Daddy Mooney Chapter Three
Tonks and Remus walked down the sidewalk, Harry swinging between them, with an oversized Batman backpack. It was going to be his first day of Year One, the school had been warded; and while it would never be as safe as Remus could hope for, but he was not going to deny Harry the opportunity to make friends. He remembered the issue's he had has a boy and wanted better for Harry. They approached the gate and knelt down to hug Harry, the excitable boy ran off, leaving his parents standing back, trying to hide their tears, it's always difficult watching a child go off to school for the first time, they did not even want to think how difficult it would be to send him off to Hogwarts.
The couple, walked to a back alley to apparate home.
"So we both have the day off don't we husband of mine?"
"It would appear so."
"Let's go and enjoy that empty house."
Remus grinned and ran hand in hand back to the alley; sometimes having wolfish tendencies had their benefits.
Harry walked up the steps and a kindly teacher directed him to his new class. There weren't many kids in the class; a few kids were playing with toy cars. But he saw a little girl sitting at her desk, already reading. He smiled; he knew he'd be able to make a friend quickly. He walked up and pulled out a chair to sit down.
"What're you reading?"
She looked up from her book, slightly annoyed that she had been interrupted from her book.
"Romana Quimby" and she went back to reading, but Harry was not to be deterred.
"I'm reading Farmer Giles of Ham" he said pulling out his little copy from the back pack.
"I'm Harry"
The girl looked back up from her book. "I'm-"
"Good Morning class!" A tall and built man walked in, he had short cropped gray hair and was wearing jeans and a dress shirt. "My name is Mr. Brindle."
"Good Morning Mr. Brindle" Harry looked around, during his time trying to talk to this girl the class had filled up.
After a few introductory games it was time for a recess. Harry went outside trying to keep step with this girl who clearly wanted to be alone. But as his dad always said: "Those who most want to be alone obviously don't", Harry never got away with being in a bad mood and locking himself in his room because of that.
"Come on wait…"
She spun around looking slightly upset.
"What?" Tears were slightly forming in her eyes. "Do you want to make fun of me?"
Harry looked horrified "No!"
"Then why are you following me? Nobody wants to be my friend!"
"..I do…I only have one friend…Neville, and he can't go to this school. Please be my friend."
"My name is Hermione"
They both smiled.
"Can I read your book when you're done? Only I've never read that series before."
"Only if you let me read your book."
"Of course! My Dad helps run the Carnforth bookshop, I get all the books I want if I take care of them and put them back!"
Hermione's eyes glimmered with glee, she absolutely adored books and here was a new friend that would get her more books! The two new friend spent their recess walking around the playground, under the watchful eye of Mr. Brindle.
Former Lt. Col Robb Brindle had served with Hermione's father Jack Granger during the Falklands War, both had gone on their separate career paths after leaving the service. Jack to his dental practice, Robb to teaching. They had always kept in touch and their wives were the best of friends. Robb had promised to keep an eye out for Hermione, after her time in pre-school the shy girl had not made any friends and had actually been ostracized before even entering primary school, so her parents were understandably wary. Yet here she was, barely a day into the school year and she had already made a friend.
Recess passed altogether too quickly for the children before Mr. Brindle herded them back to class.
It had been several weeks in the fisherman's cabin and Sirius had been feeling much healthier. Eating his fill and resting had him to what he thought would be an appropriate weight. As the man had left for the day Sirius decided it was time to take his leave. He pushed open the door and ran off.
The end of the school day came not a moment too soon as far as the students were concerned and as the bell rang they ran in a screaming mass out of the front doors to their waiting parents. Harry catapulted into the arms of Remus who swung him in a big arc, much to the little ones delight.
"How was your day Pronglet?"
"Brilliant dad! I made a friend!"
"A friend?" Remus smiled even wider.
"Yea her names Hermione! There she is!" Harry struggled out of his dad's arms grabbing his hand to introduce him to his new friend. Tonks followed her two boy's just laughing at the antics.
"HERMIONE! HERMIONE!"
The girl in question spun around from talking to her dad and smiled. "HI HARRY!"
Hermione's parents just smiled, they had not expected their daughter to make a friend on her first day, especially after her time in pre-school. Jack Granger had a full head of curly brown hair and leaned on a cane, evidence of an injury of his time in the Falklands, but despite his handicap he managed to stay in shape; for Shyla's enjoyment he cheekily told people. Shyla was the most beautiful woman most people would ever see, her black hair flowed easily past her shoulders. She looked like the kind of woman who must have been painfully attractive in her youth and as she grew older she grew fuller into her beauty. Her eyes while radiating warmth and kindness carried a haunted look that reflected something from her past.
