Chapter Thirteen
-Day One- Wednesday-
Sirius woke up first which he was immediately grateful about considering the pillow did absolutely little to stop him from reaching his arm and touching Harry’s bare waist. Harry was sleeping facing Sirius, his left leg thrown over the long pillow and his pant leg rose up past his knee. At first Sirius didn’t even register it, but then he was sitting up and rubbing his eyes and that’s when he noticed it.
He had seen the scars last night on Harry’s waist, Remus had even told him they were there and he had a lot of practice of pretending scars don’t exist, but the ones on Harry were more gruesome. Again Remus had told him, but Remus also liked to exaggerate when it came to scars, especially his own so Sirius had assumed that’s what he did with Harry’s. He didn’t.
They weren’t gross by any means, they were actually pretty wicked, but it was his entire leg with indented scars clearly made by a claw. The one on his waist was almost clean cut compared to the ones on his leg which was anything except clean cut. Sirius didn’t know why he thought Harry just had one long claw mark down to his ankle, he knew that’s not how werewolf attacks are like, but in his head that’s just what he had pictured. It was not that at all, it was multiple deep scars, some long, some short, some didn’t indent as deep as the others. Looking away Sirius grabbed the bundled up covers and covered Harry up again watching as he breathed in deeply then relaxed with a soft growl in his chest.
“Knock knock.” Sirius turned just in time as the door opened and Henry poked his head in with a grin, “Oh good you’re awake. I already got breakfast arriving here soon so get dressed, here I had a house elf get a bag of your clothes for you when it was safe to do so. The spell says Remus is sleeping right now, but his rut is in full swing so it’s best you don’t go in there.” Sirius nodded, catching the bag he had tossed into the room so it didn’t hit the floor and wake Harry.
“Thanks.”
“No problem. Harry still has a few hours before I need to wake up so James said if you need to you can shower in his room.”
“Showered last night.” Henry nodded, then frowned as he looked at the bed.
“Is that a pillow between the two of you?”
“Harry’s idea.”
“Harry’s idea or were you so uncomfortable he did it for you?” Sirius blushed, making Henry laugh, “Yeah I have no idea why James is so worried about you three being alone when you’re the one blushing like a virgin over sharing a bed.” With that Henry closed the door behind him and Sirius got out of bed going to the ensuite to get ready for the day.
When he left the bathroom he found Harry still sleeping so he made sure to be as quick and quiet as possible as he left the room avoiding looking in whatever direction James was in.
“Good morning Pads.” James said
“Morning.” Sirius replied stiffly as he made himself some tea
“I feel like I’m parenting a stubborn eight year old all over again.” Henry said rubbing his forehead with one hand, “James nothing happened last night, Sirius James is not a basilisk he can not kill you if you look at him.” Sirius looked up at James and grimaced at the stare he was giving him.
“Anyway…how's Lily? Are you telling her Harry is here for a week?” Sirius asked moving to sit in a chair since James and Henry were sitting on the couch together.
“I will either tell her or one of the kids and have them tell her whoever I see first. Tomorrow we meet with the lawyer again to go over the final copy of the divorce papers.”
“Sounds fun.” SIrius said, smirking at James’ light glare.
“Just be glad yours was easy. Mine and Matteo’s divorce was drawn out.”
“Really? Harry made it seem like he didn’t even know about it until it was done.” James said turning to Henry
“Well Harry was away at school when the first issue came up then when he came home we were going to tell him, but a few days into break Matteo had to go on a work trip and Harry presented as an Omega and it just didn’t happen. So then Harry went back to school and when he came back Matteo was all moved out. I was under the impression he had spoken to Harry before then like he had agreed on, but he didn’t so when Harry came home asking where Matteo was I had to tell him that we had ended things and gotten a divorce, but Matteo promised to see him for the holidays.”
“Did he?” James asked
“No, he never saw him. Harry stayed up all day and night for two days straight waiting by the fireplace, slept on the couch for a week. Then he went to his room and didn't come down for two days and when he finally did acted like everything was fine. No matter how much I tried to talk to him about it he didn’t want to. Still doesn’t.”
“I dare not touch the subject. I’m still trying to make him like me.” James said making Henry laugh
“He likes you, he just thinks you treat him like a child and he’s trying to establish that he isn't one. And I think he had it in his head that every parent parented like I did or maybe he thought something else I don’t know he didn’t really tell me what he thought when he was going to meet you. But I do know that when it comes to Harry you have to take him at his word. You really do he doesn’t like to be doubted. When he says he’s going to do or not do something he means it. So like the whole sex thing, he is not going to have sex until he’s seventeen. You just have to trust that.”
“He said graduation.” James said
“That’s because in his head he is seventeen. We have celebrated March 17th for ten years, that’s not going to go away.”
“It’s not him I don’t trust.” James tried which made Sirius look at him, “No it’s not- I trust you guys obviously but- I don’t know. It’s like the moment you’re together I realize what it means and- I know you and Remus have sex that’s the thing. I’ve heard it and seen it. WIth Charlie I can pretend they haven’t and won’t but you two I can’t and now it’s going to be with Harry.”
“James when Harry is ready for sex not only will I know ahead of time, way before Sirius and Remus even know, you will know too, but only if you prove to Harry you can talk about it without jumping down someone’s throat. Harry likes to talk, he likes to communicate way more than any teeanger or even adult likes. Harry wants to talk about everything, believe me, there hasn’t been a topic we haven’t discussed before, but he won’t do that if he doesn’t feel like he can. You will be the last to know everything that happens in his life if you don’t let up.”
“I know that. I am trying, but Sirius threw me off yesterday then you went and made them sleep together.”
“And nothing happened. See? You had nothing to worry about.”
“I’m not winning this argument am I?” James asked, Henry shook his head as he stood up, “Fine.”
“Fine? Just like that? Remus and I have been saying the exact same thing for almost a month now and you’re telling me all it took was for Henry to say it once and you just give in? Just like that?”
“I’m very persuasive, Sirius.” Henry said, “Now I believe you two have classes to teach in less than thirty minutes. Best to get to your classrooms don’t you think?”
“You are very bossy.” James said standing up as well and grabbing his papers, “Coming Sirius?” Sirius looked over at the two closed bedroom doors.
