Trickster Chapter Nine
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Remus and Sirius glanced towards each other. "Hehe…I can't believe Snape topped you…"
"He's actually kind of attractive…when he…"
"More than me?" Sirius said quietly, keeping his eyes on the floor.
Remus sighed. "I…waited…for a while…I was so upset Siri…I…loved you so much, I thought…"
"I didn't have a dark mark, did I?" Sirius said shortly, blue eyes flaring.
Remus leant against the wall, tilting his head back. "No. You didn't. But…I just thought…I don't know. You know I didn't trust Peter…"
"I'm sorry Remmy…" Sirius said, moving closer.
"You stayed in Azkaban all that time…I just ran away…I was in America for a little while, did you know?"
"Really? Did you see Vegas like we always wanted to?"
Remus nodded with a wistful grin. "It was fun…but it would have been better with you…"
Sirius hugged him gently, and Remus sighed into his neck. They fit just like they did all those years ago, except Siri was a little skinnier, but…. "Kiss me." Remus murmured, looking up into Sirius' blue eyes.
"But…what about…"
"Just…please." Remus whispered.
Sirius kissed him gently, holding Remus as if the man would nearly break. They finally pulled away. "So…what about Snape and…and Harry?"
Remus looked down, biting his lip. "I…I really like them Siri. But I…"
Sirius sighed, kissing his cheek. "I wont make you choose…if you…" Remus shook his head.
"I want to be with you, Siri." He whispered. He knew this was the right choice. He'd been in love with the dark haired man since they were teenagers. Now that they were together again, he couldnt picture being with anyone else. He cared about Harry a great deal, but...
--
Harry pushed his cauldron aside, turning back to Severus. The man looked down at him in surprise, never having seen Harry push a potion away before. Harry gave him a small smile. "…kiss me?"
Severus moved down, capturing Harry's lips. Harry's eyes fluttered closed, wrapping his thin arms around Severus' neck as he lifted himself up on the balls of his feet. Severus wrapped an arm around the boy's waist, tilting his head back, cradling the back of his head in the palm of his hand.
Harry gasped as Severus moved to kiss down his jaw, pulling up the boy to sit down on the counter. Harry smiled, pulling the man close. Severus pulled away with a warm smile.
"Oh! Did we interrupt something…." Remus said, standing in the doorway. Sirius was standing behind him, staring at them with wide eyes. Harry grinned. "Your turn!" He hopped off the counter and ran into the man's arms, kissing him. Remus gasped in surprise, pulling the boy close.
Sirius gawked at the sight, and then he looked over to Snape, who was staring at them with a dreamy smile. He cleared his throat.
"You want a kiss too?" Harry pulled away from Remus with a cheeky grin. All three men choked, and Harry started to laugh. "Come on, let's get some dinner."
"Dobby, this was the best dinner ever." Dobby smiled at Harry's praise. "You're welcome Master Harry."
Harry stood. "So, Severus, are you staying the night?"
Severus stood, glancing to Remus, then to Sirius. "Um…I don't know…"
"There's only a week left of classes, exams are already over…"
"Okay. But just tonight." Harry grinned. "I'm going to go put expanding charms on the bed!" He bounced out of the room, and the three men stared at each other.
"Um…Harry seems to be pretty adjusted to this." Remus said finally.
Sirius looked away with a frown. Severus ran a hand through his hair with a slight cough.
"Okay, I put the expanding charms on the bed, I'm going to go take a shower now." Harry called out, going to the bathroom.
"Um…I need a drink." Remus murmured, thinking of how much his life had changed.
"He doesn't have alcohol, you know." Severus murmured, running a hand through his hair.
"There's a pub next door." Remus pointed out, looking thoughtful.
"But we can go…" Severus and Remus trailed off as Sirius transformed, going to the bathroom. Both of their jaws dropped as they heard giggling from the bath.
"Dog! Bad boy! You got soap everywhere!"
Severus and Remus exchanged a look as they approached the bathroom. Remus hid a grin as they stood in the doorway, seeing Harry and Padfoot in the bath, Harry piling soap bubbles on top of the dog's head, looking quite adorable. Soap bubbles were everywhere, it seemed. Remus looked to the boy in the bath and smiled, seeing the soap on his chin and shoulders, sliding down a slender chest- he looked away.
