“I’m fine,” Brian told the two teens.

“Bullshit,” Justin countered. “Don’t try that shit with me. You know it doesn’t work on me. Remember, I’m on to you.” Justin leaned in and gave his lover a deep kiss while Harry moved a bit, turning away to give the men some modicum of privacy. Professor McGonagall and Auror Shacklebolt didn’t bother.

“It would be appreciated it the two of you would keep any displays like that to the privacy of your rooms,” McGonagall told them, disgust in her voice. “It is not appropriate behavior, especially around young children.” Harry had turned back around at McGonagall’s admonishment and saw the way both Brian and Justin tensed at her words. The two men broke apart and turned stony expressions towards the Deputy Headmistress.

“Really,” Brian said his voice deceptively calm. “And what, exactly, kind of behavior do you find inappropriate?”

“Brian,” McGonagall began, “I’m not sure how they do things in the United States but, over here, in the wizarding world, it is not acceptable for a couple of the same sex to show public displays of affection. As it is, the Headmaster is already unhappy about the fact that you felt the need to bring a Muggle with you; he would prefer it if the two of you would keep any touching you might do behind closed doors. With locking and silencing charms safely in place.”

“And how exactly is our esteemed Headmaster going to explain the fact that I brought a Muggle to Hogwarts?” Brian drawled his voice low. Justin winced when he heard it and Harry, even having only known Brian for a little over a month, knew that it wasn’t a good sign. McGonagall and Shacklebolt completely missed the danger signs.

“The Headmaster plans on telling everyone that Justin is a relative of yours, a younger brother of yours,” McGonagall told them. “That would also explain why you are sharing a room.”

“You’ve got to be fucking joking,” Brian said.

“Brian, that kind of language is also not appropriate,” McGonagall admonished him. “Remember these are impressionable children you’ll be around.”

“Professor, I don’t think it’s all that bad that Brian and Justin are together,” Harry said. “I spent the past month and a half with them and never had a problem with the way they acted.” Before anyone else could say anything, the car stopped. The three men in the back got out, not sure of what they were supposed to be seeing.

“Where the fuck are we?” Justin muttered.

“Gentlemen, if you would recall what I gave you to read,” McGonagall told them. As soon as the three had, they watched in amazement as a house appeared where before there was nothing but an alley. With McGonagall in front and Shacklebolt behind them, Brian, Harry and Justin made their way into 12 Grimmauld Place, although if anyone asked them, they would have told you it felt like they were walking to their doom.

12 Grimmauld Place (same time Harry, Brian and Justin were being picked up)

“Are they here yet?” Sirius Black asked, for what seemed like the tenth time in the past twenty minutes.

“The answer hasn’t changed since the last time you asked, Padfoot,” Remus Lupin told his excited friend, a smile on his face. Despite his calm exterior, Lupin was just as excited as his friend to see Harry again. He had missed his adopted godson almost as much as Sirius had. “Severus said that he would take awhile before Minerva returned with Harry and the others.”

“I still can’t believe Albus sent Harry all the way to America, by himself,” Sirius said. “What was that old man thinking?”

“I can’t tell you, but it worked,” Remus replied. “And, if Harry’s last letter was any indication, this Brian Kinney person took care of Harry. He sounded happy.”

“That he did,” Sirius agreed. “And the uproar he caused when he wrote about the kind of lifestyle Kinney led, I thought Dumbledore and McGonagall were going to freak out, especially when Moody came back and told everyone that Kinney brought his Muggle lover with him.” Lupin laughed as he recalled the Headmaster being speechless for once in his life.

“Well, I’m sure Kinney being gay, and having a Muggle lover, didn’t fit into whatever plans the old man had for him,” Lupin pointed out. “You know that man can’t help but interfere in other people’s lives.”

“Trust me, I know,” spat Sirius. “I overheard the old coot saying something to Molly about wanting to set Kinney up with Tonks. Seemed to think it would be a perfect match and convince Kinney to stay here and help in the fight with Voldemort. He’s still convinced that all it would take is a little bit of prodding to get him to drop this Justin Taylor guy and become a normal wizard.” There was no disguising the disgust in his voice when he said that. “And do you know what Molly and Arthur said? They agreed with him. Turns out they know Kinney, he was friends with Bill it seems, and feel bad about not keeping in touch with him all those years ago. They actually seem to think this guy will forgive them for leaving him on his own back them.”

