James waited until Harry was gone. "Okay, so how and why did you decide to escape when you did?" He asked Sirius.

Sirius smirked. "Well, I spent most of my time as Padfoot. The dementors didn't know any better and it was easier to deal with things there if I was a dog. Whenever the minister came by I'd make sure I was human; used to freak him out, how sane I was after being there so long. I always asked him for the newspaper."

Remus rolled his eyes and leaned back, eating his second sandwich. "That's when he saw Harry's best friend on the front page." He muttered the summoning spell and caught a photo album. He slipped through the pages before handing it to James.

James looked at the picture of Harry; there was a brown haired witch in the center, a tall red-head to her left and Harry on her other side. "Ron is Arthur and Molly's youngest son. The Weasleys were all there and Peter was on Ron's shoulder. He'd been hiding with a wizarding family as a pet the whole time. Sirius knew he'd be at the school with Harry so that's when he escaped."

"I was skinny enough to fit through the bars. I had something to fight for -"

James frowned and rounded on Sirius. "You could have escaped earlier."

"Could have." Sirius agreed and the other two sat silent while they waited for Sirius to continue. "Didn't see the point. I didn't have Harry to look after. I thought he was safe. If I had any idea he was being treated like that I would have…" Sirius took a deep breath and shook his head. "Remus didn't trust me." He gave Remus a smile to show there were no hard feelings. "You were gone."

He looked towards the fire. "I was the reason you were dead. I convinced you to switch to Peter. I was the reason that Harry was orphaned."

"Padfoot...Sirius it's not -"

Remus shook his head. "Harry and I have been trying to convince him that it's not his fault for over ten years. No one could have known what Peter was going to do."

James reached out and Sirius pulled his hand back. He frowned. "So dementors?" He asked, looking at Remus now, hoping to get Sirius's mind off that night.

"The ministry sent them to search the train and guard the school. Affected all the kids of course, but Harry seemed to have it the worst. He passed out then and again when they burst in on a quidditch game. Would have died if Dumbledore hadn't slowed his fall.

"Your son is bloody brilliant, James. I started giving him private lessons to help him defend himself. Took him only a few lessons to learn how to cast a patronus."

"Wish I could have seen it," Sirius said and the other jumped at his voice. "He saved my soul."

James looked between them. "So how did you figure everything out?"

Remus and Sirius both smirked. "The map." James's eyes lit up. "The Weasley twins stole it from Filch. Gave it to Harry so he could sneak into Hogsmeade. Shortly after Sirius destroyed the Fat Lady's portrait Snape caught him out of bed after hours. I stumbled on them and took the map from Harry. Told him if he lost it Sirius would be able to get to him. He told me about seeing Peter's name and that's when I started watching the map."

"The map never lies," James said softly.

James listened as both Remus and Sirius explained what happened. How Sirius had dragged Ron into the shack to get at Peter. How Harry and Hermione, the girl from the photo, had followed to save him. Snape showing up and Harry's attack on him, Pettigrew being revealed and how Harry had stopped Sirius and Remus from killing him.

Sirius didn't tell him about the conversation that he'd had with Harry about coming to stay with him once his name had been cleared; he wasn't even sure if Remus was aware of it. But it had been the first proper conversation that Sirius had ever had with Harry and it was still one of the most memorable and important ones he'd had in his life. How Harry trusted and accepted him, had wanted to be with him.

Remus stayed quiet, his eyes now on the fire as Sirius went on about how he had transformed and tried to go after them, Peter escaping. Neither of them could explain how Harry had managed to protect Sirius from all the dementors.

"It was when Hermione and I used the time turner." The three men looked over at Harry who was leaning in the doorway; Remus let his gaze sweep over him. "When we used it to go back and save Sirius, to help him and Buckbeak escape. When I went through it the first time I could have sworn my dad was the one who saved us. We were watching the dementors circle Sirius and me...I kept waiting. My past self just about passed out when I stepped forward to cast it." Harry smiled at the memory. "And a large stag ran across the water and chased them away."

The three older men were silent. "You cast a full patronus at thirteen? A stag?" James asked, awe in his voice.

Harry nodded and scratched the back of his neck. "Kinda had to, Sirius and I would have, well you know, otherwise."

"What did you think of?"

Harry took his eyes off James and looked at Sirius. "Leaving the Dursleys...getting to live with Sirius."

James was still looking at him with awe, Remus had a small but proud smile on his face, and Sirius was staring at Harry with a dumbfounded expression. He got up and hugged Harry tightly, nearly knocking the smaller man over. "Don't get sappy on me, Sirius," he whispered.

James and Remus heard a jumbled whisper, but the laugh that came from Sirius put a smile on both of their faces. Sirius and Harry pulled apart and Sirius wiped his eyes. He cleared his throat. "Finish your lesson plans?"

"I did. Think you and dad can handle dinner while Remus checks them over for me? It's just...my first year. I don't want her to think I'm an idiot."

