Harry Potter Fan fiction: The Birth of the Boy who lived

"Oh god! What the heck am I doing here?" James said nervously, pacing in the hall way of the hospital.

"Having your kid?" Sirius guessed sarcastically. He was lounging casually in a chair just outside the room where Lily Potter was to be giving birth. He and Remus Lupin were waiting with James Potter. James had been having this nervous break-down since Lily had stated that it was time to go to the hospital. It was a bit of a surprise to Sirius as to why he was so worked up all of the sudden; earlier that week they had been joking about how much fun they were going to have with this kid and how great it was going to be. Yet here was James panicking none-the-less.

He threw Sirius a nasty look at his remark.

"I know why I'm here….I just….I can't be a father!" he blurted out at last. "I-I- you know me Sirius! I have the maturity level of a four year old!"

Sirius laughed, "No arguing with you there, mate."

James didn't seem to have heard him, or if he had, he didn't seem to care. He was still pacing back and forth, obviously deep in thought. Sirius watched him with some interest. He leaned over to Remus with a smirk on his lips.

"What do you say; we freak him out a bit more?" Sirius asked eyeing the paranoid James. Remus didn't answer; he didn't have time. James had heard Sirius this time and there was the slightest bit of a grin on his face.

"Shut up, Padfoot. You know you couldn't prank me. You're too daft." James almost laughed at Sirius's astonished face.

"Ouch, Prongs…words can hurt, you know?" Sirius muttered with a mock of sadness in his voice. He looked at James to see him pacing nervously again. "What are you so worried about?" Sirius inquired, "I mean…honestly, we've pretty much raised Peter, and he didn't turn out too bad!"

Remus laughed this time as the short mousy man next to them finally looked up indignantly at Sirius's comment.

"Sorry, Pete; only joking." Sirius chuckled. Peter continued to look out the window, totally oblivious again. James, however, was thinking hard about what Sirius had said.

"Come on, Sirius. This is different! I'm not joking around this time! What…what if I screw this kid up? What if I raise him wrong and he turns out to be an idiot?" James spluttered. This had obviously been on his mind a while; it must have really been bothering him.

"With you as his father…that's sort of inevitable." Sirius muttered. James glared at him.

"I mean it! I'm serious!" James shouted.

Sirius laughed, "No…that would be me…"

James just gave an exasperated sigh and continued pacing. Sirius finally looked James straight in the eyes, making him stop in his tracks.

"What?" James asked, wondering why he was being stared at.

"You're acting like an idiot." Sirius said, "You're going to be a great father. I don't know what it is about her, but when you're with Lily….it's like you're a different person." He paused, trying to think how he could get through to him. All he could think of was, "Trust me, man. This is one lucky kid. Even if you screw up, he'll still have us!" he motioned to himself and Remus and Peter.

"Oh great! Now I'm totally doomed!" James muttered sarcastically. He finally relaxed a little and sat in the other chair beside Sirius. However, as soon as he sat, a healer from the delivery room came out and all four men jumped up to greet whatever news he was bearing. The healer was wearing a smile and he looked straight at James as he spoke.

"Why don't you come in and see your son?" he said opening the door for them.

James's smile couldn't have been wider. He looked at Sirius. Sirius smiled back, encouraging him to go forward into the room.

"I…I have a son!" James said quietly, but excitedly none-the-less.

They were all led into the room where Lily was sitting up looking thoroughly exhausted, but happy. She was holding a bundle of blue blankets. The love in her eyes was so pure and beautiful. James approached her and sat by her on the bed. He placed his hand lovingly on hers.

"James….meet your son, Harry." Lily said quietly, handing the small bundle over into James's arms.

The small child squirmed slightly, but soon relaxed in his father's arms. He opened his green eyes and stared up at the man with extraordinarily untidy black hair. A pudgy hand reached out of the blankets. James stared down at the child with awe.

"Look at him…." He muttered, "Just look at him… looks just like you, Lily…" he said, looking back up at his wife.

"I think he looks like you…" she said putting a hand on James's arm gently.

James slowly got up and walked over to Sirius, Remus, and Peter who were watching with smiles on their faces. He looked at Sirius and handed the bundle to him. Sirius took Harry carefully and held him.

"Sirius…Lily and I were talking…and we've decided…we'd like you to be Harry's godfather." James said quietly, while Sirius looked down at the little boy. "We couldn't think of anyone better to take care of our child if…if anything happened to us. No one better than you…"

Sirius looked at him with surprise. "Seriously?" he asked, smiling widely. James nodded and Sirius looked back down at Harry, who was now sleeping soundly in his arms. "Wow…" he muttered. He laughed softly, "Now, don't you worry; if these guys start acting mean, I'll always be around to make sure you're spoiled rotten."

Everyone chuckled at this. Harry opened his eyes again, looking straight up at Sirius.

"Well, Harry Potter…You're one lucky kid…." Sirius muttered, thinking of how incredibly loved he was going to be with this family.