A/N: This is a short one, but an important one.
One Day at A Time
Harry and Sirius left Remus to sleep and went to the living room. Sirius flopped down on the sofa and pressed his palms over his eyes.
"Damn it," said Sirius. Harry settled into the armchair and sighed.
"Yeah, that about covers it. What now?"
"We eat and you talk to him. For my part I think I need to sleep on it, but I'm having a very difficult time holding much against him right now. I know better than most what Crouch was capable of. I have to leave on a mission tomorrow evening. I'd like to invite him to stay here long term but I won't if it makes you uncomfortable. Think about it after you talk to him, and let me know in the morning. If not here I'll set him up in another Black property."
Harry considered that and nodded. "I'll pop down to the village and get us some take-away for dinner."
It was only a short time before all three men were sitting around the kitchen table with cartons spread out in front of them. Sirius had very carefully helped Remus down to the kitchen and the two old friends seemed to be working towards re-building their relationship.
After dinner Sirius helped Remus back to the guestroom and left his friend and godson to their talk.
"I want you to know that I'm not mad at you for leaving anymore. I can't imagine what it must have been like for you, and I'm not sure I wouldn't have done the same thing in your place." Harry said, settling into the armchair next to the bed.
"Thank you, Harry," Remus said softly, "It's more than I deserve."
"On the other hand, you lied to me. You lied to me for days while I took care of you. This morning I felt like you were still holding something back. I don't know how I feel about what happened between us, or even if there was any truth to those feelings."
Remus hung his head, he had caused so much hurt. "Harry, no. I lied about my name, but that was all. I don't quite know what to think about those feelings either, but they were very real. You're right though. I was holding something back this morning. Something I didn't want Sirius to know about."
Harry raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.
"Well, okay, one of two things I didn't want Sirius to know about." Remus said with a chuckle and was glad to see Harry join in.
Remus looked up at Harry, but now his expression was closed off.
"I assume that when Sirius was cleared he was reinstated as an auror?" Remus asked. He saw Harry nod so he continued.
"The men who attacked me are aurors, some of the most senior in the department. They were there when I was questioned and they know what I am. My registry number is spelled to notify the Ministry when I re-enter the country. Needless to say they weren't happy to see me."
Harry jumped up out of the chair. "Bloody hell, they are not going to get away with this. Sirius and I have some pull. You know, after the whole Voldemort thing? We'll make sure they get tossed out on their arses!" Harry's volume had increased as he spoke until he nearly yelled the last bit.
"No, Harry quiet down! No good will come of dredging this up, please trust me. They won't be happy once they find out I didn't die, that I'm safe here with you and Sirius. If Sirius finds out you know that he'll do something rash and get himself in trouble. They might even decide to target the two of you, and I couldn't handle that. "
Harry dropped back into the chair and took a deep breath. "Okay, I won't tell him, at least for now. Is that why you gave me a fake name?"
"Got it in one. I didn't know who you were or how widely known my werewolf status is. I didn't feel like I could take the chance. Then I got to know you a little and I was going to tell you the truth. That's when Sirius showed up."
"I know you were, maybe that's why I'm finding it easy to forgive you. It's a good thing we stopped with a kiss," Harry said blushing.
"Now that I know who you are I'm relieved. If things had gone further….. well, I think I would have done more than faint when the truth was revealed."
"So we can't see where this is going now that you know who I am?" Harry asked, his voice flat and his eyes on his shoes.
Remus reached out and gently cupped the younger man's chin, tilting his face up so the bright green eyes met his. "I didn't say that. I need a bit more time to sort that out. I just meant that if something more is going to happen between us I'd want to know all the facts first."
"That makes sense, you should know I have a dangerous tendency to rush into things without thinking about them. So what now?" Harry asked, taking the hand from his face and holding it between both of his.
"I don't know Harry, I don't know. I guess we just take it one day at a time."