Sirius shook his head. "She never thought you were before, she won't now. But yes, Prongs and I can handle dinner."

"We can?" James asked, surprised.

"Sure," Sirius said smiling

Remus snorted. "Neither of you could ever cook, spoiled brats. I may have a strong stomach but I still remember when James tried to cook Italian food."

James looked affronted, Harry laughed, and Sirius turned a little green. "So, we're ordering out, then."

"You guys would have starved if I hadn't come to live with you. Only reason you survived as long as you did were the rats and Mrs. Weasley." Harry smiled and shook his head before walking back upstairs to the library.

Remus watched him. "Holler when dinner's here?"

Sure." Sirius smiled and watched them go. He walked James down to the kitchen and pulled the menus out. "Pick a place."

He looked them over. "So Harry and Remus are close?"

Sirius leaned against the counter, his arms folded over his chest casually. "Harry talks to him about pretty much everything."

James pointed out what he wanted and Sirius called the order over via floo. He watched him. "That doesn't bother you?"

"Does what bother me?"

He rolled his eyes at Sirius. "That he talks to Remus more than you?"

Sirius shrugged. "It used to. But he comes to us about different things. It's not a competition to see who Harry likes more. He had a lot of people in his corner, but there were only a few he really trusted. I like to think Remus and I were at the top of that list." He smiled at James. "When Harry first heard of me he thought I was trying to kill him, then he thought I had betrayed you. Remus protected him from the beginning but didn't treat him like he was some...kid in trouble. He helped Harry defend himself.

"I think Remus was the first adult that Harry fully trusted. He looked up to Dumbledore, but you know how he was. Spoke in riddles, never shared everything he knew. And I know you remember how Moony is. He hasn't changed; he loves teaching and he took Harry under his wing. Didn't stop helping him learn even when he stopped teaching. Remus helped him up until Harry left after he turned seventeen and as soon as the final battle started he was by Harry's side."

James remembered when everything was a competition to Sirius; for him it was months ago. "You've changed," James said after a moment. He watched as Sirius went still. "It's not a bad thing, just...different."

The older man shrugged and his arms tightened around himself. "A lot's happened." Sirius watched James drum his fingers on the table. "What's going through your head, mate?" He watched his friend and was eager to get the focus off of himself.

"Will I ever be on that list?"

"Give him time. He doesn't trust easily and we may have told him about you, but Harry doesn't really know you yet. And you don't know him." Sirius smiled softly. "You just got here, you're getting to know him too. I can't imagine how hard this is for you."

James swung his legs. "I wish it hadn't happened."

Sirius walked over and hugged him. "Me too, but you're back and you're not going anywhere."

James gripped his shirt, pulling back a bit and leaned in towards his lips.

Sirius turned his head so that James kissed his cheek before walking over to the fireplace as the food came through.

Harry watched Remus flip through the pages in front of him. He admitted to himself that he was nervous about this. When he'd been approached about taking the position he was hesitant to take it; Harry had actually asked her why she wasn't asking Remus. While she had considered Remus, the Board wouldn't even entertain the idea. Harry had to have made a face because she had actually rolled her eyes, she wasn't happy about the prejudice against the werewolf either.

He looked up as Remus set the papers down. "Well?"

He smirked. "You know damn well that everything is fine. The kids will be thrilled, you have everything organized and set up logically and with the appropriate year. I think you may replace Sirius as the favorite."

Harry snorted. "Please, he has the kids either swooning over him for being, you know...stunning, a war hero, or a legendary prankster."

"He is rather attractive."

"Hey!"

"You said it first," Remus laughed and leaned back in the chair. "You have nothing to worry about, sweet thing."

Harry smiled. "You'll come stay some nights, right? And we can do the moons in the Shrieking Shack."

"I don't want to get you in trouble."

Harry rolled his eyes and walked over, straddling his lap and wrapping his arms around Remus's neck. "Pretty sure I can handle it. And we went to the shack when it was just Sirius at the school and you wanted to run with Padfoot."

He wrapped his arms around Harry's waist and looked into the bright green eyes. "Going to sneak me into your room, Professor?" He chuckled when Harry wrinkled his nose. "Don't like it?"

"I would much rather call you Professor." Harry smiled when Remus laughed and leaned forward to kiss along his jaw. He nipped near his ear, humming happily when Remus gasped softly. He ran his fingers through the hair and the nape of Remus's neck before gripping it and pulling lightly. Once his head was back Harry moved down his neck and he rolled his hips when he felt Remus's large hands move from his waist to his ass.

"Harry...he's -"

"Down in the basement. You told Sirius to yell for us when the food is here. I don't want to stop being us because we've decided to wait to tell him," he whispered against his lips before kissing Remus, slow and deep. He pressed closer and slid his tongue in when he felt Remus let out a soft sigh.

Harry had intended to not let it get too heated, but all too soon he was doing his best to make sure there was no open space between them. "Fuck," he groaned when Remus slid his hands into the back of his pants.

