Chapter 5: Welcome Home
Remus paid for their meal, but not before he had Harry toss all their purchases into the box after which he shrunk it with the password "Prongs is the best." Harry was observant enough to notice the sad smile Remus gave when he did it.
Harry watched the magic with wide eyes inspecting the thimble-sized box and asked, "Will they know they are smaller now?"
Remus laughed, "We will have to ask them later."
Harry placed the box carefully in his pocket and together Remus and Harry walked to the alley while Remus lectured him on the fine art of going unnoticed. You couldn't live with the Dursleys for ten years and not pick up a few tricks, so Remus found an apt pupil in the young wizard.
"Mostly just act like you belong." Harry summarized the lesson and followed Remus's lead. Harry did notice that he was the only one wearing a baseball cap and mentioned it to Remus who took a discerning look around. Most wizards didn't pay much attention to what was common Muggle fashion.
Before they reached the pub Remus plucked the hat from Harry's head and transformed it into a traditional flat cap and put it back on his head. Harry thought he looked a bit like a character out of a Charles Dickens novel when he caught a glimpse of his reflection in a shopping window. "Now I look like Tiny Tim." He muttered but still marveled at the magic.
The wizarding pub was busy, and Harry and Remus made it to the back without being challenged. Harry kept close to Moony's side as they traversed the length of the Alley. Today was just as busy as the last time he was here. A lot of school-age children were present and Remus commented on it as well. "This is always the busiest time at the alley. Hogwarts students getting their school supplies is like a National holiday in Wizarding Britain. This year's students are the most precious though."
Remus led Harry to a small shop nestled next to the apothecary called Seymore's Spectacles. A little bell over the door jingled merrily and Remus and Harry approached the bored-looking witch sitting behind the counter who was flipping through a glossy magazine. Harry noticed that the photos were moving.
As Remus checked them in, Harry had time to wonder what Remus meant by the comment about his generation being precious and while they waited Harry asked about it.
Remus smiled sadly and explained. "Whole families were wiped out by the war Harry. Your own family included. You are the last of the Potters. If your parents had lived you would have had brothers and sisters for sure. Lily and James wanted a large family." He sat silent for a moment then continued sadly, "The children who attend Hogwarts today are the survivors of that war. You aren't the only orphan at Hogwarts."
Harry nodded sadly thinking about the consequences of war and suddenly didn't feel so alone. There were others like him who had lost people too. Remus, he realized had lost his friends.
The eye doctor, Sid Seymore, didn't seem to recognize Harry, or if he did he didn't say so. Harry's prescription was several years old and the wizarding optometrist was appalled that Harry had entrusted his eyesight to Muggles.
Harry walked out of the office with a fashionable pair of gold wire-framed glasses that were charmed to be unbreakable, impervious to fogging and rain, would darken in extreme light, and also were charmed to be un-summonable, helpful in a duel for sure, Remus assured him.
He also left with a pamphlet about the newest magical advancements in eyewear. The best part though, he could see better than he had ever seen before.
He kept staring around with wide eyes, realizing he had mostly been seeing shapes and outlines rather than details. He wanted to stare at all the people's faces like they were always staring at him, but Remus kept muttering, "Low profile Evans."
They ducked into the Apothecary next and Remus went nuts picking out a few items that he felt every young potioner should have. But the items Remus wanted him to purchase that Harry was most excited about were the Foragers Bag and Potions Satchel.
"This," Remus showed him the foragers bag first, "is damn useful. First, it's refrigerated and has a stasis charm on it. Nice for a picnic as well as to keep foraged potion ingredients in. It has an Extendable charm and indexing charm. So all you do is hold your wand over it and state what you want and it will come to your waiting hand."
Harry took the leather pouch and was amazed at how supple the leather was. "I fully expect you to badger Hagrid and Professor Snape, perhaps even Professor Sprout to take you foraging in the Forbidden Forest for potion ingredients a few times this year. I'll give you a list of ingredients that are in abundance and what times of year are best to harvest them. Knowing that forest well, was one of the secrets to the Marauder's success. Just don't go in without an adult." Remus lectured.
