Chapter 14 - Padfoot and Moony

Remus sent Harry on to the Longbottoms after breakfast, though Harry kept looking at Remus with concern and didn't look like he wanted to go. Remus avoided mirrors because he knew how bad he looked. He felt horrible as he read in Harry's eyes a want to care for his caretaker.

Harry had few adults in his life that he looked up to. In fact, Remus was the only real adult figure in his life that Harry had come to trust and rely on. Harry obviously was worried about losing him. He'd seen Harry's protective instincts over Neville as he discussed with Remus the Gillyweed story Neville had told him.

"You sure you aren't getting sick Remus?" Harry asked again. "I can stay here and take care of you," Harry added. "I know how to make a really good chicken soup. Aunt Petunia used to have me make it when Dudley had a cold."

Remus shook his head, "No, I will be fine Harry. You go on and have fun with Neville." Harry finally was convinced to leave and Remus collapsed on the couch for several hours. He hated this part. Bones shifting, muscles aching, and a blinding headache tearing through his skull was all part of the process of his body preparing to transform.

He rallied finally and stumbled to the kitchen and made himself a cup of tea. It was the hottest time of day. His skin felt itchy, and his eyes burned. He looked out the window and noted idly that his flowers looked wilted beneath the persistent sun. Remus glanced at the clock and watched the second hand make another turn around the dial. He laid his head on the hard wooden table and must have drifted off when suddenly he heard the floo chime. He sat up straight and his wand came to hand and he was staring open-mouthed at none other than Sirius Black.

"Hey, Moony. What's for dinner?" The man asked and then walked over and looked into Remus's empty tea cup. "Tsk Tsk. This is not going to do." He plucked the cup and refilled it, adding honey and cream the way Remus liked it, and placed it before the still gaping man.

He then went to the stove and started rummaging through Remus's cupboards and soon had a full English cooking. "You have no idea how much I detest hospital food. And don't get me started on the swill they feed you in Azkaban." He started cracking eggs into a pan and had a whole pan of bacon going before Remus found his voice. "I have dreamed for ten years about this meal." He said with a grin and bent to inhale the cooking odors and smiled.

"Why aren't you at St. Mungos?" Remus finally asked, having thought until the smell of food cooking that he was hallucinating, "And I already ate." Remus mentioned as he watched Sirius cook for what looked like a small army. "You dreamed about cooking my food for ten years?" Remus asked petulantly as he watched his friend empty his cupboards into a frying pan.

"I escaped." He grinned, ignoring the petulant whine in his friend's tone about eating his food to extinction. "Turned into Padfoot, and you should have seen it Moony!" He got a familiar expression on his face. The same expression he had after every successful prank while in school. "All the nurses and orderlies all screaming to catch that beast! It's embarrassing Moony. I mean put Padfoot in a lineup with Voldemort and nine out of ten witches will faint dead away at the sight of the dog and ignore the dark wizard!"

Remus wasn't sure if he was supposed to respond and instead just nodded. "Shameful."

Sirius continued as he started toasting bread and slathering on generous amounts of butter. "I'm innocent Remus. If I don't want to stay in the hospital then I shouldn't have to stay in the hospital. I'll go in for regular checkups and keep appointments with mind healers. But there was somewhere else I needed to be tonight." Giving Remus a meaningful look.

He plated up the food and sat down across from Remus. "I've missed ten years' worth of full moons. I'm not missing one more. You're stuck with me. I hope the invite to stay with you and Harry is still good?" Sirius asked with a smile and started eating like a man who missed ten years' worth of meals. He shoved the plate in front of Remus to share. "Eat. You're going to need your strength tonight. We're going into the forest."

Remus laughed, "You're insane. We are not going into the forest. I'm going into the basement like I always do."

Sirius shook his head, "Nope. Forest."

Remus shook his head, "Nope. Basement."

Sirius smiled and shook his head and reached into his pocket and pulled out a potion bottle. "Stole it from St. Mungos. They had a new werewolf they were treating and I overheard how this little potion called the Wolfsbane potion, lets you maintain your mind while you are transformed. So unless you normally are a rampaging maniac then this is going to work.." Sirius waggled his eyebrows, "So eat up." He motioned with his fork to the plate full of protein and Remus plucked another sausage.

