Chapter 13

Remus was sat comfortably in bed. The windows were open and a gentle breeze came through rustling the second-hand curtains. Sleep came easily. They supposed it was just a part of how they recovered post-transformation.

Suddenly they were lurched awake by the buzz of the muggle doorbell. They looked at the clock on the other side of the room and checked the time. It was just past five in the morning. Remus would have rolled over and gone back to sleep if the bell didn't ring a second, third, and fourth time.

Remus pushed themself out of bed, donned a jacket and snatched their wand from the bedside table. Remus held their wand behind their leg as they walked to the door. Remus twisted the knob and pushed the door open.

Remus' eyes were wide as they silently took in the crew in front of them. Remus looked from Albus Dumbledore to Madam Pomfrey to Professor McGonagall to Severus Snape. For a while, Remus just stood there without speaking, disbelieving the sight in front of them. At last catching themself, Remus loosened their grasp on their wand. "Please come in," they said. Remus opened the door and led the group into the living room.

"Thank you, Remus, you are most gracious," said Professor Dumbledore who was wearing beige robes with elaborate light green embroidery .

Remus was accustomed to unexpected arrivals. During the war, they had been normalized. Back then, order members were constantly coming and going: saying hi, saying goodbye, crashing after one of the safehouses had been compromised.

Professor McGonagall nodded to Remus, expressing her thanks.

"Sit down," Remus said, summoning two black wooden chairs from the kitchen to make sure everyone could sit. Dumbledore lowered himself into the sole armchair which gave a loud creak. Remus cringed then put their smile back in place. The sofa Professor McGonagall sat in was blessedly silent. Snape remained on his feet.

Remus would have preferred to stand too, as if holding the higher ground within the confines of their own apartment, but chose not too and lowered themself into one of the wooden seats from the kitchen. Madam Pomfrey was the last to sit, settling down in a spot next to Professor McGonagall.

Remus glanced around at their shabby apartment, grateful that they had tidied up the apartment earlier.

"Not that I'm not pleased to see you all, but why are you here?"

There was silence for a moment. McGonagall looked at Madam Pomfrey. An expression of concern played across Professor Dumbledore's face.

"We're here because of Harry Potter," said Dumbledore, releasing a breath. "Up until now Harry was for want of a better word cared for by his Aunt and Uncle. It has recently come to light that his current guardians are -"

"Deplorable, disgusting, miserable excuses for humans" Snape spat. The man pointed to his colleagues, "for some reason, they think you are the solution. You… who far as I know, haven't deigned to make even an infinitesimal effort to reach Potter…" Snape's voice faded from semi-audible to unintelligible.

Snape's words were like a physical blow to Remus. They had always thought that Harry was safe. It was a mental cornerstone that had never been in doubt.

The temperature in the room seemed to shift as every eye looked at Snape

"Minerva, you were present for everything," said Madam Pomfrey in a tight voice, "Why don't you explain everything to Remus? Perhaps without being interrupted?" she said in a warning voice.

Professor McGonagall was quiet for a moment, most likely to ensure that no one would interrupt her. Professor McGonagall turned her eyes to Remus. "Last night, Harry came to my office… and came forward about," she paused for a moment before continuing, "injuries perpetrated by his own uncle."

For a moment, it felt like the witch was scanning them.

She took another breath then continued speaking, "we are here because we wanted to know if you would be willing to foster Harry Potter. As he's a Hogwarts student, most of your duties would take place over the holidays."

Remus tensed as they tried to process what Professor McGonagall had said. They looked from person to person. For a time, there was complete silence as Remus worked to process her words.

"I don't get it. There must be someone else more suitable for the role." Remus finally said, dragging their fingers through graying hair. "Maybe you have forgotten the chronic illness I have?"

"We haven't forgotten," said Dumbledore in a very gentle voice that Remus found patronizing. "It won't be the way it was when you were a Hogwarts student, no tunnels or whomping willows. You are able to take the Wolfsbane Potion now."

Remus bit their tongue. Dumbledore was right, they had been ambushed. How could they argue with the Headmaster, McGonagall, and Madam Pomfrey?

"We think you are the most suitable candidate," he said, stretching a hand towards McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey, "but if you feel that you are not able to take on this responsibility, we have to understand."

"I could care for Harry," said Professor McGonagall, her expression impassive. "However, I do think you would be better. You and Harry would be good for each other. I think that perhaps you two could be a family." The witch took a sizable breath, "I would be at your service, Remus," she concluded.

"Severus will help you too," continued Dumbledore.

"I will, will I?" asked the man in a low contemptuous voice, his lip curling.

"Certainly," said Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling.

Remus glanced at Snape, apologetically. " It seems neither of us has much choice in the matter, Severus."

"You have a choice," said Madam Pomfrey. "This is an awesome responsibility. You have every right to say no," her voice was fierce.

Remus nodded. "I accept," he said at long last.

"We shall bring Harry to you later today," said Dumbledore.

The four Hogwarts staff members returned to the castle. Severus watched as Professor McGonagall waved her wand and added cushioning and back support to one of the hospital chairs then sat down beside the Potter.

Severus kept walking until he reached Poppy's office, not bothering to check if anyone was following. He went over to Poppy's desk and opened the drawer containing Harry's notes. He snaked his wand over the pages, encoding every word into the wand. Severus was about to leave when he heard Madam Pomfrey speak.

"Where are you going?" Her tone was only curious.

"Back to my quarters. I need a sleep. You know how to reach me if you want me to brew Polyjuice along with the wolfbane," he scoffed, his shoulders lifting subtly as if they were enunciating his words.

"A sleep that needed Harry's notes?" asked Madam Pomfrey, in a casual-sounding voice.

Soft pink spots appeared on the man's cheeks.

"I apologize, Severus but I still need your presence. We need a ruse. The ministry cannot know what has transpired. There must not be a bidding war over who will take custody over Harry," said Dumbledore.

"A ruse? I can do that in my sleep," said Severus in a bored tone.

"Are you thinking of taking Polyjuice potion?" asked Madam Pomfrey.

Severus lifted his chin, expressing the affirmative. "I will need to speak with Potter. Learn more about his mannerisms and habits when he's with the Dursleys."

"I forbid it," said the headmaster calmly. "The child is under enough duress as it is. I won't have him worried that you are in danger too."

"Surely Potter is not so feeble-minded to think two muggles could best an adult wizard."

"All Harry knows is that they bested him. His emotions will most likely cloud his judgment in his present state," said Professor Dumbledore with a knowing look.

"Fine, I can quiz Granger and Weasley," grunted the professor.

Dumbedore tilted his head diagonally, seeming to agree. The man looked serenely at Severus and said, "now that Harry has started school, there will be a magical trace on the Dursley's home. The ministry will know of any magic that takes place there. I don't think the same could be said of Grunning's Drill Company, though," said Dumbledore, cracking his neck from side to side.