AN: Hey guys! This chapter has been sitting in my docs, one paragraph away from done for over a month and I just never got it done :( And I'm super annoyed that it's so short, but I feel like that once everything gets started, they will get longer. I have a rough outline done but let me know if there is anything in particular that y'all want to see in this story. If I can, I'll try to add it in!
Also! I finally finished editing my newest book, A Heart's Desire, and it will be available in Kindle Vella sometime in the next week! For anyone who would like to check it out. You can find more info on my tumblr or tiktok. Plus, on tumblr, you can see my idea for a new story and give me your thoughts. It'll be called The Reaper's Bargain and it'll be kind of like a Paranormal Romance? Or is it fantasy? Idk, but check it out and let me know! I think it's really cool.
Chapter 2
As soon as Remus opened the door for Harry, he immediately noticed the cane in Remus's hand. He looked back up at him with worried eyes. "Are you alright?"
Remus smiled and nodded. "Yes, yes, I'm fine. Come on in. You've seen me use a cane before."
"Not lately," Harry replied as Remus stepped aside and Harry walked past him and into the parlor.
"Well, I assure you, Harry, that it's nothing to be worried about. I'm just feeling a bit weaker today."
Remus lowered himself into a plush armchair with a sigh. "Are you excited for classes to be over?" he asked as he waved his wand and a tray of tea and biscuits appeared on the table between them.
Harry took his seat on the couch before reaching for a teacup. "I'd be more excited if Dad wasn't already getting on to me about stuff."
"Like what?" Remus took a sip of his tea and settled back into the chair.
"Like not wearing socks, and packing, and "Don't be late, Harry or I'll levitate you through the castle." You'd think he would lighten up just a little now that it's summer."
Remus let out a laugh and the lines around his eyes crinkled. "That sounds about right. Did you know that he would do all of his summer school work within the first two weeks of being home?"
Harry shook his head. "He and Hermione would have gotten along well together. I'm sure he'll want me to as well. Did you get your work done early?"
Remus took a bite of a chocolate biscuit and swallowed it before saying, "Not as early as he did. Before my parents died, I would let it stretch out over the summer. Doing a little here and there. Sometimes at your dad's house and between full moons. But once I was adopted, I started getting it done quicker. You can't have Minerva McGonagall as a Mum without her being on you constantly to study and not put things off til later." He finished the last of his biscuit and said, "Besides, they had this rule about not being allowed to visit with friends until all the summer work was finished."
Harry rolled his eyes. "I bet that's what Dad will make me do."
"It's not actually a bad habit to get into, Harry. I just didn't agree at the time."
Deciding that it was a good time to change the subject, Harry asked, "Did you go on Summer Holidays after the adoption?"
"Sure," Remus replied. "We went to the seaside or to a cottage in the country. We even went to America once, but that was a disaster and both me and Sev swore we would never go back."
"What happened?" Harry asked after taking a sip of tea.
"We got into loads of trouble. The muggle police were involved."
Harry's eyes widened. "What happened?! This is a story I definitely need to hear!"
Remus laughed and shook his head. "Maybe on a day when the chances of Severus murdering me for telling you are a little more slim."
"What?! You can't just let that out and not give the rest!"
"Sorry, Cub. Now what about you? Have you picked a place for holidays yet?"
Harry groaned and let his head fall back against the couch cushions. "No. He said it was up to me and he gave me a bunch of options, but I'd rather just stay at the Manor."
Remus's brows knit together as he looked at his nephew. "Why? I thought you were excited to go somewhere."
"Well I'm not now. That's all." He bit into the last biscuit as he pulled his legs up onto the couch and leaned against the arm. "It's too much and I don't want to do it."
"Too much of what, Harry? Has something happened to change your mind?"
Remus was growing concerned. Only last week Harry had seemed happy to be going on a trip, but now he looked as if the very idea was making him sick with dread.
"It's too much of everything," Harry said quietly. He was staring at his hands in his lap as he spoke. "Too much time away when he could be home doing things he likes. And too much trouble to find things to do and see. Too much money that shouldn't be wasted on me. I don't need any of that. I just want to stay home but he doesn't listen."
"Ah," Remus said, understanding more now that Harry had confessed to how he was really feeling. "I'm sorry, Harry, but I think you're missing the point."
Harry looked up but he didn't say anything and so Remus went on. "Severus wants to take you somewhere on holiday. He wants to spend time with you and give you an opportunity to do something you might not have had a chance to do before. You're not being a burden on him. He doesn't feel like he's obligated to do this. He really wants to. Nothing that the two of you do, and no amount of money spent will be a waste to him because you will be making memories that you'll have for the rest of your lives."
