Disclaimer: Don't own Harry Potter or any other character you recognize. The plot, any character you don't recognize, and any pranks mentioned are mine, ALL MINE! MWAHAHAHA! TAKE THAT, YOU EVIL LAWYERS:muse smacks me: Sorry about that.

Chapter 2: An Annoying Black and a Certain Werewolf, Oh My

We were in London, so it was quite easy to find an empty alley so that I could apparate us back to my house. I could've used the floo in the Leaky Cauldron, but that would cause too many stares and questions for my taste.

"Hold onto me very tight," I said to Harry. "I'm going to do Side-Along Apparition." Harry nodded. I imagined my house, the one I used in the summer, and concentrated. I disappeared with a "pop," and the next thing I knew, I was in my home, Spinner's End. It was a very gloomy and shabby place, I realized, certainly not a place to raise a child.

"This won't do," I said out loud. "Harry, do you like this place?" Harry looked around the house. It was shabby, it was old, and it was moth eaten.

"Sorry, Uncle Sev," he said, shaking his head. "But no."

The use of Lily's old nickname (minus the uncle) for me surprised me, but I suppose it made sense. A five year old child could not be expected to pronounce a name so long (despite what my mother use to say).

"What to do, what to do," I muttered to myself, setting Harry down and beginning to pace. "Where can we move? Hogwarts? No, it was the holidays and the nosy students would probably ask a load of stupid questions as if it was their business." (My mind vaguely registered the giggle that was Harry's). "The Leaky Cauldron? If that were the case we might as well have gone there instead of apparating here."

"Um, Uncle Sev?" said Harry timidly, interrupting my thoughts. "I know where we could go."

"And what place would that be?" I asked, arching an eyebrow and crossing my arms automatically. The boy looked nervous, but stood his ground in a way that many Hogwarts students only dreamed of.

"Godfather Padfoot and Uncle Moony's house," Harry said.

"Who?" I said in disbelief. I couldn't help myself. Who on earth would have names like that? Yet at the same time, I couldn't help but feel a flash of familiarity.

"Oh, you wouldn't know," said Harry. "That's not their real names. I call them that, and I'm told my father use to call them that, but no one else does. Their real names are Sirius and Remus, but I like Padfoot and Moony better."

I manage to stop myself from rolling my eyes. Of course! That's why the names sounded so familiar; they were the ridiculous nicknames of the self-proclaimed Marauders, made up of James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew (the rat).

However, Harry did have a point. I was surprised that I hadn't thought of it before. Lily wanted me to split Harry's guardianship with Black and Lupin, so it only made sense that I would have to go over their and talk to them about arrangements, both about Harry and Lily's funeral (I seem to have this dead feeling inside of me whenever I think about Lily now, in a way that I haven't felt since she told me she loved James Potter).

"Harry," I said, my mind decided. "We're going to your godfather and your uncle's house. What is its name?"

"The Noble and Most Ancient House of Marauders," said Harry importantly, his eyes bright, just like Lily's had been whenever she was amused. "We're going to see Godfather Padfoot and Uncle Moony?" I rolled my eyes. Black someone's godfather, now that's something you don't hear everyday. Lupin as an uncle, I guess that's not too bad; he was, at least, sane.

"Yes, we're going to see them," I said. "Do you know how to use Floo powder?"

"Yes, Mummy taught me before she got sick," Harry said. Words could not have described the feeling my chest when I heard him say Mummy, especially when I think about how, had things been different, I would've been called Daddy.

I cleared my throat. "Well, that's what we're going to use. Come on, the fireplace is in the next room."

"This place has a fireplace?" Harry asked incredulously. Something about the way he said almost made me smile. Almost.

"Yes, why?" I asked.

"Well, it's just so…cold in here," said Harry.

"It is, isn't it?" I mused. "I hadn't notice before. Well, let's go." I led him into the living room in front of the fireplace, and grabbed the dish of powder.

"You go first, I don't want them to attack me," I said seriously, but Harry must've thought it was funny, because he giggled.

"Okay," said Harry. He grabbed some powder out of the dish I held for him, and shouted "The Noble and Most Ancient House of Marauders!"

I waited a moment, before grabbing some powder, putting the dish on the shelf, and throwing the powder into the flames.

