"Pads, sit still," Remus muttered.
Harry looked up from his book and smiled softly. He ran his fingers through Remus's hair as the werewolf rubbed his cheek against Harry's thigh. Padfoot huffed and sprawled out on top of the wolf, his warmth helping soothe Remus's sore muscles; the full moon had only been two nights ago. He wasn't as sore as he used to get, but the moon still took its toll on him.
"You need something to help you relax?"
"Harry, if you move I will hex you." Remus opened one eye and glared at him.
Harry could help but laugh softly, the sight anything but intimidating. He continued to run his fingers through the soft, brown hair and went back to his book.
The trio stayed quiet, the only sounds were the crackling fire and the old grandfather clock that stood in the entrance hall. Harry wasn't sure how much time had passed when his stomach growled, pulling his concentration away from the story in front of him. The two older men were both asleep so he slipped out from under Remus as gently as he could and put a pillow in his place.
He walked downstairs to the kitchen, the place much lighter since the end of the war and they had finally taken the time to clean and remodel Grimmauld Place into something the three of them could live in. The kitchen had been Harry's doing - dark wood floors, gray washed cabinets, and the stone counter top making the room one of his favorites in the house.
Harry turned on the radio and started to make a simple dinner for the three of them. He hummed along with the songs as he worked. A smile crossed his face as the door swung open and he could hear the shuffle of feet across the floor. "I would have brought it up to you," Harry said, but leaned into Remus when the older man wrapped his arms around his waist from behind.
"I need to move once in a while or I feel even worse."
"Old man."
Remus growled playfully and nipped his ear.
Harry laughed and smacked his arm. "You are not an animal."
"Depends who you ask."
"That would be me." Both Harry and Remus turned. "You two can be disgustingly sweet, you know." Sirius stepped into the kitchen and leaned on the counter furthest from them.
"Someone's jealous," Harry mock-whispered and Remus chuckled looking over at his friend. Sirius smiled at them and set the table while Harry finished cooking the meal.
Remus took a seat at the table and watched as the other two men bopped along with the radio while they worked. It had been a rocky start for all of them after the war was over, all of them carrying some sort of baggage. The months after Voldemort's fall had been hectic; death eaters that managed to get away being rounded up, trial after trial - including Sirius's. The man was now free, but he still chose to spend most of his time at their home just to avoid the stares and whispers.
Harry had all but locked himself in Grimmauld Place after things had settled. He had wanted to be out of the spotlight and just take time for himself. Ministry officials and reporters constantly hounded him about what he was going to do now that Voldermort was dead; would he take a position within the ministry, become an auror? The wards around the house had kept people from bothering him in person but they had eventually altered them to keep unknown owls away as well. Not only did he deal with that but coming down from the constant need to be on alert and on the move seemed to crash into him all at once. Somedays he had seemed like himself while others he sat by the window near the fire, just blankly staring ahead. All of them suffered from nightmares and panic attacks, but Harry's were the worst.
The nightmares and panic attacks had been hard on all of them, the two older men not knowing what they could do to help Harry. They would startle and grasp their wands at loud noises or sudden movements, to this day that still happened if one of them had a particularly bad nightmare.
Eventually Harry had opened up, talking to them, and it helped. Remus and Sirius might not have understood everything Harry had been through, and he didn't understand all that they had suffered, but having someone there to just listen and not judge was what he'd needed.
What had come after between him and Harry had been a surprise to everyone. Remus had been wary when they first started seeing each other, but Sirius had been the one to let him know that it was okay and was still their biggest supporter. Not everyone had taken the news of his and Harry's relationship well.
"Rem?" Harry called. He smiled when Remus was drawn from his thoughts and looked at him. "Eat up."
Cooking, Remus and Sirius had both learned, was Harry's way of taking care of them. Before, during, and right after the war all of them were exhausted and underfed. Remus from lack of money and his monthly issues, Sirius from being on the run and then the stress of being locked in his childhood home and worrying after Harry, and Harry from carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders and the treatment he'd received from his aunt and uncle during his childhood.
Since Harry had taken over in the kitchen all of them had filled out and had their health back, Remus as much as he could anyway. The moon always took its toll, but with Harry and Sirius nearby and Harry constantly fussing over him the transformations had become easier.
Harry pushed a plate full of food in front of him and then Sirius before making his own. Sirius smirked at Remus before digging into his food. Remus laughed at Harry's glare and started to eat.
They ate in relative silence, the radio still playing softly in the background. Sirius leaned back when he was done, rubbed his stomach and winked at Harry. "Great, as always, Harry."
