"I think I like you more than I should."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Remus had ran to his quarters and stayed there, unless he had to help Severus with class or Harry. Severus tried to catch him alone? He had to use the loo. Harry tried to get him to stay over for the night? He'd pretend to fall asleep right away. He was desperately trying to come up with excuses not to talk, but we all know; excuses won't work forever.

It had been a week, and he got back to his quarters after dropping Harry with Minerva and Poppy, he was met with a certain raven-haired wizard waiting in his sitting room. "You're back," Severus pointed out.

"Yeah, I sort of live here... I'm sorry about what I said last weekend!"

He stood in front of Severus, waiting for his response. "You really like me?" His tone and expression made it impossible to tell what he was thinking.

"I know I shouldn't!! A month ago, we were still fighting and petty and we weren't even friends, and I shouldn't because if we ever did anything and got into a fight and broke up or something I'd have to be in my quarters more often and you aren't gay so-"

"Shut up," Severus whispered. "You're right. A month ago we were fighting. We were petty. But that was October. This is November."

"What are you talking about?"

"Just because I never said I'm not gay doesn't I'm not."

"But Lily-"

"Is my sister. I was protective because James was an arse, and so was her sister. But you were right. I'm not gay." Remus' shoulders fell in disappointment.

"I like women... and men, Re."

He looked up slightly. "What?"

"I like women. But I also like men. And right now, I like one man in particular..." Remus sighed in defeat. This made Severus smirk. "You really are oblivious to the most obvious things, Re. I like one man in particular at the moment. He has honey brown hair, brown eyes, and beautiful scars. He's also right in front of me."

"You..." Remus whispered. "Me?"

"Yes, you, you prat. I had a crush on you, from sixth year to seventh. Then, it went away. Now, it's back."

"Me?" Remus repeated. His face was red, a few shades away from matching his dark red jumper.

"Yes. You."

"Wait... wait... if we do anything, how will Harry react? What if we get into a fight, breakup, I'd have to stay in my quarters more, and it would just be awkward. And I'm a werewolf, you don't-"

"I will. I want to."

"Want to what?"

"I know it's only been a month. And that's barely any time, sure. But we've known each other since we were eleven, we didn't really argue back then, we even studied together a few times."

"So?"

"Let's take it slow..."

With some random boost of confidence, Severus lunged forward, knocking both of them on the floor. He straddled Remus' stomach, and smirked at the man below him, who was covering his face out of embarrassment. "I... thought you said slow."

"I know. I just wanted to do that, because I knew it would make you blush." Remus squirmed a bit. "You're cute when you blush, you know."

"Stop..."

"Why?"

"I... I don't know... the last time..."

"Is this about that stupid boy you dated in fourth year?" Severus asked softly. Remus nodded. "I'm not going to be like that, Re. I won't make you do something you don't want to. I won't make you tell everyone about this relationship, if we have one. I won't be manipulative. Okay?

"What even happened with you and him?" Severus asked. He remained in his spot, but he was leaned over slightly, and threaded his fingers through Remus' hair.

"Well... we started dating. You know that. He was manipulative, cruel, horrible. Sirius found out, then Sirius told James, who wrote a letter to his mum. He went to Durmstrang, and I've never seen him again."

"I won't be like that."

"I'm sorry," Remus blurted out. "But... I don't want labels. I don't want anything to be set in stone yet. Especially since we have to worry about Harry right now."

"That's okay."

"And..." Remus' started thinking. Thinking about many things, though nothing really. "I..."

"You what?"

"I'm just confused," Remus confessed. "Confused?"

"I thought you'd hate me. Make me leave or something. Especially since it's only-"

"Been a month," Severus finished. "You know, I've seen Muggle couples get married after they've known each other for two months? I think it's okay if we have some sort of relationship, because we aren't getting married or something, are we?"

"If we fight..."

"You'll still be Moony to him, and you'll still be here, we'll probably still be whatever we are."

Remus gave him a look of confusion. Severus was... well, a lot different from his other boyfriends. Or... his only, other boyfriend. The one who broke his heart after stealing it.

"Thank you," Remus whispered.

"For what?"

"For letting me do this." He pulled Severus by his collar and connected his lips to Severus'. He felt Severus tense for a moment, before melting into the kiss. Tan fingers combed through raven hair, while Severus raised his hand slightly to cup the back of Remus' head

"Remus..." Severus whispered. "I've never..."

