Miasma

Miasma

By Dimgwrthien

Wednesday

Remus was several minutes late, which Severus took notice of. As soon as the door had opened, he glanced at Remus, said, "You're late," and let him in. The house was cool compared to the warm, Autumn air outside. The shorter, dark-haired man led the way deeper into the house, motioning Remus to sit down once they reached the living room. "Sit," was the only word he said before taking a note from his pocket and unfolding it. Remus watched carefully.

"To begin with, I'll be moving shortly, so this may be the last meeting here."

Remus nodded. What he was really waiting for was the news from Dumbledore. That promised itself to be important.

"I have finished planning the first dose of Wolfsbane Potion, and it is currently being made. Damocles Belby thinks he has found the correct procedure and he's only too glad to use you for this."

Remus caught his sour expression, but instead of making a remark on that, he asked, "Who's Damocles Belby?"

"Even you ought to know the name," Severus responded coldly. "He's a well-known potion maker. He invented the idea and formation of the potion. I'm merely helping him now with the testing." He was still standing, and the note in his hands was being turned over as he read it through once. Finally, he folded it back up and handed it to Remus. "I believe this is to you, from the Headmaster. He apparently has news for you about Potter."

Remus took the letter and unfolded it quickly, glancing at the loopy handwriting he had come to know so well. Before he could start reading, however, Severus spoke.

"I still expect you here on Monday, on time, or else I shall have to find someone else willing. Werewolves that are willing to do such things are rare and far between, thankfully, and I prefer not to waste my time on them."

Remus felt glad, too, that the werewolves were few enough to cause a faint hint of worry in Severus' voice, though for different reasons.

He had discovered, only a few years previously, around the time Lily and James died, the truth behind the night he had been bitten by a werewolf. He had been only six at the time, and his father had obviously seemed to think it was a smarter idea to just conceal the argument he had with Fenrir Greyback only days before that night. It appeared that Fenrir knew his father from a relative and had been promised help from his father to get out of a situation. His father, knowing the werewolf's reputation, had refused to help him; they had argued for a while, and Remus heard a few, brief bits of it, though he remembered next to nothing from it.

It was terrifying, even so long after, to imagine that there were people like that around in the world.

Severus stared him down for a moment before saying, "That's all of my news. I believe that the Headmaster may wish to speak to you after you read that. There's Floo Powder over the fireplace.

Remus returned his gaze to the letter and read it silently.

Remus,

After our conversation yesterday, I took it upon myself to have a chat with the Minister for Magic. As you know, there are very strict guidelines when it comes to werewolves caring for small children. However, you were correct in saying I need to think about what to do with Harry for three years. The Minister saw my point after our conversation and the guidelines may have been tweaked in your favor.

Harry is currently under my care here, at Hogwarts. Today, you may visit him but not yet take him. There are still precautions that you know of and we'll need a chance to talk about several things. One of them, as I hope you thought about, involving jobs.

I know the laws set against werewolves and several jobs, along with the prejudices of those looking to hire. I believe I have an idea to fix that. We can talk about this in greater depth once you arrive here.

Yours,

Albus Dumbledore

Remus nodded in response to the letter and stood up. "Would that be it?" he asked quickly, securing his clocak more tightly around him. Severus nodded curtly and moved aside allowing Remus to walk out.

"Thanks," he said and left.

Getting into Hogwarts was simple enough with the note, as he flashed Dumbedore's signature at the statues that asked why he was there. He met no students on the way to the office and waited patiently at the gargoyles outside the Headmaster's office, unsure of the password. Luckily, within minutes, Minerva McGonagall passed by with several books in hand.

"Hello Remus," she said, stopping to greet him. "Waiting for Albus? Jelly Slugs."

The two gargoyles jumped out of the way for Remus and he thanked her, walking up to the door. He knocked and as soon as his hand made contact, he heard a "Come in."

Dumbledore was sitting at the desk, smiling and motioning Remus to sit in a chair near his desk. As he sat, he saw that Harry was seated next to him. He glanced at Harry and felt a strange feeling in his chest, like a small bubble trying to get out of his throat. He swallowed and smiled at Harry, who smiled faintly back.

"Harry, I assume you have met Remus before?" Dumbledore asked him politely. Harry nodded shyly and looked back down at the floor.

"He - he came by one day and said he knew my Dad." He glanced up at Remus and studied for a moment. His gaze was almost owlish, but in a shy way, as though trying to study him without being noticed. "That's all I really know."

"Well, Harry, Remus is going to adopt you soon. Until your aunt and uncle are better, at any rate." He gave Remus a look that said everything. Only until then. Only.

Only would have to be long enough.