Harry thought that asking Hagrid would be much easier than asking a teacher he didn't know, but filed the idea in the back of his mind.
The Forbidden Forest didn't sound very welcoming. Did he really want to go foraging in it? Harry had never been camping or had many opportunities to play outdoors, so the idea of going into any forest, much less one called 'Forbidden', didn't strike the note Remus was hoping for.
James, Remus thought, would have been plotting a daring adventure the moment he heard about it. Harry however seemed much more reserved and less prone to mischief-making. His mother was like that. Cautious and rule-abiding. Remus tried to stop making comparisons then. Harry was his own person. Someone he looked forward to getting to know.
"And what is this one for?" Harry asked, looking at the messenger bag that Remus had gushed over.
"It's a potions satchel. Dead useful in combat." He demonstrated, "You can store potions in it, and they won't break. Also, it has a come to hand charm, indexing charm, stasis charm, and notice me not charm." He showed Harry how it opened up and the numerous potions it was capable of carrying. "It is always a good idea to carry certain potions with you. It's like a Muggle First Aid kit, but better." He noted.
Harry nodded, "If I get it, will you help me fill it with the potions I need?"
Remus nodded. "Sure, Harry." He sighed, "I'm not the potions master your mother was though." Warning Harry beforehand. "By the end of the year, you should be able to brew at least an Exceeds Expectations on all your first-year potions. Make sure to brew a double batch and bottle one for your kit." He winked.
"Just be sure to use as many of your own ingredients as possible. Or get permission to use the schools if you replenish them or compensate them. We got enough ingredients for you to bargain with." Remus smirked as if at a secret joke. "When we get home I'll teach you how to make Bruise Balm."
Harry smiled. "My mum was a potions master?" Though he almost tripped over himself when Remus said 'home', as if he meant it as their home, not just Remus's.
Remus nodded, "Not like Professor Snape, but she could have gotten a mastery in Potions or Charms. She chose Charms."
Remus purchased several weeks' worth of nutrition potions and put them in the satchel showing Harry how the bottles were strapped in and labeled. Harry was fascinated, sure that potions would be his favorite subject. He already enjoyed cooking. It seemed a lot like cooking.
Remus smiled and told him to hold on to that and not let anyone spoil his love of a subject. Harry wondered what he meant by that but was easily distracted by the next shop Remus took Harry to.
This was a stationary shop. Harry wasn't as excited by this shop, but Remus didn't give him a chance to complain, dragging him to a display of quills. "These Harry are enchanted quills." Harry nodded, taking a closer look at the brightly feathered writing instruments. Remus smiled at his charge's confused expression but Remus was about to save the boy's life.
"Now some quills are banned from Hogwarts, but these…" He pointed to the shelf that read Hogwarts Approved Student Quills, "Are all approved by the strictest of authoritarians to ever march through the halls of Hogwarts. I am talking about Deputy Headmistress Professor McGonagall herself. Now this one…" he pointed to a beautiful black feathered quill that advertised itself as being from a griffin, Is a self-correcting quill." He elaborated, "It will fix your spelling errors."
He smiled at the look of understanding that dawned on Harry's face, "And that one…" He pointed to another quill that was from an Eagle, "Is a Dictapen. It will take notes for you." He sighed, "I don't think you should get that one because you need the practice. But I also can't deny that you need all the help you can get."
Harry ended up purchasing both quills. He also saw a collection of enchanted inks. One that wrote in rainbow and another that could be used to animate words. You could write the word 'help' for example and the word would practically leap off the page. Or the word kiss and it might turn into animated lips blowing hearts.
Remus was just as fascinated as Harry by that one and so they ended up getting a jar of it as well as the rainbow ink. Anything to get Harry interested in the fine art of calligraphy.
