Prince Consort

Chapter 19

Sirius' head snapped up, hearing and sensing something coming his way. It wasn't a vampire; it was a werewolf…no his mate was coming. Swallowing thickly, trying to push down the happiness, he had no idea if his mate even wanted him. He had left him after all; nothing could make Remus forgive that, even if he had been a pawn to an old fool. He'd never felt this kind of fear and anxiety before, he'd always felt best when he was with Remus.

Sirius remembered the last time he'd seen him, well, the night he'd walked out until able to take any more of his cold behaviour. He hadn't paid any attention to him that last year, other than sex at night. He'd become to focused at work, that he rarely spoke to him, and when Remus did speak it was constantly about Harry and Sirius didn't want to talk about him. Remus then swore if they didn't talk, he would leave, Sirius hadn't believed him. After all he didn't have a home of his own, no job, nothing, yet when he got home that night it was silent and still. Everything of Remus' had vanished from the flat, taking everything of Lily and James' with him that he'd saved of his best friends. Like James Auror badge, his cufflinks, and Lily's charm bracelet that she never removed until he had taken it off…even the charmed origami napkins Lily had created when she was pregnant. She'd made them without magic, but preserved them to stay that way and move with magic - she had been brilliant at charms so it hadn't surprised them.

"Can I have a moment, please?" Remus asked to the shadowed vampires.

"Sorry, no. Strict orders never to leave him alone." the vampire replied, not moving from his position.

"Don't be, I suspected as much, thought I would ask regardless," said Remus, waving away the apology. Despite the dim lights, he could see perfectly well, as could the vampire no doubt. The only light in the room was the single window that was too far up for anyone to climb out of. Not that they could, since it was much too small, even a five-year-old would have trouble getting out of it.

Taking a deep breath Remus faced his mate for the first time, and he was his mate he could feel the bond. The urge to go somewhere was no longer pulling at him. It must have been the bond trying to urge him towards Sirius, to complete it. What had happened to the bond? Why would Sirius close it off? He didn't understand it; they'd dated for years after all.

"What do you want?" asked Remus, trying to remain impassive. It was difficult to do with the bond open, the urge to complete it so close to the full moon as well. Let's just say he didn't have as much control as he would like to have. Damn his wolf, Harry would never forgive him if he did anything, his little cub…just as suddenly as the urges were there…they were gone. As important as mates were…it was apparent Cubs had a very special reserved place in a wolf's heart. They were the heart of the pack, the bond that glued them together so it shouldn't be so much as a surprise.

"I'm so sorry, I swore I'd never abandon you, but I did…I'm sorry," whispered Sirius, he wasn't even angry that Remus had left. Hadn't tried to get answers, after how his childhood had been spent and teenager years he was so insecure. He was used to people abandoning him, especially when they found out what he was. His mother and father had kept him secluded as a child. He'd never had friends, didn't know how to interact with others. In fact the first person he'd really seen and spoke to since becoming a werewolf had been Dumbledore. Who had convinced Hope and Lyall Lupin to let him attend Hogwarts. His mother had been a Muggle, but had loved her son regardless of his infliction. Her death had come as a big shock to Remus, Lyall as well, unfortunately Muggles died a lot quicker than wizards did - it's the way of life. They'd let him go, overjoyed to see he could attend wizarding school and harness his magic. Remus had been terrified, as happy as he had been to make friends, he'd always been overshadowed by fear his entire life. A fear of being abandoned, fear of being found out, part of that was down to his parents, who made it abundantly clear nobody could find out.

"Right," said Remus, staring blankly at Sirius as if his apology wasn't heard or accepted. The years after leaving Sirius had been difficult for him. There had been times when he'd been tempted to crawl back. Anything just for some form of human comfort. Yet he refused, instead getting jobs in the Muggle world, with flexible schedules that afforded him time to get better after the full moons and his searches for Harry. He'd saved money and got himself a flat, the very same one he'd been attacked in. Never buying anything he didn't need, he had quite a nice size nest egg while he chased down any leads looking for Harry. He'd quit both jobs when he found Harry, instead working when Harry was at Hogwarts and leaving that job when summer came. He hadn't done that after Voldemort came back, he didn't have to worry about money. With his own job stash and the money from Lily and James, he would need for nothing as long as he lived. It still irked him that James and been so stupid to leave his affairs in such dire straits! Hell it should have been the first thing he sorted out before going under the Fidelus Charm. Yes, if they hadn't had a traitor in their mist they would have lived, they were supposed to be safe under it, he got that, but still and he should have taken the necessary precautions like Lily had. Lily mustn't have known she wouldn't have left it like that if she had.

