Chapter Nine
The rest of the day was spent inside the room, Charlie and Ariel coming by later and eating dinner with everyone. Apparently Lily was too busy today, but everyone kept telling Harry she was definitely coming tomorrow. Harry didn't really care at this point, he had already built an opinion of her and he didn't see that changing any time soon.
As hours passed and Ariel then Charlie turned in to sleep in their rooms Harry stayed up curled on the chair. It wasn't that he wasn't tired because he was, he was always tired these days, but he was nervous. He had never slept in a place that didn't have his scent or things containing his scent in it, he had never been the sleepover type and his only friend, Neville knew of his creature status and had always came over to his place to sleep over and had always made sure to pack something of Harry's, usually a blanket, just in case Harry didn't on their trips.
However soon Harry was entering his room and closing the door behind him taking in the room for the first time. It had a four poster bed and a desk, the bed had red and gold bedding that was kind of tacky in Harry's opinion. He was pretty sure it came from an unused Gryffindor bedding cabinet. He pulled the covers back after getting changed into a shirt and a pair of sweatpants and climbed into the large bed that smelled too clean and new.
Hours later Harry was still lying wide awake in bed listening to James, Sirius, and Remus laughing about something in the living room. They weren't loud by any means, Harry could have easily slept through it, if he could sleep that is. Harry couldn't sleep no matter how hard he tried. Jame's muffled voice filtered into his room again, not that Harry could really understand what he was saying considering the strong spells in each room. Sighing, Harry tossed the covers off his legs and got out of bed.
Harry pulled his shirt off then shifted into his large wolf form and climbed back on the bed. Harry knew Remus would smell the change in scent, his natural scent and his omega pheromones always stronger in his wolf form, but he didn't care. Harry laid on his stomach on the bed and laid his head on his paws staring at the headboard feeling much better now that he could smell his scent stronger.
***
"Remus you okay?" James asked, noticing Remus had been staring at Harry's bedroom.
"Yeah...sorry...it's just...Harry's scent changed. It was weird. I wasn't expecting it, it had been such a constant then suddenly it just spiked or...it's hard to explain." Remus said shaking his head
"Is he okay?"
"Yeah of course. It was probably just something in his sleep." James nodded, "Why didn't Lily show up today?"
"She was supposed to, but at the last minute she came to my classroom and told me she had to do something and wouldn't make it today." James said, rolling his eyes, "you'd think anything and everything would come second to meeting Harry for the first time."
Remus shook his head sipping his tea glancing over at his husband who was frowning slightly.
"You okay Siri?"
"Do you hear that?" Sirius asked
"Hear what?" James asked
"It's like...it sounds like something growling. You don't hear that?" Sirius looked to Remus who turned his ear to the hall and shook his head.
"Okay that's it I'm checking on Harry." James said, standing up, setting his mug on the coffee table.
"James. Harry is fine. You do not need to check on him in his sleep like a toddler."
"I'm doing it and you can't stop me." James said, Sirius not far behind him.
"Sirius." Remus hissed
"Oh hush it Moony." Remus sighed standing up and following them to Harry's door, James already turning the handle and opening it.
The room was pitch black, a contrast to Charlie's room that always had a night stand light on or Ariel's room that almost always had the wall lights on as she was still scared of the dark and night lights weren't bright enough according to her. Harry's room was almost too dark as if Harry had casted a spell to darken the room.
"Lumos." James whispered his wand tip, lighting up just enough for them to see a very large black wolf laying on the bed, his back legs and tail hanging off the edge of it. The growling was louder now and the scent stronger, so strong in fact that even Sirius rubbed his nose a little.
"Is that Harry?" James asked with a small smile forming, "That's actually really cute."
"If that's how he sleeps we're going to need a bigger bed." Sirius said, making James and Remus both look at him, "What? Oh come on not like that I just- I meant - I'm just going to go to bed actually." Sirius said his face turning red as he hurried to the bedroom and closed the door behind him.
