""here, Harry, why don't we finish dinner and then we can get you cleaned up and then to bed." Remus said gently taking Harry from John as he came back and sat him on his lap. Remus reached out to get Harry's spoon and bowl and then he spooned up a piece of meat and lifted it to Harry's mouth. Meanwhile, Harry was putting his hands on his shirt to use it as a napkin and tried wiping his mouth on his sleeve.
"Harry, here, use this. Don't wipe it on your clothes. Your hands are filthy," Remus said handing Harry a napkin. Harry stared down at the napkin in his hands, but didn't do anything. He continued wiping his dirty hands on his shirt.
"here," Remus sighed taking the napkin from Harry which made him try to grab for it. Remus used it to wipe Harry's hands and put it on the table.
"Mine!" Harry said grabbing it. Remus sighed frusttratedly. John smiled thinking the kid adorable.
"It's dirty, Harry." Remus said sharply but gently trying to convey the urgent message to him. He took the napkin from Harry.
"Let's..., go wash your hands and then you can eat some more," Remus said thoughtfully getting up carrying the squirming Harry with one hand and the dirty napkin in the other. He threw the dirty napkin in the trash which Harry tried to grab at, but was stopped by Remus who started carrying Harry with both hands. He got to the sink and turned on the tap.
"Put your hands under the water, Harry," Remus said holding him up so he'd be level with the sink. Harry lifted one of his feet and stepped onto the ledge and then lifted his other.
"Harry,'... don't do that, it's dangerous. Put your hands under the water, please?" Remus said kindly freing one hand and helped Harry's hands move in that general direction. It didn't end up under the water however. Remus shut off the tap and went back to the dining room.
"Something wrong, Remus?" John asked concerned.
"Harry seems to be having trouble washing his hands. I was hoping that you'd be willing to come and assist me?" Remus asked. John stood up from his seat at the table.
"Yes, Remus, sure. How do you want to do this?" John said following Remus back in to the kitchen. Remus handed Harry to John. Harry wined a bit, but seeing Remus wasn't going to go far he didn't fuss much.
"Just hold him still and level with the sink so that he is able to wash his hands. I am going to show him how it's done," Remus explained turning on the tap once more. He got Harry to put his hands underneath the water by guiding them. Harry flinched but didn't shrink after seeing Remus not cry as well and not laugh at him. Harry was a bit more relaxed after that but was still uneasy.
"Rub them together, Harry," Remus said watching Harry carefully. He smiled widely as he watched him splash around in the water smiling himself, and waving his hands around getting both men soacked. Remus rubbed his hands together to demonstrate and Harry followed but under the water. He did it vigourously and got John even more wet. John chuckled.
"He's quite adoreable isn't he?" John said softly to Remus as they both watched Harry wash his hands.
"All right Harry. I need you to rub your hands together like this," He said to him rubbing his hands together between the fingers. Harry did so.
"Yes, I quite agree," Remus said to John in an undertone. "Harry is quite adorable." Harry upon hearing his name turned his head, but he didn't stop rubbing his hands together.
"Uh, mad? Me bad?" Harry said scared and looked at Remus fearfully his eyes brimming with tears. Remus' insides almost melted for Harry.
"No, Harry, we're both very proud of you," John said cheerfully, "You're doing very well." Remus smiled at Harry.
"No, you're misunderstanding the conversation, Harry, we're not angry at you at all. You're doing quite an excellent job. here, may I see your hands?" Remus said turning off the tap. Harry looked disappointedly at Remus. Remus gently held Harry's hands so he could see how well he had washed them. He slowly inspectED Harry's hands,
"Yes, very good, Harry," Remus reached out to take Harry and John loosened his grip on him. Harry climbed in to Remus' arms and Remus took him back to the dining area and sat back down in his seat.
"Harry, here, eat this," Remus said smiling lifting the spoon. Harry swatted it away. It took Harry a while but he did and he ate more spoonfuls. At one point he had the noodles in his mouth but didn't chew and much less swallowed.
"Chew and then swallow, Harry, one spoonful at a time," Remus said placing the spoon down. He waited patiently as Harry chewed and swallowed after getting the message that Remus wasn't going to give him another piece with it. And after about twenty more minutes and a very unwilling Harry, he finally had eaten all his food.
"Good work, Harry," Remus said placing Harry back on the elevated chair and went to put the bowl in the sink. Remus came back and lifted Harry from the chair taking him upstairs.
"Let's get you cleaned up, shall we? And then, I rather think it's time for you to go to bed," Remus said pensively. Harry quietly looked around. Remus got to the bathroom and prepared a towel for Harry. He also summoned a small chair and positioned it in front of the tub. Harry got interested at the sight of the toilet and reached his hand in to it almost reached the water but didn't quite make it because Remus had put his hands on Harry making him take them out.
"It's dirty, Harry, you don't want to play in that. It's unsanitary," Remus said lifting Harry up to the sink and turned on the tap.
