Chapter 27
"Morning, Papa, Tabby." Harry yawned as he sat down for breakfast the next day. Tabby and Remus were sitting, discussing something and Remus was writing on a piece of scroll. "What are you doing?"
"Starting the wedding plans. Clara will help – we'll tell her when she and Stevens come over in a few days to visit." Remus looked up and smiled at Harry.
"Here you go, Harry." Tabby set a full plate of food in front of him, kissing the top of his head.
"Thanks. Tabby – I was thinking, now that you're marrying Gramps, could I call you Gran?" Harry said.
Before Tabby could answer, Cassius and Draco walked into the kitchen. Harry stared at them, it sounded like they were talking gibberish. Cassius said something to Remus and waited for him to answer.
"I don't understand Malfoy-speak, you'll have to say it again in English." Remus answered.
"Oh…bloody hell…I've forgotten what I asked." Cassius rubbed his forehead.
"He wanted to know, since I have to go to Diagon Alley, and he's coming with me, if you wanted to go to Gringotts to get a key to the vault." Draco said, sitting down at the table. He was dressed in faded jeans and a Chudley Cannons shirt.
"What vault?" Remus asked with confusion.
"His vault." Draco nodded towards Cassius as Tabby set a plate of food in front of him. "Thank you."
"A…I get a key?" Remus stared at Cassius.
"Well, why shouldn't you get a key? Everyone knows we're together now…so…it'll save me all those trips to the bank." Cassius grinned.
"I…I get a key." Remus repeated slowly. "I'm still keeping my vault."
"Keep your own vault all you want." Cassius said, taking a piece of toast from Harry's plate. "You'll need it to pay for your Daily Prophet subscription, anyway."
"When are you going to Diagon Alley?" Harry asked.
"I thought tomorrow." Cassius answered, swiping a piece of bacon from Harry's plate. "Garden needs to be weeded today." He looked over at Draco.
"I like to garden." Draco said.
"You like the Cannons, too?" Harry asked, trying to be friendly to his cousin.
"No…it's Uncle's. I don't have any muggle clothing, but he said you all wear it so…"
"Oh." Harry looked back down at his plate which was now empty. "Hey!"
"What?" Cassius asked innocently.
Harry sighed and reached for the platter of eggs, serving himself some more. Tabby put several pieces of bacon and toast on his plate along with a big spoonful of potatoes.
"You need to work on that eyebrow, Nephew." Cassius said.
"Pardon?" Draco stirred some sugar into his tea.
"It still twitches when you lie."
"Oh, thought I fixed that."
"Why doesn't Draco just work on telling the truth?" Remus asked calmly.
"Malfoys need to be able to lie convincingly." Cassius answered, as if reciting a known fact.
"Please." Remus rolled his eyes. "I thought you were going to forget all that training of your father's, really!"
"Well, it is handy."
"You're never able to convince me."
"I am." Cassius protested.
"All right then," Remus put down his quill and looked at Cassius, "where did you and Draco go after dinner last night?"
"For a walk." Cassius answered.
"Uh huh." Remus said, completely unconvinced.
"He does know when you're lying." Draco looked at Remus with amazement.
"He doesn't know, he suspects." Cassius glared at Draco. "Now, however, he knows because you said something."
"Sorry." Draco looked down at his plate and started eating.
"So, where did you go?" Harry asked.
"For a walk." Cassius repeated.
"You are lying." Harry said, looking at his Dad closely.
"Oh, so you know too, now, do you?" Cassius picked up another piece of toast from Harry's plate.
"You get…very…well…" Harry said thoughtfully.
"Malfoy." Remus finished.
"Malfoy?" Cassius asked, bewildered as Draco's head jerked up.
"Cold, distant - Malfoy." Remus explained. "So?"
"Fine, Remus, we went for a drive."
"And?"
"I let Draco drive the car."
"You've never let me drive the car!" Harry yelled, banging his cup down.
"He's older." Cassius mumbled, taking another piece of bacon from Harry's plate.
"He's older?" Harry felt like dumping his plate on Dad's head.
"By almost two months." Draco said helpfully.
"That's not fair! I've wanted to drive the car for ages!"
"It's not safe." Cassius said quickly.
"You said it was." Draco countered.
"I mean – it is safe…it's just…" Cassius' cheeks started to flush.
"You're blushing! You're actually blushing!" Draco shouted as he pointed, his eyes widening in astonishment.
"Shut it." Cassius growled.
"Papa!" Harry appealed to Remus.
"You'll drive the car today, Dad will take you." Remus said calmly. "There will not be any favoritism shown between the boys, is that understood, Cass?"
"Yes." Cassius sounded like a scolded child. Draco looked at Remus with awe.
"For Merlin's sake." Remus said quietly.
"What? Do you feel faint?" Cassius said, leaning forward with concern.
"No, no, I'm fine." Remus said. "It's just like having three children, not two."
"What do you mean?" Cassius asked. Harry and Tabby muffled a laugh.
