A Life More Ordinary

The Burrow--August 1986

Harry stayed as still as he could while Sirius knotted his tie. "All done?" he asked, trying not to wiggle his neck too much. Sirius smiled.

"Almost. Hold still, kiddo."

But Harry was much too excited to hold still; if Sirius didn't hurry up, he was going to burst. "Do you think Remus is ready yet?" he demanded.

"I hope so," Sirius answered, his eyebrows scrunched as he tugged Harry's tie straight. "Otherwise, you might jump right out of your skin before we even begin."

Harry rolled his eyes. "I will not. Aren't you done yet?"

Sirius' grey eyes were crinkled with amusement. "Finally," he answered with a grin and an exaggerated sigh. "Here, take a look at yourself." Sirius straightened and turned Harry toward the long mirror near the end of Mrs. Weasley's bed.

He put his hands on Harry's shoulders, standing behind him as he and Harry studied their reflections.

Harry had never worn dress robes before.

"We look rather dashing," Sirius said, catching Harry's eye.

Harry squinted at himself, wriggling his shoulders to adjust the weight of the fabric. "They feel funny..."

"You look lovely, Harry dear. Very handsome."

Harry and Sirius turned to find Mrs. Weasley smiling at them from the doorway.

"It's ten o'clock," she told them. "Everyone's ready."

Sirius nodded. "Thank you, Molly. Just give us one minute, all right?"

Mrs. Weasley smiled softly. "Or course, Sirius." She dipped her head and backed out of the room, closing the door behind her.

Sirius dropped down in front Harry again; his grey eyes no longer held any amusement. "How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Hot," Harry answered seriously. "And maybe a little chokey," he added, with a tug for his collar. Sirius chuckled.

"Well, the ceremony will be short, and then you can take them off as soon as Mr. Weasley takes the pictures." He squeezed Harry's shoulders.

"All right," Harry said reluctantly. "And then we're gonna have lunch, right? And cake!"

"Lots of cake," Sirius assured him, still smiling. "Mrs. Weasley won't be able to get you to eat dinner, I bet."

Harry stopped smiling. His fingers found Sirius' tie; he smoothed it between his thumb and first finger as Sirius' hand settled on the back of his neck.

"You'll be back tomorrow?" Harry asked quietly as he stared at the tiny gold lines zigzagging the dark fabric.

"Right before dinner."

"Do you promise?"

"I promise," Sirius said solemnly.

Harry stared hard at the gold lines and tried to be brave.

"You'll bunk with Ron..."

Harry nodded, and tried not to let the sting in his throat grow bigger.

"I used to stay overnight at your dad's house when we were younger."

Harry looked up. "You did?"

Sirius smiled as he nodded. "All the time. Your grandpa gave me a camp bed, just like the one in Ron's room, and we used to stay up all night."

Harry's eyes widened. "All night?"

"Yep. And your grandma used to come in and scold us for being so loud... She said we were keeping the portraits awake. "

Harry smiled.

"And we'd try to be quiet for a little while after that, but your dad would always start giggling and that would be that. Your dad had a rather contagious laugh." Sirius was smiling fondly, his eyes shining. "Sort of like yours," he said, nudging Harry' chin.

"Yeah?"

"Definitely your dad's." He gazed at Harry for a long minute. "You'll have loads of fun and probably won't even want to come home. I never did..." Sirius' voice sounded a little foggy, so Harry put his arms around his godfather's neck and squeezed hard.

"Don't forget to come get me," he whispered into Sirius' shirt.

"Never."

--

Remus was waiting for them when they came down the stairs, looking rather spiffy in his dark brown robes. His face broke into his familiar soft smile as soon as he saw Sirius and Harry.

"Well, don't the two of you look dashing?"

Sirius nudged Harry's elbow. "See?"

"You look handsome, Remus," Harry said with a big smile.

"Why thank you, Harry," Remus said, his brown eyes dancing. Harry didn't think he'd ever seen Remus so happy.

Sirius was staring at Remus; he had a goofy smile on his face. "You do look striking in those robes," he said in a voice that seemed to be deepening even as he spoke. Remus' cheeks flushed and Harry watched with a smile as Sirius bent his head and kissed Remus, his fingers brushing Remus' face.

Both of them were grinning as they broke apart. Remus put a hand on Harry's head and tilted his face up. "Ready?" he asked. At Harry's nod, Remus and Sirius took up places on either side of Harry, both of them tucking one of Harry's hands into their own.

Together, they walked out the back door and into the garden. The small, gathered crowd turned expectantly in their chairs, every single one of them smiling. Ron and the twins waved enthusiastically from their seats near the front; Harry beamed.

