Danny the Dragon Gets the Measles

James slung his bag over his shoulder and walked towards the front door. Since the start of the war, he'd placed wards around his house to prevent apparition. Now with Harry being the "boy-who-lived" he'd had to increase the security.

James was tired. He'd gone back to work quickly after they'd moved in, anything to keep his mind busy. When things slowed down, all he did was think about her. He didn't want to think about her anymore. He sighed and leaned his head against the door before going in.

He stepped over the threshold and placed his bag on the hardwood gently. Harry should be in bed by now, it was nearly 8. He took off his shoes and started walking towards the kitchen when an earsplitting scream echoed throughout the house. His heart stopped.

"Harry!" He increased his speed when something flashed by and grabbed his legs. A big black dog and a grinning Remus skidded around the corner. James looked down at his legs to see a grinning, panting Harry.

"Daddy!" He said happily as he looked up at his father. He stretched his arms out towards James.

"I think in Harry-language that means 'up'." Said Remus, still grinning from ear to ear.

"You two." James said threateningly. "You two…for God's sake Padfoot, transform! It's hard to take you seriously when you're a dog." Sirius woofed happily and transformed back into his human shape.

"I thought you liked me better as a dog?" Sirius asked the grin still on his face. James scowled and glared as he lifted Harry into his arms.

"You two need to start following some rules." James said sternly. Sirius snorted.

"Alright, dad."

"I'm serious!" Remus and Sirius glanced at each other. Remus raised his left eyebrow.

"Too easy." Sirius responded with a smile.

"UGH!" James huffed as he walked up the stairs to Harry's room. Remus and Sirius laughed and sat down at the bottom of the stairs.

"Alright, so we need to bring out that marauder lurking deep inside of him." Sirius said sighing.

"I'm amazed that we're both still alive living with him in his 'father' mode."

"What about being a parent says that you can't have fun?"

"I think he just wants to be a good example for Harry." Remus said quietly.

"I'd rather Harry grow up to be a marauder than some prissy boy."

"I agree."

"Then it's settled?"

"Definitely."

James sat in the rocking chair he had bought for Lily for mother's day. Harry was nestles comfortably on his father's lap listening intently to the story of Danny the Dragon, one of his favorites. James smiled as the little boy shrieked with delight when Danny learned to fly. Once the story was over, he tucked Harry into bed, kissed his forehead and watched as sleep overcame his son.

Sirius and Remus looked on from the doorway.

"You're a great dad, James." Remus said softly. James turned around with a melancholy smile on his face.

"We know you shouldn't have to go it alone." Sirius added. James walked out of the nursery and down to the kitchen, his friends followed. He sat down at the table and put his head in his hands.

"Is it supposed to hurt this much?" He asked, still looking down at the hard wood of the table. "I see her every time I look at him."

"James…this might be mean, but you need to snap out of it." Sirius said looking over at his best friend. "Your son needs you."

"He needs you to be you." Remus put in after.

"We all love Lily. We all miss her. But you need to stop feeling sorry for yourself. There's a little boy upstairs who loves his father and needs him now more than anything." James glanced up at his two friends.

"Harry's growing up fast and you sure as hell don't want to miss it." Remus said patting James on the shoulder. James nodded. "He deserves the best of you."

They talked into the night and when James made his way up to bed he had made a realization. It was never going to stop hurting. The only way to dull the pain of losing the love of his life was going to be bringing her alive in Harry. He walked into Harry's room and smiled at the sleeping figure clutching onto his stuffed snitch.

James was right. The pain never went away. But every time he looked at his son, instead of being upset about seeing Lily in his eyes, James was comforted. Lily would live on.

The three men and little boy managed to live peacefully and relatively sheltered. From time to time a nosy reporter would try and find the house. Some successful, some not. The worst was a young, unknown witch by the name of Rita Skeeter. She was certain that the 'True Potter Tale' would rocket her to stardom and wherever James turned, she seemed to be right around the corner.

But living so far removed from the Wizarding World did have its advantages. The boys got to play around as much as they wished and the fresh air and large estate seemed to pique Harry's childish curiosity. He wanted to explore everywhere. One night not long after the first snow (and the tiring North Pole expedition that Sirius and Harry headed), the boys decided to call it an early night. James took Harry up to read a story as Remus and Sirius trekked to their own quarters.

James got as far into Danny the Dragon so that Harry was left staring at the page where Danny got the measles. Looking up at his dad, he heard the tell-tale snore of a long day. Harry crawled down off his father's lap and over to his coloring books. Grabbing his markers, he went to work.

When James awoke he found himself still sitting in the rocking chair. He realized that Harry was no longer on his lap and leapt up frantically. Little Harry was asleep on the floor in this Chudley Cannons onesie. James smiled softly and picked up the tyke. Harry's arms clung around his father's neck as he was carried to his crib.

James walked down the stairs knocking on Padfoot and Moony's doors as he went. Today Sirius was going to be left alone with Harry for the day, but everyone needed to get an early start. The sun shone through the frost covered window. Christmas was coming. Christmas without Lily. James' heart leapt into his throat before he heard scuffling at the doorway. He glanced up to see and exhausted looking, pajama sporting Remus…covered in green spots.

James burst out laughing and Remus glanced up from the floor.

"What are you laughing at Prongs? You're the one with green spots all over your face." James ran into the bathroom and looked in the mirror. He too was covered with green marker. He couldn't stop laughing.

Remus joined in and before long the two of them were in hysterics on the floor. Sirius heard the laughter from the stairwell and decided to figure out what was so hilarious. He stepped around the corner and his two best friends looked up at him. Despite the tears in their eyes, they could see the green spots apparent on his face as well and they broke into another round of laughter.

Sirius looked confused, but when he noted the green on his fellow marauder's faces, it dawned on him. Harry had been busy last night.

"Who, what, when?" Remus started to say in-between bouts of chuckling. Sirius just smiled.

"I think mini-Prongs had a long night." They marched up the stairs to find Harry sitting up in his crib with a huge smile on his face. James grabbed his hands only to find the illuminating sign of green ink.

"Oh Harry Potter, you're going to be as bad as your father." Remus said with a smile.

"Not if I have anything to do with it." James replied.

"You're right James. He'll be worse." Sirius said plucking his godson from James' arms and heading down the stairs.

A/N So this took awhile. My apologies. If anyone has some really funny kid stories, feel free to tell me and perhaps I'll be able to use them as something little Harry does. I know it's still moving slowly, but it's starting to pick up. Hope you enjoyed. I'd really appreciate a review. I don't understand how you can put a story on your favorites list or your alert list when you don't even review it. Cheers.

Killuminating HHD