This was just a little something I wrote because it popped into my head. I wasn't even going to post it because it really doesn't have a purpose in the story line, but I figured it shows a little more of Harry's personality and I left ya'll waiting with that last one. Hope you enjoy :)
Elle
Christmas was difficult for James, without Lily, but he tried to make it as cheerful a day as possible for Harry. The boy was loaded down with a multitude of gifts, but cared more for the packaging then any of the gifts he'd opened. He walked past a child's Quidditch set and a set of colorful, floating rings, ignoring both but laughing hysterically at the box he was wearing on his head and the wrapping paper he was enjoying throwing at the men sitting on the floor around him, trying to get him to notice the toys on the floor. Eventually, they gave up and humored the boy's preference for wrapping paper. After a thorough "wrapping paper fight," James picked up his son and brought him upstairs to change for Christmas. They were going to spend the day with Sirius' cousin, Andromeda, her husband Ted and their daughter.
James placed Harry on the floor to get his Christmas outfit. Harry, full of energy, blasted out into the hall as soon as he was put down, causing James to have to chase after him. He was able to pin the boy down to take off his diaper, before Harry again squirmed out from under him and made it into the living room, stark naked, before James caught up with him. Sirius and Remus couldn't help but laugh at their poor friend as he chased his son three times into the living room before finally magicking the clothes onto his wild child. Lily held strong to the belief that they not use magic for every day parenting and household chores; having grown up as a muggle she wanted Harry to appreciate the muggle way, not depending on magic for every little thing; and James tried hard to honor her belief. But, desperate times called for desperate measures, and he wasn't sure how muggles managed to dress their 17 month olds on high energy days like today!
James attempted to flatten Harry's hair, but quickly relented. Harry kept squirming away, and he knew the pointlessness of it anyway; Harry had inherited his own hair.
"There now," James said, picking up his son and hugging him, "are you ready to visit Ted and Andromeda? I know they're looking forward to seeing you, you've grown so big since you've seen them last! And you know how Nymphadora loves you," he told his little boy, knowing full well that Harry had no idea what he was talking about.
Sure enough, Harry answered with his new favorite word, an enthusiastic "NO NO NO NO NO!" James laughed and responded, "Yes yes yes yes yes!" He put his son down in the now wrapping paper free living room, that Remus and Sirius had cleaned while James dressed his wild child, and went to take a shower. Harry again, ignored his new toys, but immediately began looking for the paper. He held his hands to his side and looked at his uncles. "Oh no?" he said, "oh no!" as he looked behind toys for the missing paper. Remus quickly sat down with the boy, allowing Sirius to finish getting ready to go to his cousins' house, and attempted to distract Harry with other toys. Harry thwarted all attempts, and started crying for his paper; which quickly escalated into a meltdown. Remus tried to involve Harry with other toys, but the baby was having none of it. He finally summoned the paper, but Harry was so involved in his tantrum he wanted nothing to do with the paper. Remus was amazed at how quickly the toddler could go from being rambunctious and happy, to having a complete meltdown. Having never dealt with Harry in this state, he had no idea what to do, but tried to comfort the baby. He picked him up but upon feeling teeth sink into his forearm, he quickly put him down deciding that waiting for James would be the safer option.
James could hear his son screaming from his shower, and while his first reflex was to run to the baby, he decided that Remus could deal with it and relished in his moment of solitude. When Harry's screams continued for several more minutes, James quickly dressed and went to the living room to see Harry laying on the ground crying his head off, and Remus sitting on the couch watching.
"What happened?" he asked, in wonderment as to why Remus was simply watching Harry carry on. He lifted Harry, who, realizing he was now in his father's arms, quickly relaxed.
"He started screaming when he realized the paper was gone," Remus explained. "I tried to distract him and it got worse, so I gave him the paper, but he wouldn't stop and bit me when I tried to comfort him, so I decided to wait it out."
James had to chuckle at the thought of his 17 month old getting the best of his grown friend, but his son had been having these meltdowns more frequently the past week or so. He did hope his son would outgrow the tantrums before too long; this was Lily's forte, he always knew he could handle anything fatherhood threw at him with her help. Doing it alone was more difficult then he could imagine. When Harry was calm, James put him on the kitchen counter and mopped up his face. Sirius entered the kitchen, ready to go, and James was relieved. It was best for all around if they get Harry out of the house before he wanted to play with the paper again.
Sirius flooed first, followed by James and Harry, then Remus. The Tonks family greeted them warmly as they stepped out of the fire place, offering them biscuits and tea.
Ted gently took Harry from his father's arms. "There's little Harry," he said as he tossed him in the air to the delight of the child. "Not so little anymore, are you tyke? Your getting to be quite the big boy!" Harry laughed and grabbed the older man's glasses, throwing them to the floor, then pinching his nose. James couldn't help but laugh at his son's antics. Ted placed Harry on the floor, who immediately ran to the coffee table where the biscuits were sitting out and grabbed a handful. Andromeda giggled, but apologized for putting the cookies within reach of the baby. Harry crawled under the table and snacked on one cookie while crunching the other in his fist and laughing at how it made crumbs. Before long he had taken up running back and forth from one end of the room to the other, deciding it was fun to crash into the padded chair and fall backwards.
14 year old Nymphadora finally descended the stairs after the guests had arrived, sporting bright green hair in honor of Christmas. On the last step she tripped over her own foot and flopped onto the floor, much to the delight of Harry. Remus jumped to his feet to help her up. "Are you alright?" he inquired.
"Fine," Dora replied, her face blushing bright red in embarrassment. "I just tripped is all.
"Bit of a clutz, our Dora," Ted said, jovially. Dora blushed even redder and looked away, as Harry clapped and yelled "More!" The little boy had a way of bringing her out of her embarrassment, and she sat down on the floor in front of him. "You think that's funny, kid?" she asked before tickling him mercilessly. The next half hour or so was spent with the adults engaged in conversation, and Dora changing her hair color and nose shape for the amusement of Harry, who continued to clap and laugh "more!" At last, dinner was served, a feast of ham with all the fixings, delicious to the last drop.
James was thankful that the Tonks' hadn't wrapped their gifts with Christmas wrapping, not looking forward to dragging Harry away from the paper when it was time, but Harry still enjoyed the box his new building blocks had come in over the blocks themselves. James supposed Harry would learn to play with his toys once he was away from the boxes. His first encounter with giving his son wrapped gifts had been interesting to say the least, and he hoped that for Harry's second birthday he'd be more interested in the toys.
It was with full bellies and happy spirits that the Marauders and a sleeping Harry left the Tonks' residence. James had had a delightful day, despite his missing Lily. It was truly the lightest he'd felt since October, and he was glad he could still feel this way without his love; though guilt lingered with that feeling. He did hope Harry would be a little less rambunctious tomorrow; that today's rambunctiousness was a result of the excitement of the holiday and the lack of a nap he'd had today (and oh, did James now realize the importance of that afternoon nap!) and had less to do with his age; but something told him otherwise.