Harry woke the next day to the sun shining in his eyes. He moved but stopped when he felt Steve's legs entangled with his own. Bucky huffed against the back of his neck. Harry felt the grin spread across his face as memories from the night flooded him then he blushed. Steve moved cracking open his eyes and looked down at Harry.
"Good morning." Steve spoke quietly as he leaned down and brushed a quick kiss against his lips.
Harry smiled against his lips and made a happy humming noise.
Steve leaned back. "I meant what I said last night. I love you."
Harry flinched then relaxed. So he did say all of that last night, oh Merlin. He smiled back at him and curled more around him.
"You said you have to go back but we want you to know, you will always have a place with us."
Harry felt Bucky's arm tighten around him. Harry nodded and looked down trying to hold back the tears that wanted to fill his eyes. He felt wanted, safe and loved.
"I don't know how I'm going to walk out of here. I have to go, but I want to turn my back on everything and stay."
He felt arms go around him and link with Bucky behind him. Bucky latched onto his neck and began to slowly kiss him.
"Harry, you were getting upset in your sleep." Kiss. "You kept whispering Cedric and Sirius." Bucky continued to slowly kiss down his neck.
Harry flinched as he spoke the names. Steve felt his stiffness. "Harry, what's wrong?"
Harry sighed and clung to the men around him. He could never be honest with them. He could never tell them the truth. Merlin, he hated that more than anything.
"Sirius was my godfather. He died months ago. He was killed right in front of me. Cedric was killed in front of me too. We were starting to become friends. I think, if he didn't die, we would have been friends. I've lost a lot of people around me."
Both men understood. Their generation had grown up with one war behind them and another following. Loss was something they could understand. Harry being British, they assumed he lost friends during the war that was ravaging the countries across the sea. Harry wasn't going to correct them.
"I've tried to enlist but they won't take me."
Harry looked at Steve and the stubborn look that ran across his face. He understood but the thought of Steve with a gun in his hands at the front line. Harry shivered, Bucky's hand fisted on his hip. He imagined Bucky's fear was like his own.
"Steve, that's admirable but the thought of you getting shot. I... Fuck... the thought of you not being a part of this world..."
Steve's eyes slit as his cheeks blazed. "You don't think I could do it?"
Harry shook his head and took Steve's cheek in his hand. "I know you could do it. You're resourceful, brave, stubborn, you never back down, you would never leave anyone behind, I would follow you anywhere you led me, but all it takes is one misstep, one small mistake..." Harry leaned over and took his lips. "I've lost so many..."
Steve nodded and looked from Harry to Bucky who had moved and was watching them. His hand was still digging into Harry's hip. Harry saw the fight in Steve's eyes. Nothing was going to keep him from the war. Harry moved one of his hands back and laced it with Bucky's. He squeezed and Harry knew Bucky saw the insanity laced in the blue eyes as he did. He felt like a traitor but he was glad the army had not taken him.
Steve smiled at them and both men copied him on autopilot.
Harry smirked and moved straddling Steve. Bucky snickered beside them as Harry moved slowly down Steve's body as Steve made a choked noise in shock. Bucky was still snickering as Harry ripped off Steve's clothes.
Steve was frowning at Bucky. Harry ignored them and concentrated on the hardening cock in front of him. He held in the laugh when he licked him and engulfed the head making Steve jerk slamming his forehead into Bucky's. Bucky groaned then took his mouth.
Bucky pulled back and started to laugh again. "Shit, Stevie, I really have a bruise. My entire forehead is sore."
Harry pulled back and burst into laughter with him. Steve moved kicking Harry away then tackled him. Merlin, Harry thought, I love them. Harry pushed Steve off then reached under the bed and grabbed the package he'd hidden yesterday. He smiled and sat it in Bucky's lap.
Steve was grinning as Harry snorted at Bucky's surprise. "Bucky, it's the tenth. It's your birthday."
Bucky looked at both of them confused then smirked. "You didn't have to get me anything."
Steve and Harry rolled their eyes.
"Are you gonna open it Buck?"
Harry moved sliding behind Bucky as Steve moved sitting in front of him. Bucky looked back and forth to them then slid off the paper slowly to not tear it. Harry looked over at Steve from behind Bucky and rolled his eyes again. Harry shifted and moved placing his head on his shoulder and waited.
Bucky smiled feeling Harry's warmth behind him and dropped the paper carefully beside him then opened the package. His eyes lit up when he looked inside. They'd went in together to get his present. They'd gotten him cologne, chocolate, cigarettes, and Steve had drawn some sketches that Harry hadn't seen yet. It was Harry and Bucky curled up asleep together. Steve must have drawn them while they were asleep. Harry pulled out a small white piece of paper from the side of the package and handed it to him. It was a receipt for a suit.
"I talked to the man I bought clothes from when I got here. He's going to make you a new suit. You just have to go down and pick the fabrics and everything you want. We both know how much you like to dress up for the dames."
Bucky just stared at him. Harry leaned over and kissed his nose. "Happy?"
Bucky's smile lit up his face. Harry turned to Steve who was grinning at Bucky's happiness. Harry moved leaning over Bucky and licked the shell of his ear. "Stevie is just sitting their naked like an extra present."
Bucky turned back to Harry. Their lips met before they both turned back to Steve. Steve saw the look in their eyes and gulped. Harry smirked as Bucky latched out jerking Steve to his lap.