"The Noble and Most Ancient House of Marauders!" I said clearly, feeling foolish. I swirled all around, and then I toppled headfirst into a scarlet rug. When I looked up, I recoiled.

I was standing on a scarlet rug with gold lining right in the middle of a marble floor. In fact, that pretty much described the room, scarlet and gold. And all of this spelled one word my mind hated almost as much as the name Voldemort: Gryffindor. There were scarlet sofas and scarlet armchairs, all trimmed with gold. All of the wooden furniture – two small cabinets, the mantle on the fireplace behind me, the writing desk – was made of either dark redwood or light mahogany. Even the fireplace was made of red bricks.

The thing that really caught my eye, however, was right above the mantle. A painting which had the Marauders, Lily, and Emmeline Vance, Alice Longbottom (it had been Alice McKinnon then), and Hestia Jones, Lily's best friends. It was in this order: a short, chubby man with watery eyes and very thin brown hair who was Peter Pettigrew (he looked quite amusing with a devil's mustache and beard, horns, "RAT BOY" on his forehead, and "TRAITOR!" above his head), a much younger looking Remus Lupin (no gray in his hair, very few worried lines, and a great deal brighter pale blue eyes), and the one and only Sirius Black, with the usual long black hair and gray eyes with the annoying twinkle. And, clutched in each other's arms, were Lily and James. James, with his usual untidy hair and hazel eyes, and Lily, with her beautiful face, bright, vivid green eyes, and hair as red as any Weasley's, only darker. Right next to Lily (James's shoulder was next to Black's) was Emmeline Vance, Alice Longbottom, and Hestia Jones.

As I looked at the rest of the room, I saw a few antiques. But my glancing about ended as a familiar, annoying voice came from the doorway.

"Why, Snivellus, such an unpleasant surprise," said Sirius Black. His hair was shorter than from the last time I saw him, and his gray eyes grinned at me.

"Oh shut it, Black," I said, getting off my knees. "Could you think of better colors to decorate the room?"

"Hey, don't blame me," said Black. "I wanted to decorate it with hot pink and bright purple, but regrettably, Remmie said that it was too "barbaric," and to act serious, which I always am! I mean, who else would I be? You? But then again, if I looked like you, I'd be ugly." I scoffed. Black as me? I dearly hope not.

"Humph," I said. "You as me. That'd be scary. I wouldn't want you to turn into me, because then I'd be turned into an idiotic dingbat."

"At least I wash my hair," said Black, shrugging.

"Sirius? Who are you talking to?" asked another voice, yet again very familiar. Lupin appeared right next to him, Harry' propped onto his shoulder, a curious look on his face.

"Snape?" said Lupin, eyes wide with wonder.

"Lupin," I said sarcastically. God, he asks as if I don't even exist. "Yes, it's me. I have some very serious news."

"Me?" ask Black. "I'm touched, Snivellus."

"Shut up, Sirius," said Lupin. "Yes?" He gave me an expectant look.

"It's about Lily," I said quietly. Immediately, both men's faces turned into worry and (in Sirius's case) anger.

"What's a matter with her?" Black growled. "I swear, Snape. If you laid a finger on Lily I'll personally wring your neck out, skin you alive, and throw you into a burning pit."

"I didn't touch Lily, nor would I ever harm her," I snarled. "But that doesn't mean she isn't dead."

Absolutely no color was in Lupin's face.

"What?" asked Lupin. "What's a matter, Snape? What happened?"

"She-she died, Lupin, about twenty minutes ago." Lupin and Black exchanged horrified looks, but I couldn't find it in me to make a remark.

"You're jesting, right?" asked Black. "It can't be true, it can't be!"

"No, Black," I said. "I'm not jesting."

"Yes, you are," said Black. "You can't be right. Lily – she – it can't be – what –" Black was becoming delirious, running his hands through his hair, pacing and muttering incoherent things.

"Black, sit down!" I commanded. To my amazement, he listened, plopping down in an armchair and only adding to the belief that he had finally completely lost it.

"Sirius, calm down, it's going to be all right," said Lupin quickly, reaching out and touching Black on the shoulder.

