A/N: This chapter earns the rating.

Chapter 7 Secrets and Threats

Before leaving the next morning Sirius, with Harry's blessing, asked Remus to stay long-term and Remus agreed. Alone together once again Remus and Harry were both a bit at odds as to how they should behave towards the other. The tension was eased slightly by the fact that Remus was still recovering and slept most of the day. Harry was especially wary of pushing him to far too fast both out of concern for Remus's health and fear of Hermione's wrath.

After spending another day with the younger man Remus knew that he would soon have to come to a decision about the nature of their relationship. The longer things remained in limbo the harder it would be on both of them and the higher the likelihood somebody was going to end up hurt.

Just a few hours ago he had been reading on the sofa when Harry sat down next to him. The urge to pull the darker haired man close and kiss him breathless had been nearly overwhelming. Instead he had claimed fatigue and asked Harry to help to his room so he would have time to think.

He knew he was attracted to the other man, that wasn't the question. It was whether he could get past the fact that Harry was the son of one close friend and had been raised by another. Being around Sirius and Harry had helped him find a piece of himself he thought he would never get back. He was scared to risk losing it if things went badly with Harry.

On the other hand, it had been well over a decade since he had felt this way about anyone. More than attraction, he had really come to care for Harry. Not as James's son, or about The Boy Who Lived,he hadn't known about any of that, but about Harry as his own person. Harry was just so accepting, so generous, so passionate, and that firm little ass….. Okay, so a little physical attraction never hurt, or if he was honest with himself a lot of attraction.

If there was one benefit of age he felt that it was the ability to know oneself, and he knew that he had always regretted far more the things he didn't do than the things he did. He would go slowly so as not to push Harry, but he would move whatever this was between them forward. His mind made up, he finally drifted off to sleep.

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He was on the sofa with Harry underneath him, those beautiful green eyes dark with lust and saying more than words could, as he pulled off his own shirt and then Harry's. He took his time with the kisses, placing one on Harry's forehead, spending much time on his lips, and dotting kisses up the jaw line.

Taking the boy's sensitive ear between his teeth he nibbled at it, blowing softly and laving it with his tongue. Working his way down the slender neck he stopped to lick and nip along Harry's collarbone pleased to feel evidence of the other man's arousal pressing into his thigh.

He leaned back and straddled Harry's thighs, running his hands down slim sides and over tight pink nipples, chuckling as he was cursed for his leisurely pace and reaching down to still the hips that bucked up when he rested his hand on the button of Harry's jeans.

He made short work of the trousers and pulled down Harry's boxers as well, taking a moment to admire what had been pressed against him just moments before.

Making a show of licking his palm he grasped Harry and began to slowly stroke up and down, enjoying how the younger man moaned on each slide of his hand.

When the moaning turned to begging he was happy to comply and bent down to take the smooth hardness into his mouth. A little faster then, and all that he heard from his lover was gibberish and whimpers.

He took a deep breath and swallowed around Harry's cock taking it all into his mouth until his nose was pressed against Harry. It was only a matter of seconds until Harry screamed and tensed, Remus taking care to let Harry get as much pleasure as he possibly could.

Remus woke up with a start. He was covered in sweat and as hard as a rock. He couldn't help but think that going slow just might be the death of him as he reached down to attend to his own rather pressing problem.

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Harry's thoughts turned to Remus as they had almost constantly since he had found the man on his doorstep. He had found himself drawn to the man from that first night, and as they had gotten to know each other his feelings had only gotten deeper.

Finding out that the man he knew as John was actually one of his godfather's oldest friends had hit him hard. Now, with everything out in the open he found that he could no longer be angry. With all the things that Remus had endured over the years Harry would have expected a bitter cynic in the mold of Severus Snape; not the warm, gentle man who was currently sleeping in his guestroom.

He had told Hermione that first night that he felt like something had brought this man to his cottage. He knew that to be the case now, the odds were just too astronomical for Remus to wind up here with out some kind force guiding him. Dumbledore had always spoken of a balance inherent in magic and Harry wondered if this chance at love was magic's way of repaying him for all the trouble.

He snorted and shook his head; he must have it bad if he was starting to sound like Dumbledore. Still, he wasn't a Gryffindor for nothing; he was skilled at taking risks. Smiling to himself he headed for the guestroom.

He knocked gently and entered to find Remus in bed reading.

"I can come back later if I'm interrupting." Harry said with a shy smile.

"Not at all, I could use some company. Have a seat."

Harry thought a moment and settled himself on the bed facing Remus instead of in the chair. He looked up at the werewolf, considering his words carefully and then discarded his quickly rehearsed speech. He leaned forward slowly, watching the other man's face carefully for signs of distress or discomfort and gently brushed his lips against Remus's.

"I want to know what we could have together, if you're willing." He said softly, looking deep into the warm brown eyes.

The other man didn't answer for a moment and Harry braced himself for rejection. Then, just as slowly as Harry had moments before, Remus leaned forward and captured the younger man's lips in a searing kiss. Instead of pulling back he pulled Harry closer, sliding his hands under the other man's t-shirt, kneading the smooth muscular back as Harry reached up and ran his hands through light brown hair. The kiss continued for several minutes until both men were breathing heavily and Remus gently pulled back.

"I don't think we should rush this. I intend to thoroughly enjoy every new experience with you, they don't have to happen all at once." Remus said, his hand cupping Harry's cheek.

Harry leaned into the touch, "And if I want things to happen?"

"I'm going to have a hard time turning you down," Remus paused, "Harry, are you willing to keep this from Sirius, just for a while? I hate the idea of lying to him, but I'm not sure I could handle his reaction just yet."

Harry sighed. "I think that is for the best. We can tell him once we have a better idea what this all means."

Remus smiled. "Just between us then, for now. Why don't you slide up here next to me and let me read to you for a bit?"

Harry's smile returned and he did so eagerly. Resting against the warmth of Remus's body he closed his eyes and concentrated on the sound of the other man's voice.

Sometime later an owl tapping on the window interrupted their comfortable arrangement. With a wave of his wand Harry let the owl in and a plain looking piece of parchment was dropped on the bedspread.

Not recognizing the owl Harry did several spells on the note. It came up clean for dark spells and hexes so Harry opened it, swore, and crumpled it furiously. Remus reached out and smoothed the paper to see what had upset Harry so much; in bright red ink he read:

We know where you are, werewolf.

You can't hide forever.