au_muses: Playground. [january]
Prompt: playground.
The first thing Remus had found on the nightstand after waking up was a note from Sirius, saying that he had taken Harry to the park that was just down the street from where they were staying.
One look towards the window, and he could see that behind the curtains the bright afternoon sun was already shining. Which meant that he must have fallen asleep again after his shower in the morning and had slept for part of the afternoon already. Usually he hated sleeping during the day, but even if the full moon had already passed three days ago his body wasn't back to normal just yet. Thankfully he was on holiday for the summer and staying with Sirius and Harry, so he didn't have to head back to work right away.
Not wanting to waste more of the day, Remus got out of bed, put on his shoes and walked over to the park. When he caught sight of Sirius in the playground, pushing Harry on a swing, Remus stopped walking and leaned against a nearby tree so he could watch them. He would sit, but he was tired of sitting or laying down.
It didn't take long for Harry to spot him, and at once the four-year old boy grinned and jumped off the swing without even thinking twice about it so he could run towards him. "Uncle Remus!" he said happily as he hugged him once he reached him. "Dad was feeling better and brought me to the park. You're feeling better, too?"
Remus' lips tugged into a smile and, before he could answer, Sirius had already crossed the playground as well. Even if he didn't say it, Remus could see Harry's same question in his gray eyes. "Yes, I am. I needed some fresh air so I figured I'd join you."
Harry didn't look entirely convinced, though. Stepping back a couple of steps from them, he tilted his head as he examined his uncle's face. Sirius couldn't help but smirk at the sight, and at the way that Remus' cheeks seemed to redden in the slightest.
"So, doctor," Sirius said as he turned to Harry, "what's the prognosis? Should Remus be out and about?"
"Well he still looks a bit peaky, doesn't he?"
"Hmm, a bit yes."
"But maybe if you stay but sit, Uncle Remus..."
For a brief moment Remus actually wondered if they had already practiced this. Especially when Harry gave him those same puppy eyes that he had learned so well from Sirius, and Sirius had to stifle a laugh as he added in the best straight-face that he could muster. "There's a very nice bench over there, closer to the playground. Plenty of shade."
It took Remus all he had not to pinch the bridge of his nose. "But--"
"Ah. Doctor's orders, Moony."
"And you can watch me as I climb the monkey bars!" Harry added as he beamed a grin at Remus, which was rather unfair after that puppy eyed look. But just as Remus was about to protest again, he caught sight of the scratches on the back of Sirius' neck that Moony had managed to get in over the full moon. His stomach clenched at once, because he hadn't noticed the scratches earlier since his mind was still somewhat scattered. Sirius was doing a good job at covering them with the collar of the shirt he was wearing, but now that he could see them Remus just gave a small nod in agreement without another word to complain.
This didn't fool Sirius, of course. He knew Remus well enough to catch the very brief flicker of guilt that had flashed in his eyes once Harry ran back towards the playground. Instead of saying anything, he reached for his hand before Remus could walk towards the bench and gave it a small squeeze. Remus knew Sirius well enough to know what that meant - that he shouldn't worry. That he understood it hadn't been him. That Padfoot would do it again as many times as he had to. With a small and grateful nod, Remus returned the squeeze before nodding towards Harry to let him know that he should go with him and that he was fine.
Sirius continued playing with Harry in the playground and Remus watched from the bench. Harry was under the impression that he just wasn't feeling well, since he had yet to know the truth of where his dad and uncle disappeared to every full moon, but that was fine with Remus. It was more than fine, actually, because he didn't want to burden Harry with that yet. And, since he only got to see Remus not feeling well whenever he was on holiday with them, he didn't have to know about this happening every month.
Being with them made him feel so much better, though. More than once, while watching them, he had caught himself actually laughing, feeling as close to normal as he could feel. The effects of the moon were much easier to deal with then.
As the sun started to set and the rest of the children and parents started to go home, Harry climbed to the top of the slide and Remus watched with a smile. But that smile disappeared as soon as he saw just how fast he had been able to slide, and then how Sirius seemed to stumble a bit when he caught Harry at the bottom from the speed. Standing at once, Remus rushed over to them but as he noticed how both Sirius and Harry couldn't stop laughing. As much as Remus tried to keep a straight face, he found that...well, he couldn't. Not when Harry looked so happy, and that barking laugh Sirius had was managing to tug at the corners of his lips.
At least his tone didn't sound so amused. "You charmed the slide, didn't you."
Now it wasn't Harry the one that used the puppy eyes; it was Sirius himself. "Honestly, Remus. Does that sound like something I would do?"
Just as Remus was about to level a look, he caught sight of Harry giggling under his breath which made Remus lose whatever 'control' he had and chuckle under his breath as well. It really wasn't fair, both of them teaming up against him even if they didn't actually know it when his defenses weren't up to normal.