“Go, they both will be fine. I’ll be here until one of you kicks me out or Harry leaves or I’m needed elsewhere.” Sirius nodded following James out to the hall
“Nothing happened or is going to happen anytime soon.” Sirius told him
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. Merlin knows how I’d react if I were in your shoes. I’d probably castrated you last night.”
“It crossed my mind.” James joked shoving his side into Sirius’, “But despite everything I really do trust you and Moony. Far more than I let show when you’re all together.”
“I know you do and so does Moony. We’re just trying to make everyone happy and it’s not really working out for us.”
“Don’t worry about me Sirius. Really. I’ll be fine, you and Remus just focus on Harry. I’ll come to accept it the more I see you three together not holding back for my sake.” James said, “That’s not permission to just sling your arm around him and hold him against your side though. Let’s build up to that.” Sirius laughed do exactly that to James
“I love you Jamie.”
“I love you too.” James said, “Well actually since we’re alone I need to ask you something.”
“Yes. I will leave my husband and mates for you Jamie. One thousand times yes.” James laughed, shoving his arm off his shoulders turning to look at a grinning Sirius “I’ve been waiting for over twenty years for you to ask me that.”
“You’re a dick. No, I really do want to ask you something.”
“Fine. Ask away.” James looked around then turned to Sirius again.
“Hypothetically if a straight man found another man…attractive…that wouldn’t like.. immediately mean he’s gay…or bi…or anything…right?”
“Oh…a serious question. Okay. Well…firstly no. Just finding anyone attractive doesn’t mean anything about sexuality or personal preferences. Some people think they’re straight, but they’re really Demisexual which just means they need to have an emotional connection to someone to really feel attracted to them. They can find them physically appealing and attractive, but the sexual aspect doesn’t really come until they feel connected to them. So for example if this hypothetical straight person was finding a man attractive because not only do they share a son together, but because they are getting to know each other better and exchange owls on occasional for more than just talking about the son they share-”
“Okay Sirius. I get it, I'm not subtle.” Sirius laughed
“It’s perfectly normal to just not know until you meet someone who makes you question yourself.” Sirius told him sincerely, “And it’s perfectly normal to want to explore what may or may not be happening between you and Henry. Though you should make sure you actually like him and not just because he is obviously great with Harry and has a relationship with him that you don’t yet. You may also want to make sure Harry is okay with it, he already lost one father figure he may not want to lose another due to a breakup. Or he may see this as an unhealthy way to keep you both in his life.”
“Get that from your six months of therapy school?” James joked
“I kept the books and stop turning this into a joke, that's my thing. I mean it James it’s normal alright? It doesn’t make you one thing or another thing. It just means you have a little more of yourself to learn about. You will still be James Potter, my best friend, father to three amazing kids, Quidditch co-captain, and the man who faced Voldemort four times and lived to tell about it, the man who-”
“Alright stop buttering me up I already promised Henry I wouldn’t castrate you this week.” James said, stopping at his office door, “Thanks.”
“Anytime and if you have any more questions you know I’m here.” James nodded then walked into his office and Sirius walked a few doors down to his own office.
*******
Harry left the small room Dumbledore had allowed them to use, apparently his Papa had covered all the bases in the short few hours he had. He hadn’t seen him that morning so hadn’t been able to talk to him about it all, but he would be sure to thank him when he saw him. It also gave him the opportunity to meet the esteemed Dumbledore again, something he hadn’t been able to do with everything else going on.
He had met him once when he was ten and being shown to different schools, but it wasn’t until after the tour and when Harry was looking forward to being part of his Papa’s old school that Dumbledore finally told them he didn’t allow anyone under 11 in no matter the circumstances. Papa hadn’t wanted to fight it in case the Ministry started poking its noses into other aspects of their life and so had accepted it and moved on.
There were many questions Harry wanted to ask the old man, but he didn’t yet as he wanted to wait a little longer, preferably when his family was away from Hogwarts, even temporarily
“Hello?” Harry said, knocking on the open door to the office staring at the person behind the desk. They looked up and looked at him for a second before standing up.
“Harry…hello…come in.” Lily said, smiling at him, “What brings you here?”
‘Just give her a chance, Harry.’ His papa’s voice rang in his head.
“Well I just felt bad that the first day we met I was having a bad day and may have taken it out on you unintentionally. I thought we could maybe try again?” Harry said hesitantly, but Lily smiled and nodded walking closer to him as she flatten down her robes.
“Yes of course. How about dinner? Tonight? Just you and me..Maybe Charlie too in Hogsmeade at five?”
“Sure. That’ll work. I’ll let you get back to grading, but I’ll see you tonight.”
“Tonight then.” Harry gave her a small smile then left. He headed back to the rooms and found his Papa there looking over a file of some kind, “I’m having dinner with Lily tonight. At five.” His papa looked at him and nodded slowly.
“That’s good. I’m glad you reached out. How was your NEWT?”
“It was fine. I only got stuck on a few problems, but I solved them all and I think I will at least have an E if not an O.”
“That’s good.”
“If I get anything below an E I’m blaming Remus and making him pay for a retest.” His papa laughed
“I’m sure he will consider that fair and happily do it. Though I know you well enough to know you won’t get anything below an E, you haven’t since fourth year after all.”
“James says she has a tendency to be late to things…how long do I wait?” His papa stiffened slightly then set his file down on the coffee table to look at him. He either heard the double meaning or saw it somewhere on Harry’s face because he gave Harry a small smile.
“Not this long cub. Never this long.” His Papa stood up and grabbed Harry's chin then pressed a kiss to Harry’s forehead, “You don’t need anyone who makes you wait for more than thirty minutes without an excuse.” He whispered, pressing another kiss to Harry’s head, then he kneeled in front of him, “want to talk about it?”
“No.” Harry said softly
“Harry-” The door opened, interrupting whatever his Papa was going to say.
“Someone tell me why I decided teaching was a fun idea?” James said as he pulled off his outer robe and came into the sitting area, “hey everything okay?”
“Yeah I have homework.” Harry said standing up and escaping to his room before his Papa could stop him.
“I am so sorry…did I interrupt an important talk?” James asked, grimacing, making Henry chuckle as he stood up.
“No it’s okay Harry was about to close up anyway. You learn to pick your battles with him and emotional conversations are definitely a war. One you win by knowing when you retreat and when to strike again. He’ll talk when he’s ready. That I have no doubt. Even if it’s little pieces like that.” Henry told him
“Is he okay?’
