Author's notes:

Standard disclaimer: It all belongs to JKR. Except where I might use some song lyrics which I will call out at the time and give proper credit. Thank you JKR for letting us play with your toys.

HARRY POTTER AND THE MUGGLE'S DAUGHTER

Harry: The Formative Years

Part II

HPHPHP

Two weeks later Harry was frantic to get away from number four, Privet Drive. It came as no surprise to him to find they were moving. But they couldn't do so till after the house had been sold. And the problem with that lay in the fact that his uncle had reported the presence of an adder in the home to the local police. It was now public record and would need to be disclosed on the selling documents. Even with the property having been thoroughly searched and then fumigated, it wasn't easy finding a listing agent willing to take the home on. It was going to be even harder to find a buyer. Uncle Vernon was fuming about having to sell for less than the home was worth. Aunt Petunia was fuming about foul disgusting creatures. Harry found the whole situation quite entertaining, especially the bit where Dudley had shat himself during the incident. Sooner or later he knew they'd find a way to blame him for the mess, but till then he was quite happy to bask in their misfortune.

Unfortunately his reprieve was fast coming to an end. His uncle had finally talked his sister, Marge, into letting them bring Harry to stay with the rest of them till the house had sold and they had found a new home. They were to leave that evening. He needed to find Kaa and figure some way of getting her to Aunt Marge's or he would lose the only friend he had in the whole world.

Either that or just finally run away. He'd been planning to do so just before school let out. But that was still close to seven months off yet and he wasn't well prepared for it. Nor was Kaa, they'd been blessed with warm weather this fall, but it was getting cooler and she was quite sluggish most of the time right now; especially as she was sheltering in piles of leaves instead of the walls of his aunt's house.

"Get out of the way, boy?" uncle Vernon snarled. Harry had been standing on the edge of the drive, staying well away from the movers packing boxes and loading the lorry and couldn't have been more out of the way if he'd been in Cornwall. Of course none of that mattered any to his uncle.

"Yes, Uncle," he agreed. "I could go down to the play park till it's time to leave if you like."

"Just get out of my sight, you useless waste of space," Vernon snarled.

"Yes, Uncle," Harry agreed. He turned and hurried away before his uncle changed his mind.

"You better be back when we're ready to go," Vernon shouted. "I'll not come looking for you."

"I will," Harry called. As soon as he was around the corner, he broke into a run. The park was only a short ways away and Harry reached it quickly. His first stop was the toilet where he quickly retrieved the small bit of cash from his hiding spot. He then made his way to the small wood and the picnic benches settled there. "Kaa," he hissed.

She slithered out from under a pile of pine needles and leaves. "I am here, My Harry." Harry hurried over and settled on the ground in front of her. She slithered into his lap and he gently began stroking her head.

"Mother of Merlin," someone gasped.

Harry scrambled to his feet, whirling in a circle as he did. "Who's there?" he demanded. He turned a circle again. "I know someone's there. Come out where I can see you."

It was another moment before a man stepped out from behind a tree. He was of average height, had well trimmed sandy hair, wore brown trousers, a plain blue jumper and rather worn brown loafers. He looked to be in his forties and had warm brown eyes. But his most distinctive feature were the numerous scars on his worn face.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you." Harry did nothing but stare with slowly widening eyes. It was the man from the dream he'd had the night Kaa had bonded with him. The one who had appeared to be caring for his mum. "I won't hurt you, Harry."

Harry shook himself from his shock. Despite his aunt and uncle's rantings and the report cards he brought home Harry was nothing if not nimble minded. "How do you know my name?"

The man chuckled softly. "You'd be surprised what I know about you, Harry James Potter."

"Shall I bite him?" Kaa hissed. Before Harry could blink, the man had bent and clamped his hand around her neck in such a manner it was impossible for her to do just that.

Harry lurched forward. "Don't hurt her!"

"Stay where you are," the man said. Harry froze. The man kept his eyes on him. "You can speak to it, can't you, Harry?"

Harry hesitated. "What are you talking about?"

The man chuckled softly. "You have no idea how many times I saw the exact same look you're giving me now on your father's face."

Harry blinked. "You knew my father?"

"I did. I also knew your mother. They were two of my very best friends."

