Harry hadn't meant to hesitate going to see Sirius. He wasn't anxious exactly. Just… unsure.
Sirius had only woken the day before. And even if he'd insisted on seeing them, even if he'd sent a bloody patronus in that half-whiny, half-demanding voice of his—Hurry up, pup. Bring the cubs before I die of boredom—Harry still wasn't sure this wasn't too much too soon.
But Sirius was Sirius.
And Sirius had never been patient.
So here he was, stepping into the Keep with his sons, the air charged with familiar magic.
Tilly greeted them first, popping in at the threshold with a squeak of excitement, her apron dusty with flour and powdered sugar.
"Mater Harry! Master Sirius is asking for you! Tova has given him his tonic, and he be terribly impatient."
Harry smiled at her, gently handing over Teddy for a moment so he could shrug off his travelling cloak. "He's back to normal, then."
"Worse," she huffed fondly.
He thanked Tilly and she squeaked again and vanished with a pop.
When they reached Sirius' room, Harry paused just outside the half open door.
Sirius was waiting, his arms crossed, even as his face split into a grin the moment he saw them.
"Well it's about time, pup," Sirius said, voice still a touch rough but full of mirth. "You trying to keep them from me? I was about to stage a coup."
Harry rolled his eyes and stepped inside. "We were letting you rest, you ungrateful mutt."
Sirius sniffed, dramatically insulted. "I've been resting for over a year. Thought I'd earned the right to meet my grandpups without delay."
Shikamaru hung back slightly behind Harry, his eyes wide, the English around him still hard to follow. Harry crouched down to his level.
"It's okay," he murmured in Japanese. "That's just Sirius. He's a little silly and loud, but he's very kind. You can go say hello."
Shikamaru nodded once, eyes cautious but curious, then took a few steps forward, frowning slightly in concentration.
Sirius, bless him, grinned wide and turned his charm up to eleven. "Hey there, you must be Shikamaru. Coolest hair I've seen in years, kid."
Shikamaru blinked, one hand subconsciously going to his spiky ponytail. "Thank you," he said, accent thick but clear. Then, more shyly, "You are Maashah's… dog?"
Shikamaru blinked, unsure of what to do with that, and then turned to Harry as if to confirm the translation. Harry nodded, lips twitching.
Sirius barked—literally—and grinned. "Sure am. Big, black, handsome mutt. Want to see?"
He made to stand, only for Harry to immediately press a hand to his shoulder and shove him back into the pillows. "You're not showing off your animagus form yet," Harry scolded. "You've barely had a day of freedom and your core's still recalibrating. Don't push it."
Sirius pouted spectacularly. "You never let me have any fun."
From the corner of the room came a small snicker. Shikamaru, trying very hard not to laugh, failing as Sirius turned to him with a mock betrayed expression.
"Oh no, not you too," Sirius moaned. "Et tu, small grandpup of mine?"
The boy laughed, finally relaxing, and Harry smiled at the sound. That was the first hurdle crossed.
"You think… my hair cool?" the boy asked again, straighter this time.
"Absolutely," Sirius grinned, then glanced conspiratorially at Harry. "Much better than yours, pup. You've got bird nest hair."
"Oi!" Harry said, but he was grinning too.
Shikamaru giggled, and the tension bled out of his shoulders.
Teddy, meanwhile, had been watching silently, head tilted like a little owl, his amber-flecked eyes curious. And then, without any prompting, he wriggled free from Harry's grip and crawled across the bed to Sirius, settling himself squarely in his godfather's lap.
He sniffed once. Twice. Then frowned.
Harry's lips twitched.
Teddy looked up at him, confused, as if asking a silent question.
Harry smiled softly. "He's your pack," he murmured. "That's why he smells like home."
Teddy blinked. Then face-planted his face into Sirius' chest, inhaling deeply.
"Oi," Sirius said, bemused. "This one always sniff like that?"
Harry rolled his eyes. "Only when he meets someone important."
That earned a wide, boyish grin from Sirius, who rubbed Teddy's back gently, then leaned down and made a low, rumbling growl from his chest. It was rough, canine and just a little ridiculous.
But Teddy squealed in delight, his hair flickering in response, and he let out a little purring warble.
Harry's heart felt too full.
"I'm going to have to spoil them rotten," Sirius announced, pulling Shikamaru into a one-armed hug and ruffling his hair. "Every single day."
