Miasma

Miasma

By Dimgwrthien

Tuesday

Remus woke late in the afternoon, bones creaking and muscles sore, but still intact. He glanced at his arm, which he remembered being patched up sometime hours ago. There were the scars of bite marks and scratches along it, which he had grown used to seeing around his body, and he was forcibly reminded of the scars he caused down Severus' arm. He felt a wave of guilt for having attacked him, though he knew that Severus was at fault.

He sat up, bending forward and hearing his spine crack. A sudden voice from the doorway alerted him. "That's not going to do you much good." He glanced over to see Danielle standing there, still wearing her lime-green robes, though she had taken her hair from its bun and let it lie lank around her face. She stepped forward and sat on the bed next to him. "Cracking bones only lets out gases. Sometimes it pushes them out of place." She ran her hands up and down his back, fingers working on his muscles. Remus remained there, stock-still, trying not to show any emotion. He still identified her as Peter's girlfriend, the pushy and stubborn girl who was the luckier one in their relationship.

"Harry's learning how to play Gobstones," she said, grinning slightly. Remus made a soft sound of consent, still too groggy to think properly. He stood up suddenly, Danielle rising a second later.

"Are you doing well?" she asked him, walking a step behind him as he walked out the door. He was starting to wish she wouldn't. It was enough to imagine how Harry was going to act when he saw him.

"I'm fine," Remus muttered, rubbing his eyes. "Thank you for cooking, Danielle."

"You're welcome," Danielle responded quietly.

Remus reached where Harry was examining the Gobstones and watching him flick them across the room into what appeared to be a circle made with a quick charm that created a blue line around the game. "Harry, you're aiming for that one," Danielle told him, smiling and pointing at a marble. Harry's tongue was between his teeth, and he was trying his best to aim with one eye open. When he flicked his thumb, the marble hit another one, hitting it out of the circle. He picked it up, putting it into a small pile beside him.

Pausing from his game, Harry looked over at Remus, looking him over as he sat down. Danielle hovered awkwardly over Remus' shoulder. "Are -?" Harry started.

Remus interrupted, "I'm perfectly fine, Harry."

"Well, I just heard about you being poisoned -" Harry started, still giving Remus a doubtful look.

Glancing at Danielle, Remus asked, "You told him?"

She gave him a strange look; it looked as though she was pleading with her eyes for permission to answer truthfully, and at the same time pleading with her eyes not to break eye contact. "Of course I did. He should know."

Remus furrowed his brow, not saying anything. "Well, it tends to have long term effects!" Danielle retorted, voice going a pitch higher as she tried to defend herself, "I doubt want him to have to find you dead one day because of it!"

Not answering, Remus gave her a long stare. Harry was watching them, mouth hanging open in shock, and Danielle had gone pale.

"I'm sorry," she said, voice in a shrill whisper, hands clamped to her mouth. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean it like that! It's just..." She lowered her hands, staring at the floor. "I don't want anyone to have to go through that. Since Peter died, I've worried about something like that happening...." She broke off, swallowing loudly.

Harry was still staring at them, his eyes wide, but it was Remus who answered. "Don't worry. No one's going to die anytime soon...." Danielle had tears streaming from her eyes and took in a shaky breath, whimpering quietly. Remus pulled on her arm, and she circled the chair, sitting down next to him. He wrapped one arm around her shoulders and patted her back awkwardly, glancing at Harry, who was still watching them.

"I think Remus is fine," Harry said suddenly, staring at Danielle. She looked up, eyes reddened with tears. "He won't die soon, I'm sure of it. Right?" he asked Remus.

"Of course not," he answered, smiling. "I'm over the wolfsbane. I'm perfectly fine now."

Giving him a watery smile, Danielle told them, "Good. Because I don't want to have to find either of you in St. Mungo's ever again." Turning to Harry, she said, "And if anything happens with him, you know the name of the place to Floo to. Or you can just pop right into my house."

Harry stood up and sat on Remus' other side, and there was a sudden warmth around him. Harry felt he knew what, for a moment, having a family felt like. It was a warm feeling, deep in his stomach, comforting him. He moved into Remus, feeling the older man wrap his arms around his shoulders.

"By the way," Harry said to Remus, closing his eyes, "Danielle says she doesn't have anything against most werewolves."

Flushing, Danielle said, "Well, it's true. Not all werewolves, still, but..." She cleared her throat. "If I had anything against you, I wouldn't be here."

Remus smiled and said to Harry, "Well, you found one exception. I'm still holding my basis that most people hate werewolves."

