"Never leave me again," Ron declared dramatically as he threw himself across Harry's dorm bed.
"Was it terrible Ron?" Harry laughed at his theatrics.
"Mione and Theo spent the rest of the break just making googoo eyes at each other, and I think Scabbers is gone forever this time. He's been gone since Christmas, he's never been missing this long," Ron said sadly.
Harry's jaw dropped as he realized he hadn't told Ron about Pettigrew. The Daily Prophet wrote a whole series of articles about Black's name being cleared, and how Pettigrew had been captured thanks to Professor Snape, but they didn't say a word about the man being a rat sleeping in Ron's bed for the last three years.
Which, now that he thought about it, was disgusting. He's pretty sure the rat had went in the loo with Ron before.
"Scabbers was..." Harry hesitated hoping that Ron wasn't going to freak out. "Scabbers was Pettigrew. He was an animagus."
Ron sat up and gaped at Harry uncertainly. He probably would have had a harder time believing the wild story if every one of Harry's friends weren't well aware by now how Harry felt about lying.
"Scabbers... was an actual human man... a stinking Death Eater... that slept in my bed?"
"Yeaaaah," Harry said slowly, wincing at the gross connections Ron was probably drawing in his head now.
Ron's face underwent a series of odd transformations. First he went pasty white, then he sucked in a sharp breath and his face went nearly as red as Susan's hair, before he finally exhaled and looked green.
"That's disgusting mate," he shuddered.
"Yep," Harry agreed.
Even though Scabbers turned out to be an actual person, Harry thought Ron still looked mopey over the next few days as they all readjusted to the return to classes and a dementor free Hogwarts. Ron kept glancing down at his shirt pocket then sighing a little as he realized his rat was gone.
Harry considered how he'd feel if Sevvie turned out to be an animagus (he wasn't, Harry checked the second Mavis brought him to Spinners End), and felt bad for his friend. When Owens posted the January Hogsmeade weekend, next weekend, Harry had the perfect idea.
"Ron, when's your birthday?" Harry eagerly asked during breakfast.
"Er, first of March, why?" Ron responded around a mouthful of sausages.
"You're going with me to Hogsmeade this weekend," Harry said firmly. "It's a surprise."
"If you're looking for a handsome red-headed date to Hogsmeade you're barking up the wrong Weasley."
Ron nearly choked on his food and Susan started giggling as Harry raised an interested brow at the arrival of one of the Weasley Twins.
"Hiya Harry," he grinned impishly. "I came to see if you had plans this weekend."
Harry blushed under the stares of his friends, and the giggles of the three girls, though he wasn't sure why.
"Just said I did, you apparently heard me, yeah?"
"You wound me Harry," the older boy cried, dramatically clutching a hand to his chest. "When will you see that our love shines eternally and accept my efforts to woo you?"
Harry glanced at Ron, who was still red faced and sputtering, before turning back to the twin.
"I don't even know your name," he said coolly. "Suppose that means I don't love you either."
Draco and Blaise let out howls of laughter and Neville started snickering quietly beside them.
"Fred," the twin said, offering his hand. "Frederick Fabian Weasley, the third," he said pompously with his nose stuck up in the air. "Pleasure to meet you."
Harry looked disdainfully down at his proffered hand then at Fred's face.
"Is that your real name?" Theo asked curiously.
"How dare you sir!" Fred cried. "You Slytherins wound me with your cold-hearted cynicism."
"It's not," Ron said. "It's just Fred Fabian Weasley, the only one thankfully."
The rest of the kids laughed, except for Harry who was still watching Fred carefully.
"Fred Weasley is still a distinguished name," he winked at Harry. "Better than Ronald Bilius Weasley anyway."
Harry glanced at Ron and saw his ears were turning red again and figured Fred had insulted him in some way.
"Ron's a great name," Harry said, icicles practically dropping off his words. "Better than Fred."
Fred ignored his cold tone and leant against the table where Harry was seated.
"Is that why you're going to Hogsmeade with him?"
"It's- we aren't- bloody hell Fred!" Ron sputtered. "We're just mates. Mates who hang out together."
"Wellll, if it's not a date then..." Fred gave Harry a lopsided grin. "Want to go with me?"
"No!" Harry said, frustrated again. "You and I ain't friends. Ron is my friend. Draco, Blaise, Neville, and Theo are my friends. Mione, Susan, and Luna are my friends. If I wanted to hang out with someone in Hogsmeade it would be them."
Fred looked around the students around Harry, his eyes lingering on Susan and Blaise for a peculiar moment before he stood up straight with an easy grin.
"I'll ask you again next month," he said cheerily. "Later, Snakes and honorary Snakes."
Fred sauntered off and Harry saw George quickly running up to join him as he left the hall.
"What the fuck," he muttered. "Ron your brother is weird as Hell ain't he?"
"Yep."
"How come you don't want to go out with Fred?" Susan asked curiously. "He's only two years older, he's funny, and Neville said he's nice to the younger kids in Gryffindor."
"He is," Neville confirmed quietly.
"So?" Harry said curiously. "I'd rather hang out with guys."
Blaise was studying Harry intently, his golden eyes were narrowed in thought.
"But Harry-"
"Sh," Blaise interrupted Hermione as he kept watching Harry. "Harry," he said slowly, "you know Fred was asking you out right? Like a date. Like how Hermione and Theo go out on dates in Hogsmeade."
"Oh." Harry blushed hotly as he hadn't linked together Fred's insinuations with how Hermione and Theo were a couple.
