A.N- I feel it only fair to warn you that the word count on this chapter has gotten a little out of hand… Sorry 'bout that, I could have broken it up, but it didn't feel right.

Raising Harry Part Twelve.

August 1983-

WANTED MURDERER CAPTURED AND FACES TRIAL.

The long at-large accessory to murder and illegal animagus Peter Pettigrew (23) has been apprehended in a daring raid by the aurors office. Aided by the falsely accused Sirius Black (23) and Remus Lupin (23), former friends and schoolmates of the accused, Pettigrew was taken swiftly into custody. The betrayer of James and Lily Potter stood trial yesterday before the full council of the Wizangamot. The court heard how upon becoming the Potter's secret-keeper Pettigrew immediately informed He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named of their whereabouts. The court heard that he was aware of the intentions of his master and gave them up anyway. The court also heard of the way Pettigrew blew up an entire muggle street, killing thirteen, and framed Sirius Black for his crimes, escaping to the sewer in his animagus form of a rat. What the court did not hear, however, was why he would commit such a heinous act in the first place. It took the council less than an hour to convict Pettigrew of murder and sentence him to be confined to Azkaban Prison for the term of his natural life. It is understood by this reporter that neither Mister Black nor Mister Lupin were present at the trial. Mister Lupin is now the guardian of Harry Potter, The-Boy-Who-Lived (a precocious 3) after a legal deal that stripped Mister Black of his claim to guardianship as the boy's godfather but led to his exoneration and release from Azkaban.

Ministry Correspondent Walthier Kronkiit.

The article in the Daily Prophet caused a sensation within the wizarding world but in the small warm cottage that Remus Lupin shared with his ward Harry Potter it was left unread, the paper thrown straight into the bin when Remus saw the headline. Sirius had been a little reserved since they had taken Peter away. The day the article was published Sirius came to the house for a sleepover. They had a nice day in the sun, playing with Harry in the garden, drawing again – the Lily and James in the top right corner added instinctively now (Sirius' getting more detailed as though the act helped remove at least some of his grief.) Sirius had smiled and laughed as he usually did, but the times in between he seemed deeper and deeper in thought.

Finally after dinner and the obligatory chocolate for afters they tucked Harry into bed and retired to the kitchen for a cup of tea. Sirius busied himself boiling the kettle and preparing the teapot. Remus watched him work. He couldn't help but seek out the angles of Sirius' hip, the grace in his walk and of course, the rounded curve of Sirius' buttocks. He couldn't remember when he hadn't supped greedily on the sight of the man before him, even when they had been boys he had thrilled at the slightest contact, at the rumble of a curse or the sudden bark of a laugh. He shook his head to clear these thoughts from his head – no good could come from them anyway, but he would still seek out the sight and yearn for the small sunshiny heat that came with thoughts of his oldest friend.

Sirius sat down across from him, placing the teapot and the cups on the table between them. He sighed and looked around the room, his eyes finally falling on the corner of the unread paper protruding from the bin.

"You've been quiet today." Remus commented, breaking the silence and pouring the tea.

"Have I?" Sirius asked lazily. Remus' eyes flickered towards his friend, his face showing that he had.

"I suppose I have, haven't I?" He had gone back to looking at the bin.

"What's wrong? We caught him, you and I together, and he can never endanger Harry again. You did good." He wanted to reach out a hand and squeeze Sirius'. It was mere inches away but somehow he just couldn't do it.

"I know all that. We did fantastically and I know that I should feel… lighter somehow but," His eyes now turned and met Remus' "Now I'm worried. He's caught and put away for life. What am I supposed to do with mine now? I envisioned a long, arduous pursuit around the world, years from now, but he was so close and now I have no purpose. There's no revenge left to take."

Remus stared incredulously at his friend.

"You want revenge? Live. Have a life that he couldn't dream of. Smile and laugh and love and chase your tail like a mangy mutt. If you want a purpose walk out of that door and into the second on the right. The boy sleeping there is all the purpose either of us will ever need."

"He's yours, Remus, not mine."

"We both know that isn't true." Remus wasn't sure why he was so annoyed at Sirius. The other man couldn't help how he felt.

"I'm sorry, I think I'm scared. I think I always have been. Remember when James and Lily named me Harry's godfather? I was beside myself, it was the highest honour anyone has ever given me… but in the back of my mind I worried. I'm a Black after all… What if… What if I became like them?" His eyes glistened, an unshed tear in his eye. Remus sighed, feeling like an idiot for being so brash with Sirius. He finally took hold of Sirius' hand.

