Chapter 4
Remus's POV
I looked around the room one last time.
I was leaving, going on the run with my prison escapee ex boyfriend and his godson. "What have you gotten yourself into, Remus " I sighed before closing the lid of my shabby suitcase.
"Moon-Remus! You coming?" Yelled a voice from the living room. "Speak of the devil" i hummed, walking out.
I'd miss this place, it was last bit of mum and dad I had after all. Stepping out of my bedroom, I was greeted by a over enthusiastic black dog and tiny Harry's giggling. The animagus waging his tail and licked Harry's face,making the little boy in question shriek in glee.
"Ready to go?" I asked, trying not to melt at the scene in front of me. Could this have been us, if so much hadn't gone wrong? I shook myself, it was over, that was that.
"Ready when you are!" The long-haired man answered, turning back into Sirius.
Taking Harry's had, we ventured out into my front yard. "Where are we going." Harry asked, practically bouncing with excitement.
Sirius chuckled, "somewhere safe cub, don't worry."
We stopped at the end of the drive, Sirius offering his hand to me. I took it, trying not to flinch as we touched (corny I know!). It felt surprisingly soft, fitting perfectly in my own, like it always had. I took a deep breath, clearing my mind as Sirius apperated is away.
I opened my eyes to see a very familiar street come into focus.
"You want to hide here?" I asked in surprise, leaning over to stare at Sirius.
He nodded, looking determined like he was about to head into battle. Looking back up at Number 12 Grimmauld Place, that wasn't far off.
I remembered when he'd swore to never come back here, standing on the bar of the leaky cauldron with a beer in hand. How times had changed.
We stepped forward, the house appearing from the muggle building.
Climbing up the front steps, Sirius tried the knob. It clicked open, allowing us to slip inside.
The entire way was much as Sirius had described, dark and foreboding. A thick layer of dust covering everything.
I began to walk forward, but Sirius stopped me, placing a finger to his lips. I listened, heart sinking as I heard it.
Humming, someone was humming in the kitchen. I looked at Sirius which wide eyes.
"Who is that?!" I hissed frantically.
“Dunno, all my family's dead, and Kreacher wasn't one to hum." He mouthed back. We both looked down at Harry, who looked somewhat confused about the whole thing.
" I'll go first, if anything happens, take Harry and run." I whispered fervently, eyeing the door.
That must lead to the kitchen, I'd probably catch them by surprise, I thought.
Sirius looked ready to argue, but one look at Harry seemed to change his mind. He nodded, as we inched forward.
Taking a deep breath, I peaked in through the crack of the open door. The room was lit by a single lamp, making the kitchen look eerie and dim.
A person came into view, humming gentle and holding a steaming mug. The voice sounded feminine, the women's black hair just visible through the gloom.
I looked at Sirius, who mouthed "On the count of three.”
I sprung forward, wand drawn, through the door and at the women. She promptly shrieked, dropping the mug of piping hot tea in surprise.
Nobody moved, the women's panicked breathing all to be heard. She didn't draw a wand, I noticed.Odd
"Who are you and why are you in my house!" I heard Sirius say from behind me. So much for him staying back.
" I-I live h-here." The women answered, still shaking
"How?" I asked simply. It was damn near impossible to get in here, what with all the dark magic casted around this house. The wards were ancient, so strong that this was one of the only manors the ministry couldn’t raid after the war. The only reason they'd been able to enter was because of Sirius.
"I f-found it abandoned. Didn't think anyone'd lived here in ages." She replied, slowly fingering the heavy casket iron on the stove top. I raised my wand threateningly.
"Petrificus Totalus!"shouted and she froze. Falling backwards under the full body bind curse. She blinked up at me angrily.
"Well this escalated quickly." Sirius muttered, still shielding Harry behind him. The little boy's eyes were wide.
"Is she dead?!" The little boy shrieked in terror.
"What?No no no! She's not-come look! She's fine!" Sirius blubbered in panic, letting Harry walk past him.