"Rub your hands together, Harry," Remus asked and Harry did so getting Remus even more soaked. After a minute or so Remus turned off the tap and inspected Harry's hands.
"Excellent, Harry," He said sitting down on the chair, "Lie down, Harry," Remus instructed helping Harry lie down with his head on a towel that was positioned on the edge of the bathtub allowing his hair to dangle over.
"Yes, very good, Harry," He said reaching over to the tap and turned it on. The warm water gushed out and soaked Harry's hair. Harry protested and tried to get away as he wasn't use to this.
"Harry, it's all right, calm down," Remus said now grabbing the bottle of shampoo and squeezing some out. Harry looked at Remus' hands as he rubbed it gently in to Harry's head.
"I am washing your hair, Harry," Remus said carefully rubbing the shampoo in even more and Harry's hair bubbled and fluffed up.
"No like! Let go! Let go!" Harry said as he tried to wiggle free. Remus was now rinsing off Harry's hair in the water. He washed his hands quickly getting the soap off him.
"It's all right, I am merely washing out your hair. It's not good for you with all that dirt in your hair. Besides, you'll feel better," Remus explained gently placing a hand on the squirming Harry. He took a few more minutes and washed out the remainder of the soapiness in Harry's hair.
"Harry, that's all. I merely wanted to wash out your hair, calm down, I have no intention to hurt you." He said to the now fussy Harry, "It's over, now can you get in the tub?" He undressed Harry completely and lifted Harry and placed him in the tub. He spotted a few bruises from a quick glance at Harry and shivered. He plugged the drain to the tub so the water would stay. He allowed the tap to fill up the tub. Harry started splashing around when he realized he was in the bathtub, but looked up at Remus from time to time as if the man was going to punish him for it. To Harry's surprise Remus knelt down next to the tub. He smiled widely at Harry and watched him intensely. He was getting soaked by all the bath water.
"Harry, what do you say to bubbles." Remus took out his wand and summoned a small bottle and uncapped it. "Here, shall I pour some bubbles in to the bathtub?" Harry stared at him as Remus poured a little bit of the substance in to the bath water. Soap bubbles popped up out of nowhere in several different colors and many different shades. Harry stared at the bubbles and picked up a handful. It phoamed out in his hands but the soapy water was leaking through his fingers.
"Fun! Play!" He said excitedly picking up another handful of bubbles and played with it with both hands. He had realized he said something out of excitement again.
"Sorry, me fun, no talk," he said apologetically looking up at Remus.
"Harry, it's all right to express yourself, I swear that I will not be angry if you do. Actually, Harry, I wish that you would show me your feelings which may allow me to examine what is an annoyance to you and what allows you to be happy. I swear that I intend only to provide you with a comfortable and safe place to reside; a place that would allow you to be able to enjoy and to be at your happiest, and nothing less, Harry," Remus said kindly, "Thus, I am pleased to see that you enjoy yourself and take pleasure in something. I was rather hoping I would be able to provide a source of joy, and to see that I have. Well, I cannot wish for more." Harry splashed around some more delightedly and Remus who was getting rather drenched continued to smile as he watched Harry splash around in the tub. After about five minutes Remus got out his wand.
"Right Harry, that's enough, here," Remus said waving his wand and making the bubbles disappear. Harry looked disappointedly into the water and looking around for the bubbles. Remus knelt down beside the tub and began to wash Harry down slowly and gently ridding Harry of the filth that clung to him. He gasped as he saw cuts here and there and big obvious lasting scars on his body.
"No! Let go! No!" Harry said as he struggled against Remus as Remus washed him off. Harry got up and climbed out of the tub. He attempted to run toward the bathroom's door, but didn't go very far as he ran about a foot away when he slipped and almost fell. Remus stood up as Harry climbed out of the tub and turned around. At that moment Harry had all ready slipped and was falling. Remus quickly reached out and caught him just in time before he landed on his face. Harry looked up frightfully at Remus.
"I swear I don't intend to hurt you. I was merely attempting to wash all the filth off you, I promise, you will feel much better," Remus said gently and placed him back in the water and continue to clean him. After fifteen minutes and some resistents from Harry, Remus was finally done. It was a long fifteen minutes, however, as Remus' heart broke as he constantly saw the cuts and bruises on Harry. Yet, Harry didn't complain about them or cry over them. He thought about Harry at dinner and didn't recall him crying over the pain of his cuts either. It bothered Remus just by the thought of it and made him scared and angry at the same time. He couldn't show his anger though because Harry would think that the anger was directed toward him.
"It's all right, Harry. That's all, I swear," Remus said soothingly lifting a slightly upset Harry from the water and wrapped him gently in a towel and carried him out of the bathroom. Remus laid Harry on his bed and left him wrapped up. He turned around to get him something to wear in the meantime. Harry slipped off Remus' bed and quickly and quietly walked out. Remus was still looking around in his closet not expecting Harry to leave the bed or not that quickly. He found one of his shortest robes from when he still stayed here a few years ago and turned back to the bed and saw that Harry wasn't there. Remus grimaced Harry was very fast and skilled at escaping and wondered about what Harry did before he took him in a few hours back and how much he had to escape from the abuse.
