Chapter 8

Growing up

Harry was now seven, and he finally felt like he had a handle on his life. Or at least, as much of a handle on life that any seven year old could have. He was still the shortest of his friends, but he did not matter about that at all. He thought that it added to his cuteness factor, and it made pink and blue, his new favorite color, look brilliant on him. He also learned very quickly that cuteness can be used to get things. It didn't happen on purpose at first. He was with his brother when they were six, hanging out with Sirius and Remus. He wanted some extra snacks, but Sirius said no, so he turned to Remus and gave him a pitiful look, pouting out his lower lip and holding his hands as he asked in a sweet voice. Remus caved, causing Sirius to laugh when he saw Harry's cute face, saying, "Harry! That's not fair, with a face like that nobody could say no to you!"

"They can't?" Harry asked, causing Sirius to laugh louder. It wasn't until he was back home and telling the story to his parents, and he understood what Sirius meant when Mrs. Malfoy explained.

"Do you remember what I told you when you met your friends at the Yule party?" Mrs. Malfoy asked.

Harry thought for a moment before nodding, "You told me that when you have nothing nice to say, make it sound nice."

"More or less, yes," Mrs. Malfoy nodded. "When Sirius said that you have a face that people can't say no to, he means that you are simply very cute, which is typical for kids your age. However I have to agree with him Harry, you are particularly cuter than any of your friends, and I am not saying this as your mother."

"It is something you will hopefully grow out of as you get older and mature," Mr. Malfoy muttered. "We wouldn't want you growing up to become a pretty boy."

Mrs. Malfoy sighed and shook her head, "What your father means, is that like how you can use your sweetness and kindness to your advantage, you can also use cuteness, and as you grow up, hopefully, it will turn into a charm that you will use as a well-mannered sophisticated gentleman."

"So… I can use my face to get what I want if I do the right look?" Harry asked.

"Yes, however, don't you dare use it on us," Mr. Malfoy warned, "and when you are older, we obviously will have to discuss talk about consent with girls—"

"Lucius! The boy's only six! All he cares about is play and cookies," Mrs. Malfoy said.

Harry gasped, "I just remembered! I promised Draco I would play a new game with him! Can I go now?"

"See?" Mrs. Malfoy said, chuckling. "Go on, Harry."

A year has passed since then and Harry honed his craft, practicing faces during bath time and before bed. He was able to get Parkinson to be quiet and give him her cookies, Daphne to share a shirt he really liked, mostly because it was pink, and Blaise's mom to allow Blaise to sleepover (and even sleep in his room with Draco!). Surprisingly enough, the only person unaffected by his look was Theo who just stared at him blankly and said, "Would you like try asking again?" But it didn't matter in the end, Harry rather liked that Theo didn't fall for his charm, it gave him something to build to.

Which brought him to today, at age seven, almost eight as it was July. He was with all of his friends, Blaise, Theo, Daphne, and Pansy as well as his brother, obviously. It was a beautiful day outside, so they were gathered around the lake as they lazed about, talking about what to do and anything that was on their mind. Theo looked at them and then at the lake, "It's weird," he said, "in only a few years we'll be in Hogwarts! It felt so far away when we first met."

"That was only two years ago, don't act like my dad already!" Harry smiled. "He's always talking about how like time's moving faster."

Blaise gasped and smirked at Harry, "Don't worry! Before we know it, we'll be in Hogwarts, go through it and afterward we'll be husbands," He gave a teasing smile and stuck his tongue out. Harry and Draco laughed immediately, remembering their promise, while Daphne and Theo laughed after a second.

"We would be good husbands, and we'll still play all day," Harry said. "What do husbands play anyway?" he added thoughtfully.

"I heard mother saying that Sirius and Remus apparently play loudly at night," Draco said. "Before they moved to their house a couple of months ago, I heard mother complaining about how their 'roughhousing' kept her and father up some nights."

"So being husbands means playing very loudly?" Harry asked. He grinned and looked at Blaise, "Let's be husbands!"

"Yeah!" Blaise agreed and immediately rolled to Harry so that they were next to each other, Blaise practically on top of the pretty boy. "Best husbands! Draco come on!"

