Truth Imprisoned

Harry had been woken again by a vivid dream involving Sirius, some oil and a lot of leather. Looking down he saw that his bed needed yet another change of sheets. This was not good.

Sticky with sweat, he decided he needed to go get a drink of water. He started dowirs irs to get a glass, creeping down so as not to wake Sirius, who would undoubtedly ask why Harry was awake. Then he heard the voices. Two people were conversing quietly, probably thinking Harry was still asleep. Curious as to who would be here at this time of night he headed towards the sound.

He stopped when he realised which room they were coming from. Sirius' playroom. Deciding he really didn't want to give his dreams any more fodder, Harry turned round to go back to his room. Then he heard his name.

"If it were anyone else I might, but not Harry." Harry knew that voice, and it took him a moment to recognise the speaker as Remus. Some masochistic curiosity drew him closer to the door.

"It's not as though we haven't done it before." That was Sirius.

"We were kids fooling around then," Remus replied, "I wasn't even sure about bringing it now. I certainly won't become Harry."

"Remus, I need this. If I can just get this fantasy out of my system, I can stop thinking about it. I can be the person Harry needs me to be."

"And what if playing out this fantasy makes things worse?" Remus asked, "What if you start wondering if the real Harry would feel any different, would react differently? It could pray on your mind so that you remember me as him every time he touches you. I won't let you risk that, Sirius, not when you care for each other so much."

"I can't get the image out of my mind, Remus."

"Then I will give you something else to think about. But as myself, not Harry."

Harry slipped away then. He'd heard enough to give him something to think about for the next year. So Sirius wanted him, but didn't want to ruin their relationship. OK, that problem Harry could relate to. Sirius had tried to get Remus to become Harry to fulfil a fantasy he'd been having. Become how? Polyjuice potion? Sirius wanted to stop fantasising about Harry without ever telling him about it, because there was no way Harry would feel the same way?

That left Harith ith the biggest question of all: what should he do now? If he told Sirius about overhearing this conversation and then admitted to wanting Sirius, Sirius would most likely think Harry was lying. Sirius could easily believe that Harry was acting not out of his own desires but out of a wish to give Sirius what he wanted.


If Harry just started coming on to Sirius, Sirius could behave the same way. Or he would freak out, this fantasy just being an idea he was toying with and not something he really wanted.

If Harry just ignored this they might both be missing out on something they wanted. But on the other hand, if the two of them did have sex, it might do exactly what Remus was worried about and ruin things between them. Or make them better.

There was no way to know.

* * *

Sirius made sure the door was lock and, with a tap of his wand and a muttered charm, ensured that what was about to happen would not wake Harry. Then he turned back to Remus, now standing in the centre of the room. Sirius' demeanour was completely altered. He was no longer the loyal friend or devoted godfather. Now, he was the master.

"Strip," he ordered. Remus obeyed the command with both speed and grace, giving a good show while not lingering.

"tifutiful," Sirius murmured, a predator with a willing prey, "Mine."

"Yours," Remus agreed. Sirius stroked a finger over Remus' lips.

"It would be a shame to spoil such a lovely mouth with a gag," he said. Remus bowed his head in submission, but Sirius caught the chin and raised it, leaning in for a kiss. Sirius devoured the mouth, Remus responded but allowed Sirius to lead.

Sirius broke the kiss by shoving firmly on Remus' chest. Remus fell backwards in surprise, landing on the bed. Sirius pushed Remus down completely, straddling him. His cock was throbbing beneath his robes, Remus' standing to attention. A part of Sirius burned with need, wanting to take Remus right now, but he knew that things were better when savoured.

He leaned down over Remus, cocks rubbing together, until his face was hovering just over Remus'. Their lips met for the briefest of kisses, while Sirius took Remus' arms, stretching them towatowards the bedposts. The manacles closed automatically, the chains tightening so that Remus was trapped.

That was the point was Sirius to pull back. He stood, looking at his chain beast, slave to his will. Remus' moans, though inarticulate, were filled with meaning. His eyes were begging Sirius to return and finish what had been begun. He wouldn't say anything though. Remus knew the punishment for misbehaviour well enough by now.

