Chapter 3: Wacky Wizarding World 101
"That's right Harry. Like this." Harry watched Moony closely as he demonstrated the correct way to hold a quill. "You're holding it a lot better. Before it looked like you were trying to choke a chicken. Now. The trick is…"
Harry interrupted. "Why can't I write with a pencil? They have erasers. I'm only eleven. I NEED an eraser." Harry glared at his ink-smeared and error-filled paper.
The fact that Harry barely was capable of writing a clear sentence bothered Moony, and he was determined to help. This was Harry's tenth attempt at using a quill. "I can't send him this paper. I can't even read it and I wrote it!" Harry tossed the quill down in disgust.
"Of course, you can use a pencil, Harry. Moony, tell Harry he may use a pencil to write the D-A- M- N- letter!" Padfoot growled at his friend.
"That spells damn." Harry groused. Which earned Padfoot a punch in the arm from Prongs.
"Stop cussing around my son." Prongs then turned to Moony, "For the love of Merlin will you please just let him write the letter so that we can get Harry out of this insane house?"
Moony sighed and said, "You'll find regular muggle writing instruments in the top drawer of the desk Harry. There's also spare parchment. We made sure to stock you up for everything we could think of that a first-year might need. Pencils and erasers and even a muggle pen or two were some of your mum's contributions to your box. Is your library close by?"
Moony's change of subject could make anyone's head spin, Harry went to get the paper and pencil and smiled as he pulled out the familiar number 2 pencil and grinned at Moony. "It's even sharp!" Thinking that his mother had placed it for him made him feel warm inside.
Prongs smiled, "She charmed it to stay that way too."
Harry grinned and tossed his ink-smeared last attempt in the bin, then set himself up to try attempt number eleven. He hoped that they could finish soon so he could get some sleep.
The Dursleys liked to keep him busy with a long list of chores. He'd weeded all the flower beds and mowed the lawn and started cleaning the garage. He cooked breakfast, did the dishes, and helped cook dinner and did the dishes again. He was tired and sore and still hungry.
Then Moony's question finally caught up with him and he nodded, "Aunt Petunia takes Dudley once a week. I sometimes sneak them to read." He admitted sheepishly. "Dudley never reads them," Harry noted, telling the Marauders everything they needed to know about the boy.
The Marauders gave each other meaningful looks and Moony shook his head sadly then smiled at the boy, "Parchment Harry, paper is a muggle term." Harry sighed and nodded.
They had all agreed that they would teach Harry to fit in with his peers and teach him as much as they could in the short time that they had. Mere weeks to give Harry a crash course they called The Wacky World of Wizards 101. It started with a truncated history that started with Merlin and ended with the Statute of Secrecy. They spent time discussing the founding of Hogwarts, the four houses.
But mostly they talked to Harry about his personal family history. It was impressed upon Harry that his family history held a place of prominence in the wizarding world.
"Okay. Ready?" Harry nodded and began to write as the Marauders dictated.
"Start off with a strong salutation Harry," Moony said and Harry stared at him blankly. "Salutation is the greeting part of the letter Harry." the more scholarly of the quartet lectured patiently.
"For the love of Merlin, can you just dictate the letter already!" Padfoot was beginning to bang his head on the wall of the painting which made Harry laugh as it looked quite humorous and slightly painful.
"Harry. Just write this." Prongs stepped in before the chaos could take root. "Dear Mr. Lupin…"
Harry wrote the letter and finally, everyone was satisfied.
"Now all you have to do is give the letter to Hedwig and she'll take it to Moony!" Padfoot sighed returning to his seat.
Harry suspected that they were playing a prank on him, but they insisted that Hedwig could find him. They warned Harry it could take a few days to hear back, but until then they debated about having Harry also contact Sirius and Andromeda Tonks, Sirius's cousin.
In the end, they decided that if Remus didn't respond within three days they would contact the others.
Harry did as they instructed and spent a few minutes making sure Hedwig understood what was required and watched her wing away into the night sky. He then collapsed onto his bed, too tired to even change into his pajamas.
Remus Lupin lived in a small cabin in the woods. His nearest neighbor was miles away and he preferred it that way.
The loss of his pack had damaged Remus almost to the point of suicide. He couldn't go through that again. No, Remus Lupin knew better than to open his heart in any meaningful way. You didn't love, you couldn't lose. And Remus hated losing. Losing friends. Losing family. Losing his humanity. Ten years of loneliness and depression is what having and losing his pack had done to him.
Currently, Remus was reading the Daily Prophet. He didn't think much of the wizarding paper, but it was some kind of connection with the wizarding world. He had become skilled in reading between the lines. But today there was barely anything at all worthy to be called news unless Harry Potter being spotted in Diagon Alley with Hagrid was news.
It was interesting to Remus but for entirely different reasons than most wizards would find it interesting.
Why Hagrid? He wondered. Wouldn't Professor McGonagall have been a better choice?
