Disclaimer: I do not own any characters created by J.K. Rowling. I also do not share her homophobic views.

Chapter Fifty-One

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That weekend Hermione and Ron came to visit. They stopped by first thing in the morning to grab Harry and put in a little appearance at Fortescue's to stave off the press. They cast a disillusion charm on Harry to make him appear older to onlookers. Hermione assured them all that it would appear that way in the photos taken, which was a mild comfort. Once they were back, the teens ate lunch with Sirius and Remus before Remus had to excuse himself to take a private floo call in the study. Even Sirius had a little frown on his face, but he didn't question anything when Remus came back.

By early afternoon, everyone at adjourned to the garden, basking in the heat and sunshine, the perfect excuse to laze around, eat ice cream and play cards in the shade of the large trees and bushes that created a nice barrier around the garden. Sirius and Remus had even set up the paddling pool like last summer so that they could wade in to cool down now and again, and play with Teddy.

Harry liked stretching out along the grass, feeling the silky green blades prickling his skin. He was especially glad that Ron and Hermione didn't have a problem coming over to hang out with him and Draco. He knew Draco hated being closed-in, but he seemed resigned to his fate. At least the Ministry weren't banning him from attending his own graduation ceremony. That was something.

"I'm going inside to get a drink, does anyone want anything?" Draco asked, causing Harry to crack an eyelid open.

Ron and Hermione shook their heads but Harry grinned, "I'd love a lemonade."

Draco smirked, obviously biting back a snarky retort. He leaned over and pressed a chaste kiss to Harry's mouth before pushing himself to his feet, "Coming right up, you lazy git."

Harry grinned even wider as he watched the blonde stride across the garden, his skin and hair practically glowing in the sunshine.

"So, this is a real thing then?" Ron broke the soft silence. "It's not going to stop once you've aged?"

Harry sent his friend a patient smile, "No, Ron, I really like him. You do too, I know you do."

"Well not in the same way, mate."

Harry tipped his head back and laughed, "I'd hope not. No one wants to see a Slytherin getting jealous. It probably wouldn't end well."

Ron gave a weak smile. "Doesn't it worry you, though? What might happen one you remember?"

Harry felt the smile drop from his face. "Yeah … it's like that old feeling I had in school. Always waiting for the other shoe to drop, scared of what's around the corner."

"Just imagine how Draco must be feeling," Hermione hummed. "As relaxed as you two are with one another, even you can't deny things will be awkward for a while once you remember everything."

"But I know what's going to happen!" Harry growled, clawing a hand through his hair. "The only thing missing is the emotional component and the actual, physical memories."

"You know it's not that simple, Harry."

He huffed but didn't argue with her. He knew Hermione was right. As much as he his friends and family had told him, there were still gaps to what they knew, and what he'd gone through. Sure, memories resurfaced now and then, the emotional toil like a leaden blanket resting on his shoulders. But the nightmares weren't recurring, like they were prone to do. Sleeping with Draco definitely helped, if he woke up in the early hours it was a comfort reaching across the mattress and linking their fingers together. It helped ease the strain in his chest.

"I know it might seem weird to you guys, but I really don't want to lose whatever I have with him," he sighed, looking down at his knees and picking absently at the grass. "He's changed so much in the last year …"

"He really has," Hermione agreed. Ron nodded too.

Harry licked his lips, his limbs suddenly feeling jittery. "It's weird to finally appreciate all the things I used to mock him for; being smart, over-achieving, fast learner … Now that he's been holed up, it's all he has."

"He's freakishly smart," Ron glanced up at the house, as though he were worried Draco would come back. "Although, with him getting you to help with potions and shit, you've shown that you can do that sort of stuff."

"Honestly, it's a wonder you got decent grades at all!" Hermione tutted, "Considering how shoddy half the staff were, alongside a war and being on the run for a year, it's a wonder we knew how to cast a basic 'scourgify'."

Harry sniggered. "Draco's been a good teacher, I owe him a lot."

They lapsed into a comfortable silence, the heat beating down on them from all angles. Hermione stood and stretched, shielding her eyes from the sun as though looking for something. "I think I'll go and help Draco with the drinks. Maybe even see if Sirius has any ice lollies in the freezer."

