A Life More Ordinary

Author's Notes: Since it's been ages, a brief recap in case you didn't reread the last: It's the first full moon since the last disastrous one led Remus to leave his family, and Harry and Sirius are attempting to distract themselves while awaiting his return. Enjoy.

Ron's Room, 14 July 1993

Harry plucked the topmost Quidditch magazine from the tall pile. He tossed it to Ron, who was stretched out on the floor in a perpendicular fashion with his head somewhere near Harry's knees.

"I still can't believe Dad won all those galleons." Ron's voice was muffled under the pages of the magazine.

"Can't believe you get to go to Egypt," Harry said, more than a little envious. Not that he hadn't been on some brilliant holidays himself. "Think you'll get to go in the pyramids?"

"Course." Ron levered himself up and rested on an elbow. "Bill and Charlie are coming along as well. It's gonna be brilliant."

Harry smiled at his friend's wide grin. "Take pictures of the mummies."

Ron flapped a grand hand. "Mum bought about fifty rolls of film. Bill's there all the time and he's promised to take us to all the sorts of places where normal people don't get to go--he knows everyone, you know. And Charlie went with him last year."

Ron's chest was puffed to about twice its normal size as he went on about his brothers. And Harry found himself wondering what it might be like to take a holiday with six brothers and sisters. Grimmauld Place would certainly be much louder.

"What do you want?" Ron suddenly grumbled. Harry craned his neck so he could see over Ron's magazine. Ginny was standing in the doorway, frowning down at her brother.

She addressed Harry instead, "Sirius asked me to tell you it's time to leave for Diagon Alley."

"Thanks," Harry said as he hopped up.

"Yeah, thanks loads," Ron said in a mimicking voice. "You can go now."

Harry kicked his friend's foot. Ron scowled and swatted at him as he stood. Ginny had already turned; her footsteps clipped the stairs ahead of theirs.

Sirius was waiting, just finishing the last of Mrs. Weasley's coffee. Harry peered at his godfather, but Sirius didn't look anxious. He did, however, notice Harry's scrutiny. He smiled and Harry hoped he really was relaxed as he seemed. It was probably impossible though. Even Harry couldn't stop wondering how Remus was faring.

"Remember to behave yourself," Mrs. Weasley was saying to Ron.

"I will mum," he said, in a tone that said he had said the same thing hundreds of times before.

"We'll be just fine," Sirius assured her as she took his cup. He nudged Harry and Ron toward the trainers waiting by the door.

"Don't worry, Ginny dear, we'll have plenty to keep us busy this afternoon."

Harry glanced up from his laces. Mrs. Weasley was patting Ginny's cheek. Her shoulders slumping, Ginny sighed.

"You can come with us," Harry said, straightening. He glanced quickly at Sirius, ignoring Ron's flopping mouth. "That's all right, yeah?"

Sirius smiled. "Absolutely."

Ginny's face lit up. Her brown eyes were sparkling as she turned to her mother. "May I?"

"If you're certain you don't mind an extra one?" Mrs. Weasley said, her brows drawn together.

"The more the merrier." Sirius tossed Ginny her trainers. She grinned and bent quickly to put them on.

"But--"

"Hush Ronnie," Mrs. Weasley chided. She came over to smooth his collar. "Now, behave," she said, this time including both Harry and Ginny in the admonishment. "Mind Sirius."

"We will," Ginny said, while Ron scowled alongside Harry.

"Bring them straight home if they give you any trouble, won't you, Sirius?"

"I'll toss them through the first Floo," said Sirius solemnly while he winked at the three kids. Ginny and Harry exchanged a grin.

Ron elbowed Harry in the ribs as they trooped into the parlour. "Are you mad?" he demanded under his breath. "Why'dya ask Ginny along?"

Harry extracted his ribs from his best mate's pointy elbow. "Shut it," he muttered, but Ginny had already heard; she narrowed her eyes a little but before she could comment, Mrs. Weasley was chivvying them through the Floo.

Ron huffed his way through Zonko's and the sweets shop and he was still complaining as they made their way to the Quidditch shop. "Why did she have to come with us?"

Harry elbowed him in the ribs. "Would you quit being a prat? Why do you care?"

"She's a pest," Ron insisted, but at least this time Ginny didn't hear him. She and Sirius were walking ahead of them.

"She hasn't done anything."

"You wouldn't understand," Ron grumbled. "You don't have a sister."

Harry shrugged. He always thought it would be rather nice to have a sister. Or a brother, but he wasn't going to say so.

"Look," Ginny's voice carried back to them as she pointed through the window into the Pet Emporium. "They're adorable."

"Adorable?" Ron echoed, making a face.

Sirius cupped his eyes and peered into the glass alongside Ginny. "Let's go in, shall we?" he said, grinning down at her when she smiled and nodded. He glanced back at Ron and Harry. "Coming?"

"No thanks," Ron said. He made a face at his sister when he was out of Sirius' eye shot. And even though Harry would have liked to look at the animals--he always had--he shook his head.

"We'll meet you at the Quidditch shop, yeah?"

Sirius nodded. "We'll be along in a moment."

"OK," Harry said while Ron scowled beside him. Harry caught Ginny's gaze. She rolled her eyes and he had to hide his smile. Looking like he was trying not to smile as well, Sirius put his hand against Ginny's back and guided her into the shop.

"Adorable," Ron repeated, shaking his head. "Girls."

"It's a Puffskein, Ron; they are cute."

"You're a big girl's blouse, mate, you know that?"

"Could be worse," Harry said with a smile. "I could be you."

"Come on," Ron said, forgetting all about Ginny as soon as he saw the Quidditch shop. And then he waved suddenly. "Oi! Neville!"