“He told me he has dinner plans with your ex wife and apparently you told him she has a tendency to be late to things so he asked me how long he should wait for her but there was a double meaning behind his words. It’s fine. He’ll be okay.”
“Matteo.” James guessed getting a nod from Henry, “Are you sure you shouldn’t try to pry deeper into it?”
“Positive. Harry communicates about a lot, if he didn’t then I would pry, but he does communicate which tells me it’s just something he doesn’t have the words to say yet or he’s still feeling too much about it. Whatever it is he won’t talk until he’s ready, Trust me James if I was worried I would trap him until he talked.”
“Okay. I just worry.”
“I know so do I, but he’s okay. Now tell me why you hate teaching today while I make some tea.”
******
Harry sat across from Charlie at the table drumming his fingers lightly as he looked around again.
“I’m sure she’ll be here soon.” Charlie said again, Harry nodded giving him a tight smile, “No really. She’s always late for something, but she’ll be here.”
“Okay.” Harry said, “So how are your classes?”
“They’re fine. I’m having trouble with astronomy, but I never really liked it.”
“I can help you study. I take Advanced Astronomy and Advanced Astrology.”
“Really? That would be great. You sure?”
“Yeah, anytime. Really. I love those classes.”
“Aren’t you super busy though?”
“No, I have time. I’ll be here all week anyway so just pick a time and place and I’ll be there. Promise.”
“Thanks Harry.”
Before they knew it they were ordering food and then dessert and then fighting over who was going to pay with Harry winning then they were leaving. Charlie ran into his friends when they reached the castle so it was only Harry who walked into the family rooms not surprised to see everyone in the sitting area waiting.
“How was dinner?” His Papa asked
“The roasted duck could have better spices. It tasted bland, honestly, The potatoes were flavorful, but lacking a little something too. But the steamed vegetables were great and the chocolate cake was to die for. So…a solid three out five.” Harry said, with a shrug as he pulled off his outer robe.
“Noted, but I was asking more about the company.” His Papa said playing along
“Ah. Well Charlie is a great conversationalist though it’s very..I wanna say….immature at times. Though he did make up for it by asking a lot of questions and looking interested in the topics we discussed. Though at one point he looked almost ready to cry when potions were brought up so that died rather quickly. So….a solid three point five out five, but there's always room for improvement.”
“She didn’t show up did she?”
“Nope.” Harry said, opening the wine cabinet and pulling out a red looking at the label as he pulled down a wine glass, “Cabernet. Fancy.” Harry said uncorking it
“What do you think you are doing?” James asked
“James, I will drink this entire bottle right in front of you just to make a point. I’ll regret it in the morning, but I will do it.” James wisely stopped talking after Henry elbowed him so Harry only poured himself one glass then everyone else a glass. He used his magic to float two glasses to James and his Papa, but carried Sirius’ glass to him where he was sitting on a chair with papers on his lap and side table.
“Thank you.” Sirius said, taking the glass, Harry smiled and sat on the arm of the chair to look at the papers.
“James and I will be right back.” His Papa said, grabbing James and pulling him to the bedroom.
“Are you doing this on purpose?” Sirius asked
“Not everything I do is to piss James off.” Harry told him, “You can’t tell me he doesn’t let Charlie drink wine on occasion.”
“No he does, but-”
“Exactly. I’m not doing anything my twin brother hasn’t done. Now scoot I want to sit beside you.” Sirius blushed much to Harry’s amusement, but he did scoot over in the chair enough to give Harry room to sit beside him instead of on the arm.
“I can enlarge it if you’d like?”
“Nope I’m good unless you need more elbow room.”
Sirius did need more elbow room , but he didn’t move to enlarge the chair or say that instead he just settled back into the chair with Harry. A few minutes later James and Henry came back out, James looked like he just got the lecture of a lifetime and his Papa looked like he did after he won an argument with Harry. Victorious, amused, and smug. Harry hated that look.
-Day Two-Thursday-
James stood in the doorway of Harry’s room staring at him as he studied whatever advanced class he was taking a NEWT on next. He knocked on the opened door drawing Harry’s attention from his book towards him.
“Oh hey you need something?” Harry asked, setting his quill down.
“I wanted to talk to you…about yesterday.” James said, stepping into the room, “more specifically about the dinner.”
“James, it's fine.” Harry said, releasing a breath as he pushed himself up onto his knees moving his hair from his face.
“It’s not fine and I’m sorry she did that. I’m not defending her, but Lily gets lost in her work sometimes especially when it’s about the potions she works on with Snape. She loses track of time and forgets her plans. I don’t know if that’s what happened yesterday, but it’s happened enough that I sort of just came to expect it after so many years,” James told him as he sat on the edge of the bed looking at Harry.
“James, really it’s fine. I think Charlie was more upset than I was. You should talk to him, not me.”
“Charlie doesn’t talk to me. He isn’t like you and maybe that’s my fault, but he doesn’t talk. Ariel does sometimes, but not always. Maybe I’ll sick Henry on them.” Harry laughed
“Papa has a way to make anyone talk. He just has that energy around him I think.”
“Yeah he’s…great. Raised you a lot better than I would have that’s for sure.”
“No you’d just have raised me differently. I’d probably be more social.”
“That’s definitely true. Anyway I am sorry about her. Just…do what you want, but just know she does plan on coming here one day and apologizing and making plans for a redo. You can say no or yes, I don’t care, but try to let her explain okay?”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Okay. So what are you working on?” James asked, laying down on his side with his elbow propped up and his head resting on his hand.
“Transfiguration essay. It’s the only core subject that I’m not actually good at. Well I have to work really hard for the E techincally.”
“Really? That was my best subject. Scoot I’ll help.”
“Good luck.” Harry said grinning as James laid beside him and looked at his book.
That’s how his Papa found them a few hours later, laying on their stomachs side by side going over his transfiguration essay.
-Day Three-Friday-
Harry had another NEWT that day, his Study of Ancient Magic NEWT that he was extremely confident about. After his NEWT he went to Sirius’ office not finding him there he went to his classroom not finding him in the room with the desk, but he did find him in the open room where Harry assumed the dueling practice happened.
“Finally found you.” Harry said smiling as he entered the room, Sirius looked up and spotted him.
“Oh hey Harry. You had a NEWT didn’t you?”
“Yeah, but it was easy. I’ve no doubt I passed.”
