A/N: THIS HAS NOT BEEN BETA-ED! I just wrote it and haven't re-read it so I could get it to you! Please be patient with errors!

Gravestones

Chapter 2

Remus Lupin opened the door to his comfortable home and quietly shut it, magically locking it several times before walking drowsily through his living room and into his bedroom. It had been a very long few weeks of sleeping in caves in the mud and slime, and then an eternally long order meeting after that. He was ready to crawl into bed and never leave. He took off his very dirty shoes and shoved them under his rickety cot so the smell wouldn't reach him as easily. He didn't bother to change anything, he was so exhausted. He simply pulled back the covers and fell in to bed. As soon as he closed his eyes, however, he remembered something that made him feel wide awake.

"Harry!" he muttered, sitting up in bed, grabbing his wand and lighting it. How could I have forgotten? He quickly grabbed a piece of parchment and searched the house for a quill before finally finding one under the sink in the bathroom (how it had gotten there was a mystery to him). He sat down on his bed and ignored it's creaking as he set out to write his letter.

Harry-

I have just returned from a mission and was wondering if you would like to visit me sometime. I will be home for about a week, so whatever time is convenient for you, feel free to drop by.

-Uncle Moony

Once finished, he quickly folded the note and tapped it with his wand to magically seal it. Then he sat back and looked at his handiwork in satisfaction. Well, he was satisfied for a moment until he realized that he didn't have an owl.

"Bother," he muttered, wracking his brain for a way to send his message.

He could always send a message via his Patronus, but Harry had never received communication in such a way. He could send it through the Floo Network, but that was dangerous. Or perhaps he could simply apparate there? Well then, what was the point of the message if he was already there?

He decided he must be awfully tired, because if was very unlike him to be so disoriented and forgetful. He concluded that a good night's sleep was in order. Laying back down, Remus closed his eyes and succumbed to sleep almost immediately.

Remus woke up late the next morning to distant rapping sounds. Rubbing his eyes, he sat up and groggily got out of bed. Sighing and wishing that woodpeckers would go on a very long holiday, he walked across his small living room and wrenched his front door open.

"Er, hey Uncle Moony," said Harry. Remus looked at him quizzically as Harry appeared to be stifling a laugh. "Sleep well?" he asked.

Remus looked a Harry confusedly for a moment before Harry cracked a grin and pointed to his hair. Remus' eyes widened and he turned to the mirror that lay on his bookshelf across the room. He grimaced upon seeing his hair all mussed, worse than Harry's, even. He also noted that his face was covered with scraggly hairs and he was in desperate need of a bath. Then he allowed his eyes to focus past himself, and he saw Harry still standing in the doorway, shifting awkwardly on his feet.

"Oh, Harry come on in!" Remus said hurriedly, rushing back toward the door and ushering Harry in before closing the door behind him. Harry smiled awkwardly and stood near the door as Remus went into the kitchen and made some tea. "Have you eaten breakfast?" he called over the whistling of the kettle.

"Er, yes, and lunch to," Harry called back, pointing to the clock that hung above the fireplace. It was 2:30 in the afternoon.

"Right," Remus said, magically finishing up the tea in record time and heading over the living room. "Go ahead and sit down." He set the tea on the small table next to the couch and they both sat down.

"I'm sorry if I woke you," said Harry, taking the cup Remus offered him.

"Nonsense," Remus replied. "It is much too late in the day to be sleeping. As a wise men once said, 'Early to bed, Early to rise, makes man healthy, wealthy, and wise.'"

Harry nodded. "Benjamin Franklin said that, right?"

Remus' eyes widened in surprise. "I'm impressed. You know your Muggle Enlightenment philosophers."

Harry shrugged. "During primary school I paid a lot of attention to my school work. Not much else to do at the Dursleys'."

Remus smiled sadly at the boy – No, man – sitting in front of him. "I'm sorry you had to go through that," he said sincerely.

Harry shrugged again. "It's not like it was your fault."

