At half past eight on a Wednesday morning Sirius knocked on the Potters' door. He and James were going to Hogsmeade for the day on Order business, and had to meet Alastor Moody at the Three Broomsticks at nine. "Prongs, open up," he called, knocking again, louder this time.

A few moments passed before Sirius heard the sound of footsteps shuffling to the door, which opened to reveal James, still in his ratty pyjamas and a wrinkled t-shirt and with his hair sticking up in every possible direction. He yawned enormously in greeting and shuffled back down the hall. "Mornin,'" he grunted over his shoulder, almost as an afterthought.

"Always ready with a warm welcome," Sirius observed dryly. "You'd better hurry and get dressed; I don't fancy hearing one of Mad-Eye's lectures first thing in the morning. Is there any breakfast? I'm starving."

The mention of food seemed to stir James into wakefulness, but not in the way Sirius expected. He shuddered and closed his eyes with a grimace. "Don't mention food," he hissed.

"Why? What's wrong?"

"You'll see," James muttered darkly, and would say no more. When Sirius entered the kitchen, he discovered why.

There was Lily sitting at the table, wearing a bright blue dressing gown with a bold tartan pattern that had been a gift from Professor McGonagall two Christmases ago. The sash was tied snugly around her ever-expanding waist and her hair was rolled in a messy knot at the top of her head. She smiled when she noticed James and Sirius hovering near the door.

"Hello, Sirius," she said brightly as she emptied a tin of sardines into a bowl of yoghurt.

"…Good morning," Sirius said, watching in horrified fascination as Lily spooned at least half a jar of marmalade over the gruesome mix. Beside him James turned an unfortunate shade of green. "How's Baby Prongs today?"

"Very hungry," Lily replied as she vigorously stirred the bowl. She studied her husband with a critical eye. "You two are going to be late. You're not even dressed, James. Are you not feeling well? You look a little peaky. You'd better eat something first. Want me to make you breakfast? Do you like yoghurt, Sirius?" This she asked as she scooped up a heaping spoonful of marmalade-and-yoghurt-covered sardines.

James let out a small, strangled noise.

Sirius glanced between them as his own stomach churned queasily. "I think we'd better get something along the way," he replied quickly. "Moody said if we're late one more time, he'll transfigure us into something obnoxiously cute and fluffy-"

"Like ferrets," James supplied helpfully.

"-so we'd better leave as soon as James is dressed. What do you say, Prongs?"

James had never looked so grateful in his life. "Right, let's do that. I'll be ready in a minute," he promised, racing from the kitchen without another look at his wife's breakfast.

"James," Lily called after him.

"Yes?"

"I finished the sardines. Will you get some more on your way home?"

"Yes, dear."