Chapter 181: Ch. 183
Their attention snapped back to the game. Sure enough Harry was about a foot ahead of Cho Chang as they raced to catch the snitch. Seconds later Harry snagged the snitch and Sirius and Remus found themselves doing what they never would have imagined doing when they were younger, cheering for the snakes.
After taking a victory lap the Slytherins landed for handshakes. Harry and Roger razzed each other for a moment, but it was done in fun. Harry was about to take Cho Chang's hand when she suddenly tripped and fell into him. He staggered back a couple steps and managed to prevent both of them from falling but it ended with Cho Chang basically plastered against his chest and his hand on her derriere. Harry fought back a groan as his body reacted, there was no question in his mind that Cho Chang had an outstanding body.
"Sorry," he said, as he moved his hand away from her bottom while trying to help her get her feet under her.
"Thanks for catching me." She said blushing hotly in embarrassment. "Congratulations on the catch."
"Thanks." Harry half wondered which catch she was talking about. He looked at Chang, he'd been wondering for a while what girl he should pursue next. Although he and Susan Bones had gone out a few times mostly double dates with Neville and Hannah, there was nothing there except friendship. Now it felt as if he'd found his answer.
A few minutes later he joined Roger and Draco as they went to greet the game's guests.
Lucius Malfoy greeted his son and heir with a stiffness and formality that Harry associated with himself and his uncle. Harry felt a pang of sympathy for his roommate, to have that sort of relationship with your own father had to suck. Roger had it better. His father greeted him with a hug and "a better luck next time."
Suddenly Harry was facing his godfather and Remus Lupin. "Professor, Godfather."
"I haven't been your professor for a almost a year, Harry. Call me Remus, or if you prefer Moony. It's what you called me when you were little."
"Great catch, Bambi."
Harry said. "Dad called me that, too.
"It's because…" Sirius was suddenly struck by how little he knew his godson and how little Harry knew them. Overwhelming feelings of regret and failure cascaded through Sirius. Part of him wanted to go floo call Paige so she could guide him through the sudden morass of feelings. He swallowed hard and tried again. "It's because your father was a stag animagus."
"Yes, I know. I've got Dad and Mum's journals. "
Remus could tell that Sirius was still a bit overwhelmed so he stepped up to carry the conversation. "You're an excellent seeker, Harry. I missed your two games last year, although I did see you practice. You got on the team last year, right?"
"Yes I joined last year. Marcus and the rest of the guys taught me about quidditch and the finer points of flying first year, I got my Nimbus and joined the team my second year."
"James would be proud. He was an excellent quidditch player himself. He was a chaser for Gryffindor from second year on. If not for the war he probably would have gone pro." Remus informed Harry.
"Interesting." Harry figured that was a better answer than 'that's nice.'
"If you'd like we got permission for a trip to Hogsmeade, we could go to the Three Broomsticks for butterbeer." Sirius said. He noticed that Harry didn't seem enthused about that idea so he said, "or we could just walk around the castle. Remus said that you're very good at defense, that you came to him for extra lessons. You said that you like art, quidditch, and kendo, but I have no idea what the last one is."
"I'll tell you in a bit. How about you let me go get cleaned up and changed, then I'll meet up with you and we can talk. Fifteen minutes outside the pitch?" After they nodded Harry headed to the locker room. He would miss the Slytherin party but it would be worth it. He had a plan and hopefully he could persuade his godfather and honorary uncle into it.
"YOU WANT ME TO WHAT?" Remus yelled.
"I'm impressed, Bambi. I don't think your father and I ever got Remus that worked up."
Harry looked around to see if anyone was in earshot. He saw no one and he thought they were far enough away from the greenhouses that no one in them would hear. "Look, I know as a werewolf it's hard for you to find a job. I'm offering you a job and a place to live. The pay isn't great, but it helps me. In exchange you dig deeper into persons of interest so I can get leverage. I'd have Cassandra do it but she doesn't have enough magic to defend herself well or to cover her tracks. I'm not asking you to break any laws. But some of the people you'll be investigating have, which means they're dangerous. You can take time off around the full moon without me getting upset about it. It's a win-win. You'll have a job and I'll have someone I can trust looking into things. Besides, unlike when Cassandra started the files and was doing everyone on our list, you'll just be working on keeping tabs on a dozen people. You'll even have a moderate expense account that will let you hire your own informants. When you do, just keep my name out of it."
"Why?"
"Good question, Moony." Sirius said.
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