To Hope for Happiness

To Hope for Happiness

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Face Your Father

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The Day, Part III

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The door to the young Seeker's room was opened quietly. As he turned around, he saw Sirius standing in the doorway. "What do you want?" he asked curtly.

"At first, I'd like to say that the way you treated Remus was horrible," the Animagus said calmly. "He's been through a lot for you. You should be a bit more grateful."

"Well, he lied to me," Harry replied sharply. "He and all you others. You've been lying to me all my life, and now expect me to just accept it all with nothing to say!"

"I'm not saying that you weren't allowed to say anything," replied Sirius dryly. "I just think you should apologize to Remus. You've got no idea how badly you hurt him."

"He's a grown man. He should be able to deal with it."

"And you're a grown boy. You shouldn't act like a four-year-old brat."

Harry pouted. "Fine," he snapped. "Was there anything else, or are you finished now?"

"Well, actually..." Sirius started hesitantly. "Here," he said then, giving Harry a sheet of parchment. "Your official birth certificate."

Harry took it, glancing curiously at it. His eyes widened when he saw it. It was quite different compared to what he had thought it would look like.

"Harold Ian Malcolm Lupin-Potter-Black

Carrier: Remus Lupin-Potter-Black

Father(s): James Lupin-Potter-Black and Sirius Lupin-Potter-Black"

He slowly raised his eyes to Sirius, who met his gaze quite calmly. When his godfather saw that he had finished, he reached out some photographs. "Just thought you'd like to see these."

Harry took them as well. There were three young men in the first picture: Sirius, Remus and James. Sirius was in the middle of the group, his arms around the two other men's shoulders. James and Remus both had one arm behind his back, their other hands holding each other. The picture showed clearly their love and caring towards each other. Light twinkled in the little ring on photograph-Remus's left hand, and photograph-Sirius whispered something to the two men in front of him, making them laugh.

Another picture. This time, there were six people in it. The same three men, yes, but also Lily, Peter and a little baby - Harry himself, or so it seemed. Remus was holding tiny Harry in his arms just like Harry had seen Lily doing in other pictures, and James and Sirius were both beaming with fatherly pride.

The third picture was also of only the three soulmates. It also seemed to be older than the one before, since in this picture, Remus's stomach was round like he had swallowed a volley ball. Sirius had knelt down next to him, his hands placed on the huge belly, and was seemingly talking to the baby inside. James was standing next to Remus, laughing at his soulmates.

The fourth picture was also the last. It was of a little boy, around five years old for what Harry could tell. He had golden brown hair, about chinlength. Even if Harry hadn't elseway been able to tell that it was young Remus Lupin in the picture, he could have told it when he saw his eyes. They were the most brilliant green colour he had ever seen in his life, including the pictures of his told-to-be-mother. He only had seen anything like that on one person. Many times. Every time he looked into a mirror, to be exact.

He blinked away the tears forming in his eyes. He would not cry. Not for these pictures that only proved the lie he had lived for the last fifteen years.

"Harry?" asked Sirius then suddenly, startling him from his thoughts. "Would you like to talk?"

O.().(|.|. .|.|).().O

Almost an hour had gone by after Sirius had left to talk with Harry. The werewolf was no more crying. His face was still tear-stained, however, as he sat on the bed in their room.

"Remus?" he heard Harry's voice from behind him. "Remus? Are you there?"

"I'm here," he replied, turning slowly around. He blinked away the tears that still continued to fall. The silhouette of his son in the doorway was nearly enough to make him cry again.

Harry glanced at him in the dim light the doorway casted in the dark room. "Lumos," he whispered, creating a glowing light in the tip of his wand, lighting up the entire room. Then he stepped inside.

"What now?" Remus asked, letting his gaze down to the floor. "Came to tell me again how sick and unnatural I am?"

"No," Harry replied simply. He walked nearer and, for Remus's great surprise, put his hand on the werewolf's shoulder. "Remus... I'm sorry I upset you."

He took a quick glance at his son. Harry looked calmly back at him with his emerald eyes, only sincerity and apology in his expression.

"I really am sorry," Harry continued. "I didn't understand at first. Of course you explained it to me, but I guess I just didn't understand the true extent of it. In Muggle world, it's improper and unnatural for three people to be in love with each other, leave alone to be married. And to think that a man might become pregnant! How could I know, or even believe, that in Wizarding World it's a common habit?"

Remus smiled weakly. "It's the way we are," he told him quietly. "Wizards and witches are capable of loving much stronger and warmer than Muggles, because they have soulmates - something that Muggles have not. That's the reason why three people loving each other isn't unusual in our world - if they're soulmates, how could their relationship be in any means wrong or unproper?"

"Exactly," Harry grinned. Then he became serious again. "Another reason why I was angry... My whole life I've been told that my parents were James and Lily Potter. And now I found out that Lily wasn't my mother, and my father wasn't only Potter but Lupin-Potter-Black. And that I didn't have a mother at all, but only two fathers... Actually three." He shook his head. "I guess I got shocked."

"Not a miracle, that," Remus chuckled. "I think I would have gone even worse than you. And if Sirius would have got into the same situation... Well, I guess there wouldn't have been very much left when he'd calmed down."

Harry laughed softly. "Very probably so." Once again, he looked at Remus. Then he embraced the older man warmly, surprising both the werewolf and himself. "I'm sorry about what I said earlier," he murmured. "There's so much I don't know or understand."

"That will be fixed," Remus promised, smiling. He watched as his son walked to the door.

When Harry stood in the doorway, he turned around to look over his shoulder. "Thank you, Dad," he said, and then vanished before Remus could say anything.

The werewolf slowly laid himself back on the bed, pressing his head against the pillows, his eyes closed. That was where Sirius found him later. The room was dark once again, since Remus hadn't casted any lights after Harry had left with his wand. Sirius lit up the candles and sat down next to his mate. He was a bit worried. Had it truly been the right decision to let Harry talk with Remus alone?

"You've been crying," he noticed, seeing the fresh lines of tears on the werewolf's cheeks. "What did he say?"

Remus raised his gaze to his bonded mate, managing a little smile. "Sirius," he said, his face glowing in delight. In an instant Sirius understood that the tears weren't of sorrow or anger, but tears of joy. "Sirius, he called me Dad."

Sirius felt tears in his own eyes as well. "Oh, Remus," he whispered, pulling the other man in his lap.

Nothing else was said, nothing else was done. They just sat there, both in quiet delight for getting their long-lost son back to them.