Harry Potter and Mystery's Daughter

Chapter Two: Lupin's Arrival

Harry's birthday passed without incident. The Dursleys chose to ignore Harry completely, not even giving him a birthday present of a safety pin or a thumbtack. Harry was glad to stay out of their way. He spent most of the day in his room, only coming down for dinner. During midday, while he was looking over material for the O.W.L.s, a tawny owl swooshed into the room and landed next to Harry. He carried a large package and a note. Interested, Harry relieved the owl of its burden, and opened the note.

Dearest Harry,

Happy Birthday! I hope you are well, as we haven't talked all summer. I hope you use your present, because I suspect it will come in handy. If you don't come to the Burrow, I'll see you on the Hogwarts Express on September 1^st!

Love,

Hermione

Harry immediately felt hurt. Hermione's letters were never short and how could she think he wouldn't care what she was doing this summer? But then again, Harry thought, I have ignored her all summer and sent back all her letters. With a feeling of sinking gloom, he opened the package. It contained several vials. Intrigued, Harry picked up one of the vials, as well as the note that fell out of the box.

Harry- this is a collection of potions for dreamless sleep. I thought that you wouldn't be sleeping well after you returned, so I brewed this and nearly had a run in with the Improper Use of Magic Office. Sleep Well.

-Hermione

Harry felt an overwhelming surge of guilt. How could he have been so rude to his friends, who were thinking about him and trying to help? Easily...the less I talk to them, the less danger it puts them in. Feeling uneasy, he put the box away and got out another scrap of parchment. But as he put the quill into his ink, he stopped. He needed his friends to stay away from him, and writing back to them wouldn't achieve anything. He put his quill down heavily and headed downstairs.

Dinner that night was an interesting affair. Harry stayed quiet, picking at his food as usual, but decided that he needed to tell the Dursleys that he was leaving the next day.

"...so I managed to negotiate the deal so Grunnings has the upper hand on the merger, and we Petunia have an all expense paid vacation to Majorca!"

"MAJORCA!" Aunt Petunia screamed louder than usual, while inclining her head towards the open window. "Oh Vernon! How wonderful! When is it?"

"Two weeks! Although I don't know what to do about this one". Uncle Vernon jerked his head in Harry's direction who lifted his head from his lima beans.

"Er, Uncle Vernon? I'm leaving tomorrow". Harry had the impression that Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia wouldn't care, but on the contrary both of them paled and Dudley whimpered, covering his mouth.

"No", he said coldly, "not with the Weasleys. I'm going to stay with one of my old professors and my godfather".

"Your- your godfather?"

"Yes. So I suggest that you don't cause any trouble unless you want to be on the list for one extremely dangerous wizard convict. Now if you don't mind, I'm going up to pack. I'll be leaving at noon".

Harry shoved away from the table and ran upstairs. He knew he would be very excited to leave tomorrow, but right now Harry felt nothing more than the urge to be alone. In his room he gathered up all his books and clothing and began to pack his trunk. He finished an hour later and set his trunk and his Firebolt next to his door. He was about to go and sleep when, on second thought, he opened his trunk and got out Hermione's present. He took one of the vials and downed it. Feeling the immediate drowsiness, he staggered over to his bed and crashed into it. Harry felt a peace come over it and his breathing was for once slow and steady.

The next morning, Harry was up by eleven o'clock. He felt well rested after a good night's sleep, and the recurring nightmares had disappeared for one night. Harry decided that when he saw Hermione, he'd apologize and offer to study on his O.W.L.s everyday, just for her. That should get her smiling, he thought happily. He had lugged his trunk down to the front hall by eleven forty-five and had brought down his Firebolt and Hedwig's cage. The Dursleys were all piled into the kitchen and didn't bother to call to Harry. At precisely noon, the doorbell rang. Harry opened it quickly, a huge grin on his face. Remus Lupin stood on his doorstep with a smile on his face, but his eyes were hard and sorrowful. His appearance was just as Harry remembered. However, Lupin's soft brown hair had more streaks of gray in it and his face was lined with more worry and exhaustion.

"Hello Harry".

"Professor Lupin! It's so nice to see you. How have you been?"

Professor Lupin stepped inside the house, quickly taking in the surroundings. This is where Harry has had to live for fifteen years? Dreadful.

"I've been quite good Harry. Professor Dumbledore has been giving me work since- over the summer. How are you? How have you been?"

"Ok professor". Lupin shot him a disbelieving look, but nodded.

"Very well...we'll have a chance to talk at my cottage. Are you ready to go?"

"Yes...how will we be going?"

Lupin heaved a huge sigh, as if recalling something painful.

"We'll be Apparating. Dumbledore suggested to the Ministry that they allow the Apparition of more than one person in light of Voldemort's return before he was-. Well the point is that they listen to him. I'll send your things first and then we'll go".

"Professor? What happened to Dumbledore? He wasn't-"

"No he wasn't killed Harry. Look we'll discuss all this at the house. I know Sirius is waiting for us and he'll have a fit if we don't hurry up".

At the mention of Sirius's name, Harry heard a disturbance behind the kitchen door and a small yell as something crashed to the floor. They must be listening, Harry thought grimly. Lupin must have also heard it because he smiled slightly and clapped his hands together.

