The next day in work James pulled me aside.
"Padfoot, I want to ask you something tonight."
"Okay Prongs."
That night I was over at their house.
"Come on in Padfoot." I walked across the doorway. Lily was sitting in her favorite chair by the fire watching it as she did so much now, as if she could see something we couldn't.
James put his arm around her and she smiled up at him That will always be one of my favorite memories of them. They were so happy. They loved each other so much, you couldn't help but feel good in this house. I smiled as I settled down in my customary chair.
"What are you laughing at?" James teased.
"You two. You're like the perfect family. You just both look so happy. "
" Well I don't feel very happy. Padfoot, the reason we wanted to talk to you was," He paused to glance at Lily. " We know right now, things are really bad. Voldemort is attacking people right and left. It's not a very safe time to live. And so far we've been lucky."
"But we know this luck cannot last." Lily continued. " And in case something happens to us. We wanted to be sure Harry will be safe."
"Harry?"
"That's what we're naming him. After his grandfather." Lily smiled up at James.
" harry. I like it. Harry Potter."
" Good, because he's your godson." Those were not the words I was expecting from James
"What? Me?"
"Yes, Sirius. We want you to be Harry's godfather."
" But why me?" I asked. I could barley talk. James seemed to enjoy making me feel so confused.
"I would trust others with my life. But I would only trust you with my child's life."
" Prongs, James, Lily. I , I would be honored." James grinned and grabbed me in a huge bear hug.
" Uh, Prongs. Air is good. And I'm not getting any."
When I left I didn't feel like apperating. I just walked. Yes, it was a good five miles. But I didn't even notice. I was too busy thinking. Lily and James trusted me this much. I didn't know anyone trusted me that much. I felt a huge loyalty to me friends. I told you that. I would die for any of them at the drop of hat. Loyalty to my friends was one thing I valued most. Betrayal was the ultimate sin. The one thing I would never do was betray even the smallest thing. People at school said I could never keep my mouth shut, so people who didn't really know me thought that that meant I couldn't keep a secret. Just the opposite. If you told me something, I would never bring it up unless you did. I would never ever tell a secret. But as much as I valued friendship and loyalty, as many times as I had said I would die for them, it never dawned on me that my friends would die for me. Erin had. Time and time again I was shocked by their trust in me. They were my only family. James, Lily, Remus, Addi, Mari. I juts couldn't believe my friends were trusting me with something this big. Wasn't it James who always said he would never trust me to be alone with small children as I might traumatize them for life? Now here he was asking me to be godfather to his unborn son. I smiled as a light rain began to fall.
But it made me think about my own child. Doubts began to crept into my head. Would I be a good father?
A few days later James and I had some time off. We worked on the Shadow. Pretty soon Remus and Peter joined us. We laughed and talked like old times, but James seemed distracted.
"What's wrong Prongs?" Remus asked after James dropped the wrench he was holding and the Shadow gave a jerk.
"Just thinking."
" What about, "Peter asked.
" It's just that, in three months, I'm going to be a father."
" I know the feeling."
"I'm just worried."
"About what? You'll be a great dad." Remus smiled.
" I know what you mean Prongs. All these thoughts going through your head. Will I be a good father? Can I deal with raising a kid? Will the kid grow up and hate me? Can I protect them? Do I want to? What's best for them? How do I deal with a teenager? What's"
" Okay Padfoot we get the idea." Remus interrupted me.
" It's true. I mean, Harry wasn't planned. We weren't really trying for a kid. But I want him. No question there."
"Yeah, same here. But now, I worry so much. Mari can't really protect herself. I mean Lily knows spells and stuff. Mari doesn't. If death eaters were to go after her and our child, she couldn't protect herself."
"I wouldn't worry too much about Mari. She can take care of herself." James said. He reached for the screw driver and twisted a stubborn bolt into place. I sighed and we got back to work.
" Oh and guys, don't worry to much about becoming dad's. You'll be great. I just know it." Remus said as he handed me the cable I wanted.
" Thanks Moony." I said.
" Manphf, Mophy." James said from under the bike.
"Yeah guys, I mean your kids will probably be just as bad as us, huh." Peter said.
We laughed until tears came to our eyes, then we got back to work.
The next few months passed without many incidents. James was also attacked, but luckily no one was home. Even Voldemort seemed to be taking a break from his life of excitement and random killing sprees. In fact not much happened at all until July 29.
