The years came through as if nothing. It seemed like water flowing through a river. Nothing ever stopped. It had been a couple years and Harry was now six. How in the world was this possible? James would have never thought he could have made it through from that one October night but somehow he had made it going six years. Summer was just now starting to fade into fall and the days were starting to cool off. It was fantastic to lay about in the days outside while Harry was off playing.
James was assistant of Magical Games and Sports. He had just taken on the position happily. He had worked his time hard at the Ministry and afterwards would go home to Harry and Remus. It was weird to think of it like that. To go home to Remus and Harry. He would always laugh when he said this to someone else. To think he made it sound like he was involved with Remus.
James of course was having Sirius coaxing him at different points to get back out into the real world and find another. He didn't want to push James at all but James would find himself in a silence. He didn't want to lose Lily more than he had already had. It seemed like something big for him to move on to someone else other than Lily. She had been his, all his and she had given him everything.
Remus of course seemed to know how James felt and would always go off with Sirius, probably to tell him James would move on in his own time. James of course knew it might be good for Harry to have a mother but he was sure with the three men he had in his life he would be well enough.
James sat in his chair looking up towards the sky. Remus had set up a play date for the Weasley's and Harry. So far Harry and Ron were best friends and the others seemed to get along just as well as Ron did with him.
Sirius came through and took a seat next to James and smiled at him. "Well, Remus is telling me that Harry wants to go to Ron's and sleep there tonight." James looked over towards Sirius and made a small face. He didn't know what to say for a moment. He took in a deep breath. "I really hate that he is growing up." James said as he raised a drink to his lips.
Sirius gripped his shoulder and gave it a shake. "I know. I'm sure he'll have the best time tonight though. And you deserve a night out." James looked at him and raised a brow. "I take it you put it in Harry's head to spend the night?" Sirius gave a small smile. "Well, I was telling him I used to stay at your place when we were in school. So he got the idea to stay at Ron's."
James laughed and gave punch to Sirius leg. "You would fill his head of things in the past." He said laughing. "Well, I guess I'm going to have to end up seeing Molly and talking to her and see if she'd be okay with it." Sirius gave a nod. "So that means you'll be joining on a guys night out?" James laughed. "I guess it's meant to be, we haven't really had one since that night." He said with a bit of a pause. Sirius had nothing to say and James found himself taking another drink.
James watched as Harry and the others came running out into the back yard and started their game of tag. "So it just means tonight I'll be finding a lovely woman to find for you, and possibly myself." Sirius said with a wink. "Oh yeah, you are going to do just that? You'll find something to get distracted with well enough. Just not for me." James laughed.
He watched as Ron nearly tackled Fred when he went to tag him. "Careful." He heard Sirius call out. James smiled and looked at him. "They'll be fine. It was us at one point too." He said leaning back. Sirius laughed. "Well if Remus and Molly saw that it'd be hell on wheels for those two."
James found himself walking into the kitchen of the burrow. He had gone and spoken to Molly earlier in the day and after a good bit they had reached the conclusion of the boys having their sleep over. James held onto a bag, Harry had already taken off through the garden and off towards the boys and Ginny. "Welcome back James." He heard Molly call from the living room. James set Harry's bag down on the table and looked towards Molly as she came into the kitchen. "I've got all of his things in his back, clothes and pajamas, toothbrush and underwear things like that." Molly smiled at him.
"Great to hear it, I know Ron was excited to get to have Harry stay over for the night. I take it you and Remus and Sirius are ready for a night without kids?" James gave a laugh and nodded. "So Sirius wants. I have to say we'll have to return the favor." Molly smiled more towards James and patted his arm. "No worries James I'm sure you'll get plenty of chances."
Molly gave his hand a squeeze. "You just go out and have some fun. I know you need some." James looked at her a moment and it almost seemed to him like Remus and Sirius had been talking with her too. He gave her a smile and nodded. "I'll just say bye and be off then." James gave her a kiss on the cheek and walked out the door where he walked towards the kids. James scooped up Harry and gave him a larger hug than he normally would have. "You be a good big boy for daddy." He said softly.
