Author's Notes:

Hi everyone! I'm sorry I haven't posted this chapter earlier than now. Things have been super busy here as things are opening back up. Plus I had my "graduation"! And an extremely promising job interview. I have the second round interview tomorrow and I'm hoping for good things. It would be an amazing opportunity for me to get into Family Law. *knock on wood*. I'll keep you all updated on that! I also did not get the clerkship I had applied for. But with this new opportunity, I think maybe that was for the best! I hope you all enjoy this chapter. And, again, this story is cross-posted on Archive Of Our Own!

JakeGarrett94: I'm glad you're enjoying my story! I've always wanted to be a writer but my want to help people was always stronger. Your words are extremely encouraging! Midnitewanderer: I think you'll enjoy what I have planned for Draco throughout this series. I also think you'll find that Remus leaving Jean now was a necessary evil given how the next few chapters will play out with Remus starting his new post at Hogwarts. I'm glad you caught that! I was surprised no one else commented on Hermione's little trick there. In my head Remus was too focused on Jean and what he needed to do to notice Hermione's sligt of hand there. Twinklestabber: I'm sorry that you feel my interpretation of the course of events wasn't up to snuff. However, this is how I chose to write Sirius' imprisonment due to the circumstances involved. As for Dumbledore's potential power over his imprisonment, I am of the belief that Dumbledore only exerts his influence when it is beneficial to him and him alone; keeping Sirius out of prison would in no way have benefitted him and, therefore, he didn't bother. I understand if you chose to not continue reading my fic but I do hope that you overlook this decision and choose to continue.

Thanks for reading everyone!

Chapter Twenty-Three: A Perfect Day

Harry woke up on the morning of his 4th birthday both nervous and excited. He had never hadn't had a birthday party that he could remember and a part of him was still wondering whether his dad and uncles would forget about it. Or worse, Harry imagined as he snuggled under his blankets, what if no one showed up to the party?

Harry's vivid imagination showed him the daunting scene of an empty party room with just himself sitting at the table. The candles on his cake had burnt out, wax pooled all over the icing. His mental self sat looking toward the Manor from the grassy quidditch pitch wishing that the door would open and a friend would walk through it. Ginny or Ron or maybe Draco. He would even be happy if Dudley showed up because that would mean that no one forgot about him.

Shaking his head, Harry rolled over and hid deeper under his blankets. He knew no one would remember, no one was going to show up at his party. Why would they? He was a little freak and no one wants to be friends with a freak.

At some point Harry must have fallen back to sleep because that was where James found him, huddled under his blankets, two hours later. James stepped aside as Coco zoomed beside him and flew onto Harry's bed and dug at the sheets until he found the boy. She promptly began licking Harry's face until he squealed with delight and hugged her while she tried to wriggle free.

"Harry, I thought you'd be up by now. It's your birthday!" James said laughing.

Harry looked at his dad before covering his face with his blanket again, "I'm tired."

James frowned, "Tired? You slept all night and it's already 9. Are you feeling ok?"

Harry nodded.

"Then why don't we get up and go see what we can con Cirri into cooking for us this morning, huh? I think Moony and Padfoot had something for you downstairs."

Harry carefully peeked out from under his blankets, "They remembered?"

"Of course they remembered your birthday. Why wouldn't they?" James asked as he sat next to Harry on the large bed.

"I don't have birthdays," Harry said as the tears welled in his eyes again, "No birthdays for Harry."

"What do you mean? You have a birthday—did your aunt and uncle forget your birthday?"

"They knew," Harry said as the tears spilled over, "I don't get a birthday."

"Because they said you were a freak?" James recalled, anger filling him as he saw Harry nod, the tear tracks on his face fresh.

"Bloody hell, I wish I had done more than just take you home that day, Harry."

"What bloody hell mean?" Harry asked, his face glistening.

"Bloody—no, don't repeat that until you're older, kiddo. It's a bad word."

"Why can you say it?"

"Because I'm the dad."

"That's a bad reason," Harry said defiantly.

James couldn't help but laugh. Harry had placed his hands on his little hips and made a face at James while his little voice spoke so sternly. At that moment, Harry looked so much like Lily that James only knew that Harry was his son because they looked physically identical save Harry's eyes.

Harry looked at James confusedly and embarrassed as James roared with laughter, "What's funny?"

"It's just, you reminded me of your mum for a moment. She used to give me that same look when she was telling me off. Blimey I miss your mum."

"I don't remember her," Harry said sadly, "Was she nice?"

