Learning to Cope
Summery: Harry comes back for his third year of Hogwarts. The Dursley's were worse during this summer holiday and it leaves lasting damage. How will his friends react? Sirius is alive.
Note: This will follow the books. Just my own version.
Chapter Three
Escape!
Two weeks had passed and things were okay. Remus was currently walking the empty halls of Hogwarts late at night. He had just left the monthly meeting with the rest of the Hogwarts staff. Remus' thoughts were immediately brought back to his charge. He found he was always worried about Harry. He worried if Harry were with his friends outside. He worried if Harry was walking alone in Hogwarts. He was well aware that Harry had some enemies that might try to hurt him. So far there had been no problems of that, but you never knew.
Harry was doing much better with his sign language. His friends were also learning rapidly, and often resorted to using it to communicate with him. Harry often used his communicator. Many of his friends had been fascinated by the device.
Entering his rooms his hearing immediately picked up sounds from Harry's room. Rushing to the room Remus flicked his wand so a small candle would light and rushed to Harry's side. He gently shook Harry's shoulder in an attempt to wake him. A few minutes later Harry's eye's snapped open and he began to scan the room for an unknown terror. Finding no one other than Remus he relaxed slightly. Remus picked up the communicator on the bedside table and handed it to Harry along with his glasses. Harry put on his glasses and read the screen.
Are you okay Harry?
Harry nodded, not looking okay in the least.
Do you want to talk about your nightmare?
Harry shook his head tiredly. Now that the adrenaline from his nightmare was gone he was tired. "No."
Remus nodded. He'd expected this answer. Harry always told him that he didn't want to talk about his nightmares. Remus wished he would, but he also wouldn't force him. Remus stayed with Harry for an hour and a half, long after he had fallen asleep. Finally he got up, snuffed out the candle, and went to bed himself.
Waking up the next morning Remus dressed and put on some tea. Checking on Harry he found him sound asleep. He didn't have the heart to wake him. Harry had been having these nightmares almost every night, and he had lost a lot of sleep over them.
Remus left a note for Harry before leaving for breakfast an hour later.
Sitting next to Professor McGonagall he began to put some food on his plate.
"Is Mr. Potter not eating breakfast this morning?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"I let him sleep in." He explained then elaborated. "These nightmares he keeps having are beginning to affect him. He wants to go to bed earlier, and is always tired when I wake him in the morning." Professor McGonagall nodded in understanding.
Opening his eyes Harry looked around. The sun was streaming through his window. Sitting up he grabbed his glasses and put them on. Noticing the note lying under his communicator he picked it up.
Good Morning Sleepy Head. I went to breakfast. Come to the great hall when your dressed.
Remus
Harry smiled and shook his head. Remus always woke him in the mornings to go to breakfast. He had to admit he felt much better then he had yesterday. Getting up he grabbed some clothes and took his morning shower. When he was finished he went to the Great Hall.
He was greeted cheerfully by his friends and he greeted them just as cheerfully.
They were about half way through breakfast when the owls began to swoop in the windows and over the tables dropping off their deliveries. Hermione picked up a rolled up news paper and began to unravel it. She gasped as she read the front page article.
After a few minutes of reading she handed it to Harry who looked at her in confusion. He didn't understand why she would want him to read the paper. Looking at the headline he began to read.
Sirius Black Escapes Azkaban!
Aurors routinely check the prisoners of the wizarding prison Azkaban, but they got a surprise during their check yesterday afternoon. Apparently one of the prisoners escaped sometime this past week.
Not just any prisoner! Sirius Black!
Sirius Black was sentenced to a life term in Azkaban twelve years ago, without trial, for the Murders of twelve Muggles, and three of his closest friends, Peter Pettigrew, and most notably Lily and James Potter!
It is believed that Black informed He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named of the Potter's secret location. Black was their Secret Keeper, and is known to be from a family of 'dark wizards.'
It is not known why Black informed He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named of the Potter families location. Nor why he later murdered twelve innocent Muggles on a busy London street, or his best friend Peter Pettigrew.
Black is dangerous and if you should see him then fire call or owl .
Harry looked up when he finished reading the article. There was a picture of Black on the front. It looked like a prison photo. Looking up at Hermione he saw that both his friends, and many of the rest of the Great Hall was staring at him. Looking over at the staff table he saw Remus gapping at his own copy of the news paper.
The headmaster stood and held out his arms to gain everyone's attention. Harry took out his communicator.