Shikamaru giggled, wriggling at the unexpected affection but not pulling away.
"They're already spoiled," Harry muttered.
"But not by me," Sirius grinned. "Which is clearly a tragedy."
They talked for a while, nothing too serious at first. Just catching up.
Eventually the topic drifted.
Sirius glanced down at the boys snuggled against him and asked casually, "So. When are we moving in?"
Harry blinked. "Pardon?"
Sirius shrugged. "Give me a few weeks. Barty says he's got some language spell or whatever. Old family secret. Crouch Senior would probably rise from the grave if he knew I was using it."
"Barty's been brilliant," Harry said honestly.
"Never thought I'd hear that sentence. That's going to take some getting used to," Sirius mused.
"Do try to get along."
"No promises."
Shikamaru had been listening with interest, and when the name 'Barty' came up, he turned to Harry and pouted.
"He… didn't do spell for me."
Harry laughed, brushing his fingers through Shikamaru's hair. "That's because children learn languages faster and it's not healthy to use a mind spell like that. And you're doing amazingly. I'm proud of you."
The boy flushed, ducking into Harry's side shyly.
Sirius watched the whole thing with a strange softness in his eyes, and after a long pause, he murmured, "I was scared, you know."
Harry looked up, startled.
Sirius smiled at him faintly. "Waking up and everything had changed. I was scared that I'd lost everything."
"You didn't," Harry whispered.
"No," Sirius said, his voice thick. "Not everything. You—you're something else, pup."
There was a pause.
Then Sirius said slyly to Shikamaru, "So, kid… tell me about your dad."
Shikamaru brightened. "He is smartest ninja. Shadow ninja. Strong and quiet. Likes tea and shogi."
Sirius grinned like a wolf. "And does he like your Maashah?"
"Sirius," Harry groaned.
"What? I'm just doing recon!"
"You're meddling."
"I'm curious. He sounds like a catch. Strong, broody, competent…"
"Don't," Harry warned.
"You're blushing," Sirius pointed out.
"I'm warm."
"Yeah, from all those repressed feelings."
Harry threw a cushion at him.
They spent the whole morning in the Keep. When they finally rose to leave, Sirius made a show of groaning dramatically and demanding that they visit again soon.
Before they went back to Konoha, Harry took the boys through the castle corridors, stopping by the grand library where most of the ancestral portraits waited. His grandparents cooed and wept over the boys, especially Teddy, who promptly transformed into an image of Ignotus when the man arrived. Even Salazar popped in to assess "Young Harrison's new heirs," and Harry left with even more promises.
As they walked back to the portal, Teddy clutched Shikamaru's hand, babbling happily and pointing to Rigel who was showing off for him.
Rigel was soon joined by the others and Harry and the boys just watched as they danced playfully in the air.
The dragons singing as they flew overhead.
~
They had only been gone for the morning, but somehow, he had missed the chakra filled air of Konoha. The moment of peace faded when he realised with a groan that he had done something foolish that morning when picking up Shikamaru.
He had invited Saeko and Shikaku to dinner.
Not just invited — offered to cook.
At the time, it had seemed like a great idea. He had been riding the high of Sirius waking up, basking in the comfort of his family coming together. So, when he had seen Saeko while collecting Shikamaru, he'd asked, like a normal functioning adult who didn't have a minor panic attack over what cutlery to use for which dish.
Now? Now he was spiralling.
It wasn't like he hadn't cooked before —he loved cooking— but this felt different. More important.
Which was ridiculous, right?
Shikaku was just Shikamaru's father. A clan head, yes, but it wasn't like he was coming to inspect the house. Harry wasn't even technically part of the Nara clan! Not officially, anyway. He was just Shikamaru's other parent. And its not like he hadn't made breakfast for them a few days ago.
Still, it didn't stop him from scrubbing down the already pristine counters and making frantic mental lists about herbs, spices, tablecloths, and how many candles were too many candles.
"Tilly," he sighed as she popped in with a soft crack, floating the requested bundles of vegetables and marinated meats into the kitchen with ease. "Do you think this is too much? I just want it to feel… welcoming. Not formal. Just homey. But not sloppy."
The elf squinted at him. "Master Harry is always a mess before guests," she sniffed, "but food always turns out lovely. Even when Master adds too much garlic."