"Why don't the three of you go for a drive after breakfast – with Harry driving. And I'll look over your history essay, all right, Harry?" Remus suggested.
"Could you look over my history essay as well?" Draco asked Remus tentatively.
"Of course."
"I took that class too, you know – and I got better marks than Remus." Cassius said huffily.
"Yes, but you don't remember it as well." Draco explained.
"I do too!"
"Who lead the third Goblin revolt, then?" Draco asked calmly
"Fuck, I don't know." Cassius said, reaching for his juice.
"Cassius, don't swear in front of the little ones." Tabby said crossly.
"They're 16!"
"And they've already grown up too fast, you need to watch your language."
"All right!" Cassius said, standing up and stretching. "Whenever you're ready, boys."
"I'm ready." Harry gulped his juice down and stood up.
"Me too." Draco stood.
"History essays in the library?" Remus asked.
"Yes! Thanks!" Harry and Draco chorused as they rushed out the door.
Later that afternoon, Harry and Draco were helping Cassius in his garden. Remus was feeling ill because the full moon was that night.
"Divination? You are actually taking Divination? Did I know that?" Cassius was looking at Harry with a shocked and disgusted expression.
"I…I thought so." Harry answered hesitantly, pausing with a weed in his hand.
"But…Why??"
"Because…because Ron signed up for it." Harry said, feeling silly.
"Because Ron signed up for it! Remus, are you listening to this?"
On the porch, Remus had looked up from the book he was reading. "Hard to miss it when you're shouting." He said calmly.
"Why aren't you taking Arithmancy? Or…Or Muggle Studies? Or…what else could you have chosen?"
"I didn't know what to choose, so I just chose what Ron chose." Harry shrugged, feeling a bit defensive.
"Makes perfect sense, Harry." Remus smiled at him tenderly.
"But Divination?"
"It's easy, you just make things up." Cassius stared at him. "You didn't take Divination, did you." Harry didn't need to make it a question.
"Bloody right, I didn't. Staring at wet gobs of tea and such rot, shouldn't be taught at all, if you ask me." Cassius growled scornfully. Harry thought he heard a muffled laugh from Draco, he turned and glared at him but Draco had his head down and seemed to be carefully weeding the mandrake patch.
"Dad." Remus said sternly. "Harry didn't know any better. He had to pick during his second year and had no guidance."
"Oh…oh. Harry, I'm sorry. I forgot…" Cassius took a couple steps towards Harry and picked him up and swinging him around. "I forget you haven't always been with us."
Harry felt tears prick at his eyes. "'S'ok." He muttered as Cassius crushed him in a hug, showering him with kisses. Cassius looked over at Remus.
"Do you think I could owl Dumbledore now and Harry could change his schedule?"
"He's in the end of his 6th year! There is no way. And anyway, I think Divination is just fine. Harry needs an easy subject." Remus said firmly.
"But…"
"No."
"What subjects are you good at, Harry?" Cassius set Harry down and looked at him intently.
"Defense against the Dark Arts. And Transfiguration, sort of." Harry said, wishing the subject had never come up. He noticed Draco was now watching surreptitiously.
"And what else?" Cassius asked.
"Quidditch." Harry said defiantly.
"They have a class in that now?" Cassius looked intrigued.
"No…it's just, I'm not good at Potions, Snape hates me! And History is boring and Herbology – well, I'm all right in that, but…"
"Well, I can help with Potions and Herbology." Cassius said quickly. Remus coughed. "I mean…if you wanted help…not that good grades are important…I mean, I just thought…well…what are you planning for after Hogwarts?"
"I hadn't really decided." Harry said honestly.
"Well, Stevens has contacts in Quidditch, you could do that." Remus said. "And Clara works at the Ministry, if you wanted to work there, as well as Ron's dad."
"I work at the Ministry too, you know." Cassius looked over at Remus.
"I know…I just didn't think Harry wanted to be an auror…or am I mistaken?"
"I thought I might want to be…but I don't know." Harry shrugged. He walked slowly over to where Papa was sitting. He sat down on Papa's lap, not caring what Draco might think. He rested his head on Papa's shoulder. He wished he'd been at Windy Corner his whole life.
"Well, it will depend on your NEWTS of course." Papa said, smoothing Harry's hair. "We can talk about it more as it gets closer to graduation."
The next day, Cassius was fixing lunch for Draco, Harry and himself because Tabby was eating with Moody at his flat. Remus was still asleep after the transformation.
"Remus – what are you doing up?" Cassius whirled around as Remus stepped into the kitchen
"I'm cold and I thought I would see what lunch was." Remus had his arms crossed tightly on his chest. Harry could see him shivering, even though the day was really quite warm.
"Is the fire out?" Cassius crossed the kitchen quickly and started rubbing Remus' arms.
"No, but I'm still cold." Remus leaned closer to Cassius' body. Suddenly, Harry sensed a public display of affection coming on. He watched Draco surreptitiously to see his reaction.