The next stop was the wizarding candy shop. Harry hadn't seen it his first time through. Hagrid had become more and more agitated about their time at the alley, especially after he'd gotten whatever it was from the not-so-secret vault. Remus seemed to sense that Harry was enjoying himself so the pair took their time exploring much to Harry's delight.
Honeydukes was not the kind of shop one rushed through. Remus still remembered his first time seeing Honeydukes. It practically changed his life.
Harry bought at least one of everything. When Remus explained to him about the chocolate frog collection Harry went a little crazy and bought a whole box of them. Remus himself bought a block of Honeyduke's chocolate, and a tin of hot cocoa he was addicted to.
Their final stop was the one Remus was most looking forward to, and also the one he was saddest about.
He knew that James had been looking forward to teaching his son how to fly since the moment he knew Lily was pregnant. He still remembered the toy broom Sirius and James had bought for Harry on his first Birthday. He remembered Lily complaining about how Harry was a menace on that broom, and how James had bragged.
So it was Remus doing this now instead of James. James couldn't so Remus must. It was all worth it seeing the boys' eyes light up as they crossed the threshold of Quality Quidditch Supplies. "First years aren't allowed to bring brooms to Hogwarts, but there's nothing that says they can't learn how to fly."
Remus went to the counter and after some haggling came away with not one, but two new brooms. The new Nimbus had pushed aside the fairly new Comet which was a great broom to learn on. Reliable and sturdy were some of its most vaunted qualities. Harry looked both confused and excited as they made their way back to the pub.
Remus led Harry back out to Muggle London where once again he summoned the magical bus. Feeling much more confident this time, Harry didn't have to wait for Remus to tell him what to do. He too wanted to remain as anonymous as possible.
Remus stretched out on the bed and Harry took a seat in a recliner as the bus 'Bamfed' all over the UK it seemed. Harry's mind was whirling with everything he had learned about himself and the wizarding world in the last few days.
He glanced over at Moony and felt grateful that he had come to his rescue. He wondered what he could do to make it up to him. He hated being a burden.
He looked down at the new clothes he had and studied the slightly scuffed but sturdy boots on his feet. This is what happiness is, he thought suddenly, this warm feeling bubbling up inside that not even the motion sickness from the Knight Bus could quell.
The bus let them off at the edge of a small village. Remus simply waved at it and said, "I don't shop there much. I prefer my privacy. Small towns all have one thing in common." He noted darkly.
"What is that?" Harry was curious about Remus's point of view on the matter.
"Small minds." He finally said. "Good thing you bought hiking boots 'cause it's a bit of a walk," Remus noted the sun getting lower in the sky. "Don't worry. I won't let anything eat you." He joked as he saw Harry give a wary look at the dirt road he was pointing to.
Remus simply lit his wand with a Lumos spell and stepped upon the road that led deeper into the forest. Harry, not wanting to be left behind, gathered his courage and hurried after the tall marauder.
They walked in silence for a long time. He was about to ask how much further when Remus finally said, "Not long now kiddo." Glancing back to the boy who was keeping a wary eye on the trees around them. Remus waited for the lad to catch up and then asked. "Need a rest?" Harry shook his head.
About ten minutes later they broke through to the clearing where a small log cabin was situated next to a slow-moving river. A large meadow encircled the cabin and a primal virgin forest surrounded the meadow like sentinel guardians. Harry paused to take in the scene. It was secluded, rustic, and yet welcoming.
Flowers grew in riotous colors filling window boxes and flower beds. A nice pile of firewood was stacked against one of the cabin walls. The small porch had two rocking chairs, placed to take advantage of the view, which to Harry's uneducated eye appeared to be a river cutting through the meadow. Harry followed Remus up to the door and Remus looked almost as tired as Harry, as he opened it for his guest.
"Welcome home, Harry." Harry smiled as he entered the cabin. -Home-. He liked the sound of that.
