I don't own Harry Potter...T-T
"Harry, pull up! You're to close to the ground!" she heard a familiar voice yell in panic above her. Quickly looking toward the source, she was met with the sight of her four years old son pull sharply out of a dive, mere inches from colliding with the hard earth. Their was a large smile on his face.
"This is great Pafu!" he called out happily as he zoomed back toward his godfather. "Can I do it again?"
Sirius was teaching him to fly and play Quidditch. But he really didn't need to be taught anything about the flying, except for a few pointers. Like his father before him, he had a natural af
"No Harry," she called up to him. "Don't do anything like that again without our permission, or the broom is going bye-bye!"
He looked at her in open mouthed shock before turning quickly to Padfoot. The shaggy headed man nodded, ducking his head so the amusement didn't show in his grey eyes. The little boy's expression was a mirror of James's when he was denied something he really wanted. He truly was like his father…while not arrogant, he loved pranks. He was smart without really trying and he was devoted to his friends…
"Well Prongslet, why don't we head down and I'll tell you the rules to Quidditch? We can try playing some one on one afterward, OK?"
This caused a smile to blaze up on the little guy's face.
"OK!" he happily agreed.
"Alright then," Sirius began as the two sat in the wicker chairs of the sun porch. "The game is played by two teams. The teams are made up of three Chasers, two Beaters, one Keeper, and one Seeker. To play, you need four balls. A Quaffle, two Bludgers, and a Golden Snitch. The three Chasers try and score goals with the Quaffle by tossing it into one of the opposing team's three goal posts. The Keeper guards the goal posts. The Bludgers fly around and try to knock the players off their brooms. The beater's job is to try hitting them towards the opposing team's players. The Seeker flies around and tries to find and catch the Snitch. Only when the Snitch is caught can the game end," he explained, trying not to smile as his godson began nodding excitedly every few minutes, making himself look even more like his deceased father in the two adult's eyes.
"You with me so far?"
"Yeah!"
"Ok then, I'll tell you the rules real quick and we'll go play!"
~X-x-X~
"Hey Lils?"
"Yes Sirius?"
"What do you think of going on vacation? I think it's starting to get to all of us being cooped up here."
That wasn't a bad idea… He'd been going out more and more lately in his Animagus form, and she'd found herself outside more often that not just staring at the countryside. Harry always seemed to be outside of his broom, practicing the few moves he knew in the small Quidditch pitch the estate boasted. James's father, Charlus Potter, had had it installed when he had been a professional player so that he could stay home and practice while his wife, Dorea, was expecting. Useful for a family of Quidditch obsessed boys.
"I think that's a great idea Siri, we could all use some time away from here. Why don't we go to the beach house for a week or two?
The beach house. A big old rambling house that sat high atop the dunes in the south of France. A walled veranda wrapped around the multiple story dwelling, and was a great place to relax and catch a sunrise or sunset. It was home to many wickers chair and a hammock that welcomed anyone to sit down and take a load off. Several sets of stairs led from the walled in sun porch and the upper decks right down to the beach. One could walk the dunes, play in the surf from the incoming tides, or relax inside under the ceiling fan with a book from the large library.
There were several big bedrooms, with large beds one could get lost in. Large windows lined the back wall of the sitting room, and gave one a breathtaking view of the waves as they rolled in. The spacious kitchen was home to a large dining table and pantry. There was a house keeper who stayed there year round, and could be counted on for food anytime you needed it whether she knew you were coming or not.
The Potters had used it as a vacation home for years as their son had grown up, and he had used it as a gathering place for his friends when his parents had begun to feel they were to old for such outings. It was the perfect place to go to as a family.
"That's perfect, Prongslet would love it! Although, you know…we haven't been there since the summer after Final year?" the dog Animagus said with a small smile. "That's were Jamie proposed to you, isn't it?"
She returned the smile, and nodded. She was surprised that she hadn't burst out crying at the memory. That had been a fun summer… James had in fact proposed to her, right there on the beach in front of the house. At first, she had said no. After all they had just graduated and if they got married right away, people might have thought they had to! She'd told him as much, which had caused him to burst out laughing. Apparently, he'd thought she said no because she didn't love him. He'd set her straight, she'd let him put the ring on her finger, and the clock had started on their short lives together before the prophecy had taken over.
"Harry would love it, wouldn't he? James did…and his son should get to spend time in a place that was an important part of his parents life, shouldn't he?"
And so their first vacation was planned.
~X-x-X~
"Wow!" the four year old shouted excitedly. "Tha'sa lotta water!"
The redhead smiled down at him. He could be so cute without even realizing it.
"Yes it is Harry, and you can go play as soon as we get everything situated and we've gotten changed, OK?" she promised. He nodded quickly and charged toward the old wooden house.
