A/N: I'm BACK!!! And I'm sooo sorry for taking so long to update. grovels at the feet of all readers. It's just so hard trying to write fan fic with things like work, school, and video games distracting you. Lol. Anyways at least this chapter is a bit longer than I usually write, so yay. Read on!

Randomness of the Moraco: There are at least 177 known drinking games to play while watching Excel Saga.

Greeting

Chapter 4
Complete

Harry and Remus went back to the flat. While Remus had gone to take a shower Harry stripped down to his boxers and got into bed.

He didn't particularly feel like sleeping, so he sat there staring at nothing in particular on the wall. The running water of the shower was a calming sound. So calming that while Harry stared at the wall he fell into a fantasy world all his own.

The hot streams of water washing over his face and body were overly relaxing. The smell of a misty breeze mixed with the sweetness of cranberries was intoxicating. The gentle wash cloth moving over his chest was soothing. But who was moving it? His own hands were stationary. He opened his eyes to stare into a set of gorgeous blue ones.

It was Remus. A very naked Remus. A very naked Remus who just dropped the wash cloth and leaned forward and began kissing him.

Harry was snapped out of his fantasy by the shutting off of the shower water. Harry looked down at the bed sheets to see an embarrassing bulge through the two layers of coverings. Great, now every time I see him I'm gonna keep thinking of him naked.

Remus got out of the shower, dried off, and wrapped the towel around his waist. He stepped into the hallway and noticed Harry's door cracked open and that he still had the light on. Remus lightly knocked as he opened the door and entered the room. 'You okay, Harry?'

Harry quickly pulled his knees to his chest as he noticed the door moving.

'I'm fine,' Harry said. He looked at Remus in only a towel and felt blood rushing to his cheeks and the nether regions of his body.

Remus walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. 'Are you sure you're okay Harry? You look flushed. I hope you don't have a fever.' Remus put his hand to Harry's forehead.

'I'm fine, Remus, really. I just don't feel like sleeping.'

'Harry, you need your rest, especially after tonight. You promised you'd go see Ron in the morning and I'm sure he doesn't want to see you looking like a zombie.'

'I guess I could try to go to sleep.'

'That's the spirit.' Remus smiled and got up from the bed. Harry sunk more into the bed, head on the pillows and coverings pulled up to his chin. Remus walked back to the door. 'Good night, Harry.' He turned the light switch to off and left the room.

Harry closed his eyes and tried to go to sleep, and before he even realized it he was fast asleep.

Remus had gone to his own room and laid his pyjamas out on his bed. He grabbed a pair of red boxers from his dresser drawer and put them on, discarding the towel. He picked the towel up and took it back to the bathroom, hanging it on the towel rack. When he returned to his room he put on his pyjama top. As he was buttoning it up he began to hear the squeak of bed springs and muffled words coming from Harry's room. Before he could start fiddling with the next button he heard Harry let out one of the loudest screams he'd ever heard.

Remus rushed to Harry's room. The younger man was screaming and violently flailing about on the bed. Remus rushed to the bed and grabbed hold of him, trying to shake him awake. 'Harry! C'mon Harry wake up! You're alright! Wake up!'

Harry's eyes snapped open. He took some deep breaths and tried to calm himself down before speaking.

'Are you going to be okay, Harry?'

'I don't think I want to sleep anymore.'

'I won't pry. The way you were screaming I know it was something terrible. You should still try to get some sleep though. And I won't leave you until you're back to sleep,' Remus told him.

Harry suddenly became aware of Remus' attire, or lack there of. Why must he be wearing so little. Seeing him in the towel earlier was bad enough. Dammit body why can't you act practical for a single second!? 'And what if I refuse?'

'Then I suppose I have no choice, but to offer you some hot chocolate,' Remus said.

Harry looked at Remus in a fit of confusion.

'It'll probably make you feel better and doesn't have the caffeine of coffee.'

Harry nodded. 'Do you mind if I take a shower first?'

'Go ahead.' Remus got up from the bed and headed for the kitchen.

Harry went to the bathroom where he stripped his boxers, turned the cold water knob as far as it would go, and got into the shower.