Harry's first impression of the inside of the cabin was that it was small. But he realized that it wasn't really small, it just was cluttered. Remus was he realized a bit of a hoarder.
There were books everywhere. Piles of Books served as coffee tables and footrests. Shelves overflowed with books. There was a large fireplace and a small iron cauldron hanging from a hook and chain. A recliner and a sofa were nestled in front of the fireplace, and a small area rug beneath a coffee table helped define the living area from the kitchen. Again more books cluttered that area as well.
A basket of firewood was dwarfed by the fireplace itself made of river stones that Harry guessed were quarried from the river nearby. There was a loft he saw with a ladder leading up to it. A kitchen with a whitewashed kitchen table, butcher block countertops, and farmer's sink took up a full corner and a door led a to small back bedroom that Harry saw was completely empty.
Harry glanced at Remus who was watching him with a bit of amusement. This would be the first magical home Harry had ever been in. Remus felt sorry for him. It was bound to be a disappointment. Remus liked his creature comforts like any predator, with a soft spot for his own humanity, so there were some magical accommodations, however, the house was muggle in its origins. He bit his tongue and decided to just let Harry be as he enlarged their packages and started putting things away and pointing out the various places in the cabin.
"That ladder goes up to the loft and my bedroom." Harry didn't hear a stay-out message in that. The implicit STAY OUT tone that Vernon, Petunia, and especially Dudley got when talking about their things, or their rooms. Not that Harry intended to go into Remus's private bedroom. "That used to be my study but I cleaned it out so you could have a room that wasn't cluttered with my stuff. But if you want the loft that might be better and we can swap."
Harry stared at him and said, "You did that? For me?" Wrestling with his emotions. It was an act of kindness that he hadn't expected. He smiled tremulously and said, "But I have the box. You didn't have to do that."
Remus blinked, "Well no. But I figured that the room needed organizing anyway. Maybe you can help me with that. Pack any books that you want for your own budding library." Remembering they had stocked quite a few books.
Remus tried to remember which ones he had chosen but the memory wasn't coming to him. He'd have to go down there to find out. He sighed inwardly wishing that he could avoid it.
Remus showed Harry to the bathroom which had both a shower and a clawfoot tub. The tub was in front of full-length windows where anyone could see in. When Harry said so Remus just laughed his head off. "No one out here to see. Also, you can't see through these windows. And if anyone got close enough to see through I'd be worried."
At Harry's dubious expression, Remus sighed. "Muggles have security cameras and guard dogs, and sometimes even electric fences. Wizards have wards. Magical security that warns me if someone is here who shouldn't be. And a few other surprises. I wouldn't be a marauder if I didn't think ahead."
Harry put the box down in the back bedroom and Remus enlarged it. "Well, I'm going to make dinner. Why don't you go organize today's purchases and let the Marauders know that I'm not an oathbreaker." He winked playfully to take the sting out of his words. "You like spaghetti?"
Harry nodded, "I can help cook it." Walking towards the kitchen. Remus shook his head, "Oh no Harry. I'll do it. You go take care of your shopping. I'll call you when it's ready."
Harry grinned and said, "Thanks Uncle Mooey." Remembering what the Marauders had told him he used to call Remus when he was just learning to talk. He gave his honorary uncle a cheeky grin before disappearing down into the box.
Remus turned to the stove and began preparing the meal. He smiled a genuine smile for the first time since he lost his pack.
AN: This chapter has been edited as of 5/28. Thank you for your reviews and I did take some of what you had to say to heart. I truly apologize to all my British friends if I fail to depict London accurately or use the British language correctly. I have had several reviews attempting to correct me. If I feel the criticism is warranted then I will take steps to correct it. I was told that baseball caps featuring NYC on them would be rare in London and so I tried to take steps to address it in the fic. Thank you for pointing it out to me. Although I don't completely buy the fact that there would be no vintage clothing stores anywhere in London in the 90s.