"Well he's raring to go, ain't he?" Sirius said, an annoyed expression on his face. He'd gotten roped into caring all the bags. "Mind helping? I think some stuff is slipping," he asked, just before three of them fell from his grasp. He scowled down at them and tried to pick them up, which resulted in more falling. He growled at her when he heard her laughing.
"Sirius Black," she managed to say through her laughter. "Are you a wizard or not? Use your wand!"
He stared at he blankly for a few moments before hitting his forehead, thus dropping the last of the luggage. Quickly, he pulled his wand from his back pocket and pointed it at the suitcases. With a nonverbal floating they lifted and floated in the direction of the house with him following, pointing the way. She sighed as she watched his retreating back. He could be so funny sometimes.
Entering the house, she saw no one but heard the light strains of talking coming from the direction of the kitchen. Walking towards it, she found Harry and Sirius seated on stools pulled up to the bar. Both had a cookie in hand and were talking to the white haired housekeeper, Mrs. Stewart, who was busy kneading some dough.
"Miss Lily!" she called happily, catching sight of the redhead. She stopped her kneading and hurried over to give the widow a hug. "It's been to long my dear!" she whispered to her after kissing bother her cheeks. Then she held her out to look at her.
"To skinny…needs feeding up," she heard the old woman mutter as she walked back to her bread.
"I'm glad you all came! I've been longing to see young Mr. Harry again! Haven't seen him since he was a babe, little enough to hit in my arms."
The afore mentioned little boy smiled over at her lovingly. "Mrs. Stewart gaves us a cookie!" he said happily, munching on said cookie. "Its'a good cookie!" He studied it for a few minutes before he asked, "Can we go to the beach now?"
Lily smiled sadly at him. "Sorry hun, but we still need to unpack. Then we can go."
"That's alright, I already took care of it," Sirius assured her over his own cookie. "I am a wizard after all, which you so kindly pointed out to me!"
She laughed again, then smiled. "Alright Harry, I guess we can go to the beach. Go get your bathing suit on."
He nodded enthusiastically and ran upstairs.
~X-x-X~
The redhead considered the sight before her, unsure if she should laugh or be concerned. She'd asked Sirius to go ahead with Harry to the water front so she could arrange her room to her specifications. When she was finally finished and in her suit, she headed down to join the others…were she found Padfoot asleep, covered in sand from the neck down in the shape of a mermaid. Harry sat next to him giggling, busing himself with trying to build a sandcastle.
"Prongslet, did you have something to do with Siri's current…adornments?" she asked carefully. She only called him Prongslet when she knew for sure, or was pretty much convince, he'd followed in his father's footsteps with a prank.
"Yep!" he said proudly, looking up. "He fell asleep on the job, so I taught him a lesson. Don't he look pretty?"
She looked at him in silence for a full minute before bending down and bursting out laughing. Usually, she wouldn't try and encourage her son's pranking nature…but this? This was just to much.
"Make sure he stays like that, I'm going to get a camera," she commanded after the worst of her hysterics wore off. "This is to great of a blackmail attempt to pass up!"
"OK!"
~X-x-X~
They'd spent the last week and a half here, just enjoying themselves. Playing on the beach, exploring the local village and island, Apparating to a Quidditch game, flying out over the water, eating in the restaurants or the housekeeper's amazing food, making bonfires out of driftwood and roasting marshmallows, throwing a Frisbee down the beach for Padfoot the dog to catch. Watching the tide come in in the evening or the sun going down… it had all been great.
She looked out over the crashing waves and groaned. She was alone in the house for the night, and the thoughts that she'd managed to shake off for so long had finally managed to catch up with her. It was Mrs. Stewart's day off, and Sirius took Harry to a local fair.
The thing on her mind? The kiss. Even though they had agreed not to mention it, but it kept popping into her head at the most random times. Kissing Sirius was like kissing her brother, if she had one, right? He'd been her best friend for years. Before her's, he'd been James's. That qualified him as her brother…didn't it?
The only problem was that it hadn't felt like she was kissing her brother. She'd actually enjoyed it…maybe to much. And she felt guilty about it. Wasn't it still to soon after her husband's death to be thinking about moving on? Dating? The thought of that scared her.
She'd only ever dated one person, and she'd ended up marring him. Then she'd been an inexperienced teenager…now she was a twenty four year old widow with a child. Yeah, that would make it easier to find someone. But she wasn't ready now anyway. Was she?
