Summary: In this chapter, Harry comes to Grimmauld Place and Remus gets a pleasant, purring, surprise.

Disclaimer: …(insert witty disclaimer here)…

A/N: Okay first chapter. I still don't like the layout and I revamped it three times, so forgive it. Hmm….what is it the always say? You are your toughest critic? Oh well. Expect next chapter to be way longer. Thanks.

Chapter One: Bouncing Baby Kneazles?

Remus finished his reply letter by Noon, and stomped his way downstairs to fetch his newly bought (and very bedraggled) second-hand owl. He walked over to Ackley (he was named before he got him) and held out the carefully composed letter.

"C'mere you, I've got a letter for you to carry." He said briskly, looking at the old barn owl sitting cleaning his feathers on the underground kitchen table. It looked up expectantly and twittered happily at finally being given a job. Ackley was a regular 'owl post war hero' and was used to being sent with letters all the time. He was rather addled by the fact that Remus rarely sent out letters to anyone. The only times he did was on his occasional check-ups on Harry to see how he was faring at the Dursley's and Order reports for Kingsley and Dumbledore.

He pulled out a leather throng form his jeans pocket and tied it and the letter to Ackley's leg, then carried him over to a window and set him free. He watched as the owl flew higher and higher before he had to look away as Ackley flew straight into the blinding hot sun. Remus had decided to take up Dumbledore's offer, and was now officially Professor Lupin once again. He had enjoyed teaching those four years ago, and hopefully would enjoy it again. He had no idea how long he would be teaching there, but he hoped that it would be for more than just three terms, as happened last time. But, then again, that all matter on whether Remus would live long enough for that, what with the War going on.

Remus was never much of an optimist.

He had just settled down to a lunch of a Veggie Wrap, when the doorbell for 12 Grimmauld Place clanged loudly throughout the house. Remus shuddered until the ringing stopped. There was a brief moment of omniscient silence before;

"FILTH! BLOOD TRAITORS! DIRTY HALF-HUMANS! FILTHY MUDBLOODS AND BEASTS! WEREWOLVES, SATAN CREATURES! MUDBLOODS! ABOMINATIONS OF THE WIZARDING--Mmph…"

Mrs. Black's screeching was cut short by a panting Remus as he pulled the curtains closed. Satan Creatures. That's what most people considered Werewolves. Evil beasts and filthy, pathetic, untrustworthy half-humans. It was all lies, he knew, but it still hurt. It wasn't their fault they got bitten, wasn't his fault he painfully transformed into a wolf every lunar month. He walked down the rest of the hall and wrenched open the front door with an agitated expression on his face. His expression immediately changed to a grin when he saw the beaming face before him.

"Harry! What are you doing here?" He stepped out of the way to allow Harry (the only visitor) to step through onto the threshold, carrying a suitcase. It set it down and turned to Remus, who saw now that he carried a rather large (and shaking) box under his left arm.

"Well…" Harry's smile broadened. Remus hadn't seen him look this happy since before Sirius died. "Dumbledore said that I should come and spend the rest of my holiday here, as the Weasley's and Hermione. They'll be coming here the day after tomorrow. It's not necessary, but all of us agreed that it was best if we come, it's not good for you to be all alone all the time. We thought it might keep your mind off of…things. Also, I guess it's sort of a way to feel close to Sirius…" He broke off and looked down at the floor, head bowed. They fell into an uncomfortable silence, which was only broken by Remus when he felt the pressure was to much.

"Well, okay then. That's good. I suppose I could use the company, after all, it does get rather lonely talking to just Ackley and the Dust Bunnies." He said, his lame crack at humour to liven the mood. It worked; Harry laughed a little at his eyes lifted back to Remus's.

Remus smiled. "So…What's that?"