"I like garlic!" Harry called after her as she disappeared, muttering something about masters and their stress cooking.
With a groan, he gathered his hair into a low bun, letting the longer strands twist together off his neck. He glanced at the Japanese recipe book open on the counter and sighed. Half of the ingredients were missing, and he didn't fancy rushing to the market, and while he had made some fusion dishes before… this wasn't the night to experiment.
He could do a roast though. A proper Sunday roast. Something filling, rich, and familiar, and if it flopped… well, there was always takeout. Konoha's grilled yakitori stalls never let him down so far.
"Shikamaru," he called out, poking his head around the corner, "do you think your dad likes beef or chicken more?"
A contemplative silence. Then a cheerful, "Both!"
Harry snorted. "Greedy little thing," he said fondly. "Alright, both it is."
It didn't take long for him to get the fresh vegetables and meats prepared. Then it was just the familiar motions of cooking in a still unfamiliar kitchen.
He took the cooked meats out of the oven just as the front door opened.
"Something smells good in here," came Shizune's voice, slightly muffled, before she stepped fully into view. "You've outdone yourself again, Hari."
"Is that rosemary?" Tsunade called, kicking her sandals off at the door with all the grace of a drunken brawler. "Sage, you've officially become a housewife. Look at you!"
Harry rolled his eyes and adjusted the apron on his waste. "If you keep saying that, I'll feed you raw potatoes."
Shizune giggled, already peeking into the covered pots on the stove. "Is this… roasted carrots? Gods, they look delicious."
He sniffed dramatically. "I try. But apparently, I'm unappreciated in my own home."
Shizune let out a sudden, very un-Shizune-like snort as she leaned over to smell the stuffing. "I think he's serious Tsunade-sama. You will be eating dry rice crackers while the rest of us have a spread."
Tsunade held up her hands in mock surrender, grin stretching wide. "Alright, alright! You're a very manly domestic god." Then she backed out of the kitchen with a cackle.
From the lounge, a familiar, groan echoed faintly. "Stop it."
Harry didn't need to look to know that Shikamaru was probably being crushed into one of Tsunade's infamous hugs — the kind that involved aggressive mothering and accidental suffocation between her breasts.
It didn't take long for the inevitable, sharp, high-pitched wail to come from down the hallway that followed Tsunade's meddling.
Harry sighed. "And there goes Teddy's nap."
He placed the hot trays carefully on the counter and flicked his fingers. Charms lifted the carving knife and began slicing the roast meats into thin, even portions, the plates and cutlery following suit and floating themselves into formation on the dining room table. The entire process would've been far more peaceful if Teddy wasn't currently screaming down the walls like someone had set his tiny world on fire.
Harry stepped into the lounge just as Tsunade was bouncing a red-faced, furious Teddy in her arms while she tried to coo at him.
"Give him here," Harry said, amusement threading through the exasperation in his tone.
Shikamaru was standing nearby, arms crossed, and one brow raised in a judgemental way as he stared Tsunade down. Harry just gave his head an affectionate pat as he passed, then reached out to take Teddy from Tsunade.
The moment the baby was in his arms, Teddy let out one last, dramatic sniff and curled against Harry's chest with a hiccupping sigh. Harry started humming low in his throat, letting out the deep, rumbling sound that always soothed his cub.
"There we go," Harry murmured, stroking gentle circles on Teddy's back. "Shhh. Did your aunties scare you? I bet they did. Two terrifying beasts trying to eat you with affection, huh?"
Teddy gave a pathetic little squeak, burying his face in Harry's shirt.
"Must've been horrifying," Harry continued, voice soft and teasing. "Such hideous faces peering down at you."
Tsunade gasped, scandalised. "Watch it brat!"
Shizune, face flushed from trying not to laugh, added, "You're going to get punched again."
"Only if she wants a guilty conscience for a week," Harry said smugly, kissing the top of Teddy's head. "Remember what happened last time?"
Tsunade winced dramatically, rubbing her knuckles. "You bruised."
"You gave me a concussion!" Harry shot back, though he was smiling.
"Not my fault you're built like a damn noodle," she muttered.
"It's the chakra thing, remember?" Shizune said helpfully. "His body doesn't reinforce naturally like ours. He has to direct it consciously."
"And I was distracted," Harry added. "By a woman with fists like boulders."
