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Author: melkior Story: Meddle Rating: Teens Setting: AU Status: WIP Warning: None Reviews: 13 Words: 24,182
Author's Notes: A thanks to my betas as always... Remus Lupin was waiting in line for his Portkey back to England. He was nervous and excited at the same time. He couldn't wait to meet the child he once loved like his own, a child he would have taken in if circumstances had been different. But now things had changed and he couldn't wait to meet Harry Potter, his best friend's son - again. Thinking about his best friend brought the memories back. Twenty-two year old Remus John Lupin was sitting near the fireplace in the library at the Order of the Phoenix headquarters in a small village in northern Wales when the news came. A small owl flew in through the window; he removed the note quickly, opened and read it. Then he read it again. Then he threw the wretched note into the blazing fire and covered his face with his hands as the tears started. And he wept. He wept for his best friend and his wife - the woman Remus had learned to love as a sister. He wept for his other two friends. One who lost his life along with thirteen innocent Muggles. He even wept for his old friend who caused all of this, but most of all he wept for the innocent little child who was left an orphan now, never to know his parents as more than hazy images. In one little note Remus John Lupin lost everything he had. Four of his friends were dead, and one of them was as good as. He was all alone. His parents and relatives were long gone, and his sister never survived the werewolf attack when he was six. The attack which destroyed his family and left him with a life-long curse. He was used to being alone, but he never expected his world to shatter because of a simple piece of paper. In that moment Remus Lupin promised himself to take care of Harry, to give him the love his parents would have. Little did he know when he made that promise it would take him 10 years to fulfil it. "What do you mean, he's taken care of? You can't be serious Albus! You heard Lily. You know what those Muggles are like!" Remus raged at his former Headmaster. "Remus, he must be protected..." "I will protect him!" Remus cut him off. "You cannot protect him like the blood wards will. You know the blood magic as well as I do. Nothing can harm him there," Dumbledore replied. "Albus, can I at least visit him?" the young man pleaded. "No. I am sorry, but I have made my decision. Young Harry must not know of our world until he attends Hogwarts. I have made arrangements with Arabella to look after him," Dumbledore said in a firm voice. "So Harry is to live with those horrible people and there is nothing for me to do here?" "Yes, Remus. My decision is final. I am sorry." "That makes two of us," the werewolf gruffly muttered as he turned around and left the room as the last good thing in his life was taken from him. Remus mechanically packed his meagre belongings as he prepared to leave England for the foreseeable future. He had no life there anymore, no reason to stay. For five years he had travelled around the world looking for a new start, looking for a new life, and maybe even a cure for his illness. But the search was a lost cause, so after many years of travelling he settled down in a small town in the western part of the United States. It was there that he started working as a teacher in the elementary school. He had to be careful so no one could find out about his condition. The children loved him, as did their parents, but he didn't feel like he fit in. He had little reason to live, but he continued on anyway. Deep down in his heart he still hoped to meet the child he had been forced to leave all those years ago. Another five years flew by for everyone but him. Each day was long and torturous, lacking utterly in joy. He knew that this year Harry would start school, and he toyed with the idea of returning back to England to try to catch a glimpse of him. A noise from the window brought him back from his thoughts. As he moved to investigate the source of the noise he was more than surprised to see an owl with a letter waiting for him. He hadn't received a letter by owl for almost ten years. He quickly opened the window and took the letter, noticing the Gringotts' seal as he turned it around. "Why are they sending me a letter? I have no business with them..." he murmured softly. It took him some time to gather the courage to open the letter. After all, the last one he had received in this fashion had been mated to a fire shortly after. Eventually, he took it out of the envelope and began to read. August 1st, 1991 Dear Mr. Lupin, As you may not be aware, on the 31st of July, 1991, the reading of the Will and Last Testament We hope this news found you well. Drenok Department of Wills and Last Testament Gringotts Bank For the second time in ten years Remus Lupin wept after reading a letter. And, for the first time in ten years, Remus Lupin knew joy. He packed immediately after resigning his position at the local school. He knew where the wizarding areas in the USA were, but he had never visited them before; so he Apparated to the nearest location where he could get an intercontinental Portkey. And now he was waiting in the line. After filling out the necessary but tedious and lengthy paperwork he entered a small room with a single table, on which he found a small nail - his Portkey to Diagon Alley. After tapping it with his wand he found himself in front of the stairs which lead into Gringotts. He quickly entered the bank. After ten years Remus Lupin had finally been given what he had yearned for. Harry was cleaning the bathtub. It was spotless, but he was forced to clean it anyway. It was one of many chores he had to do every day to compensate the