James pulled Harry in close and held him, "The nicest. And she was so beautiful. She loved you so much, Harry. Though, I'm not sure she would have approved of us teaching you to prank so early on in your life; not that she couldn't have expected it mind you."

"What did she look like?" Harry asked, his eyes wide and pleading.

"Well, she had this beautiful, long red hair. It looked like fire—"

"Like Ginny!" Harry interrupted.

James smiled, "Yes, very much like Ginny's. Not as dark, though. Your mum's was a bit more—orangish I guess. It was lighter. Ginny's is a darker red. And your mum, you have her eyes. The shape and the color. It's sometimes a shock to see her eyes coming out of my face, you know. I have photos somewhere. We can pull them out and I can show you. Would you like that?"

Harry nodded, "She sings real nice."

James stared down at Harry's face, "Yes, she did sing beautifully. You remember that?"

"Someone singing," Harry said smiling brightly, "So, I really have a party?"

"Yes, you really have a party and your friends will be here in about three hours so we'd better have breakfast and get you cleaned up, shouldn't we?"

Harry whooped and sprung out of bed before running to the bathroom. He quickly undressed for his bath and, when he realized that James hadn't followed him, stuck his head back out of the door, "Bath time daddy!"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Slave driver!" James feigned exhaustion, "I'll be in in a minute! You know how to start it?"

"Yes!" Harry shouted as he ran over to the tub and turned the knob, letting the water run free.

James quickly washed Harry and dressed him for the day before they headed down for breakfast. The elves let Harry choose what everyone would eat for the day and Harry, of course, chose his favorite: french toast with sausage. James, Harry, and his uncles ate quickly so they could set up for the party. They would be having it outside and James had rented a muggle contraption called a bounce house which he had learned from Jean was coveted by children for birthday parties.

Remus and Sirius surprised Harry by gifting his present early because Hermione and Jean would be arriving for the party soon and, as muggles, they couldn't know anything about the wizarding world. They had together paid for Harry to participate in a little league quidditch team run by the coach of the Wimbourne Wasps. They had been able to get him into the 5-8 age bracket by sending in a memory of Harry riding on his broom which will allow Harry to participate in actual quidditch games every Saturday.

Harry had been overjoyed with the gift from Remus and Sirius and hugged both of his uncles so tightly they thought their heads would pop off. They, mostly Sirius, had also purchased him all of the equipment he would need to participate including new broom gloves, quidditch robes, goggles with his glasses prescription in them, and a cup. Harry had been especially pleased with the new quidditch robes because his uncles had purchased a set of Portree robes and on the back said "Potter 4". Harry had put the clothes on and shown his uncles how well the robes and gloves fit but was disappointed when he was told he could not fly his broom because his guests would be arriving any moment.

Harry's magical party guests had been requested to arrive by coming up the lane due to having Hermione joining in the festivities. Harry anxiously watched the drive leading to their house and waited for his friends to come one by one.

James was just putting the finishing touches on the decorations while watching Harry facing the lane. They had chosen a "quidditch" theme for the party. Which, to Hermione and Jean, would look like a wizarding theme. James had found a table cloth for the large picnic table they had that had brooms and small quidditch balls on it that would look wizardly to the muggles. He had also gotten the sheet cake to have crossing brooms on it as well as little snitches all around it. behind the picnic table was the bounce house that looked like Hogwarts. It was large with several "rooms" for the kids to jump on as well as a climbing wall and a large slide. James had also rented a large tent to put up over the picnic table and several folding tables and chairs in the lawn so the children could sit in the shade.

Just as two people started walking up the lane toward the house Remus finished putting the vanishing charm onto the quidditch pitch so that it remained hidden for the duration of the party. Sirius had just finished setting up something called a slip n' slide. He had used magic to keep the water flowing, but hooked up a useless hose to make it seem like it was working in the muggle fashion.

When he caught sight of the two people walking toward the house Harry jumped up and shouted in excitement. He quickly ran over to the busy haired girl and gave her a large hug hello before dragging her toward the party area. Jean laughed as Harry pulled Hermione behind him, chattering excitedly about everything planned and whether she had brought a swimsuit.

Jean made her way over to the tent in the yard and held out a gift to James, "Thank you for inviting Hermione to Harry's party. Where can I put his gift?"

"Oh, right. Hadn't thought about that. Hmm. How about over on that table? I forgot people bring gifts to kids parties. Did Hermione remember to bring a swimsuit? We have the slip n' slide all set up on the lawn."

"Yes, she has it on already; she was too excited to pack it and decided to wear it over. I figure we don't live far if she needs a change of clothes, but it's so hot I think the sun will dry her before she needs them."