Neville grinned when he saw them. He and a white-haired witch were passing the shop. Neville's grandmother, Harry remembered from a family picture Neville kept on his night table.

"What are you doing here?" Ron asked as they came closer.

"Gran needed potions supplies." Neville gestured to the shop next door. "Oh," he said, his cheeks darkening as he noticed his grandmother's frown. "Gran, this is Harry Potter and Ron Weasley--"

"Harry Potter," she interrupted as she thrust out a hand, "very pleased to see you again. You wouldn't remember of course, but I saw you several times when you were just a baby. My son Frank worked with your father on many occasions during the war, and Alice, my daughter-in law, and your mother were in Gryffindor together."

"Yes ma'am," Harry said, as he accepted her hand. "Sirius told me. Pleased to meet you," he added, not wanting to be impolite. Mrs. Longbottom smiled at him.

"Sirius Black," she said, "was one of the most mischievous young men I have ever met. Quite a cad he was."

Harry tried not to smile; she sounded just like McGonagall when she was speaking of Sirius. Like they couldn't quite find their dissaproval.

"Though I suppose he has grown up well enough," Neville's Gran went on. "He was a good soldier during the war. He and your father made quite the pair."

"You have every reason to be proud of your parents," she continued. "Just as Neville has of his parents." She said it with a gleam in her eye and there was no mistaking how she felt about her son and daughter-in law's sacrifice. Even though Neville, as he always did, was flushed and looked like he wanted to avoid the entire topic.

"Yes ma'am," Harry said dutifully and she nodded firmly.

"They were all exceptionally brave," she said. "Now, come along, Neville, we have more errands to run."

Neville ducked his head, mumbled his farewells and followed after his grandmother.

Ron tugged at Harry's sleeve, pulling his gaze away from Neville's back. "Look," Ron said reverently, "it's a Firebolt! It can go from naught to one hundred and fifty in ten seconds! And do you see that handle? It's made of ash and the twigs are birch!"

They were debating how much of an edge they would have over the other teams with Firebolts for the entire Gryffindor team when Sirius and Ginny found them.

"You'll take the Cup again this year even without it, Harry," Ginny said, but even with that observation, her hand still ran a reverent circuit over the wood. "It'll be years before any of the team graduates," she sighed.

"You're too young, anyway," Ron scoffed.

"Oh, I don't know," Sirius said mildly. "Ginny knows how to handle a broom."

Ron didn't respond, but it was clear he wanted to disagree.

"You and the twins did lose to Harry and me this morning," Ginny said, smiling sweetly.

"Only because they're gits and wouldn't pass the Quaffle to me," Ron retorted.

"Can't blame them for wanting to win," Ginny said with a shrug. Ron straightened, an angry flush creeping up his cheeks.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Ginny rolled her eyes. "What do you think it means, Ron? You're not exactly on the Quidditch team, are you?"

"Yeah, well, we can't all be as talented as your precious Harry, can we?"

Ginny's cheeks lit up.

"What did I do?" Harry asked, stung by the sarcasm he could detect in Ron's remark.

"You invited her, didn't you?"

"All right," Sirius interjected before Harry figured out how to answer that. Ginny and Ron were standing miles apart now, Ginny with her arms tight over her chest and Ron with his hands stuffed into his pockets. Sirius sighed. "I feel like ice cream... anyone else?"

Harry caught his godfather's raised eyebrows. Knowing a row between the siblings wouldn't help keep Sirius' mind off Remus, Harry took the hint. "Me," he volunteered.

Ginny and Ron didn't look particularly interested, but Sirius herded them toward Fortescue's anyway. And after a round of sundaes and four exaggerated stories involving Sirius, Harry's dad and Hogwarts' giant squid, Ron and Ginny were no longer glaring at one another, although Ginny was much quieter for the rest of the afternoon. It made it easier for Ron to ignore her.

And when they returned to the Burrow, Harry didn't really mind that Sirius told him to fetch his broom so they could go home.

"Bye mate," Ron said; he was already ensconced in the freshly-baked raspberry pie in the kitchen.

"Have fun in Egypt."

"I'llbringyouasoofaneer..."

Harry smiled and sketched a wave on his way out the back door. Ginny had left the parlour as soon as they'd Flooed in, but he was still surprised to find her sitting against the side of her father's shed, Ron's broom--and a pair of tail-twig clippers--in her lap.

"I thought you went upstairs... What are you doing?"

Ginny glanced up briefly. "Ron's broom needed a trim," she said. One of the twigs snapped loudly as she snipped through it at a sharp angle.

"Does... er, Ron know you're doing that?"

"I'm sure he won't mind," she said calmly. Another piece of twig joined the small pile near her knee. Tiny pieces that Ron would never notice were missing. Until he tried to fly straight.

Smiling slowly, Harry said, "I don't think the shaking will help him keep hold of the Quaffle, Gin."

Her head tilted to meet his gaze, her brown eyes sparkling once again. "Nothing will do that, except a Sticking Charm. And at least then the twins will let him play." She imitated Ron's voice, finding the perfect pitch as she said, "Because they're gits and won't pass it to him any other way."

Harry grinned and settled in next to her. "He was being a bit of a berk, wasn't he?"

"No worse than usual," she said. She studied the twigs, turning the handle over in her palms. "That should do it, I think. Just enough for a bumpy ride."

"Don't want him falling out of the sky," Harry agreed.

"Yeah," Ginny said, passing the broom over for Harry's inspection. "It would kill Mum and Dad."

oOoOo

Harry rubbed at his eyes as he padded down the shadowy stairs.

