Lupin Lads

“Where’s your dad?” Remus asked the moment Harry sat down.

“Work,” Harry said slinging his backpack off his shoulder and throwing it down on the floor. “Can I get a coffee?”

“I don’t think you need one,” Remus said, he was doing something on a pad of paper. Not even looking at Harry.

“I need it to get my homework done,” Harry said. He was drowning in homework at the moment.

“How’s the new school?” Remus asked, he had finally looked up at Harry.

“Fine. Hard.”

Remus nodded and reached under the counter and placed a mug infront of Harry. He reached behind and grabbed the pot of coffee, silently filling the mug. “But good?”

“I guess,” Harry shrugged and grabbed the full mug.

Remus was still silent and returned to his notebook.

Harry stared down at his coffee. He had been attending Hogwarts Academy for almost two months, having transferred from Godrics Hollow High. It was a very academically intense school, and he had already made an academic rival. All he hoped to do was to follow in his parents footsteps, and try not to fail out of the school before he could graduate.

“I-“ Harry began.

Remus looked up from his work, he took a quick glance around the near empty diner. Harry knew that the dinner rush would be coming in soon, including Sirius, so this would be his chance to talk to Remus.

“I don’t think I can do it,” Harry said hanging his head.

“Why?”

“I’m already behind. Sure, I started with the new school year, but these kids already have on year under their belts. And I’m the scholarship sophomore who is just barely smart enough. Sure, I was good at Godric High, but at Hogwarts?”

“Harry, you are one of the smartest kids that I know. I think that you thinking that you will fail will only cause you to fail. And who cares what those other kids have? You got into that school because of your brain,” Remus said. “They wouldn’t have admitted you otherwise.”

“My parents went there. And Sirius.”

This caused Remus to pause. Harry never really brought up his parents around Remus, he never even knew them.

“So you’re a legacy? So what?” Remus shrugged. “You still have a brain, and a hard work ethic. In my book that’s good enough.”

“But what if I do flunk out?”

“I don’t think you will.”

“I don’t want to disappoint him, he really wants me to be there.” Harry knew that Remus knew who he meant. To Sirius it was everything to him that Harry went to Hogwarts Academy. It was where he had met Harry’s parents and where he learned that he didn’t need his parents to be successful. It had crushed him when he learned Harry wasn’t able to attend his freshman year there because of money.

“I think, no, I know he will be proud of you no matter what, Harry.” Remus gave him an awkward pat on the shoulder. The bell above the door rang, indicating that the dinner crowd was about to start. “Do you want to grab a table now? Or just stay at the counter?”

“I guess I’ll grab a table, Sirius will be here soon,” Harry gathered up his stuff and hopped off the stool.

“The regular tonight?” Remus asked.

“I suppose,” Harry shrugged.

Remus nodded and went to go take the new customers orders. While Harry settled down with his coffee and homework, waiting for his dad to get there.

+++

Sirius arrived at the diner just after five, and Harry was glad that he had chosen a table when he did as all of the others were full. And Sirius seemed to be in a mood.

“Hi, how was work?” Harry asked shuffling his papers so Sirius had room.

“Fine. How was school?”

“Fine.”

Harry returned to his homework as Sirius stared at the menu.

“Burger,” Remus said placing a plate in front of Harry. “And a turkey club.” Remus placed the sandwich in front of Sirius.

“Thanks,” Sirius grumbled.

Remus gave Harry a look, all he did was shrug. “Let me know if you two need anything,” Remus said walking off to serve another table.

“What’s up?” Harry asked.

“Nothing.”

Harry was used to Sirius’ moods. Sirius did not have the best life growing up, and Harry knew that it was one of the reasons why he often got into a mood.

“Okay,” Harry nodded and turned to his burger.

“So, um,” Sirius began. “We have to have dinner with my parents this Friday.”

“Why? What holiday is it? Some rich one we don’t celebrate?” Harry joked.

“No, no holiday.”

“Then what? Is one of them dying?”

“No.”

“Then why? The last time we saw them was Easter. And you stormed out before the mini lobster puffs were even served. I was really looking forward to those.”

“We just have to,” Sirius huffed.

“Why?”

“Because.”

“Because why? Why won’t you tell me?”

“Because I said so Harry!” Sirius yelled and slammed his hand on the table. Sending the silverware clanking and coffee spilling over the lips of their cups.

Sirius hardly ever snapped at Harry, and if he did it was over something trivial like he had eaten the last Pop-tart that Sirius had hidden in the pantry.

“Okay, sorry,” Harry mumbled, turning back to his work and burger.

They sat in silence and ate their food. Sirius got up to pay the bill and Harry packed up his homework. They left, both waving to Remus before they walked out the door and got into Sirius’ car. The didn’t talk on the short drive home, just the radio playing quietly.

Sirius pulled into the driveway and put the car into park, turning off the engine. “I’m sorry I yelled.”

“It’s okay,” Harry said unbuckling his seatbelt.

“No, it’s not,” Sirius sighed. “There is something that I haven’t told you.”

“Okay?”

“So, in order for you to go to Hogwarts we needed the money. My parents are loaning us, well me, the money so you can go. You aren’t on a scholarship, or anything like that. I didn’t want to tell you because is was ashamed that I had to go to them to have you attend. I thought I could get away with you not knowing, but my mother has insisted that we have to join them for dinner every Friday night.”

Harry really didn’t know what to say to that. “Friday nights? Really?”

Sirius let out a small laugh. “Say goodbye to wild Friday nights. It’s dinner at the Black’s every Friday at seven.”

“You know I didn’t have to go to Hogwarts, right?” Harry asked, too afraid to look at Sirius when he said it.

“Yeah, but I really want you to go. You deserve to go, and it’s my fault that you couldn’t go last year.”

“No it’s not,” Harry said.

“I want you to be as successful as you want to be. And that means going to Hogwarts. Then I am going to get you to go no matter what.”

“Thanks,” Harry said. “So, does this mean lobster puffs every Friday then?”