Prologue
James Potter rushed into the St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, desperately dodging and weaving his way around the numerous people clouding the lobby. Immediately his eyes looked for that of his best friends.
"Where is she? Is she alright? When did you get here? Why are you still here? Where's Wormtail" He asked, without slowing down to hear their response.
"In order, no clue, no idea, just slightly before you did, and because we were waiting for you, Mother's ill." Sirius replied. Sirius Orion Black, heir apparent to the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black, wore an indolent smirk on his face while leaning against the counter of the front reception. While it was undeniable that he would jump in front of a killing curse for the men he considered to be his family, he did not pretend to understand the emotions and thoughts of one James Charlus Potter at this instance.
"Well then, why didn't you bloody find out while you were here waiting?" James roared at the two men now standing before him.
In clipped tones, before Sirius could say anything else to antagonise the rather unnerved man standing before them, Remus John Lupin answered, "That would be because we are not kin. You, more than anyone should know that in such times, the hospital is merely exercising due diligence in not simply giving information of its patients willy-nilly to all seekers." An arched eyebrow punctuated his statement.
"Merlin Moony, of course you're right, but that doesn't mean that you couldn't have tried! Godric knows how many times we charmed our way out of situations." James said.
Ignoring the two men before him, James strode to the reception counter and faced the matronly woman seated there. "My name is James Potter, where exactly is my wife at? I have just received summons from the hospital that she was about to go into labour."
"And what was the pre-arranged password for such a visit?" This question stumped James, causing his mouth to gape soundlessly while he blinked owlishly at the nurse in question. "Password… uh, something to do with that Muggle playwright that Lily likes."
"Moony, you're the best of us at this. What is the name of a play that bears the name of a king?" James turned to Remus. In response, Remus merely rolled his eyes and answered, "Which play, Prongs? You do know that there are thousands of plays involving kings don't you? A hint of which playwright would at least help narrow down the plays in question."
"I think it was Spearrock or something. No, it was Spearsway, or was it Spearroll." James supplied.
Sirius barked a laugh. "One would think that the Muggle was a Goblin in disguise with such names. I believe it was Shakespeare, and the answer is Henry V."
This time, both James and Remus turned to Sirius and stared in surprise. "What? The sprog is after all my Godson. That, and Andy likes Shakespeare, so I grew up listening to her waxing about his genius." Sirius replied, not entirely comfortably.
Pushing questions of Sirius' sudden competence in Muggle literature aside, James turned to the receptionist once more. "So where is she then?"
"Fifth floor, Private Wards, Room Five."
Without another word, James spun on his heels and took off running towards the fifth floor, where Lily Marie Potter started another round of cursing the general ineptitude of men, Potters, and absent husbands.
HENRY V
Following in his wake, Remus Lupin and Sirius Black conversed casually while Sirius flirted outrageously with the nurses and occasionally patient who were unfortunate to cross their paths. "You know, I really don't understand why Prongs is in such a snit. People never die in labour. Well, at least not since Victoria Vaisey died after giving birth to Arcturus Malfoy", Sirius snorted.
"It must be all pureblooded placenta…" Sirius started before he was interrupted by Remus. "Once again, you surprise me with your inordinate knowledge of pureblood gossip. But more importantly, how does the heir apparent to the Most Ancient and Most Noble Pureblood House of Black even know what is placenta?"
Sirius' face started to take on a smug expression before the second question turned his grin into a grimace. "Well, I did after all grow up amongst the Blacks and information is what we thrive upon. Anyway, I wanted to inform you guys sooner but now is as good as any. Do you remember McKinnon?"
"Gryffindor, year above us? Blonde, buxom, and breathy?" Remus replied.
"Spot on, Moony my boy! Well, I met her a few months back in Hogsmeade after my shift. James had to head home because Lily wasn't feeling too well. So, I found myself alone in the Three Broomsticks and what do you know… Marlene McKinnon was there, sitting by her lonesome with tears falling down those cherubic rosy cheeks. Anyway, long story short, she had just received news that she passed her Healer's test but her uncle, the last of the McKinnon's dead in a Death Eater attack."
"So… we started talking and what do you know. I manage to nurse her back to happiness, while she nursed me to esctasy if you know what I mean." Sirius waggled his eyebrows at Remus.
"Merlin, you are disgusting. Anyone told you that before? That still doesn't answer how you know about things like placenta if 'nursing you to esctasy' was all she did?" Remus asked.
At this, Sirius started to look edgy and his face spotted a distinct flush creeping up from his neck. "Godric, you've really fallen into Hippogriff's dung this time haven't you? You actually like like a girl!" Remus crowed.
"Shut up! It's not like that okay. It's just that, some of the things that she mention, I didn't quite understand so I bought some books at a muggle bookstore to read just so I don't look like an idiot the next time we're out on a date. Besides, she's a pureblood witch that is totally different from the rest of those inbred hags." Sirius said. He continued with a whisper, "From the things I'm hearing from Gringotts, it seems that my father has not disinherited me and if that is the case, the family by-laws for succession requires me to at least be in a relationship with a pureblooded witch in order for consideration for succession. Judging from the gossip, it seems that is not too far away." At this, Sirius had the grace to wince. He continued, "I'll be damned if I let the aegis and fortune of the Blacks go to that idiot warmonger and his bunch of lunatic followers. So I thought that I would play a prank on them all."
Sirius roared with laughter at this thought.
Remus asked, "Merlin help us all, Padfoot reading and preparing for a date. So you do care about McKinnon after all."
HENRY V
"Moony, to be honest, I can't say for sure. All I know is that what she makes me feel when I am with her is totally different. It's something I've never felt before…" Sirius trailed as both men stopped outside the ward as James came out bearing his son.
Wearing an inordinately pleased expression, James said, "Padfoot, Moony, I present to you – Henry James Potter…"
"Harry!"
Turning around, James looked upon the sweat flushed face of his wife with a confused frown, "Lils, I thought the play you liked was titled Henry V?"
"Yes, but he was known as Prince Harry to his friends and supporters, so Harry it is. Besides, Henry reminds me of my stuffy primary school teacher!" Lily answered.
"Fine, gentlemen…", "and lady" Amelia Bones declared as she joined the group. Trailing her, Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody clunked his way as his magical eye spun wildly in its socket.
"Bones. Moody." James nodded towards each of them before continuing, "What are you doing here?"
"Official business I'm afraid." Amelia provided. "But that can wait. So who is this then?"
"Well, as I was saying before I was interrupted," James paused with a glare at the four individuals before him, his eyes softening as he gazed upon his now placid wife lying tiredly in her bed, "I present to you all, the Heir Apparent of the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter, Harry James Potter."