Harry wasn't surprised to see the entourage awaiting his arrival at Cherish Home. He wasn't surprised when Mrs. Smith informed Remus that it was necessary to stay for a meeting. Hell, Harry wasn't surprised that an officer was waiting just inside Mrs. Smith's office.
"Mr. Lupin, It saddens me that we even have to have this meeting. I truly believed that Harry was getting better." That was always how Smith talked. She described Harry's habits as if they were a disease.
Harry noticed the glance Remus gave him, silently asking what this could be about. Harry just averted his eyes. Remus would be disappointed in him, but he couldn't change that now.
"If the two of you would sit down," Smith gestured towards two chairs in front of her desk. The officer stood at the door as if guarding it. Harry rolled his eyes at the effort, he wasn't dumb enough to attempt an escape.
"Earlier today Mr. Lupin we had room inspections."
"Yes, Harry mentioned it." Remus' tone was neutral but Harry could see he was slightly tense.
"Yes, well, when Harry's room was inspected we found several items that are considered contraband in Cherish Home."
"And what were these items?"
"We found two weapons, knives, as well as a container of alcohol. The thing that concerned us the most however was the small bag of cocaine." The office was silent after this declaration. Harry kept his head down. He was an idiot for not hiding it the second he had gotten to his room but he hadn't thought they would do a room check so quickly.
"As you know Remus, we can only do so much here."
"Of course, were any others caught?"
"Only one other charge of yours was found in possesion of contraband. The other two boys are Mary Olson's.
"Seamus?"
"Yes." Harry was surprised that Seamus had gotten got. He was usually the lucky one of the group.
"Do you have anything to say about this Harry?" Remus asked the question as if Harry had a plausible argument against the allegations.
"So I guess I'm off to the next house right?" His tone was bitter with a razor edge to it.
"Don't take that tone with Mr. Lupin, Harry!"
"Or what? You can't do a damn thing about it!" He stood quickly from his chair, daring the old hag to say another word.
"Sit down, Harry." Remus's gentle tone did nothing to abate Harry's agitation.
"I don't want to!"
"You will do as your told!" Smith screeched. Harry just glared at her.
Harry noticed the officer was approaching him.
"Don't fucking come near me!" The officer looked surprised at Harry's yelling.
"Mrs. Smith, might I have a moment alone to speak with Harry?" Smith nodded apprehensively.
"I don't want to talk to you!"
Smith and the officer both left the room closing the door behind them.
"Calm down Harry, I just want to talk." Harry's breathing was coming faster and he couldn't stop his hands from shaking. The pale yellow walls of Smith's office were making him sick. He noticed Remus had stood and was slowly approaching him.
"Sit down." The sandy haired man pressed gently down on Harry's arms, guiding him down to his seat.
"I don't want to go to another home Remus." He didn't want to go to another family. He didn't want to go through feeling like an awkward outsider. He didn't want to feel unwanted again. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to mess up again. You know I didn't." His voice was shaking.
Remus took a deep breathe. To Harry he looked like he was trying to decide what to say. His social worker still exuded a calm sense despite how strung up Harry was.
"Harry I was recently notified of a place that would like both you and Seamus to live there. It is run by an old friend of mine."
"I don't want to go."
"It's a nice place Harry, called Hogwarts. I really think you both would like it. It's also not in this city, so you could get away from all these old influences."
"NO!"
"You can't keep living like this Harry! It's not healthy."
"Sirius is getting out of jail at the end of this week Remus, then he is going to come and get me and we are going to be just fine!" Harry glared at the man, daring him to say other wise.
"Please Harry, just consider the option. You keep saying you want a fresh start, a place to belong! Here is your chance!"
"I belong with Sirius, we don't need you!" The conversation ended there. Remus sighed and left the room. Nearly five minutes later Harry was collected and taken to his room. It was even more bare than when he had left this morning.
He crossed the room and flopped down on the bed. He wouldn't go to dinner tonight, what he needed was sleep. He drifted off to the thoughts of Sirius impending freedom and what it would bring.
Remus Lupin rubbed his eyes getting the last of sleep out of them. His coffee didn't taste nearly strong enough for what he had planned today. With ease he drove his small car through morning traffic while he thought carefully about his upcoming meeting.
Remus took his job as a social worker very seriously. The boys he represented were victims and he was one of the few that stood for them. No one else was willing to work intensely with troublesome and sometimes dangerous teenagers.
Harry had become his charge seven years prior. At the time the emerald eyed boy had been bruised and broken and not willing to trust anyone aside from his convict godfather. Remus had met with Sirius many times. The man loved his godson with all his heart but he had his own demons to deal with and could not also responsibly care for a child.
Over the years Harry had learned to trust Remus and it was a gift Remus did not take lightly. He did everything in his power to help his charges toward a better future.
It was this hope that had him driving toward the city jail house for the second time this week. His job was to make the decisions he felt best for the adolescent. In this case he knew that Hogwarts was exactly what Harry needed though the boy would hardly agree.
Sirius had told him yet again that everything would be fine. It would be... for a time. Then, just like every other time Harry was placed in his godfather's custody, Sirius would begin to fall apart. He like his godson needed help, the kind of help you could not receive while taking care of a child who had his own addictions to battle.
Remus would be damned if he had to pick up the pieces Harry was left in after Sirius broke his heart again. He parked as close to the door as possible then proceeded across the crowded lot towards the reception office.
"How can I help you sir?" The woman at the desk didn't bother to look up as she shuffled through various forms on her desk.
"I had an appointment to speak with inmate S. Black."
"Name?"
"Remus Lupin."
"Here you are. Black is already waiting so if you'll follow Officer Brody, he will escort you back." Remus nodded and followed the young cadet to the visiting room he had been in just the day before with Harry. Just as the woman had said Sirius was waiting. Remus took a breath and got ready for the difficult conversation.
They both picked up the telephones that would allow them to speak. Remus could tell that Sirius was confused that he was his visitor.
"Lupin."
"Sirius."
"To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?" Remus could easily detect the sarcasm in Black's voice.
"I'm here to discuss Harry and his future." Black instantly became more guarded.
"I get out of here in a week, what is there to discuss?"
"You see Harry has been given a special opportunity. Hogwarts Boys Home has accepted him and is willing to help him get on his feet."
"Sound smashing, but like I said I'm outta here in a week."
"Sirius this is an opportunity that Harry can't afford to loose."
"He'll be just fine with me!"
"For how long Sirius! While you've been in here Harry has had no one to turn to. He has developed some of your own nasty habits." Sirius visibly recoiled at this.
"What?"
"He has gotten himself in to drugs as well as drinking, it's his way of coping."
"How bad is he?"
"He can still be helped. Hogwarts can help him!"
"And I can't." It wasn't so much a question. Sirius's eyes looked clouded and Remus saw that his argument was finally going some where.
"I know you love him Black and I have no doubt that you would do anything to help him. That is why I'm here."
"You want me to let him go." Black eyes rose to meet Remus's own. Slowly he nodded. "It will break his heart."
"For a while, but you will save his life."
"Is he really that bad off?"
"The drinking and drugs are not the main issue. He has a tendency to harm himself when emotions get to much for him. He has bad outbursts too."
"God, he doesn't deserve this."
"No, he doesn't."
"And this Hogwarts place, it'll help him."
"I'm positive."
"Will I be able to see him again?"
"Perhaps, in time, when he is better."
"I guess that is going to have to be enough. I know its selfish but I don't want to let him go." Remus gave him a sad smile.
"I know you will do the right thing Sirius." And Remus knew he would.