"Nice to meet you my name is Remus and this is my wife Dora" Remus said sticking out his hand.
Jack reached out and shook it firmly, a habit never forgotten from the military.
"Pleased to meet you, I'm Jack and this is my wife Shyla."
Once the pleasantries were out of the way the four adults got into a discussion about their respective professions while Harry and Hermione talked about books.
"Dad! Mr. Lupin works at the bookshop! Can we go soon?"
Jack just laughed "Yes he just told me that, perhaps if you're real good this week we'll go and visit on Saturday." Her squeal of joy made it worth it. The Granger's lived a little distance away in Morcambe and as such had not been to the Carnforth Book Shop, but from the sounds of it Hermione would never want to leave, they had a hard enough time getting her out of Border's.
"Well I suppose we shall see you tomorrow!" The two families said their goodbyes and headed their separate ways.
In a dark street of Edinburgh in the shadows of the Castle, Sirius Black walked into Mistress Nienna's wand shop. She was known for her secrecy.
"Ah, Mister Black, the world is all sorts of worried about your escape" The Old Crone stated simply.
"It would appear so." He replied gruffly, he still was not used to speaking.
"It's been said that you never received a trial, as such I see no reason to question your or deny you service, yet there might be a fee to keep me from letting anything slip."
"I'll pay what's due, Gringotts should still be able to get the money to you."
"Yes, they are rather fond of doing the exact opposite of the Ministry. Now! Come forth and we shall see about your wand."
It was at this moment that Sirius actually looked around and noticed his surroundings; there were no shelves of wands like there were in Olivander's, instead there were barrels of wand substances. She led him to a barrel labeled "handles", it was filled with different types of woods and rocks.
"Place your hand over this dear"
Sirius did as he was told and almost instantly a handle of Jasper shot into his hand, Nienna snatched it out instantly.
"Ah, Jasper, carved with the old Norse Runes. A fine match indeed, Jasper is said to bring joy and peace, something you must be in need of Mr. Black. Moving on!"
Sirius waved his hand over the barrel for wand woods, again instantly a wood shot into his hand just to be snatched out.
"Apple wood, another strong material, you must be destined for greatness."
Finally Sirius ran his hand over the core barrel and a Unicorn Hair floated into his hand.
"Hmmm, a very easy customer. Something I truly enjoy. I shall take one hour to make this! You can stay if you wish. The old woman bustled into the back room and Sirius turned into his dog form and waited. An hour passed quickly enough and she came out with his newly fashioned wand.
"Seventy Galleons!"
"Little steep, don't you think?"
"No" She said flatly "You came for the best wand you could get and need my silence." Sirius begrudgingly signed his name to a bank draft and the required amount appeared next to the till.
"Pleasure doing business Mr. Black."
Sirius nodded and apparated away.
The second the Prisoner of Azkaban left several Auror's appeared outside of the Wand Shop and busted in wands drawn.
"What is the meaning of this?" Nienna asked, transfiguring Sirius Blacks bank note.
"We received reports of Sirius Black in this premise ma'am we're investigating" The lead Auror said.
"Well he most certainly was not! I do not appreciate you barging in on my business! OUT!"
"Ma'am you are bound by law to report any sightings"
"Yes and if I see him I will send you a message, now as there has been no such sighting I ask you once more to get out of my shop!"
The Auror's left in a gruff, they did not enjoy being sent on wild goose chases, especially when people were less than helpful.
Nienna palmed each galleon before placing it in the till. She had just made the best sale of the week and managed to snub the ministry. It was going to be a good day.
"Hermione dear it's time for bed, you can't read all night!" Shyla was tired of this, it was the same battle every night! She took the book out of Hermione's hand and turned out the light. It had been a long day at the office and she wanted nothing more than to go to sleep. She set the book on her nightstand and turned out the lights. When she saw the light on in Hermione's room, again.
"Child you will be the end of me" She said under her breath. "Hermione Jane Granger! You are to be asleep! Do you want to go to the book store this Saturday?"
Immediately the light shut off.
"What the?" Shyla tried to turn the light back on. "Go to sleep Hermione."
She walked out of the room and the light was back on!
"Hermione!" But Shyla looked up and saw that the light had fallen out of the socket and was laying on Hermione's bed, but there was light…How does a light fall out?