"Baby, I'll warm you up." Cassius' voice roughened. He kissed Remus deeply, earning a groan. He wrapped his arms around Remus, lifting him off the floor. Remus buried his hands in Cassius' hair. Draco's jaw dropped open and he stared in wide-eyed surprise at his two uncles. Cassius took a step towards the door.
"I'm hungry too." Remus said plaintively, breaking the kiss and winding his arms snugly around Cassius' neck. Cassius walked across to the counter, picked up a sandwich and set it on a plate. He was holding Remus against him with one strong arm around Remus' waist.
"Anything else?" Cassius rubbed his nose against Remus'.
"Juice?" Remus asked hopefully.
"Harry, pour Papa a glass of juice, please." Harry got a tall glass out of the cupboards and poured pumpkin juice into it, still watching Draco out of the corner of his eye. Draco hadn't moved – he looked stunned. Cassius waved his hand at the glass and the plate and they disappeared. Harry guessed that Dad had sent them upstairs. He walked towards the door. "See you later." He tilted his head and started kissing Remus again. Remus made a little murmuring sound of contentment.
"Sure." Harry answered, although he knew his Dad wasn't listening, as he went to finish the sandwiches.
"Are they like that often?" Draco sounded shocked. Harry could hear wet kissing sounds get quieter as Cassius and Remus went up to their room.
"Sometimes. They've been holding back, on their best behavior, for you the past couple days." Cassius and Remus hadn't touched since Draco arrived. Normally, Cassius touched Remus' arm or his hand often throughout the day, Harry thought it was rather like touching a talisman, Cassius needed to do it in order to feel safe.
"Wow." Draco arched his eyebrow as he gazed at the doorway. "I never saw my father and mother kiss like that, not anything close to that!"
"My aunt and uncle weren't anything like that either…I guess I just got used to it." Harry shrugged.
"How long did it take you to get used to it?" Draco walked over to where Harry was standing.
"I don't know – not long…if it gets too much, tell Dad to knock it off. He sometimes gets carried away and forgets anyone else is in the room. They lived alone for a long time. Pour us some juice, will you?" Harry finished the sandwiches and put them on two plates. He reached in a lower cupboard and pulled out a large tin of crisps. He put a handful of them on each plate.
"Uncle Lupin gets carried away with him, huh?" Draco reached up and got two glasses from the cupboard and poured pumpkin juice in them. He was useless in the kitchen other than pouring juice or tea.
"How could you tell?" Harry laughed as he walked over to the table with the two plates.
"It's nice to see…that they love each other…I mean…I wish I could have come here sooner. When I was little, I used to imagine what it would be like to visit here, meeting the man my uncle loved." Draco followed Harry with the glasses. "It's better than I ever imagined." He added softly.
"Well – Dad just wanted to protect Papa." Harry sat down on one side of the table and pushed a plate towards Draco.
"You've lived with them a year?" Draco sat down and handed Harry a glass of juice.
"Not even a year." Harry couldn't believe it hadn't been longer, this was his home, he felt like he had always been here. His memories of Privet Drive were getting hazy as time went on.
"But you call them Dad and Papa?"
"Well, yes…They're my family. I'm a Lupin now too." Harry held up his left hand.
"You and Uncle Lupin, you mean?"
"Dad has a Lupin family ring, he's a Lupin too."
"He is??" Draco looked astounded. "I didn't see it…and you have a family ring? You're not supposed to get one until you're 17." Draco looked down at his own hand which was naked of any jewelry.
"I guess they thought it was a special circumstance. They gave it to me on my 16th birthday, last July." Harry shrugged and ate a bite of his sandwich.
"How long did you know them before you moved here?" Draco asked as he picked up his own sandwich.
"I got to know Papa our third year – when he was our DADA professor. He was one of my parents' best friends."
"Yes, I remember when he was at Hogwarts." Draco's face flushed a little.
"He told me you apologized." Harry looked over at Draco. He hadn't believed it when Papa had told him yesterday, Papa had still looked stunned when he related the story to Harry a few hours later. Neither of them was quite sure how to take Draco, but they were trying to accept that this "new" persona was sincere.
"Yes…and…um…I'm sorry about all the things I said to you too. And not just because you're my uncle's fosterling. After my father…well…Uncle always said I needed to make up my own mind about things…but I didn't, not until recently."
Harry was shocked. "Thanks." He finally managed to get out.
"So, when did you meet Uncle Malfoy? Did you know they were married third year?"
"No, I didn't know then. I met Dad less than a year before I moved here, that's when I found out he was married to Papa. And right before I moved here I found out that he's related to my mum, my grandmother's sister's son. So we're first cousins, once removed."
"I knew he and my father had different mothers. I didn't realize he was related to you."
"He didn't know for a long time, then after he found out, he kept it secret."
"Malfoys love secrets." Draco smiled. Harry smiled back tentatively. He liked this new Draco, but he didn't want to get too attached, he was anticipating the old Draco reappearing once they were back at school.