Sirius had become used to waking up to the feeling of warm skin and hard muscle beneath his cheek but the warm hand holding his was new which caused him to smile as it helped to cement in his head that everything that had happened the night before wasn't some fantastic dream. It helped that he could feel the bond that had finally settled inside his chest, a bond that was near humming with contentment and warmth where before there was only a hollow emptiness. He didn't blame Remus for what he did, not really. He had always thought that Walburga had topped the charts in the worst parenting stakes but the old cow had nothing on Lyall Lupin, from what his mate had said. The man had apparently done a number on his son but Sirius hoped that between him and Greyback they would be able to help Remus heal.
Sirius slowly opened his eyes and smiled at the still sleeping blonde, giving his hand a squeeze.
"Did you sleep well Puppy?" came Greyback's sleepy rumble which always sent a little thrill through Sirius.
Sirius looked up into the man's piercing light blue eyes and smiled.
"Best I think I've ever had."
"Me too," Greyback smirked, stroking Sirius's hair. "You're not sore at all are you?"
"Not in a bad way," Sirius grinned.
"Me neither," came Remus's amused voice from Greyback's other side.
"Glad to hear it," Greyback replied, and Sirius couldn't help but agree.
"Are we going to lounge in bed all day?" Remus enquired.
"As much as I would like to, we had better get up and go down to breakfast," Greyback sighed. "The Dark Lord can be a stickler for these things and it is not a good idea to get on his bad side."
Remus pulled a face. "I had probably best have a shower or something then. As nuve as it was that you cleaned me up last night Greyback, I don't think you got everything."
"That's normal," Sirius chuckled, "although a shower sounds like an excellent idea."
With that he jumped up from the bed and bounded to the bathroom turning on the shower.
"You guys better hurry up or else I'll be finishing off myself!" Sirius called which was apparently all of the invitation the other two needed to come and join him in the shower. The trio spent their time washing each other, exploring their bodies in a way they had been too eager to do the night before. It was all wet hands and kisses as they slowly brought each other to completion, revelling in the closeness it brought. None of them were in a rush to finish things, meaning it was some time before they had properly cleaned up and were making their way downstairs for breakfast. Sirius couldn't help but pause on the stairs to look at the family tapestry and was surprised, but happy, to see not only Remus, but Greyback's name joined to his in gold.
"Is there something you guys want to tell me?" he asked as the two werewolves caught up to him.
Remus looked at the tapestry with a puzzled look on his face. "Greyback bit me in the heat of things but I didn't realise that would trigger a bond between us."
"Of course it did," Greyback grinned, "although that wasn't my intention at the time. Cub and I already had a bond thanks to me biting him. Its often more of a parent/child bond but it can sometimes replace a mate bond and I think our activities last night cemented it as such. You're not upset about that are you? "
"Of course not," Sirius reassured him. "It has only helped to make thongs more official, right Remus?"
"Right," Remus said, somewhat distractedly, rubbing his chest as he looked at the tapestry.
"That's good then," Greyback smiled, and Sirius couldn't help but think he looked a little relieved. "We should probably get moving though, we don't want to keep the lord of the manor waiting."
"I thought Sirius was the lord?" Remus queried as they continued down the stairs.
"Technically I'm still a convicted criminal," Sirius explained, "so, for legal reasons, Harry has taken on the mantle."
"I suppose it makes sense," Remus mused. "Although are you not worried about that at all?"
"Why would I be?" Sirius queried. "Harry is my son after all and he seems like he has a good head on his shoulders. Plus, as strange as it is for me to admit this, I trust Severus and the Dark Lord to make sure he keeps the estate in good standing. I may not agree with everything they stand for but I've seen them with Harry and I believe they will put his interests first."
Remus didn't seem wholly convinced but kept quiet on the subject, continuing on to the Great Hall only to stop short as soon as he walked through the door.
"Who are you?" he asked, making way for Sirius and Greyback to come in.
The new man smiled a little timidly, his tongue darting out to lick his lips in a nervous twitch and Sirius had a moment of clarity.
"Barty Crouch? But I thought you had died."
"Apparently news of my death was greatly exaggerated," Barty chuckled nervously.
"Barty arrived late last night," the Dark Lord explained. "I could feel his presence through the mark since I returned and knew he wasn't in Azkaban like the others so had some people look into where he was. It turns out that his father had managed to sneak him out of Azkaban and had been keeping him captive, under the imperius, by his father, in his own house."
Remus gaped at the Dark Lord but Sirius just shook his head.
"I'm not surprised in the slightest. That man always had a twisted idea of right and wrong, believing that anything was ok as long as it was against a death eater. The man even changed the law to let Aurors use Avada Kedavra."
Now it was Harry's turn to gape. "How can that be seen as a good thing? I was always told that was the worst spell of all."
