So originally, these next two chapters were to be together and all that fun stuff. HOWEVER. Because of.. life. This first part of the series will be very similar to AnonHPWriter's Child of Mine going forward!
Most of these scenes will actually be co-written with her!
So while I apologize for such a delay, this new system for this part of the series will make it much easier for chapters and once Hogwarts starts for Harry, it will return as normal.
Also, similar to how AnonHPWriter edits the CoM chapters, I will be editing these chapters myself. They are not beta-ed.
For the next part of the series, I will be looking for a beta!
Thunder rumbled lowly in the distance, the castle groaning as the wind picked up against its walls. Rain pattered loudly against the glass while lightning lit up the dimming parlor.
Remus sighed softly, crossing his left leg over his right as he leaned against the back of the couch. He lowered his book down slightly, glancing over to the window with a slight frown before waving his hand and causing the dying fire to strengthen and brighten the room once more to a warm glow. He hoped the rain moved out by the morning. His plan thus far for the child was to introduce him further into the magical world and take him to Diagon Alley to explore and discuss their arrangement. There was absolutely no way Harry would not enjoy a trip to the numerous shops of toys and sweets.
He hummed softly at the thought, smiling as he re-read the same passage over. Though even if it was drizzling, that would be no reason to stop the trip.
A loud rumble of thunder caused the child to wake, sitting up quickly with a gasp. A frown formed on his face as a flash of lighting lit up the room. Harry whined softly as he gripped the blanket tightly, pulling it closer to his shoulders as he spared a quick look around the room. That was right… he wasn't at the Dursleys anymore.
The wind whipped loudly outside, causing the castle to creak loudly and breaking the child out of his current train of thoughts. Harry could feel the tears already burning behind his eyes as he crawled out of bed, his grip on the blanket tight around himself as he stepped out into the hall with it trailing behind his footsteps.
He paused at the top of the staircase, noticing the faint glow of light still coming from the room below. His free hand gripped the banister as he slowly started down. "Remus?" The child called out softly, the hand that was gripping his blanket moved to rub at his left eye. He found himself wishing that he would have put his glasses on before leaving his room. His blurred vision was not helping him to feel any better. Too late now. "Reeemus?" Harry called out slightly louder.
Remus quickly looked up at the sound of his name, closing the book and placing it on the arm of the couch. "Harry?" He stood as the child stepped onto the bottom floor, moving over with a frown. "What are you doing up?"
Taking hold of the blanket, Remus carefully took it from Harry's hold before properly wrapping it around the boy's shoulders snuggly. Concern quickly crossed his face as he noted the tears that glistened across the child's face as the fire's glow flickered along the stone walls. "What's wrong?"
Harry turned his head, instantly embarrassed by his tears as he hid his face the best he could in the blanket. "I-I don't like stooorms." The child coughed out a small sob, raising a hand up to rub the blanket across his face quickly with a small flinch as thunder rumbled above the castle. He looked down to his bare feet, sniffing softly at the childishness of it all. Scared of a storm.
Remus' frown deepened, kneeling down and wrapping his right arm around the child's legs and against the back of his knees. "Come here.." He whispered softly, using the same arm as a platform for the child to rest on as he stood with him.
His left hand adjusted the blanket carefully, moving back across the parlor as lightning lit up the room once more before a loud crack of thunder echoed outside. "You're completely safe here.." Remus hummed softly, moving past the couch and choosing to sit in the armchair closest to the fire. He rested his legs up onto the ottoman, resting the child on his lap before leaning back slightly.
Harry instantly pressed his face into the man's neck, his arms wrapping tightly around the man as he sat down. "I hate them," he muttered softly, his back shaking with his tears.
Adjusting the child, Remus moved his hand up to gently rub between Harry's shoulder blades. "Shhh.." He hushed gently, resting his cheek against the top of Harry's head. "It will be all over soon." He spoke gently, moving the blanket to protect up and over the child's head.
Harry's grip tightened as thunder rumbled loudly once more. "'M so-sorry," he whispered before sniffling loudly.
"What on earth are you apologizing for?" The man murmured, frowning down to the mess of hair.
Harry shrugged a shoulder, burying his face deeper into the blanket. "Bein' sc-scared."