Harry frowned. "Most people don't make a difference. Most of those people are probably like the Dursleys, anyway." His last sentence ended muffled as he leaned into Remus, mouth against his chest, breathing deeply. "Am I going to stay here forever with you two?" The question had come out before he managed to stop himself, but it had been grating on his nerves for so long.

He heard a faint laughing and Danielle answer, "I'm not going to be here forever. I'm just doing Remus a fa-" Her voice broke off into silence and Remus' voice sounded.

"We're here for as long as you need, Harry. Though, no one can promise forever. But we're here for as long as you need."

Harry drifted off into a peaceful sleep.

*

"What was that about?" Danielle asked as Remus glanced at Harry.

"Is he asleep?" he asked no one in general.

Danielle glanced at Harry's closed eyes. "Should be. By the sounds of it, he spent half of the night up, worrying about you." She stood up, moving to the opposite chair, facing him, her hands clenched on the arms of the chair, staring him straight in the eye. "What do you mean about that?"

Remus sighed and ran a hand through Harry's head, pulling his hand out once he reached tangles. "Harry hasn't had a proper family in years, you know. He hasn't been happy for that long, either. Can we pretend for a while, at least, to get along?"

"We do get along," Danielle answered, leaning forward. "I would say we're friends."

"We haven't seen each other in years," Remus told her, glancing at Harry.

"But we're talking together like civilized beings, am I correct? We can count that as friendship."

"I think you're taking my side." Remus smiled at her as he spoke. "Will you agree to it? Just for a while, at least. I think he would feel better."

"So I'm playing the mother, and you're the father?" Danielle asked. Remus opened his mouth, but she spoke over him. "I think it's dreadful to fake a family for him."

"I would never think of replacing Lily and James," Remus answered, voice harsh as he stared at her incredulously. "I was just thinking that Harry needs mentors."

"That I can do," she answered, pulling at the belt around her waist. "I'm going to head home to at least change out of these robes. Should I come back and act as his mentor?" she asked him, giving him a sarcastic look at the end of her sentence.

"If you want," he answered.

Danielle considered him for a moment. "How about you two come to my place," she said, turning to the door. "I'm sure I have something to entertain him with while we talk."

"Are you sure?" Remus asked. "I'm not -"

"I know you're not good company on these days," she snapped, picking up her bag. "Harry said that you told him that. Just come. If you're bad company like you say, I'll just get rid of you."

Remus slid out from under Harry and picked up the boy, amazed at how easy he was to lift. He followed Danielle out the door, barely managing to pull out his wand and tap the door to lock it with his arms full.

Danielle waited for him on the sunny garden. "I live in London," she told him. Telling him the complete address, she soon Disapparated. Remus gripped Harry tightly, remembering his Side-Along Apparations with Severus, and then followed.

When he felt his feet on the ground, Harry awoke, wide awake, eyes wide. "Where am I?" he asked, calming down when he saw that Remus was holding him, cradling him close to him like a baby.

"Danielle's house," Remus answered quietly. "Feel free to go back to sleep."

Her house was on the outskirts of London. It was a small house with a welcoming air. The sun streamed into the rooms, brightening the light colors. Remus, still carrying Harry, turned to Danielle who said, before he asked, "You can put him in the bedroom. Right over there."

Remus walked to the bedroom, seeing a light blue bed spread and setting Harry on top, carefully pulling off his shoes. Harry still did not wake. A collection of stuffed animals lined a shelf on the wall, which Remus would have expected of a young girl rather than Danielle. On the other shelf, high up, was a series of trophies, mainly from random wizard games. He retreated from the room back to where Danielle was boiling water. She had set out two mugs and motioned for Remus to sit down. He sat on one of the red chairs, feeling strangely comfortable. He could see why Peter liked spending so much of the summers at her house after they left school. Everything had an air of love and care, inviting everyone in.

"How long is Harry going to be with you?"

"Most likely for another two weeks. I don't know how his Aunt and Uncle are doing, but once they're well enough to leave St. Mungo's, Harry's going back with them." Remus sighed and took the mug offered to him with a word of thanks. He drank some and felt it soothe his throat, which was still hurting after the night before, whether from the wolfsbane or howling, he did not know. "He deserves the chance to find out anything he wants during this time...."

"Do you mean about his parents?" Danielle asked, and then laughed once Remus nodded. "Can't you see that he loves you as much as he loves them? Have you only been telling him about his parents? He's just as interested in you. Feel free to include anything about yourself."

"He's been asking more about Lily and James, though -" Remus said, brow furrowed, but Danielle was laughing again.

