It was a week before Remus could go to Diagon Alley with Neville, Sirius Black had escaped having seen Scabbers aka Peter Pettigrew aka Wormtail in the papers (though only Remus knew that at this time). Add to that the fall out of the death of the Crouches and Mrs. Longbottom was not willing to let Neville go anywhere until she was sure it was safer. The ministry had questioned the poor elf but had not been able to charge her with a thing and so Remus was now trying to find a way to buy her as his elf. He did not need an elf but it would be nice to help her out. Remus met Hagrid at Ollivander's and the half giant was beaming as he was so very happy to get a new wand while Neville was a bit nervous.
Discover moreFan fiction forumFan fiction booksFan fiction communityApp store optimizationAnime"Ah Remus so glad t' see yeah!" Hagrid said, "glad you could come t' help me with this."
"Well not only that but Neville needed a new wand too, his gran was kind to allow me to stay with her before school. I am returning the favor by tutoring Neville, found he needed his own wand as he still has a bit to go before he can use his father's outright."
"I do my best sir." Neville said blushing.
"I know you do, but a wizard needs his own wand, powerful wizards can use others wands and the fact you did get spells out of it at all shows in a few years you will be able to use it and master it." Remus said.
Discover moreWatch Classic CartoonsComicsCookiesExplore Top AudiobooksAuthor resources"You think so, I mean I am not very strong magically." Neville said.
"Nonsense, just need a bit of training you do, ye will do just fine now ye got Remus, er professor Lupin t' help ye."
"Ah Mr. Longbottom you are nearly three years late." Came the voice of Ollivander at Remus's elbow, Remus had heard him come up and so he was the only one who did not jump. "But we can get you sorted out."
"Hagrid needs a new wand, you know he is a professor now." Remus said.
Discover moreFan fiction writingFan merchandiseCartoonsFiction writing toolsBooks"Good , good one I finish with Mr. Longbottom I will get Mr. Hagrid a wand." Ollivander said.
He measured Neville and then started to look for wands. He went through quite a few handing them to Neville only to snatch them back. Finally he handed him a cherry and unicorn hair eleven inches and Neville waved it causing red and gold sparks to fly out. Satisfied Ollivander gave the wand to Neville instead of wrapping it up like he did for the first years. It was Hagrid's turn and he got up nervous to see what Ollivander would find for him. It took far less time as Ollivander found a nice oak wand with dragon heartstring core. The two wizards paid for the wands and Hagrid insisted on buying all ice cream at Fortescue.
Discover moreStory writing softwareFiction genre guidesMoviesMobile app developmentWriting workshopsIt was at that moment that Remus saw things had really changed by his coming back. For some reason Harry Potter was sitting at a table eating a large ice cream sundae and studying. Hagrid walked over as did Neville and Remus and they all took a seat at his table. Harry looked up startled but at seeing Neville he smiled and grinned at seeing Hagrid. Well maybe he could do something about this, maybe madam Longbottom would not mind having Harry come stay? He could only ask, speaking of which as soon as his large chocolate ice cream with chocolate syrup, dried coconut, whip cream, nuts and a cherry came he took a few bites letting Neville ask the questions.
"So Harry why are you here?" Neville asked.
"Staying here for the summer, I er had a fall out with my aunt and uncle." Harry said.
"They did not hurt you did they?" Hagrid said, "I will go an' fix them fer yeah."
"Um well it's not them it's me actually, I er accidently blew up my aunt." Harry stammered out.
"You blew up your aunt Petunia?" Remus said nearly choking on his sundae.
"No sir, my uncle's sister aunt Marge, she said some horrible things about my parents and I guess I just could not take it. It was an accident and well I ran and the minister said I had to stay here." Harry replied, then Harry looked up sharply at Remus, "I am sorry sir but who are you?"
"Oh right sorry I am Remus Lupin, and you are?"
"As if you don't know, Harry Potter." Harry said then he flushed, "oh sorry sir, just everyone knows me for something I don't remember doing."