"Remus?" muttered Sirius, with quiet wariness. He'd never seen that kind of look on him before, he couldn't even dream of deciphering it. Why wasn't he shouting? Demanding answers? Raging at him? The calmness was quite frankly scaring him more than anything else had until this point. Remus was for the most part always calm, until he was extremely pissed off. He had expected Remus to be bordering pissed off, maniacal actually…since it was so close to the full moon.

"What?" answered the werewolf, shaking off his thoughts not wanting to dwell on them too much. His amber eyes latched back onto wary blue ones. Normally it would hurt to have Sirius look at him like that, but he wasn't the same man he'd been eleven years ago. He'd learned to look after himself, Harry had taught him not to be so forgiving, to stand up for himself. Probably had something to do with the Slytherin in Harry, before Hogwarts he hadn't acted like that. Blaise and Theo had helped Harry more than they probably realized, they were more than friends…but brothers. There was never a day that went by when they didn't think about one another, it had made him so happy, despite the fact his heart ached. Not everyone was lucky enough to form such close bonds and attachments, but he had until it had all been blown away in a single night.

Sirius bit his lip, it seemed as if Remus was distracted, it hurt more that he didn't want to be here. Had he met someone new? Was he in a relationship? He had no idea - he hadn't seen or heard from him in so many years. He was in no position to ask him such personal questions either…maybe they could find medium ground.

"Is…is Ha-Harry here?" asked Sirius, tripping over his godson's name, it still felt odd saying it. "How is he?

"Yes," replied Remus, tightly.

"Doesn't he want to be here?" Sirius asked, his face giving a little spasm of pain.

"What do you think?" snapped Remus tersely.

"I don't blame him…he just doesn't understand…" whispered Sirius, closing his eyes against the bitter swell of tears.

"That you abandoned him? Of course, he does." hissed Remus, panting against the urge to wrap his fingers around Sirius' throat. Not to kill him, but to shake him until he saw sense or passed out - whichever that would occur first. Probably passing out knowing Sirius, he doubted the idiot had changed in the past years.

"It wasn't what I wanted! Dumbledore called me up to his office just after Lily and James were killed. I thought he would have Harry with him, but he didn't. Instead, he tricked me; I've been under a damn controlling potion for the past fifteen years!" Sirius yelled angrily, finally letting the burden he'd been under go a little.

"The Auror office checks every few months and surprise inspections," Remus pointed out, finding himself confused but a burst of hope sprang like a rising inferno he couldn't control.

"He was in on it," croaked Sirius, "Doge's son, he knew, he covered it up…he's been fired and arrested so has Dumbledore. If you don't believe me, ask Amelia Bones, or my healer at St. Mungo's."

"Why? Why would he go to all that trouble to control you?" asked Remus, his heart breaking. Yet a fiercer hatred of Dumbledore burned in his gut. He had a feeling it probably rivaled Harry's hatred now, next moon he was going to take the Wolfsbane potion and track the bastard down and bite him.

"I don't know!" cried Sirius, gripping his hair painfully; it was obviously something that had been playing over and over again in his mind. "The only things I really remember him saying were to keep in the Order, to get all the Death Eaters off the street to become an Auror and Wizengamot member. The last thing Madam Bones told me was that Dumbledore was being brought in for questioning quietly, so he didn't cause a fuss or summon is bloody chicken to help him out of trouble. He sealed our bond, Remus, I was eleven, he Obliviated me!"

Remus had no idea what to say.

