A different kind of Life

By

KerrianneLupin

Chapter Two

Remus's view

DISCLAIMER – Damnit no, they don't belong to me worse luck

AUTHOR NOTE – Here's the warning, this chapter is angsty but I promise that it won't be that angsty the story. Its just Remus is depressed at this time and so forth.

          Thanks to everyone who reviewed it, much appreciated and I hope this chapter is all right for all of you.

          Remus J Lupin slammed the front door behind him, sending the noise echoing through the silent bungalow. He leaned against the cool wood, a frown present on his face, he brought his hand out of his robe pockets where they had been deeply buried and instead began massaging his temples in a vain attempt to make the pounding ache in his head go away.

He seriously hated this thing he called his life, in public, of course, he was the perfect gentleman, calm and collected, kind and always polite to anyone who spoke to him. Some people viewed him as cold and standoffish; an ice prince if you will, perhaps he was but Remus just didn't care what they thought of him, it wasn't important whether these people knew him and liked him or not.  Once he wouldn't have viewed it like that. Once he would actually have been horrified to find out that people didn't like him, he would have desperately tried to change their minds about him but not now. It didn't seem important now. Without James's smile and kind humour, Lily's beautiful green eyes and compassionate nature and Peter's shyness and loyalty it just didn't seem worth trying for. Without his childhood friends backing him work and other people seemed to pale into insignificance. It wasn't important when you just wanted to rejoin your friends whether it be in death or not.

He shook his head banishing the images of them from his head and instead took off his robe, revealing a pair of worn jeans and a simple white t-shirt. He dumped that and his workbag on the small table by the door and made his way through the familiar hallway to the small kitchen. He pulled his wand out of his jeans pocket and pointed it wearily at the second hand kettle, murmuring a spell as he did. The usual vague sense of satisfaction went through him as it immediately began to whistle happily. He went to the cupboard and pulled out the first cup he saw, he stared at it for a second with large sad eyes. The cup had been one that Lily had gotten him for no reason. She had visited him one time as she often did, plunked the cup on the table and grinned at him, telling him that there was no reason now why a cup of tea shouldn't be waiting for her the next time she visited. Remus had laughed at the time and promised it, she had used it before she died, the day before actually, the laughter had been drained from her face by then and worry remained instead, he noticed though he never mentioned it that a few grey strands were in the fiery red hair from stress. When she went to leave she hugged him and kissed him on the cheek, she told him that she loved him and that she would see him soon, he had nodded and returned the hug and kiss. He never saw her again after that the next day she was dead as was James and Remus was alone.

He slammed the cup on the counter, throwing a teabag in before resting his hands on the side and squeezing his eyes shut against the tears that were tickling them. It had been three years now since Sirius had destroyed all of their lives, just when was it going to stop hurting? Never a small voice in his head whispered It will never stop hurting because you know you should have stopped him, you know you could have. Sirius listened to you, you lived together but you were too afraid to argue with him and look what happened, Lily, James and Peter died because you were a coward

He shook his head violently again and went through the motions of making the tea, pouring both the water and milk in and sweetening it with a spoon of sugar. He walked out of the room, turning the light off to save on electricity, and made his way into the darkened living room, definitely his favourite part of his house. He flipped the light on glancing casually around the room as he did, a second later he yelled out loud, whipping his wand out and pointing it at the two people who were staring back at him.

"Jesus fucking Christ" he said loudly, breathing hard from his shock, it was only his Werewolf reactions that had kept the cup of tea in his hand. He looked at the two people who was settled comfortably in James's and Sirius's old chairs, a look of shock still etched on his face "Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall what the hell are you doing here?" he demanded, politeness forgotten at that moment

"How many times Remus must I tell you to call me Albus now, it makes me feel old when a 24 year old man calls me Professor" Dumbledore remarked In amusement, when Remus continued to stare at him he stood up holding a wrinkled hand out "It's good to see you well" Remus resisted a snort as he took the outstretched hand.