Chapter 29: Harry
James was at work and I was at home " Lily sitting". That's what we called taking care of Lily. She was in her ninth month and very moody. ( Sorry, Lily) James and Remus were at work. Addi and Mari were shopping AGAIN! I have no idea where Peter was. I hadn't seen him in a few weeks. Anyway things were quiet. Lily was taking a nap and I was seeing how many cards I could stack. I saw a muggle do that. They made a pyramid out of cards and I wanted to see if I could do it without magic.
"SIRIUS!" I jerked, sending a shower of cards to the floor. I ran in to the bedroom. Lily was clutching her stomach.
" Ow! Sirius, its time."
" Time? Time for what? Oh yeah. Okay um, do that funny breathing thing."
"Lamaze Sirius. Lamaze."
" Yeah Lamaze whatever. We need to get you to the hospital. No wait, James has the car. Um, can't apperate. Oh man,"
"Sirius relax."
" Relax, sure right. I'm fine. I'm relaxed. I'm am perfectly relaxed. Except that I am totally freaking.."
She rolled her eyes. Okay. Think " I hit myself in the head.
" Does it work?"
Lily asked.
"No. It just looks like it does."
"Here's a little help. How did you get here?"
"I rode. But , Lily you can't ride on a motorbike."
"Says who?"
" James's gonna kill me if something happens."
"SOMETHING is going to happen if you don't hurry."
" Oh right. The Shadow it is then."
" Okay once we get there I'll call James. He'll bring the stuff." She nodded.
It was a stressful trip to the hospital.
"Sirius, do you see that car following us?" Lily shouted over the roar of the wind
" Yeah so?" I shouted back.
" That's a police car. They want you to pull over." I groaned but pulled over.
The car puled up behind us. An overly large muggle got out. He glared at me.
" Sir, do you know how fast you were going?"
" No not really, but you see we kinda have a small emergency."
" I don't care. No one breaks a law on my watch."
" But,"
" No buts. Now You have earned yourself a ticket. "Lily's grip on my shoulder tightened as another contraction began.
" Look buddy, I have an emergency here. I don't care about your stupid ticket, Now will you please let us go to the hospital?"
" I'm afraid you won't be going anywhere expect to the county jail to explain your little attitude problem."
"I have an attitude problem? You have a hearing problem. Now excuse us please we have somewhere to be and unless you feel up delivering a baby I suggest you let us pass."
" Now look here 'buddy' I do not like being talked to this way…" I think he said more but after that I stopped listening. Instead I grinned over my shoulder at Lily. I revved the engine and shot down the highway. The guy shouted at us a few times and got back into his car and started chasing us. I glanced behind me. He was coming in fast. I thought hard. If he stopped us again we wouldn't get there in time. Lily and the baby could be in danger. I had no idea how to deliver the baby. There was one thing I could thing of. The newest modification. But I hadn't tested it yet. Still… First thing was to find a deserted road. Couldn't very well do it in the middle of the highway. The ministry would be after me in less than five seconds.
"Lily hang on!"
I served on to a side road. The police car followed us. I reached out and flipped a small switch on the side of the handlebars. For a second nothing happened. Then we began to rise.
" Sirius, what's happening?"
" Hold on." We were flying. I let out a yell of triumph. The cop was staring after us, gaping. Then I flipped another small button. We were now invisible. I loved flying on my bike. James had warned me about trying it. But I loved it. So did Lily but now wasn't really the time. I landed softly about a mile away from the hospital. Why they were using a muggle hospital, I don't know. I pulled up and parked it. I cast an anti theft spell and we dashed inside. Lily was taken to delivery and I went to call James.
" James Potter." He sounded irritated and cranky.
" Hey, Prongs. What up?"
" Oh Padfoot, sorry. It's just that new reporter for the Daily Prophet. Something Skeeter. She's been calling me non stop. She wants the 'inside scope on what it's like to be the worlds youngest auror.' Driving me mad."
" So she's given up on me, had she? That's good to hear."
" So what's up?"
"Oh nothing much. I finally did that muggle card trick, I got that new charm on the bike to work and, oh yeah. Your wife's in labor."
"WHAT?"
" I think that's about it."
"Padfoot I'm going to kill you."
"Well, I suggest you wait and get your butt down here." There was silence.
