A Life More Ordinary

Grimmauld Place--September 1986

Harry tilted his head as he considered the colorful tower on the rug.

"Look how tall it is, Remus!" he said, jabbing his finger at the building.

Remus smiled down at him. "Taller than you, I think."

"Yeah?" Harry scrambled up, sticking his chest out a little as he palmed the top of his head and made an invisible line to the top of the tower. "It is!" He grinned. "When will Sirius be home? I want to show him!"

Remus glanced at the grandfather clock. "Fairly soon, I should think."

"Do you think he'll like it?" Harry asked as he prowled around the tower.

"He certainly will," Remus said, still smiling. "Why don't we get the rest of the toys cleaned up and then you may help me start dinner. We'll leave the tower out for Sirius to see."

He crouched down to set one of the toy bins upright, but Harry didn't pay much attention. He couldn't believe how tall it was...

"Harry?" Remus prodded, looking up from the little horses he was gathering up. "Why don't you find all the train cars for your Hogwarts' Express?"

Harry shook his head though. "It's all right, Remus. I can do it after dinner."

Remus stopped plucking horses from the carpet. "I think we'd best pick up now, Harry. There are a lot of toys-"

"Sirius lets me wait," Harry said quickly.

"No, he doesn't."

Harry frowned. "Yes, he does, Remus," he insisted. "He always lets me pick up whenever I want."

Remus sat back on his heels. He wasn't frowning but his face was very serious. "Harry, you know the rules," he said quietly. "All of your toys need to be picked up before dinner. We can leave your tower, but the rest need to be put away."

"No they don't, Remus," Harry said with a scowl. "I'll do it after dinner. I told you-"

"Harry," Remus interrupted, his voice very calm, "it's time to pick up."

Harry shook his head firmly. "When Sirius gets home."

"No, right now," Remus said simply. Harry stared at Remus, his brow crumpled as he tried to figure out why Remus was being so bossy. Without a word, Harry dropped to his knees and slowly began moving the bright scarlet engine back and forth across the carpet.

"Harry, unless you would like to have a time-out upstairs in your room, you need to start putting your toys away."

Harry's head shot up, the engine clenched in his fist. "You can't send me to my room!"

"Do I need to start counting?" Remus asked quietly. When Harry had no response to that, Remus said, "One..."

What was Remus doing?

"Two," Remus continued calmly, his face not changing at all as he gazed at Harry.

"I'm not going to my room!" Harry said loudly. "Sirius isn't here!"

"Three."

Harry backed up as Remus stood up.

"Come upstairs, Harry," he said.

Harry shook his head wildly. "I don't have to."

"You are going to your room, Harry," Remus said. "Now, either you'll walk or I will carry you."

Remus and Harry turned as they heard the Floo activating in the kitchen.

"Sirius is home!" Harry said, the squirming in his stomach subsiding. Sirius would make Remus stop!

"Yes, he is," Remus said with a nod, "but you still need to go up to your room."

Feeling braver now that Sirius was back, Harry shouted, "No! I won't!"

Sirius came out of the kitchen. He looked between Harry and Remus. "What's going on?"

Harry pointed immediately at Remus. "He's trying to make me go to my room!"

Sirius glanced quickly at Remus and back again at Harry. "Ah," he murmured quietly. He turned again to Remus and said in his normal voice, "I'll go start dinner then."

He turned and went back into the kitchen.

Harry's lips parted as he stared at Sirius' retreating back. "Sirius!" he called out, his voice going up an octave, but Sirius simply starting taking pots from the cupboard and didn't even look back.

"Harry, go upstairs please."

Harry's head snapped back up to Remus.

"Nooo!" he cried. And when Remus reached toward him, Harry began to flail, his arms and legs flinging every which way as he tried to fend off Remus' approach. But Remus paid no attention, acting like Harry was standing perfectly still as he picked him up in one quick movement.

Harry screamed for his godfather all the way up the stairs, but Sirius didn't come back. And Remus didn't put him down, not even when tears began to fall.

As soon as they reached Harry's room, Remus pushed open the door and sat Harry carefully on the bed. He crouched down, as if he was going to say something, like Sirius sometimes did, but Harry scrambled away until his back hit the wall.

"Go away!" he yelled between sobs. "Leave me alone!!"

A line creased Remus' forehead but then he nodded.

"All right," he said softly. "I'll come back in a few minutes."

Harry shook his head, his tears flowing too heavily now. He didn't want Remus to come back. He wanted Sirius!

Remus hesitated again, but finally he straightened and left. He didn't close the door all the way though; leaving it open enough so that Harry could see out into the hallway.

Harry stared at the door as he hiccoughed his sobs out. Sirius never closed his door all the way either.

--

Sirius looked up when he heard Remus' footstep on the stairs. He straightened and stood up from the chair he'd slouched in as soon as Remus and Harry were out of eyeshot.

At least Harry was no longer screaming.

Remus came into the kitchen, running a shaky hand through his hair. He paused when he found Sirius standing in the middle of the kitchen, not making dinner.

"Did you leave his door open?" Sirius blurted before he could stop himself. Remus nodded and dropped into the chair that Sirius had just vacated. Sirius allowed himself to let out a small, relieved breath before he began to knead the tension from his husband's shoulders.

"What was that about?" he asked quietly.

"He didn't want to pick up his toys," Remus murmured. "He was rather distraught, I'm afraid."

"You did exactly right," Sirius assured him. "And there isn't any need for you to apologize."

Remus sighed again, this time running a hand down his face.

