A/N: I've been doing more of these than normal, but shout out to Heather Mouse, my mom friend, for helping me out in this chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. I don't make money from this fic.
June 20, 1980 Cokeworth, England- Spinner's End
There was a sticky heat in the air as the two figures hurried down the darkening street towards the last house on Spinner's End. It was sunset, and they knew Severus didn't take kindly to unannounced visitors after dark. The taller man led the way, knocking on the door swifty. The door opened a hair, and the shorter man knew that there was a wand hidden just out of view, always at the ready. When Severus recognized the two figures he opened the door wider, allowing the two into his home and sweeping the road behind them with his eyes to ensure they hadn't been followed. He closed the door and turned to face the two visitors.
"What are you two doing here unannounced?" Severus asked, looking the two of them over.
"We had to talk to you." the taller of the two said.
"And you couldn't be bothered to send an owl?" Severus spat, "Or, better, a patronus? You can cast one, can't you, Black?"
"Of course. But I'd prefer anyone watching your house to not see a silver crow delivering you messages. It would appear rather odd, don't you think?" Regulus said, "As for owls, well, they're being intercepted more and more by the days. I don't trust anything to owl post these days, do you, Peter?"
"N-no." Peter said, jumping at being called out so suddenly.
"Exactly," Regulus said, crossing his arms over his chest. "So, here we are. Tea would be lovely."
Severus glared at Regulus, but pushed past him to the kitchen to put the kettle on. Regulus followed after, but Peter trailed further back, not wanting to upset the dark man.
"Well, are you going to tell me why you've chosen to, ah, visit with me, or not, Black?" Severus said, leaning haughtily against the counter while he waited for the water to boil.
"We know you've been trailing Lily Potter," he said bluntly.
"And what does that matter to you?" He said, sounding bored. "Last I heard, you had your own assignment. Trailing that bastard you call a brother."
"That bastard has done more for Lily and Hermione than your creepy arse has." Regulus said, his fists balling up at his sides. Peter looked between the two men, taking half a step back and nearly falling into a seat at the dingy table. Severus looked away from Regulus, busying himself with getting the tea ready.
"You don't think I haven't come to that conclusion myself?" He asked, barely audible to the two men across the room from him.
"So, why are you still cowering behind the Dark Lord instead of fighting against him?" Regulus asked, his voice rising angrily. Peter knew they'd had this conversation before, he could see it in Regulus's body language.
"How?" Severus asked weakly, turning to face Regulus. "By going to the Order and begging them to spare my life, only to risk it further by working for them? Why on earth would I be so foolish?" he spat.
"Because you love her." Peter squeaked from his chair. Both heads snapped over to the shorter man.
"See, he gets it," Regulus pointed over to Peter. "Because, you know as well as I do as soon as the Dark Lord finds out that you've known the Potters' and Hermione and Sirius' location and didn't tell him… he's going to torture the information out of you, and then kill you. And he will find out."
"I've been careful." he murmured, looking at the floor.
"You've been foolish." Regulus spat.
"I've heard it said," Peter spoke up, not looking at either of the other men. "That it's easier to fight for what you love than to grieve for what you've lost." His eyes met Severus's across the room, for the moment ignoring Regulus all together. "You could be a hero, Severus. You could save Lily and everything she loves. You don't have to be the villain."
"She still loves you, Severus. You just have to see passed your jealousy, what would you rather have? Her dead because your candy ass didn't do anything, or be her friend again."
"She never loved me." he said softly. "She never loved me like she does him."
Regulus looked back at Peter with a look of disbelief. He turned back around, cocked his fist back and punched Severus in his overly large nose. "Will you move on? You are a 20 year old man, still pining over his schoolyard crush, and frankly it's a little pathetic. She'll never love you like that, sure. So you get what you get, and you don't throw a fucking fit."
Severus held his nose, which had started bleeding, looking Regulus over. He turned away from him once more to get a towel, and dripping blood on the floor as he went. Peter watched with wide eyes, his gaze also falling upon Regulus.
"Well, that was a bit excessive, don't you think?" he said, motioning to the bloody rag in Severus's hands.
"He works in excessive, I'm afraid it's the only way we're going to get through to him."
"I ask you again, Regulus," Severus sighed, his voice nasally. "What would you have me do?"
"Fight." He said simply. "I don't care why, I don't care what for. But you've got to fight, Severus." He said, his voice softer than it had been all evening.
"I'll fight," he said, removing the rag from his nose. "But you've got to show me how."
July 30, 1980 Godric's Hollow - Potter House
Sirius and Hermione sat laughing at the dinner table as Lily asked James for the fourth time to run to the kitchen to get her some seemingly random food item to add to her plate. He resignedly stood from the table once again and Hermione giggled uncontrollably.
"When is he going to realize that you only do that to see if he'll let you get away with it?" She asked.
"Well, my guess would be 'never'." Sirius said, shovelling food into his mouth. Lily was very pregnant, and Hermione thought it was hilarious how terrified James was of her increased temper. She had started staying with Lily and James during the day, Sirius going to work and meeting them at the house for dinner. And while Lily wasn't too worried about the baby or anything beyond how ready she was to have the child out of her, James was a nervous wreck.