They two boys watched her traipsed back up the garden, before deciding to cross the distance themselves and dip their feet into the paddling pool. Teddy squealed at having more people to splash around with, while Sirius and Remus were both soaked through and relaxing in the sun.

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Hermione found Draco in the kitchen reading a letter and picking idly at his bottom lip, a trait she recognised from Remus whenever he was thinking really hard about something. The tray of drinks stood on the counter beside him, the ice slowly melting in the glasses. Knocking gently on the door, she smiled as the blonde startled out of his reverie.

"I thought I'd come and help," she stepped down into the kitchen. "And also to see if there were any ice lollies to scrounge."

"Oh yes … sorry, I got distracted."

"What do you have there?" Hermione asked, indicating the parchment as she opened the freezer.

"It's something Remus was working on about getting me a small pool of clients for the Wolfsbane project. He said he knew some families that were affected during the war. He also said they were wary of wizards offering 'help' for little to no money, which I can understand. It was Greyback's entire gimmick." He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, "I feel like I'll be unravelling that web for the foreseeable future."

Hermione frowned, closing the freezer door. "Did none of them want to give you a chance?"

"Yes, three families said that they were willing to give me a shot. Mainly because their children were bitten, and they're struggled for money. Most apothecaries and potions masters charge a small fortune just for a single month's dosage."

Hermione blanched, "That's horrible."

"I know. I want to change things for the better. Or at least, take a good shot at it. These are people at the end of their rope. Maybe word of mouth would be good for me. Honest."

"I can see that," she agreed, taking the parchment and letting her eyes skim over the names. "This won't be easy. But you have good backing with this, Draco. I really think starting small can be a good thing."

"Really?"

"Everything has to start somewhere. Rome wasn't built in a day."

Draco wrinkled his nose, "Who cares about Rome?"

Hermione turned to him and laughed at his confusion, "Sorry. Muggle phrase. Surprised Remus hasn't mentioned it, considering all that Roman mythology."

Draco cocked an eyebrow, "I'll … take your word for it."

"Right, that's enough serious business for today!" she tossed the parchment onto the table. "As much as I could love to revolutionise the wizarding world overnight, even I want to enjoy a bit of a carefree summer before graduation and the job market and all that rubbish."

"Hermione Granger NOT wanting to work? I never thought I'd see the day."

"Like you're any better, Draco," she grinned at him. "Take those drinks outside. I'll go and grab the ice cream."

.

Giving Sirius and Remus a break from Teddy's antics, Ron and Harry gingerly sat on either end of the paddling pool, legs outstretched in the cool water, while Teddy repeatedly refilled his watering can and tipping it over their heads. Remus had desperately needed to go and sit up on the patio in the shade, and Sirius being the doting partner that he was, was more than happy not to leave his lover alone.

"You're different you know," Ron observed as he swept his wet hair out of his face. At Harry's frown, he laughed. "I just mean you've taken your studies more seriously, and they weren't even your studies. Don't get me wrong, you can still be a dramatic sod."

Harry huffed and rolled his eyes.

"Like that!" Ron smirked, "But I weirdly think you two are … Eurgh … good for each other?"

Harry's mouth quirked up into a smile, "I bet you almost threw up saying that."

"It was close, can't lie. You're good for him. Draco, I mean. He's far more laidback than when we were all at school. Weirdly, as stupid as all this has been, I think you de-aging yourself has been good for you."

"Really? I'm surprised you think that."

"Well, Mione and I do talk about the whole thing every now and again. I get it," he shrugged helplessly. "I get not wanting to deal with everything all at once. Or to be more grounded before taking it all on. With your life, it was one thing after another, you never got a break."

"And now I've had an extended holiday?"

"Ha! Yeah, something like that." He splashed a small wave at Teddy, making the toddler squeal and tip the watering can over his head again. "Teddy!"

Harry tipped his head back and laughed loudly as he watched his best friend get doused in water.

Wiping his eyes, Ron shook water from his hair. He couldn't complain, it was far too refreshing in the heat. His eyes locked with Harry's over the toddler's head, and he lowered his voice so that -hopefully -Remus and Sirius couldn't overhear him. "How are you feeling? You know, mentally?"