Before he could say anything and point that out, the sound of an ice cream truck made both Remus and Harry turn at once. It was probably the last round the ice cream truck would make, and after hearing it pass by more than once, Remus turned back to Harry. "I'm hungry. Would you like some ice cream?"
Both Sirius and Harry blinked in surprise. Not only because Remus was usually against eating sweets or ice cream so close to dinner time, but because he hadn't been eating much over the past few days. "...Uncle Remus but aren't we having dinner soon?"
"Well yes," Remus responded, managing to keep his expression neutral even if the looks on their faces were making it very hard for him to hold it in place. "But why don't we start with dessert first? After a day at the playground, I think we must."
Harry positively beamed. "Yes! Ice cream!" A beat, and then he added matter-of-factly, "And I think you need it. That will make you feel loads better, you know."
Sirius smirked. "You think so?"
"Ah," Remus said before Harry could answer, eyes twinkling. "Doctor's orders, Padfoot."
Sirius pretended to sigh loudly. "Fine... I can't argue with that, can I."
"Nope," Harry said with a happy grin, taking their hands in his so he could pull them towards the ice cream truck faster. "Come on, before he leaves! Can we come back tomorrow and do this again?"
"Of course." Sirius grinned at Remus even if he was answering Harry. "We have to get your uncle to try out just how fun that slide is."
Remus gave him a look then, which made Sirius laugh that laugh of his, and Remus just shook his head as he laughed under his breath as well. Maybe he wouldn't try the slide, but he had to admit that he did want to come back to the playground. At least to observe and make sure that Harry didn't go too fast, even if he wholeheartedly trusted Sirius. It would just...be better if they were both there, right?
While they waited for their ice cream, Remus just took a deep breath as he felt the warm summer breeze, and he smiled when he caught Sirius looking at him with a smile of his own, relieved that he was feeling better. Even if the days after the full moon were sometimes not the best because of how he felt physically, mentally Remus already felt better and stronger. Especially with the two of them there. Maybe he really did need the fresh air and some sun as well. Maybe it was just a combination of all those things.
The moon might turn his world upside down, but he knew well enough that Sirius and Harry had the power to turn it back to normal. Which he was glad and thankful for, because it helped him finally enjoy with them the relaxing summer afternoon.
word count: 1,561
The first thing Remus had found on the nightstand after waking up was a note from Sirius, saying that he had taken Harry to the park that was just down the street from where they were staying.
One look towards the window, and he could see that behind the curtains the bright afternoon sun was already shining. Which meant that he must have fallen asleep again after his shower in the morning and had slept for part of the afternoon already. Usually he hated sleeping during the day, but even if the full moon had already passed three days ago his body wasn't back to normal just yet. Thankfully he was on holiday for the summer and staying with Sirius and Harry, so he didn't have to head back to work right away.
Not wanting to waste more of the day, Remus got out of bed, put on his shoes and walked over to the park. When he caught sight of Sirius in the playground, pushing Harry on a swing, Remus stopped walking and leaned against a nearby tree so he could watch them. He would sit, but he was tired of sitting or laying down.
It didn't take long for Harry to spot him, and at once the four-year old boy grinned and jumped off the swing without even thinking twice about it so he could run towards him. "Uncle Remus!" he said happily as he hugged him once he reached him. "Dad was feeling better and brought me to the park. You're feeling better, too?"
Remus' lips tugged into a smile and, before he could answer, Sirius had already crossed the playground as well. Even if he didn't say it, Remus could see Harry's same question in his gray eyes. "Yes, I am. I needed some fresh air so I figured I'd join you."
Harry didn't look entirely convinced, though. Stepping back a couple of steps from them, he tilted his head as he examined his uncle's face. Sirius couldn't help but smirk at the sight, and at the way that Remus' cheeks seemed to redden in the slightest.
"So, doctor," Sirius said as he turned to Harry, "what's the prognosis? Should Remus be out and about?"
"Well he still looks a bit peaky, doesn't he?"
"Hmm, a bit yes."
"But maybe if you stay but sit, Uncle Remus..."
For a brief moment Remus actually wondered if they had already practiced this. Especially when Harry gave him those same puppy eyes that he had learned so well from Sirius, and Sirius had to stifle a laugh as he added in the best straight-face that he could muster. "There's a very nice bench over there, closer to the playground. Plenty of shade."
It took Remus all he had not to pinch the bridge of his nose. "But--"
"Ah. Doctor's orders, Moony."
