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After completing his eighth year at Hogwarts, Harry received an immediate offer for an Auror position, alongside Ron. Meanwhile, Hermione was diligently climbing the ranks within the Ministry.
Months passed, life seemed perfect, apart from the searing hole in Harry heart.
The loss of Sirius haunted him mercilessly. Though he had only known the man for a short time, Harry now resided in Sirius's home and should know more about the man he called his godfather.
After pouring out his heart to his newly wedded best friends over a cup of tea, Hermione advised him to sift through Sirius's room, theorising that he might uncover some old belongings of the man.
Harry bid his friends a hasty farewell and practically sprinted upstairs, barrelling into Sirius's room with newfound determination and hope.
He meticulously searched every nook and cranny, but still he emerged empty-handed. He returned everything to its original place, wanting to preserve the room they way Sirius had left it and flopped onto the bed with a heavy sigh.
But something felt weird; he tossed and turned trying to get comfortable until he realised that something was prodding him. He lifted the mattress, uncovering a wooden box.
Bingo!
A smile spread across Harry's face as he pulled the box onto the bed. Upon lifting the lid, he found an assortment of items: a pack of cigarettes, pins from artists and bands like Bowie, The Smiths, Queen, and Pink Floyd. Amidst the trinkets lay numerous photographs, each likely holding dear memories now lost to time.
However, it was the photographs that captivated him the most. One, dated July 31, 1980, his birthday, depicted Lily lying in a hospital bed, gazing fondly at Sirius, who clumsily held a newborn Harry in his arms, a look of overwhelming awe on his face, while James laughed heartily, a supportive hand on Sirius's shoulder.
Tears prickled at Harry's eyes. He could've grown up around so many loving people.
Another photo depicts Remus and Pettigrew sitting closely together, entirely engrossed in a book. Harry's smile fades almost instantly. He sometimes forgets that Pettigrew was actually friends with the Marauders, which makes the betrayal all the more painful.
There are so many more pictures:
One shows James kneeling in front of a furious and embarrassed-looking Lily, reading her a poem infront of the whole great hall.
An enraged Snape with red hair, wearing Gryffindor robes, while the Marauders grin mischievously in the background.
Another captures Padfoot cuddling up to Remus, who holds a book in one hand while petting the attention-seeking dog with the other.
There's a picture of Remus, Sirius, and James on a tree, with James trying to pull up Peter who is attempting to climb it.
They're all sitting together on the Hogwarts Express as kids. James has an arm slung over Sirius's shoulder, both of them grinning brightly enough to light up the entire cabin. Peter has an array of chocolates on his lap and offers one to Remus, who smiles at him appreciatively.
A selfie shows a tortured-looking Pettigrew and James, with heavy eye bags and amused annoyance clear on their faces. It's the only picture with something written on it: "They forgot the silencing charms again."
Harry looks at it, utterly confused.Then he sees two other pictures, and everything becomes very clear.
It's a picture of Sirius straddling Remus's lap, both of them enveloped in a kiss, Lily and James high-fiving each other in the background.
And the other is a picture of James and Lily dancing closely together at a party, clearly a couple. Next to them Sirius and Remus were dancing together looking equally in love, also..clearly a couple..
What.The.Fuck.
Had Remus and Sirius been dating?
His godfather and former professor were queer? And they had been open about it to their friends. James and Lily had accepted them.
Harry's heart unclenches and somehow the empty hole in his chest felt patched.
Hold up.
"They forgot the silencing charms again."
SIRIUS AND REMUS HAD BEEN SHAGGING.
HIS TEACHER AND GODFATHER SHAGGED.
A month later
As Harry strolled down Diagon Alley, a newly opened shop caught his curiosity: “Malfoy’s Magical Couple Portraits.”
Malfoy as in Draco Malfoy. Harry's jaw is wide open and he has to manually close it to prevent any fairys from flying in.
There stood Draco Malfoy behind the counter, scribbling something on a piece of paper, his concentration evident with the tip of his tongue peeking out slightly. Wisps of blonde hair framed his face, a stark contrast to the gelled-up hairstyle of his school days.
Finally, Draco stopped writing and glanced up, his grey eyes meeting Harry’s green ones. His expression shifted from concentration to confusion, then settled into practiced indifference.
“Potter,” he said coolly.
“Malfoy,” Harry replied.
Their gazes locked, a silent exchange that felt oddly familiar yet tinged with an underlying tension. Draco sighed, tucking the stray strands of hair behind his ear.
“What can I do for you?” His voice, seemingly calm and collected, was betrayed by a hint of nervousness.
“You do portraits?” Harry blurted out.
“What an astute observation, Potter, as sharp as ever,” Draco retorted with a hint of their old schoolyard insult trade-offs, though lacking any maliciousness, replaced now by weariness.
Thinking on his feet, Harry managed to say, “I would like to commission a portrait.”
Draco’s response was curt, maintaining eye contact. “Of whom?”
Harry does think quickly on his feet, but the results of his thinking are usually shit.
"Of whom?" Draco says curtly, maintaining eye contact.
"Uhh"
"How eloquent you've become Potter I'm thoroughly impressed." Draco spits snidely, a grin forming on his face.
"Sirius Black and Remus Lupin." the words tumble out of Harry mouth before he can stop them.
Draco can't hide the surprise that etches into his features.
"You want a magical portrait of my disinherited uncle and our former werewolf professor." Draco raises a brow.
"Yes." Harry replies as eloquently as ever.
"I only do couples portraits only and I'm most certainly not making an exception for you Potter. Find someone else to do your bidding, I'm sure they fall at your feet." Draco informs, sounding awfully smug and yet so dull.