"It was obviously something he was planning since I was eleven. He closed our bond…Remy," whined Sirius, sounding like a wounded animal rather than a grown adult. It had to be half his instincts eating away at him, there was no other explanation. "I was eleven! Why me? I don't understand it how am I supposed to get you or Harry to understand? He will never forgive me." moaned the wizard in utter misery and despair.

Remus winced with the truth of that assessment. Potion or not, he didn't think Harry would be able to bring himself to look at Sirius with anything other than condemnation and scorn. Snape might help Harry understand Sirius didn't really have a choice; he was the Potions expert after all. Although the chance of Snape doing anything remotely nice for Sirius was um…extremely low.

"I've been asked to remind you…it's time." Cameron stated from the corner, magically opening the cell door.

"Thank you," said Remus; he had been distracted which was odd. He normally felt extremely shaky towards the appearance of the moon. Yes, it was something new he wasn't used to this…calmness, which made him wonder, was it to do with the bond or the fact he hadn't taken the Wolfsbane Potion?

Remus stood calmly in the middle of the cell, not jumping when it closed with a bang. He was used to this; it had been his life since he was four years old. These days though he was at peace with himself, Harry had helped him so much since coming into his life. Harry would say it was him, who had helped the teenager, but it was lies, his life was complete with Harry in it. Then he felt it, but it wasn't the shaky feeling he was used to, no, he was in full anticipation of the moon rising. The excitement began to thrum through him, purely from his wolf counterpart. It was looking forward to coming out, too bad it would be stuck in this cell.

Sitting down cross-legged, he relaxed his shoulders and closed his eyes, nearly gasping in awe. He could almost taste the length of time until the moon went up. Normally Remus took his clothes off, no point to wasting clothes when they would just rip to shreds. Today he just had on a large blue t-shirt that went down to his knees.

"SIRIUS!" hissed Remus, his eyes bursting open feeling something wet sniffing his nose. "Get back in your own cell!" didn't he realize what would happen? He didn't want it happening! Well he did, part of him did, but not all of it Harry would never forgive him if he did this right now. He needed to come to terms with what had happened to Sirius first before Remus could help him.

Padfoot just yipped playfully, his blue eyes filled with sadness.

"Get back into your own cell, I don't want to do this without Harry un-" was all the werewolf got to say before he was cut off and a howl was ripping from his throat as he changed. Falling to the floor on his side, his crossed legs falling away and his hind and forelegs made an appearance before the rest of him changed. With one big difference, which caused Sirius to gasp in dog form. Remus wasn't some grotesque's half-human half-werewolf - he looked like an actual wolf with maybe a shorter snout but larger body height wise. Sirius hadn't seen Remus' form in fifteen years so he wouldn't have known Moony had changed.

Moony stood up, facing his mate not knowing the struggle of his human or the struggle to understand human emotions. Animals did what they wanted without fear or consequences.

The vampire found himself a fascinating spot on the ceiling to watch, casting the Muffliato spell on himself so he didn't have to endure the racket. Cursing randomly for ending up the one on bloody babysitting duty with Sirius Bloody Black tonight of all nights.

"Don't you ever get bored?" Harry asked, looking like a lunatic talking to himself, as he wandered back to the infirmary having spent a few hours with Blaise and Theodore. It had been the full moon last night, so he let his dad sleep for a few hours, now he was going to make sure Remus was alright. Maria was busy with her tapestry, she liked to make them herself, and proudly boasting about each tapestry she had in her Manor, done by her own hand. Her 'blood sweat and tears' had gone into making the perfect specimens they all were. The House-Elves had taken them all down when emptying the manor knowing how much they meant to their Mistress.

"When you are immortal you learn to embrace boredom and be productive about it," Cenric spoke, chuckling in amusement. If he chose to become of them then Harry would see what he meant.

"Like what? Crossword puzzles in your head?" Harry asked sarcastically.

"Yes," agreed Cenric.

"You're lying," Harry commented surprised.

"Through my fangs," Cenric confessed smirking ferally.

Harry snorted in merriment before shaking his head, as he finished off his apple, the infirmary was in sight. Flinging the apple into the bin as he passed, which it went into without hitting the sides or causing it to topple.

"Nice," commented Cenric, "You'd make one hell of a chaser."