"He just had to say it didn't he." James said
"You know he didn't mean it like that James." Remus said, closing the door behind them as he pulled James out so they didn't wake Harry, "and you know he didn't think before he spoke."
"I'm still upset at him for now. I'm going to sleep anyway. Are you staying up?"
"No, I'm going to clean up then go to sleep too." James nodded following Remus to the sitting room grabbing his mug and things then heading to his room.
Not much had changed with Lily moving out. She had taken a few knicknacks, a few picture frames, but for the most part the only thing really gone were her clothes and shoes leaving empty spaces where they had been. James spelled his bed covers cool and slid into bed and with a wave of his wand turned the lights off.
**
Remus was used to being the first one awake, he was used to the quiet hours of the morning while everyone still slept, he was used to being the only one awake before the sun had barely reached the horizon. So he was surprised that when he stepped out of the bedroom there were already a few wall lights on. Stepping further into the living room he was surprised to see Harry laying on his back on the floor pulling his leg close to his chest.
"Hey Harry. You okay?" Harry's eyes opened and he looked at him for a moment.
"Oh hey yeah. I'm fine, why?" Harry asked
"I'm just surprised to find you awake. I'm usually the first one." Remus said
"Oh yeah I'm an early riser too. School starts early which means breakfast is early, which means I'm even earlier." Harry said a grimace crossing his face as he pulled his leg closer to his chest.
"Are you okay?" Remus asked again, stepping further into the room, Harry didn't talk for a moment then he released his leg and let it fall to the floor. Remus realized not only was Harry shirtless but he had indented claw mark scars starting at his waist running over the one side of his stomach down below his sleeping pants.
"I'm fine. I just need to stretch my leg every morning. It's always a little painful. This morning is just a little worse than usual, it happens." Harry told him
"Do you need help?"
"Do you really want to be stretching my leg when James leaves his bedroom?" Remus laughed
"Probably not a smart idea."
"Definitely not. But we'll come back to that another time. Papa used to help me but it got a little weird at a certain age. Uncle Frankie too, but again it became weird when I had an influx of hormones at thirteen. One bone was all we needed to put a stop to it permanently. But it was always easier with another person. The only time we do it now is when my leg locks up and that's because we don't have a choice. It hurts too much for it to be weird."
"Well when we are at a not so awkward phase then I or Sirius would be happy to help in any way you need us to." Remus told him, "For now do you need anything that will not get me possibly murdered?"
"Can you toss that jar on the counter and start the kettle?" Harry said
"That I can do." Remus turned to the small island separating the kitchenette and the sitting area grabbing first the jar of what looked to be some type of lotion and tossing it to Harry then he started the kettle, "What's in the jar?"
"Hot muscle relaxer. It helps my leg from not getting tense during the day, especially days when I am more active than others. Usually on the weekends I spend it in my dorm doing schoolwork so I don't use it then, but obviously today is different."
"If it acts up today don't be afraid to tell James."
"I'll be fine." Remus looked over at Harry watching as he pulled his pant leg as high as it would go revealing a leg with sunken claw marks down it stopping at his ankle.
"What do the kids at school think?" Remus asked
"Oh they know I was attacked by a werewolf, but I think they think that's where it ends. Even if they think I'm a Lycan we are taught that Lycans are not as dangerous as the Ministry wants the public to believe and all that. Actually there's a werewolf girl in fifth year that is known to be a werewolf and no one has really said much about it. I mean don't get me wrong there are a few people who don't like her, but blaming it on her being a werewolf is the easy way out. It's not really about that."
"How do you know?"
"Because the natural oils her body creates after days without a shower shouldn't be washed away for at least two weeks. She's like an extreme naturalist or something." Harry said as he opened the jar and started rubbing a glob of the lotion into his leg, "It's gross. I have to plug my nose whenever we are in the library together. A four story library mind you."
"I see." Remus said carrying a tray of everything one needed to make tea into the living room, "What are you in the mood for?"
