A/N: Woohoo! Chapter 2 is up!
I want to thank crazyweirdbitingladyorcatnip and gginsc for being my first reviewers! I also want to thank all of the readers who followed and favorited this story. I really do appreciate them and hopefully others will follow and do the same. I honestly hope I don't let you guys down.
Enjoy guys!
*~RJL~RJL~RJL~*
Remus took the floo into the Leaky Cauldron that morning after he took a quick shower and ate a quick breakfast consisting of scrambled eggs and bread. After saying a quick "good morning" to Tom, he made his way to the small alley where he tapped the correct sequence on the brick wall to open up Diagon Alley. The bricks moved slowly out of the way and Remus walked through the alley with a purpose towards the large white building in the back. His first stop would be to Gringotts to clarify what Lily had written in her letter as well as pick up the documents that were made for him and Harry to live in America. While there he was going to see about having his account set up to a combined account with Gringotts American branch. It wouldn't do to start living somewhere without any means to pay for food or other essentials, even though Remus knew he didn't have much in his vault to begin with.
'And I plan on raising Harry with my measly wages? I didn't want to use what Lily left behind but I guess will have to, at least until I can get a job over there.' he thought to himself as he went to the front desk.
The goblin behind the desk was too busy stamping documents to notice Remus until the wizard softly cleared his throat to gain the attention of the small creature. He knew that the goblin had heard him but he also knew that one did not rush a goblin if one desired the services of them. Besides, he wasn't in that much of a hurry that he was willing to risk insulting the only beings who controlled the money in the wizarding world. He would probably end up being poorer than he already was.
After some time, the goblin finally looked up into Remus' face. "Good morning, sir. How may we help you today?"
"Good morning. I am here on an important matter dealing with a will that may have been left behind by my…" Remus paused and breathed in deep in an attempt to put his grief aside, "my recently departed friends, James and Lily Potter." He removed the envelope that held Lily's letter and took out another that was placed within the same envelope, this one addressed to Ragnok, and handed it to the goblin.
The goblin quickly scanned the letter before looking up at the wizard in front of him once more. "Wait here a moment," he said before motioning to an attendant next to the large door in the back.
Remus stood there waiting quietly as the bank teller spoke with the other goblin and handed over the letter, hoping that nothing would go wrong and that this letter was real and not some crazy prank set up by some ignorant person intent to drive him mad. The goblin went back to the door he was standing by and entered. He soon returned and bowed shortly to Remus before guiding him towards the back room where a much larger goblin sat waiting behind a desk.
'This must be Ragnok' Remus said to himself as he stood before the goblin.
The attendant left the room to finish his duties in the front leaving Remus standing where he was.
"Welcome, Mr. Remus Lupin. I am Ragnok, head of Gringotts bank. I have received your letter, or shall we say, the letter Mrs. Potter left for me within your envelope." Ragnok held up the envelope in his hand.
"Then you must know why I am here," Remus replied evenly.
"Yes, it would be prudent to start the process immediately. Have a seat."
Remus thanked the goblin and gratefully took a seat in front of the desk. Ragnok opened a drawer in his desk and pulled a rather thick envelope as well as two smaller ones. He slid the items across the desk to Remus who took the one of the smaller envelopes and peered inside.
"Inside the smaller envelopes you'll find the legal documents for both you and Mr. Potter to enter and live in America as citizens. The larger envelope contains documents and information from Mrs. Lily Potter pertaining to the Gringotts vault in America under the name of Harry Potter, the place where you are to live, as well as documents to show in case something goes wrong with the government"
Remus pulled out the small blue booklet that looked similar to the muggle passport except the American passport had different words on the front. He was sure the documents inside looked similar to what the British passport look like. He took a look at the photo and found his face staring back at him and once again had to wonder how and when did Lily manage to get a picture of him to place it in a document such as a passport. The papers it was wrapped in had all of the information he would need to enter America without problems including an emergency contact number.
"Who in the world is Acacia Stephens?" Remus wondered not realizing he said this out loud.
"Possibly a relative of Mrs. Potter. You would do well to contact her before leaving England." Ragnok said. "Now, if you are not in need of my services any longer, I have a large amount of work to do, Mr. Lupin…"
"Wait," Remus quickly dug into his battered satchel and rummaged a bit before pulling out a small key. "I was wondering if it would be possible to transfer my money to American currency or to the American branch…"
"That will not be necessary. If you look at the documents in the larger envelope, you will see that Lily Potter has already set up an account for you there."