"You have been a Black in name only since the moment that Sorting Hat said Gryffindor. You were the right decision… I'm sorry that I've taken him away from you, I was doing what I thought was right. But we're here, and you know you're welcome anytime."

"I'm lucky to have you Remus. I wish I didn't have to lean on you so often."

"Don't. Azkaban won't just disappear. You need time. Besides, you were always there for me. "

"Harry's lucky to have you, you know. It's been good for you too, I notice." A shy smile crossed his face before he took his hand away and began drinking his tea.

"It's gotten cold while we've been nattering away like old ladies." Sirius said as he smiled again, bigger this time. Remus' hand tingled where it had held Sirius'.

September 1983-

The only sound in the house was the ticking of the clock. Remus froze, his ears straining to hear the smallest sound, the smallest clue. He seemed to freeze forever, his heartbeat playing in his chest. He slowed his breathing and shut his eyes. He tilted his head minutely to the side. Finally he heard a muffled scraping, in a flash he was running. He flung open the door of Harry's closet. The tiny shoes were lined up where they belonged, the brightly coloured clothes hanging according to type. Remus reached out a hand, feeling for the back wall. His hands went scrabbling along the wood until he reached the corners. Nothing. Damn. He had been so sure! He sighed and stepped back, about to shut the door when he caught sight or the shelf above his head. His mouth turned up in one corner as the door clicked shut. He stood on the other side, arms folded. He counted backwards from eighty in his head. When he reached zero he flung the door open again. This time he was met with the sight of Sirius Black dangling from the shelf. His arms and head still on the shelf, his feet kicking in the air, seeking out the floor. His shirt had ridden up, revealing his pale back. Remus grabbed his friend with both hands and tickled himmercilessly.

"Found you!" Remus yelled as Sirius lost his grip on the shelf and came crashing down onto the floor. Remus jumped out of the way just in time and stood looking down at a mildly winded Sirius, his honey hair hanging in his eyes.

"No fair." Sirius croaked, "Nobody said anything about tickling."

"If nobody mentioned it that means it's not not allowed." He grinned smugly.

"You gonna help me up, or what?" He held a hand up to Remus who gripped it and leaned back to get the leverage needed to get Sirius to his feet. Halfway through the process however Sirius pulled hard on Remus' arm pulling the werewolf off balance and sending him crashing to the floor. This time Sirius stood smugly over Remus.

"Found Harry yet?"

"No."

"I think he's probably not in the rug… Maybe if you stopped arsing about you'd find him." A cheeky tongue poked out between his front teeth. Remus rolled his eyes and grinned at Sirius in spite of himself, standing up and brushing the lint off his trousers. They walked around the house three times; Remus couldn't find hide nor hair of the boy.

"Give up?" Sirius asked s they stood in the laundry for the umpteenth time.

"Yes. Where did you hide him this time?" To his left a pile of washing shook and giggled. The top few pieces of clothing spilled onto the floor revealing a flushed and ecstatic Harry Potter.

"I won, didn't I Mooey?" The boy struggled out of the clothing.

"You certainly did." Remus smiled.

October 1983-

They had wrapped up warm for the trip, little Harry in a blue jumper. Remus had been going to put him in a red sweater when he remembered the conversation he had had with Sirius a fortnight ago.

October 17 1983-

Sirius had stayed again, but in the very early morning Remus heard something he hadn't for a long time. Sirius was having a nightmare in the next room. Remus lay quietly, wishing he knew what he could do to help, waiting for the whimpering to stop and listening for the sounds of sleep. Instead of soft breathing when the pained whispering stopped Remus heard the gentle tread of feet. The feet went quietly down the hallway, pausing at Remus' door for a second before they continued on to the kitchen. Remus pulled back the covers and followed.

"Another nightmare?" he had asked quietly as he sat at the table opposite Sirius, "You don't seem to have as many these days."

"I don't." Sirius agreed, "But this one is always a doozy. At least I only have it when I'm asleep now, I suppose." Sirius had poured himself a glass of water and sipped it now.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Remus asked, hoping that Sirius didn't feel obligated and hoping that if they did talk about it, it might help.

"Alright." Sirius put down his glass and put his hands, palms down, on the table. "I dream about the night that James and Lily died. I was there, at the house, for maybe a minute, but when I remember it seems like I was there for hours in the grey light looking down at them, willing for it all to be some terrible prank…"

"What did you mean by it when you told Harry that your nightmares are red?" Remus dreaded the answer, certain that he knew it before Sirius could answer.