"A breakfast or morning blend. I'm not that picky about my morning tea." Remus nodded then grabbed two breakfast blend bags and put them into the mugs and poured the water into both of them.
"How long does this usually take you to do? Stretching and the lotion?"
"It really depends on how my leg is when I wake up and if I do all the recommended stretches, but typically about an hour. More if I wake up with a lot of pain in my leg less if I don't have a busy day." Harry stood up and wiped his hand off on his pant leg then came around the coffee table and sat on the sofa beside Remus, "Thank you." He said, grabbing the mug Remus handed him.
Harry was sitting with his back against the arm of the couch, his legs drawn up on the cushion. They sat together for a while just letting the morning pass in easy silence. The silence was broken by a door opening and Harry looked over to find James leaving his room.
"Morning you two." James said, giving them a small tight smile as his eyes darted between them.
"Morning." Remus said looking over at him
"So what are we talking about?" James asked coming over with a mug in his hands
"Nothing, we were just sitting here." Harry told him watching as James nodded, his eyes darting between them again briefly.
"So we were just sitting here? Talking about nothing?" James asked
"James-" Remus started to say only to be interrupted
"Harry, go put on a shirt." James said as he stirred a spoonful of sugar in his tea.
"What?"
"Is that what this is about? Seriously?" Remus asked
"Remus, this doesn't concern you."
"Actually I think it does concern me because the only reason you're saying it is because we're sitting here."
"Sitting here alone while everyone else is asleep." James said, "While your husband is asleep. Does Sirius know you're out here alone with Harry while he is shirtless?"
"Are you fucking serious." Remus said, a growl working its way into his throat that made Harry stand up just as Sirius opened the bedroom door pulling a sweater over his head.
"What is going on out here?" Sirius asked, walking towards them looking between Remus and James. Harry folded his arms across his chest as he watched Sirius grab Remus' arm and gently pushed James back a few steps.
"Why don't you ask your husband." James said, folding his arms, Sirius looked between them two again before he turned to Harry looking for answers. Harry shrugged looking away from him.
"I'm just...going to head to my room." Harry said quietly as he set his mug down and stepped around them.
"What the hell is happening?" Sirius asked just as Harry closed the door behind him.
***
Harry had his breakfast in his room ignoring the knocks that had persisted at his door for almost twenty minutes. He didn't come out of his room until it was two minutes before they were leaving for the family lunch.
"Harry-"
"Don't." Harry interrupted James as he walked past him. He made it two steps before James grabbed his arm, Harry turned to him pulling his arm away, "You had no right." Harry snapped
"Harry just let me-"
"No. I may be your son, but you are not my dad and it would do well for you to remember that." Harry turned away from James and walked out of the room with his arms folded.
He didn't care if he had hurt James' feelings, had hurt his chances to permanently know his birth father, his own Papa wouldn't have reacted that way this morning and he would have more reason to do so than James. He had never been so humiliated in his life and this was coming from someone who had a very explicit talk about sex with his Papa and Uncle Frankie at the tender age of thirteen. James had made a great start of his relationship with his mates and made it seem like he was some cheap homewrecker making Remus step out on his husband. He had never felt so gross with himself before and he had no reason to feel that way.
Harry didn't even know he was crying until his vision blurred and he had to wipe his eyes finding his cheeks wet too. Harry wiped his face with his dark blue sweater sleeves and made his way to the gates waiting there for James and everyone to appear. It took a few minutes, but eventually Harry could see the group making their way down the path though it didn't look like they were together at all. Charlie broke into a jog when he saw him reaching him quickly.
"Okay what the hell is going on?" Charlie demanded, "First Remus and Sirius were arguing with dad this morning and now you? What happened?"
"Nothing."
"Don't give me that. I expect that from every adult, but you're my twin brother, don't lie to me."
"It's a long story, I'll tell you when we get back."
"Promise?" Harry nodded as he linked his arm with Charlie's and walked towards the gates.
