Well here ya go. I'm not sure I'm entirely happy with the ending, but I've already been stalling for 3 days so I'm going to post it. Hope you enjoy! As always, thanks so much for reading and reviewing!

~Elle

Two weeks later, they found out in the paper that Peter Pettigrew had indeed suffered the Dementor's Kiss. When James first read it, he let out a large sigh of relief; but he later had mixed feelings. Not that they would do him any good, he knew, Peter deserved what he got and James would never feel otherwise.

He felt overwhelming relief that the man who had betrayed his family, as good as killed his wife, murdered 9 innocent people in order to save his own life, and hid for 3 years in the bed of a 9 year old was finally gone forever. He would never again harm another person.

Another part of him felt a sense of injustice. Peter was no longer here, he was gone for good; his misery was over. He didn't suffer nearly enough for what he did! A part of him wished Peter would have suffered in Azkaban for years to come for what he did.

Another part of him felt sadness; grief at the thought of the friendship they used to share. Where had that boy gone? When did he turn on them? Was it all the way back in Hogwarts? Was he secretly working for Voldemort as he stood in James and Lily's wedding?

But Peter was gone, and that's all that really mattered. The Weasley's were still flabbergasted and disgusted that a murderer had lived in their house, shared their son's bed for three years and they never knew it.

Remus expressed regret that he hadn't been a part of the capture. Oh, how he would have longed to be a part of catching the man that sold his best mates to Voldemort, to look into that ratty, beady face one last time. But in the end, he was just happy that the man had been caught; and that James had been able to be a part of catching the man that betrayed him.

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

One sunny day in June, Alice and Neville went to visit Frank's mother, Augusta Longbottom. Sirius decided to remain behind; he was well aware that he wasn't Augusta Longbottom's favorite person. He was trying to replace Frank in her eyes; the marriage had happened too soon after his death. He hoped she would eventually come around, but for now he wanted to give her quality time with her grandson and knew that she wouldn't enjoy it nearly as much if Sirius were there; so Sirius found himself spending the day with James and Harry.

Harry was hyper when Sirius arrived. He was running around the house still in his pajamas, jumping from piece of furniture to piece of furniture, holding a wooden stick in his hand, his pretend wand, and yelling out random words (his "spells") and making explosion noises at whatever the spell hit. The moment Sirius walked in, a pillow was thrown in his face and he heard a loud "Gotcha! You're exploded!" Before Sirius had a chance to react, Harry through another pillow at the fireplace, hitting it higher then he'd meant to and knocking a picture off the wall, smashing the glass inside. Hearing the noise, James came in from the other room. He easily repaired the broken picture and levitated it back to it's rightful spot, but grabbed Harry by the arm and took the pretend wand out of his hand.

"I told you three times already that you need to calm down," he told the boy sternly. "You need to go to your room now and get dressed, no more running, no more shouting, and no more throwing things. I'm not telling you again, now go!" James gave the boy a gentle shove in the direction of his bedroom.

Sirius laughed out loud when Harry was out of earshot. "Somebody's got energy today," he commented.

"Yeah," James laughed in agreement. "Today, and yesterday, and the day before! Just off the hook; he's a never ending bundle of energy, it's exhausting!"

James picked up a frying pan from the living room floor and lifted it in front of him, raising an eyebrow. Sirius laughed as James went to the kitchen to put the object away. He wasn't sure he really wanted to know what Harry was doing with the fry pan. Harry came tearing back down the stairs 5 minutes later, fully dressed and flung himself at Sirius, who obligingly lifted the boy up. Harry gave him a quick hug, then threw himself backwards so he was hanging upside down from Sirius' arms, who had to quickly get a better grasp on Harry as soon as he realized what the boy was doing. He grabbed Harry's arm and pulled him back to an upright position, so they were face to face.

"I almost dropped you, Harry," he told his godson. "You can't do that without telling me." He put Harry down as James announced that Harry needed exercise and they were going to town. Sirius readily agreed, and Harry jumped up and down in excitement as the three headed out the door. The central part of Hogsmeade was only about a 15 minute walk from their homes on the outskirts of town, so James decided the walk would do Harry some good.

