Ha! I was joking. Don't you just love me?

Chapter 12

(the following conversations in this chapter are in French unless otherwise indicated)

Remus watched silently as Lianna wrung out the cloth and placed on Harry's small flushed and sweaty forehead. Remus had never been so relived then the moment Healer Osric had told them it was nothing too serious- Harry, apparently, from having been so suddenly introduced to such a concentrated collection of magic in the form of those at the party had become sick as the joined magic pressed on his own magical core.

Maman had been horrified. She'd never heard anything like it and was upset that she'd caused the little one to be hurt because of her insistence on a party but Healer Osric insured her it was normal though usually not on this scale. Pureblood wizarding children and even some half-bloods were being constantly exposed to magic and so their cores had been adapting since the moment they were born. Muggle born children however who have not been exposed to any magic often get sick when they first enter the wizarding world, but they do so when they are much older then Harry and their cores are usually strong enough to prevent them from having anything more then a head cold. Harry, at his age and with his underdeveloped immune system was simply overwhelmed and would be okay with time and rest.

That was two days ago and Harry was still running a rather high fever but at least he wasn't unconscious and bleeding. Whenever he woke up they tried to get him to eat but he couldn't keep much more than water down. The past two nights had been restless also because the little one would wake feeling warm and achy all over, no one complained though, they all loved Harry and just wanted him to get better.

Lianna flipped the cloth over so that the cool side was resting against Harry's forehead and looked at her brother. "Okay there, Remi?"

He smiled at her and rubbed his eyes. "I've been better," he told her truthfully and looked back down at his son. They were silent for a while until Lianna spoke again.

"The full moon is in a few days." she said and Remus blinked.

"Is it?" he asked absently and thought about the date. Yes, the full moon was in four days exactly. Had it really been so long since he and Harry had got here? The time seemed to have just gotten away from him.

Lianna rolled her eyes. "Yes, it is. What are you going to do?"

Remus frowned in thought. "I really don't want to leave Harry, especially not now, but I guess I have to. Maman told me the basement was still set up though if not a little dusty so I won't be very far away, I guess."

"I meant about Harry," Lianna deadpanned and Remus stared.

"What?"

"Are you going to tell him?" Ly asked impatiently and Remus grinned a bit.

"I already have, he doesn't believe me of course. Apparently he can accept magic as easy as pie but werewolves are a bit beyond him."

Lianna cracked a smile. "It would figure." She stood and stretched. "Well, call me if you need me, I'm heading to bed." his sister waved and Remus issued a quiet 'bonne nuit' and settled back in the chair he'd been sleeping in next to Harry's bed to wait out another night.

--

Harry rubbed his eyes tiredly and frowned into the mug in front of him. He still felt pretty terrible but at least he was allowed downstairs today. It was so boring up in that room all day.

"Harry, my dear, if you want to get better you need to drink your hot chocolate."

Harry blinked up at Gran and then looked back down in his mug. That made no since whatsoever but he'd learned by now that nothing was logical when it came to Gran and chocolate. He took a sip. Lianna giggled next to him and brushed some hair out of his face. "That's a good boy," she simpered and winked at him.

Harry cracked a smile which grew larger when Gran walked over and lightly slapped Lianna on the back of the head. "Maman!" the young women protested and then pouted at the scolding look she received.

Harry looked back down into his mug. White and brown swirled together as the chocolate mixed with whipped cream and he studied the patterns they made and wondered when Remus would be coming back. This morning when he'd woken up, Uncle Levi had been by his bed side instead of Remus and when he'd asked where the man was he'd received a smile and a ruffle of his hair as Levi told him Remus had to go somewhere for a while but would be back in a few days. It made him sad that Remus hadn't waited until he'd woken up, he always did when he'd take him to Madam Poppy or Mr. Severus, but he was confident the man would be back soon like he usually was. Harry just really wanted to see him. Being sick put him in a bad mood that even Grans variations of chocolates couldn't break completely.

He listened quietly as Lianna and Gran chatted in French. He could understand almost everything of what they were saying now because they spoke it so much and he'd just gotten used to it. He could even identify some of Gran's mutterings in Italian and Maribell's whispers and Russian. It made him proud that he was progressing so well, soon he'd be learning to read and write in French too- Remus had promised him so as he came closer and closer to Mastering those same arts in English. His writing was still very sloppy but Remus said that would come with practice but it was a rare moment now that he would have to ask how a word was said or what it meant. Remus said it was because he had an advanced vocabulary.