“That’s good. Did you need something or just came to say hi?”
“I wanted to ask if I could come to your Dueling Club meeting tonight. Charlie invited me a few weeks ago, but I wanted to run it by you. first”
“Oh yeah of course you can come. You can come anytime you want to. Open invitation. Ariel and Charlie will be there.”
“Okay good. I’ll see you tonight then.”
“Tonight.”
Later that night Harry walked into the room with Ariel beside him as she told him about her classes and what she had been up to for the past almost two weeks. Charlie looked excited and surprised to see him, coming over to stand with them.
“I was joking when I said you should come and mark your territory, you know.” Charlie said making Harry laugh
“That’s not why I’m here.” Harry told him, “Although by the number of girls here I think I should mark my territory. Or make Remus mark it for us when he’s done.”
“Yeah that’s what the girls need. A reminder that Sirius has sex. Remus accidentally marked Sirius the first year they taught here where they could see it and the girls giggled for weeks.”
“Oh great.” Harry grumbled folding his arms, making Charlie laugh.
“It’ll be fine you’ll see.”
Charlie was right of course…kind of. The girls who were bold enough to flirt only did it minimally and soon stopped when Sirius ignored their attempts. There were a few cheesy ‘wand placement mishaps’ but even that was more amusing and pitiful than anything. Then the duels began with partners and Harry declined Charlie and his friends' attempts to get him to participate.
“You don’t want to duel?” Sirius asked coming to stand beside him
“Nope. I just came here to scope out the competition.” Harry said
“The competition? You looking to go into Dueling Competitions after graduation?”
“No.”
“Then what competition were you-” Sirius blushed much to Harry’s amusement, “Alright don’t make me kick you out.”
“Charlie told me I should come to one of these because some girl kept unbuttoning her blouse around you or something.” Sirius chuckled shaking his head
“Rest assured not only are my students not my type, but neither are the young women who are determined to make me realize I am in fact straight and not at all in love with my husband. It’s never going to happen.”
“Oh good I’d hate to have to eat one of them. Humans don’t digest very well for our wolf.” Harry said grinning when Sirius turned to him.
“What?”
“Nothing.” Harry said with an innocent shrug as he walked towards where Charlie and his friends were before Sirius could stop him.
The rest of the club meeting Harry spent with Charlie and his friends getting to know them though a little more especially since they both would be joining him and Neville in the summer since Neville understood and was okay with changing the plan this year.
Charlie’s friends weren’t horrible, they were loud and a little not his type of people, but they weren’t terrible. Harry thought he’d be able to survive them if he was given enough space.
That night Sirius kept staring at him as if waiting for him to puke up a Human which was very amusing.
“Will you stop Sirius. I have never eaten someone. It was a joke.” Harry said laughing
“Promise?”
‘I swear.”
“Okay. Good. Goodnight Harry.”
‘Goodnight Sirius.” Harry said amused, rolling his eyes as he rolled onto his side and fell asleep after Sirius’ breathing evened out.
-Day Four- Saturday-
“Hey you okay in here?” Harry stuck his thumb up high enough for Sirius to see, but didn’t move anymore than that as he buried himself back under the covers, “Don’t tell me you’re getting sick now?”
“No, I'm fine.” Harry said moving to poke his head out of the covers to look at him though without his glasses he was more of a blurry figure at the distance he was at than anything, “Is my Papa awake?”
“He and James left early this morning. Something about your sixth birthday pictures.” Harry groaned not just because his Papa was showing those pictures, but also because he wasn’t here, “You know I helped raise Charlie and Ariel, dealt with tons of illnesses and vomiting. One time Ariel came into our bed in the middle of the night and puked on our faces. In her sleep. So then I puked and then Remus had to deal with two puking people at three in the morning.” Harry laughed as he pulled the covers down to around his neck instead of over his head.
“I’m not sick. My leg is just tight so it’s hard to bend or move or walk really and every time I do move it, it hurts. It happens sometimes.” Harry told him Sirius pushed off the door frame and came closer to the bed, “I’ll be fine, I just need to prepare myself for a world of pain once I get the motivation to move.”
“Anything I can do to help?” Sirius asked
“You can grab my wand that is a foot away from me on the nightstand.” Harry said, Sirius rolled his eyes, but did in fact grab his wand for him and set it beside him then he sat on the edge of the bed so Harry’s back faced him.
“Anything else? Want me to fluff your pillow? Tuck you in? Read you a story?”
“Given the situation I really didn’t think you’d want to explore the Daddy Kink.”
“Don’t make me vomit on you Harry.” Harry grinned
“No, I'm okay. I’ll just be immobile until I brave the pain.” Sirius pressed his lips together as he stared at him.
“Roll onto your back.” Harry turned to him with a frown, but sighed and conceded when Sirius only stared at him.
“Why am I - ow- moving onto my back?” Harry asked, wincing slightly when he had to bend his leg a little to get into a comfortable position. Sirius grabbed his left leg and set it on his lap then he pushed the pant leg up as high as it would go, “What are you doing?” He asked
“I used to do this with Remus whenever he got new scars and with his old ones.” Sirius told him using his wand to summon a black bag, “The only time I was interested in Potions and really applied myself was when I was making these.” He pulled out a clear cup with blue liquid in it.
“Paint?” Harry asked, “You applied yourself to make paint?”
“Heating Paint with Muscle relaxer and pain reliever infused into it. I would sit in the infirmary bed while he laid down however it was comfortable and I would paint on his new scars to help him sleep better.” Sirius told him as he set the multiple cups of various colors on a tray.
“Go for it.” Harry said amused as watched Sirius pull his hair into a messy bun then he wet a paint brush and dipped it into a dark blue, almost black, “That’s cold!” Harry shouted, jerking his leg away, grimacing when he did.
“Relax, it heats up gradually. Just lay your leg down.” Sirius said, pulling his leg back down, “It’ll heat up.”
“Harry narrowed his eyes, but didn’t say anything as Sirius seemed to concentrate as he ran the brush over one of the deeper scars, it was jagged and one of the longer ones that ran from just above his knee down to his ankle. The tip of Sirius’ tongue stuck out a little as he ran another stroke beside the previous,. The paint was starting to heat up a little, but only after it hit his skin and he could almost feel the other potions starting to work as well.
“You did this for Remus?”
