Chapter 68:

As Remus slowly woke up, he started to come back to himself a little more, though he didn't seem particularly embarrassed by his behaviour. He pressed another kiss to Snape's jaw, then scooted his chair back to its usual spot.

Ceri set breakfast out, and none of them bothered waiting for Sirius to appear, tucking in with aplomb. He showed up about ten minutes later, dressed and ready for the day. "Morning, you lot. Moony, did you even sleep last night, or did Snape keep you up? Oops, sorry Harry," he added when the teen blushed brightly. "I'm just saying, you look like you could do with a few more hours."

"I'm awake," Remus promised. "It's just taking a bit for my human brain to kick in."

"Pfft, human brains," Sirius dismissed. "Who needs 'em?"

"Is it hard to become an animagus?" Harry asked suddenly, the thought crossing his mind. Sirius blinked. "I mean, it's not easy. There's a reason most people don't do it. But most witches and wizards are capable."

"How old were you and Dad when you did it?"

"Sixteen or so," Sirius said, brow furrowed in thought. "Got the idea halfway through fifth year, managed the transformations by Christmas in sixth. So yeah, sixteen, seventeen-ish. So wait until you're a little older," he added with a grin. Harry pouted.

"Can't I at least find out what animal I'd be?" he wheedled. Sirius barked out a laugh.

"That's a slippery slope, little pup. Once you know, it's hard to wait. Unless you're something awful, like a slug." He stuffed a huge piece of toast in his mouth. When he'd swallowed, he eyed Harry in consideration. "Tell you what, you keep up your grades through fourth year, maybe I'll start teaching you in your fifth. Could come in handy."

Harry brightened up considerably; that was easy!. "It's a deal."

"That includes your Arithmancy and Runes grades, alright? There will be tests. Won't there, Remus?"

"Absolutely. Gruelling ones," Remus agreed, perking up now he'd had his second cup of tea. "Harder than your OWLs." Once Harry had finished all his homework, he'd requested his schoolwork sessions be turned into Arithmancy and Runes lessons. He had so many regrets about his choices of elective, but it was too late now.

"I'll pass them," Harry declared confidently. He finished off his orange juice, and Ceri took his empty plate off the table to be washed. "What are we doing today?"

"We don't need to leave until six, so until then, whatever you want," Sirius replied. Harry's interest was piqued.

"Where are we going at six?"

Sirius grinned wolfishly. "It's a surprise." Harry huffed; Sirius never spoiled surprises. "Can we go swimming for a bit?" His prior experience of swimming pools was the obligatory lessons in muggle primary school to make sure kids knew how to not drown. Considering Dudley's favourite past-time in those lessons was actively trying to drown Harry, he hadn't really enjoyed them. Now, he found he quite liked being in the water.

"Sounds good to me. What are you two up to?" He turned the question to Remus and Snape, who shared a glance.

"I had no prior plans," Snape replied. "Though I won't be here tomorrow. The headmaster has need of me for something." All four of them shared a dark look at the mention of Dumbledore. Harry ambled back upstairs to change into his swimming trunks, and he didn't wait for Sirius before heading to the pool, running the last couple of steps to jump in with a splash. He heard a loud bark behind him, and turned just in time to be hit with a wave of water as a huge dog cannon-balled into the pool. Laughing, Harry swam over to the edge, watching Sirius' doggy paddle turn into an effortless front crawl as he changed from dog to man. "Got you there, pup," he teased, ruffling Harry's wet hair. Harry ducked out of the way, diving under the water once more, grateful for the charms Snape had added to his glasses so he could see underwater with them.

He sat in the shallow end for a bit, watching Sirius swim lazy lengths. Even after just a few weeks of freedom, he was looking years better from his time in Azkaban and on the run. You couldn't see all of his ribs anymore, and he actually had some muscle definition to his arms and shoulders, his olive-toned skin taking on a bit of colour from the sun. Nothing, he kept insisting, like he'd looked in 'the good old days', but he looked healthier.

Harry, too, was looking a lot better for his Dursley-free summer. Ceri's cooking combined with hours in the pool or on his broom — or duelling with Remus and Sirius, which was a workout in itself was helping him pack on quite a bit of muscle. He hadn't grown much taller, only a couple of inches, but he was starting to look less like a starving runaway. Joining his godfather in his swimming, trying halfheartedly to race the man, Harry didn't realise they had company until a body splashed into the pool. There was a beat, and then Remus' head popped up out of the water, his hair flat against his forehead and a grin on his face. Harry beamed at him. Remus hardly ever came swimming with them!

To his utter astonishment, Remus wasn't alone. Snape was walking towards the pool wearing a pair of black swimming shorts and a plain grey t-shirt, a book tucked under his arm, his Dark Mark a grey smudge on his left forearm. He cast a disparaging look at the trio frolicking in the pool, then stretched himself out on one of the deck chairs nearby. Harry couldn't look away from his pale, hairy calves. Snape, in shorts. Ron would never believe him.

Ron would never believe a lot about Harry's summer.

Harry swam towards Remus, who ducked underwater and tackled Harry around the waist, throwing him up and towards Sirius. He hit the water with a splash that almost reached Snape, who glared from behind his book. "Do you mind?"

"Not really," Sirius replied nonchalantly, splashing a little more water in his direction. Harry snickered before he could help himself.

"Where's that beach ball got to?" Remus asked, looking around for the brightly coloured inflatable they'd brought back from their trip to the seaside. Harry looked around, saw it wedged under a deck chair, and grinned to himself. He focused his magic, reaching a hand out towards the ball.

"Accio beach ball," he whispered. There was a brief tug, and the ball zoomed towards him.

"Look at you!" Sirius cheered, diving over to sprawl on Harry's shoulders, beaming delightedly. "A wandless Summoning charm, you little show-off!" Harry's cheeks glowed with pride. He'd been working on it for a while, using the book he'd bought to help him stay more aware of his magical core. After the extra spells Snape had found on him, he didn't ever want to be at the mercy of someone else's magic again.

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