Disclaimer: How long has it been since I put a disclaimer? Yeah, I was just keeping the depressive thoughts away… But I don't own Harry Potter… Nor any of the characters… Well, except for Sarah. But she isn't appearing that much, is she?
lilsteves: The affair thing will really be a problem, at least for Harry. Thanks for the review!
Emerald-prongs-fan: I know, but I'm evil in that way… Well, fine, if you insist, no cliffies in this chapter. Thanks for reviewing
MagicalWinry: Thank you for the review. And, no, not Sirius. Although I did wanted you to believe that ;)
EsScaper: I still haven't decided on how Remus will see the 'cheating' episode… But I think he will be ok with it. The problem is if Harry will be ok with it. Thank you for reviewing.
Krazy Kelly: Well, good news is I decided there wasn't gonna be a cliffhanger on this chapter. Bad news is: Charlie really isn't bi. Thanks for reviewing.
Intergalactic smart-ass: I'm glad I could surprise you! Thanks for the review.
TiffanyX: I'm so glad you liked my story! Especially if you don't usually read slash! I almost blew up with excitement after I read this review. Thank you!
FluffySmarts: Not Remus or Sirius. Just an old coot. Thanks for the review!
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Harry's emerald eyes locked with bright blue ones as they widened. He was speechless, so Charlie was the first one to say anything.
"Good evening, professor. It's- a surprise to see you."
"Well, Charles, I heard, of course, that Harry had left — for the lack of a better word — the Burrow. Since it is just Hogwarts' Winter vacations, students are allowed to stay in. Harry's place is there," Dumbledore's voice was soft and steady when he answered.
"Thanks for coming to get me, sir," Harry replied. "I'd really like to return to Hogwarts." Or, as I like to call it, home.
Charlie smiled. Maybe going back to Hogwarts was what the gryffindor needed. At least he hoped so.
"Very well, then. Unfortunately, I have business to attend to at the Ministry, here in London." The headmaster took a sock out of one of his robe's inner pockets and pointed his wand at it. "Portus! In a few seconds this sock will turn into a portkey to the Gryffindor common room," he said, putting the object on the table. "I suggest you get your things packed as quickly as possible, I'd like you to sleep at Hogwarts tonight." Harry nodded. "Charles, can you go with Harry? There's no one else staying at school from Gryffindor, and I think Harry can use the company. Tomorrow I will talk to you about your new assignment for the Order." It was the Weasley's time to nod. "I'll be going then! Good night to you Charlie! It was vary nice seeing you again Harry!" And, with a swoosh of cloth, he disapparated.
Harry looked at Charlie apprehensively. The red-head just smiled kindly. "Well, you heard the old man: let's get you packed!" And so Harry did, picking up some T-shirts he put in one of the drawers of the room's chiffoniers. When his eyes set on a Charlie sitting on the bed, they narrowed.
"A hand, please?"
"Oh! Alright," he answered, getting up and taking a handful of socks from another drawer.
Harry just put his face in his hands and muttered something to himself before swearing loudly. "For fuck's sake! You're a wizard! That stick you carry isn't there for you to compare its size with your friends!"
"Oh... yeah. Sorry," the replied came, in an embarrassed tone. "Pack!" he said, quickly moving out of the way as all sorts of clothes started to orderly folding themselves and flying towards Harry's trunk. When said trunk was filled and closed, he extended his hand to Harry. "Shall we?"
Harry's eyes once again narrowed. "Sure, leave the trunk for me to carry!" But he had a smile in his lips.
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Bloody hell, he could kill whoever decided that swirl holding tightly to an object was a good mean of transportation! When Harry finally put his feet back in solid ground he had to take a moment just to control his nauseousness and another to regain his balance.
"Hehe, you don't like portkeys very much, do you?" Charlie asked, laughing.
"You take that smile of your face, or I'll make my personal objective to puke on it!" was Harry's ill-tempered reply. He tried to take a step forward, but couldn't keep his balance and started to fall backwards, until he came into contact with something solid.
"Easy 'Arry! Yer not drunk are ya? I must be settin' a bad example heh... Hi Charlie!"
"Hey Hagrid! What're you doing in the common room?" Charlie greeted.
"I am not drunk!"
"Oh, the 'eadmaster told me to be here for when you came. Jut to be sure, ye' know?"
"I am not drunk! It was the portkey!"
"Thanks Hagrid! Good night!"
" 'd Night!"
"I AM NOT DRUNK!" But Hagrid was already gone. However, not too gone not to be able to say behind the Fat Lady, for Harry to take a cold shower and a 'cup o' coffee'. Charlie laugh was silenced by Harry's look.
They remained in silence for many minutes, the fire in the common room's hearth warming them, bringing some very nice memories for Charlie. Harry was the one to break the silence.
