Don't own Harry Potter.

Chapter 3- Trying to form a family

Remus was sitting on the bed, his head laid against his chest. He had vowed to stay awake through the night and not take his eyes off Harry for a split second, but as strong as his will was he had let his eyes close and the next thing he knew it was light out. He jumped with a start, afraid Harry had needed him during the night, but the baby was still asleep, looking as content as he had been back in Godric's Hollow.

It was so good to see Harry this content again, and Remus wished things could go on like this forever, but Harry needed the blood protection. But when Harry eventually went to Hogwarts he'd be away for months at a time, wouldn't he? What if starting now Harry only went back to the Dursleys for a short time each year and Remus kept him the rest of the time? The Dursleys didn't want Harry, so he was sure they wouldn't give any problems as long as Harry would be coming back once a year for what they believed was their protection. What if he tried to adopt Harry the way he had thought of that first day he'd gone to the Dursleys?

"Stop dreaming," Remus scolded himself. "It would be wonderful to be able to give Harry the life he deserves, but there's no way the Ministry would ever allow you to raise him. You know how prejudice they are. How the entire wizarding world is."

Still, didn't he at least have to try? Remus knew if he ever had a son and died, James and Lily would have fought all the way to raise his child. At that though Remus shook his head. Of course that was something that would never have happened. What woman would ever want to marry and have children with a werewolf? Besides, he would never want to risk bring a child into the world who would almost surely be cursed from the time they were born. But the idea was the same. He knew the jeers he would get for what he was going to try, and wasn't looking forward to the experience, but he'd do anything for Harry.

"All right Remus. You're a Gryffindor. Start showing a little courage."

All the while Harry slept, Remus decorated the apartment with a few lights and some tinsel. The tree could be put up later since there was still time between now and Christmas. He could have used magic, but decided to do the decorating the muggle way. His mother had always celebrated Christmas that way when he was a child, and he'd grown up feeling this was one time when the fun that came from putting up decorations yourself was more magical than anything else. As he decorated, he mentally prepared what he was going to say when he visited the Ministry. He'd have to have his case well thought out. He'd just turned on the lights when he heard "Ohhh, pwetty" from Harry.

Smiling, he went to the crib.

"Yes, the lights are pretty, aren't they? Now I need you to be an extra good boy for me today. We're going to visit somebody very important."

The baby babbled a response, and after Remus had Harry looking his best he put on his least shabby looking robes they made their way to the telephone booth that was the entrance to the Ministry of magic. They could have used the floo network, but Remus wanted to make the best impression possible and being covered in soot wouldn't help. Remus dialed the numbers and heard a woman's voice say "Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and business."

"Remus Lupin. I'm here to request to adopt Harry Potter."

"Another one?" the woman sounded annoyed. "All right. Good luck." A badge saying "Remus Lupin, Adoption Request" slid out of the coin return, and after the reminder that he would have to submit to search and a wand inspection and that his meeting with the head of the Magical Child Welfare department would be in half an hour the booth lowered into the ground. Harry fidgeted uneasily when things got dark, but once they were back in the light he calmed down. Finally Remus' wand was inspected and he and Harry took the elevator to the office he was looking for the waiting room outside it was about half filled with people. Remus knew that normally there wouldn't be anywhere near that many people there. It was a sad reminded that many children had been orphaned during the war, and many friends and relatives of those lost were there for the same reason Remus was, to make sure a child of someone they'd loved was placed in a happy home with them.

After waiting for what felt like forever, Remus was called into the office. An unpleasant looking witch dressed in pink was giving him an imitation of a smile.

"Yes, Mr. Lupin, isn't it? You're here to try to adopt Harry Potter."

"Yes."

"Are you aware how many others have tried the same thing? Everybody wants to have the boy who lived in their family."

"He's not the boy who lived to me. I've known him since the day he was born. His father was like my brother. And I've been helping take care of him these past weeks."

The witch wasn't listening.

"The boy's father may have been like your brother, but it is the Ministry's understanding that the boy already has a family."

Remus took a deep breath, willing himself not to show his anger at the Dursleys.

"But they don't give him any more care than he needs to survive. It would be a stretch to call them his family."

"But they are blood related."

Blood. Remus was sick of the talk of it. A war had just been fought because an evil wizard believed purebloods were best. How many people had died fighting him and his followers? And how many more had been left orphaned or lost loved ones, like Harry had? Remus had lost almost everyone he had ever loved because of one stupid belief about blood, and he wasn't going to loose Harry because of an equally stupid belief. Not without a fight, anyway.

"Harry didn't get to choose who he's related too. Why should he be forced to be with them? I'm the one who's made sure he's taken care of and happy."

"We have been informed that Petunia Dursley is the last surviving blood relative of Harry Potter, and of the protection that means for the boy."

Remus paused. "I am aware that Harry would have to go back for part of each year. I'm willing to allow that to keep that protection for him, provided I accompany him while he's there to be sure nothing happens to him."

The witch looked about ready to laugh in his face.

"You must admit that there would be more danger of something happening to him with you than with his relatives." Remus felt himself growing red. As if she actually cared about Harry. So she had known from the start about his condition?

