"Dumbledore must be stopped," Sirius growled, dropping back onto the sofa next to Harry. A quick wave of Snape's wand showed the dog animagus glowing black; also a victim of the passive Tracking spell.
"We're all in agreement there," Snape said, scowling at the results. "But until we know exactly what his plan is, we must stay quiet and play his game."
"I won't let his game stop me from raising my godson as my heir," Sirius retorted. "Harry needs to know his place in the world."
"Neville's been helping me," Harry piped up tentatively. "And— others." He wasn't quite ready to tell the truth about Draco Malfoy just yet. "Most of the heirs at school don't like Dumbledore either. Neville got me learning Occlumency, so I can keep my secrets better."
"Longbottom, really?" Snape was skeptical. "I'll test your shields tomorrow, see how far you've come. It is vital that you're able to keep all this hidden once you return to school, amongst anyone who might be in Dumbledore's pocket yes, that includes your precious Weasleys, and the Granger girl. Trust no one until proven otherwise. Until we know what we're dealing with, you must be Dumbledore's Golden Boy." His stomach squirmed uncomfortably. He didn't know how many of the Weasleys would take his side, or how many were loyal to Dumbledore. He already had a strong feeling that if he pushed Ron much further, it would make him snap.
"This summer should be enough to get you prepared," Remus told him. "Between the three of us, we should be able to give you a fairly good crash course in everything you'll need to know. Secrecy, defence, wizarding society; I know studying during the summer isn't the most fun, but Harry—"
"I want to learn," Harry cut him off with a wave of his hand. "Please, I want to learn everything I can." He'd be bored stiff if he couldn't do anything, and learning magic was great when it wasn't accompanied by three-foot-long essays.
"We'll discuss that more in the morning," Sirius suggested. "Figure out what you need to know, where you're at with everything. It's getting late."
The clock on the mantle said it was past eleven, and Harry suddenly realised how tired he was. It had been a hell of a day. He couldn't stifle the jaw-cracking yawn that escaped him. "Definitely bedtime," Sirius said with a grin, ruffling Harry's hair. "Come on, I'll show you your room. Where's your things?"
Snape held out Harry's shrunken trunk and owl cage, and Sirius resized them with a wave of his wand. They bobbed along behind the four as Sirius showed him up to the third floor of the house. "This is your room," he said, tapping on a door to his left. "I'm in that one at the end of the hall, and Moony's three doors down and to your right. Grab either of us, or Ceri, if you need anything."
"Where does Professor Snape sleep?" Harry asked curiously.
Sirius about doubled over laughing, and Remus' face turned a shocking shade of pink. Snape's pale cheeks went faintly red, and he coughed.
"Severus, ah— Severus is in with me, Harry," Remus volunteered, looking like he'd quite happily sink through the floor. For a minute, Harry furrowed his brow in a house that big, surely there were plenty of bedrooms? Then it dawned on him. A dim memory flickered through his brain, from back in the Shrieking Shack; We didn't trust Moony 'cause of his boyfriend. Sorry, Moons.
"Oh. Oh!" Harry felt his own cheeks heat up. "That— that's okay, in the wizarding world, then?" He'd heard more than a few rants from Uncle Vernon about those people, and heard all sorts of things about it on the telly. Then again, Vernon thought he was a freak too, yet he was perfectly normal in the wizarding world.
"People don't care about gender, much," Remus confirmed. Harry noticed now how close he was standing to Snape, their shoulders brushing ever so slightly. "Blood purity is more their issue. Society will care more that I'm a werewolf than that we're both men." He paused, glancing at the floor. "Is it… okay with you?"
"Well," Harry said, after a beat of silence. "I figured anything that Uncle Vernon says is bad has to be alright, yeah? As long as you're happy." He was more stuck on the fact of it being Snape than the two of them being men, but he didn't think that would go down well.
Remus perked up like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders, and Sirius let out an impatient whine. "Yes, we're here, we're queer, hallelujah — can I show Harry his room now, please?" A laugh bubbled from Remus' lips. "Alright, Padfoot. I think we're going to go back to the living room. Goodnight, Harry."
"Goodnight, Remus. Professor," he added, and Snape nodded at him in reply. When the pair left, they didn't hold hands or anything, but their strides matched and their elbows touched. It seemed obvious, now Harry knew.
"Now, if you don't like it, we can change just about anything," Sirius told him, sounding nervous as he pushed the door open. Harry's breath caught in his throat.
His room was three times the size of his old one back at the Dursleys', with honey-coloured wood flooring and a fluffy looking grey rug in the centre. The walls were painted a soft grey-blue, with one wall taken up entirely by bookshelves waiting to be filled. He had his own fireplace, and a desk with a black leather chair. The wardrobe and dresser matched the enormous four-poster bed, all beautiful dark wood, detailed with some kind of intricate bird carving. Directly opposite the door was a huge window, overlooking the back garden and the woods beyond. "It's perfect."
"You like it?" Sirius brightened. "Really?"
"Sirius, I love it." Harry walked over to the bed, running a hand over the soft grey duvet cover. He'd been half expecting some Gryffindor explosion of red and gold; this was much more his style. "Good." Sirius stood in the doorway, clearly unsure what to do with himself now. "I'll, uh, leave you to it, then. Nearest bathroom is directly opposite, by the way. You'll be the only one using it." He crossed the distance between them in three long strides, wrapping wiry arms around Harry. "It's really good to have you here, pup."
"It's good to be here," Sirius," Harry returned with a smile. He was so happy he could cast an army of Patroni, he was sure.
It was going to be the best summer ever.
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