"It's the constant double standard," Severus sighed. "It's even visible among the students in the school. Bad behaviour is fine as long as it's against someone who 'deserves' it. Just look at the reaction to how actions are viewed if they are done by Gryffindors or by Slytherins. Even the purchasing of brooms. McGonagall bought you a broom to use in your first year and was praised for her generosity but Lucius buying brooms for the entire team is obviously a bribe to get Draco on the team: a ridiculous notion when Slytherin is accused of being overly competitive at the same time. If we are interested in winning at any cost then why would we risk taking on a second rate seeker. Chaser possibly, one lower rate chaser could be workable but a seeker is essential for a game."
"True," Harry admitted. "Malfoy was a good competition really. He gave me a run for my money when we played and he arguably had the least experience of anyone on the field."
"I suppose that's also true about breaking the rules," Remus winced.
"Yes," Severus nodded, "but, as I learned while I was teaching, the marauders were hardly unique on that front."
"Yes, some of us got hundreds of house points for it," Harry chuckled and Severus gave him a stern look.
"Yes," Severus sighed. "Not only punishing Slytherin for doing nothing wrong but also rewarding your bad behaviour and encouraging you to repeat it."
"Makes me glad I was in Hufflepuff," Barty chuckled. "People mostly ignore you then."
"Yet more proof of decisiveness from the headmaster," Voldemort growled, "and I know from essentially teaching last year that it has only gotten worse over time. It's part of why I fought so hard to get Dumbledore out before and will do again."
"So you really plan on going to war with him again?" Harry asked, looking a little worried.
"Unfortunately I fear that is the only way," Voldemort sighed. "But don't worry, I will learn from my previous experiences. I will go into this with a proper plan, as well as contingencies, so that we can achieve our goal."
"I'm glad to hear it," Severus smiled.
"What's the first step then?" Greyback asked, recovering from his shock enough to sit down at the table, with Sirius and Remus following his lead.
"The first step is to get my loyal followers out of Azkaban," Voldemort announced. "I had initially planned a break out but I fear that may bring more attention our way than we want for the early stages, especially if there is a manhunt. Thankfully Barty's experience has given me an idea. If we can fake their deaths, then we can pick up their bodies and no one will be any wiser as to their escape. It will take some good timing, someone will have to be there to collect the bodies when they are thrown into the sea."
"Leave that to us," Greyback suggested. "Some of the younger people in my pack need some experience of going into the big wide world and this is as good a chance as any. Werewolves are close enough to animals that the dementors don't affect us as much but they will act as a deterrent for those that hunt us."
"Thank you Greyback," Voldemort smiled at the man. "Severus has already agreed to produce some draught of living death for me so all I need to do is get the message to them. If they can act like they're ill before they take the draught it will only add to the idea that they have died of natural causes."
"Did you need me to go back there?" Sirius asked, looking a little apprehensive.
"No," Voldemort reassured him. "Thankfully you are not the only illegal animagus in the room and my form will make travelling easier. By the way, it seems as if congratulations are in order, if the markings on the tapestry are anything to go by."
Sirius and Remus blushed but Greyback grinned unrepentantly.
" Aye, it seems that way."
"So long as you are happy dad," Harry said and Sirius smiled.
"I am pup. I think this is going to work out very well."
"It does all make me very nostalgic," Barty sighed. "It will be nice to get the others back and not have to worry about anything."
Sirius looked confused. "I didn't think you were in a relationship."
"Not officially," Barty chuckled. "Like yours, my relationship wasn't exactly 'normal' so wasn't accepted in polite society."
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
"I'm asexual, I've never been particularly interested in the physical side of a relationship, although I do love a good cuddle. Most people couldn't understand that but the Lestrange brothers were always very accepting," Barty explained.
"But the older brother married my cousin Bellatrix," Sirius frowned.
"Yes, for propriety's sake," Barty smiled. "Can't have an unwed woman living with three men, that would be scandalous!"
"But it's not like Bella was, you know, sleeping with him," Sirius pushed. "I should know, I caught them at it often enough."
"That doesn't surprise me," Barty grinned. "Bella was always quite insatiable. That's why, in reality, it took both brothers to please her. Thankfully they look similar enough that no one twigged that it wasn't always her husband she was caught with."
"So how did you fit into that dynamic?" Harry queried. "If you don't mind me asking, that is."
"Not at all," Barty said. "If anything it's nice to be able to talk in a place where I don't feel like I'm going to be judged. You see Bella is almost the opposite of me; she is all about the physical and rarely shows affection openly. Between us, however, we could give enough of both for both the Lestrange brothers. I'll admit that it took a little while for me and Bella to be completely comfortable around each other, since we are essentially opposites. It was harder to learn to understand the other's perspective on life, but eventually we got there and it worked."
"Except for in public," Voldemort pointed out and Barty nodded sadly.
"Corvus Lestrange was very understanding but my father would never accept it and actually had the audacity that he would demand a paternity test for any child Bella got pregnant with because he was sure she was sleeping with all three of us, not that that was ever going to be an issue. Bella is a lot of fun but she doesn't have a maternal bone in her body. We often joked that I should have been the one to be born a girl and not her because I always loved the idea that I could have children, not that it's a possibility."
"Isn't it?" Harry queried. "My bearer was male and I can apparently have children in the future plus Remus said that some male werewolves can have children."