James turned around just in time to watch Sirius swagger over to him and Jean as he slicked his hair back from his face and put a thumb through his belt loop.

"Slide's set up, Prongs," He said as he looked Jean up and down, taking in her full figure, carefully licking his lips, "And who might you be?"

"Not for you, bad dog!" Remus said as he lightly smacked Sirius upside the head, "This is Hermione's mom, Jean. How are you?"

Jean smiled, "And why am I not for him? He sure is handsome enough."

Sirius turned to Remus and looked at him sappily, "She said I'm handsome."

Remus rolled his eyes, "Unless you're looking for a good shag Sirius isn't the guy for you. Speaking of, I thought you were bringing Rick?"

"Maybe I do want a good shag. Might knock some sense into—well, don't just assume. He'll be here in a little while, he had to finish up a research paper for class. He's always leaving them until the last minute."

"So," Sirius said as he threw his arm around Jean's shoulders, "it's a shag you're after?" Sirius wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

Jean looked at Sirius, an eyebrow raised, before turning to James and Remus, "Is he always like this? He acts like he hasn't had a good lay in in years."

"Well—"

"Because I haven't, babe. I was in the hoosegow, the slammer, the stoney lonesome, the big house. In other words, jail, Honey."

Alarmed, Jean squeaked at Remus, "Excuse me?"

"Yeah, it's not what you think," Remus said casually.

James, at the same time, "He was innocent, it was a huge mix up."

"Uh huh," Jean said, unsure of what to think.

"So," Sirius said pulling Jean close, "What do you say, babe? You, me, and a little vertical tango?"

"I think not. Thanks for the offer, though."

Sirius pulled his arm off of Jean and held his hands up, "Hey, your loss, am I right? So, who's this Rick guy? Isn't he the dude who was jealous of you, Remus?"

"Rick is my friend from college. We're both in the dentistry program."

Sirius shivered, "I never understood why anyone would want to spend their lives looking into other people's mouths."

Jean shrugged, "I don't know. I find it fascinating."

Just then, a large group of people, all with red hair, came into view as they walked up the large driveway toward the party area. All seven Weasley children were in attendance, each looking in fascination at the large bounce castle and the slip n' slide. The twins, Fred and George, both exchanged a mischievous look before Mrs. Weasley pulled them aside and gave them a stern talking to about how they're at a birthday party and under no circumstances were they to prank anyone. In a hushed tone she reminded them that there would be muggles in attendance and she wouldn't help them if they broke the statute of secrecy today.

With Fred and George properly chastised, the group of seven children ran toward the bounce house where Harry and Hermione were already playing, anxious to release some of their summer energy. James could hear Harry roar with delight as he saw Ron and Ginny. He grabbed Hermione's hand as he made a beeline towards his friends so he could introduce them to Hermione.

Bill and Charley quickly instituted a game involving running through the obstacle course that was the bounce house. They split all the children into teams and they all began racing and screaming through the castle as another group approached the home. Neville, Wilson, and Augusta Longbottom were walking quickly up the path. Augusta was practically dragging Neville by the arm toward the party.

"Afternoon Wilson, Augusta, thanks for bringing Neville," James said, "Would either of you like something to eat or drink? Sirius is just lighting up the grill."

Augusta furrowed her brow, "I'm sorry, what is a grill?"

James laughed and glanced around to be sure that Jean wasn't within earshot before replying, "Right, a grill is a muggle cooking device. They use it for meats and, sometimes, vegetables. Remus convinced us to buy one and Sirius has been in love with it all summer. He's making burgers and hotdogs today for everyone. I also convinced him to make corn on the cob. I've never had corn as good as when Sirius makes it on the grill."

"And it's safe to eat the food?" Wilson asked curiously as he examined the grill beside the tent, "It can cook everything the whole way through? How does it work?"

"Well, we have a propane grill, so it runs on gas. But some use charcoal."

"You're putting gas in our food?" Mrs. Weasley interrupted.

"No, the gas is used to make the fire to cook our food," Sirius explained, "Here, if you want to come over here I'll demonstrate."

As the small group of curious wizards gathered around the grill, James noticed a small child walking up the driveway. He frowned and quickly headed towards Draco, concerned as to why he had arrived by himself.

"Draco, where's your mother or father?"

"Mother told me to give you this," Draco replied, "She had Dobby drop me off down there. Can I play?"

James took the slip of paper Draco was holding out and nodded, confused, "Sure. The other children are on the bounce house. You're welcome to join them."

