Chapter Text
For the umpteenth time that day, Hari wipes beads of sweat from his forehead as he sits back on his heels to look over the rose bushes. It took him several weeks at the beginning of summer, but he eventually managed to bring them back to the perfect standards they were in before he left for Hogwarts the year before. Standing up, Hari looks around the yard to make sure all the tasks were completed before making his way over to the hose to allow himself his fill of water.
Summer had been...rough. He knew with returning home came the return of endless chores, limited meals, and rough treatment, but this feels worse than previous years. And maybe it's because he became used to not being treated like this or that he got a taste of what it was like to feel normal, but overall this summer had just not been great. In the past where he was provided gardening gloves and plant cutters, now he was expected to use his hands and a pair of safety scissors. Meals were expected to be more than one course now. More chemicals were being added to the cleaning regime.
Everything was just more.
Once he’d gotten his fill of water, instead of turning to return to the house, he walked up the driveway and left in the direction of the park a few blocks away. He’d always had a love-hate relationship with the place because at times it was an escape while other times it was a hunting ground for him. Luckily this summer, it remained more often than not an escape for him to not be degraded or pushed around, but rather for him to relax and be himself.
He wishes he could interact with the kids at the park because Hogwarts gave him the confidence that people did like him. However, his relative’s story of him being sent to St. Brutus’s Secure Centre for Incurably Criminal Boys appeared to gain some belief in his time away, so all the parents in the park kept their children far away from him. Luckily for him, though, he had the forethought to allow Hedwig to live freely in nature for the summer instead of in captivity with him, so at least he has her to talk to when he goes to the park.
As the park entered his vision he couldn’t help but sigh in relief because he just wanted to lay out and not move for the rest of the day. The night before he had made a chicken roast for dinner without being made aware they were having guests over that were vegetarians. Vernon took the mistake personally and let Hari know it with a series of blows from the belt laying attack to his back before having his head slammed into the wall of his cupboard. Of which needing to be crouched up all night did nothing to help his pain level at all.
Once he arrived back at the Dursley’s at the beginning of summer, Hari had thought he would have been allowed to go back to Dudley’s second bedroom. And at first he had been. The windows had bars on them, the door had an endless series of locks, and the bed didn’t really feel like there was a mattress on it. But it had been an actual room where he could stand up in and even pace around a bit. It made his return feel like it wasn’t going to be as bad.
But then the nightmares started up again.
The last week of school, Snape had been giving Hari steady, small doses of dreamless sleep so that he could be well rested in order to perform well on his exams, however, Hari knew he wasn’t going to be allowed to do that for too much longer. Which is why after one week of him being back at the Dursley’s he found the dreamless sleep vial no longer automatically replenishing itself after each sip. Snape had said it was up to his discretion, so Hari figured the not refilling was Snape’s way of telling the boy he can’t have it every night. So he decided not to take it that night.
The regret was instantaneous when he woke up that next morning to the feeling of wet sheets plastered to him.
The sensation was foreign enough to him that he was initially confused, but confusion soon turned to mortification followed by fear. The occurrence was only a one time thing at Hogwarts thankfully, however, he was more than embarrassed to admit it happened at 4 Privet Drive more than he could count on one hand. But when his diet was more liquid than anything on top of limited opportunities for the restroom and bone-shaking nightmares, he shouldn’t have been surprised. In his cupboard it was easy enough to clean and hide since he already had all the cleaning supplies there, however, a full mattress was not easily cleaned, so he wasn’t surprised when Aunt Petunia discovered his deed.
That was the night he was thrown back in the cupboard.
The only bright side of being back there was his trunk was in the cupboard, so now he at least had his books to distract him. But the trunk also took up half the space he normally had leaving him to sleep in a sat up position more nights than not.
As Hari finally makes it to the park, Hedwig flies down from one of the tree branches with two letters in hand, and immediately Hari’s heart swells. Except it deflates once he realizes the second letter is simply from Hogwarts informing him of the books he needs for the year. And maybe this was another reason why his summer felt so hard.
He hadn’t received a single letter from any of his friends.
The first week being back in Little Whinging Hari hadn’t thought much of it. He hadn’t been able to send any letters off with Hedwig and considering the previous year it wasn’t easy for owls to make it towards him, so Hari didn’t stress too much. But then he sent a letter to his friends telling them to address their letters to the park outside of Privet Drive, and he still received nothing. Then he thought maybe they were just trying to catch up with family, however, after three weeks of no communication he caved and wrote again to the same results. So then he remembered how specific his Hogwarts letter was and told his friends to send their letters to the park outside Privet Drive underneath the oak tree to the left of the swing set, but still he got no response.
So after a whole month of no communication with anyone Hari took to reaching out to a person he had meant to write to for a while now but was always too nervous to not receive a response. At this point, though, Hari didn’t think any amount of rejection could hurt him, so he thought he may as well try. So when within two days of sending the letter he received a reply back it made his heart both soar and plummet.
He couldn’t help but wonder why his friends weren’t replying to his letters at all. Not even to let him know they’d be busy for a while so they may take longer to respond. They had promised each other for weeks leading up to the end of year they would write constantly. So to have them not even let him know they couldn’t write just had him feeling that their whole friendship wasn’t as close as they made it out to seem.
The only thing that helped settle the pit in Hari’s stomach were his practically daily letters between himself and Mr. Remus Lupin.
