September
"Ahh! Daddums pushing a pram!" a laughing voice called from behind him. James smiled and turned around, stopping. Sirius was striding towards him. He was dressed in his Muggle best: navy blue tank-top and faded, cut-off jeans. His hair cascaded around his shoulders. A pair of mirrored sunglasses hid his eyes and black sandals on his feet completed the outfit. As he walked, women turned to follow him with their eyes.
How can he fail to notice all those looks the ladies keep tossing at him? James shook his head as his friend caught up to him. Sirius leaned over the pram and pulled the sunglasses off.
"Alright, Harry?" he asked. Harry's big grey-green eyes doubled in size. Sirius laughed; the bark startling Harry, making his eyes even bigger. "Sorry, mate," he apologized. He set his sunglasses on the top of his head and plucked Harry from the safety of the pram. He held him to his shoulder as James started forward.
Sirius kept pace with him, "What a lovely day for a walk in a Muggle park," he said.
"Yes it is," James answered. A different quality of woman now appreciated Sirius as they walked. James chuckled. Whereas before it had been the young, single ladies, now it was the mothers with babies of their own and children trailing after.
"What?" Sirius asked.
"I was just noting that the women with children enjoy watching you much more when you're holding Harry."
Sirius gaped at him before chuckling. He flipped his hair back over his shoulder, pulling it out of Harry's grasping hand. "Of course they do."
A remembered conversation. Remembered pain and anger. "There are more important things in life than girls, Prongs! How can you choose a date with Lily Evans over being with Moony when he needs us!
Best friends forgive. Moony and Padfoot forgave me for going out with Lily. And I forgave Sirius for hitting me.
"I'm almost afraid to ask what you're thinking now," Sirius said.
"I was remembering that time you punched me."
"What?" confusion crossed his face, "Sixth year? Or Seventh?"
"End of sixth year." he watched as Sirius retreated into thought.
"Looking back now," he said after a time, "I'd have to say that it was probably a good choice on your part." James laughed. "You know," Sirius continued, "I kept waiting for you to get me." He switched Harry to his other shoulder.
"Get you?"
"Yeah. For punching you."
"How?"
"Hmm. Who knows what dastardly deeds lurk in the mind of Prongs?" James laughed.
"That was the summer you came to stay with us," he said after a moment. Sirius nodded. He pulled his hair away from Harry again.
"You're a troublemaker," he said to Harry.
"Like father, like son," James replied.
They walked along in silence for a while. All around them, Muggles enjoyed the late September sunshine. Children laughed and played; swinging, sliding, and skipping rope. James watched them. Muggles have it so easy.
"I don't want to see Harry on Halloween."
Sirius' words startled James from his thoughts. "Why not?"
"I want to see him. I just don't want to wait four weeks. End of July, very end of August and now the last day of September. Can't I see him in two weeks? Once a month is once a month, right?"
"But then you'd just have to wait at least three weeks to see him in November and," he paused to count, "about six weeks to see him for Christmas."
"I know."
James studied him suspiciously. "Why do you care all of a sudden? What's happening in two weeks?"
"Oh, nothing." He switched arms again, moving his hair before Harry could find it.
James watched him. "Why don't you put him down? I'll let you push the pram."
"I'm fine. He's not heavy." James snorted.
"I haven't believed a word you've just said to me." Sirius smiled broadly. "I don't believe you about 'nothing' happening in two weeks, and I don't believe you can carry Harry the rest of the way."
"Are you willing to bet?"
"Not on the two weeks thing. You would just change the date on me."
"Then on carrying Harry. But I'm allowed to change position."
"And if you carry him until we reach the other side of the park. . ."
"Then you get me double pay for my next job."
James laughed. "And you'll do it for free if you can't make it."
"Fair enough."
"Then it's a bet." James held out a hand and they shook on it. They walked on for another minute. James stretched his arms up over his head, momentum carrying the pram forward. He rolled his head and shoulders, groaning loudly for added effect.