"What are you doing up?"

Harry squinted into the dim sitting room. Sirius was sitting on the sofa, a thick book on his lap.

"Dunno," Harry mumbled. He dropped onto the arm of the sofa. Sirius closed his book, his fingers coming up to scratch between Harry's shoulder blades; Harry yawned.

"Couldn't sleep?"

"Not really..."

"You look like you need to," Sirius said, a smile twitching his lips. Harry shrugged.

"So do you."

"Mm, feels like I do."

Harry tilted his head. "Why are you still up then?"

"Same reason you are, I expect. Come here." Sirius patted the cushion beside him and Harry slid off the arm to plop beside his godfather. Sirius put an arm around his shoulders. "I think I've read the same paragraph nine times now."

Harry flipped the cover of the book up to get a better look at the title. "Mortimor Gamp's History of the Canary Wars... When did you get this?"

Sirius glanced at the gold lettering. "A gift from Remus this morning; it isn't the distraction he hoped it would be, unfortunately."

"Probably because most people are sleeping at midnight."

Smirking, Sirius rumpled Harry's hair. "Probably. And it seems you've picked up your bad habits from me," he added with a pointed poke to Harry's armpit.

"I could hear you flipping the pages," Harry teased. "This is the thickest book I've ever seen..."

"The Canary Wars lasted two hundred years, nutter, so I should think so."

"Only a hundred and ninety-seven."

Sirius chuckled. "Smart alec."

Harry smiled as he settled more comfortably under Sirius' arm. Sirius' bare feet joined his on the coffee table; the book a moment later.

"Remus gave you a book last week," Harry mused, nudging the binding with his toe.

"Yes," Sirius answered with a single raised brow, "and I was looking forward to reading it, but it seems to have gone missing."

Harry smiled sheepishly. "I'm almost finished."

"It was you, eh? Is it good?"

"Brilliant," Harry said enthusiastically. "Ollivander told Remus you would like it; when we visited last week. I like it better than your other one. This one tells about the fight with the Inferi from Annwn's perspective instead of Merlin's, even though of course a thestral can't tell a story. But it's sort of brilliant, don't you think?"

Sirius was smiling. "I do. I have another one of that author's books in the library; one of the only ones he wrote on a subject other than Merlin."

"The one about Ruknak?"

"Oy, did you steal that one as well?"

Unable to dodge his godfather's tickling fingers, Harry hissed out a puff of laughter. "The Goblin Wars are boring," he said when he could finally breathe again.

"You only think so because Binns is as dry as an old turkey carcass."

"Maybe you should teach it; you'd have to be better than a ghost."

"Thank you ever so much for your confidence," Sirius drawled. "Imagine it, Harry James, you would have to call me Professor Black and yes sir this and no sir that..." He waggled his eyebrows. "Think I could get used to that."

Harry wrinkled his nose at his smirking godfather. "Professor Black? Dunno, Sirius, it's bit stuffy, even for you..."

"Oy!" Sirius said indignantly. "You have a cheek. And just for that, it's off to bed with you."

Harry groaned as he was prodded up. "'m not tired."

"That's because you're still young--"

"And you're about as ancient as Binns," Harry supplied helpfully; he yelped as Sirius swatted his seat. "Ow..."

Sirius rolled his eyes and gave him a gentle push toward the stairs, following right behind. "That didn't hurt. To bed," he said once they reached the top of the stairs.

Harry grinned, and it was with a fairly obnoxious nod that he said, "Yes sir." He scooted into his room, just managing to avoid Sirius' hand that time. Shaking his head, Sirius drew the covers up once Harry slid beneath them.

"You have entirely too much energy for midnight," he muttered, seating himself on the edge of the bed, near Harry's legs. "And if you ever call me sir again..."

Harry burrowed under the covers, still smiling as he tried to find the best spot. "I won't," he promised. "Reckon you're not stuffy enough."

Sirius smiled and leaned over to press a kiss to his forehead. "Have you always been this cheeky?"

A sudden yawn claimed Harry's retort.

"Never mind," Sirius chuckled. He waved a hand at the lamp, extinguishing it and bringing up the soft glow along the walls at the same time, not that Harry needed a nightlight any longer, but the low light was sort of pleasant. "I don't think you've been up this late since... well ever," Sirus said, his voice low and soothing in the darkness.

"Astronomy class," Harry said, not quite able to keep the yawn under control.

"That's right... That was one of my favorite classes."

"Because you're named after a star?" Harry asked, only half serious.

Sirius smiled. "My family had an odd habit of using constellations for names, didn't they? I just enjoyed being outside at night."

Harry nodded. That was true; even now, Sirius preferred to do almost anything by moonlight, including flying their brooms or on Annwn these days. "Can we go flying tomorrow?" he asked, propping himself up on elbows.

Sirius pressed his fingertips to Harry's chest and Harry let himself be pushed back down, his eyebrows still questioning. "After dinner, if you like," Sirius agreed. "Once Remus is asleep."

Harry deflated a little at the mention of Remus. He chewed the corner of his lip, but before he could say anything, Sirius patted his hip. "I'm sure he's perfectly all right. Snape knows what he's about with the Wolfsbane."

Harry considered that. "But this is a new one, isn't it? Sort of?"

"Not completely, no. A variation on the old one."

Harry forced the rest of his questions down; Sirius' face was beginning to line with anxiety even though Harry could tell he was trying not to let it show. "Will you wake me up before you fetch him?"

"Dawn is less than six hours from now. You'll be dead to the world."

"Just to tell me you're leaving? I promise I won't ask to come."

Sirius had already told him that Remus might not be in the best state and Harry had guessed that Sirius didn't want him to see Remus like that.