This was why she hated being alone with her thoughts…
~X-x-X~
He frowned out at the waves. He shouldn't be thinking about this…
It was their last night in France, and it had been a wonderful time. They'd celebrated Harry's fifth birthday the day before. They'd had a quiet birthday lunch out on the beach, a picnic with just themselves and Mrs. Stewart. They'd given him a real broom, a Comet 220. He would never forget the look on his godson's face when he'd unwrapped it…
They'd also given him an owl, a snowy white he'd named Hedwig.
He'd finally aloud himself to think about it. The result of his own stupidity, which could've ruined whatever he had with Lily. Friendship… it was good enough for him. To be honest, over the last few years he'd begun to feel almost like she was his wife. That Harry was truly his son, instead of just his surrogate nephew/ best friend's son.
Sometimes he though about her…and it was more than a brother feels for a sister. That wasn't how it was suppose to be…was it? He REALLY needed to talk to Moony when they got back…
~X-x-X~
"Professor, may I speak with you a moment?" the redhead asked, her voice carrying in the large office of her old headmaster.
The silver haired man looked up from the book he'd been reading and smiled at the sight of her. "Lily, how are you?" he asked with a smile, reaching for a silver bowl next to his left hand.
"May I offer you a lemon drop?
"Er…no thank you…"
"Alright, what can I do for you?
"Harry is old enough to start learning to read and write now," she began, "and I have some concerns. I considered hiring a private tutor for him, but I want him to have contact with people his own age. He'd only five and all his friends or the people he's close to are adults. I've considered sending him to a Muggle Primary, but…I'm scared he will someone about our world. They wouldn't believe him of course, but if a friend and their parents come over? I'm not exactly sure what to do and was hoping you could give me some advice."
He clasped his hands in front of his face and considered her for a moment over them, his piercing blue eyes looking into her green. Unexpectedly he smiled.
"I believe I have an answer for you. I know a family with seven children, five of which are around young Mr. Potter's age. While the eldest two are here at Hogwarts, the others are as of yet to young. Their mother home schools them in reading, writing, and basic math. I'm sure I can talk her into taking another pupil if you wish."
She grinned gratefully.
"That would be wonderful Professor. If you can talk to her and arrange it…just let me know any details. Tell her I would be happy to pay her if she agrees.. I have to get to Flourish and Blott's to pick up a birthday present for my sister…if you could by chance tell me the family's name?"
"Ah yes…the Weasley's. The mother's name is Molly."
~X-x-X~
He stared in shock at the angel before him. He knew her, for he saw her nearly everyday…but he didn't know her. He hadn't seen her like this since she had dated James…
Her dark red hair was up in an intricate knot, her banks framing her face. Her emerald eyes, lashes heightened with mascara, and creamy skin seemed to shine in the light. She wore a tight black Muggle dress that accent her curves and black and silver heals. She was beautiful… it took his breath away.
"Lily-flower?" he heard himself ask, sounding winded. "What…why?"
She smiled at him. "Do you like it? I've been asked to a ball at the Ministry by Paul Brown. He works for the Department of Magical Games and Sports.. I met him at Flourish and Blott's the other day and we got to talking after we both reached for the same copy of Gilderoy Lockhart's Guide to Household Pest. Petunia's birthday is coming up, and I though she would find it funny. Anyway, he asked me out and I figured I might as well. It's about time I move on, isn't it?"
He didn't say anything, just looked at her in shock. He'd known the day would eventually come, but… this soon? Lily dating…it was incomprehensible. It just seemed wrong somehow. But the thing that confused him the most was…the fact that he was jealous?
~X-x-X~
"Remus, can I ask you something?"
"You just did Pads."
"Moony, this is serious!"
"Actually, that would be you Siri!
"Remus!"
"OK, OK!" the werewolf said with a laugh, holding up his hands in surrender. "What's on your mind?"
The other man sighed, his earlier fire suddenly disserting him. "I was just wandering…in school…was I by any chance in love with Lily?"
Silence…then his prematurely gray friend's teasing grin was replaced with a sad smile. "So you finally realized it?"
"Huh?"
"Guess not…The answer to your question is yes, you were in love with her. I thing Prongs and I were the only ones who ever figured it out, and that's only because we knew you so well. You denied your feelings before you ever knew of them for Prongsie's sake. He was in love with her too. It's probably taken you so long to realize them because you're still loyal to his memory, and you still want to betray him. They've come out in force now because you're upset about seeing Lils dating again. Do you understand?"
He glared at the werewolf. "Yeah Moony, I understand. You're saying I've subconsciously denied my feelings for a girl I've known since first year because I put my feelings for my brother first. Right?"
"Correct!"
"Fantastic…I'm a nut."
AN: In my defense, I know this chapter kinda stinks. The second chapter of a story was always the hardest for me. I should update again soon and I'll try and make the chapters a little longer. They're a bit on the short side. Anyway, thanks for reading and please review.