A/N: At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I don't own Harry Potter
This is a slightly longer chapter but I couldn't resist, enjoy!
Chapter Seven
Severus hated the Hospital Wing having been sent there numerous times after the Marauders pranks, being here with them was unnerving but he decided he should stay to make sure Lily was alright before fleeing back to the common room. Madame Underwood was shocked to see Lily again so soon, but praised Severus's quick use of the stasis spell, she quickly removed the water from Lily's lungs and cancelled the stasis spell.
'She'll be fine when she wakes up but it might take twenty minutes or so.'
Severus sat slightly apart from the Marauders as they waited for Lily to wake. Sirius was using James's distraction to play with Harry bouncing him up and down on his knees, however Harry was starting to look distinctly green.
'Black if you keep that up he'll be sick on you.' Severus decided to warn the idiot. As if on cue Harry's lunch made a reappearance all down the front of Sirius's robes.
'Snape you better not have cursed him to do that.'
Severus and Remus rolled their eyes with scary synchronisation.
'Sirius he was green any normal person could see he would sick up.' Remus came to Severus's defence.
'Yeah well Sirius isn't normal is he?'
'Lily' all five boys chorused.
'Mama!' yelled Harry.
'Hey baby, did you have fun in the lake hmmm?'
'Lily he was never in the lake, he was throwing rocks in.' Severus informed her.
'But I couldn't see him.'
'No I spotted him behind a bush after you dived in.'
'Oh I am such an idiot.'
'Lily you were worried about your son, it's hardly surprising.'
'Did James tell you Severus?'
'I used my eyes Lily.'
Eventually Severus and the Marauders agreed the terms of their new truce, Severus would supply the Marauders with the names of his housemates who were overly derogatorily towards muggleborns. The Marauders would then prank the person, the Slytherins never worked out why they were being pranked and although the Marauders were suspected they were never caught.
After a week everything had settled back down into the new version of normality that the Gryffindor Sixth years lived in. Severus would have lunch with Lily and Harry regularly, though he still avoided the boys as much as he could. James and Sirius told Harry all about pranking people, while Lily and Remus did their best to counteract them, Peter helped out where he could but had always been more of a follower. Other Gryffindors would babysit Harry whenever James and Lily needed either time to themselves or homework, everyone was very happy with this arrangement as it benefitted all. After several more weeks of Sirius trying to get Lily to snap, James trying to head him off as early as possible and Remus bemoaning his friends, another Hogsmeade trip was announced.
'Lily you said we could go Christmas shopping...' James whined, even to himself he sounded childish but he couldn't help himself.
'That was before Sirius turned his hair green, he is not allowed to babysit and everyone else will be in Hogsmeade.'
'The first and second years won't be' Lily levelled him with a glare enough to make grown men cry, or at least beat a hasty retreat.
'No you're right bad idea, worst idea ever.'
'If you can find someone responsible willing to babysit we will go Christmas shopping.'
'I will find someone have no fear Lily.' He rushed off thinking of all the people Lily thought were responsible.
James had ended up in the Library, he had asked Sirius just in case he was free but he was going with Marlene which removed her from the list as well. Alice was going with Frank and Peter couldn't be found.
'Remus old chap, how would you like to do me a favour?'
'What now James?'
'Well Lily and I need someone to babysit so we can go on a date, I mean Christmas shopping.'
'And?'
'She says Sirius is not allowed and I have to find someone responsible.'
'So I was the first person you came to?'
'Nope, I couldn't find you so asked Marlene and Alice but they're busy, I couldn't find Pete either and here was closer than the dungeons.'
'I'm touched James, really I never knew you held me in such high esteem.'
'The Library is so far away though and the others were in the common room.'
'I will babysit for your date, does she know it's a date.'
'Well no, but I figured I would just see how it goes and maybe call it a date after it's happened, that way she can't back out.'
'On your own head be it James.'
The day of the Hogsmeade trip was bright and cold, so everyone headed down to breakfast with their coats gloves and scarves. When they reached the Entrance Hall Sirius realised a very important person hadn't made an appearance.
'Where's Marlene?'
'She's sick Sirius, she said to tell you sorry and maybe you could go together next time.' Alice informed him of his date's disappearance.
Lily was wrapping Harry up so only him face could be seen and issuing Remus with dozens of instructions.
