Chapter 14 – Happiness

It's never too late to have a happy childhood – Berke Breathed

Harry didn't want to wake up. He was warm, comfy and perfectly content. He was sure it had been a dream, but it had been such a good dream that he didn't want it to end. He didn't want to have to return to his normal life with the Dursleys. The men in his dream had been nice, and he didn't really want to return to a world where he was disliked. Something fell on his face and he cracked open one of his eyes. A lions tail was resting on his nose. He'd dreamt of a lion, but he didn't have one. The Dursleys wouldn't buy him anything new. Something about him being ungrateful. He opened his eyes and rummaged for his glasses. They weren't right next to his heaad, like they usually were. He sat up and groped around for his glasses. When he finally found them he pushed them on, looking around the room in shock.

He wasn't in his cupboard. He was in a large, bright room with a large bed pushed against a wall. The bed and walls were both a shade of light blue, like the sky. Just like Harry had always wanted. He grinned, it was all coming back to him now; leaving the Dursleys, the new house and Remus and Sirius. Harry leapt out of bed as if he'd been burnt. He didn't want to be alone anymore, he wanted to see the two men, to remind himself that it was real, that it wasn't all a dream. He ran to the bedroom door and then froze. Uncle Vernon forbade him from leaving his cupboard until he was allowed to. What if Remus and Sirius expected the same? Fidgeting slightly, Harry knocked on the inside of the door.

He heard footsteps approaching the door and he backed away, worried that he might have overstepped what he was allowed. The door creaked open and Remus peered in, his hair sticking up like he'd just got out of bed. He looked wide awake though. He looked at the bed and obviously noticed the lack of Harry, because he walked into the room worriedly and then stopped.

"Harry, what are you doing? Was that you that knocked on the door?"

"Yes sir. I wanted to come out, that is if I'm allowed?" Harry asked, still worried that Remus might still say no.

Remus' face was a mask of shock, "Of course you can. Harry, you don't need to ask, you can go anywhere you want, when ever you want"

Harry's mouth fell open in an 'o' of surprise. Did that mean that he had freedom all over the house? He wasn't used to having that. it was going to take some getting used to. That was, if Remus didn't change his mind. Uncle Vernon had a habit of doing that, so Harry wouldn't get too comfortable with his newfound freedom. It could disappear very quickly.

"Do you want some breakfast Harry?"

"Please sir"

"Remus not Sir Harry" Remus reminded him gently. Harry hung his head at being told off. Remus put a hand under Harry's chin and tilted his head up gently. "I'm not telling you off Harry, it's just a reminder, okay?"

Harry nodded sheepishly and followed Remus down into the kitchen. Harry was still surprised at how big the house was. The kitchen was light and airy, and full of the smell of bacon. Sirius was stood in front of the oven, trying to split his attention between watching the eggs and the bacon that were both frying themselves.

"Good morning Harry, did you sleep well last night?" Sirius asked, turning around to reveal a frilly apron. Harry stifled a giggle but Remus roared with laughter. "What are you laughing at?"

Remus managed to choke out an answer. "The apron Sirius, you look like you stole it from Mrs Potter"

"What? I thought I looked rather dashing in it. Don't you think so Harry?"

Harry missed the sarcastic tone to his voice, and thought that Sirius was actually asking his opinion. He didn't want to offend Sirius, he'd been so nice to Harry. "Of course sir"

Sirius stuck his tongue out at Remus, and scooped the bacon and eggs onto three separate plates. "Sirius, not sir Harry. Breakfast's ready, dig in"

Harry climbed onto one of the large chairs and waited for the two men to start eating. Sirius gestured towards Harry's plate, obviously implying that he was meant to start eating. Harry did so, sawing at the bacon with the too large knife. Sirius started talking about what he and James got up to at school, and Harry absorbed everything he said. He had an endless thirst for stories about his mum and dad, he could've listened to Sirius and Remus for hours.

Just as the two men finished breakfast, Remus excused himself and announced that he was going to somewhere called 'Diagon Alley'. Sirius handed him something small and leant forwards to whisper something in his ear. Harry looked away, remembering that he wasn't meant to listen to adults conversations. He ate the last scrap of bacon from his plate and slid out of his chair, carrying his plate with him. He ran into a problem when he moved to put the plate into the sink. He couldn't reach. Harry bit his lip, at the Dursleys he was expected to clean up after himself, and Dudley.

"Harry what are you doing?" Sirius asked curiously. Harry spun around, nearly dropping the plate.

"I was gonna wash up sir – I mean Sirius" Harry replied nervously.

"You don't need to wash up Harry. That's my job. I'm meant to look after you, not the other way around"

What? It had been Harry's job ever since he could move the chair and reach. "But sir I -?" Harry stopped. Why was he protesting? It wasn't like he enjoyed it. Kneeling on the chair repeatedly normally hurt his knees and he'd slipped last time and hit his chin on the countertop. He looked up at Sirius, still slightly confused.

Sirius' face hardened. "Harry, you're not with the Dursleys anymore. You don't have to do everything that they made you do"

"O-Okay sir, um, Sirius – sir" Harry trailed off, completely flustered. This freedom that Sirius was apparently giving him was definitely going to take some getting used to. That was if Sirius didn't change his mind. There was always a chance that he might. Uncle Vernon used to do that.

"Harry, do you want to go upstairs and get ready?"

"Yes sir – Sirius"

Sirius smiled and then shepherded him up towards his bedroom. He helped Harry get dressed, most especially with the buttons that he would never normally attempt. He wasn't used to having help. He decided he liked it. It made him feel like he was loved.

"What would you like to do now Harry?"

Harry wasn't used to being able to choose what to do with his day. He looked around his bedroom, his eyes finally settling on the two colouring books that Sirius had bought him yesterday. Sirius followed his eyes and smiled.

"Will you come downstairs to complete your masterpieces? So I know where you are?"

Strange. It sounded like he actually cared. But then again, he did say that yesterday. Harry smiled. He picked the books and pencils up and followed Sirius back downstairs. The man settled himself into the large armchair with a book, leaving Harry to cheerily lie on the floor, colouring books spread out in front of him.

Harry didn't know how long he lay there, very carefully colouring in the pictures in front of him, but he knew that it must have been a long time. he didn't care though, he was perfectly content. He couldn't stop the grin that spread over his face when Remus returned. He was truly happy. He couldn't care less that Remus had returned with toys for him, all he cared was that Remus was home. He climbed to his feet and practically threw himself at Remus. Remus rocked back on his heels and picked him up, grinning broadly. Harry grinned back shyly.

AN: I hope you lovely readers enjoy this chapter, I had a lot of fun writing it – that was until I put the news on and saw what had happened in Norway. I really hope everybody is OK. Please leave a review :D