Tsunade at least had the grace to look vaguely apologetic.
With Teddy now quiet, Harry fetched him a small bottle of juice and set him gently into his cushioned playpen.
Shikamaru, ever the doting big brother, took the opportunity to crawl in beside him with a mini shogi board, carefully setting up the pieces as Teddy watched him with wide, curious eyes.
"They're so cute it's actually unfair," Shizune said with a sigh.
"Dangerously adorable," Harry agreed. "Shika, make sure he doesn't put any of the pieces in his mouth," getting a grunt in acknowledgment in return.
He waved a monitoring charm over them anyway and padded back into the kitchen. "Dinner's in about an hour. Saeko and Shikaku are joining us tonight."
Tsunade raised a brow. "You invited your maybe-boyfriend's mother for dinner?"
"He's not—! It's not like that!" Harry spluttered.
"Yet," Tsunade said sweetly.
"Don't start," Harry groaned, dragging a hand down his face.
"No promises," she beamed.
He turned to Shizune with a desperate look. "Please don't let her drag you into her and Saeko's evil plotting. I need at least one person to protect me from the wolves."
Shizune gave him a pitying look. "Hari… I love you. But no one can stop Lady Tsunade."
"Not even you?" he asked pitifully.
"Especially not me."
Harry groaned louder and slumped against the counter.
"Better get used to it," Tsunade said smugly.
Harry whimpered into the dishcloth.
Not long after he felt the familiar buzzing in the back of his mind. The one that gently pulsed through his magic when someone approached the compound gates. He dried his hands on a tea towel, and poked his head back into the lounge.
"Tsunade? Could you keep an eye on the boys and sit them at the table? Our guests just arrived."
Tsunade, already criss-crossed on the floor beside Teddy's playpen with a toy dragon in hand, gave him a lazy wave of her free hand. "Yeah, yeah. Go woo your clan-head."
Harry flushed. "It's not—" But she had already turned her attention back to babbling baby giggles and an amused Shikamaru trying to teach Teddy how to stack shogi tiles.
Sighing, he pushed the buzz of nervous energy to the back of his mind and apparated to the inner side of the wards, just behind the gates. They opened with a low hum, revealing Saeko and Shikaku just as he expected. He nearly laughed out loud when he saw Saeko lightly swatting Shikaku's hand away from the dragon statue beside him, her brows raised in mild disapproval.
"Honestly Shikaku, put your hands away," she said dryly.
Shikaku shrugged with a faint smirk. "I swear their eyes were watching me."
Harry grinned. "They were. Be careful, last person who poked its face got a mild stun."
The older man's gaze flicked to him, and the smirk melted into something softer, more genuine.
He smiled back, trying not to get flustered.
"Welcome to the Ryūjin compound," he said, stepping forward. "I was hoping to add you both to the wards if you're alright with that? It's just a drop of blood into the guardian's mouth—" hastily trying to reassure them that it's only for the wards.
But Saeko was already biting her thumb and Shikaku followed without hesitation.
Harry blinked. "I—okay, I wasn't expecting you to be that ready."
Saeko held out her hand with an amused look. "We trust you. Don't make us regret it."
Harry chuckled, gently taking her hand and guiding her thumb to the statue's open mouth. He murmured a chant in Latin softly, letting his magic bleed into the stone. The dragon's eyes lit up a warm gold as the wards accepted her. Saeko inhaled sharply, her lips parting in a faint gasp.
"That was…" she murmured. "Welcoming. And… possessive? So much more than the seals we use for our own compound."
Harry smiled. "They're protective. That's how I designed them to be."
A soft healing charm sealed her thumb, and she stepped back.
Shikaku stepped forward next, offering his hand wordlessly.
Harry couldn't resist.
He took Shikaku's larger hand, held it in both of his, and tugged just slightly, pulling him closer under the guise of positioning his thumb. Shikaku's breath hitched, but Harry felt the subtle tension.
Their gazes locked as Harry pressed the man's thumb into the guardian's mouth. The dragon pulsed gold again. Shikaku stiffened as the magic swept through him, and Harry tilted his head, curious.
"Feel it?" he asked softly, not letting go of his hand.
Shikaku's eyes were slightly wider than usual. "It's… intimate," he murmured. "Like a living net, but gentle. Watchful. It feels like you."
