Chapter 2
Marauder Legacy
"Mind his head," Lily gently handed Sirius the tiny baby as Remus looked over his shoulder.
"Why is he so small?" Sirius looked at baby Harry in disbelief.
"Gee, Padfoot. I don't know," James said sarcastically, smiling widely. He leaned forward and kissed Harry's little forehead. Harry opened his eyes and gave his father a toothless grin.
"Oy, Prongs," Sirius rocked the baby back and forth. "He looks like you!"
"Except the eyes," Remus touched Harry's cheek. "Lily's eyes."
"You're right…" Sirius looked at him in awe. "Hey, look! Harry's smiling at me! Well, will you look at that, he recognizes his godfather!"
"I just hope he doesn't take after his godfather and father!" Lily walked back into the room. "I don't want my precious baby to be a troublemaker." She leaned over and nuzzled her nose against Harry's cheek. "Isn't that right, sweetie? You'll be a good boy like Remus!"
Remus laughed, "That's highly and unlikely, Lily. That's James's boy right there. It'll be quite a disappointment if he didn't pull a prank or two in his lifetime— not that I approve," Remus added quickly, seeing Lily's disapproving expression.
"Don't worry about it, Love," James pulled his wife towards him and gave her a peck on the nose. "Harry will be a good bad boy."
"Oh, you—" Lily swatted him away and giggled. "My boy will have a good heart. And I'll be there to make sure of that!"
"Well, so will I!" James said. He was not able to keep his hands off his wife as he pulled her down to his lap. "We'll all be here to watch him grow up." He looked towards Sirius and Remus who were busy making funny faces at Harry. "Isn't that right Padfoot? Moony?"
"Of course, Prongs," Sirius was crossing his eyes at a giggling Harry. "We'll be stuck to him for eternity!" he grinned, echoing what he had said a few years ago.
"I dread his teenage years," Lily exhaled sharply and rolled her eyes, going back into the kitchen to make Harry a bottle of milk.
"I see a new age of Marauders," James eyed his son with pride.
"We'll raise him well, James," Sirius smoothed down Harry's untidy hair. "We'll raise him well."
"I agree with your wife, James," Remus smiled. "I'm dreading his teenage years as well."
"No worries, Moony!" James threw a hand over Remus's shoulder. "You'll be in charge of the making-sure-Harry-doesn't-get-too-bad part of the raising."
Remus snorted, "I accept the job with honor."
"Right!" Sirius handed Harry back to his father. "Now it's time for the Marauder initiation!" He cleared his throat. "Harry, put one hand on your heart and raise the other."
James placed Harry on his lap and put one tiny fist on his little chest and the other in the air. Harry tilted his head to the side and looked up at his father with confusion.
"Now repeat after me!" Sirius said. "I, Harry James Potter, promise to uphold the Marauder tradition. I will use my cleverness and cunningness to do—" he paused, trying to think of something. "—cool things." He looked at the baby, "C'mon, Harry. Repeat what I just said."
"Nyaaahh," Harry gurgled happily.
"Good enough," Sirius grinned. "You are part of the Marauder legacy! Now, do you swear to uphold this prominent tradition?"
James looked at his grinning son, "So whaddaya say, Harry? Do you swear?"
Harry blew a raspberry. "Pfffftttt!"
James nodded, "There you go. He solemnly swears."
