Hypothetical Questions - Part Two
1975
"Hypothetically speaking," James said, directing his gaze at Sirius. The four Marauders were sitting around in their dorm room and the other three turned to look at James.
"Since when did you start using big words, Jamie-boy?" Sirius asked.
Poking his tongue out at the other boy, James began again. "Sirius, hypothetically speaking, if I could get Evans to marry me and have my child, would you agree to be the godfather?"
Sirius, Remus and Peter looked at each other and then back at James. The serious look on the fifteen-year-old's face was priceless. Peter was the first to snort. They were admirable in trying not to laugh but Peter and Sirius couldn't help themselves. Remus, to all intended purposes, held off a little longer out of respect for James.
"It'll be a cold day in hell by the time you get her to agree to that," Sirius barked out, tears of laughter rolling down his cheeks. "And you didn't answer my question."
With a scowl on his face, James retorted, "Well, if you pay more attention to Moony then you'll know how to use your brain instead of sticking your foot into things."
The barking laughter that came from the Black Heir filled the room as Sirius asked, "Now why would I want to do that?"
James grabbed the closest potential projectile and threw it hard at the laughing boy. The other two Marauders knew to duck the pillow launched toward them. Sirius, on the other hand, couldn't duck quick enough and ended up with James's pillow hitting him squarely in the face. His laughter died.
"This means war."
"I wouldn't dream of anything else," James returned solemnly. He laughed as he dodged the missile sent his way by Sirius. Using his Quidditch reflexes, James caught the pillow and sent it flying back. Peter, not wanting to miss out, took up the pillow from Sirius's bed (upon which he, Remus and Sirius were sitting) and brought it crashing down on Sirius's head.
"Ow! What was that for?" Sirius whined, rubbing his bruised cranium.
"Pillow fight?" Peter said innocently.
"Right, that's it. Remmy, you're with me. Us two against them traitors."
Remus was backing his way out of the situation. "I'm not getting involved with this one," he said. "Why don't you guys grow up?"
"Hmm," James said, placing the pillow he was about to throw down. "You're right, Moony. Instead of us fighting amongst ourselves ("Fat chance that'll last," Sirius muttered) we should be devising a plan to get Snivillus. And I need a few to impress Evans."
"If you want me that badly, Potter," Lily said from the Marauder's open dormroom door, "then stop with the pranks. And don't call Severus ... that disgusting name around me or you'll have more to worry about than your next detention."
Sirius's eyebrows shot upward into his hairline. Peter's jaw dropped. James sat there with a slightly amused look on his face and a glazed expression on his face. Remus was the only one who kept a close guard on his facial reaction (he was more experienced at hiding what he was thinking from his face because of his condition). "And stop staring at me, Potter. It makes me uncomfortable." Lily turned her nose upward and stalked out the door.
"Who asked her to butt in?" Sirius asked.
"You were making quite a bit of noise, Siri," Remus said. "James, hypothetically speaking, if you asked Siri over me to be godfather to any child of yours, I'd be offended."
"What? Who said I wouldn't ask you? I just wanted to know if, hypothetically speaking of course, would be godfather to my first child. I wouldn't dream of not asking you and Peter."
Remus pouted. "Does that mean we're not as important to you?"
James opened his mouth then closed it again. He finally settled on, "You know what it's like, Moony, a child has only one godfather and one godmother, one chosen by each parent. Siri's like my brother."
"Funny. I thought that we were brothers too," Remus said, dejected.
"You are. Both you and Pete are important to me, but..."
Remus cut him off, "So you're asking Siri to be godfather to a non-existent child of yours that will have Lily as its mother and you're blowing us off?"
"No!" James struggled to find words to express what he was feeling. All three boys sitting in front of him meant a lot to him, each in a different way and he was close to all of them, but he was closest to Sirius. Remus, Peter and Sirius all laughed as James started sprouting various reasons for choosing Sirius first. He didn't hear them at first but when he did realise they were laughing, he scowled. "What are you laughing at?"
"You, Jamie-boy."
"Do you really think we'd care what order you ask us to be godfathers in, just as long as you ask us?" Peter put in, a grin splitting his face.
Peter didn't even see the pillow coming until it was too late.
1980
"Oi, Padfoot!" James called out as he ran to catch up to his fellow Auror. Both had finished their shifts for the day at the ministry and were heading to the apparition point.
Sirius turned to his long time friend and smiled. "Oi yourself, Prongs."
Keeping a straight face, James asked, "Hypothetically speaking Padfoot, would you still consider being my child's godfather?"
"Do you really need to ask, hypothetically speaking or not?" Sirius shot back. He was eager to begin any spoiling of his godchild yet was told he had to wait.
"Good. I didn't really want to go ask Moony, especially after the last time I brought up the question in his presence."
Sirius laughed. "Sure you didn't." They walked in silence for a while and then Sirius stopped. "Are you asking hypothetically or actually asking me to be godfather?"
"Maybe I'll just ask Moony then. I'm sure he'd be honoured."
James walked off and just before apparating out, heard Sirius ask, "Lily's pregnant?"
"Three months," James said with a grin on his face then disappeared back to Lily's side.