Pansy stood up and sneered at them, crossing her arms, "You're all disgusting!" She pointed at Harry and said angrily, "First! You're a boy! You can't wear pink! I keep telling you this! And second, boys becoming husbands is GROSS!" she screamed the last word at the top of her lungs. "Boys are not supposed to marry boys, you idiots! Boys marry girls! Boys who marry boys are call fags, that's what my Dad told me!"

Harry stood up immediately, frowning. "You're wrong," he said. "Remus and Sirius are married!"

"Yeah," Draco nodded, standing as well. "Uncle Sirius and Uncle Remus are married."

"And they're GROSS!" Pansy screamed once more. "Mother and Father told me so."

"Your parents are wrong, they're not gross," Draco said heatedly.

"They're fags! And if you're like them then you're a fag too!"

"That's a horrible word," Theo said, the others now also standing in a sort of circle, enclosing Harry, and Draco with Pansy. "My mother told me about how it's a slur, a bad word."

"You're calling my godfathers a bad word!" Harry said, enraged. "Why do we even invite you to things?" he demanded, throwing his hands up. "Nobody gets along with you!"

"Daphne does, and Theo and Blaise—it's you two weirdos who don't get along with me," Pansy said. "I think it's because of those poofs! That's another bad word to describe your gross godfathers, Potter."

Harry saw red. He took a step forward and gave his best sneer, "My name is Harry Malfoy," he said, "however maybe you would know that if you actually listened to everyone around you instead of the voices in your head." He turned and walked away.

"Harry! Where are you going?" Blaise asked, running after him.

"I'm going to tell mum all about the wonderful things Pansy said," Harry said simply. "I'm sure her parents will be so pleased that she took their lessons to heart!"

"DON'T YOU DARE POTTER!" Pansy screamed at the top of her volume, but Harry already started running.

His mother was in her favorite room during the summer, the sunroom, where the walls were made of windows. She was with Mrs. Zabini and Mrs. Nott, the three talking ambiently. Harry smiled innocently and looked at the three women. "Mrs. Zabini! I love your new dress," he said politely, and "Mrs. Nott, I really like your new robes."

"Oh what a charmer," Mrs. Zabini chuckled. "Narcissa, I didn't know you were raising such a gentleman."

"Only when he wants something, what is it, Harry?" Mrs. Malfoy asked.

"I want to tell you something very important," Harry said. "I don't want Pansy Parkinson to be here any longer, she insulted Blaise and me and Remus and Sirius."

"Oh dear," Mrs. Malfoy frowned, "what do you mean, Harry?"

"Blaise said that after we graduate Hogwarts we can be husbands and play forever and as loudly as we can. Pansy yelled that we were being gross and wrong, saying that boys can only marry girls and then she called Remus and Sirius gross as well as a bad word that she called me as well! And then she called me Potter. All she does is being mean to me and I don't want to be friends with her anymore," Harry said.

"What word did she use?" Mrs. Malfoy asked carefully.

Harry grew suddenly quiet. He moved nervously and glanced around the room. "I don't want to say it," he said sheepishly. "It's a bad word."

"It's okay Harry," Mrs. Nott said, "you're not saying it just to say it, you're saying it so that your mother can fully understand what is going on."

"So it won't count?" Harry asked innocently, turning to Mrs. Nott.

"It won't count," Mrs. Nott chuckled.

Harry nodded and turned to Mrs. Malfoy. "Fag," he said shortly. "Mum, why are people so mean to Sirius and Remus?"

Mrs. Malfoy frowned, "That's a question I think my cousin and his husband should answer," she said. "There are some people who just don't like how others are different."

"Oh," Harry said sadly, He frowned, "What are you going to do with Pansy?" he asked. The door to the sunroom opened, the others finally catching up. Pansy's clothes looked a mess, covered in dirt and her hair out of place. She was breathing heavily and yelled out, "They all attacked me!"

"We did not! You fell and roll around on the ground," Blaise said.

"We were just chasing you to keep away from Harry," Daphne said. "You fell by the garden and crushed a couple of flowers."

"That's not true! You made me trip! Potter's telling lies," she said, looking at the adults. The three women frowned, Mrs. Zabini and Mrs. Nott looking towards Mrs. Malfoy.

