Work Text:
Three days after moving into their new house, it occurred to Remus that, despite being together for nearly three decades and surviving two wars, this was the first time he and Sirius had had any opportunity to explore domesticity. Sirius was curled up on their new love seat, long fingers wrapped around one of the mugs Harry had given them as a housewarming gift. Harry had gotten it at Muggle shop— when cold, it was black and had a red frowny face. When filled with hot liquid, it turned yellow with a smiley face. It had instantly become Sirius’ favorite.
Remus poked Sirius with his toe. “You hungry?”
Sirius hummed, taking another sip of coffee. “Isn’t Hanukkah coming up?”
“Uh…” Remus rubbed his chin, thrown by the question. “Yeah?” It starts on December 13th, I think.”
“We should have a party.”
“For Hanukkah?”
“Aye.” Sirius set his mug down and turned, pressing his toes under Remus’ legs. Then he waved his arm at their living room. “Look how much space we have! We could have everyone over and sing songs and drink eggnog and—”
“Sirius, we haven’t even finished unpacking. There’s no way we could plan and execute a party in less than two weeks.”
Sirius looked so distraught that Remus found himself contemplating ways they could plan a party. After several minutes, he spoke. “Maybe…we could have one for Christmas? I think we could get unpacked by then.”
Sirius lit up, but after only a moment, he slouched into the sofa. “You spent all of school complaining about how no one remembered Hanukkah. I don’t want to do that.”
They stared at each other until Remus tilted his head. “What if…we did a small Hanukkah? Andy and Tonks, and Harry…” he froze, and the look on Sirius’ face showed that he was thinking about the same thing.
The last Hanukkah they’d spent with Harry, Remus had brought his mother’s hanukkiah to Godric’s Hollow, and attempted to distract baby Harry from the candles by floating dreidels around his head with moderate success. Lily had charmed some chocolate into coins.
Lily and James weren’t here, but Harry was. And so was Remus. He strode to the boxes labeled ‘MOONY DESK’ and pulled out several pieces of parchment and a quill. “Anyone else?” He called over his shoulder, charming a blue border around the edge.
“Are we giving them a plus one?”
Remus rolled his eyes. “Of course, don’t be ridiculous.”
“I think that’s fine then.”
When Remus closed the window behind their owl, Sirius’ arms snaked around his waist and he pressed his nose behind Remus’ ear. “Cuddle break?”
Remus laughed and he turned in Sirius’ arms so they could kiss properly. “We are having a party in two weeks. We should probably finish unpacking the kitchen.”
Sirius groaned, but scooped his wand off the end table.
To the surprise of only Sirius, actually focusing on unpacking means that they were nearly finished before dinner on day three.
Remus finished up organizing his desk while Sirius bustled in the kitchen. There was nothing Remus could do to fight the smile on his face; Sirius had taken to cooking like a grindylow to water, once Fleur had actually let him in the kitchen. It had been sweet, listening to the two of them converse in rapid French while Sirius took orders from someone who couldn’t reach the top of his head.
But there was no way Remus was going to laugh, especially when he became the primary recipient of Sirius’ cooking endeavors. Just like back in school, Sirius immediately turned new skills into mastered ones. Just as Remus was about to examine the smells wafting from the kitchen more closely, there was a tap at the window.
A letter from Harry, judging by the scrawl on the front—though not the RSVP Remus had expected.
Remus,
Thank you for inviting me to your Hanukkah party. I have never been to one before and I would be delighted to attend. However, I am quite nervous about the ‘plus one’- mine is rather new, and I don’t know if it would be appropriate to bring him. Either way is fine.
Harry
Remus frowned. “Sirius! What do you make of this?” He handed over the letter.
Sirius held it to one side, so as not to get steam on it. “I didn’t know Harry was gay.”
“He might not be gay, Sirius. He could be—”
Sirius whacked him on the shoulder with a ladle. “You know what I mean.”
“He has no obligation to come out to us, Pads. But maybe this is his way of doing so?” Remus fluttered the letter.
“It’s only addressed to you.” Sirius flicks the top of the page, then turns back to the stove.
Remus rolls his eyes and heads back to his desk. Clearly Harry inherited Sirius’ pension for drama. He scribbles a quick response to Harry — Bring them! This is a small thing, no need to worry about the entire Order — and goes to set the table.
