Chapter Thirteen
"They've released Harry and Logan in to the woods." Remus nodded absently, thinking upon the history he was willingly about to reveal. It had been years since he had a helpful listener. Lily was his only true female friend, the only true confidante to share things. He loved his best friends but they weren't always serious.
But Lily was different. She was beautiful in more ways then one. She always tried to see the good in everyone, no matter their status. She befriended anyone, lent her help to the needy. Oh, her aide had been used and abused, belittled and scorn. Many would degrade her blood, her knowledge, even herself. But Lily always picked herself up from the dirt, carefully brushing it aside. In calm tones she would apologize. Her tormentors would be stunned. No one could really understand Lily.
Remus had once asked her why. She had stated 'prejudice has always reared its head, no matter the generation. They are not worth my time in a battle of who's right. I'm stronger than that and one day so will they be.' Not long after that they learned of Lily's vicious streak. Oh, the fiery temper within a woman whose mind had extensive knowledge of hexes. What a scene that would cause.
Remus remembered such a time. He and Lily were discussing Dark Creatures when a shy Hufflepuff was being tormented by a select few Slytherins. The Hufflepuff's older brother had been claimed by a Master Vampire as a Blood Consort. The Ministry of Magic was against all Dark Creatures, even the people who bonded to one. The Hufflepuff's brother had been evicted from his home, fired from his job, and almost exiled from the Magical world. Now these Slytherins were taunting the shy boy.
/"Looks like the O'Malley family got what they deserved!"
"What's the matter, Hufflepuff? Brother had to be sold off as a Dark Creature's whore to feed your family."
"That's what your mother gets for marrying below her station. A Pureblood witch turned Muggle-lover with a whore for a son."
The Hufflepuff cried out, "Stop it!"
They all laughed at his tears, "Maybe your father will sell you next. Knockturn whores always get money for pretty little sluts like you."
Lily frowned when they had heard the cruel laughter. "What in the world?"
Remus shuddered, hating the fact that the full moon was near, enabling him to hear almost every word. "It's Jason, Lily." He pointed towards the lake.
Green eyes flashed with anger as she zeroed in on the laughing Slytherins and crying Hufflepuff. Jason O'Malley was always being teased. She immediately rushed to his aide, "What do you think you're doing?"
The Slytherins jumped, turning as one as they fought to save face, "Stay out, Mudblood."
"I will not, Malfoy. You will leave Jason alone."
They jeered at her, sneering, "Looks like the little slut has a girlfriend. What a better pair, a Mudblood and a whore. First his brother, now Evans."
Lily's temper exploded as did her want. Not one Slytherin had any choice but to defend themselves, shocked at the knowledge she stored. "I warned you! You will not speak of Allen O'Malley that way! He is the reason your pathetic families still have a job! You thought you could run him out of town. Instead your Ministry was almost destroyed. How interesting you Dark practitioners forgot the oldest, darkest curse. Any Master or Mistress Vampire that has chosen a Blood Consort cannot be denied by the world. Any creature or human chosen to be the Blood Consort cannot be denied. For if the Consort and their Master or Mistress are denied, the Magical world forfeits its most powerful bloodlines."
The Slytherins flinched, trembling as they stared up from the hard ground. They had forgotten that, as had their family. Now things had been made worse. A group of students had surrounded them, a few were Hufflepuffs with smug looks. They knew that in time their family would learn, that Allen O'Malley would learn, of what they've done.
Lily smirked, holding out her hand to Jason, "Come, Jason. I do believe it won't be long before someone finds out. Better yet your brother deserves to know right away." She flicked a narrowed glance back at the slowly rising Slytherins, "Don't ever mess with my friends again."/
"Remus?" Charles worried about the silent man. His telepathy had picked up strong stray thoughts and pictures.
Amber eyes blinked, "Forgive me. I was remembering."
"I do not mean to intrude but you were broadcasting strong thoughts. Care to talk more?"