"I think he's too embarrassed to ask you directly. I mean, how does it sound to ask about what you like to do and what you did as a kid? Insert something about yourself, and he'll start to ask more directly."

Danielle was still smiling and chuckling every few seconds or so, trying to sip her tea but having to pause in laughter. Remus gave her a dirty look.

"Alright, Remus. The point is I’m still wary about this... mentor business. What do you expect of me?"

"Well, could you maybe see him every once in a while?" Remus asked, feeling rather embarrassed. He suddenly saw how it felt for Harry. "When it doesn't cut into your schedule, of course."

"There's no need to be that polite about it," Danielle scoffed, uncrossing her legs and standing up. "I can see him as often as you want. What else?"

"Just..." Remus thought about a way to choose his words. "Just act... motherly, in a way." He waited for the explosion, but only silence met him.

"You want me to act as your girlfriend?" Danielle asked, her voice choked with laughter, though it sounded somewhat forced.

"Not at all!" Remus was shocked at the thought. Had he worded it that badly? "Just someone who's there for Harry. I mean, the more people behind him, the better, right?"

Danielle nodded grimly. "Right."

Footsteps alerted them that Harry had woken up. The young boy walked out into the room, looking somewhat embarrassed and groggy. "Hullo," he said, sitting next to Remus. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be," Danielle answered, waving a hand, setting down her mug and waving to the kitchen. "Tea?"

"No thank you," Harry answered, voice faint and he blinked, getting used to the bright sunlight.

"I'll be getting dressed," Danielle said, leaving the room.

"I heard my name," Harry told Remus, frowning. "Is anything happening?"

"Just adults talking about pointless issues," Remus told him, smiling slightly. "Not too interesting."

"You're tutoring tomorrow, right?" Harry asked.

Remus thought for a moment and nodded. "Yes. And I'll have to ask Professor Dumbledore about the courses tonight, then."

"So I get to meet them?" Remus smiled, trying to remember how many times Harry had asked the same question.

"Yes, Harry. And you can ask them all the questions you want about Hogwarts and their classes once I finish with them. You may be able to sit in on the tutoring lessons, if you want. Of course, you can't be using anything I teach them in a bad way." He smiled and winked at Harry.

Danielle entered the room shortly afterwards, wearing a sweater and a long skirt, sitting back down. "Is there anything else we need to talk about?" she asked Remus, who shook his head. "Alright. Now, it's getting late and both of you are looking thin." She gave Remus a stern look. "So I'll be cooking. You two just stay here."

She walked into the kitchen, where they were still able to see her bustling around, pulling out a container of uncooked chicken and setting it down on a cutting board.

"Harry," she said, leaning on a knife to get it to cut through an onion, "have you gotten to look through Hogsmeade lately?"

Nodding, Harry told her about the shops he had been in with personal opinions added onto the end of each description. He was starting to sound like a newspaper review, Remus noted, laughing to himself. Danielle nodded as he described everything, occasionally able to slip in a word about her own opinion.

"And I got to see a bit of one place, far off on the road, but I didn't see it up close. It was big and rather old -"

"The Shrieking Shack?" Danielle asked, laying the chicken pieces in a pan over the onions. "It's haunted."

"Really?" Harry asked interestedly. Remus felt his face go pale but refrained from adding anything in. "Remus, can we see it sometime?"

"Possibly," he answered, hoping his voice betrayed nothing of his thoughts. "Danielle, is it supposed to sizzle that loud?"

Danielle glanced up, giving him a curious look, then turned to see smoke coming from the pan. She rushed forward, flipping the chicken and looking at the underside of it before saying, "It's fine, Remus. Don't go scaring me like that."

Privately, Remus prided himself on managing to change the subject so well, but refused to say it to Danielle or Harry. Danielle was giving him a strange look, however.

"Harry, you had said you wanted to see how wizard chess works," Danielle said, turning away from Remus at last. Remus had the impression that Danielle could see through everything he said. "I have a set in that chest over there." She motioned with a knife at a wooden chest that Remus would not have noticed if she did not point it out. "It looks like a normal chess set."

Digging into the chest, Harry started pulling out random objects such as a dress, several old and dusty books, and a boomerang before finding the set. He set the game carefully on the floor, setting the pieces up in their correct spots.

"They can move by themselves," Danielle told him, tapping her wand against the pan and getting it to heat instantly. She stepped aside, watching the boy closely. "Watch. Queen Side Knight," she said in a commanding voice, and the Knight turned to look at her. Harry gasped in shock. "Forward and left." The Knight made the move she told it to and Harry, eyes wide, ordered a piece to step forward. The pawn gave Harry a long, hard look before stepping forward.

