Holding Out for A Hero - Prologue/ch1 (edit)
Okay.
So I started off trying to emulate JKR. But, I think I lost it about half way through and went into my own style. But seeing as how she and I are both pretty vague on detail, I'm not gonna worry about it. Anyway. Enjoy.
EDIT -
Thank you Mysid for the corrections. I've made them all, added a prologue and corrected a mispelt word. How can I mispel "bad"? I wonder. Lol. Anyway, if it weren't for you, hon, I don't think this story would have been very good. Thanks so much.
0-0-0
Holding Out for a Hero
Fandom - Harry Potter
Pairing - Remus/Sirius
Disclaimer - I do not own the character's of HP. All OC's are mine though. So I call copy right there. I also do not make any money off this fiction.
A/N - I love the Harry gets adopted plot fics. I really don't care who does it either. Anyway. This is one of those fics.
Summary - Ten year old Harry has always known he's been different; but it's not until Remus Lupin coms looking for him, that Harry starts to understand just how different he is.
Prologue
0-0-0
The office is dim and dank. There is a single lamp on a rather large desk. Behind this desk and sitting on a tall chair is a goblin. His long, pointed nose is moving this way and that as the Goblin checks and double checks the figures in several books that lay open before him.
Finally he sighs and sits back. This can't go on any longer, he decides. He then is reaching for a quill, the ink well and parchment.
Chapter 1 - Number 4 Privet Drive
Mr. and Mrs. Dursley were perfectly normal; thank you very much. They lived on the perfectly normal street of Privet Drive right off Magnolia Crescent. They kept their lawn normally mowed and took pride in the pruning of the garden, which had won them awards in the subsequent years. Nothing on the street was abnormal whatsoever.
However, there was one thing about the Dursley's that wasn't normal. Something that they didn't appreciate. And that was Mrs. Dursley's nephew, Harry Potter. The boy was a few months younger than their Dudley; he was also a burden. He was always making trouble with his horrible affinity of magic. Mrs. Dursley, especially, despised it when she cut Harry's hair to try and make him more normal; but his hair always grew back and never could be tamed with a comb or hair gel. After many tries to force the child's hair into submission, she had simply given it up.
Harry Potter, unlike the Dursley's was not normal. In fact he was as un-normal as anyone could get, and he was about to discover just how un-normal he was.
It started at the beginning of summer before his eleventh birthday. Granted, that was simply four weeks away, but Harry had never had a proper birthday and he knew he never would. He would not get the twenty-six and some odd birthday presents Dudley would; nor would Harry be able to invite a friend for an outing. This year, they were going to the Zoo. Dudley was so excited, he wanted to have his birthday early. But, Mr. and Mrs. Dursley wouldn't hear of it. If there was one thing they didn't give their son, it was an early birthday. Harry wondered if they knew Dudley would worm a second birthday out of them; or if they had problems spending all that money. Whatever the problem was, and no matter how many hissy-fits Dudley had; Mr. And Mrs. Dursley didn't give in to their son's attempts to get what he wanted.
The school year was out and summer saw the river of children run out of the school as the bell rang for the last time until September. Harry watched as the kids around him hugged their best mates, promised to visit over the summer, invite their friends on holiday to the sea or zoo or some other place that children found magical. And he wasn't among any of these groups.
Harry Potter, cousin to Dudley Dursley, is allowed no friends. It isn't that he is a horrible child. He is polite and he likes to play quietly. He shares his toys with the other kids and if he's using the white crayon - he will give it to the next kid over who in need of it. Harry Potter wasn't allowed friends because those friend would get bullied by Dudley Dursley. The monster of the school - as the Teachers lovingly referred to the boy - gave wedgies, stole food and money, dunked kids' heads into toilet bowls, he'd have his goons hold down the victim while he pee'd on said victim.
So - when one got down to brass tacks, Harry Potter was simply quiet. And always paranoid of his cousin. Harry had learnt early on to leave his cousin alone or get punched. It wasn't fun being a punching bag, either, but that was his lot in life and until he got to a point where he didn't have to live with the Dursley's - well, he just had to live with it.
