Disclaimer: Not mine.
His Calling
Chapter 6
A Boy Name Peter
Remus loved the summer and the hot barefoot by the river days. Mum would wrap up a sandwich and cram it in his pocket, giving him yet again the directions on how to use the portkey that hung around his neck, making sure he knew the rules. He laughed at her and replaced the sandwich with one of the new paperback books he would get by owl post, eating the sandwich on the way, most of the time only minutes after breakfast.
He was disappointed that the new house, up near the summer pasture, was built by an old couple. He had crept up there every day to watch the progress of the building, seeing how large it was, how many rooms it may have. He imagined it could hold lots of people, a huge family with lots of kids. He just knew whoever bought it would have children, and had hoped for a boy about his age.
He had played with a girl once. Down at his grandparents after Christmas last year, when his Mum and Dad had to run off for business and he had gone to visit. He wasn't sure what to say when she had showed him the toy she held in her hand, with buttons and arrows that made the little man on the screen jump and wiggle. She had told him stories about how she went to school and rode a bus to get there. When he had asked what a bus was, she had giggled and laughed at him.
She made him feel clumsy, and said that people that lived on farms were stupid. He had clenched his fists and yelled back at her, and told her that one day he would be the greatest wizard there was. That he would create spells and be famous. That's when Grandma yanked him away and dragged him back home for a good paddling.
The first day he had seen people living in the house on the hill, he had run home and begged his Mum to go and introduce herself to whoever it was. It was polite, he told her. It was something she should do. He kept up until she had laughed and grabbed some of her homemade jelly, and headed up the hill with him. They were welcomed in and shown around, but later, later Rhea said she had not felt comfortable. The house was too formal, too new, too empty and much too uppity.
Remus ate his sandwich and squinted up at the house that looked so small from way down by the river. He wished he had enough money to buy one like it for his Mum.
"What you looking at?" The voice startled him, causing him to jump and dump his book from his lap into the water.
"Shite," he yelled and walked into the slow moving current. "Why'd you go and do that?"
"Didn't mean it." The other boy said and shrugged his shoulders. "You're trespassing you know."
"Am not." Remus looked up at him and frowned, then reached under the water and dragged up his soggy book. "Now it's ruined and Dad's going to kill me. Cost seven knuts it did."
"What was it?"
"Moby Dick. It's about this…"
"I know what it's about." The other lifted his head proudly. "Gramms lets me read all her books."
"Yeah? She got a lot?" Remus was at once interested.
"Yeah, but… well, I don't really like them much. I'm just here for the summer so don't care if you are trespassing or not."
"Thanks." Remus licked his lips and looked up at the house again. "That your Gramms' house?"
"Yeah, my Dad's Mum. Gramms Pettigrew but you call her that and you best run. I don't even call her that." He grinned.
"What do you call her?"
"Grandmother Pettigrew," he laughed. "Only I say Petty-phew."
Remus frowned at him and looked back up to the house.
"I'm kidding, I call her Gramms. You believe everything someone tells you?"
Remus sat down on the bank, letting his legs dangle in the water, looking up as the new boy came and sat next to him.
"I'm Remus."
"You a twin? You know like in Remus and … never mind. I'm Peter."
"Peter Petty-Phew?" Remus grinned.
"Watch it." Peter grinned back.
"You get to spend the whole summer with them?"
"Yeah, why?"
"I only see my Dad's Mum at the hols. Only I can't go no more."
"Really? Maybe she don't like your Mum. Gramms hates my Mum, she even told me she does."
"I don't know, never thought about it. You swim?"
Peter nodded and peeled off his clothes as he raced Remus into the water. They swam, and lay in the sun, trading stories and small-boy-bragging-lies until Peter heard his grandmother calling him.
"Must be five," he muttered. "Got to go."
"Five?" Remus jumped up and began pulling on his clothes, grabbing his shoes in his hands and running down the path. "Shite, Dad really will kill me now."
His feet pounded on the dry packed dirt as he ran as fast as he could. His mind had already started to put together lies that he would be afraid to use and he cursed himself as he tried to go faster, summer sweat already reclaiming the back of his neck as he ran.
Anthony met him at the gate and grabbed him by the collar, dragging him in the house and pushing him toward the stairs. Despite his protests, Remus was sent upstairs and told to get in bed, where he lay on his side and sniffed back his tears as he watched the sun disappear. His stomach growled and wished he had saved the sandwich from lunch.
He felt the mattress sink behind him and rolled on his back, knowing his Mum was there.
"We were worried."
"I wasn't that late, and I met a friend. His name…"
"How old is he?"
"Bout my age." Remus ran a sleeve under his nose.
"Was there anyone with him? Any grownups around?"
"He is staying with old lady Pettigrew. She's his Grandma, it's her house."
"You know better than talking to strangers and being gone so long."
"Ah Mum, I just want…"
"I'll talk to your Dad, but until he says its okay, you stay away. Do you understand?"
"It's not like Greyback is there waiting to get another Lupin, its just…"
Remus' hand flew to his cheek feeling the sting. His mother had never struck him, never spanked him or hit him before. His eyes stung as he crawled backwards on the bed away from her.