Sirius stripped extremely slowly, allowing Remus to see every inch of skin as it was sensuously exposed. Remus' moans of desire rang like symphonies in Sirius' ears as he teased. Remus looked as though he might come just from watching. He wouldn't though, that would merit a far more severe punishment.

Finally naked, Sirius decided to tease a little longer. He went to one of the cupboards, walking in such a way that he knew Remus would be staring at the curves of his ass. He pondered in front of the cupboard for a while, hearing Remus groan with every carefully planned movement he made. Sirius then returned to the bed, allowing Remus a very good look at what was going to be used on him tonight. The groans were a combination of desire and anticipation of the pain.

Sirius knelt so that one leg was either side of Remus' groin. His hands hovered over Remus' skin, almost touching but not quite. Remus was straining upwards against the chains that held him, unable to close the distance between them. Sirius lifted the leather strip, trailing it down Remus' chest to his navel, letting it dance over the skin.

"This first, I think," Sirius said, "it wouldn't do for you to come without permission." He quickly tied the strip around Remus' cock and balls in such a way that would make it impossible for him to come. Remus' hands were clenching into fists, his jaw set against the pain and frustration. A wild beast barely tempered.

Sirius placated him with another kiss before moving on to the other items he had selected. Remus emitted slight hisses of pain as Sirius attached the nipple clamps and tweaked on the chain that ran between them. us' us' groin, positioned as it was over Remus', felt that Remus wasn't as opposed to the idea as it might seem.

"Are you enjoying this, slave," Sirius asked in a seductive tone, letting his tongue cool the area heated by the clamps. Sirius couldn't tell if Remus was moaning in pleasure or pain. Probably it was both. Sirius let his lips and tongue roam across Remus' front, marking territory that had been unclaimed for so long. He trailed kisses up Remus' arched necks and then their mouths met once more in a deep kiss.

The play had been going on too long now. The burning in Sirius' groin was getting too insistent. He needed to deal with it. He pulled himself down the bed and took hold of Remus' legs. He lifted and bent them so that they were over Remus' chest, exposing Remus' entrance.

A slicked finger and a practised touch caused Remus to emit a groan that was quite definitely pleasure. Sirius brushed over that spot a few more times before he risked a second finger. They might both find the pain exciting, but neither of them would want damage. It was unlikely Sirius could harm Remus seriously, but there was no sense in taking unnecessary risks. Sirius always went slowly at this point, at least when it was the first time in a while, stretching the tight entrance slowly and carefully before allowing himself to enter.

Sirius felt Remus tighten instinctively as he pushed inside. He waited for Remus to adjust before sheathing himself fully. Remus' moans were frantic now as Sirius brushed again and again over the prostate. At last, when Sirius couldn't hold back any more, he released the knot holding Remus in restraint.

"Come with me," Sirius commanded, barely able to speak over his need. The two came simultaneously before collapsing onto the bed. The chains released with a tap from Sirius' wand and they lay there, side by side. Sirius wanted nothing more than to lie there with Remus in his arms, but Remus had other ideas.

"I should go," he said, "if we fall asleep like this Harry will know."

"He knows we were lovers in the past," Sirius protested, but Remus extractimseimself from the embrace. He dressed quickly and left with barely a kiss goodbye. Seeing the reason in Remus' actions, Sirius cleaned himself thoroughly before returning to his room and collapsing on his bed asleep.

* * *

Sirius didn't emerged until nearly noon the following day, something Harry was extremely glad of. He was probably worn out from his exertions with Remus, of whom their was no sign of either. Harry got a long pause in which to consider before he had to face anyone. English weather being what it was, Harry was forced to stay inside due to the torrentiawnpownpour. It was amazing to think that the past few days of glorious sunshine could turn into this overnight.

Harry spent of of the morning in the library, thinking and trying to read. He gave up on books in the end and sat on the wide windowseat, staring out into the curtains of grey that were dimming the gardens outside. He sighed, hugging his knees to his chest and thinking about Sirius.

He wasn't thinking of the erotic images his mind conjuin sin sleep, or the desire he had heard Sirius confess to. He was thinking about love. He did love Sirius, that much he was certain of. But he didn't think of Sirius as a father. Sirius had come into his life too late for that. Then how did he feel about Sirius? A friend, certainly. A friend he could confide in when he was worried about talking to others. Harry knew that he cared about Sirius a great deal, enough that he didn't want to risk ruining their friendship by jumping to conclusions.

