Chap2- The B'day Boy
A/n:- Hey guys thanks for your kind reviews I'll try to add as much I can to the story. I would like to update it every Saturday. So you don't have to wait for much longer. Hope you like this chapter. A big thanx to my beta. Please review after reading it. Re-edited.
"James, have you packed everything for Harry?" Lily asked.
"Yes hon, I did" James said exasperated.
"At what time will the portkey be activated?"
"10 mins from now" James told his wife for the tenth time this morning. Dumbledore had asked the Potters to spend the Christmas at Hogwarts. For this, he arranged and sent them a portkey which would be activate on the Christmas morning transporting them to the Hogwarts.
So James and Lily spend most of their Christmas morning packing theirs and Harry's stuff and waiting for Sirius and Remus to arrive so they could leave.
They all were super-excited that Harry will be acquainted with their magical world for the first time. The five month old was aloof of all this excitement around him. He was sleepy as he had to wake early this morning. Thusthe three were waiting for the two marauders to arrive. Five mins later both arrived with their rucksacks.
"Hey kiddo, how are you this fine Christmas morning?" Sirius went towards Harry who was drowsing in his mum's arms.
"What took you so long? The portkey will be activat in just 2 mins." Lily complained.
"Harry's Christmas gift took us long enough." Remus said glaring at Sirius who had a smirk on his face.
"And what is it that you brought for Harry?" James asked coming over Lily.
Remus and Sirius shared a glance and smiled at James and Lily evilly.
"Hurry up. Just a min left for the portkey to be activated. Gather around it." Lily hurried checking her pocket watch.
They all gathered around the coffee table which had a tin can and held it. They felt a jerk behind their navel and were transported to the Hogwarts gate.
Hagrid was waiting for them by the gate. On their arrival he tightly hugged the three marauders and then lunged for Lily and Harry. On seeing little Harry, joyful tears appeared in his giant but loving eyes.
"It's good to be back again" exclaimed James. They all proceeded towards the castle. They were greeted at the great hall by the over excited staff and Dumbledore.
"Ah, here comes another potter. Harry my boy, good to see you." Dumbledore took Harry who was wide awake by then from Lily's arms. He welcomed all of them warmly. Harry started playing with Dumbledore's white, snowy and long beard who was relishing the joy on Harry's face.
"Harry, meet your grandpa Albus Dumbledore" Lily told Harry. He looked at the person carrying him and smiling at him. He had moon spectacles on his nose, had long white hair just like his beard with which he was playing and a hat was seated on his head. Altogether he looked funny to Harry.
"Gapa?" Harry asked his mother with wide eyes who nodded.
"It seems Harry likes your beard Albus." Remus teased.
All the Hogwarts staff took turns on scooping Harry who enjoyed all the attention he received though he was bit afraid of Trelawney. All were introduced to him by his parents one by one. They went to the great hall by the giant Christmas tree. The great hall was decorated and lit for Christmas. The Christmas fairies that were hanging on the tree were singing carols. There were few students present in the castle.
Everyone exchanged gifts. Harry was joyous on seeing his heap of gifts that Lily piled aside. He opened them one by one with the help of his parents. He got a lot of candies, toys, story books, etc. He received a latest magic train set from his parents and Quidditch baby training kit from Sirius and Remus which included a broom, much to Lily's annoyance. They had a wonderful lunch and showed Harry the whole castle. The whole day Lily was giving Remus and Sirius tough looks. Except that, the two days went happily. All five enjoyed the stay.
Time seemed to be flying and Harry would be one year old in a week. This one year passed fast but was hectic for both Lily and James as they both had to keep a constant eye on Harry who was getting mischievous day by day. Harry was sleeping in his crib and Lily and James were in the living room discussing and planning Harry's b'day bash. Remus, Sirius and Peter came through the floo and joined them.
"Hey love birds. Cuddling nicely?" Sirius teased them for which he received a punch on his shoulder from Lily. They all took seats around the coffee table.
"So what's the plan?" Remus enquired. Since his arrival, Peter was lost in his own thoughts and was sitting as far as possible from them.
"The guest list includes all Hogwarts staff, some of our colleagues from ministry, neighbors and some acquaintances" James informed them. Lily wished to call Severus but James denied and Lily failed to convince him.
"The feast will be managed by the elves under my supervision" Lily stated.
"Remus and Peter you will handle the decorations, Sirius and I will deal with the invitations."
"Hey Peter. Are you alright? You look so lost." James caringly asked.
"Yeah just a little tired. Don't worry mate. I will see you tomorrow. I think I need some rest." Peter assured James, went to the fireplace and flooed to his house. He had something else going in his miniscule mind.
"He's behaving quite weird these days." Said Sirius and shrugged.
"He also made an excuse when Lily was admitted in St. Mungo's for his absence" added Remus.
"He even rarely meets."
