"Siri," A voice broke in from the doorway, "you're Orion?"
Orion John whirled around and gave his godson a tight grin, "Hey Harry."
OoOoOoOo
The group gaped at the changed man too stunned to say anything. Harry turned to Draco, "Did you know?"
Draco shook his head, "Aunt Jenna sent me the necklace yesterday. I didn't know who he'd be."
"I don't understand," Harry admitted, going to sit by his brother.
"That makes…" Bill counted aloud, "one, two, three…six…six of us that don't understand."
Harry smirked while Draco rolled his eyes; leave it to a Weasley to try and input humor in a tense moment.
"Sirius Black," The animagus spoke changing back to his real looks. He sat beside his friend and gave a small smile, "Jeb thought Remus was being hurt but he wasn't. I knew the rumors regarding the Branning family. It wasn't until third year that Jeb finally put the pieces together."
"That it was you," His godson questioned.
Sirius nodded, "I was always so careful but it had been an even longer summer than usual. When Jeb found out she was livid and arranged for me to meet her parents. Your grandmom was gifted in Transfiguration and she offered summer classes for those in need. She talked my parents into letting me stay with them for parts of the summer to give me extra tuition."
"But I thought everyone knew…" Draco started but was stopped.
"You're right," He was interrupted, "Everyone knew that that Angelina Branning was disowned but she was a Master in Transfiguration and to be taught under her was a privilege. After your grandmom died I decided I couldn't go back and I couldn't stay at my house any longer and I ran. I never saw the Branning family again. Jenna had graduated and three years later I was sent to Azkaban. I owled Jenna the necklace with an apology and told her I would see her sometime."
"Home for the holidays," The two youngest boys spoke in synch with a snicker.
A raised eyebrow from the animagus caused the blonde haired boy to snicker, "As Harry's godfather, triple trouble promises to protect you."
This brought chuckles from the entire room. A voice from the doorway called out, "I'm not sure what's worse…the nickname of 'triple trouble' or Sirius needing to protection."
"Yes, golden trio is so much more appealing," Draco smirked at the redhead.
"Oi," Ron protested a slight groan, his eyes radiating mischief, "At least with Golden Trio you think savior. Triple trouble makes me think Gred and Forge found out they are really triplets and not twins."
The adults in the room stilled as they caught a glint in the eyes of the children. Ron, Draco, and Harry slowly turned and stared at Mrs. Weasley who stared back in confusion.
"Mrs. Weasley," Harry started.
"Mum," Ron began at the same time.
"Honestly boys," Mrs. Weasley blushed as she stood up, "There are only two of them."
"Thank Merlin," The two sighed as one causing everyone else to chuckle.
As she walked out of the sitting room, intent on going to the kitchen to check on the dishes, she lightly tapped both boys on the back of the head.
The tense atmosphere dissolved. They weren't done talking, there were still things that needed to be said but for now, they would let it go. Everyone needed some time to process what they'd been told.
"So why does Sirius need to be protected?" The youngest Weasley male asked as he made himself comfortable on the floor.
"Aunt Jenna isn't going to be happy that he left and never came back," The blonde haired boy answered, a smirk on his face as he looked over at the escaped convict. "You really should have come home."
Sirius tried not to look worried as he thought about the statement. Before he could respond to it, Remus started him in a conversation.
With a snort, Harry sat down by his brother and looked at his best friend, "So are you ok with…?"
"It's gonna take time Harry," Ron admitted, "But I'll try."
Harry nodded; a broad grin on his face. He would give Ron all the time he needed if it meant his friend was willing to try and make an effort to be nice to his big brother.
His thoughts were interrupted as he was lifted out of his seat and, before he could utter a sound, was placed on a firm lap.
He glared softly at his mate, "I hate when you do that."
"I know," Neville smiled.
With a roll of his eyes, Harry snuggled against the taller boy, his body relaxing. At night his sleep was still interrupted by his nightmares though they weren't as intense as he knew they could be. Between Neville's constant presence and Ron's willingness to help wake him and stay awake until he fell back asleep, Harry was shown constant affection.
With Dylan now in residence and Draco visiting, Harry was ready to sleep and trust, even more than before, that he would be safe.
No one said a word when he finally fell asleep in the safety of his boyfriend's arms, his legs in Draco's lap, a hand resting on Dylan's shoulder.
Quietly Neville, Dylan, and Draco started a conversation with each other while Ron, Hermione, and Ginny started their own. It didn't take long for the two groups to come together and talk. They may have only had one thing in common but he was important to them all.
It almost an hour and half later when the green – eyed boy was finally gently shaken awake.
After stretching out he followed Mrs. Weasley into the kitchen to help start supper, "Can I help you cook Mrs. Weasley?"
Molly looked down at the shining green eyes and nodded, "Of course dear. Have you ever made stew before?"
"No," The boy admitted, "But I know how to make chocolate pudding from scratch."
The witch chuckled, "I'm going to teach you how to make stew and then you can teach me how to make pudding. Come, first we need to cut some vegetables and meat."
Harry helped gather what they would need under the witches direction. Normally Molly Weasley would have used magic to make the stew, allowing her to multitask; this time though she decided to not use what came so natural to her.
"You do realize," Mrs. Weasley smiled, "that the twins are going to hound you until you tell them how you played your prank."
Harry's grin shined, "You've figured it though haven't you?"
The woman nodded, "It looks like a charmed sphere but it's not."
The young wizard couldn't help himself as he threw his back and started to laugh, "You won't tell?"
"It'll be our secret," The motherly witch responded with her own bright grin.
Quietly the two began to talk about the pranks pulled; their laughter found its way down the hall but any time anyone went in to investigate both refused to speak. Instead of the normal 45 minutes to prepare dinner it took them almost a full hour and a half.
"Foods ready," Harry announced to the group still in the sitting room. The headmaster had left shortly after Harry and fallen asleep and only Sirius and Remus weren't in the room. Ron ran up the stairs to get them from their respective rooms, getting a grin of thanks from his best friend.
Like lunch, dinner was a loud affair. The food was quickly consumed by the group of red heads, Hermione watched with an eye roll as even the three who called themselves 'triple trouble' finished in no time.
A nod from the Weasley matriarch had the boy-who-lived up out of his seat in a flash. He proudly brought in the chocolate pudding with fluffy whip cream on top to all.
"Aren't you going to have some mate?" Ron asked, his spoon poised to enter his mouth.
"Not this week," Came the frowned answer.
Draco rolled his eyes. When grounded the first week was always spent with no dessert. To make things easier for those in trouble whatever their least favorite food item was usually found its way to the dessert. In the case of his younger brother it was chocolate. Not to misunderstand him; Harry liked chocolate as much as the next person; however, he could take it or leave it. Harry's favorite dessert was black cherry ice-cream and Dutch apple pie…just not at the same time.
There was a snort from Dylan that brought the older boy's thoughts back to the present. In front of Harry was a fruit salad. The younger boy was digging in with enthusiasm.
"Just don't watch," Dylan started, distracting his older brother. "What you don't know…"
"Won't kill me," Draco finished with an eye roll, "Yea, yea, yea…"
Fifteen minutes later Harry frowned, "Does that mean I shouldn't tell you about the prank war Skater started with the twins?"
"WHAT!?" Draco spat, the spoonful of pudding he'd just taken, went flying.
TBC…