Harry Potter watched the children walk home. Dudley had been picked up by Aunt Petunia several minutes before; they had a weekend trip planned, so while Aunt Petunia took Dudley home to pack, Harry was left to walk to Mrs. Fig's home. It was as normal as the other homes. All were painted the same colour; the only difference is that Mrs. Fig loved cats. She had about twenty of them, Harry never could remember their names. The cats roamed the neighborhood and got into Aunt Petunia's garden. She never complained about it though, she needed someone to baby sit her nephew when the family had something to do.
Harry is glad for the weekend get-a-away though. He'd be able to sleep in a proper bed, in a proper bedroom, even if it does smell old and dusty and the porcelain dolls look creepier in the dead of night. Harry wouldn't mind weeding her giant garden after two nights in the big, brass, guest bed.
He arrived at Mrs. Fig's house ten minutes after school had let out. The Dursley's house look abandoned. He had his extra pair of clothes and tooth brush in his back pack though, so Mrs. Fig wouldn't be asking any questions. The Dursley's always hated it when Mrs. Fig became too interested in Harry and his home life. They passed off his penchant for eating a lot of food on the fact that he was a growing boy - a growing boy that had no meat on his bones - and as far as Mrs. Fig was concerned, he was just fine.
She sat on the porch of her home with a man; Harry had never seen him before, and he was far too young for Mrs. Fig. Harry smiled up at them from the front steps.
"They left all ready," Mrs. Fig informed the young boy, "So I hope you've got everything you need," she wasn't a terribly mean old lady, at least, not in front of the Dursley's.
"Yes Ma'am," Harry nodded.
"Oh Harry, come here," She gestured him up the stairs, "this is a very good friend of mine," she looked over to the man sitting in the whicker chair. He had think grey/blond hair, kind eyes and a ready smile. He held his hand out to Harry who shook it and returned the smile.
"Hi, I'm Remus Lupin," the man introduced himself.
"Good after noon, Sir,"
"Oh, none of that, it makes me feel old, just call me Remus, all right Harry?" Remus laughed. Harry cocked his head to the side, and decided he liked the man. He seemed the sort he could trust, and Harry knew that most of the adults in his life weren't worthy of his trust. But, somehow, this man was.
"Go ahead to the guest room," Mrs. Fig said, "it's a good thing I've got two, Remus is going to stay with us for a while," she said. Harry nodded and then he was inside and running up the stairs.
Mrs. Fig and Remus settled back to enjoy the summer afternoon; "He's so grown up," Remus shook his head.
"And you're sure you want to do this?" Mrs. Fig asked.
"Yes, I didn't know...I mean...I didn't know..." Remus shook his head.
0-0-0
Remus Lupin was abnormal; not only was he a wizard but he was also a Werewolf. And Werewolves had the hardest time living in Wizarding society. Werewolves couldn't get a job and if they did manage to find one, it was hard to keep. Most wizards held a low opinion of anyone with Lycanthropy and those sorts seemed to take up the majority of the populace.
Remus, however, had four friends who didn't think of him as a half-blood creature. No, they liked him for who he was and Remus had held on to those friendships for as long as he could; he liked to be liked. It was an insecurity that even as an adult he was still trying to fight. Some people liked you and some people didn't but if he was given a chance, he could show them just how loyal he was; and they wouldn't regret his friendship.
It was that morning that the summons came. He hadn't any business with the Goblins of Gringott's. The letter he had received had piqued his interest and he went anyway. The Goblin that met him went by the name of Griptalon. He was an old scragly Goblin with evil looking claws and bright yellow eyes. As soon as Remus told one of the tellers his business; Griptalon was fast to bring him off to a side chamber.
It was grand and white with a dark table and chairs that sat in the middle of the chamber; Remus was directed to a seat, the Goblin took one across from him.
Griptalon put a sheaf of papers down in front of him; "This," he gargled, "is the Will of James and Lily Potter, I do believe that you were very close friends with them,"
"Yes," Remus replied simply.
"For years now, I and Headmaster Dumbledoor have been going back and forth on the Will. You see, it was never executed to the letter of Wizarding Law, and I was never able to give the correct property to the people the Potter's had directed in their Will. However, we're conducting an Audit soon and we do not want this on our books any longer. So, as directed by the Potter's you, Remus John Lupin are awarded half of the Potter's fortune. The other half is to be kept for their son Harry James Potter for when he reaches the age of seventeen, however, a trust account is available to him for school supplies and other novelties he'd like to buy. Also, the fees for Hogwarts are going to be paid from the holding's he cannot touch till he reaches seventeen,"
Griptalon looked over his glasses at Remus who blinked in surprise at the goblin.