Harry shook his head. "But I'm sure he has better things he would rather spend his money on."
Remus rolled his eyes. "I doubt that very much. Believe me, before you came along, all he ever did was save or buy potions ingredients. It was all very boring."
Before Harry could reply, Remus's mouth opened wide in a yawn and he slouched down a bit in his chair, stretching his legs out in front of him. "Honestly, Harry, you'd be doing him a favor by letting him take you somewhere. Have you noticed how pale he is? It's from years and years holed up in stuffy dungeons."
Harry grinned as Remus let his head fall back against the chair. He was awake, but only just barely.
"So really," Harry said as he watched his uncle, "the holiday is more for Dad than for me?"
Remus nodded once. "Sure. You wouldn't want to deprive him, would you?"
"Course not," Harry replied.
He sat back against the couch for a few minutes until he was sure that Remus was actually asleep. Then he got up and went down the hall to Remus's room in search of a blanket. When he came back, he gently took Remus's empty teacup from his hands and draped the quilt over him before quietly letting himself out.
When Harry got back to their quarters in the dungeons, Snape was nowhere in sight. Assuming that he was probably still working in the lab, Harry headed for his own bedroom, deciding to get started on packing. He would show Snape that he could get things done without having to be told over and over.
Harry set to work on packing his books and school supplies first. He thought briefly about leaving them here, but he knew Snape would just make him come back for them.
An hour passed and he was nearly finished with everything but his clothes when he heard the door to Snape's lab open. A moment later he was standing in his doorway.
"You're back early," Snape said as he surveyed the mess that Harry was currently sitting in the midst of.
Harry nodded. "Remus was tired. He fell asleep."
Snape's brows knit together. "The moon is really affecting him this time. Perhaps I should check—"
"Relax, Dad," Harry interrupted with a smile. "No need to go into full big brother mode. He's fine."
Snape narrowed his eyes. "I wasn't."
"Sure," Harry said as he stood up and stretched his arms high above his head. "I'm starving. Can we eat?"
Snape stepped back to let Harry pass and then followed him into the kitchen.
"So, did you have a good time while you were there at least?" he asked before tapping the table with his index finger. Their lunch appeared with a small pop.
Harry sat down and picked up his turkey sandwich before answering. "Yeah. Remus was just about to tell me about something that happened when the two of you were teenagers."
"A riveting tale I'm sure," Snape replied drily as he also sat down.
"I bet it would have been. It was something about America and the muggle police."
Snape's eyes narrowed. "I'm glad he fell asleep."
Harry smirked at him. "So then I guess you're not going to tell me?"
"Not a chance."
Harry shrugged before taking a bite of his sandwich. "That's okay," he said a moment later, "I'll just ask Grandma when I see her next."
Snape made a mental note to warn her beforehand.
Snape and Harry stepped out of the floo the next morning and into the parlor of the Manor. Harry was thrilled to see that it hadn't changed at all since the last time they had been there over the Christmas holidays.
Snape waved his wand over both of their trunks and they disappeared, presumably up to their rooms. Harry wasn't holding out much hope that his belongings would unpack themselves though and so he started to head towards the staircase.
"Harry?" Snape called out before he could leave the parlor. "Have you decided on a holiday trip yet?"
Harry sighed. "Staying home is really not an option?"
Harry had talked with Snape the night before about his reservations about taking a trip and Snape had been quick to try and calm his worries, though Harry still wasn't fond of Snape choosing to pay for everything.
Snape shook his head.
"Fine," Harry said as he rolled his eyes, "the seaside, then."
Snape simply nodded, his lips turning up in a smile for the briefest of moments. "Alright. I'll get everything settled."
"When will we have to leave?"
"Whenever we're ready. There's no set time, Harry."
Just then an envelope dropped onto the coffee table between them and Snape reached down to pick it up. After reading it he said, "Mum wants to know if we want to have dinner at the cottage tomorrow?"
Harry shrugged. "It's fine with me," he said before turning once more towards the staircase.
Snape watched him go before taking a seat in his armchair.
After he had written his mother back to confirm their dinner plans, he sat back and relaxed in the chair. The school year was finally over and at last he could breathe.
For the moment, there were no mass murderers chasing Harry. The adoption was final and Harry was officially his son. It was Summer holidays and they were going to enjoy a nice, long break, free from any drama, or secrets, or trouble. Everything was going to be fine and he and Harry would spend their time visiting the seaside, and catching up on some much needed time away.
Yes, this summer was going to be just what they needed after such a long and intense year.
Or so he thought…