"That's good then. I guess you'll have to take my commission, since those two were dating." it's Harry's time to look smug at Dracos befuddled espressiom, then a thought occurs to him and he adds, "I would also like to commision another portrait."
Draco gives him a dry look then he summons a contract and starts talking buisness.
"One portrait per person at a time. I will draw a picture of them, in order to bring them to life I'll need you to hand over memories of them, which means you'll have to let me perform Legilimancy on you. Not that there's much to see in your empty Gryffindor head. This contract gives me consent to perform the spell." he levitates the shoves the contract at Harry.
Harry doesn't even read it before signing, which is incredibly stupid on second thought.
"I recommed you read the terms and conditions next time you decide to sign a contract, you're lucky I didn't make you sign over everything you have to your name." Draco sounds absolutely unamused and very condescending.
"I suppose it's because I just trust you so much."Harry smirks at Draco who now looks annoyed, but there's a pink hue to his cheeks that Harry doesn't miss and it makes him smirk even more and Draco turns pinker.
"Follow me."Draco commands and quickly turns his back to Harry, walking towards a room in the back.
Harry follow Draco without complaints and appreciates the way the mans trousers hug his form. Then he averts his gaze, realising he had just checked out his former arch nemesis.
Draco came to a halt, and Harry realized they were standing in a room filled with books and art supplies. A solitary chair sat in the center, and Draco gestured for Harry to take a seat.
As Harry settled into the chair, Draco began to explain the process of the Legilimency.
With Harry's consent, Draco pointed his wand at Harry's head and performed the spell. Harry lowered his Occlumency walls, allowing Draco access to his mind.
A soft, shy magic enters Harry's thoughts, it felt strangely comforting and stable. Harry found himself enjoying the sensation of Dracos magic until the spell abruptly ceased, and he looked up to see Draco's startled expression.
"You just... never mind," Draco stammered. "The spell is done, and I have all the information I need. You can let yourself out. Come pick up the painting in a week's time."
Harry leaves the shop in a confused daze, wondering why Draco looked like a dear caught in headlights when he pulled out of Harry's mind.
One week later.
Harry enters the shop and a voice somewhere in the shop screams "in the back". Harry follows Dracos voice to a door he hadn't noticed the first timr around.
As Harry stepped inside, he was greeted by a quaint atelier, bathed in the soft glow of the natural light streaming in through the colorfully stained windows. It created a mesmerisingly colorful light display in the room.
The atelier was filled with painted canvases, each one a testament to the artistic skill within.
His eyes were drawn to Draco, who stood in the middle of the creative chaos, wearing a white apron splattered with so many different colours. Draco dipped his brush into pots of vibrant paint, his hand guiding each stroke with graceful movements. In here, Draco seemed to be in his element, completely immersed in the act of painting. The atmosphere was charged with creativity, and Harru loved it.
Draco turns around seeming to have sensed Harrys presence.
Harry noticed a green spot of paint on Dracos cheek.
"Potter, your portrait is ready." Draco points to a canvas covered with a dark green silk cloth– Harry rolls his eyes internally.
"Thank you, Malfoy. Next time I'll order one of my parents, if you work is satisfying..which I'm sure it is." He smiles at Draco, walking towards the man.
Once they're face to face he smirks and reaches out to touch Draco'a face. Harry can hear Draco exhalted breathing, but he merely cups the man's chin and wipes away the splash of green paint with his other hand.
Amused Harry notices that though the green splat of color may now be abesent,it is instead replaced by a bright pink blush.
He turns around and leaves the shop with his painting in tow. Draco stares after Harry, tracing the spot Harry just touched with his own finger, still breathing heavy looking absolutely abashed.
Grimmauld Place
Harry hangs up the portrait in Sirius's room, it seemed like a fitting place. He removes the green silk cover and is faced with an exact replica of Remus and Sirius. It's almost as if they've come alive. Harry blinks when painting Remus and painting Sirius speak to him.
"Ah my godson!"
"Harry, you look well kid!"
Harry almost breaks into tears right then and there, but he keeps himself in check.
"Hi." he says.
"I never thought someone would make a portrait of me, but I suppose I'm much more nice to look at that the ghastly picture of my mother."Sirius grins.
"Yes, you most definitely are." Remus replies and Harrys laughs.
"Oh Moony, that's because you're deeply in love with me!" Sirius is now turned to Remus looking head over heels.
"Yes, yes I most definitely am." Remus smiles at his boyfriend.
Harry clears his throat. It's weird seeing a painting flirt with another painting.
"Oh excuse us Harry, we are only this climgy once in a blue moon, unlike your parents who are constantly all over each other." Sirius tells him.
"Could you tell me about them, it would be nice to head it from you." Harry asks them tentatively.
"Of course , Harry" Remus says.
And so Harry sits on his godfather bed and listents to his and his boyfriends portrait delve into in-length story about Harry's parents as well as the Maurauders.
He cries and laughs and finally the hole in his heart closes up and he feels strangly whole again.
Once it's late he retires to his bedroom, but not before he hears:
"Moony, do you remember the time we hooked up after that concert?" Sirius asks longingly.
"How could I forget? There's nothing about you that I could ever forget Pads."
"You know how James always said we would still be together once we were old and wrinkly?" Sirius enquires.
"Yeah he always said stuff like that." Remus sounds very fond at the memory.
"Now we're portraits! We'll be together for a long time and never get any wrinkles." Sirius exlaimes overjoyed at the notion.
Remus doesn't say anything more.
But Sirius isn't done yet.
"You know I always loved this thing you did to me in the concert loo-" Harry closes his ears and runs away from the door before he can hear the rest of the tale.
The next day he visits Dracos shop, he places an order and schedules a date.