Tainted Fantasy

Title: For Harry
Fandom: Harry Potter Fandom
Rating: Teen
Genre: Drama, Light Angst, Friendship
Main Characters: Harry Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin
Relationships: Gen
Warning: n/a
Word Count: 844
Summary: Sirius and Remus change things for Harry.
Author Note: Written for Hermione’s Nook’s fest for Harry
and Neville’s Birthday Celebration 2023 where my prompt was intelligence, and the word count had to be 500-1000. This was originally posted July 25, 2023 on Ao3.

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November 01, 1981

“Thank Merlin that I have you,” Sirius Black said to the man standing before him as he held his godson Harry Potter in his arms.

“I didn’t do much; I only reminded you not to do something stupid and forget that Harry needs you to know,” Remus Lupin shrugged.

“He needs us,” Sirius corrected.

“Right,” Remus replied.

Harry stirred in his sleep a bit, making the two wizards stop moving and start being as quiet as they possibly could until the toddler settled back into Sirius’s arms and fell into a deep sleep. Both men sighed in relief.

“Does anyone know where Peter is?” Sirius asked.

“No, but the Order said they have people looking for him, even so with his animagus, it will be hard,” Remus answered.

“I don’t know what I would do without you, Remus,” Sirius looked his friend in the eyes. Still, when Remus started to speak, Sirius cut him off and continued, “Seriously, I would have done something stupid and dangerous as well as fell into whatever trap that the rat set, and we both know it. Luckily for me, you are the smart one; you stopped me and saved Harry. Without your intelligence, who knows what would have happened to us.

“Peter was always good with tricks, apparently much more so than we all realized,” Remus said.

“There is obviously a lot of stuff that he kept hidden away; I never saw this coming, Moony,” Sirius frowned.

“Neither did I, Padfoot,” Remus agreed sadly.

“What do you think about the Order?” Sirius asked.

“What do you mean?” Remus asked a question of his own.

“Well, when we told them about Peter, it seemed like a majority of them, especially Dumbledore, wanted to blame me. Then there was the start of the discussion of them saying to take Harry away. Truthfully, it makes me want to either step back or withdraw from the Order,” Sirius explained.

“I think I was too shocked at the time to have followed anything in that meeting, but looking back, it is all very concerning. I don’t blame you; both are the right course of action. Right now, we should start stepping back and later withdraw. I will put out some owls to ensure everything about Peter isn’t covered up,” Remus replied.

“That sounds like a plan,” Sirius said.

“I’m only wondering who would have gotten Harry if Dumbledore had his way,” Remus questioned out loud.

“That is what I have been wondering about myself because he should be with me. James has no family left, Lily’s sister would be unwilling, and most of the Order wouldn’t be an option. Which makes it all so suspicious,” Sirius adjusted Harry in his arms.

“Nothing about this feels right, and looking back, his reaction was off about everything. It was as if he expected you to do something completely different than you did,” Remus speculated.

“And I would have if you hadn’t been clever enough to stop me; it’s like Dumbledore didn’t think you would.”

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November 01, 1982

“Dad,” the young boy called out, running as fast as a two-year-old could to the man with long dark hair and wide open arms.

“Harry,” Sirius swept up the toddler.

“Harry, you should show your dad what you made him today,” suggested a voice that came from behind.

“Okay,” Harry ran off into the home.

“What is it?” Sirius asked.

“We got more owls from the Order demanding the return of Harry and for us to rejoin.” Remus sighed.

“I have hoped that the publicity with Peter and my standing with the Auror Department would have helped protect Harry, protect us,” Sirius rubbed his temples.

“I had the same thoughts, but it seems like Dumbledore has an agenda, and we have no idea what he has been telling the Order members,” Remus huffed.

“He must have one, and all I know is whatever he has been saying about us is not good and lies. Especially considering some of the treatment that I have gotten. Just yesterday, Molly Weasley tried to shove herself into me. Still, luckily, I saw her coming and was able to avoid her. Moony, everything Dumbledore has been doing makes me question everything, including the prophecy,” Sirius crossed his arms.

“I’m glad it was you and not me,” Remus chuckled. “Molly has always been unstable, but that had gotten worse after the birth of her twin sons,” Remus shook his head.

“It’s hard to believe that she was ever less insane than she is now; it makes me worry for the children since I can’t imagine Arthur sticking up for them to his wife,” Sirius grimaced.

“Neither can I,” Remus agreed.

“I’ve been thinking about leaving England,” Sirius changed the subject. “They will never stop, and I want peace, and Harry can’t grow up like this.”

“Where will you go?” Remus asked.

“I haven’t decided, but I want you to come with us,” Sirius said.

“I don’t know what to say,” Remus admitted.

“Say yes, for Harry,” Sirius suggested.

“For Harry.”