Hari’s pretty sure his first letter to the man consisted more of areas being scratched out than of actual writing, but what do you write to a person you’ve never met? In the end, all he could manage to put together was introducing himself- formally like Professor Snape had always instructed- and explaining that he got his address from Professor McGonagall. It was short and to the point, but it was also so much to the point that the man may not find a way to reply.
Except he did.
There were splashes of ink drying and smudged writing across the paper as if he had written it in an excited, rushed manner which made Hari smile. He formally introduced himself back and expressed that he was so glad the boy finally reached out, and that he had been too nervous to write first as he did not want to be too forward. Hari ended up sending a reply within five minutes of reading the letter which is how he found himself here a month later with a penpal he’d never met anxiously awaiting his letter.
More often than not Mr. Lupin was very quick to respond. To the point that he and Hari would easily send each other five to seven letters a week. However, in his previous letter he had written he felt he was coming down with a cold, so he may take longer than normal to reply. He must have been feeling really awful because that was four days ago, and this is the first Hari is hearing back from him. Regardless, once he looked through the Hogwarts letter he was quick to rip open the man’s letter.
Pup,
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you, but, yes, that cold really had me off my feet for longer than I had expected. Luckily, though, I am back to normal and feeling much, much better. I appreciated the carton of tea you sent along with your last letter as well. Turmeric chai was actually a favorite of your father’s as well, and he too swore that it was a better cure than any potioneers pepperup potion.
How have you been since we last talked? I see Hedwig looks much better and stronger than she had the last time I saw her, so I figured the medicine I gave her must have helped. How are you faring, though? In your last letter you mentioned hurting your wrist, is that better? Did the muggle healer have to give you a splint or was icing it enough to help? I hope you took the time your left hand was injured to practice catching the snitch with your right hand. You’re a much more dangerous seeker if you are ambidextrous!
I have some good news to share with you. The students I have been tutoring are finally off to their own wizarding school here in the States, and I will finally be coming back home to England. I am wrapping up a few things here over the next two weeks, but my international portkey has been purchased and set-up to arrive back on August 25th. I know that does not provide much time before you’re off to Hogwarts, however, I was wondering if I could take you out for lunch? I’d understand if you’d prefer to spend your last days of summer with your friends, but if you find you have a day free I’d love to visit with you even if it’s just to say hello quickly.
If you find you have a day free, let me know and I’d be happy to pick you up. Or if it makes your relatives more comfortable, we could have a cuppa tea at your house? Maybe go to the park of which all my letters are addressed? Whatever you prefer, really. If you are busy the remainder of the summer, though, no hard feelings and we can try another time. Let me know and we’ll arrange a date.
And if I’ve timed this letter right, well, Happy Birthday, Hari Pup! I’m so happy you’ve allowed me back into your life. Based on all the things I’ve learnt from you, it’s safe for me to say you are one of the most incredible 11-year-olds I have had the pleasure of getting to know. Your parents would be so proud of the young man you’ve developed into. It’s not much, but under Hedwig’s left wing you should find a small gift for yourself.
I cannot wait to hear all about your birthday celebrations, and I look forward to your next letter.
Love,
Moony
P.S. Your dad is probably rolling in laughter each time you call me Mr. Lupin. I promise, Pup, simply Uncle Remus or Uncle Moony is fine. We don’t even need the Uncle, just no more mister. At this point, I’m pretty sure you’re doing it on purpose to make me feel old. In fact, that’s probably exactly what you’re doing because it’s exactly what your father would have done. Write soon, Pup.
Hari’s smile grew wider and wider throughout the entire letter. First he learns that he and his dad shared the same favorite chai. Then Mr. Lupin cared about his barely mentioned injured wrist which had butterflies form in his stomach. What made him smile the widest, though, was the mention of one of his parent’s best friends wanting to meet him. Actually meet him! The icing on the cake was wishing Hari a happy birthday because the boy hadn’t even mentioned it was coming up soon. This makes it the second year in a row someone knew his birthday!
Hari pulls a bag of trail mix from his pocket and lays out a handful for Hedwig as he lifts the owl’s wing where a small box was secured. Hari tentatively unwrapped the gift and smiled down at the stag and deer figurines. As he ran his finger over the two figurines, the animals jumped to life and began to sniff at his hand before they began to crawl up and down his arms. The laughs that left his lips were some of the first in months as he watched in amazement as they walked back into their box which he just realized resembled more of a stable.
Hari finished off the bag of trail mix he had grabbed from the supply stash Snape had left him while reading over the letter once more. He wanted to meet Hari. Remus wanted to get to know Hari more than just on paper and quill. He thought his parents would be proud of him. At this point, Hari’s been told that many times, but this is coming from the person who knew his parents best so now it actually feels real!
Hari’s smile turned sad, though, when he realized his aunt and uncle would never let this man into their home, and he doubts they would okay him to just leave for an entire afternoon. As he looks away from the letter, though, his eyes fall onto the Hogwarts letter he had just received and slowly an idea forms. He was going to have to get his supplies for the year at one point, and he knows his aunt and uncle won’t want to drive him to London twice in such close proximity. Maybe if he told them that it was a school representative taking him, though, they would actually agree. They’d be even more willing to agree if the man could take him to the train station, too.
With an idea in place, Hari pulled out a piece of parchment and quickly began to scrawl out a letter.
Dear Mr. Lupin .