"You ever, ever talk to me like that again… you ever, ever infer that we have no reason to worry, that this is a joke I will take a switch to you. Do you understand me?" Her voice shook as she tried to controll herself.
He watched her stand up and lean over him, and heard a rage in her voice that he had never heard before. Nodding his head and repeating what she said, he scrambled under the covers and laid as still he could until she turned away and slammed his door behind her.
It was hours later before the door opened again and Anthony called his son's name. He waited until the boy sat up on the edge of the bed before squatting down in front of him.
"Remus, I wanted you to know that Mum didn't mean to hit you. She was worried, and…it's a normal reaction. That don't make it right but…you'll understand some day."
"She hates m…"
"Stop that." Anthony scowled at him. "Never say things you don't mean in here." He tapped Remus on the chest. "Now, I came to ask you to do something for your Mum."
"What?" He looked up and shoved out his bottom lip.
"Go give her a hug. She hasn't stopped crying since she left you."
Remus slid off the bed and thundered down the steps. Seeing his mother look up from the sofa, he ran to her and flung his arms around her neck, not wanting to ever let go.
The next morning Anthony woke them where they still lay on the sofa, Rhea's arm wrapped around Remus, pulling him tight.
"How about a trip to Diagon? I need a new handle for the axe, old one split, and Remus here needs a new copy of Moby Dick if he is ever going to find out what happens."
"You mean it Dad?" Remus rubbed his eyes as he stood up. "Can we go to the Leaky Caldron too? I'll pay for the book, I've got a whole galleon and four knuts saved."
"Only if you hurry and collect your new friend. I spoke to Mrs. Pettigrew last night and said you would come around for him."
"Remus!" Rhea called him back from his run to the door. "I think we have time for you to get dressed."
The boy looked down at his sleeping pants and old tee and grinned, then ran to give her a kiss on the cheek before running upstairs to get ready.
The four ate breakfast at Remus' favourite place. He loved to watch the door and see who came in from the Muggle world. Except for his grandparents' house, he had never been beyond this room and would sit where he could catch a glimpse when the door let in the light.
"I went into London once," Peter said, seeing how he craned his neck for a look outside. "It's brilliant it is. At night, the whole place is lighted up. Not with candles and lamps either. It's awesome. The lights are all different colours and they even have ones that changes colours so you know when to cross the street."
Remus raised his eyebrow and looked at his father. He waited to see if his father nodded and when he did, turned back to Peter.
"Yeah, so? I knew that."
"Did not." Peter laughed and shoved half a slice of toast in his mouth.
"They have bridges that move without magic," Remus said smugly. "Read it in a book. And did you know that London is one of the biggest cities in the world? Ten million people, all at once."
"Go on," Peter looked at him with his eyes growing large.
"Right Dad?" Remus said proudly. "And guess what else? Someday, Dad said I could have a Muggle…what is it called Dad?"
"Bicycle." Anthony grinned and winked at Rhea.
"So?" Peter gloated, not to be outdone. "I got this thing… pogo stick I think it's called. It's a stick with places to put your feet and you jump up and down on it."
"What for?" Remus frowned at him.
"It's fun."
"Get out."
"Okay, boys," Rhea laughed. "Milking time won't wait, so what say we get down to the book store?"
She took each boy by the hand and led them out of the pub, knowing from their smirks and giggles that they thought themselves much too old for hand-holding. Anthony threw down his coins on the table and caught Tom's eye, letting him know the payment was made and left with his family into the small space out the back to tap the bricks.
He took the boys by the hand as Rhea pulled her wand and lifted it, when suddenly, she was pushed face first into the wall and held. At that instant, Anthony felt an arm begin to snake around his throat.
Anthony fought to lower his head and tuck his chin into his shoulder to stop whoever it was from choking him. He pushed his head back, slamming it into the head behind him as he brought his right and left hand together. Joining the boy's hands, he gasped "envy" to activate the portkey that took both boys away.
Remus and Peter landed in a jumble of limbs in the small sitting room. Remus stood and turned in a circle, waiting for his parents to follow.
"What …? I don't like this Lupin. If this is some kind of joke your Dad…"
"Shut up," Remus turned on him. "Did you see something?"
"No, but I heard your Dad swear."
"My Dad don't swear." Remus felt his eyes sting and knew he was going to cry. Something bad, really bad, had happened.
"I want to go home," Peter started for the door.
"No, Mum said if the portkey ever brought me back I should stay put and … I think you should stay put with me."
Together they peeked out the front window then ran to the kitchen window that looked out the back.
"I don't like this Lupin," Peter frowned. "I want to go home."
"Check out by the barn first. Okay?" Remus was unsure what to do. His Mum had never said the portkey would do anything but bring him home, now with Peter here, and her gone, he was scared.
Peter nodded and ran upstairs, following Remus who then looked out the window toward the barn.
"Your Dad's going to catch it if I tell Gramms. If he's joking me he's in big trouble," Peter's voice faltered.
Remus scowled and headed back downstairs. "You should stay. My mum's going to be really-really mad if you don't do what she says."
