Can I Call You Dad?

Chapter 12

Remus sighed as he sat down; the cottage was empty, when usually he would have had one friend or another come by during the long weeks of summer. However, with the rather terrible threats from Death Eaters, it really wasn't safe to travel. Much.

Remus found himself to be lonely without his friends; after seven years, it was hard to imagine that they wouldn't be with each other as much as they had been during school. The Marauder's had pulled off their last, big prank and Remus knew that they wouldn't be playing anymore pranks. No, they were all too busy running from death to play any pranks on any of their fellow students and teachers.

It was then that his fire flared up; Remus waited for whoever it was to come through. Sirius grinned at him as he brushed soot off of his robes.

"Moony! How are you?"

"I'm all right, and you?"

"I'm an Auror, but you'll never guess what James and Lily did!"

"They're having a baby," Remus replied with a smirk.

"W-what? Who told you?"

"Wormtail," Remus replied with a shrug.

"Ah well, but you know, Lord Moldy-Shorts is getting to be pretty dangerous, even more than he was during our seventh year. I've talked James and Lily into the Fidelius charm,"

"Good, I hope this passes over quickly,"

"It won't, James has escaped that floozy of a dark lord more times than the man is comfortable with; he's going to get James,"

"Padfoot…"

"Nope, nothing you can do, I mean, you know loads of stuff, but the Fidelius charm is the ultimate protection, that is, if the Secret Keeper doesn't mess up,"

"Will you be the Secret Keeper?"

"I'm not sure, we have to talk to Albus about it,"

"That's good…"

"Moony, what is it?"

"Nothing, I'm just paranoid is all," Remus shrugged. Sirius moved to sit on the couch. The fire had turned back to the yellow glow and cracked merrily.

"Are you all right? I mean, I know that we haven't been around lately and all,"

"No, it's fine, Dumbledore gave me a mission, took me months to get it done and even then I failed it,"

"Really?"

"I was supposed to talk the Werewolf factions into joining the Ministry in the war, right? Ha! They weren't buying any of it!"

"I bet they didn't get what you were trying to tell them,"

"Albus wanted me to tell them how wonderful the Ministry is with Werewolves, I'm not a good liar, and I can smell it when people are lying, so I really didn't bother, I told them the truth,"

"They would have torn you apart if you lied to them," Sirius said.

"I know, but I wasn't ready for that,"

"Neither am I, so, James and Lily are moving to Godric's Hollow, I figured that we could give them a home warming party or something," Sirius grinned. Remus was astounded at the fact that Sirius knew the right time to change subjects.

"Brilliant idea! Shall we play a prank on James?" Remus asked.

"You sly dog, you! I hope you have something in mind!"

"Indeed I do, Mr. Padfoot,"


Sirius woke in the early evening; the sun was just setting and the pink glow made the room take on a dream like quality; Sirius stretched, his back popped and he suddenly felt old, but he was glad that there was no one there to point that out to him.

"Mr. Black must eat!" Pockets suddenly yelled into Sirius' ear. Sirius gave a yelp and fell off the bed.

"What?"

"Eat!" the house elf pointed to the desk, a tray was set on it. Sirius nodded his head in understanding and the house elf disappeared. Sirius got to his feet and stumbled over to the desk. The fact that the food might have been poisoned didn't cross his mind as he ate. It had been weeks since Christmas, and he was half-starving. Sirius knew he looked bad, but he hoped he hadn't looked as bad as the mirror in the bathroom had told him he did.

Snape entered then; he had several vials in his hand. Sirius ignored him while he ate, he didn't want to lose his appetite. Which Snape had been able to do even in school!

"I've just talked to Albus, he wants you to stay here for a while," Snape said.

"I hope you declined," Sirius muttered.

"Why would you say that?"

"Why would you want me here in the first place? You hate me, I've never liked you, I would think that you would have admirably told Albus to go stick his head in the girls loo," Sirius replied.

"You'd think that, wouldn't you?"

"So, are you going to keep me here?"

"Maybe, depends actually, now, I trust that I don't have to force feed you these," Snape said putting three vials of potions on the desk besides Sirius' dinner plate. They were all clearly labeled.

"Do I have a choice?"

"Not really, Albus has ordered it,"

"Not in school and still thinks he can run my life…"

"It seems so; the least you could do is see what Albus wants from you first before you go gallivanting off," Snape sneered.

"Fine! But I'm not taking those!"

"I'm not going to bother about it either, leave or stay, I don't give a damn," Snape replied, then he swept out of the room.

Sirius had been pretty good in potions; at least he was better than Frank Longbottom. He looked at one of the potions, it was labeled 'Sleep Easy' – he opened it and took a sniff. It smelled like Pumpkin pie, which wasn't right for this potion. Sirius remembered Remus once telling him that Sleep Easy potion was supposed to smell like lavender and grass. This was wrong, someone labeled this potion wrong.

Sirius stuck it in the pocket of his Azkaban issued robes (which had been cleaned and looked brand new) – he would get Remus to figure out what it was.


"What is it?" Remus asked. Mundungus Fletcher sat on the old couch that sat in front of the fire place. Remus had poured them both some tea, and had brought out what little he had for a small snack. Remus didn't like spending a lot of money but he knew that he needed to go to the grocer soon.

