Sitting On The Baby By HPOD sufferer
Date: Sunday, 23rd September, 3:10PM
Rating: K+ (Scary and Supernatural themes may scare young children), sexual implications (very minor)
Summary: Sirius bounded into the compartment, making to sink into the seat next to Lily. The seat in which a sleeping baby...well, slept. Eyes popping, James grabbed his friend's wrists, stopping him from sitting. Sirius Black was frozen in a strange, half-sitting, half-standing position. Lily grabbed the baby quickly, and James released his friend. "You know," said Lily " Baby sitting doesn't usually consist of actually sitting on the baby."
A baby has appeared. Where from? Why? Who does the baby belong to? Harry travels to Marauder Era. AS A BABY! Something went seriously wrong on that Halloween night.
Chapter 21: Sirius Speaks Up
My friends were the ones I cared for most
But I've found something else that reaches the post
I thought it'd be okay that I had it all
I tried to keep it and now my world is starting to fall.
Everything seems way to hard,
My soul has been beaten bruised and scarred.
These days there seems to be no choice
How can I talk when nobody will listen to my voice?
But then she came, smiled and said "don't let go,"
I think I love her still but the feeling seems so long ago.
Prongs slowed down behind the greenhouses, and Sirius slid from his back. The boys hurried up through the front doors and through the corridors to the Hospitable Wing. The Matron was on the far side of the Hospitable Wing, mopping Remus's brow. She jumped when they came storming in.
"Black, Potter, I assure you, your friend is fine. Just a bout of food poisoning!"
Sirius held the immobile Peter Pettigrew in front of him, and Pomfrey gasped, dragging the unconscious form into bed, twittering all the while about the responsibilities of boys.
"We think he was attacked," Sirius said, sitting beside the bed as Pomfrey poured a yellowish liquid down Peter's throat. "In the...um, the corridors. He wanted to go to breakfast early."
"Whatever happened, it's done harm," Pomfrey muttered, lifting an eye lid. "He's out cold."
"He'll live, right?" James said anxiously. Madam Pomfrey tutted and muttered to herself, pulling out her wand and waving it energetically through the air, the frown on her face growing deeper with every swish. She gave a gasp, turning to Sirius.
"Go get Dumbledore and Slughorn...and Oucirus, now that I think of it..."
Sirius nodded and sprinted out, his face very pale. Pomfrey stalked off to her office, leaving James alone with his two comatose friends. Peter twitched feverishly every so often. James stood next to the bed and placed a shaking hand on Peter's shoulder. "Come on buddy," he whispered. "Come on..."
Peter gave a shuddering breath, as if breathing for the first time in his life. His eyes flew open, fixed on James...but moments later James realised Peter wasn't really seeing...was he blind?
"James," Pater said with relief. "James!"
James's hand squeezed his shoulder. "You ok?"
"James..." Peter whispered. "Snape...he...it was him..."
"He attacked you?"
Peter's head shook, and his eyes were fixed on the ceiling now, blindly seeing. "No..."
James leaned closer to hear better. "Who attacked you Peter? I'll get them for you...!"
Peter was gasping now, desperately shaking his head. His chest rattled, and his eyes flicked uselessly. "Snape...didn't attack me...he-he..." Peter took another deep shuddering breath. "So you really like Lily, don't you James?"
"What?" James said, disturbed by Peter's sudden change in voice. Peter rambled on, as if lost in a completely different situation.
"Never mind mate, you'll get her eventually and you'll have lots of little babies together, and one you'll name..." Peter took another shuddering breath, and his voice turned panicked and raspy. "Harry! Oh Dear Merlin, Harry! He's gonna die! An innocent baby!"
James's heart thumped painfully in his chest- for Peter's helplessness, the words he was saying and the mounting feeling that no help was coming. Madam Pomfrey seemed to be oblivious to what was happening. She wasn't coming.
"Peter, just tell me and I'll make it right," James whispered feverishly. "Tell me-"
Peter smiled brokenly at his bedside lamp. "You won James. You missed...but you won. Can you believe it?"
