That night of Halloween a flash of greenlight spread through the deafening darkness of Godric's Hollow and an echoing inhumane scream spread through the fog. A baby was left crying until his throat went raw. Then, two rough, yet gentle hands picked him up.
Harry Potter looked up into glistening grey eyes of Sirius Black and he instantly calmed down. Sirius face was taught with grief and tears that he could not stop streamed down his face. The crack of someone apparating alerted Sirius and he desperately looked around for his wand which he had placed somewhere in his panic. But soon the familiar face of Remus Lupin bolted through the nursery.
"Sirius!" Remus gasped, he already had tears falling from dark green eyes. The two young men stood together, communicating although no words were spoken whilst Harry finally fell asleep in Sirius's arms.
Remus looked away from Sirius and rubbed the tears from his eyes. He spotted the body of Lilly still lying on the floor, her face frozen in the expression of one of determination yet utter desperation to save her son.
Remus kneeled down and sniffed as he closed her eyes.
The multiple cracks of wizards arriving alerted both the men, Remus instantly had his wand pointing at the door, Sirius stepped slightly behind Remus and hugged Harry closer to his body. The thundering steps of multiple wizards storming up the stairs caused both men to hold their breathes in anticipation. Remus could hear both their hearts racing against their chests, he was however constantly aware of Harry, who had the calm heartbeat of a sleeping baby.
The long grey beard and the grey robes instantly calmed the men, Dumbledore had arrived.
"Dumbledore." The men both sighed and they relaxed, Sirius stood out from behind Remus.
Dumbledore looked once over the dead body of Lily and his eyes darkened with sorrow, then he looked to Harry, many emotions passed through his eyes, none that Sirius or Remus could identify.
Moody was the next one to enter the room, words were still not spoken between any of these men, it was painfully obvious would had occurred and no questions were needed to be asked, but then Moody spotted the sleeping baby in Sirius arms, his eyes widened.
"How the bloody Merlin did he survive?" Moody had only a few times been seen with a shocked expression on his face, he wasn't one that was to be shocked very easily.
"The power of love Moody, that was how." Dumbledore spoke, his eyes fluttering over Lily.
No one knew how to respond to this statement, but Sirius and Remus did not care for how Harry survived, they were just extremely thankful that he had.
Three Years Later
Harry ran down the hallway, shrieking with laughter and Sirius chased after him, his hands outstretched, ready to catch the toddler for when he would eventually stumble and fall. Remus looked up from his book, his eyes softening with the love that he knew he would never stop feeling.
Harrys fourth birthday was only in a few days, gifts had already started to overtake their spare bedroom and Remus had no idea how to give all these presents to Harry without over spoiling the child. Sirius of course had wanted to just give them all to Harry at once, but Remus being the reasonable adult in the house had instantly disagreed. They decided that presents only from close ones and themselves would be given, and any presents from fans would be given to him as rewards throughout the year before his next birthday. Last year, any presents from fans were blocked by the Aurors as a precaution, but they had laxed on that this year and now Remus had no idea what to do with the overwhelming support.
Sirius and Harry continued to play whatever game they were playing whilst Remus retired himself to the kitchen. Unironically Remus had assigned himself the "motherly" duties of the household, ensuring that Sirius and Harry received well rounded diets and lived in a simple comfort, whilst Sirius upheld the "fatherly" duties of constantly playing with Harry and teaching him boy things that James would of most likely taught him. However, both men participated in the wellbeing's of Harrys mental and intellectual growth. They both wanted Harry to be raised to understand who he was, but to not let that make him who he was. They wanted Harry to be a typical well-rounded child who was kind yet not afraid to speak up for himself and the people he cared for.
So far Remus thought they were doing a good job, Harry was stubborn and hated to be told he was wrong, even over simple little things, like the spelling of a word. But Harry was kind and brave. He shared with the kids at play group, defended any little kid like he was prepared to take on the world for them and he knew how to make the room instantly brighten with laughter. Harry for a cute little four-year-old was unbelievably understanding and attentive of the world around him and Remus could not be prouder.
Harry tired out flopped onto the couch and picked up the book that Remus was reading, Remus opened his mouth to stop him but stopped himself. The book had nothing that he didn't want Harry to be exposed to, it was after all just a simple potions book, so he continued on with his cooking.
