Author's note: Oops. This has been sitting in drafts finished. I completely forgot to post it. In my defense, I did move across the country so...
Anyways! This is the last chapter for this section of the story, but this massive story is far from over. I'll be splitting them up by the school year, so this is only the last chapter for Harry's first year. Stay tuned for year two!
...
An anxious Remus Lupin stood in front of his cracked mirror, staring at his reflection, trying and failing to give himself a pep talk.
"There's no time like the present. No better time to meet him than now." He said to himself feebly. Without his consent, his eyes wandered, catching sight of his surroundings through the mirror's reflection.
On the side table next to his bed, just barely visible in the corner of his mirror, was the letter from Albus. He couldn't help but draw his eyes to it again and again.
The letter was the source of his extreme anxiety at this present moment. Inside it was the words he'd secretly wanted to hear for so many years now. But also the words he'd dreaded. Remus was finally going to see Harry again.
Of course, Remus could have seen him before now, and wasn't that part of the problem; he could have asked Albus and insisted on seeing his almost godson again at any point he wanted. But he hadn't. He hadn't pushed, hadn't written, hadn't even asked how Harry was doing.
Maybe it was selfish, but he felt that he couldn't, not as he was now. What kind of role model would he be for Harry as he was now?
He let out a sigh, and adjusted his scruffy and patched sweater in the mirror for the fiftieth time, to no avail. There was only so much one could do with ancient, secondhand clothing, practically more patch than fabric at this point. But as things stood, he couldn't afford anything else.
Since the death of James and Lily, and Sirius's betrayal, Remus's life had been nothing less than a walking nightmare. His mother was dead, he was estranged from his father, his friends all dead (or in Azkaban, but he didn't want to think about that more than he had to), and due to the rise in anti-creature laws, he had no opportunities to work in the wizarding world. Because of that, Remus had been attempting to find work in the muggle world, without much luck. Without any formal muggle education or proper muggle documentation, it was almost impossible to find a job. He'd been in and out of more jobs than he could count, and just as many homes too. His current home, if it could be called that, was simply a single room rented out in an old, dilapidated house.
With no home, no reliable job, and nothing at all to his name really, he'd been set on avoiding Harry. Set on letting Albus, and Hogwarts, and the guardians Albus had picked out raise Harry. Harry had no need of him, as much as Remus wanted to be a part of his life, and he'd be better off without him complicating things.
Of course, like most things in his life, Remus's plans were thrown out the window. With Albus' letter he was faced with a summons of sorts, a demand to meet and talk about something concerning Harry. What he had no idea. But the wording, although vague, had been stern and left no room for anything except a yes.
And so, with one last sigh, Remus turned away and grabbed his bag and the portkey Albus had sent him in the letter, a small rusty key. In a few moments, before he could have another second thought, the familiar tug of the portkey whisked him away to Hogwarts.
Before he knew it, he had arrived right outside Albus's office door. Before he could think to change his mind, he quickly knocked on the door and entered. Once inside, he was greeted by a small group consisting of Albus, Severus Snape, and what seemed to be Molly and Arthur Weasley, if he wasn't mistaken.
"Remus, I am glad you could make it." Albus said softly, with a strangely sad and troubled look on his face. "Please, do take a seat, we have many things to discuss concerning young Harry."
Quietly and without protest Remus sat in a nearby chair, observing the others where they all sat with similar serious and troubled looks. Even Severus, surprisingly.
"Now, so that we all have the same information, I would like Molly and Arthur to share about their discussion with young Mr. Potter. Then, if amiable, Severus can share his experience with taking Harry to his recent Mediwizard appointment."
"Mediwizard? Is Harry alright?" Remus blurted out, worry seeping into his voice as he leaned forward in his seat.
Severus let out a snort, and Molly and Arthur shared a worried look. But Albus simply dismissed him with a wave of his hand.
"All in good time, Remus. For now, Molly, would you mind starting our meeting."
"Well, I suppose I could. It all started with Ron's suspicions you see." Molly began, nervously wringing her hands as she began to share a harrowing story in a shaky voice.
Remus felt his stomach drop further and further as both Molly and Arthur shared horrible things about Harry's life. Signs of malnutrition? Signs of abuse? Mistreatment? What on earth was going on? Albus had promised him Harry was safe and looked after, that he was happy.
