Young and Helpless

Chapter Six

Remus was outraged, when he got home. He placed all of Harry's belongings on the Kitchen table, and sat on the chair with a large sigh. He rested his head in his hands, and closed his eyes.

Harry is being beating. He was being beaten because of having flaws. The poor thing is malnourished, and is probably sprouting more injuries then I get every full moon, and that's saying something! Remus curled his hands into fists at this, and held his breath.

No use getting angry. They got what they deserved. I'll get the police into this after. Remus thought, and he let out the breath he was holding, before opening his eyes again.

He stared at the piece of canvas sticking out from between the pile of baggy, worn-out clothes. He picked it up, and stared at it.

It was the picture he had painted for Harry at the park. He smiled sadly at the picture of the smiling boy. Poor Kid.

He jumped, and stood up suddenly, when he heard a soft moan. The picture slipped from his hand, landing on the pile of clothes, as the wooden chair clattered to the floor. He swirled around, looking for the creator of the sound, but found no one.

He strained his ears. Another moan, and it was coming from upstairs.

Harry. He thought, and with that, quickly and quietly made his way to Harry's room.

He entered the room, to find Harry tangled in his sheets, curled up, and moaning softly. His eyes were shut tightly, and he was covering his face with his hands.

"No." He moaned softly, as he cowered over something unseen.

"Harry?" Remus called softly. He walked over to the bed, and sat on its edge, watching the boy fidget in his sleep.

"P-please. Stop it. Owww… No…" He moaned again.

Remus cringed at Harry's words, and carefully tapped him on his shoulder.

Harry jumped back, with wide fearful eyes, before huddling under the blankets, quivering quietly.

"Harry, are you okay?" Remus asked softly and gently.

"I d-didn't mean t-to. I won't m-make any more nois-se." Harry's muffled voice came from the depths of the blankets.

"Harry's it's alright. Moony's here." Remus reassured the fearful figure, as he pulled the blankets slowly off of the boy's head.

Remus engulfed Harry in a warm and comforting hug, and Harry dove into his shirt, sobbing quietly.

"H-he was going t-to hurt m-me. Don't let him,p-please." Harry murmured softly.

"It's okay. You're living with me. I won't let anyone hurt you." Remus said quietly, closing his eyes as he felt the burn of tears, threatening to spill.

"Make it go away. It w-won't go away." Harry said through silent sobs.

Remus felt the tears slowly slip down his cheeks.

"It'll go away. Not now, but soon. Do you trust me?" Remus whispered, as he wiped away the tears that managed to leak from his eyes.

Harry nodded slowly into Remus' shirt, but then his fingers tighten their grasp on his shirt.

"I'm s-sorry. I g-get scared. I d-don't wanna run away from y-you." He said quietly.

"It's okay. It's okay to be scared. You don't have to run away. They're gone. You're not going to get hurt anymore. Trust me." Remus whispered, as he tightened his embrace on the boy.

He felt a tiny hand grasp his own tightly. He looked down, to see Harry holding on to his hand desperately.

"Th-thank You." Harry whispered.

Remus couldn't help it. He smiled.

"Your Welcome."

How long the two sat there, neither remembered.

Harry sat on Remus' lap, his arms wrapped around the werewolf, as Remus look upon him with puffy red eyes, and a bright smile.

"Better?" Remus asked, annoyed that his voice cracked slightly.

"Better." Harry answered, snuggling into the warmth of Remus' shirt. His hand was still clutching at Remus' hand, as if to plead to Remus not to leave him.

"Do you want to change out of those clothes? They're all dirty." Remus suggested, eyeing the ripped jeans with guilt as he remembered Harry had tripped and gotten that here.

Harry shook his head slowly.

"Why not?" Remus whispered gently.

"Not yet." Harry said simply. Remus sighed. Of course, He thought, he's in denial. He doesn't want anyone to see him weak and hurt.

"Okay. That's okay. When you're ready though, just tell me. I'll help you okay?" Remus assured him.

Harry nodded.

Remus ruffled the boy's hair carefully, smiling fondly at him.

"Moony?" Harry whispered quietly.

"Yeah?" Remus answered.

There was pause, as Harry fidgeted in his arms.

"Never Mind." Harry said, burying himself in Remus' warm embrace again.

"You can tell me anything." Remus said, massaging the boy's back in soothing circles.

Harry winced slightly.

"It's okay. You don't have to do that." Harry said, looking up at Remus, and then to Remus' hand, massaging his back.

"Sorry. Did I hurt you?" Remus asked, removing his hand from Harry's back.

Harry shook his head.

"He hurt me, not you. You t-touched me where it-t hurts. It's not y-your fault." Harry said into Remus' shirt.

"Oh. I'm sorry." Remus said gently, watching the boy cuddle against his warm embrace. He's never had this. He's never had anyone to hug him, and love him. Curse those Dursleys! Remus thought, angrily.

"What did you want before?" Remus asked.

Harry looked up with his sparkling green eyes, and began to bite his lower lip.

"I'm…h-hungry." Harry whispered, and then he closed his eyes tight, and cringed as if expecting some sort of punishment.

"That's it? You don't have to worry about that! I'll go fix something up for you. What do you want? I guess for dinner, it's to late for lunch." Remus said, smiling warmly.

Harry smiled, and squirmed out of Remus' embrace.

"Well, what do you want to eat?" Remus asked, as he crossed his legs on Harry's bed.

Harry shrugged his shoulder, looking down and beginning to trace the pattern on the duvet cover.

"What about pizza? Do kids your age eat pizza?" Remus asked.

Harry looked up with wide eyes, and a small smile sprouted on his lips.

"Really?" He asked.

"Why not?" Remus answered, happy to see Harry smiling.

" Because I'm a freak." Harry murmured.

Remus faltered for a second, staring at Harry, gazing at his feet, which were swinging off the side of the bed.

"You are not a freak." Remus stated gently.

Harry didn't say anything, and continued to stare at his feet solemnly.

"Come one tiger, you are not a freak. You are my friend, and we are going to get ourselves some pizza, okay?" Remus said happily, getting up, and crouching down at Harry's feet so they were at eye level. He reached out, and brought Harry's chin up, so their eyes could meet.

"Okay?" He asked, this time much quieter.

Harry's face broke into a happy grin, and he clapped his hands together.

"Okay." He said happily.

A/N: As you can tell, little Harry is finally warming up to Remus. Don't expect their relationship to stay so strong though. There's still a lot that has to go on. Harry doesn't even know Remus is a werewolf, and let's just say that when he does find out, it wont be pretty.

Thanks For the Reviews (Edited Version)