"I promise. So where are we going?"
"We always go to The Emerald Dragon for dad's birthday. Everyone had their own favorite restaurant."
"Okay hold on to me." Harry said once they exited the gates.
"What? Why do I-" Harry grabbed Charlie's arm then with a twist he apparated them outside the restaurant, "A little warning next time!"
"I told you to hold on to me." Harry said with a shrug
"How are you allowed to apparate?" He asked
"I'm technically seventeen on paper." Harry told him, "Come on." Harry walked inside the restaurant with Charlie, the hostess at the door greeted them.
"Table for Potter." Charlie told her
"Right this way."
Harry was removing his traveling cloak when Ariel, James, Remus, and Sirius arrived.
"Don't you ever do that again." James snapped, grabbing his arm.
"Excuse me?"
"You're not even supposed to be apparating. How do you even know how to do that?"
"Actually on my records, Harry Black is seventeen years old and has an apparating license. My birthday, the one I celebrated until I was thirteen, was over a week ago. I have every reason and right to not want to be around you right now and the only reason I'm still here is because I told you I would celebrate your birthday with you and I never go back on my word. But I will not be treated like some child."
"Guys. Not in public." Sirius hissed standing behind Harry, "Let's all just take a breath and sit down. Lily is going to arrive soon and we do not need this on top of that."
"You're right. We'll talk about this back in the room."
Harry nodded as he sat in his chair, Sirius and Remus sat on either side of him, despite having enough chairs to sit beside each other. Harry looked over the menu for a few minutes and debated whether or not he should order wine just to make his point, but decided against it this time. Another few minutes of uncomfortable silence passed when suddenly a woman with long dark red hair came to the table.
"Hi mom." Charlie greeted her
"Hi Charlie. Ariel. Sorry I'm late, got tied up. You must be Harry." She stared at him, her eyes taking him in as he stood up and offered her his hand.
"I am. You must be Lily."
"Oh you can just call me mom." Her voice was sweet, but Harry heard the slight edge to it.
"I could..but I'm not going to." Harry said
"Lily please, today is not the day for this." James said, pulling Lily down into a chair. Harry sat stiffly into his seat to look over the food options in the menu
"So Harry, have you thought about what to do after you graduate?" Lily asked
"I guess it just depends." Harry said, "There were a few classes I couldn't fit into my schedule that I wanted to take so I might do some of those on my own."
"That's good so you like school?"
"I like learning and school is about learning so yeah by extension I like school."
Soon they were ordering their food and everyone else was talking while Harry sat back and watched. Charlie told Lily about his classes, Ariel told her about her friends and something that happened between two girls in the dorm rooms. Harry was glad to not have to talk anymore and have the focus on the other kids than all on him.
He knew he was being unfair to Lily, but he didn't care. She had taken almost an entire month to finally meet him and sure maybe most of it was excused because she was too stubborn to listen, but still. James had come to his school after just a few days just to know for sure if he was or wasn't his son, Lily hadn't even owled him once, Neither had Sirius or Remus, but Harry was biased and that situation was understandable, he may not have liked it, but he understood.
After lunch Harry apparated back to Hogwarts by himself then headed back to the room and sat on the couch and waited.
"Alright." Sirius said entering the room, "Charlie and Ariel are with Lily for a few hours despite their protests, so let's have it out. I'll go first James, you're an idiot. There. Who's next." Sirius stood between the coffee table and the fireplace with his arms folded, Remus taking a chair and James sitting on the opposite chair's armrest.
"Gee thanks Sirius." James said
"Look I only know you were upset because Remus and Harry were what? Alone? I don't know, Remus told me it doesn't matter and to forget it."
"I overreacted okay? I was wrong, I know that I just- I can't help it. I'm trying, but it's hard sometimes. I'm sorry. This is my first time seeing you all together and knowing you three are mates and seeing it are very different."
"We were sitting on opposite ends of the couch, James. There wasn't anything to see. The only one focused on the fact that he was shirtless is you."