"Remus, you can play my side while I cook."

They spent the next twenty minutes playing chess, ordering the pieces forward. Remus knew that he had never had the ability to win a game of wizard’s chess, and the pieces always yelled out advice that he foolishly ignored. He preferred the type where the pieces kept silent and were moved by hand. Harry, however, seemed unable to grasp the concept, and Remus found himself winning early on.

“Dinner’s ready,” Danielle said, watching them for another second with interest. “I hope you like it. And nothing’s burnt,” she added to Remus, smiling.

They sat at her table, which was laden with dishes. Remus felt that she had more than outdone herself, but she insisted that she enjoyed cooking, and it was not often that she had guests over for meals.

“Joanna - you met her, Remus - she likes to come over sometimes, as does my family, but I don’t think any of them can stand me long enough to stay for dinner.” She smiled and cut the large pie in front of them, putting a large slice on Harry’s plate. “Joanna’s mainly been coming now for… emotional problems.” Rolling her eyes, Danielle added, “And business, but that’s all.”

“Does she work with you?” Harry asked before taking a large bite of chicken.

“Yes. At St. Mungo’s. It’s the hospital for wizards around here,” she added at Harry’s confused look. “It’s hidden from Muggles, like Hogwarts.”

“Why do they do that?” Harry swallowed and continued with his question. “I mean, Muggles aren’t going to break in, are they?”

“Well, they hate wizards and witches,” Remus answered, cutting a slice of the pie into smaller pieces. Danielle handed him a bowl with potatoes, which he took and placed down, trying his best to scoop out a spoonful. “You know that they used to try and burn us at the stake.”

“Did that kill a lot of wizards?” Harry asked, concern riding on his voice.

“No. Flame Freezing Spells stop us from being set on fire. Luckily, Muggles stopped that practice and now act as if we didn’t exist,” Danielle answered lightly, smiling slightly.

“That’s why we hide everything. Muggles may report it, or want us to solve all of their problems with magic….” Remus told him, passing Harry a basket with rolls in it.

“You can solve all problems with magic?” Harry’s eyes widened in interest.

Danielle laughed. “That’s what most Muggles think, at least. They think we can wave away our problems, but we still have to deal with some things the ‘normal’ way.” She smirked. “My grandparents used to think I could cure arthritis with a wave of the wand. As if I could back then. It’s getting closer and closer though,” she said more to herself than the other two. “We still have to pay bills without magic, do most of the cooking without magic… and labor hasn’t been made easier with magic.” She laughed at this, almost spilling her tea. Harry raised an eyebrow to Remus, who gave him a small smile without Danielle noticing.

“Oh, have a sense of humor!” she said, slowly stopping her laughter. “It was a joke. Well, I’m guessing only a female would get that,” she added, sounding vastly superior. “So, what are you two doing tomorrow?”

“I’m tutoring students from Hogwarts,” Remus told her. “So I won’t be free for part of the day, I’m guessing.”

“I get to sit in on them!” Harry added, eyes shining with joy. “I get to see what they learn there!”

“He’s too excited about that to be healthy,” Danielle said, grinning. “I remember how I acted when my sister got into Hogwarts. I was almost ready to rip off her head for getting to go early. Every summer until I went, I asked her to show me everything she learned, and she would flash that dreadful notice about use of magic over the summer in my face.” She sighed. “Well, at least I got to go. But then she got to visit Hogsmeade before me, and take special courses before me….”

“Special courses?” Harry asked.

“Like Care of Magical Creatures,” Remus explained. “They’re courses that are not needed, but you can choose to take them. Like how electives work at Muggle schools.”

Danielle nodded in agreement. “I made a rhubarb pie, if anyone wants any,” she said, picking up the empty plates and carrying them over to the sink before returning with the pie in hand. “I’m afraid the recipe was… er… well, the card was ruined,” she said, smiling nervously. “So it may not be the perfect one, but I tried my best.”

Remus tried it, savoring the strawberry and rhubarb.

“It’s good!” Harry said, piling more into his mouth.

Danielle smiled.

“Good.” She turned to Remus. “I’ll be busy tomorrow too. Meetings,” she said, sighing. “I’ll come by on Thursday, if you would like it.”

Remus shrugged. “If you’re free. I have more tutoring then, but I think Harry would enjoy your company again. Harry nodded his agreement, unable to speak through a mouthful of pie. Danielle smiled and gave Harry a small wink.

They finished eating soon afterwards, exchanging their goodbyes. She gave both Harry and Remus a small kiss on the cheek before waving, and they watched her fade from view as they left through the fireplace.