Sirius leaned down and kissed the top of the sandy head. "Harder than you think it's going to be, isn't it?"

"I'm not certain he's going to want me to come back upstairs," Remus said, shaking his head.

"He will," said Sirius as he sat beside him. "Especially since he told you to go away."

Remus gave him a sideways glance, his lips quirking. "You're going to tell me he didn't mean it?"

Sirius smiled; he ran a gentle thumb above Remus' ear. "Oh, he certainly meant it, but if I know Harry, he's already decided that he's run you off forever." Remus frowned and Sirius reached over to squeeze his fingers. "You'll be all right, Moony. The first time I sent him to his room, I was a basket case. Not to mention I fouled it all up..."

He shrugged when Remus raised his eyebrows. "I'll tell you about it later," he promised, his cheeks already warming at the memory of his incompetence.

Remus' eyes crinkled in amusement and Sirius gave him a playful scowl. "Go on," he said with another quick kiss.

Remus stood up, but before he reached the door he turned back; Sirius smiled and gave him an encouraging nod.

Drawing in a slow breath, Remus went up the stairs. Sirius braced himself for another cry from his godson but the house was still. Sirius released the breath he'd been holding, stood up and retrieved the abandoned pots from the counter. With any luck, both Harry and Remus would be ready to help shortly.

--

Harry brought his face up from where it was squished into his pillow when the mattress dipped.

Harry blinked blurrily at Remus and brought a fist up to his eyes to rub some of the sting away.

"Would you like me to clean those?" Remus asked, holding his hand out toward Harry's glasses. Harry snuffled and nodded. Remus slipped the glasses gently from Harry's nose and drew a handkerchief from his pocket. He circled the cloth around the lenses while Harry rubbed his eyes a little more.

"Here," Remus said quietly; he brought the handkerchief to Harry's eyes and dabbed. And then he set the glasses carefully back on Harry's face. "Better?"

Harry nodded silently. Remus smiled and rested a hand on Harry's head. "I think Sirius would like some help with dinner, if you're ready to pick up your toys."

Harry gazed at Remus, not sure what to make of that. Remus didn't seem angry that Harry had yelled at him and told him to go away. And he was running his thumb lightly over Harry's hair, sort of like Sirius did sometimes when Harry was upset.

"Can I still show Sirius my tower?" Harry asked very quietly, his stomach doing little flips.

"Of course you may."

Harry smiled a little. Remus smiled as well and stood.

"Ready?" he asked. Harry nodded and slid off the bed and he and Remus headed for the door. His stomach still feeling a bit out of sorts, Harry slipped his hand quietly into Remus'. Remus' footsteps slowed down a little, almost pausing as they reached the door, but only for a second. And then his fingers squeezed Harry's palm and they went down the stairs together.

--

Sirius smiled at Harry as he and Remus passed the kitchen, ignoring the dancing in his stomach as he saw the red-rimmed eyes and splotched cheeks. Though the nerves quickly eased when he saw that Harry's hand was tucked into Remus'. He listened to Remus' soft voice as he guided Harry to clean up the toys strewn across the parlor's carpet; Sirius was surprised at how difficult it was to stay put in the kitchen.

Harry didn't say much, except for a murmured affirmative here and there and finally Remus called out, "Sirius? Harry would like to show you something."

Sirius wiped his hands on a tea towel and went into the other room. Harry was standing beside a colorful tower, with blocks soaring higher than his head. He was smiling, but Sirius could clearly see the uncertainty in his godson's green eyes; the way his lips pressed together.

"Did you make that all by yourself?" Sirius asked with a low whistle. He knelt on one knee as he admired the structure. "It's taller than you!"

Harry's face cleared a little. "Remus didn't even help me."

"Not at all?"

Harry shook his head, his bottom lip still caught between his teeth. Sirius shook his head in feigned wonder. "Well, it's certainly the tallest tower that I've ever seen... are you sure you did it all by yourself? Without a speck of help?"

Harry's smile was slowly growing wider; he darted a glanced to Remus. "I did it all by myself. Didn't I, Remus?"

"You most certainly did."

"See?" Harry said, smiling triumphantly at Sirius as he turned back.

Sirius reached out and gave his godson's stomach a gentle poke. "Well, you are brilliant then, aren't you?"

Harry bobbed his head and Sirius grinned. He held out his arms and Harry came forward, his small body heaving out the last of its tension as Sirius squeezed him tightly. "I think the soup is ready to be stirred," he said as he patted his godson's ribs. "Do you know anyone who can do that?"

Harry levered his palms against Sirius chest as he pushed back. "I can!"

Sirius squinted up at Remus and then gave his attention back to his godson. "What do you say, Harry?" he asked, a smile playing on his lips. "Would you like Remus to be your assistant?"

"He can chop the carrots," Harry agreed with an eager smile. "I'll put them in!"

Sirius ruffled his godson's hair as he stood up. "Excellent idea," he approved. "But make certain you give him an apron. Remus is a rather messy chef, you know."

"No he isn't," Harry said with a fervent shake of his head. "Remus never gets any spots on his shirt, but you do. You spilled tomato sauce all down your trousers last week, remember?"

Remus chuckled as he handed an apron over to an affronted Sirius. "You've got a good memory, Harry."

Harry smiled and accepted his own smaller apron and Remus' wooden spoon. Harry watched Remus' precise chopping motions, adding ingredients to the soup at Remus' direction, while Sirius set the table, smiling as he listened to Harry and Remus discussing the proper way to slice potatoes.