Day of Red Sunrise

He silently regarded the profile of the reticent potions master leaning wearily against the mantle, obsidian eyes flecked gold by the crackling flames in the hearth. Unwilling to intrude upon the other man's solitude. 'Yet, this conversation has to be had. For our sanity.'

"Severus…" He paused at the doorway, awkward. Unsure of how to proceed.

Severus turned from his contemplation of the fire to face the vacillating werewolf. "Lupin." His cool, collected tone belying the hours spent mulling over issues. He gave a curt nod, and the werewolf crossed the room to sink boneless into an armchair. A glance showed him a pale face; amber eyes heavily hooded.

For some time, silence prevailed.

"Why did you agree to it?" The crisp tone cut through the silence, brooking no arguments in its demand for answers, startling the other from his thoughts.

"Why did I agree?" His soft voice intoned. "Because, like Dumbledore, I believe you suit the role, Severus."

"Don't patronize me, Lupin." A scowl. "Why?"

"You are the best choice, whether you believe it or not." A soft growl of frustration. "I can't be; the ministry doesn't allow it. You are more accessible… you can protect him and have done so before."

~~~~~~~~~~

Day before Harry arrives at 12 Grimmauld Place

"Why Severus, Albus? Surely you know how Harry and Severus have never gotten along well with each other?" Remus questioned the sanity of the old headmaster.

"And why not, my boy? Can you not see the potential of such an appointment for the both of them?" A piercing gaze preceded the old wizard's oblique reply. "I do not think you so blinded by childish pranks and adolescent animosity. I believe James and Lily would have approved."

"I recognize Severus' merits, Albus. I just don't think Harry will agree to this." A frustrated sigh. "Neither will Severus be easy to persuade."

"Remus, you might find Harry will be amendable to the idea, given the reasoning behind the appointment. He is maturing, Remus. Plus, he has had almost an entire month for solitary reflections. I trust he will understand." The manipulative old coot replied. "Severus will too see reason."

"Then it is decided? I sincerely hope you know what you're attempting, Albus. As much as I believe this is a good choice, Harry and Severus will need to see it similarly for it to work. I hope you've played your cards right this time." The reluctant acquiescent. Secretly cheering in his heart.

Twinkling blue eyes was the only response he got.

~~~~~~~~~~

"You trust me to do this?" Low whisper, almost disbelief in its tone.

"I do." A serious look. "Sirius and I had a discussion some months ago, after Harry took us to task over the incident he saw in your pensive." A light shake of his head. "Severus, don't… Please, let me finish."

Seeing no further attempts at interruption forthcoming, Remus took a deep breath and continued. "Sirius and I were unable to give Harry satisfactory reasons for our actions. It led to reflections about the differences between the marauders and you. We resolved to apologize to you, but… it is now too late for Sirius…" Remus trailed off softly, pained by the memories.

~~~~~~~~~~

Some time after the pensive incident in bk5

"Remus, if anything happens to me, will you look after Harry? Please?" Sirius pleaded with his old friend.

"Sirius, what are you babbling on about? Nothing will happen. Besides, you know I will always do my best for Harry." Remus assured his fellow Marauder. "But, the ministry will be against any formal position I take for Harry. You know my status… Perhaps someone else for the formal position of Godfather?

"Who, Remus? I can't see anyone else who is more suitable than you." Sirius questioned.

"Severus, perhaps."

"Snape? Remus, are you mad? The git hates Harry! He'll just hand Harry over to Voldemort on a silver platter at the earliest moment!"

"Sirius, he is on our side. Plus, it's only the formal position. I will be there for Harry regardless. Look at it this way – he is more accessible to Harry than I am, and he can teach Harry too." Remus explained the logic of his thoughts. "Anyway, I thought you'd agreed to apologize to him?"

"Yes, but this is a different issue. It's Harry at stake here!" A pause. "Do you think he will do it?"

"Let's hope so. He will be good for Harry, Sirius. He doesn't treat Harry like a celebrity, just as any other boy. Even though he's rather harsh, James and Lily will probably think him a suitable guardian to temper against us. Especially given Harry's propensity of attracting trouble."

