Chapter 4: Remus

After some thought, Miralene decided that it was probably best that Alice should go to see Remus Lupin instead of her. Alice knew him better, as they had been pen pals, and she had saved his life a time or 2 when he was travelling for The Order of the Phoenix. Alice hugged Harry goodbye and pulled on a silvery blue travelling cloak.

"I shouldn't be long," she said to the others. "It's been more than a week since the full moon, so he should be somewhat recovered."

"Here love," Hannette said, holding out a bar of Honeydukes' finest chocolate, "A token of our affection."

"Thank you love," Alice said softly.

Alice kissed Hannette's forehead and slid the bar of chocolate into her pocket. She admired her wife's forethought, and knew Remus would appreciate the chocolate regardless.

"I'm leaving now Miralene," Alice called out to the relatively quiet house.

"Good luck, and give him my regards," came Miralene's lilting voice floating down the stairs where she was probably in her study.

With one last hug to Harry, who was playing with muggle Legos, Alice stepped outside and disapperated. She walked up the gravel drive way towards a ramshackle cottage which looked miles better than the shrieking shack he once told her about, but definitely not fit to live in, at least for her high standards. She smoothed away the disgusted expression on her face and gently wrapped on the door. She could smell him in there, so hopefully he would open up. After a minute of silence, she knocked louder and waited once more.

"Alright," said a weary voice. "I heard you the first time Alice. Give a man a moment to get decent won't you?"

Alice pulled out the chocolate sheepishly as Remus opened the door. He was wearing baggy, extremely shabby clothes and looked about a hundred years old.

"Hello again Remus," Alice said, handing him the chocolate. "I've come to see how you are."

He lead her inside and they sat together at a tiny dining table in a sparce kitchen. He unwrapped and devoured the chocolate, giving her a grateful look over the top of it. Once he vanished the wrapper, he turned his tired gaze to her and raised an eyebrow.

"It's been a long time since I've seen you," he said, "But I can tell by your emotions that you have a proposition for me. I won't take it Alice, whatever it is. As harsh as it might sound… I don't need anyone's money or pity."

"That's too bad," Alice said with a tilt of her head, "Because I was going to ask you if you'd like to see your godson. I know they made you godmother and sadly Sirius is indisposed, but Harry's been asking for you almost constantly."

"That prophecy that banshee talked about that one time we were under cover… That was all true?" Remus asked her. "That banshee has my godson?"

Alice tried to use her vela powers to soothe the room, but it didn't seem to work on Remus' anger. The werewolf stood up and paced, growling about meddling fools and kidnapping she devils. Eventually he made his way toward the kettle and began to brew a pot of tea. Alice noticed him sneak a sip of something stronger he pulled out from behind the cups.

"Cup of tea Alice?" he asked, a slight snarl in his voice. "You'd better give me all of the details too mind, don't skimp on anything."

"Thank you Remus," Alice answered demurely. "I would love a cup of tea."

Remus dug into the far back of the cupboards, finally coming up with a chipped saucer. He plunked the cup on the saucer down in front of her, then sat down again. He cradled his own tea in his hands, probably so he wouldn't start throwing things. Alice took a deep breath and a fortifying sip of tea, then began to talk again.

"As you know, Miralene told you of a prophecy," she began. "This is what it is…"

"Zoom!" Harry yelled at the top of his lungs as Miralene ran around the rooms and hallways with him stretched out on her arms. "Zoom!"

They passed Hannette in the kitchen and Harry waved at her, giggling up a storm. Hannette scooped up Harry and hugged him to her bosom.

"He's mine!" she screeched with a cackle to Miralene. "I'm a witch who likes to eat children!"

Hannette began to pretend to nibble at Harry's nose as he shrieked in delight. He wiggled his trapped hands and kicked his feet, gurgling happily. Miralene foe pouted from next to them, and Hannette gave up eventually.

"Oh fine then," she mock sneered, "I see how it is."

The trio froze as they heard the door open and close. There was a moment of tense silence and then, "Oh where oh where has my Harry cub gone? Oh where oh where could he be?"" A man's low, smooth voice sang out. Miralene let Harry wriggle from her arms and run shrieking for his "Unca Mooey!" Alice slipped past him unseen and set the toy werewolf after Harry as well.

Guided by the faeries' pretty lights, Harry ran straight into Remus's arms. He tried to climb him like a monkey, and Remus hoisted Harry up so he sat on his shoulders. By this time, stuffed Moony had reached them. The toy jumped up at Harry, wagging its tail.

"Mooey!" Harry hollered, pointing down at the toy. "Unca Mooey," was said with a pat to Remus's cheek.

Remus nudged the toy away gently and it scampered after them as they walked into the sitting room. All this while Harry was asking where his uncle Padfoot was, and Remus just couldn't bring himself to tell him. They sat down and Remus summoned a picture book from the shelf to read to Harry.

"Why haven't you made him a toy Padfoot?" he asked Miralene idly between sentences.

"We still don't know if he is truly guilty or not," she said, rubbing her sunken face thoughtfully. "It would be better for Harry to get used to only one magical toy. We would get him a dog to play with, but from what Hannette tells me, they had a cat at home."

"Kitty?" Harry asked, looking up into Miralene's black eyes.

"Miwa mummy knows where kitty is?"

"It looks like we're going to just have to take this all one day at a time," Remus said resignedly. "Hey Harry cub, how would you like it if I came to live with you? Your new mummy and aunties said it's okay."

"Old mummy say it's okay too?" Asked Harry worriedly.

Remus took a deep breath and schooled his expression to show an impassive mask. Miralene knelt in front of the sofa and took Harry's little hands in her bony ones. A tear formed in her eye, but Alice summoned it before it could hit the floor. She stuffed it in a jar on the mantlepiece.

"Harry," said Miralene softly. "A story was told to me before you were born. I went straight to your mummy and daddy to tell them. They wouldn't believe me, until Alice and Hannette backed up the story. Hannette was one of your mom's pen pal friends from another school and Alice was a pen pal friend to Remus. When Remus told them of the story, they finally believed me. A little while later, just as you were about to be born, another story was told to an old man. This man made your mummy and daddy go into hiding, but they updated their will before them. They offered you a place to stay with me here."

Harry looked confused and probably felt it too. He tentatively hugged his new mummy who wasn't as warm or snuggly as his aunties.

"So Mooey stays?" he asked, a glint of hope in his eyes.

"Moony stays," said Miralene. "Hannette's making him up a bed as we speak."

"What about…"

"Hush and shush Remus," Miralene said firmly. "We have a basement, and Alice is an admirable brewer. Now, would you like to give Harry his dinner?"

Remus hushed. He knew when he'd been had, so he stood up and took Harry with him to the kitchen. He strapped him into his highchair and cut up the small portion of chicken and potatoes on Harry's plate. He had to laugh as Harry tried to feed him, but guided the little hand back to Harry's mouth. At night time, he tucked Harry up in his crib and kissed his head.

"Goodnight cub. I love you."

"Love.. Mooey…"

A/N Hello beautiful souls. It took a few days to get this chapter out. The creativity was there but health takes president. Let me know what scenes you would like to see. Rosebloom