"Kissed someone before?" Remus asked in awe. He got a nod in response. "Then I guess I'm your first."

After a few moments of silence and embarrassed stutters, they decided to move to the loveseat and work on rules and boundaries; what was okay, what was not.

"Umm... no 'dark humor'," Severus muttered. "Dark humor?"

"Some people find it funny to joke about... stuff... rape... abuse... stuff like that."

"Okay...." Remus tried to think of how to word his thought. "Umm... I... I'm sorry, this is just..."

"Awkward?" Severus said, trying to find a word that fit with how they were both feeling.

"Yeah."

"I think boundaries are necessary... given our pasts, you know?"

"No, I get why we need them, it's just a bit... odd. Anyway... it's our choice whether we want to tell people or not. But we discuss it first," Remus said. "And consent. Consent is a big one."

"Okay. I'd never do anything without explicit consent, but this is a good one, too."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"We need to talk to Harry," Severus whispered as Harry happily ate his dinner.

"Now?"

"Maybe. I mean, he sees you as his dad, right?"

"Yeah..."

"Something wrong?"

"We just started whatever this is..." Remus mumbled.

"Yes. I know. But Harry sees you as his dad, maybe this can help him embrace that feeling while letting him know we have a relationship."

"I guess... Harry?" Remus decided to use his Gryffindor courage and take charge. "Can we talk?"

Harry shook his head immediately. "No more nightmares."

"Not about your nightmares, Hare. Something me and Sev need to tell you."

"No nightmares. We promise," Severus added. "Okay."

"Well..." Remus mumbled. "You know how you said that maybe if you had two daddies, you'd be normal?" He asked. Harry gestured yes as he ate, wondering where this would go. "Well, me and your daddy, well..."

"You know how a mummy and daddy love each other?" Severus said, saving Remus from embarrassment, though there was nothing to be embarrassed about.

"Yeah... wait..."

"Well, that's how me and Remus are-"

"You are?! I have two daddies!? Does that mean Remus can really live with us now?!" Harry exclaimed, jumping in his seat.

"Don't jump like that, you might fall, and yes, we are. But it's a little different, okay? You'll understand more when you're older."

"If you want to call me dad or anything, Hare, I'm okay with it," Remus said, almost thankful Harry had reacted in that way. "But I'm not going to live here. Maybe in the future, when we... are closer, in a way. But I'll still live in my quarters, I'll still come over loads of times, and you can still come over for sleepovers. Okay?"

"But I have two dads!" Harry shouted happily. "Two!" Then he noticed something. "Wait. Sev is Daddy, so what can I call Re?"

"Well, you could just call me dad," Remus suggested. Severus smirked, and decided to have some fun.

"Or pop. Or pa, pappy, old man, father..."

"Oh, shut up, you twat."

"I like pappy," Harry giggled. Remus shot Severus a look with a frown.

"Pappy? Really?"

"Pappy!"

"Okay, Harry. Finish your dinner, and maybe we can bake some desert after you do your reading for the day?" Severus suggested. Harry's grin grew wider, if possible.

"Pudding!" he exclaimed.

"Okay. Eat first, though. I'm going to start on dishes."

"Pappy!" Harry exclaimed again. He giggled when 'Pappy's' face grew red once more. "Why's your face red?"

"No reason. Finish up, I got a new book for you," Remus said, purposefully diverting Harry's attention.

"New one?"

"A new one, about a wizard and a dragon and a troll."

"Re?" Harry asked once he finished.

"Hmm?"

"Are... when I talk to Daddy... and not you... are you mad?" Harry mumbled.

"Oh, Harry, of course not. You talk to whoever makes you comfortable."

"Even if it isn't you?"

"If it isn't me, that's fine. Now, about that new book..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Remus!" Harry screamed as he shot awake. "PAPPY, DADDY!"

Two pairs of footsteps were heard running to Harry, who was clutching his hair and pulling. He was sweating, but shivering at the same time. "No. No, no no no no no..." he mumbled. He wasn't in his bedroom anymore. He wasn't at Hogwarts, he was somewhere completely different.

Severus tried first. He kneeled on the bed, in front of Harry, and carefully tugged Harry's hands away from his hair. Instead of clutching his hair, he clutched the hands that were now holding his. "Harry, can you look at me?" Severus asked softly. He got no response.