"Happy Birthday." Harry whispered in his ear as Bucky inhaled Steve's mouth.
His time with Steve and Bucky were the happiest in his life.
Master Chen on the other hand was a monster. Harry was seriously debating on hiding from him. Chen had moved on from dueling, or what Harry liked to call Harry's humiliation hour, to self defense. The old man was spry. Harry didn't stand a chance. The hours he spent running everyday were helping him build stamina but compared to the man teaching him, it was a joke. His hands were so sore from punching, slamming and taking hits he wanted to just lie in the floor and cry. But, he refused to let the old man see him whimper. He'd save his tears for the moment Chen walked out of the room. He planned to crawl in the corner and swiftly die.
His potions skills were starting to improve. Chen had even begun to tutor him on a few basics he'd not understood while at Hogwarts. His biggest problem was how he treated his ingredients. He'd been careless, so worried about Snape's wrath, he'd learned to hurry and not really pay attention to the details of what he needed to do. Chen taught him the subtleties of directions. Up until now, he'd chop up everything and throw it in the cauldron like it was all one big stew. Chen had caught him doing this and gave him a tongue lashing even Snape would have approved of. He explained the differences between chopping, cubing, stripping, cutting, slicing, and so many more. Looking back now, Harry didn't know how he hadn't blown up more cauldrons than he had.
His new found knowledge was paying off. Salazar had several potions that would help him. The one he was most interested in was one that would hide your thoughts from anyone. No one would be able to breach your mind. He wanted this more than anything. No more Voldemort visions.
It took him months to make it and when he finally did it, Harry realized the only two people he wanted to celebrate with he couldn't.
00000000
Steve's birthday and his own were both in July so they decided to celebrate them together. Bucky had come up with a plan that they would go camping. Harry was on the fence about this but when he heard Steve had never gone, he decided they'd plan a trip to surprise Steve.
Harry snuck to the store and bought a tent. They hid it under the bed and somehow Steve never found it. They surprised Steve on his way home from work. Bucky had taken off the weekend and Harry had told Chen about the trip. Chen had given him a blank stare but nodded. Harry had taken it as an okay.
Steve came home from work the weekend after his birthday when they planned to all go out that night. Steve looked resigned to the development but they both knew he didn't want to go. They all piled into a taxi that was waiting on Steve when he walked to the flat. Harry had packed them enough clothes for the weekend and the supplies were inside the trunk. Steve looked confused but followed them as they headed out of the city to the wilder parts of New York. They headed somewhere Bucky used to camp with his family. Steve didn't speak but fidgeted the entire way there. Bucky just smirked as Steve opened his mouth and closed it again.
When they finally made it to the camp ground, Steve's eyes were lit up with excitement. He jumped out of the cab and began to dig through the trunk. Harry paid the cabbie and made arrangements for him to pick them up on Sunday. Harry rolled his eyes when he stepped outside to see Steve already dragging the tent into the woods.
Bucky grabbed the bags and followed him leaving Harry snickering and following Steve.
They made camp about fifteen minutes from the camp ground in an open field. Steve and Bucky were following the directions on putting up the tent. Harry began to construct wards that would keep anyone from seeing them. He also put up a few animal repelling charms because he had no idea what was in the woods here. Steve was laughing and fumbling with the tent as Bucky lit up a cigarette. Harry rolled his eyes and began to make a fire.
It took them four hours to make camp. It was completely ridicules. At one point, Harry pulled out sandwiches and just watched the chaos. Steve was enjoying himself as he made the biggest mess with the tent as Bucky and him snickered from the sidelines.
When he was finished, Bucky pulled out a package and handed it to Harry. Harry grinned going back to his pack and pulled out one for Steve. They both looked at each other and grinned. Steve opened his first, paper flying. He stopped looking at it with wonder as he pulled out art supplies. Harry had gone to one of the magical stores in New York and got him a book made out of dragon hide. Steve would never know but the book should last against time and most damage. It couldn't even be burned. He then loaded up on paints, pencils, charcoal and anything else the store clerk had told him Steve would need. Bucky was grinning as they went through the hall together.
"Harry, you shouldn't have done all this."
Harry smiled. "We, me and Bucky, and yes we should. Now you can draw until your fingers bleed."
Steve snorted and sat his gift aside. "You open yours."
Harry smiled and leaned into Bucky who was sitting closest and unwrapped his gift. He opened the box to find a silver charm bracelet.
"We didn't know what to get you so we went in together. We wanted to get you something you could keep on you so you would always have something of us with you. We had the charms made."
Harry looked at the charms. One was a heart with a B in the middle and the other was the same with a S in the middle. He smiled pulling out the bracelet and held out his arm for Bucky to clasp it. He smiled and played with it as they both watched him. He sighed and leaned closer to Bucky.
"This is beautiful. Thank you."
They pulled out their sleeping bags and instead of staying in the tent they ended up sleeping under the stars. They woke the next day and followed Bucky down to a nearby lake. They swam most of the day and came back with enough energy to eat and then curl up together. The last day they packed up and waited in the trees by the road for the cabbie. The laughed and played like children and enjoyed their time together. Harry never thought he could be happier.
They were barely through the door when Harry knew something was wrong. Steve was standing holding something in his hands, his body shaking. Harry watched him as Bucky moved going to Steve and pulling him slowly around. Harry collapsed when he saw the envelope. They all knew. No one had to say a word. They all knew. Bucky had been drafted.