By the day of the party, Sirius and Remus have nearly everything unpacked, and Sirius is charming dreidels to flash different colors depending on what they land on. The door reveals Andy, holding her grandson. Remus dutifully kisses her cheek before turning to the women behind her. Tonks and Fleur are almost hovering on the edge of the porch, gloved hands clasped between them.
“Get in here, before you catch a cold.” Remus rolls his eyes at them, and they gratefully hurry inside. “Sirius is in the kitchen, Fleur, I’m sure he would be delighted with some assistance.”
Fleur kisses his cheek and bustles off toward Sirius. Tonks turns to follow, but Remus snags her sleeve. “I’m happy for you,” he murmurs, pulling her into a hug. Tonks flushes but smiles.
Andy is settled in an armchair, Teddy at her feet. He’s examining an oversized dreidel very closely, giggling when he drops it and colored lights erupt from the carved letters. From the kitchen, Remus hears Sirius and Fleur speaking in rapid French, no doubt planning something overly complicated for dessert. Tonks has relaxed back into her usual carefree self, sprawled on the love seat and watching her son.
Remus fetches warm drinks for everyone, pressing a kiss to the back of Sirius’ neck and laughing when Sirius swats at him with a towel.
The wards ring, even though there isn’t a knock at the door. Remus peeks through the curtain. Standing on the porch, having what looks like a very heated argument, is Harry. And Draco Malfoy.
Suddenly, Harry’s cryptic letter makes sense. He wasn’t worried about their reaction to Harry bringing home a boy; Harry was worried about Sirius’ reaction to Harry bringing home Draco . Well. Better here than at the Burrow on Christmas.
Remus opens the door, and both boys jump. “Happy Hanukkah, Harry. Draco. Please come in.”
Harry strides through the door, tugging Draco by his gloved fingers. Draco glares at the door frame, as though it will suddenly spring to life and bar him from the house.
“Hello, Remus, Happy Hanukkah.” Harry glances around. “Looks like you’ve been settling in nicely.”
“No thanks to Sirius, as I’m sure you know.” They laugh, then simultaneously glance at Draco. Remus rolls his eyes and tugs at Draco’s scarf. “Andromeda, Tonks and Teddy are in the den. I would avoid the kitchen unless you want to get put to work.”
Draco’s shoulders relax marginally, and he nods. “Thank you, Professor— “
Remus feels himself flush. “Please. I haven’t been your professor for years. Remus is fine. Have you played dreidel before?”
Draco shakes his head, and Remus leads him to the table. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Harry let out a breath before heading into the den.
Remus and Draco are deeply focused on their game, chocolate in piles across the table, when the gentle background French rises to shouting.
“Uh oh.”
Draco tilts his head, then murmurs, “they are arguing about what type of fat to fry with.”
Remus can’t help his laughter. “Of course they are.”
Determination flashing in his eyes, Draco slowly rises and strides toward the kitchen, but he freezes in the doorway. Sirius stares, his eyes going cold. Remus reaches for his wand, but then Draco speaks softly in French, and Sirius’ entire face lights up. He cheers triumphantly, and Fleur rolls her eyes, throwing her hands up and turning to join Remus at the table. She grabs a piece of chocolate and shoves it rather ungracefully into her mouth.
After a few minutes, Remus peers into the kitchen to find Sirius and Draco side by side, frying latkes and draining them on cooling racks. He gestures for Harry to join him, and when Harry breathes out heavily, Remus wraps his arm around the younger man’s shoulders.
“We trust your judgment, Harry. If you think he’s good enough for you, he’s good enough for us.”
Harry relaxes into Remus’ side. “So Sirius isn’t going to threaten to bury him in an unmarked grave if he hurts me?”
Remus laughs. “He will absolutely do that. But not because of Draco. Just because you’re his godson.”
Within ten minutes, all eight of them are around the table, latkes piled high and glasses filled with butterbeer. Remus twines his fingers with Sirius’, looking around the table. Tonks flashes her hair different colors while Teddy shrieks happily and bangs on his high chair. Andromeda, Fleur and Draco are having a spirited discussion about whether Judah Macabee was a wizard. Remus can practically see the heart eyes on Harry as he gazes at his boyfriend.
“This was a really good idea, Pads,” Remus whispers, and Sirius grins, planting a kiss on Remus’ forehead.
“I’ve been known to have them on occasion.”