"Her hair. In the midst of all that grey, ashen wreckage her hair shone as brightly as it ever had…"

Remus had thought so. He didn't know what else to say so instead he held the hand of the man before him, peeling it off the table top and cupping it in both of his own. They sat like that for a long while, awkwardly leaning into each other in the strangely comfortable silence. The only movement was when Sirius would use his free hand to sip his water.

They had silently walked out of the front door and into the neighbouring paddock, walking carefully in the dusky light, Sirius carrying Harry on his hip, Remus following close behind ensuring the wards remained to protect the house.

"Ready midget?" Sirius asked in a husky voice.

"Yes, Padfoot." Harry didn't sound sure.

"What's wrong?"

"It won't be scary, will it?"

"If you get scared you let me know, and I'll hold you tight and you'll know it's okay." Sirius motioned to Remus, "Remember, Moony and Padfoot are here. Nothing will ever hurt you." Sirius finished the sentence by kissing Harry on the very end of his nose, causing the boy to giggle and rub his nose with a gloved hand.

"Ready to spin?" Remus asked at last. Harry nodded silently and held Sirius a little tighter. There was a crack and they were gone.

They apparated straight to the gates of the cemetery at Godrick's Hollow. Sirius and Remus deciding that on his first trip to his ancestral home Harry need not see the wreckage of the house he had lived in, for such a short time, with his parents. Sirius was silently glad too, he revisited the carnage in his sleep he didn't want to see it again first-hand. The cool air caught their breath, making tiny ghosts in front of them. Harry squirmed until Sirius put him down, the boy breathing deep and walking beside them on his own. He was so like his parents sometimes. Remus led the way to the twin gravestones. He stopped and waited for the others to catch up. Harry was soon beside him, Sirius a little ways back.

"Is this heaven?" Harry asked earnestly.

"No Harry, this isn't heaven. We can't go to heaven. This is a special place in the world where we can come and visit Mummy and Daddy." He answered softly, resting a gentle hand on the top of the boy's head.

"I didn't think so; I think heaven would be warmer." He looked suddenly uncertain, "What do I do?"

"You can talk to them if you like." Sirius' voice answered as he came, finally, to stand with them at the graveside.

"Can they hear me?"

"I'm sure they can." Sirius kneeled beside the boy, resting his hands on his shoulders.

"Can I hear them?"

"No, I'm sorry."

"That's not fair!"

"No, it isn't, is it? Sometimes life just isn't fair."

"I think I will try to make it fair, when I'm bigger like you."

"I think that is a lovely idea. I think Mummy and Daddy would be proud of that."

"Really?"

"I know I am." Sirius smiled.

"Me too." Remus added. Harry looked happily at both of them, then back at the stones.

"What does it say?"

Harry listened intently while Remus read out the inscription, only interrupting once.

"James Potter? Like me! Harry James Potter! I'm like Daddy!"

"You are so like your Daddy. You look just like him. Except your eyes, you have eyes just like your Mummy." Harry smiled quietly, a sad smile, but a smile nonetheless.

"You see, they're never too far away." Remus added. Harry wasn't sure he understood what Moony meant but he did know that it made him feel better.

"I wish I had brought them something." The little boy said at last. Sirius conjured two roses and handed them to the boy.

"If you want to talk to them by yourself Padfoot and I can wait just a little way away."

"Okay." The two men moved away. Harry took the roses and placed them on the grave and talked quietly for a little while, every now and again looking over to Remus and Sirius before continuing. After a few minutes he blew kisses to the stones and walked back to Remus and Sirius, taking Remus by his outstretched hand.

"Ready?" Remus asked Harry. The boy nodded and they stepped towards the gate.

"Give us a second, okay?" Sirius asked before he strode towards the grave. He conjured a bunch of brightly coloured lilies wrapped in a red ribbon and a small paper stag. He placed them on the grave next to the roses Harry had placed there minutes ago. He stood quietly, his head bowed. Finally he said a few words and turned towards Harry and Remus, watching their breath play in front of their faces.

"Ready." He announced, running a nervous hand through his hair. His eyes flickered up to Remus' who cast him an uncertain look. Sirius smiled in response.

"Let's go home." He said.

