Chapter 7 – Preparations
When the two Marauders finished clearing out all the things they needed from the Blacks house, they made their way back to the new house and placed all their stuff into the closets and Harrys stuff from the rucksack in Dumbledore's office in the room they decorated for Harry. Both were surprised with how little stuff the boy had and how dirty and large the clothes were for him, He only had one set of shoes, a school uniform with a few rips in the colour faded and looked too big for the boy who was sound asleep in the hospital wing. There were only three sets of clothes and one old raged pair of pyjamas.
The two marauders looked at each other and silently agreed that the first thing they needed to do when Harry came home the next day was go clothes shopping for him. This can't have been what he wore day in, day out at the Dursleys. Something was off with the young boy, Remus couldn't put his finger on it quite yet, but Sirius was dreading the worse, he wasn't going to say anything to his fellow marauder until Harry had settled down and therefore knew his side of the story.
They went down to the village to the local pub to have a pint and food since they still hadn't gone to the supermarket yet. It didn't take them long to demolish the food and pay the bill and they were soon strolling up the lane to the house in a cold welsh breeze. They were thankful to get into the warm. The pair were so tired that they merely bid each other goodnight before going into their individual rooms and falling into a deep sleep.
The next morning both awoke when the sun flickered through the small gap in the curtains. They got hanged into some old clothes and went outside to clean the garden. It only took them an hour to remove all the weeds and leftover rubbish that was left from the previous owner. Sirius decided to check out the river to see how deep it was in dog form. Remus transfigured a stone into a rubber ball and had fun throwing it into the river for Sirius to catch.
Sirius soon got cold forgetting that in November the water was close to freezing point. Sirius shook his fur getting water all over Remus in the process.
"Oi" yelled Remus "Is that actually necessary?"
"Why, yes, it is Moony Boi!" replied Sirius rather smugly "Its not fair that I'm the only one getting wet is it?"
Remus sighed rather heavily but smiled and laughed all the same "come on, lets get dry so we can go get some food before Harry comes home" At that the pair made their way inside, had a hot shower and dressed into some muggle clothes. The two then put their coats on and made their way down to the village.
It was quiet, few people wandered around doing their shopping, the primary school stood still as it was a Saturday morning. The two marauders went into the butcher and paid for some chicken breast for their Sunday dinner, some ham and general bits and pieces to tide them over for a week. They next went to the grocer, bakery and then finally the dairy where they were able to set up a service to deliver two bottles of milk to their door each day, well that's what the muggle in front of them were doing and Remus decided to copy. All the time they had their eye on a clothes store which would be appropriate to purchase Harry sized clothes, however there wasn't much about so they both agreed to take him into Pembroke centre where they say a few shops to investigate.
After that they made their way back to the cottage and made themselves some sandwiches. Both struggled to eat as they were so anxious about Harry coming home at 1.30 they flooed to the headmaster's office.
"Ah Sirius, Remus I was wondering how long it would take you to get here today" said Dumbledore.
"Is Harry okay?" asked Remus
"Yes, he is fine, rather excited should I add, now the reality has hit him, I wouldn't be surprised if he is currently running around his room in wolf form" the three laughed at this statement. "With regards to Harrys schooling, I feel that he will be ready in a couple of days to go back to school, he seems to have a rather good grip on his transformation"
"He does, doesn't he?" replied Sirius. Remus was still nervous about it all. Dumbledore nodded before continuing
"You will need to go to Harrys old school with him and request a transfer to his new school, I have the relevant documents you need here all you need to do is sign them, the document have a charm on them to make the process easier since the change has happened so quickly"
"Okay thank you headmaster, it is something we thought might be a problem, is there anything else we have to be aware of?"
"Unless Poppy has some special requirements then I don't see anything that should concern Harry and yourselves"
"Thank you Albus" the three then walked out of the office and through the long corridors, passing a fe groups of students on their Saturday minding their own business. The Gryffindor quidditch team could be seen practicing on the quidditch pitch. After another few corridors they arrived on the hospital wing, they knocked on the door away from the rest of the ward. The door silently opened and the three then entered the room to see a young yapping wolf cub come running up to them. Sirius, who had immediately turned into dog form greeted the happy cub with a wolf kiss, their noses rubbing against the other.
Harry then went to curl around Remus' legs and finally jumped up to two legs to bark at Dumbledore who petted his head. Remus pet the two dogs to play for a while before saying "Harry, can you transform for me. The wolf cub cocked his head before closing its eyes and trying hard to transform which he did in a matter of minutes. After that Sirius transformed back into human.
"I see you have got better at that transformation since yesterday" said Remus
"Oh yes Moony! I've been practicing all morning, if that's okay?"
