Chapter 7:
When Gringotts requests your presence, you haul your arse to Gringotts. That was the only reason that Remus Lupin would ever return to England. Using Muggle methods of travel, the wizard left Italy by train and basically stayed on one all the way to London.
Remus made is way from St. Pancreas Station to Charring Cross Road before slipping into the Leakey Cauldron. No one really paid him any attention as they all seemed absorbed in the newspaper. Something must have happened.
As he walked down the alley towards the bank, he noted that several shops were busy. More than he remembered for this time of year. Several people moved out of his way, whether it was because of his scruffiness or that they recognized him as a werewolf, he didn't know. But no one stopped him until he reached to bank.
Two aurors stepped in front of him, blocking his way. He recognized both for his Hogwarts days.
"Papers."
Remus carefully reached into his upper jacket pocket and pulled out some papers. One of the Aurors snatched them from his hand.
"Reason for visit?" asked the other.
"I was asked by Gringotts to be here."
"Why?"
"I don't know."
After several minutes, his papers were practically thrown at him.
"Do your business and then leave England."
He only nodded his head. They stepped aside and he entered the building. The moment he stepped inside he could feel the tension in everyone. From the Goblins to the wizarding folk. It hung thick in the air. Yep. Something big had happened. A group of Goblins came towards him.
"Remus Lupin?"
He nodded.
"Follow us please."
As he followed the one that addressed him, the others formed a guard around him, Remus couldn't shake the feeling that everything was going to change from this moment on. How right he was.
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As he entered the room, Remus Marcus Lupin stopped dead in the doorway. In front of him, seated at a table, drinking tea, was someone that he had thought dead.
James Potter.
"Prongs?" came the whispered question.
"Yes Moony. It's really me."
"How? Um.. why now?"
"That's a long story."
"I have the time."
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Four hours later the two men had exchanged stories, getting quieter by the minute as little Harry fell asleep on his Da and refused to let go. Not that James minded. He seemed to relish it. Remus couldn't blame him.
"So why did you really call me here?"
"A Prank."
Remus' mouth hung open. That was not the answer he was looking for.
"On whom?"
"One Albus Dumbledore."
"The Headmaster?"
"The one and the same."
"Why?"
"He's the one that put Harry with Petunia. He was the one that signed my son over to Molly Weasley."
Remus said nothing but the look in his eye was that those two would need to be very careful around him, especially the waning of the moon.
"What do you want to do?" came the deep growl.
The grin on James' face would have made the devil run and hide.
"I plan to support a school."
That was not what Remus thought the other man would say.
"Huh?"
"I plan to have Harry educated at home. Hogwarts, while a tradition, as well as a social ladder, will not be the best for him. As he needs others his age to grow I plan to be very selective to whom I invite to join him."
Remus got very thoughtful. Ideas began to form. James knew that he had his man.
"I plan to talk with The Longbottoms and the Bones' for starters. Perhaps a few first-generation children as well. I want Harry to just as comfortable in Lily's world as he will be in this one."
Remus nodded, agreeing with him.
"I want you to run it."
"What?!"
"You're perfect! You know both worlds quite well, you're a scholar and always will be."
"But! But what about you know?"
"Moony, you're a man and a wizard, not a monster. We can work around that problem. I need you."
It was the puppy eyes that had him caving.
"Fine." He answered with a sigh.
The grin on his friend's face said it all.