"I don't know I prefer being the Seeker in friendly games." said Harry, scratching his head absently.

"You definitely don't have the Seeker build, but neither does Viktor Krum." Cenric pointed out, you didn't need to be a Quidditch fanatic to know that.

"Doesn't really matter, I've always preferred learning to Quidditch," said Harry, "Remus had been astonished to hear me say that when we first met. He gaped at me for ages, before acting like nothing had happened. Apparently it wasn't something he'd expected of me, but he quickly learned that I was nothing like my father." Harry wasn't successful in smothering his sniggers.

"It is clever, one cannot play Quidditch forever," stated Cenric.

"This coming from a vampire? Who hasn't aged in how long?" Harry commented throwing a smirk over his shoulder before it turned into a wide grin.

"Touché." murmured Cenric loud enough for the human to hear.

"Where's Severus?" he asked once he was at the door, ready to go into the infirmary.

"Busy," Cenric told him, the same as he always did.

"I hate when you all do that," Harry groused, before entering the infirmary. He was undeniably curious about what Severus was doing when they told him he was busy. Making a face at the thought of all the meetings he probably held, yes, he got his answer and it was probably very boring. Still the thought of it not being meetings had him nosy all over again.

"Harry!" Remus said, smiling in welcome, even if Remus was a little tense.

"Are you alright?" asked Harry, sighing softly.

"I'll be fine, we werewolves are stronger than the average wizard." said Remus, patting his head.

"Says you," Harry grinned, "I could run a marathon; you couldn't run to the end of the corridor,"

"How are you and Severus getting along?" Remus changing the subject.

"We're getting alone fine, but I'm confused." Harry admitted after a few seconds of silence.

"Why?" enquired Remus softly, brushing his hand over Harry's hair.

"I want him to touch me," said Harry, his entire face blushing a furious red at his admission.

Remus suppressed his smile; at long last Harry was beginning to feel what other teenagers had been feeling for years. At least he knew in his heart, Severus would never rush him, that Harry's first time would be a memorable one not filled with pain in a half hearted attempt to have them both enjoying it. He remembered his first time, and it was nothing really worthy of remembrance. "That's completely natural, Harry. It's nothing to be ashamed of, we all feel these things. Anyone who says different is a liar."

"I just…don't know…you…know what to do." said Harry his entire head was cherry red. "This is far from normal…dad,"

"If you take the first step and approach him, then he can show you, its much more educational than a book." said Remus teasing him, he just couldn't help him.

"Remus!" said Harry mortified, slapping his leg half-heartedly.

"Ah, ah, so I'm Remus when I embarrass you am I?" teased Remus quietly.

"Yes," said Harry without any bite.

"Typical," said Remus with the same lightness, knowing he didn't mean it.

"I just don't know what to do," Harry sighed, he was having dreams and wakening up utterly mortified, then there was the time he felt, the tingling when Severus touched him that day when Dumbledore was there. It had only been a week, he rarely saw Severus yet he wanted him, what sense did that make?

Remus had to bite the inside of his lip to stop himself laughing; he knew his son would take it the wrong way. That's what happened when you were a late bloomer; you came into everything late, and didn't really understand the way the adult world worked. It wasn't just that either, the bond was opening further the more accepting Harry became.

"Why don't you try kissing him?" suggested Remus, seriously.

"What if he wants to go the whole way?" Harry asked embarrassed. Unable to even say the world sex, the talk he'd had with his dad had been the single most humiliating experience of his life. Yet here he was, and it was only because his dad didn't laugh that he was saying anything. "Isn't that usually what happens if you make a move?"

"Tell him you aren't ready for that yet, he is courting you Harry, the rules are yours to make." Remus told him firmly.

"I…okay, I'll try that." said Harry nodding, he'd seen plenty of people kissing it looked pleasurable enough…maybe it wouldn't be too bad.

"Just tell him you would prefer it to be kept above the waist he will understand." Remus added thoughtfully.

Harry just nodded once more, remaining where he was, just relishing the fact his dad was still here. He didn't know if he would ever get up the guts to actually kiss him. Once he was actually over his embarrassment he looked at his dad and saw that there was something wrong.

