Uncle Moony
The morning of September first Harry was the first one awake and goes down to the kitchen to try and help Sookie and Dobby with breakfast. After some arguing they let him make the eggs and they chat until Nia emerges seeking tea. She's already in her Professor Evans outfit even if not wearing Aunt Petunia's face at the moment. The pencil dress is stretched over Nia's frame more than it should and too long for the style it's meant to be. Harry thinks he recognises it from when Vernon would take Petunia to a work function.
Aunt Nia steals bit's of food while it's cooking, earning several slapped fingers from Sookie. Sirius stumbles is last still more or less dead to the world slumping in his chair as Dobby brings him coffee. Harry can't help but smile. They're in no way a normal one but Harry finally has a family.
"What's on the reading list this year?" Harry asks as he eats and Nia is trying to bring Sirius into the land of the living.
"Little Women, Animal Farm, Lord of the Flies, The Diary of Anne Frank and The Hobbit definitely then I'll throw in some fun ones and a couple biographies, we'll cover world war two for History. The Slytherins will hate it." She answers giving up on Sirius noticing anything other than his coffee mug.
"You know it takes him another ten minutes to register life around him, why bother?" He laughs lightly when Padfoots nose falls in his cup.
"Sookie, Dobby please come sit to eat it's getting cold," Nia calls to the elves who'd already started on dishes and they reluctantly sit down.
Half an hour after breakfast Nia is wearing Petunia's face and her dress fits perfectly again if a little stretched. Sirius is now fully conscious and running around as Padfoot as they wait for Snape to arrive.
When Snape does Floo in, Sirius growls at him and the fireplace like he's a mailman. "Oh go chase your tail Black." Snape snipes, ignoring Harry completely to greet his aunt. "Ready for another year of Torture?"
"Unlike you Sev I like my job. And my students."
"You'll learn eventually. Let's get this over with, Potter front and centre." Harry does as told and stands in front of his potions Master. "Do you understand what we're doing?"
"The Fidelius charm hides a house from everyone so even if Voldemort or Pettigrew were right outside they wouldn't see anything. You're going to be secret keeper so you're the only one that can tell people where the house is." Harry answers and Snape nods, gesturing for Harry to open his hand. He does and Snape pricks his finger taking a drop of blood into a vial. He asks the same of Nia and adds another of his own then waves his wand over it whispering an incantation Harry doesn't recognise. The blood glows for a minute and then stops as Sev turns to Nia who pulls out the deed to the house. Harry recognises his parents names and signatures with who he assumes to be his grandparents and great grandparents. Six generations of Potters beginning with the original Fleamont who built the Manor in Eighteen fifty three on this one piece of paper Sookie keeps In her bedroom with the rest of the house files. Severus drops the blood onto the bottom of the page and it disappears but the Page glows.
"It's done. I presume you'd like to give the Weasleys your location?" Sev says like he's bored handing back the Deed.
"They are picking Harry up in an Hour. I'll get you a pen if Harry can get Hedwig?" Harry agrees to go to the Owlery and collect Hedwig returning with her on his shoulder and Snape puts a scroll on her ankle. She flies out the nearest window and Snape walks back to the fireplace.
"Thankyou Sev. Really, are you sure you don't want to stay for tea. We still have blueberry muffins left from breakfast." Snape makes a face at Harry who's got his finger in his mouth trying to stop the bleeding and Sirius scratches himself on the coffee table like an animal. Which he is right now. Deadpanning at Nia Snape doesn't even answer before yelling Spinners End into the Floo.
"He's your most trusted friend? Wasn't he a death eater?"
"I've worked very hard to rehabilitate him. Besides, he's saved your ass twice now. Surely you can forgive him for being a little prickly. You do look like the man who bullied him for seven years and married his first love,"
"Sni, Snape gave as good as he got." Sirius defends James making Nia jump cause she didn't see him transform.