November 1983-

"Cake is my favourite colour!" Harry announced proudly as he and Remus finished icing the cake they had just made. The kitchen was a mess with flour and flakes of chocolate on every flat surface. Remus carefully lifted the cake up and put it in the cake carrier. He was careful to lick all of the icing off his fingers afterwards; leaving only the index finger of his right hand untouched with it he swiped a line of icing down Harry's nose.

"Hey!" The little boy went cross-eyed surveying Remus' handiwork.

"Come on, Kiddo, let's get cleaned up. It's nearly time to go."

They got cleaned and ready quickly. Soon they were standing in the kitchen again, Remus shrinking the cake and putting it carefully in his pocket. Harry held a brightly wrapped package, the sticky tape at odd angles where he had insisted that the 'stickying' was 'his job'. Remus too held a package.

"Ready?"

"Yep! I think Padfoot will love his presents, won't he Mooey?"

"I think so."

"Especially the one I picked. I'm good at picking presents, isn't I?"

"You certainly are." Remus agreed as they headed out the front door.

Sirius had booked the whole restaurant out, and Harry thought it was Christmas come early.

"It's just us in the whole restaurant?" He asked again. He couldn't believe that all of this space was for them. He was too young to know that Sirius had done it to ensure they remained uninterrupted, to him it was just another special, mind-blowingly wonderful thing that had happened since he had come to live with Moony.

"Yes, just us." Sirius grinned back.

"I can't believe you paid all of that money for your own birthday party… It should have been me paying for the party." Remus grumbled half-heartedly.

"It's Wally and Archie's money, Remus; I can waste it if I want to. Besides, it's being used for good instead of evil." He winked at Harry.

"Yeah, Mooey! Nots evil!" Harry stopped for a second and snapped his face back to Sirius, "Who is Wally and Andy?"

"Archie, his name was Archie. Wally and Archie were my Mum and Dad."

"Where are they?"

"They died, Harry."

"Are they in heaven with my Mummy and Daddy?"

Sirius fought the urge to tell him that no, they were now, with any luck, the devil's kindling. The battle was hard-won but eventually Sirius answered with "I don't know, Harry." He changed the subject, "What is this lump of paper doing here?" He asked pointing to the present Harry had put on the table when they had arrived.

"It's not paper, it's a present… for you."

"For me? Anyone would think it was my birthday or something." He answered with mock confusion while Remus chuckled to his right.

"It is your birthday!"

"If it's my birthday, where's the cake? It can't be a birthday without cake."

"It's in Mooey's pocket."

"In his pocket? What kind of cake is it? A pocket cake?"

"No! It's a chocolate cake."

"A pocket chocolate cake." Remus added helpfully. "And birthday or not the cake is for after dinner."

Harry made a mutinous look until he caught sight of the waiter.

"Are you ready to order?" He asked patiently.

"Excuse me, do you have any spaghetti?" Harry asked shyly.

"Indeed we do, Master Potter." Harry liked that very much. He smiled.

"Master Potter would like some spaghetti then." The waiter dutifully wrote the order down before turning to Remus.

"What did Master Potter forget? What's the magic word?" Remus asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Can Master Potter please have some spaghetti?" Harry amended. As Remus nodded his head Sirius wondered if Harry would be disappointed in later years to find that please wasn't actually a magic word. After Remus and Sirius had ordered and the waiter bustled off to the kitchen Remus nodded to Harry who pushed the present towards Sirius.

"It's time for the birthday presents. Open it!" Harry jigged up and down on his chair. Sirius took an age to open the present fending off Harry's calls for him to hurry with claims that he wanted to save the paper. Finally he held a small stuffed Hippogriff in his hands.

"Dudders and me were worried that you would get lonely. When you go to your home." Harry explained nervously as Sirius stared, unblinking at the toy.

"I love it." His face split into a grin, "What shall I name him?"

"Master Starface!" Harry called. Sirius sat back with the hippogriff in his hands.

"I think he looks like a Reggie." He smiled sadly before he glanced at the package in Remus' hand.

"Is that for me too?" He took the package when Remus handed it to him, placing Reggie carefully on the table, and unwrapped it with the same care he had Harry's present. Inside he found a leather-bound journal. He opened it to reveal Remus' neat writing on the first page.

Let us endeavour so to live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry.

-Mark Twain.

"I know that sometimes we talk about things, but I also know that you can't necessarily tell me everything. I thought this might be good for you." His heart was beating hard, he hoped Sirius liked it and he hoped that Sirius wouldn't realise how expensive it had been, as though that knowledge would lead Sirius to know Remus' true feelings for him.