Remus looked confused until Ragnok waved his hand impatiently toward the larger envelope which Remus opened and pulled out a packet labeled Gringotts on it. Upon reading the document he saw that Lily indeed had set up an account at the American branch and his eyes widened by the amount that was in the account.
'She really thought this all out ahead of time.'
Remus placed the documents back into the envelope to look at in more detail later. Ragnok glanced up from his papers at the wizard before him. "Everything is in order I take it?" the goblin asked.
Remus looked up from his satchel. "I believe everything is as it should be. I thank you for your time and patience today, Lord Ragnok." he said as he stood from his seat and bowed before the large goblin before taking his leave. As he was leaving the bank, the same goblin from before handed Remus a colorful bag without a word before returning to his duties, leaving a very bemused wizard behind.
"Wait, what is in…" Remus stopped his own question as he knew he wouldn't get answers. Instead he walked out the doors and used his wand to cast a revealing spell to check the contents within. It was the normal infant bag filled with baby clothes, disposable nappies, formula, bottles, and toys. Amazed at all of Lily's planning, because he knew that James wouldn't have thought this far ahead, Remus picked up the bag and made his way to the post office where he quickly placed the letter for Severus and her Potions journal together in a brown parcel and paid the attendant to mail it off long after he was on the flight to America. He wanted to ensure that nothing would be traced back to him before he could get out of England with Harry and knowing Severus, Remus would be tracked and found out before he could even get through the security at the Airport.
Remus made his way over to the apparition point in Diagon Alley picking up a paper with the Potter's faces on the front on his way. He stopped and looked back at the bustling streets and stores one last time with something akin to sorrow as he knew that he wouldn't return here for a very long time, if at all ever again. Closing his eyes, Remus took a deep breath before spinning on the spot and apparating away.
*~RJL~RJL~RJL~*
"Come on Diddykins. Time for us to go home and make dinner for when your daddy returns from his very important job."
Remus stood in the shadows of a house across the street from the park as he watched the blonde-haired woman with a horse like face and very thin neck pack her chubby baby back into his pram. He didn't see a second child with her and wondered where Harry could be while she was outside in the sun with her own lump of a child. Remus had watched all afternoon as the woman gossiped with other mothers around the park, boasting about her child to whomever would listen to her prattle on about what milestones her little 'Diddykins' achieved in the last day or so. He knew the woman was Petunia Dursley, Lily's older sister; a woman who hated any and everything dealing with magic and their world. It boggled Remus' mind as to what Dumbledore was thinking when he placed Harry with the woman and her walrus of a husband. He followed after the duo with his eyes for a while before calmly walking after them. When they reached Number Four Privet Drive, Remus observed Petunia walk to a neighbor's house and collect Harry before quickly crossing the street to her own home and closing the door tightly.
Remus watched the house until Mr. Dursley came home, thinking during this time on how he would get Harry out of the house.
Should he just knock and pretend to be an influential wizard who would take custody of the child or should he sneak in during the night and take Harry with no one the wiser? The only downfall of the latter plan is that Harry would be searched for high and low both in the muggle and wizarding world.
Either way, Remus sat in the shadows of a neighbor's house across the street from Number Four Privet Drive and waited until the time was right.
*~RJL~RJL~RJL~*
Petunia hummed as she pulled out the roast from the oven and placed it on the counter with a smile. She loved cooking for her family; her husband, Vernon, her son Dudley, and herself. It brought great joy to her life when she was able to provide this little bit for her two special men and today was no different. She left the roast to cool a bit on the oven while she checked over the steaming vegetables to ensure that they were at the perfect consistency, not soggy and not too crunchy as if they never cooked, and then she proceeded to slice up some bread to add to the meal. The last touch were the mashed potatoes that she peeled, boiled, and whipped by hand into the perfectly smooth consistency that was now held within the pot. Once that was done she quickly set the table and placed the roast, vegetables, bread, potatoes, and wine on the table, smiling as she looked at her perfect setting.
"Vernon, dinner is ready," she said as she went into the living room and picked up her son off the floor who promptly started to scream and kick as he was being removed from in front of the telly.
