The Lupin Childe

Cheers for my wonderful Beta: butterfly83

Chapter 5

Severus watched the boy sitting across from him with hidden interest. The green eyes paid him no mind as they stared intently at the clock, no doubt counting down the minutes until Lupin picked him up. The last day and a half had been… interesting, for lack of a better word. He'd, rather reluctantly, learned a bit more about the boy's personality and what an odd personality it was. Shy and quite, but unbelievably inquisitive, Severus had a hard time getting him to hush up once he got started. What was worse, the brat wasn't afraid of him!

He had perfected his glare to the point that even a hint of it could make any first year burst in to tears, and several from the upper years become nervous wrecks. But this three-year-old, when glared at, only blinked owlishly and gave a small smile before proceeding to ignore him. Not giving the slightest bit of thought to the fact that he may well find himself in bodily danger. Not that was Severus was planning to beat the child or anything but he was certainly not above a slap around the head. Not that he had been provoked. This was another thing that both irritated him and made him oddly happy. The boy was strangely well behaved, though Severus wasn't terribly surprised. While Lupin was too softhearted to hand out actual punishments, he was the strictest and most level headed of his group of asinine friends.

When Severus told him to do something like "Boy, get those books and toys of yours off the floor, I'm not running a daycare," the boy obeyed without question. Stopping what he was doing immediately to complete the chore. He also did not ask for much of anything except for Severus to show interest in his story-books. With sad, slightly watery emerald orbs, he had actually managed to goad Severus into reading the entire Dr. Seuss book.

It was annoying trying to figure out the logic of the stories and the reason for using such absurd made-up creatures and humorous when they actually related to a respectable moral at the end. His favorite had been 'the Lorax', which he had been reluctant to admit to the boy. But the boy had not asked any more questions, only smiled softly and continued to flip through his book.

Though he had no immediate wish to do it again, he wouldn't be dreadfully opposed to watching the brat again. Lupin however had better not dare ask him.

-x-

Remus Lupin traveled down to the dungeons at a sedated pace. He still had a bit of time to spare and Harry wasn't expecting him until exactly 7:13 AM. The boy was unsurprisingly serious about him showing up on time. Remus figured he still had some abandonment issues left over from the Dursleys, not that he would ever leave the child but Harry still was unsure. He sighed tiredly as he thought about the little boy. Harry had become the most important thing to him and though he trusted Severus impeccably, he was glad to be collecting the boy today. Three days without him had been painfully quiet and a bit depressing. He loved spending time with the boy and he wanted to get as much time as he could with him before they traveled to France to see his family.

Much to his surprise, Remus had received an early letter from his mother this morning announcing the family's return to the country and a 'request' that he and his new son come visit soon. That meant either he came by his own free will in the next few weeks, or he would be dragged home by force. His mother was just strong enough to do it to. He had sent back a letter asking for a month to prepare Harry for the move for, once they got there, he doubted very much they would be allowed to leave for several months. It meant they would be arriving the week after the next full moon which was just a well as it allowed Remus to be near Harry 24/7 for a full month before he was forced to spend nights alone with his new family. He wondered idly what he would tell Harry about them, the topic of his family not having come up in a serious manner before.

The head of the family, without a doubt, was the matriarch from both heaven and hell, his mother, Sabrina Cahors. The woman, giving birth to her first child at 19, was only forty-four years of age, and though not especially young was far from old. Of average height, straight-backed and proud, Ms. Brie, as she was called by all except her children was respected and well liked by everyone. You couldn't help but fall in love with the woman. Remus wasn't particularly worried about her getting along with Harry (though he would fight tooth and nail to keep her from practically drugging the child with chocolate) because she already adored the boy. Every letter she sent was full of love and hopes of soon meetings.

His brother and sisters, on the other hand, were a bit of a cause for concern. He loved them to death, he really did, but the absolute madness that ran through the them was undeniable.

The eldest, twenty-five years old, was Leverett. He seemed pleasant enough to complete strangers but was a force to be reckoned with. He knew all the small intricacies of the French Ministry worked out. He had a small hand in every major department and many of the minor ones and as such his influence went practically unchallenged. He was planning to someday become Minister and it seemed he was working his way to it. Since childhood he had been overly opinionated and unhappy with the workings of the government and it was his life's goal to fix it exactly to his liking. He had made plenty of enemies but none that he felt threatened by in the least. He was a fierce and ruthless political leader on the inside, but handsome, kind and dimpled on the outside where it mattered - in the public eye.

Next was his sister, Maribell, twenty-four and as much of a political tidal wave as Leverett was. No one knew the full extent of her goals as she was very secretive about her work - whatever it was she did. She worked out of a secluded base of operation in Russia last time Remus had spoken with her, but according to his mother's letters, she was well on her way to establishing a mass empire. What of his mother didn't say, and Remus wasn't very keen on asking. Maribell had always been the daunting one; cold and standoffish since she learned what a few words could do to a person's self-esteem. Though family came first she did not care for futilities even with them, everything had to be organized to a tee and awaiting her approval. You simply obeyed Maribell, always and without question.