Harry put his mug down on the table and slumped in his seat, he was about ready to dose off when Maribell stalked into the room. Her hair, as always when she first woke up in the afternoon, was pulled back into a messy braid that hung down her back. She still wore her short back sleeping gown and a frown. "Harry," she intoned. "You have mail."

Harry took the offered letters and Maribell sat down, almost immediately Gran had a mug of hot chocolate in front of her. Mari grimaced but took the cup smiling at her mother indulgently. Harry looked curiously at the front of the letters. It wasn't Mr. Severus' or Madam Poppy's hand writing and besides, he'd gotten letters from them over a week ago- the day he got sick at Gran's party in fact- and hadn't had a chance to write them back yet.

He turned over the first of the three envelopes and opened it. Inside was a pale blue piece of stationary. Harry pulled it out and his nose wrinkled in confusion. It was scented. He looked at the words, overly large yet neatly and precariously written . It was in French, however, and most of their meanings were lost to him. He recognized his name at the top, a few common words and made out the name 'Fleur' curled along the bottom. "Aunt Ly, can you read this to me?" he asked. "I don't understand."

"Of course, honey child." she smiled and took the letter from his hand. She raised an amused eyebrow at it as she scanned it over before reading it aloud in English.

"'Dear Harry, to start, I apologize for writing this letter in French, hopefully someone is helping you read it. Maxie told me you hadn't started to read and write in French yet and I've never attempted to do so in English but I hope that this is okay nonetheless. Anyway, I hope this letter finds you in better health then you were last I saw you. I'm very sorry you got sick. I know I haven't known you for long at all but I was worried, everyone was really. I keep getting asked questions about what happened to you because I was sitting next to you, even from my mother and father, but I'm afraid I don't know. Maybe you can enlighten me and inform me of your well being? I truly hope that you have or are recovering and that I get to see you again soon. I enjoyed talking to you very much that night, you and your friend Keyoshia. You are both very bright children. May your heart be whole and strong, Harry. Sincerely yours, Fleur Delacour.'" Lianna finished and after a moment smiled. "Well, that was nice of her."

Harry was smiling a bit himself. He didn't really know Fleur but for her to write him a get well letter was very nice and he supposed that meant they were friends now. "It is," Maribell agreed sipping her hot chocolate. Gran stepped up and placed a something in front of each of them, for both Lianna and Maribell it was salads and for Harry it was a bowl of soup.

"Who are the others from?" Gran asked as she sat with a plate of sandwiches in front of her. Both her daughters frowned and stared at her meal the back down at their salads. Maribell raised an eyebrow and Gran did the same, mockingly, in return. The similarity between the two was uncanny. "If you want something else, you're perfectly capable of cooking it yourself."

Harry grinned to himself and opened his next letter. This one he could understand. The hand writing was better than his but still messy but it was in English and about all he could ask for; it was from Maxie.

Dear Harry

How are you? The last time I saw you you looked really bad. I wish I could come see you but I'm still grounded because of what I said to that little Russian girl at your Gran's party. But me and mom and Lori do want to know if you are okay. I was really worried but I couldn't stay, your aunties kicked everyone out. So I had to write to you. I hope my English is good- I don't practice writing in it a lot. I think Fleur is planning to write to you too- she asked me about you even though she hardly knows you. She really is nice. I don't have anything to say really but that I hope you get better soon and that I can come visit you to see for myself. Maybe you could call? Your Gran will have our number but if I asked my mom she would say no- not to you though. Feel better Harry.

From Maxie

Harry smiled at the letter. He wasn't sure if he and Maxie would get along anymore because he had made friends with Keyoshia who Maxie obviously didn't like but the letter proved that they would. Maxie still didn't like Keyoshia but he still cared about Harry. That was good. Harry didn't want to lose his first friend.

The next and last letter he pulled out was completely foreign. Neither English nor French and written in the spidery and too perfect lettering that reminded him of his own dicta-quill. He frowned curiously at it for a moment before tante Maribell interrupted his thoughts. "That's Russian," she told him absently. She gently extracted the letter from his hand and read it swiftly. "It's from Keyoshia," she smiled and looked down at him. "Would you like me to read it aloud?"