"Now now, bumpkin, mama is going to feed you in just a bit," Petunia cooed to the screaming infant as she placed him in his high chair before dishing out her husband's hefty serving size and placing it in front of him.
Dudley continued to kick and scream until his mother placed a smaller plate yet with a hefty portion of mashed potatoes and two slices of bread on his tiny table. As soon as he saw the white buttery meal Dudley quickly shoved his hands into the mountain and proceeded to stuff his face.
"That's my boy. He'll become strong just like his dad." Vernon said around a mouth full of his own meal.
Petunia nodded her head in agreement as she finished setting her more petite sized serving in front of her and ate with more decorum than the other two Dursleys.
It wasn't until Dudley's second plate of mashed potatoes and Vernon's third helping that a cry came from the hallway. Petunia frowned while Vernon dutifully ignored the crying. However, the cry became louder and higher pitched than normal until Vernon had finally had enough.
Standing from the table, his face turning red from anger, Vernon tossed his napkin on the table. "The nerve of that brat ruining our family dinner! He's just as despicable as his bloody father!"
Petunia stood from the table as well. "I'll see to him, dear. Finish your dinner," she said as she took the short few steps to the cupboard under the staircase. Although she wasn't very fond of her nephew, who was now crying in full and not just wanting attention, she knew that if she allowed Vernon to deal with the boy she would be possibly taking a trip to the nearest clinic and would have to figure out how to explain away any damage a baby who is barely walking acquired. When she opened the door to the cupboard she looked into the second handed cot with contempt.
Sniffling and whimpering softy was her nephew, Harry Potter. He looked up at her with those large innocent green eyes; eyes that reminded her so much of her sister, Lily, and the anger that fueled her hatred for her sister renewed tenfold.
"What is it that you want, you little freeloader?" she sneered at the babe who only continued to look at her.
Harry's way of answering was to lift one hand in the air and open and close his fingers. Petunia didn't understand what the brat was doing as she didn't teach or even dream to teach her son baby sign language. However, if she did ever practice it, she would know it was the sign that Harry was hungry and wanted milk. It was well past Harry's dinner time and he didn't get much to eat at lunch since Dudley ate not only his own lunch and bottle but snatched Harry's as well and polished that off. So needless to say, Harry was quite hungry.
Instead of fetching the child a bottle, however, Petunia instead roughly placed Harry to lie down on his cot and tossed the blanket that was riddled with holes onto him. "Go to sleep. You're not getting another thing tonight and if you cry out once more I'll let Vernon come for you." With that, Petunia slammed the cupboard shut and locked it.
Harry sat under the blanket for a few minutes before his tummy started to hurt again. He started to whimper and he rolled over onto his stomach and then onto his hands and knees before grabbing onto the bar of the cot and pulling himself up to a stand. He was very hungry. Why wouldn't the lady feed him? He began to whimper again.
Outside, Remus cast the tempus charm and checked the time. It was just turning seven and he figured that was enough time to give them to eat their dinner before he interrupted their lives to collect his godson. He had decided that the legal course of action would be the correct way to do things and he walked across the street while pulling out the guardianship transfer documents that he must have clearly missed in the larger envelope he received from Ragnok earlier. At least this way he wouldn't be chased all over the world with a warrant for his arrest for kidnapping.
Walking up the drive, Remus heard the familiar sounds of Harry whimpering and then crying. He had babysat for James and Lily a few times to recognize his cub's cry, and the sound made Remus want to get to the child quicker. He had raised his hand to knock on the door when he heard Petunia talking horrendously to the crying infant and then the sound of what sounded like a broom cupboard being slammed shut. It was too loud of a sound for it to be a bedroom door on the first floor.
'Harry had better not be where I think he is.' Remus thought angrily before raising his hand and knocking on the door much harder than he originally intended.
After hearing an annoyed comment come from further in the house, the door opened to reveal Petunia. She took in the man in the large, long, brown coat standing on her door step with contempt. "Yes, can we help you? We're not in the business of taking sales or doing charity."
Remus did his best to reign in his anger at the woman, knowing that it was just she who spoke so hideously to his godson. "Hello, Mrs. Dursley. My name is…" Damn, what name do I give them so no one can track me later? Remus thought furiously as he kicked himself for not thinking of that ahead of time.
"Your name…is?"