He hated second-guessing the headmaster but to send Harry to the Alley only with Hagrid wouldn't be the best introduction to the magical world. Remus knew Harry had been raised by his muggle aunt and uncle, so would need the Muggleborn introduction.
Sending Harry with Hagrid told him a few important things though.
First, Harry had to be protected while out in the wizarding world, so sending Hagrid as a bodyguard made a lot of sense.
Even though Hagrid was a gentle giant, he could be quite intimidating if he needed to be. He'd fought beside Hagrid in the order and knew the half-giant was a formidable warrior.
And it told him that Harry was woefully unprepared for Hogwarts.
Inwardly he fumed that he'd been kept from his best friend's son for his protection. Like he could ever hurt Harry.
He looked at the photo that the Prophet reporter had been able to take of Harry looking tiny in too-big clothes with eyes as big as saucers taking in all the chaos. Harry would have gone to Gringotts he thought.
His mind cast back to the past and an almost forgotten argument.
"But why Prongs? I mean portraits are for old people." Sirius complained. He remembered echoing those same sentiments at the time, but not voicing them.
James couldn't really explain his want or need, other than to say, I need to know that if something happens to me that Harry is safe, and he grows up knowing me a little, us a little. I just…" He shrugged helplessly, "It's just a feeling okay? Nothing concrete, but with the war and the prophecy…"
James shook his head angrily. "I just need to do more than cross my fingers and hope everything works out. Besides, I think having a portrait of the Marauders is a brilliant idea."
And so they had agreed and commissioned a well-known artist to paint the portrait and he had given his memories.
James had put the painting into Harry's trust vault and then they all, including Lily had all worked together to create the box. He smiled at the memory. Filling the box with all the things Harry would need during his first year at Hogwarts had been a welcome distraction. He had no recollection of when the box was put into the vault.
Remus wondered briefly if Harry had discovered the box.
He investigated the photo more closely and grinned. If you weren't looking for it you would never see it. There was a strong notice-me-not charm on it and it seemed to even have some effect on the photo. But he knew what to look for.
He tossed the paper to the table with a grin and a quick flick of his wand had the picture and article cut from the paper and he summoned his scrapbook and put it in with the rest of his treasured memories. He grabbed a quill and wrote the caption. Harry's First Trip to Diagon Alley.
It was right about then that Remus heard the tapping on his window and saw a beautiful white owl. He stood to let her in. "Well hello, there pretty. Who do you belong to?"
He didn't recognize the owl but she held her claw out and he took the letter from her. His own owl Othello was napping on his perch and Remus directed the owl to take a rest and wait for his reply.
The parchment was rolled neatly into a scroll. Remus unfurled it and read what it contained his eyebrows disappearing into his somewhat shaggy hair and his eyes widened as he realized who it was from.
His gaze read the words greedily, idly noting the pencil and many eraser marks.
Dear Mr. Lupin,
My name is Harry Potter. I am being told what to write by Moony Padfoot and Prongs.
Moony, you need to get Harry out of here. These muggles are not fit guardians for Harry. You swore an oath to take care of Harry if anything were to happen to Prongs and so far it looks like you've forgotten that promise.
Harry needs guidance before he goes to Hogwarts in September. He doesn't even know how to use a quill! Please send Hedwig back with your reply. We think that meeting Harry outside his muggle home would be best. There is a library nearby. We can arrange to meet there at your behest.
Harry's home life is bad. The situation is like Padfoot's situation only worse! Prongs is furious because he put in his will that Harry was NOT to go to his muggle relatives. They treat Harry like a house elf!
Time for an intervention Moony.
Love and Kisses.
Moony, Padfoot, and Prongs (Wormtail would send his regards but he forgot to give us his memories!)
PS Harry can't wait to meet you. Reply swiftly!
Remus read and re-read the letter. He felt his eyes burn with the weight of his loss again. He shook his head at the impossibility of it all.
His eyes fell on the sentence about Harry's situation being worse than Padfoots. Sirius Black had been terribly abused by his family. He remembered how he had run away from his home after his parents had tried to force him to take the mark.
He shook his head still not able to understand how Sirius could have betrayed James and Lilly. James was like a brother to him. They loved each other.
He sighed and summoned parchment and a quill. If Harry was being abused, he had a sworn duty to stop it.
Dear Harry,
Thank you for your letter. I am anxious to meet you and learn more about your situation. I will be at the Public Library tomorrow. I hope you can meet me there.
You should bring everything you own with you, but if you can't at least bring the box and your wand. Everything else can be replaced.
I don't expect that you will be returning to your relatives from there so plan accordingly.
Love your Uncle Moony.
He called Hedwig over and gave her the letter. "Here you go, girl. Take this back to Harry." He gave her a pet, opened the window, and watched her take wing.
He looked around at the cabin and sighed. Harry would have the box so there would be a place for him to sleep. He smiled and felt a thrill of excitement.
His cub was coming home.