Author note: Ya'll have been wonderfully patient, thank you so much! If there are any little ideas you would like to see with the ages of 9-10, let me know!


Hogwarts Grounds - Age 9

Remus tapped the nine year old's back as they entered the courtyard, passing by the water fountain and onto the bridge that led out to the grounds. It was the perfect morning to allow the child a chance to explore the school grounds for the first time and Harry had seemed more than excited to do so. "Stay within my view as well, alright?"

The man hummed as they stepped to the end of the bridge, looking down to Harry as they moved towards the grass.

Harry smiled brightly as he looked out over the school grounds. He was sure that he had never seen such a wonderful place before. He gave a small nod at Remus' words as he slowly walked a few steps ahead of the man. "There is a lake!" He pointed over to the large body of water, steps quickening slightly as they moved over the slight hill that overlooked the area.

Remus smiled as he made a nod towards the water. "There is. Let's go down, but do not go into the water." He smiled as the child moved fully away from him and moved across the expanse of the open grounds rather quickly. In the matter of days the child had opened up to be a curious bundle of energy.

The school year still had a few more weeks before starting, and he was set to spend the time giving the boy the freedom to explore what would be his new home for several years to come.

Harry ran ahead of the man by a few feet. "Can't I just feel it?" He questioned as he approached the large lake. "Is it warm enough to swim in?"

"You may feel it although it may be turning cold this time of the year." Remus moved down to the water's edge with the child, pausing at the rocky edge. "But in the summer it does get warm enough."

Harry's grin, if possible, grew as he leaned down and carefully dipped his fingers into the cold water. "So in the summer I can swim in it then?" He glanced over his shoulder at the man.

"I don't see why not. Only close to the shore of course. Can't have the squid get to you." The man raised a brow as he moved closer to the water's edge and to the child.

"The squid?" Harry raised an eyebrow as he stood up straight, shivering slightly at the very thought of such a thing. "There is a squid in there?" He motioned to the large lake. He couldn't believe that!

"A giant squid." Remus moved over, ruffling a hand through Harry's hair. "Can't have it come and swoop you down to those depths now can we?" The man's tone turned light, smiling at the stunned stare the child gave in return.

Harry made a face at the words as he looked out at the lake, shaking his head. "No, I don't want that."

"Thought not." Remus hummed, kneeling slightly next to the child as he looked across the water. "A few short years and you'll be in a boat coming across it for your first night as a student."

"I can't wait." Harry grinned as he looked over to the small hut across the grounds. "That's where Hagrid lives right?"

Remus stood up straight, resting a hand on his knee briefly as he did so. He turned his head, looking over to the hut with a nod. "It is. I'm sure there will be some nights you'll be able to stay with him if you wish. I'm sure he wouldn't mind in the least." Harry's first few meetings with the half giant had been brief, but he had become enthralled by the man instantly.

"Really?" Harry looked up at the man. He wasn't sure if he wanted to do so or not. It sounded exciting but he also liked his room and his bed in the castle. "Maybe but maybe not too." He shrugged, moving across the shore after a moment of thought. At least Remus wouldn't mind.

"That is completely fine. The option is there." The man nodded as he moved back to the grassy field, watching the child walk across the rocks near the water. "So you're aware, you may only be near the water when you're being watched. Understand?"

Harry gave a small nod of understanding. "Yeah." He looked out over the water before glancing back at his guardian. "But in the summer I can swim here right?"

"You may." Remus gave a nod, giving the boy a stern stare. "While watched," he emphasized. "You are also to never go into the forest either." He made a motion to the woods just past Hagrid's hut.

Harry looked past the small hut at the forest beyond it. "Why?" He asked as he moved away from the lake and towards the man. The forest looked calm enough to him. "It's just a forest."

"It is called the Forbidden Forest and you should remember that. There are all sorts of creatures and plants that can harm you. Severely." As the child approached, Remus dropped a hand to rest against his shoulder blades.

Harry made a face at the words. It looked like a perfectly normal forest to him. "Not even with you? Or another adult?" He looked up at the man.

"There should not be a reason for you to be taken into the forest. However, if it arises.. then only with an adult." He made a nod, eyeing the forest himself before clearing his throat. He couldn't imagine himself taking the boy into the forest. Not for many years at the very least. "Understand?"

"Mmhm," Harry nodded up at the man before looking around the grounds. "Is there anything that's not dangerous out here?"