Sirius sighed after a long moment. "Just to tell you I'm leaving and then right back to sleep."

For some reason, Harry could only answer with a nod. Sirius brushed his fringe aside, his smile gentle. "Go to sleep, mate."

oOoOo

Sunlight was just beginning to bleed through the curtains when Harry opened his eyes again. He could hear the shower across the corridor, the slight creak as it was turned off. Sirius hadn't left yet.

Pushing himself up, Harry fumbled for his glasses on the table, pushed them into place and winced as his feet hit the cold floor; they should put a permanent warming charm on the floorboards.

He made a quick detour at the loo before starting down the stairs; he could hear Sirius opening and closing drawers. Harry frowned as he heard the Floo roar to life. Wondering who would be calling so early, he jogged the last few steps. He froze as soon as he turned the corner into the kitchen.

Remus was curled on the floor. A cloak was clutched tightly around him, and his eyes were opened and glazed. Jagged red lines slashed his face and neck.

Harry's mouth moved several times but no sound emerged. Remus blinked up at him and as soon as Harry heard his name, whispered in hoarse distress, he woke from his trance.

"Sirius!" The scream seared Harry's throat and he was blinking back the accompanying tears as Sirius' frantic call echoed from above. Pounding feet on the stairs.

"Harry," Sirius breathed as he skidded into the kitchen, grabbing Harry's shoulder as he came, "what--" He broke off with a gasp, let Harry go and dropped to his knees in front of Remus. "Remus..."

Harry took in Sirius' half-dressed state, his unbuttoned shirt and lone sock, but he couldn't process it. Even his godfather's murmurs made no sense.

"...foolish..."

Sirius' hand was brushing Remus' hair; over and over. "Yes, it was," he agreed with the cracked mumble, in that very soft voice he reserved for Remus. "Hush now, love. We're going to give you a Sleeping Draught and get you into bed... hush," he chided even though Harry hadn't heard a protest.

He somehow kept hold of Remus' hand as he summoned the Floo powder, tossed it into the fire and called for Pomfrey. Looking perfectly ready for the day, the healer stepped out of the fireplace a moment later. She began waving arcs over Remus with her wand.

"Don't apologize," she said tartly to Sirius when he began to. She tipped a vial at Remus' lips and began chanting healing spells.

Remus' face was deathly pale, several of the gashes still bleeding freely. Harry's mouth was so dry he couldn't even swallow.

He had pressed himself up against the wall at some point. Sirius frowned when he turned round. And without a word, he pulled Harry into his arms, absorbing the tremors that Harry hadn't even realized were there. "Hey now," Sirius whispered against the top of his head, "it's all right... nothing to fret about, love... it's all right... shhh..."

It had to be true, if Sirius said it was...

Angry crimson gashes danced on Harry's lids as he closed his eyes. With a deep shudder, his eyes popped open. And this couldn't have even come close to what had happened last month.

Harry didn't know why that was important.

Sirius was patting his back, shushing him still.

He bit the inside of his lower lip and forced himself to tug against the hold. Sirius didn't let him go though. He was smoothing Harry's hair, just like he'd done to Remus and Harry tried to let the tension ease from his shoulders.

Pomfrey's calm voice finally broke the long silence, "I have closed all the wounds."

Sirius squeezed tightly before he let Harry go.

"He will be perfectly fine," Pomfrey said with her usual crispness. "Shall we move him upstairs?"

"Just be a moment," Sirius murmured, cupping the back of Harry's head. He and Pomfrey very gently helped Remus to his feet; Remus' lips pressed together but it didn't stifle the moan. Harry flattened himself against the wall again as they passed, his lips so mashed they hurt.

With their arms tight around Remus' waist, Sirius and Pomfrey half-dragged him up the steps.

Still shivering, Harry watched them until they disappeared and then he allowed his legs to give way. He sat on the bottom step and hunched over his knees, arms pressed into his stomach as he listened to them settling Remus into bed, drawers opening and closing again and finally footsteps on the stairs.

He blinked up at Pomfrey as she stopped beside him. She smiled gently.

"He will be well by tomorrow," she told him quietly. Harry nodded, because there was nothing else he could do. She patted his shoulder, gave her smile a little boost and went back through the kitchen. He listened to the Floo take her away.

Soft footsteps followed shortly after that and Sirius was sitting beside him. Without a word, he pulled Harry close, tucking the dark head under his chin. "I'm sorry you saw that," Sirius said very softly. "I know it's difficult... it always was for us, but he is just fine. He'll sleep most of the day, which will help."

Harry swallowed, the movement not much easier as he nodded against his godfather's chest; one of Sirius' buttons scraped his cheek. "It... it didn't work?" he croaked out. Sirius' chest moved in a deep sigh.

"No." Sirius' fingers combed through his hair, bringing Harry's heartbeat under control. "We will try again next month; Snape will adjust the formula again--"

"But what if it still doesn't work? What if he can't ever--"

"Hey," Sirius interrupted softly. He shifted so that he caught Harry's gaze, his eyes calm as Harry stopped talking. "I don't want you to fret about this. We'll sort it all out, I promise." His hand gripping Harry's neck, he gave him a gentle shake. "All right?"

Harry nodded, and taking in the Sirius' calm expression, his own anxiety eased. Sirius smiled and pulled him in again, dropping a kiss to the top of Harry's head.

oOoOo

Sirius finished ladling soup into a bowl. He glanced over his shoulder at Harry, who was spooning up the last drops. "Would you like another bowl?" Sirius asked. Harry shook his head, working his way now through one of his ham sandwich halves. Sirius refilled his empty glass, mussing the dark hair on his way back to the cold cupboard with the milk.