James closed his eyes for a second. "Peter, stop this! It's not funny!"
Peter's eyes rolled, his body shook and his legs and arms shot out like sticks. With one last inhale of breath, Peter grew still.
"Miss Evans!"
Lily turned, hiding a yawn as her Head of House came hurrying over to her. "Yes Ma'am?"
"A student has been attacked," McGonagall told her in a hushed voice. "As such, Mr Potter may or may not be available to care for your ward today." The Professor inclined her head to the dozing child in Lily's arms.
"Potter's been attacked?" Lily asked in perplexed tone.
"No, one of his friends. Now I must be off- I need to inform the Headmaster-" McGonagall strode away. Lily looked around herself, then on impulse, turned on her heel and rushed from the Great Hall and through the corridors until she got to the doors of the Hospital Wing.
Hushed whispers greeted her as she pushed open the door- Sirius and James looked up from their places beside one of the beds. Both had large circles under their eyes, and their sparkle was gone from those eyes. James didn't even try to give her a smile, but merely nodded to her. "How's Harry going? Not dead I hope?"
There was something strained in his voice, but Lily put it aside as stress. "He's fine...is that Peter?"
Sirius nodded.
"What happened?" Lily said with a gasp, coming over to inspect the body. The usually flushed face had no colour what so ever, and the eyes were slightly open. Peter's arms and legs stuck out at unnatural angles. "Is he..." Lily didn't dare say the word, to horrified by the prospect.
"He's not dead," James stated, rubbing his eyes underneath his glasses. "What he is though..." James stared long and hard at his friend.
"McGonagall said he was attacked-by who?" Lily pressed.
Sirius shrugged. "Beyond us." He glanced morosely at the figure in the bed. "Only he knows."
Lily shifted Harry, and James stood up. "Let me take him," he said softly. She shook her head.
"I'm fine. It's your friend who looks as if he's dead."
James snatched Harry from her arms. "Seriously. It's my turn."
Harry yawned in his arms, his eyes blinking open, fixing on Sirius. Sirius blinked. Those eyes...
"Woomta!" Hay said, looking at Peter and reaching his arms out. "Woomta!"
James glanced at Sirius before placing Harry on the bed. Harry crawled quickly up to Peter's shoulder, and tugged at the blanket there. His eyes were fixed on Peter's face. "Woom-"
"Sirius, will you stop staring at me?" Lily asked in irritation. Sirius's eyes left her face, looking at James, then Harry. "Dear Merlin," he breathed.
"What?" James snapped. Sirius looked at him.
"Its-" Sirius glanced at Harry again. "Never mind."
James hurried around the bed to face his friend. "Sirius, what is it?"
Sirius shook his head. "I said never mind. It doesn't matter." He put his hands on the bed. "Right now the only thing that matters is our friends James-" he jerked his head towards Remus. "I thought you said friends were the most important thing." His tone was accusatory.
James stared Sirius, unable to believe the look in his friend's eyes. "Huh?"
Sirius looked at Harry, and his eyes flicked t Lily. "James, you're the one who suggested we make that pact. and now you're acting like...like everyone else. People who have friends just for friends. I thought the Marauders were more than that. But- there's the girl now. Years we've put up with your infatuation. Then this year you're acting all..."
James's chest seemed to constrict. "Acting what Sirius? Say what you mean!"
"Stupid!" Sirius shouted. "You're acting like some sort of bloody hero. Head boy. Baby sitter. Gentleman. And last year- saving Snape? JAMES, THAT'S NOT YOU. You are a Marauder!"
James took a step back. He was hurt that Sirius thought this. It was obvious Sirius had been stewing on this for a while. But it still hurt that Sirius would ever think that James wasn't completely committed to his friends. Behind him he heard Lily faintly echo the word "Marauder," in confusion.
"You know I know that," he whispered.
Sirius crossed his arms. "I don't think you do."
