Remus didn't even try to hide his amusement as Sirius ranted about the boys. "So, really, Padfoot, you are angry that they are exactly like you and Prongs?"
"You are not even the least bit helpful, Moony." Sirius glared at his long time friend. He turned his attention to James, but seeing Prongs quietly laughing too made Sirius roll his eyes and smirk. "Alright, fine, they are a bit like us, except, you know, we actually liked each other."
"Harry seems to be getting on better with Draco," James reminded Sirius. "I could tell from the letter he sent that he felt really guilty for getting Draco into so much trouble."
Sirius shook his head. "Harry may have taunted him, but Draco knew better." He sighed as the prior day's events replayed in his head. Thank Merlin it was Friday. He needed the night out with his friends to recover.
"What is it, Pads?" Sirius was as good as a brother to him so James picked up on the subtle shadow that clouded Sirius' eyes. He noticed Remus looking at their mate with a similarly concerned expression.
"What? Oh, sorry. Guess I was just..." Sirius took a swig of his firewhiskey. "I never saw myself much for father material," he muttered.
"Then Draco was born," Remus said.
"He is not my son," Sirius reminded them, "And with how things are going with his parents..."
"You took that Charms post to be near him," James cut in. "You'll see him far more often than they will." He understood his friend's worry anyway. Lucius and Narcissa were still the boy's parents. Even if Narcissa refrained from slandering Sirius, James knew Lucius wouldn't. "And he is afraid of Lucius." Wasn't that the whole reason Sirius even inserted himself into Draco's upbringing? James preferred believing Sirius' influence would outdo anything Lucius could say against him.
"He was afraid of me." Sirius kept remembering how Draco shuddered in his arms after he disciplined him. "I felt like such a louse," he confessed.
Remus placed a comforting hand on Sirius' shoulder. "He could have been killed, mate. You were terrified." He shot him a small smile. "You didn't string him up by his feet, you didn't break his bones, you didn't make him bleed..."
"Remus is right." James clapped Sirius on the back. "It sounds like you smacked him a bit harder than usual, but he'll survive because he knows you love him. You are not Lucius, Sirius. You didn't punish him because he looked at you wrong. He could have been seriously hurt. I would have done the same thing."
Sirius looked down into his glass. He was thankful for his friends and he knew they were right, but that didn't make him feel less terrible about the whole thing. "I never want him to paint me next to that man," he blurted.
"Mate, listen to yourself. Do you really think that boy could ever confuse you with Malfoy?" Remus spoke quietly, but left no room for argument.
Sirius merely shrugged. "The war has been over for years. I should have kept my mouth shut about the new laws the Ministry is trying to pass. Before that, my family could pretend away what they refused to see about me." He knew they realized he fought for the Light, but since they had no outward proof, they pretended it away. He thought the last bitterly.
"You wouldn't be able to live with yourself if you didn't use your influence against those horrid laws," James argued. "You said it. The war is over. Why are they going after muggle-born restrictions again?"
"I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I fail my nephew," Sirius shot back, but he knew James was right. Sirius couldn't stand by while the threat of those laws passing loomed over them. He banged his fists on the table. "I should have left before he was born."
"Then you wouldn't have him." Remus cast a knowing look. "It might be easier now, but..." He let the unspoken thought hang in the air.
Sirius rubbed his eyes. Merlin, he felt weighed down. "He is the one good thing Malfoy has done in his miserable life." He looked at his friends sadly. "I wish you could meet him properly."
James smiled reassuringly. "I have a feeling if Harry keeps at it, we just might some day, Pads. Give it time."