Okay, loves. First off, I'm sorry this chapter took so long. I've been sick and insanely busy for awhile, and haven't the time or the mood to write. Second, I have bad news and good news. The bad news is that this is the last chapter of The Boy Who Lived: Take Two. The good news is, there will be a sequel, and I'll post an announcement of it in this fic when I start it. I really like this storyline and the setup, but frankly, I can't do much more with Harry as a five-year-old without the story getting stale. It'll just take a few days to regroup.
And third, it's time to thank the reviewers!
Bluebear13: I'm glad you like the story, here's your update!
Gatermage: Well, the Dursleys aren't dead yet, but… I'll take it under consideration. Mweheheheh
uknowho: I try. I don't know any gay couples well enough to observe how they act in private, so I'm going off of instinct here. And thankyouthankyouthankyou for the well-written part. I try very hard to make my writing something I'd want to read. Plus I'm a grammar nazi.
Becky Silver Black: Hehe… I liked the cuteness, too. And after this chapter you'll have officially reviewed EVERY chapter. (Bakes a cake for Becky.)
littlepandacub: I thought it was a fairly tame chapter… Strange. Maybe I should up the rating on this fic?
30 November 1985
The box full of photograph albums had somehow ended up in the back of Remus's closet, and he felt rather like an archaeologist digging around to unearth it. Finally he emerged with the large heavy box, and went to the living room to find Sirius and Harry engaged in a tickle fight. Their laughter brought a smile to his face, and without realizing it, he joined the fight, rescuing Harry from his godfather. Even with two-to-one odds, Sirius was winning until Rory joined in, and the end result was a dogpile on the canine animagus.
When they'd all wiped the merry tears from their eyes, Harry looked over at the box full of leather-bound albums. "Those can't all be pictures of my parents."
"Most of them have James or Lily in them. Or one of us." Remus gestured around the room. "Peter was fond of taking pictures."
Harry couldn't hear the subvocalized growls coming from Sirius and Rory, but werewolf ears are keen. If he didn't look directly at them, Remus could almost see the hackles of their animagus forms raising. He was really quite impressed that neither of them said anything, and that they'd calmed down so quickly. Completely oblivious to the tenseness of the moment, Harry frowned at the unfamiliar name. "Who is Peter?"
Remus answered, not sure what either of the others would say. "Peter Pettigrew was a friend of ours. He… Voldemort did something to him… he's not Peter anymore."
That was enough. They could tell Harry the rest when he was old enough to understand. Hopefully he wouldn't ask any more questions about Peter. He didn't, but the new topic shocked all three adults. "Who's Voldemort?"
"Voldemort is an evil wizard, Harry." Rory's voice was controlled and even, a sure sign that she was suppressing emotions. Searching for a distraction, Remus started looking through the box of albums for the oldest one.
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"Wizards? Uncle Vernon says there's no such thing as wizards…" Harry hadn't meant to blurt that out, but the luxury of actually being encouraged to ask questions was strange. Strange wasn't necessarily pleasant, though. Especially not when three pairs of eyes suddenly stared at him incredulously, as if he'd said the sky was orange.
"Y-y-you mean they didn't tell you?" Sirius spluttered, his face forming into an evil-looking scowl. Harry shrank away toward Remus, who put a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Calm down, Padfoot. You're frightening Harry." The boy wriggled closer to Remus, then relaxed as Sirius smiled apologetically.
"I'm sorry, Harry. I was just upset because your uncle lied to you. Wizards do exist. We're wizards." Sirius's grin was infectious, but Harry couldn't help being skeptical. It obviously showed, because his godfather leaned forward with a mischievous look on his face. "Want to see some magic?"
What answer could any five year old boy give to that question but an enthusiastic nod?
With a wink and a bark of laughter, Sirius disappeared, and in his place was a huge black dog. Before Harry could register anything but shock, the dog was on him, licking his face and wagging its tail so hard they both shook.
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Once Sirius was done convincing Harry that magic existed, they all sat down with the albums, the boy listening eagerly while the adults told him tales of his parents. Rory noted that Remus kept gently inserting Peter into the stories. He was right, of course. Peter was an important part of their lives at Hogwarts. He'd been a friend of James, Sirius, and Remus. Rory had tutored him in Muggle Studies, and felt rather sorry for him. Protecting Peter had helped form the characters of James and Sirius.
Peter had been such a nice boy. Quiet, not the cleverest, a bit of a klutz… But still unquestionably a part of the Marauders. He even had his own little coterie of followers, just as the other three did. Mostly girls that found him more approachable than his handsomer and cleverer comrades. Not that Peter wasn't attractive. He was handsome in an understated way, although he started putting on weight after Hogwarts.
Even struggling through classes he'd been part of the group. Rory knew she wasn't the only one who'd been helped by tutoring him. Having to break things down and explain them helped the tutor as much as the pupil. She and Lily credited him with their high Charms grades, and he was so grateful for their help that it was laughable.
For almost a decade he'd been a good friend and a true Gryffindor. But if Rory ever saw the little rat again she'd kill him.
With a brief wistful thought of how things would have been if Peter hadn't betrayed them all, Rory turned back to the conversation, summoning a smile.
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The clock striking two o'clock in the morning jarred Sirius awake. It wasn't an unpleasant awakening, though. In fact, Sirius couldn't remember being so happy in years. The last album had been put away five hours before, and they'd sat around talking until everyone had dropped off to sleep one by one.
Alhena and Adara were in their cradle, moved into the room so Rory didn't have to go to another room when they woke up. She was curled up on the floor in animagus form with Raul using her for a mattress. Romulus was asleep leaning on Remus, who was leaning on Sirius. Sirius nuzzled his lover's soft hair, smiling in amusement at Harry, who was sprawled bonelessly across both their laps.
Listening to the gentle susurration of deep breathing and quiet snores, the dark-haired man tried to imagine the Black family like this. His short bitter laugh at the thought woke Remus. Not for the first time, the werewolf's ability to divine his thoughts startled Sirius. It was nothing short of magical when the amber-eyed man smiled sadly and kissed his beloved. "They're not your family anymore. They haven't been for years, if they ever were to begin with. This is your family now, Padfoot. And don't you forget it."
Eyes full of happy tears, Sirius pulled Remus closer and ruffled Harry's hair. No, he wouldn't forget. Family.
Well, my friends, that's it. Like I said, there will be a sequel, and I'll probably post the first chapter of it here, with a link to the actual fic. But that's not for a week or two at least. I'm not abandoning you, though. My next fic is already half-written, so if you like Sirius/Remus, check out 'Watching.' Crappy title, I know, but… eh.