"Prongs?" Nothing
" Prongs?"
"Oh Jamsie boy?"
"Yes?" He tapped me on the shoulder.
" Ah! Don't do that!"
"Where is she?"
"I pointed. He was gone. The next time I saw him was eight hours later. By then quite a group had gathered in the waiting room. Remus and Addi, Mari. Dumbledore. Mr. and Mrs. Young. Even Petunia. A quiet uneasiness had settled over us. Remus and I played cards the muggle way. It distracted us because the cards just never acted the way they were supposed to. They just sat there and we ended up yelling at them. We got some very weird stares and some guy asked us if we knew of a place called St. Happy's for the mentally challenged. Remus got confused and he took the many cups of coffee he was offered by Mr. Young, who unknowingly let lose a maniac. Remus ran down the halls chasing nurses thinking they were Snape who was stealing his mother's wedding dress. Addi and Mari spent their time trying to explain to us the difference between caffeine and decaffeinated coffee and why decaffeinated was good.. Mr. And Mrs. Young sat quietly and watched. Sometimes talking to Dumbledore or scolding Petunia, who fidgeted and looked extremely nervous being surrounded by so many wizards. Then just as we thought we couldn't stand it anymore James burst in. I don't think he could have been smiling harder.
"Well?"
"What it is?"
"Is Lily okay?"
"Is the baby okay?" we crowded around him. He dragged us all into a small room on the next floor. Inside Lily was lying on a bed, beaming. When James came in she shone with a light that filled the room. They kissed and Remus snapped a picture. It was then I noticed the small bundle in her arms.
"Sirius, I'd like you to meet your godson. Harris James Potter." She handed the bundle over to me. I took it carefully in my arms. I pulled back the blanket to reveal my first glimpse of my godson. I started when I saw him. He looked just like James. Same goofy messy hair, same kind and yet fun loving face. He opened his eyes. I got another shock. I expected baby blue or James's dark midnight. But they weren't. They were a brilliant green. Lily's eyes. He gurgled. I couldn't do anything but stare in wonder at this boy. I felt something, a tie almost to him. This boy was something special. He was my godson, my best friends son. I knew in that moment I would do anything for this boy. For James's son. I didn't really notice Remus taking a picture. I was so absorbed in watching my godson.
" Harry, this is Padfoot, your godfather." James told his newborn son. " Now I want you to listen good. He is going to take care of you incase anything happens to your mother and I. He is going to teach you how to be a trouble maker and the best prankster of all time. Trust me, he's the expert." Harry chose that moment to make a phht noise. And we all laughed. James took him back and Harry was passed around to everyone else. I noticed Dumbledore gave him thoughtful look, then glancing at me.
Harry brought so much happiness to our lives which over the next year were going to take a turn for the worst.
Voldemort came back from his "vacation" refreshed and ready to resume his rein of terror. Those of us at the League worked harder than ever. When we weren't out on a raid, we were going over files and documents trying to figure out his next move. I was hardly ever at home. I know it was hard on Mari. But she understood.
My daughter Cassiopeia Fiona Black was born on September 2 . She weighed six pounds even. She had my black hair and brown eyes. Remus said that it must be a marauder tradition for kids to look like their fathers. Because Harry looked like James and Cassi as we called her looked like me. I kept the tradition of being named after stars or constellations alive. She was the light in my life. Every night I came home I watched her sleep. She was so innocent. She had no idea what was going on around her. She didn't know that there was panic and fear in every ones hearts. She didn't know that at any minute Voldemort could come crashing through the door and take her parents from her. She didn't know that every time her father held her, it might be for the last time. She didn't know what kind of world she had been born into. And I vowed she would never have to grow up like we did. Always afraid. I vowed we would stop Voldemort if I died trying. Although it was Harry would stripped him of his powers. The only bad thing was with a newborn baby, Voldemorts attacks, raids, and James's never ending reports, I averaged about three to four hours of sleep a night and became addicted to caffeine.
This is getting long. Wow. Any way Sirius took a nice little nap ( thanks to a lovely little invention called warm milk.) So I'm posting this now so I can get this up without him commenting about everything. Anyway I'm getting tired so I'll make this quick. Everything belongs to J.K. Rowling except for the things that don't. And my nice comfy bed belongs to me. In fact it looks really good right now. I think I'll just lie down for a sec……….. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.