Authors Note:
Just again a reminder that I am using the Remus side story from my "Missing Moments" fic, which for those of you who don't know is a chapter by chapter of "missing moments" from Harry's life before and after the defeat of Voldemort and canon compliant. The moment I am using here is where Remus visits Harry just after the funeral of James and Lily Potter. Again, I had this scene written for this story, but felt like it fit in as a lovely 'moment' to use for that drabble so I borrowed it, but again it WAS written for this story first.
Reviews and Comments: To ObsessedWithHPFanFic: I think you are my only reader LOL. But yes, it is great that Sirius has taken Harry away from the Dursleys and told Dumbledore he's not going back. Thank you! And thanks for the review!
Thank you very much for reading and please, please review!
Your reviews give me life! They give me inspiration! And they make me want to keep writing for more than just myself! Thank you!
CHAPTER EIGHT:
The One Where Harry Meets Remus
Harry woke up in the big bed, the stuffed dog and stuffed stag cradled in his arms. He blinked owlishly as he looked around and then he remembered the man who had come to visit him; the man who could turn into a dog.
"Padfoot," he whispered, a small smile on his face. He carefully climbed down from the bed, grabbing the stuffed wolf as well, and keeping them in his arms as he slowly crept to the door, peeking out. There was no one in the hallway so he tiptoed to the stairs and looked down.
The sunlight was peaking through the front windows, illuminating the living room below. Harry slowly walked down the stairs, the three stuffed animals clutched in his arms. When he got to the bottom step, he heard sounds coming from the kitchen and he froze, listening. Music was playing and it sounded like pots and pans were clanging around. The sounds seemed normal so he tiptoed closer, peeking his head into the archway of the kitchen and eyes watching the unfamiliar man there.
He had golden brown hair and he was wearing blue jeans and a long sleeved denim shirt rolled at the elbows. One long thin white scar from his elbow to his wrist seemed to shine as he poured batter into the pan carefully. A minute later, he scooped two big fluffy pancakes onto a plate and turned, jumping when he saw Harry and smiling warmly.
The smile made his whiskey coloured eyes twinkle and Harry felt himself smiling back.
"Hi, Harry. Do you like pancakes?"
Harry shrugged, clutching the stuffed animals closer to his chest. "I don't know."
The man continued to smile at him. He had a crescent shaped scar over one eye, very small, but Harry found himself staring at it.
"They're delicious. We'll cover them in warm maple syrup, you'll love them. Come sit down."
He pulled a chair out for Harry and Harry carefully walked over. He put the animals on the chair and climbed up, clutching them back into his arms. The man sat down next to him, still smiling.
"I'm Remus, but you can call me Uncle Remus or Uncle Moony if you'd like."
Harry held the wolf up to him. "Moony."
Remus smiled and nodded. Leave it to Sirius to get him stuffed animals to distinguish the Marauders right away. "That's right."
"Uncle Padfoot said that you know lots of stories."
"I sure do. I love stories," Remus told him, carefully cutting up one of the pancakes. "After you eat some breakfast, I'll tell you one. Deal?"
Harry nodded, watching as Remus poured syrup over his food and held the fork out to him.
"Why don't we take Moony, Padfoot, and Prongs and sit them over here while you eat?" Remus suggested, holding his hands out for the stuffed animals.
Harry stared at him a moment and then carefully handed the animals over, eyes watchful, as Remus sat them on the other side of the table so that Harry could still see them. He accepted the fork and slowly stabbed a bite of pancake and brought it to his lips. His eyes widened at the taste and he eagerly ate, a small smile on his lips.
Remus poured him a glass of chocolate milk and watched as Harry looked at it suspiciously before again, smiling after tasting it. "Is it good?"
He nodded. "Yes. Thank you, Sir."
Remus stood up and cleaned up the kitchen as Harry ate. When he was finished, he placed Harry's breakfast dishes in the sink and turned to smile at Harry.
"Why don't you run up to the bathroom and wash your hands and face while I wash the dishes? When you come back down, I'll tell you a story about a boy named Arthur who pulled a sword from a stone."
Harry ran up the stairs. Remus finished cleaning and scooped up the three stuffed animals, smiling as he looked at them: The wolf, the dog and the stag. He carefully placed them on the couch as Harry came down the stairs.
"Let's go back upstairs, Harry, I forgot to show you your toothbrush and we'll get dressed before story time." Remus told him, holding his hand out.