"A hit and miss." He guided the child across the grounds, following a path that seemed to lead between the edge of the forest and the chasm that the bridge was over. "The quidditch pitch is this way. There won't be a game for some time. But we can head up into the seating so you can get used to the view."

"We can go to the games?" Harry asked with a smile as he skipped next to the man. "All of 'em?" With what little he knew so far, quidditch sounded like the best thing! Besides when he actually got to use magic himself.

"I don't see why not." Remus smiled down to the child, looking back up with a nod as the towers of the pitch came into view. "See, just beyond these trees here and short walk down."

Harry's eyes widened as they approached the pitch. "Maybe someday when I'm older I can play quidditch?"

"If you wish. James was quite good at it and I'm sure if given the chance, you'd enjoy it." As they approached the large pitch, Remus held open one of the flaps and made a nod towards the stairs. "Professors sit in these stands. Students in the slightly lower ones. You and I will be in the higher stands until you're a student."

Harry stepped past the man with a grin, hurrying up the stairs. "All the way to the top?" He looked back at the man, pausing mid-step to be sure.

"All the way." Remus nodded, following a few steps behind. "Go on ahead, I'll be right behind you."

Harry let out a small giggle as he ran up the stairs. He couldn't wait for quidditch games to start! He was sure that he would absolutely love watching them. Especially if his dad enjoyed it!

Remus nearly called up to the child to slow down before simply chucking and shaking his head. There was no harm in allowing the child to be just that. A child.

He approached the top of the stairs, taking in a short breath himself as the height settled in his mind. It had been some time since he had been in the stands after all and he was reminded rather quickly why he never took to flying himself.

Harry moved to the front of the seated area, looking out over the quidditch pitch before he leaned over slightly, looking down. "This is wicked!"

"If the height is no bother for you, then I believe you'll be a perfect fit for flying one day." The man moved next to the child, resting a hand between Harry's shoulders as he looked over the pitch.

"Really?" Harry leaned back up, grinning to Remus widely. "I wish I could fly now.." While the idea was spoken about previously, Harry just couldn't justify really flying- or the man getting him a broom.

"Perhaps we may take another trip to the store and get a training broom like we saw in the toy store. It won't allow you to go above a certain height, but it will allow you to learn control." Remus stepped back slightly, sitting down on one of the benches.

"Really? We can?" Harry leaned over to look down at the large area once more. "That would be awesome!"

Remus smiled warmly at the excitement, leaning back slightly. "I'm sure once practice starts, perhaps a few of the team players will be more than happy to talk about the games with you. Hopefully allow you to watch a practice match."

"You really think so?" Harry turned slightly to look back at the man, frowning slightly. "I hope the older kids like me.." His voice softened, looking down to the floor for a brief moment before looking back over the pitch.

"When your father played, he was more than happy to speak to *anyone* who would listen about quidditch. I'm sure plenty are still like that here and you'll befriend them with ease."

Standing, Remus spared a look down. "It can be quite dangerous as well. When you come to the age of being able to join the team, I will want you to seriously consider it."

"It doesn't seem that dangerous." Harry stood up straight once more. "It's just flying around." He gave a slight shrug.

"It's much more than just flying around." He made a motion to the three hoops closer to their side of the stadium. "You have several whose main goal is to score points through one of those three hoops. Seems simple enough. However, there are two players on each team who are called beaters. Their goal is to knock others off their brooms."

"Knock 'em off their brooms?" Harry's eyes widened. "Are you allowed to do tricks and stuff? I want to learn how to stand on a broom!" He beamed, leaning back slightly to grin widely up to Remus.

"Not anytime soon you won't." Remus took in a deep breath. How the child was more like his father at every moment.. and he had simply no idea. "It's possible, but I do not want to see you standing on a broom. It is a long way down.."

"But you said the broom I can have won't go that high," Harry pointed out, his grin waning just slightly. "Couldn't I just try?"

The man sighed, staring down to the boy for a long moment. Of course the broom wouldn't go high enough to really hurt the child. "Only on that broom and *only* with myself there to watch. Understand?"

Harry nodded happily as his eyes moved from the man to scan the quidditch pitch one more. "Promise, until I'm older." He added in with a hum.

"Harry. I'm not about to see you in the hospital with broken bones that could have been avoided." His hand tapped the child's back gently as a slight sternness entered his tone.

A small sigh escaped the child before he gave a reluctant nod. "Kay, promise."

"Good." The same hand raised to ruffle through Harry's hair gently. "This weekend we'll go down to Hogsmead. It's not a far trip from the school. We can get you a broom then."