Harry ran ahead of them and James called after him to stay in sight. As they entered the village, Harry ran straight for Honeydukes.

"Not today, Harry," James called out to stop him. Harry turned to his father, a pout forming on his face, "Awww, but Dad, I want to!" he insisted.

"You are way too hyper as it is, we're not putting any more sugar in you." James and Sirius caught up to a now pouty Harry, and James took his hand. "Stop that pouting, you don't need any more candy," he scolded the boy. "We need to go to Gladrags, you need new clothes, then you can get some new toys for Moo if you'd like, and we'll go to the park," he said, leading his son toward the clothing shop across the street.

"But daaad," Harry protested; he hated clothes shopping! "I have lots of clothes! Can't you just magic them bigger?"

"I'm no good at that," James replied, "and your clothes are worn out, you need new ones anyway," and with that he dragged an unhappy Harry into the clothing store, where he was poked and prodded for measurements. His dad paid for the several new articles of clothing, and the three left the shop, heading next door to pick up Moo's new toy from the animal store. Harry chose a rat that was charmed to look and move real, and would withstand a cat attack. James and Sirius cringed at each other, thinking about their last encounter with a rat.

They finally made it to the park; a magical playground on the edge of Hogsmeade, where Harry immediately charged to the playground the moment it was in view. James and Sirius sat on the bench and watched as Harry walked straight up to a little boy and introduced himself, immediately making friends with the boy.

Sirius was quietly glad that his child was so much calmer than Harry, but he also secretly hoped that some of Harry's self confidence and outgoing personality would rub off on Neville. Not that he wanted to compare the two boys, but he wished he could help Neville have more confidence in himself.

Sirius, remembering that he had to pick something up from Durvish and Bangs, let James know he'd be back in a few minutes. James nodded his reply, and decided to walk around the playground instead of sitting stationary in the chair. As he approached the spot where Harry and his new friend were playing, he stopped to watch for a few minutes. He was pleased with how well Harry got along with other children so easily, despite being an only child. He found a shady tree and stretched out underneath it, continuing to keep an eye on Harry.

He closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them Harry and his friend were gone. James got to his feet, assuming Harry to be on the other side of the playground, out of view. He began walking, and found the boy and his friend standing by a woman, eating a snack. James approached the group.

"Harry, what are you doing?" he asked his son. He wasn't pleased that his son was, 1) taking food from a stranger, and 2) inviting himself to someone else's snack.

"Dad, this is my new friend, Ollie!" Harry said, smiling as his father approached. The woman stood up and shook his hand.

"Hi, I'm Darcey," she introduced herself. "I hope you don't mind I gave Harry a snack; Ollie was hungry and asked if Harry could have one too."

"Not at all," James said, smiling despite his earlier misgivings.

"C'mon Harry, I'll race ya back!" shouted Ollie as soon as they'd both finished their biscuits.

"That child has one speed: fast," Darcey commented as she picked up the bag of remaining biscuits, holding it up to offer one to James. He accepted, and she took one herself before putting it away.

"I'm glad to know I'm not the only one with an overly energetic child," James laughed, taking a seat on the bench next to her. "I'm James, by the way," he said, offering her his hand. They talked for a while as they watched the children play. James found out that Ollie was about 10 months younger then Harry. He had turned four at the end of May, whereas Harry would be five in July. Darcey had graduated the year after James, from Ravenclaw, and had a job as a healer's assistant, working nights at St. Mungos. She had plans to finish her healers training as soon as she could afford it, which she had taken a break from two years earlier after Ollie's father walked out on them.

When Sirius made his way back to the park, it took him a moment to find James. He finally found her sitting on the bench talking to a young woman. Smirking, he approached the two. "Find what you were looking for?" James asked as he saw his mate approach. Sirius held up his bag and nodded in response.

James introduced Darcey as Harry's new friend's mum, and Sirius told James that Alice had gotten home early so he should get back. This was untrue, but Sirius knew James was enjoying his talk with 'Darcey' and didn't want to interrupt. Before long the boys ran back to the bench where their parents were sitting, both hungry from playing so hard. James checked his watch; it was lunch time.

