A/N: Remus addresses Harry as Cub, and Sirius calls him pup.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

Chapter 2: Brand New Day

Harry crept cautiously down the stairway the next morning as he listened to Sirius and Remus move about in the kitchen. He took a deep breath and paused for a moment to calm his nerves. He could feel himself shaking slightly, but he knew that he needed to get the conversation over with or he might never tell them. He gave himself a silent pep talk before continuing on down the stairs and into the kitchen.

As soon as Harry pushed through the door to the kitchen he was pounced upon by Sirius whose attention was immediately drawn to the brand new cat ears situated on top of his head. Sirius gazed at the twitching black ears in wonder as his hand slowly rose up to softly stroke them.

"Neko?"

Harry willed his wings to emerge and a large grin stretched across his face as he replied. "Ichobas actually."

"Wow, Cub, they're impressive." Remus finally broke out from his stunned silence.

"Of course they are. After all, they are attached to Harry."

Harry smiled up at Sirius in gratitude and drew his wings back into his body. He figured if he was going to do this he had better get started before he chickened out. Harry opened his mouth but quickly shut it again in worry. He started wringing his hands and pacing which caused Sirius' hand to be dislodged from his hair. Sirius reached out and pulled him into a comforting hug.

"What is it, Pup?"

"You can tell us anything, Cub. What's the matter?"

"Would – would you two sit with me for a second? I'd like to talk to you about a few things."

"Of course, Harry. Why don't I fix us some hot cocoa?"

"Okay."

A few short minutes later Harry was sitting at the kitchen table with his godfathers across from him while he stalled for time by stirring the already perfectly mixed steaming mug of chocolate. When he finally risked glancing up from the mug he could see the trace of worry that clouded both of their eyes.

"There's something I need to tell you, and I need for you to not say anything until I've finished." Both men looked at each other and then nodded to Harry in agreement.

"Ever since I was first introduced to the wizarding world I've had to act like someone I'm not. I'm expected to be the perfect Gryffindor golden boy, and I've tried my best to live up to that expectation regardless of my own feelings on the matter. Everyone saw me as their savior; even though I was nothing more than a baby when Voldemort was first defeated. That mistaken impression has led to me being forced to do things that no one my age should even have to think about. Starting from the first moment I met Dumbledore he has drilled into me that I was the only person who could possibly prevail against the dangers that have plagued Hogwarts since my first year. I've always done my duty to protect the castle and its inhabitants; although, I've never understood how I, a young inexperienced boy, could possibly be more adept at such a task than Dumbledore, the Hogwarts staff, the Order, and the Aurors combined." Harry paused to catch his breath and sip his cocoa before continuing.

"Year after year, I've been forced to risk my life in battle against a violent psychopath. Each time that I was lucky enough to have things turn out in my favor I have been showered with meaningless adulation by people more than willing to turn their backs on me and assume the worst at the slightest provocation. I've spent my entire life under a magnifying glass and my every move has been published for entertainment in the nightly news.

I'm tired of it, and I can't take it anymore. Coming into this inheritance, both magical and creature, has given me the strength I needed to take charge of my life. I'm going to stop playing up to the persona society expects of me and recreate my image to reflect who I truly am. "

Both men remained silent, but Remus placed his hand over Harry's on the table and Sirius moved next to Harry to resume stroking his ears.

"I don't trust Dumbledore, and I haven't for a while now. I refuse to continue blindly following his word as though it were gospel. Most of my friendships are fallacies that have been arranged by him in order to keep me in line and further support my facade. I'm going to start building up the friendships that I've always wanted, and always been forbidden to have. I want to know, with absolute certainty, that I'm surrounded by people who are loyal to me and like me for who I am and not for my fame or fortune."

Harry looked up into their eyes and confided a secret only he knew. "When I arrived at Hogwarts for my first year Dumbledore advised me that if I wanted to have any chance of surviving the year I needed to be sorted into Gryffindor. The hat was going to place me in Slytherin, but I believed Dumbledore so I asked to be placed in Gryffindor. As soon as the new term starts I intend to demand I be re-sorted into my rightful house." He heard them gasp in anger and outrage but continued on to the most difficult portion of his speech. He wasn't sure what he would do if they didn't react well to what he had to say.

"Now that I am a submissive Ichobas I will require a dominant partner to keep me safe and happy. Everyone expects me to marry Ginny and settle down into a life I don't want, but it won't work. There is no way I could ever marry Ginny…or any other woman. I prefer men. This is not a phase, or me experimenting. I've always liked males more than females and that's not going to change. You may not be able to understand it right now, but I hope that someday you will be able to accept it – be able to accept me."

Harry slumped back into his seat as he finally came to the end of his lengthy speech. Although he was worried about their reaction to his news, he was also relieved that it was all out in the open now. He had bared some of his most closely guarded secrets and there was no taking it back. A tense silence pervaded the room and Harry's trepidation deepened with each tick of the large grandfather clock that stood in the corner of the room. Just as Harry was about to bolt Sirius broke the silence.

"Merlin, Pup! How could you not know?"

"Huh?"

"There is no way you being gay would bother us. Remus and I have been together since we were fifth year students at Hogwarts. We didn't know how you felt about gay relationships, so we have made sure not to be too intimate in front of you just in case it made you uncomfortable. I didn't realize that you had no clue we were together."

"Really."

"Really, Cub. As for the rest of your speech, I want you to know that there is nothing you could do to make us stop loving you. You will always be our cub, and all we've ever wanted is for you to be happy. You do whatever you feel is necessary and we'll stand behind you one-hundred percent. We have complete faith in you." Harry rose from his chair and pulled his godfathers into another long hug as he fought the urge to cry.

"Aww, don't cry, Pup. Listen, why don't we finish our hot chocolate and then go get your school supplies. While we're at it we'll shop for a completely new wardrobe for a completely new you. It'll be my treat."

"Okay, that sounds like fun." Harry sat back down and resumed sipping from his mug as he contemplated how differently everything could have turned out.

A/N: Sorry it's a little bit short, but I couldn't make the shopping scene come together the way I wanted it to so I scrapped it from the chapter. The next chapter will be a bit of a time jump to the beginning of the term.

Please Review. I welcome all constructive criticism.