Harry looked down at the brightly wrapped box in his hand that Remus was pointing to. He blushed a little. "Oh…that. Well, I was in Diagon Alley yesterday getting my new school supplies, when I realized it was your birthday today. I wanted to get you something, since you gave me a gift for mine. Well, I saw this and I guess I thought it might be nice to have, something to keep you company." At this, the box gave a rather violent rattle.

Remus eyed it warily. He was also, rather in shock. He took the present and held it in his arms, but at the same time, desperately wanted to whack himself in the forehead. How could he forget? Him, of all people, and forgotten it was his own birthday. Today, August the 16th was Remus Lupin's thirty-ninth birthday. And he forgot.

"Thanks a lot Harry. I haven't gotten a birthday present since…since around when you were born Harry." Remus refrained from saying what he had originally planned: 'Since before James and Lily died'. That would have only caused more grief, and if he had to deal with any more of that he was positive he would go insane. He began to rip off the paper, but stopped abruptly, due to a wild hand gesture on Harry's part.

"No don't!" He whispered harshly, "Not here! It can…uh…make quite a bit of noise. Better wait 'til we get upstairs. Don't want to wake her up." He jabbed his thumb in the general direction of Mrs. Black's portrait. Remus nodded and helped Harry carry his trunk and Hedwig's cage upstairs. Once they had set down his things in the room that Harry and Ron shared when here on the second floor, Remus sat down on Ron's bed and held the box. He looked up at Harry, where he was sitting on his own bed, for approval to open the squirming box (which was now making low mewling noises). Harry nodded, a smile on his face.

Remus ripped off the last of the paper, and hurriedly pulled open the box flaps. Remus caught a brief glance of a large ball of black and charcoal grey fur before he was knocked onto his back and being nuzzled in his neck. A tail was swishing in his line of vision, and he gave a startled yelp as he felt a rough tongue lick his neck. Harry, on the other hand, was roaring with laughter. Taking pity on the older wizard, he got up and lifted the 'fur-ball' off of Remus and held it in his arms for him to see.

"It's a Kneazle. Only a kitten, it'll get bigger."

Remus gaped. Only a kitten?! This thing was the size of a normal full grown tom-cat! Get bigger?! Good Lord… Remus took a long look at the creature in Harry's arms…his apparent new pet. It looked almost like a bad sketch of a cat. Cute, really, and rather cuddly looking. It was curled up in a long ball shape, purring contentedly. It was pitch-black, with zigg-zagging stripes of charcoal grey along it's body, face and ears. It had a longer snout than most cats, and a tail like a lions with a white tuft of hair on the end. The hair around it's face was longer, paler, and shaggier, as if it was a lion's mane that forgot to continue growing. It's eyes were a bright yellow, like a child's drawing of the sun, even with the slightly shining, waxy look of crayon.

It was, Remus thought, a decidedly nice creature. He looked up at Harry, who passed the Kneazle to Remus. Remus held it and it opened one eye lazily, purring all the while and cuddling closer to the warm chest that held it close.

"What's it's name?" Remus asked, looked back up to the pleased looking green orbs.

"Diego." He smiled. "You like?"

"I love." Remus beamed at the creature in his arms. It had fallen asleep, so Remus sat it back down on Ron's bed. "Sweet thing. I suppose he'll have to come with me to Hogwarts." Remus watched under lowered brows as Harry stood up abruptly.

"What?!"

Remus chuckled. "Why Harry, who else do you think they would have asked to take up the empty position of Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor?"

"You mean…You're coming….You're teaching again?" Harry's expression looked extremely hopeful and buoyant. Remus nodded.

"But don't say anything when Hermione and the Weasley's get here. I want to surprise them at dinner." He grinned mischievously, which was returned it kind by Harry, who nodded.

"I s'pose Snape isn't going to be to happy about you coming back."

Remus's expression darkened. Harry was right. Severus was for sure going to be giving his old schoolmate hell when he returned to the castle just one week away.

A/N: And the thot plickens! LOL. Review and no Flames! Thanks!