“I did. It started off mostly because well he was in pain obviously, but he also didn’t like his scars. He hated them. So I painted over them, I was terrible at it ,still am mind you, this is not going to be a masterpiece. But eventually Remus accepted his scars as much as I did. He stopped focusing on them as much.”
“Well I don’t mind my scars, not really. I guess the way I grew up they were more of a normal thing to have. My Papa has scars, my uncle Frankie has scars, the pack has scars. It was normal.”
“Everytime I try to get Remus to contact other werewolves he shuts down, he doesn’t want us to associate with other werewolves.”
“That’s because of his father isn’t it?” Sirius looked at him, “What? Lyall Lupin has visited pack territories ever since I could remember, he is not shy to tell us we are monsters. Even me. He looked me in the face when I was six years old and said I would grow up and eat my Papa one Full Moon just because he saw I had a limp around the Full Moon.”
“He said that to you?” Sirius asked shocked
“It’s fine. I cried, but that’s about it. Papa and Uncle Frankie reassured me that what he said was not true and I eventually got over it.”
“Lyall hates every werewolf except his own son, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t influence his son’s way of thinking.”
“I heard that a few Alphas offered to take him and raise him in a pack.”
“I wouldn’t know and Remus probably doesn’t even know about it.”
“I’ll take you to the Pack Territory one day. I think you’d like it.”
“Good luck convincing Remus.”
“Do not underestimate the power an Omega has over their Alpha. Everyone thinks the Alpha is the dominant one, but really it’s the omega. We have the alpha eating from our fingertips with just one little please. Alphas are more there to keep the Omega in line than anything.”
“Oh really?” Sirius asked with a laugh as he got to his knee, Harry shifted a little, stiffening as the brush strokes got closer to his kneecap.
“Yeah. But don’t tell any Alpha I said that.”
“Deal.” His brush finally brushed gently over the more ragged scars over his knee letting Harry relax a little, “It’s hard sometimes remembering Moony is an Alpha. I always picture Alphas to be the stereotypical asshole guys, but Remus is the opposite.”
“Most Alphas are the complete opposite, just like how most Omegas aren’t actually attached to the side of their Alpha and look at them adoringly the minute they meet.”
“I don’t know….pretty sure I caught you staring at Moony with heart eyes within two seconds.” Harry laughed as Sirius grinned at him, obviously joking.
“It’s the married part. I always dreamed of becoming a homewrecker when I was younger.” Sirius snorted, shaking his head.
“You’re not a homewrecker. We always knew someone was out there. We were always prepared to run into them whenever we left the house, we just never thought it’d be you. I was always scared of the unknown and by extension, our omega mate. I didn't know who they were, how old, where they were, would we upend their life as much as they would ours? I hated it. Once I got over the essential shock of Remus telling me the first emotion was relief. You being who you are, James’ son, my godson, the twin brother to a boy I helped raise. None of it mattered or even crossed my mind honestly, not until later. Those first few minutes, hell first few hours, I was relieved and I was excited because we knew and I didn’t have to worry about it anymore.”
“What were you worried about the most?”
“That Remus would meet the omega while he was out alone one day and leave me for him. It was irrational, I knew it every time I thought it, but I couldn’t help it. Everytime we went out to the Dragon's Cafe, every time he went out for a new book he wanted, everytime he went to go do whatever it was he wanted to do and I stayed behind I thought he’d come home a different person. He’d either tell me outright he didn’t want me anymore or he’d leave in the middle of the night with or without a note as his only goodbye.”
“That must have sucked.”
“It did, but again, I knew even while I was thinking it that it was irrational. I was overreacting and letting my abandonment issues get the best of me. I think Remus knew a little bit, or maybe he just knew I didn’t like him going out without me, he always brought home something for me. It took a few years for him to feel comfortable spending my money, but I finally told him if he didn’t spend it I’d do it for the both of us and trust me Harry we did not want that when I was in my twenties.” Harry laughed, grinning, “That finally got him to do it.”
“That bad were you?”
“Let’s put it this way. Yours and Charlie’s first birthday, I bought you both your very first toddlers broom. Top of the line, new release. I also bought you both a kiddie quidditch set and customized leather jackets that said Padfoot’s Pals on the back for when I took you on the motorcycle. Made a pretty nice dent I must say.”
Harry smiled softly as he looked up at the ceiling feeling the brushstrokes go up to his thighs now.
“What was your second most worry?” Harry asked a few minutes later.
“Um…I don’t know. That one was the one that always stuck with me. I guess if I had to pick it’d be that the omega would be the type of person who would do everything in their power to keep Remus to himself as much as he could. Like shut me out a little.”
“Talk about abandonment issues.” Sirius laughed, nodding, “Geesh and I thought I had issues.”
“What did you think about?” Sirius asked
“Older. They had to be older. That was like a must, it wasn’t optional.”
“Confronting those daddy issues head on were you?” Harry laughed nodding.
“Absolutely.” Harry giggled, “I was going to make one daddy love me, it didn't matter who it was at that point.” Harry grinned before sobering a little, “No I just didn’t picture myself with someone my own age I guess. I was never very social, so picturing myself with someone who had a lot of friends who went out every weekend to have a good time honestly sounded like torture.”
“Not every weekend, but Remus and I try to go out at least once a month. Usually something small, but occasionally we’ll go to a pub or a Quidditch game or something muggle. We went to a footie game once or twice.”
“Matteo was a big Footie fan. He’d kick the ball with me whenever I wanted and he took me to a few games when I was younger. He was raised in the muggle world despite both of his parents being magical. His father was from Italy, he was fun, his mother was from here, but was always busy doing one thing or another. I didn’t see her much.”
“Did they stop talking to you?”
“Not at first, but slowly their owls became less frequent. Every now and again I’ll get a letter asking how I am, but I haven’t seen them in almost two years. There was some excuse or another around the holidays or birthdays.”
Sirius cleaned his brush then switched it out for a thinner one and dipped it in white.
“Henry said it’s one of the things you don’t talk to him about.”
“There’s nothing to say and if you dare paint a full moon on my leg I’ll cut your hair in your sleep.”
“I’m not painting a full moon.”
“You're painting the dog constellation aren’t you?” Sirius laughed and Harry looked down and sure enough Sirius was putting little dots on his leg, “Of course you are. A dog always has to mark his territory.”
“It’s the only thing I know how to paint well. I painted it on Remus all the time, it was the only thing he allowed me to paint after a while actually.”
