Recap:
Remus and Sirius have a moment in the kitchen…again… they seem fond of doing that don't they? And then they end up in bed together (platonically but cuddling). Harry is still just a baby.
I am so terribly sorry it's been so long! I am an awful human being, but I had exams, and then I went to LA and then I had no laptop and stuff… excuses, excuses. I'm sorry!
Disclaimer: I own nothing. For more detail, feel free to read disclaimer in Chapter 1.
September 16, 2009
"What the hell is that sound?"
Remus groaned slightly, his face screwing up in frustration. He very quickly became aware of the light streaming in through the gap in the curtains. Around the time he discovered the light from the curtains he became very aware of warm breath on the back of his neck and the heavy weight of an arm around his waist. The previously warm room became stiflingly hot as Remus blushed, remembering how he had practically baited the other man into his bed last night.
The sharp rapping noise continued and Remus looked around for the cause of the sound. He pulled himself into a sitting position, causing Sirius to grumble in his sleep and pull the sheets closer around his body. A small brown owl was waiting on the ledge of the window, tapping impatiently. Remus slid out of bed and padded towards the window, sliding the latch silently and accepting the letter from the owl. Looking at the clock he noticed that it was unusual for Harry to still be asleep at this time, but that Sirius wouldn't be awake for another few hours.
Slipping a sweater over his head, he silently left the room and walked down the hallway to Harry's bedroom. He made a mental note to read the letter later, and put it out of his mind. He pushed open the door to Harry's room expecting him to be asleep, and was surprised when he found Harry sitting up in his crib watching the door steadily. He had the ear of a stuffed bunny in his mouth and was chewing on it absentmindedly as he looked at Remus. He appeared to be waiting for something rather patiently.
"Scary how much you remind me of your mum."
Harry gurgled quietly in response, the soggy ear of the stuffed bunny falling out of his mouth and into his lap. He pulled on the fluffy yellow blanket in his crib, dislodging a small pile of stuffed animals. Remus crossed the room towards him, the sounds of his steps muffled in the thick carpeting. He stopped in front of the crib and laid his folded arms on it, resting his chin on top of his arms. Harry continued to stare at him in the way that only babies can stare, completely unaware of awkwardness. With a tiny grunt he launched the small, soggy bunny at Remus, hitting him square in the face. Remus laughed quietly.
"Suppose I deserved that for keeping you waiting eh?"
Harry giggled and flailed his chubby arms. Remus stood up straight and stretched his back before leaning down and scooping Harry up into his arms. The baby struggled for a moment before quieting, leaning his messy head up against Remus' chest. Remus sighed sadly, overtaken by a moment of intense grief. He stilled, holding Harry even closer until the feeling passed. When he felt he could breathe again he turned and walked out of the room. Harry started making snuffling sounds that warned Remus they would lead to crying if left unchecked, so he quickened his pace to the kitchen, intent on finding Harry some breakfast.
Remus strapped Harry into his highchair and conjured some bubbles to float in front of his face to keep him entertained while he began his search for something to eat. Harry giggled happily, swatting at the bubbles and gasping in surprise when one popped and another one appeared out of nowhere to replace it. Meanwhile, Remus was searching for something to feed Harry because his supply of Cheerios had become seriously depleted after yesterday's turbulent breakfast. Rummaging through the cupboards he came across some biscuits shaped like zoo animals and some baby oatmeal. He levitated a few of the biscuits onto Harry's tray table distractedly as he examined the oatmeal. Harry happily put the biscuits into his mouth turning them into a gooey mush as he played with the bubbles. Remus opened the box of oatmeal and sniffed it to make sure it wasn't rancid or something, because it was after all rather far back. He winced and scrunched his face up at the smell before checking the expiration date stamped on the box.
"I don't envy you little buddy."
Remus heated some water on the stove while measuring out the appropriate amount of oatmeal for Harry's breakfast. Somewhere in the house Sirius could be heard cursing about a stubbed toe or something of the like, and Harry strained around in his highchair to find the source of the angry yelling. When after a few seconds the source of the sounds didn't appear he turned back to his bubbles and biscuits, instantly forgetting about the racket being made in the other room. Remus however blushed slightly, turning his back more solidly to the door and resolutely ignoring the sounds the other man was making. He did however slide some extra toast into the toaster and make a mug of absurdly strong coffee, exactly how Sirius liked it. Turning towards Harry he grimaced and placed the bland looking white oatmeal on the tray of the highchair. Harry looked down at the oatmeal and looked back up at him a watery look of horror sliding into place on his round face.