"Lily was Harry's mother. She was very knowledgeable. Loved to study, even read books outside our school courses. She had a fiery temper when those she loved were threatened. Everyone feared that part of her because she didn't just have the power to carry her temper through but the extensive knowledge to back it up. She never pitied those who were narrow-minded. She had her beliefs that no one could stray her from. She was strong, collected, and stubborn."
"Sounds like a lovely woman."
"She was, inside and out."
"And his father?"
Remus chuckled, remembering James, "He was her opposite. Oh, don't get me wrong. James was loyal and would stand by his family and friends but he was also reckless, always joking and playing pranks. He lived life to the fullest. Much like Harry's Godfather, Sirius Black."
Charles smiled. To him it sounded as if Harry had a wonderful family, only for it to be torn away. He could understand the need to feel wary around others. Remy had the same attitude. He knew the young thief had a family himself, adopted by a loving man, only to lose them years later to circumstances out of his control. But Charles was curious about the ones that had broken Harry and Remus, making them careful despite a chance at a new life. "What about those around you?"
Remus paused, trying to keep Moony in check. Moony still hated how those people had harmed his Cub, wanting to hurt them. "That's...difficult. We thought we could depend on them through everything. When I was a child, I was bitten by a werewolf. I survived the attack only to become one myself on my first full moon after the attack. In our world such creatures are feared, even hated. A select few were acceptable as long as they were contained and controlled by others."
"Oh my. I'm afraid that we have similar views here. Humans fear mutants, some desperately trying to control them."
Remus nodded, "Muggles weren't allowed to know about magic. We learned the hard way with the Salem Witch Trials. Since then we've kept our worlds separate. But it didn't help with Voldemort decimating families before Harry defeated him." Seeing the confused look, "Voldemort was our villain who had to be destroyed to keep our world safe." He took a deep breath, continuing about their life, "James and Sirius were my first friends to learn I was a werewolf, staying by my side." He refused to name Peter. At one time the man was a friend but later in life continuously betrayed his old friends. "I was around when Harry began his schooling, even taught him when he was thirteen. By the time Harry was seventeen, he was already training for war, having met Voldemort several times."
"War should never include children." But Charles knew better. There was a war going on now between humans and mutants, mutants and mutants. This war was including children in its never-ending fight.
Remus sadly smiled. It was hard to keep children from war, especially when they were innocent. To turn from thoughts of children, he remembered Charles asking about their betraying family and friends. "Harry grew up in a neglectful home with relatives that hated magic. I believe I told you about them earlier," a nod, "His relatives tried everything to stamp out his magic. They even lied about his parents' deaths to keep him unaware. He never learned the truth of who and what he was until he was eleven. But there were times he never wished to know the truth. He always knew where his relatives stood but not our world. Harry learned that the public was quick to blame him for anything out of the ordinary. One year the public called him Dark just because he could talk to and understand snakes. Another year they called him a murderer because a fellow student had been killed by Voldemort in front of him and he had brought the body back for burial. A third year they called him delusional because he had visions of planned attacks through a link to Voldemort. And recently they called him a monster because he was infected by a Predator Hybrid."
"How is he?" Charles worried for the boy's mental health.
"He struggled to survive it all. All he really needs is someone who won't see him as a monster, or a murderer, or delusional. To be honest, staying here among you might be helpful for him. This world seems to be perfect for us. In the magical world Harry was forced to be their savior, to save them all from Voldemort, a man they created by ignoring his needs. After the last battle and when he woke from the Hospital Wing I made plans for us to flee. I know he wouldn't feel safe."
Charles had a feeling there was much Remus had left out but the vague outline gave him an idea of the troubles both men suffered. With that in mind Charels just might be able to work through the issues and gain their trust. He also knew Scott would like a basic guideline for the two men. He scribbled a few things down before handing the sheets over to Remus. "Scott has a file upon everyone in the school. Basic information on public records and the more extensive hidden behind layers of protection for our use."
Remus nodded, "Can I see your pen?" He proceeded to correct and add a few things to his file before starting on his Cub's. "Here. Harry's more extensive but can still go for public. Not much for my file though."