He came back into the room, carrying a jar of pickles and sitting them down on the table.
"Before you sit down, could you get me a cup of-"
"Crushed ice?" James asked, setting a cup down in front of her with a smile.
"You're a saint." She said, reaching for the cup, but knocking it over as a contraction hit. Hermione glanced down at her watch, timing the contraction. James hovered near her, not touching her, but close enough to act if she needed him.
"Okay." She panted. "It's over."
"Forty seconds." Hermione said.
"They're getting longer." Lily said, taking a pickle from the jar and biting it.
"It won't be long now." Hermione agreed. James sank into his seat, face pale.
"Alright there, James?" Sirius asked.
"Just nervous." He said. "I'm so worried I'm gonna mess up somehow."
"Don't worry, mate, Everyone messes up. But Lily is here too, and you've gone me and 'Mione. It'll all be just fine." Sirius said, smiling at his friend.
"But what if-"
"No," Lily said, firmly. "No 'what ifs'. You're going to be a fantastic father, and you are ready for this."
"Besides, it's not like if you mess up on this kid, you'll end up with Slytherin grandchildren or something someday." Sirius joked, but James looked even more panicked at that thought. Hermione hit Sirius in the chest, just as Lily cried out again, clutching the table. Hermione watched her watch again.
"It's only been six minutes." She said, looking at James. "And that one was forty-five seconds."
"I think we need to get you to Mungo's." James said, standing up. Lily nodded, reaching out to James to help her up. "Hermione, can you grab the bags?"
"Sure thing, James. You two go on, I'll floo in after you." Hermione said, standing and heading up stairs, quickly.
"I'll clean up here, then be straight on to the hospital." Sirius said, standing and kissing Lily's forehead. "Be strong, you're almost done."
July 31, 1980 London, England - St Mungo's
Lily had spent a grueling twenty hours in active labor before Harry was finally born. Normally, the staff would have only let James back with her, but as Hermione was a trained Healer, she was not only allowed to be with her best friend, but she was allowed to help with the delivery, as well.
James had been by his wife's side during the whole ordeal. He hadn't slept yet, and Hermione knew they were both exhausted. As the mediwitch took little Harry to get cleaned up, and another came to tend to Lily, she kissed her friend on the top of the head, hugged James, and left the ward. They'd bring Harry back in no time and she wanted to give the little family their space before everyone else crowded in in just a few hour.
She stripped out of the sterile gown, took off the gloves, and made her way out of the ward. She'd mostly been support staff, so there wasn't a major need to scrub down, and she was exhausted, anyhow. She'd shower after she told the boys the good news.
Hermione walked into the maternity waiting room and all three of the boys jumped up. She laughed, greeting them each with a hug.
"How's Lily? How's the baby?" Sirius said, anxiously.
"They're both fine." She said, "It's a boy."
"A boy?" Remus said, excitedly. "I told him it'd be a boy!"
"Did you just win a bet?" Hermione giggled.
"Not an official one." He said, sheepishly. "At least, not for money."
"He bet James three chocolate frogs he'd have a boy."Peter explained.
"You bet in chocolate frogs?" Hermione asked. "You four have a serious problem."
"When can we see Prongs Jr? Have they named him yet?" Sirius asked, excitedly.
"They haven't, but I have a feeling." Hermione smiled.
"Not fair, why do you always get to know things before me?" Sirius whined. Hermione chuckled.
"Because you didn't suffer a life-threatening head injury that sent you back in time?" She suggested.
"Fair point." he said.
"Come on, they'll be taking him to the nursery soon, you'll be able to see him there." She said, taking Sirius's hand.
"I'm not gonna cry." He said, his voice giving away the early signs of tears already.
"You sure, mate?" Remus said. "Because I know I will."
August 5, 1980 Godric's Hollow - Potter House
Hermione stood in the nursery, holding the baby for the first time since she left the delivery room. Lily sat in the rocking chair in the corner, James standing next to her. Sirius leaned over Hermione's shoulder, his arms wrapped around her waist.
"Hey there, Harry." Hermione murmured. "I've missed you so much. You really do look so much like your daddy. And you have your mommy's eyes. I can't wait to see where you go in this life. I'm going to try my hardest to keep you safe and happy. I love you, Harry."She looked down into the bright green eyes of her best friend in another life.
It was a surreal experience; she'd known the little boy in her arms for five years of her life. She'd thought of him as a brother until the incident in fifth year. Her world had been turned upside down and James and Sirius had, in some ways, replaced Harry and Ron. In others, she still longed to be part of her friends lives in any way she could. If that was by being her best friend's godmother this time around, she'd do it.
"Can I hold him?" Sirius asked, looking up to James.
"If you don't drop him." James said, with a smile. Sirius unwound himself from Hermione and James coached him through how to hold the baby. Hermione smiled as she laid Harry in Sirius's arms.
"Harry James Potter. What a name." He said, a wide smile on his face. "You're going to be so spoiled."
"There is no doubt about that." James said, clapping him on the back. He looked down at his son.
"Who's got you, bud? Is that Uncle Padfoot?" he asked.
"Uncle?" Sirius asked, looking up at James.
"Of course." James said. "We're brothers. Remember?"