"Charlie," he begun, tentatively. "Can I ask you something?" the raven-haired teen asked.
Charlie was taken aback a bit by Harry's uneasiness, so he tried to muster all his support in his voice. "Of course Harry. You're like my brother, right?" he added, remembering their morning-after conversation.
"Err- Whatnamedidyousay?" Harry said in a very low voice.
Charlie shook his head and looked back at the gryffindor. "Excuse me?"
"What name did you say?" Seeing the confused look on the Weasley's face, he noticed that outside his line of thought the question made no sense at all. "I mean yesterday when you... well, you err- said someone's name."
Charlie opened his mouth and then closed it. So Harry heard me. He and Remus were planning on telling people only after a few more months, but how could he deny this sweet guy an answer, when he was so unsure of himself, so unsure he even had the right to be asking his putative brother a personal question?
So, the red-head took a deep breath and answered, "Remus. I said Remus. We've been together for a few months now."
Harry's eyes widened and his lips parted slightly to take in a heavy breath. He remained completely still for many minutes, his rising chest the only indication that he was alive. Eventually, he gulped down a the lump in his throat and said, "I think I'm going to bed. Good night." He didn't even wait for an answer, nor did he look back. He just miserably and slowly climbed the stairs to the sixth year dorm.
Charlie didn't know what to think. Was Harry disgusted by his relationship with Remus? Did the teen fell in love with him? Did he fell for Remus? But then, what about Sirius? The red-head decided to leave the questions for tomorrow and headed for his old bed, in what was now the fourth year dorm. Luckily, Dumbledore was correct in his assessment that they would be the only people in the Gryffindor tower.
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Sirius didn't know how long he just stood in front of Harry's room in Grimmauld place, looking at the worn black curtains of the four-poster bed. Harry had left only a few days ago, and yet, it felt like a lifetime. The house, that was already bad enough with him there, had taken a sharp downturn, now that the teen had left.
And Harry was with that bloody Weasley! Calm down! Think about something el-
"Hey Sirius!"
Sirius turned around startled to see his favorite werewolf standing at the end of the stairway. "Hullo. Something wrong?" he asked, seeing the look on Remus face.
"The attack on Manchester was pretty ugly. 3 muggles died, and Bill was seriously injured. We were able to capture a Death Eater," here Remus took a deep breath, "Before handing him to the aurors we interrogated him under Veritaserum. He told us about a few of Voldemort's plans. One is about an attack against Diagon Alley. Another against Hogsmeade. And…"
Remus took a few moments, leaving his friend apprehensive. "What? Oh, Merlin, Harry!"
"Yes. Though he didn't say much about this one. We will be able to prevent the other two, or, at least, so says Dumbledore," Remus finished tiredly.
"Any plan to protect Harry?"
"Dumbledore said he'd come up with something by the next meeting. Right now, he is meeting Charlie and Harry at Diagon Alley, telling them to go to Hogwarts. Voldemort isn't strong enough to attack there," Remus replied, blushing when he remembered that he just dropped on Sirius the news of his new relationship.
"Oh, yes, Charlie. Care to elaborate on that thought?" Sirius asked, wryly.
"There isn't much to elaborate. We got together a few months ago. I was on a mission in Eastern Europe, to contact the werewolves there and see if Voldemort was trying to gather their support. When I stopped at Romania, I stayed at Charlie's and we just… clicked," Remus said, his blush deepening in the end.
Sirius approached his friend and laid a hand on his shoulder. "Is he good to you?" he asked, earnestly.
Remus smiled. "Yes. Very good. He actually made his new life objective to learn how to brew Wolfsbane. I… I think I love him," he continued, earnestly as well.
"Good for you! Finally you got over with the whole 'I'm meant to be alone' thing you had going," the animagus said, playfully. "I hope he and Harry are alright…"
Seeing his friend's longing face, Remus couldn't refrain from asking, "You miss him, don't you?"
"More than I thought possible," Sirius answered, sadly.
"You hurt him," Remus affirmed.
"I did," Sirius nodded.
"With the truth?"
"What do you mean?" the black-haired wizard said, startled.
"I mean, when you hurt him, did you use the truth? Or what you said isn't truth?" Remus clarified.
"I thought it was truth at the time. Now… I'm not so sure," Sirius replied, truthfully. "I'm not sure of anything right now," he added, putting his hands on his face.
Remus put his arms around his friend, supportively. "Figure it out, Sirius. Your happiness might very well depend on it. Now, let's have dinner,"
And so they went.
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A/N: Finally! With my test weeks over, I can update! Did this last dialogue between Sirius and Remus made any sense? Well, I hope it did! Please, Read and Review!