"Tyler Walters. My name is Tyler Walters and I have heard through my connections that you have acquired my cousin, Harry James Potter, after the recent and untimely death of his parents this past Halloween. I am a distant cousin on the Potter side of the family and I was hoping to discuss transferring guardianship of Harry."
Petunia just stared at Remus, wondering if this was a prank or a miracle come true. 'Potter has a cousin on his side of the family? This just may be our lucky day!'
"Please, come in. Come in. I'll put on some tea.," she said cheerily as she ushered Remus into the house.
"Petunia, who is it?" Vernon called from the living room.
"A man who says he's relative of the boy from his father's side," Petunia returned as she guided Remus into the living room.
Vernon eyed Remus with distrust. "You're one of those freaky magic people, aren't you?"
Remus bit the inside of his cheek at the term Vernon used to describe wizards. "If you're referring to me being a wizard, then yes, I am. I'm here to discuss transferring guardianship over to my care as Harry is a rightful descendant of my lineage and would do better to be raised with other wizards."
"Your kind shouldn't even exist in my opinion. An abomination the lot of you are." Vernon responded while he focused back on the television in front of him.
Petunia, having arrived into the room at the end of Vernon's last comment, noticed the look that Remus was giving the man and decided to intervene before anything untoward happened to her husband. "The tea is almost done, would you like to have a seat, Mr. Walters?"
"No, thank you," Remus pulled out the piece of paper that he needed these muggles of the worse sort to sign. "As a matter of fact, I would like to just get this process over and done with, if you don't mind. I need for both you and Mr. Dursley to sign the paper to release Harry to me."
"How do we know you're not some crazy person just collecting children in order to sell them?" Petunia asked after skimming over the contents of the paper.
"Does it matter, Pet? We'll finally get the boy out of our lives and out of our pockets." Vernon said as he struggled to get off the couch he was slouched on.
"Get him out of your lives indeed, Mr. Dursley." Remus said in a dangerous tone. "You forget that you're dealing with someone who can make your life quite uncomfortable if the right button is pushed and right now, you're pushing that button pretty hard."
Petunia's eyes widened while Vernon just looked as if he was trying to swallow a melon whole and was failing. Unbeknownst to Remus, he had released his wand from the holster James had given to him as a graduation present years prior and although he wasn't pointing it directly at the man, he had taken a step toward him.
"I…I think we'd like to sign over the form now." Petunia stammered as she quickly found a pen and wrote her name on form. She handed the paper over to her husband, who was about to take it up when the room stopped. They heard a whimper coming from the hallway and soft banging.
"Out! Out!" a tiny voice called from the hallway.
Remus knew his eyes had flashed from blue to amber from the way the Dursleys quickly took a few steps away from him. Petunia quickly picked up her son who was crawling near her foot. "Where is Harry?"
Neither Dursley said anything, too afraid of the man standing in front of them. When the banging continued and the whimper turned into crying, Remus quickly stepped out of the room into the hallway. He stood by the cupboard and used his keen sense of smell to sense that Harry was, in fact, inside of the broom cupboard. With an inaudible growl, Remus unlocked the door and stared at the state of the baby standing in the cot.
Harry blinked from the brightness that suddenly assaulted his eyes before registering that someone was standing in front of him. He looked up into the face of one of his favorite people and gave the man a gummy grin, as he only had four teeth, holding up his arms to be picked up.
"Mooey!" the babe exclaimed before babbling nonstop to Remus.
Remus couldn't help but smile broadly at Harry as he picked him up. He was ready to break down in tears at seeing his friend's son in front of him; at holding the baby in his own arms and knowing that he was alive. Composing himself a bit, he turned his head and leveled the Dursleys with a look that promised retribution, but he didn't say a word except, "Sign the paper."
As if that jump started the pair, Petunia quickly handed Vernon the paper to sign and the minute he wrote the last letter the paper rolled itself up in a tube before snapping away to the ministry to be placed in the file of custody granted for Harry James Potter.
Without a word to either of the imbecilic muggles, Remus turned and walked out of the house. The Dursleys followed the man to the door to make sure he truly was gone, but they could not see him any longer, almost as if he disappeared into the darkness. The only sound they heard deep into the night was a soft 'crack' as if someone had let off a firecracker.
A/N: Hope it was acceptable. Don't forget to review! Next up, arrival to a new life for our two wizards.