"Harry, I think you and your friends should go back outside and play. Pansy, if we can have a word with you," Mrs. Malfoy said. "Your parents will be here to speak as well."

Harry smiled sweetly as he saw Pansy's face fall. He walked past her, and stopped before looking back, "I think the dirt actually looks good on you," he said, "gives you a more earthy and natural look." He smiled and waved as he left the sunroom.

They did not see Pansy for the rest of the day. The five of them played happily for the rest of the day, Theo, Blaise, and Daphne all leaving around five in the afternoon. Mrs. Malfoy walked Harry and Draco into their home and looked at the both of them. "I've talked with my cousin, and we are going to their home so the four of you can have a serious conversation," she said. "You two heard nasty things today, and your father and I agree that it would be better if you hear about it and talk it out with Sirius and Remus. So go clean yourselves up, you're both awfully sweaty, and then we'll go."

The two nodded and went to take a quick bath, meeting their mother in the floo powder room. Sirius and Remus lived in a small cottage right outside of the nearby town, so that they could be close to Draco and Harry. It was a quaint cottage with a stone basement that Remus uses monthly during the full moon, he already had a serious conversation about his little hairy problem with the boys, that was thankfully soundproof. It was two stories, and Harry and Draco had their own bedroom there furnished for whenever they come sleepover. The home only had one fireplace in the main living room, which the three Malfoys appeared in. Remus was laying across a couch opposite the fireplace, a book in hand. He looked at them and smiled, "This is a surprise, how are you, boys?"

"We were hoping that you and my cousin could have a talk with my sons," Mrs. Malfoy said.

"About what?"

"About why some people who think you two are gross, as well as the f-word," Mrs. Malfoy said, sounding disappointed. "One of their friends just insulted Harry, as well as you two, calling the three of you the particular word."

"Oh, I see," Remus sighed. "Draco, Harry, come with me to my room, Sirius is in there."

Mrs. Malfoy moved to a nearby bookshelf and started to browse the books, "Take your time," she said, "I can entertain myself." Remus nodded and looked at the boys, "Come on."

Harry and Draco followed Remus out of the living room to a small hallway that had a staircase on the left side. They climbed the stairs and came to another hallway that led to four doors. Remus led them to the door immediately in front of them. It was a large bedroom with an expansive bed along with dressers and two wardrobes and two mirrors. The dressers' top was filled with pictures and small knickknacks. Sirius was sitting at a desk in front of a window, bent over slightly. Harry ran up to him and surprised him with a hug, "Hello," Harry said, his eyes moving to the desk. Sirius had a book open before him, and he was holding a quill. "What are you doing?" he asked.

"Writing in my journal," Sirius said, "or diary as Remus calls it." He chuckled. "I've been doing this since I started Hogwarts. It's a nice way to keep my thoughts together."

"Ohh," Harry said, looking at the journal interested.

"Sirius, Harry, and Draco are here to have a serious talk," Remus said. Sirius frowned.

"What happened?" he asked. Harry and Draco moved to sit on their bed while Remus moved to stand next to his husband, who stayed in his seat. Harry told the story, recounting everything that happened with Blaise and Pansy. As he told his story, he noticed that Sirius and Remus looked sad, and it hurt his heart as he felt that it was as sadness deeper than anything he could properly describe. When he was done, Harry looked at Remus and Sirius, "Why did Pansy act so rude and hateful towards you?" he asked. "You didn't do anything to her."

"It's more complicated than that Harry," Remus sighed. "Sirius and I, there's a word that describes our feelings and love towards one another. We're gay, meaning that we love people who are the same gender. You know about gender, right?"

"Yeah," Draco nodded. "Harry and I are boys, just like Parkinson and Daphne are girls."

"Exactly, those are the two genders," Remus nodded, "Well mostly. There are people who live outside the two genders, but we can talk about that another time. Right now, just know that a gay person is a person who loves people who are the same gender. There's another word for us, homosexual, but let's keep to gay for simplicity."

"Our love is just as real as anyone else's," Sirius said, "however there are people who don't see it that way. These people are full of hate and are vile, big meanies like those who don't like some other witches or wizards just because they are different, like being half-blood like you Harry, or muggleborn like your birth mother, Lily. It's the same thing that happens when these people hate that men can love men, women can love women, and people can live happy lives outside the neat boxes they thought life was."

