Inspirational Music: Play-It's the Hard Knock Life

Chapter Dedication: Jasmine, as my first reviewer. Thanks!

Author's Note: No, there is no slash in this story, just so everyone knows and does not assume with Sirius and Remus' relationship. It's all brotherly.

It had been five tragic, long weeks since Lily had lost her husband, her home, and her life. The only thing that had managed to keep her sane was the thought of Harry she kept fiercely in her mind and the aid both Sirius and Remus had been supplying her with. While a normal being would consider it smothering, she couldn't be any more thankful for their aid. During James' funeral, they had managed to help her keep her head on.

What had been one of the most shocking moments, however, had been when her sister Petunia had arrived at the funeral with her husband Vernon. They hadn't been there long, just enough for her to drop a card off onto the counter and shoot distrusting glances at every being present. It didn't surprise her that they hadn't brought their child, of whom she knew they were afraid of being in the presence of magical beings.

Every night since that day, however, she had read the card consistently. It made her wonder if Petunia possibly did care, even a bit, in her heart about their family.

'Lily,

I am sorry for the loss that has brought itself into your life. I'm not saying I wish to be part of your life, for you and your crowd are far from those I'd rather associate with. But I am allowing you to know that no matter what I tell Vernon, you are still my sister and your tragedy hangs with me myself. And I'm very glad for your survival.

Your sister,

Petunia'

While there had been several cards of sympathy, touching words, and emotional parts to that day, nothing could ever be compared to those moments as she read that particular card. It meant that her sister, Petunia, the one woman who had ignored her existence for years still had her on her mind. And she herself had to wonder if she could console in the woman for something at some point in her life.

Sighing as she put the card back in the drawer of the end table, she laughed as Sirius and Remus came bounding down the stairs with Harry in Remus' arms. Currently Sirius had James' old deer antlers that he had worn around Christmas time on his head. Sticking his tongue out at the baby Harry, the man chuckled while he leapt wildly in the air. It didn't take much to amuse the child, and he figured it must have been easy for James to keep him occupied.

The two men chortled while Harry reached out and grabbed the antlers off his head and wave them around before shouting aloud. "Prongs!"

As all three adults in the room grew silent, Remus looked towards Lily in amazement.

"He can say Prongs?" he murmured softly, although his voice managed to carry it across the room. "How?"

A mournful look came across Lily's face before she managed to force a smile for Harry's sake once more, looking upon her son. "It had been his first word," she whispered, standing up as she walked towards them slowly. "James had been saying it around him all the time, trying so hard for him to say it. Eventually, around his six months and second week, he said it. He said Prongs," she smiled proudly, yet painfully, as the memories of her love came back.

Sirius smiled while a frown danced upon Remus' own lips, the two taking the information in differently. "He's going to be just like his father," Sirius declared, looking proudly upon the boy himself before looking towards Lily. "No offense, because you are truly a marvelous mother. But Harry already has Prongs blood in him."

Lily herself smiled once more, shaking her head as she walked up and smiled at the three children; one small, two very over grown. "I wouldn't have it any other way," she decided, giving them nods before grinning. Oh, how hard it had been the last couple of weeks for her to do that. "Did you find any of the old ornaments?" she questioned, looking towards the bare tree in the living room. They had been setting up for Christmas, and so far they hadn't had any success with any sort of decorations. Only a tree adorned the nearly empty room.

"Well, we found a few but we wanted to bring Harry down before we attempted to carry anything. And obviously we found the old costumes. There's a Santa suit up there that the idiot here tried to force me into," Remus jabbed his thumb over towards Sirius, hitting the larger man in the chest. "I swear there was a five inch spider crawling across that beard!"

"Geez, Moony! You turn into a werewolf every full moon, and you can't even handle a three centimeter spider?" Sirius prodded, cuffing the werewolf across the ear before tickling Harry underneath the chin. "You're really only half man…"

"Take that back," Remus shot back, thrusting Harry out to Lily. "Lily, take Harry and run. It's going to get messy," he declared, watching out of the corner of his eye as he watched Lily laugh and take her son, bounding down the stairs back to the couch where she waited for the entertainment.

"What if I don't want to?" Sirius questioned immaturely, crossing his arms, and sticking his nose in the air.

Grinning, Remus cracked his knuckles. "I was hoping you'd say that…" he muttered before lunging at Sirius, causing the two of them to roll down the stairs. "I'll make you!" he hollered over the sound of the thumps they made as they hit the steps before landed onto the floor and Remus pinned Sirius' hands back. "Say 'uncle' and take back what I said before or I'm going to do something awful."

"Like what?" Sirius questioned, quirking an eyebrow at his friend. "You can't do anything to me…for crying out loud, I'm impervious to any tricks you may have up your sleeves!"

"Really?" Remus asked, a frown coming upon his face. "Even if I did…this?" he questioned, reaching out and quickly tickling Sirius' ribs.

Sirius laughed uproariously as he struggled to free himself. However, whatever strength Remus harbored during his changes still was with him so it wasn't so easy. Sighing in resolution, he nodded. "Fine…alright then. I'll admit it if you stop it."

Pausing and looking towards his friend in suspicion, Remus allowed his grip to relax a little as he looked towards Sirius in confusion. "Really?"

"Yes!" Sirius shouted, causing a giggle from Lily.

Frowning, Remus finally shook his head. "Naw," he decided, gripping his friend's wrists and forcing them down once more and roughly tickling his gut. "Now say it!"

Sirius laughed once more before tears of mirth shined in his eyes. "Never!" he responded before gasping for air. He didn't know how much longer it would be until he cracked. In one swift motion, however, he managed to flip Remus over and pin him down in turn. "I want you to admit that you're only half a man."

"If you think I'm ever going to do that, you're beyond stupid," Remus commented, sticking his tongue out.

"Fine then, be that way," Sirius cackled before head-butting his friend as gently as he could before tickling him in turn.

"Dammit! Uncle!" Remus shouted, being more sensitive to tickling than his friend as he himself shook with laughter. "Uncle! And yes, I'm half wolf! HALF WOLF!"

Grinning proudly, Sirius picked himself up and laughed before he grabbed Remus' hand and helped him up. "I knew you'd see things my way," he declared with a grin, ruffling Remus' shaggy hair.

Smirking, Remus nodded before shoving Sirius away and racing off towards the stairs. "Being part wolf doesn't make me half a man!" he shouted, running into his guest room while Sirius growled.

"You prat, get back down here!" he shouted out, racing up after him while Lily practically fell of the couch now in her own laughter. "If you're really a man. You'll face me. REMUS!"

To Be Continued...