"Oh, ha ha," Sirius chided, trying not to smile. He hitched Harry to his other shoulder. The baby had fallen asleep. James chuckled. "Shh, he's asleep."
"Uh oh. Now he'll be dead weight. Looks like we'll have a bit extra in the vault next week."
"Next week?"
James nodded. They waited for a group of joggers to pass. "Confirmed?" Sirius asked in little more than a whisper.
"Yes."
"By you? Or are they from Dumbledore?"
"Mine."
"Prongs!" Harry startled in his arms and started to cry. Sirius shushed him, patting his back and rocking him as they walked. Before long, Harry had drifted back to sleep. He continued in a soft voice, "Dumbledore nearly took my head off last time. I told him that I hadn't known he hadn't commissioned the hits. He talked to you, right?"
"Yes."
"But. . . If I go off after dark wizards that he hasn't approved-- Prongs, I'm supposed to double-check all the assignments you give me with him."
"I know."
"You do? Then why ask?"
"He thinks he holds your leash, Padfoot. You told him yourself in July that I'm the one holding it." That ought to get him.
"So I'm going to have to do this for free?"
"I'll pay you."
"You'll pay me?" James nodded in answer.
"That's mutiny, that is," Sirius said after a moment. "What happens to us when he gets wind of the deaths?"
James shrugged. "He's too cautious. I want Voldemort and his followers taken out. I'm tired of hiding, waiting, reacting to their actions. It's time they reacted to us."
"Doesn't that sound a bit self-destructive to you? I mean, we're outnumbered almost ten to one."
"Not for long," James smiled wickedly.
Sirius gaped at him. "That's not funny, James. I can't take on Voldemort's forces by myself. They're going to find out it's me and start hunting for me. Why do you think Dumbledore's so hesitant to use me?"
"So you won't take them?" You have to, Padfoot, please. They're the ones who organized the last Muggle Death-capade. James glared hard at him. Sirius didn't answer. He shifted Harry back to his other arm.
"These are the last ones of your own, Prongs. I mean it. But it'll have to wait until closer to Halloween. I'm busy next week."
"And the week after?"
"Yes. And then I'll have a surprise for you and Harry. Though, I don't think Lily will approve." He stopped walking, flexing his shoulders, laying Harry across his arms. James gave him a knowing smirk. "Hey, do you see that Muggle over there?" he gestured with his head. James looked and saw a young mother with a toddler in hand and a baby in a pack-like carrier, riding upon her chest. He nodded.
"Do you think you can get one of those slings she's using, for Harry by the time I see him again?"
"Heavy isn't he? You wouldn't think it, he's so small."
"If you don't think you can, I'll get it."
"No, no. I'll find one. Lily's good in Muggle shops. I'll tell her about it." James looked at him, then ahead of them. The park ended in just about fifty meters. "I know you're not going to put him down now, Padfoot."
"Got that right." Sirius started forward, eyes on the stone wall surrounding the park. His pace quickened as he neared the wall. James hung back, enjoying the last of his time away. He's going to kill me when he gets there first. Sirius reached the wall and turned around. James smiled and waved, nearly thirty meters behind.
"Get that damn pram over here or I'll lay him on the ground!" Sirius shouted. James laughed and sped up.
When he reached the wall, Sirius carefully laid Harry in the pram and sank to his knees. "Merlin!" he gasped, massaging his shoulders, shaking his arms. "Double pay, Prongs," he laughed.
James knelt beside him. "I know. But at least you won't be around to collect until November." Sirius' smile faded.
"Give me the names," he said. James reached into his breast pocket and took out a small, folded paper. He handed it to Sirius.
Sirius read it over twice, his eyes darting down the list. Three names. Three hundred galleons per name.
"I don't like being on anyone's leash. I'm a stray," he whispered. "But, if I must walk at the end of one, I'll choose yours. Just say the words."
"Sic 'em, Padfoot."
