man, with circular shaped glasses in a black suit, held his arm up.

Harry knew it was his parents.

"Their wedding day." Harry pulled the picture out, smiling as he did.

Remus nodded, unsure of what to say. He watched as Harry was seemingly mesmerised by the photo, Lily turning under James arm, over and over again as his teen assessed every detail.

"She looks really pretty." Harry mumbled, as though he had spoken his subconscious thought aloud.

"She certainly did." Remus replied as he took out a second moving photo, handing it to the boy.

This time it was a group, moving, photo. Harry recognised Remus instantly, standing at the back with a walking stick which was attempting to be hidden by the shorter man in front of him. Harry knew him to be Peter.

"The wedding happened to fall right after a particular bad full moon." Remus explained. "Your parents tried to move the wedding after they found out about the lunar charts but the venue would not allow it. Many photos you'll see at the back here are of me attempting to hide the stick."

Harry glanced up at the man sympathetically. He was always trying to do what was best for others; Harry wondered if he ever did anything for himself.

"I don't think it would have mattered even if you could have seen your walking stick." Harry replied honestly.

"Your parents did not mind either." Remus mused, seeing the stark similarities in the boy sat beside him, "I suppose it was more of a personal preference."

Lupin took the photo from the child's grip, placing it back in the film folder. Taking out the last photo from the pile, the man handed it to Harry.

Five people stood in the photo, Harry went along the line, quickly realising it was a photo of the bride and groom with their bridesmaids and best man. His parents in the middle, his hated Aunt Petunia to Lily's right, and Marlene who Harry recognised from the earlier photograph. Then there was James on the left followed by…

"Was he -?" Harry let the question die on his tongue.

Remus knew what the child was asking. With a tone of sadness, the man answered, "Yes, Sirius was James' best man."

Shortly after the realisation, Remus had packed up the first album and informed the child that they could look at the rest of the albums later on in the week. Harry did little to protest as he let out a large, uncontrollable yawn.

"Are you going back to the tower tonight?" Remus asked although he highly suspected the child would be going back after being cooped up in their quarters for the entire weekend.

Harry yawned again, unintentionally. He didn't particularly feel like going anywhere at that moment. "Could I stay down here?"

"Of course you can; you are welcome any time cub." Lupin answered with a warm feeling in his stomach. After all the stress and unpleasantness of the weekend, the man felt more than happy that his teenager wanted to spend longer in his company.

Harry stood up from the sofa and stretched his arms up in the air.

"Someone's tired today?" Remus commented from his place in the armchair.

"I might actually get an early night; I'm kinda tired." Harry replied honestly.

"Go and get yourself ready for bed then; I'll come in to say good night in a moment."

Harry headed down the hall, pushing open the bathroom door, cleaning his teeth. Then moved across the hall to his bedroom where he slipped on his tartan pyjamas that had been discarded on the floor that morning before climbing into bed, pulling the covers over him.

Remus followed a mere two minutes later.

"No chocolate biscuits tonight?" The man asked questioningly.

"Oh -" Harry started, "I forgot about them, I've just cleaned my teeth."

"No matter, you can have some tomorrow." Smiling softly, Remus tucked the sheets around Harry before ruffling the teens hair affectionately.

"Goodnight Cub."

"Night."

Lupin blew out the candles with a few flicks of his wand, before quietly pulling the door to.

A few hours of quietness, the man thought to himself.

"REMUS!" Harry yelled, tossing and turning in his bed. "No! You can't take me away."

The Minister, Cornelius Fudge was pulling Harry away from Lupin down a corridor. It was getting narrower and narrower as Harry began yelling at the top of his lungs. "YOU CAN'T"

"STOP! Please!"

"Harry wake up!" The child felt his shoulders shake. "You are only dreaming, wake up cub!"

"I don't want to go!" Harry spoke, his time much quieter as the vision was falling ever fainter.

"Harry, come on. It's only a dream."

Harry's eyes snapped open, looking directly into the man's deep hazel eyes. He was drenched in sweat, his covers tangled round his feet.

"You were having a nightmare cub." Remus replied kindly.

Harry felt his cheeks flush with embarrassment. As he shifted down his bed, laying with his back to the man. His cheeks still wet with tears.