The youngest besides Remus was Lianna, bright and perky and…clinically insane. By law, she had to have a constant care taker, the position taken by their mother who, coincidentally, let the young woman do whatever it was she wanted. When he was younger, Remus couldn't figure out quite what it was about his cheerful, beautiful and abundantly energetic sister that left a number of people anxious. She was, after all, perfectly normal when she was on her medication. Lianna was simply different, no worse nor better than anyone. She had no interest in politics and government whatsoever and, compared to the rest of the family, was quite law-abiding when she wasn't dipping her hand in a black market looking for potion ingredients as she worked her way toward a Mastery in the art. In her spare time she took a heightened interest in fashion, designing things and submitting them to high end boutiques all around Europe and Asia. She often complained jokingly she was merely a misunderstood genius.

Yes, explaining his family to Harry would be easy. Note the sarcasm.

-x-

At exactly 7:13 am, there was a knock on the door to which Severus raised an eyebrow and Harry grinned looking at the man expectantly. With a bit of a grimace at the thought of letting the werewolf into his rooms, Severus stood and stalked towards the door.

"Good morning, Lupin."

"Hello Severus," Remus replied tiredly but still cheerfully. He allowed the man into his rooms and Remus looked around for Harry immediately. He soon found the boys gleaming eyes and grinned. "Hi, cub."

With a very soft cry of 'Moony' the boy was up and flinging himself at the man. Remus knelt to meet him and hugged him tight "I missed you Moony," Harry murmured quietly into his shoulder and Remus responded in kind.

"And I you cub. How have you been? Were you good for Severus? Did you have fun?" Much to his surprise Harry pulled back and nodded at him with a wide smile.

"Yes. Mis'sur Snape was very nice to me and read me books. I had fun and I think I was good." Here he looked up at Severus a bit hesitantly and Severus, being Severus sneered and turned and walked further back into his rooms. Harry frowned after him but Remus only smirked and held the boy tighter.

"Don't worry about it cub. He didn't have anything bad to say which means you must have been on your best behavior." Harry offered a shyly pleased smile. "Go get your things if you're ready to go." Harry walked semi-confidently into the living room where he had left his bag, already packed. He grabbed the strap in one small fist before looking around.

"Where's Maurice?" he asked, more to himself then Remus.

"Here's your bear, brat." came Severus' voice as he walked back into the room. "You left him at the breakfast table."

Shyly Harry gently took the bear from the man's hands and smiled up at him, clenching and unclenching it in his own. "Thank you Mis'sur Snape for having me. I had a really fun time and I hope I can come visit again sometime."

Remus placed a comforting hand on the top of Harry's messy hair as the boy and Severus looked at each other intently. After several moments of silence the older man scoffed. "We will see, boy. I admit, your company is not the worse I have been forced to endure."

Remus chuckled softly while a curious look spread across Harry's face. He opened his mouth, no doubt about to ask what 'endure' meant, but Remus' hand gently turned him towards the door. "Come on then, Harry. We should be getting home."

"Okay Remus," the boy relented and walked away with fuss. Remus followed and after thanking Severus ("It makes no difference, wolf. Don't expect it to happen again.") and throwing a smile over his shoulder, he guided Harry back up the stairs, away from the dungeons, and out the front door of the castle.

-x-

Remus watched silently as Harry flitted about his room, putting all his toys away. Remus had not asked him to do it and wouldn't have minded cleaning up after the boy - not that Harry made a lot of messes- but Harry insisted on doing it on his own and as soon as they got home because, "Mis'sur Snape said that untidiness is ple- plebeian."

Remus had raised an eyebrow and in turn asked "Do you eve know what that means?" Harry had scrunched up his face cutely and admitted softy that no, he didn't know what it meant but that by the way Mister Snape had said it, it sounded really awful.

Remus smiled to himself and allowed the little one his desire to straighten out his room. After about 15 minutes, when it seemed the child had reached a point where he was satisfied with his work, Remus called out to him. "Harry, come here cub. I need to speak to you."

The bright eyes locked on him and Harry came obediently. Without the child having to ask, Remus picked him up with practiced ease and settled him on his hip. As he started the short journey to the kitchen to get them a snack (mostly for him, he hadn't been able to keep anything down this morning) he started talking. "How would you like it, cub, if we went to go in visit our family?"

"Our family?" Harry asked curiously. Remus could hear a bit of fright and sadness in the boy's voice and quickly pacified him.

"Yes, our family, meaning Gran and your aunties Maribell and Ly and your uncle Levi. The ones I told you about."

"You want to go see them? Really?" Excitement shown in the green eyes and Remus smiled.

"Yes. Grandma Brie has been asking over and over for us to come visit but I wanted you to be settled first. I think you're pretty well adjusted, right?"

"Yes!" "So how would you like to take a trip to France?"

"I really really like that Moony!" Remus laughed lightly at the child's enthusiasm as he sat him carefully on the edge of the kitchen counter and proceeded to rummage through the refrigerator. "But- Moony?"

"Yes cub?"

"Will I be able to see Madam Poppy and Mis'sur Snape again?" Remus stood up and smiled as he heard the boy include Severus. "Not for a while I expect, but I'm sure they'll be really happy for you to write to them."

"Oh, okay." Harry smiled and swung his feet over the edge of the counter. He watched as Remus made sandwiches for them both and his smile widened. He had the best new daddy with Remus and he was about to get even more family! "When are we going?"

"In one month. That's thirty days, seven hundred twenty hours, forty-three thousand two hundred minutes, or two million five hundred ninety- two thousand seconds and counting."

Harry giggled and in his head, though knowing he could not get that far, started counting.