“Because it was your way of claiming him. Even if it was temporary. Your magic reacts to everything you do even if you don’t completely feel it. You’re painting something that represents you, so your magic is sort of intertwining with the paint. It’s brushing against our bond almost similar in a way wolf mates would brush against it when scenting their mate or something similar. It’s the closest thing you’ll be able to come to claiming us until we bond completely.”
“Really? Remus never told me that.”
“He was probably worried about scaring you off. Some humans are scared of the mating bond, he probably worried about your reaction if you knew you were marking him as yours. Has he ever scented you or anything?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
“Oh you’d know. You wouldn’t be able to miss it.”
“He’s marked me certainly, but-”
“No this would be different than giving you a love mark on your neck in the heat of the moment. It has to be intentional. Like you’re doing right now is intentional and sort of planned. You knew what you were going to do before you did. Scenting or Marking your mate can’t be done accidentally.”
“Is it bad that he hasn’t?” Sirius asked looking at him
“No, of course not. It’s just…not common, but Omegas are known to mark or scent more often than Alphas.” Sirius nodded before going back to his painting, Harry hadn’t even noticed when his leg relaxed and he had become used to the heat sinking into his leg. He looked down at it and chuckled seeing Sirius’ tongue sticking out again as he concentrated connecting two dots, “How’s that working out for you anyway? With all the dips with loss of fat.”
“You let me worry about the dips, you just focus on the benefits.”
“I think I can bend it now without wanting to cry.”
“See? Told you it works. Took me ten tries to make everything work together properly, but I eventually got it. I missed this actually, It sort of just died down with the Wolfsbane Potion.”
“Well you can paint mine anytime. Try some dog flowers next time use the scars as the stem.”
“Sure.” Sirius said with a grin.
The next few minutes passed in silence as Sirius finished up his painting then he kept his leg on his lap letting him keep it on for as long as wanted.
“It doesn’t dry?” Harry asked a few hours later when he entered the bathroom where Sirius was drawing him a hot bath.
“It doesn’t stay completely wet, but no it doesn’t dry either. It makes it easier to clean up.” Sirius told him, Harry nodded going over to sit on the edge of the sunken tub watching as hot water filled it.
“Wanna join me?” Harry asked making Sirius laugh
“Nice try, not only would I be murdered, I would also be burned alive. I have learned my lesson to never share a bath or shower with a werewolf when they want it hot to soothe their muscles. My hot and their hot are completely different.”
“Chicken.” Harry said grinning before he looked at Sirius as he watched the water fill up as if it required his entire concentration, “Thank you.”
Sirius turned to him wide eyed then he smiled at him, Sirius’ cheeks turning a little pink as he shrugged, scrunching his nose a little.
“It was nothing.”
“It was not nothing.” Harry said frowning, “You spent like four hours with my leg on your lap doing nothing, but sitting there and talking with me about whatever came up. It meant a lot, honestly.”
“You’re welcome.” Sirius said turning red before he looked away for a moment, “Anytime you need me, for anything, I’ll be there. Even if it’s just to sit with you and paint your leg again. I had fun.”
“For the bath too.”
“Anytime.” Sirius said again before he tapped the side of the bath before standing up, “I’m going to leave and clean up, yell if you need me.”
“Okay.”
Sirius gave him a smile before he was leaving the bathroom leaving Harry alone to get undressed and climb into the steaming bath water. Harry was sad to see the paint wash off his leg so easily. He could hear Sirius moving around in the other room, but other than that it was silent. If he concentrated hard enough he could faintly smell Remus in the other room, but it wasn’t strong.
The rest of the day was spent in bed as they both worked on their separate things. Harry had his classwork and Sirius had papers to grade and lessons to plan. When James and his Papa came back, James poked his head in, clearly wondering why they were in bed, but he didn’t say anything as he grinned at them before leaving the room again.
Sunday Harry spent the day with his brother and sister then Monday and Tuesday was spent studying for his next NEWT test and doing his classwork. Tuesday night Harry noticed Sirius was acting strange.
‘Everything okay?’ Harry asked eyeing Sirius
‘Yeah of course…so..Remus is going to be done tomorrow right?”
“He’s probably done now, but his pheromones haven’t left his body yet. So probably around two or three in the morning he’ll be back to his normal shelf. He’ll probably shower then be so exhausted he’ll go back to sleep, but yes he should be fine by lunch.”
“Are you leaving tomorrow?”
“I don’t have to. I’m top of my class and ahead of most of them. My professors accommodate all of the students who have the grades for it. I have a classmate who only comes in once a month. I can stay longer.” Sirius nodded as he pulled back the covers, “I can stay until my heat, maybe spend the full moon with you guys depending how close I am to it by then.”
‘Yeah that might be fun. James would love it, but Moony might be hesitant.”
“I’ll warm Remus up to the idea.” Harry folded back his side of the covers not commenting on the lack of the pillow between them tonight. Sirius had made it a point every night to put it there except, apparently, tonight.
“Goodnight.” Sirius said
“Goodnight.”
Harry lay awake long after Sirius fell into a restless sleep, he kept tossing and turning in his sleep when usually Sirius slept in one position all night. By eleven Harry was debating whether or not to tie Sirius to the bed to keep him from moving again. By one Harry was contemplating if Azkaban was really that terrible. By two Harry was staring at his wand on the nightstand longingly. By two fifteen Harry rolled onto his side glaring at Sirius’ back. By two thirty he had an arm around Sirius’ waist and his left leg atop of SIrius’ legs, his chest pressed against Sirius’ back as he let his growling soothe him into a more peaceful sleep. His scent filled Harry’s nose as he pressed his face to his back, Sirius’s entire body sunk into the mattress so Harry stayed there closing his eyes and falling asleep as well.
Harry was only asleep for a few hours from what he could tell when he woke up again. It wasn’t from Sirius, but instead from voices drifting into the room despite the charms in place that kept most sounds from entering other rooms.
“He shouldn’t be in there!” A voice that sounded like Remus drifted into the room. Sirius shifted in his sleep so Harry tightened his arm around him feeling him relax again.
“-are fine. -slept there all week. -to sleep Remus.” His Papa’s voice drifted in and out of the room
“-check on him.”
“No- wake Harry.”