Dursleys for providing him with room and board. For the past two years Ginny had kept him company through their connection while he was working, but as it was afternoon she was taking a nap, so he was on his own. A week had passed since he visited Diagon Alley and still he hadn't heard anything from his new guardian or Gringotts. He was disappointed, though that wasn't exactly a new feeling for him. Ginny always tried to keep his spirits up, and it did help, but it was only with partial successes. He really hoped he would get a new home, but it appeared that it was not destined to be. He was roused from his thoughts by his uncle screaming from downstairs. "Boy! There's someone to see you! I've had enough of your freaks! Get here this instant and tell him to leave." He cleaned his hands in an instant and went downstairs. The front door was open and his uncle was standing by it. On the front porch stood a young man with light brown hair and small streaks of grey in it. He wore Muggle clothes that were worn out but serviceable. Harry approached him cautiously. "Hello, Harry!" the man spoke in a soft voice. "My name is Remus Lupin." "Hello!" Harry answered, his eyes wide with a faint glimmer of hope. "You're Mr. Lupin?" "None of that," he laughed. "You can call me Remus. As you are aware, I am your new guardian." "What?" Vernon squeaked before marshalling his voice. "You came here for the boy? Good riddance I say. We will finally be rid of all of your freakish abominations." Remus looked at Harry's uncle with carefully controlled rage. "Yes. I came to collect Harry. If I can come in to collect his belongings as well we'll be on our way momentarily," he answered in a calm but firm voice. He then turned to Harry and his expression softened. "Is that OK with you, Harry?" "Yes sir, I mean Remus." Harry was still getting used to being called Harry by an adult. "Good. We'll take a Portkey to your new home after we get everything, and then I'm sure you'll have a lot of questions." They quickly went upstairs and packed Harry's trunk. Remus was appalled to see the small room that Harry was using. "Do you want to say goodbye to your Aunt and Uncle?" he asked softly. "No," was the firm answer. Remus sighed. "Well, after what I have seen I really can't blame you." He put one of his hands on the trunk and offered a small mug with his other hand to Harry. "Take hold of the mug. When I tap my wand on it we'll appear at our destination." Harry, not really wanting to explain that he already knew what a Portkey was, just nodded and took the mug in his hand. As his new guardian tapped his wand on the mug Harry felt a jerk behind his navel and a spinning sensation engulfing him. He quickly found himself lying on the floor in the atrium of a large manor. Remus gracefully landed on his feet and offered his hand to help Harry get up. "Welcome to your new home Harry!" the older man said kindly. "Wow! This is your house? Great!" said Harry in an awed voice, looking around. The werewolf smiled as he replied, "No Harry. This is Potter Manor. This is your house. I will just live here to take care of you." The boy was speechless. This wonderful, big house was his. Remus just smiled at his shock. "Come on, let me show you to your room," his new guardian said as he levitated Harry's trunk. Harry followed him up the stairs. After two set of stairs they ended up in a corridor with massive mahogany doors. Remus opened them and motioned Harry to follow him in. He found himself in a huge room set in Gryffindor colours, as Ginny sent him, with a queen-size four-poster bed against the back wall and a fireplace with a large rug in front of it. In one corner of the room there was a comfortable couch and an armchair across of it. In the other corner stood a large writing desk and a big cupboard next to it. There were two doors and both were open. One led to another cupboard ready to be filled with clothes; behind the other door was the biggest bathroom Harry had ever seen. "This is my room?" asked Harry incredulously. "Yes," Remus answered with a chuckle. "This is the master suite. My room is across the hall. We'll leave your stuff here and I'll give you a tour of the house." "Sure." Harry followed Remus through the huge manor. They went through guest rooms, bathrooms, working rooms and offices. There was even a training room, a huge living room, a big kitchen and a dining room next to it. The best of all was a huge library filled with thousands of books. "I can't believe this," said Harry as they settled down in the living room. Harry was sitting on a large sofa and Remus was sitting in an armchair across him. "Well, your parents were quite rich. They didn't build this house of course; it has been in your family for generations," Remus answered with a small smile. "You knew my parents?" "Yes," answered Remus with a faraway look. "They were my best friends." "Could you tell me about them?" "I will Harry. But let's leave it for tonight. And tomorrow we can go shopping to get you some new clothes. Why don't you take a nap in your new room and when you wake up we'll have dinner?" "OK," Harry said as he got up. "And Remus?" "Yes Harry?" "Thank you!" the boy said. "You're more than welcome!" the werewolf answered with a smile and suspiciously glistening eyes. Remus didn't move from the chair when Harry left him. He was thinking. It was obvious the boy accepted him well but they were in for a long talk in which he will need to explain many things to Harry, including his lycanthropy. He wasn't sure how the boy was going to cope with it all. And there was still the problem of Albus Dumbledore to consider. The man wouldn't be happy when he found out what had happened. But it wasn't really his problem and it certainly wasn't Harry's. The boy wasn't guilty of anything. He was simply curious and he was