A/N: Hehehe… hey guys… I know it's been a really long time since I posted the last chapter, but I hope this is worth it! I'm going to try my hardest to post at least two more chapters over the summer, but we'll see. Anyways, I hope you guys like this chapter and that maybe it was worth the wait.

Thank you so much to my wonderful reviewers:

Ferfer94

Secca Irises

Lupinesence

jediette

Melissa

Cherryblossom12

Y'all rock!

**Disclaimer: Harry Potter isn't mine, obviously. **

The next morning, Sirius woke up to the familiar sensation of sunlight streaming across his face indicating that he forgot, like he often did, to close the curtains around his four-poster bed. His first instinct was to glance over at Prong's bed and see if he was awake yet. But when he turned to look, there was a cot in its place, and all the events of the previous days came rushing back. Things were not normal, and Sirius was not in his old dorm because he was still a Hogwarts student. As he looked at the cot, Sirius realised that something was amiss. The cot was empty, and as soon as he saw this, Sirius popped out of bed and whirled around, assuming a ninja-like pose when he saw a figure standing on the other side of the room.

"And how exactly were you planning to rescue Harry from an intruder without your wand, Padfoot?" the person, who Sirius realised was Remus, asked with a chuckle.

Sirius sighed in relief to find Harry safe in Remus's arms before laughing and quickly crossing the room to hug his only friend left. "Moony, you're here," was all he managed to say.

"I got your letter this morning and came straight away. I would have woken you as soon as I got here, but Dumbledore said you hadn't had much sleep lately…" Remus trailed off, avoiding the subject that neither wanted to discuss.

Before Sirius could respond, a little yawn followed by a garbled sigh came from Harry as his little eyes blinked open. "Mama?" he asked, causing tears to form in both men's eyes as they watched little Harry search for the mother he would never see again.

"No Prongslet, but guess what. Uncle Moony got here this morning," Sirius said softly to the little baby.

"Mooey! Pafoo!" little Harry cheered before declaring, "I hungy."

"Well then, why don't we go down to the Great Hall and see what's for lunch since the two of you slept through breakfast," Remus suggested.

"Down!" Harry demanded.

"Not quite yet Prongslet. We're at Hogwarts, where your Mama and Daddy and Uncle Moony and I went to school. There's lots of stairs here and you don't know your way around yet, so for now just let Uncle Moony carry you. Okay buddy?"

"Kay Pafoo," Harry responded.

As they walked down the stairs to the common room—which was empty due to the students being at lunch—and climbed out the portrait hole, Harry was too engrossed in all the new sights around him to pay attention to what Remus and Sirius were saying.

"Moony, how long do you think he's going to keep asking for them?" Sirius whispered.

"I don't know, Padfoot. We'll have to come up with some way to explain it to him for now, and as he gets older, we can tell him more. The most important thing though is to make sure he doesn't ever forget them," Remus whispered back, stopping once they reached the Great Hall.

It was buzzing with students. Some were talking, some were studying, and everyone was eating. Despite the recent fall of Voldemort and the multitude of celebrations, normal life carried on at Hogwarts. It seemed wrong to both Sirius and Remus for everything to be so normal after the tragedy they were still dealing with, but they both knew that life would go on despite all that had happened. As a multitude of heads turned to stare at them as they lingered in the entryway, it struck Sirius as odd that the Marauders' old dorm had been empty. Shouldn't there have been students sleeping there? But then again, the Great Hall did look emptier than in his school days. Maybe a lot of parents pulled their kids out for the year, he pondered before disregarding the whole thing. There were more important matters at hand, and Sirius had never been one to think to hard about anything unnecessary.

Dumbledore waved at them from the staff table, and after acknowledging him with a nod of the head from Sirius and a wave from Remus, they took Harry and found a seat at the Gryffindor table amongst some of the students they remembered from their time at Hogwarts. After enjoying delicious sandwiches and some applesauce and crackers that popped up on the table for Harry, Sirius hefted Harry into his arms headed towards the staff table along with Remus.

Dumbledore got up and indicated that they should follow him before exiting through a side door. "Now, Mr. Lupin, I assume that you realise, if Mr. Black has not already told you, that he now has primary custody of Harry since he is the boy's godfather," he said as they headed towards his office.

"Yes, I assumed as much," Remus replied.

"Well, since the two of you remain on good terms, I would suggest that you make a point of being a constant factor in Harry's life as well. Not only will raising a young boy alone be difficult, but Harry could also use another close family member who can provide another often needed perspective," Dumbledore said before stopping at the stone gargoyle that marked the entrance to his office. "Sherbet lemon," he declared, causing it to rise up and a staircase to come into view.

