Author note: It's been a bit! And I apologize. Real life has been a thing, but things are looking up and I'm looking forward to being able to spend more time on writing soon!


Diagon Alley - Age 9

Remus steadied the nine year old against his side as they stepped out of the large hearth within the Leaky Cauldron. He stayed still for a long moment, his right hand rubbing the child's upper shoulder while Harry got his bearings once more.

He glanced around the pub, relief coursing through him for a brief moment as seeing only a handful of people present. While he knew he would eventually have to discuss the child's fame with him- he did not wish to immediately have to do so. The most important things right then was getting him used to the Wizarding world to begin with.

Harry took in a shaky breath as the flames died down and he suddenly appeared in the pub, his eyes widening at the sight of it. He swallowed heavily attempting to get his emotions under control as his right hand took a fistful of Remus' shirt. There was no reason to cry and he wasn't about to start!

"Re-Remus," he said softly, his hold on the man tightening. "Where are we?"

Remus gently urged the child out of the hearth, rubbing his thumb gently across his shoulder as a frown crossed his face. Looking down, the man rose a hand and brushed it through Harry's hair once. "Calm down." He murmured, the same hand falling to rest across the boy's back.

"This is the Leaky Cauldron. It is our ticket to get you somewhere that I believe you'll like. You see, that door," he pointed to the obvious entrance of the building, "that actually leads to London."

Turning slightly towards the back of the building, he made a motion for Harry to look towards another door. "And that one, will lead you to Diagon Alley. Which I believe you will quite enjoy." Remus pressed his hand gently against Harry's back, urging him to walk next to his side and towards the back door.

Harry took in a shuddering breath before taking several steps forward towards the large door. He was scared but he trusted Remus. "Yo-you're gonna come too right?" He glanced up at the man as he paused in front of the door.

"Of course." Remus hummed softly as he opened the door that led to.. an empty alley with a brick wall. Keeping Harry to his side, the man moved over towards the side of the wall while counting softly under his breath. After a moment, he pushed against one brick before guiding the child a few steps away.

The bricks folded into themselves, the street of Diagon Alley coming into view. The street was busy, families already shopping for the upcoming school year while others were simply enjoying the day.

Harry's eyes widened as the bricks began to move. Reaching out a hand he took a fistful of Remus' pant leg. He watched as the street came into view, his eyes widening as it did. "What is this?"

"This is Diagon Alley." Reaching his hand down, Remus carefully pulled the hand away from his leg and simply held Harry's hand firmly. "Come on.." He prompted softly, stepping into the street with the child. "Let's take a look around, hm?"

Harry gave a small nod as he fell into step beside the man. "Is this all magic?"

Remus gave a nod before clearing his throat. "It is, or helps with magic. Or some things are simply for fun. Like that," He pointed to a building off to the right. "A very nice ice cream parlor, which I assure you, is just ice cream. Nothing magical except how it's made. I see a trip there today for us."

He gave a hum, making a motion to another building as they walked. "The apothecary. People will stock up on potion supplies such as unicorn hair, dragon blood, and the like."

"Dragon blood?" Harry's nose wrinkled slightly at the thought. "Real dragon blood?" He looked up at the man, giving him a skeptical glance as he walked beside him. "And the ice cream is normal?"

"Real dragon blood." Remus looked down to the child, giving a grin before looking back up to the street. "And yes, the ice cream is normal. All sorts of flavors though. Personal favorite is chocolate and raspberry."

Harry grinned softly at the very idea of it all. A small giggle of excitement escaped his lips as they passed an elaborate window display. "Is that a candy store?"

Remus paused, glancing over to the window before looking down to the child. "It is, would you like to go in? Perhaps get some sweets to try?" The man actually took a step towards the colorful building, wanting to encourage the child they could indeed go in if he wished.

Harry looked up at the man in confusion. "We can? Really?" His tone was skeptical as if he expected Remus to change his mind.

"I would not offer otherwise. Let's go." A cheerful tone entered the man's voice as he led Harry to the candy shop, opening the door for the child to enter first.