"Get out Dog, I have to finish washing…"
Padfoot wagged his tail as he jumped out of the tub, sending soap and water everywhere. Dobby popped out, with a rolled up newspaper, popping Padfoot on the head. "Bad dog!"
Everyone laughed so hard, Harry's side hurt. "Okay, everyone out!"
--
Sirius followed Severus and Remus into the bedroom with a grin, toweling his hair dry. "Damn mutt." Severus muttered, stopping short as he saw how big the bed was. It took up twice the space now.
"That's a big bed." Remus uttered, gawking at it.
They moved aside as Harry walked in, wearing his dressing robe and drying his hair. "I'm sleepy…tomorrow's Monday, lots of work to do…" He murmured almost to himself, grabbing his night shirt. "Arent you guys going to sleep?"
"Um…yeah." Sirius murmured, watching him walk back out. Remus pulled his trunk into the room and undressed quickly shoving a pair of pajamas in Sirius' arms. "What, you sleep in PJ's now?" Sirius murmured, looking at the plaid pajamas.
"Right now I do." Remus glared. "And so do you." He shoved another pair in Severus' arms. Severus sighed, changing the color from plaid to black. The other men rolled their eyes as they all dressed quickly. Sirius and Remus got into the bed first, next to each other.
Severus paused for a moment, about to move in on the other side when Harry walked in again in his nightshirt. "Yay! Sleep time." Harry bounced onto the bed, and Remus and Sirius grinned widely, chuckling. Harry looked over his shoulder at Severus. "You coming?"
Severus felt his mouth grow dry. "Um…yes." He watched Harry move in next to Remus, looking at him expectantly. Severus moved in on Harry's other side. Harry smiled faintly, kissing him softly, grabbing Severus arm and pulling it over his waist so Severus spooned behind him.
Sirius was behind Remus, spooning him from behind, and Remus and Harry were facing each other. Harry grinned, kissing the werewolf on the cheek. The moving to peck Sirius on the cheek as well. "Good night." Harry murmured as he fell asleep. All three men watched Harry fall asleep. Severus was about to doze off when he felt the bed shift. He watched Remus turn in Sirius' arms, holding each other tightly. Sirius kissed Remus deeply, running his hands in the man's hair. Remus whispered in Sirius' ear, the both men slowly left the bed, going into the sitting room.
Severus looked down at Harry, who had turned to face him now when the others had left, burrowing in his arms. Severus glanced towards the door, hearing a soft groan. He soon heard panting and…the usual sounds that accompanied sex. He looked down to the boy in his arms and sighed. Harry sighed into his neck, a faint smile on his face. "Hmm…Sev…"
Severus felt a smile spread on his face in the darkness. He preferred this than anything else.
--
Remus woke up extremely happy. Sirius was back. He smiled sleepily, looking over to see Severus and Harry curled up together. They looked so nice together, too cute. Remus turned in Sirius' arms, smiling wider as he saw the man was awake. "Good morning."
"Morning…" They shared a languid kiss, and they felt the bed shift. Remus pulled away to see Harry smiling at them, eyes bright. "Aw! How cute!" This woke Severus up.
Harry bounced on the bed. "Wake up, it's a beautiful day! Severus, don't you have to go back to work?"
"Damn!" Severus sat up quickly, pecking Harry on the cheek before he jumped out of the bed and got his clothes.
Harry grinned. "Remmy, you can help me with the cubs today, and Siri…um…"
"I can walk around like Padfoot and look adorable?"
Harry rolled his eyes. "Yes. I suppose that will be fine until we can figure out some glamours or something for you."
--
Harry sighed, opening up his copy of the Daily Prophet. Remus been here a few days now, and Sirius couldn't be happier to be back with his friend. They were making mischief, of course, teaching the kids pranking potions instead of what they ought not to… he stared at the Headline and sighed. "Remmy…."
Dangerous Werewolf teaches at Hogwarts! By: Rita Skeeter
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry recently lost another DADA professor. It seems the curse on the position is real, except this time the professor is not dead. He resigned just a few days ago. You may ask why, but ask any Hogwarts student now and they'll tell you that their latest Professor, Remus J. Lupin, is a werewolf.
