Yeah there has been a bit of a delay hasn't there. This chapter is being posted on my third anniversary of having an account on fanfiction.net, I've been reading fanfics for about three and a half years but I was too lazy to get an account before then so…

Anyway there are a number of reasons for the delay. I have got really important exams in the summer so I have not had much free time recently. Another reason is I have been working on other material and this story kind of got forgotten about. The biggest reason is that this is the most horrible chapter for me to write, it's a fairly important chapter but not in terms of the plot. It's important for Remus and Harry bonding. I needed to write it but I have found it really hard. The next chapter should be easier to write.

Thanks for the continued reviews even without updates, huge cliché but it is really good to get reviewed and it does encourage writers, so more please for this chapter.

Chapter Nine

The next morning Remus sat at the kitchen table pouring over various brochures leaflets and maps that he had picked up the day before. After he had brought Harry back from seeing Dumbledore and after he had calmed down a bit over Dumbledore's insistence that Harry must return to the Dursley's, he had taken Harry out shopping in the local town centre. He'd had to buy Harry a few new clothes and, although all of the clothes were quite cheap, he looked far better in them than he had in any of Dudley's old clothes, for one thing they actually fitted him. He'd also had to buy a camp bed for Harry to sleep on, he'd put it in the corner of his bedroom, Harry was still asleep on it at the moment. Remus wasn't entirely sure his back could cope with another night of sleeping on the sofa.

He put down one of the glossy leaflets and picked up another. He'd decided against the idea of leaving the country. Too much hassle trying to get settled in another country, he'd never been overly brilliant with languages anyway. He'd had enough trouble when Dumbledore had made the whole school have French lessons. Sirius had taken to it instantly, James had been slightly hesitant but had then also taken to it. Peter had already been able to speak the language as his parents had taken him on holiday there several times, it had just been Remus who couldn't learn it. Not helped by his teacher, Professor Manwise, who had been totally useless from the first lesson. Instead he was trying to find somewhere that he could take Harry for the day, Dumbledore would change his mind, Remus was sure of it.

He flicked through one telling him all about some fun fair down on the coast, then another telling him about Southend on Sea and what a wonderful, charming atmosphere the seaside resort had. Remus snorted, from what he knew of the place he wouldn't have described it like that.

Finally he found one that seemed to be perfect, he put the leaflet down as Harry walked into the kitchen.

"Morning," Remus greeted him, as the boy rubbed sleep out of his emerald eyes. Harry was still in his pyjamas.

Harry gave him a lopsided smile in acknowledgement of hearing him, Remus smiled, seemed Harry had inherited James's hate of the morning.

Remus set about making breakfast. They sat in virtual silence while eating, then, when Harry had finished his toast Remus cleared his throat, Harry looked up expectantly.

"Er, I thought we could go out somewhere today, " he said, while starting to do the washing up, "you know, do something fun." Remus grimaced inwardly, he was still not good with dealing with children. He was more terrified of telling Harry something than he was facing DeathEater's; it was actually quite pathetic.

"Where?"

"Er the zoo. There's a few locally, well two, but the nearest one isn't brilliant."

"Okay," Harry answered, "when are we going?"

"Well now I suppose," Remus replied, "if you want to get your coat."

He had barely got the words out of his mouth before Harry had run off to get his jacket.

"Well that was easier than I thought it'd be." Remus said to himself as he went to look for his own coat.

***

The two of them stood outside the gates of the zoo. The queue to get in wasn't as large as Remus had thought it would be, as most children were at school. Remus felt a guilty twinge; Harry should really be at school as well. It was his fault that he wasn't. The delay to get in was mainly because there was a school party that had to be checked in.

Eventually they made it through the gates and into the zoo. Remus looked at the glossy map that had been thrust into his hand as they had entered.

"Well what do you want to see?" he asked the small dark haired figure standing next to him, Harry shrugged. This wasn't particularly helpful to Remus.

"Okay then, why don't we go and see what's this way?"

They wandered aimlessly around the park for about an hour, stopping to look at various animals as they went. Harry seemed to be enjoying himself but Remus was exhausted. The entire zoo was situated on a steep hill. Remus was shocked to find that he was feeling so tired from walking around for an hour. Remus mate, he thought to himself, you're getting old.

Harry eventually seemed to be tiring slightly; Remus used this to his own advantage and suggested they stopped for lunch. He searched the map until he found the nearest restaurant, which was naturally back up the hill. Remus groaned, he didn't think his legs could take anymore.

After Harry and himself had eaten and after Remus felt he could use his legs again they set off back round the park. They managed to find an almost flat area and Remus was determined that they stayed there for as long as possible. He was even happier when he discovered that there was a random train that went on rides around the park, he was quite content to sit down and travel around the park.

Eventually the trains ride finished and Remus was forced to use his own legs again. Harry seemed to have gained energy and forced Remus to walk right to the other end of the zoo to see the parrots that they'd managed to miss earlier.

Harry, being young, had decided that the parrots were boring the moment that they arrived there and wanted to see something more dangerous and more interesting. Remus glanced over at a huge sign advertising various shows that were on throughout the day. There was one in about five minutes in almost exactly the same place they were at the moment, a load of reptiles were being brought from the reptile house. Maybe Harry would find that more interesting.

A/N

Erg that was horrible, it seemed really cheesy, I'm not fond of this chapter but all attempts to change it have made it even worse so I'm sorry. Hopefully the next chapter will be better.

Dunno when the next chapter will be up, keep checking or if you ask in a review I'll try to email you. I'll try and get it up as quickly as possible, cos I really don't like this chapter but anyway…

Thanks for all the reviews that I've got for this chapter already.

Please review, it helps.