Harry slowly walked into the shop, his eyes widening once more as a large grin spread across his face. He couldn't remember ever being in such a brilliant store in his life. He also couldn't remember his aunt or uncle ever allowing him to have candy. "There's so much," he smiled up at Remus.

Remus slowly released Harry's hand as he stepped into the shop after him, smiling as he gently urged the boy further into the shop. "Go on. You lead the way. We may get five things that catch your eyes and you wish to try, but you may not eat it all at once."

"Five?!" Harry gave the man a shocked look. "Really?" He was sure that he had never been so lucky!

Remus swallowed, a mix of emotions flooding within him at the sound of the child's voice. The shock and hopefulness of it. As if he had never been given this chance before- and with how things were sounding, perhaps he hadn't.

"Five." He hummed in confirmation, once more patting Harry's shoulder. "So pick wisely."

Harry's smile widened as his eyes moved from Remus to the shelves filled with treats. "Are these really frogs?" He picked up a chocolate frog package. "Like magic ones?"

"Not real frogs. They're made of solid chocolate but they have a short spell on them that allows them to give a good hop or two. They're quite good." Remus followed the child to the shelf, looking down to the package.

Harry gave a small nod as he held on tightly to the package. He could hardly believe that he could still pick 4 more things. "What're these?" He pointed with his free hand at a display of chocolate wands.

"Chocolate wands." Reaching, Remus picked up a box that contained one and held it lower for Harry. "Nothing magical about it- just looks like a wand. Want one as well or keep looking for now?"

Harry gave a small nod. "And then still three more things?" He questioned in a disbelieving tone.

"Still three more." Remus smiled as he handed the child the box and made a motion to another isle.

Harry took the box from the man, holding it with his chocolate frog before he turned down the next aisle. He looked over a few brightly wrapped sweets before stopping in front of what looked like muggle jelly beans.

Remus' gaze followed Harry's, giving a soft 'Ahh' as he picked up one of the decorative boxes. "Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans." He looked down to Harry, smiling as he shook his head.

"A variety of flavors. From cotton candy and other sweets- to vomit and dirt."

Harry made a face at the words, shaking his head slightly. "I don't want 'em."

Chuckling, Remus placed the box back with a nod. "I thought not. Very common once you start school though. Dares and such."

Harry scrunched up his nose at the words. "They sound disgusting." The boy moved further down the aisle, picking up a box full of peppermint toads. "Do these jump too?"

"Not exactly. They do feel like they're jumping in your stomach though. It fades in a few minutes and they're quite good if you enjoy peppermint." He gave a nod of encouragement once more.

Harry gave a small nod as he picked up the box. "I dunno what else to get though."

"How about.." Remus moved through the isle, humming softly as he did so. Pausing at a few glass jars, he picked up a delicately wrapped sugar quill and turned towards Harry. "One of these? A sugar quill. Very sweet."

Harry looked at the treat carefully. "Does it do any magic?"

"It does not, are you wanting something that does?" Remus tilted his head slightly, raising a brow curiously.

Harry thought about it for a moment before shaking his head. "No, I was just wonderin'. I'll try that."

Giving a nod, the man made a slight motion towards the front. "I'll hold onto this one, how about a pumpkin pasty from the front as the last then? We can pay for everything there as well."

"A pumpkin pasty?" Harry looked up at the man in confusion. "Is that like a pumpkin pie?"

"Nearly. Very similar to a cornish pasty- but with pumpkin. Very popular as well, I believe you'll enjoy it. Your father was once sick on them. He and another friend of ours had a bet on who could eat the most- your father won." Remus chuckled as he started to move towards the front of the store.

Harry smiled widely at the words, a small chuckle escaping him at the mention of his father. "He did? Really?" The child practically skipped beside the man.

"He did." Remus smiled as they approached the counter, helping Harry place the sweets down before requesting one of the pumpkin pasties in the display.

The elderly woman behind the counter gave a nod, stepping away and gathering the pastry and carefully wrapping it up. "That everything dears?" She hummed softly, gathering up the sweets and placing them within a separate bag from the pastry.

"For today." Remus took the bags, handing them down to Harry before quickly paying with a quick thank you to the woman.

