March
It was one of those days that seemed as if the sun had forgotten to shine. Rain clouds blanketed the sky, turning afternoon into dusk. Huge rain drops pummeled James as he apparated to the country lane. This time there had been no need to ask Dumbledore for directions. No reason to make empty threats.
A small black bird had greeted James yesterday morning. Attached to its leg had been a short message, scrawled in an achingly familiar hand: Tea and Trifles.
There was a soft POP beside him and Lily appeared. She smiled and held out a hand to him. For just a moment, he let himself get lost in her laughing green eyes. Then he took her offered hand and led her to the cottage door.
He knocked and she knocked with him. Laughing, she waited patiently. No one came to the door. James tried again as Lily's smile faltered. A lock clicked dully and the door opened slowly. A friendly round face beamed up at them. "Yes, come in," the elderly lady said. She shuffled aside, drawing her lavender shawl closer about her shoulders.
"I'll just be popping down to the market then. You're a bit early. I expect your friend will be here shortly."
"Umm, thank-you," James replied. Nodding, the owner of the cottage pulled out a wand and disapparated. James looked up at Lily. She shrugged and smiled.
"I expect we are a bit early, James. He'll be here."
"Yes. Of course." James shrugged out of the wet overcoat and helped Lily out of her forest green one. Her tummy bulged ever-so-slightly. A great sense of pride overwhelmed him and he smiled down at his wife. She blushed. She always blushed at that look from her husband. Turning away, she strolled into the sitting room. James watched her sink slowly into one of the couches; the same couch he had sat on an eternity ago.
"I'll get the tea," he said. In the kitchen he found everything laid out fro tea. He had only to conjure some. As he worked, the back door opened and a huge black dog ambled in. "Padfoot!" James exclaimed. The dog's wet, matted fur was covered in mud and brambles. A laughing smile split the massive jaws. The dog melted away and reformed as Sirius.
"You beat me here," he said when he'd regained the power of speech. He stood slowly, pushing his ruined hair back out of his face.
"We beat you here," James corrected. He returned to the tea. Sirius pulled out his wand and cleaned the filth from his body and clothes. James watched as his words registered. Sirius stopped in mid-Scourgify and looked up at him.
"We?" he asked. James smiled and nodded.
"Lily's waiting in the sitting room." Sheer delight poured from Sirius. His old smile was back. He'd laugh at the devil wearing that smile. Sirius ran from the room. James heard Lily shout a greeting, which Sirius returned. When he entered, tea tray in hand, Sirius lay across Lily's stomach. His head traveled up and down as she breathed. He beamed up at James.
"Isn't this grand?" he whispered. Lily smiled up at James.
"I think we have a sitter," she said. James set down the tray and poured out. His friend sat up, giving Lily her space, as James passed a cup to each of them.
"I was hoping for something more," he said. He let the words hang for a moment before continuing. "Last week I was attacked on my way to meet Frank," he said at last. Sirius' face closed down. Anger sparked in his eyes as his dark brows knitted together.
James tried a chuckle, "I don't know what they were thinking. Only two of them to take on Prongs." He sighed. The haunted look in Lily's eyes spurred him on. "I fended them off but they got away. Hooded the whole time so I couldn't tell you who they were."
"He makes it sound so trivial, Sirius," Lily interrupted. "He looked like the walking dead when he finally made it home."
"James," Sirius started. His voice held both a warning and concern.
"It wasn't so bad," he tried. But the look on Sirius' face confirmed it. He believed Lily's story, not James'. James concentrated on the tea. The habit of waiting patiently for Sirius' anger to subside held his tongue. After a while, Sirius turned to Lily.
"That must have been terrible for you," he said. She nodded, absently sweeping her dark red hair over her shoulder.
"Yes." She looked at her stomach; at the baby inside her.
James continued, "It started me thinking about Lily and the baby. Who will look out for them if. . ." If I'm half a step slower; if I'm not as awake; if my hands are full of groceries. If I die. "If I'm not so lucky next time," he finished. The smile in Lily's eyes flickered and died.