"Wait, is that what this is about?" Sirius asked looking between them
"That's what James was mad about, yes. He practically ordered Harry to his room to put a shirt on around me."
"Don't forget the part where he implied you were sneaking behind Sirius' back." Harry said
"You did what?" Sirius asked looking at James
"I know okay? I messed up, I didn't mean it, I just...It's hard still."
"Yeah. For us too, you're not the only one having to come to terms with some things, but to imply Remus sneaking around with Harry like some sort of dirty secret is crossing a line James."
"I know Sirius!" James shouted standing up, "I, Know."
"Okay we are not going to settle this together if we keep this up. I think Harry and James should talk first then we can come back and we can talk about it together." Remus said standing up grabbing Sirius' arm gently, "Come on you and I can talk about some things alone."
"Fine." Sirius walked out of the room with Remus following close behind him, when they were gone James moved to sit on the coffee table so he was directly across from Harry.
"Harry, I really am sorry. I didn't mean it like that, I just...I thought I was fine with it, but seeing you all together this weekend has been a little more eye opening. I had this really weird dream last night and when I came out here I panicked and got angry because I panicked and I took it out on you and Remus." Harry didn't look at James, instead he looked everywhere else, "Harry please talk to me."
"I have never felt so humiliated in my life and believe me when I say Papa and my Uncle Frankie gave me very explicit sex talks and body changing talks when I became an Omega. Do you know how embarrassing it is to listen to your parental figures talk to you about sex toys for heats at thirteen? I couldn't look them in the eyes for weeks."
"Harry-"
"No." Harry said standing up and walking towards the fireplace, "I know this is weird for you. I know that. Papa even told me to be prepared for you to be a little uncomfortable and say some things you don't mean in these coming weeks. I was prepared for that." Harry turned to James, his eyes watering against his will, "What I wasn't prepared for was for you to make me feel like some cheap sleazy homewrecker seducing Remus into stepping out on his husband while he slept in their marital bed. I have never felt so wrong in my life and I didn't even do anything to deserve it."
"Harry I- I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel that way and I definitely didn't mean to make you out to be that way." James came over and squeezed his arms gently then wiped his tears with his sleeve, "You are not some what was it? Sleazy cheap homewrecker. You're not. Remus and Sirius don't think that either. I'm not perfect Harry, as much as I wish I was, I'm not and I'm still learning a lot about you and this whole mates thing. I didn't really research it much when Remus and Sirius told me they were mates. I just passed it off as being more serious boyfriends at the time. I know I have a lot to learn and accept, and as much as I wish it was overnight, it's not going to be. It's going to take a lot more time than I thought, but I promise I will work on it okay? It's just...I'm just getting you back into my life and now I have to share you and practically give you away. It's like I'm saying goodbye to a part of you I never got to know and it hurts."
Harry sniffled then stepped into his body and buried his face into James' neck as he hugged his waist. James' body relaxed as he hugged him back, pulling him closer to his chest as he held him.
"You're always going to be that baby boy I held in my arms sixteen years ago. You're always going to be my son. That's never going away and neither am I." James told him, his hand running through Harry's hair near the back of his head, "I love you Harry, always, and I'm really sorry I made you cry today and made you feel bad about yourself and this whole situation."
"I'm sorry too. Papa always tells me whenever I'm mad at someone I hit them where it hurts the most." Harry said making James laugh
"That's certainly true."
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay." James said, pressing a kiss to Harry's head, "Unfortunately that attitude you get from Lily. She hits where it hurts too though she actually means it and never apologizes about it."
"I'll try to take that as a compliment."
"It was meant as a compliment." James laid his head on Harry's and held him tighter, "I love you Harry. So much. Nothing you ever do or say will ever change that."
"I love you too." Harry said, closing his eyes as he tried to memorize this moment for later. For when he returned back to school and became doubtful that James was actually going to stick around for long or if he was going to leave when things got too complicated like Matteo did.