Chapter 27

The holidays drew to an end, much to Sirius's relief. As much as he loved staying at the Potters' house, he didn't want another incident to occur like the one with his mother. Plus, Anastasia was getting so big and Sirius wanted to show her off. He missed Remus and Peter, as neither of them had been able to come over at all during the summer.

So, the night before they were leaving, James and Sirius were in their room packing. "Do you think I'll be able to play quiditch this year?" Sirius asked James as he looked at his broomstick with some remorse.

James looked over at Sirius and shrugged and continued to pack his own things. "I don't see why not," he answered, folding up some robes. "I'm sure Lily wouldn't mind watching over Ana while you practice and play. She doesn't care at any other time."

"I know I can find a babysitter," sighed Sirius in exasperation. "Do you think I'll be able to find time to take care of her, practice quiditch, and study at the same time?"

James looked at him as if he'd grown a second head. "Study? What is the meaning of this word…study?"

Sirius laughed and rolled his eyes. "I'd define it, but I don't really see a point. But, in all seriousness, we have our NEWTS this year and I would really rather not fail them. I don't have the remotest clue as to what I want to do after we graduate. I don't think I can, with a baby."

"Of course you can," encouraged James. He set down what he was doing and walked over to Sirius to give him a hug. "Everything's going to turn out alright," he muttered in his ear. Sirius leaned into the hug and welcomed James's warmth.

"You're too good for me, you know that, right?" he said softly against James's shoulder. He could feel James shaking his head determinedly.

"No, I could never be too good for you. Maybe to good to you but never too good for you. I love you, and when you love a person, you can never too many good things for them. I would do anything for you, Sirius. I wish you'd realize that."

Sirius sighed and pulled away from James ever so slightly so that they could look at each other square in the eyes. "I know, I just…I feel like you're offering me so much and all that I can offer you is a huge bag filled with nothing but burdens that I should be carrying."

"You shouldn't feel that way," soothed James, stroking hair. "I wouldn't be with you if I didn't love you, always remember that. I don't do just anything for anyone." At that comment, Sirius looked up and grinned slightly. Tears were starting to form in his eyes. Gently, James wiped them away and kissed him on the forehead. "Come on now, you have to finish packing. Not to mention we have to find all of Ana's things. No doubt my mum has clothes, diapers, and toys all over the house."

The next morning Sirius woke up feeling oddly refreshed. They were going back to Hogwarts for their seventh and final year. He was so excited, yet sad. This would be their last year together as the Marauders. It was bittersweet really. They would all part after this year, James and Sirius together, most likely, and Remus and Peter elsewhere (Remus possibly with Lily).

Next to him, James stirred and then slowly blinked open his eyes. "I don't wanna get up," he moaned when the sunlight hit his eyes. Sirius rolled his eyes and hit James on the shoulder.

"Get up you moron," he teased and quickly jumped out of bed himself to avoid getting hit. However, when he touched the wooden floor with his bare feet, he jumped back onto the bed. The floor was freezing. "James," he complained, "your bloody floor is bloody freezing."

James shrugged and got up gingerly to go comfort Anastasia, as Sirius's yelp of surprise had woken her up. "Shush, shush, there, there, calm down. That's just daddy making a lot of noise in the morning because he likes waking the entire house up at the crack of dawn."

Sirius cautiously got out of bed and walked around on his toes. "Crack of dawn? What are you talking about? It's eight," he said as he looked around for his slippers which were suddenly nowhere to be found.

"Oh, like that's a whole lot better," moaned James and he sniffed Anastasia's diaper. "Ew, Sirius, come change her." Sirius ignored James and continued his quest for his slippers. James sighed in frustration and settled himself down to change the dirty diaper. "You owe me for this, Black," he growled.

"Why?" Sirius asked as he looked up. He was now half under the bed, still without any luck in finding them. "You're the parent too, which means that you get to help with the dirty parts, and don't you dare take that the way I know you will."

James smiled innocently and focused back on his own task. "Who said I was thinking that?" he asked.

"I could see it in your eyes," responded Sirius, now moving onto looking in the bathroom sized closet.

"That means you know me way too well," he said, chuckling slightly as he put a new diaper on his daughter. She giggled and reached up to pull on James's hair. James pulled back, just out of her reach, and laughed at her. "Ha, you can't get my hair now. Ha-ha-ha."