Remus proceeded in making two mugs of hot chocolate while Harry was taking his shower. I don't see how he could ever think of me in that sort of way. I'm much too old to be thinking about him in that sort of way, but with being surrounded by boys his age all the time what should I expect? Once finished Remus put the two mugs down on the table and sat down waiting for Harry, who soon came.

'Hope I didn't let it get too cold.'

Remus looked up to see a boxer clad, wet headed Harry approaching the table.

God, it doesn't help that he doesn't wear much. 'No it just finished in fact. Still good and hot.'

Like you. Harry smiled at his own thoughts. 'Thank you.' Oh, he's still just got his boxers and pyjama top on. Stop undressing the rest of him with your eyes! One cold shower for the night was bad enough!

'More than welcome.' You dirty old man, would you stop imagining what's under that one garment!?

They drank their hot chocolate down in silence.

'So, um,' Remus broke the silence as he took his and Harry's empty mugs to the sink. 'What would you like to do today? I mean after we go visit Ron and everything.'

'I don't know. What's there to do?'

'Is there anything you need from around town? Anywhere you usually to go for fun?'

'I've got all I ever needed in my bag. As for fun I never really had much fun around town without Ron,' Harry answered truthfully. After Sirius had died unless Ron wanted to do something around town he just sat in their old house and watched the tele, this of course being before Ron's capture and having to sell the house and everything in it.

'How many sets of clothes do you own?'

Harry diverted his eyes toward the floor. 'Three,' he said bashfully. For the first moment since Harry met him, Remus was acting like a parental figure. God he's making me think of Hermione right now.

'See, you do need things. Three sets of clothes is no wardrobe. After we visit Ron, we're going shopping tomorrow.'

'Look, Remus, I've taken enough of your money.'

'Hush! I won't hear a word of it. I'm going to buy you things whether you like it or not. Besides wouldn't you like owning something that fits you a bit less snuggly?'

Well, trying to get men to pick you up off the corner of a street for sex means you gotta show some of the package. It might be nice to have a pair of baggier jeans again, though I am quite fond of some tighter pieces of clothing. Oh what the hell, he's not gonna let me talk him out of it. 'Fine we'll go shopping.'

'Good,' Remus replied. 'I need a new shirt. Seems as though one of mine's gone missing. Probably under the bed or fallen behind somewhere, but I want to wear that colour Monday, so when I find the old one I'll just have a spare I suppose.' Remus chuckled.

Harry chuckled along with him nervously. How on earth can he have noticed it missing with all the shirts he's got? Maybe it's not even the one I've got, maybe he's talking about another one entirely.

The wee hours of the morning passed by slowly for Harry and Remus as they sat on the couch in the living area watching the television. Remus switched the channel to news and noticed the time on the screen.

'Visiting hours start soon at the hospital. We should probably get dressed and head on up there,' Remus said.

Remus and Harry dawned their attire for the day. Harry waited at the kitchen table for Remus to get ready to leave. He watched down the hallway as Remus exited his room and entered his office room. 'We're not walking to the hospital are we?' Harry asked.

'Of course not,' Remus replied as he walked out the door with a green helmet.

'So you have a form of transportation then?'

'Yes.'

'What's the helmet for?'

'You.'

'I'm going to assume this transportation you speak of isn't a car,' Harry stated.

'Don't assume things, make a logical guess by deduction.'

Remus walked towards the door and Harry got up from the table to follow. 'Is it a motor bike then?'

'Better than that,' Remus replied.

As Harry followed Remus down to the parking lot he proceeded to ask, 'What could be better than a car and better than a motor bike? You're not some sort of flying super hero or something are you?'

Remus laughed out loud. 'Very funny. Here it is.' He gestured his arms to the parking space that held a blue Vespa that had one helmet already hanging from the handles.

'A Vespa? You consider a Vespa to be better than a car or motor bike? What kind of loony are you?'

'I like my Vespa, and I'd keep my mouth shut about it if I were you.' Remus handed the helmet in his hand to Harry, who put it on, and then put the one already on the vehicle on, and then mounted and started the Vespa he was oh so proud of. 'Well, get on already.'

Shit. I'm going to have to ride behind him. I'm probably gonna have to hold onto him and be squished up against him. Deep breaths, Harry, deep breaths. As long as my body parts are nice this'll be just fine. After a moment of hesitation Harry got on behind Remus.

