After having a long chat with Sirius in the side room, James came out looking calm, similar to the peace after a particularly nasty storm. He walked up to Lily and kissed her.

"Sirius is going to be godfather," James told his wife bluntly, then walked away to his friends, who welcomed him into the conversation with laughing smiles. Lily looked over at them, wondering how in the world her husband's demeanor had changed so fast, then joined them, smiling.

After the cake had been served and the tea was being finished, James stood up and cleared his throat. Lily looked up at him from her place beside Peter, confused.

"I need all of you to make me a promise," He said, his voice serious. Lily could detect the slight shaking of his hands. When four pairs of eyes met his, he continued on.

"I need you to promise me that you'll help me and Lily save our baby," His eyes were shining, glossed. "We can't do this by ourselves, and I just want to know that you all will be there for it like you've been there for us all these years." He reached over to Lily and took her hand. Tears were in her eyes.

"James," Sirius started, standing up from his chair by the fireplace to walk over and stand in front of Lily and James. "Lily, you don't even have to ask. Right now the only thing on my mind is to get you two through this, and when the baby is born to keep it safe."

"Sirius is right," Remus agreed. "There's nothing else I could care about more than the three of you." He reached over and took Lily's hand, and she felt a small tear trickle down her smiling cheeks. "How can you think we'd betray you?" Peter smiled softly, nudging Lily affectionately. "We're your friends, and this baby is our friend too."

"Thanks," James croaked, trying to keep himself from losing control of his emotions.

They were quiet for a moment before James spoke up again.

"Well, if Sirius is godfather and Peter is keeper, then what'll you be, Moony?"

"I don't think the baby will find you a very cute werewolf," Sirius laughed, and Remus pushed him over, so Sirius had to catch himself with his fingertips before falling of the couch. They laughed.

"No, I'll be Sirius' minder," Remus said, a small smile forming on his scarred face. "I'll have to make sure he actually carries out what a godfather is supposed to do, not just what he thinks they're supposed to do."

"Like teaching someone how to fly by pushing him out the window on a broomstick," Peter said, his face squinting painfully as if recalling a very vivid and very painful memory.

"Or teaching someone how to fix their motorbike in midair while dangling off the side," James said reminiscently, and the group laughed again.

"So now everyone has a job," Lily said happily. She looked around at their shining faces, and she sombered. "Thanks, you lot. For everything."

Their smiles were as bright as the sun, each of them with a small trace of pity on their happy faces. They did not know how far they would have to go to protect this baby they hadn't even met, but they were willing to see.