Snapshots

1987

The house was as quiet as a battlefield after the carnage and destruction had been wrought when Sirius slipped through the front door at half past three. He walked through the house half-expecting to stumble across a war-mangled corpse when he rounded a corner looking for Remus and Harry. He stuck his head into the kitchen and sighed when he saw them sitting at the table. Remus was absentmindedly stirring his tea, his brows knitted together, and Harry's head was resting on his crossed arms, his breaths coming deep and calm.

Sirius sighed again and crossed the room, his boots clicking softly on the tile floor. He leaned down to kiss Remus before slumping into the chair next to him.

"You didn't have to leave work early," Remus said hoarsely.

"The head of my godson's school calls and tells me he's been fighting," Sirius said in shock. "I'd have to be mad not to come home." He glanced at Harry and dropped his voice. "How is he?"

Remus sighed. "Pretty damn upset. He cried himself to sleep a few minutes ago." He took a sip of cold tea and grimaced. "Did the headmistress tell you why he was fighting?"

Sirius frowned. "No. The bitch seems to think it'll be punishment enough for him to tell me himself. Then she had the gall to tell me he started it, Moony! You weren't there, were you, love?"

"Yes, and it wasn't him that started everything, per se. He just threw the first punch."

Sirius whistled low. "I didn't think he had it in him. What'd the other kid do to make him hit him?"

A pained expression crossed Remus' face. "Us, Sirius."

"That's ridiculous!" Sirius said. "How could it have been us? We weren't--oh. Oh, shit, Remus." He ran a hand through his hair and stared at a knot in the grain of the tabletop. "What are we going to do?"

Remus sipped his tea. "There's nothing we can do besides be there for Harry, like always, is there?"

Sirius took the tea cup from Remus and downed the last of the cold amber liquid. "Why now, Moony? He's only seven--he shouldn't have to deal with this now. Or ever, for that matter, but that's never going to happen, is it?"

Remus sighed. "Don't talk like that, Sirius. You know just as well as I do that some people don't like what they don't--or won't--understand." He glanced at Harry before taking Sirius' hand in his own. "He'd have to face this someday and you know how horrible people can be."

Sirius squeezed Remus' hand. "But it's all our fault, Moony."

"No, it's not," Remus said and looked at Harry as the boy shifted fitfully, "and I'll be damned if I let you think like that. We've done nothing wrong and I'm not going to let the world tell me I'm immoral just because I just happen to like blokes. It's so bloody unfair Harry had to deal with that prejudice...."

Sirius half-smiled. "You're the greatest, Moony."

"No, I'm--"

"Yes. You are and I don't care what you say." Sirius kissed Remus. "Think we should wake Harry up?"

"'M not asleep," Harry said, his voice muffled. He shifted and peeked over his arms at Sirius. The boy's emerald eyes were shining with unshed tears.

Sirius gave Remus' hand a squeeze before getting up and walking over to Harry. He kneeled and the boy wrapped his around his neck, burying his face against Sirius' chest, his hot tears soaking into his shirt.

"Shh," Sirius said, rubbing Harry's back. "Everything's going to be alright. Moony and I are here now."

Harry sniffled and pulled away from his godfather. Quietly, he asked, "What's a pillow biter? That's what Jake said about you...."

Sirius' jaw dropped and he glanced at Remus as the man sat down on the floor beside him. "Harry don't say that--that's a term some not-so-nice people use to make people like Remus and me feel bad."

Harry looked between them and wiped his nose on the back of his hand. "What does that mean--'like you and Moony?'"

"Harry," Remus said, "Sirius and I love each other very much and--"

"Like Ron's mum and dad?"

Sirius grinned. "Yes, Harry, like Molly and Arthur. Is that okay with you?"

Harry looked between them and nodded fiercely, fresh tears flooding to his eyes. He wrapped an arm around both their neck, the tears flowing like rivers down his face.

Sirius sighed and pulled Harry away from them to wipe away the boy's tears. "Would you like to tell us why you hit the other boy?"

Harry sniffled again. "He was saying bad things about you and Moony and he wouldn't quit, so I just let him have it."

"Why didn't you tell me or one of your teachers about all this?" Remus said gently.

"I don't know," Harry said and a lone tear slid down his cheek. "You should've seen his eye though."

"Harry!" Sirius and Remus said in unison.

"Sorry." Harry winced and chewed on his lower lip. Wrapping both arms around them again, he said, "I love you both."

Sirius smiled up at Remus and held Harry until the boy pulled away.

"Am I in trouble?"

Sirius eyed him and said, "No telly for a week. How's that sound?"

"I guess can't just say I'm sorry and be over with it?"

Sirius' expression left no room for argument, and Harry sighed and slunk from the kitchen wiping his nose on his hand again. Sirius waited until he heard Harry's bedroom door close before letting out a breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding. He stood, pulling Remus up with him, and rested his forehead against the shorter man's.

"I'll be glad when he goes to Hogwarts and we can go back to living like normal wizards," he said, wrapping his arms around Remus' waist and pulling him close.

"Then he'll be gone," Remus said with the hint of a sad smile.

"Don't remind me. But at least we can sleep in all day without having to worry about him walking in on us." He kissed Remus, leaning back against the table, one knee slipping between Remus' thighs and all but pulling him into his lap.

Remus drew back and dropped a hand to Sirius' belt buckle. "I could get used to coming home early like this."

"So could I," Sirius chuckled and nipped at Remus' ear. "Is that silencing charm still on our bedroom?"

Remus smiled and his eyes fluttered closed as Sirius sucked on the sensitive spot where neck becomes shoulder and a hand slipped under his shirt. "I-I think so....Shouldn't we wait until Harry's asleep to do this?"

"You want me to stop?" Sirius said kissed him tongue first.

Remus moaned, his breaths coming in quick gasps when they came up for air. "Never."

Sirius chuckled lustily. "Then I think it's time we take this upstairs."