Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling.
Smoke filled the air and a tiny hand reached out to grab it, a sound of joyous laughter filling the room.
Harry had grown a lot since Remus Lupin had seen him six months ago; he was walking now and if Remus waited another six months, he was sure that Harry would be talking.
James sat on the floor with his wand, conjuring smoke rings for Harry to catch. Harry had been laughing the entire time and to someone who spent a lot of his days with beings who loved to kill, Harry's laugh was the perfect tonic for Remus's low spirits.
"It won't be long before he's playing Quidditch," James said, looking at his son with pride.
"I'm sure he'll fly just like you, Prongs," Remus said, remembering all the daring flying James had performed during their Hogwarts days.
"Flying is in his blood," James said proudly.
Lily appeared in the kitchen doorway and watched James and Harry fondly. She caught Remus's eye and gave him a radiant smile.
"Sorry to bother you Remus, but could I borrow James for a bit?" she asked. "I need his help with the gravy."
"I'm sure that James would be happy to do the honours," Remus said with a smile.
James grinned and stretched, stopping the smoke rings and putting his wand down on the coffee table.
"Duty calls, Moony," he said. "Would you be alright watching Harry a bit?"
As there were no more smoke rings for him to catch, Harry looked a bit confused as he watched James get up.
"I've just got to help your mummy with our dinner, Harry," James said. "You'll be alright with Uncle Moony."
"I'm sure Harry and I will get on like a house on fire," Remus said, and James patted Harry on the head before following Lily into the kitchen.
Harry stared at Remus with those wide eyes of his and Remus did not blame him since Harry had not seen him in six months - He was practically a stranger to Harry.
Harry's eyes then fell onto James's wand which was still on the coffee table and he crawled over to it, stretching out with his hand.
Remus thought that a baby armed with a wand was a recipe for disaster, so he took the wand from the coffee table and Harry began fussing, determined to reach the wand in Remus's hand.
"Wait until you're older," Remus chuckled, marvelling at the fact that Harry seemed to have inherited both of his parents' determination.
Remus pulled out his own wand and began conjuring smoke rings as James did. At first, Harry tried to catch them, but he soon got bored of the smoke rings and started to want his father's wand again.
Remus was at a loss for what to do. He tried conjuring more smoke rings, but Harry took no notice of them whatsoever. His eyes were set upon James's wand in Remus's hand.
It was clear that Remus wasn't in the same league as James when it came to conjuring smoke rings - James always made everything look so easy.
Remus suddenly had an idea; He thought of his time at Hogwarts with his three brilliant friends and the good times that they spent together and the happy memories of the four of them fooling about filled him.
He concentrated on the good times, James ruffling up his hair to make it look like he had gone flying, Sirius lounging about like a dog when he was supposed to be studying, Peter eating all the food when he thought James and Sirius weren't looking.
"Expecto Patronum," he whispered and a silvery mist filled the living room.
Harry stopped trying to reach James's wand and was staring at the mist perplexed. He reached out with his tiny hands, trying to grab at it and he was soon giggling.
Cheered up by Harry's giggles, Remus continued to cast non-corporeal Patronuses for Harry's amusement, focusing on his Hogwarts days with James, Sirius and Peter at his side.
However, Harry got distracted by the Potter's cat who was curled up asleep in James's favourite armchair. A sudden spark of inspiration came to Remus and he racked his memory thinking of the happiest memory he could find.
He thought of the first time they fully accepted him when they knew about his furry little problem and the happiness from that consumed him; It was the first time in his life that he had had friends.
"Expecto Patronum,"
To his surprise, a silver wolf burst from his wand and trotted around the living room. Harry looked away from the cat and stared at the silver wolf. Remus was surprised that Harry was not looking at the wolf in fear or disgust.
He was looking at the wolf in the wonder only a small child could. Harry reached out a tiny hand and the wolf sniffed it gently before becoming curling up by Harry's side as if it were guarding him. Harry sat, staring at the wolf and it was as if nothing or no one could distract him.
"Wow, Moony! I've never seen your corporeal Patronus before,"
Remus looked around to see James and Lily standing in the kitchen doorway, smiling at their son staring at Remus's patronus in wonder.
"He wanted your wand, so I thought I'd distract him," Remus said, handing James his wand. "I notice he has your attention span, Prongs."
"So, that's where I left it, James said, grinning sheepishly. Lily gave him a sharp look and he shrugged.
"Look at Harry," Lily said, watching Harry stare at the wolf. "He's loving that,"
"I'm surprised he's not frightened," Remus said. "I don't usually cast a corporeal Patronus because I don't want people to see the beast within."
"Maybe he can see that the beast within isn't much of a beast, Moony," James said.
"You're far too hard on yourself, Remus," Lily said. "It's not your fault that you were bitten. You're a good person."
"I-I suppose so," Remus said uncertainly.
"I know so," James said fiercely, putting an arm around his wife and Remus felt his spirits soar and it was as if he were back at Hogwarts again and James had fully accepted him being a werewolf.
He stayed for dinner at the Potter's and Harry was friendlier towards Remus. Remus entertained Harry conjuring his Patronus again to Harry's delight and he had a great time catching up with James and Lily.
He reminisced with James about the good times and adventures that they had shared at Hogwarts. It had been a long time since the four of them had been together. They had been going their own separate ways since they left Hogwarts to fight in the war and Remus felt as if they were drifting apart.
Because of his undercover work spying on the werewolves, Sirius seemed to be treating him with suspicion and Peter seemed to be down on the rare occasion that Remus had met up with him. Remus thought that it was the toll that the war was taking on him.
But James was always willing to be there for him and treated Remus like a brother. Remus regretted being out of contact with Potters for so long. Especially at the rate Harry was growing.
The sun had started to set by the time Remus was ready to head home, bathing the cottage in an orange glow.
"You will come and visit us again?" Lily asked, holding Harry who looked very sleepy. He was resting his head on his mother's shoulder, playing with her hair.
"If my schedule allows it," Remus said, putting on his travelling cloak. "Dumbledore needs someone to spy on the Werewolves. You might not see me again for another six months."
"Then take care of yourself, Moony," James said, shaking Remus's hand.
"Bye, Remus," Lily said with a radiant smile. "It was lovely to see you today. Say goodbye to Moony, Harry."
Harry lifted his head and stretched out his little arm and gave Remus a tiny wave. Remus dug his hands in his pockets and pulled out a small bar of chocolate and showed it to Harry who eyed it curiously.
"For later," Remus smiled, and Harry perked up.
He reached out with his hand and took the chocolate and showed it to his mother who cooed at him in delight.
"Don't eat it all at once," Remus said and Harry gave him a big smile that melted Remus's heart.
"Bye, Noomy," Harry said softly and James laughed.
"That's quite a nickname," James chuckled. "To think we've been saying it wrong for years."
Lily laughed and rolled her eyes at James and Remus chuckled.
Remus walked down the path to the street and turned to wave at the Potters again. Little Harry was waving at Remus with his other hand still tightly clutched around his bar of chocolate. Remus smiled, gave a wave and walked off into the night, thinking he would see the Potters in another six months.
Thank you for reading.