"What if it doesn't work on me?" Remus worried. He had heard of the potion but had never tried it. The clinical trials had been published and the potion creator was being hailed a hero. From what Remus could glean the potion had been an accident that worked. Stumbling onto the right combination did not a potioner make. So his skepticism was soaring as he picked up the bottle to inspect it. The ingredients were listed as well as dosage instructions. He was to take it an hour before the full moon.

Sirius smiled, "Only one way to find out. I hear it tastes like crap. And if it doesn't work we've had a fun romp in the woods. Don't worry, Padfoot can keep Moony in line." Sirius took a look around, "No kid? Where'd you ship him off to?"

Remus muttered, "Didn't ship him anywhere. He went to visit his friend Neville. He'll come back the day after tomorrow. The transformations are a lot harder the older I get. Don't bounce back like I used to."

Sirius prodded Remus into eating some more while he continued to plow through the feast. "I can't deny I'm nervous about meeting him. I've regretted giving him over to Hagrid that night more than you can know." He pointed a piece of bacon at Remus. "And you, kidnapping the most famous young wizard in the world! What are you going to do when the Aurors come calling?" Sirius was only half joking. He knew that Remus having custody of Harry was breaking at least a hundred wizarding laws, probably non-wizarding ones too!

Remus shook his head a bit and glared at his teacup like it had offended him. "I don't know. I haven't thought that far ahead. But I think Lady Longbottom will intervene if it comes to that. I don't think the ministry will care, as long as Harry shows up at Hogwarts. Dumbledore probably won't care either as long as he spends a few weeks during the summer at his relatives to ensure that ridiculous blood protection Lily put around those no-good muggles. I swear I'm going to hex those muggles if it is the last thing I do."

Sirius nodded, "I have a copy of the Potter's will. It was in my vault. Went and retrieved it from the Goblins this morning. What I don't understand is why it wasn't followed. I mean, I get why some of them weren't considered, but why not Andromeda or Minerva? Both would have made excellent guardians for Harry."

Remus sighed and wished he knew. "I'm afraid to ask Dumbledore right now, 'cause he'll start thinking about Harry and then start hunting for him and that will lead him to me." He sighed. "I just didn't know what else to do!"

Sirius grinned, "Well it's a good thing I've been declared innocent then."

Remus wasn't following. "What do you mean?"

Sirius grinned, "Well my lawyer has a copy of the will and is right now filing custody paperwork with the Ministry and I should be declared Harry's legal guardian soon. Aren't you lucky? I spoke with Madam Bones and she's going to expedite it. The only concern she had was that I get a clean bill of health and attend mind-healing sessions. But by law, Harry belongs with me. Dumbledore is going to have kittens I'm sure."

Remus looked relieved but then sighed, "Shouldn't you talk to Harry about what he wants before you go making a bunch of plans for him?"

Sirius looked crushed and said, "I can't believe you would think so little of me Moony. I've mentioned it to Harry in my letter. And he wrote back and said he thought it would be brilliant because he didn't want you getting into trouble for taking him. He's been very worried about that."

Remus remembered a brief conversation with Harry when he'd asked what it meant to have a godfather. They had talked about what would have happened to Harry if Sirius hadn't gone to Azkaban. He would have been raised by Sirius and he likely would have adopted him.

Harry had looked both hopeful and nervous at the prospect of adoption. The only question he had was whether Sirius would want him or not and why couldn't Remus adopt him. Remus couldn't explain fully because he hadn't told Harry about the lycanthropy.

Remus's teacup was refreshed and the two friends talked, well Sirius talked and Remus mostly listened and just enjoyed his company. In some ways, it was as if they had never been apart, and in others, it was as if they were strangers meeting for the first time. The two friends slowly were finding their way back to each other. It would be a long journey, but one both were willing to make.

Finally, Sirius led Remus to the couch for a nap. "I'll wake you when it's time Moony."

That night Padfoot and Moony played together beneath the full moon for the first time in 10 years. They mourned the loss of Prongs and howled a sorrowful song together in remembrance of their long-lost friend. They napped together in dappled shadow and moonlight glad of each other's company once more.

AN: I am aware that the wolfsbane potion doesn't work this way according to canon. But for the purposes of this story, I've changed it up a bit. For those purists out there please forgive me this small indiscretion. Please leave reviews and let me know what you think so far. Chapters 1-8 have been edited as of yesterday and I think they read much better now.