"I love it. They're both such wonderful, thoughtful gifts." He kissed Harry playfully on the cheek before he turned and did the same to Remus, turning away so that the werewolf didn't see the rising colour in his cheeks, and missing it on the other man's.

Harry laughed and insisted that the whole thing was ' 'scusting'.

December 1983-

The tree was up, the stocking hanging by the fireplace. Sirius had sung his millionth rendition of 'God Rest Ye Merry Hippogriffs' (dedicated of course, to Dudders and Reggie.). A very excited Harry had finally gone to sleep and Remus and Sirius sat in the lounge wrapping the last of the presents. Remus cast a wary eye over the sheer number of them marked 'To Harry.'

"Dear Merlin, we've spoiled the boy this year."

"He deserves it, he's a good kid." Sirius shrugged as he folded a corner piece and stuck it down.

"You don't think we're doing the wrong thing do you?"

"How do you mean?"

"Well, I just don't want him to think that he can fill his life with things… He knows already how easy it is to lose people; I don't want him to think of possessions as a substitute."

"Remus, it's Christmas. It's not like every time something awful happens we ply the boy with gifts. Stop worrying. He's a fantastic child, you should be proud of the great way you're raising him. Now pass me the big purple bow next to you, will you?"

Remus raised an eyebrow. Sirius sighed.

"He's not even awake. I don't see the point…" Remus' eyebrow quirked but remained near his hairline.

"Please?" Sirius amended.

"Was that so difficult?" Remus asked as he handed the bow over.

"Yes, it was. I'm mortally wounded." Sirius pulled on the bow but Remus wouldn't relinquish his grip on it.

"Thank you." Sirius added through gritted teeth.

"Manners cost nothing, you know." Remus admonished, smiling as he repeated the lessons his gran had taught him. Sirius shook his head. He really hated it when Remus was like this. He hated it because it was absolutely adorable and it made him love the man sitting across from him even more. He pushed the thought away like he did every other thought like it. He was happy with things as they were. No need to rock the boat.

Sirius was too excited to sleep properly, he woke after only a few hours' sleep and wandered quietly through the house. He stopped and looked in on Harry, the boy's hair inky against his pillow case. He slept flat on his back, his hands balled into tiny fists, resting on either side of his head. He breathed so quietly Sirius had to seek out the gentle rise and fall of his chest to assure himself that the boy was in fact breathing. He leaned down and planted a peck on the boy's cheek. As he straightened up the boy's eyes fluttered open.

"Is it Christmas?" he asked, rubbing his eyes.

"It certainly is."

Harry beamed.

Minutes later Remus Lupin was awoken by the weight of a boy and a shaggy dog colliding, at speed, with his torso.

"Merry Christmas, Mooey!" Harry squealed.

"Woof woof!" Padfoot added.

Remus Lupin couldn't suppress a smile, it was Christmas after all, and he was with his family.

January 1984-

Sirius sat staring at the list of New Year's resolutions he had written and now edited.

1. Quit Smoking

He only smoked when he wasn't at the cottage and lately he had been spending so much time there that he had essentially quit anyway. He thought that if he made a conscious effort it might undo the good work that he had already done.

2. Get a Job

He really didn't need one; he had enough money in Gringott's to live a hundred lives. Besides, if he had a job perhaps someone who needed one would go without. That was apart from the fact that he wasn't sure what kind of job he'd be good for. He still suffered random flashbacks to Azkaban and he could imagine the press having a field day reporting on his every move. He could see the headline now 'SIRIUS BLACK BURNED MY COFFEE.' Above a grainy picture of him in a white apron and a paper hat.

3. Tell Him How I Feel

He had imagined telling Remus that he loved him every day since he had been released from Azkaban. In his fantasies Remus had reciprocated his feelings and they had kissed and all was right with the world. He had even thought, just a few times, that perhaps Remus really did love him back; a few small looks and lingering touches had filled his heart with hope but he was a changed man. It had been an ill-advised and rash decision that had meant that he had lost Remus and Harry last time. Sirius appreciated that he could easily still be locked away and he would do nothing that might mean he would lose them again.

Sirius sat and stared at the paper before he scrawled a single sentence on the page.

Make them as happy as they make me.

