Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, as you should well know. I just really, really enjoy writing James II and dad!Harry. Enjoy!

"I don't see why we have to walk."

"Because," Harry said, pointing to a spot a few dozen yards behind them. Ginny was there, settling down a young, red-headed girl. "We apparated there. And the house is up there."

"Why couldn't we just apparate there?" James said, pointing to the dark bricked house. "It'd be easier."

"It would also be rude." He ushered Albus along, who had stopped to poke at a caterpillar on the asphalt. "People don't just apparate on our doorsteps, do they?"

"Teddy would, I bet."

"Yes, well, Teddy's a bit too much like his mother to be trusted to walking and not falling."

Harry stopped to tie his shoe and the two boys stopped in front of him;Albus, fiddling with his glasses, and James, shoving his hands into his pockets.

"Don't see why we go anyway. That house is awful."

"It is not, James, and we go because it's our family."

He scoffed. "Family or not, it's the worst."

"No, what's 'the worst' is your attitude. You're being disrespectful."

"No, what's the worst is your attitude, you're being disrespectful," James mocked, his tone high and sing-song. Harry shot him a look of warning as Ginny walked up.

"Mummy, James is being dispekfull."

"He often is, Allie."

"Mu-um!"

"Gin, we promised."

"Oh, alright," she said reluctantly. She took her son's glasses, which he had already snapped in half, and with a swish of her wand, repaired the frames. She gave the glasses back to him, smiling when he put them on. "You look so handsome with glasses, Al."

His cheeks and ears burned as he grinned sheepishly.

"Well, I think he looks like a git."

"We thank you for your input." Harry's voice was nearly dangerous as his eldest son smirked at his bespectacled younger brother. Harry turned back to Albus and winked. "Don't listen to him, Al, he's just in a fit because you look smart and he doesn't."

"They're only saying that 'cos they have to."

"James Sirius Po-"

"In fact!" James spoke over his father's voice, giddy to be tormenting his brother. "In fact, I saw Mum crying the other night! When I asked her what was wrong, she didn't answer. She just kept saying 'I have the ugliest son in the whole, wide world'…"

Albus' face twisted in horror and he looked up at his parents. "I-is that true?"

James cackled with delight and ran up the sidewalk, Lily toddling after him and clapping her hands. Harry let out a few half-hearted bellows at his son, but gave up when they reached the brick house at the end of the street. He turned to his wife and sighed. "Exactly whose raising are we paying for right now?"

"You did name him after your father. And Godfather."

"I really should have thought about that," he said, running his hand over his hair. "Damn nobility."

Ginny smoothed her hand over auburn hair and Harry took his son's hand into his own.

"Did you really, though, Mummy?"

"Maybe I was crying about him," Ginny said wistfully. "He doesn't know."

Al smiled and put his head against her hip, swinging his father's arm back and forth, his free hand fidgeting with the sides of his glasses. Ginny, almost unconsciously, pulled his hand away reproachfully, and the three began walking towards the brick house.

James was already sitting on the steps, Lily jabbering away beside him. His chin in his hands, his jaw slack, he looked up at his parents. "How long are we going to be here?"

"As long as it takes for you to get a happy attitude," Ginny snarled, picking Lily off the steps and tightening her hair elastics. "You are seven and you act like you're seventeen. The world is not out to get you, little boy, so please keep your snide remarks to yourself."

Harry put a hand on James' shoulder and a finger in his face. He eerily reminded himself of Uncle Vernon on these rare occasions. "Mind yourself."

"Please. Mr. Potter. I know my business." James shrugged his dad's hand away and ran up the porch to the doorbell. He rang it aggressively, pushing the button so hard Harry thought his finger might break.

"What is it with our children and Muggle things?" Ginny whispered, more to herself than to anyone else.

The door opened and a thin, dark-haired woman in a sweatsuit opened the door. "Oh, you're here! Come in, come in."

Ginny and Harry lead the children inside as the woman shut the door behind them. She hugged Harry and kissed Ginny on the cheek. "How was your trip? Are you hungry?"

"No, we ate before we came-"

"Well, you must be starving by now! I've just started cooking. I'll throw in some extra for you," She moved around them and towards the kitchen. "Go, sit down! Dudley's in the back with the girls, I'll fetch him."