"Secondly, because Sirius Black is in Azkaban for crimes that have yet to be tried, he cannot properly watch after the child, Harry James Potter and therefore guardianship has been transferred to you, Remus John Lupin for the foreseeable future,"
Remus shook his head.
"But, I don't know where Harry is," Remus replied, still awed by his friend's generosity, "He was gone when the Auror's arrived at Godric's Hollow,"
"The boy has been Kidnapped?" Griptalon asked.
"No," Remus shook his head again, "Professor Dumbledoor has...him hidden away; he say's Harry is safe, but he refuses to tell me where the child is,"
"So, you have been looking for him?" Giptalon raised an eyebrow.
"Yes," Remus blinked.
"We can easily help you with that,"
"For a fee?" Remus asked.
"A small fee," Griptalon shrugged.
Remus didn't even have to think about it; "All right," he nodded, "I would appreciate the help,"
And the goblin magic brought him straight to Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey, England. The afternoon was getting on as he arrived in the backyard of Mrs. Fig's back yard. Of course, after he'd found out all that his friends had given him, he had to gather Harry from Lily's Muggle sister. The Sister she had still cared for but couldn't stand. Petunia, Lily had explained once, was simply jealous that Lily was able to do magic while Petunia couldn't and that was the root of their fighting.
Mrs. Fig received him kindly. She got out tea and cookies and then they were sitting on her front porch. No one noticed the man keeping her company wore odd clothing, nor that they were just a bit on patchy side.
"What's brought you here, Remus?" Mrs. Fig asked.
"Harry Potter," Remus replied, "The Goblins let me in on it, and...well...I'm his guardian because Sirius is in Azkaban," he looked down at his tea. The subject was a sore one for all Wizards. The Potter's were hero's for facing Voldemort down, and dying in the process. Harry was famous because he was the only person ever to survive the Killing Curse. And vanquishing Voldemort. Remus remembered from day one, that every year on Halloween, the Prophet would have a picture of Harry. Remus knew that Harry was living in the Muggle world, but none of the pictures mentioned Lily's family, simply it recounted the night that Voldemort vanished and Harry was whisked away to a life of baggy clothes and anonymity.
The latter Remus could agree with; he understood that Dumbledoor didn't want Harry to grow up with an ego, or for people to cater to Harry because he was the Boy Who Lived. Remus' family were middle class, they didn't have the money that James, Sirius and Peter had - mostly because they were form old Wizard families who had amassed huge fortunes. His was a muggle family until he'd been bitten by Greyback, and learned he was a Wizard.
"He's not going to remember you," Mrs. Fig said, bringing Remus out of his thoughts.
"I know, but...how bad is it?" Remus asked.
"Bad," she shrugged, "but as far as I know only Dudley hits him, and Harry doesn't get hit often. He has learned how to duck," she looked over at the house across the street. The Dursley's, sans Harry, were putting luggage into the boot of their car. Dudley was screaming about wanting a snack, and his Mother was catering to him while his father was trying to wedge everything into the car. Remus shook his head. He was glad he had magic, it was so much easier to travel. Especially once he'd reached Seventeen when he was allowed to do magic outside of school. That had to be the birthday every wizarding child looked forward too.
"Harry is going to stay the weekend with me, maybe you should stay and break it to him slowly," Mrs. Fig suggested. The Dursley's piled into the car and then they were off. They drove down the street, not even bothering to give Mrs. Fig a wave as they passed. Odd Muggles, Remus thought, horribly rude.
"Is he happy there, you think?" Remus asked. How was he supposed to break the news to Harry? what if Harry didn't believe him? where would he go to change for full moon nights?
Mrs. Fig sighed; "He doesn't know anything else,"
Remus was about to say something but then he saw him; Harry Potter looked like James, but had Lily's bright green eyes. His glasses were tabled at the nose and his clothing was baggy. If Remus didn't know any better, he'd think Harry was a Werewolf as well. Their sort never could afford clothing. And then it hit him, he was rich. He had the money to not only spend on Harry, but himself as well. He could give Harry the sort of life James and Lily wanted Harry to always have.