Harry smiled, then, just to be difficult —and maybe a little wicked— lifted the man's thumb and whispered the healing charm directly onto the cut, brushing the digit with his warm lips.
Shikaku inhaled sharply.
Harry stepped back with an infuriatingly innocent smile, hands behind his back. "There we go."
Saeko cleared her throat, hands behind her back, her face carefully neutral but eyes glittering like a cat who just watched the bird willingly hop out of its cage. Harry coughed and turned away.
"Right this way."
The gates stayed open behind them until they passed through and closed with a click. Saeko took in the compound as they walked — the flowering vines curling over the fences, the rows of well-tended trees, the faint glow of lanterns lining the paths.
"It's beautiful," she murmured. "I don't remember it looking this alive even when Hashirama was still here."
Harry shrugged. "It's my home now. I wanted to be surrounded by nature, and this is what the land gave when I asked. Most of the trees also remember Hashirama's chakra."
Shikaku glanced at a blooming sakura tree. "If the village sees this, they'll lose it. Blooming trees in winter? They'll be begging you to bow before the Hokage and join the ninja force or the CRA."
Harry arched a brow. "Let them lose it."
He turned his head slightly and added, just low enough for Shikaku to hear. "Besides, I don't bow for just anyone. If I'm getting on my knees, it wouldn't be for the Hokage."
Shikaku made a strangled noise behind him and Harry felt pride in the sound that escaped Shikaku.
Honestly, he may be oblivious sometimes, but he wasn't stupid. Shikaku had been flirting with him last night, heavily. And he finally told himself to give this a chance. To stop fighting this attraction.
Was he being too forward? Yes.
He felt a bit embarrassed, but seeing the red flush that spread to the man's ears and neck made it all worth it.
He always had been a bit petty in his revenge.
To his credit, Shikaku recovered quickly and kept his stride. "Do you plan to add more buildings?" he asked, voice only a little tight as he brushed his arm against Harry's.
"Not right now," Harry said, choosing not to acknowledge the heat that spread through him at the touch. "I've set two aside for Sirius and Barty. I'll turn one into a lab, and I've got another that I'm converting into a library."
"A library?" Saeko's eyes lit up. "Would you allow me to see the healing texts Tsunade mentioned?"
Harry grinned. "Of course. I'm putting all the translated medical books in there, so I don't get woken up at 3am by Tsunade again asking for me to translate a book on limb regeneration."
"Only copies though?" Shikaku asked.
Harry nodded. "The originals are in a secure archive. Most of them are in my native language anyway, so I'm slowly translating them."
Shikaku's eyes softened again. "You've done a lot in such a short time. I'd be happy to show you our own collection. Some of the scrolls are ancient, passed down since before the Clan Wars."
Harry smiled, "I'd love to."
Just as Harry reached for the door, a familiar voice rang out from inside.
"No, Tsunade, that move puts your king in danger! Don't you know anything?!"
Harry winced and grinned. "She should know not to play board games with Shika by now."
Saeko laughed softly. "Just like his father," she said fondly.
Harry opened the door and stepped into chaos.
Shikamaru was half-standing over the chess board, arms flailing as Tsunade tried to cheat her way through a particularly bad board state.
"Tsunade," Harry called. "Try not to give my son a meltdown before dinner, will you?"
Tsunade blinked, then pouted. "It's not that complicated."
"Then why are you trying to cheat," Shikamaru muttered darkly, then brightened as he saw Saeko. "Grandma!"
He launched himself into her arms, making Saeko stagger slightly with the impact.
"Hello, my little shadow," she said, ruffling his hair fondly.
Shikaku stepped inside behind Harry, and Harry turned to him, rubbing the back of his neck.
"I, uh… I wasn't sure what kind of food you'd like. I'm still learning your cuisine so I made something from home."
Shikaku's eyes swept the spread and smiled.
"It smells incredible," he said sincerely. "Better than anything I could cook."
Harry flushed and looked down. "Let's eat first before you compliment me."
He was about to pull out a seat when he noticed that only two chairs remained.
Of course. Meddling witches.
He sighed but took the seat next to Teddy, who immediately tried to reach past him to Shikaku.
"Sh'ku!"
Shikaku chuckled and leaned in caress his cheek. "Hello there, little one."
Teddy's eyes shimmered amber and darkened, matching Shikaku's exactly.