"Thanks Remus." The boy leaned against the man's side. "Can you teach me how to fly?"

"I can certainly do my best." He chuckled, wrapping his arm around the child as he was leaned into. "I've never been much of a flyer myself, but once school starts I'll reach out to see if one of the team players may help better."

"Okay. Thanks Remus." Harry squeezed the man tightly for a brief moment. "When we go get the broom maybe we can go to lunch too?" He was sure it wouldn't happen often, but what harm would there be in asking?

"Of course! Ice-cream as well?" He turned with Harry at his side, patting his back to urge him near the stairs.

Harry gave an excited nod as he moved back towards the staircase. "Wanna race down?"

Remus swallowed his words of flat out refusing- of course the child would win. Even if he declined, Harry would no doubt be the first one down. He leaned down, smirking just faintly. "Winner gets a chocolate frog once we're back to the castle."

"Yeah!" Harry paused at the top of the stairs. "Are you ready?" He smiled widely up at the man.

"Ready." The man nodded as he paused next to the child. "Go!" Remus lingered for all of a moment as the child dashed ahead, smirking as he made his way down at his own fast pace. "I think you're *flying* down!" He called after the boy, smiling as Harry's laughter simply echoed back up.

Harry laughed loudly as he ran down the stairs, jumping down the last few every time he reached another landing. "I'm gonna win!" He called back to the man.

A laugh escaped the man as he heard the child, watching Harry disappear out of view within a moment each time he stepped on a landing. "I know when I've been out matched!"

He grinned at the child as he moved down to the final landing, Harry already at the bottom of the stairs.

"Did you let me win?" Harry gave the man a skeptical look, a smile still wide across his face as he caught his breath. "Or am I just faster than you?"

"I don't believe it would have gone well if I jumped down stairs like you." Remus chuckled, moving to the child and resting his hand on his back. "You won that one yourself."

Harry giggled softly at the words as he moved towards the castle. "Is there anything else outside that's cool?"

"At this side of the castle? One more thing." He made a motion to the large, old looking tree off to the side. "You are to never go near that tree and I need you to be very aware of that. That there is called the whomping willow. Go anywhere near it and it will do everything possible to get you away." The man's tone turned solemn as he looked back down to the child.

Harry made a face at the words. "The tree will try and get me away? How?"

"See all those vines within the branches? They and the branches move. You'll never see even a bird in that tree." Remus rested his arm across the child's shoulders as he eyed the familiar tree with a grimace. "It will simply attack anything that moves near it."

"Even a kid?" Harry frowned at the very idea. It looked like the perfect tree for climbing.

"It cannot tell the difference between kids, teens or adults." Remus shook his head. "Which is why you need to be aware where you are when out here. I don't want you accidentally getting too close and getting hurt."

Harry gave a small nod at the words, studying the branches of the tree from their distance away. "Okay, I'll pay attention. Promise."

The man nodded in return, his smile returning. "Now I believe someone has won a chocolate frog. Lead the way back, I want to see if you remember the way completely." He made a small motion towards the path that led the way back to the castle.

Harry smiled widely at the words as he set off in the direction of the castle. "I know the way! I really do!"

"Excellent." Remus' smile remained as he followed the child. "So this weekend will be very busy. We'll eat lunch first before going to get the broom. Perhaps stop at a few other shops as well? Or will you want to come back right away?"

Harry shrugged in reply. "What kind of other shops?" He started up the steps to the castle. "That candy store again?"

"We can go there. Would you like to stop by the book store and see if anything catches your eye?" He followed a few steps behind, clearly giving the child the lead.

"Sure!" Harry pulled open the heavy door to the castle, struggling slightly. "And maybe to that joke store? Just to look around?"

Remus reached, helping with the door and giving the go ahead for Harry to continue on as they stepped inside the castle. "If you behave in there, I don't see why not." He hummed.

"Maybe I can buy something there too? I wanna play a joke on Snape!" The child giggled softly as he started down the long hallway.

"Absolutely not." Remus frowned at the words, reaching and tapping his fingers against the child's shoulder blades. "You will do no such thing." Needless to say, Harry's first meeting with the potion master hadn't been terrible, but it certainly made the child aware that Severus was not one that could be played around with.

"Not a mean joke, just a funny one," Harry tried, frowning at the sound of the man's tone. "I wouldn't hurt him." He started up the staircase, hand on the bannister.

"The answer remains the same." The man answered in a no nonsense tone as his hand dropped away and back to his side.

