A Taste of Magic

Chapter 119: 119th Course - Lost and Found

"Sorry to spring this on you right now," Sirius said apologetically.

Remus shook his head. "No, it's fine. I'm actually a lot better with the full moon with the Wolfsbane potion." He still looked pale and slightly weak, like a man recovering from an illness. "Partly why I look so bad is because I feel bad, as in I didn't even think about it until just now when you mentioned it."

Sirius sighed. "I can't believe it took us this long to think about it honestly."

"Well, it has been a very busy last few years," Remus said. The two men were in his quarters at the school. Sirius had come to do a tutoring session for the fifth and seventh years and then came up to see Remus who was recovering from the recently passed full moon. Remus, always happy to see Sirius, had been concerned when Sirius looked atypically serious. Now he knew why and they sat in shared misery.

"True," Sirius agreed. "But, you'd think we'd have thought of it before."

"Well we thought of it now and we can do what we need to," Remus said softly. He rubbed his eyes. "It's just, he's so happy right now."

"I know, and I don't want to take that from him. I also want him to make the choice himself," Sirius said.

"That is only right," Remus agreed. "What does Andromeda think?"

"She thinks he should have the choice too," Sirius said. "And that we'll all be there for either decision."

"Naturally," Remus said. "Let's go talk to Dumbledore. We're going to need to anyways."

-0-

Dumbledore sat back in his chair, sharing the same expression the two other men wore earlier. "How have I not considered this before?" he asked.

"It's been a busy last few years," Remus repeated.

"True," Dumbledore conceded. "But some things are rather important."

"I mean, you barely knew Harry well and you took the time to get to know him," Remus said. "It wouldn't do for you to spring the idea on him in first year."

"No, and he has come a long way and I like to think we have an excellent friendship and relationship now," Dumbledore said.

"You do. He thinks very highly of you," Sirius said.

Dumbledore smiled at that. "As does he to you two." He thought for a moment. "I agree. He will make the decision. And I will abide by whatever he chooses to do." He looked at Fawkes who looked uncharacteristically somber. "Would you please go to Harry and bring him to us? The normal way is fine."

Fawkes nodded and disappeared in a flash of fire.

"I feel bad for making him feel bad," Sirius lamented.

"He will know you did not intend to and like we said, he has the right to know and to decide," Dumbledore said. They sat in silence until they heard footsteps on the stairs outside his office. "Come in," he called when the door knocked.

Harry came in with Fawkes sitting on his shoulder. He smiled seeing Remus and Sirius there with Dumbledore. "Are they in trouble?" he asked, nodding at his godfather and uncle figure.