His heart dropped further when Severus picked up where the couple left off and, with a scowl, shared the findings of the Mediwizard, as well as Harry's behavior in his detentions. A quick glance at Molly and Arthur showed that they were as shocked and upset as Remus himself was. Although Albus looked simply resigned.
"Albus... Is this all true?" Remus managed to choke out, overcome with emotion. "You promised me. You promised he was safe! I spent years, years, without checking on him because you promised me he was better off that way!"
"My oversight in this situation is severe," Albus said with a sigh, his normally twinkling eyes completely dull. "I have made a grave mistake in trying to protect young Mr. Potter. I believe I owe apologies to many people, none the least young Harry, and Minerva."
"Minerva? What does she have to do with any of this?" Severus asked with a scowl.
"She warned me that she suspected Harry's guardians might not be the best choice, but I convinced her otherwise." He clarified.
"But if you had an idea, even a small one, that something like this might happen, then why did Harry have to stay there?" Molly spoke up with a passionate shout. "He's just a child? Why would you assume, why wouldn't you check? I can't understand why you would ever place a child in a possibly dangerous situation!"
"I falsely believed he would be safe-" Albus began again, but was interrupted by Arthur.
"But why? My Molly is right. It simply makes no sense."
Albus sighed. "I had placed Harry under strict blood wards. Due to his mother's sacrifice, I was able to create them. I assumed, falsely I now know, that such wards would protect him from any dangers. I hadn't expected those dangers would come from inside his own home."
"Blood wards?!" Severus suddenly yelled, surprisingly passionately. "You placed him under something as fickle as blood wards? You know as well as I do that blood wards are highly unreliable. They often cause more harm than good!"
"More harm?" Molly echoed.
"They are designed to protect their own status as an active ward no matter the circumstances." Severus clarified. "They can, under the wrong circumstances, cause harm to the keyed individual in that desire to remain active at all costs. It all depends on who they are keyed to. Which leads to an important question. Who on earth did you key them to, Albus? How can you key blood wards strong enough to just Harry? Did you key them to the home itself?"
"I keyed them to his guardians, his relatives." Albus answered calmly. Severus' face suddenly went ghostly white, his eyes widening in horror as he seemed to put two and two together.
"No, Albus, tell me you didn't. Tell me you didn't place Potter with Petunia."
"Petunia? As in Lily's horrid sister?" Remus found himself speaking aloud in his own shock.
"I knew their relationship was strained but I assumed that, with time, even that could mend if-" Albus began again.
"You old fool!" Severus snarled. "Petunia isn't fit to raise a fly, let alone a child! And certainly not a magical child. The horrid woman despises all things magical. She made Lily's childhood a nightmare! What did you think she would do to her nephew?" His expression was livid, and Remus couldn't help but feel the same.
"Minerva did say they were the worst kind of muggles..." Albus mumbled, causing Severus to let out a frustrated shout.
"And she was right! I hope she curses you into next week, you fool!"
"More importantly though, what should we do from now?" Arthur jumped in seriously. "Harry is still a child. He needs a stable home to live in."
"He will certainly not be living with Petunia!" Severus interjected adamantly.
"Now Severus, surely something can be worked out with-" Albus started, but Severus simply stood and glared at him fiercely.
"You will not finish that sentence Albus, if you value your health and wellbeing." Severus spit out with so much vitriol. And without another word, he turned and rushed out of the room.
"Severus!" Albus shouted out, but Severus had left the room with a bang of the door.
"I'll, uh, go after him." Remus said, standing to his feet and rushing out the door, leaving the Weasleys and Albus behind.
He hurried down the hallway, chasing after the sound of Severus's heavy footsteps.
"Severus!" He yelled once he caught sight of him and rushed to catch up. "Please wait!"
Severus stopped suddenly, causing Remus to almost slam into his back. He barely stopped himself in time. The man whipped around and fixed him with a glare so severe that Remus found himself almost transported back to their schoolboy rivalry days.
"I believe I made it abundantly clear by my sudden departure that I wish to be left alone, Lupin." Severus spat out.