"Not saying he didn't but he never led you unprepared to a werewolf den on a full moon." Nia responds and Sirius's face drops with guilt.
"You know about that?"
"Only Sev's memories, he had an alternate idea for teaching Harry Occlumency and our dear Hero is equal parts confrontational and nosy."
"Hey!" Harry protests lamely at the description but Nia just pokes her tongue at him.
"My point is Severus has a complicated life and while I wouldn't trust the original timeline Severus to hold my drink at a party he's grown a lot in the last two years. Mainly because I've forced it onto him but that's what I do, I've turned the Manic Pixie Dream Girl trope into a career." Aunt Nia answers the original question and Harry rolls his eyes. He doesn't know what a manic pixie dream girl trope means but manic pixie isn't a bad description of her.
"Hey, maybe you're a Fairy." he suggests thinking about the bombshell the updated Marauders Map brought with it. Nia's name had never been there but when Sirius charmed the map to show magical creatures there it was. Which is why the Twins gave him the map for his birthday. Nia admitted to suggesting it to save her own butt. They'd been guessing all summer. Tim Riddle called her and Angel of Fate but he'd read everything he could find on Fates and Angels and nothing matched. Probably just Tom being dramatic.
Nia makes a face like she's actually considering it when the Weasleys honk outside. Mr Weasley got his car back and fixed when he got his muggle drivers licence. On the third try.
"Have fun on the train and let him sleep." Harry's about to ask who when the car honks again followed by a scream at George apparently by Mrs Weasley. Harry takes his trunks lightened by Sookie and Hedwig's cage, she'll meet them at school. Sona has taken to sleeping at the bottom of Nia's trunk since she's inherited the parseltongue ability from her mind share with Voldemort.
Sirius hug Harry goodbye despite his full hands and he runs out to the car where Percy is waiting to help him with his bags. Ron left him a space at the back between him and Ginny. Based on the face Ron is making at his little sister this wasn't originally the plan.
"Hello, thankyou for driving me to the Train Mr and Mrs Weasley."
"Of course Dear. Has your Uncle Sirius let you know if he's joining us for Tea?" Mrs Weasley asks and Harry says he doesn't know before turning to Ron to chat.
Ginny stammers out a conversation starter about quidditch and Ron runs with it talking over her. Harry felt bad for her and smiles with a playful eye roll at Ron's expense and she goes bright red and giggles. Right, crush still there then.
Kings Cross doesn't come soon enough and Harry could hug Hermione for getting Ginny's attention and pointing out Zabini who'd cut all his hair off and got the boys uniform finally. Ginny says goodbye to her Mum and runs off with him to find their Ravenclaw friend.
"Good Summer Harry?" Hermione asks,
"Great, Nia and I went to mixed martial arts classes. Apparently wizards rely on their wands so much they'd be useless in a fair fight." Harry tells her and she laughs while Ron looks vaguely scared.
"Harry, hey, ready to take the Cup this year?" Oliver Wood, seventh year and captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team appears from the crowd with a warm smile and a new broom a Nimbus 2000. Harry had given Ron his when he got his firebolt.
"Well as long as no one tries to kill me the first match. We need to get better security at those things." Harry responds and Oliver takes a second to process before laughing and turning to the rest of the Weasleys.
"Hey Fred, George. Mind if I borrow Percy, Need to clarify training times with the Head Boy." He says with an easy smile and Percy agrees immediately saying his goodbye exceptional quicklime before getting on the train with Oliver. Harry looks at Ron for confirmation but he doesn't seem to have noticed then to Hermione who's grinning in the direction they disappeared to. Oh that's why he took Fred's place as beater. Huh.
They make their way out of Mrs Weasley's loving fussing and spend a solid ten minutes looking for a carriage. Curse the Weasley's tendency to be late. The only compartment not filled with strangers held a sleeping Professor.