better off that way. Remus had seen those people and couldn't believe Harry had been forced to live with them for almost ten years. With that last thought he got up and went to the kitchen. Harry would wake up from his nap soon and Remus had a dinner to make. As Harry woke up he was immediately aware that something was different. Then the events of the day came crashing to him. At the same time Ginny was bombarded with his memories of it, and of his new home and guardian. Oh, Harry! This really happened? Yes Gin! I still can't believe it though. No one deserves this more than you do. Except you, Harry answered immediately. He could feel Ginny blushing as she sent him, Well maybe one day I will have this. I'm sure you will. She blushed more but otherwise kept quiet. Stay with me, sent Harry. This way we'll both learn about my parents. I will Harry. And Remus seems really nice. Yes he is. It seems as if he really likes me. Of course he does. Who wouldn't? Now it was Harry's turn to blush. They continued to bicker a little bit more before Harry finally got up from his bed and went downstairs, eager to find out about his parents. "So Sirius Black betrayed my parents? But why?" "I wish I could answer you Harry. I trusted him with my life. So did your parents, unfortunately." "Then I hope he rots in prison," the boy answered him. "Yeah," Remus said uncertainly. "But you don't have to be alone anymore. You have me now." "Yes! I do!" Remus couldn't help but smile at the boy's evident jubilance. Go hug him you prat! Ginny ordered. Harry stood up and went to his new guardian. The older man embraced his new protégé with tears in his eyes. Both were happy to have someone in their lives. Ginny was equally happy for her best friend. He finally had someone else than her. Maybe now his life would take a turn for the better. After a dinner Harry obviously enjoyed, Remus approached the last thing he had to tell him. "There is one more thing I have to tell you." "What is it Remus?" "This is hard for me. When I was six years old I was bitten by a werewolf. The disease transferred onto me..." the older man trailed off as he saw the boy's shocked expression. "Um... What does that mean?" Harry asked timidly. "Once a month, when the moon is full, I turn into a werewolf. Because of this I shouldn't have been allowed to take care of you…" "…but my parents used their veto," Harry finished for him. "So if my parents trusted you, so will I." "Thank you for accepting this, Harry." "I don't care if you are a werewolf. So what will happen on full moons?" "I will lock myself in the basement so I can't hurt you. When I change the wolf takes over." "Isn't there anything you could do?" the boy asked. "Well, there is a new potion called Wolfsbane which would allow me to keep my human side when I change but it's expensive." "I have money. You can buy it for yourself." "No Harry, I can't," the werewolf protested. "Yes you can, and you will. If you are here to take care of me then let me take care of you. We are family now and that's what families do for each other." "Then I accept," said Remus as he pulled Harry into a hug. "You might look like your father but you are your mother's son." Harry just beamed at the obvious compliment to himself and his mother. It is quite easy for an Adult to control the physical world. They could easily do it all the time yet They chose not to. All They do is a touch here or a touch there. But Their simple touch means an immeasurable blessing to us, or a fatal blow. The Founding Fathers of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry left some of the most ingenious magical artefacts that were ever found. One of them is the Quill of Detection. Lying in a chamber accessible only by the current Headmaster or Headmistress, it notes the names and dates of birth of all magical children on the British Isles. The other function of the Quill is to mark the children when they are ready to receive their Hogwarts Acceptance Letter. The Quill itself has been enchanted to do this once they reach 11 years. The production of the Quill was one of the most dramatic events from the lives of the Founding Fathers. Before the creation of the Quill they needed to search the land themselves to find magical children. The problem was resolved by the one hundred and forty five year old Lord Godric of Gryffindor, War-Mage and first Headmaster of Hogwarts. At the time he was finally succumbing to the illness which had weakened his body, but not his mind or magic. On a day he knew was close to his last he took a tail feather of his phoenix familiar Vir and used all of his magic and life force to turn it into the object now known as the Quill of Detection. When the remaining two founders found out what he had done, Rowena Ravenclaw used her knowledge to protect the Quill from potential misuse. from Hogwarts, A History, Volume 3 Love laughed. Human protections were so crude. She decided it was time to add Her final touch. Three days after moving into his new home Harry was sitting in the library of Potter Manor, reading his History of Magic textbook. It was fun to learn more about the world of magic, his world. Along with the information, the book had provided him with a name for his new familiar. His reading was interrupted by a delighted shout inside his mind. Harry! I can't believe this! I got it! Her thoughts were a jumble of delight and happiness so Harry couldn't catch them. What Ginny? I got my Hogwarts letter! At the same time Albus Dumbledore stood in front of the fireplace of the Headmaster's office. The legendary twinkle in his eyes was missing as he took a handful of powder from a leather bag and threw it into the fire. As the blazes turned green, he shouted in a firm and slightly angry voice, "Potter Manor!"
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