Harry frowned. He'd dreamed this man was taking care of his mother and now he was actually claiming to have known his parents. "Who are you?"

The man seemed to consider for a second. "Harry, if you do something for me, I'll be perfectly honest with you and answer anything you ask to the absolute best of my ability."

Harry considered. "What?"

"Tell you're little friend here not to bite me so I can set her down." He paused and waited for Harry to respond. "Harry, I know you can. Not only that, I can explain to you why you can. I can also explain why strange things seem to happen around you."

Harry considered for another moment. He didn't trust the man, but he wanted to get Kaa away from him before he decided to hurt her. "Do you promise not to hurt her?"

"I do."

Harry frowned. "How do I know I can trust you?"

"I could very easily have killed her already."

Harry scowled at him. "I swear, if you hurt her, I'll find some way of making you pay."

"Duly noted."

"Please don't bite him," Harry hissed. "I told her not to bite you. Now let her go." The man bent down, but as he went to shove her away he slipped on the wet leaves and toppled ingloriously back on his bum. Kaa whirled and struck, slamming her head against his hand.

"Gah!" he yelped, scooting away from her. As quickly as he'd incapacitated Kaa earlier, he now found himself at her mercy as she coiled to strike again.

"KAA!" Harry cried.

"Foul beassst," she hissed venomously. "Tell him that wasss but a warning and command or no I will not withhold my fangsss ssshould he dare touch me again. Tell him what livesss in hisss blood might sssave him from my venom but that doesss not mean my bite will not bring him agony."

"What?" Harry asked.

"Tell him!"

"She says if you ever touch her again even my command won't stop her from biting you. She says that," Harry paused and Kaa repeated her warning for him to pass along. "She says that what lives in your blood might save you from her venom but that does not mean it won't still be agony."

"What do you mean what lives in his blood?" Harry asked. Kaa ignored him.

The man had been examining his hand while Harry spoke and he cautiously scooted back from Kaa now. "Message received," he said, keeping a wary eye on Kaa as he climbed to his feet. "Tell her I apologize for my actions. They were rash and ill conceived."

"He says he's sorry and he shouldn't have grabbed you," Harry translated. He knew he didn't need to anymore. Kaa had learned to understand human speech during their time together, but he figured that was a secret worth keeping.

"I will ssstill bite him. If he harmsss you I will bite him ssso many timesss it will not be my poissson that killsss him but hisss blood ssspilling from hisss body till none remainsss."

"She says she still wants to bite you and that if you hurt me she will bite you so many times you'll bleed to death."

The man took another step away from Kaa. "Understood." He focused on Harry. "Shall I just start or do you want to ask questions?"

"Who are you?"

"My name is Remus Lupin. I went to school with your parents."

"You were friends with them?"

"They were my best friends. You're mother especially."

Harry studied him for a second. "Were my parents drunks?"

Remus blinked. "Is that what Petunia told you?"

"They said my parents were lazy drunks who did nothing but lay about till they died in a car crash."

"Your parents were wonderful people. They were not drunks. They did not die in a car crash. In fact they both gave their lives to save yours."

Harry frowned. He'd wondered about those dreams countless times since that night and now the man who had been taking care of his mum in them was standing before him. But he seemed to be implying his mum really was dead. "Why would my aunt and uncle lie to me?"

"Harry, I know you have lived with your aunt and uncle for a long time, but have they ever done anything that implies you can trust them?" When Harry didn't answer he went on. "They hate you, don't they?"

"Go to hell!" Harry shouted.

Kaa slithered forward. "Let me bite him."

Remus backed away from the snake. "Call her off, Harry. She's a dangerous foe, but I will defend myself and that is likely to be very bad for her."

"Kaa," Harry hissed. "Come here please." She made a half-hearted lunge towards Remus before slithering across the ground to Harry. He scooped her up and let her coil around his shoulders. "You're freezing."

"I am fine."

"Get inside my collar."

"I am fine," she reiterated but still moved inside the collar of his jacket with just her head sticking out.

The man, Remus, watched them for a second. "She's cold, isn't she?"

"Yes. You're lucky it's not very warm out or you'd never have grabbed her; even if she wasn't expecting it."

