There was nothing more humiliating than carrying a child in a backpack. Severus was sure of this. However, as Dumbledore insisted he get in his orders ASAP and Petunia thought it wise to take her portly son and husband to a five-day chocolate and wine festival in Cambridge, there was no other choice. The only saving grace was his reputable glare that caused all previous students to run in fear. Apparently, it worked well on their parents, too.

Severus let his shoulders sag with relief. Just one more stop, and then he was done with the egregiously stressful errand of dealing with people while keeping a toddler occupied. He walked toward the apothecary with more vigor than he'd had before.

"Mr. Potter, I do impress on you the dire consequences if you do not cease playing with my hair," the man said, looking back at the young boy.

"Huh?" the child asked, batting the man's nose.

"Stop."

They entered the shop and Severus grabbed a basket. He glanced around, quickly inventorying the stock to pick a starting point. He paused when his eyes landed on the check-out counter. They widened.

Remus Lupin stood at the register with his head in his hands. It was one week until the full moon, and the overpowering scents left his head with too much to process, leading to a very powerful migraine. He heard the bell ring, and he blinked several times before actually moving to glance in the direction of the door. He closed his eyes once more. Severus stood in the doorway with a toddler strapped to his back. Great, he must be hallucinating.

"Lupin?" Severus asked, walking toward the counter.

"Do hallucinations normally talk?" Remus asked, rubbing his temples.

"Do you have zero customer service capabilities?"

"What can I do for you, Severus?"

"I need someone with a brain and at least slight understanding of potions…"

"I have more than a slight understanding of potions. I was one of three to receive an O on my potions N.E.W.T."

"And as another who can claim that, let me say it is not quite the honor you make it out to be."

Remus sighed. "What do you need, Severus? Is your little one colicky?"

"My little one?" Severus asked, mouth dropping.

"The child in your papoose."

"He is not my child."

"You stole him?"

Severus quirked a brow. "Why is that everyone's first impression?"

"Because not many people would trust you with a child."

"I'm a professor at Hogwarts."

"Against most peoples' better judgment," Remus said, smirking.

The potions master rolled his eyes, ignoring the comment. He walked over to the aisle and picked up some gillyweed. Not the quality he was used to, but it was a school budget. He set it down and went over to research his options with asphodel when he felt Harry jerk behind him. He stopped, grabbing the boy moments before the child could fall.

"How'd you get that strap undone?" Severus asked, glaring at Harry.

"Accidental magic's a bitch, isn't it, Severus?" Remus mumbled, smirking.

Severus growled. "What do you know?"

"A bit, actually." Remus walked over, hands open. "Would you like me to take him while you shop? I can distract him."

"Why should I trust you?"

"I'm fairly decent with kids."

The potions master pursed his lips. "Fine. Just don't maul him."

"That's not for another week, Severus." Remus held the boy, bouncing him on his hip. "Hi there! What's your name?"

"His name is Draco."

"That's a weird name for a child, Severus."

Severus shook his head. "Take it up with Narcissa. It's her son, not mine." He glared. "And you're one to talk, Remus."

The lycanthrope smiled. "So I speak from experience." He scowled. "They allowed Narcissa to breed?"

"With Lucius Malfoy. Have a problem with that?"

"Not that it matters, but yes."

Severus bit his cheek. He did not need Harry hearing the types of things he should be saying to the idiot werewolf.

"They're very good with him, you know."

"I should hope so," Remus said, quirking a brow. "He is their son. I just worry what types of values they plan on instilling in him."

"Is it any of your concern?"

The werewolf sighed. "I guess not." He held the boy closer, catching a whiff of him as the boy snuggled in. Remus wrinkled his nose. "This is Malfoy's son?"

Severus rolled his eyes as he made his way to the check-out counter. "Is there any doubt?" He pointed to the blond hair and silver eyes. "Or are you colorblind?"

"Do you make jokes about all disabilities equally, or are you partial to invisible ones?"

"I'm partial to ones that cause you to turn into a raging monster once a month."

"Sh!" Remus's eyes darted through the store. "Don't say that."

"What?" Severus's jaw dropped slightly. "Are you saying you haven't disclosed that information to your employer?"

"Severus, I'm warning you…"

"That's illegal, Lupin."

Remus's hazel eyes flickered amber. "I've done so in the past and it hasn't worked well." He handed Harry back to the potions master. "And I refuse to hear a lecture on proper legal etiquette from you, Severus."