Stupid.
"Why? He doesn't even know me."
"Dates are how people get to know each other," Hermione said. "Theo and I were friends first so we already knew each other. Usually if someone thinks they like someone else then they invite-"
"Does Fred think he likes me then?" Harry interrupted Hermione. "Didnt I kick his arse in a duel?"
"That's probably why he likes you," Draco said with a smirk. "He thought, 'oh Harry you're soo powerful.'"
"He's probably right you know," Luna said softly. "I imagine you looked amazing when you fought him."
Harry blushed hotter at Luna's praise as everyone started snickering.
"Why would I want to go on a date with someone who just likes me because I'm powerful?"
"He probably also thinks you're cute," Blaise smirked. "Can't imagine why of course..."
Harry threw a bit of toast at Blaise, "Fuck off."
"That's the real reason," Ron said as he laughed at Blaise's look of indignation. "He probably fancies how often you said 'fuck'. Thinks you're a rebel."
"Harry is a rebel," Susan said. "First student in over twenty five years to be expelled."
"Am I really?" Harry asked interestedly.
"Yep. Dumbledore's never expelled a student before," Susan said. "I checked."
"Maybe he just likes you for you," Neville said to Harry as he brought the conversation back to Fred. "You both like Quidditch. Both are sort of trouble makers. And Fred seems to like a bit of danger."
"And Harry's very dangerous," Luna agreed serenely. "That's very insightful Neville."
"I wouldn't want to date someone who just likes me because I'm strong and dangerous," Harry said after thinking it over for a moment.
"I only want to date someone who thinks I'm dangerous," Susan grinned. "Helps keep them in check."
Draco shuddered dramatically, "Everyone knows your dangerous Susan."
"Good."
"Fred being a guy doesn't bother you though?" Theo asked hesitantly after everyone went quiet for a few seconds.
"What is it with Wixen and their weird judgmental bullshit? 'What's your blood like? What house are you in? Dark or light? D'ya shag boys or girls?' It's madness!" Harry threw his hands up in complete exasperation after his rant.
"I don't care," Theo said hastily after a quick nudge in his ribs from Hermione. "But Hermione said Muggles are weird about it and you grew up Muggle, so I was just curious."
"Muggles don't care," Harry laughed sharply. "I saw blokes pick up other blokes off the street for a few hours then go home to their wives later, didn't I?"
His friends peered curiously at him until Harry hissed and they quickly jumped back.
"You have an odd life Harry Potter," Luna said softly. Everyone else nodded their head in agreement and then thankfully moved on to discussing something else.
"I do have a brill surprise though," Harry muttered to Ron. "So go to Hogsmeade with me this weekend."
Their week of classes seemed to drag on as teachers became more concerned with the upcoming exams. Which weren't until the end of May. Harry wasn't sure why they'd be worried mid-January, but Snape gave him a death glare when he pointed that out in class so he kept his opinions to himself over it.
Their first defense class after break they started studying another new creature, a Hinkypunk. Hinkypunks were wispy smoke like creatures that carried lanterns and tried to lure people in to dangerous bogs. Harry thought that if someone was dim enough to follow a smokey creature carrying a lantern, then they probably deserved to die.
"Excellent job Harry," Lupin said cheerfully after Harry answered an easy question on the weird little creature. Harry raised both his brows at Lupin's easy going response but decided not to comment on it. Apparently his friends had no such restraint.
"Why's he being so nice?" Susan asked quietly.
"Lupin's always nice," Theo said.
"Doesn't usually talk to Harry anymore though, does he?" Ron said.
"Probably because he's with Black, yeah?" Harry whispered. "Black's my godfather, so he probably told Lupin to get along with me or something."
His friends nodded and went back to listening to Lupin's lecture but Harry slumped down in his seat. He remembered vividly the night Lupin found him in the corridor and hoped Lupin's newfound cheer towards Harry was based on Black and not pity.
Care of Magical Creatures was a long hour of the students all huddled around a bonfire of salamanders as Hagrid talked about the different ways they were useful.
"They make fire," Harry muttered to Ron. "What other use could they have?"
"Shh," Draco said impatiently as he tried to listen to Hagrid without showing he was listening to Hagrid.
Divination was just as boring as always. Trelawney moved their class on to palmistry and spend half of the class one day discussing how Harry's palm had the shortest life line she had ever seen.
"Maybe I'm already dead," Harry said seriously to her when she declared it. "I could be a ghost."
Trelawney gave them the most homework she'd ever assignment at the end of that class.
"Quit antagonizing her," Blaise grumbled on their way to their next class. "Just pretend to be scared."
"This-" Ron gestured to the ridiculously long essay she assigned "-is entirely your fault mate."
Harry figured it was still worth it.
Harry, Blaise, Draco, and Susan were all studying the after their Thursday afternoon lessons in the library when Harry was approached by another odd person. An older boy, Hufflepuff, with curly golden hair and friendly blue eyes. Harry was pretty sure his name was Diggory, he'd played him his last match, but he didn't pay attention to names much.
"Hello," he smiled at them all. "Harry, I wondered if I could talk to you for a moment?"
"Sure," Harry said, looking up at him. "What's up?"
Diggory cleared his throat and shoved his hands deep in his pockets.
"I wanted to apologize," he said. "For the Quidditch game. It wasn't fair how it ended and I should have apologized sooner."
Harry grit his teeth at the reminder of the whole school seeing him faint and fall off his broom.