"And you can watch me as I climb the monkey bars!" Harry added as he beamed a grin at Remus, which was rather unfair after that puppy eyed look. But just as Remus was about to protest again, he caught sight of the scratches on the back of Sirius' neck that Moony had managed to get in over the full moon. His stomach clenched at once, because he hadn't noticed the scratches earlier since his mind was still somewhat scattered. Sirius was doing a good job at covering them with the collar of the shirt he was wearing, but now that he could see them Remus just gave a small nod in agreement without another word to complain.
This didn't fool Sirius, of course. He knew Remus well enough to catch the very brief flicker of guilt that had flashed in his eyes once Harry ran back towards the playground. Instead of saying anything, he reached for his hand before Remus could walk towards the bench and gave it a small squeeze. Remus knew Sirius well enough to know what that meant - that he shouldn't worry. That he understood it hadn't been him. That Padfoot would do it again as many times as he had to. With a small and grateful nod, Remus returned the squeeze before nodding towards Harry to let him know that he should go with him and that he was fine.
Sirius continued playing with Harry in the playground and Remus watched from the bench. Harry was under the impression that he just wasn't feeling well, since he had yet to know the truth of where his dad and uncle disappeared to every full moon, but that was fine with Remus. It was more than fine, actually, because he didn't want to burden Harry with that yet. And, since he only got to see Remus not feeling well whenever he was on holiday with them, he didn't have to know about this happening every month.
Being with them made him feel so much better, though. More than once, while watching them, he had caught himself actually laughing, feeling as close to normal as he could feel. The effects of the moon were much easier to deal with then.
As the sun started to set and the rest of the children and parents started to go home, Harry climbed to the top of the slide and Remus watched with a smile. But that smile disappeared as soon as he saw just how fast he had been able to slide, and then how Sirius seemed to stumble a bit when he caught Harry at the bottom from the speed. Standing at once, Remus rushed over to them but as he noticed how both Sirius and Harry couldn't stop laughing. As much as Remus tried to keep a straight face, he found that...well, he couldn't. Not when Harry looked so happy, and that barking laugh Sirius had was managing to tug at the corners of his lips.
At least his tone didn't sound so amused. "You charmed the slide, didn't you."
Now it wasn't Harry the one that used the puppy eyes; it was Sirius himself. "Honestly, Remus. Does that sound like something I would do?"
Just as Remus was about to level a look, he caught sight of Harry giggling under his breath which made Remus lose whatever 'control' he had and chuckle under his breath as well. It really wasn't fair, both of them teaming up against him even if they didn't actually know it when his defenses weren't up to normal.
Before he could say anything and point that out, the sound of an ice cream truck made both Remus and Harry turn at once. It was probably the last round the ice cream truck would make, and after hearing it pass by more than once, Remus turned back to Harry. "I'm hungry. Would you like some ice cream?"
Both Sirius and Harry blinked in surprise. Not only because Remus was usually against eating sweets or ice cream so close to dinner time, but because he hadn't been eating much over the past few days. "...Uncle Remus but aren't we having dinner soon?"
"Well yes," Remus responded, managing to keep his expression neutral even if the looks on their faces were making it very hard for him to hold it in place. "But why don't we start with dessert first? After a day at the playground, I think we must."
Harry positively beamed. "Yes! Ice cream!" A beat, and then he added matter-of-factly, "And I think you need it. That will make you feel loads better, you know."
Sirius smirked. "You think so?"
"Ah," Remus said before Harry could answer, eyes twinkling. "Doctor's orders, Padfoot."
Sirius pretended to sigh loudly. "Fine... I can't argue with that, can I."
"Nope," Harry said with a happy grin, taking their hands in his so he could pull them towards the ice cream truck faster. "Come on, before he leaves! Can we come back tomorrow and do this again?"
"Of course." Sirius grinned at Remus even if he was answering Harry. "We have to get your uncle to try out just how fun that slide is."
Remus gave him a look then, which made Sirius laugh that laugh of his, and Remus just shook his head as he laughed under his breath as well. Maybe he wouldn't try the slide, but he had to admit that he did want to come back to the playground. At least to observe and make sure that Harry didn't go too fast, even if he wholeheartedly trusted Sirius. It would just...be better if they were both there, right?
While they waited for their ice cream, Remus just took a deep breath as he felt the warm summer breeze, and he smiled when he caught Sirius looking at him with a smile of his own, relieved that he was feeling better. Even if the days after the full moon were sometimes not the best because of how he felt physically, mentally Remus already felt better and stronger. Especially with the two of them there. Maybe he really did need the fresh air and some sun as well. Maybe it was just a combination of all those things.
The moon might turn his world upside down, but he knew well enough that Sirius and Harry had the power to turn it back to normal. Which he was glad and thankful for, because it helped him finally enjoy with them the relaxing summer afternoon.
word count: 1,561