"In light of today's cover story I must insist that every one be careful. Stay in groups. Do not walk alone. Do not leave Hogwarts grounds. Hogsmead trips are cancelled. Quidditch practice must have a Head of House present. Classes will resume as normal."
And with that he resumed his seat and began eating again. Harry looked over at Remus and saw him talking feverishly with Dumbledore. Is he okay? Harry thought concernedly. Remus very rarely argued with anyone.
Finally when breakfast was finished Harry went to the Headmasters office. Entering the office he saw Dumbledore sitting at his desk.
"Hello, Harry." Harry read on his communicator.
"Hello headmaster." Harry said sitting down at the small desk. Turning back he asked, "Is Remus okay?"
"Yes, he's okay Harry. Just concerned about something."
"About what?"
"It's not my place to tell." Harry nodded and turned back to his work.
Later that evening Harry and Remus were going through the sign language. Harry had noticed how Remus had been slightly distracted since he had retrieved him from the Headmasters office.
"Is everything okay Remus?" Harry signed. Remus watched intently as he continued to sign. "Who was that guy in the paper and what's he got to do with my parents?"
Remus took a deep breath and sighed. Slowly he began to sign. "Sirius used to be a close friend of mine, your parents and Peter. We met in school. James, Peter, Sirius and I were known as the Marauders."
"Marauders?" Harry signed confused.
"M-a-r-a-u-d-e-r-s." Remus spelled in sign language. "It was the name of out group. We used to pull a lot of pranks in school."
Harry nodded that he understood, so Remus continued signing.
"Your parents started dating 6th year. They married two years after Hogwarts, and two years later had you. Your parents made Sirius your Godfather."
"He's my godfather?" Harry asked. After Remus nodded he continued. "Why didn't they make you my godfather?"
Remus took another deep breath. He was worried how Harry would react to his 'condition'. Would he hate him for it? Would he not want to live with him anymore. Would he fear living with him? Finally he began to sign. "They couldn't. I have a condition-" He paused nervously, but Harry took that time to sign.
Repeating Remus' sign 'condition' he asked what it meant having never seen the sign before.
"C-o-n-d-i-t-i-o-n." Remus signed patiently. Better get it over with. He thought before signing again. "I'm a werewolf."
Remus was waiting for Harry to get angry. Instead he just sat there calmly. Finally he began to sign. "So?"
Remus was stunned. Harry didn't seem angry. He knew Harry had to know about werewolves because it was pretty popular in the Muggle world. "The wizarding world has a prejudice against werewolves. I'm surprised you don't."
"Why should I?" Harry seemed very confused.
"Most consider werewolf's as dangerous." Remus explained.
"Only once a month." Harry replied back. "Otherwise your normal. Except for heightened senses, right?"
Remus nodded in confirmation. "Why aren't you angry or scared?" Remus asked confusedly.
"I don't see a need to be." Harry signed. "Is that why I spent one night with Dumbledore?" Harry remembered spending the night with Dumbledore. He'd been given no explanation other then it was an emergency.
Remus nodded. "I'll understand if you don't want to stay here anymore."
Harry shook his head. "No I want to stay." Harry said aloud. "But I have a confession to make too." Harry said carefully. If Remus was going to admit to his 'condition', then he deserved to know about Harry's.
Remus nodded. "Okay, then."
Harry took a deep breath, hoping that Remus wouldn't get scared about what he was about to tell him. "Last year I learned I was Parselmouth." Looking back at Remus he didn't know what to expect. He didn't know if Remus would be angry, or upset, or fearful. But what he saw he didn't expect.
Remus just had an eye brow raised. After a moment he saw Remus' mouth moving and looked down at his communicator. "You can speak to snakes?" Harry looked back up at Remus and nodded nervously. "When did you learn you could speak to snakes?" Harry read on the communicator.
"At the Dursleys. Dudley's birthday is a few months before mine and he and his parents planned on going to the zoo. Usually they leave me with a neighbor but this year she had a broken leg and couldn't take me, so they took me with them. We were in the reptile house and I began to talk to the python that was in an enclosure – I didn't expect it to talk back – but it did. Dudley noticed it was moving and knocked me over. I wished he would fall through the enclosure and he did a moment later – the snake escaped – and the glass appeared again and Dudley was trapped." Harry explained nervously.
"I bet that was a sight." Remus said amused at Harry's story.
Harry looked up sharply. "Your not mad?"
"No." Remus said patiently shaking his head. "I don't think I have a reason to be. Why do you think I would be?"
"Because everyone at school was when they found out last year." Harry said softly.
