July the 31st 1997
He wakes to the smell of coffee. He is sprawled across the bed on his belly, naked bum covered only by a thin white sheet.
Trapped in that pleasant state between sleep and awareness, Harry cuddles deeply into his pillow, dimly aware of the ache in his muscles. He smiles contently to himself, remembering his birthday present with fondness.
It was tiring, certainly, to share a room with Draco Malfoy, but Harry thought, smile brightening, that he could get used to it. Twice he'd woken in the middle of the night, Draco's hands wandering over his body and a hard cock pressed against his thigh… once in the early morning.
He is hard just thinking about it. Biting his lower lip, Harry stretches out rolling over onto his back and opens bleary eyes.
"Dra-" he stops abruptly when his eyes focus on the man standing in the doorway. He almost jumps out of his skin. Almost
"Not quite." With a horrified, embarrassed expression, Harry draws the bed sheet over his morning wood in one swift gesture, and brings his knees up to his chest, for good measure.
"oh…"
For a moment, Remus stands frozen in the doorway his brow furrowed curiously. The werewolf's eyes roam across the room, before looking searchingly into Harry's own. Harry feels himself blush under the scrutiny. Shifting lightly on the bed, he pulls the bed sheet higher over his chest and a nervous hand darts out from underneath to smooth his hair.
"It's eleven in the morning and Molly was… worried…" Remus Lupin explains, pointing to the tray in his hands with his chin. His eyes remain unreadable when he finally steps in; head darting back and forth curiously.
After a moment he offers the boy a tentative smile.
"Rough night?"
"uhm…"
Harry doesn't know what to do. He can't quite get over the fact that he stretched out completely naked sporting a rather impressive morning erection, in front of Remus Lupin. To make things worse, he's still naked underneath the bed sheet, looking entirely debauched and the air is sticky and smells of sex…and more sex.
There is clothes thrown haphazardly across the room and a small jug of Alfie's Wondrous Balm sits neatly on the night stand, besides his wand.
"…"
Remus Lupin balances the breakfast tray in one hand, smoothly pushes the jug away with the other…there, breakfast on the night table, eyes on the label
Colorless and soothing…
The letters glitter across the jug
For adventurous witches and wizards…
Harry scratches his head, feeling utterly embarrassed
…offers thorough lubrification for daily use
Lupin sits down on the bed, meets Harry's eyes.
Heating charm incorporated for greater fun!
"Be glad that I volunteered to bring you breakfast." Harry squeezes his eyes shut.
"Molly…would…what's the expression..." Lupin wonders out loud. "Have kittens…?" he smiles.
"Please don't tell her." Harry begs, grabbing at Lupin's arm with both hands, the sheet slides down his chest.
Lupin raises an eyebrow.
"Is this supposed to be a secret?"
"Yes"
"You're not doing a great job keeping it." he waves his free hand around the room.
"I…we…err…I mean…" he sighs releases Lupin's arm and shrugs.
"we hadn't seen each other in over a month." The eyebrow rises higher.
"I see…this…has been going on for some time?" a nod.
"April." Harry mumbles, uncomfortable.
"it…it was kinda…uhm…it was part of the reason Draco switched sides…I guess..not the main one obviously, but…I mean…it's not like Voldemort would ever tolerate homosexuality or…or any imperfection or such non senseand-and Snape told him all these horrid stories 'bout what they did too people like us and then there was his moth-" there 's a hand clapped over his mouth, and Harry's eyes cross.
"Breathe" Lupin tells him with a furrowed brow.
"I did wonder about Narcissa's sudden change of heart…." He releases Harry's mouth, lips curling into a soft smile.
"Either way…I'm not here to scold you Harry, I just wanted to talk."
"oh…uhm…okay." His eyes settle on the breakfast tray…bacon, and scrambled eggs; toast and marmalade, slices of peaches and apples, strawberries and raspberries… Merlin, it looks good. He grabs at the coffee, sticks a raspberry unto his index finger, pops it into his mouth…
"so…you are…gay?"
"…Surprise!" Harry tries lamely.
"you are not just experimenting…?"
Harry's brow furrows as he recalls a sticky situation involving Ginny Weasley and the room of requirements…
He shakes his head, shudders in remembrance a tight smile across his lips.
"nope…definitely gay, forever and evermore" he sounds almost defeated, and avoids looking at Lupin, because he's not sure he can face him. He's afraid of what he might see, written across the other's face. He eats another raspberry.
"Alright then." He dares a swift glance in Remus's direction, sees the furrowed brow…
"I picked this up for your birthday." Remus says, pulling a tiny little book out of his pocket robe. It expends to full size when he taps it with his wand.
"I gathered from our last discussion that you were interested in healing so…there you go…it's an Auror manual for basic field healing…" Harry grabs at the book curiously, still avoiding Remus's eyes…
"uhm…thanks."
"And…I'm quite sure you'll find plenty of recreational use for some of those spells in the appendix…" Remus says lightly and Harry looks up.
A smile. A brilliant bloody fucking smile.
Acceptance.
All of his embarrassment, his state of nakedness beneath the sheet, everything is momentarily forgotten, and he hugs Remus tightly.
"Thank you thank you thank you thank you! Merlin, you have no idea how fucking-"
"Language Harry"
"How fucking scared I was…just, thank you Remus!"