He nodded slightly. "Very well then. Harry, I'm sorry for being so callous with my words and actions. I have no desire to hurt you… or your friend. I've been planning how I would handle this situation for a number of years now but I'm afraid seeing you playing with a venomous snake rather threw a spanner in my stride. Perhaps if you could just bear with me and listen it would be best if I just talked?" After a moment Harry gave a small nod. Remus ran a hand through his hair. "Right then. The easiest first, strange things happen to you, don't they? Thing's you can't explain or don't understand, things like maybe something flying through the air into your hand, or maybe something across the room from you blows up because you get angry."

Harry nodded. "Yes."

Remus reached into his pocket and pulled out a short stick. He pointed it at a picnic table. "Wingardium Leviosa," he said and made a flicking motion with the stick. The table immediately floated into the air.

Harry stared with wide eyes at the floating table. Eventually, Remus let the table settle to the ground again. Harry focused on him. "How did you do that?"

Remus grinned. "Magic."

Harry couldn't help glancing around nervously before focusing on Remus again. "Magic?" he whispered.

"Yes."

"Have you ever done anything like that?" Harry glanced around again. "Harry, I promise you, no-one can see either of us right now."

"How?" Harry demanded.

Remus grinned again. "Magic." He frowned at Harry's flinch. "Have you ever done anything like that?"

Harry considered for another second before deciding no matter what happened he wasn't going to Aunt Marge's. He'd never get Kaa there without her being discovered and when she was his uncle would undoubtedly kill them both. Besides, this man had answers. He knew about his strange powers. He even seemed to have them himself. Taking a deep breath Harry held his hand out, closed his eyes and concentrated. He'd only ever managed to make something float a few times and never anything so large as a picnic table. But Remus had done it so he should be able to as well. He felt that strange warming he got in his tummy and then felt that Heat moving up his chest to his arm and down into his fingers. Concentrating with all his might he imagined that Heat flowing out of his fingers into the air where it surrounded the table and lifted it from the ground. His arm began to shake and a thin sheen of sweat broke out on his forehead.

"Sweet Merlin," Remus gasped. Harry opened his eyes to see one end of the table had risen from the ground about three inches before it crashed back down again. Suddenly exhausted, his arm dropped to his side and he sank to his knees wearily. "Harry, that was amazing," Remus said.

Harry shook his head, trying to get his bearings back. "Not as good as you."

"Harry, you don't understand. I have a wand. Only the most powerful wizards and witches can perform magic without a wand. Not only that, I've been to school and studied magic for decades. You've only just turned eight three months ago. You're not even supposed to start your magical training for better than two years and you nearly managed to levitate a table. One of the very first lessons you'll have will be levitation. But you'll be trying to levitate a feather. What you just did, it's astounding."

"School?" Harry asked.

Remus stared at him, blinking rapidly for another moment. "Right, so very quickly, you are a wizard Harry. Your father was a wizard. Your mother was a witch. They met where we all went to school, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Your mother and father were two of my very best friends. The reason you can talk to your friend there is because you are a wizard."

Harry frowned. "But you can't talk to her."

"It's an exceedingly rare gift, Harry. Very, very few sorcerers can speak Parseltongue."

"Parseltongue?"

"It's the language of the serpents. People who can speak it are called Parselmouths. You should be very careful whom you let know you can speak it."

"Why?"

Remus hesitated. "That's an answer for another day."

Harry scowled. "Does that mean I'll see you again?"

Remus took a deep breath. "Harry, you seem to be a very intelligent young man. Tell me something, after all these years, a man who claims to have been friends with your parents, knows things about you that no-one else has been able to explain, suddenly shows up. Why do you think I'm here?"

"You should have let me bite him," Kaa hissed.

"What did she say?" Remus asked.

"She said I should have let her bite you."

Remus chuckled. "She's smart, I'll give her that."

"I'll give him heart palpitations," Kaa retorted.

"She doesn't like you very much."

"Being perfectly honest, I'm not particularly fond of her… Have you figured out why I'm here?"

"You want me to come with you."

"I do."

"Why?"