'Lily I will be fine, I know you don't want Sirius to help babysit but can I bring him along look at him.'
Lily looked at a thoroughly dejected Sirius and sighed, never had she seen him like this over a girl.
'Fine, but if Harry ends up with any funny coloured hair I'm blaming you.'
Remus smiled.
'Thanks Lily, come on Sirius just us blokes today hey Harry.'
'Yes Uncy Remy.' Harry nodded along.
Everyone chuckled knowing Remus hated the nickname but couldn't deny the little boy anything.
'Let's be off.' Remus carried Harry and led Sirius down the path to Hogsmeade giving James and Lily some time alone.
'So Lily what are we going to get everyone?'
'We?'
'Well, um, everyone kind of sees us as, not a couple, a pair! We are a pair plus Harry, a trio really and we could get presents from us to the others. That way we can pool the money and get them something they really want.'
'A pair, are we really a pair?'
'No we are a trio, I just said that.'
'Well presents from us, I don't know but nothing from Zonko's not even for Sirius.'
'Well we'll do him and Harry last then. Who else do we need presents for?'
'Remus, Peter, Marlene, Alice, Professors McGonagall and Dumbledore and each other I suppose... Severus's present I'll get myself.'
'Remus is easy a book!'
'Marlene has been after a new scarf and I know Alice needs some new Herbology equipment.'
'Pete loves anything from Honeyduke's.'
'As does Dumbledore. I think a quill for McGonagall would be good.'
'So we're back to Severus, Sirius and Harry.'
'I'll get Sev a new quill set as well, and a notebook for his potions.'
'Sirius, are you sure we can't go to Zonko's?'
'Yes, maybe a book on how to babysit?'
'I don't think he'd appreciate it.'
'What about some new Quidditch gloves and we'll look for something else while we're there?'
'Good plan Lily, I think I'm going to like shopping with you.'
As they finished deciding what to get their friends the two entered the wizarding village.
'We'll go to Scrivenshaft's for the quills and notebook first, then Tomes and Scrolls, from there to Spintwitches on to Dogweed and Deathcap and after that Honeyduke's oh and Gladrags for a scarf. We can get some things for Harry here but we'll need to Owl order more.'
'I take it back that is much to organised.'
'Come on James, if we hurry we'll be able to stop for lunch.'
James groaned, shopping with a girl was a bad idea.
After three hours James was fed up but all the Christmas presents had been brought and he had convinced Lily to go to Madam Puddifoot's Teashop for lunch. They chatted as they ate and James realised he didn't really know very much about the witch he had been trying to ask out for years. She loved to read, but not just her Hogwarts books, she read muggle classics along with her sisters muggle history books. She said it paid to know about both worlds, just in case. Just in case was her constant refrain, to everyone for anything and he realised it was because things had happened which she had not been prepared for.
In turn he told her about his parents, the manor and his house elf, Sparky. There were stories of him and Frank when they were younger which she promised she would tell Alice. Eventually they decided to split up for an hour to get their presents for each other and meet back up by the bridge out of Hogsmeade. James rushed off to find the perfect gift for Lily, he knew what he wanted and now he had to find it.
'Harry, while the boring grownups are shopping how about we have some fun hey?' Sirius had perked up on the walk down into Hogsmeade and was glad Lily and James had let him come even after the hair incident. He started swinging Harry around having liberated the little chap from his boring Uncle Remy.
'Uncy Siri, higher!' the boy squealed with laughter as his uncle did as commanded.
'He certainly gets the bossiness from Lils.' Remus commented.
'Yeah well that and the eyes.'
'What shall we do today then?'
'Well you will insist on Christmas shopping.'
'It is the last trip before the holidays.'
'But Harry didn't get any sweets from Honeyduke's last time, he was too busy buying them for everyone else. This must be rectified.'
'Just for clarification purposes you want to get him high on sugar before we give him back to James and Lily.'
'Yep.'
'I wonder if you have a future kid we can bring back it worked wonders for James.'
'Pfft, I will never be tied down by anyone other than Harry, and even then we'll still get in trouble right Harry.'
'No Uncy Siri, tubble bad, Charlie n' Bill say so.'
'Are you going to listen to them or your Uncy Siri.'
'Dem, dey always get pudding cept when in tubble. I like pudding so be good.'
