The Holidays,

Part One

"Wake up!" The bed bounced underneath James as Sirius jumped on it. James groaned and rubbed his eyes, trying to roll where Sirius's feet wouldn't land on him.

"Come on! Up you get! The day is half over!"

Cold air rushed under the blankets (or at least where the blankets had been) as Sirius tore the covers off the bed. James groaned again and tried to recover the blankets. When that failed, he grabbed his emergency blanket at the end of the bed; used only when it was snowing. James decided it was close enough, being a only couple of seasons 'til winter.

"Come on!" Sirius had bounded around the edge of the bed to where James's face was. James opened bleary hazel eyes to Sirius's broad grin. He yelped and scrambled backwards off the edge of the bed. For a few precious seconds, James's arms flailed, trying to regain his balance. He failed. James fell the necessary feet to the floor, hitting it with a thump. In response to this, Sirius let out a bark of laughter.

James stood slowly; he glared at Sirius, grabbing his glasses from the side table, "What's all the fuss about?" he grumbled, massaging his sore butt.

"It's the holidays." Sirius said, spreading his hands out to his sides and trying to radiate innocence. He failed miserably.

"Yeah," James replied shortly, "Time to sleep in."

Sirius treated James to a roguish grin, "Not for you, my Buck!"

James looked at him stonily, "And, why, may I ask?"

"Because your darling mother asked me to wake you up… ten minutes ago!"

James set his jaw, "Remind me to kill her."

Sirius looked heartbroken, "But… but." He stuttered, then a sly look slid over his features, "But then she couldn't make any more chocolate chipped pancakes like she did for us this morning!"

James's eyes lit up; "Did she really?" he grinned, "Then all is forgiven!" they raced to the stairs, tumbling down them and into the kitchen.

"Morning Mrs Potter!" Sirius said cheerfully as they entered, the smell of cooking pancakes drawing them, drooling, to the table.

"Morning Sirius," she said fondly, ruffling his hair as she put the first pancake on his plate, "Morning honey." She said to James, walking back to the stove. She went to ruffle his hair, but saw that it was ruffled quite enough. She patted him on the head instead, "You look tired."

James directed a pointed glare at Sirius, "Yes." He said shortly.

"You should go to bed earlier, sweetheart."

"Or sleep later," James muttered.

"What was that?"

"Nothing." He said innocently, tucking into his pancake.

"thank you Mrs Potter." Sirius said as he finished. James's face took on a dreamy expression, "I could get used to that name."

Sirius shot him a disturbed look, "James that's your mother!"

James equally disturbed, "I didn't mean it like that! He yelped.

Understanding bloomed across Sirius features, "She's never gonna marry you, mate."

"She might."

"I still feel awkward." James opened his mouth to protest, but Sirius waved it away, "Listen. I have the money. My lovely Uncle gave me this money. I'm not even paying rent here. I feel guilty about it.

I should have a house of my own; pay my own rent, my own food. You know?"

"No, I don't." James said irritably, "You're fine! My folks like having you over!"

Sirius smiled sadly, "I think I've almost overstayed my welcome. All I do is eat, quite a lot at that; sleep and talk to you."

James rolled his eyes and sighed gustily, "That's all I do anyway!"

"I know," A glimmer of mirth came into Sirius's face, "But you're their son."

"You're as good as family!"

Sirius looked away, his jaw set stubbornly, "Nevertheless, I'm going to buy a house. You can't stop me."

James laid a hand on his wand, where it was hidden under his jacket, "No?" he asked.

Sirius grinned, "No." he clapped a hand on James's shoulder, "Look, mate. I want to stop being a nuisance. I have the money, I'll buy a house as close to here as possible."

James sagged slightly, "You'll come over for dinners?"

Sirius's grin widened, "Free food? Try and keep me away!"

Two weeks into August, Sirius was sitting down to another brilliant roast from the Potter's. The next few months passed by relatively quickly. James and Sirius spent most of the afternoons playing Quidditch in the back yard. The afternoons that they weren't, Sirius was looking at the properties in the surrounding area. He ended up buying a small flat, and moving his meagre possessions into there. He did come round for dinner, though. Every Sunday, without fail for a 'Family' roast. He did say that Mrs Potter cooked the best chicken. She may cook the best chicken, but they hadn't started eating their dinner yet; James's Dad was late coming home from work. The door banging shut announced his presence. Mrs Potter heaved a relieved sigh and went to kiss him in greeting. "How was work, sweetheart?" she asked, worried; Mr Potter looked tired.

He sighed and collapsed into a chair at the table, "Twenty Muggles killed by You-Know-Who… and his Death Eaters. Less wizards; Five were killed. We had to erase many memories, and try to track down these Death Eaters!" he spat the words with disgust and hatred.

James's face became hard, "When I graduate, I'll help you, Dad."

Mrs Potter whipped around to face her son, "No you will not!" she snapped, "I'm not having both my husband and my son out against those horrible, sadistic wizards!"

"Why not, Mum? I'm good enough to sit here on my butt all day!" When James's mother's face didn't shift, he tried another tactic, "I'm good at counter curses!"

This time it was his father who spoke, "There's no counter curse for what they're using. It's one of the Unforgivable curses."

Sirius, who had been silent for the most of the time, whispered, "Avada Kedavra."

Mrs Potter, her eyes full of pain and worry, nodded, "James," she said, her voice echoing the emotions on her face, "Your father is already risking his life by showing his face to these monsters. I don't want to lose either you or your father. You're not going to do it. That is my final word." With that, she turned and walked out of the Dining Room. Mr Potter sighed, getting out of the chair to follow her into the kitchen, sending a warning look back to the two boys, telling them to stay put.

Sirius leaned sideways towards James, "Sheesh! She sounded like McGonagall there."

James didn't grin, but his face softened somewhat, "I'm still going to, Sirius." He said, "I'm going to become an Auror."

"I know, mate," Sirius said, "I'll be there with you too."

Mrs Potter walked in slowly, her eyes still puffy from the tears. She stopped; there were owls at the table. She frowned, then understood, "What's on your booklist?" she asked long-sufferingly.

James shrugged, looking at another letter addressed to him. Sirius was looking at the same letter, wide eyed, "James," he whispered.

"I don't know what it is," James picked it up, and slipped a finger under the edge of the flap of the envelope.

"James, I think it's…"

James continued opening his letter. He took it out and read the first line. James's face registered blank astonishment. The letter fell from numb fingers. Slowly it drifted to the floor. Sirius bent and picked it up. He, too read the first line, his face a mirror image of James's.

"What?" Mrs Potter asked, "What is it?"

Sirius cleared his throat and started to read it, "Congratulations, Mr James Potter, You have received the honour of Head Boy!"

"Head Boy!" Mrs Potter squeaked, "My little James?"

There was a thud. Sirius looked down at the figure of James on the floor, then back up to James's mother, "I think," He began, clicking his tongue, "I think it came as a bit of a shock."