"I know, I do. I'm just as mad as you are about this whole situation. I know you-"
"You know I what, Lupin?" He scowled, cutting Remus off before he could finish his thought. "That I didn't do enough for your precious Potter? That I should have said something earlier? That I-"
"Severus!" Remus yelled impatiently, causing him to stop his rant abruptly. "I certainly don't think anything of the sort. If anything, I'm the one who should have done something."
Severus seemed to deflate slightly at that, and Remus sighed.
"I know this means nothing coming from me, especially after all these years, but I am sorry. I know the way we treated you in school was horrid, and I'm sure you won't believe me at this point, but I do believe you are a decent man at heart Severus. I'm sure you did what you could. And I'm grateful for what you've done for Harry already. You certainly didn't have to look out for him, but you have."
"No, Lupin. I-" Severus let out a sign and he suddenly slumped against the wall. "I made a promise. To Lily. And I was... less than pleasant to you as well in school." Although reluctantly said, it was one of the most genuine things Remus had ever heard from Severus Snape. He gave a small wry smile.
"Then maybe we can move on from here and work together. For Harry? I'm sure that would be what both Lily, and James, would have wanted."
"I'm not sure Lily would be happy knowing I am even near her child." Severus said with a self-deprecating sneer. "I don't think she would have ever forgiven me."
Remus couldn't help it and let out a short laugh. "You mean the same Lily who forgave James for being an absolute prat during their school days?"
"Fair point." Severus said with a small bitter laugh of his own, though he didn't seem convinced.
"Truce?" Remus tried again, holding out his hand.
"I believe that could be... acceptable in these current circumstances." Severus said slowly, reluctantly holding out his hand and giving Remus's hand a shake.
"Now, let's head back and give Dumbledore hell for all of this, and figure out how to help Harry?" Remus added.
Severus gave a quick nod, and they both turned their gazes back toward Dumbledore's office, only to be met with the sight of a very wide-eyed Harry Potter sitting quietly on a bench near Dumbledore's office door. His wide green eyes were staring intently at both of them, but he didn't say a word.
"Mr. Potter!" Severus said, his voice a little off at being caught so off guard. "Don't you know it is rude to eavesdrop?"
"I didn't mean to, Professor!" Harry said quickly. "Dumbledore told me to wait out here, and I couldn't help but hear what you were talking about. Is it true sir? Did you know my mum too, Mister?"
"I, yes. Yes I did. I knew both your mother and your father Harry, very well indeed." Remus answered, a bit clumsily, overcome with suddenly coming face to face with Harry after all these years.
"How did you know them Mr...?"
"Ah, pardon my manners Harry. You simply caught me off guard. My names Remus Lupin. But you and your father used to call me Moony."
...
It was a somber mood in Dumbledore's office as Harry was ushered inside alongside the new man, Remus, and Snape. The adults were seemingly all frustrated with Dumbledore, but trying desperately to hide it and look normal for Harry. But he could tell how they really felt, especially from the look on Molly's face that suspiciously resembled the way she had looked at Fred and George just this morning when they had spelled the broom to chase Ron around the house. (He'd found it funny, but Molly certainly hadn't from the scolding she had given them.) Dumbledore himself just looked sad, something that was shocking for Harry. It was so strange to see those constantly sparkling eyes so still. And Harry himself? Well, he just felt confused. What on earth was going on?
"Well, Harry my boy, I'm sure you'd like to know what's going on here. But before I can tell you that, I do need to ask you a few questions. I would appreciate it if you would answer as honestly as you can. What do you say?"
Harry fidgeted uncomfortably in his seat, unsure of what to say, but nodded reluctantly in response. Talks with adults rarely ended well for him, but the Weasleys had been nice enough despite their strange questions. Maybe it would be alright?
"Well my boy, I hope you don't mind me asking, but I must confirm what I've heard from Arthur and Molly here. A simple yes or no will suffice. You mentioned your relative would enact punishments on you, both withholding food and physical. Is that correct?"
"Yes sir." Harry mumbled, looking steadily at the carpet under his feet.
"Would you say these punishments happened often, my boy?"
"I guess so, sir."
"And would you say you've felt safe or accepted by your relatives at any time?"
Harry couldn't help it. He let out a small nervous laugh.
"No sir. My relatives don't like me, and I don't like them. They've made that perfectly clear."
