Author's note: Wow thanks for all the lovely reviews! I really appreciate them! A quick note on this chapter; when Emerald talks to her 'Uncle Remus' it does not mean he is really her uncle. She merely calls him that because he and her dad were like brothers at school and he has always been known as that to her.
Also I did say I was going to have an update-frenzy today and that I was going to update loads but I didn't count on feeling really sick. I'm sorry everyone! I feel awful, I did manage to do this chapter though. I hope you enjoy it. Please review!
Chapter 3
"And you can stand right here and you are not going to get out of it this time!" Sirius snapped propelling Harry into the corner of the kitchen so he could keep an eye on him while he cooked dinner.
Harry's eyes filled with tears and a small sob escaped. Sirius concentrated on studiously ignoring him. Sirius Black had fought back from his family, had escaped Voldermort, had fought for the Order of the Phoenix, had been a highly successful auror and he had survived the woman he loved's death, he was not going to go soft because of a seven year olds tears when he quite clearly deserved the punishment.
There was a sudden whoosh from the fire and a sandy brown-haired man stepped out of Sirius' fireplace. He surveyed the scene curiously, taking in Emerald's tear stained face, Sirius' angry expression and…
Remus' gaze dropped down and he found a pair of tear-filled little green eyes staring back at him. This must be James' son, the little baby Remus had been unable to adopt because of his condition, the little boy he had helped Sirius' fight for, little Harry.
"Problem?" Remus asked curious about what had provoked the little scene.
Sirius' face lit up at the sight of his old friend. He normally saw his friend every day but Remus had been recovering from the last full moon and Sirius missed him dreadfully.
"Not at all, Harry is just going to stand in the corner" he gave his godson a little push towards the far corner.
Harry blushed bright red as he stepped towards the corner, standing in the corner was horribly embarrassing but having everyone know that you have to stand in the corner was even worse. Even worse was the fact that this man would probably wonder why he was standing in the corner and if he asked Sirius, judging by Sirius' record on all the things he had already told that Harry didn't want him to, Sirius would probably tell him and it sounded awful. Like he would really kick a girl, what would even be his motive?
Actually if you thought about all of the things Sirius thought he had done they all sounded pretty awful and if he told this man about them… Harry would never be able to look at him in the face again. It was bad enough Sirius thinking them, but at least he knew the good things as well. A stranger would only know the bad things and would think Harry was a bad boy. He wasn't a bad boy, he wasn't.
Sirius watched his godson walk obediently to the corner and then turned to his old friend.
"Moony! It's been ages. I was just about to start dinner. You'll stay won't you?"
Remus nodded his head happily. "I would love to."
Sirius immediately set about banging pans as he made something which probably would not be edible and so Remus turned to Emerald.
"How are you, Em?" He asked kindly.
"I'm fine thank you, Uncle Remus. Are you?" She answered politely making Harry want to kick the wall in frustration.
Why did she always have to seem so good when someone else was around. It was then it dawned on him what she had said. I'm fine thank you, Uncle Remus.
Uncle Remus? That meant that the man that was currently sitting at the table behind Harry after just watching him get sent to the corner was Remus Lupin, the Remus Lupin who had been Harry's father's best friend who was also Sirius' best friend. Who Sirius told him was dying to meet him. 'Hmmm, I bet he isn't so dying to meet me now.' Harry thought wistfully.
He could feel a stone settle in his stomach, it was so unfair. Sirius had told him loads of stories about him and Harry's father and Remus and all the things they used to get up to in school and he had told him all about Remus and how he had wanted to adopt Harry himself only he couldn't because he had a 'furry little problem'.
'I bet he's glad he didn't adopt me now' Harry thought bitterly.
Harry had thought Remus had sounded really nice and gentle and fun and he couldn't wait to meet him. Why did he have to come just as Harry was going to the corner. Now he would always remember Harry as the naughty boy in the corner. He blinked hard to get rid of the tears that were threatening to fall. Remus already thought he was bad, he wouldn't let him think he was a cry baby as well.
"Tea's ready" Sirius announced.
He had obviously done it magically, no one could cook that fast. Harry stayed looking at the wall. He doubted Sirius was going to let him eat.
'It was pretty mean of him to make me stand in the kitchen' he thought angrily. 'now I can smell the food they are going to be eating.'
"Tea, Harry." Sirius said, getting the plates out.
Did that mean Harry could come out then? Was Sirius just telling him they, meaning Sirius, Remus and Emerald, were going to eat tea to taunt him or did he mean Harry could come out? Harry wasn't going to chance it, he stayed put.
Sirius was dishing out pasta when he glanced at the corner again.
"Harry, wash your hands for tea!" He said impatiently.
That was all the encouragement Harry needed, he took off from the corner, out of the kitchen and up the stairs. He didn't dare look at Remus but he could feel the man's eyes on him.
