Chapter Text
"I won't stand for this, Albus. I will not leave this office without your promise." Remus pressed his palms to the oak of Dumbledore's desk, his face clouded in anger that was so unlike him. It had been less than twenty four hours since James and Lily's bodies had been recovered from Godric's Hallow. Less than twenty four hours since Sirius had been arrested. Less than twenty four hours since Harry had become an orphan. Remus wasn't going to waste a moment. "I'm not leaving until you assure me I will have custody of Harry."
Dumbledore put his hands together for a moment, seeming to think. Harry lay asleep just feet away, strapped into a muggle carseat Lily - thankfully - had purchased months before. Albus studied the baby for a moment, noting how his scar was closing over now, but looked fresh and bright as if he had been cut just moments before. Harry had screamed for hours until Remus had given him a bottle, though it couldn't match up to what he wanted. He was at least out like a light now. "You know I can't do that, Remus."
"Why not?" Remus hissed desperately, hitting the desk now with the palm of his hand. "Is it because of what I am? Albus, you know I'd never put Harry in any sort of danger. I'll admit, I had doubts myself that I would be the safest choice for Harry, but I am his only choice!" He gripped the desk hard now, his knuckles white. "I have to believe that he'll be perfectly safe with me, as long as I follow the necessary precautions. Far safer and far happier then he'd ever be with Petunia Evans, at the very least. She hates magic."
"You don't know that for sure, Remus. She's married now, she has a son of her own, and her priorities have most certainly changed. Harry is her family, and I'm sure she's feeling sentimental right now. She'll take good care of her nephew." Dumbledore looked up then to Remus, lowering his hands. "Harry does not need to grow up in the Wizarding World with all of this publicity. He should have a normal childhood, away from these responsibilities until he goes to Hogwarts. We need to think of his safety and well being, not what we selfishly want."
Remus shook his head violently, taking great offense to this. "No! Albus, you aren't understanding me. S-" He stopped then for a moment, Sirius's name dying and choking at his lips. He had yet to process everything, how one of his best friends had been responsible for the death of the rest. "I can't go home without him. I can't go home knowing he's with her and not me. Please, Albus. Please…I'm all he has left and he's…" Remus swallowed tightly then, putting a hand to his throat. "He's all I have. Please."
Dumbledore was very quiet then, looking over at Harry again and seeming to study him for what felt like forever to Remus. Finally, he slowly stood and looked at Remus over his half moon spectacles. "Fine." He whispered, gesturing to the baby, now slowly waking up. "Take him home. I'll have the ministry draw up the papers in the morning and send them to you."
He perched on the end of his desk, rubbing his hand over his mouth, a concerned look coming to his eyes. "I do not take this decision lightly, and there will be things you will need to come to understand about this responsibility in the coming months and years." He dropped his hand, flourishing it towards his former student. "You'll be his official guardian in a few days. I hope you know what you're getting into, Remus."
Moving to Harry, who was yawning and blinking up at the unfamiliar place, he kneeled down. Though he saw Remus, Harry felt the pain in his scar and remembered the absolute fear from seeing Lily fall and being taken away from Sirius. As he began to cry, Remus scooped him up into his arms, pressing the baby boy close to his chest. Harry closed his eyes, his crying beginning to cease as he rubbed his cheek into the soft wool of Remus's sweater. His thumb came up and went into his mouth and he contently lay there, clutching onto his new guardian.
"I'm absolutely positive I know exactly what I'm doing, Albus." Remus whispered then as he watched Harry. The boy opened his eyes then and green looked curiously into blue. He removed his thumb then and gave Remus a tearful smile, hiccupping. "Moo-ey." Harry whispered and Remus felt the lump finally rise so high in his throat that it pushed tears out of his own eyes.
Because of this little boy, eventually, he would be fine.