"Should we go to the Three Broomsticks?" he asked Harry, who eagerly answered, "Yes! Can Ollie and his Mum come?"

"Well, I guess that's up to Ollie's mum," James replied.

"Please, Mummy?" asked Ollie, and Darcey agreed that it would be fun to have lunch with their new friends.

Lunch was lovely, but afterwards both parents determined that it was naptime for their son, to both sons' verbal dismay.

"Can we play again sometime?" Harry asked his dad before the two pairs parted.

"I don't see why not," James answered, and Darcey agreed and told him to owl her any time to set up a playdate.

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Over the next few weeks, Harry and Ollie became fast friends. Darcey worked nights at St. Mungos, and once they had spent a little time together James offered to take Ollie a night or two a week so Darcey didn't have to pay a sitter. Darcey readily agreed, as the sitter was expensive. The arrangement made Harry and Ollie both very happy. Harry felt like one very lucky boy, he had two best friends!

But one little boy wasn't very happy. Neville didn't like playing with Ollie all the time. He didn't understand why it couldn't just be him and Harry anymore. Why did Ollie always have to be around? Ollie was much rougher then Neville, and when Ollie was around Harry was much rougher too. But if Neville didn't play with Ollie, he couldn't play with Harry either. And it seemed like Ollie was always at Harry's! Neville wasn't the kind of boy to speak his mind, but he never liked joining in Harry and Ollie's rough games either.

One day, as mid July came and went, Sirius brought up the topic of Neville's birthday. "Do you want to share with Harry again, or would you like your own party this year?" he asked the boy.

"Share with Harry!" Neville replied. "I like having the same party as Harry!"

"OK then," Sirius chuckled. "We'll have Grandma Longbottom, of course, Uncle Remus, Uncle Ted and Aunt Dromeda, and the Weasleys."

"I'm sure James and Harry will invite Darcey and Ollie, as well," Alice put in.

"Of course," Sirius nodded with a grin.

"No!" Neville stated loudly, his eyes wide. "Ollie's not allowed at my party!"

Sirius looked at Neville, startled. "Why not, Neville? I thought you were Ollie's friend," he questioned.

"No, I don't like Ollie and I don't want him at my party," Neville insisted.

"Why don't you like him?" Alice asked her son.

"Harry was my friend before he was Ollie's, and he's my friend more then Ollie's." Neville insisted. Despite several attempts to get more out of the boy, that was all Sirius and Alice were able to get.

After Neville was put to bed, Sirius and Alice spent time talking about the party situation.

"I think Neville is jealous that Harry has another friend," Alice stated. "He's used to having Harry all to himself despite the play dates with Ron, few and far between. He was willing to share on that occasion, but when it's all the time like it is with Ollie, he doesn't like it."

"Well, Harry and Ollie always include him in their play," Sirius countered. "I think Neville needs to get used to having Ollie around, because he's not going anywhere. He's going to have to agree to have Ollie at the party, it's Harry's party too."

"I agree," Alice said, moving to curl up on the couch next to her husband. "Neville needs more time to get used to having Ollie around. I think he'll warm up to him eventually."

Sirius gently massaged his wife's shoulders, "Well, we'll talk to him in the morning. Hopefully he'll see that it wouldn't be fair to Harry to exclude Ollie. I don't think Neville dislike's Ollie, I think he just misses Harry. But we can't simply ask James to not let Ollie come over as much. James loves having Darcey and Ollie around."

"I think what Neville really needs is a brother or sister. A permanent playmate of his own," Alice stated. It took Sirius a moment to get the meaning of her statement.

"A what?" he asked, leaning over her shoulder to look into her eyes.

"How about in, say, 7 months we give him a little brother or sister?" she asked her husband. It would be clear to anyone else by the hastiness in her voice and the smile on her face that she'd been waiting for the right time to tell him all day.

Sirius just stared at her for a moment before a wide grin crossed his face and he jumped off the couch, lifting his wife in his arms and spinning around. "I think that's a grand idea!" he said, placing her on her feet and pulling her into an embrace, kissing her sweetly.

"This is cause to celebrate!" he said as they ended the kiss, he summoned the fire whisky and poured two glassfuls, handing one to his wife.