Remus' frown deepened, his hand reaching to tap Harry's hip. "Hey. Do not ever be sorry for such a thing." His tone went slightly stern as he shifted his head to look down at the child. "Okay?" Remus pressed a kiss to the boy's temple.
Harry shrugged once more before slowly nodding. If possible, his grip on the man tightened more as a flash of lightning lit up the room. "Do-don't leave me."
"Never." The man assured softly, grimacing to himself as the child's hold tightened. "Hey.. you know what always helps me? A glass of warm milk and honey. Do you want to help me make some?" Remus shifted the blanket against Harry's face, pulling it back just slightly. Distraction from the storm seemed to be the right thing to do at that point and certainly couldn't hurt.
Harry was silent for a long moment before he slowly nodded against the man's chest. "Ye-yeah."
The castle groaned as thunder rumbled the walls, yet Remus continued on hoping to keep the boy's attention the best he could. "Very good," he hummed, lowering his legs from the ottoman and standing carefully with him.
Harry wrapped his arms tightly around the man's neck as he stood, pressing his forehead against his neck. The tears continued to fall. A moment later thunder shook the castle walls. "Remuuus." He didn't care how childish it was at that point. The castle was absolutely terrifying!
"It's okay, pup," Remus whispered, his left hand rubbing up the child's back as he stepped into the kitchen. The lights flickered on as he moved to the counter, placing Harry down carefully upon the countertop.
He made no action to move right away, though the man did lean his head back slightly in an attempt to look at Harry's face. Raising his hand up, he gently pulled the edge of the blanket down from the boy's head and offered a small smile as Harry spared a quick look up.
The child sniffled loudly as he let go of the man. His right hand balled up in a fist, raising and rubbing at his eye as he whined softly. "Ow.." Harry complained softly, lowering his hand back to his lap before looking down to his feet with a sniff.
Expression softening, Remus moved to the sink and quickly dampened a small kitchen towel. "Here we go.." Wringing it out of extra water, he stepped back into his place in front of the child. "Let me see that face of yours.." He voiced gently, brushing Harry's hair back away from his face.
The child lifted his head up to look at the man despite the fact that his tears were still slowly falling, nearly completely blurring his vision of Remus. "So-Sorry," he whispered softly once more, sniffling loudly before closing his eyes tightly. How silly. He hardly knew Remus and now the man was sure to think he was such a baby to be so scared of the storm. How could he not?!
"Shhh, do not.." Remus chided softly, resting his left hand on Harry's cheek, brushing away a tear trail with his thumb. "I understand completely." Remus hummed softly, using the cloth to gently press against the child's forehead and cheeks. "This old castle doesn't help does it? It likes to make noise."
Harry let out a breath at the words before giving a small nod. "I do-don't like it. Not even a li-little."
"I didn't like it at all when I started school here." Thunder rumbled the walls once more, yet Remus lowered the cloth down with a smile. "Let's make some warm milk and rest on the couch. How does that sound?" Kneeling down, the man removed a small saucepan before stepping to the stove close to the child.
Turning the heat on low, Remus moved across the kitchen with a soft hum and gathered what he would need. Well. The milk and honey.
"You can add as much honey as you wish to yours." Placing the honey jar next to the child before pouring the needed milk into the saucepan.
"Yo-you're not gonna ma-make me go back up-upstairs?" The child's breath hitched as the wind caused the castle to shift loudly. He looked up at Remus, his fist moving to rub at his eye once more.
"Not unless you want to." Remus stirred the milk slowly, smiling over to the child.
Harry nodded slowly as he sniffed once more, his eyes moving to watch Remus stir the milk. He stiffened slightly as lightning flashed outside.
"There we are.." Remus continued on, turning off the heat and tapping the counting so two mugs appeared. Carefully he lifted the saucepan, pouring an even amount into each glass before placing one close to the child.
Reaching, Remus opened the jar of honey and pulled open a drawer in front of him. Removing the honey dipper, he handed the item to the child. "Add as much as you want." He prompted, giving a nod down to the honey jar.
Harry took the spoon from the man, carefully adding the honey to his milk before stirring it. "You're re-really not mad?" He spared a quick glance up to the man. His aunt or uncle would have just yelled at him to keep quiet if they heard him during the night.. But Remus didn't seem upset at all!
"Not in the slightest." Remus hummed softly as he took the dipper away from the child, adding his own before placing the items away where needed. "Why do you believe I would be mad at you?" Going back to Harry, he adjusted the blanket around the boy's shoulders before covering his head slightly with it.
