Author's note:

There's been an update: Remus Lupin is entering the story as an important character! All of you who are waiting for Sirius, don't worry, he'll be coming in within the next two chapters.

I do not own the Harry Potter universe or anything that comes along with it. That honor goes to its magnificent creator, J.K. Rowling. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy it!

(Edit 12/5/2021: This was first published in late 2020.)

Chapter 4: Christmas Shopping

Christmas was coming up, and Marlene saw fit to bring Harry shopping for some Christmas presents. The muggle way, of course. She very well couldn't walk into Diagon Alley without giving at least two people a heart attack. Not that she didn't want to meet old friends, but her cover was not one she could give up that easily. Especially with Harry under her wing. Anyways, she was used to living in the muggle world by then.

So she dressed Harry up in a new set of winter wear she had bought for him. (When Harry had seen them, he had acted like a house-elf who had been given clothes — "No, I can't accept that!") Then they headed off to the nearest shopping mall.

November was too early for snow, but the chill in the air was already making Harry shiver in his boots. The first thing he felt when he walked through the automatic sliding doors was the relief from the winter cold, making him sigh. Then he opened his eyes (he couldn't remember closing them), and saw a massive Christmas tree, decorated with lights and tinsel all around. Harry couldn't help but gasp. He had never seen anything like it.

Around him and Marlene, people bustled around trying to get a good shot of the tree and the reindeer and Santa in his sleigh, all models that were taller than he. He clutched Marlene's hand tightly, afraid of getting lost in the crowd.

Marlene took Harry to get something hot to drink first. It was a creamy cup of hot cocoa, with marshmallows floating inside. As Harry drank it up, the warmth and sweetness of the cocoa enveloped his throat and chest, making him feel warm.

Next, he and Marlene went to a trinkets store, where they sold small, adorable items that were perfect for putting in Christmas stockings. Marlene let Harry pick one out for himself.

"You mean I can choose any one I want?" Harry asked, eyes sparkling in delight. He had never even received a tiny gift when he was at his aunt's and uncle's. Harry picked a small stag soft toy off a shelf and it was all Marlene could do to stop herself from bursting out in tears. Christmas is the time to be happy, she reminded herself, and picked a small lily plushie to go in Harry's stocking.

They visited some more stores, where Harry received clothes, books, and toys from Marlene. "No, I don't want it, Aunt Marlene. You don't have to waste your money on me!" he exclaimed when Marlene was about to buy him a small gaming console. Marlene turned to him sternly.

"Don't think of yourself like that, Harry. I am willingly spending my own money on you. It's not a waste."

Harry looked ashamed. "Sorry, Aunt Marlene. But I really don't want it." Marlene did not look satisfied. She wanted to treat Harry. "I would very much prefer that book on the solar system," he suggested, eyeing a shelf behind her. Marlene was placated, happy that she could get Harry something that he actually wanted.

After several hours, yet all too soon, it was time for them to return home. Harry was taking one last look at Santa with his reindeer when he realized that he was alone.

"Aunt Marlene! Aunt Marlene! Where are you?" He was rooted to the spot in fear as he scanned the people walking by, but none of them was Marlene. His eyes hovered a second longer on a ginger-haired man wearing a worn suit, with scars covering his face. Harry was certain that he had seen the man before.

Suddenly the man noticed Harry. His face went pale for a moment, then he rushed over to Harry.

"James — no, Harry," he babbled, pulling Harry's sleeve. He squirmed and wriggled, but there was no escaping the man's grasp. Harry opened his mouth to scream, only to see the man make a small, almost unnoticeable movement with a stick, and Harry found himself unable to make a sound. This man knows magic, Harry realized, and he couldn't figure out whether that was good or bad.

When they got to a wall, the man knelt down in front of Harry, keeping his firm grip on Harry's wrist. "Harry, who are you here with?" the man asked.

Suddenly, Harry found himself able to speak. "How do you know my name?" Harry half yelled. Some people glanced their way. With a wave of his wand, the man made the people turn away. Harry gave another shout, and this time nobody turned around. He supposed that the man had cast some sound-blocking spell.

"Don't you remember me? I'm Remus Lupin, and I knew your father in school. Now answer my question. Who are you here with?"

Remus Lupin. Harry had heard the name before, but he did not trust the man enough to open up to him. He might have been lying about knowing his father in school. He might even be a bad person.

"My Aunt Marlene," Harry said warily. The man's face paled more than Harry believed was possible.

"Does she have a surname?" Remus wondered who Harry was living with. He didn't recall Harry having an aunt besides Lily's sister, and he was sure that Lily's sister's name was Petunia.

"Marlene McKinnon, I think. She was my teacher in school, then she took me in," Harry explained. Why does this man need to know all this? Harry wondered.

The man suddenly looked like he was about to faint. Coming up behind Harry was no other than Marlene McKinnon. Harry wasn't lying!

"Remus?" Her cover had been blown earlier than she had expected.

"How are you here? You..." Remus choked as tears began falling down his cheeks.

Marlene told Harry that Remus would be staying at their apartment for a few nights. When they returned home, Marlene told the whole story to Remus, out of Harry's earshot.

"That night, the Death Eaters came, and I tried to fight them, but there were too many. I couldn't save my family. I knew they would continue to pursue me if they knew I was alive, so I faked my death by transfiguring a rock into my dead body, and then I fled. I was isolated in the muggle world, healing my wounds, when I received the news from the Daily Prophet. It was a week after, Remus! A week! And the paper accused Sirius of — of betraying them! And..." At that point, Marlene broke. Tears dripped continuously onto the floor, the dining table, even Remus's lap.

Remus sighed. It was going to be a long night.

Author's Note (14/5/2021): Thank you so much if you've made it to this point. It would be a really nice gesture to review, favorite, and follow this fic, and thanks to those who did.

I will continue posting 2-3 chapters per day until I reach chapter 12, when it will wane to about 1-2 a week as I am still writing the later part of this fic.

Sneak Peek Into Next Week:

Harry, Marlene, and Remus sit down to enjoy a peaceful Christmas, but their plans are (somewhat) disrupted. We see how Sirius is holding up in Azkaban, too.