Eventually Harry left after passing a few more minutes talking to the couple. He told them of his plans for Sirius and bringing him in for a dical scan as soon as he could. Seeing how he had to wait for Remus, Harry wandered back to the Leaky Cauldron, making sure to keep his hood up as he strolled.
Wandering past Flourish and Blotts, Harry saw sothing that made him do a double take. Two weeks today, apparently 'The Great' Gilderoy Lockhart would be in store, signing his latest book. Harry snorted - he had forgotten about that peacock. He wondered if he would still be hired before another stray thought hit - Tom's diary. The expletives Harry let out would have made Phineas Black proud.
Returning to his room, Harry knew he needed to be in Diagon Alley in two weeks. He needed that book.
Sitting there, Harry was drawn out of his thoughts by the tapping of an owl. Letting in the fluffy bird, Harry watched as Hedwig puffed up in response before they greeted each other. Harry had felt bad for his old friend; this year he had no reason for the bird, however he did try to visit her when he could.
Taking the letter from the delivery bird, Harry gave him a few treats and saw that Neville had written to him.
~
Hey Harry,
So how's your sumr so far? My gran has been trying to get so tutors for Charms and Transfiguration.
She said that you're welco to co over whenever you want, for as long as you like. I think she's proud of the fact I'm you're friend, to be honest.
I don't think she can actually believe the fact that I have three whole friends; she always did think I was "a bit soft".
But she's been nicer this sumr. So please co soon!
And rember, if you need anything this sumr, just write.
Neville
~
Harry smiled at the letter; Neville really was a good friend. Grabbing a piece of parchnt, Harry wrote a reply.
~
Hey Neville,
I'm glad your sumr is going okay. Mine has been interesting; I promise that I will tell you all about it soon - in person!
It probably won't be until next week, but I will see you soon.
And take your own advice; I'm always here if you want to talk.
Harry
~
Waiting for Remus the next day, Harry was anxious to see the changes in the wolf. What he got was not what he expected. Remus looked healthy; at least, he looked healthier than Harry had ever seen. His normally wan skin looked healthy, his scars were less pronounced, his hair was thicker, and the grey dramatically reduced.
"So I take it your health visit revealed so things?" Harry said after Remus followed him up to his room.
Remus looked at the small boy and snorted. "You have your mother's gift for the understatent, Harrison," Remus said, sitting down.
"You know my na?" Harry asked, shocked. Nobody had ever called him Harrison.
"I helped your mother pick it. Your father wanted Harold, but she was determined not to settle you with 'an old man na'," Remus said.
"I've never been called anything but Harry. Well, for a few years I was Freak or Boy, but never Harrison," Harry admitted. He liked his na, but it was foreign to him. Even after everything he had done since coming back, he still felt like Harry. He wasn't yet Harrison - then again, Harry thought with a flinch, would Harry have really turned Hermione into the shell she was now?
Remus flinched. "Your relatives - Petunia?" he asked, mistaking Harry's flinch about Hermione for one about his relatives.
"A rather unpleasant woman," Harry said, focusing back on Remus.
"You're a peculiar eleven year old," Remus said. Harry's scent was full of mixed emotions, unusual for a child.
"So what happened with your results?" Harry eventually asked.
Remus held in his flinch and closed his eyes; Moony has been more active in the last 24 hours than he had ever been before. Seeing his reaction, Harry moved closer and offered Remus a half hug. "Mine were bad," Harry said, "we can swap one for one."
Remus pulled Harry into the hug and breathed in his scent to calm his wolf. Harry stiffened slightly at the contact. He hadn't been hugged by an adult like this, not in this life and not in his last. Every hug back then had a motive; this one was purely for them.
"The test said that the compulsions started back when I was eleven," Remus said. "He wanted to be submissive, to keep my wolf down and to trust him - always."
"He wanted to be just like my dad - he even placed a glamour on . He wanted sobody he could mould and manipulate."
"I had a slow acting poison in my system. I would have died," Remus admitted.
"I think that's what he wanted to do. He wants for sothing, all year he was hinting at sothing...." Harry said, making sure his voice sounded confused.
Remus slt the emotions. Harry didn't sll confused; he wasn't lying, but there was a slight scent of deception.
After a few minutes, Remus released Harry from the half hug. "What are we going to do about him? What if he's done this to everybody? If it's been going on for 20 years why not longer?"
Harry sighed. He didn't want to talk about everything yet, so he settled with, "Then we will deal with it, but first we need to help Sirius. He's innocent and without him, I haven't got a chance at getting away from Dumbledore or the Dursleys."
"They hurt you," Remus said, the low growl in his voice alerting Harry to how much anger he felt.
"I'm okay, Remmy, I will never go back to them - not without a fight," Harry said.
"How bad?" he asked faintly.
"A few scars, broken bones, missed als," Harry said.
"Never again," Remus promised. "Even if we have to run, I will never let you go through that again."
Harry smiled at the softly spoken vow. He believed the wolf; his sincerity. For the first ti in both lives, Harry fully believed.
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