"They left all ready," Mrs. Fig informed the young boy, "So I hope you've got everything you need," she smiled warmly at Harry. Remus felt cold sweat break out all over. Harry wouldn't remember his second favorite Uncle Moony. But, that was to be expected right?
"Yes Ma'am," Harry nodded.
"Oh Harry, come here," She gestured him up the stairs, "this is a very good friend of mine," she looked over at Remus who gathered his courage and smiled at Harry; he just wanted to swoop in and bring the child into a great big hug. But, he didn't want to scare Harry either and so he settled for a friendly, he hoped, and kindly smile instead.
"Hi, I'm Remus Lupin," he held out his hand.
"Good after noon, Sir," Harry took it and they shook.
"Oh, none of that," Remus chuckled, "it makes me feel old, just call me Remus, all right Harry?"
Harry cocked his head to the side. Remus hoped that Harry would like him. If Harry hated him right off the bat, Remus wasn't sure how he was supposed to tell Harry he was a Wizard and that he could live with Remus instead of the Muggles, that is, if the boyu wanted.
"Go ahead to the guest room," Mrs. Fig said, sensing Remus' sudden indecision. "it's a good thing I've got two, Remus is going to stay with us for a while," she said. She gave Remus a raised eybrow and he merely nodded at her. The movement was small and the little boy barely noticed the silent conversation. Harry nodded and then he was inside and running up the stairs.
Mrs. Fig and Remus settled back to enjoy the summer afternoon; "He's so grown up," Remus shook his head.
"And you're sure you want to do this?" Mrs. Fig asked.
"Yes, I didn't know...I mean...I didn't know..." Remus shook his head.
"Either you do or you don't," she huffed, "and are you or aren't you a Gryffindor? where is the courage you people are always going on about? I swear, people seem to put too much of themselves into those houses; and then life ends rights after Hogwarts, I have never understood it," she sipped her tea and glared back across the street at the Dursley's house.
"You're right, I have to tell him. He deserves to know," Remus muttered.
"He does at that," she simply agreed.
So I started off trying to emulate JKR. But, I think I lost it about half way through and went into my own style. But seeing as how she and I are both pretty vague on detail, I'm not gonna worry about it. Anyway. Enjoy.
EDIT -
Thank you Mysid for the corrections. I've made them all, added a prologue and corrected a mispelt word. How can I mispel "bad"? I wonder. Lol. Anyway, if it weren't for you, hon, I don't think this story would have been very good. Thanks so much.
0-0-0
Holding Out for a Hero
Fandom - Harry Potter
Pairing - Remus/Sirius
Disclaimer - I do not own the character's of HP. All OC's are mine though. So I call copy right there. I also do not make any money off this fiction.
A/N - I love the Harry gets adopted plot fics. I really don't care who does it either. Anyway. This is one of those fics.
Summary - Ten year old Harry has always known he's been different; but it's not until Remus Lupin coms looking for him, that Harry starts to understand just how different he is.
Prologue
0-0-0
The office is dim and dank. There is a single lamp on a rather large desk. Behind this desk and sitting on a tall chair is a goblin. His long, pointed nose is moving this way and that as the Goblin checks and double checks the figures in several books that lay open before him.
Finally he sighs and sits back. This can't go on any longer, he decides. He then is reaching for a quill, the ink well and parchment.
Chapter 1 - Number 4 Privet Drive
Mr. and Mrs. Dursley were perfectly normal; thank you very much. They lived on the perfectly normal street of Privet Drive right off Magnolia Crescent. They kept their lawn normally mowed and took pride in the pruning of the garden, which had won them awards in the subsequent years. Nothing on the street was abnormal whatsoever.
However, there was one thing about the Dursley's that wasn't normal. Something that they didn't appreciate. And that was Mrs. Dursley's nephew, Harry Potter. The boy was a few months younger than their Dudley; he was also a burden. He was always making trouble with his horrible affinity of magic. Mrs. Dursley, especially, despised it when she cut Harry's hair to try and make him more normal; but his hair always grew back and never could be tamed with a comb or hair gel. After many tries to force the child's hair into submission, she had simply given it up.