"No I understand completely." Remus said and he did.
"I would have gone to the Weasleys but they are on vacation in Egypt." Harry said.
"Well you could come stay with me." Neville said shyly, "I mean there is not much to do and gran is strict but she cares and all."
"You would want me to stay with you?" Harry asked.
"If it that is aright I mean if you don't want to."
"I would love to, if your gran would have me." Harry replied grinning.
Remus was so happy he would have jumped for joy. Here he had a chance to see Harry everyday and even teach him about his family! He hoped Harry would not hold his being a werewolf against him but Neville did not and he knew as his gran had told him. He went to the Leaky Cauldron and paid for the floo and made a private fire-call to Longbottom Lodge.
"Remus why are you calling?" Mrs. Longbottom asked looking very worried. "Is Neville alright?"
"Neville is fine madam, I just ran into Harry Potter, seems he is staying in Diagon Alley for the summer." Remus said.
"Whatever for?" Mrs. Longbottom asked.
"Said something about leaving his relations, he accidently blew up his aunt." Remus said, "she insulted his parents."
"Well good for him, should not be with those muggles anyway." Mrs. Longbottom replied, "he is not alone in the alley is he?"
"Well Tom the barkeep keeps an eye out for him…"
"You will bring him here, the boy cannot be left on his own!" Mrs. Longbottom said. "I can care for him here."
"Yes madam, oh and I need to train Hagrid, he just got his wand."
"You will have him come here, you can train him and work with the boys, keep them out of trouble." Mrs. Longbottom replied.
"Yes ma'am."
Remus went back to the teens and Hagrid at the table and relayed his news. Harry grinned as if he could not believe his luck and Neville was extremely happy. Remus took a good look at Harry, and frowned, he did not like how Harry was dressed, the clothes were too big, not really wore out but they were not his, that would have to change. He left Neville with Hagrid as he went with Harry to get his things, as he helped Harry pack he saw more of his clothes and all were oversized and in bad shape.
"Harry you are not planning on wearing these, these rags are you?" Remus asked.
"What is wrong with them?" Harry asked getting a bit defensive.
"Harry I need to tell you a few things." Remus said sitting on the bed, "I was good friends of your parents and I know the place your father had in the world. I cannot let the son of James and Lily go about clad like that, you deserve better."
"You don't have to buy me anything." Harry said blushing.
"No but I can show you how to shop, I have no money Harry or believe me I would buy you the world you mean that much to me." Remus said.
"Then why didn't you come before to take me from the Dursleys?" Harry snapped getting angry, "why didn't you try? You know they hate me? Locked me in a cupboard for the first ten years I lived with them?"
"I could not Harry." Remus said sadly glad that Harry at least was open enough to tell him some about his life before Hogwarts. "I so wanted to but I couldn't."
"Why the bloody hell not?" Harry shouted.
"Because I am a werewolf!" Remus said in anguish. "The ministry banned me!"
"Oh, so you were banned by the ministry?" Harry asked calming down at once, "they would not let you take me?"
"No or be near you, even now they would not like it." Remus said sadly.
"Oh hang the ministry! I want you in my life if you were good friends with my parents! I don't care if you are a werewolf!" Harry said.
"You mean that?" Remus said.
"I do, I really do, please don't leave me." Harry begged and found himself enveloped in a warm kind hug.
"I will not Harry, I will do all I can to stay with you." Remus said, after a time he pulled back, "now why don't we see about that shopping?"
Harry grinned and got up finishing packing, he watched as Remus sent his trunk and cage to Longbottom Lodge and followed him out to the alley. The shopping was fun as Remus was practical and knew not only how to make a galleon stretch but how to do so and still get quality clothing. Harry soon found himself the proud owner of a new pair of black dragonskin boots, four pairs of jeans, several tee shirts, some hoodies in green, maroon and black, new under things both summer and winter and some button down shirts in white and gray. He got a new set of dress robes in olive green with maroon buttons. Harry was happy to dress in his new clothes and was walking down the alley when he saw the ophthalmologist shop.