"Oh, Lily, no." Sirius shook his head. He clasped her hand. "You needn't worry about that. The Order takes care of its own. I'll watch out for you. For you and the baby." She smiled sadly.
"I know you will. That's why we've come to ask you a favor," she said.
"A favor? Name it. I owe you and James more than you could know." He slid off the couch and knelt before her. Her hands held tight in his. His gray eyes studied her face, memorizing every freckle, every worry line. James stood and stepped close enough to lay a hand on Sirius' shoulder. His gray eyes turned from Lily and traveled up James' arm to his face.
"We would like to name you Godfather," he said.
"Godfather?" Sirius asked. James nodded. "So I'd take over if--"
"If something happens to us." James smiled sadly. I remember you looking at me with nothing but love in your heart. Do you see the same thing on mine?
Sirius nodded. "Then this I promise you, James," he looked to Lily, "and Lily. I will be here for your family. Until the day I die I will keep your family safe from everything and everyone."
At his words a visible weight lifted from Lily's frame. She sighed contentedly and sipped her tea. "I know you will, Padfoot," said James. Sirius will keep the promise. He smiled down at his best friend, hoping that the love he felt radiated from his eyes, his face, and the warmth of his hand.
Sirius returned the smile. Though it quickly saddened along the edges. "We should go soon," he said. James nodded. They returned to their seats; sipping the tea in silence.
"Is there anything you need for the baby?" Sirius asked. Lily opened her mouth to answer.
"We'll manage," James said. Sirius eyed him carefully.
"Alright. But let me know. I want to help."
"We will, Sirius," Lily reached over and grasped his free hand. "There's plenty of time. He's not due for four more months.
Sirius smiled. "Just be sure to ask me. I'm sure that's part of being a Godfather."
"Of course it is." James drained the last of his tea, swirled the dregs and turned the cup upside-down on the saucer. He watched it for a moment. Two answering clinks of china on china told him the others had followed his lead. He looked up and smiled at Lily and Sirius.
"On the count of three then," Lily breathed. "One," James and Sirius lifted their cups. "Two, three," Lily finished. She lifted her own cup, glaring at the two guys. They wore identical smirks. "Oh, you two are a laugh a minute," she replied. Sirius' bark of a laugh lit the room.
James stared into his tea cup. A crooked cross was the only distinguishable pattern he could see. "Trials," he announced. "Well, that's good to know."
"Mine says to expect a visitor," Lily laughed.
"You're making that up!" James shouted. She smiled then nodded.
Sirius chuckled; a low, throaty sound. "Oh, Lily. How can we make you a Marauder? You can't hold a straight face," he lamented. "You had him going."
"A Marauder? No thank-you. I am a proper lady. Can you imagine me in detention with a bunch of sweaty boys?"
"Don't knock it. Detention was one of my favorite courses," Sirius said.
"What's in your cup then?" she asked. Sirius turned his brightest smile on her; a smile she had proven immune to.
"Oh, the usual: Death, destruction, general unpleasantness." Lily and James laughed slightly but it soon faded. A thick silence returned in the laughter's wake.
"It really is time to go, James," Lily said at last, setting down her tea cup. James followed her lead.
"Shall we clean up first?" he asked.
"I can get it," Sirius said.
"That's twice you've cleaned up after me," James reminded him.
"I don't mind. It gives me time to think," he said. "But let my walk you to the door." He rose and draped an arm over Lily's shoulder. "Promise me, that you'll let me help," he said to Lily. "I know you two have it covered. Harry won't want for anything. But I'm his Godfather. Let me spoil him." Lily searched his thin face, clearly puzzled.
"Harry?" she asked. Sirius smile stumbled. He looked around at James.
"I thought that was his name." James shrugged. "It's not his name?"
"Well, we hadn't decided," Lily started. The gray eyes clouded over and she hurried on, "But it sounds lovely. Yes, I like the name 'Harry'."
"Good!" Sirius exclaimed. "You scared me. I thought I was going to have to return the monogrammed nappies." Lily and James laughed as they pulled on their wet overcoats. They hugged Sirius good-bye in turns. Smiling, they stepped out into the freezing rain and disapparated.