"Well, I don't think they had a reason to be either." Remus said patiently. "I think we have something in common though. We both have something that others are unknowledgeable about."
Harry nodded sadly. He agreed with that. And his being deaf – in the Wizarding world – didn't help him fit in any better.
"Shall we get along with the story of Sirius then?" Remus asked trying to redirect the conversation to something less-depressing.
Harry nodded so he continued.
"Your parents went into hiding a few months after you were born. Sirius was their Secret Keeper. He was the only one who knew their location. He told Voldemort and Voldemort came to your house. You know the rest." Remus spoke aloud too. Harry used his communicator to read what was said. "Anyway, a few hours after the attack he went after our friend Peter. He killed Peter and twelve other muggles. He was arrested by Aurors soon after and sent to Azkaban for life."
"What do you think he's going to do?" Harry asked after a moment.
"I don't know Harry." Remus answered with a sigh, but Harry couldn't hear it. "I want you to be careful though. I want you to always be with someone when you leave these rooms. And please don't go outside unless you have at least two people with you." Remus said seriously, staring Harry in the eyes when he looked up from his communicator.
Harry nodded. "I won't.
"How about we move to a less depressing subject?" Remus asked, their studies on sign language forgotten. "Your parent's perhaps?" Remus asked with a wink at Harry.
Harry nodded enthusiastically. He would love to hear anything anyone could tell him about his parents.
Remus laughed at Harry's enthusiasm. "Your mum had been working very had to teach you how to walk and talk. But you never did. One night you were with your dad and he was trying to get you to walk. You were on the other side of the room, crawling around, and he called to you. Finally, you stood up. Slowly you took a few steps toward him. Boy was he shocked." Remus paused to let Harry finish reading what he'd said before continuing. "And same thing with when you spoke your first word. You said 'Dad' before 'Mum.'" Remus informed Harry smiling. "Your dad hid both times from your mum knowing she would be angry that he'd gotten you to walk and talk before she could."
"Did I get along with my dad better then my mum?" Harry asked slightly confused but happy to hear about his baby-hood.
"No, not necessarily." Remus answered. "You got along wonderfully with both your mum and dad. Both loved you like nobody's business. You look like your dad, but you have more of your mum's personality." Remus explained.
The next hour was spent talking about his parents. Harry enjoyed every minute of it. It was great hearing about his parents. Finally, when it was time to go to bed Remus came into his room after he'd gotten ready for bed.
"I wanted to give you something." Remus explained.
"What?" Harry asked as he watched Remus pull something out. Taking it from him he examined it. It was a blank piece of parchment.
"Parchment?" Harry asked confused.
"Not just any parchment." Remus said mischievously. Taking out his want he tapped it and spoke. Harry read, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
Harry watched as ink began to appear on the parchment.
The Marauders Map
Messer's:
Moony
Padfoot
Prongs
Wormtail
Was written on the parchment. Harry gasped. Remus had told him about the Marauders. But he didn't understand the Messer's part.
"What are the Messer's?" Harry asked looking up to Remus.
Remus smiled. "Moony is myself. Prongs was your dad. Peter was wormtail. Sirius was Padfoot." He explained.
Opening the Marauders Map Harry gasped again. "It's a map of Hogwarts!"
"Yes it is." Remus said sitting down on the bed next to Harry. "Us Marauders used to use it during out pranks. We made it together actually. And now, its yours."
"Thank you." Harry said as he tentatively reached out and hugged Remus. Remus was surprised because it was rare for Harry to initiate touch with others, gently he hugged him back.
"I want you to keep it with you at all times." Remus said after he pulled back. He waited for Harry to finish reading what he'd said. "I just want to be cautious so don't worry okay?"
Harry nodded. "Thank you, Remus."
"Your welcome, Harry." Remus said smiling as he stood up. "Good night."
"Good night."
End of Chapter Three
A/N: Here's the third chapter! I hope you like it! Please REVIEW! And HAPPY NEW YEAR 2006!
Next Chapter:
Harry moves back to the dorms, begins classes, and has a nightmare.
Comunicator device: I got a review saying that one of you does not believe that the device I have Harry using to communicate (I've been calling it a communicator, for the lack of a better name) does not exist. I saw the device on a TV show one tome and found it very interesting. In an episode of Walker, Texas Ranger, in the last season of the show, one of the Rangers, Gage, lost his hearing due to an explosion. His doctor gave him a device to help him understand what people said. It had a microphone that allowed him to read what people said on a screen.
