Growing Up

Part 19.

Remus walked in the door with a bag of party decorations in one hand and Harry's hand in the other. Harry had been babbling about some candy Kreacher had given him so they had gotten that as well.

"Hey, buddy!"

Sirius picked up Harry and held him on his hip as he walked toward Remus and kissed him.

"Hi, love."

"You're in a good mood!" Remus laughed as he put his hand on Sirius' face. He put the bag on the table and giggled watching Harry run toward his room.

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Right."

***

Remus laid on Sirius' chest, asleep and quietly snoring. Sirius stared at him, soaking in the moment. He looked so peaceful as he slept. His golden skin glimmering in the late afternoon sun, his hair fell softly to the side of his smooth face. Sirius ran his fingers through Remus hair, admiring all of his imperfections and perfections.

If only he saw himself the way i see him.

Remus snuggled in closer, his warm body heating up more against Sirius' chest.  This was the only time he ever saw the softer side of Remus.

Sirius stared at his nightstand with the ring inside it, his stomach churning.

Before he could think about it any longer, Remus started to stir uncomfortably, his face turning away from Sirius' chest.

"Well, that was nice while it lasted" Remus mumbled groggily, his hands covering his face.

"What's wrong, love?"

The full moon.

"Full moon, I can hear your heartbeat pounding in my ears. Are you alright?"

"Fine." He smiled.

Remus turned away from Sirius and got out of bed, slipping a pair of pajama pants on, forgetting about a shirt.

"No," Sirius whined as he held his arms out, still laying down.

"I'm gonna grab Harry and a painkiller for my head."

After a few minutes, Remus walked in with Harry on his hip and a glass of water.

"Moon-ee!" Harry reached up and reached for Remus' hair and tugged.

Remus quickly grabbed the child's hand and squeezed it for him to let go, wincing as he left out a soft scoff.

Seeing his disapproval, Harry whimpered and reached for Sirius, his arms stretched outward with a frown. It was his nap time, and much like Remus, he got grumpy fast.

The regret painted on his face was immediate, his hands reaching for his face to rub his temples.

"Sorry buddy, one day you'll understand." Remus sat back down next to Sirius and rested his head against the pillow behind him.

"Nothing will happen tonight when I go out there, right?" Remus whispered.

"No. We'll be fine.

***

Remus could feel his bones shifting against the chair, his blood pressure rising, his intolerable senses, the hunger, the anger. This was arguably the worst part of it all, the part he could remember.

During his sixth year, when Professor Slughorn taught Amortentia lessons, the smell of honey, fresh rain, the woods, and a hint of wet dog filled his nose with its semi-sweet scent. It took him months to accept it. Now, living with Sirius during the full moon wasn't any different.

Word count: 544