Harry broke his gaze from Remus and stared at Dumbledore. Remus was glad to see that he did not look angry or saddened, but instead curious and almost joyful.

"Really? How long will that be?"

"I would say anywhere from a month on." Remus knew Dumbledore was mainly addressing him and felt his chest let another bubble soar into his throat. "Harry, we are still unsure of your family's condition at this point. However, I believe telling you what happened may help."

Remus met his eyes for the first time since entering the room and saw that behind the bright, piercing gaze, Dumbledore looked worried.

The ancient wizard turned towards Harry, placing his steepled palms on the table.

"Harry, when you were a year old, there was a wizard by the name of Voldemort”, he began. “By now, I'm sure you know enough about wizards to understand that some of them are not good people." Remus assumed at this point that Harry had already been talked to several times but this had been saved so that he could be there.

Dumbledore went on for at least half an hour about Voldemort, Death Eaters, spells and the damage that had been done. Remus felt himself drift in and out of thought. It was strange to be living the nightmare again, seemingly so soon after it had ended. At Sirius' name, he merely closed his eyes, trying not to think about all the memories that were flooding into his mind. He had not allowed himself to dwell long about the difference between his present life and that of a decade ago.

Peter, James, Lily and everything that he had suffered swirled around in such a small amount of time. When Dumbledore finished speaking to Harry, Remus dared open his eyes again. They felt rather dry compared to when he had entered and he willed himself to look at Harry's face again.

Harry's face was thoughtful but otherwise expressionless when Dumbledore finished explaining everything to him. He turned slowly to Remus and gave him a look that the older man tried to read, but drew a blank as to what the boy was trying to say.

"So... I'm going to live with you?" Harry asked quietly.

"Yes, Harry," Remus answered, then cleared his throat. "For a while."

He could tell from the new look of disbelief on the child's face that he was uncertain about the prospect. Harry had spent so many years with his only relatives, the ones who made his life so horrible in the first place. Now was the time to show him that there was good in adults.

"Harry, right now Remus and I need to talk. Feel free to stay or go into the other room. This may take a little while."

Harry nodded and got off his chair, walking to the office door and opening it, walking out. Dumbledore smiled after him and turned his attention back to Remus.

"As you may have figured out from my note, there is still one matter to deal with before you can take him. I know that it's none of my business butting into your financial situation -"

"Get into any of my business as much as you wish," Remus answered, smiling slightly. Dumbledore returned the smile.

"You're going to need a job in order to raise him for whatever amount of time."

"I'm looking for one," he answered miserably, which was the truth. He had spent most of his adult life trying to find and keep a job for long, and now he was almost to a desperate search to be able to keep Harry. "It's hard finding someone to hire a werewolf."

Dumbledore must have noticed his downcast eyes for he spoke in a happier tone. "I think I may have the perfect job.

Remus glanced up at the aged face before him, curious.

"From how I've seen you act, I believe teaching would be a perfect job for you."

Remus had to admit that there were several people who would admit him to being a good teacher, and the job sounded perfect, but he had to bring up the one drawback. "Sir, Part of the point of taking in Harry is to watch him. I won't be able to then -"

"Tutoring students would work, then," Dumbledore said, smiling. "I believe that would be easy enough to do. I know of plenty of families that need to teach their children before they come to Hogwarts. Several N.E.W.T. students may be interested in having a teacher over the summer if they worry about the tests."

Remus stared fixedly at the ground as though nothing else interested him. "Would they really want me to teach them, though?"

He only heard silence from across the desk, so he looked up to find that Dumbledore was smiling warmly.

"I know of several families that could easily forget their prejudices once they meet you. Would you like me to get in contact with some of them?"

Remus chewed this over for a moment. It was a perfect job, one that he had dreamed of, but then there were so many flaws there… hang the flaws, this was the only way he could support and watch over Harry -

"Sure," he answered, smiling back.

"I know who to start with. Someone will be in contact with you in a day or two."

Remus nodded and stood up. Dumbledore excused him.

Remus left the office with another nod to Dumbledore and a large smile on his face. Outside the door, he met Harry, who was sitting near the wall, looking up at the door with hope in his face. He stood up once Remus was out there, but said nothing.

"Are you ready to come with me?" he asked Harry.

"Could I just get my things?" he asked. Remus nodded and Harry dodged back into the room. From outside, Remus heard a few words exchanged between them, the sounds of something moving, and the slam of a lid. Harry came back out with a trunk like the one Remus remembered using at Hogwarts when he was a student. Harry was dragging it from one end, clearly unable to pick it up. Remus grabbed the other end, pulled out his wand, and waved it once, making the trunk float slightly into the air. Harry, amazed, watched it closely.