"Pansy's one of those people, along with her parents," Draco said bitterly. "She said bad words to my little brother!"

"Yes, unfortunately, they are," Sirius nodded, "and we're lucky in that they're so open with their hatred. It's easier to cut them out, keep their hatred out of our lives."

"Why not argue?" Harry asked.

"With some people, it's impossible to change their minds, Harry," Remus said, looking at the small boy sympathetically. "When Sirius and I married, my parents basically kicked me out, and forbade me to never speak with them again."

"But that's awful! They're your parents!" Draco said, "They're supposed to love you!"

"And they did, they loved a version of me that simply didn't exist," Remus said. "They thought I would marry a woman, but when it became obvious that I was Sirius's, and Sirius was mine, they couldn't believe it, and refused to understand it. So they just kicked me out."

"Just like how my dear old mother, may she burn in the horrible place, kicked me from the family because I did not live up to her own ideals of me," Sirius said. Harry and Draco frowned, and Harry grabbed Draco's hand.

"I don't know what I'll do if Mum or Dad hates me," Harry said sadly.

"Me neither, but we'll love each other forever, right Harry?" Draco asked.

"Right! You're my big brother," Harry smiled.

"Yeah, I am," Draco said, puffing out his chest.

Harry smiled and turned to Sirius and Remus, "So… would it be okay if Blaise and I marry and be husbands like you two?" he asked.

Sirius grinned, "If that's how you truly feel when you are older, I don't see why not," he said.

"Then we'll all be husbands," Harry said. "Blaise, Draco, and me!" The adults looked at each other. Remus looked worried and was about to say something, but Sirius shook his head, smiling.

"They're kids, they'll learn," he whispered.

"So what am I supposed to do if someone calls Harry that word again?" Draco asked. "Or if they insult my brother because he loves pink?"

"Well, what did you do when Pansy said those terrible things?" Remus asked.

"Nothing," Draco frowned. "I wanted to yell at her and protect Harry but—I didn't know what to do."

"Well, do what you felt like doing," Remus said. "You were on the right track with protecting Harry. You're the big brother Draco, remember that. It's your job to look out for Harry, just as it's Harry's job to look out for you."

"We already look out for each other!" Draco said, looking a little happier.

"Then you're doing a great job already," Remus smiled. "You two are great brothers."

"We are," Harry agreed. "The best brothers!"

"Good! Now, do you have any more questions, boys?" Sirius asked. Harry gave a thoughtful look while Draco hummed, frowning slightly. They looked at each other, seeing their thoughtful looks, then back at the adults. Draco nodded and said, "How did you know that you liked boys?"

"Oh, that," Sirius said. "It's different for everyone. We didn't start dating until we were sixteen, however, I knew that I was different since I was twelve but couldn't name it until I was fifteen. And even before then, I was denying it."

"Why?" Harry asked.

"It's scary, figuring out that you're different from everyone else," Sirius said. "I'm happy for it, and I wouldn't change anything about myself, however, the initial discovery can be troublesome, especially because you just feel this great sense of isolation. That you're fully alone."

"But you're never alone," Remus said. "There are hundreds of people just like you, boys who like boys just like you, so while it'll be difficult at times, you're never truly alone. Eventually, you'll find others like you, you'll befriend them and, hopefully, might fall in love with one of them."

"Is that what happened with you two?" Harry asked.

"We've been friends since first year, but yeah," Sirius grinned. "We figured out that we both liked boys and, after talking about it we decided to give us as a couple a go. We've been together ever since."

"Did you have to face any bad things?" Harry asked.

"Yeah, and it was scary, I'm not going to lie to you Harry, but our love was stronger than it," Sirius said. "We had people bullying us because of who we are, but we stuck through it. Also, your father was a great help. James was supportive whenever he could. He even was our best man." He smiled.

"Wow," Harry whispered. "Can I be good and supportive like him?"

"You already are Harry, don't worry—ah! Have you ever saw our wedding pictures?" Sirius asked.

"No, we haven't," Draco said.

"Be a dear and go get them please?" Sirius asked Remus, "you're already standing."

