Author's note: thanks for all the reads, but maybe leave a review and tell me how you feel about the story? I get pretty curious I must admit! Thanks for all the new favorites and alerts. It's very kind of you folks! Thanks to Casandra30 who's been reviewing quite consistently! I appreciate it!. Sorry this chapter is kind of dull but plese bare with me. Also, If you all want updates with consistently good grammar I'll need a good beta that can keep up with me and edit a chapter or two fully every weeke or whenever I can have one out. In December maybe even twice a week. So, if anyone would step up or else I'll just have to put chapters up as is or just not update at all, which will be a shame.

(flashback)

It was a clear cold day. The sky was bright and blue. Remus John Lupin had made himself breakfast and was sitting down at the kitchen table hungrily consuming it. He looked out at the expansive countryside that stretched before him. His house was the only one in this area. No other houses existed for a good few miles. A thick forest lay a few dozen foot away at the back of his house.

He picked up the Daily Prophet thinking to browse over the normal bland issue and hoped to pick up what little interesting news he could. This was the Prophet though, and usually there were very few good articles.

He reached out and grabbed at the thick issue that he had tossed aside upon its arrival to his house by the very ruffled owl. He took one look at the front cover and his mouth fell open. There, upon the front cover was a blown up portrait of his best friend James, his wife Lily, and their baby boy Harry. He looked to the left and saw the article title and read it. He quickly and interestedly read the article that followed.

The article announced that Lily and James had died at Voldemort's hands and that there one-year-old baby son Harry James Potter had lived and defeated Voldemort the night before. The article also said Harry had a lightening shaped cut on his forehead from the incident and now the paper branded him the Boy Who Lived. Shortly after this had happened the half giant Rubeus Hagrid arrived on the scene and had taken Harry. He refused to answer any questions.

After reading the article, Remus threw the paper aside not bothering to read anything else, and ate his breakfast as quickly as he could. The only thing on his mind was Harry and his dead best friend. He was going to have to speak to Albus Dumbledore to see where Harry was located now and probably get custody of him. He also had to try to find Sirius Black to see why he had betrayed Lily and James.

He finished up breakfast and hastily cleaned up. He looked at the clock to see what was the best course of action to take. It was ten thirty, so he'd figure he'd catch Albus first. Sirius was important but not that important. He needed to talk to him at some point and figure out why he did it. He really had trusted Sirius as they were also good friends, but if he's going to turn on James and Lily like this he was... well Remus didn't want to think about it. It was just too upsetting. Two friends were lost in one night one dead and one who had betrayed him. Ah well, good things never last he thought.

He sighed, overwhelmed by the discovery and went over to the fireplace and lit it. He grabbed his box of floo powder and threw some into the fireplace. He stepped in. In seconds he was in the Hogwarts Headmasters fireplace.

"Ah, Lupin," Dumbledore said standing up from his desk smiling his eyes twinkling brightly. Remus stepped out of the fireplace on to the Headmaster's harth rug and brushed off his robes.

"Hello Dumbledore, I was hoping that you might be able to inform me where Harry is currently," Remus said hurriedly and concernedly approaching Albus. Dumbledore was not shocked but motioned for Remus to take a seat.

"Harry is safe. I placed him with his aunt and uncle," Albus said assuringly sitting down behind the desk. He looked serenely and calmly at Remus behind his half moon spectacles.

"His Aunt? Are you meaning to tell me that he's with that horrible Muggle sister of Lily's?" Remus asked thinking quickly. It couldn't possibly be anybody from James' side of the family because he was an only child, and thinking off the top of his head Lily had only the one sister. Also, if he remembered right Lily's sister whatever her name may be was quite nasty. She certainly didn't like magic very much and was very expressive about it. Remus and the rest of the marauders had met Lily's sister on a few occasions. A few times he's observed Lily and her sister interacting on platform nine and three quarters and a few times the summer after Lily's seventh year when James and Lily started seriously dating. Lily's sister was trying to persuade her that magic didn't exist after all and that she was kidding herself all these years. She tried to squash the magic from Lily and they had ffights about it. After that winter when her sister started going out with a guy she was forced to cut contact with Lily and didn't reappear in the scene until now. From the short times they got to know Lily's sister; along with the accounts from Lily herself who always needed an ear after talking to her sister. The marauders weren't a big fan of hers and she wasn't friendly to them.