"Ahh! Daddums pushing a pram!" a laughing voice called from behind him. James smiled and turned around, stopping. Sirius was striding towards him. He was dressed in his Muggle best: navy blue tank-top and faded, cut-off jeans. His hair cascaded around his shoulders. A pair of mirrored sunglasses hid his eyes and black sandals on his feet completed the outfit. As he walked, women turned to follow him with their eyes.
How can he fail to notice all those looks the ladies keep tossing at him? James shook his head as his friend caught up to him. Sirius leaned over the pram and pulled the sunglasses off.
"Alright, Harry?" he asked. Harry's big grey-green eyes doubled in size. Sirius laughed; the bark startling Harry, making his eyes even bigger. "Sorry, mate," he apologized. He set his sunglasses on the top of his head and plucked Harry from the safety of the pram. He held him to his shoulder as James started forward.
Sirius kept pace with him, "What a lovely day for a walk in a Muggle park," he said.
"Yes it is," James answered. A different quality of woman now appreciated Sirius as they walked. James chuckled. Whereas before it had been the young, single ladies, now it was the mothers with babies of their own and children trailing after.
"What?" Sirius asked.
"I was just noting that the women with children enjoy watching you much more when you're holding Harry."
Sirius gaped at him before chuckling. He flipped his hair back over his shoulder, pulling it out of Harry's grasping hand. "Of course they do."
A remembered conversation. Remembered pain and anger. "There are more important things in life than girls, Prongs! How can you choose a date with Lily Evans over being with Moony when he needs us!
Best friends forgive. Moony and Padfoot forgave me for going out with Lily. And I forgave Sirius for hitting me.
"I'm almost afraid to ask what you're thinking now," Sirius said.
"I was remembering that time you punched me."
"What?" confusion crossed his face, "Sixth year? Or Seventh?"
"End of sixth year." he watched as Sirius retreated into thought.
"Looking back now," he said after a time, "I'd have to say that it was probably a good choice on your part." James laughed. "You know," Sirius continued, "I kept waiting for you to get me." He switched Harry to his other shoulder.
"Get you?"
"Yeah. For punching you."
"How?"
"Hmm. Who knows what dastardly deeds lurk in the mind of Prongs?" James laughed.
"That was the summer you came to stay with us," he said after a moment. Sirius nodded. He pulled his hair away from Harry again.
"You're a troublemaker," he said to Harry.
"Like father, like son," James replied.
They walked along in silence for a while. All around them, Muggles enjoyed the late September sunshine. Children laughed and played; swinging, sliding, and skipping rope. James watched them. Muggles have it so easy.
"I don't want to see Harry on Halloween."
Sirius' words startled James from his thoughts. "Why not?"
"I want to see him. I just don't want to wait four weeks. End of July, very end of August and now the last day of September. Can't I see him in two weeks? Once a month is once a month, right?"
"But then you'd just have to wait at least three weeks to see him in November and," he paused to count, "about six weeks to see him for Christmas."
"I know."
James studied him suspiciously. "Why do you care all of a sudden? What's happening in two weeks?"
"Oh, nothing." He switched arms again, moving his hair before Harry could find it.
James watched him. "Why don't you put him down? I'll let you push the pram."
"I'm fine. He's not heavy." James snorted.
"I haven't believed a word you've just said to me." Sirius smiled broadly. "I don't believe you about 'nothing' happening in two weeks, and I don't believe you can carry Harry the rest of the way."
"Are you willing to bet?"
"Not on the two weeks thing. You would just change the date on me."
"Then on carrying Harry. But I'm allowed to change position."
"And if you carry him until we reach the other side of the park. . ."
"Then you get me double pay for my next job."
James laughed. "And you'll do it for free if you can't make it."
"Fair enough."
"Then it's a bet." James held out a hand and they shook on it. They walked on for another minute. James stretched his arms up over his head, momentum carrying the pram forward. He rolled his head and shoulders, groaning loudly for added effect.