"Hang on I want to get rid of these if I may?" Harry asked.
"New glasses then?" Remus asked.
"Yes, something less heavy than these." Harry said.
An hour later he had new round glasses in sliver frames and smaller than his last ones. The world was a bit sharper as his old glasses were outdated by at least three years. As they were walking back to where Hagrid and Neville waited a man saw them and stared. The man was one Severus Snape, a black clad, black haired black-eyed pale man with large hooked nose watching them. He recognized Remus and then Severus nearly snarled in anger, the brat that was with Remus was none other than Harry Potter! Severus just realized this next year had just got far, far worse for him. Or so he thought, he was really being foolish but that would come out later.
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Harry hit the ground with a bump and got up a bit bruised, he was sure he did not much like Portkeys at the moment as he brushed the dirt and bits of grass off himself. He looked up and got his first good look at Longbottom Lodge. It was a long low home with two floors and one lone tower at one end. It looked like a modest country estate with warm stone walls with a large level lawn at the front of the house. He could see extensive greenhouses around the side of the house and orchards beyond that. There was a small lake surrounded by trees and Harry loved the house at once. Neville looked over at him nervously as Harry took it all in.
"It's not much but well it's home." Neville said.
"It's amazing, I don't even have a manor house." Harry said.
"That is true." Remus said, "you have money Harry but the Potter manor house was leveled in the war with Grindelwald. Your grandfather managed to save a few of the family heirlooms and they are in storage."
"That means you have an estate." Neville said, "wonder if it is a working one like ours, well ours is a bit small."
"I like it though." Harry said, "feels like home."
"Thank you!" Neville said beaming.
Remus followed the teens and smiled, seeing Harry this early and having him here at the lodge was turning out to be wonderful for him. All the years he had been forced to stay away from Harry, the madness and depression that had settled on him still was at the back of his mind. However he had this second chance, he was no longer the half mad with grief wizard who had made several horrible mistakes the last time around. This time he would do better even if, no when it called for him to kill. That part of the deal he hated but he knew he had no choice in the matter. Neville walked into the small main hall and into the drawing room where his gran was seated.
Harry saw a stately woman clad in a long gown of deep maroon her hair tied up in a bun on her head. She certainly looked formidable when she walked up to Harry. She looked him over and Harry felt nervous as she took in his attire. Harry knew Neville looked better than him, he wore his dove gray robes with moss green buttons much better than he wore his own robes. Mrs. Longbottom did not look at his scar and for that Harry was grateful. She took his hand with a small but strong hand and smiled at him.
"You look so much like your parents, mostly your mother." Mrs. Longbottom said, "you have your father's hair and eyesight but your mother's features."
"I thank you Mrs. Longbottom." Harry said. "Thank you for letting me stay here."
"I could not let you stay on your own in Diagon Alley. With you here I can see what education you are lacking in our world." Mrs. Longbottom said, "I owe it to your parents, they were such good friends of Neville's parents."
"Will Harry be staying by me?" Remus asked hopefully.
"Yes, why don't you show him his rooms?" Gran said.
Harry followed Remus up to his rooms and looked around them in awe, he was surprised that he even had his own small bathroom complete with toilet and a nice deep tub! The room was done in blues and the bed was fit for a prince he thought. Seeing the awe in Harry's face saddened and brought happiness to Remus all at once. One thing was for sure once he was able to exonerate his friend and have Sirius gain custody he would have a long talk with the Dursley family. Right now he watched as Harry took in his room here and saw that the elves had already put away Harry's clothes. Harry washed up and went down to dinner and it was clear though he had some manners he really had a lot to learn.