It was one of those days that seemed as if the sun had forgotten to shine. Rain clouds blanketed the sky, turning afternoon into dusk. Huge rain drops pummeled James as he apparated to the country lane. This time there had been no need to ask Dumbledore for directions. No reason to make empty threats.
A small black bird had greeted James yesterday morning. Attached to its leg had been a short message, scrawled in an achingly familiar hand: Tea and Trifles.
There was a soft POP beside him and Lily appeared. She smiled and held out a hand to him. For just a moment, he let himself get lost in her laughing green eyes. Then he took her offered hand and led her to the cottage door.
He knocked and she knocked with him. Laughing, she waited patiently. No one came to the door. James tried again as Lily's smile faltered. A lock clicked dully and the door opened slowly. A friendly round face beamed up at them. "Yes, come in," the elderly lady said. She shuffled aside, drawing her lavender shawl closer about her shoulders.
"I'll just be popping down to the market then. You're a bit early. I expect your friend will be here shortly."
"Umm, thank-you," James replied. Nodding, the owner of the cottage pulled out a wand and disapparated. James looked up at Lily. She shrugged and smiled.
"I expect we are a bit early, James. He'll be here."
"Yes. Of course." James shrugged out of the wet overcoat and helped Lily out of her forest green one. Her tummy bulged ever-so-slightly. A great sense of pride overwhelmed him and he smiled down at his wife. She blushed. She always blushed at that look from her husband. Turning away, she strolled into the sitting room. James watched her sink slowly into one of the couches; the same couch he had sat on an eternity ago.
"I'll get the tea," he said. In the kitchen he found everything laid out fro tea. He had only to conjure some. As he worked, the back door opened and a huge black dog ambled in. "Padfoot!" James exclaimed. The dog's wet, matted fur was covered in mud and brambles. A laughing smile split the massive jaws. The dog melted away and reformed as Sirius.
"You beat me here," he said when he'd regained the power of speech. He stood slowly, pushing his ruined hair back out of his face.
"We beat you here," James corrected. He returned to the tea. Sirius pulled out his wand and cleaned the filth from his body and clothes. James watched as his words registered. Sirius stopped in mid-Scourgify and looked up at him.
"We?" he asked. James smiled and nodded.
"Lily's waiting in the sitting room." Sheer delight poured from Sirius. His old smile was back. He'd laugh at the devil wearing that smile. Sirius ran from the room. James heard Lily shout a greeting, which Sirius returned. When he entered, tea tray in hand, Sirius lay across Lily's stomach. His head traveled up and down as she breathed. He beamed up at James.
"Isn't this grand?" he whispered. Lily smiled up at James.
"I think we have a sitter," she said. James set down the tray and poured out. His friend sat up, giving Lily her space, as James passed a cup to each of them.
"I was hoping for something more," he said. He let the words hang for a moment before continuing. "Last week I was attacked on my way to meet Frank," he said at last. Sirius' face closed down. Anger sparked in his eyes as his dark brows knitted together.
James tried a chuckle, "I don't know what they were thinking. Only two of them to take on Prongs." He sighed. The haunted look in Lily's eyes spurred him on. "I fended them off but they got away. Hooded the whole time so I couldn't tell you who they were."
"He makes it sound so trivial, Sirius," Lily interrupted. "He looked like the walking dead when he finally made it home."
"James," Sirius started. His voice held both a warning and concern.
"It wasn't so bad," he tried. But the look on Sirius' face confirmed it. He believed Lily's story, not James'. James concentrated on the tea. The habit of waiting patiently for Sirius' anger to subside held his tongue. After a while, Sirius turned to Lily.
"That must have been terrible for you," he said. She nodded, absently sweeping her dark red hair over her shoulder.
"Yes." She looked at her stomach; at the baby inside her.
James continued, "It started me thinking about Lily and the baby. Who will look out for them if. . ." If I'm half a step slower; if I'm not as awake; if my hands are full of groceries. If I die. "If I'm not so lucky next time," he finished. The smile in Lily's eyes flickered and died.