~~~~~~~~~~

"We had discussed that in the event that should anything befell him, we would like you to be Harry's next godfather. Sirius had accepted his differences with you, and acknowledged your merits and efforts against Voldemort. I know that Lily and James would have agreed."

"Lupin…" A low growl, threatening.

A pleading look directed at the stoic-faced man. "Severus, consider the benefits of the situation. You are able to teach Harry the skills needed for survival. What is also important is that you had never treated him as a fragile child, nor as a savior, unlike any other… Please understand our reasons."

"And you believe the boy holds no objections to this arrangement? Just because Dumbledore, Black and yourself wish it?" An eyebrow raised in question.

"Harry has yet to say anything against this appointment…" Remus stated. "He would have protested if he is set against it. Severus, Harry is not a difficult child… just burdened by the wizarding world's expectations. Granted, he attracts trouble…" He stopped. Briefly. "He is more matured than most others his age. He will understand in time."

A defeated sigh followed the uncharacteristic slump of the dour potions master into the other armchair. "Tell me, Lupin, how do you expect me to get through to Potter?" He ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "He hardly even opens his mouth to say anything lately. You were there that day too. You saw it too."

"Don't worry, Severus. I will help you with Harry – he needs to stop grieving. Give him some time…" His voice cracked slightly. "Perhaps we can both talk to him later? I believe you have yet to tell him certain things… I think we need to speak to Molly as well, to prevent the others from pressuring him."

~~~~~~~~~~

"Heard the latest news yet, kiddos?" Fred asked brightly as he bounded energetically into the kitchen.

"Yeah, 'bit of a shocker, I'll say. Then again, you could've seen it coming from a hundred miles off!" George amicably added.

"What about?" Ron asked from around his mouthful of bacon, eliciting a glare from Hermione in the process for his manners, or rather, lack thereof.

"Sheesh." Fred gave a dramatic suffering sigh. "Though you might be more interested in news about Harry?" Ginny's head shot up at the mention of Harry, the twins having garnered her undivided attention. Hermione noted that particular tidbit.

"What about Harry?" Ginny anxiously enquired. She flushed a deep red as George rounded in on her concern for Harry, with a wicked gleam in his eyes. Only to be interrupted by Hermione. On her quest for information. "Is anything wrong with Harry? Is he all right?"

"All right? I'll say!" Fred gushed enthusiastically. "He's been initiated into the Order of the Phoenix at last night's meeting!"

"Yeah, and mum couldn't do a thing about it. Hopping mad, saying he's too young and such." George added his sickle's worth. "Dumbledore was adamant! Even Snape didn't oppose."

Ron had stopped his frantic shoveling of food down his throat at the twins' announcement. His fork clattered unheeded onto the tabletop. Shock, awe, then anger, flitted through his features, finally contorting with envy. Opening and closing his mouth several times, he was unable to voice his words.

Hermione, outwardly stunned, was internally processing the information as logically as she could. She assumed she could see several of the reasons the adults could have had. She snapped her mouth shut. 'Perhaps it is for the best.'

Ginny looked down at her half-eaten breakfast, suddenly having lost her appetite. 'Harry is growing-up so much faster; there will be a rift between us all.' There was no way her mum would let them join the order as well.

"Man, think we overdid it?" George commented to his twin as they watched the three in amusement. "They're really shocked."

Fred took another cursory glance at the three, and then pinched one of Ron's bacon strips. "Nah, they'll be fine soon." With a shrug, he led the way out of the kitchen, done with being the herald for the day's news.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Harry? Are you in there?" Remus peered into the darkened drawing room. Heavy drapes drawn across the arched windows had effectively blocked out the sunlight, leaving the room with an air of oppressive gloom.

"Harry?" He called out again softly. From the corner of his eyes, he saw a dark shadow shift slightly in response.

Remus entered the room. "Harry, we need to talk." He gestured for Harry to come closer, and settled himself into an armchair. "Severus feels that there are some things that you would need to be made aware of. He will join us shortly. Are you fine with this arrangement?"

Harry looked towards Remus, giving him a light nod of acquiescence. He even went so far as to shuffle closer to Remus, settling himself silently onto an open couch. 'An easy location for retreat and escape,' Remus noted.

Once seated, Harry directed his gaze to stare passively into the gloom.

At this point, Severus strode purposefully into the room, settling into the remaining armchair to face Harry. In his hands, he clasped a small wooden box wrought with intricately carved details.

Drawn to the presence of the box, Harry noted Severus' uncharacteristic action of unconsciously tracing the box with his long fingers as he gathered his thoughts. He visibly started as Severus began to speak.

"Harry, there are some things which we feel that you need to be aware of, regarding your becoming my godson and where this new circumstance places us." Taking in Harry's lack of visible response, Severus decided to drop the first bombshell. "Draco Malfoy is my other godson…"