Remus hesitated. "Harry, I was at the hospital the day you were born. After the midwife, I was the third person to hold you. I've given you bottles and changed your nappies. When your parents were exhausted from being up for days on end with you I rocked you to sleep so they could rest a few hours. It is the greatest regret of my life that I couldn't take you in when your parents were murdered. I know your life with the Dursleys has been difficult. I can't change the past, but I am here now. I can take you with me and you will never have to see the Dursleys again."

"You're having a laugh."

"Try me."

"What about Kaa?"

"Kaa?"

Harry pointed to the snake lying across his shoulders. "Her."

"If she's a friend of yours, she can come as well… She will have to promise not to bite anyone though."

Harry considered. "It can hardly be worse than where I'm at now, can it?" he asked Kaa. "And I really don't think there was any hope of getting you to aunt Marge's."

"Ask him if he will feed you properly?"

"She wants to know if you'll feed me properly."

"As long as you don't start looking like your cousin, you can eat as much and as often as you like."

"Tell him I must be allowed to be with you at all times."

"Kaa gets to stay with me. If she want's to sleep in my bed, she gets to."

"As long as she promises not to bite anyone, you can take her wherever you like."

"If he ever harms you I will crawl up his leg and bite him in the last place he would ever wish to be bitten."

"She says if you ever hurt me she'll bite you in the stones."

Remus shifted. "Noted."

"I still don't like him."

"When do we leave?" Harry asked.

Remus grinned. "Does now work?"

Harry shrugged. "I've got everything I need."

Remus frowned. "You don't have anything you want to go get?"

"No."

"Do you need to say goodbye?"

"They're leaving for my aunt Marge's house. My uncle told me if I wasn't back when they left he wouldn't come looking for me."

Remus nodded slowly. He'd only checked up on Harry a few times over the years. Enough to know he was not treated well at all. He strongly suspected things had been far worse than he was aware. The fact that Harry would so willingly go with someone he had only just met and would do so without retrieving anything from his home or saying goodbye to the people who he had lived with the last seven years only served to further convince him that they had treated him badly indeed. "All things considered, just leaving is probably for the best."

Harry landed heavily, crumpling to his knees where he immediately spilled the meager contents of his stomach. Kaa hit the ground just as heavily as Harry. Highly agitated, she slithered in a circle around him. "Mussstn't bite him. Promisssed, I did. Foul creature. Hate him. Hate him. Hate, hate hate. Perhapsss I might jussst nick him. No! Promisssed, promisssed, promisssed."

Harry wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. His first experience with magical travel wouldn't be a fond memory. "Urgh, you said it was uncomfortable."

Remus chuckled. "Was I wrong?"

Harry pushed himself up. "Only if you consider getting whipped with a leather strap to be mildly painful." Remus frowned under the glower Harry directed at him. "Just so you know, she's talking herself out of biting you."

Kaa reared up and opened her mouth wide, baring her fangs at Remus. "Hate him, hate him, hate him."

Harry climbed to his feet, picked up Kaa and placed her around his shoulders where she slithered in a circle around his neck. "She really doesn't like you." He then made a survey of his surroundings. They'd landed in the front garden of a very attractive stone cottage. He figured it was quite old but it looked to be well maintained and possibly had been renovated not too long ago. The garden was surrounded by a low stone wall and off to his right an attractive red car was sat in the car park. A quick glance around revealed the house to be fairly secluded. There was an overgrown field separating the house from its closest neighbor, perhaps a quarter mile away. Behind the house he could see a barn and a number of small cottages.

"Welcome to the Briar Patch, Harry," Remus said.

"Briar Patch?"

"It's an old tradition to name your house, not something your aunt and uncle would have done, I suspect."

Harry shrugged. "If they don't like it then I'm all for it."

"Indeed," Remus said. His eyes shifted to Kaa. "Harry, I know I promised Kaa could go anywhere you wished to take her, but would you mind leaving her in the garden till after we've met our other housemate? I'd rather not surprise her with your… unusual friend."

Harry stiffened at the word 'Her'. "What isss wrong, My Harry?" Kaa asked.

"Do you remember the dreams I told you about from our Bonding?"

"Yesss."

"He's the man who was with my mum."

Kaa shifted, moving out so she could look him in the eyes. "You are jussst telling me thisss now?"