Chewing on his lip, the brunette shrugged. "I'm not too sure. I get some nightmares, but … now that I know they're either bad memories or just nightmares … it's easier to sleep afterwards."

"Yeah, you used to struggle with that."

Harry grimaced, "I'm sorry if I ever kept you, and the guys up all night. It's a wonder any of you got any rest."

"We understood. Silencing charms helped. Although …" Ron sighed, "I did feel bad that I couldn't help."

"Trust me, waking up in the boys' dorm, to your snoring, was the biggest relief!"

"Oi! I do not snore!"

"You do, mate."

Ron cocked an eyebrow, waiting for an answer. Harry fidgeted a little, clawing a hand through his damp hair.

"There's still hard days where it all gets too much, you know? I don't think those will ever go away." Ron nodded, to show that he was listening. "I feel … like I'm experiencing everything from the outside. It's helped make sense of it all. Like I can be more objective about things that have happened, instead of letting my emotions go nuts."

"Yeah, once you got your mind stuck on something, it was hard to talk you out of it. I'm the same, still." Ron slunk lower against the paddling pools edge; arms splayed out as he tipped his head back to get more sun on his face. He had to bend his knees so that he could fit properly. "Do you think you achieved everything you wanted?"

Harry looked up at the patio, where Remus was carding his fingers through Sirius' hair, tousling the unruly waves, before combing them back. Over and over, he repeated the motions, the look of contentment on Sirius' face at he tipped his head back a little. He looked at Teddy stomping around like a marching soldier, kicking water all over the flowerbeds behind them. He looked at Hermione and Draco, standing in the shade of the house, deep in discussion about something. He felt his heart swell in his chest, a slow smile spreading across his face. Turning to Ron, he nodded.

"I know I won't be one hundred percent better. I know I'm still going to have trauma from the war, once I get all the memories back," he flexed his legs, letting the cool water ripple over him. "But living here, like this, has been so great. No one leaves me alone long enough to stew. I can talk stuff out. Even if I don't get answers, it helps. And if I'm just too pent-up and angry, we duel until my arms about to drop off."

"That sounds like so much fun!" Ron groaned. "I miss the DA. Those were fun times."

"Well, you're welcome to come over if you ever feel angsty and ready to explode. I'm sure Draco would happily duel you."

Ron chuckled, "I'm proud of you, mate."

"What for?"

"I think whatever half-baked idea you had turned out alright. I just … I feel like I should have been there for you more, after the war was over. I should have come over more, spent time with my best mate."

Harry shrugged, glancing up at the patio where Hermione was helping pour out the lemonade into tall glasses filled with ice. "You needed to be there for Hermione, and you were. I don't think either of us would forgive ourselves if Hermione was left on her own."

Ron nodded solemnly.

"Besides, we're all back together now and that's the main thing."

"See, this is proof that this environment has done you worlds of good. You're being logical, Harry! When has that ever happened?"

"Oi! You're such a git!" Harry growled as he lunged for his friend. He tackled Ron until he was able to splash his face in the water, making the redhead cough and splutter before sending a wave back over Harry and Teddy. They all laughed, before shaking the water from their hair and getting out.

Padding up to the patio, Harry gratefully accepted a glass of lemonade from Remus before sliding into the vacant seat next to Draco. He shot the blonde a blinding smile before snagging an ice lolly. Hermione perched on Ron's knee, peeling the paper away from her strawberry cornetto, while Teddy already had bright green and red juices running down his chin and hand from his melting ice lolly.

It was a bubble of pure love, and Harry prayed the day wouldn't come when it would have to be popped.

~0~

Later that evening, long after Hermione and Ron and flooed back to the Granger's house, Harry felt he was unable to keep his mind focused on the book he'd been reading. Draco had fallen asleep forty odd minutes ago, his façade seamlessly replaced by the sight of him sleeping face down, with his mouth ajar, drooling onto his pillow. Harry couldn't help but find the git adorable. Pressing a kiss to the older boys forehead, he slipped out of bed and tiptoed out of the room.

He slid through the shadows and made his way outside to the patio. He was surprised to find Sirius already sat outside with a butterbeer in his hand, his head cocked back against the metal chair to look up at the stars.