Sirius strolled into the kitchen, his face still light with laughter. He kissed Remus on the cheek as he passed him to get a cup of water. Remus blushed, it was only recently that they had openly begun to show their relationship to Harry and occasionally it still made Remus slightly embarrassed.
Harry was not that surprised by the news, it was difficult to explain to Harry the new dynamic to the relationship, but Harry just shrugged and had said in his little toddler voice.
"I always knew Uncle Sirius and Uncle Remus loved each other, so its okay to show me that you love each other."
Remus instantly took Harry into his arms and squished him into a tight hug, tears gathered at the edge of his eyes and he quickly wiped them away when he released Harry.
"You're such a smart little boy." Remus chuckled, ruffling his hair.
Sirius just smiled widely and ruffled Harrys too, "that's my little man." He said, Remus nearly burst out crying.
Remus smiled fondly at the memory but shook his head as the water began to boil over.
"Woah you okay love?" Sirius asked, he quickly waved his wand over the water and settled it. Remus chuckled and took the pot off the heat.
"Yeah was just thinking back to when we told Harry about us that's all." He said, draining the water into the sieve watching the pasta plop into it.
"You're not thinking of silly things, are you?" Sirius asked, wrapping his hands around Remus's waist and kissing the back of his neck, the hair on the back of his neck raised and Remus shivered slightly.
"No, I was just thinking back to it fondly." Remus said, he wanted to move, but Sirius arms were wound so tightly around him that he was incapable of doing so.
"Sirius what do you think you're doing?" Remus grumbled.
"Shh he's reading a book so its fine."
"Sirius Black!" Remus huffed and he quickly turned around, Sirius lopsided smile broke through his face.
"I'm just teasing you Moony." He chuckled, quickly pecking him on the lips before releasing him from his arm cage.
Remus rolled his eyes and quickly finished dinner. He didn't know how he would manage to survive to old age with these two keeping him on his toes.
Six Years Later
In a year Harry would be turning eleven and Sirius still was not prepared for the day when he would have to wave to Harry as the Hogwarts Express left the station. Sirius sighed and rolled over in the bed, Remus grumbled but did not move and Sirius waited for the mans breathe to become even again.
Sirius surrendering himself to a night of no sleep slowly slid out of the bed, maybe he would do some work to make the hours go by.
Sirius had to return back to the wizarding world fully to ensure that his family would be supported, especially Harry. Returning as the head of The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black had not been the easiest for Sirius, but over the years he had developed a simple enjoyment for his job. The work initially was languished and hard, but now his job was easier, and the machines of his ancient role were much more well oiled than before.
Sirius shuffled through papers that needed to be read and signed and flicked through tax files that he had to approve of. He had multiple party invitations from families that he had not met in years to decline and business proposals to regard. The waning hours of the night soon drifted into the morning and the light patter of feet coming down the hallway indicated that Harry had woken up. Sirius opened his door from his office and greeted a yawning Harry with a bright smile.
"Hey buddy, ready for some breakfast?" Sirius ruffled Harrys hair a habit that Harry was now beginning to get annoyed at. Harry like his father was quite slim and long for his age, Remus had initially been worried that Harry wasn't gaining weight, but Sirius reassured him that it was just his Potter genes.
"Hmm is Uncle Remus awake?" Harry asked, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.
"Nah not yet, how about we make him breakfast?"
Harry gave Sirius a wary look and Sirius barked out a quiet laugh.
"My cooking cant be that bad can it?"
"Its not inedible." Harry mumbled, he looked away and hid his smile, Sirius chuckled and walked into the kitchen. He could do a simple eggs and bacon easily enough. Sirius had actually expected Remus to awaken at the loud noises he was making in the kitchen, but Remus had not yet appeared from the bedroom.
"Uncle Sirius you're burning the eggs." Harry moaned.
Sirius looked down to the eggs, distracted by his thoughts. "Oh shit." He muttered and quickly turned off the heat to the stove.
Harry giggled, "Moony will yell at you if you swear like that."
Sirius turned around with a slightly burnt plate of eggs and bacon and placed them in front of Harry, sticking his tongue out to tease him.
"Well you'll just not have to tell him, now won't you?"
"But Uncle Remus said it's bad to lie." Harry said, a mouth already full of eggs.
"And Uncle Remus also said that it's bad to talk with your mouth full." Sirius playfully retorted.
Sirius eyed the hallway leading to the bedroom, he was now a bit worried at the absence of Remus.