"Not a bad idea," he growled, biting down on his ear; they hadn't had time to be together since before the moon.

Harry let out a soft whine before kissing Remus, their lips smashing together. He bucked forward when Remus squeezed. Once the need for air was unavoidable he pulled back and slid to the floor as gracefully as he could. He mourned the loss of Remus's hands on him, but it would be worth it. He looked up at Remus and licked his lips when he saw the amber eyes were almost golden with want.

He could feel Remus's eyes on him as he worked to undo his pants and pull them open. Harry leaned into Remus hand as it stroked through his hair. When Remus lifted his hips he slid his pants down just enough to release his erection and Harry licked his lips. He leaned forward and ran his tongue from root to tip and swirled it around the head before making his way back down.

"Go on, sweet thing," Remus urged; the roughness of his voice made Harry shiver.

Harry leaned forward and wrapped his lips around Remus and with each bob of his head he took more of him in. It had taken him a while to be able to take Remus all the way in, but now he could do it with practiced ease, but the reaction from Remus everytime he did it never got old. He felt the growl that started in Remus's chest, the way his hand tightened in his hair, and when he looked up he could see the look of need and awe warring on his face.

He reached down and undid his own pants, and worked his hand along with the movement of his lips and tongue over Remus. Harry would swallow down to the root every so often and moaned when Remus's hips arched off the chair a tiny bit as he tried to get closer.

"Moony! Harry! Food's here!" Sirius yelled up from the basement.

Harry whined and Remus adjusted his grip slightly. "Keep going, Harry," he said, arching up slightly. He cleared his throat and yelled back down. "Just a few minutes, Pads, still have a few things to go over."

Harry worked faster, the way Remus's breathing was picking him up let him know that his lover was close. He heard Remus curse above him and felt him tense beneath him; Harry moved down until his nose bumped up against Remus's skin and swallowed so his throat constricted around the head. Remus moaned his name and gripped his hair and Harry worked to take in everything Remus gave him.

Once Remus's grip let up Harry pulled off him and rested his forehead against his stomach as he pumped himself faster. He groaned softly as he spilled over his hand, his breath coming out in harsh pants. Harry sank down and rested his cheek on Remus's thigh and looked up at him.

"You're perfect," Remus whispered, stroking his cheek. He let his fingers graze over Harry's swollen lips.

Harry kissed his fingers tips, blushing under the intensity of Remus's gaze. He never got tired of seeing that look on Remus's face, like Harry was the best thing to have ever happened to him. Harry strived to make sure he was. "Guess we should head down."

Remus muttered a cleaning spell and helped Harry up and back into his pants. He stood and did his own up. He kissed Harry gently. "Love you."

Harry smiled. "Love you, too."

He grabbed the lesson plans and bundled them up as they made their way down. Harry attached them to the leg of their owl, Ester, gave her a treat and sent her off to McGonagall.

Remus watched him. "So, I'm off the hook now?"

Harry looked offended. "Was it that bad that you considered it a punishment?"

"Of...of course not. Like I've ever been disappointed when it comes to you."

Harry smirked at Remus's fumbling. "You're not up for your punishment yet."

"Harry," Remus whined. "I said I was sorry."

Harry felt like he was on cloud nine when he and Remus walked into the kitchen. His dad and Sirius were sitting next to each other, already eating. He grabbed Remus and himself something to drink before taking his seat, his order already in front of his seat with a charm on it to keep it warm.

James smiled at them, but it seemed off somehow. "Sirius just finished telling me about the Triwizard Tournament. I can't believe what you've been through."

Harry smirked but his voice was dry when he spoke. "All thanks to a noseless bastard."

James choked on his food and Sirius let his head fall back. Remus muttered, children, under his breath and continued to eat.

"Not hungry, Harry?" James asked.

"Not very. I had a snack while I was waiting for Remus to check my work over." Harry looked over when Remus coughed and Sirius smirked.

Sirius leaned over while James asked Harry more in depth questions about what had happened and just trying to get to know his son. "I'm glad you got him in a good mood. We're about to get to the incident."

"Going to ruin everyone's night, huh? Well, I think there's more Dreamless Drought in the cellar," Remus sighed and took a bite. Harry and James seemed to have switched moods. Harry was smiling and laughing while James seemed closed off and kept shooting glances at Sirius. "What happened while we were up there?"

"He tried to kiss me."

"Ah..that would do it," Remus said softly. "You're going to have to talk to him."

Sirius gave him a flat look.

"Do you want me to talk to him for you?"

"You're the best."

Remus snorted. "I'll send him your way once we're done. I'll talk to him while you finish up your lesson plans tomorrow. Harry is supposed to be going to lunch with George and Bill tomorrow so he'll be out of the house."

Both James and Harry laughed at something and the older Marauders looked over. James was almost falling out of his chair and Harry had a gleeful and dreamy look on his face.

"What are you two talking about?"

Harry smiled at Remus and James wiped his eyes. "Snape in a dress?"