Some of you may have known the man from your own days at Hogwarts, and this reporter found out that in fact, Lupin was bitten by Fenrir Greyback at the age of four. Albus Dumbledore, despite all laws, allowed the man to come to Hogwarts. Lupin was also rumored to be one of the closest friends of Lily and James Potter, as well as the criminal Sirius Black! Lupin mysteriously disappeared after the Potter's deaths and his best friend's incarceration. It is also rumored that he is a close friend of Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Left-Hogwarts.
Again, with the entire knowledge of the staff, Lupin was allowed to teach at Hogwarts, taking Wolfsbane every month in his office. However, it was as not as safe as everyone thought, and he ended up prowling the halls of Hogwarts on the last full moon!
He endangered the lives of students with his reckless behavior, and if you look at the latest set of laws produced by Dolores Umbridge, all werewolves who infect others will be euthanized.
Remus was shaking as quite a number of owls started to drop of letters to Remus at the breakfast table. Sirius frowned, and he and Harry started to read the mail. That night Remus was curled up on the couch, Sirius was holding him tightly. Harry watched them with a sigh. "Maybe you guys should go on a trip. Get away from all this here…"
"But…what about the shop…" Remus started.
"I'll be fine here. Anyways, it's dangerous if Siri was caught here…please. Take a trip. I'd join you guys, but I have a lot to do here."
Both men hugged Harry tightly. "Okay…just…please be safe Harry."
The next day, they were ready to go, his trunk was all packed. He and Padfoot were going to take an overseas portkey. They took it that morning, and they were gone. Harry dressed in his uniform for the day, pulling back his hair tightly. Dobby must have known he was sad, because he slipped a bit of candy into Harry's pocket.
Harry faintly smiled as he went down the stairs. He saw the kids gathered outside, waiting for him to open the place up. "Hold your horses…" He opened the door and they bounced in.
"Lots of people have been asking us about Remus, is he around?" Lottie asked, looking around the store.
Harry shook his head. "No, he left this morning, he's taking a trip. He took Padfoot too." The children all gasped. "But he was so nice, why'd he have to leave?"
"Sorry kids…we just thought it'd be better." He straightened out Frankie's collar with a smile. "You all look so nice in your uniforms today."
"Aw, thanks Harry!" Harry looked over the children. Lottie, Jacob, and Violet were the same age as he, 13, Jackie a year younger, Beth was the youngest at six, and Frankie, Timothy were seven, and Simon was eight now. The twins would be arriving in a couple of weeks, as well as Ron and Ginny once the holidays went underway.
"Lottie, Violet, and Jackie, I'm going to assign you three to deliveries now. I have a feeling some of our customers wont be able to pick up their packages from here any longer. Jacob, you are will be learning wolfsbane from me, so you'll stay." All four of the teenagers grinned at this. Jacob was the best of the four in brewing, and Lottie, Jackie and Violet loved to make errands and be out and about.
He turned to the younger children. "All of you will still be learning from me, so you can stay here and help me in the store." The children nodded. Harry went to his ledger book and scanned it. "Violet, take Mrs. Hastings', Penny's, Malkin's, and Georgia's packages to them. I know you know where they all are, you should be finished by lunch, you can have lunch out." Violet skipped off as she gathered her packages.
"Jackie, you're going to take Leigh's, Bill's, Mark's, Ethan's, and Vivian's packages, they should all be at Maggie's pub about now, or in that area." Jackie nodded and went to the back to gather the packages.
Harry tapped his finger to his lips. "And Lottie, you're going to Hogsmeade and delivering Madam Rosmerta's, Mrs. Campbell's, Old Mr. Cooper, and the Hathaways."
"Hogsmeade?" Lottie squeaked, eyes wide.
Harry grinned. "You can take the floo to Rosmerta's place, the Three Broomsticks. You'll be fine, don't worry." Lottie looked down at her uniform and straightened it up, dusting something invisible off. "If you say so Harry." She went to the back to get her things ready.
--
Later that afternoon, the kids were busy brewing in the back, except for Beth, who was sweeping out the store, yet again. Harry was at the counter, mixing ingredients while he waited for a customer. He frowned as he saw a nice looking witch come in and wink at him, then look around at the store. The reason why he frowned though was because of what she was wearing…it was the same exact shawl that an old hag that had come in yesterday wore…and he'd never seen either of them before around Knockturne.