The smile on Harry's face was bright, it always was when he felt like he had taken care of them. Remus leaned over and pecked his lips. "Delicious."
Sirius laughed and Remus smiled at the soft blush that appeared on Harry's face. He stuck his tongue out at them and got up, clearing the dishes. Sirius stood and helped him and Remus started on a pot of tea for them to enjoy back up in the drawing room. It was hard to believe that Harry would be turning 25 in just a couple weeks.
All three turned when the fireplace roared and the flames turned emerald green.
"Professor!" Harry said and smiled. He walked over and sat in front of the fire.
She gave him a smile. "Professor," she replied and again Harry blushed and smiled at the floating head. "I was hoping you three could stop by my office this evening. Something has happened."
Sirius and Remus could instantly see Harry's body tense up and his back straighten. "What's going on?"
Minerva gave him a reassuring smile. "Nothing like that, Harry, you can calm down. There's no danger, but it will be a bit shocking."
Harry looked back at Remus and Sirius before turning back to McGonagall. "We'll be there shortly."
She nodded and vanished from the fire, the flames going back to their natural colors. He turned and faced them. "What do you think it is?"
"She said it was nothing dangerous, so don't go stressing yourself out over it," Sirius told him.
Harry nodded and sat at the table. "I hate when people are vague," he muttered.
"Do you want Sirius and me to go?"
Harry shook his head at Remus. "I'll be all right." He stood after a few more minutes, Sirius and Remus not taking their eyes off of him. Harry rolled his shoulders and tried to force his body to relax. "Let's go, I don't want to keep my future boss waiting."
"Can't believe she actually hired you." Sirius clapped Harry on the shoulder as he walked over to the fireplace and grabbed the pot of floo powder. "With how much trouble you caused."
Harry spluttered and looked at Remus who just shrugged and smiled at the way Sirius was able to take Harry's mind off the issue at hand with just a few words. He turned back to his godfather who waved merrily before vanishing in the green flames.
"You're supposed to defend me, you know?" Harry glared at Remus who just laughed.
"Can't defend you from the truth."
"You taught there...and Sirius works there now! You guys caused more trouble than I ever did."
Remus snorted and pushed himself out of the chair. "We didn't nearly die every year." He walked over and draped his arms over Harry's shoulders, feeling how tense he still was. Remus kissed him gently. "Whatever it is will be fine. Sirius and I will be there. We'll handle it together, right?"
Harry nodded and rested his forehead on Remus's chest for a moment before pulling back. "Come on, let's go see what she wants." He held the werewolf's hand and together they traveled through the fireplace and to McGonagall's office at Hogwarts.
The room hadn't changed much except there weren't as many trinkets on display from when Dumbledore had resided there. Sirius was already seated in front of her desk. "About time," he said as the other two joined him, Harry standing behind Remus's chair and gripping his shoulders lightly.
Harry made a face at him and both Remus and McGonagall looked amused at the pair of them. "I take it you're curious about why you're here."
"A bit," Harry muttered.
She gave him a smile and offered him a biscuit, both of them smiling a bit as Harry took one and calmed down as he munched on it. "We had a...visitor pop up yesterday. Hagrid found him while he was in the forest and brought him straight to the infirmary."
"Who?" Remus asked curiously.
She flicked her eyes between the three of them and Harry found the sight of a nervous Minerva McGonagall alarming. "It's unbelievable, really -"she started to say before the door to her office opened and all four of them looked over.
"Minnie, now she's just running tests to keep me busy...oh."
Harry, Remus, and Sirius all stared at the man who walked in. He was around Harry's age though he was taller. He had the same messy black hair and was wearing a pair of round-framed glasses, but behind them was a pair of hazel eyes.
All three men stared at him for a few moments before Sirius stood slowly. "James?" he asked and his voice cracked as he whispered the name.
He tilted his head to the side, staring at him before his eyes widened. Harry knew he did the same thing when something puzzled him. "Merlin...Padfoot?"
Sirius nodded and James rushed across the room and hugged him tightly. Sirius closed his eyes and clung to him, one hand tangled in his hair. "James," he whispered and opened his mouth to say something when James pulled back but was silenced when James pressed his lips to his.
"Well, I didn't know that," Harry said weakly, watching them. Remus didn't say anything, his eyes glued to James.
McGonagall cleared her throat and James pulled back from Sirius slowly, but didn't take his eyes off of him.
"Prongs?" Remus asked and James finally looked over. "Moony!" He hugged him tightly, nearly knocking the man over. Remus laughed softly and held onto him.
Sirius smiled watching before his gaze landed on Harry who just looked lost. He walked over and gripped his shoulder gently. "James," He said softly. James pulled back from Remus and looked over.