They all mounted the stairs, and Dumbledore transfigured some gadgets on a table into some blocks for Harry to play with while the men talked before taking a seat behind his desk.

"Now Sirius, there are many things that we did not get around to discussing last night. First off, you both know that Harry has already become famous in these few days after the event, and if he grows up being constantly treated like a celebrity for something he cannot remember, it will likely turn his head. I am not saying that you must keep it from him because that will be quite impossible since he shall grown up in our world, however, you should strive to keep him grounded and level headed. Ensuring that he is familiar with aspects of muggle life should help with this. In fact, I think it would be beneficial if Harry attends a muggle primary school when he is old enough. Immersing him him in both worlds should help keep him from getting a big head.

"Now, about a house for you two, I know that you currently have a flat Sirius, but all of James and Lily's things have been left to Harry, including the Potter Estate. As his legal guardian, you will have authority over his Gringotts account and inheritance until he comes of age. The two of you are quite welcome to live in the Potter Estate, and I recommend it since your current accommodations are not exactly fit for raising a child.

"This evening I will be going to the Ministry to look through the things that they were able to salvage from Godric's Hollow, and I suggest that the two of you come. Hagrid can look after Harry, and you will be able to keep anything that might hold sentimental value. One last thing," Dumbledore said, his speech coming to a close as he dug around for something under his desk and pulled out a shimmery silvery invisibility cloak, "I have this. I was borrowing it from James, and now it is Harry's." Dumbledore handed the cloak to Sirius, who clutched it to his chest.

"Thanks," was the only response he could manage. The cloak reminded him too much of James and the Marauders and all their adventures.

"Would you like me to send some house elves over to the Potter Estate to clean the place up a bit before you take Harry?" Dumbledore inquired.

Sirius nodded and Remus replied for him, "That's be great. Thank you sir. And don't worry; I plan to stick around for a while. I'll make sure Sirius isn't too bad of an influence on little Harry," Remus said with a chuckle.

"Well then, that's settled," Dumbledore declared with a smile. "You are free to remain at Hogwarts as long as you wish, and if either of you ever need anything, I am only an owl away."

Sirius and Remus spent the rest of the day wandering around the Hogwarts grounds and telling little Harry stories of some of their exploits before dropping him off with Hagrid so they could accompany Dumbledore to the Ministry. When they arrived, they were shown to a room with long tables with various items laid out neatly on every surface.

"If there's anything you want to keep, go ahead and take it," Moody said to Sirius. "Technically it all belongs to little Harry now, and we're done with what we need."

"Thanks," Sirius muttered before slowly walking around the room, picking up objects, and either putting them in a bag Remus had the foresight to bring or setting them back down. Sirius couldn't decide if seeing Lily and James' things here in this clinical foreign location was easier or harder than it would have been to gather them from the wreckage. Many things didn't survive, and what did was mostly trivial. In the end, all Sirius saved was a bottle of Lily's perfume, any pictures he could get his hands on, James' old Quidditch robes from Hogwarts, a few articles of Harry's clothes that were salvageable, Lily and James' wedding rings, James' broom, and Harry's stuffed stag.

"Remember when you and Wormtail and I gave this to him?" Sirius asked with a slight chuckle. "Lily thought it was hilarious."

"Yeah," Remus sighed as he grabbed a few of Lily's Beatles records that had survived and put them in the bag Sirius was holding.

"Is that all you want?" asked Moody, who was standing with Dumbledore somberly by the door to the room.

"Yeah, thanks," Sirius answered quietly.

"Hagrid is bringing Harry to Potter Mansion as week speak, and it has been thoroughly cleaned. Sirius, if it is not too much trouble, I ask that you keep me up to date on how things are going with Harry. It would make this old man feel better to know that he's doing well."

"Sure. Thanks Professor," Sirius replied before turning to Remus. "You ready to go?" he asked his friend. They had already decided that Remus would be staying with them at the Potter Estate for the first few weeks until everything was settled.

"I'm ready. Goodbye Professor Dumbledore. And thank you," Remus replied before turning to nod at Sirius, and the two disapperated.

They appeared outside just as Hagrid landed the motorbike he had borrowed from Sirius. Sirius walked up to take Harry the second Hagrid dismounted.

"Now yeh take good care o' the little tyke. I've grown kinda attached to 'im these pas' few days, and I'd hate ter see anythin' happen to 'im," Hagrid instructed.