"Everywhere else is full." Hermione states going to put her trunk up when Ron takes it for her. She complains that she's perfectly capable of doing it herself but blushes when Ron looks away. As much as it was the most uncomfortable chat of his life at least he's warned about whatever is happening between them, or will happen for now they're just being weird around each other.
"Who'd you reckon he is?" Ron asks about the sleeping man. He clearly needs the rest. He's pale and skin seems to barely cover his bones. This must be who Nia said to let rest.
"Professor R.J Lupin." Hermione recites like she's reading it and Harry scans the man for where it is.
"How do you know that?"
"It's on his case Ronald." She sighs pointing to the old and dingy packs that look like they're left from the man's own school days based on the peeling of the paint.
"Wonder what he teaches?" Even Harry rolls his eyes at Ron's question.
"That's obvious. There's only one Vacancy isn't there? Defence Against the Dark Arts." She whispers, pulling out one of the books for the new school year. Ron is still looking at Professor Lupin with confusion on his face.
"Well I hope he's up to it, he looks like one good Hex would finish him off." Ron mutters more to himself, "Though he does look familiar, can't think of why though. Don't think I know any Lupins." Harry thinks for a second because Ron's right he does look familiar. The train movement jostles him and the corner of a scar becomes visible and it clicks. Lupin, Remus Lupin.
"Uncle Moony!" Harry exclaims excitedly and Hermione looks confused but Ron's face dawn's with understanding.
"Sirius's Ex? He's in all the photos around your house. Wow, he's aged a lot."
"Ronald!" Hermione scolds. "If he was in love with Sirius he's had a tough life, losing all his friends in one weekend along with Harry."
"Sorry, I just mean he's already got grey hairs doesn't he, Sirius was in Azkaban and he's not even a little grey. I overheard Mum gushing about him and how charming he was back in the late seventies. It was gross."
"Moony has a medical condition I think. Uncle Padfoot sometimes gets really sad that he wasn't around to look after him." Harry responds and Ron looks guilty.
"Should we wake him?" The redhead asks Harry who shakes his head.
"He needs sleep. I'll have all year to talk to him." The train ride goes smoothly, they talk about Pettigrew's escape and consider who disabled the anti-magic wards so he could escape. Ron suspects Lucius Malfoy Hermione thinks he wouldn't do something so bold after his failure with the Chamber.
As if summoned by his Father's name Malfoy and his lackeys arrive. "Well look who it is. Potty and the Weasel." Malfoy sneers but something about him catches Harry off guard. His hair isn't gelled back to his head like normal, instead it's left loose to fall on either side of his face. It looks nice and soft and where the hell did that come from.
"I heard your father finally got his hands on some gold this summer, Weasley, did your mother die of shock?" He sneers ruining whatever distracted Harry from his simmering hatred. Apparently him being decent last winter break was a fluke.
"Fuck off Malfoy." Hermione gives Harry a reproachful look for the language stolen from Nia and Sirius when they think he's not listening. Malfoy looks actually startled by the profanity and Harry's about to use that ammunition when Malfoy notices the adult in the corner.
"Who's that?"
"My uncle," Harry answers at the same time Hermione says "New teacher."
"Another distant relative on staff, how predictable Merlin forbid you don't get the spotlight. Saint Potter, does it make up for not having any real parents." There's rage in Malfoy's eyes as he steps closer to Harry. His hand flinched for his wand.
"Your mothers unemployed isn't she? Maybe she can take a staff position to give you the attention I'm taking from you. I'd say Lucius should have applied but given why your father lost his spot on the school board I doubt they'd let him around children." Harry bites back and Malfoy pulls his wand. Harry guesses this won't be the last time his summer classes come in handy as he disarms Malfoy and pins him to the wall. Crabbe and Goyle step forward ready to pummelled but Malfoy squeaks at them to stop.
"There's no need to stoop to his savagery. We're have more class than that. Malfoy speaks purely for himself and Harry let's him up noting how much better Malfoy's hair looks when it can get messy. "Let's go." Malfoy orders Tweedledee and Tweedledum and they stalk away. Harry watches him go.