"Finish up," he said as he picked up Remus' tray. "I'll be right back."

Harry's mouth was too full of sandwich and milk to answer. Sirius smiled at him and went upstairs. At least he had his appetite back; making up for his lack of breakfast, no doubt.

He had been much quieter than Sirius would have preferred, but Sirius could remember how upset he had been the first time he saw Remus after a full moon; the image had haunted him all month. It was the first and only entirely detention-free month for him and James. At least until their sixth year, when detentions had become much fewer and farther between.

Pushing the propped door open with his foot, Sirius padded across to the bed. Remus was awake, but only just, his brown eyes still glazed with sleep.

"Good morning..." Sirius set the tray on the bedside table and sat carefully beside his husband. "How do you feel?" he asked, cupping Remus' pale cheek; no sign of a fever. "Are you hungry?"

The slight paling of Remus' face answered for him. Sirius leaned over and kissed his forehead, lingering to breathe in the comforting scent, overwhelmed by the knowledge that Remus was here; and he was safe.

"Want to explain what the hell you were thinking?" he asked quietly when he found the will to pull away.

Remus grimaced. "I didn't think Harry would be awake." His voice was still hoarse.

"Not what I meant... You tore your shoulder up; your face didn't look much better. You should have waited for me."

"I know..." Remus' throat rippled. "I didn't want you to think--" He shook his head, his lips taut. "The Wolfsbane didn't work."

"I know," Sirius murmured. Remus' eyes were bright and as the unspoken words penetrated his brain, Sirius smiled. "I didn't think you were going to stay away."

Remus glanced away; his cheek warmed beneath Sirius' fingers. "You're too bloody forgiving," he muttered.

Unreasonably stung by the assessment, Sirius pulled back. A moment of silence persisted before he said, "Does your shoulder still hurt?"

"Poppy's pain potions never fail..."

Sirius gave up his stiff expression and brushed a thumb across his husband's cheekbone. "Hey," he murmured when Remus was looking at him again, "I don't want to do this again."

Remus sighed. "I just had to come on my own," he said, catching Sirius' fingers as they caressed his face again.

When Sirius nodded, Remus slid their twined hands behind Sirius' neck and pulled him close, the kiss deep and insistent. They were both smiling when Remus let his head fall back to the pillow.

Sirius kissed him lightly and propped himself up a little with his palm. "I'm going to see Snape. To tell him the potion didn't work," he explained at Remus' upshot eyebrows. "And offer to help, though I assume he will refuse."

Remus didn't ask why and Sirius was grateful not to have to explain. He couldn't sit here for another month and do nothing. "I managed to convince Albus that he doesn't need to chaperone," he said with a small smile. "He's going to be here in case you need anything; Harry as well."

Remus' forehead creased. "How is he? I didn't mean to frighten him."

"I know," Sirius said, smiling a little.

Remus sighed.

"He's just fine and you need to rest," Sirius said quietly. He straightened the covers and leaned in for a quiet kiss. When he straightened, Remus was struggling to keep his eyes open. "Sleep..."

Sirius smoothed the covers and left him to it.

Harry was sprawled on the sofa in the parlour, Sirius' book tucked against his chest and one foot touching the floor. Sirius pulled the book away; Harry only grunted and continued to sleep.

Once Harry was covered with the soft afghan and rearranged in a more orderly fashion on the cushions--or at least one that wouldn't spill him off completely, Sirius straightened the already-neat pillows, re-stacked the short pile of books on the table and then went to the kitchen to wash up the lunch dishes.

oOoOo

The muscles around Snape's mouth twitched but he didn't quite make it to a scowl.

"May I come in?" Sirius finally asked. Technically, he was already in--at least over the threshold and in front of the closed door. Snape had nearly dragged him by an elbow. But now, Snape was in front of him, a great wall of black; completely immovable. "Or, if you'd rather--"

"You should not be here," Snape cut him off, his lips barely moving in that way that was all Snape. He must practice it in front of the mirror.

"You said that last time."

"And yet, you are here."

Sirius nearly rolled his eyes and then decided that might not convey the years of maturity he had gathered up since their days at Hogwarts. "This is a potions shop, and it's hardly out of the realm of possibility that I might need a potion--"

"Still enjoy the sound of your own voice, I see."

Sirius snapped his mouth shut. Though he found it was due less to annoyance than embarrassment. Grateful he didn't blush easily, he shrugged. "Sorry, I just meant... Never mind." Damn Snape and his withering stare; he had perfected that.

"You are here about the Wolfsbane?" Impatience made Snape's voice sharp. The first sign of emotion. Still so different than the boy Sirius had known. "It did not work."

"No, at least not enough to keep him from..." He folded his arms over his stomach and forced himself not to lean against the door. "...hurting himself."

The scowl appeared very suddenly and without a word, Snape turned and stalked away. Left with little choice, Sirius followed.

"The Polypore Spores are highly temperamental." Glass bottles clinked as Snape sorted through a cupboard in the backroom. "I will need to begin right away."

Sirius had to take several steps backward to avoid a collision as Snape strode to one of the benches with an armful of ingredients.

"How can I help?"

Snape's movements ceased. But then he was flicking his wand at the base of one of the many cauldrons and Sirius thought he must have imagined the pause. "I don't require assistance," Snape said, not turning. "And since a personal message was not necessary, I will look for your owl next month."

"I didn't mean to imply you needed help," Sirius said quickly. "But I was quite competent in potions--"

"Nevertheless," Snape said in that same clipped tone, "I require silence to work."

"Ignoring all evidence to the contrary, I can be silent."