"JACK GET IN HERE!"
Jack rushed to the room and saw Shyla and Hermione looking at the ceiling. "What on earth?"
Hermione meanwhile had broken down into hysterics. Shyla and Jack shared a worried glance before parenting 101 kicked in and both of them were on either side of their daughter comforting her. Jack then picked her up.
"Come on love, do you want some ice cream? We'll see about getting that light fixed! What do you say?"
"Vanilla!"
"One Vanilla coming up!" Jack shot off down the hall making large swings around the corner to the delight of his daughter. Shyla smiled from the bedroom, Jack had such a special bond with Hermione, no matter what he could always make her smile. With the smile still on her lips she turned to the room, it was no longer illuminated so she used the light from the hall. She picked up the light bulb and examined it and its threads. How did this happen? There is no way it could have done this itself…no way Hermione could have reached it. Pushing such thoughts away she stood on the bed and screwed it into the casing and stepped down.
"You're sure that is where they live?"
"Yes, the werewolf, the blood traitor, and the little bastard himself."
The cloaked figure dropped a bag full of galleons onto the table, to be snatched by the other figure who shoved it into a fold of his robe.
"Do you wish to join the raid? You will be paid handsomely."
"Alas I cannot, I have other duties."
"Very well. To the Dark Lord"
"The Dark Lord"
The two wizards downed their glasses of whiskey and stepped out of the pub.
It was Friday night and Harry and Remus were doing one of their favorite things. Wrestling. The father and son duo rolled around on the floor knocking things over and making a general ruckus. Dora was in her corner writing up some case notes from a recent arrest. It was a quiet Friday night, one that Mooney absolutely loved. He had his wife and his son, what more could he ask for.
"Alright Pronglet! Time for some mind magic!"
Remus accomplished at the magicks of the mind and as such had taken it upon himself to train Harry to defend himself. It was not the traditional form of Occlumency, rather it was defending on the mind field. It was tough magick and both Remus and Dora took turns to teach Harry. Harry sat up straight cross-legged facing his father who sat in the same manner.
"Deep breath"
It took Harry a few tries but he soon found himself standing in a grassy field surrounded by ruins. His father walked out of the largest stone structure and looked around. This had been the area Harry had chosen in his mind almost every time. It was a good thing that Harry was so familiar with a place in his mind, it would be easier to create defenses.
"Harry, you have done well in creating this place and buildings. But it is now time for you to build more defenses. You have the materials, anchor yourself to the plain and build. I will be here."
The Mind Plane Harry walked in a perimeter and concentrated. The ground shook and rocks began to sprout out of the ground connecting the structures. Yet even that much magick was too much and Harry was no longer to hold the anchor and floated out of the Plane.
"I'm sorry dad. I couldn't do it."
Tonks was there immediately and picked him up, the magic drain had left him tired.
"No, you did well, I did not expect that much. Get a good night sleep, we're seeing Hermione tomorrow."
Harry smiled and fell asleep in his mother's arms as she took him to his bed before coming back for her husband.
"How is he doing?"
"Well he has the beginnings of a wall, it's not much but he'll be able to build up soon enough."
"Good."
Husband and Wife settled on the couch and turned on the TV.
A large black dog settled into a copse of tree's on the grounds of Capernwray Hall. He suspected Remus would still be living near Carnforth. The next day he would make his way into the town proper to investigate. He temporarily became a man and cast a cushioning charm and a heating charm on his patch of land before becoming the dog once more.
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A/N 1: I only have about 1,000 dollars to my name; I most certainly do not own Harry Potter.
A/N 2: Jack and Shyla are from the book "Beach Music" by Pat Conroy, one of my all-time favorite authors, go and read some of his works if you have time. Tiber Maxamilian Adolphus is from "Hellhole" by Kevin J Anderson and Brian Herbert
A/N 3: This story is expanding farther than I thought it would, originally I had thought it might have been a one-shot, but it keeps growing and I am going along for the ride. I am going to try and steer it back to the father/son relationship of Harry and Remus, and I am going to do everything I can to keep the central.
A/N 4: As this is truly my first fic I am trying to find my voice as a writer; whether that includes a lot more dialogue to push the story forward or more descriptions. There has to be a happy balance somewhere and I aim to find that. So bear with me:).
A/N 5: A moment of Silence for the official closing of Border's (even though it was a few weeks ago).
A/N 6: I went to Capernwray Hall Bible School, and it is near Carnforth, hence my choice to base the school there.