Legal Disclaimer: I own my stuff, but not the original source material. That belongs to whoever. Also, the opinions and interpretations I use here may not reflect the same in said whoever that owns the source material. Look, I'm just a poor college librarian. Suing me isn't going to get you anything but tears.
Warning: This work may be offensive to some readers. Additionally, a child uses a racial epithet to refer to himself. Feel free to back out if need be. Also, feel free to check the FAQs on my FFN profile before leaving reviews about anything you dislike (including characterization or length).
Author's Note: I have never been so jealous of another country's fast food menus. Also, a reminder that a character using derogatory language is NOT an excuse to use it in reviews.
Submitting Info:
Stacked with: Hogwarts 2.0 (T05); RAVEN (2025); MC4A (Sp-Yr8)
Individual Challenges: Tiny Terror; Dreamers; Magical MC [x2]; Nonhuman MC; Shifter MC; Criminal; Student; Ethnic & Present; Hold the Mayo; Neurodivergent; Rian-Russo Inversion; Pack & Pride (Y); Hogwarts MC; Claimed; Finders; Traveler; Rainbow Connection; Sandbox (Y); Cinematic; Reader; Short Jog; Bucket Listing; The Story Goes On; Eating Cake (Y); Exchange; Greatest Gift; Outer Limit; Two Cakes (Y); Fuzzy Socks; Vial Collector
Hogwarts House: Ravenclaw
Assignment: Term 05 - Assignment 05
Subject [Task (Prompt)] : Health & Fitness [Task#3 (someone with an appetite)]
Other Hogwarts Challenges: Library [PoA](Werewolf); Frenzy [SW#3]("I am your father"); Center [113 - Rexy](chomp); Pokemon [346 - Cradily](dandelion); Mar House [Huff#7](dirty);
RAVEN Challenges: A [48](Licking); Traits [86](Tentative); Colors [24](dandelion); Items [75](Sandwich); Settings [11](Car)
Other MC4A Challenges: Chim [Jolene]("Isaac" - Bear's Den; Race Bent; Fruit); Hunt [Sp WD (Jewish)];
Representation(s): Desi & Autistic Harry Potter & Jewish Remus Lupin; Teen Wolf Lycanthropy; Chim Song Prompt
Primary & Secondary Bonus Challenges: Persistence Still; Wabi Sabi; Demo 2 (Tomorrow's Shade; Hot Stuff; Sailor Delight)
Tertiary & Generic Bonus Challenges: T3 (Tether); SN (Rail; Ameliorate); FR (Gestation; Satisfaction); SHoE (Onus); Once (Santa Fe); War (Obstruction; Sanctuary; Ennui); TY (Enfant); Wings (Bower); Share (Ameliorate; Augur)
Space Address (Prompt): SpB 5B (Yellow); TrB 4A (Hope is Scary)
Word Count: 1207 words
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Beneath Arches of Gold
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It was strange traveling with Remus. He was nothing like the Dursleys. For one thing, the battered little car he had driven away Little Whinging was something that would have had Aunt Petunia gossiping viciously with her bridge club. Remus was also far calmer than Uncle Vernon ever was, without any grumbling under his breath about the other drivers on the road. Harry had watched him from the pumpkin orange booster in the backseat and not once had his face turned red or pinched.
It was just very strange.
Eventually, the countryside of Surrey turned into the outskirts of London. Remus briefly met Harry's eyes in the review mirror, just a flash of gold that almost matched the deepening color of the setting sun. Then he was pulling into the parking lot of a fast food restaurant with dandelion yellow arches. It was one of Dudley's favorites, so Harry was familiar with it, but Harry had never had anything from it because Aunt Petunia had never wanted to waste money getting something for Harry.
Remus rattled on a list to the squawky voice in the box. Knowing better than to expect to get any of it, Harry focused out the window to distract himself from the growling gurgle in his stomach. Maybe Remus would have Harry cook breakfast in the morning. That would let him sneak a little bit just like he did when he made breakfast for the Dursleys.
Harry was startled out his trance by Remus softly calling his name. He had pulled into one of the parking spots and was now trying to pass back a small plastic cup with a lid. Confused, Harry took it and took a cautious sip before humming appreciatively at the flavor of lemonade. Remus had a soft smile on his face as he encouraged Harry to use the cup holder so that he could take a paper bag with a delicious smell.