The dark man perched the boy on his hip. "I'd take it up with your manager, but sadly it is nap time."

Amber eyes roved over the overburdened Hogwarts professor. "Do you think you can carry your order home, or would you prefer I send it via owl order?" Severus glared. "Owl order it is. Can I have your address so it can make it to your home and not some random field in Surrey?"

Severus's eyes widened. "How did you know I live in Surrey?"

"You should know I have a strong sense of smell."

"And I smell like Surrey to you?"

"Yes."

The potions master shook his head and gave his address. He left, deciding to take Harry to the Malfoys for naptime instead of slumming it in his own home for the afternoon. Play time for Harry and Draco meant teatime for Severus.

Teatime turned into supper time and Severus and Harry did not return home until near nine at night. He was more than ready to drop dead in bed, but watching Harry meant putting him down, first. At least the child no longer slept in a crib. It made the nighttime routine slightly quicker. He turned toward the stairs when the lights flicked on. He swiveled in his spot, wand raised.

He sighed once he caught sight of the man in the chair.

"Don't sneak up on a death eater, Lupin."

"Ex-death eater, if I remember correctly," the lycanthrope said, setting down the history book he was reading.

"Is that my copy of Diary of Anne Frank?"

"My first question should be why you have a copy of this in the first place, but I'll circle back to that."

Severus sighed. "Why are you here, Lupin?"

"You lied to me."

"Apparently not well enough," Severus said under his breath. He let Harry down. "Child, go get ready for bed. I'll be up shortly."

"Child? Not Draco?"

"What do you assume I lied to you about?" Severus asked, grabbing a decanter of whisky and sitting down in his lay-z-boy.

"That boy is not Draco Malfoy."

"And you know this how?"

Remus crossed his arms. "He has the distinct smell of a glamour charm."

"Glamour charms smell?"

"Everything has a smell if you have a distinguished enough nose."

"Right. Even Surrey has a smell."

"So, whose child did you kidnap?"

Severus threw his hands in the air. "Why is that everyone's first assumption?"

"We already went through that. Besides, the fact that you lied to me doesn't aid your argument."

"I kidnapped no one."

"Then, why did you place a glamour charm on a kid? You wouldn't do that if he were actually yours."

"There is a third option, you know," Severus said, rubbing his head.

"And that is?"

"I'm trying to protect him from outside forces."

"Yes, because the force is strong in this one."

The potions master rolled his eyes. "Sometimes I can forget we were brought up in similar environments…until you do that."

"So ashamed of your muggle side?"

"No. Ashamed to share anything in common with you? Yes."

"You're a mean, mean little man."

"And you need some better comebacks. Why are you so interested? This is none of your business."

Remus smirked. "Would you rather me go to the aurors?"

"You haven't already?"

"I know what it's like to be accused of something without anyone hearing my side of things."

Severus rolled his head back. "For the last time, it seemed reasonable you and Black were in on it together."

"I'm giving you the respect you didn't show me."

"Fine." Severus growled before turning his head toward the stairs. "Harry, can you come down a minute?"

"Harry?"

The toddler ran down the stairs, nearly tripping several times.

"Unca Sev! You read me a story?" the boy asked, clambering to get on the man's lap.

Severus sighed and helped the boy up. "I will, but first I want you to meet someone."

"Unca Sev friend?"

"Not even close."

Remus's brow furrowed. "Is this who I think it is?"

Severus let the glamour drop, revealing a very bouncy Harry Potter, singing about a dancing teddy bear or dinosaur or something.

"Lupin, I do believe you know Harry Potter."

Remus gasped, reaching out to touch the boy. The tot recoiled, snuggling in deeper to Severus. The lycanthrope pulled his hand back quickly.

"Harry?"

"Who you?"

"My name's Remus Lupin." The man's voice cracked. He cleared his throat before continuing. "I was a friend of your mummy and daddy."

"Mummy and daddy?" the boy asked, eyes narrowing.

"Yes, mummy and daddy. We went to school together."

"Unca Sev did, too?"

The werewolf chewed his bottom lip. "Yeah. Severus did, too."

"So, you Unca Sev friend?"

"Uhm…"

"Mr. Potter," Severus said, clearing his throat. "Why don't you go upstairs to bed?"

"Story…" the boy whined.