Harry slowly climbed out of bed then grabbed a warm robe and wrapped it around him as he opened his bedroom door and poked his head out. His Papa, James, and Remus were all out in the living room facing each other. Remus looked exhausted, but very determined while James looked torn and his Papa Harry knew that look. His Papa would stand there all night long to make sure Remus didn’t do anything he didn’t agree with.
“Great. See told you we’ll wake up.” His Papa said looking irritated as he folded his arms.
“I’m sorry I didn’t mean to wake you. Is Sirius awake too?”
“No he’s still asleep, but he’s been restless all night. I almost murdered him honestly.” Harry said, closing the door behind him as he walked into the living room.
“I’ll wake him and take him back to our room so you can sleep.” Remus said but Harry blocked his path.
“Remus, he's fine. Let him sleep, he still has to teach in the morning and you look exhausted. We have to be sure all of your new pheromones settle before you can be alone with him again. You may be out of your Rut, but you now have new pheromones and hormones that you need to get used to. You also have a permanent fixture that you’ll need to get to know so you don’t hurt him.”
“I’m fine.” Remus insisted his eyes not leaving the closed door.
“You are not fine.” Harry said gently pushing Remus onto the couch and sitting beside him so he had to break his stare on the door.
“I-”
“Look I know you haven’t slept away from your mate in years, your Rut not counting, you can join us in my bed if you want, but you are not sleeping with him alone tonight. Not right now anyway.”
Remus hesitated, moving back against the couch to look at the closed door then he looked at him.
“Come on. Let’s go to sleep together. He’ll sleep better I think anyway. We can put him in the middle.”
Remus nodded, letting Harry grab his hand and led him to the bedroom, he turned back to his Papa and James and gave them a tight smile before he gently pushed Remus into the room. Sirius had turned in his sleep since Harry had left, his back was now facing the door and he had moved closer to the middle, his nose slightly buried into Harry’s pillow. Remus immediately moved to the bed and laid behind Sirius wrapping himself around him like Harry had been and taking in his scent.
“I missed you, Pads.” Remus whispered, pressing a kiss to Sirius’ bare shoulder up his neck and stopping at his cheek. Harry walked around the bed and laid on his side of the bed pulling the covers over Remus first then himself.
“Now go to sleep.” Harry whispered, Remus nodded still buried into Sirius’ neck, his eyes closed, but he was awake. It was normal for an Alpha and Omega to miss their mates after a Heat or Rut even if they were spent together.
“I didn’t do anything right?” Remus asked softly
“Besides walking through my school with your wand practically on display for anyone in the halls? No. You were still in the phase of wanting to scent us and mark us only a little bit of sex obsessed. You were easy to get rid of promise.”
“Good. I only remember going to the bed with him then it’s hazy.”
“I’m sorry. I should have warned you better.”
‘No. I read the books. I just didn’t connect the hints until it was too late and by then I didn’t really have control.”
“Go to sleep. You’ll be okay. You’ll be aroused more easily for a few weeks, take it slow at sex for a while especially in the beginning until you can recognize your knot forming. You’ll have to control both yourself and Sirius, he’ll probably try to push himself. It’ll be fine though, you’ll know when to stop yourself and him, but you want to get in the habit of recognizing it yourself just in case.”
Remus nodded, tightening his arm around Sirius’ waist.
“He hasn’t been a terrible bed partner for you has he?”
“No. Tonight he wasn’t only so restless because I think he was worried about you coming out of your rut.” Remus nodded then kissed Sirius’ shoulder again before he relaxed on the mattress, “Night.”
“Goodnight Harry.”
Harry rolled onto his side and pulled the covers closed to his body as he closed his eyes.
The next time Harry woke up it was another few hours later and it was because of the soft voices filling the air.
“No we usually kept a pillow between us, I guess we forgot it last night.” Sirius whispered, sounding amused about something. Harry shifted slightly, rubbing his head against his pillow only then realizing it wasn’t his pillow at all rather a hard..something. Then suddenly fingertips were rubbing his side gently.
“It’s only natural that without a barrier he seeks out a mate to cuddle. You just happen to be the one in the middle.” Harry patted around until he found Remus’ mouth then he covered it with his hand.
‘Shhhhhh.. Let me enjoy this a little longer.” Harry said as he snuggled more deeply into Sirius’ side trying to get as small and entwined as possible. Sirius laughed as he hugged him tightly.
‘My arm is asleep.” Sirius told him
“So am I now shut up.” Harry said, moving his hand from Remus to cover Sirius’ mouth., “Shhhh.”
“Sirius has to get up to teach classes soon.” Remus told him
“Screw ‘em.” Harry said
“You have a NEWT test today.” Harry laid there for a moment then he groaned miserably and rolled away from Sirius.
“Ruin all of my fun.” Harry grumbled.
“How have your other NEWTs gone?” Remus asked, Harry turned to look at him, noticing he still looked exhausted as he held his head up from his hand. Sirius was laying on his back, but Remus’ arm was around his waist. Harry figured he had been curled up to Sirius’ side before he rolled away.
“Have you slept yet?”
“No. I stayed up. I’ll sleep later.”
“Did I keep you up?” Harry asked
“No. You were fine. It was actually very soothing, I kept myself awake.” Harry nodded then turned to Sirius and laughed.
“Stayed awake doing that, were you?” Harry asked
“Doing what?” Sirius asked, touching his throat, “What did you do?” He asked looking at Remus before he was scrambling off the bed climbing over Harry then he ran to the bathroom and looked in the mirror, “GOD DAMN IT MOONY!”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t help it.” Remus said standing up and going to stand behind Sirius as he wrapped his arms around his waist from behind him, “I’ll help cover it up, I promise.”
“You better.” Sirius said, still examining the large red mark on his neck, “Did you try to eat me or something? Fucks sake Moony.”
“I’m sorry.” Remus said again
“What’s the protocol when your mates are about to snog in your own bathroom? Does one watch or do they look away and pretend to be busy?” Harry asked, Sirius laughed as Remus turned to him trying to look more stern than amused.
“We are not about to snog.” Remus said releasing Sirius and entering the bedroom then he crawled into the bed and laid beside Harry on his stomach, “So what did you two do while I was...busy.”
“We didn’t really do anything. I had classes, Harry had school work and NEWTs, Saturday we spent the day in here since James and Henry were gone most of the day, Sunday Harry spent it with Charlie and Ariel, and the last two days Harry was busy.” Sirius told him as he came out of the bathroom and grabbed some of his robes that the house elves kept hanging up in the closet.
