R.J.Lupin
Remus Lupin went from having the marauders, Lils, Dorcas, Marls, Mary, and Harry to nothing. One minute they all had each other. Just for a minute things appeared okay despite the war. Dorcas and Marls had been the first to die. Marlene died with her family. Dorcas in a fit of rage over the loss was struck down by him, personally. Peter was killed by Sirius. Sirius betrayed Lily and James which in turn killed them. Now, Harry has been taken to be raised somewhere in secret (Petunia, if he had to guess). Now, Remus is alone. Remus is alone because Mary couldn't deal with all the loss. It was all too much and she did the only thing they couldn't fix. She oblivated her own mind. Just a shell of the person she used to be.
Remus stood in the flat that he had once shared with Sirius. It seemed hollow, empty. Yes, it had all its furniture. Yes, it had everything that mattered to them at one point. Yet, it all felt empty. Sirius had betrayed them all. Sirius was the reason Lils and James are gone. Peter is gone. The Marauders are finished. He is the last one standing. It is like someone took a stick of dynamite and blew up his heart. It has left him shell shocked, numb, broken.
The last several days since Halloween have gone by in a blur. He attended three different funerals. It didn’t feel right having Lilys and James at the same time. They both deserved their own slotted time to be grieved. He tried to see Harry right after it all happened. He had been told no. Now, the best he can do is to collect some things from around the flat. He picks up the small toys and photos that he has. If everybody is going to keep Harry away from him. He is at least going to send some things that his cub should have. If he gets lucky, maybe he can convince Petunia to send him updates. If. That is all he has, if. Can ‘if’ be hope? Or is it less than hope?
Remus stops and stares. He looks at the photos in his hands. The photos from last year, from the few times the Potters came out of hiding to celebrate. They all meet at the Potter Manor. In one of them Harry is zooming around on a toddlers broom. It is a photo from his birthday that had been a happy occasion. The cake had been chocolate, made by himself personally. Sirius had picked up the broom. Peter gave him a new handmade blanket. It had been a really good day.
He writes out a letter on a piece of parchment. What he is sending isn't a lot, but it is something. Harry deserves proof of good times. Proof of how much love surrounded him. Remus won't fall apart. He is going to pull through this and be ready for the day when Harry comes looking for answers. There is no one else, he can do this. He can fight the darkness and win. This is the moment Dumbledore decided to floo in. At the sound of it he walked out of the study and back towards the main area of the flat. Remus has been having a hard time keeping the faith. He understands people die in war, that things go wrong. He however does not appreciate all the bullshit. The vague nonsense and none answers. He wishes Dumbledore would just give him the whole truth.
"Remus, my boy. I am merely going to ask this once. Have you been by to see Harry?"
Remus pauses. He stares. He blinks. What kind of fucking question is that.
"You told me I was not allowed to visit him."
"Yes, I did."
Remus gritted his teeth.
"So why would I see Harry?"
Dumbledore is quiet. The room is too quiet. It suddenly clicks.
"Dumbledore, is Harry still with Lily's sister?"
"It seems James and Lily had a secret clause hidden in their will. They had secretly granted one more person to take over guardianship of Harry." Dumbledore is staring straight at Remus, with that damn twinkle in his eye.
"Do you know who?" Remus can feel his blood run cold. Who would they send Harry too? Why would they be so secretive about it?
"That Remus I don't know. The entire thing has been kept hushed due to the conditions of this clause and the magic surrounding it. It is not one anyone can override except for the newly appointed guardian. Should they choose to reveal themselves."
"But Harry would be safe, right? James and Lily would only appoint someone for this if they really trusted them."
Remus winced as soon as the words left his mouth. What was trust anymore? The biggest betrayal of trust just happened. Sirius was the secret keeper and Harry's godfather.
"I am going to keep looking. If you hear anything, my boy; please let me know."
"Of course, Dumbledore. We all just want Harry safe and sound."
The older man stared for a moment before his eyes flicked around the flat. He nodded and left through the floo calling for Hogwarts Headmasters office as he went. Remus makes his way back to the office. He rips up the original letter he wrote and starts a new one. His mind is going back over the years. Looking for something, any indication of who this mystery person could be.
Remus knew all of Lily's friends and her family. Her parents had passed away, and her sister did have Harry until recently. What about blood magic? They would need a blood relative to keep that magic going. If not family, what friend? The girls are all gone now. Alice and Frank are in permanent full time care now. Peter is dead. He was never an option due to the wolf. James has no family left. Remus knew all of his friends. Yet, somewhere along the way one or both of them had made this connection. That somehow they had someone that could take Harry out of Dumbledore’s reach. Did they not trust him?
With the package and letter in hand. Remus heads to the local owlery. Making sure to lock his floo down first. Hopefully, wherever Harry is the owl can get through and drop off the package.
…
10th November 1981
Regulus can't believe how tiring it is trying to take care of twins. It was making the year of just him and Aurora look like a piece of cake. Even Kreacher seems at his wits end. One cries, they both cry and Harry is always crying. Though who could blame the boy. He had lost everything and was now traumatised from halloween night and the following days. Still, one cries, they both cry and Merlin, help him when they both needed and wanted to be held and comforted. Sure, Regulus doesn't have anywhere to be and has all the time in the world. But Harry only speaks english, Aurora mostly only speaks french and it is giving constant whiplash. Oh, he is sure James and Lily are laughing at him in the afterlife. This is quite the predicament.
