Author's Note:

Just a short one. Hope you enjoy it!

Reviews and Comments: To ladyinwaiting2005: As someone who loves Remadora, I can promise, Remus and Tonks are endgame. But right now, Tonks is MUCH too young for that to even be thought of. Thank you! To Mattelle: Remus is right to be worried? We'll see. Thank you! To geekymom: Thank you! To M: Remus does deserve to enjoy himself and yes, we will see more of Roni. Thank you! To alix33: Yes, tunes are definitely mandatory! I think Harry's school day sounds fun, too! Thank you!

Thank you very much for reading and please, please review!

Your reviews give me life! They give me inspiration! And they make me want to keep writing for more than just myself! Thank you!

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE:

The One With the Birthday Planning

Sirius spent most of the months of May and June fixing up the garden in his spare time. He expanded the patio and built a gazebo (with Ted's assistance, though Sirius was proud to say he did most of it himself) large enough to sit eight people comfortably around a table. He bought some new furniture for the garden, comfortable patio furniture as one would say. Sleek wooden lounge chairs with pillows for the patio and large country comfort wooden chairs for the gazebo.

Sirius was finding an odd comfort in building things himself and in making a home for himself and Harry. He enjoyed every minute of it.

McGonagall had suggested he buy throw pillows for the chairs in the gazebo to make them more comfortable and to give people the option of sitting up straighter. Sirius had Harry help him pick out some crazy throw pillows at a Muggle store and a few they had printed themselves. There were sixteen different ones: A picture of two cashews 'I'm gonna cashew!', 'don't sit here', 'reserved', 'laugh until you fart', 'I solemnly swear that I am up to no good', 'I'm not responsible for what I say or do when I'm hungry', a large moustache outlined with the words 'kiss my stache', The Beatles pillow cover of Abbey Road, a flower power pillow in 1960s tye-dye, the lips from The Rolling Stones, a neon coloured outline of Freddie Mercury's face, a wolf, a black dog, a white stag, and one with a large red lily on it.

Sirius put two on each chair. The large wooden table inside the gazebo that sat eight people matched the wood of the chairs. It looked quite homey and Sirius was very pleased with his work.

Hagrid had come by and helped him with the garden. They planted a small vegetable patch on the side of the house in raised wooden boxes with ivy and jasmine around the back of the house, setting it up just so for it to grow up the walls. Around the gazebo they planted roses and clematis which would also climb the walls. Hagrid had even suggested planting a few more trees around the edge of the garden. Sirius had Harry help him dig holes and they planted two dogwood trees, two large English oaks, and two rowan trees around the back.

Harry helped Sirius water and weed the gardens and together they chose which vegetables, fruit and herbs they were going to grow having decided on potatoes, spinach, carrots, broccoli, garlic, tomatoes, blueberries, onions, thyme, rosemary, basil, chives, oregano, parsley, peppermint, and sage. The herb and vegetable gardens were separated by a tiny fence. Remus was particularly pleased with the herbs and helped tend the garden as well along with Kreacher, who Sirius asked to help maintain the garden in case they forgot.

It was a big chore keeping the gardens, but it was soothing and Sirius found comfort going out in the morning and taking care of it.

By the time that July hit, the gardens were blooming well and Sirius was quite pleased with how his yard was looking. Now looking out the window, one saw a beautiful garden with a huge treehouse, a small patio and gazebo, and still a large lawn to take care of and to play on.

It looked really wonderful, even after Harry had pranked him by covering all of the new furniture in fake vomit (the kid really was getting good at pulling pranks). The prank war had continued and Sirius had gotten him back by filling his closet with frilly dresses and hiding all of his other clothing. Harry had simply taken it in stride and strolled downstairs in a purple dress with puffy sleeves and a full skirt and asked for breakfast

Sirius had taken many, many photos.

They were definitely more than at home with each other and Sirius couldn't be happier.

The day before the full moon in July, Sirius headed to Hogwarts to get the Wolfsbane Potion for Remus. He was early so he took a detour and found himself knocking on the office door of McGonagall.

McGonagall smiled warmly at him when he stepped inside. "Sirius, how lovely to see you." She blushed when he ducked his head down to kiss her cheek.

"Thought I'd pop in and see you before I picked up the potion from Snape. How did the end of the year go?"

"Very well, thank you. NEWTs and OWLs went well and I'm just finishing up the last of my marking for the non-major examination years. Just have my first years left."

Sirius nodded, taking a seat on the edge of her desk. "Busy bee."

McGonagall smiled up at him. He had picked up a wooden carving of a sleek cat that she had been given as a gift many years ago from a student and was studying it rather intensely. "Something on your mind, Sirius?"

His quick grin flashed. "No. Just thinking. I'm planning Harry's seventh birthday party. It's going to be amazing. I assume you'll be there?"

"Of course, I wouldn't miss it. How is Harry?"

"He's great," Sirius told her with a smile. "You should see him on that motorbike. He loves it! And I got Neville to ride it when he comes over. Kid's always so nervous, it's nice to watch him try out some new and fun activities."

"Augusta mentioned that her grandson seems to really love going over and spending time with you and Harry. You, in particular, seem to have made quite an impression on him," McGonagall told him.

Sirius shrugged nonchalantly. "He's a good kid. I think Augusta's a bit hard on him, but she loves him fiercely."