James looked his face over and swallowed. "Harry?"
Harry nodded and James hugged him close, kissing his head. "You're so...big."
Harry wrapped his arms around him, returning the hug awkwardly, and swallowed. "You're so alive."
James laughed along with Sirius and Remus. He pulled back and looked him over. "It's like looking in a mirror. You're what...24?"
"25 next week."
"My son's older than I am. Merlin, that's trippy."
McGonagall watched them all, her eyes focusing on Harry most often. "Why doesn't everyone sit down so we can explain what happened?"
James nodded and looked at his two friends. "Well you two are old so you can have the chairs," he said, trying to ease some of the tension.
Harry just stayed still and next to Remus. Remus laughed loudly and Sirius squawked. "I am not old! I'm 45!"
Remus took his seat again and Sirius did the same, still muttering. James looked torn between staying next to Harry and going to Sirius. Harry took a step back, letting him go to Sirius. Sirius's hand gripped James's robes, not daring to let go and his eyes went to him constantly.
Harry stood next to Remus's chair and Remus took his hand, holding it gently and keeping it out of James's eye line. Harry squeezed it tightly, keeping his face passive and on McGonagall. "How-"
McGonagall smiled softly. "Like I said, Hagrid found him in the woods and rushed him to Pomfrey right away. He thought it was Harry at first since James was unconscious. Once we saw him we knew it wasn't Harry, there's no scar and James is a good bit taller than he is." Harry huffed quietly and Remus squeezed his hand.
"We did what we could to verify that it was James. I didn't want to alert you and it ended up being some death eater trying to get to you three. Kingsley sent over some people to double check his identity. They're keeping it quiet for now but eventually he'll need to be declared alive."
"Can't wait for that publicity," Harry muttered. Remus, the only one that could hear him, gave him an encouraging smile. "That doesn't explain how he's here."
"We're not really sure," James said looking over. "The last thing I remember is Voldemort blasting through the door. I told Lily to take you and run while I held him off. Our spells collided, that can cause a reaction -"
"I've seen stuff like that happen," Harry said softly, picturing his mother's form floating out of Voldemort's wand and a decrepit graveyard.
James nodded, frowning slightly. "Anyway, they collided and I woke up in the hospital wing."
"Does that mean mom…"
"We don't know, but we're keeping an eye out for her." Harry nodded gently at McGonagall, his eyes a bit distant. "But it is unlikely, her body was recovered that night."
"James can come home with us though, right?" Sirius asked.
"That is entirely up to him."
James smiled and nodded. "Of course I'm going with you, Padfoot."
Remus glanced at Harry who smiled softly. Normally Sirius was very attuned to Harry's mood but, in his excitement over James being back, he seemed to have missed the overwhelmed look on the younger man's face. "Do you need us for anything else, Professor?"
"Just a word with you, Harry," she said and looked over at him.
He nodded. "I'll see you guys back at the house."
"Harry -"
"I'll be there in a few minutes. You guys go ahead."
Remus frowned but nodded and walked to the fireplace with James and Sirius. They gave him the address and James frowned slightly but followed Sirius through.
Harry looked back at McGonagall who held out the tin of biscuits again. He took one and sat down. "I thought you might need a moment to collect yourself before you went home."
"It's...a lot. I'm glad he's here, especially for Sirius. Just going to take some getting used to." He nibbled on the biscuit, his eyes focused on her desk. He was silent for a few moments. "Is he going to vanish?" he asked quickly
"Not that we can tell," she answered gently.
He nodded and took a deep breath. "How much...how much does he know? About what's happened since he was killed? Or whatever happened to him?"
"We haven't told him much, we thought it would be best coming from all of you. And I'm sure Sirius and Remus won't have any issue with going over it all with him."
Harry nodded again, his heart racing as he tried to make sense of everything that had happened in the last half hour or so.
McGonagall watched him. "If you need to start the term late I can make arrangements."
He shook his head. "No, I'll be here. I'll have my lessons to you by tomorrow night as promised." Harry knew he wouldn't be able to sleep and the work would keep his mind from making up all sorts of horrible scenarios.
"You can have till Friday given the circumstances, pass that along to Sirius as well."
He smiled softly and nodded. "Thank you, but they're almost done, I just want to have Remus look them over."
"He was your favorite, wasn't he?"
Harry blushed and rubbed the back of his neck. "He was, but he was also the best that we had."
She chuckled and put the lid on the biscuit tin. "And I have no doubt you'll be just as good, if not better."
His face flushed deeper and he stood. "Good night, Professor."
"Good night, Harry."