Harry tentatively accepted his hand and followed him back up the stairs. Ten minutes later, his teeth were brushed, his hair was combed, and he was dressed in sweatpants and a white t-shirt. He followed Remus as they went back down the stairs and into the living room. He saw his stuffed animals on the couch and he quickly climbed up, clutching them to him as if surprised to still find them there.
Remus handed him a tall glass of orange juice, which he had used to disguise the healing potion that Harry needed to drink for his back, and took a seat next to him, stretching his long legs out in front of him. "Drink all of that up for me, Harry."
Harry drank the orange juice slowly, his eyes on Remus warily, but he drank every drop.
Remus smiled, putting the glass on the table. "Thank you. Are you ready for a story?"
Harry nodded eagerly, his green eyes wide as they looked at him, waiting for him to begin.
Remus smiled. "Once upon a time, in a faraway kingdom, there was a young boy named Arthur Pendragon…"
By the time that Remus had gotten to the lady in the lake, the potion had kicked in and Harry was fast asleep. Remus carefully turned him, so that his neck wouldn't hurt and wrapped him up with the afghan on the back of the couch. He brought the empty glass back into the kitchen and then stood at the counter, eyes closed and fists clenched.
He never should have left Harry with those people. He closed his eyes as the memory washed over him.
Remus stood outside of Number Four Privet Drive nervously rocking on his heels and trying to work up the courage to knock. It had been just over two weeks since his entire world had collapsed around him. James and Lily: Dead. Peter: Dead. Sirius: Imprisoned for murdering Peter and twelve Muggles and worst of all — for betraying James and Lily Potter. He still couldn't even believe that Sirius had been the one behind everything; the spy in the Order, the one working for Voldemort.
It all seemed like some horrible dream.
His best friends, his true family, all gone in the span of a week and he was only twenty-one years old.
He dragged his fingers through his golden brown hair and finally lifted his hand to the door to knock. Dumbledore had told him where he had sent Harry, explaining how it was the safest place for him. Remus agreed with him. But Harry was the only family that he had left. He wanted to make sure that he was truly all right.
The door opened and he immediately recognized Lily's sister. He had only met her the once at the wedding, but her and her husband Vernon had made an impression.
"Petunia, Remus Lupin," he said, extending his hand. "I was a friend of Lily and James. We met at their wedding."
Petunia merely stared at him. "You were in the wedding party."
Remus nodded, smiling. "I was. I wanted to check on Harry, see how he was adjusting to life with his aunt and uncle."
"He's fine." she said curtly, crossing her arms in front of her. "I don't really like unannounced visitors coming by the house. I'm trying to keep Dudders and our new guest on some form of schedule. It's not exactly easy to have two children under the age of two."
Remus nodded, sticking his hands in the pockets of his pants. "I understand. I'd just like to see Harry for a moment, just to make sure that he's all right?"
Petunia sighed before she nodded stiffly and opened the door wider, allowing for Remus to step inside. "Fine. But be quick about it."
Remus nodded as she closed the door behind him. He stood in the entranceway of the house just as the boy he was looking for came running out of the living room towards him, arms outstretched in joy.
"Uncamoo!" he shrieked, running into Remus' arms.
Remus' face broke out into his first smile in weeks as he scooped Harry up into his arms. He ruffled his black messy hair and kissed his chubby cheeks, hugging him close. He pulled back to grin at him and his eyes found the lightning bolt cut on his forehead. He gently brushed it with his finger and his eyes found Petunia's.
"Is this where he —?"
Petunia nodded. "From what I understand yes. It doesn't seem to bother him."
Remus nodded. He knelt down on the floor, standing Harry in front of him and grinning at him. "I missed you, Harry. Do you like it here with your aunt and uncle?"
"No!" Harry said sternly, "Go! Moo! Padfoof!"
Tears welled up in Remus' eyes and he choked them back. "Afraid not, little Prongs. This is your new home now."
Harry crawled up his body, hanging off of his shoulder as he spoke. "No! Mumma! Dada!"
Remus looked at Petunia and sighed. "I know that he's safest here with you, but hearing him… I want to keep him safe. If Voldemort ever truly does come back… we don't know for certain that he's gone and Harry could be in the most danger if he ever finds out that he's still alive."
"Uncamoo," he exclaimed, his hands moving across Remus' face, fingers in his mouth as he grabbed at Remus.