Sirius seemed to want to rid himself of any desires he had for Harry. If that was the case, he clearly thought of Harry either as a son or a friend, and didn't want anything else. The fantasy might be nothing more than unwanted dreams. It probably was that.

Like Harry's.

It was just because they were spending so much time together. The house was miles from anywhere so the two of them had no other company, aside from a handful of house elves who Harry hadn't even seen sithe the first day here. They both needed some time apart, some time socialising with other people.

The party was a start, but that would only delay problems. Harry had been thinking for a while about getting a job. Hermione was with the Ministry, Neville was researching rare plants, even Ron was thinking of a teaching job. Soon Harry would be the only one doing nothing. Admittedly, he and Sirius could probably manage on what they had stored up, but it was hardly sensible.

So the next question came: what job should he get? Thoughts of Ron and teaching came instantly to mind. He had enjoyed teaching the DA in his fifth year and could probably enjoy it further as a full career. But Ron would never forgive him if Harry beat him to the job. Besides, teaching would mean leaving Sirius alone here for most of the year. No, Hogwarts wasn't an option.

Unless. . .

Harry stood up and browsed the library shelves. They had books on every subject available in here, there had to be something that would help. At last he found one, a history of schooling in Britain. Quite a lot of the book was devoted to Hogwarts, but Harry found a map at the back with little dots marking the various wizarding schools in the country.

None of them had samesame reputation as Hogwarts, but several of the older ones were considered of high standard. Harry scribbled down a list of the names he was interested in, reading the book more carefully as he narrowed down his options. There were three he settled on finally: Old Ley, Crystalgarth and Hollybrock. Each of them was a day school fairly near to the house.

If he taught at a day school, Harry could apparate in each day and come home again in the evenings to be with Sirius. This way he wouldn't be abandoning Sirius completely, but, hopefully, it would encourage Sirius to go out and meet people, maybe get a job himself. It seemed a perfect compromise.

Sirius came into the library just as Harry was finishing off. His eyes were rimmed and shadowed, a sign that he hadn't slept much even with his lie in. He was smiling though. Whatever he and Remus had got up to had clearly cheered him up.

"What are you working on?" he asked, picking up Harry's list of, mostly crossed-out, names.

"I was thinking of getting a job," Harry replied honestly.

"Teaching?" There was a definite note of worry in Sirius' voice. Harry pretended not to have noticed it and answered casually.

"Yeah," he said, "but I'm not sure I want to teach at Hogwarts. It would mean being away from here most of the year. There are several good day schools around."

Sirius was trying to keep his tone calm, and might have fooled anyone who didn't know him as well as Harry did. "If you want to go to Hogwarts that's fine. You don't have to stay here because of me. I'll be able to manage here fine on my own."

"I agreed to move in with you because I wanted to," Harry said honestly, "I'm not going to leave just as I'm starting to get settled in. Besides, you'll probably go nuts without someone to talk to all year."

"Who says I'm not already nuts?" Sirius laughed.

"OK, more nuts."

"What would you teach?" Sirius asked.

"Defence against the Dark Arts," Harry replied instantly, "What else is there that I'm good enough at to pass on to others?"

"I don't know. Quiddich?"

"That's a good point. I'll ask if they have job openings for a flying teacher while I'm asking about Dark Arts."

They went into the dining room for lunch with Harry feeling a lot more relaxed about the whole idea. Getting a job was a brilliant idea for both of them, and Sirius just needed to stop worrying that Harry would leave him. Perhaps if Sirius started meeting other friends more that worry would fade.

So, Harry had solved one half of the problem. Now he needed to find a way to get Sirius out of the house. He toyed briefly with the idea of blind dates, but gave up on that pretty much instantly because he didn't know anyone to set him up with. Maybe he should take Sirius out clubbing. He might meet someone.

He'd think of something. The important thing was that Harry was doing something about the problem. He'd solve it given enough time and there'd be no more erotic dreams, no more hidden fantasies. Just the two of them. As they should be.