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The next day Hermione saw Harry's snowy white owl fly into her bedroom and she took the letter from the bird's foot. She stroked the bird's soft feathers getting her to coo a bit when she scratched her on her favorite part of her head. She liked Harry, he was smart but she knew now he lacked much in the way of confidence. She had spoke to her mother and read books on psychology and knew Harry, though a kind sweet boy suffered from his families lack of love for him. So she was happy to read his letter and she grinned as she read his letter as clearly his lot had changed. She was not happy to hear he had blown up his aunt but was happy he was staying with Neville, she knew his gran would take care of Harry even if she was a bit strict. When she read Harry wanted to see her she ran down the stairs to where her mother was as she had a rare day off from work.
"Mum Harry wants me to go see him." Hermione said, "can I go?"
"His relations don't have a problem?"
"He is not staying with them, he is with Neville Longbottom." Hermione said.
"Neville, is he the boy who is good with plants?" Mrs. Granger asked.
"He is, can I see Harry and Neville?" Hermione said, "the fireplace is hooked up to the floo network."
"Yes of course you may, just let me know when you are going." Mrs. Granger said.
The next day Hermione came through the floo, brushed the ash off her pink robes and turned to the two boys waiting for her. She grinned at seeing how well Harry looked, true the robes really helped as did the glow on his face. She saw a man with light brown hair streaked with gray, blue eyes in a tanned face clad in blue robes walk up behind him smiling and she wondered if he had something to do with this. Even Neville looked really happy and she wondered what had happened to turn him from an unhappy boy to this grinning happy boy.
"I am glad to see you!" Harry said letting her hug him.
"It's only been a little over a week Harry." Hermione said then she shook Neville's hand, "thank you so much for letting me come, your house is amazing."
"Thank you Hermione!" Neville said beaming.
"So you are Hermione Granger." Remus said walking up, "I have heard quite a bit about you from both Harry and Neville. I am Remus Lupin."
"Well you are brilliant." Neville said blushing as Hermione turned to both boys a questioning look on her face. "We told him how smart you are."
"Yea and fun to be with." Harry added. "Neville was going to take us flying to show us the estate."
"I am still not very good at flying." Neville admitted.
"Well I am not very good myself, bet you are better than me." Hermione said.
"Well compared to a Potter no-one is a good flyer, this one was flying at fifteen months, his mother went from terrified to thrilled." Remus said. "He very nearly killed the cat on several occasions."
"I was flying at fifteen months?" Harry said looking a bit shocked.
"Yes oh my you nearly killed the family cat on several occasions, I remember one time you broke a vase and then the cat climbed me to get away from you!" Remus said grinning, "those were the days before…"
"I am still here." Harry said quietly as Remus saddened remembering his lost friends, "you said if I did all my studies you would teach me, us some pranks?"
"Pranks?" Hermione said looking a bit shocked.
"Of course! Why with your brains I know that Harry, Neville and Ron will never fail at good pranks!" Remus said, "I was the brains in school and if not for me well I doubt our little club could have done as well as they did."
Hermione was torn, on the one hand she wanted to obey the rules and not deviate from them. Yet on the other she really wanted to let loose and enjoy herself. Remus smiled to himself, he had been a lot like Hermione in school and it took three other boys to cure him of that. It still hurt him deeply that Peter who he had loved like a brother had done what he did. He had been so smart and had instigated many pranks himself. No-one but the marauders had understood him and in the end even they had not. Peter was evil through and through there was no doubt about that.
"So you did pranks in school?" Hermione said her curiosity getting the better of her.
"Oh yes, but there are rules to pranks that I believe should be followed." Remus said summoning the brooms. "First do no harm, never harm another with a prank. Second make sure it is funny, dyeing a Slytherin's hair red or green is funny, hiding or dyeing his familiar is not. Third and you must remember this, never ever prank a professor, unless it is April Fools and then not excessively."
"I would not mind doing something to Snape, he is a git." Harry said.
"Oh what does he do?" Remus asked knowing he had to get this stupid fuel between house Potter and house Snape to stop.
"Takes points, shouts at us, calls us stupid." Harry said.