Harry Potter, unlike the Dursley's was not normal. In fact he was as un-normal as anyone could get, and he was about to discover just how un-normal he was.
It started at the beginning of summer before his eleventh birthday. Granted, that was simply four weeks away, but Harry had never had a proper birthday and he knew he never would. He would not get the twenty-six and some odd birthday presents Dudley would; nor would Harry be able to invite a friend for an outing. This year, they were going to the Zoo. Dudley was so excited, he wanted to have his birthday early. But, Mr. and Mrs. Dursley wouldn't hear of it. If there was one thing they didn't give their son, it was an early birthday. Harry wondered if they knew Dudley would worm a second birthday out of them; or if they had problems spending all that money. Whatever the problem was, and no matter how many hissy-fits Dudley had; Mr. And Mrs. Dursley didn't give in to their son's attempts to get what he wanted.
The school year was out and summer saw the river of children run out of the school as the bell rang for the last time until September. Harry watched as the kids around him hugged their best mates, promised to visit over the summer, invite their friends on holiday to the sea or zoo or some other place that children found magical. And he wasn't among any of these groups.
Harry Potter, cousin to Dudley Dursley, is allowed no friends. It isn't that he is a horrible child. He is polite and he likes to play quietly. He shares his toys with the other kids and if he's using the white crayon - he will give it to the next kid over who in need of it. Harry Potter wasn't allowed friends because those friend would get bullied by Dudley Dursley. The monster of the school - as the Teachers lovingly referred to the boy - gave wedgies, stole food and money, dunked kids' heads into toilet bowls, he'd have his goons hold down the victim while he pee'd on said victim.
So - when one got down to brass tacks, Harry Potter was simply quiet. And always paranoid of his cousin. Harry had learnt early on to leave his cousin alone or get punched. It wasn't fun being a punching bag, either, but that was his lot in life and until he got to a point where he didn't have to live with the Dursley's - well, he just had to live with it.
Harry Potter watched the children walk home. Dudley had been picked up by Aunt Petunia several minutes before; they had a weekend trip planned, so while Aunt Petunia took Dudley home to pack, Harry was left to walk to Mrs. Fig's home. It was as normal as the other homes. All were painted the same colour; the only difference is that Mrs. Fig loved cats. She had about twenty of them, Harry never could remember their names. The cats roamed the neighborhood and got into Aunt Petunia's garden. She never complained about it though, she needed someone to baby sit her nephew when the family had something to do.
Harry is glad for the weekend get-a-away though. He'd be able to sleep in a proper bed, in a proper bedroom, even if it does smell old and dusty and the porcelain dolls look creepier in the dead of night. Harry wouldn't mind weeding her giant garden after two nights in the big, brass, guest bed.
He arrived at Mrs. Fig's house ten minutes after school had let out. The Dursley's house look abandoned. He had his extra pair of clothes and tooth brush in his back pack though, so Mrs. Fig wouldn't be asking any questions. The Dursley's always hated it when Mrs. Fig became too interested in Harry and his home life. They passed off his penchant for eating a lot of food on the fact that he was a growing boy - a growing boy that had no meat on his bones - and as far as Mrs. Fig was concerned, he was just fine.
She sat on the porch of her home with a man; Harry had never seen him before, and he was far too young for Mrs. Fig. Harry smiled up at them from the front steps.
"They left all ready," Mrs. Fig informed the young boy, "So I hope you've got everything you need," she wasn't a terribly mean old lady, at least, not in front of the Dursley's.
"Yes Ma'am," Harry nodded.
"Oh Harry, come here," She gestured him up the stairs, "this is a very good friend of mine," she looked over to the man sitting in the whicker chair. He had think grey/blond hair, kind eyes and a ready smile. He held his hand out to Harry who shook it and returned the smile.
"Hi, I'm Remus Lupin," the man introduced himself.
"Good after noon, Sir,"
"Oh, none of that, it makes me feel old, just call me Remus, all right Harry?" Remus laughed. Harry cocked his head to the side, and decided he liked the man. He seemed the sort he could trust, and Harry knew that most of the adults in his life weren't worthy of his trust. But, somehow, this man was.