Charles glanced of the sheet bearing Remus' information. Name: Remus J. Lupin...Family: Parents deceased, only child, Sire-Greyback (Werewolf)...Education: 10 years Muggle (human) education...Age 11-17, magical/boarding education (Hogwarts/Boarding School)...Defense Major (by owl magical college degree/by mail)...Past: lived with his mother and father in London until death of great-uncle after Boarding School...moved to States by age 18 and back to England after death of parents at 20...bitten by a werewolf at age 7, survived attack and became a werewolf himself...gained a Defense Master degree...held odd jobs until around age 33 (Defense Teacher at Hogwarts for a year-left for personal reasons)...raised adopted Godson after Sirius Black's death...Personality: knowledgable...nervous in large crowds (due to werewolf affliction/being only child in small town)...loyal to friends...Abilities: trained wizard (can perform magic)...Defense Master (knowledge in various defense tactics as well as in defense against Magical creatures/items)...feral beast (human most of the time until full moons--will turn into a werewolf)...accomplished Occulemens (ability to keep one's mind closed to others.
"Will that suffice for my file?"
"Yes, I'm sure Scott can rearrange some of the information. He'll more likely add his own opinions and observations, even of those around him. He's done that before. It helps him understand his team better. The private files will store his opinions in which are used when running missions or Danger Room sessions. Helps him decide who is best for what job he will assign." Charles raised a brow when he was handed another sheet.
"It's Harry's. I suggest Scott take his time when filing this away." Remus then handed over a small card, "This is the number to one of our contracts dealing with magical beings. They are the ones who created our lives here, making sure it closely resembled our old lives. Scott can call them if he needs to learn more and to understand what I wrote down."
Charles nodded as his eyes eagerly read over Harry's file. He was already learning much about Remus, easing the man in conversation when he needed a helpful ear. Name: Harry James Potter-Black...Family: Mother-Lily Evans-Potter (deceased)...Father-James Potter (deceased)...Godfather-Sirius Black (deceased)...Adopted Grandfather-Albus Dumbledore (deceased/actual mentor at Hogwarts)...Adopted Grandmother-Minerva McGonagall (Headmistress and actual close friend at Hogwarts)...Adopted Uncle-Severus Snape (second mentor, Professor, and close friend at Hogwarts)...Guardian/Uncle-Remus J. Lupin...Realtives-Vernon, Petunia, Dudley Dursley (living in Surrey, England)...Education: 10 years Muggle (human) education...age 11-17 Hogwarts School/Boarding school...Past: parents were murdered when he was 1 yr...sent to live with relatives instead of Godfather (who suffered 12 years in prison wrongfully accused of a crime until real criminal caught)...guardianship taken from neglectful/abusive relatives and given to Remus Lupin by age 17...Age 15 when Godfather was murdered (own cousin but never caught by authorities)...gained Inheritance of both families (made Heir of Black family by Godfather's will and was only child and Heir of Potter family--Both families were old powerful names in Europe)...moved to states with Guardian around age 20...Personality: loner, mistrustful, quiet (believed due to neglect of relatives)...curious and bright, eager to learn new things (but hates research)...resents being treated as a kid...eager to please others over self...hero-complex (believes in saving anyone in need, even if it means danger to self)...Abilities: Predator Hybrid (his feral beast)-actual feline humanoid (bears a tail, ears, retractable claws, sharp canines, and thin layer of fur over skin)...trained wizard (most powerful) and a true Wielder (able to manipulate natural magic to boost his, able to hear nature speak at times...can also manipulate his surroundings to his whim)...accomplished Occulemens and Legimens (ability to close off mind and enter another's mind-similar to telepathy).
"We must start somewhere if we wish to trust you." Remus stretched while Charles wrote a quick note for Scott. "Have him contact our contracts. He'll need it to fully understand Harry's file. There are a few lies in there if he wishes to know the actual truth. After all, Harry and I haven't explained everything of ourselves. And I doubt our contracts will tell everything, just explain a few things more clearly."