"Harry, it's me. It's Daddy, it's Sev. Can you look at me? Please?" Again, no response, and when he went to lift Harry's head slightly with his finger, Harry jumped back. This wasn't a normal nightmare. This was a nightmare that had somehow turned into a flashback, a horrid one at that.

"He's having a flashback, he hasn't had one before..." Severus whispered. "What do you do for flashbacks again?!"

"Here, let me try..." They traded places, so Severus was now leaning against a wall, watching. "Harry, it is Remus, okay?" When he didn't get a response, he continued. "You are having a flashback. What you think is happening is not real." He repeated the phrase after about a minute, and saw Harry relax a tiny bit. "Can you take in a deep breath for me?"

"No. No, no, no..."

"Take in a deep breath. Just breathe. You are at Hogwarts, in your room. Remus and Severus are here with you." After more coaxing, he finally got Harry to take a breath. "Good. Now can you do it again? I'll do it with you...

"Good job. Can you tell me where you are right now?"

"Uncle... uncle's house..."

"Harry, open your eyes and look at where you are please." He did, opening one eye, and then the other. "H-Home?"

"Can you tell me what you see right now?" He asked, trying to make sure Harry knew he was at home. Remus slowly moved closer, though he was careful, as to not frighten Harry anymore than he already was. "Th-There's a lamp... a cabinet... bed..."

"Good, good... Can you tell me five things you can see, Hare?"

"B-Bed... L-Luna... Lily, bed... lamp..."

"Four things you can feel." He noticed Harry was no longer hyperventilating, and the tears were starting to slow. "Bed. P-Pyjamas... blankie... y-you..."

"Three things you can hear?"

"You... b-bird? S-Some t-tapping..." Remus glared at Severus, who stopped tapping his foot instantly. "Two things you smell."

"C-Cinnamon... pudding..."

"One thing you taste." After a moment, Harry gave the final answer. "Pudding."

"Are you better now?" he asked gently. When he did not receive any answer of any sort, he questioned if he could touch Harry, and received a small nod. "I'm going to touch you then, okay?" He pulled the small boy into an embrace, rubbing Harry's back lightly.

Is he okay? Severus mouthed. For now, hopefully.

"Okay, Hare. Why don't we go to Daddy's room and try to get some sleep, is that okay?"

"Uncle..." Harry started. "Uncle."

"Uncle? Uncle what?"

"Hurt... U-Uncle hurt me... again... b-burn... cut..." he whispered. "H-He put th-the knife over fire... c-cut me w-with it... i-it's hot... and... and..." Remus saw Severus out of the corner of his eye, about to touch Harry, but shook his head. Wait.

Okay.

"Go on, honey. It's okay. You're safe, I've got you."

"H-He cut m-my arms... m-my tummy... my legs... it was just happening again! I-It was happening, i-it... I-I was th-there! I-It was r-r-real!"

"Harry," Remus stated. "That was not real. That was something called a flashback, okay? It's sort of like... a nightmare, but you're awake. They can happen randomly, or something can trigger them. You feel like something is happening, or you are not where you really are, but you are safe. You are here, with us." He noticed how calm Harry had gotten while he was speaking, and gestures to Severus that it was most likely okay to touch Harry. The raven haired man sat next to Harry and slowly rubbed his shoulder.

"Let's get you to bed, bambi."

"I'm worried about him, Severus," Remus said after they were situated. Harry in the middle, Severus on the left, Remus on the right. "I'm scared for him."

"So am I..."

"I... he's gotten better, from what I've seen. I mean, he didn't put up much of a fight when he visited Poppy and Minnie... but it's going to take years for him to be semi normal..."

"I know." Severus did know. He knew first hand. He was still battling his demons.

"I know you're still hurting, Severus," Remus whispered. "I can help you, too."

"No. I don't need help, we need to help Hare."

"You need to feel okay, too, Severus."

"I-"

"You need to feel loved, Severus." The man felt his face heat up. One day, and this is where they were at? "I'm not saying this as your boyfriend, lover, whatever this is, I'm saying this as your friend."

"I'm trying."

"To?"

"Make myself more vulnerable. Harry loves me, Minnie loves me, you like me. THat's all I really need. Goodnight, Remus."

"Yeah... night, Sev."