Sirius came out of the closet looking dejected, but turned to James with a stern expression on his face. "Don't tease her," he reprimanded and then walked into the bathroom to get dressed.

They arrived at the platform at 10:30, giving the two boys plenty of time to find a place to sit and pack their things onto the train.

"Are you sure you don't want to just leave Ana with us?" asked Mrs. Potter for about the twentieth time. She had started at breakfast, giving a very long list as to why it would be a good idea, but with Sirius countering with an even longer list as to why it was a bad idea. In the end, they all knew that Mrs. Potter had just gotten really close with Anastasia over the summer and didn't want her to leave.

"I'm positive, Mrs. Potter. But thanks for offering. It means a lot to me," answered Sirius, managing to keep the exasperation out of voice. As much as he loved the crazy lady, he was tiring of her consistent questions.

"Alright, I'll give up," she said, sensing his annoyance and then she gave them both quick kisses on the forehead. "Be good this year. Maybe having a baby will give you both a sense of responsibility."

James laughed and shook his head. "Not a chance of that happening, mum," he laughed and gave her a quick hug. Mr. Potter didn't say anything, just shook both James's and Sirius's hands and turned on his heel to leave. Mrs. Potter watched his retreating back with disapproval in her eyes, but turned back to the teenagers and said good bye one last time.

"Make sure to write, and send pictures of Ana," she called out, kissing Anastasia on the cheek and playing with her feet one last time.

"Okay mum," James answered and then they headed back to the train and to their compartment. They sat on the train, James sitting leaning against the window and Sirius laying down with his head in James's lap. Anastasia was sitting on his stomach and gently hitting him, causing both boys to laugh in amusement. Each time Sirius laughed, Anastasia would squeal in delight, as his stomach moved up and down.

With ten minutes before the train was going to leave, Remus entered dragging his trunk and with Lily behind him. "Hey you guys. How was your summer?" he asked as he settled down. Lily sat down beside him and snuggled into his arms, looking at James and Sirius.

James smiled and looked at his two friends. "It was just swell. We had an awesome time, between begging you to come visit and trying to teach Anastasia new songs."

"That was not sarcastic by the way," Sirius said while he tickled his daughter's stomach. She giggled again and her tiny hand closed around Sirius's finger.

Lily smiled. Anastasia seemed to be a perfectly healthy, well taken care of, showered with love child. How much of a contrast between her and Sirius. She sighed softly at that thought and then took Ana off of Sirius's stomach without even asking. He looked at her as if she had committed some horrible sin but then closed his eyes and enjoyed the feeling of James's fingers raking through his hair.

The door opened again and Peter came in, but left immediately. He was not in the mood to socialize with couples. He and his girlfriend had recently broken up and he was still pretty crushed by it.

The train ride was really uneventful, spent with Sirius relaxing, James and Remus chatting, and Lily playing with Ana. The lady with the cart came by and James bought some food and split it with his friends before the peaceful atmosphere resumed. When they were about a half hour from the train, the door slid open and in waltzed Snape.

"What are you doing here, Snape," snarled Sirius, suddenly alert. Snape looked over Sirius and then looked at Ana, who was still in Lily's arms.

"I just wanted to say hello," he said in a sly voice. "I wondered if it was true. You had your own mother arrested when she came by to see you over the summer?"

Sirius's face turned red in his anger and he stood up, pulling his wand out with him. "Get out, Snape. NOW!"

"Well, you are more worthless and pathetic than I initially thought. Just look at you. You're a screwed up mess."

James stood up and put his hand on Sirius's shoulder. This was one fight he would not back down from. The last time Sirius had released his anger on Snape, he'd almost been killed and had betrayed the entire group. "Snape, leave. At least he has people who care about him who won't end up going to Azkaban for supporting the dark lord."

"Yeah," spat Lily, who also stood up, holding Ana close to her chest so she wouldn't get hurt. "How many people do you have supporting you, Snape?"

Remus also stood up and put a protective hand on both Lily's and Sirius's shoulder. "I suggest you leave, Snape. There's no telling what we'll do if we feel that one of our own is in any sort of danger."

At those words, Snape bristled and left. James sat back down and pulled Sirius back down with him. Sirius looked at his friends, his boyfriend, and his daughter. "Thanks guys."

A.N. I highly dislike school. Oh well. The next chapter will be up soon and it just might be rated 'R'. I don't know. I haven't written it yet. Anyways, please review and thank you!