Harry shrugged softly, taking a small sip of his milk. "Ca-cause I should be in bed. And I was cr-cryin'." He lowered the cup down, staring down to the warm liquid for a long moment before glancing back up to the man.
"Those are absolutely no reasons for me to be upset at you. You are always free to find me at any time of the day. Understand?" Reaching, Remus gently brushed his thumb under Harry's left eye to brush away another tear. "Even if I'm in bed. I will never mind being woken."
Harry was silent for a long moment as he took in the words. He was definitely not used to an adult, or anyone for that matter, saying something like that. "Really?"
"Really." Adjusting the blanket, Remus carefully lifted the child up under his arms and placed him on the floor. "Careful with your cup. Let's go on the couch." He picked up his own glass, stepping ahead of the child and leading out of the kitchen as thunder rumbled lowly.
Harry stayed close to the man's side as he followed him, sitting down on the couch beside Remus a moment later. "Th-thanks for the milk." He whispered, taking another small sip of the warm milk.
"You're very welcome." Placing his own cup on the table, Remus wrapped an arm around Harry's shoulders and pulled him protectively to his side. The castle creaked as the wind picked up, though the thunder had started to sound slightly farther away than it did mere minutes ago.
"Why does it make so many sounds?" The child's voice was barely above a whisper as he leaned forward placing his cup of milk down beside Remus'.
"The castle? Or storms?" The man rubbed Harry's arm slowly once he leaned back from the table.
"The castle." The child leaned into the man's side, he pulled the blanket up over his shoulder. "It sounds like it's gonna fall down."
"It's over a thousand years old." Remus hummed, swallowing a chuckle at the words, "But I assure you, if you were in any danger you would not be here. It is very well put together and protected."
"Pro-protected?" The child swallowed a yawn as he moved a hand to rub at his left eye. Was it dangerous? Why would it have to be protected?
"Protected." Remus repeated with a nod. He leaned back against the corner of the couch, gently bringing the child with him to lay against his side. "Nothing can get you here. Not even storms. It will go right on and the sun will shine in the morning."
The child snuggled up against the man, stretching out his legs on the couch. "I still don't like em' though." He whispered, wrapping an arm around Remus' middle as he stared over towards the fire.
"And that's completely fine." Remus rubbed Harry's side slowly, smiling softly. "You can always come to me when you don't like something, understand?"
"Mmhmm." The boy nodded into the man's chest. "Thanks, Remus."
"You're very welcome.." The man leaned his head down slightly, pressing a kiss to the top of the child's head. "Try to rest.. you're completely safe here."
"You won't leave?" Harry glanced up at the man. "Promise?"
"I won't leave." Remus shook his head, leaning up slightly to adjust the couch pillow behind his shoulders before slipping down to a proper lying position with the child tucked to his side against the back of the couch. He waved his free hand, the fire and lights dimming to a soft glow as the rain pattered against the windows.
Harry yawned loudly and pulled his blanket up under his chin. "Thanks Remus," he hummed softly as his eyes closed.
The man smiled, moving his hand to slowly rub Harry's upper arm with his thumb. "You are very welcome.." He whispered softly, his own eyes closing with a sigh.
When the morning sun broke through the window, Remus blinked several times before grimacing as his back ached from the position he had somehow stayed in the whole night. Perhaps he should have taken Harry back to room… but how could he have forced the scared child back to bed at the time? Humming, the man looked down to Harry's face pressed against his chest, breathing evenly and still quite clearly asleep.
Smiling softly, Remus pressed his right hand against the child's back to keep him relatively still as he pushed himself up to a proper sitting position. Once he was up, both hands moved to take hold under Harry's arms and lifted him with ease.
The boy was far too light for his age, he was sure of it. Something he would have to discuss with Pomfrey in the coming days.
Turning, the man summoned the child's pillow from upstairs and placed it down before carefully depositing the sleeping boy back into the couch. Reaching, he adjusted the blanket across Harry once more before standing straight with a gentle hum and looking over to the clock. Just past seven. He was sure the child would sleep for at least a couple more hours, which would give himself plenty of time to prepare for the day.
Pulling the blanket slightly farther up and around Harry's shoulders, Remus stepped away from the couch before heading upstairs.