"Let's go." Remus hummed, guiding the child out.

Harry gripped them bags tightly in his hands as he followed Remus out of the store. "Thanks Remus," he said as he stepped back outside.

"You're quite welcome. Now. It's nearing lunch time, so how about we stop by one more store and then get some lunch? You can try that pasty as well." Stepping out onto the street, Remus rested his hand on Harry's back while starting down the pathway once more.

"Okay." Harry looked around at the people and stores that they passed. "What store are we going to?" He glanced up at the man with curiosity.

"I thought you may enjoy this one.." Remus made a motion with his left hand towards a small toy store they were approaching.

Harry's smile widened as he looked up at the man. "A toy store? Really?!"

"Really." The man felt his heart swell at the smile, nudging the child towards the shop gently before opening the door for him as well. "Step on in and let's see what things we can get. Hm?"

Perhaps he was going to spoil the boy, but how could he not? The smile alone could melt his heart, as well as the wonderment of having his own things.

Harry's smile remained as he stepped into the shop. He could hardly contain his excitement as he rushed over to look at a display that included a small broom hovering. "Is magic making it do that? Can people really fly on them?"

Remus followed after the child, his expression softening as he stood in front of the display. "It is and they can. Your father was quite good at it. There is a sport called Quidditch where players fly on them- it's actually played at Hogwarts during the school year. We can watch them when the games start."

"Quidditch," Harry tried out the word in a soft voice. He stood watching the broom for another moment before moving over to another display that consisted of a dozen small suits of armor battling a dozen small knights. "It's just magic right? They aren't really real are they?"

"Just magic." Remus confirmed as he followed the child. "If you'd like, we can get a set of them for you."

"We can? Really?" Harry looked up at the man with a hopeful grin. "For me to keep?"

"Of course for you to keep." Reaching across the child, the man picked up one of the boxes that contained a set of the fighting knights.

"Really?" Harry questioned in a skeptical tone. "For me to play with?"

"I would imagine so, if you wish to." Remus held the box within his arm, looking down to Harry with a smile. "As long as you put them away once done, yes?"

Harry nodded without hesitation, a large grin on his face. "I will. I promise I will!"

"Excellent, then I see no reason not to get one more thing, do you?" Reaching down, Remus gently nudged between the child's shoulders. "Then we can head off and get some lunch."

"'M not usually allowed," Harry replied honestly as he looked up at the man. "Not ever."

"Not by your aunt or uncle, I presume?" Remus rubbed his hand gently across the child's back as he guided him down another isle, pausing there.

Harry shook his head at the question. "No, they only got toys and stuff for Dudley."

"Mm.." The man frowned at the words, gently guiding the child down the aisle once more. "I know you were fine with it yesterday, but I do want you to know I'm quite serious about you staying with me at Hogwarts. Of course if you want to, still."

"Why wouldn't I want to? Do you not want me to?" Harry could hardly help the worry that overtook his face. He took a deep breath in an attempt to calm down. He didn't want to go back to his aunt and uncles but if he had to, he would be okay.

Remus blinked at the boy's question, pausing in his steps and kneeling down next to the nine year old. "Of course I do, I only wanted you to be sure." He smiled softly, despite the worried look across Harry's face. "Calm down.. I'm more than thrilled that you wish to stay." His free hand moved to gently rub Harry's arm.

Harry gave a small nod at the words before taking a step closer to the man and leaning into him slightly. "'M okay."

The same arm curled around the child, pulling him closer into a secure one-armed hug. "Good.." Remus murmured, slowly standing up after a long moment.

"Now. How about we pick out one more thing and get lunch?"

Harry looked up at the man as he stood. "I don't need nothin' else though. I already got so much."

"Then how about you look around and see what catches your eye? The holidays are not far away." Remus hummed, his hand moving up to ruffle through the child's hair.

Harry gave a small nod as he slowly stepped away from the man, looking around the store. "Do they all have magic in them? All the toys I mean?"

"Not all. There are stuffed animals over there," Remus motioned to the far wall, "they do not. And not all the figures do. But... most, in some way, have magic."

