Chapter Twenty-two
Sunday night found them back home in the trunk. It was 9:30pm but Harry was so excited he couldn't sleep.
"Pleeeeeease," he begged with big puppy eyes, "just a little longer?"
Sirius was caving fast in the face of those eyes, Remus gave him a look before Harry turned the puppy eyes on him.
"Weeell," said Remus, just a little longer. You have school tomorrow."
Harry hugged him fiercely as Sirius gave him a smug look over Harry's head, "thank you!" said Harry, before running off to the 'outside' compartment that they called their backyard.
Sirius snickered and Remus muttered, "just like his godfather. I can't resist your puppy eyes either, remember?"
Sirius gave him a crooked grin, "oh, I remember."
Remus had just opened his mouth to say something when Harry burst in, clutching the toy broom they had bought when they got his other magical toys, "can I fly it pleasepleaseplease?" with puppy eyes on both of them at full force.
Remus sighed, but nodded when Sirius mumbled, "it'll tire him out faster."
"Sure pup," said Sirius, "but only for a little while, then it's right to bed with you."
"OK," said Harry running for the backyard as they followed, "I promise!"
An hour later, after a thoroughly tired Harry was tucked into bed, Sirius flopped on the sofa and sighed, "I think I'm more tired than he is!"
Remus smiled and handed him a cup of tea, "that's because one child has more energy than any TEN adults."
Sirius grinned at him and yawned, "tell me about it," he mumbled.
Remus grinned, "still can't wait to see you at Christmas."
Sirius jumped and yelped as he spilled his tea, "I can't BELIEVE I forgot about Christmas! How long do we have?"
Remus smiled, "a month yet."
Sirius sighed and cleaned up the spilled tea, "good. At least I didn't forget Harry or you."
"Harry is more important than gifts for either of us," replied Remus.
"True Moony, but I shouldn't neglect you either," Sirius said, then grinned, "so what did you get me?"
Remus grinned, "I'm not telling,"
Sirius pouted, "awww Moony, you're no fun."
"But if I told you, it would ruin the surprise,"
"Awwwwwww,"
"No,"
"Pleeease?"
"No Padfoot,"
"Fine," Sirius huffed.
"You'll like it, I promise."
"Oh really?" said Sirius with a leer, "can I get a preview?"
Remus smirked, "You're incorrigible."
…..
The next two weeks found Sirius and Remus planning and shopping for Christmas. Sirius was going overboard, determined to make up for four Christmases worth of presents. For once, Remus let him, only giving him a smirk when Sirius came up with yet another gift idea for Harry.
"You're going to spoil him you know," Remus said with a smile the last time this happened.
"I know," replied Sirius, "but after all those….muggles put him through, he deserves it."
"I agree with you," said Remus, "but we can't do it all the time, OK? Just this Christmas."
"This Christmas and his birthday," argued Sirius, Remus smirked at him, "what? It'll be his first with us!"
Remus smiled, "OK but after that only for special occasions or achievements."
Sirius smiled, "you got it, Moony."
Remus only smiled, "we'll see."
Sirius gave him a Look, which he returned.
"What are we going to do about decorations?" Remus asked, and a tree."
Sirius grinned, "we'll take Harry out to pick a tree and some decorations this weekend. We'll do the Polyjuice thing again."
"Good idea, but how will we explain not taking Dudley? The first time, it was only because he'd already gotten his school clothes."
"True," said Sirius, "maybe we can just borrow their car, there's an antidote to Polyuice, maybe we can just use it until we get out of the city."
"Or you can just buy a car," said Remus.
Sirius grinned, catching on, "and shrink it when we're done like I did my bike."
Remus nodded, and we could take Harry through the portal to my old cottage."
Sirius grinned widely, "I can't wait! This is going to be so much fun!"
A/N: I am SO sorry for the long wait. I had a MASSIVE case of writer's block, and my muse just laughed at me when I tried to cajole (read; beat my brain} it into giving me a chapter. I will try my best to get another chapter up as soon as possible. Thanks to everyone who reviewed, followed and favorited.
Kiani Skyrider