~~~~~~~~~~

"Molly? Could Severus and I get a word with you in private?" Remus Lupin's soft inquiry startled the Weasley matriarch from her reveries, as she sat knitting alone in the kitchen.

Puzzled, she only nodded affirmative, gesturing for the werewolf and the dour potions master to take a seat.

"What can I do for the both of you?"

Casting a glance at the black clad form beside himself, Remus tentatively broached the topic. "It's about Harry. We were wondering if you would help us in preventing the others from pressing Harry to talk about what happened earlier this summer."

"Any reason why he refuses to talk about it?" A shrewd look at the two. "You must know some things? After all, you were the ones to have retrieved him from those dreadful muggles."

A light flush on Remus' haggard cheeks proved her guess accurate. "I… We… Molly… It's not our tale to tell. He'll speak when he's ready." Fidgeting under her steely gaze.

"Mrs Weasley, I hope you will not pry intimately into this matter, as in doing so, you'll only succeed in alienating him further from us." A curt interjection from Severus. "Much less the reminder that it is his personal issue to resolve."

"So, you do know something?" She persisted, trying to corner the dark man. "I just want to help the poor boy." Looking at Severus, she added. "He is like another child of mine; I hate to see him carry on this way."

"Molly, believe me when I say that we all care very much for him. However, the situation remains that it is Harry's personal matters." A drawn sigh. "He would not appreciate our interference at this point in time." Remus' voice took on a dejected tone.

"Is there no other way?"

Both men kept resolutely silent.

Sigh. "Very well then. I hope you both know what you're doing."

"Mrs Weasley… can we expect your assistance in keeping the other children out of all these?" The dark man leaned slightly forward. Cool clipped tones keeping in check the anxiety on Harry's behalf – unaware of his own growing concern for the boy.

"… I'll do what I can. Those children are a handful when they're onto something." She shared a rueful glance with Remus.

"Severus and I thank you for your help, Molly. As I'm sure Harry will be grateful too." Here, Remus looked at his two companions. "He does have a rather introverted personality, shirking away from the limelight."

An undignified snort at that comment earned the dark form a death glare from the motherly witch.

The potions master only twitched faintly with suppressed amusement. He, the master of all potent, patented, death glares.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Harry?" Remus poked his head into the drawing room, looking for the reclusive Golden Boy of Gryffindor. He found no one present. 'Strange, I though he was here earlier?'  With a shrug, he left in search of Harry elsewhere. As the door closed, a disorientated hiss emitted from the furthest, darkened corner of the room.

~~~~~~~~~~

Two days later

"Are you ready for this?"

The long-fingered hand rested lightly on his shoulder. Taking a deep calming breath, he looked directly into the obsidian eyes of his soon-to-be godfather and nodded.

The potions master could feel the tensed shoulders of the boy. He spoke gently in an effort to alleviate the boy's fears. "Do not worry; the ceremony itself is a simple process. Remember, I have given you my word that I will do my best by you and you are always welcome to come to me for any matter at any time."

He paused to gather his thoughts. "You are special to me, just as Draco is special to me in his own way." Truth rang in his words, confusing the boy further.

He lightly grasped the shoulder of the teen before him. "Is there anything you'd like me to clarify further before the ceremony?" A clear shake of the head. "Ready?" his dulcet voice seemed calming to Harry's internal maelstrom of emotions.

Looking up once more at his dark guardian, Harry spoke softly. "I am ready." Three words that greatly cheered the heart of the stoic man beside him; harbinger of hope for a better relationship.

The doors opened with a bang. All eyes within swiveled to face both of them.

~~~~~~~~~~