As It Should Have Been

Fairies and Jumpers

Remus stroked the black curls of Harry, the young boy lying in bed, blanket pulled to his chin.

"I'm sorry for scaring you, Harry" he muttered, looking into the emerald eyes.

"Was that man mean to you?" asked the little boy.

"He- we- we don't particularly like each other. But we shouldn't have shouted."

"Dudley was mean to me"

"And that was very bad of him. But when someone is mean to us, we shouldn't be mean to them back. That just means that the other person will be even meaner and it'll never stop."

Harry looked thoughtful at that. It looked incredibly adorable.

"I like chocolate!" came suddenly from the boy who had brightened greatly.

Remus laughed then. Everything was going to be just fine.

"I like chocolate too!"

"Can I have some?" Harry asked and Remus' heart was so filled with joy that the little boy actually asked for something he wanted, he almost sprung from his place on the floor and got him a whole bucket. But no, he had to parent now.

So Remus tried to look stern "You already brushed you teeth! And too much isn't good for you."

He tried to keep his smile in check, when Harry's face turned into an exaggerated pout.

"You can have some more tomorrow though" he gave in.

Harry yawned "Yay"

The boys eyelids seemed to close along with the word, and his breathing evened out right after. Remus didn't dare leave the room. He summoned a blanket, pulled the armchair close and stared out the window, ignoring the memories that came up with it. This wasn't his room anymore. There weren't blue curtains in front of the glass. The bed wasn't directly underneath it. There was no angry man, ranting about werewolves downstairs, nor a frail woman, kind, but too weak to stand up for her son. There wasn't a five-year old boy in the bed, sleeping, about to have his entire life changed by a man of the cruelest kind.

There was just Harry. And there was just Remus. Two lone souls, having found each other at last.

When Mary came into the room later, after the other wizards had gone, she found both of them asleep. Remus' hand still reached out to Harry. She smiled to herself, and closed the door.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The next week was both the best week of Remus' life, and the hardest.

Harry had nightmares, it turns out. And not few of them. The least bad were about his aunt and uncle, his cousin. Being locked in a cupboard. Being forced into a tight space.

The worst of them were of blinding green light, maniacal laughter and screams.

Remus spent the nights in Harry's room, holding the boys hand and comforting him when he woke up crying.

On the fourth night, Mary chided him for not getting any sleep himself, when the moon was approaching.

So when sundown approached, Remus changed Harry into his pyjamas, brushed his teeth and put on the night nappy, before carefully suggesting Harry to come and sleep in Remus' bed.

The boy was self-conscious at first, not used to the affection, before falling asleep in the big bed, holding Harry's hand.

During the day, the mistreatment Harry faced became apparent as well. Scared to eat what he liked. Always playing incredibly quietly, scared to make a noise.