Sighing Remus took a sip of his tea before continuing. "I'm afraid it was, Harry. I should have taken you in-"

"Uncle Moony, no offense, but you and I both know that you didn't have the assets to support the two of us," Harry said sadly. "Besides, you're a werewolf. Isn't there a law against that or something?"

Remus nodded his head dolefully. "Yes, I'm afraid so."

They fell silent for a moment, thinking about the past and wishing things were different when Remus finally spoke up.

"Harry, how did you know I was home?" he asked curiously.

Harry bit his lip and smiled sheepishly. "I figured you would have to tell the Order when you got back, so I asked Mr. Weasley if he could tell me when you returned. He told me this morning that you got home late last night."

Remus smiled, grateful to Arthur for doing that.

"So," said Remus, "Any news since I've been gone?" He realized he sounded very much like a parent. And while the Marauder in him hated the idea of becoming so down to earth, he couldn't help but like the idea of looking after someone, even if that someone didn't at all need looking after.

Harry shrugged and smiled. "Not much. I've got my own place, now."

Surprised, Remus set down his tea, which he had long forgotten about, and leaned back. "Really? How is it?"

Harry seemed to light up as he thought about it. "It's not anything special. It's a small apartment in London, not far from the Leaky Cauldron."

"And..." Remus pressed.

"And, well, it's got two bedrooms, a small bathroom, and a kitchen. There's a little living room too. It

is kind of like this house, actually," Harry said, gesturing around him.

Remus was impressed that Harry had showed such independence. Then again, Harry had always been an independent person. He didn't have a choice.

"Well, congratulations," said Remus, "Is there anything you want me to help you with?"

Harry shook his head. "No, I don't have much, so it was easy to move."

Again, they fell into an awkward silence. Remus sighed. It's going to take a lot to get comfortable around each other, he thought.

"So, the other day," Remus said, trying to keep the conversation alive, "I was walking over to Widow Mercanter's – she lives down the street – and I remembered a hilarious situation that happened between her and Lily when you were about eight months old. Would you like to hear about it?"

Remus wasn't at all surprised when Harry nodded vigorously. He knew that the memory of Lily and James was something Harry desperately clung to, even if he didn't realize it. So Remus scooted forward in his seat and prepared to tell Harry the story as he himself relived every detail.

"Come on, Remus, it's really no big deal. She won't think any less of you."

It was a chilly late September afternoon. Lily had decided to have a little fun with the old widow next door to the Potters. Mrs. Mercanter had insisted on seeing Harry as soon as she heard he'd been born. Now that Lily was well enough, she'd decided to make things more exciting.

Remus sighed and looked Lily in the eye. "James has rubbed off way too much on you," he said with a small smile.

"Hey, Moony, what is that supposed to mean?" James asked, advancing on Remus threateningly, though Remus could tell he was rather amused. "I tell you, when Padfoot gets back from sniffing around that one girl's house, we're going to have to reintroduce you to the Marauder ways. Three years out of Hogwarts and you're back to your insufferable self!"

"Quiet you two!" Lily hissed before walking up the steps to Widow Mercanter's door, cradling baby Harry in her arms. Without waiting for the other two to catch up, she rapped on the oak door sharply.

The door opened and an old woman poked her head through cautiously. "Who is it?" she said hoarsely.

"Why Mrs. Mercanter, it's me," said Lily pushing the door open gently. "I've brought my son to meet you."

Mrs. Mercanter's face lit up and she quickly opened the door. "Come in! All of you, come in!"

Lily smiled and the troupe made their way into the house. Remus followed James and Lily, feeling awkwardly out of place and nervous about what Lily was going to do to this poor woman.

"Sit, sit! I'll make some tea," said the widow, looking at Harry lovingly before rushing into the kitchen and magicking the kettle to start heating up. In a moment it was done and she quickly brought the tea into the sitting room and set it down before gathering Harry in her arms.