Easing the door closed, Harry took the chair beside his godfather and propped his feet up on the table, accepting one of the butterbeers Sirius had on the tabletop. He popped the cap and took a small sip, the cool, buttery taste soothing to his tongue.

"Did you have a good day, pup?" Sirius asked quietly.

"Yeah, it feels like forever since I got to hang out with my friends. Sometimes … I struggle to believe the wars over."

"You and me both, kid," Sirius sighed, taking a swig from his bottle. "Sounded like you and Ron were having a heavy chat."

Harry shrugged, "Yeah, sort of. He said he was proud of me."

"Now, now, that's my line."

"He just meant with all of the trauma from the war and my de-aging myself, apparently I've changed, but in a good way?"

"I can see how that might take you a little by surprise. Then again, all you have to do it look at Draco and how much his life has changed over the last few years."

"True."

Sirius turned his head so that he could properly see his godson. Even in the pearly light given off by the moon and stars above them, he could see that Harry had a stark tan line on the tops of his arms where his t-shirt had stuck, now clearly visible in his vest. The milky skin underneath would have sun-freckles by tomorrow. "How are you feeling about it all?" Sirius asked.

Harry bowed his head, staring down the length of the dark garden. "I think I feel pretty good about it all. I feel like … the clutter in my head is less … volatile?"

"See, that's all the proof you need that you've been spending too much time with Draco," Sirius chuckled. He sobered up almost instantly, "Do you … did you ever feel betrayed that I stepped in as your 'dad'?"

"What?" Harry spun in his seat, "N-no, why would you think that?"

"Something Molly said years ago. The negative things take root and become hard to shake, especially in my old age."

"You're not that old, dad."

"Even so. I want you to know that I never want you to feel like I'm replacing your parents. No one ever could."

Harry reached out and grabbed Sirius' hand in his own. Setting his butterbeer to one side on the table, he gripped his godfather's hand in both of his own. "Please don't ever worry about that. I -I don't think I could physically feel more loved than I do right now."

"But -?"

"No, dad, don't you see? This was how it was supposed to be the first time around. I was meant to go home with you, that night, not to the Dursley's. I was meant to grow up with magic! With you and Remus and magic!"

Sirius sighed, twisting his hand so that he could grip Harry right back. "You know you can always ask me about your parents, right? I know it won't be the same. But I have a pensieve somewhere and I'm sure Moony can dig out some of his memories. He always had a better relationship with your mother, especially after fifth year."

Harry frowned, "Why can I use your memories too?"

"Well, we can try. I'm not sure how reliable they would be after … after Azkaban …"

"Oh, right. I'm surprised no one has done a study on that."

Sirius snorted, coughing little as the butterbeer went down the wrong way. "You're starting to sound like Draco AND Hermione!"

Harry chuckled, tipping his head to one side so lean against the back of his chair. "Are you still mad at me for de-aging myself? I know I didn't really give you a choice."

"No, I'm not mad. It gave both of us the fresh start we needed," Sirius squeezed his hand. "Don't get me wrong, I'll call you out for years to come about how it's the extremist way of avoiding dealing with the fallout of the war, but look at what's come of it. Remus and I are back together, Teddy is growing up loved, you've been given a second childhood with a loving family. Although, I do have to say Harry, I'm not too sure about your choice of boyfriend."

"W-what do you mean?"

"He's far too pointy."

"Sirius!" Harry laughed, shoving his godfather's shoulder. The older man laughed, ruffling Harry's hair, before pulling him close in a one-armed hug. Quietening down, Harry muttered, "Draco's isn't ALL pointy. Besides … we didn't actually decide if we were boyfriends."

"Well, that's okay. Sometimes these things just happen, pup."

"No, I mean … Draco doesn't want to label anything until I've completely aged and have all my memories back."

"Ah, I see." Scratching at the scruff shadowing his jaw, Sirius down the last of his butterbeer. "Let's go sit inside, I don't fancy getting bitten by anything."

Harry rolled his eyes but followed his godfather into the conservatory. It was pleasantly cool in there, despite the heat of the day beating in through the windows. Settling down into the large wicker sofa, both men propped their feet up onto the coffee table, something Remus would scold them for had he been awake. With a flick of his wrist, a few tea candles illuminated the room in a dull golden glow. Sirius slung his arm around his godson's shoulders and hugged him close.