Snape turned and Sirius stopped smiling.

"Solitude as well."

If Sirius hadn't felt absolutely useless, he would have simply left. Instead he said quietly, "This looks like it's going to be a long process to sort out, if the potion worked so poorly--" Snape scowled again and Sirius rushed to add, "Of course you're doing everything possible and I simply want to be of some help--"

"Then leave so that I might begin."

"Look," Sirius sighed, "I know you don't like me. And of course, you have no reason to, but I am truly sorry for everything that happened at Hogwarts and I know it must have galled you when Albus asked you to help me. You never did let me thank you for that. All of us and especially Harry are grateful..."

Snape had paled beyond his natural pallor. His jaw was quivering.

Sirius cleared his throat softly. But before he could make a farewell, Snape was crossing the room, his boots snapping against the floorboards. Instead of reaching for the pot of Floo powder, he swiped a large jar and a pair of gloves from another cupboard. Sirius squinted as Snape rapped back across the room--Acromantula hatchlings danced in a viscous liquid.

Snape brushed past him and plunked the jar on the nearest workbench. "Three," he said, his voice low and harsh, but as even as when they'd begun. He summoned a knife and held it between them. "Diced. Legs first."

Silently, Sirius took the knife.

Snape was back at his own bench in the next moment, adjusting the flame beneath his cauldron and measuring ingredients. Sirius straightened his slack expression and with more confusion than he cared to examine, he unfastened his traveling cloak and found a spot for it on a hook near the back wall.

Unbuttoning his cuffs and folding the sleeves carefully up to his elbows, he went silently to his jar of spiders, put on the gloves and opened the lid with a quick--and silent--spell. The hatchlings were difficult to extract from the jar, but at least they were dead.

Knowing the legs would aid in the metamorphic properties Snape was trying to increase in the Wolfsbane, Sirius took great care with them, unbothered by the crunch of each slice. The innards he gathered into a stone bowl.

Neither of them spoke, both lost to a rhythm familiar to any potions lab.

Once Sirius was finished, Snape wordlessly summoned the neat sections of leg to his bench. He summoned the innards as well and after six precise stirs, he dumped them into the boiling cauldron. They landed with a satisfying plop.

"It must be stirred counter clockwise, 212 times," Snape said, still not glancing at him, but it was clearly a do it or leave sort of invitation. So Sirius picked up the glass stirring rod and began to count.

oOoOo

When Sirius stepped into his kitchen an hour later, Albus was just pouring himself a cup of tea. The headmaster smiled at him as he draped his cloak over the back of a chair.

"Harry is still asleep," he reported. "The visit went well?"

"Better than I expected," Sirius admitted. Even though neither he nor Snape had spoken beyond their first exchange. Or that Snape had ordered him out abruptly and without explanation when an unidentified visitor called.

Albus was smiling. "I am pleased to hear that," he said. "Perhaps Harry might enjoy a visit when you meet again?"

"I imagine so," Sirius said, taking the cup he was offered. "Snape was rather displeased that Harry was with me the first time, though. And he said I should send an owl with the results of the next batch of potion."

With a sigh, Albus set his cup down. "Severus is a remarkably stubborn man," he said, almost to himself. He shook his head as he stood. "I had best be on my way. Give Remus and Harry my regards, won't you?"

"Of course. Thank you for coming."

"No need to thank me, my boy." Albus smiled warmly. He patted Sirius' arm on his way to the Floo. He was gone a moment later, leaving the fireplace embers with an orange whisper.

Sirius blew out a breath. He shifted the hair from his eyes as he sat on the edge of the table and stretched his legs, enjoying the feel of moving muscles that had been forced to stand for too long. Ignoring his exhaustion, he straightened and went into the parlour, finding Harry curled into a tight ball under the afghan.

Reluctant to wake him, but knowing his godson needed a proper night's rest tonight, Sirius leaned over and grasped a shoulder, gently shaking. Harry mumbled, but otherwise didn't even flutter an eye. Smiling, Sirius shook his shoulder again and at the increased mumbling, he fluttered a hand through Harry's hair.

"Hey," he said quietly as an eye cracked, "time to wake up..."

"Donwanna," was the muffled response. Harry shifted to plunk his face into the pillow.

"Bad luck, mate," Sirius chuckled. He poked a finger to Harry's ribs, eliciting a grunt of displeasure. But Sirius persisted, chanting a series of annoying, 'Up, up, ups," as encouragement. And Harry finally lifted his head.

"Do you have to do that?" he demanded with a scowl. Sirius gave his godson a few bolstering pats to his hip; smiled.

"Not if you get up."

"I'm bloody tired," Harry answered, though it was clearly meant to be under his breath.

Sirius let the curse slide since Harry was in fact slowly sitting up, hands scratching at his hair and belly as he yawned. His hands were clumsy as he slipped his glasses on and blinked at the room in general. "What?" he asked grumpily when Sirius continued to gaze down at him. "I'm awake."

"And cheerful ..."

Harry didn't respond. He plucked his book from the table.

"I'm going to check on Remus."

Harry's answer was more a grunt than real words. Trying not to look amused, Sirius mussed his hair, which Harry allowed, and went upstairs.

Remus was just levering himself up from the bed. Moving swiftly, Sirius crossed the room and hooked an arm around his husband's waist. Remus leaned into the support with the ease of the years.

Without having to ask, Sirius helped him limp into the toilet, where he splashed his face, sighed at the new scars greeting him in the mirror and sank onto the edge of the tub. Sirius sat beside him, neither of them speaking for a long time, Remus simply watching as Sirius took his hand and began tracing the lines crisscrossing his palm. He shivered as Sirius' fingers skated over his wrist, up to his elbow and back again.

