A/N: Thank God my hotel has internet… there is no one I know here but my family and we ALL know how that can get when one has a seven year old sister, yes? Well, anyway, this goes out to her in case the honour (that she doesn't know about) happens to somehow make her stop being so chicken about roller coasters. Thanks to everyone who's reviewed this story so far- replies when it strikes me as convenient, k? I know, I'm a horrible author. I should be shot.
Leaving my old room with my sons was the most surreal experience of my life. I think if there's one thing I didn't want in my children's life asides from a prophecy, it was probably Uncle Vernon. And there he was- throwing a fit because I hadn't been there sooner.
That old urge to just punch him in the nose came back very suddenly. I could hear Hermione crying in the background, for Merlin's sake. And Hermione is far more important than Vernon, so I shoved him aside, with brief instructions to sit on his arse and not do anything too loud, and went into Dudley's room. Snape was in a body-bind outside the room, and I was glad she'd had the presence of mind to do that- and no, I didn't restrain myself from kicking him.
"Hey," I said, kicking the door shut behind me and going beside her on the bed, letting Sirius rest upright against my stomach to free a hand to run through her hair. "Brought something for you," Sirius, watching me with interest, grabbed on to her hair a touch too hard and she squeaked- it was half laughter, I thought. "Gentle, Sirius," I said, pulling his hand gently along the tangled chestnut locks.
"Nothing in a name, huh?" She said, sitting up, tears still in her eyes, resting her head on my shoulder. "Sirius is this one?" A hand went to his cheek, "he looks like you."
"Yeah," I said, pressing a kiss to the crown of my son's head and another to her forehead, "except better."
"And that's James then?" Jamie was asleep and I could feel his soft little breathes against my neck- I could also feel his drool against my shoulder- but its all part and parcel I guess.
"Jamie," I corrected, "your godson."
"James Ronald," she said, smiling, "they're adorable, Harry." She reached over, taking one of Sirius' miniscule hands in hers, raising it to her lips. "They look a little like him, don't you think? Just 'round the eyes?"
"Yes," I said, seeing my best friend in the shape of Sirius' face as he laughed when Hermione tickled him, the curve of Jamie's lips as he frowned in his sleep. "Maybe they'll play Keeper," I grinned.
"And I can hex the competition for them, too," she grinned, half crying still. "I'm alright, Harry," she said, before I even had to ask the question. "It was just a little too much all at once."
"Do you want to go home?" I asked. I'd been counting on her to stay here with Snape while I took the babies home to their mother, and I didn't want to part with them just then- or wait an extra second to see Ginny.
"A little," she said, and then looked at me. "But I'll be alright, we can put him in the broom cupboard. It'll serve him right," she looked at me, "and I've got no memories there."
"It is fair, isn't it? I spent ten years in there because of him, he can spend a couple hours," I liked the idea of it- I could never take as much away from Snape as he had stolen from me- but I could give him just the smallest of tastes.
"Let's get him in then," she said, "will you hand them over just yet?" There are times when you have to thank providence for friends like Hermione who don't mind if you won't let go of your sons for even an instant, so I shook my head and she laughed. "I'll do it, and what do you want done with your aunt and uncle?"
"Much as I hate to say it, check them over for injuries, get her a cup of tea- shot of whiskey, maybe."
"You're about forty times too noble for my tastes, Harry," Hermione said, laughing, and pressing a quick kiss to Jamie's sleeping head as she stood, she left.