He walked out of the room in search of the naked Harry who was probably running still or hiding somewhere. He looked around on the landing. There was no sign of Harry. He went in to Harry's new room which Harry didn't know about, but no Harry anywhere.
Meanwhile, John who was now sitting in his study working on some more of his paperwork heard soft but audible running and looked out of his study door to see a naked Harry running around. He quickly put down his quill and got to his feet looking out and kept an eye on Harry as he walked out his study door.
"Harry," he said softly reaching the boy in no time gently putting a hand on him. He was well practiced at this as he had raised Remus before who was a quiet child but still often ran off as any two-year-old did.
"What are you doing down here? Let's get back upstairs, Harry." John said picking up the now protesting Harry. Remus, who was searching in his parents room heard the protesting going on downstairs so he headed that way. John was now heading up the stairs and they met midway on the small landing. He took Harry from John. John nodded.
"I just heard him run by my study, and decided to get him and bring him back to you," John said getting ready to go back downstairs.
"Thank you, dad. I was wondering whether mum is back yet? I was just thinking to check, but I was going to do it after I had dressed Harry. I figured that might tend to be better. I was going to ask her to take a look at Harry. Perhaps to heal some of these injuries on him," Remus asked as John was going down the steps. He took a few steps nearer to the staircase that went down all the way to the living room.
"Yes, She is in the kitchen I believe, was upstairs setting up the bed for a while but she's back in the kitchen cleaning up," John said stopping. Remus started to descend the stairs as well thinking to find his mum to help heal Harry's cuts as he wasn't all that good at healing. He was going to ask his mother after Harry was dressed but since he was down here all ready, he figured he could do it the other way. Remus reached the living room and walked over to the kitchen. Dianna was putting away the last of the dishes. He was certain that his mother was a load more capable at healing then he was. After all, she was a Healer at a magical hospital.
"Mum? Would you be willing to come and take a look at Harry? He has quite a number of cuts and bruises that could do with some attention, and I don't think I am the best person to heal Harry's wounds," Remus asked standing by the kitchen. Dianna moved to put away another dish.
"Heal, some of... Oh, yes, of course, Remus dear," she said cheerfully as she put away the last plate and joined him at the edge of the kitchen. They walked up the stairs Remus was still holding Harry who was lying still in Remus' arm and looking around.
"I'll have to go fetch my mediwitch's box so I'll be there in a minute or two she said as Remus ascended the stairs. Dianna strayed off to the left to get the healing substances. Remus went up to his room and laid Harry down on his bed. A few minutes later Dianna was upstairs and went in to Remus' room. She set down her box and knelt next to the bed.
"Harry dear, can you lay down on your belly?" Dianna said moving Harry slowly so he faced down on the bed. Harry didn't like that very much so he protested. Remus put a hand on him to keep him from really moving and said some soothing words.
"No like! No, like!" Harry said loudly as Dianna opened her box and got out a bottle of swirling blue & link liquid.
"I know dear, but you'll feel a lot better after all this is done," She said sweetly uncapping the bottle and extracting a little with her wand and placed the substance on a swab.
"All right, Harry, this is going to sting," she said dabbing gently on a cut. It took a while and a bit more protesting from Harry, but nothing about the pain. Finally, Dianna finished cleaning out the cuts and applied a healing substance to them. She got up and waved her wand over the deeper ones.
"All done Harry. You are a very good boy," she complimented sweetly bandaging some of the deeper wounds. She put the few bottles she ended up getting out back into the box and placed the swabs in there as well and closed the lid.
"Should be healing up quickly, Remus. He should be careful tomorrow but nothing major is wrong. Though, he's not very reflexive to pain which worries me," She said thoughtfully picking up her box. "He should rest up tonight so his cuts can heal faster. You might want to stay with him as the pain may wake him." Dianna continued as she was about to leave. Remus stood up also ready, his mother was right about not being reflexive to pain and he was worried himself.
"right. I was just thinking of tucking him in," Remus said gathering up Harry in his arms. Remus headed out of his room and in to Hary's room. He took the cover off and swept the blankets aside. He placed Harry on the bed and then proceeded to tuck him in. as soon as Harry was laid down and tucked in he was asleep. The days events tired him out. Remus went about retrieving things from his house to his parents house and packed up old books and the few toys that he had not managed to throw away or give back to Lily and James. They was for Harry to play with when he watched Harry when Lily and James were out and Harry was at Remus' place. He had been hoping to get custody of Harry over the past year and didn't have enough in him to get rid of them so they sat in his house nearly unmoved. After gathering his meager belongings and bringing them over to his parents house, he took his mothers advice to sleep in Harry's room just in case he woke up painfully from the healing substances. Before he got to sleeping his mind wondered and remembered back to a year ago when Lily and James had died a day ago and he had first heard the news.