“As much as I like Molly and Arthur, they do seem to think positively much too often and, a lot of times, about the wrong things and people,” the werewolf stated. “They can never see that, if you hurt someone badly enough, they just might not forgive you. And, from the way Albus was talking, no matter how much he said it needed to be done, they had to have hurt that young boy by not keeping in touch with him. And from what I’ve seen, and what Harry has told us in the past, it seems they’ve passed that onto Ron and Ginny.”

“I know. Harry told me what happened between him and Ron during the Tri-Wizard Tournament,” Sirius said. “I don’t think anyone truly realizes how hurt Harry was when Ron refused to talk to him. Not to mention what that Skeeter woman had said about him. And I’m not even going to say anything about those horrible people that call themselves his family. I’m surprised that Harry has turned out as good as he had considering the way he’s been treated by them.”

“It’s his nature. Its not in him to hate anyone, he inherited it from Lily,” Lupin reminded him. “But, like his mother before him, even Harry has his limits and, if something doesn’t change soon, I think he’s going to reach that limit soon.” The two men heard footsteps getting closer and interrupted their conversation. Remus and Sirius knew that the other people in residence at Order Headquarters did not share their views on the way Harry was being treated and, most especially, not their views on Brian Kinney and his lover.

The two men watched as a pair of red heads and a bushy haired brunette entered the room, all talking excitedly, barely noticing the two men that were already in the room. Lupin and Sirius listened as the group of teens discussed the upcoming school year and the imminent arrival of Harry and the others.

“I can’t wait until Harry gets here,” the youngest of the trio, Ginny Weasley, said. “It will be great to see him again and I’m sure that he’ll be happy to be back here instead of all the way over in America.”

“I still can’t believe that the Headmaster sent him all the way over there by himself,” Hermione stated. “And for so long too.”

“I don’t think Harry was supposed to be there for so long,” Ron, the only boy in the group told them. “Harry was probably just supposed to go over and talk to that Kinney guy and then they were both supposed to come back before this. Remember how upset my parents were when Harry didn’t come back in July.”

“Well, did anyone ask Harry why he didn’t come back then?” Lupin asked, surprising the teens and causing them to jump. “When you wrote to him, did you inquire as to why he didn’t return before this?”

“I didn’t write Harry,” Ginny stated simply.

“I didn’t either.”

“I didn’t send him anything.” Lupin and Sirius looked at the trio, surprised. They couldn’t believe that none of them, all of whom called themselves Harry’s friends, had written to the boy while he was away. Hermione seemed to sense the feelings of the two adults and tried to explain the teens’ reasons for their silence. “I know it sounds bad but, if you think about it, do you really think Harry would have wanted to hear about what we were doing over the summer while he was being forced to stay with a stranger. After everything that Harry went through this year with the tournament and Cedric, I’m sure the last thing he wanted to know was that the Weasleys took all of us to France and that Ron and I are now together.”

“So, instead, you thought it would be better for him to think that his friends forgot about him?” Sirius spat, angry on his godson’s behalf. It was bad enough that he hadn’t been able to write to Harry to make sure the teen was doing alright, knowing that because he was still a wanted criminal it was too dangerous, but to hear that even Harry’s friends didn’t contact him upset him even more. “Didn’t you think that after everything that had happened, especially because of what had happened that Harry might need his friends around him more than ever? That he might like to know that his friends were there for him if he needed to talk?”

Ron and the girls looked down at the floor, ashamed. It had never occurred to them that their silence would hurt Harry. In fact, they hadn’t even thought what his reaction might be when they didn’t write him. It was almost as if it was ‘out of sight, out of mind’ in regards to their friend. None of them meant to be cruel; it just seemed, at times, almost easier to forget about Harry. It was easier, that way, to have a normal childhood, something Harry hadn’t had, ever.

“Harry knows we’re here for him if he needs us,” Ron countered. “Anyway, what does any of that matter? Harry will be here soon, so everything will be like normal.” Lupin and Sirius looked at each other; somehow both of them knowing that there was a good chance that Dumbledore might have caused Harry to look at life a little differently by sending the boy to America. If Brian Kinney’s reaction towards those that had met them at the airport when they first arrived in London was any indication, and the way that he had stated Harry was basically under his protection, the man might not be too happy with the way Harry’s friends treat him.

“They’re here,” the group heard from somewhere in the house.” Ron, Ginny and Hermione ran out of the room, leaving behind the original two occupants.

“Why is it, I think, that things are just about to get really interesting, Mister Padfoot?” Lupin asked.

“Because, my dear Mister Moony,” answered Sirius, “when it comes to this group, how can things be any different.”