McGonagall nodded, watching as he played with the wooden cat. "Yes, she does. I cannot fathom how difficult it must be to watch your son and daughter-in-law grow older in a mental facility where they barely even recognize their own names. It must be even more difficult on Neville as I don't think that he fully understands yet."

"Yeah," Sirius said, putting the cat back on the desk. "He's a great kid. I love having him around with Harry. Speaking of Harry, I've got some pretty great plans ahead for his birthday. I'm just finalizing everything and then Harry is going to help me with who gets invited."

McGonagall smiled. "I'm glad. How are you going to top the gift of a puppy this year?"

He grinned sheepishly. "Can you really beat the gift of a puppy?" He scratched his chin. "I've got the gift covered too. Anyway, his birthday falls on a Friday this year so you'll be there?"

"Yes, Sirius."

"Good," he said standing up. "Thanks, Minnie."

He gave her a casual wave as he left the office and she just shook her head. She knew that it wasn't really right to have favourites among her students, current and former, but she really loved Sirius Black.

And she wasn't ashamed to admit it.

~ ASC ~

As the full moon passed in early July, Sirius sat Harry down for a list of who he wanted to invite to his birthday. It was a little over three weeks away and it was time to send out the invitations.

Harry was bouncing in his seat at the kitchen table. "I can really invite anybody!"

Sirius nodded, grinning widely. "Anyone you want! Now, I'm keeping the party plans a surprise, but it will be a sleepover too."

"Wow!" Harry exclaimed, happily. He couldn't imagine everyone coming over just for him and sleeping over into the next day.

Sirius chuckled. "All right, Prongslet, sit still and write down the names for me."

Harry eagerly took the quill and ink from his godfather to make his list and a few minutes later he slid the parchment down for Sirius to read the names.

➾ Ginny

➾ Ron

➾ Neville

➾ Tonks

➾ Fred

➾ George

➾ Percy

➾ Bill

➾ Charlie

➾ Luna

➾ Draco

He raised his eyebrow when he got to the last name. "You want to invite Draco Malfoy to your birthday party?"

Harry nodded. "Yes, please."

Sirius sighed and dragged a finger through his hair. "Prongslet, we can of course invite him to your birthday, but I don't think that his parents are going to let him come."

Harry's excitement vanished. "Why?"

"Remember how we talked about this after we went to Malfoy Manor? About how Draco lives a very different life and how his parents want him to be with people who live the same lifestyle as him?"

Harry nodded, his eyes downcast. "I know."

Sirius reached across to ruffle his hair. "But we'll invite him anyway. Maybe I'm wrong. But don't get your hopes up, okay?"

He nodded. "Okay. I just thought maybe he needed a friend."

Sirius sighed, eyes on his godson. "You have a good heart, Prongslet. Never lose that."

Harry jumped off the chair to hug Sirius. "Is it really going to be a sleepover party?"

Sirius grinned. "Most definitely. Now, run along and play outside so I can send your invites out by owl."

Harry hugged him again and then whistled for Marauder and bolted out the back door.

Sirius looked down at the list in his hand with a smile. He had figured on all of the names already though Luna surprised him. Harry had only met the Lovegood girl a few times and only when he was at The Burrow, but he knew that she was friends with Ginny so maybe Harry was inviting her because of that. But Draco, that was indeed a surprise. He hoped that he was wrong and that his cousin would let her son attend the party, but he was pretty sure that she wouldn't allow that.

Harry was astute for his age though, Sirius thought; he did think his cousin would benefit in having Harry as a friend. But he was fairly positive that his cousin wasn't going to agree to that.

He dug the invitations that he had made out of the cabinet and quickly added the names at the top, grinning when he finished.

Event: Harry's 7th Birthday Extravaganza!

Time: 2pm, Friday 31st July to 11am, Saturday 1st August

Dinner & Snacks & Breakfast will be provided

To Bring: Bathing suit, sleeping bag, pillow, pyjamas, and anything else needed for overnight

Please RVSP no later than Monday 27th July.

He quickly tied the envelopes to Persephone and urged her to make the five necessary stops. She nipped affectionately at his fingers and hurried off.

Sirius wrote quick invitations out for the adults that he wanted to invite as well, grinning widely. He couldn't wait.

Within three days, all of the invitations had been returned with promises to attend except for one and the letter he received in return only made Sirius frown.

Sirius,

It is very generous of you to invite our son Draco to attend the birthday party of young Harry, but I am afraid that he will not be able to attend. His grandparents are visiting from France and we need him here to stay with us. Lucius did tell you it wasn't wise for Draco and Harry to be friends as long as Abraxas is around.

I hope that he has a nice birthday.

Cissa

Sirius had found the note rather nice considering, but when he told Harry that Draco wouldn't be able to come, he felt like he had crushed the kid's dreams. Harry took it well though and was too excited at all of his other guests who would be attending.

On the morning of Harry's seventh birthday, Harry woke up in absolute glee. Sirius made him his favourite breakfast of French toast with chocolate chips and strips of bacon with chocolate milk to drink. He was bouncing in excitement throughout most of his morning classes with Remus who only grinned at him.

Both Remus and Sirius remembered how only last year Harry hadn't even known he was supposed to celebrate his own birthday let alone was having a party. It was so nice to see him being so normal.

Harry had finally become a true kid and it was glorious to witness.