Chapter Three
Remus was pouring himself a cup of tea when Harry climbed out of the fireplace. He was about an inch taller that Remus remembered him and his face looked more adult. "Harry!" he exclaimed, "Good to see you. Would you like some tea?'
"Good to see you too," said Harry, smiling nervously. "Yes, I'll have some tea, Profess-"
"You can call me Remus, Harry," said the other man, smiling warmly. "Sirius!" he called, "Harry's here!"
Through the door came Harry's godfather, looking happier than Harry had even seen him. But that wasn't all that was different. "You've had your ear pierced!" Harry exclaimed.
"Remus did it for me," said Sirius, fingering the small silver hoop in his ear. He sat across the table from Remus and Harry took the seat between them.
"So," said Sirius, as Remus poured a cup of tea for Harry, "how's the summer been going?"
"Horrible. Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon added on to the house, and now they have room to throw all these huge parties all the time. Of course, I'm under strict orders to stay in my room, which is all right because I can get my homework done. Snape's the only teacher who gave any, though- four rolls of parchment on sleeping potions."
"Leave it to Severus to worry about summer homework when Voldemort's risen again," said Remus.
"Um," said Harry, "Could I ask you two something?"
"Certainly," said Sirius.
"What exactly is it that Dumbledore's having Snape do? And what are you two-"
"I'm afraid we can't tell you that, Harry," said Remus gravely. "Voldemort and his followers could do all sorts of horrible spells to make you tell them, if they ever captured you. It's better you don't know."
An ominous silence fell over the room. Sirius and Remus exchanged looks. "Well, we'd better all be getting to bed," said Sirius, rising from his chair. "I'll show you your room, Harry." He picked up Harry's trunk and Hedwig's cage and proceeded into the hallway.
Harry followed him up a winding staircase. The walls were covered with moving photographs. Many had people in them he didn't recognize, but one caught his eye. The photograph had been taken in the Gryffindor common room. Standing in front of one of the tables were four boys. All four had mischevous looks in their eyes. "Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs," Harry whispered.
Peter Pettigrew, when he was in school, had been a short round boy. In this picture he stood a little apart from the others and looked rather uncomfortable.
Next to him was James Potter. His hands were on his head, trying to get his hair to lie down flat.
Next to him were Remus and Sirius. They were looking at each other apprehensively. Remus reached out a hand and touched Sirius's shoulder, but Sirius pulled away.
"You fool," whispered Sirius, "you don't know what you're missing." He stared for another second, and then blinked. "Come on, Harry."
A few stairs up was a photo of Remus and Sirius. It had been taken very recently, because Harry could see the hoop in Sirius's ear. The two of them were kissing passionately. Sirius's hand was on Remus's shoulder.
"Does it bother you," asked Sirius quietly. Harry thought for a second.
"No," he answered truthfully. "I mean, I'm not used to it yet, but I don't think it's wrong or anything." He paused. "You know, Sirius, I was thinking…if your name is cleared and I get to live with you, I'll be living with Remus too, right?"
"That's right. Is that okay with you?"
"Of course!" said Harry. "If I could live with anyone, it would be with you. Or else maybe the Weasleys," he added, "but they've got enough people in their house already."
"I'm honored to hear that," said Sirius quietly. "Now we'd better keep going, or we'll never get any sleep."
At the top of the stairs was small room with a wardrobe and a bed. All of it looked quite old, but Harry didn't mind. Next to the bed was a nightstand with another picture on it. "Remus found that for you," said Sirius. "It's yours to keep." Harry sat down and picked up the picture.
His mother was sitting in a rocking chair. In her arms was a baby, so new he was still red. The baby had tufty hair and was fast asleep. Standing behind the rocking chair was his father. He was leaning down to kiss Lily's cheek, and she smiled, her eyes wet with tears. Harry realized some were forming in his own.
"Sirius," he said, his eyes still fixed on the photograph, "I don't think I know how to thank you and Remus."
He felt Sirius's hand rest on his back. "That's all right, Harry." His hand squeezed. "Now get some sleep." Harry heard the door close, and Sirius was gone.