Harry
Harry paced the end of Barty's bed. He was nervous and excited. Remus had believed the twins about him and wanted to see him. It left him feeling lighter and happier than he had been in months. The only downside was the waiting. Like right now. Barty was in his bathroom getting dressed and to Harry it felt like the man was moving at a snail's pace. He had yowled and meowed loudly a couple times only for the Death Eater to yell at him to shut up.
That left him with pacing.
"You know you're going to wear yourself out," Barty teased when he finally emerged from the bathroom. Harry hissed at him. The man didn't seem bothered, just reached down and picked Harry up and left the room.
Harry sank his claws into the man's arm as retaliation for taking so long. Barty hissed and flicked Harry's nose, but the Lestrange brothers walked around the corner so the man was unable to scold him.
"Where are you off to?" Bastan asked, reaching out to scratch Harry above his ears. Harry was only a little embarrassed when he leaned into the man's hand.
"Shopping." Barty said, glaring at Bastan before he shifted Harry away from the other Death Eaters touch.
Harry snickered, the sound sounded more like a set of strange snorts, but Barty looked down at him and glared. Harry huffed but laid down in the man's arms, not noticing the strange looks Baston and Rodolphus gave them.
"Should you be risking it again so soon?" Rod asked.
"That was like forever ago. Besides, I want to get Mischief more toys." There was a choked off sound from Bastan and Harry had to fight not to laugh.
The day before a couple of the Death Eaters had stumbled across the bags the twins had given Barty. Harry had been sitting on the couch in the library with Lucius while he and Narcissa talked about Christmas Holiday, which was only a week or so away.
She wanted Draco to come home for the holidays but Lucius, with a side look at Harry, tried to talk her out of it. Before they could really get into it, a large roar echoed down the halls. All three of them took off running.
When they found the source, Bastan was standing in the middle of the gathering room, his hair turned into a dark black lion's mane. His teeth and claws had changed as well,causing the man's canines to grow so that he couldn't close his mouth. The claws that he was staring at wide eyed looked more like talons, and when Harry noticed the man's tail swaying back and forth behind him, he had to sit down because he was laughing so hard he couldn't breath and he didn't want to pass out or fall over.
He was so focused on the half lion half Death Eater that he didn't notice Bellatrix or Rodolphus until Narcissa gasped and Harry swore the Lady Malfoy snorted before she caught herself and covered her mouth.
Bella looked less like a lion and more like some kind of snake. She had scales along her face and throat, deep blues and greens, and her tongue when she stuck it out was spilt. Personally Harry thought she looked awesome but from the horrified look on her face she didn't agree. Her husband was kneeling in front of her, his hands –well paws– running over her like he was trying to make sure she was okay. Like his brother, he had transformed into a lion.
Harry was amused as hell until Lucius kicked him, not hard, in the side and hissed, "fix it."
Not sure how he was expected to do so, Harry looked around until he found the Weasleys' bags and dragged them over to Malfoy. After that he sat back and watched as both Narcissa and her husband shoved candy after candy at the other three, turning them into creature after creature until they finally found the counter candy and changed back into their human forms.
Bellatrix had hexed and burned the bags before storming off.
Harry had been in the best mood after that. So had Barty when the Death Eater found out later what he missed.
"You okay Bastan?" Barty teased, bringing Harry out of the hilarious memory.
The younger Lestrange glared at Barty, "don't buy anymore of those horrid candies," before turning and walking away, missing Barty's muttered, "I didn't buy the first batch." Rod who was still standing there snorted.
"I'd be careful Barty, Bas isn't the only one pissed about yesterday, I caught Bella dreaming up ways to skin you."
Harry felt Barty shrug, "I can handle her," the blond muttered, "now I've best be heading off."
They left without any more interruptions. Barty again cast a glamor before apparating to the Leaky Cauldron, then entering Diagon Alley. As they walked Harry felt his heart pound faster. He knew he shouldn't be nervous. It was Remus after all. But there was a small part in the back of his mind that was worried that the werewolf would be upset with him. It wasn't logical and he kept trying to remind himself of that.