'Seems he's more like you than we realised with that sweet tooth.' Remus sniggered.
'I'm wounded Harry!' He staggered around acting the fool until a little fist bopped him on the head.
'Silly Uncy Siri.'
'That's right Harry, your Uncy Siri is silly and we shouldn't listen to him should we?'
'Nope.'
'So what do you want to do today?'
'Hats!' exclaimed a gleeful Harry.
Remus and Sirius exchanged a glance, recently Harry had been obsessed with hats and would look at them every opportunity he got.
'I can't wait until he sees the sorting hat.'
'Hat, where?' demanded Harry.
'Right this way my dear sir.' Sirius pointed the way to Gladrags and went off with Harry leaving Remus trailing behind.
After Gladrags were Harry was allowed one hat, he chose a tall wizards hat that was blue with silver stars, Sirius insisted on going to Honeyduke's. When they got there the crush of students had lessened somewhat so they let Harry toddle round by himself for a bit keeping a careful eye on him. Eventually Harry came up to Sirius and dragged him by his sleeve over to a display of Sugared Butterfly Wings.
'You buy Uncy Siri.'
'Do you like these Harry?'
'Not for me.'
'Well I know I don't like them.'
'Not for Uncy Siri.'
'Who are they for then?'
'Uncy Siri buy and give Aunty Mari.'
'Why?'
'She sick Aunty Ali say so.'
'Yes and?'
'Sweeties make being sick better, Aunty Molly say so.'
'So I have to buy Aunty Mari these sweets to make her feel better?'
'Yes.'
'Why those ones Harry?' Seeing the exchange Remus had wondered over.
'Aunty Mari's favites.'
Both boys were stunned, they hadn't given Marlene a second thought since they found out she was sick and here was a sixteen month old putting them to shame. They quickly purchased the sweets as Harry had instructed.
'Harry shall we go give Aunty Mari her sweeties now?'
'Yeah, Aunty Mari! Aunty Mari!'
It wasn't until they were halfway back did they realise they had forgotten to get Harry any sweets, but he seemed perfectly content taking his hat off and jamming it on either Sirius or Remus heads so neither commented.
Up in the castle Marlene was feeling miserable, she was missing out on her first date with Sirius because of a blasted cold. She was piled under blankets in front of the common room fire bored out of her mind, she had no one to talk to and couldn't read since wearing her glasses hurt her nose. Sighing again and wriggling round trying to get comfortable she heard giggles behind her.
'If you jump on me or do anything else ridiculous while I feel like this I will get my friend to put you in detention. He's a prefect you know.' Assuming whichever first or second years that were bored had been scared off by the comment she closed her eyes to try and get some rest.
Suddenly a very heavy lump, very small lump landed on her stomach. Her eyes flew open, only one person was that small.
'Harry you're supposed to be with Remus.'
'But you sick.'
'I know I am sweetheart.'
'We came back.' He stated pulling off his hat and stuffing it on top of Marlene's head descending into fits of giggles as he did. What is it about that he finds so hilarious? Marlene wondered.
'We all came back.' Said a deep voice from behind her, turning she saw Remus and Sirius.
'Why?'
'Harry thought you might need cheering up.' Sirius explained.
'Merlin know you did Padfoot, took you halfway to Hogsmeade to even smile.'
'Shut it Moony. These are for you by the way.' He handed Marlene the box of Sugared Butterfly Wings.
'My favourite, how did you know?'
'I had some help from a little birdie I know.'
Harry had gotten bored with all the talking as he was want to do and run off to find one of his many toys scattered around the common room. He came back with a book.
'Please Aunty Mari.'
'Sweetheart I can't.'
Harry's lip trembled and he looked as if he was about to cry.
'Why?' he whispered.
'I can't see it properly.'
Harry climbed on her lap and examined her eyes.
'Why?'
'Aunty Mari wears glasses sometimes, for seeing small things.' Sirius jumped in.
'Like me.'
'Smaller than you pal, she can't wear them at the moment because she's sick, remember.'
'Uncy Siri read, Aunty Mari snuggle.'
'Sounds like a plan champ, ready?'
Sirius and Marlene spent the rest of the afternoon on the sofa watching Harry run around putting his new hat on different people's heads.
'That kid sure is weird.' Commented Sirius.
'But we love him anyway.'
'That we do.'
