Growing Up

Part 46.

Remus followed his orders. He went downstairs and got Harry.

The only issue is explaining to a 5-year-old that being a serpent speaker is abysmal.

***

Harry sat in a chair in front of the portraits, giggling from the "moving drawings".

"Hi grandma." Harry exclaimed, waving at Walburga.

Walburga locked eyes with Harry, and for the first time ever, Remus saw a sparkle in those dark voids.

"Harry." She responded smoothly. She tried to hide a smile, so she turned her head away.

"Hey, Harry." Regulus called. "I heard you talked to a snake! That's super rad."

Remus turned his head to Sirius, who was grinning watching the two.

"I did!" Harry blurted.

"Do you think you could talk to me like you talked to the snake?"

Harry paused for a moment, his excitement coming to a halt.

"You wouldn't understand." He said calmly.

"Let's test that theory." Regulus responded, smiling warmly.

Hearing Harry speak that language was a sound no one in that room would forget. All of a sudden, all eyes were on Harry as he hissed those intricate sounds.

Remus' stomach dropped even lower when Regulus spoke it back. It wasn't as pronounced as Harry, but it seemed to do the job, as Harry giggled back.

Sirius gasped and took a step back in disbelief, trying to grasp what was happening in front of him. Remus knew this hit him hard. He tried everything to get away from his past, going as far as taking Remus' name when they get married. Seeing Harry have such a hateful part in him was horrifying, and seeing Regulus respond was worse.

They continued this for a moment, having a seemingly normal conversation.

Sirius couldn't stand to see it and started at a run down the stairs.

***
The sounds of the collar on the phone spun rapidly as Sirius furiously punched in a number.

Remus, panting from the dwindling run down the stairs; asked who he was calling.

"Albus fucking Dumbledore." He seethed as he put the phone to his ear. His eyes pierced through Remus with an unsettling strength.

The line rang, each time louder than the last. the air felt tight around them as they got increasingly more anxious.

"Albus Dumbledore, make it quick."

Sirius gripped the phone and held it in front of his face.

"Albus, what a wonderful time to not answer. Can you tell me why the hell my godson is!-"

Remus quickly yanked the phone out of his hand before he could finish.

"Albus, so sorry about that. We have a fairly urgent matter to discuss with you, immediately. Please make time to come see us and fix this. Thanks."

He hung up.

"Have you lost the plot?" He snapped. "You work for that man!"

"I don't trust him!" He yelled back. "-and you know why."

"Stop it." Remus looked away.

"You cannot deny it forever, Remus."

"Stop it!" he sneered. "You know it was Peter."

"Are you sure?" Sirius mocked, walking closer. "Where was the cloak, Remus. Who had it?"

"That wasn't a coincidence! James knew what was going to happen. We all did."

They were up close to each other now. Sirius could feel the heat radiating off because of the anger.

"Moony?" Harry called, shying away.

Both turned to look at him, immediately regretting what they had started.

"What do you mean he knew?"

Harry was peeking through the side of the stairwell, his eyebrows creased in worry.

It hit Remus that Harry knew more than they thought. He knew his dad, but not what had happened to him.

"Harry, leave." Sirius asked, his face blank.

"No," His eyes flickered to Sirius. "-he stays."

Harry walked into their full view, looking down.

"Harry, do you know what happened to your mum and dad?" Remus asked, ignoring Sirius' scoff of disapproval.

"It was the tall man, wasn't it?"

The room fell silent and the air became thick. The whole world's weight was on Remus' shoulders.

Suddenly, Sirius fell into the conversation.

"What?" he squeaked.

"The tall man. I thought it was Moony, but then he talked to me in snake."

"He talked to you in Parseltongue?" Remus asked. His knees felt weak, unable to hold his weight.

"He visits me sometimes. He tells me that i shouldn't be afraid because he has a plan for me."

Before they could say anything else, Sirius' anamagi was already sprinting out the door.

The two ran to the door, watching the shepherd run at an impossible pace down the street.

"Harry, we have to go."

"Where?" He asked.

Remus said nothing. He scooped up Harry into his arms, silently shocked at his weight. Harry wasn't the small baby they knew anymore.

He grabbed his wand out of his back pocket and held it steady.

"We're going to talk to Albus."

Word count: 808