"It usually takes some sort of creature blood in the family, and unfortunately the Crouches have always kept very clear of anyone with even a rumour of not being 'completely human'," Barty sighed. "Trust me I checked everything I could, it's part of why I trained to be a healer."
"There may be some things you haven't tried," Severus mused. "I am not making any promises, it is a long shot and will require Harry's permission gor for things, but I may be able to find something. We have magic after all so, theoretically, anything is possible."
"That is one of the things I love about you," Voldemort smiled, kissing Severus's hand and making him blush. "Although I fear this means you will be disappearing into your lab for months on end."
"It's a good job I'm going to be busy with school then, if you two will both be ditching me for other projects," Harry joked.
"Don't worry Harry, we won't be abandoning you completely," Severus smiled. "In fact I have a feeling that you will enjoy the ingredient retrieval immensely."
Harry gulped but felt a thrill of desire race through him.
"Please bear in mind that he is only just 13," Sirius reminded him.
"I am aware Black," Severus said, rolling his eyes dramatically and causing Harry to stifle a giggle. "Neither the Dark Lord or I intend to push Harry into anything and we will also be making sure he fully understands and is ready before we take the relationship in any direction."
"Don't forget Black that Harry's well being is as important to us as it is to you," Voldemort said, a hint of warning in his voice that had Sirius nodding mutely. There were times during their interactions that it was easy to forget that the man currently sitting at the head of the table was the most feared man in Wizarding Britain and there were other times when it was practically palpable.
Harry seemed to ignore their little interaction and turned to Barty with a look of curiosity. "Did you say you were a healer?"
Barty nodded. "Although I had only just graduated when I was arrested so I don't have much experience."
"We should introduce you to Link then, down im the werewolf colony," Harry grinned. "I know he's trying to train up some of the other werewolves and I'm sure he would be happy to have someone else around who had some outside knowledge, especially as he specialises in werewolf physiognomy."
Barty's face lit up. "That sounds great. It would be nice to feel like I could do something to actually help the cause."
"Your story of escape has helped more than you could possibly imagine," Voldemort reassured him, "and I'm sure that you will be essential in helping Bellatrix, Rodolphus and Rabastan rehabilitate themselves after spending so long in that hell hole. How the so-called light can claim the moral high ground when that place exists is beyond me."
"Especially when you realise that is the only prison," Barty agreed. "Even on my short stint we saw people getting brought in on minor charges and they were never the same when they left."
"People need to learn that capital punishment isn't a deterrent," Voldemort sighed. "Of course there are some terrible people in the world but that doesn't cover everyone. There are often underlying circumstances to why people commit crimes and those people deserve our help, not to just be thrown on a scrap heap."
"You plan on scrapping Azkaban?" Sirius asked, his voice a mixture of disbelief and wonder.
"Either scrapping it or seriously changing it and having it only for the very worst offenders in society, those that are beyond help or who's crimes pose a significant threat to others," Voldemort replied.
"That's a relief," Sirius smiled. "I'll admit that I was with the group who had been told time and again that Azkaban was a necessity to keep the wizarding world safe but, having experienced its hospitality, I can honestly say that it does nothing to benefit anyone in its current state."
Voldemort nodded. "It's the reason why the dementors follow me since they are held as much as prisoners as any of the inmates. It's hard, sometimes, to feel sympathy for a creature that is deemed dangerous, but the dementors are still sentient creatures that should have rights, same as any. One of the reasons they appear so viscous is because they are kept half starved on that island. It doesn't take long for inmates to lose their happiness after all."
"That explains why they always descend on any newbies," Sirius muttered. "It could be very scary to see actually."
"I can remember," Severus shuddered.
"It's a conspiracy as well," Barty admitted. "I remember listening to my father talking about it with his old colleagues while I was under the imperius. They don't want to risk the dementors rebelling so they make sure they have a steady enough supply of new witches and wizards to make sure they don't just walk out but not enough so they don't get strong and overpower the guards."
"Same as they do to the prisoners," Sirius huffed, a dark look clouding his face. Harry reached over to give his father's hand a reassuring squeeze to try to bring him out of his low mood as Remus grabbed his other. Sirius gave them both a smile as the darkness left his face. "Sorry, it seems I still have some ghosts left."
"That's to be expected, Puppy," Greyback reassured him, "you were there for quite some time."
"Even I still get nightmares from that place and I have been out for nearly a decade," Barty admitted.
"It sounds like you've been through your own version of hell since then," Sirius replied.
"Hopefully we can all help each other heal then," Barty smiled.
"I think a lot of us could use some healing," Remus added.
"A trip to see Link might be the order of the day then," Greyback suggested.
Harry looked happy at the prospect of going to see the werewolf colony again but Severus shook his head.
"I'm afraid I'm going to need you to get 'ingredients' shall we say, especially if I am going to get started on my experiments. Phoenix tears are well known for their healing properties so I will be curious if yours are also that way, especially given what happened to your eyes. The Azkaban inmates will likely have a number of different health concerns; it will likely make things easier on Link if we have some high quality healing potions available."
"Ok," Harry sighed, "although I think it might be harder than you think to get me to cry."