Harry washed his hands quickly and was on his way back down the stairs when a thought struck him, at least in the corner he didn't have to look at Remus, at the table he would have to look at him and maybe even speak to him. Harry didn't think he could do that without going bright red or crying.
He dithered for as long as possible but in the end he gathered enough courage up to walk into the room. Sirius, Remus and Emerald were already sitting at the table. Harry's heart sank as he realised the empty chair, his chair, was directly opposite Remus. There was no way he could not look at him.
Harry crossed the room slowly, everyone looked up and watched him as he climbed onto his chair. Harry felt a flush come up his cheeks and he wished they would all go back to eating. He tried to ignore them and picked up his knife and fork and began to eat slowly. It seemed to be the cue everyone needed because the other three quickly did the same.
When Harry finally felt that they were all no longer gawping at him he stopped eating. He just played around with his pasta, moving it from one side of the plate to the other. He wasn't hungry, not any more.
"So, Moony. How's life?" Sirius asked a few mouthfuls later.
"Its going pretty well. I did a few more improvements on the house, my job at the library's going well and I'm feeling reasonably good considering the full moon was only a week or so ago" Remus replied.
"Oh yes, the library! That's where that fit girl works isn't it?" Sirius said with a cheeky grin.
"Her name is Matilda, and she's married," Remus reminded him. "So how have you been doing anyway?"
Harry blushed slightly, 'please don't say anything about me,' he pleaded silently.
"It's been pretty good. Emerald got all O's on her end of year tests" He said proudly. " and I found a good local Primary school for Harry and… that's it really."
Harry breathed a sign of relief, if that was all Sirius was going to say about him then he was fine.
Remus was actually dying to speak to Harry but he needed to do it so that the boy didn't get suspicious, inside his nerves were quivering with excitement at finally speaking to his best friend's son but outside he was calm and collected.
"Have you been doing anything interesting, Em?" He asked turning to the girl seated opposite Sirius.
"Molly came round earlier," she said smiling at her Uncle who she was obviously very fond of. "And we made plans to go swimming tomorrow."
Harry smiled, he couldn't help himself. That meant he would have at least two Emerald-free hours tomorrow.
Remus caught Harry smiling and couldn't help but adopt a similar expression, this was the first time he had seen Harry smiling.
"So, do you like living with Sirius, Harry?" He asked the small boy.
Harry jumped violently at being addressed and looked up to the sandy haired man timidly. When the man just looked at him, obviously expecting an answer, Harry nodded and then looked back at his plate as if his plate of pasta was the most interesting thing he had ever seen.
Remus was slightly put out by the non-verbal answer. He really wanted to hear the little boy talk. Obviously the boy was a bit shy. Well, he would just have to ask him a question he couldn't nod or shake his head to answer.
"What do you like best about living with Sirius?" he asked friendlily.
Harry paused for a moment and then shrugged.
Remus couldn't help but smile, how typically James Potter Harry's answer was. Trust James' son to find a way round his question.
"Harry Potter" Sirius snapped making Harry jump "stop being so rude, answer Remus properly!"
Harry blushed bright red, he wasn't trying to be rude. He just didn't want to talk in case he started to cry. Now Remus was going to think he was rude and he had just seen Harry get told off again.
"Sorry" Harry muttered quietly. "I like being able to talk to Sirius whenever I want, at the orphanage I had to wait until visiting times. I like being able to just chat with him."
'Though most of the time I'm stood in a corner,' Harry added silently.
Remus smiled at Harry's answer. He was so sweet, he wished Sirius hadn't spoken so crossly to him, he was only shy.
"We're going to the zoo tomorrow" Sirius said suddenly. "So long as some one behaves" Sirius' eyes lingered on Harry for a moment.
Harry swallowed the lump that rose in his throat. Sirius had never said anything so crossly to him before, that must mean he was still really mad at him for supposedly kicking Emerald. At least he hadn't hit him like the Dursleys would have.
"I'm sure Harry will be very good," Remus said looking curiously at his friend.
From what he had seen Harry was very well behaved and quiet yet Sirius seemed to be cross at him for some reason. Whatever reason Harry had to stand in the corner, Remus supposed.
"Why don't you come with us?" Sirius asked suddenly.
"Well, I wouldn't like to intrude…" Remus started though he looked flattered at being asked.
"You won't intrude, your practically a member of the family anyway." Sirius batted away Remus' protests.
"Please come Uncle Remus, please" Emerald said looking at her uncle adoringly.
Harry too looked at Remus hopefully, the man seemed nice and Harry wanted to prove to him that he was a good boy.
"Sure, okay then. That sounds great." Remus said, feeling a grin spread across his face.
"You might as well spend the night," Sirius said getting up and putting his empty plate in the sink.