"Of course Hagrid. I'd never let anything happen to Harry. I will to do my absolute best to live up to what James and Lily expected of me when they asked me to be his godfather," Sirius promised solemnly, clutching Harry to his chest a bit tighter.

"Well, I guess I best be off. 'Spect you'll be wantin' yer bike back, so I guess I'll jus'—" Hagrid started to say before Sirius interrupted him.

"No, you keep it Hagrid. I don't really need it now that I've got Harry to take care of. I'm sure you'll get more use out of it."

"But I couldn' jus' take yer bike," Hagrid protested.

"Then think of it as gift," Sirius argued back. "I wouldn't have Harry if you hadn't let me come with you to Dumbledore. So, I guess what I'm trying to say is thank you."

"I'd accept the offer while it still stands Hagrid," Remus offered. "Sirius offering to part with his bike is a once in a lifetime opportunity," he chuckled.

"Oh all righ' then. I'll keep it if yeh insist. Thanks," Hagrid replied, with a smile showing through his bushy beard. "Well, I best be off now," he told the boys as he mounted the bike again. "Take care."

"You too. Bye Hagrid," Sirius said.

"Bye," Remus echoed, as Hagrid revved up the engine and took off into the sky.

"Well Prongslet," Sirius said to the sleeping little boy in his arms as he turned to face Potter Estate, "welcome to your new home."

"Are you sure you want me to stay?" Remus asked as they approached the front door.

"Don't be ridiculous Moony. Of course I do. In fact, I'd be fine if you wanted to stay here permanently. We could transform the place into the ultimate kid-friendly bachelor pad."

"No I couldn't impose on you like that Sirius. I want to be able to support myself. Of course I'll stay for a while until you and Harry get settled, but eventually I'm going back to my apartment."

"You wouldn't be imposing Moony, but whatever. You just have to promise me that you'll come by and hang out a lot. Harry needs his Uncle Moony, and I need my best friend. Also, don't think that this gets you out of our monthly adventures. I'm sure Hagrid or someone else would be happy to babysit Harry for me one night a month."

Remus smiled at the caring undertone in Sirius's seemingly lighthearted rant. "Okay, I promise. But for now, I say we should work on finding bedrooms, especially one for Harry, and redecorating to suit a one year old. "

"Sounds good to me. Do you think we should let him have James' old room? Mine is next to it, but Prongslet might want his dad's room when he gets older, so making it into a nursery might not be the best idea…" Sirius mused as they climbed the stairs to the second floor where many of the bedrooms were located.

"That's probably a good plan. Why don't we convert the guest bedroom on the other side of yours into the nursery, if you're sure you want your old room," Remus suggested.

"Yeah I still want my room. The master bedroom still feels like Mr. and Mrs. Potter's even though they've been gone for a while now. Wow, it's going to be weird living in this house again. I haven't been here since the summer before seventh year. I wonder if my room will look the same? I don't think I ever took down all my pictures and Gryffindor stuff."

"Well let's check," Remus said, as he opened the door to Sirius's old room.

A few posters and pictures were gone from the walls, Sirius having taken them to Hogwarts and then to his apartment, but mostly it still looked the same: red walls covered in various pictures of the marauders, motorcycles and models from muggle magazines, a few Gryffindor banners, and a giant four poster bed with a gold quilt.

"Just how I left it then. Perfect. Of course these pictures need a bit of editing," Sirius muttered, a darker tone slipping into his voice, as he put Harry, who was still asleep, on the bed.

He reached to pull a picture of the Marauders smiling and laughing off the wall. Sirius then proceeded to tear off the left side where Peter was sitting so that the picture now just showed James, Sirius, and Remus, laughing and standing around the Hogwarts Lake. Then, pulling out his wand, Sirius applied a new sticking charm and returned the photo to its spot on the wall.

"Care to help Moony?" he asked.

"Gladly," his friend responded, and the two spend the next few minutes tearing Peter out of Sirius's pictures.

It was both a cathartic and depressing activity. The boys were able to take out their anger at their old friend who had betrayed them, but the pictures also reminded them of how close the four of them used to be. The Marauders: Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs. The four of them were a package deal. It seemed wrong that only two of the four were left because after Peter's betrayal, he was as good as dead to the two. A few pictures also showed Lily with the boys, and one even had their old friends Marlene and Dorcas, all of whom were dead now.