February 1984-

Remus was glad that Valentine's Day was a mere fortnight into February, It meant that he had to fight the urge to send a valentine to Sirius for only fourteen days. He would never have put his name on the thing and the idea of being a 'Secret Admirer' at his age set his teeth on edge. However, deep down he was a bloody hopeless romantic and he also knew that Sirius happened to love roses, he also knew that Sirius would deny this to his last breath. He smiled quietly to himself imagining giving the dark-haired man a giant bunch of roses and a less than chaste kiss. He went on to imagine doing other less than chaste things to Sirius and having them done right back to him.

"Remus, I hate to interrupt the daydream and I don't wish to alarm you but dinner's on fire." Sirius tapped Remus on the shoulder pulling Remus back into a rather smoky reality.

March 1984-

Remus was dutifully following the ribbon that allegedly lead to his present and wondered, not for the first time, if it was hidden in Mozambique or some other far-off country. The blue strip had already led him, followed by Sirius and Harry, across the paddock next to their house, through a fence, up a hill and across a small creek.

"I'll be eighty by the time we get there." He muttered.

"That's not the spirit, Moony." Sirius tutted. They started down the other side of the hill and Remus saw that at the bottom a picnic was set up. On the red chequered rug sat a basket and a pile of presents.

After they had settled down Harry grabbed the first present and handed it to Remus.

"Happy Birthday Remus!"

"No, not that one, Harry. That one's for last." Sirius interjected gently. Remus set it aside and opened the present Harry handed him second. He couldn't help but wonder what was in the strangely shaped package. He unwrapped a new pen set, his very own Hippogriff (swiftly christened John), and a set of spell books that he had wanted for a very long time. Finally it was time to unwrap the mystery gift.

"Be careful." Sirius warned. With infinite care Remus unfurled the paper to reveal a stoppered bottle containing a potion.

"What is it?" He asked, eyeing the contents dubiously.

"It's newly developed. It's called Wolfsbane. It's not a cure, but it means that on the full moon when you transform you'll keep your mind. They say that most of the time you'll just sleep through the night in your wolf form." Sirius smiled shyly.

Remus had no idea what to say, it was the single greatest gift he had ever received, but his mouth refused to form those words instead he placed it gently aside and embraced Sirius.

"Thank you so much." He whispered. He held on to the other man as long as he dared before he turned to Harry, bundling the boy up in his arms and showering him in little, noisy kisses.

"Ew! Gerroff me!"

April 1984-

This was it, the single most dangerous day of the year. Remus had heard Sirius and Harry up and about in the house ages ago but he dreaded joining them. He wondered if perhaps he could find some way to stay in bed until after midday. It would be safe then. April fool's Day pranks weren't committed after that blessed hour. He was delighted that Sirius was coming back into his old self more and more each day but this was more than he could take. His nerves were frazzled already just imagining everything Sirius and Harry had planned for the day. Eventually he sighed and walked to the kitchen, his eyes searching out booby traps both high and low. He eventually got to the kitchen where Sirius and Harry sat eating breakfast. He checked the seat for a whoopee cushion and sat down.

"Morning Mooey!" Harry greeted through a mouthful of bacon and eggs. Sirius had busied himself on seeing Remus enter the room; he placed a plate of food before Remus. Remus muttered a thanks and eyed it suspiciously.

"You okay, Moons? You seem a little… skittish." Sirius returned to his breakfast.

"Is it safe?"

"'Course it is."

Remus looked doubtful. Sirius chewed thoughtfully before he swapped plates.

"Happy now?"

"Thank you."

"As if I'd prank you at breakfast, anyway. It's positively uncivilised."

"So you will admit that I there is a prank planned?"

"I can neither confirm nor deny that statement."

"Fantastic." He replied in a tone that said it was obviously less than fantastic.

The next four hours were a living hell for Remus, he jumped at the slightest noise, made sure that the sugar was sugar and the salt was salt, inspected anything for signs of superglue, checked each and every chair he sat in, cast a spell to turn his shoes inside-out before he put them on. He even checked the doors for buckets of water resting on them. By midday he was an emotional wreck. He looked at the clock and let out a maniacal laugh.

"It's too late for a prank! You took too long! I survived." He shook as the adrenaline coursed through his body.

"Really? Is that so… Maybe I've been pranking you this whole time." Sirius answered smugly. Remus had a horrible thought that perhaps the clocks had been tampered with or something and there was more of this hell to endure. He didn't have the heart to ask what Sirius meant. Sirius helpfully elaborated.