'Better hold on, this thing goes a bit faster than most people think.'

Harry wrapped his arms around Remus' waist

Harry entered the hospital room and walked up to the side of Ron's bed. 'Hey mate.'

'Hey Harry.'

'How are you this morning?'

'Obviously a little worse for wear, but the doctors say there's nothing seriously wrong, so I should be okay,' Ron told him.

'I'm still really sorry about this whole thing. I didn't intend to drag you into all this.'

'I've already told you before, we're family, Harry, and if that means getting in trouble for or protecting you, then so be it. That's the same way Sirius felt as well.'

Tears were streaming down Harry's face. 'And look where it got him!'

'I know Harry,' Ron replied.

'But if it's to help you, I'm willing to take that chance. You've been there for me so many times over the past years and I don't think I've ever repaid the favour. So, let me be there for you now.'

'Sirius died because of me. There was so much he still wanted to do in life, but now he's gone because of bullets intended for me!'

'Harry, he made his own decision, which was to protect you,' Ron told him.

More tears made their way down Harry's cheeks. 'It was a stupid decision.'

Remus had just purchased two sodas from the vending machine when a busy brunette holding a small red-headed child walked up next to him.

'Professor Lupin,' she said.

He turned to see the face of one of his best former students. 'Miss Granger, it's good to see you.'

'It's actually Mrs. Weasley now,' she replied.

'Are you Ron's wife then?'

'Yes,' she said. 'How do you know Ron?'

Suddenly there was a crash in the closest patient room, which was Ron's. Remus and Hermione quickly ran into the room.

'You stupid idiot! You should be happy to be alive! There are people who love you. He loved you. That's why he wanted to protect you! So stop moping around blaming yourself for something that happened that was beyond your control!'

Harry sat on the floor staring up at Ron in a dumbfounded daze and blood running from his nose.

'Ron!' Hermione ran to the bed.

'Harry?' Remus rushed to Harry on the floor. 'Are you okay?'

'He'll be fine,' Ron said. 'Just go get him cleaned up, and when his senses sink in he can call me.'

'Ronald!' Hermione shouted at him in a tone of motherly disapproval.

'He deserved it. You would have done the same thing if you'd heard what he was saying,' Ron said in his own defense.

Remus helped Harry up from the floor and began walking him out. 'Good to see you're doing better, Ron. Good to see you again Hermione.' He walked Harry to the nurses' station to get some tissues to clean up the blood.

'I can't believe he punched me,' Harry said. 'He hasn't done that for at least three or four years.'

'It seems as though he felt that you deserved it.'

'I guess in most people's eyes I did, but he's not me. He wasn't there. There's no possible way he could even begin to imagine how I feel.'

Harry and Remus arrived at the mall and proceeded in their shopping trip. They went to a few stores Remus suggested and Remus got the shirt like the one he'd lost. Harry happened to notice it was that of the same that he had nicked from the laundry.

'I can't believe you didn't see anything you liked at either of those stores,' Remus said.

'They just weren't my style,' Harry replied.

'Then what exactly is your style?'

'There.' Harry pointed at a store that was obviously full of fashions for older teens and younger adults. Some of the things in the window looked similar to some of the tighter items of Harry's wardrobe. They went in and Harry quickly flocked from rack to rack picking things off he handed to Remus that he wanted to try on.

Most of what Harry picked out was tightly fitting which did nothing to help Remus' body parts while watching him try them on. He did finally pick out a few pairs of baggier pants and some t-shirts.

'So how do I look? Not too much like a slob or anything?'

'You look great, just as you would in anything. You could be wearing a little pink tutu and still look great, Harry,' Remus replied.

Harry chuckled. 'I think the tutu would be a bit too revealing.' He opened the door to go back into the fitting room to change.

'Not revealing enough,' Remus muttered.

'What was that?'

'Nothing.'

Harry went back to the fitting room and began taking off the clothes he'd been trying on. Remus must be getting bored, but he was the one who insisted for me to try on everything. Makes me feel like a kid again when Sirius made me try on everything to make sure it all fit before he bought it. Harry frowned and leaned up against the fitting room wall. I won't cry. Sirius is gone. I'm past this. I know I'm past this. Harry breathed in some deep breaths to try and calm himself.