"I'll be right back, just going to go check on Moony." Sirius spoke lightly, ruffling Harrys hair as he walked past towards the bedroom.
Sirius walked in and opened the door and breathed a sigh of relief at seeing that Remus was still in bed and had not magically disappeared.
"Hey love are you okay?" Sirius softly spoke, sitting on the side of the bed and placing his hand on Remus. Remus grumbled and rolled onto his back, his face bright red and sweaty.
"Remus!" Sirius said startled. Remus groaned and opened his eyes.
"It's just because the full moon is near that's all, could you get me some water." He spoke with a small rasp and Sirius nodded, quickly rushing to the kitchen getting a glass of water, he had forgotten Harry was there and was startled slightly when he spoke.
"Sirius could you get me one of the muggle books please?" Harry spoke, standing patiently by the bookshelf.
Sirius turned to him and nearly spilt the cup of water.
"Sorry you must have been waiting pretty patiently." Sirius chuckled and he put the glass down heading towards the shelf, "what book do you want kiddo?"
"Hmm can I get The Hobbit?" Harry asked, plopping himself down on his bean bag, something muggle that Arthur had gifted Harry for his tenth birthday.
"Sure, its Remus approved yeah?" Sirius asked, scanning through the top shelf for the book.
"Yeah, he said I could start reading them now that I'm nearly eleven." Harry spoke, he shuffled around in the bean bag until he was content with the position he found. Sirius finally found the book and took it out, he opened it briefly and was a little surprised to find how complex it looked.
"You sure you'll be okay with this? Looks a bit difficult for someone your age."
"Remus said I should be able to handle it." Harry shrugged.
Sirius nodded his head, if Remus thought Harry capable than Harry would be capable.
"Alright enjoy." He handed the book to Harry and went back to the kitchen grabbing the cup of water.
"Is Uncle Remus sick again?"
Sirius paused slightly.
"Yeah just a slight fever, looks like you'll be stuck with me cooking dinner tonight.
Harry groaned but nodded.
Sirius took this as his time to finally give Remus his water. He walked as fast as he could to the bedroom and softly sat down next to Remus.
"Here Moony, sorry it took a bit had to get Harry a book."
Remus opened his eyes, and with a groan of effort sat up, Sirius handed him the cup and watched as he took painful little sips.
"Did he ask for The Hobbit?" Remus said, handing the glass back to Sirius and lying back down.
"Yeah he did, looks a little bit advanced for his age." Sirius spoke softly, Remus lazily waved his hand in the air.
"Nah he'll be fine, it's a bit wordy but other than that its just an adventure fantasy book."
Sirius nodded, he preferred to keep the academics to Remus, although he got good grades at school, he didn't have that natural talent for teaching unlike Remus did.
"I'll let you sleep now." Sirius leaned over Remus slightly and lightly pecked him on the cheek.
Giving any sort of potions to Remus right before the moon was useless typically, his fever always ran too high and his body burnt off the potions almost immediately, meaning no affect could take place. Harry would have to go to the Weasleys tomorrow to stay for the night whilst he helped Remus through his transformation in a forest far enough away from human habitation.
Sirius sighed and got up from the bed, Remus was breathing evenly now which was a good sign that he was sleeping well. The nightmares still plagued the both of them, however having each other made everything easier.
Sirius went into his office to finish off work that he had not been able to finish, by the time he emerged it was lunch time and he was famished.
"Uncle Sirius?" Harry asked brightly as soon as he saw him emerge from his office.
"Yeah what's up?"
"Do hobbits exist in the wizarding world too?"
Sirius gave a puzzled look to Harry, "um what's a hobbit?"
Harry eyes widened with realisation, "oh well they're sort of like dwarves cause they're small, but they look more like human except they have really big feet."
Sirius took a moment to think, "hmm don't think we have hobbits no… but maybe you could ask Uncle Remus when you get back from the Weasleys."
"Oh, okay cool." Harry jumped onto the barstools and continued reading his book quietly as Sirius prepared a simple lunch of cheese and ham sandwiches. They both ate in silence, Harry engrossed by his book and Sirius engrossed by his thoughts.
The days passed and Remus emerged from the bedroom the day after his transformation looking slightly pale but refreshed. Harry soon emerged from the fireplace coughing slightly as some ash got in his nose.
"I really will never like flooing." He grumbled, patting down his clothes.
