Author's Notes: Oh, I can't remember how soon before the start of school that they get their supply list and I'm too lazy to look it up – so pretend it's only a few days. :-)

Chapter 17 - Getting Ready for the 6th Year at Hogwarts

"So, Cass, when are you meeting Draco?" Remus asked as he walked back over to the table.

"Today – we're meeting at 11 then going for lunch." Cassius swallowed the rest of his tea and stood up. He went and got his coat out of the mudroom.

"Well, Harry…do you want to go today or tomorrow?" Remus sat down at the table and poured himself some tea. Before Harry could answer, Cassius walked back into the kitchen.

"When does Harry go to Hogwarts?" Cassius said as he pulled on his long black coat.

"Sunday morning." It was Thursday.

"I thought I'd ask Kingsley if I could have the last couple days off before Harry leaves…." Although Cassius usually got weekends off, with Voldemort being back, he could be called in at any time.

"You better ask him this morning – do you need a note to remind you?"

"No, I'll remember."

Harry watched as Remus conjured up a small piece of scroll and a quill and wrote down Ask Kingsley for next two days off. "Here. No, don't put it on your pocket, you'll forget it, just hold it until you see Kingsley. You better get going or you'll be late."

"So, are you going to Diagon Alley today then?" Cassius picked a piece of toast off Harry's plate and ate it.

"I think we will, then we can all be home the rest of the time before Harry leaves. That ok, Harry?" Remus turned to Harry.

"Mm hmm." Harry nodded, his mouth was full of bacon.

Cassius leaned down and kissed Remus. "I love you."

"I love you too."

"Bye Harry, I love you." Cassius tousled Harry's hair.

Harry swallowed quickly. "Bye Dad. I love you."

Cassius floo-ed to the Ministry. A couple hours later, Harry and Remus flooed to Diagon Alley. It was crowded with students and their families getting their supplies for school. Harry saw Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnegan outside the bookstore.

"Hiya, Harry!" Seamus waved.

"Hi!" Harry answered.

"Hi, Professor Lupin." Dean said.

"Hi Dean, Seamus. Harry, give me your list and I'll meet you inside." Remus said.

"So, how's your summer been?" Seamus asked, trying not to look overly curious.

"Great! I moved in with Professor Lupin at the beginning of the holiday. He was one of my parents' best friends, he's adopted me." Harry explained. He was excited to finally get to tell someone about his Papa.

"That's cool! No more horrible muggle relatives, then?" Dean smiled.

"Yup." Harry smiled back. "I better get going – I'll see you soon!"

Harry looked around the bookstore. He saw Remus talking with Professor McGonagall just to the right of the doorway.

"Hi Professor." Harry smiled.

"Hello, Harry. Ready to win the Quidditch cup again this year?"

"Yes, ma'am. I've been practicing all month! And the book is brilliant!"

"Glad to hear it." She gave a small smile.

"Papa, can I have my list back?"

"I found the first two books on it." Remus held up the two books in his hand.

"Okay." Harry looked down at the list, just three more to get.

"Dad's in here somewhere, just so you know." Remus patted Harry on the arm. Harry nodded, he hoped he wouldn't run into him.

He walked down one aisle, turned and smacked into someone's chest.

"Watch it Potter." Draco glared down at him with cold grey eyes. Harry could see that Draco was starting to have the Malfoy height. Harry heard a familiar voice from behind Draco, but it sounded cold.

"Draco, are you ready?" He looked past Draco and saw Cassius. Cassius didn't look at him.

Draco turned. "Yes, Uncle. I have all the books now."

"Fine, let's have lunch at the Cauldron, I need to get back to work." They walked away.

Remus walked up behind Harry. "I wish Dad could have come shopping with us." Harry said, trying not to sound too sulky.

"We'll see him at supper, let's go have lunch. Then we'll get your potions supplies." Remus took Harry's hand and they threaded their way through the busy shop.

At the Dusty Cauldron, they found a table in the corner, Harry could see Cassius and Draco sitting across the room. Cassius smiled at something Draco said. Draco didn't have the usual sneer on his face and instead was smiling too. Harry didn't think he'd ever seen Draco smile like that, he actually looked happy. They seemed to get along well.

"Dad likes his nephew, doesn't he." Harry said to Remus, feeling very jealous of Draco for being able to sit and talk with Cassius out in the open where everyone could see.

"Well, he does, but Dad also knows his nephew can be a prat. He was ready to thump him when he read his letters about me, when I was at Hogwarts."

Harry smiled.

That night…

Cassius shut the bedroom door and walked slowly towards the bed. Remus was reading, propped up against the pillows.

"What are you reading now?" After almost 12 years together, Cassius was used to seeing Remus with his nose buried in a book.

"A book about containment spells. I thought it might be useful against Voldemort."

"Where'd you find it?" Cassius climbed onto the bed.

"In the library…it was one of your father's. Remember when Lucius gave you that box of books after he died?" Remus looked up from the book.

"I never opened that box." Cassius tilted his head to look at the title.

"I know, Harry and I opened it a couple weeks ago when we were going through things in the attic." Remus smiled briefly before returning to the book.

"Have you gone through everything up there?"

"Mmm hmm." The spell he was currently reading about seemed to have real potential.

"So, it's a really interesting book?"

"Uh huh." Remus didn't look up. Suddenly he felt Cassius' hand stroke down his arm.

"Anything I can do to tear you away from it?" Cassius leaned forward to kiss his neck.

"Just let me finish this page." Remus tried to look very serious.

"Remus!"

"What?"

"It's been ages." Cassius whined

"It's been two days!"