Inside the bag was a feast similar to what Uncle Vernon got himself when he thought Aunt Petunia wouldn't find out. In addition to the string chips, there was some kind of breaded dippers that came with a dipping sauce. There was also a burger that smelled more like green beans than beef but the salad on it was fresher than what Uncle Vernon normally ends up with. The final item was a stick of pineapple in a plastic wrapper.
"I don't know if Tuna had you following the same traditions as your parents," Remus explained when Harry had glanced up in confusion. His smile was strained around the edges. "I figured that it was probably best to just avoid animal meat until we can get to a kitchen of our own. We still have a few hours before we need to start working our way through airport security."
"I don't know either," Harry said before taking a cautious bite of the odd burger. It tasted like onions and mixed vegetables. He took a larger bite, more focused on filling his stomach than noticing how quiet Remus had gotten.
"Did Tuna talk about them much?"
Harry nibbled at a dipper as he thought about the question. He had only known Remus a couple of hours, but he did get the sense that the man would be upset about the sort of things that the Dursleys said about his parents. Not that they truly said much about them, even if the veiled comments were fairly frequent. He frowned, trying to figure out how to answer the question.
"Right," Remus said, as if agreeing with something that Harry hadn't said. "I shouldn't have phrased it like that. Sorry. I'm a bit out of practice removing ambiguity. Did she tell you much about them or was it just a lot of the same things on repeat?"
"Repeat," Harry confirmed easily once he had clarified the question. He shoved the entire dipper into his mouth. Remus looked like he might be sick. Harry swallowed. "It was mostly that they were drunks who didn't want me and that was why they got into the wreck that night. But I don't think that's what happened, because her ears twitched when she said it, same when she lied about her cards when playing bridge."
"You're just as smart as your mother," Remus said, and he didn't sound annoyed like Aunt Petunia did when she compared him to his parents. The man picked at his own meal. "She noticed everyone's tells, too. Made it hilarious that it took so long for her to realize that Prongs was actually sincere instead of doing a bit. Cor, he also needed the time to grow out of his toerag shell, so it was for the best, really."
"Was that his name?" Harry asked the question before thinking about the consequences. Not that Remus had seemed like he wanted to chomp Harry's face off when asked questions that Aunt Petunia had. Either way, Harry was sure to keep eating his meal in case Remus decided to take it for his insubordination.
"It was his nickname," Remus said, using a tone nearly as flat as the one Harry used when he wasn't thinking. "He had a couple of others, but most knew him as James Potter. Your mother was known as Lily Evans. She caused quite the scandal by not changing her name after marrying him. Not everyone supported that decision, but that didn't matter to them."
Silence filled the car. There was a tension to it, but it was different from any that filled silences at the Dursleys. Harry was starting to think that nothing with Remus was going to be like how it was with the Dursleys. The thought was as bright as the pineapple stick that Harry was now eating.
"I need you to understand something," Remus said after they had finished their food. Harry looked up from licking the pineapple juice off his fingers. Remus had twisted in his seat. "I have all the paperwork needed to get us safely on our way, but some people may question it because, well…"
"Because I'm a dirty mongrel."
"Don't phrase it like that," Remus said in a tone of voice that Harry didn't recognize, "but yes, because we look so different. I want to explain so that you don't get surprised. According to the paperwork, I am your father."
"Okay," Harry agreed easily. Too easily if the confused look on the man's face was to go by. "Paperwork says a lot of things that may not be true. It isn't bad." Remus still looked like he didn't understand. "Aunt Petunia doesn't like to get notes from the school. I learned to take care of it." Harry shrugged before focusing on his unpleasantly sticky fingers. His voice was hushed as he continued, not certain if he wanted to be heard or not. "It might be nice to have a father."
"It might be nice to have a son," Remus whispered in return, his voice thick with something that Harry couldn't name.
"Can I wash my hands?" Harry dared to ask. Remus let out a bark of a laugh. Somehow, Harry just knew it was all going to be alright.
Just as soon as he had clean hands again.