Daddy Dearest

Chapter 10 - The Tutor

Monday, September 25, 1991

"Moony!"

The werewolf grinned at the little black-haired boy. "Your stepfather asked me to tutor you in Defense, and I happily agreed to--though I'm glad it's only one morning a week, or I'd dread going home and seeing what Sirius has done with the children. At least I've got Accalia--your father just has to trust Edana to keep Sirius at bay."

Harry grinned, remembering all the times that Edana hadn't managed to keep her husband and the boys under her watchful eye. Accalia usually handled the girls--Lenora, Thadea, Mika, and Romulus's twin Amaris--and Edana handled the boys. Then he realized what Remus had said. "Wait--one morning a week? What about Wednesday?"

Remus smiled at the little boy. "You'll have Wednesday mornings off, to practice and do homework and such. For now, anyway. If you are discovered wreaking havoc during that time they'll make you go to Defense Against the Dark Arts with Quirrell then. Let's get started. Severus wants you to actually learn something."

Harry nodded, and Remus started him of on the most difficult lesson he's ever had outside of Transfiguration. They would be covering basic self-protection at first, and when Harry had mastered that they would move on. However, Harry had never had a serious Defense Against the Dark Arts class and the extent of his instinctive protective magical manifestations had been to make him very hard to find after he'd pulled a particularly infuriating prank. That meant that Remus had to start with the most basic basics, and since his lessons were mostly practical Harry was worn out well before the end of class.

"That's enough for today," Remus said firmly as Harry stopped to catch his breath. "You're improving, but it doesn't do us any good if we exhaust you too much."

"I'm fine," Harry insisted stubbornly.

Remus smiled at the little boy. "Of course you are. None of you children ever admit that you're tired. Why don't we review what we've learned today?"

Harry sighed and obediently recited what he'd learned that day. "So--did Romulus send me anything?" Remus chuckled and pulled a letter out of his case. Harry took it and opened it eagerly. It only took a few minutes to read, and at the end Harry seemed a little . . . disappointed. "Why's there so much stuff in it about Amaris?"

Remus smiled at the little eleven-year-old. "Harry, they're twins. They spend a lot more time together than you realize--and he's started taking her with him to play with James since you came here. It appears that most of your favorite games involve three people."

Harry looked a little resentful. "But . . . she's a girl!"

"Harry, you can't expect them to wait for you to come back to do anything. You'll be separated for the better part of a year. Besides, I think that if you pay more attention to Amaris when the three of them come next year that you'll find that she's not that different from her brother. Give her a chance."

Harry glowered at the letter and stuffed it in his bag. "I need to go or I'll be late for Transfiguration." The disgruntled little boy left for his next class, leaving Remus shaking his head after him. Harry was not pleased that he'd been replaced--especially by a girl.

Accalia is Remus's wife and Edana is Sirius's. Thadea is Sirius's daughter, and Mika is Remus's youngest.