"'Kay," he said tightly. "That it?"
Diggory frowned.
"I tried to tell Madame Hooch we should have a rematch, even set up a day with Flint, but she wouldn't let us."
"'Kay."
"Are you-" Diggory looked uncertainly at the other students. "Are you mad? Because I truly am sorry."
"I believe you," Harry said. "But it doesn't mean anything, does it?"
"I-" Diggory hesitated as he considered what Harry said. "I suppose you're right. I don't think there is anything I can say to make up for it. Maybe I'll just cheer for you to win the upcoming Ravenclaw game then."
"You do that," Harry snorted. "I'll be cheering for you to lose against Gryffindor next weekend so we can beat them in the finals."
Diggory laughed and gave Harry another smile.
"We'll see," he said. "I should get back to my friends, I just wanted to apologize but next time I'll come prepared, alright?"
"'Kay."
Harry turned his attention back to his essay he was painstakingly writing for McGonagall as Diggory walked away.
"He's very handsome you know," Susan giggled. "Lots of girls in Hufflepuff are always trying to talk to him."
"Including you?" Draco asked with a smirk.
"Ugh," Susan crinkled her nose. "He's too... too nice for me. Almost seems fake, you know?"
"Let me get this straight-" Blaise put down his quill in favor of joining Draco and Susan's hushed conversation. "You want to date someone who thinks you're dangerous, and who isn't too nice?"
"Yep," Susan nodded her head. "Probably good looking and smart as well."
"I'll only date someone smart," Draco said. "Imagine trying to make a conversation with someone like Goyle for the rest of your life?" He shuddered dramatically.
"Pretty girl with a head full of air?" Blaise winked at Susan who rolled her eyes. "Sounds like the ticket to me. What about you Harry?"
"What about me what?" Harry said.
"What's your ideal girlfriend or boyfriend?" Draco asked.
"I dunno." Harry tried to consider someone he would like to spend time with alone, like how Theo and Hermione always did. "I suppose... just someone who likes me for me, yeah?"
"That's your only requirement?" Draco said. "That they like you for you?"
"Well it's fuckin' rare innit?" Harry said defensively. "People usually either like me cause I'm famous or cause of some other daft reason like being the Heir of Slytherin. So yeah, it'd be brill if they were good looking and smart, but mostly I just want them to like me for me."
Draco slumped back at the heat in Harry's voice and offered him an apologetic look.
"You're right, I'm sorry. We-" he gestured towards Blaise and Susan, "-all like you for you. Just so you know."
"Thanks Dray," Harry felt a faint heat trying to work its way up his neck at his words. "I suppose you aren't so bad yourself."
Draco stuck his tongue out at him and they all laughed at the juvenile gesture from the usually uptight Malfoy Heir.
Harry thought more about dates, and dating, and boyfriends, and girlfriends, as he wrote his essay. He wasn't blind or stupid, he had seen how his classmates had started making softer eyes towards one another and how there seemed to be more kids holding hands and girls giggling in the halls than there used to be. He figured it was to be expected as everyone was getting older and 'full of hormones' (as Snape would say).
Harry had never actually dated anyone or ever been on a date with anyone. He'd been with men before. Back when he was on the streets and he was cold, or sick, or starving. It was horrible, and usually hurt both physically or mentally as he felt humiliated on his knees before. He knew that those times were just a means to an end, a way to offer something in exchange for food or shelter for a night. But dates? Confessions of love? Holding hands and kissing? It was an entirely different thing. And he didn't understand it at all.
The next morning during breakfast Harry was surprised to see a little brown owl fly straight to him during post and drop off a parchment.
"Who's that from?" Neville asked curiously.
"Dunno."
Harry opened it and quickly read it.
Hey Pup! Moony said you have a Hogsmeade weekend coming up
tomorrow and I wanted to know if you'd want to grab a drink at the Three Broomsticks with me? You could bring your friends if you'd like. I'd say it's my treat but apparently since we're sharing a vault, it's our treat. Hopefully I'll see you tomorrow, let's say at two o'clock? If
you don't show then I'll cry, but no pressure. -Sirius
Harry unwillingly grinned at Black's stupid joke about crying if Harry didn't show up tomorrow.
"It's Black," he said as he handed Susan's nosy self the letter. "Wants to know if we want to get a drink with him tomorrow at the Three Broomsticks, says it's his treat. If I go, anyone wanna go with?"
Everyone except Blaise and Neville eagerly agreed.
"Can't," Blaise grinned. "I've got a hot date with a gorgeous twin."
"You're going with Ron's brother?" Harry was surprised, and oddly annoyed, by this news.
"What? No! Merlin Harry. There's more than just one set of twins in this castle."
Everyone else laughed so hard that the other Slytherins and nearby Ravenclaws were peering curiously at them.
"Oh," Harry shrugged. "I don't know any other twins. Who is it then?"
"Padma Patil, she's in our year," Hermione said. "Honestly Harry sometimes I wonder if you even know our names or not."
"Well I see you guys every day, don't I?" Harry said before looking towards Neville who also turned down his offer for tomorrow. "D'you have a date too?"
"N-no," Neville stammered, turning blood red at the sudden interested attention of their group. "I'm not going to Hogsmeade. I told Luna I'd help her study for her Herbology test next week."
"Neville is a good friend," Luna said. "The plants just speak to him more than they do me."
"I'd rather have the nargles than plants," Ron assured her. "Unless they have a plant that can tell the future?"
