A/N: Harry Potter and all contents belong to the master of the quill, miss J.K. Rowling. I’m only 16, I don’t have a lawyer, I’m not making any money off of this, and I don’t have any money for you to sue me for.
The next morning the pair woke up surprisingly well rested considering all they had gone through that night. It was a sunny day outside; finally dispelling what seemed like a moth of endless fog and rain. Hedwig had come back from her hunt and was resting in the sunlight happily.
“Morning sleepy,” Harry said as he got out of bed, and quickly put on a pair of jeans.
“Can I just stay in this bed; it’s so comfortable, much better than mine.” She pulled the blankets higher up and puffed up a pillow.
“Come on get up, Lupin’ll be coming soon, and plus we should try and make the room a little better, you two are going to be living here for a while.
Finally Ginny go tout of bed and they had a small breakfast, sneaking downstairs and stealing whatever leftovers there were in the kitchen.
“Did you know that it’s my birthday today?” Harry asked through mouthful of toast, just after he remembered himself.
“Really! I completely forgot that it’s today, I guess last night sorta made me forget.” She said laughing. “So did you get everything you wanted for your birthday?”
“I did, everyone sent me cakes and cards. Again, thank you so much for yours, it really was great,” Harry paused embarrassed, then started reaching for the pillow. “I just remembered something that Emma gave me, it should be under this pillow. There it is!” He pulled the small blue birthday candle out from under the pillow and held it up to examine it, now remembering the wish he made that day after blowing out the candles. “No bloody way that’s possible, how…” Harry stammered out staring at the candle in shock.
Ginny tensed up thinking something was wrong, “Harry what’s wrong, did something happen?”
He shook his head and then just started to laugh out loud; rolling onto the bed clutching his sides. Ginny tried for five minutes in vain to figure out just what he was laughing about and finally just crossed her arms and scowled at the delirious boy. After another moment he finally caught his breath, looking up at Ginny he spoke, “sorry Gin’ it’s just that I remembered what wish I made when I blew out the candle. I wished that I would finally get to see who the girl I was kissing in the dream was. Seems like it came true didn’t it. Maybe whoever’s up there is listening.”
Ginny just smiled back at him then leaned forward and kissed him again. “Happy birthday,” She whispered pulling away after what seemed like a long time.
He just sat there stunned once again, his brain feeling as if their gears had locked in place. As he stammered for a reply salvation came in the form of a doorbell ringing.
“Oh, that must be Lupin, come on we better get down there and head off my Uncle.
The two sprinted down the stairs in hopes of beating Uncle Vernon to the door, as luck would have it though, he was already there holding the door open staring at the disheveled shape of Remus Lupin.
“Oh hello Harry, Ginny,” Lupin said pleasantly upon catching sight of the out of breath teens.
“Uh, hi professor, Uncle Vernon this is Professor Remus Lupin he’s going to be staying here for a while.” Harry said trying to head of his uncle’s anger, unsuccessfully.
“He will not stay here! He is a thing, like you are, and I already have enough to deal with one of them. He will not stay one more bloody….” But that’s when Uncle Vernon stopped talking, he just set his eyes on Ginny and was just staring at the girl in her pajamas, who had she gotten into his house? His face started to turn blood red once again, his tiny eyes sinking farther into his head, giving him the look of a very ugly red toad. “WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU THINKING BOY? WHO IS THIS GIRL, HOW’D YOU GET HER IN HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE? YOU HAD BETTER NOT HAVE GOTTEN HER PREGNANT OR ELSE I’M GOING…”
“…to do absolutely nothing,” Harry said coolly, raising his wand right into the pudgy face of his uncle. “I have every right to have guest, and that’s why Professor Lupin is here, he’s going to watch over Ginny and I.”
“I will not let any one else in this house, it is mine and I choose who lives here. She cannot stay, and he will not come in. I will call the police.” He said with steaming rage.
Harry just laughed, “Yeah, I’d like to see that. ‘Officer, yes, I’d like to report that there are two wizards attempting to live in my nephew’s room.’ Oh and if they believe that part, they’ll think you’re crazy if you show them my room now. I think you’re forgetting that I can do magic legally now.”
The word ‘magic’ seemed to physically hurt the large man, flinching as if it were a knife wound. The boy had called his bluff, of course he wasn’t going to call the police, but he had to do something!
“Sir, I guarantee we will not get in your way, we will eat upstairs and I will make sure that there are no outward signs of three wizards living here.” This time it was Lupin talking, stepping through the front door into the entrance.
“No, no, no, absolutely not, I will not allow him to come in, and you girl, you better bloody be ready to leave right now.”
Harry stepped closer towards his uncle, walking right up to his face, and whispering said, “no, she will not leave, and he will come in. Also, that man that you’re saying can’t come in is a werewolf.” Uncle Vernon scoffed at Harry, “no really, I guarantee it. But if you don’t believe me get on his bad side and see for yourself.”
Harry’s air of certainty seemed to wilt his Uncle’s resistance to the idea of these two strangers staying with them. He stood there completely silent mulling things over in his mind trying to see the upside to the whole situation. Well the werewolf thingy wont kill me. And the he did say they wouldn’t bother us, maybe his freaks will keep him quiet and not make him do any other stupid things.
Finally, after what seemed to be an eternity his Uncle sighed and shrugged his shoulders in defeat.
“So Uncle Vernon, what do you say, are we going to have to hex you to let them stay?” Harry said, fingering his wand dangerously.
“No you won’t. I have decided to let your little weirdo friends stay here. You have to stay up in your room, and don’t you dare blow anything up or do anything to attract the neighbor’s attention!” Uncle Vernon waggled his finger threateningly at the whole group.
“Whatever,” Harry said walking past his Uncle and up to Lupin, who just seemed amused by the whole situation “nice to see you Professor, sorry ‘bout this, do you need help with your luggage?”
“No I have it all in my pockets,” he pointed his outer cloak pocket, “Harry, I’m not your professor anymore, actually I haven’t been for some time. Why don’t you call me Remus? That goes for you too Ginny.”
“I don’t know, Remus is what the adults call you, couldn’t we call you just Lupin, or…Moony!” Harry said excitedly.
The old marauder’s face brightened much more at the name, “of course, that’s perfect. I miss hearing that name anyways. Moony it is. What do you say to getting all settled then having a cup of tea and opening my present for you?” Lupin said as he placed a hand on Harry’s shoulder and started to walk towards the stairs with Ginny.
“You got me a birthday present?” Harry asked, shocked that the werewolf had remembered, let alone had the money to get him one. His clothes certainly looked more worn than last time he’d seen him, and it appeared that he hadn’t eaten much too.
“Of course I got you a present, marauders don’t forget each other’s birthdays.” Lupin said happily, as the three wizards headed up to their room for the summer.