"Oh, aren't you such a darling?" Mrs. Mercanter said in an annoyingly high voice that made Remus wince. "You have your mama's eyes. I can already tell. But I can't see much of your father in you, she said with a frown. "In fact, you look rather like Mr. Lupin over there." She paused for a moment in thought before her eyes widened and she looked between Lily and Remus in a state of panic.

Remus smiled inwardly, looking at Harry's temporarily sandy brown hair. Lily had changed his hair color just before they had left for the house. Lily was right; this was very entertaining.

"Is there something wrong, Mrs. Mercanter?" Lily asked with pretend concern. "You've gone ghostly pale."

"I… I… Well, it's just that… em… Would you like some more tea?" she said shakily, handing Harry to Remus. Then she suddenly realized what she was doing, took Harry out of his arms, and handed him to James. "Terribly sorry, James. He was closest, you see."

James exchanged a smirk with Remus, seeing that Remus was actually the farthest away.

"So… erm… his name is Harry Potter, correct?" the widow asked nervously.

"Why of course it is, Mrs. Mercanter," said Lily with a smile.

"What did you think it was, Harry Lupin?" James asked with a laugh.

On cue, as they had practiced, Remus looked at Lily with a look of pure terror. James noticed and looked at his friend in fury.

"How could you, Moony?" he asked in pretend outrage. "After all I've done for you?"

Remus tried to get up and run out of the house, But James had handed Harry off to Lily and then jumped on Remus. They proceeded to roll on the floor, trying hard to contain their laughter at Mrs. Mercanter's shouts.

"Please stop! There must be some sort of misunderstanding. I mean, James, I know Remus violated your trust and stole your wife, but- Lily, what are you laughing at? This is all your fault, you know."

Lily just laughed harder, motioning for James to get up and explain. James obliged, now laughing as well, and took Harry in his arms again. He quickly waved his wand and Harry's features were back to normal.

"Sorry Mrs. Mercanter," James said sheepishly after his laughter had subsided. "We couldn't resist having a little fun. Don't worry. Remus has done nothing wrong, and nor has Lily. But now we really must be going. Little Harry here is falling asleep."

The widow just stood there with her mouth open, watching them compose themselves and walk out her door.

When Remus had finished, he saw Harry laughing as if his life depended on it. His eyes were watering, and he was shaking with mirth. Remus smiled broadly, loving to see Harry so care free at a time like this.

"Did you… seriously… do that?" Harry gasped, trying desperately to calm down.

Remus nodded, chuckling himself. "I'm surprised the poor widow didn't have a heart attack."

"I can't believe that woman would believe that," said Harry, wiping his eyes. "I can't believe my mum would do that."

"Oh, your mum was definitely a devious one," said Remus, waving his wand over his tea to reheat it and then quietly taking a sip. "It took the widow a month to trust her again, and she only did because she wanted to see you."

"You said you recently visited her?" Harry asked. "Do things ever get awkward?"

"Not really," Remus said. "She is sort of senile now and has forgotten all about it, as far as I can tell."

Harry smiled a little and then leaned back against the couch. There was contented silence for a moment before Harry spoke again, this time nervously.

"Uncle Moony?" Harry asked. "Why don't you have any stories that include Peter?"

Remus sighed. He knew this question would come. "Peter wasn't around much after we left Hogwarts. We never knew where he was, but didn't really worry. He was always sort of a tag-a-long. Of course, now I know why and I can't help but wish I had paid more attention."

Harry bit his lip. "Why… why were you ever friends with him in the first place?"

"Pity," Remus answered immediately. "Nothing more than that. He was an asset in some ways, but really, it was pity."

Harry waited a moment, and then stood.

"Well, I ought to be going," he said, holding out his hand for Remus to shake. "Thanks for the tea and the story."

Remus shook his head. "Harry, put that hand away." He pushed Harry's hand out of the way and pulled him into his arms. "Come over any time, you hear?"

Harry nodded before pulling back. "Thanks, Uncle Moony." He quickly waved goodbye, walked out the door and disapparated. Remus sighed and sank into his chair, wishing with all his heart that Harry could have his parents again.