The poor kid took one look at the women and burst into tears. The girls eyes creased in sympathy and she glared at me expectingly. As if to say now look what you’ve done!
I sighed and knelt down to Harry's level, trying to ignore my back cracking. "Harry, she's alright, see?" I asked and pointed to her blinking eyes.
He didn't look convinced. "But she's not moving." He whimpered. I sighed once more and looked back at the women.
She hadn't really been doing anything wrong, the house probably was abandoned when she'd found it. Plus, she didn't seem to have a wand, and Harry would probably have nightmares forever if i didn't fix this.
I huffed before leaning over her face. "I'm going to release you now, don't make me regret this." I hummed, casting the anti spell. She leaped to her feet and took several steps back. Then, catching my eye, the women stopped. She stared at Harry, eyes softening.
"I'm alright, don't worry." She said simply, smiling down at him. Harry stared at his feet shying, now that he knew she wasn't dead, the nervousness came back full force.
"What's your name little one?" She asked, slowly kneeling in front of us. Before I could reach a hand out, Harry stepped forward and shook her hand.
"My name's Harry Potter miss! Potter is my parents last name, Sirius told me so!" He babbled happily. If the women found the little boys explanation curious, she didn't show it.
"What's your name?"
"Sabine, Sabine Flaversham." She murmured, voice a bit bitter.
"Can she stay with us Sirius? Oh please!" Harry exploded, latching onto Sabine's arm. She didn't seem to mind.
"Well..." Sirius trailed off, rubbing the back of his neck.
"I'm not leaving." She exclaimed, face determined.
"This isn't your house." I reminded, feeling Sirius come to stand next to me in support.
" well it's not his either, not really! He broke in too!"She countered, standing. She wasn't very tall, only about 5 '6, yet she held her ground. I shared a glance with Sirius, weighing our options. She did seem harmless, but so had Peter, and Harry seemed to like her.
"I'll call the cops,if you don't let me stay." Sabine continued, putting a gentle had on Harry's shoulder. I could hear Sirius let out a low growl.
"Plus, I could help with your boy. He'll need a good influence." She continued, smiling down at Harry.
I looked at Sirius again, hoping not of the first time, that I could read his mind. The way James had always been able to.
"I have experienced! And-"
"You can stay."
Her face brightened
I stepped forward, "But let me assure you, Miss Sabine Flaversham. If a single hair is harmed on my nephew's head, I shall make you regret ever stepping foot in this house."
She gulped and nodded stoically."I've cleared up two of the rooms, he's welcome to sleep in there." Sabine murmured after a while, shooting a kind smile towards the Boy-Who-Lived.
As if on que, Harry yawned and rubbed his eyes, possibly the cutest thing I'd ever seen. Sirius scooped him up (I noticed he flinched at the touch) and smiled.
"Definitely past your bedtime prongslet, wouldn't want you to be as grumpy as Remus in the morning!" I looked at the two fondly, sharing one last glance with the animagus before he wished Harry away.
"First door on the right!" Sabine called after them, leaving us alone. She turned to me, an almost smug smile on her face.
"He's a good one, glad you two raising him together."
I back tracked, "We're not together!" I quickly denounced, feeling my face turn red. Her smug grin widened and she hummed, "Oh, of course not!" Sarcastically.
"It's complicated." I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. Her expression softened ever so slightly, "It always is."
"Well, if you don't mind, it's been an awful long night, I'm going to sleep." She decided briskly, starting up the stairs.
"It's not what you think!" I called behind her, still rooted to the same spot in the kitchen. She turned back, now at the top of the stairs. "It never is." She trilled.
Sabine looked me up and down then, taking in (probably) exhausted form. "Get some sleep..?"
"Remus, Remus Lupin." I finished. She smiled brightly before yawning once more.
"Good night Lupin, got lots to talk about tomorrow." She stated, disappearing up to the second floor.