“That’s it? No wild adventures? No arrests? No outstanding warrants I need to know about?”
“Oh we had sex on Big Ben. Got arrested. Escaped. Got drunk. Blew each other in a shitty bathroom stall, You know the usual.” Harry said with a shrug, Sirius laughed as he went into the bathroom and closed the door enough that they couldn’t see inside of it, but left it open so he could still talk to them.
“Don’t forget about the hippogriff race we had.’
“Which naturally ended in kinky wild sex in the forest.”
‘Oh great I have two of you like this.” Remus complained though he was grinning as he hugged the pillow under his head, “You two are going to need bail money the first time we go drinking together I just know it,”
“That’s when you know you’ve had a good time Moony” Sirius said with a grin as he stepped out of the room as he finished buttoning his shirt, “I need to get breakfast in me and get to my classroom. Get some sleep Moonpie.” Sirius came over and pressed a kiss to Remus’ head.
“Mmm. Have fun.” Remus mumbled sleepily
“Good luck with your NEWT today Harry.”
‘Thanks. See you later.” Sirius gave him a small smile before he turned and left the room.
Harry slid out of bed a few minutes later and grabbed his own clothes and changed in the bathroom. He really had to get back on his schedule, Harry realized as he felt a small pain in his leg. The past week Harry had slept in and didn’t do as much stretches as he should have. When he left the bathroom Remus was hugging his pillow close to his face as he slept on Sirius’ pillow. Harry smiled softly as he pulled the covers over Remus’ sleeping body then he grabbed his things and left the room as well. Sirius was gone, but James and his Papa were still there.
“Hey, is he still asleep?” James asked
“He just went to sleep. Stayed awake all night.”
“That’s not unheard of.” His Papa said Harry nodded knowing that already, but he knew he said it for James’ sake.
“I have to study for my NEWT today and I thought I’d stay here until my Heat comes if that’s okay?” Harry said, James grinned nodding.
“Of course it’s okay. You can stay here for as long as you want to, you know that.”
“If that’s what you want to do. Just make sure you tell your professors. I’m staying one more night then I have to go to Scandinavia for at least a week. You’ll be okay without me if your heat comes before I'm back?”
“I’ll be okay. I’ll just go home and lock myself in my nest like usual.”
“Okay I’ll make sure there’s snacks and water bottles and everything else there you’ll need.”
“I really don’t need you to stock my lube drawer Papa. I can do it myself.” Harry said with a blush
“Fine, I'll stock your food and water then.”
“FIne. I’m going to go hide in the library until my NEWT, make sure he eats if he wakes up.” Harry said
“Okay. We will. Good luck.”
“Thanks.” Harry said softly before he left the room.
**
After his NEWT Harry found Remus still asleep in the bedroom though it had apparently been a light sleep considering Remus woke up when Harry set his things on the desk in the corner.
“Sorry.” Harry said looking at him, Remus looked better though he still looked a little tired.
“No….it’s okay.” Remus mumbled rubbing his face with a hand, “How was your NEWTs? Today's and the past ones?” He asked laying his head down on the pillow again, but he stayed awake as he watched Harry.
“I took my International Wizardry NEWT so it went fine. I am confident in almost all of my questions I answered and the essay was actually on a topic I did a class essay on so it was pretty easy.”
“That’s good. What about the other ones?”
“My Arithmancy NEWT I took last week I told everyone that if I get less than an E on it I’m making you pay for a retest. Then my Study of Ancient Magic NEWT was relatively easy as well. I took that last Friday. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that I know I passed my Magical Creature Studies NEWT.”
“That’s good.” Harry went over with his Defense Against Magic book and laid on his stomach beside Remus, “What’s your next NEWT? You have four more this month right?”
“I have one Friday, Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday again. I wanted the last week of the month free for any rescheduling or for my heat whichever I need it for.”
“Smart. What’s Fridays?”
“Healing. It’s a sister class to Dueling. You can sleep some more, ruts and heats are hard on the body. I usually sleep an entire day after my heats.”
“Maybe I will. What time is it?”
“A little past two.” Remus hummed softly and a few minutes later he was back to sleep.
**
Later that night Harry had already turned in for bed and Sirius, Remus, and James were the only ones awake, Henry having left after Harry went to sleep.
“You ready to turn in then?” Remus asked noticing it was almost midnight
“Yeah I guess.” Sirius said, standing up from the couch and making his way to the bedroom.
“Um..Sirius?”
“Yeah?” He asked looking back at Remus
“Our bed,” Remus said, Sirius frowned then looked and noticed he was standing in front of Harry’s door.
“Oh.” Sirius said though he didn’t move, “We’re supposed to just…leave him alone now?” Sirius asked, frowning at his husband.
“Well…you can’t sleep in his bed forever Sirius.” Sirius raised a brow at him, “I meant- eventually we will but- James help me out here.”
“Not a chance. Henry has trained me all week to keep my mouth shut so that is exactly what I am doing. In fact I am going to bed myself so I am not tempted to say anything. You two go to sleep wherever I don’t want to know or else I’ll have very weird dreams. Goodnight.” As James spoke he had gotten up off his chair and headed straight to his bedroom, closing the door once he had finished speaking.
“Unbelievable.” Remus said softly, shaking his head before looking at Sirius.
“I don’t want to just leave him alone…it feels wrong.”
“It feels wrong sharing his bed.”
“Not to me.” Remus stood there for a moment then he sighed.
“Fine. I guess we can sleep together while he is here if and when he wants to. Let’s go get dressed at least.” Sirius nodded, grinning, heading to their room. After changing into some night clothes they went back to Harry’s room, Harry was asleep, facing the door but his arm was reached out across the bed as his nose brushed against the pillow Remus had used most of the day.
“Let me in the middle this time.” Remus whispered, Sirius didn’t question it as he stepped aside letting Remus slide into the bed moving Harry’s arm to lay across his waist then he opened his other arm for Sirius to lay into.
“See? So much better. You can’t tell me Moony isn’t ecstatic to have us both so close to you.”
“Go to sleep.” Sirius grinned as he settled into sleep.
Remus laid there for a while with Sirius curled into his right side and Harry curled into his left. His arms were around them both and eventually he too fell asleep with Harry’s soft growls feeling the room and his arm across his bare waist touching Sirius’ arm that was laid on Remus as well.