"I take it you haven't seen much magic yet?" Remus asked kindly. Harry shrugged.

"Every once in a while, someone'll do something, but I don't see too much of that." Remus started walking to the main hall, Harry trailing along a few steps behind him, still watching him eagerly.

Deciding to break the silence, Remus said to him, "Have you heard of Hogsmeade?" At Harry's small nod, he continued. "I live near the edge of there. We can get there rather quickly. It's only a few minutes’ walk once we're off the grounds." He pushed open the huge front door and turned to let Harry pass before him. He followed and led the way to a single carriage waiting for them. Harry gave him a questioning look and Remus beckoned him to climb in. Remus placed the trunk in and sat next to the young boy.

As the skeletal Thestral pulled them along - Remus had been able to see them since around the age of twenty, during the First War, where deaths plagued them no matter where they turned - he cast around for something to talk about. However, Harry beat him in the search for a topic.

"I - I..." He looked around nervously at the ground that was passing quickly under them. "I still don't really know you, but I do know that you knew my parents." He met Remus' steady gaze and whispered, "Could you tell me about them? I’ve never heard anything about them."

"Not even what you heard today?"

"No."

Remus was shocked. He had known, from a brief meeting with Lily's sister that happened a few days ago, paired with the only other time they met, that she hated Lily and James. However, to deprive their son of any knowledge of the two was too much to bear. He closed his eyes for a second. Where to start? He had known Harry's parents since he was eleven years old, and every day since then they had been together, almost related.

"There's so much I can say about them," he said quietly, glancing at Harry. Green eyes stared at him from James' face. He tried not to see the resemblance to his parents buried in the boy’s face. "We've known each other for so long."

"It can wait," Harry cut in suddenly, looking alarmed. "I don't want to make trouble by asking. I was just... curious."

"That's understandable," Remus answered, smiling at him. "I'll tell you anything you want, Harry. Anything at all. All you have to do is ask. Don't expect me to remember every last waking moment, though," he joked. Harry looked very serious at this point and Remus was reminded of how he had seen James act when trying to impress Lily; so mature and eager to be on his best behavior.

They sat in silence as the thestral pulled them to the gates of Hogwarts. Remus picked up the trunk, placing another levitation charm on it as Harry clambered out after him. He led the way down the main street and caught Harry's eye as the child looked all around him. Remus was reminded of the first time he had ever been to Hogsmeade. There were so many buildings placed around the street with millions of items in the windows, all calling to anyone who passed. From candy to quills that stood up by themselves to dungbombs and fanged frisbees, you found everything at Hogsmeade.

Harry paused a few times as he walked, staring, wide-eyed at the unfamiliar surroundings. Remus, knowing exactly how he felt, waited patiently for Harry to stare and then remember to walk along.

At the end of the road, where Harry stared at the strange sign hanging outside of the Hog's Head, Remus made a sharp right where there were several houses. He walked past all of them, making sure Harry was still trailing behind him, to the back one.

It had a pleasant little garden in the front yard with an assortment of flowers that grew all around the village. The front door was wooden like those around, with a bit on the sides starting to peel. The windows were opened a little to let in the cool breeze. Taking his wand, he tapped the door and heard the sound of a lock coming undone. In the times of peace he felt they were in, he saw no reason for too large of security measures, but he knew that since Harry would be there, something else would need to be put up.

It was a rather small house, but large enough for one man. Almost everything inside had a worn look and Harry studied his surroundings for a minute or so. From where they stood, the front room and kitchen were visible.

"I haven't had much of a chance to set up a bedroom for you yet, but it won't take too long. It's right down there." He pointed ahead of them to where, behind the wall, was a small hallway. "Should I move your trunk in there?"

Harry stared at Remus instead of answering. "I have my own room?" he asked awkwardly, as though trying not to believe it.

"Yes," Remus answered slowly, giving him a curious look. "Where did you think you would be?"

Harry just shrugged and followed Remus down the hall into the room. It was a rather small room, but it would work for Harry, who, judging by the weight of the trunk, had only a few belongings. The room contained a bed that he had put in there, along with a dresser, but was bare otherwise.

"I've never had my own bedroom before," Harry murmured, looking around. He noticed a window at the edge of the room and walked over to it, staring out at the blue sky.

Remus raised an eyebrow and did not question the statement. Maybe he and Dudley - was that the other one's name? - had shared a room. However, Harry seemed too impressed with the room for Remus to ignore it completely.

Then he remembered what Dumbledore had said: Harry had been found in the cupboard under the stairs....

"Never?" he asked.

Harry shook his head. "I slept in the cupboard. The one underneath the stairs," he answered shyly.

It was then that Remus decided to have a talk with Dumbledore.