"Alright let's magik this stuff out of here"

"Yes, Professor".

Lupin shot Harry another look, this time of confusion and concern.

"Another thing. As I am no longer your teacher, you need not call me 'Professor'. Remus will do. James would be horrified if his son called his friends 'Mr. Lupin' or 'Mr. Black'".

At the mention of James' name, Lupin noted Harry's face lightened. But only for the moment. He looks so run down and so tired. And his eyes...they have Lily's haunted look. Lupin shook off his thoughts and magiked Harry's things to his cottage.

"Alright Harry. Now do you want to say good bye?"

"They're probably too scared to come out". Harry's answer had a tone of amusement but his face didn't reflect it. He probably doesn't relish in the fact that his godfather is a convict and has to stay hidden. However, Harry's face remained impassive, Remus noted. Remus took a step closer to Harry and clapped his hands together once again.

"Alright, for partner Apparation, you need to hang on to me. All you need to do is touch me, just like a Portkey".

Immediately, Harry's face darkened and his eyes were infiltrated by fear...Damnit Remus! Just Apparate before you kill the boy.

"Sorry Harry, I didn't mean -"

"It's alright...I didn't mean to be- I didn't mean to be- whatever I was being".

Remus smiled inwardly at Harry's struggle to find the right words. Why does watching him talk make me so happy? Damn you, Prongs. You got such a great boy and you left him! Left him so your best friends would be haunted by your spitting image.

"Alright Harry? Let's go...Sirius is going to be barking mad by the time we get home. No pun intended".

Harry reached out uncertainly and put his hand on Remus' forearm...What was this going to be like? But before Harry had time to blink, he felt the sensation of air rushing past him as the front hall disappeared and was replaced by a small living room. Harry stepped away from Remus in surprise taking in the new surroundings. There was a large fireplace with a jar of Floo powder on the mantel; a sofa and two chairs arranged around the fireplace. There was a table behind the sofa adorned with pictures and desk placed by the window. Harry could also see a tiny kitchen in the back and a hall running along side it. Remus watched Harry with a tiny smile playing along his lips, remembering when James had first seen his home. He heard his voice, replaying in his head again, getting louder and louder.

"Nice place, Moony...nice and cozy for them ladies". James turned his head and cocked his eyebrow at Remus.

"Ha, ladies! As if". Peter had cracked a grin and James put a defensive arm around Lily.

"Hey gents, speak for yourself". Lily had given James an exasperated look and then a playful kiss.

"Hey break it up! Or at least use one of the rooms...no sense in rubbing in you guys". Sirius had come up behind Lily and James and James delivered his annoyance by giving Sirius a playful shove.

"Hey Prongs! Don't damage this wonderful exterior! I need it to charm some beautiful witch!"

"Ho, like you could! The only woman who would go for you would be some ugly, brainless Slytherin. Oh wait already done- Miss Sarah Langer!"

"Potter you better watch it or something else than Lily will end up in your be-"

Sirius had to break off his comment by being chased out into the garden by a red-faced James while Remus and Peter roared with laughter and Lily ran after the other two while muttering about which hex to use as she brandished her wand.

The sounds of laughter echoed in Remus's ears as he snapped back to the present. Harry was looking at him and Remus stared back at him blankly.

"Excuse me, Harry, what? I seemed to drift off for a moment".

Harry smiled a bit and repeated his question. "I like your place...but it seems to be missing one ex convict. Goes by the name of Sirius Black?"

"Ah yes him. I must say, I am surprised he isn't pacing up and down the room waiting-"

Remus broke off mid-sentence to hear a door slam, followed by hurried footsteps.

"Moony! Where in bloody he- I mean, where the hell- damn. Oh whatever, where have you been!" Sirius rushed into the room, his hair clean and somewhat shorter, looking 10 years younger. However, upon seeing Harry, his face seemed to drain a bit and he half walked, half ran to Harry. Before Harry had time to say a word, Sirius had gathered him up in a bone breaking hug and he could tell Sirius was trying to hold back tears. When Sirius finally let go of Harry, he staggered away holding his side like a battle wound. Sirius looked concerned and ready to administer apologies as well as medicine but Harry stopped him with a wave of his hand and a smile.

"Come on Sirius, I can survive worse!"

Sirius visually flinched at this and Harry bit his lip.

"I mean, I can survive a hug, eh?"

Sirius gave him a grin but Harry could see it was strained. He looked tired and worn and Harry meant to ask him about it. Remus stepped in between the two giving each a meaningful look.

"Er- perhaps we had get to lunch. Harry would you like to take your trunk to your room?"

Harry nodded and leaned down to pick it up but Sirius intervened.

"Harry, I'll get it. Why don't you go help Remus with lunch? I don't know about you, but I'm definitely starving".

Sirius picked up one side of the trunk and dragged it out into the hallway and down to Harry's room. Setting it down, he leaned against the wall breathing hard.

Oh Harry...Why did you have to go through this? If Prongs- James if only I hadn't been afraid. You would be here, we would be laughing and reminiscing for your son's sake. Instead we're solemn and regretful You told me you would fine...I offered to come over even though I wasn't the Keeper. I could have come...you trusted Remus, didn't mistreat him like I did. You son of a bitch! Why couldn't you Portkey out of there! Why did you leave us! Marauder's forever...