"No, they don't," Theo rolled his eyes at Ron's newly disappointed look. "What are you guys even learning in Divination?"
"Mostly that Harry's going to die young in a painfully tragic way," Ron said with a half-smile. "And that Trelawney is a sherry loving fraud."
Everyone was still snickering about that as the bell rang indicating the start of classes soon. Harry thought about Black's offer through his morning classes and decided that he'd check with Snape before making any decisions on it after their evening potions lesson.
Snape seemed to be in a good mood during their lesson. He yelled at Finnigan a few times, awarded Harry and Draco twenty points for their perfect potion, and only assigned two feet of homework instead of his usual three or four.
Harry lingered by his desk after everyone else left at the end of class to ask about Black's letter.
"What can I help you with?" Snape asked after the last student left the room.
"Here." Harry handed him the letter and waited as Snape quickly read it.
"I know you and I are considered to be friends, but I do not believe I was invited," Snape said drily as he returned the parchment to Harry.
Harry grinned at the look on Black's face if he brought Snape tomorrow and shook his head.
"No sir, I was just wondering if you thought I should go?"
Snape sat back in his chair and steepled his hands together on his desk.
"Why would you ask me that?" he asked Harry curiously.
"Er, well... I know you guys don't hate each other so much anymore... but... but I didn't know if you'd be mad or something if I went?"
Between the Mind Healer and Snape Harry was starting to realize that people and their feelings apparently mattered quite a bit more than he used to think and he thought maybe Snape's would be hurt if he went to see Black tomorrow.
"I will not be mad, upset, or any other negative emotion if you go see Black tomorrow," Snape said, reading through Harry's question easily. "He is your godfather and you are welcome to spend as much time with him as you would like."
Harry chewed on his bottom lip as he watched Snape carefully for any tells that would give away his real thoughts on the matter. After a few moments of Snape looking perfectly at ease Harry nodded, figuring he wasn't lying.
"Brill. Ron, Draco, Susan, Mione, and Theo said they'd go with me then."
"Do you not have any other friends you're accompanying tomorrow?" Snape asked.
"Er- no?"
Snape's eyes looked amused at Harry's answer.
"I was under the impression that a Mister Fred Weasley was going to accompany you to Hogsmeade. I confiscated an interesting note between him and his brother as he debated on the best way to ask you."
"Son of a bitch," Harry hissed in Parsletongue. "Not you too!" he said to Snape. "I swear everyone's obsessed with dates right now. Blaise has a date, Mione and Theo are dating, Fred asked me on a date. I don't..." Harry grimaced as he realized the real problem he had with it all. "I don't understand it," he admitted quietly. "Mione said dates are to get to know someone but how d'you even know if you want to get to know them?"
"Hmm," Snape tapped his chin thoughtfully as he considered Harry's question. "Perhaps you should ask Black that tomorrow. I am afraid that dating and romance are quite out of my area of expertise."
"You don't date?" Harry asked.
"I have," Snape said slowly. "Though not as much as others. And not any in recent years. I believe Mister Morris would say I have difficulty with commitment."
"You committed to me just fine," he pointed out.
"And look how that turned out."
Harry grinned at Snape's sarcastic tone when he said that.
"Did you date anyone when you were a student?"
"A couple of people," Snape said evasively. "Though I was rather pathetically in love with your mother, so the people I dated quickly ended it once they realized they were only poor substitutes."
"How- er- how d'you... what- what does it mean to be in love with someone?" Harry blushed hotly at the odd question, but figured that Snape was the best person to ask since he didn't usually laugh when he knew Harry was being serious.
"Loving someone is quite different from being in love with someone," Snape said, politely ignoring Harry's red face. "You can love someone and care about their well-being and appreciate them for their own unique traits. This could be a family member or friend. Being in love with someone is more of a romantic feeling. Does that make sense?"
"No," Harry admitted. "Not really."
Snape sighed, "Ask Black if you must. He will likely have a much more clear response."
"I'll think about it," Harry said. He knew Snape wouldn't laugh or take the mickey out of him for the dumb question, but he didn't trust Black like that.
"I should get to the library," he said regretfully.
"Of course," Snape said. "If you do decide to see Black tomorrow I would enjoy hearing how it went, if you would like to come see me afterwards."
"Alright," Harry agreed easily. He thought of something he forgot to ask before, "Sir?"
"Yes?"
"What'd you do when you took the note from Fred and George?"
Snape smirked in a maliciously amused sort of way that reminded Harry that the man was the Head of Slytherin for a reason.
"I took thirty points from Gryffindor and informed him you would prefer a the huge spectacle that he was debating on. Pity he apparently had not believed me. I was hoping for another singing Dwarf."
"Bastard!" Harry hadn't forgotten the mortifying dwarf from Valentine's Day his second year. "You're lucky he just asked me at breakfast or I'd have to get revenge sir."
"Pity," Snape repeated without looking sorry at all. "Perhaps I will encourage him to try again."
"I'll remember this," Harry warned him. "Next time I see Neville about to add the wrong ingredient I'll just let him blow up the cauldron."
Snape grimaced at Harry's threat.
"Truce," he said.
"Truce," Harry agreed. "I'll come see you tomorrow, yeah?"
"Bring me back sugar quills!" Snape yelled after him. Harry laughed at Snape's cheerful mood clear to the library. It was unusual to see him acting so ridiculous, but maybe the lack of dementors improved everyone's mood in the castle.