"No, no, no do not cry!" Remus began fluttering around the kitchen in a flurry, frantically searching the fridge for something to make the oatmeal less offensive. "Here, raspberries! See? Not so gross now right?"
He poured some of the raspberries into Harry's oatmeal with a hopeful look on his face. Harry stared at him, with a look of intense disproval on his face.
"Ok, um…" Remus turned quickly back to the cupboards, flinging them open one after the other searching for something. "Honey!" he said triumphantly, holding a clear bottle, filled with amber liquid above his head. At that very moment, a mostly dressed, thoroughly disheveled Sirius Black entered the room.
"Good morning to you too Darling?" he said a look of amusement on his face. Remus turned towards Harry's oatmeal, pouring a generous amount of honey into the bowl. Harry for the moment seemed appeased because he began taking large handfuls of the oatmeal and stuffing it into his mouth. Remus then turned to Sirius, a slight smirk playing on his face.
"That's not what I meant and you know it."
Sirius took a moment to survey the disaster zone formerly known as the kitchen, one eyebrow hitched up incredulously.
"What exactly happened in here?"
Remus blushed slightly and turned around. The previously clean kitchen was covered in various food bits and boxes strewn out of the way in Remus' desperate search for something to keep Harry from crying.
"Ah, yes." He straightened his shirt and hair and began cleaning up the mess. "Harry wasn't too happy with his breakfast." He waved absentmindedly in the direction of a steaming mug and a heaping plate of toast with jam. "That's yours by the way."
Sirius gathered it up and took it to the table.
"Thanks."
Sirius sat across from Harry, munching on his toast. Harry looked up from the bubbles, his oatmeal smeared face temporarily lighting up in recognition. Sirius was then promptly ignored when some of the bubbles started changing colour. Sirius looked over to Remus who was cleaning the counter with a smile he was trying hard to suppress.
"Oi! You did that on purpose." Sirius squawked indignantly, gesturing at the colourful bubbles.
Remus smirked, carrying some of the boxes back to their respective cupboards.
"I have no idea what you're talking about Black."
Sirius scowled into his coffee.
"Back to that are we?"
Remus smiled softly, crossing his arms and leaning against the counter to look at Sirius.
"Sorry, Sirius. Old habits die hard yeah?"
Sirius smiled slightly in return, and then returned to smearing more jam onto his toast. They lapsed into comfortable silence for a few minutes, both of them lost in thought. The clock on the wall chimed loudly and Sirius looked up at it in alarm.
"Is that what time it is?"
Remus looked at the clock in confusion.
"uh, yes? Why?"
Sirius stood up in a panic, nearly knocking over his chair in the process. He gathered his robes and the papers he had come in the door with and started towards the floo. Remus hesitated a moment before calling out to him.
"Sirius?"
Sirius stopped in his tracks, turning to look at Remus.
"Don't be home late tonight."
Sirius turned back towards the floo, nodding in acknowledgement, a small smile hidden from Remus as he entered the fireplace. Remus turned towards Harry and began to clean up his face, not noticing the sad look that Sirius sent his way before he disappeared in a cloud of green flames.
"Guess it's just you and me then Harry."
Harry sat perfectly still for a moment, staring at Remus as if there were something significant he was forgetting. For a moment Rzmus just stared back before he remembered the letter that he received this morning. He slid it from his pocket, lifting Harry against his hip as he walked into the living room and began to read the letter.
Lupin.
I am coming to town. I expect for you to make time to see me. I will not be ignored. You would do well to remember what I am capable of.
Fenrir.
Remus' heart sank. Fenrir. Of course, right when everything was falling apart the fates needed to throw gasoline on the fire. No matter where he went it seemed Remus couldn't escape Fenrir Greyback. No matter how fast or far he ran Fenrir always seemed to track him down. It seemed he just couldn't let Remus go, no matter how many times he was turned down. Remus slid the letter back into his pocket, hoping that if he refused to acknowledge it, it wouldn't exist. He knew it wasn't true, but a man could dream.