"Yes, that's the one," Albus confirmed his clear blue eyes fixed on Remus intensely, seeming to x-ray him. His eyes seem as if they were doing more then look at him, but rather also to examine his thoughts. Remus tensed up and peered at Albus intensely. Remus didn't like the thought of that at all.

"Dumbledore, you don't understand! They do not wish to treat him with respect and care," Remus said angrily rising to his feet pulling his wand out. His skin flushed and became sweaty. Albus looked calmly at Remus as if nothing was happening his blue eyes twinkled brightly behind his half moon spectacles. Dumbledore didn't take his wand out or budge. He sat still looking serene.

"I assure you, lupin, he'll be safe," Albus said quietly leaning back in his chair, "If he's not I'll make sure to see to it that he is."

"There's more to this then just keeping him safe, Dumbledore! They are not the type to understand and care about Harry. They have no time for a boy like Harry, and they will certainly not handle his accidental magic well!" Remus said angrily. He raised his wand a bit threateningly. Albus glanced at the wand tiredly but still did nothing.

"He would be safest there, and be fully protected," Dumbledore said patiently.

"Dumbledore, his safety is important, but so is his happiness and his progress to learn the right things. I do not believe Harry would be able to learn this as efficiently. Not in the Muggle world especially with those particular Muggles," Remus said attempting to keep calm. Remus sat back down reluctantly. He still wanted to fight the old wizard but couldn't see how he could.

"No, Lupin, he'd be safer if he remains where he is now. He may be miserable, but he will be safe," Albus said persistently trying to convince Remus who just shook his head. He stayed a while longer sitting there glaring at Dumbledore realizing whatever he had to say wouldn't really get through to the Headmaster. A while later he left the office and went back to his home. He never found Sirius that day, but in the evening post of the Daily Prophet found an article saying that Sirius Black had murdered 13 Muggles and now was in Azkaban.

(end of flashback)

Remus rolled over on his cot frustratedly. Albus didn't listen to him back then. He attempted to go back from time to time and offered to take Harry in, but still Albus never seemed to listen. The end result of all this?

A hurt and battered child who was afraid of even himself. This wasn't right. The world wasn't right. Why can't things just go right? It would have been nice if the war would never have happened. If Lily and James never died or went in to hiding. If Sirius Black didn't have betrayed his friends. He thought back to a day where the four marauders were still together and happy. There friendship was intact and they were still good friends. There was such a time.

(flashback)

"ab ba la ba ga ga da da ga la!" Harry said cheerily waving around Sirius' wand. James and Sirius were doubled over laughing. Lily was out shopping and wormtail couldn't make it today. He said he was preoccupied. Remus was reading a book and looked over curiously to see what the three boys were now giggling at. Well, two men and a little boy technically but Sirius and James were not acting very mature at the moment.

"Harry, can I see that, please?" Remus said gently now kneeling beside the very cheery Harry who was waving Sirius' wand around. He had spotted the wand and rushed over.

"Ah, moony. He's not going to do anything," Sirius reasoned, "Harry isn't really saying anything and his wand waving isn't coordinated. And we're watching." Remus gently pried the wand from baby Hary's hand not listening to Sirius.

"He could potentially do damage just as easily by the correct combination of sounds, Sirius," Remus said holding on to the wand and sticking it into his pocket. He would give it back to Sirius when Harry was distracted. He looked at James hoping that he would agree. After all, James was Harry's father and also an auror.

"But, Moony! How likely is that? I rather think you're overthinking this. He doesn't even come close to saying anything and he doesn't mean anything not commited emotionally to a spell. He's just waving the wand around. Maybe create some sparks but that is all I can see him doing," James said reassuringly to Remus. Harry was babbling angrily and reached over to Remus trying to get at the wand. Remus picked him up and walked to the shelf.

"You shouldn't play with that, Harry. Playing with a wand could harm you. It's quite dangerous," Remus told Harry looking around on the shelf. Harry was now crying clearly upset in Remus' arms. He was pulling at the hairs on Remus' arms and pinching at the skin. Remus grabbed a box from the shelf, and Remus still with Harry in his arms walked to the middle of the room. He set the box on the ground. He sat Harry down and sat next to him.