He felt Harry return the hug and he gave him a quick kiss. "Remember don't make any troubles." He said as he set Harry down. "I won't I promise." He heard Harry laugh as he took off running to play again. James felt a large smile hit his face and he felt a sadness fill him at the same time.
James walked back in the house and watched as Sirius and Remus looked up. James gave a small smile and they returned it. "He'll be okay James, it's just part of the growing up." Remus said lightly. Sirius stood up and gave him a pat on the back. "Just go get ready, we'll get your mind off it." He said with a grin.
James took his time getting ready for the night. He knew once things started it would be a while before he was going to be back at home, and once home there was a good chance he wouldn't remember it. James checked his robes over and ran a hand through his hair getting it tousled a bit. James knew he was in for some fun.
He started down the stairs and joined Remus and Sirius. They both stood up and Sirius grabbed a bottle of whiskey and a few glasses, pouring them a healthy glass each before handing each one their own. James smiled and raised his glass as did the other two. "To the night." They chanted at once. It had made them all smile as they finished their glass in one gulp.
The night was still going as all three of them had made their way into their third bottle of whiskey. They had visited with the Three Broomsticks, their home of drinking. It had been their place for years and to move on was something that would never happen until Rosmerta would leave of course. They had all started out slow, joking with Rosmerta, as she had been thrilled over the fact that all three of them had made it to the village.
Rosmerta was still working hard as more customers came into work and James found himself chatting with everyone that walked over to him. Sirius of course was having the best time he could enjoying the company of women as always. He was still smooth as if he was a teenager. He would speak with them and treat them to a drink and then move on. Remus of course had his bits come through. He still looked good even with his stress of the cycles coming in.
Sirius joined Remus and James and smiled at them. "I see you've been having some fun." James laughed and took down another shot of whiskey. "Whatever, you know it's nothing like that." Remus ran a hand over his face and took another shot down. "I don't know how you can resist some of these girls are something I can't say no to."
James gave a shake of his head. "I know it." He said laughing. Sirius took to getting more whiskey as one of the girls he had spoken to came up to the table. James grinned and shook his head more laughing as he took to getting another drink of whiskey. "Holy hell I'm screwed." Remus said suddenly as he buried his head in his hands. Sirius laughed as he pulled from the girl. "Well of course you are." He said giving him a slap on the back. "That's what happens when you go drinking with me."
James ran his fingers through his hair as Sirius gave them a wink and followed off with the woman. Remus gave a groan and took another drink as James had poured them another. "I swear I don't know how we can do this anymore." James smiled. "We are too old for it, but you know it's still fun, at least until there is a six year old running around tomorrow."
Remus stopped with his glass to his lips and gave a curse. "That's going to be thrilling." He said before downing the liquid. "Slow it down you two!" They heard Rosmerta call out and they gave her a wave with a grin. "Join us for one more!" James returned back.
The night was still young as James stumbled into the front door. He heard Sirius laughing at him as he straightened himself up. "Damn step." He said laughing as found himself walking into the den and flopping into his chair. Remus took his normal spot in the other chair and both nearly fell out of them as they watched Sirius flop over the back of the couch, miss his landing and fall on his ass. Sirius laughed from the floor and lay on his back. "Ok, enough, that was the liquor."
"Yeah, the liquor made you. Likely excuse." Remus said catching his breath. James grinned as he gave a wave of his wand and suddenly three drinks were coming to them. James raised his glass. "To the night." They chanted and he found himself down it and setting the glass down. "How much have we drank?" He heard Sirius ask. "I don't know, but the price was a good bit. You can ask Rosmerta tomorrow." James laughed.
Sirius flipped him off and James felt his head fall back. He nearly felt like rubber. He gave a yawn and heard Sirius mumbling from the floor. James stretched out and shut his eyes. "Good time." He said with a small nod before he passed through into darkness.