"What's a bounce house?" Draco asked.

"Oh it's a muggle thing; you jump on it and bounce really high. I think the other kids are racing on it."

Draco shrugged and then made his way toward the bounce house. James watched as Draco surreptitiously looked around him before taking off full speed toward the castle and climbing onto it and joining the fray of children. He smiled as he looked down at the parchment in his hand.

Lord Potter,

Now that we have met in the capacity of parents and Draco has been to your home before I felt I was able to send him for Harry's party in the normal fashion. As requested, I had our elf, Dobby, take Draco to the bottom of the hill outside the gates to your home so he could walk to the party without alerting the muggles in attendance. I made Draco aware that any discussion of magic or the wizarding world was forbidden. Please let me know if he fails to comply with your rules.

Narcissa

James looked up as he heard someone approaching him and nodded at Remus who was coming closer.

"Hey, was that Draco I saw run by? Where's Narcissa?"

"Not coming, apparently. It seems she sent him with their elf instead of dropping him off herself."

"Oh, well, I guess one less person to feed?"

"Remus, he's four. Is this really appropriate?"

Remus shrugged, "I mean, I don't see why it wouldn't be. Their elf has to follow Narcissa's direction and if he dropped Draco off then the elf wouldn't have left until they saw Draco get to the adults at the party. If it bothers you, you could ask her about it next time you see her."

"Yeah, maybe…" James trailed off as he caught sight of two more people making their way up the drive toward the party.

He heard Remus snort as he caught sight of Dumbledore and Minerva's outfits. They looked as if they had dressed themselves in the dark. Minerva was wearing a long purple dress and an orange coverall over top; she must have been sweltering in the heat; while Dumbledore was wearing a pair of green pinstriped trousers with a paisley purple shirt and a messenger's hat. Honestly, James was surprised they had managed to dress so absurdly.

"Hello Albus, Minerva. Thank you for coming," Remus said as the pair walked closer.

"Thank you for inviting us Remus, James," Dumbledore said as he inclined his head.

"Remus, I was pleased to hear that you will be joining the staff at Hogwarts this fall. We're in desperate need for new perspectives on the staff. Congratulations," Minerva added.

"Thank you, Minerva. I'm looking forward to September."

As James was about to show the new guests to the party tent, he heard Harry shout from the bounce house, "Nana Minnie!"

He watched as the small boy stumbled out of the bounce house and ran over to Minerva before engulfing her in a tight hug. If James hadn't been paying enough attention, he might have missed the small smile that graced the professor's face.

After hugging Minerva, Harry pulled her over to meet all of his new friends. Minerva politely said hello to all of the children and listened to them.

Soon the children ran off together to play a game with the slip n' slide. Minerva made her way back to the adults where everyone made conversation with each other.

As the day drew on everyone ate their fill and enjoyed the general company at Harry's party. When cake was served everyone gathered around and sang to Harry for the first time in his memory. As he looked around him, he couldn't help but smile at how many people, how many friends and family members, he gained by leaving the Dursleys' house. A small part of him was sad that Dudley hadn't come, but Harry knew it was for the best. He watched Draco and Hermione discussing a book they had both read while cake was being served and Harry smiled. He knew his two friends were extremely intelligent even at 4 and 5 years old and he was happy that they were getting along. He watched as Ron and Neville were discussing quidditch teams and Ginny was laughing with the twins, probably plotting some new prank. And he looked at Jean who was now sitting with Rick who had arrived shortly after lunch was served.

"Harry," Hermione interrupted his thoughts, "Want to go play on the castle again? We all want to race!"

"Yeah!" Harry shouted as he got up from his chair and ran towards the bounce house.

He looked back at the adults sitting around the table laughing and talking in the sunlight and towards his friends racing toward the castle and smiled. It couldn't have been a more perfect day.

End Notes:

And thus ends Harry's *first* year with the Marauders. I say first because it's not really a full year but from here until his first year at Hogwarts I will be doing more fastfowarding through his childhood. I will take time to focus on some events that influence plot, but for the majority of the chapters they will be descriptions and snips of larger chunks of time. Once I get into his first year I will do more focused chapters like I did until chapter 24. I'm excited to start getting into deeper topics and exploring my character development as well as plot changes and similarities.

As always, thank you for reading Ignoring Destiny! Please like, follow, and review! Your reviews keep me going and remind me that I'm not writing just for myself. Thank you to those of you who have read from the beginning and stayed with me through the first part of this story, I can't wait to continue reading your reviews and reactions!