"I think he is ignoring us. I had to drag him from his workplace today. " Sirius told them.
"He wasn't like this when we graduated." James confessed.
"He never was like this before, something is bothering him or he is planning something without us" Sirius said with a scowl for which he received a smack on his arm second time this evening.
"Maybe he's having some problem. Give him some space he will be back to normal. If something was troubling him he would have told us." Lily sympathized
"If he's planning something for us then I think I will not bug him more." Remus joked.
"I think you are right Lily. Let's just hope he is back to normal. I miss the old Peter." James hoped.
"Dinner's ready" Lily announced.
"This time you two give Harry some normal present or else I will scramble you both."
On the night of 30th July, James and Lily were having a nice sweet chat in their room with each other of how this one year went after they tucked Harry in his crib for the night.
"It's like just yesterday I was pacing in the halls of St. Mungo's to release some of my tension when I first heard his cry."
"This year with our Harry really flew like mere minutes."
"I don't know Lily if I ever told you this before. You really made my life worth living and with Harry you gave me the best gift anyone could ever give me." Lily blushed after that and James received a kiss on his cheeks for that.
"Thank you. I wouldn't have asked for anything more. You two are my life now."
"I can't even think of one day without you two now." With that they both fell asleep for they had a much worked out day ahead for them.
31st July raised sunny and warm. Lily and James got themselves ready and walked towards Harry's room together to wake him up. Harry was woken up by both his parents with a loud HAPPY BIRTHDAY HARRY call much to his dislike but then realized it was his birthday and didn't complain.
He had all his favorites for brunch which he enjoyed a lot. Thanks to Lily's cooking skills. He got brand new robes for the evening bash with matching footwear. After lunch Lily and James gave him a magical ring which would grow with him, which was a Potter heirloom. James was proud of Harry and saw a glint in his son's eye and was relieved that he liked it. Harry loved his gift and accepted it with a giggle. Both parents hugged their son and planted kisses on his cheeks and forehead.
They got ready for the bash with Harry in his new purple robes. Lily wore a pretty red flowing gown which hugged every curve, her hair were done very elegantly which were flowing in curls around her face. James was dressed in black formals with a bow tie which enhanced his features, his hair were a little manageable to his daily messed ones. The family of three looked happy with a very much laughing Harry.
The whole living room was beautifully decorated with balloons, ribbons and different magical objects which gleamed in the evening light. Most of the decoration consisted of blue and purple which were Harry's favorite colors. The furniture was charmed to accommodate all the guests, soft music was played. Wall behind the coffee table was charmed to display HAPPY BIRTHDAY HARRY with burning crackers at short intervals. Harry was enjoying all this extra attention and thrilled to see the charmed wall. He was trying to get down from Lily's arms and have a closer look of the wall. Sirius, Remus and Peter were already there giving final touch to everything. Peter was no better than the last time. The first guests to arrive were Dumbledore and Hagrid.
"Ganpa…" Harry was the first to notice Albus. Harry was very delighted to see his grandpa there.
"Harry my boy, Happy Birthday. When you grew this big?" Dumbledore asked Harry who was again playing with his beard.
"That's still a mystery to us." James replied, which caused everyone to laugh.
Soon all the guests arrived and were gathered around the table to cut a big yummy chocolate cake with HAPPY BIRTHDAY HARRY written on it. Thanks to the house elves for that. Harry blew the candle after making a wish. He was hugged by all the guests and gifts were showered upon him. This time the gifts heap was much bigger than the one at Christmas. Sirius applied cake icing on Harry's face which made him look like cake himself, for which he received a stern look from Lily but James shared a grin. Sirius had gifted him a toddler broom while Remus gifted him books. Everyone enjoyed the feast and went home happily. Harry was too tired after the exciting party and went to sleep immediately after it.
The next morning there was chaos at the potter house.
"James, if anything is broken or Harry even has a scratch, I will strangle you and your idiot friend who gifted it to him." Lily screamed. Harry was riding his toddler broom which Sirius had gifted him and was having fun riding in air and making his parents run after him. While Lily and James were trying to catch their son all around the house, the floo turned green and Sirius stepped in and was met with running Lily and James behind a very excited Harry on his new broom.
"Harry stop and came down now." James ordered.
"Who in his right mind would gift a one year old with a broom?...!"
"I'm going to kill you, padfoot." James yelled still running.
He was watching the whole scene from the doorway. He was trying every ounce of his will power not to laugh but couldn't control it any more for which he received a death glare from Lily who just realized the presence of the devil who was really going to receive a nice lecture and near death experience from her. Padfoot was rolling on the floor laughing watching the riot he had caused indirectly.
"Get up you idiot and help us get Harry down without him getting hurt. You caused this to happen and now you will stop it" Lily ordered with a no nonsense tone. Fearing for his dear life he got up and was trying to get Harry down with Lily and James.