Harry nodded and Maribell cleared her throat. "'Dear Harry, It is my hope that you are now in good health. When we parted you were looking quite dismal and it was saddening to see you in such a state. You appear to be a good person and I would be most dismayed to learn you had perished. It is my wish that we be something of friends, perhaps even good friends in the future. I request that you send me word of your well being. I'm afraid I'm not as capable as I would like in reading either French or English so it would be much obliged if you asked your aunt Maribell to assist you with writing a quick note in Russian. Hoping you are well, sincerely, Keyoshia Kupa'."

Harry smiled and took the letter back as it was handed to him, planning to save it and the others as keepsakes and to write to his new friends later. He didn't notice Lianna frown and even Gran look a bit bemused.

"Keyoshia? The three-year-old Russian girl? Demirti's daughter?" Lianna asked. Maribell nodded.

"Surely she didn't write all that." Gran deadpanned.

"Dismal, dismayed, perished?" Lianna added. Maribell simply smirked.

"But of course she did, with the help of a dicta- quill of course, but she wrote it nonetheless. She is quite the little wonder."

--

Harry hummed quietly to himself so as not to wake Leverett. The man was snoring peacefully by his side but Harry couldn't get to sleep. He was tired of sleeping. He'd slept the entire time he was sick and while he still was feeling rather unwell, he just couldn't close his eyes. It was partially because he was feeling like he needed to do something, anything, just so he could get out of bed, but it was also because he was missing Remus again. It was only his second night without the man but in his slightly feverish state, it felt much longer and as much as he loved Levi and the others, he just wanted to be in the arms of his father.

So he hummed, a low little tune that Remus sometimes hummed to him. The house was silent all except for the crickets outside and Leverett snoring in the chair at his bed side, it was his turn to watch over him, and the whining of an animal in the distance. It was peaceful, the perfect sleeping environment but still Harry couldn't…

Harry stopped humming and sat up in bed with a frown. Out of all the nights he'd slept in this house, though strange and magical, he'd never before heard that sound, the whining of an animal. He spared a glance at Leverett but the man made no movement which was unsurprising. The sound was really very low and he probably only heard it because he was awake.

He shuffled out of bed silently and padded softly over to the window. It was large but low enough for him to see through without having to climb up on anything. That's one thing he loved about Gran's house- she had a lot of child sized things. He looked out into the night and down into the garden below. It was suspiciously bright but he supposed that was because the moon was full and he could see the entirety of Grans gardens. He'd never been down into them, in fact the only time he'd been outside was when he went to the park and the two or so times Maxie and Lori had come over and Lianna had played with them out in front of the house, but the gardens were pretty to look at.

He eyed them carefully, looking for any sign of an animal, but there was none. Maybe he was just too high up? If he looked out the kitchen window, maybe he'd see what was making that sound.

With that thought in mind Harry walked towards the door. Once more he glanced at his uncle to see if Levi would awake but there really was no need- the man slept like the dead. The door opened with a slight creek, nothing more, and Harry was heading down the stairs in moments. He wasn't terribly afraid of the dark but he was glad for the moonlight glowing through the windows lining the hall anyway. Gran's house always seemed terribly dark and blamed it on the mostly black decor, but tonight it was okay, the moon was comforting.

When he reached the bottom of the stairs he listened again. The sound was much louder here but it also didn't seem like it was coming form outside anymore. Curiosity bubbled in Harry's chest. In fact, it sounded like it was coming from… the kitchen? He walked through the door and the lights turned on automatically as they were designed to do. He spent a few moment blinking away the spots that appeared in front of his eyes before looking around and straining his ears.

The kitchen looked normal- there was Gran's cake on the counter and in the sink empty mugs that once held hot chocolate; so where was the sound coming from?

Harry's eyes wandered towards a door in the corner and he cocked his head in thought. Gran had said that went to… the basement. He'd never asked to see it and no one had offered so he'd simply forgotten it was there. But it was the basement door he was sure- and it was where the sound was coming from. A high pitched whining like that one would hear from a hungry dog…

Harry approached the door and put his hand on the knob- he wondered briefly if it would be locked and just as he was about to turn it to find out he suddenly snatched his hand away as the metal handle shocked him. It was a small thing, but noticeable and he rubbed his hand disdainfully. He really didn't like static… He put his hand on the door knob again and turned. It opened easily to his touch. He peaked his head around the door and down the stairs where a soft glow that reminded him of a fireplace was coming from, that and the persistent whining.