"Let's play with your Quidditch set," Remus offered trying to distract the upset Harry who was now on the ground flailing his arms and legs and positively crying. Upon hearing the word quidditch he sat up. His eyes still teary, but he had stopped crying and looked at Remus intently.

"here, Harry.," He said as he opened the box. Harry grabbed at random pieces and started sucking on them.

"Harry, don't, they may be dirty," Remus explained gently taking Harry's hands from his mouth. He gently took them from Harry, tergeoed them, then sat them back down. James and Sirius still a bit upset at Remus now joined Harry and Remus on the ground.

"here, Harry, let me put this together for you." Sirius said as Harry tried to play with the individual pieces. This was a little kids version of a Quidditch model. It was a little different though. This one more suited toward play rather than practical uses and less for displaying tactics. Remus had handed back Sirius' wand and he made the Quidditch set reassemble itself. The three marauders watched as Harry giggled and played with the Quidditch set babbling away to everybody and yet to nobody.

(end of flashback)

(the next morning)

Harry had woken up to a comfortable bed. He was wondering where he was. There was no shrill scream from his aunt this morning to get up. Furthermore, when he opened his bright emerald green eyes he was almost blinded by the sunlight that shined through the windows. He looked around curiously and got off the bed rapidly. He realized where he was when he saw Remus laying on the cot in the middle of the room. Remus stirred as Harry walked noisily around the room looking quietly at things.

"Good morning, Harry," Remus said hoarsely sitting up and rubbing his eyes. Harry jumped but didn't reply. He was sitting by the window looking out at the landscape amazedly. He was stunned by how far below the ground was. He had never been upstairs before until last night when Remus first brought him upstairs. He had not been upstairs at the Dursley's house before, and wasn't allowed up there. At one point when he tried wandering up the stairs at the Dursley's he was punished for it.

"Come here, please, Harry," Remus said gently, slightly hoarse as he had just woken up. Harry walked to Remus slowly not really wanting to leave the window. He stopped at the edge of Remus' cot and didn't get on it. Remus picked him up gently and placed him on top of the blankets which were on top of his lap.

"Are you feeling any better, Harry?" Remus asked concernedly as he held Harry to him tightly and looking into his green eyes.

"No hurt," Harry said calmly trying to tell Remus that he was hurting less. Remus moved him a little further away from himself understanding. He nodded

"Harry, why don't you turn around. I am just going to look at how the injuries are doing." Remus said gently and slowly turning Harry the other way. Harry turned around his back facing Remus. Remus slowly lifted the shirt which made Harry try to get up and run away.

"Harry, I merely wish to see the progress of your injuries and whether they are healing. I swear," Remus said putting a hand on Harry's shoulders to calm him down. Harry relaxed a bit, but was still tense.

"May I see them, harry," Remus said gently. Harry sat back slowly. Remus lifted his shirt a little more and looked at the ones on his back. They seemed to be healing fast enough. Remus turned Harry around and looked at the ones on his stomach and chest. Those seem to be doing well too. Remus nodded more to himself.

"Right then. Shall we go downstairs for breakfast, Harry?" Remus said picking Harry up and walked out of the room. Harry sat up much happier then last night but still not exactly smiling and a little tense. Remus went into the dining room where John and Dianna were finishing up breakfast.

"Good morning," Dianna said cheerily, as she got up from the table. She walked toward Remus and Harry.

"Good morning, mum," Remus said smiling. Dianna approached the pair and looked at Harry intensely and concernedly.

"How are you feeling today, dear," Dianna asked softly. Harry looked at her, but didn't respond. Dianna looked concernedly at Harry. Harry looked at Dianna and then looked away. Dianna looked at Remus.

"Harry's injuries look much better today. They are healing fast and they appear by the looks of it to hurt less," Remus explained.

"Good, glad things are looking better," Dianna said cheerily now bustling off to the kitchen to fix Harry breakfast.

"Hello, good morning, Harry," John said smiling as Remus and Harry sat down at the table. John continued eating his breakfast but tried entertaining Harry by talking to him animatedly and asking him questions. Harry felt a little more comfortable around John than Dianna but not very much at all. Dianna set his bowl of cereal in front of him and Remus handed Harry the spoon before he could put his hand into the bowl. Remus watched as Harry ate. Harry attempted to play with the cereal plunging his hands in at times and Remus had to wipe his hands off and hand him the spoon again, encouraging him to eat. Harry was the center of attention at the table. John and Dianna had animated conversations with Harry or attempted to and asked questions encouraging Harry to talk and use his words. Remus chimed in at times too and they generally had a good time. Harry was perhaps a little anxious about talking but John and Dianna tried to convince him sweetly that it was quite all right to speak and that they wanted to talk to him.