"Well…it's seemed like ages. I think I've forgotten how."

Remus laughed and placed his bookmark in the book and set it on his nightstand. He reached for Cassius and started kissing him.

"Maybe I can refresh your memory."

"I was hoping you'd say that." Cassius smiled. He knelt over Remus and unbuttoned Remus' pajama top. He leaned forward pressing a kiss to the bite mark on Remus' shoulder. Remus gasped as a jolt of pleasure surged through his body. He reached for Cassius' shirt and pulled up. Cassius broke the kiss to pull his shirt all the way off. They kissed deeply. Suddenly, Remus heard a loud anguished "NO!!!" echo down the hall.

Cassius pulled away and jumped out of the bed. Harry had had several nightmares the past month but lately his scar had started to hurt too which made both Cassius and Remus worried. Luckily, Moody assured them that his Occlumency lessons had progressed far enough that Voldemort couldn't access Harry's mind anymore. Moody still came over twice a week to work with Harry but hadn't been able to get past Harry's protector for a couple weeks. Remus quickly followed Cassius out of the room and down the hall, rebuttoning his shirt as he went.

Cassius opened Harry's bedroom door and Remus could see Harry thrashing around in his bead.

"NO!!! Sirius!!! He's not dead! He's NOT!" Harry shouted in his sleep. Cassius turned to Remus with a concerned look on his face.

"Go back to bed…I'll take care of him." Cassius reached out his hand to Remus.

"No – no, I'm fine." Remus steeled himself and walked over to Harry's bed. He sat down and reached for Harry's shoulder. "Harry. Wake up, Harry." Slowly, Harry opened his eyes. "It's all right, Harry."

"Papa?" Harry sat up and threw his arms around Remus. "I…"

"Shush…it's all right…I know…I miss him too." Remus rubbed Harry's back. "Do you want to try some of the dreamless sleep potion for the rest of the night?" He could feel Harry nod. He and Harry had discussed it and Harry wanted to try the potion so he wouldn't have nightmares at Hogwarts. They had agreed to use it at Windy Corner only if he woke up from a nightmare.

Cassius handed Remus a small glass of the potion.

"Here, Harry." Remus said gently.

Harry drank the potion and fell asleep immediately. Remus laid Harry back down on the bed. He looked down at Harry – he couldn't believe it had been less than three months since Harry had arrived at Windy Corner. He couldn't imagine Windy Corner without Harry now. He kissed Harry's forehead and stood up.

"He hasn't had that nightmare in a while." Remus said softly to Cassius. Cassius nodded.

"You haven't had that nightmare in a while, either." Cassius pulled Remus close. "You ok?"  Remus nodded as tears welled up in his eyes. "Sweetheart, I'm so sorry." Cassius kissed him as they walked back to their bedroom.

The last two days before Harry left for Hogwarts were a blur. Harry, Cassius and Remus went for bike rides, they swam, they looked at the stars. Tabby made all of Harry's favorite foods. Harry had a wonderful time, he couldn't believe when it was Saturday night. He'd be going to Hogwarts the next morning. It was only the second time he'd ever been sad about going to Hogwarts.

Harry was in his room double checking that he had everything. He was leaving for the station shortly to catch the Hogwarts Express. Cassius knocked his bedroom door.

"Harry, I wanted to say goodbye, I have to leave now on an assignment."

"Oh?" Harry tried not to sound disappointed but he failed.

"Nothing for you to worry about…Kingsley just wants me to check something out." Cassius paused. "Have a good term at school. And if Draco gives you any trouble, he's dead scared of bunnies, don't know why, but he is…I'm sure you and Ron could think of something to do with that."

"Bunnies?" Harry couldn't believe it.

"It's true. Malfoys are an evil lot, aren't they? Who doesn't like bunnies?"

"Do you like bunnies?" Harry asked curiously.

"Umm…actually, no… but at least they don't scare me." With that, Cassius reached over and gathered Harry into a big bear hug. "I love you, Harry."

"I love you, Dad."

And he was out the door.

Looking back at his trunk, Harry suddenly realized the picture of Remus, Tabby and himself that had been taken at the party wasn't there. He knew Gramps had brought it over and given it to him but couldn't remember where he'd put it.

"Papa!" He ran out of the room. He needed to have that picture. "Papa!!"

Remus came running up the stairs, his wand in his hand. "What! Harry, what's happened?"

"Where's the picture of us from the party, you, me and Tabby?"

"Oh." Remus lowered his wand and smiled with relief. "I think I saw it in the library." Remus walked down the hallway and into the library. Harry followed him "Yes, here it is." Remus picked it up from Cassius' desk. "Do you want it framed?"

Harry nodded. Remus conjured up a frame and then handed the framed picture to Harry. "You ready to go now?" He smiled.

"Yes." Harry stepped forward and circled his arms around Remus. "I just didn't want to leave without the picture."

Remus hugged Harry tightly. "Let's lock your trunk then. Get Hedwig and we'll head to the station."

Tabby came along with them. Once on the platform Harry spotted Ron and Hermione just down the way. He turned to say goodbye. He had a lump in his throat.

Tabby hugged Harry. "Take care of yourself, Fosterling."

As she released him Harry looked down at her and noticed her eyes glistening. He nodded and turned to Remus. He still couldn't speak. Remus hugged him.

"Owl us if you need anything, homework help, dating advice, whatever, if we don't know the answer, we'll find out." He gave Harry a watery smile. "I love you very much, Harry."

Harry finally found his voice. "I love you too, Papa." He smiled at Remus and raced down the platform to join Ron and Hermione.