The next morning after breakfast, Harry and his friends bundled up and prepared for their trip.
"I have to take Ron on an important errand so we'll meet you guys at the Three Broomsticks at two," Harry told their other friends as they split up at the village gates.
Theo and Hermione were going on another date and Draco and Susan were meeting up with Daphne Greengrass, Hannah Abbott, and a couple other students in their year to walk around the village.
"What's the errand?" Ron asked as Harry pulled him alongside him towards their destination.
"Surprise," Harry said shortly with a small grin.
"Hope it's warm," Ron shivered dramatically at the frigid temps. "I dunno how you guys are gonna play Ravenclaw next weekend."
Harry rolled his eyes at Ron and pulled on his core lightly, Warm us up.
"Oh. Duh." The tips of Ron's ears turned red and he ruffled his hair self consciously. "Forgot about magic for a minute, didn't I?"
"Prat," Harry said fondly. "C'mon, it's just up here!"
"'The Mage's Meow Pet Shoppe'?" Ron asked quizzically. "Our errand is in a pet store?"
"Yep." Harry pulled Ron inside and gestured towards the many different sections of the store. "Happy early birthday!"
"I... I don't get it."
"I'm getting you a new pet!" Harry said. "I know you miss Scabbers, even if he was a disgusting little rat-man, and thought maybe you'd want a new one."
Harry had thought it was a brilliant idea and the perfect way to cheer up his friend but the longer Ron stared at him the more he questioned his idea.
"'M sorry," he eventually mumbled as Ron still stared. "It was stupid... let's just go..."
"Wait-" Ron stuck his arm out and stopped Harry without touching him. "Harry I'm just- just surprised. Nobody else even cared that my rat was gone. Even Percy said 'it's just a pet Ronald' when I told him about it."
Harry shrugged, "Well Percy's a git, isn't he? I'd be upset if Sevvie turned out to be an animagus on the run." He was actually still disappointed to have lost Grim, but he tried not to think about that because it made him want to curse Black every time he remembered the dog he befriended.
Ron gave Harry one of his lopsided grins and looked around at all the different sections of pets.
"What do you think I should get?"
"Not a rat," Harry said. "They're disgusting."
Ron laughed and eyed the section of owls.
"Cmon, come help me find a pet that isn't a madman."
Harry and Ron spent a happy couple of hours holding, petting, and arguing over the best pet. Harry tried to convince him to get a snake when he heard one of them complaining about the store.
"It'sssss cold," the little black snake hissed.
"Sorry," Harry hissed back. "I'll tell the shopkeeper."
Ron shook his head and backed away from the tank of snakes that were all now hissing their complaints to Harry.
"I don't want a pet that only you can talk to," he said. "I'd be like a permanent third wheel."
Harry shrugged as he stroked and admired the snakes that were all slithering on top of each other for his attention.
Apparently Ron also didn't want a cat ("They're boring," he said) or a spider (Ron actually turned pale at the tank of them).
"I think an owls your best bet," Harry said.
They went back and forth for a while over different owls when Ron finally picked a little one that looked like Sevvie but with grey feathers instead of black.
"He's so cute," a nearby Gryffindor girl squealed.
Ron rolled his eyes, but looked pleased as he pet the owl that perched on his shoulder.
"He's perfect," Ron said.
"Wait! Reveal yourself," Harry ordered the owl with a harsh pull of magic. The owl hooted indignantly as the spell ruffled its feathers but otherwise didn't change at all.
"Not an animagus then," Harry declared. "So yep, he's perfect."
Ron grinned happily as they grabbed owl supplies for the little grey owl that Ron dubbed 'Galvin'. He tried naming it 'Chudley' after his favorite Quidditch team but Harry said it sounded too much like Dudley so he went with Galvin, the teams keepers name, instead.
When Harry paid for the supplies he told the shopkeeper about the snakes complaints.
"They said it's cold in here," he said. "And they don't like frozen mice, they want fresh ones."
"I'll k-keep that in m-mind," the shopkeeper said with a terrified look on his face.
Harry assumed that a person who worked with snakes every day wouldn't be so scared of Parsletongue. Clearly he was wrong.
"You mind if I run Galvin up to the castle?" Ron said when they left the store. "I don't think Madame Rosmerta will be happy if I bring him with us."
"Course not," Harry said. "I gotta go get stuff for Snape and Lue anyway."
"Thanks again mate," Ron said happily. "You're a good friend."
Harry smiled to himself all the way to Honeydukes. Snape acted like Harry was so bad at other people's emotions, but look at what he did, cheered Ron right up. Hopefully he even changed Ron's boggart. How could someone be scared of their friend that helped them pick out a cute little owl? He made a mental note to tell Snape about it later today. He'd probably rub it in a bit.
Harry wasted a little bit of time snagging sweets for Luna and a thing of sugar quills for Snape. He scowled at the Pup Treats he had gotten Grim last time he was there and tried to push the whole embarrassing incident out of his head. He checked the time after he paid and saw it was still rather early, only a quarter after one, but decided heading towards the Three Broomsticks was better than standing around in the snow.
He entered the pub and shook the snow out of his hair. He made to sit at the counter, planning on ordering something to snack on while he waited, when someone yelled his name.
"Harry! Over here!"
He glanced around and saw Black and Lupin were seated in a booth off to the side. He felt his shoulders tense up and rolled them a few times as he slowly walked over to them.
"Come sit," Black smiled as he moved so Harry could have the corner seat with the view of the door. "You're early," he said happily.