"Oh, don't be so fussy." Remus chuckled, sitting down on the couch.
"Remus you're better!" Harry rushed over to Remus and crushed him into a hug. Remus winced a little, his ribs still a bit tender. Harry noticed this and instantly let go.
"Sorry didn't mean to hurt you." Harry murmured looking sheepishly away.
"Oh no you didn't, just surprised me a little that's all." Remus chuckled, ruffing up Harrys hair to show him everything was okay. Harry looked up, knowing that it was all okay, his eyes instantly lit up with anticipation.
Remus smiled as he knew exactly what was causing all this excitement.
"Come to the kitchen whilst I cook lunch and you can talk to me all about it."
Harry practically sprinted to the kitchen and nearly fell off the barstool as he jumped onto it. Remus just chuckled at his actions and slowly went about the kitchen, preparing a simple lunch of chicken and salad.
"Okay Uncle Remus firstly, I asked Sirius this, but he wasn't sure, but do Hobbits actually exist?" Harry asked, the book wide open as Harry skimmed through looking for references for his questions.
"Uh you see when I first read The Hobbit, I thought they would too, but unfortunately it turns out that they do not, Dwarves certainly do but not Hobbits."
Harry nodded absorbing this information. "Okay so next…"
Remus circled around the kitchen, listening intently to Harrys questions and preparing the lunch. He still felt a bit stiff in places from last night but other than that his mood was stable and his fever no longer.
"Dragons don't really terrorise people like that, they're pretty quiet creatures and would prefer to tend to themselves, so I don't think a dragon could ever do what Smaug did, unless it got really angry, I reckon." Remus replied to Harrys question.
"So, it wouldn't burn a whole city down just to sleep on some gold in a mountain?"
"No, I don't think so, I don't really know a lot about Dragons, but I know what one creature that would love to burn down a city to sleep on a mountain of gold." Remus smirked.
"What?" Harry asked, interested.
"Goblins!"
"Goblins?" Harry said perplexed.
"Goblins love gold, that's why the ministry have employed them as our bankers, they would do anything to protect gold, even if it means working for nasty old wizards like us."
"Being a banker sounds boring." Harry chuckled.
Remus smiled, of course to a child it sounded like a simple and tiring job, and he wasn't one that was going to refute it.
Sirius finally left his study, coerced by the smell of lunch. Sirius smiled up at him and began plating the lunch. The three all ate the table, Harry still enthusiastically asking questions and Remus enthusiastically answering back. Sirius watched on with a soft warmth in his eyes.
Harry had to be convinced to go to bed, which was unusual for the boy. Even though Remus did not want to admit it, a headache was beginning to develop right behind his eyes, and he wasn't sure if he could answer another one of Harrys questions without getting frustrated. Sirius eventually convinced Harry to go to bed, with promises of a quidditch match the next day.
Remus fell face first onto the bed and Sirius chuckled, shrugging off his clothes and popping on a pair of pyjama pants.
"Glad to see that Harry likes the book at least." Sirius said, yawning into his hand.
"Yeah maybe a bit too much." He grumbled. Sirius chuckled again and plopped next to Remus, rubbing his hand into the small of his back.
"Come old man time for bed."
Remus shot his head up, "oi who you are calling an old man? You're older than me!"
"Hmm but if I look closely you have far more grey hairs than me." Sirius teased.
"Yeah but you find it hot." Remus teased back.
Sirius pressed a little harder into Remus's back. "Do I?"
The Day School Begins
Harry quickly turned to Sirius and Remus, fiercely hugging the both of them, both men had tears swimming in their eyes, Harry himself was beginning to tear up.
"Come on Harry its about to leave!" Ron called out, waving to Harry to hurry up.
Harry sniffed and looked at his two uncles. "Ill write every weekend as promised."
"We love you Harry." Remus sniffed, ruffling the boys hair.
"Always and forever." Sirius finished.
Harrys deep green eyes watered more, and he sniffed even more loudly. "I love you both too."
Ron called for Harry again, Harry quickly wiped his eyes clean and smiled at the two of them, "see you at Christmas!"
They both nodded at him and Harry quickly ran onto the train, just making it by a hairs width.
Remus leaned onto Sirius's arm and watched as Harry waved from the carriage door.
"It's going to so quiet without him."
"He'll be okay."
"I love you Sirius."
Sirius took Remus hand and gave it a squeeze, "I love you too."