"No, he c-can't be right, Remus, he can't be!" Black said. "Lily – not Lily, not Lily, she can't be – James will haunt me forever – she can't – she's too alive –" I knew exactly what Black meant when he said 'alive.' If I hadn't seen it myself, I too wouldn't have believed that someone like Lily, someone so happy and so spirited and so loving, could be dead.

"Uncle Moony," said Harry quietly, looking away from his godfather with frightened eyes and looking at Lupin. "Does this mean that I will never see Mummy alive again?"

"In this world, no, you won't," said Lupin. "She's gone, Harry, she's…gone." Harry's head bowed, and buried his face in Lupin's shoulder.

Black looked up from his mutterings, his eyes wild. "How come you have Harry? Were you there? What did Lily say?"

I sighed, took a deep breath, and told him everything that had happened in the hour. When I was finished, Lupin had sat down, a half-asleep Harry on his lap, idly stroking Harry's dark locks and biting his lip.

Lupin finally looked up, and his eyes met Black's. They had a conversation with their eyes in a code that I didn't understand, and that I longed for with all my being to be able to do with someone – with Lily. Like we had used to, once upon a time.

Lupin and Black looked at Harry, then at me, then at each other again. Lupin gave a slight nod.

"Well," said Black, gulping and having a look on his face as if he couldn't believe what he was about to do. He stood up. "I guess a thank you is in order." He stuck out his hand, and I shook it. We both let go very quickly. I shook Lupin's, and the same thing happened.

"Harry, you look sleepy, let's go tuck you into bed," said Lupin quietly. "Your godfather, Severus, and I have some things to discuss anyway."

"Okay," said Harry. Lupin lifted him up, and walked out of the room.

Black and I sat in awkward silence, not looking at each other, both of us engrossed in our own thoughts.

Lupin returned, looking relieved that we hadn't hexed or were screaming at each other. He conjured up some tea, and distributed it to us, keeping one for himself. Sitting down again, he absently swilled his tea around in his cup.

"What should we do now?" he asked finally. "I mean, what about Harry?"

"He'll live with us," said Black, immediately. "Snape, I don't give a shit if you want to or not, you are moving in here with us, because Remus and I aren't moving into your place."

"Actually, Black," I said. "That was what I was going to propose. It'll be best to train Harry if I live with him, like his mother wished."

"I believe everything except that," said Black. "That Lily would want you to train her son as if he was some weapon."

"Were you listening at all?" I asked irritably. "She said to train him and at the same time let him know he is loved."

"She didn't say anything to us," said Black. "She would've at least mentioned it. She said that Voldemort would come back, but nothing about training Harry. I don't believe you."

"If you think I'd lie about something like this Black," I said. "Then you're dumber than I thought."

And so began a very long day of talking, arguing, yelling, cajoling, name-calling, and decisions.

In the end, we were able to compromise. I would move into there, so that both I and Lupin and Black can raise and teach Harry. I will get to make my potions downstairs in the basement, where Lily had made all of her potions. Sirius would not be allowed to prank, hex, or charm me, and I the same to him and Remus, unless it is perfectly harmless (I don't like that particular compromise, seeing Black's face). We will begin teaching him when he turned eight (I wanted next year but both Black and Lupin refused).

It is two weeks later, and I have moved in completely in that house. I am on the second floor, which use to be red and gold, but I changed that. It's a pretty good room, I suppose. Not like my old home, but it fit my needs. My bed was a queen sized, and had a dark green bedspread and sheets. The dresser, the desk, and the bed posts were all made of ebony. My robes are in the closet, hidden behind two black closet doors. I have a stand for my raven, Silas, and the fireplace is lit with green fire. A door is in the wall, which leads to the basement where my potion lab is.

My potions lab was very well equipped. Lily was always very good at potions, so I wasn't surprised when I saw so many potion ingredients, some that I didn't have before, vials, beakers, two cabinets full of reinforcement ingredients, and a stack of cauldrons. The lab tables are all dark. Unlike some, Lily knew that it was easier to clean up with dark tables than others, because potions that go wrong can leave horrible stains.

And so, my old life has ended, and my new life, one filled with Harry and perhaps even happiness, has begun.

The rest of the story will be in Harry's view from now on.