"Do they have games?" Harry's eyes drifted to the stuffed animals before looking back to the man.

"Games? Several. I actually believe in your room I saw a few. I know I saw a chess board and some exploding snap cards- those I can teach you to play. But there are also wizard checkers and gobstones. Very similar to the game of marbles." Remus guided the child down another aisle, pausing in front of the display of a chess board.

"Wizards checkers are different from normal checkers?" Harry reached a hand out and carefully ran a finger across the edge of the box.

"Not very. The pieces can be very stubborn on moving if there is a jump they could do though." Remus hummed, looking down to the checkers box. "But played just the same."

"The pieces move for you?" Harry questioned curiously as he looked up at the man. "That's wicked!"

"They can." The man smiled as he nodded down to the box in front of the child. "Are you a fan of checkers? There is no harm in getting one more thing before we head to lunch." Remus hummed softly, smiling down to the child.

A small grin formed on the child's face before it quickly faded. "But I already got a lot."

"Nonsense. I want you to have toys that you will play with. I'll be more than happy to play with you and it will even play itself if I'm unavailable." His hand gently tapped between the child's shoulders. "Go on. I will not force you, but if you want it, I want you to have it."

Harry was still for a long moment before he slowly pulled one of the checkers boxes off the shelf. "You're sure it's okay?" He looked up at Remus once more.

"Very. Come, let's go check out." Remus nodded towards the front of the store as he adjusted his hold on the knight kit. "Perhaps tonight we can play a few games after dinner, if you'd like."

Harry nodded eagerly as he made his way towards the register. "And we can go to lunch too?" He asked in a disbelieving voice.

"Of course!" The man took the checkers box from the child once they approached their counter, placing it and the box of toy knights down upon it with a nod.

He paid for the items with a smile, taking the bag and resting his free hand down between Harry's shoulders.

"Thanks Remus." Harry leaned against the man's side as he leaned and walked out of the store with him.

The pair stepped out to the bustling street, Remus taking a careful hold on the child's hand before stepping into the crowd. "Stay close." He spoke down to the boy, who instantly moved closer to his side without any more prompting. "Some lunch and a bit of ice cream?"

Harry frowned slightly as he rested his cheek against Remus' arm as they walked through the crowd, tightening his hold slightly on the man's hand. It sounded amazing! But it was all too much.. it had to be.

"We don't gotta get ice cream.." He whispered, shrugging a shoulder as they made their way to a small café.

"You're right, we do not." Remus rubbed his thumb across Harry's hand before he opened the door, holding it open for the child. "But I want you to know if you do want some, we are more than able to get it before we leave for the day."

Releasing Remus' hand, Harry stepped into the small café and glanced around the cozy building. A hand met his shoulder, guiding him further in and over to a small table. "Here we are." Remus spoke above the nine year old, taking hold of the bag Harry was carrying and placing it on the floor under the table along with the one he had been holding.

Sliding into the seat, Harry glanced up as a young woman approached the pair just as Remus sat across from him. He stared down to the menu as it was placed on the table, hardly hearing Remus request for water and a… beer? A butter beer? It sounded disgusting. Making a face, Harry looked up to the man who was looking at the menu now as well.

"Anything that catches your eye?" Remus looked up, spotting the child looking at him for only a brief moment before looking down to the menu.

Harry offered a small shrug, raising a hand to rub quickly under his glasses. "You've gotten me a bunch today.." He muttered softly, pushing the menu away just slightly. It wasn't right. He had always been told he wasn't worth the time or money like Dudley was. Dudley was going to go to the best school! He had the best clothes and toys- not him. He was a freak. At the thought, Harry buried his face into his hands, shoulders hitching silently.

There was a brief moment of silence, other than his hitched breathing, before he heard the faint sound of a chair being moved next to his own. Lowering his hands down, Harry sniffed while his arms curled tightly around his middle. He spared a look up as Remus sat next to him, an arm resting on the back of his chair.

"What's this about?" The man spoke softly, reaching out and carefully brushing a stray tear away from the child's cheek. He leaned down slightly as Harry shrugged, taking in another ragged breath.

