DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

A/N: Sorry for the wait, it was a crazy weekend.

Chapter 15

Tomorrow

Remus left Harry a brief note, and slipped out quietly before he had awoken. He had a few errands to run today. Remus apparated to a small Owlery in Birmingham and sent Mikhail a note asking him to meet him for lunch. He chose a fish and chips shop in muggle London, which was in walking distance to the Leaky Cauldron. It was still early morning when he arrived in Diagon Alley, which was what Remus was after, the less people around the better. Remus made a stop at Gringott's before headed into muggle London. He did a bit of shopping then headed down to the restaurant to wait.

Harry awoke slowly waiting for the familiar scent of breakfast to wash over him. When it did not, he listened but heard nothing but the familiar sounds from the window, so he cautiously opened one eye. He looked about but nothing looked out of place. He lay there for a while partly waiting for the energy to arise, perhaps still half hoping breakfast was waiting for him. He shook his head as his foolishness and got out of bed. He headed into the kitchen to find Moony, instead he found a note.

Resignedly, Harry fixed himself breakfast. He ate on the porch enjoying the simplicity of nature. He smiled as he saw Hedwig sitting far up in a tree, looking down upon him. It struck him suddenly how much happier she had been since they had arrived at the Black Lineage Cabin; how much happier he had been since arriving here. Harry had a million and one thoughts streaming through his mind. Actually, he had been overwhelmed with things since the first time he and Remus had spoken.

Harry had been taken aback by Remus' take charge attitude of late; he had always seemed so restrained, so composed. He had to admit he was grateful for it though. There were so many decisions to make and Harry was not sure what really needed to be done. Perhaps, he thought, that was the change in Remus, Harry needed help, he had asked Moony for it and he had given it, freely. Didn't he give it in third year when Harry had asked? He sighed. Sometimes he truly wished he was able to ask for things more freely.

Harry knew he would have to sit down with Remus soon and make some decisions, but he was really unsure what to do. He agreed that going to Privet Drive, no matter how safe, was not an option. He might be physically safe, but the psychological ramifications of living in that hell were slowly eating away at his soul. His brooding had hit an all time high this summer, and Harry knew it. Had Remus not answered his plea for help, Harry imagined there would have been a nice bed beside Professor Lockhart and Neville's parents with his name on it by summer's end. He smiled suddenly, one decision made only nine hundred ninety-nine more to go.


Remus scanned the passing crowd looking for a sign of Mikhail. He could not believe it had been seven years since they had last gotten together. Remus' winced as he imagined Mikhail's reaction to his "young charge", as Mikhail put it. He had neglected to mention that his charge and The Boy Who Lived were one in the same. He only hoped his offer to help still stood. Remus appreciated just how important Mikhail was to his plan to help Harry, and he needed to do this. He owed it to James. He owed it to Sirius. He owed it to Harry. The pack protects their own. The fact that both the wolf and Remus agreed on this fact had made his determination all the more vehement. Remus clung to Harry and he knew it, even if Harry didn't. He was all the family, the pack, that Remus had left.

He grinned as Mikhail arrived. He looked just as Remus remembered although Mikhail's tall lanky frame was topped with a bit more grey then he remembered. The 6'3" dark haired man loomed over Lupin; his turquoise eyes set with purpose. Remus had forgotten how those eyes bore into you. He had often wondered if it were reminiscent of his skills at Legilimency, at least before his infection. He knew that Mikhail had once been one of the most celebrated researchers in the branches of Occlumency and Legilimency. Unfortunately, his study of werewolves and their natural resistance to Occlumency as well as their latent talent for Legilimency or some rendition of it led, not only to his infection, but the death of his career.

Remus felt terrible about guilting Mikhail into helping him, but the talents he required were very specialized skills and few wizards possessed them. There were a precious few who could give Harry the proficiency he was going to need to resist the skills Voldemort possessed, and that was before adding in the minor kidnapping as well as the fact that Remus was a werewolf. He was fortunate that he had made Mikhail's acquaintance so long ago. If Mikhail refused to help him, he had no idea where to turn.

"Hello, my friend, it is good to see you."

"Hello, Mikhail. How are you? Trip suit you okay?

"Both well, thank you. So where is the young man in question, I thought he would be here with you?"

Remus' expression lay somewhere between a smile and a grimace. "Right, well, we'll see him a bit later."

Mikhail looked at him, puzzled. "Okay?"

Remus paused. "I think I need to let you in on a few things first."

Remus proceed to inform Mikhail about the way Harry was taken from him, that he really had no legal claim to the boy and that he was under psychic attack from a wizard he shared a bond with. He did his best to give him the details he would need without actually mentioning Harry's name. He hoped that once Mikhail met Harry, the real Harry, not the Boy Who Lived, he would understand why he had wanted Mikhail to make the decision to help him without the pressure and influence of knowing who the boy was who needed help.


Harry wandered about, unsure of what to be at. He was anxious. He knew Remus would be back this afternoon, presumably with his Occlumency tutor. Harry hadn't always excelled in his classes, but he had always taken pleasure in them at least a little, even Binn's class provided some extra sleep. However, he truly despised Occlumency. Although logically he knew he needed to learn it, he felt it caused at least as much pain as the episodes his scar caused, probably more in that it constantly opened old wounds that had never truly been given a chance to heal.

Suddenly, Remus appeared in the clearing with a very tall man in tow. Harry lowered his wand, which he had drawn on instinct. He smiled brightly at the new comers and waved. "Wotcher Moony."

Remus chucked softly, "You sound like Tonks."

"Er, well ..."

"S'all right, Cub, I was just teasing ... Harry I'd like you to meet, Mikhail Konya. Mikhail, this is Harry, Harry Potter."

"Nice to meet you," Harry replied.

Mikhail's startling eyes seemed to look through Harry, and then seemingly of their own accord, his eyes did the familiar travel up his frame to glance at his scar. Harry reddened. He had not thought that they would arrive so early. He realized that he still had on Dudley's old hand me downs, in particular his favorite shirt which was torn at the bottom so it didn't hang down on him like a dress. Remus had taken the time to buy him all those new things, yet when their guest arrived, he was still parading around in a bin bag. He excused himself to change.

Mikhail eyed Remus suspiciously. "Care to tell me how you forgot to mention that the child you all but kidnapped is the Bloody Boy Who Lived?"

Remus swallowed.