"Oh, Lily, no." Sirius shook his head. He clasped her hand. "You needn't worry about that. The Order takes care of its own. I'll watch out for you. For you and the baby." She smiled sadly.
"I know you will. That's why we've come to ask you a favor," she said.
"A favor? Name it. I owe you and James more than you could know." He slid off the couch and knelt before her. Her hands held tight in his. His gray eyes studied her face, memorizing every freckle, every worry line. James stood and stepped close enough to lay a hand on Sirius' shoulder. His gray eyes turned from Lily and traveled up James' arm to his face.
"We would like to name you Godfather," he said.
"Godfather?" Sirius asked. James nodded. "So I'd take over if--"
"If something happens to us." James smiled sadly. I remember you looking at me with nothing but love in your heart. Do you see the same thing on mine?
Sirius nodded. "Then this I promise you, James," he looked to Lily, "and Lily. I will be here for your family. Until the day I die I will keep your family safe from everything and everyone."
At his words a visible weight lifted from Lily's frame. She sighed contentedly and sipped her tea. "I know you will, Padfoot," said James. Sirius will keep the promise. He smiled down at his best friend, hoping that the love he felt radiated from his eyes, his face, and the warmth of his hand.
Sirius returned the smile. Though it quickly saddened along the edges. "We should go soon," he said. James nodded. They returned to their seats; sipping the tea in silence.
"Is there anything you need for the baby?" Sirius asked. Lily opened her mouth to answer.
"We'll manage," James said. Sirius eyed him carefully.
"Alright. But let me know. I want to help."
"We will, Sirius," Lily reached over and grasped his free hand. "There's plenty of time. He's not due for four more months.
Sirius smiled. "Just be sure to ask me. I'm sure that's part of being a Godfather."
"Of course it is." James drained the last of his tea, swirled the dregs and turned the cup upside-down on the saucer. He watched it for a moment. Two answering clinks of china on china told him the others had followed his lead. He looked up and smiled at Lily and Sirius.
"On the count of three then," Lily breathed. "One," James and Sirius lifted their cups. "Two, three," Lily finished. She lifted her own cup, glaring at the two guys. They wore identical smirks. "Oh, you two are a laugh a minute," she replied. Sirius' bark of a laugh lit the room.
James stared into his tea cup. A crooked cross was the only distinguishable pattern he could see. "Trials," he announced. "Well, that's good to know."
"Mine says to expect a visitor," Lily laughed.
"You're making that up!" James shouted. She smiled then nodded.
Sirius chuckled; a low, throaty sound. "Oh, Lily. How can we make you a Marauder? You can't hold a straight face," he lamented. "You had him going."
"A Marauder? No thank-you. I am a proper lady. Can you imagine me in detention with a bunch of sweaty boys?"
"Don't knock it. Detention was one of my favorite courses," Sirius said.
"What's in your cup then?" she asked. Sirius turned his brightest smile on her; a smile she had proven immune to.
"Oh, the usual: Death, destruction, general unpleasantness." Lily and James laughed slightly but it soon faded. A thick silence returned in the laughter's wake.
"It really is time to go, James," Lily said at last, setting down her tea cup. James followed her lead.
"Shall we clean up first?" he asked.
"I can get it," Sirius said.
"That's twice you've cleaned up after me," James reminded him.
"I don't mind. It gives me time to think," he said. "But let my walk you to the door." He rose and draped an arm over Lily's shoulder. "Promise me, that you'll let me help," he said to Lily. "I know you two have it covered. Harry won't want for anything. But I'm his Godfather. Let me spoil him." Lily searched his thin face, clearly puzzled.
"Harry?" she asked. Sirius smile stumbled. He looked around at James.
"I thought that was his name." James shrugged. "It's not his name?"
"Well, we hadn't decided," Lily started. The gray eyes clouded over and she hurried on, "But it sounds lovely. Yes, I like the name 'Harry'."
"Good!" Sirius exclaimed. "You scared me. I thought I was going to have to return the monogrammed nappies." Lily and James laughed as they pulled on their wet overcoats. They hugged Sirius good-bye in turns. Smiling, they stepped out into the freezing rain and disapparated.