"I pranked you by not pranking you. You have just spent the last few hours in terror of something that was never going to happen. I call it the anti-prank." He smiled like the cat that got the cream. A mad-eyed Remus stared back at him.

"That's… That's diabolical!"

May 1984-

To say that it was a surprise was an understatement; a week after the full moon Sirius had woken Remus and Harry early and announced that they were late.

"Late for what?" Harry yawned.

"We should have left ages ago." Sirius answered unhelpfully. He told Remus to get dressed and picked Harry up to take him to his room and dress him. Sirius stood at the closet selecting a pair of striped shorts and a plain green t-shirt. He grabbed a pair of black sandals and turned around to Harry.

"Red or blue underwear?"

"Blue please."

Harry was half-way through dressing when Remus wandered into the room, his blue jeans sitting on his hips, his chest bare.

"Have either of you seen my blue t-shirt? You know the one, you bought it for me last week, Sirius." Sirius pretended to think for a while, taking the opportunity to look at as much of Remus' flesh as he could. He hadn't seen Remus in any state of undress since school, and then it had only been glorious glimpses while the shy werewolf dressed in the morning, or on the rare occasions that they went swimming. He had, of course, seen much more of his friend in his head so he etched the sight into his mind. It would lend his dreams an authenticity.

"Uh, no. I don't think so."

"I can find the thing anywhere."

"Wear your plain white one."

"It's not too 'Rebel Without a Cause' is it?"

"Can anything be too Rebel Without a Cause?"

Remus gave Sirius a look that said yes, it was possible.

"I think it's classic. Or, you could always stay the way you are…" His lip quirked when Remus blushed.

"The white shirt it is, then" Remus answered as he beat a hasty retreat a nervous hand running through his hair.

Soon they were ready to go. They left as they usually did, the wards placed behind them as they walked to somewhere where they could apparate.

"Are you going to tell us where in merlin's name we're going?"

"No."

"Then how are we supposed to get there?"

In response Sirius merely adjusted Harry on his hip and took Remus by the hand.

"Trust me." He winked and Remus liked to think that it was the side-along apparition that made his heart race. He knew that wasn't it, though.

They came out of the spin and in to what Remus thought was a postcard. He stood in a green garden, the Great Pyramids of Cairo in the middle distance. He held onto Sirius' hand until Harry spoke.

"Where are we?"

"In Egypt." Remus drank in the view in front of him.

"This is a holiday, Harry. We are going to spend the next week in this wonderful hotel, people will bring us food on request, we will see new and wonderful things, we'll shop like mad buggers and we'll go home tired and needing a holiday from this holiday."

"I assume some of this shopping will be for clothing?"

"Oh, ye of little faith. Where did you think your favourite shirt was?" Sirius patted his pocket.

"You packed suitcases and they're in your pocket?"

"I am capable of a shrinking charm you know."

"I hope your packing skills have improved. In sixth year you packed a suitcase full of turnips and a packet of cigarettes for a five night camping trip."

"In all fairness that was during my 'Dali' phase."

They got inside the hotel and into their room and Remus was pleasantly surprised to find that Sirius' packing had been both sensible and thorough, almost pleased enough to not feel the sting when he saw that there were two single beds and not a queen-size in the room.

Sometimes he forgot that they weren't together.

June 1984-

Sirius was glad that Harry was so small he knew that in later years the boy might find Father's Day troubling. He and Remus hadn't mentioned it at all and were treating the day like any other so it was with wide, shocked eyes that they took the pictures in handmade popsicle-stick-frames from the boy at lunchtime.

"Happy Father's Day!" He had squealed.

"Wow, when did you make these?" Sirius asked as he surveyed the smiling Harry in the picture. He was standing in a garden. Behind him a gnome wandered into the shot and made rude hand gestures.

"At Ron's house."

Sirius and Remus shared a look. A look that was interrupted by an owl colliding with the kitchen window. Errol recovered quickly enough when Sirius held out an owl treat.

Remus and Sirius,

I know that you are probably quite shocked about receiving gifts today and I hope you don't mind. Last time Harry was here Ron was a little excited about Father's Day and, well, you know Ron. Harry then insisted that you would both love one.

He wouldn't take no for an answer.

Molly.

P.S- I'm dreadfully sorry about the special guest appearance in the picture. I was going to take another picture but Harry wouldn't have a bar of it, he said you'd like that picture because of the gnome.

They picked a sufficiently public spot in the house to put Remus' picture and Harry asked a few times to be sure that Sirius would proudly display his as well. Once he had been assured again he looked a little nervous.