Soft music was playing, floating out of the charmed instruments on the dais where Dumbledore was waiting for them. The trio walked down the short aisle while some of the gathered witches and wizards dabbed at their eyes with hankies; Hagrid, the giant man Harry had met several times and liked very well, blew his nose with an enormous striped square of fabric.

"This is a very special day," Dumbledore said as soon as they stopped walking and the instruments stilled. "Remus and Sirius have asked us here to today to celebrate their decision to join in marriage. And as a part of that," he added with a wink for Harry, "to bond Harry to them."

Both Remus and Sirius smiled down at him then and Harry felt his chest filling with warmth.

"Harry," Dumbledore said, "if you will join Mrs. Weasley for a moment."

Harry glanced up at Sirius uncertainly; Sirius squeezed his hand gently and gave him a nod and Harry didn't mind too much when he and Remus let his hands go. Mrs. Weasley put her arm around his shoulder and pulled him close to her side as Dumbledore directed Sirius and Remus to join hands.

He spoke to them for a few minutes and waited while both of them nodded solemnly, each of them sliding a ring over the other's third finger. And then Harry watched, fascinated and forgetting to be worried as the headmaster waved his wand in circles and loops around Sirius and Remus' clasped hands. A blue, glowing rope that looked like it was made of clouds, twisted itself out of the tip of Dumbledore's wand and wound like a snake around their wrists.

"You are now unified in marriage,"Dumbledore said and both Sirius and Remus grinned, their fingers winding even more securely together.

Mrs. Weasley squeezed Harry's shoulder. "Go ahead, Harry," she whispered even as Dumbledore beckoned to Harry. Harry went slowly forward and Sirius took his hand again.

He wrapped Harry's fingers around their joined wrists, and whispered, "Don't let go."

Harry held on tightly, his eyes wide with wonder as Dumbledore continued the chant that Sirius had said would make them a family. The ends of the rope lengthened and started climbing over Harry's fingers and trailing down his wrists. It felt soft and warm.

"Familia Iunctus..." Dumbledore said quietly and the blue ropes glowed brighter for an instant and then the blue glow seemed to be melting right into their skin. "United in family," Dumbledore translated, and Sirius, with a giant grin leaned right over Harry and kissed Remus soundly. A cloud of gold sparkles erupted over their heads and the gathered crowd began to clap enthusiastically.

"Well?" Harry demanded as he tried to see between Sirius and Remus, "are we married yet?"

There were titters of laughter and as Remus and Sirius broke apart, both of them were chuckling as well. Sirius bent down and scooped Harry into his arms. "Yes," he said happily as he hoisted him up, "we are."

"And you're our family now, Remus?" Harry asked excitedly as Sirius pressed his cheek to Harry's. Remus' smile was even happier than it had been in the kitchen. He leaned over and kissed Harry's other cheek.

"I am."

Harry could feel Sirius' smile as Sirius reached an arm around Remus, sandwiching Harry in the middle of a huge hug.

--

After the cake had been eaten, and the champagne drained, Sirius collected his over-sugared godson for a farewell hug. Harry didn't seem to notice that the four youngest Weasley children were watching him; he held tightly to Sirius' robes and showed absolutely no sign that he ever meant to release him.

And if Sirius was being honest with himself, he was rather reluctant to leave. He caught Molly's eye though and she smiled, her eyes understanding and Sirius knew Harry would be well cared for. And that in all probability, this overnight visit would be good for his godson.

"The other children are ready to start Gobstones," Sirius said quietly, his hand running lightly over Harry's hair. "Mrs. Weasley will use the Floo if you need me," he added; softly so that no one else could hear. "And I'll be back before you know it." Harry finally nodded and pulled his head from Sirius' shoulder.

"Be a good boy," Sirius added, not because Harry would need the reminder but he was too nervous to think of anything else to say.

"Have fun," Remus said from above them; he smiled at both of them and Sirius relaxed a little even though Harry still looked uncertain.

"We'll have loads of fun, Harry," Ron said, coming up to stand near Harry. He leaned in close. "Dad says we can sneak downstairs and fetch food from the cold cupboard after he and mum go to bed," he whispered. "Don't tell mum though."

The twins had moved quickly behind Harry and Ron. George nodded fervently. "Mum keeps all sorts of treats in there."

"Delicious treats," Fred whispered, "guaranteed to keep you up all night."

"Does anyone want popcorn while we play Gobstones?" Molly asked as she turned toward the kitchen; Sirius could see her trying to hide a smile.

"Popcorn, Harry!" Ron said, grabbing Harry's arm. "Come on!"

Harry looked back as he was dragged along to the kitchen. Sirius and Remus both smiled, Sirius lifting his fingers in an encouraging farewell. Harry smiled and then was surrounded by Weasleys, all of them talking and laughing.