"Er – 'eadmaster Dumbledore 'ent me 'ver 'ith 'his!" Fletcher replied, he brought out a vile. Remus took it and looked at it. It was a very light blood red, almost a pink, and it smelled like Pumpkin pie.

"What is it?" Remus asked.

"Just somethin' ta 'elp ya sleep, Dumbledore thought ya could 'se the rest," Dung waved off Remus' question. Remus gave him a raised eyebrow. He may have been a Gryffindor, and he may have done some stupid things, but Remus never, ever took a potion that he didn't know anything about.

"I'll take it before I go to sleep tonight," Remus said, pocketing the potion.

"'ood, I 'ave ta go, see ya later," Dung stood and used Remus' fireplace to leave. Remus stood and started to clean up the tea set; he wasn't sure about the potion that had been left to him. But he would find out. One way or another.


With Gervais wrapped about his upper arm and partly about his neck; Harry made his way down the stairs. The secret passage had to lead outside, that much was apparent by the smell of roses that floated up to them. With each step that he moved, another light would come on; he was glad about that because he hadn't his wand with him and he knew that he would probably have to do without it. It didn't make him feel better though, he had always carried his wand during the summer.

If only wandless magic wasn't so hard to do…Harry lamented to himself.

Just then, Harry could hear voices, he didn't know what room he heard it from, but he imagined it to be the Parlor.

"Lucius, are you sure?" it was Aunt Narcissa.

"Honey, Dumbledore is up to something; he isn't happy that Harry is gone and he is trying to get Lupin and Black on his side, they won't listen to me if…"

"If what?"

"That's just it, I don't know how Dumbledore is going to control those two,"

"We'll just have to play this out then,"

"What of the boy?"

"He's in his room, he can't get out,"

"Good, we have to keep Potter safe, till the time comes,"

"What about Sirius? And Lupin?"

"I'll take care of them," Lucius replied blandly.

Harry was shocked, he had no clue what the Malfoy's were planning, but hell if he let them win! But was that the right thing to do? He had been treated pretty well in their house, besides being locked in his room. And they hadn't hit or punished him once. But what did that all mean? And what was Dumbledore up too?

Harry shook his head; he decided to explore the rest of the passageway later – when he was sure everyone would be sound asleep.


"Minerva? Are you sure?" Kendrick Lawrence asked. He had an American accent, but he worked with the French Ministry in their Werewolf department. France was more lenient with Werewolves; they didn't care if the Werewolves had a family or not just as long as they were controlled during the full moon.

"Yes, I need you to see what you can do, Remus lives in France mostly, he has a home there and I know you can find a way around the English Ministry,"

"Ah, I see, I'll do what I can but Minister Nicholas will have to be informed,"

"I am a good friend of Muriel, just tell her to Owl or fire call me, I'm free all of summer," Minerva replied.

"I'll give you this much; technically, Harry Potter was born in France, Godric's Hollow is in Western France, which means that Remus Lupin has a right to Harry, as his secondary Guardian as according to Sirius Black," Kendrick replied.

"My point exactly; please ask Muriel if she can get back to me as soon as possible, the sooner we find Harry and Sirius, the sooner we can get their family together,"

"Sirius Black won't be safe in England, but I'm sure that we can give him Sanctuary,"

"Thank you, Kendrick,"

"No problem Minerva, talk to you soon!"

"Good by," Minerva said and the floo connection was cut. Minerva sat back in her desk chair. There was still a lot to do!


Werewolf Act of 1872

Anyone bit by a Werewolf are allowed these rights…..

Werewolves must be allowed a family of their own, they are also allowed to procreate in hopes that their disease will spare the child.

Each month, the Werewolves must take the Ministry approved Wolvesbane potion.

Werewolves are allowed any sort of job they want; the employer must fairly look over all applicants, no matter if they are Werewolf, Vampire or any other 'dark' creature.

Werewolves are people and just like anyone else, must make a life of their own.

Minsiter Louis XX


"Hmmmmmm," Muriel looked over the documents. Kendrick had supplied loads of old Werewolf laws that weren't obsolete in the twenty-first century. She agreed with him though, and would have even without the documents.

"Do you have Mr. Lupin's address?"

"Well, he used the Fidelius charm, we simply cannot see the address for his floo, but I'm sure its there, I'll write him and see if he will meet with you," Kendrick swiped some of his blond hair away from his eyes.

"You do that, I'm going to give Fudge a piece of my mind!" Muriel replied.


Characters –

Kendrick Lawrence – His father was American, his Mother was from France, both were Muggles but Kendrick went to the French school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. After he graduated, he spent some time in America; he'll always have the American accent in my fic, its part of his character. He has blond hair and blue eyes, so think California hunk when he comes into the picture!

Muriel Nicholas – the French Minister of Magic; she is the first women Minister in French History. She is an advocate of Werewolf freedoms. She also went to the French Wizard School and she graduated top of her class. She had long brown hair and blue eyes.

History notes – Hem, hem, for that French Werewolf act, I figured it would be cool to have descendant of the Kings of France to be Minister. I also want you all to know that Minister in France is like being a Queen or King. So, they are given loads of respect. Kendrick and Muriel have been friends since their years of school and so in private Kendrick may not be so respectful, but in public he is the ultimate gentleman. Also, France is a hell of a lot more lenient with their own Werewolf laws; which means that Remus can get a well paying job and not be fired because he missed a few days of work because he was sick or something before r after the full moon.

Hope that helps!

Ta,

Poppy