"Cold out, ain't it?" Harry shrugged.
"Where are your friends?" Lupin asked politely.
"They'll be here in a bit," Harry said. "Ron took his new owl up to the castle and everyone else had plans 'til two."
"Ron got a new owl?" Black said. "Good. I felt guilty when I realized Pettigrew going to Azkaban meant that Ron lost his pet."
"I remembered," Harry said, preening slightly with how pleased with himself he was. "Told him I'd buy him any pet he wanted as an early birthday gift."
"Good job Pup," Black smiled.
Lupin smiled as well as he got to his feet.
"I'm gonna go, I've got lessons to plan and papers to grade."
Harry politely turned his head as the two said goodbye and raised his hand cordially when Lupin left.
"He doesn't really have anything to do," Sirius said. "He's just being nice because he knew I wanted to spend time with you."
"Why?"
Black looked confused at his question and scrunched his brows down.
"Why was he being nice or why did I want to spend time with you?"
"Why'd you wanna spend time with me," Harry clarified.
"Because you're my godson," Black said. "And I want to get to know you better."
Harry grimaced as he thought of all the things about himself Black already knew.
"What d'you wanna know?"
"Everything," Black laughed. "What's your favorite color?"
"What's yours?" Harry shot back.
"Gold," he said.
"Mines green."
"Favorite class?"
"You first," Harry said with a small grin.
"Mine was Transfiguration," Black said grinning as well. "I was a right dab at it and Minnie loved me."
"Minnie?"
"Professor McGonagall, she hated being called Minnie so your Dad and I did it every day."
Harry laughed as he imagined McGonagalls face if someone were to call her that.
"Mines Potions," he admitted.
"Because Snape teaches it?" Black asked as he waved down Madame Rosmerta.
Harry shook his head, "Because I have to actually work, don't I? It's not easy like all my other classes."
"Hold that thought Pup," Black said as Rosmerta sauntered over to their table.
"Sirius Black," she smiled. "What can I do for you now?"
"Are you still pretending that you aren't madly in love with me?" Black said with a charming sort of smile. "Because if so then I guess we just want to order something to eat and some drinks. But if not then I'm ready to propose."
Rosmerta laughed and drew a few jealous eyes their way as she batted at Black's arm.
"You're a rascal," she said. "I think a certain Professor would be jealous if we did."
"You're right," Black said solemnly. "Minerva would never forgive me if I ran away with you."
"He's incorrigible," Rosmerta said to Harry. "A terrible flirt, isn't he?"
Rosmerta's eyes were glittering in a way that made him think she liked the attention. Harry figured Black was good looking enough to catch her eye. His long dark hair, leather jacket, and happy go lucky personality had a certain appeal to it probably.
"If you say so," Harry muttered as he slumped down in his seat and glanced around the room warily. He could feel the curious stares of the other patrons and hated it.
"Can we get a few orders of chips?" Black said. "And- Harry how many kids are coming?"
"Five others," Harry said.
"And seven butterbeers," Black added. "You can just add it all to my tab."
"Cheers," Rosmerta said with another wink as she swept off to fill their order.
Black turned back to Harry with an easy smile that Harry was beginning to suspect was permanently attached to the man's face.
"Where were we?" he said. "Oh! Yeah, okay so potions is your favorite because your other classes are easy. How come they're so easy?"
Harry smirked as he suddenly had a chance to show off a bit.
"Because of this."
He pointed his finger at Black's leather jacket and turned it red and sparkly before making it blue and silky and finally turning it back to the black leather it started as.
"Merlin," Black said. "Thought maybe you only did wandless magic when you were trying to kill people."
"That too," Harry said easily as the drinks and snacks floated to their table. "Potions doesn't use much magic though, does it? So I have to pay attention in that class."
"That's amazing," Black sounded genuinely impressed which made Harry sit up straighter and grin just a bit. "Your dad would have given anything for power like that. Hell, I still would."
Harry's grin faded just a bit as he realized that was probably the first thing most people remembered about him.
"It's not that great," he said.
"Course it is," Black disagreed. "But I'm sure it's not as interesting as... let's see... who's your favorite Professor? And don't say Snape."
"But it is Snape," Harry said.
"Second favorite then," Black said. "I already know he's your favorite."
"Flitwick," Harry said. "Gave me points once when I threatened a whole group of Ravenclaws, didn't he? Was McGonagall yours then?"
"Her and old Sluggy," Black said. "He was the potions professor when I was a student. Right pushover. Let us do whatever we wanted if we batted our eyes just right. The man was obsessed with Lily though."
Harry laughed when Black batted his eyes at Harry coquettishly. He snagged a few chips off the tray while Black started again with more questions.
"Favorite food?"
Harry's was miniature treacle tarts, which Black said wasn't a food and Harry argued that it absolutely counted, and Black's was shepherds pie.
"Favorite music?"
They both liked the Led Zepplin album that Snape got for Harry. He had listened to a million times on the charmed disc player him and Snape fixed up over the summer.
"Who's your best friend? Best guy and best girl friend."
Harry's was Susan and Blaise and Black's was Harry's dad and he admitted he didn't have many female friends.
They were arguing over the best animal, Harry said owls while Black adamantly said it was dogs, when Harry's friends started trickling in.
"Hello," Hermione said shyly as her and Theo were the first to arrive. Their cheeks were pink from the cold and Harry thought their lips looked suspiciously chapped. "I'm Hermione Granger, and this is Theo Nott."