"Go ahead to the guest room," Mrs. Fig said, "it's a good thing I've got two, Remus is going to stay with us for a while," she said. Harry nodded and then he was inside and running up the stairs.
Mrs. Fig and Remus settled back to enjoy the summer afternoon; "He's so grown up," Remus shook his head.
"And you're sure you want to do this?" Mrs. Fig asked.
"Yes, I didn't know...I mean...I didn't know..." Remus shook his head.
0-0-0
Remus Lupin was abnormal; not only was he a wizard but he was also a Werewolf. And Werewolves had the hardest time living in Wizarding society. Werewolves couldn't get a job and if they did manage to find one, it was hard to keep. Most wizards held a low opinion of anyone with Lycanthropy and those sorts seemed to take up the majority of the populace.
Remus, however, had four friends who didn't think of him as a half-blood creature. No, they liked him for who he was and Remus had held on to those friendships for as long as he could; he liked to be liked. It was an insecurity that even as an adult he was still trying to fight. Some people liked you and some people didn't but if he was given a chance, he could show them just how loyal he was; and they wouldn't regret his friendship.
It was that morning that the summons came. He hadn't any business with the Goblins of Gringott's. The letter he had received had piqued his interest and he went anyway. The Goblin that met him went by the name of Griptalon. He was an old scragly Goblin with evil looking claws and bright yellow eyes. As soon as Remus told one of the tellers his business; Griptalon was fast to bring him off to a side chamber.
It was grand and white with a dark table and chairs that sat in the middle of the chamber; Remus was directed to a seat, the Goblin took one across from him.
Griptalon put a sheaf of papers down in front of him; "This," he gargled, "is the Will of James and Lily Potter, I do believe that you were very close friends with them,"
"Yes," Remus replied simply.
"For years now, I and Headmaster Dumbledoor have been going back and forth on the Will. You see, it was never executed to the letter of Wizarding Law, and I was never able to give the correct property to the people the Potter's had directed in their Will. However, we're conducting an Audit soon and we do not want this on our books any longer. So, as directed by the Potter's you, Remus John Lupin are awarded half of the Potter's fortune. The other half is to be kept for their son Harry James Potter for when he reaches the age of seventeen, however, a trust account is available to him for school supplies and other novelties he'd like to buy. Also, the fees for Hogwarts are going to be paid from the holding's he cannot touch till he reaches seventeen,"
Griptalon looked over his glasses at Remus who blinked in surprise at the goblin.
"Secondly, because Sirius Black is in Azkaban for crimes that have yet to be tried, he cannot properly watch after the child, Harry James Potter and therefore guardianship has been transferred to you, Remus John Lupin for the foreseeable future,"
Remus shook his head.
"But, I don't know where Harry is," Remus replied, still awed by his friend's generosity, "He was gone when the Auror's arrived at Godric's Hollow,"
"The boy has been Kidnapped?" Griptalon asked.
"No," Remus shook his head again, "Professor Dumbledoor has...him hidden away; he say's Harry is safe, but he refuses to tell me where the child is,"
"So, you have been looking for him?" Giptalon raised an eyebrow.
"Yes," Remus blinked.
"We can easily help you with that,"
"For a fee?" Remus asked.
"A small fee," Griptalon shrugged.
Remus didn't even have to think about it; "All right," he nodded, "I would appreciate the help,"
And the goblin magic brought him straight to Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey, England. The afternoon was getting on as he arrived in the backyard of Mrs. Fig's back yard. Of course, after he'd found out all that his friends had given him, he had to gather Harry from Lily's Muggle sister. The Sister she had still cared for but couldn't stand. Petunia, Lily had explained once, was simply jealous that Lily was able to do magic while Petunia couldn't and that was the root of their fighting.
Mrs. Fig received him kindly. She got out tea and cookies and then they were sitting on her front porch. No one noticed the man keeping her company wore odd clothing, nor that they were just a bit on patchy side.
"What's brought you here, Remus?" Mrs. Fig asked.
"Harry Potter," Remus replied, "The Goblins let me in on it, and...well...I'm his guardian because Sirius is in Azkaban," he looked down at his tea. The subject was a sore one for all Wizards. The Potter's were hero's for facing Voldemort down, and dying in the process. Harry was famous because he was the only person ever to survive the Killing Curse. And vanquishing Voldemort. Remus remembered from day one, that every year on Halloween, the Prophet would have a picture of Harry. Remus knew that Harry was living in the Muggle world, but none of the pictures mentioned Lily's family, simply it recounted the night that Voldemort vanished and Harry was whisked away to a life of baggy clothes and anonymity.