Harry made a face at the words. It would just be a fun, innocent little prank. He paused at the top of the stairs looking in both directions before deciding on turning to the left. "Who can I prank then?"

"It would be *best* to prank no one. Once you start classes you could certainly prank your friends. However until then, perhaps you and I can have a day dedicated to pranks. I shall be able to prank you just as you'd be able to prank me." He paused, clearing his throat.

"This way back, Harry. Once we're on the second floor we go right."

Harry frowned as he stopped in his tracks and turned to head in the right direction. "It's no fun if you know the prank is coming though. What about McGonagall? Can't I prank her?"

"Your option is either a day of pranking each other- and we will not know what the pranks are. Simply know they're possible. Or no one at all, Harry." Remus allowed the child to step ahead once more before following after.

Harry let out a low sigh at the words. "Okaaay." He hurried his pace to walk in front of the man. "I guess we could do a day of pranking then."

"I believe it will be much more fun than you're imagining it." Remus hummed, watching the child hurry ahead of him. "Right up ahead. Next door on the right."

Harry paused out front of Remus' door, looking back at the man. "But what if Snape feels left out? He'll be sad!"

"I assure you, Harry. He will be perfectly happy not being included in any sort of prank and if you wish to keep your backside safe, you will remember that." The man gave the child a stern stare for a long moment before opening up the door and ushering the child in.

"I said I wouldn't," Harry replied in what he hoped was a sincere voice as he stepped into the parlor.

"Mm. And I am simply confirming that." Remus shook his head as he stepped in after, closing the door and stepping towards the kitchen. "Come here." He made a motion for the child to follow before he moved to one of the cabinets above the counter. Opening it, he withdrew a packaged chocolate frog and held it out.

Harry smiled brightly as he took the chocolate from the man. "Do you want a piece of it?"

"I actually don't, but thank you for the offer." Closing the cabinet, Remus moved back towards the parlor. "Just don't get any on the couch."

Harry gave a nod of understanding as he moved towards the parlor. "I hope I get a good card. I already have two of Dumbledore."

"Save your extras. It's very common for students to trade their cards around to get more." Sitting in his armchair, Remus removed his wand from his pocket and pointed it to the fireplace briefly to cause a small flame to start.

The child grinned widely as he moved to the couch, sitting in the middle and crossing his legs in front of himself. Placing the chocolate frog box on his lap, Harry slowly opened up the container, giving a giggle as the chocolate frog gave a leap and landed on his shirt. It was only for a moment before the sweet hardened, allowing the child to pick up the chunk of chocolate. He placed it back into the small container, lifting the card from the lid. "Godric Gryffindor!" Harry grinned, placing the card on the arm of the couch before picking the chocolate up.

Remus smiled in return, resting back as he watched the child for a moment before clearing his throat. He didn't want to ruin the child's day, but he had to be sure the discussions they had the last few days and today truly stuck. "While you enjoy that, I want you to repeat back the rules we have gone over the past few days."

Harry paused after he took a large bite of the sweet, chewing slowly as he looked down to the container. Remus hadn't been serious much since he started to stay with him, causing to hum slightly. "Um.. not touch your wand, don't go around the castle alone.. or leave without permission.." He looked to Remus, who gave a nod for him to continue.

Swallowing, Harry took another small bite before continuing. "Clean up after myself, listen to the adults," he swallowed again, grinning fully. "And no going in the lake, or woods!"

"And to be polite, but yes." Remus nodded, smiling as the child refocused his attention on the sweet. "For lunch I was thinking of cottage pie, what do you say?"

Harry had taken one more bite before he placed the remaining chocolate into the blue box, closing it and resting it on the table in front of the couch. "Really?" He only had cottage pie a handful of times, and it was one of his favorites! But since it wasn't Dudley's favorite.. there was never a way for him to have some leftovers.

"With a small salad on the side, how about that?"

The child beamed happily, nodding at the idea. Again, it sounded like it would all be too much- but he really wouldn't ever complain. "Can I go get my knight set and play?" He was already standing, moving around the couch before he paused to look back at Remus.

The man smiled, giving a nod. "Go ahead, for a couple of hours before we eat. You know you'll be expected to put them away as well." He continued, despite the boy having already moved to the stairs.

"I know!" Harry called over his shoulder, before rushing up the stairs. The day had been brilliant! Not only did he win a chocolate frog and have a favorite meal for lunch, but he was going to be getting a broom this weekend!

It was all brilliant!