"Oh, I couldn't do that," Remus protested. It was strange, they had been best friends for so long and Remus had been included on so many outings and yet he still felt like he was intruding sometimes. Sirius had his own little family now, he didn't need Remus tagging after him."
"Of course you could, you wouldn't be going home till late tonight anyway and what's the point of going home late tonight to come back here early tomorrow. You might as well stay. I expect you want to get to know Harry a bit better as well."
Harry half expected him to add, if he behaves, but to his relief he didn't. It looked like talking to his friend, however briefly, had calmed Sirius down.
Remus' eyes lit up. "I would, so yes why not. I would love to stay."
Harry's eyes widened. Remus wanted to get to know him better?
Emerald rose from the table and adder her plate to the sink too.
"We could play a nice game as a family," Emerald suggested. She seemed to be looking at Harry as she said it and he didn't like the look in her eyes…
"That's a good idea," Remus agreed, his plate was discarded in the sink as well and everyone looked expectantly at Harry who hadn't eaten any food for the last ten minutes.
"I'm done," He said quietly.
"You don't have to stop just because we're done you know. You keep eating if you haven't finished." Sirius said gently.
Harry shook his head. "No, I'm done. Thank you."
He had to stretch but his plate finally made it to the sink.
"What game shall we play then?" Sirius asked Emerald as they all followed her into the lounge.
"What about… Doxy Chase?" Emerald asked pulling a battered box out from a nearby cupboard.
"Sounds good." Sirius said with a smile.
Emerald began to set up the board and hand out little cards. Remus and Sirius sat one on each side of the games table that had been in the lounge ever since Emerald was two. Harry walked warily over to the table. He made to sit next to Sirius but caught Emeralds expression and thought better of it, instead he perched next to Remus and stared out of the window.
"Your only setting up three sets of each thing" Sirius said in confusion.
"Well, its only for three players." Emerald replied giving herself, Remus and Sirius a counter.
"Well we will play another game then." Sirius said firmly.
"No! I love this game, please daddy. You said we could play this one. We haven't played in ages." Emerald batted her long eye lashes at her father.
"It's fine" Remus said cheerfully. "I'll watch."
"No, I want you to play. Me and you and Dad. That's how we always play!" Emerald looked close to tears.
"We can't just leave poor Harry out" Sirius said reasonably.
"He can watch, you want to watch. Don't you?" Emerald turned to Harry and Harry knew full well that if he thought the trouble he got into now was bad it would be nothing compared to the trouble Emerald would make him get into if he said he didn't want to watch.
"Yes" Harry said quietly. "I want to watch."
"Nonsense!" Sirius exclaimed. "You can't just sit and watch. Tell you what, you come and sit on my knee and we will play together. We can be a team. Us against Remus and Emerald. Yeah?"
Harry nodded enthusiastically. He loved sitting on his godfathers knee, he felt safer there then he did anywhere else. He practically skipped over to his godfathers side of the table and began to clamber onto his knee. Emerald pretended to help him up but really she pinched him, hard. It hurt but Harry blinked hard determined not to cry.
The game quickly picked up and although Harry didn't quite understand the rules, he had fun. Emerald shot him sour looks every time Sirius and Remus were not looking but Harry just ignored her. He as sat cuddled up with Sirius and nothing could upset him.
"What do you think, Harry? Should we use a red card or a green?" Sirius asked.
"Red!" Harry said excitedly.
A question was asked and when Sirius got the question right he tossed Harry right up into the air making him squeal and then began to tickle him until he was convulsed with giggles. Remus would smile but Harry knew Emerald would just watch them and take it all in, ready for payback time.
The game took a long while to end as the competition was stiff but in the end Remus was declared the winner.
"And now bedtime for all littlies" Sirius joked kissing both his daughter and his godson on the head.
"I'm not little!" Emerald protested but she hugged her dad tightly just the same.
"Night night" Sirius and Remus chorused.
Harry ran on ahead of Emerald knowing that if she went first she would lie in wait for him on the stairs and say something nasty or she would block his path and yell for Sirius that he had done something awful.
Emerald retired to bed with her heart pumping furiously and angry tears running down her face. Why does he have to hog dad all the time? It ought to have been me dad was hugging and tickling every time he got a question right. Why can't Harry just go away!
Downstairs Sirius had gone to fetch a bottle of fire whisky from the cellar and Remus was left in the lounge by himself. He stretched his arms above his head and yawned. He needed something to do to keep himself awake. He looked around the room for something to read until his friend got back, after Sirius was back there was no need. Sirius would keep you awake even when you wanted to sleep.
His eye fell on the box of the game they had just played and he reached for it idly. He flicked through the instructions on the back and then looked at the pictures, smiling slightly at the sweet child they had picked to model how the game was played, he sort of reminded him of Harry. He was still smiling over that when his eye fell on the bold writing right at the bottom of the box and his grin immediately disappeared.
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