James ran both of his hands through his hair. "Sirius, you're my friend. You're practically my brother. But you've got to face it- my life can't be just the Marauders. We've got less than ten months before we have to leave Hogwarts. And yes, I do like Lily, and I've liked her for ages. You shouldn't even be bringing Harry into this. He's some orphan that me and Lily as Heads of this school have been given the responsibility to look after. If you think that all of this shouldn't be part of my life, then you don't know me."
Sirius stared at James. "Fine. I see. You're growing up. So much for saying that you wouldn't let everyone rule your life James. You're just another person who's gonna come and go like a face in the crowd." Sirius stalked to the door of the Ward, and turned with his hand on the door knob. "Have fun with your girlfriend, your baby and your responsibilities. I'm glad I realised that I wasn't important you before it was too late."
The door slammed behind him, leaving James, Lily and Harry with the two sleeping figures.
"James?" Lily whispered.
James stood, his eyes fixed on the doors.
A sniffle came from behind him, and he turned slowly to see Lily crying. "I'm sorry," she whispered.
"What for?"
Lily walked up to him and put a hand on his shoulder. "He's jealous. He's jealous that you might care for me more than him. He's scared I'm going to replace him. I'm sorry that I made you act like you did."
"But nobody could replace him," James said in confusion.
"You and me know that. I reckon he knows it too."
"Then why-" began James.
Lily wiped a tear from her cheek. "I don't know James."
James's hand darted out and grabbed her hand. "You could tell him. He won't listen to me, but you-"
"James!" Lily dropped her other hand from his shoulder. "Just give him time and he'll realise how silly he's being."
"What if he doesn't?"
"If he's a true friend he'll realise it on his own." She smiled a tiny smile. For the first time the smile didn't make James's heart jump. In fact, it did nothing. "Don't give up on him and he won't give up on you. And speaking of giving up-" she glanced down. "I should never have given up on you."
Next moment she was on her toes, pressing her lips to his. James didn't feel ecstatic.
He felt her kiss, but it didn't touch him as he would have expected. It was very well to have the girl of his dreams kissing him, but if his friends and surrogate brothers didn't approve…
Lily moved back a step. "Don't give up James."
He looked at her. "Don't say that," he said softly. "A Marauder never gives up. And…and neither does a Potter."
James strode from the Hospital Wing, his only purpose to get his friend back.
In the Hospital Wing Lily turned to look at Harry who was still next to Peter's shoulder. "Never give up," she said to the baby, not sure if he'd understand.
Harry merely patted Peter on the cheek, a smile on his baby lips.
And just at that moment the Headmaster of Hogwarts strode into the Hospital Wing. His face was white and his eyes shone overly bright. "Where is Sirius Black?" He asked when he saw Lily standing there.
"He just left," Lily answered.
The Headmaster turned to the door where McGonagall, Professor Ourcirus and several people Lily did not know stood. "Everybody look for him."
The group left. "Professor?" asked Lily. "What's the matter?"
Dumbledore turned her looking particularly grave. "Mr Black is in a lot of trouble. The death Eaters want him killed. They're at the gates, trying to get in."
"But that's ok. I mean, all those protective charms- they won't be able to get in, right?" Lily asked.
"Ah, it would be. Except the wards have started to fail. They'll be gone in four hours. And once they're gone, we have only the walls of Hogwarts to protect us."
Dumbledore turned on his heel, motioning for her to follow. And with an open mouth she did.
And obviously, she left Harry behind.
A/N: Well, I have to say this chapter's ok. Now don't kill me because of Sirius's tantrum. Remember what Voldemort is best at? Ruining friendships? Well, there's a prime example. And don't tell me that the arguement was too 'staged out'...it's very simular to an arguement I had a few years ago with a friend, so personally I don't think it looks staged (I was in the Sirius situation).
There's a hell of a lot of clues in this one...can you find them? Oh, did Sirius finally figure out the mystery of Harry? And will Hogwarts be plundered!
All in the next chapter!