Though it has not been all bad. It is an adjustment or that is what he keeps telling himself. Regulus before picking up Harry had adjusted the wards. Allowing for certain kinds of mail to be delivered by owl. Gringotts could send him things from the start. James had also been on the allowed list. When the day comes acceptance letters from Hogwarts would show up. His friends that knew he was alive were on the allowed list but they didn’t send post. He had debated hard and decided in the end to allow almost anything from Lupin. The mailing wards would stop anything that has a tracking spell, hexes, curses or whatever from getting in. Instead they are redirected to the head of the family to be sorted with.
"Papa!"
Regulus let out a deep sigh and walked towards the nursery. Hoping that things would settle before long. Walking into the nursery he saw both of them awake and standing in their cribs. Harry’s bright green eyes held a sadness to them. They always had that sad look now.
"Papa, piano?"
He slowly closes the door behind him. He turns and taps his wand against it. This time when the door opens they are connected to the music room. Most of the instruments had been put away in their cases and smaller toddler versions had been brought out. The moment he picked up Aurora from her crib she struggled in his arms. Demanding to try walking on her two feet. While Harry just wrapped his arms around his neck. Loud soft sniffles filled the room. Please, don't cry. Don't cry.
He walked into the music room and watched as his star sat by her little toy piano. Her fingers pushing on random keys in concentration. She stopped for a moment and looked back up at them.
"Haz, toujours triste?"
(Haz, still sad?)
Regulus couldn't help the small smile that danced on his lips. He didn't know why but for some reason Aurora seemed to struggle to say Harry and opted instead to just say Haz as Regulus had suggested.
"Oui, mon petit astre.."
(Yes, my tiny star.)
With that she pushed off the ground and went towards the grand piano.
"Papa, joue-nous une chanson."
(Dad, play us a song.)
Regulus walks towards the bench and sits down with Harry still tucked in arms. The sniffling hasn't stopped. He looks down at where Aurora is standing by the bench. She beams up at him with a smile.
"Here, Haz."
She points with one finger at Harry and pats at the spot beside her. Regulus dutifully turns and puts Harry down beside her. What surprises him is the way she turns and uses one of her hands to clumsily wipe away the tears on Harry’s face.
"Don't cry, Haz. Papa, is here."
"But the monster." Harry's voice wobbles as he starts to cry.
"No monster. Papa hurts monsters."
"Miss mum and baba." Harry's voice cracks and more tears slide down his face. Aurora in all her softness just wraps her arms around Harry and gives him a hug. Her one arm moving in ruff, uneven comforting circles on his back.
Regulus lets his fingers dance over the piano. Carefully he lets Beethovens: Piano Sonata No. 14 play out. Filling the room with the music. After a song, he turns to find Harry contently sitting by Aurora while she pushes soft fingers onto her own piano. With a flick of his wand he summons the camera and takes a quick photo of the two. For this one moment when the boy, Haz has finally stopped crying. For this moment between the twins.
"Alright, how about all of us go for petit-déjeuner now?
(Breakfast)
Later that day while the twins have been settled down for some quiet time in their nursery. An owl flies into the office and has a package attached to its leg. He carefully unties the package and letter. Summoning some water and a treat for the owl before it flies away. The letter is simply addressed to the guardian of Harry Potter. With the return being R.J.Lupin. Regulus carefully opens the letter.
To the guardian of Harry Potter
My name is Remus Lupin. I have been friends with Lily Evans and James Potter for a number of years now. However, due to a life crippling illness I could not take over care for their son.
I have also included a package that has some of the things Harry left behind at my flat. It contains various photos that had been taken over the last year. I have labelled each photo with the names of everyone in it. So that Harry can have some idea on the love he had before tragedy struck. In the box you can also find some simple toys and a blanket that was his.
I do not expect you to reach out or even allow me the chance to see him but I am hoping that I can at least be granted updates on his well being. I have cared deeply for Harry since before he was even born. He is a part of my family, and I just want to know he is safe and hopefully happy.
R.J.Lupin
Regulus just stares at the letter for a moment before he opens the package. Sure enough he pulls out photos first. The photos are filled with people from James and Lily’s inner circle of friends. Mary Mcdonald, Peter Pettigrew, Marlene Mckinnon, Dorcas Meadowes (that one hurts), Remus Lupin, and of course Sirius. All of the photos are filled with bright smiles and laughs. Harry is the centre point in some of them.
The toys aren't anything to outlandish. The toys seem to be part of a cauldron set. Plus one stuffed black dog. The blanket is a handmade crimson one, with a golden H on it. He takes the blanket and the dog into the next room. He carefully places the pup beside Harry, and covers him with the other blanket. It'll have to be enough. Carefully, Regulus summons the camera again and takes another photo.
…
Remus wasn't expecting a response to his package. If he is being quite honest with you he expected not to know anything about Harry until he started school at Hogwarts. It was a surprise when later that night an owl was tapping at his window. He carefully untied the letter and left a small bowl of water for the bird.
When he cracked open the letter it had nothing but a simple photo. In this photo was a sleeping Harry, who now had Padfoot and the blanket tucked him in. On the back was a simple written thank you. It warmed his heart to see that the package had indeed brought him some good. He walked into the bedroom and placed the photo on the night stand by his bed. A constant reminder that Harry was in fact safe and cared for. It only made this decision easier. Sirius could get fucked. He was keeping the flat and was going to get it together. He would stay and work towards being a part of Harry's life. Sirius may have taken James, Lily and Pete from him but he would not also take Harry. Remus was a gryffindor and he would not tuck tail and run.