When they entered the twins shop, Harry could actually smell Remus. He whined and wiggled until Barty put him on the ground. Harry didn't even think about it before he darted into the store and ran up a set of stairs. Remus and twins must have heard them come in because they were about halfway down. Harry didn't care. The second he saw Remus he leaped into the air, barely registering the horrified look on Remus's face before the man caught him and pulled him close. Harry purred and meowed against the man's chest, all his nerves gone as Remus petted and mumbled calming words.
He was so lost in the soothing feeling of being around someone he loved and cared for as a father, that he didn't notice as they descended the stairs. He also missed the twins dragging Barty off into the store. In fact he didn't notice his surroundings until Remus sat down and pulled Harry away from his chest. It wasn't far, in fact he was still on Remus's lap, but it was enough they could look at each other.
"Harry," the man whispered and Harry's stomach clenched, Remus had tears running down his cheeks. How did he not notice the man crying? He whined and stood up, his paws on Remus's chest, he rubbed his check against the older man's using his fur to soak up the tears.
Remus chuckled and petted the top of his head. "I'm happy to see you too."
Remus
Leaving Harry in the arms of Bartemius Crouch Jr. was almost impossible.
Remus had to remind himself that Severus was there to look after Harry and that his godson had already spent weeks amongst the Death Eaters and was clearly being well taken care of. Still a large part of him hadn't wanted to let go. Harry's soft meow and a gentle press of his cheek against Remus's hand told him that it was okay, and he had finally handed the small kitten over to the Death Eater.
The man had given him an understanding look, and it was all too much for had to turn and leave the store before he did something regrettable.
Now he stood outside Grimmauld Place, debating just how he was going to tell Padfoot everything that he had learned, taking one last breath to center himself he walked inside.
The house of course was busy. Most of the Order members seemed to spend more and more time there the last few days. He knew it was because they believed Harry was dead and they were afraid. Not sure when or where Voldemort would attack next. They felt safer here inside the massive amount of wards the Black family had placed over the generations.
It irked Remus. This was Sirius' home and the man was grieving, yet almost none of the Order members seemed to care. They didn't clean up after themselves, they were loud, despite it setting off Walburga Black's portrait, and the way they talked so carelessly about Harry and his possible fate had Moony growling and wanting to rip them apart.
The only ones that seemed to care were the Weasleys. He had caught Bill and Charlie both sitting quietly next to Sirius, not really talking but offering comfort. The twins had been by a couple times, and while he didn't know what the two trouble makers had whispered to his mate, it had cheered him up a little.
Walking into the kitchen he found Molly busying herself in the kitchen, a couple Order members sitting at the table drinking coffee whispering to each other. He ignored all of them. Walking out of the kitchen and passing the drawing room, he took a deep breath and brought it in through his nose. Sirius' scent stood out as always and he followed it up the stairs and into the room Harry had stayed in over the summer.
Sirius was laying in the middle of the bed, passed out. Remus caught a hint of salt and water in the air, tears. He swallowed, feeling guilty that he had been with Harry while his mate had been in here crying over their lost godson.
Turning around, he closed the door as quietly as he could, before pulling out his wand and casting ever privacy and silence spells he knew. When he was satisfied that no one, not even the twins could eavesdrop, he put away his wand and crawled onto the bed next to Sirius.
Laying on his back he stared at the ceiling. He thought about waking up his friend, but the truth was the other man hadn't been sleeping and Remus knew he desperately needed it. Turning his head to the side, he took in his mate. The man looked exhausted even in his sleep, he was still slightly underweight from his time in Azkaban, and the clothes he wore didn't fit right, not even with the help of a few shrinking spells. Yet despite that, he was still handsome. And that wasn't just Moony talking.
Sirius has always been good looking; it was one of the reasons he got away with so much when they were younger. Padfoot would just smile and charm his way out of whatever trouble they fell into. And if Sirius couldn't do it, James could. Remus smiled softly thinking about it. The two Heirs had been more trouble than the Weasley twins and almost as close.
Sirius shifted in his sleep, letting out a small whimper, giving Remus the urge to reach out and run his hands through the other man's hair, something he knew would help sooth him. But he held back. He always held back. He sighed, it was worse now.