"Oh, ha ha," Sirius chided, trying not to smile. He hitched Harry to his other shoulder. The baby had fallen asleep. James chuckled. "Shh, he's asleep."
"Uh oh. Now he'll be dead weight. Looks like we'll have a bit extra in the vault next week."
"Next week?"
James nodded. They waited for a group of joggers to pass. "Confirmed?" Sirius asked in little more than a whisper.
"Yes."
"By you? Or are they from Dumbledore?"
"Mine."
"Prongs!" Harry startled in his arms and started to cry. Sirius shushed him, patting his back and rocking him as they walked. Before long, Harry had drifted back to sleep. He continued in a soft voice, "Dumbledore nearly took my head off last time. I told him that I hadn't known he hadn't commissioned the hits. He talked to you, right?"
"Yes."
"But. . . If I go off after dark wizards that he hasn't approved-- Prongs, I'm supposed to double-check all the assignments you give me with him."
"I know."
"You do? Then why ask?"
"He thinks he holds your leash, Padfoot. You told him yourself in July that I'm the one holding it." That ought to get him.
"So I'm going to have to do this for free?"
"I'll pay you."
"You'll pay me?" James nodded in answer.
"That's mutiny, that is," Sirius said after a moment. "What happens to us when he gets wind of the deaths?"
James shrugged. "He's too cautious. I want Voldemort and his followers taken out. I'm tired of hiding, waiting, reacting to their actions. It's time they reacted to us."
"Doesn't that sound a bit self-destructive to you? I mean, we're outnumbered almost ten to one."
"Not for long," James smiled wickedly.
Sirius gaped at him. "That's not funny, James. I can't take on Voldemort's forces by myself. They're going to find out it's me and start hunting for me. Why do you think Dumbledore's so hesitant to use me?"
"So you won't take them?" You have to, Padfoot, please. They're the ones who organized the last Muggle Death-capade. James glared hard at him. Sirius didn't answer. He shifted Harry back to his other arm.
"These are the last ones of your own, Prongs. I mean it. But it'll have to wait until closer to Halloween. I'm busy next week."
"And the week after?"
"Yes. And then I'll have a surprise for you and Harry. Though, I don't think Lily will approve." He stopped walking, flexing his shoulders, laying Harry across his arms. James gave him a knowing smirk. "Hey, do you see that Muggle over there?" he gestured with his head. James looked and saw a young mother with a toddler in hand and a baby in a pack-like carrier, riding upon her chest. He nodded.
"Do you think you can get one of those slings she's using, for Harry by the time I see him again?"
"Heavy isn't he? You wouldn't think it, he's so small."
"If you don't think you can, I'll get it."
"No, no. I'll find one. Lily's good in Muggle shops. I'll tell her about it." James looked at him, then ahead of them. The park ended in just about fifty meters. "I know you're not going to put him down now, Padfoot."
"Got that right." Sirius started forward, eyes on the stone wall surrounding the park. His pace quickened as he neared the wall. James hung back, enjoying the last of his time away. He's going to kill me when he gets there first. Sirius reached the wall and turned around. James smiled and waved, nearly thirty meters behind.
"Get that damn pram over here or I'll lay him on the ground!" Sirius shouted. James laughed and sped up.
When he reached the wall, Sirius carefully laid Harry in the pram and sank to his knees. "Merlin!" he gasped, massaging his shoulders, shaking his arms. "Double pay, Prongs," he laughed.
James knelt beside him. "I know. But at least you won't be around to collect until November." Sirius' smile faded.
"Give me the names," he said. James reached into his breast pocket and took out a small, folded paper. He handed it to Sirius.
Sirius read it over twice, his eyes darting down the list. Three names. Three hundred galleons per name.
"I don't like being on anyone's leash. I'm a stray," he whispered. "But, if I must walk at the end of one, I'll choose yours. Just say the words."
"Sic 'em, Padfoot."