With his head looking down, Harry didn't see the looks of sadness across the faces of the adults in the room.
"I am sorry my boy." Dumbledore said softly, causing Harry to look up and meet his strangely sad eyes. "You are aware that this behavior and hostility towards you is not normal, are you not?"
"Yeah, I know. But it doesn't matter, does it? They take care of me so I have to be grateful and stay with them. Besides, it's not like anyone's ever done anything about it before even when I did say something."
"Before?" Molly asked quizzically. "Who did you mention it to before?"
"Well, I told my teacher at school, but she got all funny looking about it and told me I shouldn't have said anything after she talked to Dudley. So I figured from then on that nothing was going to happen if I shared, and I never did it again." He shrugged. He still didn't get why people were suddenly making such a big deal about it.
Molly let out a strangled sound, but he could hear Professor Snape make a sound of understanding.
"The wards," Snape said solemnly. "The blood wards would have seen his reports of the mistreatment as a threat to his placement at his abhorrent relative's home and protected themselves. This is what I meant. It would have been easy for the wards to confuse the muggle woman's memories to keep Harry where he'd been placed."
For some reason, everyone seemed to understand what that meant, except Harry who was very lost. But he had a feeling it was something to do with Dumbledore from the way all of the adults were glaring at him.
"That's it, Albus," Molly spoke up with a strong voice. "I don't care what your feelings are at this point. Harry will not be returning to those horrible muggles."
"Now Molly certainly they aren't the best of muggles, but I'm sure we can-"
A sudden bitter laugh and swift incantation that Harry couldn't catch the words of from Snape stopped Dumbledore in his tracks, his mouth seemingly spelled quiet. Snape turned, quick as can be, and kneeled down in front of Harry's chair, looking deadly serious at him. Harry squirmed even more, uncomfortable under the sudden scrutiny of Professor Snape's intense gaze.
"Potter, do you, in any way, shape, or form, see the Dursleys and their home as your family? Are you willing to say you no longer want to have any attachment to them?"
Dumbledore let out a strangled sound, rapidly reaching for his wand to unspell his mouth, but Harry paid him no mind.
"Yeah, of course. As I said, they don't like me, so I've never really seen them as my family I guess."
No sooner had he answered than he felt a sudden tingling feeling of magic, followed by a quick, bright flash of light.
Harry blinked bewilderedly, and Snape stood and smirked.
"It's done." He said firmly. "The wards are fallen, and Harry will not, under any circumstances, be returning to the care of Petunia or anyone associated with her."
"That was quite reckless, Severus." Dumbledore said with a sigh, the spell removed, taking off his glasses and rubbing the bridge of his nose tiredly. "Without any wards to protect him, young Harry will be left vulnerable. Where on earth do you think he shall be staying now?"
"He'll be staying with us, Albus." Arthur Weasley spoke up, rising to his feet and placing a comforting hand on Harry's shoulder. "I'm decent enough with protective wards. And I'm sure Bill would be willing to come visit home and help us out. We can make it work."
"I'll visit as soon as is convenient for you, Arthur, and add my own assistance to set up the appropriate wards to protect the Burrow." Snape added.
"That's all well and good but such wards might not be sufficient to-"
"Then you have until the end of the next school year to figure out whatever hair-brained scheme will be satisfactory to protect the boy. And until then, he will stay at the Weasley's home. So help me, Albus, you will never put that boy in another situation like this so long as I am here."
Harry was sure he looked like a fish, the way his mouth had fallen open. He had never had an adult stand up for him before, let alone a whole room full! And he didn't have to go back to the Dursleys? Was he dreaming?
"I believe you are outnumbered here, Albus." Mr. Lupin spoke up, his own face as grim and serious as Professor Snape's. "I believe Harry should be going now, don't you? He should be able to enjoy the last few days of summer, and settle into his new home."
"I will go tonight to pick up any of Mr. Potter's belongings that may remain in that disgusting excuse of a household." Snape added, before rushing out of the room without any more fanfare.
Harry could hear the adults speaking a little more in the background, but his eyes were focused on the door, his mind overwhelmed.
"Shall we go home, Harry?" He was snapped out of his hazy thoughts by Mr. Weasley's kind voice.
Home? Harry liked the sound of that. He smiled shyly.
"Yes please, let's go home."