"Harry would be in no danger with me. There-will be times when he'll have to spend the night with someone else of course. There's no reason my-problem-has to be a factor in this."

If the truth were told, Remus was concerned about that himself, but as long as Harry went to stay with someone else during the full moon he would be safer that at the Dursleys. The witch wasn't satisfied, and was looking at Remus' robes. Even though they were his best set, one look at them told how poor Remus was.

"And how would you financially support the boy?"

He wished she'd stop calling Harry "the boy" as if he didn't have a name.

"If I have too I'll take a job as a muggle." He'd done it before to survive.

"Very touching, Mr. Lupin, but with all the, er, factors, being involved, I'm telling you filling out the application would only be a wasting of your time."

"Let me be the judge of that."

The witch shrugged. "Very well. I'll file your application and within a month and then the assessment will begin. You do of course realize it will have to be determined whether or not you can be a suitable guardian?"

Remus knew what she meant by that. A werewolf, incapable of holding a job and feared by just about everyone, had even less of a chance of adopting a child than the Chudley Cannons had of winning the Quiddich World Cup. It seemed as if she was trying to turn his attempt to make a better life for Harry into a cruel joke. He was sure she was just having a laugh at him for daring to hope, rubbing in his face how useless this was, otherwise she probably wouldn't have even let him apply. He chose to ignore her and started filling out the application. There were all the typical questions. What were his name, age, and occupation? What was his average yearly income? Why didn't they ask things like was Harry happy with him? Would he be kind to Harry? Those were the important things. The Dursleys had plenty of money and steady jobs and that hadn't benefited Harry at all.

By the time he'd finished the application and seen for himself what the Ministry looked for in adoptive parents, he knew he'd need help, and there was only one person he could think of to turn to for it. Albus Dumbledore had been insistent that Harry stay with the Dursleys although Professor McGonnagal had pleaded on Harry's behalf, but maybe when he realized how Harry was treated there he'd decide to help. At any rate it couldn't hurt to ask. The Hogwarts Express wouldn't be running since it would have taken most of the students home for the holidays already, it was impossible to apparate to Hogwarts, and the Knight Bus was no way to travel with a baby. That left floo powder as the best option for getting to Dumbledore. As soon as they were back at the appartment Remus threw a handful of floopowder into the fireplace and a second later was standing in the headmaster's office.

If Dumbledore was surprised at seeing Harry there with Remus, he didn't show it.

"I was wondering when you'd bring him here Remus," the elderly wizard said. Remus wasn't sure how to react. "However, I feel it would be best to take him back to his relatives as soon as possible."

Remus had nothing but the highest respect for Dumbledore. If it hadn't been for him, Remus would never have been able to attend Hogwarts. He hated to think how he would have ended up. But this was one time Dumbledore was wrong.

"I understand you have reasons for wanting Harry with his relatives, if you can call them that. But they left him laying for four days with a fever. They keep him locked in a cupboard. They don't care about him at all. How could you leave him in a situation like that?"

His words seemed to be getting through. Dumbledore looked as though he were reconsidering.

"I know you want the blood protection for him, and believe me I want him protected too, but surely the protection would hold if he only had to go back there for a short time each year?" Remus pleaded.

The elderly wizard hesitated, but nodded. Remus took that as an encouraging sign, and felt ready to tell the headmaster about what he'd done earlier that day.

"I've- I've applied to adopt Harry." Harry chose that moment to shift his position and clutch at Remus' robes, pulling himself up and wrapping his arms around Remus' neck again. Dumbledore paced a bit before answering.

"I can see that Harry is quite fond of you. But there are other reasons why I would rather have Harry with the Dursleys. The main reason, besides the protection from Voldemort's followers, is protection from his own fame. It would be best if he didn't grow up with people treating him like a prince for something he can't even remember."

"But my apartment's in a muggle district. I'd be able to prevent that. Please. I'm going to need your help to win this. The Ministry will never let me have Harry otherwise."

Dumbledore took a seat and rubbed at his forehead.

"There are-certain things- that would help you to get custody of Harry. But have you thought this through Remus? Are you sure this is really what's best for Harry and yourself?"

No, he had not thought it through carefully, but what did Dumbledore mean, what's best for Harry and himself? Harry would be better off with him than with the Dursleys, and Remus certainly wouldn't mind taking care of the baby. Did Dumbledore think Remus would want to move back to a home in the magical world? Because it wasn't as if he had any friends left there. Or was Dumbledore afraid Harry would be viewed the same way Remus was, an outcast? That was a possibility. Often those who were close to werewolves were treated the same way as the werewolves themselves. If anyone knew about them being a werewolf. Remus had been leading a lonely life ever since James and Lily had died, and Harry had been the only bright spot in the darkness. Remus didn't want to loose that light, but he didn't want Harry shunned either. Dumbledore must have noticed the thoughtful look on his face.

"If you will take the time to consider the consequences of your actions and still believe it's best for both of you. I will help," the elderly wizard finally said. Remus gave a halfhearted smile and nod, and took Harry back to the appartment, feeling almost as hopeless as before.