As quietly and cautiously as he was able he tip toed down the steps, holding tightly to the railing. He reached the bottom and frowned at the picture in front of him. The room looked very nice, it was warm as it was lit by a fire place as he suspected and had odd bits of furniture around, the largest being a couch with an afghan thrown over the back of it. In front of the fire place was a nice little nest to blankets but it was what was in that nest that caught his attention.

The large, hairy thing stood several heads over Harry and he suspected if the man were here, it would come up above Remus' waist. It was a sandy brown color and ruffled- and it looked terribly sad. It's head was lowered and the whining came from it's massive throat as it nudged at the blankets around it's feet in a lost manner. Harry took a step forward and the creature looked up, amber eyes glowing in startled, animalistic surprise.

--

I would be such a total ass to leave it here, but alas, I'm not.

--

Remus blinked open his eyes tiredly the next morning completely unprepared for the sight that met him. A little black haired child wrapped up warm in an afghan was curled up against his bare side, sleeping peacefully. His mind went into a frenzy in moments. What was Harry doing down here? How had he got in? Why did he come in? Why didn't anyone stop him? Remus felt a lump rise in his throat.

Had he been bitten?

As gently as he possibly could with his furiously shaking hands he unwrapped the boy from the afghan and searched the small body over. He breathed a sigh of confused relief when he found nothing. Not a bite, not a scratch, not even a splinter. The only thing that shown on the boys pale skin was scares he gotten when he lived with the Dursley's. Remus knew every one and they were white and most fading. Nothing new marred the cream colored skin. So… what the hell happened last night?

--

Maribell woke up with a start, shooting strait up in bed, black eyes wide when her door banged open.

"Mari!"

She blinked up at her little brother and, ignoring his disheveled state for a moment, took in the fact that he had just woken her up before noon. Oh yes, heads were going to roll. "Leverett…" she growled but was interrupted.

"Harry's gone!"

Those two words changed her demeanor in a heart beat, she was out of bed and across the room next to him in record time. "What do you men he's gone?" she demanded.

"I mean I woke up this morning and he wasn't there!"

"What?!" Maribell exclaimed and her voice was echoed by two others. The two turned to see Maman and Lianna both, still dressed in their sleep wear but looking wide awake at the end of the hall. Leverett winced.

"I- I can't find him…" he said weakly.

"Levi, if anything happens to that boy…" Maribell left the threat hanging in the air and brushed past her mother and sister heading down the stairs. She needed to think. Where could he be? Maman was at her side before she reached the kitchen.

"We'll have to try to See him," the older women said. "No use running around like headless chickens."

"Scrying spell?" Maribell asked.

"Scrying spell."

The two entered the kitchen on quick feet and Maman hurriedly retrieved a bowl from the cabinet and filled it with water. Lianna and Leverett entered right after them. "Remus will kill us if we don't find him," Lianna moaned clutching her head and tugging at her hair. Leverett knocked her hands down out of habit from when they were children.

"Don't say that." he demand.

"Yes, please don't." a voice agreed and Maman nearly dropped her bowl in shock. Remus was slowly limping out of the basement door, blanket wrapped around his otherwise naked waist, much to the surprise of them all. After the full moon he would usually be out of commission for several hours if not a whole day. To see him up and moving was strange. What was stranger still was the bundle he carried in his arms.

"Harry!" Leverett shouted rushing over to his brother and nephew and helping the other man to a seat. Remus collapsed heavily into it, Harry still securely in his arms and closed his eyes in exhaustion.

"Oh no you don't!" Lianna protested.

"Tell us what happened?" Maribel frowned. Remus smiled grimly and opened his eyes.

"I haven't the slightest idea."

That doesn't, of course, mean I'm not at least somewhat of an ass. But come on, this chapter in acceptably long and the forth posted today. I'm tired so get off my back

…love you though…

hitori

By the way, does this make up for at least a bit of the last few months? It had better…