Remus merely grinned. He was the cutest kid. It still surprised him how much he had come to love this little boy. When he called him Uncle Moo in his baby talk of "uncamoo" his heart soared. Nothing made Harry happier than when Remus and Sirius would come to visit and Sirius turned into a dog. The 'doggie' would make Harry giggle and laugh and Remus would hold his hands as he rode the dog around. Then Sirius would turn back and Harry would laugh, begging for the Siri to make the Padfoof come back.
Sirius had loved him. Remus could see that. How could Sirius have done this?
"Do you have enough stuff for him? Clothes and whatnot?" he asked Petunia, holding Harry close again as he jabbered incoherent baby talk in his ear.
"Yes. From what I understand, the house is destroyed so I have whatever Dumbledore brought with him," she told him.
She had moved to pick up her own son, who was trying to touch the vase full of flowers on the table. He was a chubby blonde toddler who seemed to waddle as he walked.
"It was," Remus said. "I just want to make sure that he's well taken care of. He's a very special boy." He kissed Harry's forehead and Harry snuggled into his embrace.
"Slooch!" he said and Remus kissed him again.
"I'd… I'd like to come by and see him when I can. Maybe once every few weeks or so. I can tell him about his parents and spend time with him. Get to see him grow up and become the great wizard that I know he will be."
"No," Petunia said sternly, moving to place Dudley in the playpen she had set up and crossing her arms in front of her again. "Absolutely not."
"I'm sorry?" Remus asked in surprise.
"No," Petunia repeated. "I let you in today to say goodbye to him as a courtesy. I agreed to take the boy in for his own safety, but I won't have it in my house. No magic. No powers. No mention of an evil madman who killed his parents. I will let him stay here with my husband and my son, if and only if, I can give him the chance of a normal childhood. No funny business. How am I supposed to do that if you come around here and tell him those things. Absolutely not! I forbid it."
Remus stood up, Harry still snuggled in his arms. "I get where you're coming from, Petunia but… my friends, my family are all gone. Harry is all I have left. I'd like to find a place in his life. Be the uncle to him that I was meant to be."
Petunia glared at him, her hands on her hips. "Then you can take him off of my hands. That's the only way that you can have contact with him."
"I can't take him," he said desperately.
There was no way that he could take Harry home and raise him safely not with his furry little problem. How could he possibly keep Harry safe when he himself was a danger to him three nights a month?
"If you won't take him then that's it. Say goodbye."
Tears welled up in Remus' eyes. He understood what she wanted. It was safer for Harry if he had no contact; if no one magical even knew where he was. Dumbledore was right about that. This was Harry's family and they would take care of him. But the thought of leaving this little boy broke his heart.
But a broken heart was something that Remus Lupin was used to. He had already lost everything that mattered in his life: His parents, his best friends, his family. Losing Harry was in the best interest of keeping Harry safe and that's what truly mattered.
He kissed Harry's cheeks and then the lightning shaped cut on his forehead, holding him close for a hug as he spoke, "If I write to you, will you keep me informed on how he's doing?"
"No," Petunia said, sternly. "Either take him with you or say goodbye."
Remus nodded, unshed tears in his eyes. He cuddled Harry close. Harry tugged on his hair and planted a wet kiss on his mouth before he sat him down the ground.
"You'll take good care of him? Keep him safe?" Remus asked her as Harry tried to shimmy back up his leg.
"I will raise him to be normal," Petunia told him.
Remus nodded, wiping his tears away. "Thank you." He leaned down and kissed the top of Harry's head. "I love you, Harry. Be good for your Aunt Petunia. We'll meet again someday, I'm sure of it."
Harry began to cry and it took every ounce of will that Remus possessed to walk to the door as Harry screamed after him, tears pouring from his eyes.
"No! Moo! Go, Moo! Uv, Moo!"
When Petunia closed the front door behind him, he stood on the front porch, tears pouring down his cheeks.
Harry would be safe. Nothing else in the world mattered, especially not the broken heart of a werewolf.
He opened his eyes, wiping the tears away. He had never in a million years thought that Petunia would hurt that little boy. If he had known… it was too late for what ifs now, he told himself. Now it was about keeping Harry safe. By taking him away from the Dursleys, Sirius had lost him the blood protection that he had with Petunia, and Remus knew how important that was to keeping Harry safe.
He made himself a cup of tea and took a seat on the couch next to Harry. He slipped the boy's glasses off, putting them on the table and gently ran his fingers through the soft messy hair, smiling when Harry turned and snuggled into the wolf stuffed animal.
Sirius would keep him safe and Remus would do everything he could to help him. He opened his book and began to read, glancing at the clock. He wondered how Sirius was faring with Dumbledore.