Before when they were younger, Sirius had no boundaries. He leaned into, touched, and hugged whoever he wanted. And when he came to his friends it was worse, often using them as pillows or even beds should the desire arise. The closeness had helped calm that wolf in him, the one that swore Sirius was theirs.
Being the only werewolf at Hogwarts meant that he hadn't understood the draw, not at first. Nor the need to be close to and protect his best friend. It also meant he didn't understand when his friends had become more, become a pack. It was only in his seventh and final year that he managed to find a book on werewolves. It had been a fluke – James had dragged them into Knockturn alley looking for something for a prank. While James and Sirius argued and plotted in one shop he had gotten bored and wandered off into the one next door.
It was a chaotic mess and yet somehow he found a small section of worn and faded books. One stood out. The word Werewolves etched in silver against a black leather cover. His hands had shaken as he reached out and grabbed it. Flipping through a few pages, he found he couldn't breath. There were potions to help with the transformation. Wards and spells to create safe places and information. Things like scent association and marking. Pages on potential mates and pack bonds. He hadn't been able to put it down. And when his friends finally found him, standing in the middle of the cluttered shop book in hand, James had taken one look at what was in his hand and told the man behind the counter they were taking it.
He had opened his mouth to protest. Surely it was expensive and he hated having his friends waste money on him. But Siruis had placed his hand over Remus's mouth and told him not to even try.
Sirius shifted again, pulling him from his thoughts. This time the other man's eyes opened and he blinked a couple times before he gave a little smile and whispered, "Hey Moony."
"Hey Pads," he said back, moving to sit up, back resting against the headboard. He heard his friend sigh before he started to shift and do the same. Remus' heart ached not just because of what he was about to tell the other man, but because of what he never had told him.
When he had read and finished the book, he had finally understood a few things, the biggest being that Sirius was his mate, and that there would always be a connection between them. He had thought about telling him.
But Siruis was always dating and dropping girls, always talking about how he never wanted to settle down and get married. How boring it would be if he did. Remus had decided to hold back, to wait. Let his friend explore and be young before telling him. But then they graduated and the war got bad, and suddenly it wasn't about letting Sirius grow, it was his own fear of what would happen if he gave in and claimed Sirius, what would happen to the other if one of them died. So again he kept his secret. Then Lily and James were in danger, and he didn't think it was right to bring it up. Then they were dead and Sirius was gone.
It wasn't until that night in the shack that he realized how desperately he and Moony had missed the other man. Not that he got a chance to tell Sirius anything that night. Somehow he still hadn't told him. He wasn't sure if the fear was about possible rejection or if he was afraid of how angry Sirius would be at him for keeping it a secret all these.
"Remus?" Sirius' soft whisper brought him out of his thoughts once again.
"Sorry," he whispered.
"What's going on?" his friend asked, and Remus could see it in his eyes. Sirius was terrified Remus was about to confirm Harry's death. The small bit of doubt they had both had after Dumbledore's announcement was the only thing keeping Sirius from losing his mind. And right now the man looked ready to faint as he waited for Remus to talk.
"He's alive," he whispered.
Sirius's eyes widened before his eyes darted around the room. He watched as his mate took in the closed, locked door, and the wards before looking back at him.
"You don't want anyone to know?" he asked, and Remus nodded. "How do you know for sure?" The next questions came out fast, "Have you talked to him? Seen him? What happened-" Remus held up his hand, stopping his friend.
"Pads, before I tell you, I need you to promise to listen to everything I say. Then I need you to promise you wont do anything stupid," his friend frowned at him, but nodded his head.
"No Sirius, I need you to actually promise," he said, feeling a little bad about focing his mate to make a promise. There was a magic to such things and breaking his word would have consequences.
Sirius studied him for a second before speaking, " I Sirius Black the Third, swear that I will hear out Remus Lupin and will not react without thinking." Remus smiled a little, knowing that was the best he was going to get.
"He's been cursed…" He stared, and for the next hour or so he told Siruis everything he had learned from both Severus and the twins.
