Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

Really sorry about how long this took, lots of junk came up. But…but book 6 is out!

"Harry seems to like it here, doesn't he?" Kingsley took a sip of juice. Harry had just finished his first week in his new home.

"Yes, but he does seem a little withdrawn."

"A little withdrawn is an understatement, Remus. He still has a problem talking and acting around us."

"I know, but---" Remus stopped talking when he saw Harry emerging from the basement. "Good morning, Harry."

"Good morning, Remus. Kingsley."

"Good morning, Harry. I'm off to work; I'll see you two later."

"Bye." Remus said as Kingsley disapparated away.

"What do you want to do today, Harry?" Remus asked as he gave Harry some eggs and toast.

"Whatever's fine with me." Harry said as he stared at the ground.

"How about if we play chess? Have you ever played before?"

"I played a little bit in school."

"Do you want to play? It's not the same as Muggle chess."

"Alright, but how's it different?"

"Let me go get my set and I'll show you." Remus exited the room. His chess set was a bit battered, but then again it was an old set. It had been a gift from his parents the Christmas before he started at Hogwarts. Remus reentered the kitchen.

"Okay, Harry. Here is how Wizard's chess works." Remus started taking Harry through the basics such as how the pieces move to the spot you tell them too and that the pieces beat each other up. Remus gave Harry the first few rounds.

"Remus, you're letting me win."

"No, I'm not. You're just really good at this."

"Remus, come on. Play for real now."

"Alright, but I didn't let you win."

"You as good as admitted it."

"When did I do that?"

"When you said alright when I said that you should play for real." Harry shyly grinned at the older man.

"Fine, but don't expect any mercy." Remus quickly won the next several games.

"How did you get so good at this?" Harry asked in awe a few hours later.

"I've been playing this since I was about ten years old. Strategy was always an interest of mine."

"Oh, could you help me get better?"

"Alright." Remus set the game back up and started showing Harry some basic moves.

After Harry went to bed later that night Remus received another letter from Dumbledore.

Dear Remus,

How is everything going with Harry? I hope that he has adjusted to the change well enough. I need to ask one more favor of you. My Defense Against the Dark Arts professor has needed to leave for an extended period of time and won't be returning until next summer. He wishes to gain some practical experience in the field. Would you teach Defense Against the Dark Arts for a year? Please respond to this as quickly as you can.

Albus Dumbledore

Remus couldn't believe what he had just read. He felt just like he had when he received his Hogwarts letter. Dumbledore was willing to give him a job. He'd have a steady paycheck for a change. He wouldn't be doing whatever odd jobs that he could find.

Remus felt his grin drop. How could this possibly work? What if one of the students got bitten? He couldn't do that to any of them. How would that affect Harry if he were there, too?

On one hand he could have a paycheck but if he were to bite a student then that would be a price too high to pay. He'd just have to decline the job. Besides, there are probably lots of people who would want that job.

"Hey, Remus." Kingsley entered the room.

"Hello, Kingsley. How was work? Any idea of what Black's up to?"

"No, he's in England somewhere, but there haven't been any real leads for awhile. What's that there?"

"A letter from Dumbledore. He's asking me to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts for a year."

"Are you going to do it?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"How could I possibly?" Remus told Kingsley of his fears of biting one of the students.

"Remus, Dumbledore wouldn't ask you if he thought that you were an endangerment to any of the students. There's that new potion, Wolfsbane, which might help."

"I suppose but potions was always my weak subject I just barely passed. I wouldn't be able to make it. Besides, I heard that it's a very difficult potion to make."

"I'm sure the Potions Master at the school would be able to help."

"Kingsley, why do you want me to take the job?"

"For many reasons. You'd be good at it, you have excellent knowledge dealing with this field, and you would be best able to protect Harry at Hogwarts. You used to be friends with Black and you're someone that Harry trusts. You saw the way he's been acting. If there is at least one person at Hogwarts who Harry knows and trusts then Harry will have an easier time adapting."

"All right. I'll tell Dumbledore that I'll take the job."

A week passed since Remus accepted the teaching post when an owl dropped yet another letter off at Remus's. Remus was in the middle of cooking breakfast and smiled when he saw to whom the letter was addressed. He put the letter down on the table and served breakfast. "Harry time to come up." Remus called down. Kingsley had left early that morning because of a recent sighting of Black.

"What's going on Remus?"

"Well, don't you know what day it is? Happy birthday, Harry."

"Thanks, there's a letter on the table for you. Also, here. It's from Kingsley and me."

