Hey again…

Some readers, understandably, wanted the end of the story to be different so I'm posting the other version of the last chapter. Don't blame me for the ending, my friends who decided that they preferred a depressing canon ending, voted for it. The majority of this chapter is the same but the ending is different so you can just skip to there if you want.

This is going to be my last update until about the 25th of June because I have very important exams coming up and I need to revise for them (which is a novelty I can tell you.) I am going to write if I have time but nothing (unless it's really important) will be updated.

I promise I will be back then. Cos I have no school for weeks (woohoo)

Anyway…

Alternative Chapter Ten

The week went by, far quicker than Remus had wanted it to. After recovering from the shock of hearing Harry speaking parseltongue during the reptile show at the zoo the rest of the week had gone remarkably smoothly. Remus had neglected to tell Albus Dumbledore that the 'Boy who lived' was also the 'Boy who talks to snakes.' Remus had managed to smooth the whole thing over at the zoo but babbling on about how Harry had pretended to talk to snakes ever since he was a child. The manager of the zoo had looked as though he was convinced Remus was mad, Remus himself wasn't sure if he had blamed him, it had been very odd to hear hissing noises coming from a six year old boy. Harry hadn't even realised he had spoken a different language. Remus had pretended that nothing strange had happened and Harry was convinced that most wizards could speak to snakes. Remus wasn't prepared to tell him that only Dark Wizards could usually talk to snakes.

Remus hadn't even mentioned to Harry that he was meant to be going back to the Dursley's today. He'd decided to leave Harry watching television while he went back to see Dumbledore to plead again that Harry could stay with him.

Harry seemed perfectly happy to be left, even if Remus did feel slightly guilty and apprehensive about leaving a six year old boy alone in a flat. Remus travelled to Hogwarts via floo powder arriving in Dumbledore's office seconds after he left his flat.

Dumbledore was sitting at his desk, a long quill in his hand apparently writing a letter.

"Ah Remus," the old man said without even looking up, "I wondered how long it would be before you showed up."

"You can't make him go back to them, you just can't." Remus pleaded angrily striding across the room until he was directly in front of Dumbledore's desk.

Dumbledore sighed looking up at his former student. "Remus I have already spoken to the Dursley's, they have agreed to show Harry a little more kindness in the future."

"And you believe them? I've seen Harry with them, they treat him like dirt! I won't let him go back."

"Remus the matter is out of your hands. You know the protections that surround Harry at Little Whinging. He is not safe living anywhere else. I have put too many wards around the house.

"But why? Can't you just as easily put them around where I live?" Remus replied, he was determined that Dumbledore would not win.

"You are not of his blood Remus, that would cancel out half of the wards instantly. Do you want Harry to be safe?

Remus paused before replying, if he said yes Dumbledore would say that he had agreed to take Harry back to the Dursleys, if he said no then Dumbledore would say that he didn't care enough about Harry and would send him back anyway. Instead of an answer he gave a slight grunt that could have been taken either way.

"Remus, in a few years Harry will be at Hogwarts more than he would be with them. I can arrange for him to see you at weekends, you can take him to Hogsmeade, maybe he could even stay with you for Christmas."

"He won't want to know me, if he even remembers me. He'll think I abandoned him, he won't even want to talk to me." Remus said bitterly.

"He won't think you abandoned him, it's only a few years."

"Yeah his childhood, by the time he goes to Hogwarts he won't have even had a happy childhood. The Dursley's will continue to tell him that he is the scum of the earth. They might not even let him go to Hogwarts."

"They will let him go to Hogwarts." Dumbledore replied looking the younger man in the eyes. "Remus I know that you care deeply for Harry but,"

"But what?" Remus broke in angrily, "I have to understand that he's safer at a place where the people hate him and he's desperately unhappy just because you say so!"

"Remus, you will take Harry back to the Dursley's today."

"But…" Remus tried to cut in but Dumbledore ignored him.

"I will go and see him a few days when he's settled and I'll have to wipe his memory, it's not safe to have a young boy knowing all our secrets."

"Why wipe his memory, he won't understand the strange things that happen otherwise?"

"Remus it's better this way."

"But it's not, " Remus's voice cracked and he broke off.

"Remus I'm sorry."

Remus didn't reply but stormed off back through the fireplace.

***

Neither Harry nor Remus had spoken much the entire journey to Surrey. Remus just didn't know how to start a conversation with the boy he was about to abandon to a childhood of misery.

Eventually the train pulled to a stop at Little Whinging train station. The two of them got off onto a bustling platform and started the short walk to Privet Drive.

Before long they had reached the end of Privet Drive. Remus was fighting the urge to just turn and walk Harry back the other way, back towards his flat, but he knew that even if he didn't take Harry back to the Dursley's today, Dumbledore would take him back tomorrow, or the day after.

Harry looked very small as they stood outside number four. He spoke for the first time in hours.

"Do I have to go back?" Remus didn't trust himself to speak so just nodded. Harry's eyes simply screamed betrayal. Remus looked away.

The door of number four opened and Petunia Dursley appeared out of it.

"Boy will you get here now!" she hissed at Harry, "whatever will the neighbours think?"

Remus knelt down next to the boy; he had no idea what to say so instead he hugged Harry. At first Harry resisted before he put his arms around Remus. Remus had no idea how long they stayed there like that, but eventually they were dragged apart by Petunia's voice insisting that Harry go inside.

Re-written from here

Remus stood up and gently pushed Harry away towards the door before turning and walking away down the road.

He heard the door click shut behind him. He had barely walked five paces before he stopped.

What the hell was he doing?

He was deserting a child to years of misery.

Remus spun around and walked back towards number four. He knocked determinedly on the front door, it was opened by Vernon Dursley who looked rather red in the face.

"You," he said, "what do you want this time?"

"Harry actually," Remus, said as though that was perfectly obvious, "where is he?"

"Causing more trouble, what did you expect?"

"Well can I see him because he's coming back with me."

"As much as I would love to let that happen I can not."

"Why?"

"That old bloke told us that he had to stay here. He was not to leave with you under any circumstance."

Remus could have killed Dumbledore, how could have thought that Remus would go against his wishes and rescue Harry?

"He lied, he just contacted me and told me to collect him."

Even Remus didn't believe his own lie so he couldn't imagine that anyone else would. He could see Mr Dursley working this out in his mind. Behind him he saw a movement, Harry.

Harry pushed past his Uncle to get to Remus. Remus knelt down; he was surprised to see that Harry had been crying, he hugged the small boy. He glanced at Vernon Dursley who appeared to be still slightly confused at the situation, Remus also saw that Harry's bag was right by the front door. He grabbed it and Harry's hand and pulled them away from the house.

He heard Vernon's shout as he realised what was going on, so he broke into a run Harry desperately trying to keep up behind him.

***

Remus came back through the fireplace into his living room. He'd left Harry behind while he went to, once again, plead with Dumbledore.

Harry was waiting for him.

"What did he say? Can I stay with you?"

Remus couldn't answer him but simply nodded.

"Really?" Harry said, his face looked totally shocked.

"Yeah." Remus said simply finding his voice at last. Harry rushed into Remus's arms. "Well sorry mate," Remus said putting his arms around the boy, "but it looks like you're stuck with me for a lot longer."

The End Take Two

A/N-Yeah so the usual drill please review, never know it might persuade me to write more stories to upload when I come back.