Don't own Harry Potter.
Chapter 4- Making Decisions
Taking Dumbledore's advice, Remus thought carefully about what he would be getting himself into if the adoption were approved. It had seemed so simple at first. Adopt Harry and then everything would be fine. But after what Dumbledore had said he was starting to understand things would be far more complicated than that. There were so many problems to solve. One of the easier ones would be who Harry would be left with during the full moon. The Weasleys were the obvious choice. If anyone knew about raising children, with all the children they had it was Molly and Arthur Weasley. And they had a son Harry's age, a perfect playmate for him. And he was sure they wouldn't treat Harry any differently because of his fame.
The main thing that worried him was how Harry would be treated by those who knew Remus was a werewolf. He didn't want to rescue Harry from the Dursleys only to have him treated like an outcast for the rest of his life, treated the way Remus had always been. Once Harry was old enough to understand would he be grateful Remus had adopted him, or would he grow to hate Remus for forcing him into a life where everyone would be prejudiced against him? Harry would probably be ashamed of having a werewolf for a guardian. That thought was unbearable. Remus didn't think he could stand being hated by his friends' son. If the Dursleys had treated Harry decently he would have settled for just being able to visit him. Harry would never have needed to know that one of his parents' best friends was a werewolf, although perhaps he would have eventually figured it out the way James and Sirius had. But was there really an option? There was no way Harry could be left to be neglected by the Dursleys. Even with Remus' visits and the improvements he had insisted on it had to be a miserable life. He looked up at the ceiling.
"Lily, James? What would you have wanted?"
But as soon as he asked it he knew the answer. They had wanted Sirius as Harry's guardian, not him. Had James been worried about what he had jokingly called Remus' "furry little problem" after all? Things looked that way. Yet Remus was sure that, given the choice, surely they would rather have had Remus as Harry's guardian than the Dursleys. There were no doubts there, and that thought renewed his determination. He would do whatever he could to keep Harry with him, and would tell Dumbledore so after the holidays. He wanted the time in between to be the best he could make it for Harry.
So the day after Christmas, Remus and Harry once again appeared in the headmaster's office, this time with Harry clutching a plush stag, one of the toys Remus had given him.
"Good afternoon Remus, and Happy Christmas," Dumbledore said.
"And the same to you," Remus answered. "I've done what you said, done plenty of thinking about what adopting Harry will mean."
Dumbledore looked at Remus over his half moon shaped spectacles.
"And…?"
Remus swallowed.
'My decision is the same. I know there will be difficulties, but it will still be better for Harry than life at the Dursley's."
Remus couldn't tell if the look on Dumbledore's face was one of pleased or not. The elderly headmaster could be an expert at hiding his thoughts.
- Ocultar texto das mensagens anteriores -
"Very well Remus. As I told you the last time you came here, there are things that will help you, and I happen to have a copy of one of them." Opening his desk, he pulled out an official looking document. Seeing the curious look on Remus' face, Dumbledore explained.
"This is a copy of Lily and James' will. They named you guardian of Harry in the event that Sirius was unable to raise him."
Remus was astounded, though delighted.
"I had no idea. I thought they'd only ever wanted Sirius to have Harry. I have to admit I was a bit hurt when I thought I wasn't even considered."
"I think there was a reason the Sirius was the Potters' first choice. Of all his friends, James considered Sirius to be the most like him, did he not?"
The younger wizard nodded, remembering how it had always been those two who had been the orchestra leaders of all the pranks they'd pulled. Those two who had come up with the idea to become Animaguses. The two of them who had broken the school's detention record. The two of them who had viewed things exactly the same way, shared the same mind, heart, and spirit, or so it had seemed.
"That's why they were such close friends. None of us would ever have guess we'd be betrayed. But I'm afraid I don't see what you're getting at."
Dumbledore smiled, half mysteriously, half amused.
"I believe, knowing James as I did, that he wanted to appoint a guardian for Harry who would be able to give him a feeling of what it was like to have the father he lost all too soon. It had nothing to do with your condition, as I'm sure you've been thinking."
Remus gave half a smile.
"Why didn't they ever tell me? And if it's true why wasn't I given Harry in the first place?"
"This is merely a guess, but I would say the most likely answer to your first question is that although they were prepared for it, they didn't imagine both themselves and Sirius would be unable to care for Harry. As to your second question, I believe I answered that last time. I felt it was best, for the reasons I gave you, if Harry remained with his relatives. I guessed you might apply for his custody, but was under the mistaken impression that your concerns about your condition, might later make you regret your attempts. That is why, knowing you as I do, I felt it best you take time to think about your actions and what it would mean for you to raise Harry. You have done so, and that is all that I asked."
Not sure what to say to that, Remus simply nodded.
"Since your course of action is set then, it would be wise if you spent the time between now and the hearing preparing for the assessment. I dare say the Ministry will not make things easy on you. Even with the will, getting Harry will be no easy task."
Remus knew the Wizengamont would use every excuse to keep him from getting Harry. Their biggest excuse, of course, he could do nothing about, but he would make sure that they didn't have anything else they could use against him. He started eliminating those excuses after New Year's by increasing the security spells on his apartment, and generally child proofing everything in his home he could think of. He stocked up on baby supplies, and contacted the Weasleys to ask if they would watch Harry when they needed to. They assured him they would be more than happy to. The hardest part by far was finding a job. Nobody seemed to be hiring in the muggle world, and it didn't pay to even try in the wizarding world. He had just about run out of options when he paid a weekend visit to the Weasleys.
Molly, of course, was anxious to know how Harry was. Baby Ginny was rattling the toys on the side of her crib. Ron was crawling around, and the other children were generally finding ways to entertain themselves around the house, and Arthur was telling his wife and Remus about a muggle school where he'd had to smooth over an incident involving a muggle born witch who didn't yet know about magic causing some items to randomly fly around the room. Apparently it had taken some fast talking since the teacher and class had somehow guessed that it had something to do with the girl, even if they didn't know about magic.
"Anyway, the teacher was very nice about it. Won't be teaching there much longer though. Going to have a baby and wants to leave her job to be a full time mom."
Remus sat up straighter suddenly.
"Wait. Say that again? She wants to leave her job? Is there an opening for a teacher then?"
Arthur looked at Remus curiously. "You mean you want to apply? But how could you teach muggles? You're a wizard." His tone wasn't condemning, just concerned.
"But I know enough about muggles. My mom was one after all. What subject does she teach?"
"Classical literature. Mostly focuses on Charles Dickens and a few other authors, she said. Couple of Sherlock Holmes stories. Touches lightly on Shakespeare."
Remus allowed himself a grin. "Perfect. I've always read every book I could get my hands on, magic or muggle, and those are some of my favorites. And I've always wanted to be a teacher. Of course it won't be the same as if I could get a job at Hogwarts, but still, I'm sure it will work out. And if I'm going to raise Harry I'll need that job." Remus had lately come to understand how expensive raising a baby could be, with magic or not.
Arthur rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "You always have been great with children. Even back when you were a student you loved helping the younger ones. This could work out."
Of course it could. It would have to.
"Where is the school?"
"Not far from your apartment actually, now that I think about it. You could walk home in a few minuets each day, and then just floo over here to get Harry. Looks like all the pieces in the puzzle are finally falling into place for you."
Well, not quite, Remus thought. Getting that job would sure help though. And the custody hearing was coming up fast. Remus wasn't sure if he was glad of that or not. He could use the extra time to prepare, but in the meantime there were still those lonely, sad weekends for both Harry and himself. When it was over would he and Harry have a new life, or would all hope for a brighter future be lost?