"Harry dear, I better get going with these dishes and Remus can stay with you," Dianna said getting up from the table. Harry stared around. Dianna was gathering the things on the table but noticed Harry looking around.

"Ree-ma?" Harry said quietly almost to himself. Remus who was watching him looked around and realized what Harry was curious about. Dianna was pulling out her wand but stopped and smiled at Harry. She wondered what Remus was going to do.

"Yes, Harry, I am Remus," Remus clarified gently pointing to himself. Harry looked at him wonderingly. Dianna pulled out her wand and smiled widely at Harry. Remus figured it was a good idea to teach him what his name was as he would be watching Harry most of the time.

"Yes, that is my name, Harry, just as Harry is your name," Remus said gently, "Repeat after me, Remus."

"Ree-muhs," Harry said softly. Remus smiled gently at Harry. Harry couldn't quite pronounce it quite right, but it was good enough for a first attempt.

"Very good, Harry," Remus said encouragingly. Dianna smiled at him and waved her wand over the table. Everything else but Harry's breakfast glided off the table and into the sink. Harry looked amazedly at the flying plates and made to get out of his chair. Remus stopped him. Harry was still holding a spoonful of cereal and milk in his spoon. He pourd the cereal back into the bowl.

Harry had ate a third of his cereal. Dianna didn't give him all that much in the first place. Remus caught sight of Harry pushing the bowl away. And looked at the bowl of cereal.

"Why don't you eat the rest of this, Harry," Remus asked as he pushed the bowl back towards Harry. There was no need to hand Harry the spoon as that was grasped tightly in his hand. Harry pushed the bowl away once again.

"No more, Remy, no eat," Harry said rubbing his stomach to indicate that he didn't want anymore food. Remus looked back into the bowl again and sighed. Harry couldn't possibly be full. He had a third of the very small bowl of cereal.

"You didn't eat all that much, Harry," Remus said thoughtfully, "Here." Remus said getting up from his chair to pick Harry up. He placed Harry on his lap. There was one slight problem Harry had the spoon and it was gripped tightly in his hand.

"Harry, may I see that spoon?" Remus said making to gently tug the spoon out of Harry's hand but thought better of it. Harry raised his arm with the spoon thinking it was out of Remus' reach,but it was only about an inch above Remus' head.

"No! mine!" Harry said determinedly and possessively still holding the spoon tightly. Remus had to work very hard not to laugh. He thought back to last night. It must be what those Muggles did to him that made him so protective of things and scared of losing them.

"Harry I want you to give the spoon to me," Remus said holding out a hand and smiling encouragingly. Harry looked at Remus' smile and extended hand and sighed. He lowered his hand with the spoon slightly for a moment but changed his mind.

"I swear, I won't take it Harry, I merely need to use it for a few minutes," Remus said gently. Harry looked at Remus but didn't move very much. After a minute or two Remus persuaded harry to give him the spoon and used it to feed Harry the rest of the cereal. It was a slow process and Remus had to persuade Harry a lot but most of the cereal ended up in Harry's stomach.

"Excellent, Harry," Remus said placing the spoon down and picked up the cup Harry was using last night. It had cold milk in it this morning.

"here, drink this, Harry," Remus said holding up the cup for Harry. Harry held the cup and drained the milk.

After breakfast, Remus took Harry to the living room and tried to entertain him by talking to him and playing around with him. He was hoping to engage Harry in some kind of conversation however simple it may be. He had found James' old Quidditch set which looked battered and used but was still usable. He knew it was somewhere around here because James did leave it at one point and Remus had never got a chance to return it. Remus quickly assembled the Quidditch set for Harry and sat Harry in front of it. He sat beside Harry a second later. Harry stared at the set.