"Lazy dog," Remus said, slapping Sirius' shoulder playfully. He left the room only to return not even a minute later with a book. "Your mother must be getting a little bored waiting, so we'll just show you one picture," Remus said, flipping through the book. "Ah!"

He turned the book towards the boys and pointed to one of the pictures. It was a colored picture showing four young adults smiling at the camera. Harry recognized Sirius and Remus right away. They were both wearing suits and holding hands, smiling brightly as they held up their held hands, showing off wedding rings. Next to them were Harry's parents, James, and Lily. Harry felt strange looking at them. They were familiar to him, and not just because he's seen them before. He felt like he knew them as if he could concentrate he could almost hear his mother's soft laugh or his father's loud, happy voice. "They look beautiful," Harry said.

"Yeah, they were," Sirius said softly.

Harry jumped when he felt a finger under his eyes. It felt wet and he blinked, looking at Draco. "You're crying," Draco said simply.

"Oh." Harry looked up at Sirius and Remus and said, "Sorry."

"Don't be Harry," Remus said. He closed the book and Harry wished he hasn't. "Come on, let's bring you home. You don't want to miss dinner, do you?"

"Okay," Harry nodded. Remus used his wand to produce a handkerchief and cleaned Harry's face before magicking the handkerchief away. "No need for tears now," Remus smiled. "Come along boys."

They left with Remus and returned to their mother. "Everything sorted?" Mrs. Malfoy asked.

"Yes," Remus nodded.

"They told us a lot," Draco said. "And Pansy was wrong for being mean to Harry and Uncle Remus and Uncle Sirius like that!"

"Uh-huh, Pansy was just being bad-minded because she couldn't understand that boys can love each other like how Remus and Sirius love each other," Harry nodded.

"Good," Mrs. Malfoy nodded, "well, say goodbye then."

Harry and Draco hugged Remus goodbye and screamed their goodbyes to Sirius who screamed his farewell. Mrs. Malfoy made a disapproving noise, "Honestly what is he doing?" he muttered.

"Writing in his diary," Harry said, "He told me that he writes in it every day since Hogwarts!"

Mrs. Malfoy chuckled, highly amused by that. "That is good to know," she smiled sweetly. "Well then, goodbye Remus." Remus watched them leave and Harry found himself lying on his bed after dinner, thinking about everything that's going on. His heart felt weird, and he turned to his side as he thought about Draco and Blaise. He wondered how they would feel when they were older. Would they be like Sirius and Remus? Would he too feel alone like they did? Or would they not be like Sirius and Remus and can't become husbands? It hurt his head thinking about it all, however, one thing was clear to the young boy. No matter what, he was determined never to become hateful like Pansy and people like her and her family. Sirius and Remus, their love was normal to Harry, he couldn't see anything strange or abnormal in it. It was just them being adults and married, husbands, just like how Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy were married. There was no real difference in Harry's eyes, just love.

A/N: Getting closer to Hogwarts, we have to wonder what will happen, especially when they meet new people and, god forbid, puberty happens!

AnnaMertueil: I'm sure everyone will be surprised.

Meroku: As I like saying, I hate Snape so much. So his role... will exactly be the same as his role in any other story of mine: Asshole to child. Lmao. Draco with the twins... that's almost what I have planned, and no. No MPreg in this one, but there will be something else.

Vampireking40: Harry as a Slytherin will be interesting and fun to write about, imagine him using his cuteness and looks to just charm everyone into loving him. Snape will have a minimum role in this story. And I am sorry, but I don't write main het relationships. Harry is going to be with Blaise. He and Daphne will just stay friends.

WereBunny87: so happy you're enjoying! And don't worry about Lucius, he will learn one day.

Retired10: The Minister wasn't fudge. To be honest, I've forgotten about Moon, and Fudge isn't elected until 1990, so I just had a nameless Minister be the in-between. And the Minister will have his uses for the Malfoys because who else will Lucius control when he needs something?

Padfootette: thanks!

Marvynthepheonix: Glad you find Harry funny, but what about adorable?

Gindensmi: Thank you!

Ugly-Duckling123: Whenever Harry actually runs into a snake and have a chance to talk with it.

DZ2: Because the Minister is, along with Fudge and Lucius. Oh and more than fireworks, when he finds out about his children, I expect for bombs to go off.