"Sorry," Harry said meekly.

Kaa flicked her tongue against his nose. "Tell him we will wait for him to tell this woman of me."

"She suggest that we wait on the porch while you go in and tell whomever you need to about her."

Remus nodded slowly. "She is rather protective of you."

"Can you blame her?"

"No… Come along then." He led Harry up to the porch. "I'll only be a minute," he said before he disappeared into the house.

"Well?" Harry asked.

"I think there will be many ratsss here," Kaa answered.

Harry chuckled. "It's always about the rats with you, isn't it?"

"I like ratsss. They are tasssty."

"Well hopefully, I'll continue to take your word for it."

"I know what you wisssh for, My Harry, but do not hope too much. Death isss not known to give up Hisss claim."

Harry looked up when the door opened. Remus stood in the door, appearing to be rather nervous. "What's wrong?" Harry demanded. "If Kaa isn't welcome then you can forget the whole thing. I'm leaving." He stood as if to go.

"Relax, Harry," Remus said. "I told you Kaa was welcome and she is."

"Well what's wrong then?"

Remus took a deep breath, something Harry was noticing he seemed to do a lot. "I'm just trying to decide how to tell you about who you are about to meet."

Harry cocked his head. "Have I got some long lost brother or something, going to tell me my mum's not dead?" Remus looked at him sharply.

"Your tongue isss almossst asss sssharp asss your mind today, My Harry," Kaa hissed, her humor evident.

Remus continued to stare at them for a long moment before shaking himself. "Harry, you've handled a number of shocks exceedingly well today. You're about to get another one and I just want to remind you of the promise I made earlier. Your questions will be answered, alright?"

"Notice he did not answer," Kaa said.

Harry shrugged. "I've already run away from home. I might as well stick around a while yet."

Remus bobbed his head. "True. He stepped to the side and held the door open. "Come on then." Harry stepped past him cautiously. Kaa took the opportunity to hiss at Remus threateningly but he remained perfectly still till Harry was in the entry. "Up the stairs, Harry. She's been ill for quite some time and isn't yet up to leaving her room."

"What happened to her?" Harry asked as he made his way up.

"She was cursed."

"Cursssed?" Kaa asked.

"Cursed?" Harry asked.

"Another answer for another day, Harry," Remus answered. "First door on the right please." The door was open so Harry kept right on through. He stopped dead a foot inside the door.

The woman appeared to be near in age to Remus, though her face carried none of the scars his did, was dressed in simple jeans and tee shirt and her long red hair spilled down past her shoulders. Perhaps most curious would have been the fact she was sat in a wheelchair. But none of that was what held Harry frozen in place. No, what captured his attention were the emerald green eyes welling with tears as they pinned his. Eyes he well knew. They were the same eyes he saw in the mirror every time he looked in one.

They stared at each other for near a minute; her tears sliding silently down her face before she tentatively smiled. "M–mum?" Harry choked. Her smile grew and she nodded. He continued to stare. She held her arms out to him and Harry launched himself at her, crashing to his knees in front of her.

"Shush," she soothed, clutching him against her chest. "I've got you, Love. I've got you." She kissed his crown while stroking his hair over and over. "I've got you." Having never before been held while he cried his pain out, it took some time for Harry to regain control of his emotions. When he finally did, she raised his head and held his face in her hands. "How I have missed you," she said softly. She pulled his head to her lips and kissed his crown gently.

When she drew back Harry could do nothing but stare in wonder at this woman who had tears streaked down her cheeks. He was so absorbed he didn't even feel Kaa climbing up his back to poke her head over his shoulder. For just an instant the woman's eyes flashed with fear but it was quickly pushed aside. Nor did she try to draw back from he or Kaa as the serpent advanced.

"And you must be Kaa," she said gently. "I thank you for befriending my son."

Kaa continued to move up Harry's back. She stopped short of Lily's arm and rose in the air half her length to be eye to eye with the woman. Her tongue flicked out to taste the scents on the air. "Ssshe controlsss her fear well. I like her," she hissed.

"It's really real?" Harry asked. "I'm not dreaming?"

"No other ssscent could be ssso ssstrong in your blood."

"But how?"

