Chapter Five

Home and Family

It was a mild and lovely spring day, with the soft type of breeze that promised nothing but sun. Remus stood in the back garden, a basket of laundry at his feet, hanging the clothes on the line. Magic would have made quick work of a simple thing like laundry, of course, but it had rather become a habit.

When they had first left school and moved to their cottage, Sirius had taken almost childlike delight in doing things the Muggle way.

"It's amazing, Remus," he would say, with every new Muggle object he got, from the television he'd charmed to run on magic, to a collection of Muggle comic books that currently resided under their bed.

It was a reaction, Remus supposed, to Sirius's pure-blood upbringing. And it had been amusing to watch Sirius gleefully hang up the laundry, as though each sock he clipped to the line was a personal insult to the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black.

"Papa, Papa, look at me!" A girl's voice broke through Remus's thoughts. Four-year-old Rory was sitting on a broomstick in front of Sirius, more than a dozen feet in the air.

"No higher, Sirius!" Remus called. "I don't feel like looking up Healing spells before supper."

"But it's my turn next," protested five-year-old Harry. "Dad said I could even steer if I let Rory go first!"

Sirius, floating in the air behind Harry, shook his head at Remus, making Rory giggle. The broom sank back to earth, and Sirius set his daughter back on her feet. "Go help Papa, sweetheart. Harry, did you say something about being next?"

"Yes!" the boy said quickly. "Papa's right, you're really forgetful, Dad."

Sirius pretended to look hurt. "I am not."

"It's all right," piped up Rory. "We love you anyway, Daddy."

Remus laughed. "She is certainly your daughter, Padfoot. And just a few more minutes, you two. We're having supper as soon as I finish this."

"Sure, Moony!"

The werewolf shook his head, then turned back to his daughter. "You ignore Daddy, love. He's nothing but trouble."

"Papa, how come I have a Mum and you and Daddy?" Rory looked up at her father with wide gray eyes. She always posed questions like that to Remus, who was much more likely to answer her properly.

Remus and Sirius shared a look across the kitchen table and came to an unspoken agreement. "It's complicated," said Remus, then added before she could protest, "but we'll try to explain. All right?"

Rory nodded. "Right, Papa."

"Most boys and girls only have two parents, Rory, a mummy and a daddy. Some of them have brothers or sisters, like you have Harry. You, though, are very special."

"How come?"

"Everyone has to have a mum," said Sirius, "or they can't be born. So, when Papa and I wanted to have you, we needed a mum."

"Oh," said Rory, apparently thinking hard. "But Harry and I have the same mum."

"Yes, that's true," said Remus. "But Harry's dad is your Uncle James. Daddy and I have told you about him."

Rory nodded again. "Uncle James was married to Mum," she said quietly. "But they're gone now. Harry was supposed to live with them, but now he lives with us."

"We promised Uncle James and Mum that we would take care of him," Sirius told her. "That makes Harry as much our son as you're our daughter, and we love you both very much."

"I love you, too, Daddy!" said Rory, sliding from her chair to hug him. She then skipped over to Remus and hugged him as well. "And you, Papa."

Remus kissed the top of her head. "That's good, sweetheart. Now, why don't you and Harry go and play while Daddy and I clean up?"

Grinning, Rory dashed from the room; Harry drained the last of his milk and followed close behind. Sirius turned to his partner and grinned. "Remember a time before we had them?" he asked.

Remus smiled. "Vaguely. Just think, Padfoot. Before we know it, we'll be sending them off to Hogwarts."

Sirius set a stack of plates in the sink and flicked his wand at them. "Don't remind me."