Harry unwrapped the gift. "Thanks, Remus." Harry held up a wizard's chess set.

"You're welcome."

"No, really thanks. I've never gotten a present before."

"I'm sorry Harry." How could anyone mistreat a child? Remus could remember the first time he ever saw Harry. Lily wouldn't let any of James's friends holding Harry; she didn't even want James holding him. Not one of them even knew how to change a diaper. When Lily got sick James called over Remus and Sirius to try to help take care of Harry. Remus could remember Harry spitting up all his food and laughing at the mess. Adding Sirius to the mix, who never acted serious when it came to Harry, and the damage was done. Once Lily got better Harry was almost always supervised by her until James and his friends could tell a diaper from a napkin.
Harry had been very lucky as a baby to have Lily and James as parents, it was a pity it wasn't able to last. They should have been the ones with him when he got his letter, not Remus.

"Remus! I'm going to Hogwarts!"

"What did you expect? That you wouldn't be going? Do you want to get your supplies today?"

"Alright. Where are we going, and how am I supposed to pay for them? I don't have any money."

"We're going to Diagon Alley, and don't worry about the money. You're parents left you with some. Finish eating and get ready then we'll go."

"Okay."

"Harry there is one thing that I want to ask you."

"Yeah? Did I do some thing wrong? You're not going to send me back there, are you?"

"Harry, I will not be sending you back to your relatives. Headmaster Dumbledore has offered me a job teaching one of the subjects at Hogwarts. I have accepted the post, but if for whatever reason you're uncomfortable with me taking it then I won't."

"Why would I be uncomfortable?"

"Well, Harry, it's just that the other students won't have a parent or guardian living with them on school grounds."

"But, you're not really my guardian are you? You never said if I had to go back to the Dursleys after the school term ended. I thought that I was just here for the summer."

"You're right. I just wanted to make sure that you wouldn't feel awkward being the only student in school with the person that he's been living with over the summer also living at the castle. Well, then let's head off."

Remus had told Harry not to look anybody in the eye and to quickly make his way through the Leaky Cauldron. The less people who found out that Harry Potter was being reintroduced to the wizarding world so much the better. "So, Harry how about if we go get your money."

Remus steered Harry toward a giant building called Gringotts. As they walked inside Remus couldn't help but notice how Harry was torn between fear and awe at the goblins working there. "Those are goblins, Harry. They are generally thought of as tricky and deceptive along with mean. However, I don't feel that that should be a just assumption. Wizards often look down upon other species."

"Really? Why would they?"

"Because they're scared of them or that they just want t control. Not all wizards are like that, though. Ah, here's a free counter."

"What?" The goblin peered over the counter.

"Harry Potter is here to make a withdrawal."

"Does he have his key?" The goblin sneered as he examined his hand.

"Right here." Remus pulled out a small shiny key.

"Very well. Griphook! Take these two to Mr. Harry Potter's vault."

"This way, get into the cart."

"Come on Harry. This is perfectly safe." Remus slightly smiled.

"Of course."

After a few minuets of racing past stone vault after vault they stopped before a rather impressive one. Griphook jumped out of the cart and inserted the key.

Harry walked over to the base of the vault. "Is this all mine?" His voice clearly full of awe.

"Yes. The gold ones are galleons, the silver ones are sickles, and the bronze ones are knuts." As Remus went over the various coins Harry pocketed some of it.

"All set then?"

"Yes, I think so."

After leaving Gringotts and getting Harry's robes they went and got Harry's wand. "Olivander's is the best place to buy a wand."

"Ah, Mr. Harry Potter. I thought I'd be seeing you. Good to see you again, as well Remus. How's that wand treating you?"

"Just fine, we're here for Harry today."

"All right let me see." After taking Harry's measurements and going through have the wands in the store, Olivander decided to try an odd combination.

"I wonder, you can't forget, Mr. Potter, that it's the wand that chooses the wizard." He handed Harry the wand, and sure enough the phoenix tail feather wand was the one.

"That's curious. Very curious." Olivander continued to mutter as he completed the sale.

"Sorry, but what's curious?" Harry asked. Remus too looked rather curious at what Olivander's answer would be.

"The phoenix whose tail feather is in that wand gave only one other feather. That wand was sold to He Who Must Not Be Named. The two wands are brothers."

Harry looked slightly pale at that comment. After finishing up gathering supplies it was time to head home.

Thanks to:

Someone

HoshiHikari---I can't possibly answer that :)

Squirrelz---yeah, I'm having it so Sirius escaped a little sooner than in cannon.