"He'll be all right," Remus assured. "Molly and Arthur will look after him."

Sirius nodded, not quite trusting himself to speak. Remus took his hand and gave it a gentle tug. Sirius obeyed the pressure and let himself be led into the Floo. He went through first, sighing as he stepped into his own kitchen. It was already much too quiet in here without Harry.

He turned around as the Floo deposited Remus next, intending to lament that very fact, but Remus was stalking toward him, his eyes dark and hungry. Before he could speak, Remus was kissing him.

"Bloody hell, Moony..." he finally panted as Remus began tugging impatiently at his robes, "...let me catch my breath..."

"You'll have plenty of time to breathe later," Remus retorted and with a swift jerk that nearly toppled Sirius over, the robes were ripped from his shoulders. A strong hand against his lower back kept him from falling. Before he could straighten up, he was shoved roughly against the bricks and Remus was devouring his mouth.

Sirius wasted no more time worrying about his clothes or the fact that he still wasn't being allowed to breathe; he wound his fingers through Remus' sandy hair and used his other hand to cup Remus' arse; he brought the other man sharply toward him.

Remus gasped and Sirius grinned. "At least you're as out of breath as me now..."

"Are you planning to talk all night?" Remus growled, though he was so breathless it was completely ineffective. Sirius pulled back a little and drew a line along Remus' jaw with his tongue, savoring the way his new husband's lips trembled.

"I'm not really in the mood for talking," Sirius breathed; he nibbled Remus' earlobe, teasing with his teeth and an occasional flick of his tongue, quickly turning Remus' muscles to jelly and soon it was Sirius who was supporting him. As he sucked the juncture where Remus' neck met shoulder, he realized that where he really wanted to be was upstairs; in the bed that they would now share. "Let's go up to our bed," he whispered. He smiled when Remus grew still beneath his lips.

"I do like the sound of that," Remus eventually murmured. Sirius twined his fingers through the hair at Remus' nape and tugged until Remus was looking up at him, his lips swollen and parted just a little. Sirius kissed him slowly, until Remus' eyes were glazed and then with a smirk, Sirius led his dazed husband up the stairs.

--

"No!"

Sirius gasped as he bolted up, panic clawing at his chest as the darkness reached out for him. "Harry!" he rasped. He flailed against the restraints he could feel pressing him backward; caging him in. "No!"

"Sirius," a low voice breathed next to his ear as strong fingers curled around his wrists, fingernails digging into his skin until the pain stilled his wild thrashing. "Sirius... it's me... it's Remus. You're safe... Harry's safe."

Remus.

The room swam into focus slowly and yes, there was Remus, sitting beside him, his handsome face marred by a frown. His hair tousled from sleep; his brown eyes filled with worry.

Sirius took a deep breath, his heart beginning to settle as he realized he was not in a tiny cell. He was home. And it was Remus who had been holding him.

Remus, who now shared his bed. And had just witnessed one of Sirius' frequent nightmares. He had known this would happen, of course. Though, perhaps he had hoped it might be different with Remus here. But apparently, even Remus' warm presence beside him during the night was not enough to keep the shadows at bay.

"Sirius," Remus murmured, his fingers gentle against Sirius' thigh. Sirius tensed and straightened.

"Sorry," he said gruffly, running a hand over his face. He shifted so that Remus' hand fell away. "Forgot where I was."

Remus studied him, but made no move to touch him again. Feeling like he couldn't breathe, Sirius turned and swung his legs over the side of the bed. "I'll just go check on Harry," he said as he stood.

"Harry isn't here."

Sirius swallowed; it took a moment for that to process.

Harry wasn't here.

He couldn't go into his godson's room. Couldn't take his mind off the memories while he pulled the covers up to Harry's shoulders; couldn't watch the soft rise and fall of Harry's chest to soothe the hollow ache the nightmares always caused. To reassure himself that Harry was all right and that none of the intervening years mattered now--that he was no longer utterly alone.

Not knowing what else to do--how else to make the darkness recede, Sirius sank onto the mattress again, his hands dangling between his knees; staring at the wall.

Gentle fingertips grazed over his hunched back and Sirius tensed again. "I'm here," Remus said quietly, leaving his hand where it was but coming no closer. "I'm here," he said again, the soft words full of a resolve that eased the ache in Sirius' chest.

He could feel the warmth of Remus' skin, the other man was so close. Sirius leaned back and strong arms wrapped around his chest. Sirius rested his head against Remus' shoulder; neither of them spoke and Sirius closed his eyes as Remus kissed his cheek.

He wasn't alone. And he wouldn't be; not ever again.

--