It was absolutely silly! It had to be. To be crying over… getting stuff! "N-nothing.." Harry whispered, rubbing at his face quickly before staring down to his lap. He chewed on the inside of his cheek for a moment before he heard a soft "Stop that," from the man. The frown remained as he felt the arm from behind him curl around his shoulders and pull him close.

"I don't believe for a moment that this is 'nothing', as you say." Remus murmured, feeling the child only shrug once more in response. "You seemed quite happy a bit ago. What happened?" He urged, glancing up to spot the waitress paused just a few steps away. The woman offered a small smile before holding up a finger, indicating she would be back in just a bit. He nodded gratefully at the gesture, looking back down to the mop of hair against his side.

Harry moved slightly, pressing his face into Remus' shirt as he took in a much calmer breath, the same hand against his back rubbing slowly. "... You're getting me too much." He mumbled, so low that Remus had actually strained to hear the words.

"Getting you too much?" He repeated, feeling the nod against his side. To himself, he hardly thought he got the boy much at all. "You're not used to having your own things, are you?" Remus spoke knowingly, tightening his hold for a fleeting moment.

Shaking his head, Harry pulled away with a much more calm sigh and looked up to Remus. "No.. and you've got me candy and toys… and I got a room." He looked down to the menu, watching as Remus pulled it slightly closer to him.

"You will have everything you need and several things you want from now on. I want you to understand that… and that it will never be a burden to get those things for you." Remus rested his chin down upon the child's head as Harry found his eyes misting over at the words.

Rubbing at his face, he removed his glasses and placed them carefully upon the table before properly turning to face Remus. His arms instantly wrapped tightly around the man, fresh tears falling as he took in several breathes. Remus was serious! He wanted him to stay with him. Harry rubbed his face into the man's shirt, rubbing away the tears before pulling back slightly to look up to the man. A grin finally broke out across the child's face as he slowly nodded in understanding.

Remus smiled softly, brushing a hand through Harry's hair as he nodded as well. "Okay then?"

"Okay.." Harry murmured, sniffling softly as he properly pulled away; Remus' arm falling away at the motion.

"Good. Now, how about you take a look at the menu here and then, only if you feel up for it, we may go get some ice cream after. Alright?" Remus patted Harry's back briefly before he made a small motion towards the menu in front of the child. There was no reason to let a small moment of emotion ruin the day, and he would be sure it wouldn't.

Harry looked back to the menu once more, picking up his glasses as he did so. "Can I get the fish and chips?" He looked up to Remus, who hadn't moved to the chair across from him, but had remained at his side. "Please?"

"Of course. I may get the same actually. It's been awhile." Looking up, he made a nod at the waitress who was clearly still allowing the two to have their moment. She smiled brightly, moving behind the counter for only a brief moment before bringing their drinks over.

"Here we are. And tossed in a free treat for you as well." Placing the glasses down, the woman placed a freshly baked sugar cookie closer to Harry.

Harry smiled shyly at the motion, whispering a soft "Thanks," as he pulled the small plate closer to himself.

Quick words were spoken as Remus ordered the food for them both, the menus taken away only a second later. He looked back down to Harry, pleased to see that whatever was eating away at the child's mind just a moment ago seemed to have been quelled for the time being. "Perhaps we've done enough shopping for today, however, we will need to go out to London in a few days to get yourself some clothes that you wish to have. Professor Dumbledore has been sure you have clothes more fit for you, but I'm sure you would prefer to pick things out yourself."

Pulling his glass of water closer to himself, Harry looked over to Remus as the man spoke with surprise. They were going to shop AGAIN? For clothes? "I can get rid of Dudley's stuff?" A hint of a grin pulled across his face as Remus nodded in affirmation.

"Certainly." The man smiled as Harry grinned fully. "But again, we are not going today. I believe a break from the crowd will be good for us both."

Harry nodded in agreement, sighing in content after he took a sip of the water. "Thanks Remus.." He wouldn't complain. After all, they still had a busy day planned when they got back to Hogwarts!


Hope you enjoy!