Just as Sirius was about to stick the last picture back on his wall, Harry woke up and started crying. Since Remus was standing closer to the little boy, he picked him up and began to bounce him and pat his back.

"Shhh Harry. It's okay. What is it?" Remus asked. He quickly checked Harry's diaper and found that it was not the problem. "Are you hungry Prongslet?" he asked, continuing to soothe the still crying baby. "Sirius, get a bottle," he instructed.

"Uh, do we have any formula Moony?" he asked, starting to panic.

"I don't know," Remus replied, still failing to calm Harry, "go check the cabinets downstairs. Maybe the house elves Dumbledore sent stocked the kitchen. If there isn't any, go to the store and buy some, fast. My wallet has some muggle money in it if you don't have any."

"Be right back," Sirius said, apparating to the kitchen, where thankfully, he did find some formula mix. After preparing it and heating it to the right temperature, he apparated back upstairs, trying to get to Harry as fast as possible.

"Here!" he exclaimed, passing the bottle to Remus, who was now rocking Harry in an attempt to quiet his cries.

He took the proffered bottle and attempted to feed Harry, but he wouldn't take it. Every time Remus lowered the bottle to his mouth, Harry would turn his head or shove it away.

"Come on Harry, are you not hungry?" Remus asked. "Here, you try," he said, passing him to Sirius.

Sirius too tried and failed to get Harry to drink his formula.

"What is it Prongslet? Your diaper's not dirty. You just took a nap. If you're not hungry, what do you want?" Sirius asked, panic still coloring his tone.

"Mama!" Harry began to scream amidst his cries. "Mama! Mama!"

That one word brought tears to both men's eyes.

"You're mama isn't here Prongslet," Sirius whispered. "If she could, she would come get you in a heartbeat. But she and your daddy are gone," he gulped, choking back a sob. One crying baby was enough without Sirius breaking down too. "But I'm here," he promised. "Uncle Padfoot is here, and I'm never going to let anything happen to you. I swear. I love you so much Harry, and your mama and daddy love you too. And your Uncle Moony too. He's going to be staying with us for a while. It's going to be okay," Sirius continued to whisper soothing words to Harry until the baby cried himself to sleep.

He nodded towards the door, and Remus followed Sirius into the guest room that would become Harry's new nursery. Remus transfigured the bed into a crib of the same style, and Sirius placed Harry down inside before digging his stuffed stag out of the bag of James and Lily's things he still carried, and placed it in the crib with his godson. The two men tiptoed out of the room, careful not to wake the sleeping infant.

"What are we going to do?" Sirius asked Remus as soon as the door to Harry's room was shut behind them. "I could barely handle that. He's never done that before when I babysat. It's like he knows they're gone. I just don't know how much of that I can handle. Or how long he's going to do it. "

"I don't know Padfoot… I think what we just did is all we can do. Just hold him and tell him it's okay. Maybe next time it happens we can try showing him pictures of them, but honestly that might just make it worse."

"I just miss them so much Moony. Why did they have to die? It's just not fair. And the fact that he betrayed them, I honestly can barely believe it," Sirius choked out.

Remus squeezed Sirius in a hug before stepping back and leaving his hand on his friend's shoulder.

"I know," he said. "I can't believe it either. It's hard, and it always will be. But it will get better. They knew this could happen, but they were fighting for a cause they believed in, something we were all fighting for. It's awful that James and Lily of all people were some of the ones who had to pay the ultimate price, but at least the danger is over for now. Like Dumbledore said, I don't think Voldemort is completely gone, but at least he's severely weakened, and for a while, he won't be a threat to Harry or anyone else."

"You're right Moony, as usual. Now," Sirius said, taking a deep breath, "why don't we head down to the kitchen and see if we can't scrape some dinner together. I'm pretty sure I saw more than just formula down there."

"That sounds like a great plan Padfoot," Remus said, right as his stomach growled.

Sirius chuckled. "I knew you wouldn't turn down food. You know, I think I might have even seen some chocolate," he added as he turned towards the stairs.

Remus cast a quick sensory charm on Harry's room so that they would know if he woke up before quickly following his friend down the stairs.

"Then what are we waiting for!"

A/N: Hey guys, now that you've read this, I just wanted to let you know that there will just be a few more chapters with baby and child Harry, and then I plan on jumping forward to his first year at Hogwarts. After all, things can't be all sunshine and rainbows all the time. Voldemort has to come back eventually, and although Harry will have grown up differently, he is still the Chosen One and still has to face his destiny. This time he just gets an awesome support system besides just Ron and Hermione the whole way there!