"What's wrong with you?" Harry asked, was it a bad full moon?

"What do you mean?" Remus asked, stiffening tightly as he sat down on the chair.

"You feel guilty," pointed out Harry, "That nervous tick gives you away, dad, you really should know better by now." a grin on his face.

"I can't keep anything from you can I?" grouched Remus, shaking his head, but his heart was sinking despite his pretend-grouch words.

"Is everything alright?" asked Harry concerned, "Has something happened…?" he was getting worked up, and surely Severus would have told him if something had happened last night.

"Everyone is fine, I promise." said Remus firmly, he always got worried about his friends and him - he understood why of course, since they were all Harry had.

"Then what is it?" Harry asked, pushing for an answer. "You're getting me worried, dad."

Remus pursed his lips, he hated when Harry played the dad card, and he felt as though he was going to be sick. What if Harry couldn't forgive him for this? His heart was being torn in two, he loved Sirius, but he loved Harry more, but Sirius was his mate…and Harry was his son. If he was forced to choose, he didn't know what he would do. Closing his eyes, he breathed deeply before opening his mouth…he had to tell Harry the truth and he prayed the teenager took it well.

"I found my mate," Remus revealed, his eyes filled with anguish, dear Merlin he was being torn in two and it was agony at its finest. Both as a man and a werewolf, for once they were one being even if his wolf only came out once a full moon - that was what finding a mate did, made you whole in ways that being a single werewolf could not. He knew without saying anything that he would have to chose between his mate and his cub, mates might be sacred but cubs… well cubs were revered; protected; cherished and most importantly of all as both a man and wolf he would die for Harry, who would always be his cub no matter how old he got or who else claimed him.

"That's brilliant, Remus!" Harry crowed beaming in happiness, not the least bit threatened by the fact his dad would have someone in his life. If it had happened earlier, he freely admitted he would have been. Now though he didn't have to worry about his dad so much. "Did he accept it?" he added expectantly, "Or do I need to hunt someone down and kill them?"

Remus chuckled in amusement, but he didn't really feel it. He knew that's exactly what Harry would want to do - and not because his mate couldn't accept his werewolf status. He only had himself to blame, if he hadn't mentioned Sirius…Harry wouldn't have been aware, wouldn't have known and spent the past many years hating him. There would have been hope for them to be a family. If only he had enquired further…had some trust in Sirius that something was wrong. Unfortunately, he knew Sirius too well; he would have stayed away from Harry if he felt he was a danger to him, its just how much Sirius had loved Harry when he was a baby.

"Well?" Harry asked expectantly, gazing at Remus in query. Whoever it was had better not hurt his dad, or he would cause them so much pain that they would wish they were dead. Or if they reacted with repulsion with the fact he was a werewolf he would do the same thing - he'd never had a problem with it and he hated when people did react negatively.

"He's fine with it," Remus reassured Harry, his body tense he really didn't want to say anything.

"Dad," Harry whined.

"I've known him a long time; our bond was cut off when we were eleven years old before we even realized what it was. That's the reason why the full moon has always been so difficult for me, this moon…was so different and I don't think it was solely to do with the fact I did not take the Wolfsbane potion." Remus confessed still slightly awed - for the first time in a very, very long time he did not fear the looming lure that was the full moon.

"You were poisoning yourself, of course, you'd feel better without it," Harry said, shaking his head in agitation. "You haven't said who it is; if they knew you and went to Hogwarts they obviously knew my parents…"

"He did," Remus admitted a croak in his voice. He had hoped Harry would ask more about why the bond was cut off. Unfortunately that was too much of a reprieve to ask for; oh he wished he could delay the inevitable. "I found out that Dumbledore was responsible for closing off the bond." jumping and cringing when Harry's magic whipped around the room reacting to his fury a growl of pure unadulterated hatred emerged from Harry's mouth. "Calm down, Harry don't let your magic control you." he reprimanded, bloody hell it was hot extremely hot in here now - sizzling with magical energy.