Turning back into the Carriage is shaking her head at him and he feels a lecture coming. Ron must to because he interrupts. "Is he still alive, who sleeps through that?"
"You shouldn't let Malfoy get to you like that. Your Aunt got you those lessons to keep you out of danger not to pick a fight with Malfoy cause it's something to do."
"Malfoy started it." Ron defends Harry but he can see where Hermione's going.
"Harry didn't have to rile him up any more. I'm not saying he doesn't deserve it but fighting him just for the sake of it is stupid and immature." That put a damper in conversation as they all settled into their respective tasks. Ron the last of his make-up Muggle studies work, Hermione Ancient runes and Harry the potions essay Snape would pass or fail depending on his mood no matter the content.
The sky is just dark when the train slows to a stop as if on Ron's will as he complains about being hungry.
"We can't be there yet." Hermione says checking her watch. The train jolts aggressively and all the lights go off. Because of course they do. Ron checks the window and squeaks in fear.
"There's something moving out there, I think people are coming on board."
Neville and Ginny come in to find them sounding scared and Harry reaches for his wand before thinking better of it. He turns to the window shaking Remus awake.
"Uncle Moony, something is happening." He says and finally he opens his eyes. Golden brown and kind if a bit hazy from sleep.
"James?" His tired voice Is full of pain and confusion and Harry feels terrible.
"No it's Harry, someone stopped the train." Shaking his head to wake like Sirius does, Remus stands and goes out to check what's happening but the door opens before he can reach it.
Standing in the doorway, illuminated by the shivering flames in Lupin's hand, is a cloaked figure that towers to the ceiling. Its face was completely hidden beneath it's hood. Harry's eyes dart downward, and what he see's makes his stomach contract. There's a hand protruding from the cloak and it's slimy-looking, and scabbed, like something dead that had decayed in water. It's visible only for a split second. As though the creature beneath the cloak sensed Harry's gaze, the hand is suddenly withdrawn into the folds of its black cloak.
Then the thing beneath the hood, whatever it is, draws a long, slow, rattling breath, as though it were trying to suck something more than air from its surroundings.
An intense cold swept over him. Harry felt his breath catch in his chest. The cold goes deeper than his skin. It's inside his chest, it was inside his very heart.
Harry's eyes roll up into his head. He can't see anything as he drowns in the cold. There's a rushing in his ears as though he's underwater being dragged downward, the roaring quickly growing louder. From far away, he hears screaming, terrible, terrified, pleading screams. He wants to help whoever it is, he tries to move his arms, but couldn't. A thick white fog is swirling around him, inside him,
"Harry! Harry! Are you all right?" He can't distinguish the voice at first. Not until someone is slapping his face.
"W-what?" It was Hermione apparently and she hugs him tightly as he comes too. The light are on and the train is moving. How long was he under?
"What was that thing, who screamed?"
"No one screamed Harry." Ginny answers with worry filling her face. Professor Lupin clears his throat offering Harry a piece of chocolate.
"Eat, you'll feel better." Harry doesn't even look at it, instead staring at Moony. He's so thin, almost like Sirius when he first got out.
"What was that thing?"
"A Dementor," Remus answers, giving more chocolate to the rest of the group. "One of the guards of Azkaban. I suspect they were looking for Pettigrew. Now If you'll excuse me, I'd best speak to the driver." Harry ignored the worried looks of his friends and Follows him out.
"Uncle Moony,"
"Professor Lupin Harry. I've done nothing to earn that name from you."
"I don't care. I don't have a lot of family Professor, but you were my Parents best friend and Padfoot still loves you so you'd best not fight it cause Aunt Nia's already redecorating your office at home. He responds and the Professor begins to tear up.
"Eat the chocolate, we'll talk later." He promises and goes further down the train as Ron pulls Harry back in.