Chapter 1
Harry had been in a bad mood all week and Sirius was on the quest to find out why. As soon as he was done getting dressed he went to wake Harry up.
Sirius knew he was having a hard time adjusting to Hogwarts prep and it had him agonizing over every little thing, but he was ready to get Harry out of it.
"Time to get up." Sirius poked at the sleeping boy,
when Harry just pressed his face into his pillow Sirius continued.
"Hey, I have a huge dilemma that I need your opinion on."
"What?!"
"Am I more beautiful today than I was yesterday?" Sirius lamented, laying beside harry.
"Oh, boy. I'm just not sure." Harry grumbled
"I looked in the mirror, and I thought, 'well, yes, definitely, huge improvement'," Sirius said pulling the pillow off of Harry's face.
"Can I have my pillow back?" he growled trying to snatch it back from Sirius.
"Then I thought maybe it's not that I'm more beautiful today. Maybe I was just as beautiful yesterday, only I lacked the self-esteem to recognize it." Sirius continued, watching harry trudge out of bed getting a towel.
"I'm gonna take a shower." he griped at Sirius.
"Hurry up, I'll drive you to school." Sirius offered
"No, thanks."
"Why so charming this morning?"
"I had an annoying visit from the Godrics hollow wake-up fairy."
"Okay, you're crabby. Do you know what the perfect cure for crabbiness is? A fabulous trip to the mall. We can get you the leather jacket you've been eyeing?."
"No, thanks."
"It might make you feel better."
"I feel fine, and I don't wanna waste time."
"I know you've been in a funk, but you got to try not dwelling on it."
"I'm gonna be late for school."
"O-Kay, then just meet me in town around 4:00 we'll get some Indian food and spoil our dinner."
"Whatever."
"Hey, love the enthusiasm, does 'up with people' know about you?" Sirius called out watching harry leave the room.
The situation was much worse than he could've anticipated, Harry had been eyeing that jacket for two months now, he was so sure it would cheer him up.
Something was seriously wrong. hah. Siriusly. Laughing to himself thinking about how truly funny he was he headed to work.
x
Sirius walked into the classroom where the parent-teaching meet was being held, ready to hide in the back while the other parents discussed SAT prep and uniform codes. What he didn't expect was to run headfirst into Harry's teacher.
"Oh hi, I'm Sirius Black... Harry's godfather"
"I'm Remus Lupin."
"Nice to meet you," Sirius said shaking his hand, admiring the gorgeous man.
"How's Harry liking Hogwarts, so far?" Remus asked,
"Oh, he loves it."
"Really?" if Sirius didn't know any better he'd have thought it was a look of confusion etched on the teacher's face.
"Yeah. It's an adjustment, but he's always wanted to go to Harvard, and this is how he'll get there."
"Harvard?"
"Yep. Ever since he found James and Lily graduated from there" Sirius nodded slightly sad, even after 16 years.
"It's a great school," Remus said polite enough not to pry. Attractive, nice, well educated, what did this man not have, hopefully for Sirius, a girlfriend.
"You know, I hope Harry adjusts to this place. We need him here."
"Thank you. That's so nice."
"I hope he's not too disappointed about his paper. I know a "D" seems dismal-"
"Harry got a "D"?" Sirius said jolted
"Yeah, but-"
"He's never gotten a "D. God, I'm such an idiot. I've gotta go."
"I'm sorry if I said something to offend you."
Oh, no. If Harry got a "D," he's not feeling too good, and I'd like to be there."
"I understand."
"So... It was nice meeting you."
"You too," Remus said waving.
fuck. His life was a lot easier before he met Remus Lupin ten minutes ago
x
"Oh, hello, bookworm," Sirius said sitting next to Harry, where he'd plunged himself into obsessive studying.
"Finally. Where were you?" Harry complained.
"Well, um, actually, I was at Hogwarts." Sirius started slowly
"Why?" Harry questioned
"I was there for the-" Sirius said trailing off a bit, giving him a chance.
Realization struck Harry before he look entirely horrified "Parent/teacher meeting. Oh, my god. Yeah. I forgot."
"It went very well. I was extremely charming. I won the whole crowd over. They made me queen." Sirius said trying to alleviate the tension on the boy's face.
"So I guess you talked to Mr Lupin," Harry said more than asked, resigned.
"Why did you let me whine about skipping school and Indian food when you had something major going on?" Sirius questioned lightly, feeling a bit guilty he'd missed such a big thing.
"I know. I'm sorry." Harry said, head titled downwards.
"You should have told me."
"I couldn't," he said sounding small making Sirius' heart pang sharply, wanting to comfort him immediately.
"You couldn't tell me? You tell me everything." Sirius asked confused
"It was too humiliating," Harry murmured
"Oh, honey." Sirius reached out to grab Harry's hand, before continuing
"You once told me that you love 'saved by the bell. What could be more humiliating than that?"
"I couldn't form the words. I couldn't even say it. I couldn't even comprehend it. It was... a 'D.' I got a 'D'. I've never gotten a "D". Ever."
"I know." he clucked sympathetically tilting his head to the side.
"A "D." I suck."
"You don't suck." Sirius reprimanded
"I can't do this."
"Listen, a "D" is bad. Okay? But all this talk about "I suck" and self-pity, that's worse. Not you. A "D" is one grade, not the end of the world. You'll catch up and do better. You can do this, and I will help you."
"Do you really think I can do this?" Harry asked green eyes brimming with worry.
Sirius smiled carefully feeling his heart get full just looking at the boy "I bet you a dollar."
"That's it? That's all my future's worth... $1?" Harry laughed
"Well, you did get a "D." Sirius teased, hiding a smirk.