"It's okay, you are safe here Harry." The man began rubbing the child's back up and down in a soothing motion. "Do you want to tell me what it was about? It might help some?"

Harry initially shook his head but paused, flipping himself over to lay on the other side to face the man.

"That Minister - he was trying to take me away from you. To live in the ministry." Harry sniffed, "I told him already, I won't go. I don't want to go, I want to stay here with you!"

Harry was getting himself worked up again and Remus seemed to notice, "hey - hey. What did I tell you earlier? I will not let that happen Harry. You know that."

Lupin's eyes were kind but his face displayed a hint of worry.

"Do you need to change your pyjamas quickly? I can get this set washed by the morning for you."

Harry felt himself flush once again but nodded all the same.

"What time is it?" He muttered softly, as he pulled off his pyjama top, placing it in the dirty linen pile.

"It's just gone half past two in the morning." Remus noted on the small clock, sat next to Harry's bedside table.

"How come you weren't in bed?"

"I was just about to, I had been working on some lesson plans. My sleeping schedule usually shifts before the full moon."

"Oh - I'm sorry." Harry replied, picking out a new pair of pyjamas.

"Why are you apologising?" Remus asked, untangling the teens sheets for him, so he would be able to get back in, in a moment's time.

"For stopping you from going to bed." The teen replied honestly, changing his pyjama bottoms while he watched the man sort out his bed.

"That is absolutely nothing to apologise about Harry. It never will be." Remus held his arm out and pulled the body into a tight hug.

He knew teenagers were not the hugging, lovey type but in that moment, he did not particularly care.

Harry wrapped his arms around the man too; allowing himself to be embraced. He was the first to pull away, as he slipped into his bed that the man had just made for him again.

"In the morning, you'll need a shower okay." Remus took a seat next to the child.

"Uh huh." Harry replied as he nestled his face into the pillow. A question had been plaguing his mind for a while now, and now seemed like a good of a time as any to find out, "Could I ask you something?"

"What is it Harry?" Lupin frowned slightly, with a glimmer of concern.

"You don't have to answer it -" Harry started as he watched the man tilt his head at such words. "When I lived with the - my relatives, how come you never came to see me?"

Remus sighed. The man knew, undoubtedly, it would be a question that his teen would ask but he only hoped he could have had longer to come up with a better, more weighted reason, and not the seemingly cowardly excuse he was about to give.

"It is one of my biggest regrets." Lupin paused as he placed a reassuring arm around the teen. "After losing your parents and then Sirius as well as Peter, I was -" another pause, clearly looking for the right word. "Lost?"

Harry nodded.

"Work was hard to come by with my condition, I most certainly did not have a stable home to live in. However, had I had those things, I would have taken you in a heartbeat. I want you to remember that. As for not coming to see you, I did not have contact with Professor Dumbledore or anyone who knew of your address, although I very easily could have asked."

"Were you afraid?" Harry asked, feeling almost bad for asking the question to begin with.

"Yes, I suppose I was. I was afraid of everything at that time. I also knew it was unlikely that you would know who I was so showing up on your doorstep wasn't an option. I just did not know who to turn to Harry; I hope you can understand that, to some degree."

"I get it," Harry reassured, "Did Dumbledore not offer you a job sooner?"

"I now know he tried to track me down many times but I did not have a permanent address for longer than a few months. However all of this is far less significant to the time you spent with your relatives. I wish I had gotten you out of there sooner Cub." Remus replied softly.

"It's okay. I know you would have taken me in now and at the time, I didn't know you even existed. I don't hate you for it at all; not even in the slightest."

"Whatever did I do to deserve such a caring, considerate young man." Remus replied smiling at the teen.

Harry shrugged, allowing the man to ruffle his hair again.

"I think it is time you got some sleep. You have classes and a meeting in the morning." Remus hardly wanted to dampen the mood but with the clock nearing three in the morning, it would do both of them good to get some rest. "Do you need a dreamless sleep potion?"

"I think I'll be okay." Harry replied honestly.

Lupin nodded as he stood, "okay, sleep well."

"Mmm," Harry hummed as a reply as his eyes began to feel heavy.

The man closed the door, before letting out a deep breath. That conversation had gone far better than he had hoped...