"Can I help you?" Harry called out, still working on chopping up the stewed horned slugs. She walked over to him, looking thoughtful.
"Well, what kind of potions do you have around here? I was thinking about getting amortentia for my sister…" Harry frowned. "That's illegal. I don't sell illegal potions here." Harry said, crossing his arms, his cutting knife still in his hand.
The woman cocked her head. "Aren't you kind of young to be selling potions?"
Harry motioned to the small plaque in the corner. "I have my license. I got it last fall. Now, we do sell headache drafts, and pepper up, there seems to be a bit of a cold coming around…"
"Oh, well, do you sell beautification potions? For my sister, you know, I don't think I really need it…" She batted her eyelashes at him. Harry wasn't affected.
"Yes. On the back shelf. We don't carry many, and it's a different version, since it was brewed by one of my employees."
She smiled. "Oh, can I meet this employee?"
Harry furrowed a brow. "He's quite busy right now." Harry eyed her carefully. The wards would have taken off any glamours right away…
"So…you and your sister share clothes?"
"What?" The woman asked surprised, her eyes widening.
Harry glanced to her shawl. "There was a woman here yesterday wearing the same shawl. Unless you're the same person, but that should be impossible, as my wards detect all glamours, but there are other ways of hiding someone's identity…" He raised his wand at her.
"Um…I…I think this is a misunderstanding…"
Harry pointed his wand to her, his lip curling. "If you're one of Greyback's people, get out, I'm not giving any wolfsbane to those who infect people on purpose." He growled.
The woman gulped, her hand lowering to her wand. "Stu-" Harry was cut off by someone taking off an invisibility cloak, he whipped his wand to the man that stood there. There was no mistaking the red robes…why was an auror here?
He turned back to the woman, and she transformed into someone with a heart shaped face and bright purple hair. "You're a metamorphangus…deadly useful." Harry almost murmured to himself, watching her clothes transfigure into auror robes. He slipped his wand back into his holster.
"Why are you here?" Harry said shortly, returning to preparing his ingredients.
"We heard Lupin has been sniffing around here." The man said, his own wand drawn off to the side.
Harry glanced to them. "He was. But he left. He said he didn't want to be around here anymore if people thought he should be euthanized."
Both aurors were quiet. "I'm Shacklebolt, this is Tonks." Harry glanced to her, raising an eyebrow.
"You're a Black."
She shrugged. "Sort of. Only in blood."
"Of course." Harry chuckled, going back to preparing his ingredients.
"How did you pick up so easily on me being someone I wasn't?" Tonks asked quietly.
Harry raised a brow. "I'd never seen you around before, nor your version from yesterday. And that shawl. Everyone knows everyone here pretty much, so I knew something was up." Harry said quietly.
"Why are you here Potter? This is no place for a kid like you-"
The door opened again, revealing Lottie and Violet, with Jackie holding a small bundle. They all stopped short at the aurors. Both girls went to the back, and Jackie put the bundle on Harry's counter. "Your lunch. The girls thought you might like a sandwhich."
"Thanks Jackie. You go on and get the others started, I'll be back there in a minute." Harry said, smiling as he saw the food.
Shacklebolt gave him a questioning look. Harry grinned. "My employees."
"They're just kids!" Tonks called out in surprise.
"So? One of them is up to seventh year level in potions, most of the others are up to fifth year, with the exception of Beth here." Both aurors glanced to the girl staring at them from the corner, broomstick in her hands.
"I'm almost up to third year level!" Beth said proudly with a big smile, walking towards Harry. Harry kissed the top of her head. "Go to the back with the others, I'll talk to all of you later."
"'Kay." She bounced back to the lab.
Harry turned to look at the aurors. "So, tell me why you came by, other than to look for Remus."
"You've been brewing Wolfsbane." Harry nodded. "We heard a lot of people come by each full moon…"
"About 120 each month. They'll be a few more, since Greyback attacked again last week. I dont serve Greyback and his people." Harry said quietly.
Tonks jaw dropped. "Is there really that many…"
"Yes. They don't all live here in Knockturne you know…you'd be surprised to see how many ministry people there are." Harry said with a smirk. "Of course, I can't name names..."
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I know it's a little ambiguous with the whole HPSSRL thing....but I promise it will get cleared up soon.