"He does not make you do lines at the board?" Remus asked, "or get up in front of the school and apologize for causing danger in his classes? He doesn't use a ruler does he?"
"No, but he gives detentions and makes us scrub cauldrons and cut up flobberworms and toads!" Neville said and he frowned as Remus laughed, "it's not funny!"
"Ah old Slughorn wore off on him after all!" Remus said. "Never thought ol' Snape would be so nice."
He went on to explain as they went on their ride over the estate about most potions masters and mistresses that took on teaching positions. They were surprised that Snape really was nice as potions masters went, in fact many potions masters where known as much for their tempers as their work. Slughorn had trained under Flamel, one of the rare few that could say they had and he had gone on to take Snape as his apprentice teacher for two years before he retired. Snape had studied under Jigger before that and got his mastery only six months after he got out of Hogwarts and he was a well known potions master the world over, despite the defense and history posts Hogwarts really did have the best professors in the world.
Hermione found she enjoyed the flight, it was not like the old wobbly brooms she used at school. She could fly quite well but had not fully enjoyed it until now. The broom she was using was not top of the line but it was far better than the school brooms. The manor had a small hamlet of ten homes of all witches and wizards, a working farm that was planted with magical plants and herbs and foodstuffs. Massive greenhouses where the majority of the Longbottom wealth came from the sales of the plants needed in potions. A small lake and forest and of course the orchard that served both the manor house and the small hamlet. They landed under a tree and Remus brought out a book and handed it to Hermione who took it and after reading the title very nearly hugged him. It was a copy of Manners and Magic by Mary Brighton.
"I got that too." Harry said, "Remus is making me study it too."
"Oh Harry this is just what I need, I mean I know manners and such my parents taught me but not the magical world etiquette."
"You know what would be funny?" Harry said grinning, "sending Ron a copy, I would pay to see the look on his face."
"You are mean." Neville said laughing.
"Still I am going to send him a copy." Harry said, "make it look like it came from Fred and George."
"Harry that is not nice!" Hermione said.
"It was not nice when they charmed my bed to consume me last year!" Harry replied. "This is payback, besides I have a potions book in mind to send them as a peace offering."
Hermione just rolled her eyes and started in on her book while Neville laughed. Harry talked with Remus and it was clear he loved learning about his parents. He found out he was most like his mother, he had her brains (when he used them) and her empathy. He had his father's flying skills and both his parent's since of humor. Remus was so very glad he was able to have this time with Harry, he hoped this time around he could help change things for the better.
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I had to bring Harry in as he could not be left at his aunt and uncles or left on his own in Diagon alley. Having Harry have Remus to trust and bond to is important to this fiction. Remus needed Harry and vice versa. Remus will be the solid strong guardian figure not wracked with guilt this time around. He has a chance to change things and that is what he will do.
Now as Remus helped Harry shop they got good quality clothes but nothing too major. Besides I am not the biggest shopper and don't see what Harry would do with ten pairs of jeans twenty tee shirts and on and on. To me that is a bit wasteful, I buy only what I need when I clothes shop and you better believe I know how to stretch a dollar and get a good deal. Even though Harry has money he too would be a bit more frugal than someone else who had his money. His going off to buy tons of clothes is not his style, in fact we see that he still wears his cousin's casts-offs even in the Wizarding world in cannon!
So more family history for Harry here and of course Hermione is going to be here as well. When I read about how Snape teaches he seems actually nice for what he is teaching. Remember he expects his students to have read the texts, he expects magical students to be smarter than non-magical. I see him as strict but as fair as he can be without compromising his spying position later on. I know Jo says he is a bully but I don't see that, I see a drill sergeant in him yes but not a bully. He is not going to coddle students for fear of hurting their "fragile" self esteem. Yes he does favor Slytherin but it was McGonagall who broke rules to get Harry his broom for her Gryffindor team! Oh and yes Hermione will learn how to prank and of course with her brains she will be a perfect Marauder! She needs to learn how to have fun!