"Did you see Snape?" Remus finally asked.

"Yep. He let me dice the Acromantula hatchlings."

Remus smiled. "An absolute peace offering."

"I think he told me not to come again, though that was before the spiders..." Sirius shrugged, not entirely certain what to expect from Snape now. "He still wouldn't let me apologize or thank him. I thought he was going to curse me when I tried."

"But he gave you poisonous spiders instead."

Sirius smirked and gave Remus a hand up. "Something like that." Remus sighed and allowed Sirius to pull his shirt off. "What's the matter?"

"Just wishing I hadn't been an arse last moon. And no, I don't mean to you," he said with a small smile at Sirius' frown. "Since I'm not allowed to speak of it again."

Sirius gave him a light swat as he folded Remus' pyjamas and turned the water on as hot as Remus preferred it after a full moon. "You are allowed to," he corrected, "but you don't need to. You've apologized at least fifty-eight times."

"Carad and I haven't spoken since that night," Remus murmured, not even smiling at Sirius' teasing. "I was awful..." He shook his head as if trying to force the memories away. "I practically told him he doesn't know what it's like to be a werewolf, as if he doesn't understand and he's the one that actually lost his family..."

Sirius had known about the exchange since the morning after Remus had returned, but he let Remus talk anyway; let him repeat the familiar story of how Carad had been bitten while on a mission for Dumbledore and how his wife had screamed when she heard the news in the infirmary.

She and their daughter were gone by the time Carad returned home.

"God," Remus sighed, "I'm a bastard."

"You are not a lovable drunk, there's a difference."

Remus tried to smile but he just looked pale and exhausted. And rather lost. Sirius wound his arms around him and pulled him close. "Go see him," he said against Remus' ear. "The two of you have been friends for years."

Remus didn't agree, but he did press his lips to Sirius' neck. "I am very sorry," he whispered. And before Sirius could tell him it wasn't necessary, Remus' breath tickled his skin, "Just the one last time."

Sirius smiled and wound his arms tighter around his husband. "You'll feel better after a shower," he promised. "I'll fetch you something to eat; you haven't had anything all day."

"How is Harry?" Remus asked when they separated.

"Grouchy. He just woke up."

Remus' eyebrows knitted together. "He napped?"

"Didn't sleep well." Sirius kissed his cheek and helped him into the shower. "Don't fret."

Remus sighed, but the hot water was already working its way into his wrecked muscles and he simply closed his eyes and let it.

Once the shower had done its work and Remus was settled in bed once more, Sirius went back down the stairs. Harry was drinking a glass of milk in the kitchen, his upper lip coated white as he pulled the glass away.

"You've got a mustache," Sirius commented, flicking a shoulder as he passed. Harry swiped a sleeve over his mouth and let the glass plunk onto the table. "Hungry?" Sirius asked. "I'm warming Remus' soup."

"Biscuits?" Harry asked hopefully.

Sirius smiled and sent the jar to him with a wave of his fingers. Harry munched as Sirius arranged another tray for Remus.

"Is he awake?" Harry asked around a mouthful of shortbread.

Balancing the tray, Sirius nodded. "Come on up," he said as he turned. "Remus wants to see you."

He could hear his godson plodding along behind him but when they reached the door, he was alone. Remus was sitting up, flipping through a manuscript. He looked up and frowned in confusion as Sirius turned back to the corridor. Harry was standing in his own doorway--hovering, more accurately.

Halfway in and out of his room.

"Harry? You all right?"

His fingers were holding his elbows tightly, though oddly Harry didn't look as though he quite remembered what to do with any of his limbs at the moment.

"Wait here," Sirius murmured, and then ducked back into his room and settled Remus' tray on the bed.

Remus was trying to get a view beyond the angled doorway. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing," Sirius assured him, probably unconvincingly. "We'll just be a moment."

Harry had settled on the corridor at least. Remembering his own fear after he had first seen exactly what a full moon did to Remus, Sirius tugged Harry into his room and sat on the bed, keeping his grip on Harry's hands. He shook them for emphasis, anchoring Harry to the present.

"Remus had a difficult transformation," he said, his voice quiet and even while Harry gazed at him with worried green eyes. But he was clearly listening so Sirius went on honestly, "The potion didn't work so he was fully a werewolf. Do you remember that Remus explained that he sometimes hurts himself during a transformation without the potion?"

Harry nodded.

"It happened every full moon while we were in school, but he always recovers quickly; werewolves have self-healing magic and he is perfectly all right. I know it didn't look that way this morning, but he stepped through the Floo just after he transformed back and he was exhausted. He's walking around now though, and talking and everything else. He's the same Remus he was yesterday."

He waited for Harry to process the words, squeezing the fingers lightly again. "I know it's frightening to see him that way, I know it is. And worse because you weren't expecting it, yeah?"

"Yeah," Harry agreed, with just a bit of a tremor. Sirius didn't press and after a moment Harry said, "I didn't... I mean I knew he was werewolf, I believed you but..."

"But it wasn't real," Sirius finished softly. Swallowing loudly, Harry nodded.

"I'm not frightened of him," he said quickly, the words rushing out as his face tinged pink.

"Of course you're not," Sirius assured him.

"I know he's just Remus--"

Sirius pulled his confused godson into a hug. "I know you do." He didn't say anything else but Harry didn't seem to need him to; he leaned against Sirius for a long moment. His forehead was still creased when he stepped back but he did return Sirius' smile. And he led the way across the corridor this time, needing no encouragement.

Remus' hands were tangled together, anxiety etched in the deep lines around his mouth and eyes. His spine a ramrod.

