Title: It Would Have Been Like

Author: Dwight4Studly

Rating: PG-13

Summary: Harry is desperate to know what it would have been like to live with Sirius if he had not fallen behind the veil. He just finds out more than what he knew.

AN/

Well … I have officially received my first flame.

Sara: Oh...ew. I thought it would be an interesting story, but it's just another racy slash thing disguised as a plot. YUck.

First of all, flaming is just something you don't do. It is extremely rude, so when you don't like something about a story you leave quietly so no one gets hurt. Sara, dear, if you are out there, please know that this has weighed on me for a while; and to be cowardly enough not to post your email address or anything … I really hope you're happy with yourself. Merry Christmas to you, and may you have good fortune.

Anyway, I just wanted to let all of you out there who have posted: thank you. Very much. I apologize that I had no warning that this story was slash oriented. It didn't cross my mind, and I am sorry if you have been offended or put off.

Either way, Please don't flame anyone. It really makes them feel terrible. Any of you who have been flames knows what its like, so just don't do it. I always accept constructive criticism, though! I hope you enjoy the chapter.

Chapter 4: Catch and the Full Moon

15 minutes later, Harry walked the small front yard.

Hundreds of trees scattered the cottage's back area, while a wide-open space with a small beaten path graced the front. Harry could faintly see a tiny town in the distance.

Remus knelt in a muddy patch beside the doorway, multiple herbs of every shape and size spotted inside of it. He wore a pair of beaten gloves, some old looking jeans, and an off-white tee shirt that had a small hole at the neckline. He looked up from his struggle with a particularly stubborn, stringy purple weed.

"Sirius is over there." He stated, smiling at Harry as he looked over his shoulder to the lanky man that sat on the green grass, throwing a ball up in the air and catching it gracefully.

Harry couldn't help but smile in return to such warmth. Professor Lupin wasn't any different. Why should it be a problem that he loved Sirius too? Well, given, it wasn't the same exact love that Harry felt toward Sirius, but it was love non-the-less...

"Harry!" Sirius called joyfully, standing as his godson made his way toward him.

"Here," he said, tossing the beaten yellow ball to Harry. "Throw it as far as you can."

Harry caught it, looking at the ball puzzlingly as Sirius made his mark, stretching one long leg behind him and one slightly crouched with knees bent, watching the ball intently.

Harry shrugged and threw the ball as hard as he could. The ball zoomed into the air, moving further into the distance before descending slowly back to the ground. He looked to see Sirius run at top speed, meeting the ball half way before changing in one fluid motion into Padfoot, his long silky ebony fur flowing. The big black dog bounded its way toward the descending point, and as the ball fell, he leapt into the air, catching it in his mighty jaws. Harry's face broke into a grin and he heard Lupin clapping politely before returning back to his activity.

The dog trotted back, his tail swishing jubilantly behind him.

"That was amazing, Sirius!" Harry exclaimed after the dog dropped the ball at his feet. Padfoot swiftly changed into his human form, grinning at the young man proudly. "What else did you expect?"

They spent an hour playing the tossing game before both of them collapsed to the ground, laughing. Remus gazed approvingly at his garden, weed-less and pruned.

"Want to annoy Moony over there a bit?" Sirius asked quietly to his companion. Harry smiled, nodding.

Silently, Sirius made his way toward the werewolf that obliviously admired his handy work. Sirius crawled slowly, getting himself to Remus' level, trying not to make a sound. He was now inches from his target when suddenly …

Splat

Maybe said werewolf wasn't so oblivious …

Dark, earthy mud dripped down the face of an astonished looking Sirius.

Harry had to slap his hand over his mouth to prevent himself laughing.

"Oh! I'm so sorry, Padfoot. Didn't know you were there, love …" Remus exclaimed "innocently". He winked to Harry over Sirius' broad shoulder.

"You meant to do that!" Sirius cried, wiping the earth off of his face.

"Who, me?" replied Remus angelically.

"Yes you, you little bugger!" Sirius exclaimed before jumping the werewolf, tickling him mercilessly.

Remus fell back from the weight of the other man, his hair smearing into the mud as he thrashed about, laughing almost painfully. "Ha- Harry! Harry, help me!" Remus gasped between fits of laughter.

"Oh no you don't! No one can save you from my wrath!" Sirius cackled evilly, groping a messy ball of mud and smudging it across Remus' forehead, which emitted a cry of defeat from the lithe man under him.

Harry laughed freely now. He stumbled over to the two grown men that wrestled on the earth. They were so happy… Harry thought sadly.

Abruptly Harry felt the slippery mud splat against his face, mud covering his glasses. He wiped them quickly to see the two wizards aiming mud balls at his face.

Mud flew all over the place.

Ten minutes later they all lay in a heap.

"My garden is absolutely demolished," Remus said quietly as they watched a cloud drift lazily above them.

"Oh, but you love me anyway," Sirius said nonchalantly.

Harry could tell Lupin was biting back a retort because when he smiled, his jaw clenched visibly through the caked mud.

There was a comfortable silence.

Harry was laying on Sirius' left, about a foot away, while Remus lay on Sirius' right, just as equally close. But when the peacefulness settled in, Harry could feel a prickly tension rise.

"Full moon is tonight." Remus whispered hoarsely, suddenly sounding tired. Sirius turned his head to the side, facing his friend. Lover Harry corrected himself.

Harry saw out of the corner of his eye Sirius grabbing Lupin's hand sympathetically.

Remus cleared his throat distractedly, jumping up away from the two. "I think I'll go clean up a bit before I get things ready."

"Remus …" Sirius said quietly as he sat up.

"Stop fussing Sirius, I'm not a child."

"But –"

"Harry, how about you spray him down with the hose. He seems to need a good bath." Remus said dryly as he turned to Harry, blocking Sirius with his face set.

Harry smiled and nodded his head.

Lupin smiled. "Good. I'm off." That was the end of all conversations as he walked up the small, dirt path that led to the door.

Sirius just sat there for a moment, deep in thought. Harry felt that he needed to say something but he didn't. Had they just suddenly gotten into a fight?

"I think I'll go join him." Sirius said, standing up. "Get washed up." The command wasn't forceful, just a statement of fact. Then Harry felt the sting in his checks, not knowing exactly what Sirius was joining him in.