'Harry, you okay in there?'

'F-fine. Just fine. Why do you ask?'

'You've been in there for over five minutes,' Remus replied.

Harry quickly finished getting changed. He took his ten outfits and a few packs of boxers and socks to the counter where Remus paid for them.

'So what happened? Back there fitting room,' Remus asked as they walked out to the parking lot.

'I was thinking about Sirius… I thought I was over his death, but every time I remember anything having to do with him, holding him in my arms as he died is all that flashes through my mind. I thought I'd gotten over it, but sometimes I guess I still blame myself,' Harry explained.

Remus and Harry arrived back at the flat and took their purchases to their rooms.

Remus then went to his office to work on grading papers. Harry leaned up against the doorway to the room and watched Remus work.

'Was there something you needed?' Remus asked.

Harry snapped out of his daze. 'Oh, um, no. I was just watching you. Seeing what it is you do and all.'

Remus chuckled. 'You're welcome to help if you'd like.'

'Well, what are you doing?'

'Grading papers and then recording them to the computer.'

'Sure I guess I could help. What do you need me to do?'

About an hour later Remus and Harry had finished and were now lounging on the couch in the living area.

'Thank you Harry. It usually takes me about forty-five minutes longer to get that done.'

Harry smiled weakly in response.

'What's wrong Harry?'

'What do you mean?'

'You've been pretty quiet today, like you have something on your mind. And even though I haven't known you for very long I've seen a brighter smile than that,' Remus explained.

'Ron's right.'

'Right about what?'

'Sirius would have punched me a million times by now. He died to protect me. He didn't want to die, but he wanted me to live. I've been blaming myself for his death countless times even when I think I'm not.'

'He didn't die in vain. You're here. I'm sure he wanted to watch you keep growing, meet the person you want to spend the rest of your life with, and all that good stuff.'

'He made the decision to die for me, but even though everyone's told me it's not my fault and he willingly did it, which would make it not my fault, I still feel guilty.'

'How exactly did he go? That is if you don't mind me asking. I was sick and unable to make it to the funeral. Albus couldn't tell me much, said you wouldn't speak to him.'

'I refused to speak to your Albus because I blame him too. He seems to think it's his duty to protect me and at the same time foil Riddle. He's responsible for the misson we were on. I had convinced Sirius to start taking me along with him on missions after I turned 16. It was dangerous, but I protested that I could help and eventually he let me. He was trying to protect me from Riddle, but I felt so helpless when he wouldn't let me do anything. I lost my gun and they had me nearly cornered. And right as they pulled their triggers, Sirius was in front of me. That was when the sirens sounded so they all ran off and I was left there with Sirius. I couldn't do anything. Just hold him in my arms as he left this world.

'Nobody's ever asked me what all really happened, just what killed him. Even when people asked, I didn't want to think about it so I just told them what killed him, I didn't want to talk about it. The scene played over and over in my dreams for months. I started to not sleep. Finally it didn't happen as often and rarely happens anymore. I really feel like I can talk to you Remus. Kind of hard to believe I just met you less than forty-eight hours ago.'

'Well, if you wish to be politically correct you met me twenty-three years ago,' Remus corrected him.

'I was still in nappies, that doesn't count.'

'But you were so cute in nappies.' Remus poked Harry's cheek.

'That's it!' Harry launched himself at Remus and wrestled him off the couch onto the floor. They began laughing, Harry lying on top of Remus, and then looked into each other's eyes.

'What's wrong?' Remus asked.

'Just thinking about Sirius,' Harry answered. 'I tend to do that every time I want to kiss someone.'

Kiss someone? He wants to kiss me? Yes Remus you ARE the only other person here. But why would he want to kiss me, and why would he think about Sirius when he wants to kiss someone? 'And why is that?'

'That's a story for another day.' Harry leaned down and pressed his lips tenderly to Remus'

A/N: The chappie is done! Yay! Once again sooo sorry it took me this long to update. But at least it was a bit longer than usual chapters from me right? Well, anyways I hope you all enjoyed. I can't say when the next chapter will come, but at least it's already started getting written. Feel free to click the little button to review, I love to hear from readers.