Saeko chuckled. "Such a clever boy."
Harry kissed the baby's forehead and sat back, then began explaining what each dish was. Soon the room was filled with warm conversation, the flicker of candlelight, and the soft clatter of plates.
For a moment, it felt like family.
And Harry couldn't stop smiling.
~
The dinner table was buzzing with the gentle hum of conversation, his arm occasionally bumping against the Shikaku's as they moved to reach dishes. He was feeding Teddy small bites of mashed carrots and buttered sweet potatoes while trying to follow two different conversations at once. It wasn't as hard as it sounded; the comfort in the room made multitasking feel easy.
He told them Sirius would likely move into the village in a few weeks, once his magic stabilised.
"Paperwork's going to be a nightmare, though," Harry muttered as he cut a slice of beef for himself.
"You'd think with a royal decree you'd be spared the bureaucracy," Tsunade snorted, swirling her sake.
Harry groaned theatrically. "Even with the Daimyo's approval, I still have to file individual relocation forms, clan registry updates, and amendments. And don't even get me started on medical records."
Shikaku gave a dry chuckle beside him. "They'll use it as an excuse. Expect a few council members to come sniffing around for concessions."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Concessions?"
The Nara head shrugged and reached for the gravy boat. "Some will try to push for trade agreements, surveillance access, or training exchanges. You don't owe them anything, not with your status. But don't let them catch you off guard either."
Harry gave a sharp nod, feeling Teddy's chubby little fingers smack against his arm. He turned and popped a small cube of chicken into the baby's mouth, who chewed happily and patted the tray.
Across the table, Shikamaru was regaling Saeko and Shizune with tales of their morning at the Keep.
"He called us 'grandpups'," Shikamaru was saying seriously, his fork poised mid-air. "And he's funny, but not old like Grandma."
Harry choked on his drink, sputtering slightly before biting back laughter. "Shikamaru!"
Even Shikaku couldn't hold in the chuckle, his shoulders shaking. "Not old like Grandma," he echoed, grinning. "Brutal."
Saeko smiled indulgently and reached over to smooth Shikamaru's hair. "You're lucky I love you so."
"Sirius is thirty-seven, for the record," Harry clarified, still smiling. "Not even old by our standards considering how slow we age. He acts like a bloody teenager most of the time."
That earned him a few curious looks.
Tsunade tilted her head. "How slow you age?"
He froze slightly under the weight of several gazes, realising he'd never really explained this part of himself to most of the people in the room.
Harry sighed and dabbed Teddy's chin with a napkin. "People with our kind of chakra tend to age slowly. My former headmaster was over a hundred years old but looked like he was in his seventies or so. I… I was probably expected to live around two centuries. Maybe more."
There was a stunned silence. Even Shikamaru looked up from his plate.
"How much longer?" Shikaku's voice was quiet, not accusing—just… cautious. Anxious. His eyes didn't betray much, but Harry could feel the shift in the air.
He met Shikaku's gaze and spoke evenly. "It depends on a lot of things. If I hadn't had so much damage to my body as a child, or the injuries I sustained during the last battle I fought, I probably could have made it past two hundred. But now?" He shrugged, trying not to sound too bitter. "Maybe one-fifty. One-seventy if I'm lucky."
Saeko sighed softly and leaned back. "We ninja are lucky to reach sixty."
Shikaku nodded. "A long life doesn't come with this profession. Too many ways to die young."
Harry's throat tightened. He hadn't really considered that—what it would feel like, building a life here, making connections… only to watch them grow old and fade long before he did. He swallowed thickly and glanced down at Teddy, then at Shikamaru.
"There are… rituals," Harry offered quietly. "For marriage bonding's and lifespan sharing. It stabilises both souls, tying them together in this life and the next. It's not common, but it's… possible."
Especially since it's a soul magic ritual created by his ancestors, he thought.
He didn't look directly at Shikaku when he said it, but he could feel the man still.
"Rituals like that work for anyone?" Shikaku asked after a moment, voice low.
Harry nodded. "With enough compatibility. And… trust. Love. It's binding for a reason."
Tsunade raised her eyebrows and leaned toward Shizune. "That's one way to make a long-term commitment."
Harry flicked a green bean at her, and she dodged it effortlessly with a grin.
Shikamaru made a face. "I'm not marrying anyone. Girls are loud and annoying."