"Of course, it's okay" laughed Remus "Why wouldn't it be okay?"
Harry stopped and stared, it was the first time in his life that people didn't scowl at him for trying his best. "Um, I don't know, Sorry Moony" Harry then backed away expecting for one of the adults to suddenly lash out.
"Harry, its okay to practice stuff that's new to you" replied Remus kneeling trying to coax the young wolf into a hug. 'freaks don't deserve hugs, freaks should stay away' Harrys head repeated to him. "Its okay Harry" repeated Remus taking the boys hand that was not up in a sling and pulled the child towards him. Harry then remembered what Moony used to be like in his dreams, just like this so he clutched onto Remus, allowing him to pick him up.
Remus then stood up and looked at Sirius, something defiantly wasn't right with the young boy, but it was something that would have to wait until Harry was settled in. "Do we have any instructions regarding Harrys care?" Remus asked the matron.
"Harry is making a very good recovery however he will need to take this potion until the full moon this month, if he misses one dose his transformation will be painful and uncontrollable to keep his mind"
"Very well, we heard that loud and clear don't we Sirius?!"
"Yes, we do Remus, Poppy" replied Sirius "I personally will make sure my godson has the best care possible. Wen would be the best time to give it to him"
"Well I have been giving it to him half in the morning and the other half in the try to stick to the routine"
"Yes, Poppy we sure will"
"Any problems floo straight back to me" reminded the matron
"Of course,"
The two marauders then took the little boy to the fireplace. Remus went first with Harry who remembered to close his eyes this time. When they arrived the other side Harry still felt sick but a lot better from the first time he had used the floo network.
"Welcome home Harry" said Sirius. Harry was awe struck, he looked about the room which was twice the size of the Dursleys living room. Remus carried Harry around the house finishing with the boys' bedroom "And this is your room" said Sirius. Harry looked around at the room, the scarlet red hangings off the bed and the enchanted ceiling.
"Are you sure, really for me?" replied Harry as he looked around the room taking in every detail, every sound and every smell. Since he had been bitten, everything had been overwhelming, he was hiding it like he did at his uncles house when he was hurt.
"Of course, cub" replied Remus "Do you like it?"
"Oh yes Moony, Padfoot I love it. Thank you!"
"No thanks needed, however I must ask whether the clothes we put on your cupboard are all of your clothes?"
Harry opened the cupboard and looked inside, there were Dudley's old clothes that he wore day in, day out at the Dursleys.
"Yeah that's all of them, unless Dudley has grown out of any more since I've been away"
Remus looked at Sirius, the pair looked seriously at each other, something was definably off by that statement. Gently Remus spoke
"Why don't we go get some new ones? New home and all?"
"Are you sure?" replied Harry "I'm fine with those honest, there's no need to, I don't want to be a burden to you, I can work t off yeah, I can cook or clean or anything"
"Harry, Its okay. We are caring for you now, kids don't 'work off' essential things like clothes and toys and food. It is what you deserve and anyone who has told you different is wrong" said Remus, looking into the boy's eye. He saw a very lost child inside.
"It's not okay though" replied Harry his head was screaming 'freaks don't deserve clothes or toys or time to play' "I can help with anything, or ill stay in those" harry was getting worked up. Remus held the child tightly to his chest. Harry tried with all his might not to cry. Looking over the young boy's shoulder, Remus looked at Sirius in that same look.
"Harry, look at me" said Sirius softly as he gently picked the boys head up "I want to buy you new clothes, I am your godfather and I am responsible for you, okay?" Harry nodded "Okay then, you just tell us when you are ready, and we can get going"
"I'm ready now Padfoot" replied Harry
So, the three started to walk down to the village Harry holding onto Remus' hand and walking between the two Marauders trying not to get distracted by all the noise. They stopped at the bus stop and a bus came quickly. Remus paid for their tickets and the three sat down at the back of the bus. They were soon in Pembroke and they got off at the main station, they then went up the main centre and chose a shop to go in.
The shop was quite small but had all they needed, they went into the boy's section and chose 7 new t-shirts, 3 hoodies, 2 sweatshirts, 3 sets of jeans, one pair of trousers, 3 pairs of joggers, underwear, socks, a pair of pyjamas, a coat and a swimming costume. Harry didn't complain one little bit when they asked him to try on all the clothes, even when it was clear his injured shoulder was hurting him.
After they had finished and paid, Harry couldn't stop stumbling his thanks to the marauders. They got the bus back and stopped off at the ice cream parlour on the way back hey each had an ice-cream and walked back to their house. Harry was so tired that he almost fell asleep straight away however, Remus made him a glass of warm milk with his potion inside and let his young cub fall asleep,