Alice laughed as she banished hers, and replaced it with sparkling juice. Sirius laughed at his own foolishness in handing her the whisky, and apologized before clanking his cup against hers and downing it.

"A baby! Wow!" he said, as the two lay in bed later that night. He moved so his head was on her still flat stomach, listening intently. Alice laughed. "What are you doing?" she asked.

"Thought maybe I could hear it," Sirius stated, moving his head back to his pillow, kissing her on the way. Alice chuckled again, overjoyed at her husband's sweet reaction to the news of a new little baby.

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Harry and Ollie had finally gone to sleep, and James was settling down with his tea for the night, when he heard a rap on the door. Confusedly, he got up and went to the door. The only people that used the front door were Neville, Sirius and Darcey. Darcey was at work, and he was sure Sirius wouldn't be calling this late…and if he was, he'd use the floo. James answered the door to find Albus Dumbledore standing on the other side.

"Professor!" he exclaimed, widening the door to allow entrance for the older man. "What brings you this way?"

"I was just in for a drink at the Three Broomsticks, and I dropped by to discuss something with you," the elderly man explained.

"Well, come in, come in. Have a seat," James said, motioning to the couch he had abandoned. "Would you like a cup of tea?" he asked.

"I would, thank you" Dumbledore replied. James summoned it and Albus began fixing it to his liking, before finally turning to James and explaining his presence.

"I find myself in need, James. The Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher I had lined up got a better offer for another job, and as it's the middle of July I need a new teacher, quickly."

James eyed the older man cautiously. "So are you asking for a recommendation?" he asked, guessing the real reason.

"I'm asking for a teacher," Albus corrected. "Would you consider the position, James? I know you'd be great at it, and it would really help me out."

"I don't know, Professor. I have Harry to consider," James replied.

"Albus. You're not a student anymore, James," he corrected. "And Harry would be fine, we would make the arrangements for suitable quarters for you both. He'll be attending the school in Hogsmeade this year, correct?"

James nodded his agreement, he had enrolled Harry in the wizarding primary school in Hogsmeade, to begin in September. "I'll need to think on it. Give me till the end of the week," he told the headmaster. Albus agreed and left through the floo, back to Hogwarts. James went to bed that night with a lot on his mind.

The next morning when Darcey arrived to pick up Ollie, James told her about the meeting with the headmaster the night before. Darcey seemed altogether thrilled at the idea, and urged him to take the job. She told him that she had a meeting with Madame Pomfrey to become her apprentice this year and finish her schooling, so she and Ollie would be living at Hogwarts that year as well. That very day, James floo called Dumbledore to accept the position.

X X X X X X X X X X X

Neville was overjoyed at the thought of a new baby brother or sister, all for his own! He accepted the idea of Ollie coming to his party when Sirius told him that Ollie wouldn't be starting school this year with Harry and Neville, because he was only 4. Neville decided he could deal with Ollie; after all, Ollie was only a little kid…he only just 4 years old, and here Neville was almost 5! The party was as big a success as Ron's, and Neville and Harry were both spoiled with a mountain of gifts. Neville agreeably played along with the other kids, as it was his own party and he didn't want to be left out. He was five now, as Sirius pointed out, and wanted to be a big boy! Big boys didn't sit with their mums and dads while the other kids played.

Harry was thrilled about the idea of moving to Hogwarts: the place he could see from his backyard but thought he could only dream about until he was 11! Neville was not so thrilled about his best friend moving away from across the street, but Sirius pointed out that he was still only a floo away, and Neville would see him every day at school. Plus, Neville would get to spend some time in Hogwarts as well.

They were all thrilled at Sirius and Alice's impending baby, though Harry was too curious about it for James' liking, and he avoided the questions asked.

A/N. Note: I don't really know where wizarding children go to school prior to Hogwarts; I always thought it was odd it was never mentioned. I would assume either homeschool, tutor, or a muggle primary school; however it would seem odd to me to send a wizard child to a muggle primary school, as wizard children can't control accidental magic, and would risk exposing the wizarding world by saying too much as well, so I decided to invent a wizarding primary school for the sake of this story. I know it's not canon :)