"You won't be saying that when you're older," Tsunade teased.
Shikamaru looked betrayed. "I just want to play shogi and watch the clouds!"
Laughter rippled around the table, and Harry felt the tension dissipate.
Under the table, a warm brush of fingers tapped against his. He glanced to the side and caught Shikaku's smirk—the faintest curve of lips, a touch of amusement in dark eyes.
And Harry's heart gave a ridiculous flutter, but he tapped back, smiling, face warm.
Saeko saw everything and said nothing, but her smile was almost maternal.
Teddy squealed suddenly, and Harry focused on feeding him again. A small spoon of mashed potato and gravy made its way into the baby's mouth, which earned a happy hum and a grabby little hand on Harry's sleeve.
"Slow down, little beast," Harry chuckled. "You're not starving."
"He's built like you," Tsunade commented fondly. "Always hungry and too adorable for his own good."
Harry mock-glared. "Flattery won't get you out of dish duty."
"I'm wounded," she said sarcastically, clutching her heart.
The conversation drifted again, Tsunade and Saeko discussing something about medicinal applications of some herb Harry didn't recognise, and Shikamaru trying to explain the basics of shogi to a politely interested Shizune. That left Harry and Shikaku in a little bubble of their own.
"You've done so much here already," Shikaku said, voice quiet enough that only Harry heard.
"Thank you," Harry murmured, offering Teddy a small piece of carrot. "Still feels like I'm fumbling through half the time."
They ate in companionable silence for a while until Tsunade, ever the stirrer, leaned forward and asked casually, "So when's that Uchiha boy coming around?"
Harry blinked, confused for a second. "Uchiha?"
Tsunade hummed. "You said Fugaku mentioned sending his nephew for a spar. Or did I mishear that?"
Harry was reminded then of the deal he and Fugaku made.
Across the table, Shikaku's eyes narrowed slightly. "Shisui Uchiha? Here?"
Harry arched an eyebrow. "Yes. Fugaku thought it might be… productive. He seems curious about my elemental training."
"Shisui's young," Shikaku said slowly. "But he's still powerful. A bit unpredictable. Sparring with him could be dangerous."
Harry couldn't hold back a smile. "Are you worried about me, Shikaku?"
A pause. "Shouldn't I be?"
Harry's grin widened, but Tsunade wasn't done.
"Maybe Fugaku's hoping you'll marry into the Uchiha clan and pass on your fancy elemental techniques."
Harry gave her a flat look. "If I marry, it'll be for love. Not politics or power."
He felt the shift beside him—Shikaku relaxing slightly.
"I'm not marrying anyone either," Shikamaru muttered. "Girls are way too troublesome."
"You'll change your mind one day," Saeko said, gently patting his head.
"Doubt it."
Harry laughed and leaned back, letting himself bask in the warmth of the moment.
Dinner had ended quickly after that last awkward but oddly reassuring bout of teasing. Harry had offered—nervously but earnestly—for Saeko and Shikaku to stay the night.
It wasn't just politeness. He had genuinely hoped they would. Not just for Shikamaru's sake, but because… well, he liked having them here.
He'd shown them the guest rooms set aside for them—rooms chosen with care and thought, each with hand-picked scroll paintings and details that reflected their clan. He could tell from the quiet, touched way Saeko's eyes had softened that she understood just how much thought they'd put into it.
Shikamaru, naturally, took that moment to proudly declare that he had chosen the deer paintings in his father's room himself.
"Come see, come see!" he said, tugging Shikaku's hand in that excited, breathless way only children managed.
Harry smiled at the way Shikaku's eyes lit up at the excitement Shikamaru was showing. Harry stood back with Teddy in his arms and watched them disappear down the hall, laughter echoing behind them.
"You're a good boy," Saeko said quietly.
He turned and flushed, startled by the soft fondness in her voice. "Is it too much?" he asked uncertainly. "I just… I thought it might be nice, for Shikamaru to feel like he has two real homes."
Saeko reached up and patted his cheek, the touch surprisingly tender. "It's never too much, dear. You came into our lives like a storm—but I think my boys needed it. We needed it."
Harry's shoulders relaxed, warmth blooming under his skin.
Then her gaze turned just slightly serious, though not cold. "And whatever we tease about you and Shikaku… it's alright, Hari. Even if you don't want anything to come of it."