"Gotta make up for twelve years, pup."

Harry didn't mind. He gladly accepted any and all hugs Sirius was willing to bestow upon him. The ache echoed in his chest of the incident at the Ministry, watching Sirius fall away and knowing he wouldn't get a chance to be hugged by him again. Shaking the memories away, he pressed closer to Sirius' side, using the weight of his chest as an anchor.

Time passed them slowly. The moon skated lazily across the inky blue sky. At one point Harry thought Sirius was asleep, but a quick glance up at his godfather showed that he was calmly watching the candle flames flicker.

"Sirius?"

"Hm?"

"What do you think I should do about my future?" Harry asked. "It's just … I have the luxury to do everything and nothing and I hate having such a bottomless pit of options."

"Sadly, living the bachelor life isn't all it's cracked up to be," Sirius shrugged gently, "In that case you can do whatever makes you happy. And if it stops making you happy, try something else. What would you truly like to do? Ignore the Ministry or whoever else things they can boss you about. What would you, personally, want to do?"

Harry picked absently at a hangnail that had snagged during his frolicking in the paddling pool. That was such a loaded question. Up until a year ago, he'd honestly felt as though his whole life had been planned out for him, no room for error or fanciful ideas. Now that he'd taken this time for himself, he felt freer. "I think I'd like to travel a little, eventually. I saved a whole bloody world, and I've barely explored what I saved. Definitely think muggle and magical communications needs to be improved, along with a competent muggle studies teacher who knows what a damn rubber duck is." He chewed his lip thoughtfully, "It's a shame that the only time purebloods are exposed to such things is in seventh year, for a few hours a week for an elective subject."

"Why don't you go and talk to McGonagall and Kingsley about improving those things? The war was practically based on blood supremacy, plus ignorance and fear of the unknown."

"Even now, most pureblood students wouldn't have a better understanding of it, especially if the two worlds are kept so starkly separate."

Sirius chuckled, ruffling Harry's hair. "Well, write them in the morning, pup."

Harry felt his smile falter, "But … Sirius, what if I change my mind? What if I get bored?"

"Harry, you do not have to rush anything," Sirius pressed a hand to the teens shoulder. "You have a wide range of talents. You could go pro with Quidditch for a few years and then change to something totally different. You don't have to stick yourself into a career for the rest of your life. That's a common mistake people make."

"But in the muggle world, you study into narrower fields until you land a job in that niche."

Scoffing, Sirius reclined and regarded his godson. "And in the wizarding world you literally have the exact same teaching as every other person your age. Sure, in your NEWT years you can drop a subject or two, or swap them around, but the fundamentals are all the same. You all study the same curriculum enough to have a full timetable."

Harry frowned, "I guess I never thought of it like that."

"It's how you use the information you learned to your advantage, pup. Look at Remus. He could be anything from a duelling master to a professor, to a librarian."

"What would you have done?"

"I'd probably have been an auror, although Moony always said James and I were too reckless to take it seriously."

"I don't think that's true."

"Nah, for the most part he was right," Sirius smiled wistfully, his eyes growing distant. "But when it came down to helping the Order, we had our heads screwed on right. It was no laughing matter."

"And being an auror was?" Harry laughed.

"Well, no. But you did get the odd case of a woman stuck up a tree because her nose-biting teacups multiplied like rabbits."

"Fred and George would have loved that."

They lapsed into silence, a peaceful moment remembering the last time they'd seen Fred enjoying his life to the fullest.

"I think you're right though," Harry murmured into the quiet that had fallen around them. "I am still young, so I can take my time for once. There's no need to rush into anything, right?"

"Right you are, pup."

Harry leaned into Sirius and relaxed, enjoying simply being held as they chuckled quietly and continued to chat away into the early hours of the morning. When they finally decided to call it a night, the candles had died out, the moon had vanished, and the sky was lightening to a milky grey colour. They parted ways on the landing after one last, tight hug before Harry slipped back into Draco's room. Climbing into bed, he noted that Draco had barely stirred in his absence. Settling down onto the cool pillows, blindly placing his glasses on the bedside table behind him, Harry let out a content sigh at finally feeling like the path ahead was a little clearer.

A/N: Please leave some lovely reviews! I hope you liked the update!