Chapter 16

After all the guests had left, Harry, Remus and Cassius sat outside on the back steps, enjoying the early evening. Tabby had transformed back into a cat as soon as everyone was gone.  "We won't see her for a while – that was too much socializing for Tabby. She's peopled out." Cassius said with a smile as Tabby the cat ran into the house.

"We have one more present for you, Harry" Remus handed Harry a small package. Harry opened it, inside was a gold ring. It had words engraved around the outside. "It's a Lupin family ring, like the ones Cass and I have – we thought…if you wanted…" Remus started to trail off, looking at Harry uncertainly.  Harry's eyes had welled up with tears.

"We know we're not your parents but we'd like you to be part of our family." Cassius said softly. Harry felt a lump in his throat.

"I love it." Harry whispered.  "Where do I wear it?"

"Index finger, on your left hand." Remus answered, holding up his own hand where his ring was. Harry slipped it on. "We can also get you a chain so you can wear it around your neck too, if you want."

"What's the motto?" Harry asked, brushing the tears off his cheeks.

"Steadfast, Faithful and Loyal."

They were silent for a few moments.

"Now, I can call you Mum?" Harry asked Remus, starting to laugh.  Cassius laughed too.

"So, you do know you call me Dad?" Cassius asked curiously.

"I didn't, not until last week.  Moody asked me about it when he heard me say it, and I hadn't realized I said it. He thinks it started because I used you as my protector when we first started Occlumency. Then when I thought about it…I like calling you that…and you never said anything…like telling me I couldn't…I've never really called anyone Dad before." He paused as he thought of James and Lily Potter. They were his parents, they had loved him, but he couldn't remember them, he hadn't known them enough to miss them. He hoped they would understand that he had found two other people who would be his parents since they couldn't be.

"I don't see why I have to be Mum. Why can't you just have two dads, that happens nowadays." Remus said huffily.

"Dad calls you wife." Harry answered.

"That's… He tricked me into that." Remus said.

"Then…what about Papa?" Harry said with a smile as he leaned against Remus.

"I like that." Remus smiled and put his arm around Harry.

"I still vote for Mum." Cassius said.

"You're vetoed, two to one. Right, Harry?"

"Right, Papa."

"You know, they'll be good code names for when Harry goes back to Hogwarts – just in case the owl is intercepted." Cassius said after thinking for a moment.

"Code names! Cassius Malfoy Lupin, if you think up another guideline for this, I swear…" Remus sounded aggravated.

"No…no, of course I wasn't thinking of adding a guideline." Cassius winked at Harry who tried hard not to laugh.

Harry received an owl from Hogwarts listing the books he would need for the year.

"I've got the new list of books I need." Harry said at breakfast, reading over the letter.

"We can go tomorrow or the next day. It'll just be you and me, I think Diagon Alley will be too crowded for Tabby. That's all right, isn't it, Cass?" Remus looked over at Cassius who nodded as he ate his toast. "Do you want to see if Ron and Hermione can meet up with us?"

Harry shook his head, he only had a few days left with The Guardians, he didn't want to share them.

"Couldn't you come too, Dad?" Harry asked Cassius, knowing that the answer was no.

"No, actually I have to take Draco shopping since Lucius is still in Azkaban. Narcissa asked me if I could…And…well, it's better that we not be together in public. No one, other than the Order, knows about my relationship to you or Papa and I'd like to keep it that way as long as possible."

"You're going to see Draco? You spend time with him?" Harry asked, feeling stunned

"Occasionally, yes." Cassius arched his eyebrow. "He is my nephew….why do you seem so surprised?"

"I just thought your father had thrown you out when you became an auror -  so you wouldn't still be in contact with them."

"No, after you defeated Voldemort, when you were a baby, my father and Lucius thought it best to distance themselves from Voldemort's love of the dark arts. Many other families did, too. Lucius said he was under the Imperious Curse…So, to the outside world, they were very pleased I became an auror. It was just within the family that Father showed his…disappointment. I don't see Draco or Lucius much but they both write."

Harry was silent for a moment, taking in this new information. 

"I know you and Draco don't get along. And I understand…he can be a spoiled, obnoxious prat…. We're ok, right, Harry?" Cassius sounded a little worried.

"Oh, yes. Just, sometimes, I forget you're a Malfoy." Harry said.

"You're one of the few." Cassius said with relief, grinning widely. "Guideline number seven – unless we are home, or around the people who already know about our relationship, you are to act like you don't know me, and…" Cassius paused for effect. "Use my code name." Harry had to swallow his pumpkin juice quickly before he started laughing, he should have known Cassius would work the code names into a guideline.  Remus whirled around from where he was standing near the sink, doing the dishes, and glared threateningly at Cassius. Harry knew Remus thought that Cassius was too hung up on rules and guidelines. "It's important!  I can protect both of you better if the rest of the wizarding world doesn't know." Cassius said holding his hands out in a placating motion.

"But I can tell people at school that I live with Papa and Tabby, right?" Harry asked.

"Yes, not a problem. Tell all your friends about Papa and Tabby." Cassius said with a smile. His green eyes twinkled at Harry.  Harry thought back to the first few times he had met Cassius, he could hardly remember how cold Cassius had seemed.

Author's Note: See, Remus gets to be a father figure too!  I had a plan – there's a method to my madness – honest! :-)