His breath hitched. For some reason, the idea of not wanting something with Shikaku—after all this—felt like a knife twisting in his chest. And he wondered if she was trying to dissuade him from starting anything with Shikaku at all.
But then she was already reading him, her hand shifting to cup his cheek properly.
"You're more than enough, dear heart," she said softly. "But you're also young. You deserve the space to figure out what you want. If that turns out to be Shikaku…" she smiled warmly, eyes crinkling, "then we would be lucky to have you in the family."
His throat worked, emotion catching for a moment.
"What if I already know that I want him?" he asked, voice barely above a whisper.
Saeko beamed.
"Then, dear, you had better make him work for it," she said with a sly grin. "We may be a clan of deer, but all men love a good chase."
Harry let out a surprised laugh. "I—I've only ever been with one person before," he admitted shyly. "I have no idea how to court anyone properly."
"You don't have to court," she laughed. "You're clan heads, not heirs. But there's no reason not to enjoy a little fun along the way. Flirt, tease, challenge him. My son's handsome, clever and successful—but he needs to remember that the best things in life aren't always handed to him."
"I'll keep that in mind," Harry said, just as footsteps approached down the hallway.
Shikaku reappeared with Shikamaru, the boy chattering about the hidden shelf in his room that Harry had made just for his shogi boards.
"—and it opens like this! Maashah showed me—oh! Grandma, come see!"
Shikamaru tugged Saeko's sleeve and led her away, leaving Harry, Shikaku, and Teddy in the dim hallway light.
As the quiet settled between them, Shikaku gave him a look, eyes narrowed full of suspicion. "What was that about?"
Harry blinked innocently. "What was what?"
"My mother," Shikaku said. "She was smiling at you like she just won a bet. Or was she telling lies about me again."
"Was she?" Harry asked, letting a teasing note slip into his voice. He shifted Teddy slightly on his hip and tilted his head. "You know, she said something very surprising. She said… you're not handsome or successful."
Shikaku narrowed his eyes. "She didn't."
"No, she didn't," Harry agreed with a grin. "I was just checking."
Shikaku smirked, leaning in slightly, eyes sharp and heated now. "That's good. Because that part's definitely true. High success rate, actually. Especially when it comes to getting what I want."
Harry let the moment stretch as his gaze flicked between Shikaku's lips and eyes, a slow smile spreading across his own.
"Hmm," he hummed. "You probably have an… 80% chance of getting what you want right now."
Shikaku took a deliberate step forward, his presence crowding into Harry's space as large hands gripped his waist. "Only 80%?"
Harry felt heat pool in his stomach. Their noses brushing as their mouths got closer. Then—just as their lips were about to meet—Harry pulled back slightly with a cheeky grin.
"More like… 50%. I'm not that easy."
The stunned look on Shikaku's face made Harry cackle quietly, laughing as he brushed a lingering kiss against the older man's cheek instead, relishing in the feel of the man's stubble against his lips.
"Oh, you are going to be troublesome," Shikaku muttered, his voice rough with amused frustration. His hands had curled tighter on Harry's waist when he'd stepped closer, and now they lingered there, warm and possessive.
"You want to be wooed, then?" Shikaku asked with a smirk, eyes dark with promise.
Harry flushed, but didn't look away. "Wouldn't hurt."
There was a pause and then a low chuckle.
"Well then, I suppose I better plan my approach. I won't let my success rate dip any lower. You've set a goal now," Shikaku murmured, leaning in to whisper in his ear, breath hot. "And my strategy always wins."
Teddy—who had been watching the entire exchange with scrunched brows—suddenly frowned. He let out a little grumble and smacked Shikaku lightly with his plush dragon.
"Sh'ku, no! Maashaaa!" he scolded fiercely.
Harry burst into laughter as Teddy dramatically planted a kiss on his cheek and wrapped tiny arms around his neck, scent marking him.
Shikaku gave the baby a betrayed look. "Traitor."
"Looks like I've got competition," he muttered again as he tickled Teddy's sides lightly, making the baby giggle and squeal.
"I'd say you've got your work cut out for you," Harry said, smug as he turned to walk toward Shikamaru's room. "But then… you are a very successful man, aren't you?"
Shikaku groaned softly behind him, but it was tinged with laughter and want.
Challenge accepted.