When it's All Black and White

Authors Note: I figured out that there will be 23 chapters. Chapter 17 should be up next week.

Chapter 16 Three of a Kind

On Christmas eve Harry was up with the sun to see Remus and Sirius putting up a tree.

"I knew there was something missing." Harry said as he walked down the stairs.

Sirius smiled at him and stood back to get a good look at the tree. "I've had this is the basement for a while. I guess I've just been too lazy to put it up."

Remus snorted which earned a glare from his friend.

"Well you know what that means?" Remus asked and looked from Sirius to Harry.

"What is it Remus? We don't know!" Sirius said getting impatiant at the silence.

"Okay, okay, we get to decorate the tree and wrap presents!"

Harry smiled and looked at the boxes laying on the floor. "What's in those?"

"I'm not sure. I'm kind of afraid to open them." Sirius said sitting down next to one.

"Why?"

"Well, these haven't been opened in years. Probably the last Christmas I spent with you and your parents. Who knows what could jump out at me."

Harry sat down next to Sirius and started to open the box.

"I'm not sure if you want to be doing that Harry." Remus said and he started to inch away.

"Well I want to decorate the tree. I've never been able to do it before so..."

Harry's words were cut short as a loud bang echoed in the house and smoke filled the living room.

"Harry!" Sirius yelled, choking on the smoke, he didn't think James put anything too dangerous in the boxes.

As the smoke cleared after what seemed like a lifetime, Sirius was able to see Harry. Still choking on the smoke was the only thing keeping Sirius from laughing hysterically. Harry had a shocked look on his face, which was entirely black. His hair was covered in the ash and debris that flew from the box and the lenses of his glasses were missing. Remus had covered his eyes with his hands which formed two white spots over his eyes. Sirius was in the same possition as Harry and finally got his lungs cleaned out enough to start laughing.

"That better not happen again." Harry said and started to brush the ash and soot off his clothes.

"I hate to say I told you so." Remus said, pulling out his wand.

"Then don't." Harry said and walked into the kitchen.

"I'll come make you breakfast," Sirius said and left Remus in the ash-covered room.

"Wait! What am I supposed to do?"

"It's called magic, look into it." Sirius said and went into the kitchen.

)-(

ater that afternoon Sirius and Remus opened the rest of the boxes while Harry was upstairs wrapping presents.

"Ironic that Harry got the exploding box huh?" Remus asked Sirius as he looked in a box that held different colored Chirstmas bulbs.

"I think James made it so that happened to the first box that was opened." Sirius said and pulled out the star for the top of the tree.

Remus looked over at his friend who went quiet after talking about James. "Do you want me to go get Harry so we can decorate the tree?"

Sirius shook his head and stood up. "I think I'm going to take a walk."

Remus followed him to the door and put a hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay?"

With only a nod in responce, Sirius left. Remus waited a few moments before going back in the living room to unpack more stuff.

"Sirius, Remus, I got all the presents wrapped. And guess what, I got the ribbon to change colors without a wand!" Harry said as he ran into the room holding so many boxes he couldn't see over the top. "Someone want to help me out?"

Remus smiled briefly before taking off a few boxes from the top.

"Thanks." Harry said and put them down next to the tree. "Where's Sirius?"

"He had to leave, I'm sure he'll be back before dinner."

"Oh." Harry said and looked at all the decorations. "Are we going to wait until Sirius comes back to decorate?"

Remus shook his head and pointed his wand as some tangled rope lights, "No. It will be too late to finish after dinner."

Harry agreed and the two started to "trim" the tree.

)-(

It was close to midnight when Sirius found himself walking up the sidewalk of number twelve. The darkness was so suttle and the quiet so still that it seemed like Godric's Hollow all over agian. Walking into the house no lights were on and Sirius couldn't see two feet infront of himself. Pulling out his wand he muttered "lumos" and saw Remus asleep on the couch.

Scanning the room he noticed Harry was no where in sight; waiting for Remus's chest to rise and fall with a breath Sirius went upstairs.

The images of James and Lily's dead bodies invaded Sirius's mind and he quickened his pace to Harry's room.

When Sirius entered the room instead of seeing a bed there was a baby crib. Looking down into it, a baby boy sat there crying.

"E?" The boy asked and Sirius looked at the fresh scar on his godson's forehead.

"Irus? Sirius?!"

Sirius closed his eyes and when he opened them Harry was sitting up looking at him.

"I'm sorry Harry, did I wake you?"

"No. I was already awake."

Sirius was surprised he wasn't questioned about where he was and why he didn't come home sooner, but he wasn't asked so he didn't say.

"Well, I just wanted to check on you before I went to bed."

"Okay, goodnight Sirius."

"Goodnight Harry."

Sirius waited until he was sure Harry was asleep before turning into Snuggles and falling asleep himself at the foot of his godson's bed.

TBC