Black did a subtle double take at Theo's name but smiled at both of them and offered them a seat.
"I'm Sirius Black," he said. "It's nice to meet you."
They repeated the process as Susan, Draco, and Ron all arrived.
"You get Galvin set up?" Harry asked Ron.
"Yep," Ron's smile stretched across his whole face. "He flew right up to Sevvie and they started hooting at each other. Suppose our owls are gonna be mates too."
"Who's Galvin?" Draco asked as he sat down and snagged a butterbeer.
"An owl, stupid," Susan laughed as she sat next to Harry.
"He's my owl," Ron said proudly. "Harry got him for me for my birthday."
"Aww, Harry, that was sweet of you," Hermione said.
"That's Harry, sweet as can be," Theo rolled his eyes.
"Your Molly's son, right?" Black asked Ron. "You look just like her."
"Yep," Ron confirmed as he sat down. "People usually call me Ron though. 'Molly's son' is a bit of a mouthful, isn't it?"
"Do we like Black?" Susan whispered directly in Harry's ear under the cover of Black and Draco's laughter.
"For now," Harry muttered. Susan nodded in understanding and Harry felt a new wave of appreciation for his friend. If he had said he didn't like Black he had no doubt that she would have spent the rest of the time trying to catch the man on fire or some other mad scheme. Which was one of the many reasons why Susan was his best friend.
"And I've heard about you of course," Black said to Susan as he slid her a drink. "Painted 'inconsiderate arsehole' on Remus' door, yeah?"
"How'd you know?" Susan asked. "Even Lupin didn't know!"
"You admitted it right in front of him," Black said. "You lot know he's got super hearing right? There's no such thing as a quiet whisper around him. Trust me."
Harry and Susan exchanged shocked looks as they hadn't actually considered that during their many whispered conversations.
"Honestly," Hermione rolled her eyes in exasperation. "It's like neither of you even bothered to read the textbook."
"We didn't," Harry and Susan said simultaneously before the whole group cracked up in laughter.
"Alright, so how'd you all meet Harry?" Black asked everyone.
"I met Harry first," Susan said. "He was at the library in Diagon Alley just breaking the law in the middle of the legal section. I walked right up to him and said 'you're going to be expelled for that you know.'"
"And I told her that magic that didn't use a wand wasn't illegal." Harry grinned as he remembered Susan's pompous tone. It felt like it was forever ago that they met. Black chuckled at that and gave Harry a look of approval.
"How about you lot?"
"I met him in Madame Malkins," Draco said. "He was the rudest kid I've ever met in my life, then he summoned his jacket from the doorway like it was nothing."
"Ron and I met him on the train," Hermione said.
"After he stuck his wand in our faces and I thought I was about to be murdered," Ron grinned. "Then he threatened the trolley lady and she still won't sell him treats."
All the kids laughed about that. It was absolutely true. The trolley lady holds a grudge worse than anyone Harry had ever met, including himself.
"How about you Theo?" Black asked.
"We met on the first night. After Harry nearly killed a student during the opening duels I figured I should either be his friend or ask for a resort," Theo said drily with a small smirk towards Harry. "Then the rest of us just sort of clicked."
Black eyed Theo and Hermione's clasped hands, "Looks like it," he grinned. Theo and Hermione both turned a little pink but the rest of them grinned.
"What's an opening duel?" Black asked curiously when Draco was done teasing Hermione and Theo.
"It's a Slytherin tradition," Draco said. He explained the duels and how they sorted out any problems students had with each other on the first night while Black listened attentively.
"And someone had a problem with Harry on his first ever night?" he asked skeptically.
"Plenty of students used to have a problem with Harry," Draco said.
"Boy Who Lived and all," Theo added.
"And now they worship the ground he walks on," Ron said with a roll of his eyes.
Black laughed again and they all fell in to more casual conversation. Black asked Draco about his mom and shared a few stories about her when she was younger. Harry realized that Black was what Susan would call a 'social butterfly'. He seemed to enjoy talking to all of them and acted like he wanted to get to know them all. Harry felt the tiniest smidge of guilt at thinking he nearly killed someone who probably didn't really deserve it, the whole Grim problem notwithstanding.
"There's the twins," Susan giggled suddenly as Fred and George walked in the pub with a group of their own friends and took up a table on the other side of the room.
"Fred doesn't look too broken up over your rejection, does he?" Draco said as he glared across the room at them.
"Shut up," Harry hissed, ducking down slightly to avoid being seen. He hadn't decided what he thought about Fred yet and didn't want to attract his attention right now.
"Who's Fred?" Black whispered.
"My brother," Ron said. "Asked Harry out and Harry told him no."
"Tall red headed twin?" Black asked.
"Yes," Hermione said.
Black looked at Harry and quirked his lips up in an amused sort of look.
"Moony told me he thought you and Susan were a couple," he laughed. "He didn't tell me you had an older boy after you." Black waggled his brows in the same way Ron did when he was teasing Harry about something.
"We are not a couple," Harry sputtered as Susan giggled. "She's my best friend."
"Harry's my honorary brother," Susan said as she threw her arm around his shoulder in the casual way Harry had started to enjoy. "My Auntie said if Snape wasn't so clingy she would have let him move in with us last year."
Harry turned to Susan and stared at her slack jawed for a moment.
"She did?" he asked quietly.
"Yep," Susan confirmed. "But then Snape gave you a damn house and we knew it was a lost cause."
