July 31, 1980 - Godric's Hollow
Lily gave birth in the morning after hours upon hours of hard labor. She had been frightened, most Muggles go to hospital for births, but James had convinced her that a midwife would be plenty, in the magical world. Their midwife had been hand chosen by members of the Order, and was not given the name of the family she helped. It wasn't until over a year later, the woman would discover the names of the young couple and their son when she saw their names and faces in the Prophet.
They named him Harry. Initially it was going to be short for something, like Harold or Henry, but Lily hated both names. So they just left it at Harry. He was all Potter for sure, but Lily was glad to see she imparted her signature emerald eyes on the beautiful little boy.
Their home in Godric's was a very safe place, Dumbledore himself put many charms on it and they had lost contact with anyone besides James' three friends and Dumbledore himself. Remus once again was not available much anymore, he had volunteered for a clinical trial of sorts for the Wolfsbane potion. Wormtail had disappeared into the sewers on a mission as recently as a week before.
It was Sirius alone that stood with James in the tiny living room.
The look on James' face was incredulous. It was so stark Sirius wondered if something had gone wrong with the boy.
"What is it, Prongs?" Sirius asked gently, "What has happened in that serious head of yours?"
James shook his head, "He's so beautiful, Sirius. Just this innocent beautiful child, and it is my job to protect him. But I know what this world likely has in store for us. I know what…what he is intending to do should he find us. I put that poor innocent boy…Harry…in the line of fire. I am so selfish."
"No," his best friend took his shoulders in his hands and lightly shook them, "you are not. You are James Potter, the bane of Lord Voldemort. He who has defied Lord Voldemort three times, and are still alive to laugh in his face. The pure-blood who dared to marry a muggle-born when they tried to recruit him. You are a hero. And Harry will know that and understand, when we bring this monster to justice for all his crimes. Together."
But James could only shake his head, his voice quavered, and tears reflected in his eyes, "You have to promise me something, Sirius.
"Anything, brother." Sirius said quietly.
"If something happens to us, you must promise me that Harry will be happy. Promise me…that if his mother and father are taken from him that he will survive and that he will always know we loved him."
Never had Sirius Black seen James Potter in this fashion, he had always been a laugh with swagger who always had a way out. But that was when he had nothing to lose. Now he had everything and the idea of losing it all made him more frightened than he'd ever been in his life.
"I promise." Black replied solemnly, placing his hand on his best friend's shoulder to comfort him as best he could, "Now, can I meet my godson?"
The men walked together into the room where Lily sat up in the old bed holding a small bundle with a tiny tuft of jet black hair. She smiled despite her exhaustion when she saw them walk in and quietly said to her little son, "Harry James Potter meet Sirius Black." And she carefully passed the bundle to him, with a little help from James showing his friend how to hold the fragile infant properly.
And for a few moments they all forgot about Lord Voldemort, about Death Eaters and war. In Black's arms was a reminder of the gift of life and the beauty of love.