"Same to you" he remarked as he released the hand, he nodded at McGonagall who smiled back "Can I ask what you're both doing in my living room?" as Dumbledore sat back down, Remus stood in front of them frowning, his arms crossed over his chest, he had already placed his wand and tea down when he saw who they were.

Both of them looked at him sadly for a moment, in a way that caused a slight flush to stain his cheeks. He was an attractive looking man who looked much older than his year warranted, his blond hair was short and had silver strands in it that shouldn't have been present for a while to come, amber eyes watched them carefully from a pale clever looking face. It was his eyes that showed the emotional damage of what he had been through, eyes that had once been the key to knowing how he felt, that was now gone, they now showed nothing

"We have a propitiation for you that we'd like you to consider Remus" Dumbledore remarked seriously, watching him keenly, his fingers interlocked and resting on his knees. Remus sat onto the sofa and stared at the both, a slight amount of interest flickering in the amber eyes before that emotion was swallowed up into nothingness.

"It will interest you Mr Lupin, that I promise you" McGonagall remarked calmly, a slight smile came across Remus's face as he remembered all the lessons she had said the same thing to him in, she had always been right before as well. His smile vanished

"Tell me then" his voice came out as forcefully he picked up the cup of tea and took a sip allowing the warm liquid to cascade down his throat

"It's about Harry" Dumbledore said, the cup stopped half way to Remus's mouth and for a moment a strange expression came over his face, he placed the cup by his feet with hands that shook slightly and looked up sharply at the two

"What about Harry?" his voice sounded strangely calm, a calmness that was belied by the look in his eyes, they looked almost fearful.

"There has been some problems where he has been living, we have to take him away for his own good" Remus's eyebrow rose

"What kind of problems?" he demanded a frown coming to his face, Dumbledore and McGonagall shared a look and hid a smile, if the protective look on Remus's face was anything to go by then the decision they made was the right one.

"They have been mishandling him" McGonagall said "That's the nicest way I can put it for you Mr Lupin, Mr Potter must be taken from that environment and placed in another one, a healthier one for him where he would be loved" Remus's mouth quirked slightly

"He's Harry Potter" he remarked blandly "Any Wizard family would be ecstatic to take him" Dumbledore shook his head

"While that is the case it would be the worse thing for young Harry to experience, he must go to someone who wouldn't see him as the boy who lived" Remus frowned

"It sounds like you've already decided" Remus commented, Dumbledore nodded

"We would like you Remus to become Harry's father figure. We feel you are the right person." Remus blinked rapidly at that

"You want me to be Harry's adoptive father" he repeated in disbelief "The ministry would never allow it, I'm a Werewolf, they aren't going to allow the most famous boy in this world to live with a monster"

"You are not a monster" Dumbledore said sternly 'It is already taken care of, when you are transformed Harry would live with another member of the former order, when you were human he would live with you" Remus ran a hand through his hair, thoughts moving frantically in his head

"Prongs Junior living with me" he muttered to himself an almost eager look in his eyes, he looked up at them both

"I firmly believe it is what James and Lily would have wanted in the circumstances, someone must teach him and that is you Remus, will you do this and take Harry into your home and raise him as your own?" Remus looked away, he owed it to James and Lily, it was his fault they were dead, the least he could do was take care of Harry. Hell he wanted to. He stood up and made his way over to the chair that Dumbledore sat in and held his hand out, he spoke seriously though a glitter was in his eyes that hadn't been there before "You've got yourself a deal" he remarked "I'll take care of Harry" Dumbledore took the hand with a smile as McGonagall beamed at the pair of them

"I'll send you a owl tomorrow with the details off collecting Harry and everything" Remus nodded "You've made the right choice Remus but then again I always knew you would" Remus nodded

"Goodbye Professors" he remarked, they said there farewells then apparated leaving Remus alone. He groaned, tomorrow there'd be a four-year-old living with him. Just what had he let himself in for.

A/N – There you go I hope you like it, erm Lily had a thing for Remus but Remus was with Sirius, that's why he feels guilty, he feels he should have stopped his former lover. Don't worry, Harry will make him feel tons better.

Next chapter – Prongs Junior meet Uncle Moony