"You can't make me stay here," Peter's voice began to shake. "I want to go home, I said."
"He can leave, only use the floo, Peter." Rhea said hearing them argue as she came in the door. "Now Peter, hurry. Tell your Grandmother that we had a little accident and foolish me overreacted. Remus' father took a spill on the cobble stones is all. You know how uneven those cobble stones are."
She pushed him into the floo and threw down the powder, trying to smile at him.
"Mum? Mum? Where is Dad? Did he get hurt bad?"
"He's outside Remus. He is going to be fine." She ran to the door and opened it, running down the stairs and lifting Anthony's arm over her shoulder to help him in.
"He's gone," she looked at Anthony from the corner of her eye. "I sent him home in the floo."
He nodded and winced as she half dragged him up the stairs. "It's not as bad as it looks boy. Just scratches."
"Should I floo St Mungo's? I know how," Remus held the door open as his mother came in, struggling under the weight.
"No," his father croaked as Rhea lowered him to the sofa.
"Remus, get the first aid kit. Hurry, and get the potion in the cupboard, the blue and just in case the yellow."
"It's fine Rhea."
"Just in case," she whispered. "It helps with infection too. That's what they said. Not just … just in case you got dirt in the cuts or something… what if… oh my gods…."
"I'll drink it woman, if you just stop that infernal crying. He didn't bite me, and he wasn't in his wolf form. You know as well as I do that …"
He stopped talking when he eyes fell on Remus. The boy stood at the door, his arms full of bandages, his eyes locked on his father's. He heard, Anthony thought, he knew. Rhea stood up and looked at him, then saw the expression on Anthony's face.
"Remus," she called his name sharply. "You heard your father. He was scratched. Nothing more."
"Greyback? In the …. I thought he only… you know. In the forest."
"Come here Remus," Anthony struggled up and patted the place next to him. He drank the potions Rhea held out to him and then leaned back and pulled his son to his side.
"Greyback the man, can, and does go where he wants. That's not to say the he does it often. He is recognizable and if he is seen …" he stopped and looked to his wife for help.
"Like Marcus?"
"Yes," he sighed deeply, " except… Greyback was an evil man before he was turned, so even when he is not in wolf form he is evil."
"He's after you again?"
Anthony looked at Rhea and nodded. "He heard of Marcus is all."
"No!" Rhea shouted. "It's nothing Remus. He is just mad over something that happened a long time ago. He wanted something from your Dad is all, something…. He wouldn't give it to him… now he… he just…"
"Rhea, stop. Not even a child would believe that." Anthony sighed heavily and looked at Remus. "There are men in this world, in every world that want power. If you give them that power, they will just want more, and use it badly. Greyback is one such man."
"Power! Its not that simple, it's more," Rhea hissed.
"Your mother is right Remus. It is more, but it is enough for you to know now that he is angry with me, and because of that, he has set out to make things as difficult as he can."
"That's why he… you know… with Marcus."
"Yes, he wanted to hurt me."
"Remus," Rhea came over in front of him and fell on her knees. "Dad and I want you to know that we love you."
He looked up at his Dad knowing something was happening. Something bad.
"You're going to be living at your Grandmothers for a while. Until… now Remus, don't look so worried, just until we find a new place."
"For … like a holiday?"
Rhea bit her lip and shook her head. "Exactly like a holiday, only a little longer this time."
"I'd have to stay in all the time?"
"Remus, just until we can think of something else."
"But she'll make me stay in and won't let me talk to anyone. You said I didn't have to go back there any more, Mum. You promised."
"We can hire someone, or find someone to help us make the new place unplottable." Anthony flexed his arms and smiled at Rhea as the potions took away the last of the pain.
"You can do it. Can't you Dad?"
"Sorry, son," he grinned. "Even if I could, it should be someone outside. It should be someone Greyback won't suspect. That's why Mum hasn't done it. Remus, he caught me today and let me go with a warning. If he did it once he can do it again, and force me or your Mum to show it to him."
"Like a secret house?" Remus asked. "But, he can get you anyway, then …"
Rhea stood and busied herself in the kitchen, not able to explain that if they were killed he would need a protector. Someone that had set the original wards, and would be able to reset them to new, if needed.
"Something like that, but someone else would keep the secret. Now, you help Mum get lunch ready, and I'm just going to clean off the rest of the Alley I brought home on my trousers."
"Mum?" Remus stood in the kitchen at his mother's elbow. "If I'm really good and don't go to the river and be late, can I stay?"
"Your grandmother will be happy for the company," she sighed and kept her eyes turned from his. "She said she would have you 'til it was your turn to go to Hogwarts."
"No." He tugged on her sleeve. "No, Mum. You said like on a holiday."
"It's done." Rhea turned her back on him and began to set the table. "She said next Monday would suit her. She needs time to do up a room for you."
"I won't stay there?" He yelled at her. "I wont, I wont and I'll just run away!"
He ran from the room and up the stairs, flopped belly down on his bed and sobbed until he could sob no more. Then wrapping himself in his quilt, he fell asleep.