"What's wrong Harry?"

"I made another one… for Daddy. Can we take it to him?"

"Of course we can. We can go now if you like." Remus answered softly.

They left soon after, Harry spending only a few seconds placing it on the grave and wishing his father a happy day. As they were leaving Sirius cast one last glance at the smiling photograph. He thought it was the last time he would see it.

TOUCHING TRIBUTE FROM THE BOY-WHO-LIVED

A picture of Harry's gift to his father sitting on the cold stone of the grave took up nearly the entire front page. Sirius wouldn't have seen it at all; he didn't read the paper, had Remus not started yelling at the name of the reporter. He had cursed the woman to the ends of the earth and had vowed once again to keep Harry safe from the vultures like her. Sirius ran to the kitchen and caught sight of the headline.

"Bastards." He muttered as he screwed the paper up and threw it into the bin.

"I wonder sometimes, if I can always protect him from people like that…"

"You won't be able to forever, one day he'll go out into the world and have to fight it. But he'll know that we will always be there with him." Remus nodded but he still looked murderous.

"Okay?" Sirius double-checked.

"Okay. But I'm cancelling the bloody subscription."

"I don't know why you read that rubbish in the first place."

"Habit." Remus shrugged.

Sirius hoped that he too wasn't merely one of Remus' habits.

July 1984-

It was Harry's birthday. Sirius felt breathless when he thought about the last twelve months. It had flown by and Harry was four.

Four, bleeding hell.

Once again they were throwing a party at the cottage. This time Remus had made a pack of balloon poodles and Sirius had enchanted them to run and play like regular dogs. They were outside again, the table laden with more food than would realistically be eaten. The entire Weasley clan and the Order members were joined this year by a shy boy and his stern grandmother.

"Hey, my name's Harry." Harry introduced himself by sticking out a hand.

"Neville." He replied offering his own. It wasn't long before they had all introduced each other to each other and were playing happily. Remus did overhear Neville telling the twins, who seemed a little too attentive, that wormwood made you see things that weren't there but apart from that the party went off without a hitch. This time there wasn't the interruption of having to go and capture a wanted criminal and the party wrapped up fairly late, Harry having almost fallen asleep on the lounge twice after everyone retired inside. Remus picked Harry up and tucked him into bed before he joined Sirius in the kitchen cleaning up the mess.

"I'm just going to clear these last few things up and I'll head home." Sirius announced as Remus answered the room.

"Why don't you stay?"

"I really shouldn't. I don't remember the last time I slept in my own bed. I barely know what my house looks like."

Remus vanished a few more plates of food, thinking as he did so. Eventually he turned away slightly from Sirius and spoke.

"Why don't you stay permanently? Like you said you're here all the time anyway and Harry adores you. It worked once before, didn't it?"

"I'm not sure that's a good idea…" Sirius answered. He saw the old insecurities wash over Remus.

"Why not?" The hurt in his voice shook Sirius to his core, but he couldn't be silent anymore. Hell, or high water something had to be said.

"I just can't pretend anymore." Sirius answered. Remus trembled.

"I just can't pretend that every second of every day I don't want to touch you. I can't pretend that you don't set me on fire every time you brush by me. I dream about you and I long for you and for the longest time I thought that I couldn't tell you. Now I know that I was just building myself another prison. I'm breaking out. I love you. I have since I met you, I think. And I know now that I'll never stop." He gazed at Remus who stood stock still and unblinking, staring at his shoes. Sirius sighed and strode out of the house.

"Fuck!" He muttered as he went.

"Wait! Sirius!" Remus called just as the other man got to the front stairs. Sirius turned, unwilling to hear whatever bumbling platitudes Remus was going to throw at him.

He didn't get any.

Instead he had Remus' long, tapered fingers wrap around his wrist and his other hand cup his cheek as Remus' pressed hungry lips to his. The other man tasted like chocolate and tea and dreams come true. The firm warmth of the longed-for mouth mingled with a hot, flicking tongue and Sirius wondered if he had died. Soon the mouth pressed against his turned into a smile. Sirius pulled out of the kiss and Remus put two arms around him.

"I'm glad one of us finally said something…" He whispered into Sirius' ear. The breath prickled the small hairs on Sirius' neck, driving him mad. Before long he was kissing Remus again wondering the whole time why he hadn't done it years ago.

There you go lovelies… I hope MorphieandMelina is happy with the kissing…