Harry felt a warmth wash over him at that. He knew Amelia had been kind to him and even wrote him a few times since the summer he stayed there, but he didn't know that she offered to be his guardian.
"That was nice of her," he said quietly.
"My Mum applied to be your guardian too," Ron added. "Said we could dye your hair and you'd fit right in."
Everyone laughed at that since all of Ron's siblings had bright orange hair.
"Nobody would even notice one extra Weasley," Draco pointed out. "But then Fred would have to find a new crush."
Harry hissed quietly at Draco as he brought the subject back to Harry.
"Tell me about your classes," Black cut in with a subtle wink towards Harry. "It's been years since I've even thought about them."
Harry relaxed slightly as everyone started talking about the classes they liked, and disliked, for the rest of the conversation. He drank his butterbeer and cut in every so often until it started to get darker outside.
"We should probably head back soon," Hermione said when she checked the time. "We don't want to get in trouble."
"Wonder what that would be like," Susan grinned.
Black jumped up and smiled at the students as they gathered their bags.
"It was nice meeting you all," he said earnestly. "Until I find a job I'm making myself at home here so I'll probably see you next time you guys are in the village."
"Are you rejoining the aurors?" Harry asked, unconsciously wrinkling his nose in distaste.
"Fuck no," Black said as he walked with them through the exit. "Why would I wanna work with the same gits that tossed me in prison without a trial?"
Harry nodded his head in complete agreement. "Good," he said. He glanced towards his other friends and made a quick decision. "I'll catch up with you guys at dinner, yeah? I'm gonna talk for a minute then I told Snape I'd stop by."
His friends agreed easily and started racing each other towards the castle.
"Snape making sure I didn't accidentally kill you?" Black said casually as he stuck his hands in his pockets and strolled alongside Harry as he slowly walked towards the castle. Harry gave him an incredulous look.
"D'ya think you could?"
"Probably not," Black said with a small huff of laughter. "But he might still think it."
"Maybe," Harry allowed. "I wanted to ask you something though."
"Sure, what's up pup?"
"Did- did you... did you tell Lupin all that stuff I said?" Harry asked quickly. It had been bothering him ever since they left the Mind Healers office over break and Snape said that Lupin and Black were once again dating.
Black stopped in the middle of the path and gave Harry an uncharacteristically serious look.
"I didn't," he said. "I swear. I wish I hadn't of heard it. Not because I don't want to know all about you," he said hastily. "But because I wish I would have learned it once I earned your trust, not because you didn't know who you were talking to."
Harry released his breath in a relieved sigh. It was bad enough that Lupin knew his boggart and caught him being stupid in the corridor one night, he didn't want to imagine the man knowing even more about him.
"Good," he said as they started walking again. "Er, thanks I guess."
"I'm pretty decent at keeping secrets," Black said. "I never told anyone that your Dad wet the bed all through his first year."
"He did?!" Harry said with a surprised laugh. "Fuck that would be embarrassing."
"Oh it was," Black grinned. "Plus we didn't know then that Remus was a wolf so Remus knew the whole time."
"Oh my God," Harry started laughing harder at that. "Why'd he wet the bed?"
"He'd never been away from home. His parents, your grandparents, spoiled him rotten. He was an only child until I moved in. So moving out to Hogwarts was a big change for him."
Harry listened as Black shared a couple other stories about James Potter. It wasn't so bad hearing about him like this, it was a lot like when Snape talked about his Mom. Just goofy stories about what his parents were like when they were younger. Harry thought it was unfair that everyone else seemed to know all these things about them that he'd never get a chance to find out for himself before he reminded himself that it didn't matter. They couldn't come back from the dead and Harry didn't need them anyway. It was pointless to pine over something you couldn't have.
When they arrived at the gates Black stopped and smiled genuinely at Harry in a way that made his grey eyes crinkle around the corners.
"You play Ravenclaw next weekend, right?" he asked.
"Yep."
Black shuffled his feet a bit and looked almost nervous as he asked him, "Mind if I come?"
"Come to the match?" Harry asked, bewildered. "Why?"
Black shrugged, "I used to think about you being a famous Quidditch star one day. When you were a baby, course I thought you'd be a chaser like your Dad and I were. And I just thought it might be nice to come cheer you on... like I always wanted to."
Harry watched him carefully as he felt another one of the odd waves of warmth crash in to him.
"Y-yeah," he stammered as he kicked a pebble across the pathway. "That'd be alright."
Black smiled and shook his hair back out of his face.
"Perfect," he said. "Never thought I'd need a reason to buy a Slytherin scarf."
Harry smirked as he remembered Snape saying how his Dad and Black hated Slytherins when they were students.
"You have to wear green or you can't come," he said mock-solemnly. "The seeker for Ravenclaw is a twit so you don't want people to be confused about who you're cheering for."
"Alright, alright," Black put his hands up in surrender. "I'll be there and I'll wear green."
"Brill," Harry said. "Guess I'll see you next weekend then?"
"Wouldn't miss it," Black said as Harry walked through the gates. "Send Minnie my loveee."
Harry flipped him off even as he laughed on his way to the castle doors. He didn't trust Black, not yet, but he couldn't deny that the man's cheerful mood was a bit contagious. He figured if he had spent twelve years in prison and finally had his name cleared he'd probably be pretty happy about it too though.
Harry still had a small smile on his face as he made his way to the dungeons. Black was a lot different from him, but he was an alright bloke so far. Harry was mostly relieved now that he hadn't killed him.