Growing Up

Part 78

For a while in the dark, laying in their bed, they bickered over the watch Harry had given Remus. They passed it back and forth between themselves while running through every possibility they could think of. Eventually Sirius got tired of the conversation and meandered to the bathroom, flicking on the light.

"I don't know why we're going over this," Sirius turned on the faucet and watched the water run. He leaned over the counter with his hands gripping the edges.

"Because it's important! Crucial!" Remus' arms fell to the side of him as he stared at the ceiling from their bed.

"I thought it was buried with James."

"I did too," Sirius spit into the sink, water dripping from his face. He shook his hands to rid the extra water and ran his fingers through his hair. His hair became slick as he stared into the mirror.

Remus walked up to the mirror, standing behind him. He wrapped his arms around Sirius' waist, resting his head on his shoulder as they both watched their reflections.

"Shit," Remus whispered.

"Huh?"

"You look like your father."

"What?" Sirius loosened himself from Remus' hold, turning around and pushing him away.

"What did you just say?"

"Touched a nerve there," Remus whispered, his gaze averting. His teeth bared with embarrassment, feeling the sting of regret.

"Do I really?" Sirius turned back around and examined every feature on his face. He poked and prodded at every wrinkle, every smile line he had accumulated over the years, the smile lines no one else in his family had.

"Mm, maybe you're even balding, I see a gray hair," Remus stifled a laugh to lighten the mood. He did feel bad for his sudden comment, he didn't know what compelled him to say it aloud.

"Fuck off! I am not! Genetic modification doesn't get any better than this, Moonshine."

***

"Mr. Prongs is quite interested in how it went over with Moony."

"They were weirdly concerned? I thought it was a good gift."

"I'm sure they're just confused, Mischief. Mr. Prongs doesn't think you should fret over it any longer."

"You're probably right," Harry sighed, flicking the corners of the map. "It seems they're stressed out. I get it."

"Mr. Moony is always stressed. Mr. Padfoot says he's been around him for a lot longer than you, he would know."

"I think I stress them out. They're so focused on keeping me safe that they don't see much else. I just want them to see something different about me."

"My golden boy, sometimes the road less traveled is the road best left behind."

"Bambi! We have to go!"

"I'll be there!"

Harry watched the blank paper and almost felt angry at the lack of explanation. Even though the map was the very definition of a metaphor, he was angry there was no reasoning, no soothing words or solution. Feeling sick of proverb after proverb, He angrily shoved the map in his back pocket and watched the light above him flutter. He took a deep breath and walked out, pulling his Gryffindor sweater over the pockets of his jeans.

Harry walked out staring at his shoes, his red Converse contrasted brightly against the dark wooden floor.

"Cute shoes," Sirius smiled. "Let's go, James."