The latter Remus could agree with; he understood that Dumbledoor didn't want Harry to grow up with an ego, or for people to cater to Harry because he was the Boy Who Lived. Remus' family were middle class, they didn't have the money that James, Sirius and Peter had - mostly because they were form old Wizard families who had amassed huge fortunes. His was a muggle family until he'd been bitten by Greyback, and learned he was a Wizard.
"He's not going to remember you," Mrs. Fig said, bringing Remus out of his thoughts.
"I know, but...how bad is it?" Remus asked.
"Bad," she shrugged, "but as far as I know only Dudley hits him, and Harry doesn't get hit often. He has learned how to duck," she looked over at the house across the street. The Dursley's, sans Harry, were putting luggage into the boot of their car. Dudley was screaming about wanting a snack, and his Mother was catering to him while his father was trying to wedge everything into the car. Remus shook his head. He was glad he had magic, it was so much easier to travel. Especially once he'd reached Seventeen when he was allowed to do magic outside of school. That had to be the birthday every wizarding child looked forward too.
"Harry is going to stay the weekend with me, maybe you should stay and break it to him slowly," Mrs. Fig suggested. The Dursley's piled into the car and then they were off. They drove down the street, not even bothering to give Mrs. Fig a wave as they passed. Odd Muggles, Remus thought, horribly rude.
"Is he happy there, you think?" Remus asked. How was he supposed to break the news to Harry? what if Harry didn't believe him? where would he go to change for full moon nights?
Mrs. Fig sighed; "He doesn't know anything else,"
Remus was about to say something but then he saw him; Harry Potter looked like James, but had Lily's bright green eyes. His glasses were tabled at the nose and his clothing was baggy. If Remus didn't know any better, he'd think Harry was a Werewolf as well. Their sort never could afford clothing. And then it hit him, he was rich. He had the money to not only spend on Harry, but himself as well. He could give Harry the sort of life James and Lily wanted Harry to always have.
"They left all ready," Mrs. Fig informed the young boy, "So I hope you've got everything you need," she smiled warmly at Harry. Remus felt cold sweat break out all over. Harry wouldn't remember his second favorite Uncle Moony. But, that was to be expected right?
"Yes Ma'am," Harry nodded.
"Oh Harry, come here," She gestured him up the stairs, "this is a very good friend of mine," she looked over at Remus who gathered his courage and smiled at Harry; he just wanted to swoop in and bring the child into a great big hug. But, he didn't want to scare Harry either and so he settled for a friendly, he hoped, and kindly smile instead.
"Hi, I'm Remus Lupin," he held out his hand.
"Good after noon, Sir," Harry took it and they shook.
"Oh, none of that," Remus chuckled, "it makes me feel old, just call me Remus, all right Harry?"
Harry cocked his head to the side. Remus hoped that Harry would like him. If Harry hated him right off the bat, Remus wasn't sure how he was supposed to tell Harry he was a Wizard and that he could live with Remus instead of the Muggles, that is, if the boyu wanted.
"Go ahead to the guest room," Mrs. Fig said, sensing Remus' sudden indecision. "it's a good thing I've got two, Remus is going to stay with us for a while," she said. She gave Remus a raised eybrow and he merely nodded at her. The movement was small and the little boy barely noticed the silent conversation. Harry nodded and then he was inside and running up the stairs.
Mrs. Fig and Remus settled back to enjoy the summer afternoon; "He's so grown up," Remus shook his head.
"And you're sure you want to do this?" Mrs. Fig asked.
"Yes, I didn't know...I mean...I didn't know..." Remus shook his head.
"Either you do or you don't," she huffed, "and are you or aren't you a Gryffindor? where is the courage you people are always going on about? I swear, people seem to put too much of themselves into those houses; and then life ends rights after Hogwarts, I have never understood it," she sipped her tea and glared back across the street at the Dursley's house.
"You're right, I have to tell him. He deserves to know," Remus muttered.
"He does at that," she simply agreed.