"I'll be up momentarily to read you a story. How about 'A is for Asphodel' and a chapter from The Two Towers if you're really good?"

"Yay!" Harry squealed, jumping off the man's lap and running upstairs to his room.

Remus and Severus stared at each other for several minutes. Silence filled the air. In the distance, a young Harry sang on about a purple dinosaur and imagination. Severus rolled his eyes. Maybe that was enough colonial tv for a while.

"I'm going to need an explanation," the werewolf finally said.

"I do believe the song has something to do with…."

"Not about the purple dinosaur, Severus!" Remus jumped to his feet and began pacing. "What in Merlin's name are you doing with Harry Potter?"

"Currently, wondering why I promised to read him the entirety of the Two Towers. Everyone knows it's a throwaway book."

"Severus, please…"

The potions master pursed his lips. "What was I supposed to do, Lupin? Once I found out Tuney left him in the cupboard under the stairs, I had to do something."

"Tuney?" Amber eyes narrowed. "As in…?"

"Petunia Dursley."

"You have to give me more than that."

"Petunia Dursley nee Evans."

Remus scrunched his nose. "Lily's sister?"

"Do you understand my actions now?"

"More so, not completely." The lycanthrope rubbed his face. "I know Lily had trouble with her sister, but that doesn't mean the woman would stoop so low as to lock her nephew with the cleaning supplies."

"Last year in August, I had to keep the tot for a week while his hair grew back due to an unfortunate chemical spill."

"Who keeps those types of chemicals in their home?"

"Petunia Evans."

Remus shook his head. "Okay, so why take him here?"

Severus motioned for the man to follow him. He opened the door and pointed. "It's about ten paces from his house."

The lycanthrope stared out at Number Four Privet Drive. "Points for dedication. I'll give you that."

"Now that I've given you an explanation," Severus scowled, "would you kindly leave?"

"No, no way! I have spent the past year and a half looking for Harry. I'm not giving up on him now."

"And you looked oh-so-hard. He's living with his aunt in a listed home."

"I asked Dumbledore constantly."

"I asked Dumbledore, too. When he refused to give a straightforward answer, I did my own dirty work," Severus said, brow quirked.

"You grew up with Lily. I barely remembered she had a sister." Remus flopped back onto the couch, head in hands. "I tracked down all of James's living relatives—most of which are death eaters, by the way." He rubbed his face and stared up at the potions master. "I thought about going to the Blacks, but I've been banned from all Black residencies. And Augusta Longbottom refused to take in Harry after what happened to Frank and Alice…"

"No surprise there," Severus said, huffing. "Not like she was overly charitable."

"What was I supposed to do?"

Severus sighed, letting his shoulders sag. For all that he wanted to throw the man out on his tail and slam the door, Lupin had as much right to Harry as he did.

"You're not to see him the day before, the day of, or the day after the full moon," the potions master finally said.

Remus rolled his eyes. "Like I'd be in any shape to see a kid anyway."

"And you must give regular status updates as to your physical well-being."

"Okay…" The lycanthrope furrowed his brow. "Wouldn't have it any other way."

"And…" Severus sighed, pulling out the potions journal he'd been reading earlier that morning. "And you help me with this."

Remus took the proffered journal, opening it to the tabbed page. "Wolfsbane potion?" He scowled down at the article. "Seriously?"

"I plan to perfect it."

"It's a myth, a pipe dream."

"Right now, yes." Severus pointed at the highlighted portion. "However, this breakthrough hypothesis from Norway might just work."

The lycanthrope stared at Severus. "So…I'm your science experiment?"

"More like guinea pig, but yes."

"And I would get to see Harry?"

"And live rent free in this house, have regular meals, and possibly prank Petunia on occasion."

Remus reddened. "I don't need your charity."

"This isn't charity. It's a sound business offer." Severus crossed his arms. "Do you seriously think I want you living with me?"

"And you'd do this all for the sake of helping werewolves?"

"Helping werewolves…progressing science: tomato, tomahto."

The werewolf shook his head. "Why am I even considering this?"

"Because you're obviously malnourished and in need of stable shelter?"

"Is it really that obvious?"

"To anyone with eyes," Severus said, smirking.

"Unca Sev, story time," Harry called from the top of the stairs.

Severus rolled his eyes. "I hate to offer, but would you like to join us for story time?"

"I wouldn't miss it for the world!"