"Everything alright?" asked Corin in the middle of the room before Remus knew it, wand in hand crouched defensively. As if she was ready to fight off an invisible attacker, but she eased out of her crouch quickly when she noticed nothing was happening. "Are you alright, Harry?"

"I'm fine, sorry," Harry would have blushed if he wasn't so concerned about Remus and himself. He had been ordered not to use magic, if he had another outburst he knew Severus would be in here before he could say it was just a momentarily lapse in judgement.

"Alright," Corin said, "You know where I am if you need me." with that she exited the room quickly.

Remus sighed in temporarily relief, his magic had grown either that or he was more pissed off than he'd ever been before. He always did get carried away when it came to Dumbledore; he was feeling it even more nowadays too. Dumbledore had taken his mate away from him, his bloody mate, and when he was only eleven as well. He was used to anger, but this kind of anger? He was exhausted of it, his body just didn't know how to cope with so much anger it was draining.

"Did he know? Or was he Obliviated?" Harry enquired coldly, his green eyes gleaming with rage. His hatred for Dumbledore truly knew no bounds.

"Obliviated," Remus nodded, his heart was thumping so loudly.

"Well, that's…" Harry paused not sure how to put it, at least the wizard or whoever it was hadn't gone along with it and hurt his dad. It was just another nail in Dumbledore's coffin as well, when they met again, only one of them would leave alive - he would make sure he knew all he needed to do the old fool in. "Something at least." he finished "You're being very secretive about who he is though, are you afraid I wont like him?" he joked.

"You won't," Remus told him bluntly, sighing tiredly, running his hand through his hair.

Harry frowned deeply; perplexed by his dad's suddenly drained face, if anything he should feel like that. Who could it be that Remus thought he would hate him? His heart began to sink as he finally figured it out, his mouth dropped open as he stared at Remus comprehension taking hold as he stared in horror. "NO!"

"Harry, please calm down, please," Remus begged.

"Anyone but him!" Harry snapped, unable to keep quiet, clenching his teeth and fists unable to move fearing if he did, even just a muscle he would explode.

"Then it's over, I won't see him again, I promise, please just calm down, cub." Remus said desperately, he brought Harry into a hug. "You come first; you'll always come first no matter what." Remus choked out.

Just like that Harry deflated against Remus, his energy spent, feeling like a total arsehole. He hated Sirius, he always would nothing could ever change that. He would never, ever keep his dads mate from him - he couldn't do that even though it's apparent that his Remus would choose him. "No, you can't do that." Harry told him grimly. "Just don't expect me to like him, or even want to spend time with him. You need your mate, dad; I want you around for a long time,"

"We can discuss it later," Remus told him, soothingly.

"Is he here?" Harry asked. There was no need to elaborate on the 'he'.

"He's in the dungeons." Remus told him, before he pushed on, "Sirius was drugged with a controlling potion, and Dumbledore has been feeding it to him since the night your parents died. Sirius thought he was going for you at Hogwarts only to be drugged…he had no hope of defeating it. He's the one who pressed charges against Dumbledore; he has proof, a healer at St. Mungo's and Madam Bones who is handling his case."

Harry blinked staring at Remus stunned, swallowing thickly, not sure what to make of these recent turn of events.

"The potion he was given, it's basically like a liquid Imperius Curse, only there is no chance of fighting it off even for a second, it wraps around your mind and magic, turns you into a drone of another persons will. It's more subtle than the curse too, a lot harder to detect, and all the times he was checked at the Ministry…there was someone on the inside altering the results to make it seem as if Sirius was alright….I'm so sorry, Harry," Remus said heartbroken, "If I had just listened to my instincts and not trusted the Ministry results and taken him to St. Mungo's you wouldn't have grown up with the Dursley's…if anyone is to blame its me." he said in anguish.

Harry nodded, "I…um, don't blame you, dad, ever…I um, I'm going to go…I'll see you later," he said numbly, he needed to get away, needed to think, and the only place he wasn't disturbed was his rooms, so without thinking he fled there as if the grim was on his heels.

There we go, yes this is different to how Harry reacted in the other story :) Im not sure whether they will ever be close but I don't think Harry will hate him R&R