AN: Harry Potter, I love it, but I don't own it.

Thanks for all the feedback, I hope you enjoy this chapter as well!

Chapter 6

Remus was reveling in the feeling of the soft mattress underneath him. It had been a long time since he'd felt this comfortable. The alcove above the kitchen wasn't big, but it was dry, clean and warm. For the past few years he'd camped in several different places, but few of those were all three of those things. There was a reason why he'd practiced so many of those housekeeping charms.

He'd be eternally grateful that Petunia let him stay for the night. Searching for a place to stay during mid-winter and at night wouldn't have been pleasant at all, and he didn't want to be away from Harry now that Remus had found him.

Petunia.. she was an impressive woman to be sure. Not only did she leave an abusive marriage, but she also stood up to one of the most powerful wizards in recent history. Not only that, but she did a wonderful job raising the boys. Remus found that he really admired her and her courage. Lily obviously wasn't the only Gryffindor in the family.

Moony, the traitor, made sure to inform Remus exactly how much he admired her. She would be a perfect mate.

Remus sat up in bed. MATE?! Where the hell had that come from?!

Sure, she was beautiful, confident and brave. Yes, she was great at caring for his cub and her own. And of course Remus was attracted to her, he'd be a moron not to. But MATE?!

Moony obviously was around the bend. They had enough on their plate as it was, and he would not put her in danger in that way! Moony howled his disagreement, the woman he'd chosen wouldn't be so fragile that she couldn't handle the knowledge. And he would protect her, no matter what.

That, Remus agreed with, they would protect her. And the kids.

The hug had been very nice, almost too nice. He'd always craved physical affection, having been denied it much in his childhood, as his parents feared his condition. Going to Hogwarts and meeting his blood brothers had been a blessing for him.

Sirius had suffered from the same problem, as his parents hadn't been the caring sort, and was quite physical with everyone he got along with. Even as he drowned the impulse in willing women when he got older, he'd always been there when Remus needed it. James wasn't scared to show people he cared about them, and often joined in on the hugs. Out of the gang only Peter shied away from touch.

Sirius... Now that Remus thought about it, he only had Dumbledore's word that he was guilty, and he had, as always, trusted the man. However, Petunias story had him reconsidering a few things. She'd told the truth, nothing could trick his instincts at that. That was why he found himself reconsidering many things regarding the headmaster. Perhaps he should look into it.

He laid back in bed and closed his eyes, focusing on his breath. He could smell Petunia's scent on the borrowed quilt, and he pulled it closer to his nose, taking comfort from it.

Petunia lay in her bed, trying to sleep but unable to. Her mind was racing! Her heart too, for that matter.

It was hard to believe that Remus was lying right above her. When she'd learned that he didn't have a place to stay for the night she's demanded that he stay. They didn't have any spare rooms, but she had an extra mattress up in the alcove above the kitchen, and several quilts and pillows to spare.

She liked him, she really liked him. It wasn't hard, he was quite handsome, scars and all. The boys loved him. And she found herself trusting him. She hadn't trusted anyone for a while and it was comforting to know that she still had it in her.

They had chemistry too. She couldn't believe that they'd almost kissed in the kitchen! And the hugs. She hadn't wanted to let go of him at all. It was a bit terrifying, they hadn't known each other for even a day!

She'd have to find the box where she kept all the letters Lily had sent her, today's events had her missing her sister more than ever and she wanted to feel closer to the girl. Perhaps she'd get to know a bit more about the boy that the man sleeping in her home once had been.

Petunia rolled over in her bed and hugged one of her pillows tight. As she slipped deeper into sleep, she imagined that the pillow she held was instead the body of the man sleeping in the alcove above her room.

On the other side of the country, in a snowy castle, sat the Headmaster of Hogwarts. He was almost pulling his long, white, hair out. Albus Dumbledore had hoped that the werewolf would have stayed out of the country for a longer time. He was sure to show up any day now, looking for Harry Potter, luckily the werewolf trusted him completely. Albus was certain he could distract and trick the fool.

The prophecy had been unexpected, before it, Albus had been plotting a way to take down Voldemort himself. The boy-who-lived had been a thorn in his side ever since. He'd arranged the 'safe' hiding place in Godric's Hollow, and planted the idea in Sirius that they should make Pettigrew the secret keeper. The headmaster knew the rat had been a spy all along, and had manipulated him to do what he wanted, slipping Riddle fake information, or in this case, real.

The plan had been to take the glory after Riddle's fall, but the fool just had to turn the boy into a Horcrux. Now he'd have to wait for him to return, in the meantime, the fame of the boy grew, quickly outshining that of the headmaster.

That was why he'd placed the boy with his muggle relatives. Harry would be out of reach of the magical world, and unaware of everything concerning himself. His intel (Snape) had told him of the falling out the sisters had had, and how they hated everything magical.

The plan had been to have the boy raised by them, a few compulsion charms making sure they treated the boy badly. Then, as the boy came of school age, he would show up as a savior for the boy. Tom Riddle had been willing to do anything to be allowed to stay at Hogwarts instead of returning to the muggle hellhole where he'd been raised. Albus was certain that Harry would have felt the same.

He would then take a role as the boy's mentor, and by the time the boy was of age, he's be a lamb ready for the slaughter. A willing and worthy sacrifice for the greater good. Dumbledore would take the glory as the one who prepared the boy for the fight and his name would be cemented in wizarding history for all of time.

But the muggle bitch had fought his spells, instead caring for the boy as he was her own. Albus had been on his way to modify and strengthen them, so that she would at least only feel apathy for the boy and instead focus all positive emotions on her trueborn son. But of course she couldn't even do the decent thing and stay with her husband. Trust a muggle to try to take the easy way out.

He'd easily tracked them down to a filthy muggle hotel, and he'd been so close to completing his quest. But then the cursed boy had attacked him and ruined everything again. His magical outburst had even stripped away all the tracking charms that had been on him and his family. The magical instruments on his shelves were now just useless decorations. Albus hoped it was still time, he could modify his plans. But first he'd need to find the Potter boy.

Tried to answer a few questions in this one, until next time!