"here, shall we play with the Quidditch set, Harry?" Remus said tapping the Quidditch set with his wand and the figurines got into their positions hovering on there brooms. He looked at Remus wonderingly. He hoped this new word didn't mean anything bad. Whatever play meant he had heard it used with his cousin by his aunt but had no idea. Harry smiled and gave one of the brooms a little shove. The broomstick shot off. Harry giggled quietly. Remus smiled. The Chaser he had pushed flew forward and crashed into the boundry and flew back bumping into the goal post. Remus started the other teams seeker as Harry pushed another figurine, a beater this time in the same direction. His club was swinging by his side. Remus showed Harry how to get the chasers to get the quaffle and score goals. He showed Harry a few other things. Harry really rather seemed to enjoy himself.

"Fun!" Harry squealed as Remus made Harry's seeker dive for the snitch his following behind Harry's. He slowed the seekers down and the snitch flew off Harry gave his seeker a push to go get the snitch which Remus told him the seekers must find.

"I am delighted to see that you're having fun playing with the set," Remus said as Harry made his beater fly toward the goal post. They played for about twenty more minutes changing what they were playing quite a few times Remus still had a few toys that James and Lilly had left with him. They rotated between the games and soon Harry got what the word play meant.

"Pay, that! Pay that!" Harry pointed to something they hadn't touched yet. There were only two more things out of the 7 things Remus had at the house Harry had not played with before. Remus grabbed the box and placed it beside the wizzarding building blocks that Harry was currently playing with. Remus made the blocks pack itself neatly into the box it came in and put it aside.

"Harry, can you repeat after me? Play," Remus said opening the toy box but Harry barely heard him his eyes were focused on the broomstick racing game Remus was unpacking. He got closer to Remus to have a look.

"Harry, here, give me a moment, give me some time to open it," Remus said calmly putting the box down and settled Harry back down where he was. After Remus had opened it they played with it and a few other sets of toys for about twenty more minutes. Harry seemed happy overall and to enjoy himself.

Suddenly,Harry's eyes filled up, and Harry screamed throwing the figurine in his hands. He grabbed at another thing and threw that across the room too. Remus was startled as Harry was fine a minute or two ago.

"Don't... Harry," Remus said trying to calm him down. He placed his hand gently on Harry's arm that now had the quaffle. Harry cried even louder and try to get out of Remus' reach but Remus held him gently but firmly. Remus looked concerned and moved even closer now kneeling beside Harry.

"What's the matter, Harry? I will be able to fix it if you let me know what the problem is," Remus said looking down at Harry with increased concern. Harry looked up at him wildly. He looked around as if for help.

"No! more! no!" He gasped out between sobs still trying to grab at things and kicking his legs. Remus let go of his arm and picked him up instead. He walked over to the couch. He wasn't all that sure what Harry meant but he apparently didn't want something. Harry seemed to look around wildly as if he had trouble expressing himself as well. Remus took note of these things which troubled him. He sat down on the couch with Harry still kicking and screaming now grabbing at the hairs on Remus' arms. It took a few minutes to calm Harry down. Harry calmed down finally and leaned against Remus putting his head on Remus' chest.

"No more pay," Harry said softly, "No," He looked around at Remus babbling something seeming to try to find a word. Harry opened his mouth to yawn in demonstration and stretched.

"Tired?" Remus tried. He was trying to think of what Harry meant by what he was saying. Harry looked up at him questioningly still reclining on Remus' chest. Remus explained what tired meant and how Harry would feel. Harry's eyes shined and he nodded. Remus was rather surprised how fast Harry got tired. Maybe it was from his lack of activities with the Muggles and being locked up and neglected all day. They had only been playing for 50 minutes at most. It was just a few minutes past ten. Remus was sure Harry didn't need a nap quite yet.

"Would you repeat after me, Harry? Tired," Remus said still thoughtful. He was still thinking about how to deal with this situation. Having Harry sit for hours wasn't an option. He needed to learn quickly and he also neded to be entertained. He seemed to enjoy playing with things but got easily tired.

"Tire-ed," Harry repeated or tried to. Remus smiled again. It was close and after more practice he was sure Harry would get it. Harry had finally by the end of the 50 minutes had got down the word play. They rested for a few more minutes and Remus decided to give playing with Harry another go.

"I want you to inform me when you're tired. There's no need to be upset, Harry," Remus instructed as they got back down to the boxes of toys which Harry was quite excited about. They played and rested in between a few times for the rest of the morning. Remus was making conversation with Harry attempting to show him that it was all right to open up.