Kaa turned around to face Harry. "Asssk her," she answered before slithering around to completely circle Harry's neck. Her tongue flicked his ear. "Unlesss you wisssh me to bite you, I will thank you not to drop me again."

"What is she saying?" his mother asked.

Harry focused on her. "She's says you really are my mother and that she likes you." Harry smirked. "She also told me if I dropped her again she would bite me."

"She won't, will she?"

Harry shook his head. "No. She's just being tetchy."

She raised a brow. "Can she understand us?"

"Mostly."

"And how does she know I am your mother?"

"She says your scent is in my blood."

She gave a small nod. "I see… Remus can distinguish people by their scents as well."

"He can?"

She nodded. "He can. Will she allow me to touch her?"

Kaa raised her head to look her in the eyes again. After a few seconds with her not looking away Kaa hissed, "Ask her to offer me her hand."

"She wants you to offer your hand to her," Harry said. Hesitantly she did, moving her fingers to only a few inches from Kaa's nose. "Just be still," Harry assured her.

Kaa's tongue flicked out to taste her skin. She then retreated slightly. "Twice my Bondling's mother has shown her heart. She may handle me if she wishes."

"She says you have shown your heart twice and that you may handle her if you want to. I think she'll allow you to pick her up if you like."

"I will," Kaa confirmed.

"She agrees. You can pick her up if you want."

His mum took a deep breath. "Will you show me how?"

Harry reached up and scooped Kaa from his shoulders. "The most important thing is to just hold her," he said. "Don't grip her or confine her movement. And you kind of want to divide her length with your hands. So she doesn't have too much strain where you aren't supporting her." Kaa moved along his hands a bit. "And if she wants to move, just let her." He shifted his hand so Kaa could slither up his arm, around his shoulders and back down his other arm. Harry moved his hand, placing it on top of his mother's. Kaa moved from Harry's arm to Lily's where she moved up around her shoulders and settled into place there. Harry reached out and gently stroked the top of Kaa's head. "See, easy," he said.

His mum let out a slow breath. "Well it certainly makes it easier when you're here and can talk to her."

Harry took her hand and brought it up to Kaa. "She likes having her head stroked. Just be gentle." He continued to guide her till she took over.

Kaa stayed there for a minute before slithering down Lily's shoulder to her lap where she made her way down her leg to the floor. "Your mother isss brave, but ssshe isss very weak from her long sssleep. Ssshe ssshould ressst. You ssshould ssstay with her. I will watch over you both." Kaa curled in front of the radiator contentedly.

"Did I offend her?" she asked.

"She says you're weak and should rest," Harry answered. Kaa raised her head and hissed loudly at Harry.

"And what was that?"

Harry blushed. "She wants me to rest with you," Harry whispered, looking down.

She reached out and raised his chin. "She's right," she said. "I know you're not a baby anymore, but I would love nothing more than to hold you again."

"I'd like that," Harry said softly.

His mum smiled gently. "Can you help me to the bed?"

Harry nodded. "Just tell me what to do."

"I can make it a few steps. Just help me up and keep me steady."

Harry pushed up from his knees. "Alright then." She took his hands and he pulled her up, keeping her steady till she was ready to shuffle the few steps to the bed. She sat down heavily. "Alright?" Harry asked.

She smiled at him, reaching up to palm his cheek. "I'm better than I could ever have imagined." She shifted on the bed, lying down on her side. She patted the bed. "Come here, my son." Harry climbed on the bed. "Lay down with your back to me," she said. Harry shifted and she spooned behind him. An arm around his waist pulled him tight to her. She kissed the top of his head as she settled in. "I'm so sorry, Harry."

"This is real, isn't it?" Harry whispered. "I'm not going to wake up and be back with your sister, am I?"

She kissed the top of his head again. "I promise, Harry. You'll never go back there again."

HPHPHP

Author's notes:

So my big worry is making Harry too mature for his age. But then he has been forced to take basically take care of himself in an abusive environment. To survive that you have to be a bit special. And, I have known eight-year olds who are very intelligent and very mature for their age. So that is my Harry. Also, if harry seems to be too easily accepting of his mum, know that it won't always be this easy. Right now he's just in the state of euphoria of having a dream come true. Reality will set in soon enough.