Sirius smiled at him over Harry's head. Remus looked between them for a second and then his face relaxed into a warm smile. "How are you?" he asked. "I didn't mean to frighten you this morning."

Sirius couldn't see Harry's face but he watched him shrug. "It's all right. I wasn't expecting you," he said, echoing Sirius' words. He had taken a few steps closer to the bed. "You looked pretty awful. Are you feeling better?"

"Much," Remus assured him. "Did Sirius tell you he diced Acromantula hatchlings?" he asked, turning an amused eye at Sirius. Harry snapped his head round, his eyes saucers.

"You did? At Snape's shop?"

"I'm surprised you didn't smell the venom all over him," Remus said, wrinkling his nose. "It's worse than rotten eggs."

"Well, I didn't want to say," Harry said with a smirk as he wandered closer to the bed. He took the biscuit Remus offered him and ignored Sirius' indignant protest. "Were they alive?" he demanded, sitting sideways on the end of the bed and drawing up a leg. He sighed when Sirius answered in the negative. "Bad luck. Aarons says we won't use live ones until seventh year."

"We used them once; we were supposed to boil them live," Sirius said. "Remus' got away."

Harry's eyes sparkled with morbid interest. "Yeah? Did it bite anyone?"

Remus laughed. "No, Sirius stunned it before it got farther than a few desks. Slughorn gave me detention for a week though. He nearly had heart failure."

"I don't know why," Sirius said, smiling as he sat on Remus' other side. "The hatchlings can only make you sick for a week or so. And he had anti-venom."

Harry grinned and while Remus ate his soup, he and Sirius told Harry about the time they were assigned a detention specifically to collect Acromantula eggs.

oOoOo

A cat's low hiss greeted Remus as he pushed open the dingy door in Knockturn Alley the next day. The shop was cast in shadows, as it always was, the only candle on the table in the far corner. Carad emerged from the narrow staircase, grunted a greeting and then paused when he looked up. And though his eyes were as hooded as the room, Remus could clearly see his surprise.

"How are you?" Remus murmured.

"Can't complain."

Remus watched him cross to the table. He rifled through the parchments stacked there, carried a few to his desk at the other end of the room and lit another stubby candle with his wand.

"Any boarders this cycle?" Remus asked quietly. Carad shook his head, not looking up from the parchments he was reading; and occasionally marking with a quill.

"One. She left just after dawn yesterday."

Remus felt himself nodding. Feeling silly, he cleared his throat. "Carad..." But even in the best of times, his friend was a man of few words and he only grunted, flicking his eyes up in brief question. "I... wanted to apologize--"

Carad waved the words away; he pushed a chair toward Remus. "Did the potion work?"

Remus paused before he sat. "No. Snape is adjusting the formula again."

"He'll make a fortune off this."

"Probably," Remus said with a half-smile. Carad shook his head and went back to his columns. "Carad," Remus tried again.

Carad looked up. His voice was typically brusque as he said, "You were sloshed."

Remus wanted to argue that being too drunk to remember most of what had happened was a poor excuse but Carad's face was pinched and it was clear he was ready to leave their exchange in the past. But there was still part of it that wouldn't let Remus alone.

Tentatively, he said, "Maybe if you tried contacting Jane again... maybe this time..."

"If the last 624 letters haven't made any difference," Carad rumbled, "I don't think one more will."

Remus stared at him.

"A letter every week for the last thirteen years," Carad said in a flat voice. "Every one returned unopened; undeliverable."

Remus had already known that Carad's daughter was no longer listed anywhere in Great Britain with her given name; neither was his wife. But to hear that Carad had been writing in vain for all these years...

"Perhaps... Dumbledore would help you. He has contacts at the Ministry." Remus' voice sounded thready; his heart felt like it was beating too fast. Carad didn't answer. Forcing his anxiety away, Remus asked in an easier voice, "Care for lunch? My treat."

Carad finished adding up the column of numbers he had been working on. He set his quill down and nodded. "You were banned from the pub round the corner, so we'll have to venture up to Diagon Alley."

"I was banned?" Remus echoed as Carad retrieved a light cloak from a peg near the door.

"You still don't remember trying to hex Snape?"

Remus stared.

"He was with Yaxley," Carad explained. "And you were nattering on about Snape and his selflessness. I thought he was going to strangle you. He finally said Sirius was unfit to raise a dog, let alone a child, and you pulled your wand. Not effectively, mind; you fell on your face."

As Remus followed Carad out the door, he couldn't decide which of that was most disturbing. He was still mulling over the knowledge that Snape was carousing with another former Death Eater when he returned home after lunch.

He smiled at the scene that greeted him. Sirius was on the couch, book in hand, legs stretching the length. Harry was flopped on his stomach on the floor, lost in his own book as Sirius absently combed the dark tangles.

Sirius smiled as Remus joined them on the other end of the couch, resituating his legs to use Remus' as a footrest. Harry flapped a hand in greeting, his scissoring feet stilling when they bumped Remus' knee.

Smiling at his family, Remus summoned his manuscript from the library and settled in.

TBC...

Author's Note: There are three new pieces of art for the story, one for chapter two when Sirius takes Harry away from the Dursleys, one for last chapter when Harry and Remus are reconciling, and one which inspired the last scene from this chapter. By sommersprossen, Blonde-Titch, and Veridian_Dair respectively. Check out my profile for a link to the SiriuslySirius yahoo group to check them out. Thanks so much, ladies. The pictures are absolutely beautiful!

Another big thank you to wrappedinharry for the inspiration for the Ginny scene this chapter. Hope you liked it, Les. :o)