A Very Potter Christmas - Harry's First Words

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It was the Potters first Christmas as a family. James and Lily had put up as many magical and muggle decorations as they could think of, and the Potter house at Godrics Hollow was blazing with lights so bright it could be seen from the end of the street. Muggle Christmas lights covered the entire outside of the house, and a giant blow-up Santa Clause had been magically attached to the side of the chimney. Magical jack-o-lanterns were hung from the roof and hovered an inch off the ground down either side of the path leading to the front door. Lily had cast a series of warming and anti-freeze spells on the front path so James and Sirius wouldn't complain about the snow getting on their robes.

Inside, a roaring fire lit the Potter house with a golden glow, and kept the occupants toasty and warm. A muggle Christmas tree had been placed in the corner of the living room, decorated from top to bottom with magical and muggle decorations alike; tinsel, gaudy Christmas baubles, candy canes, and small tree lights mixed in with tiny glowing balls of multi-coloured light, never meting icicles and a small Santa's sleigh towed by eight reindeer that Lily had charmed to move around the tree, occasionally shouting phrases such as "Ho Ho Ho!" and "Have a Happy Christmas!". Two dozen presents of various sizes lay under the tree, a flickering light blue shield keeping the cat away from both the tree and the presents.

Five stockings hung over the fireplace, two large ones on either side of a child-sized stocking which read "Harry". The two to the left of it said "James" and "Lily", and the two to the right proudly sported the names "Sirius" and "Remus". Peter had told the Marauders that he was going to be spending Christmas with his parents, as his mother had been in St. Mungo's recently, so the three mischief makers had to make do with Lily and Harry.

When Sirius finally got a turn to hold baby Harry, he spent most of time trying to teach the him to say "Padfoot." Harry merely giggled and gurgled, yanking at Sirius' hair whenever the animagus let his guard down. Remus watched his friend with amusement. While witches and wizards normally developed faster then muggles, Sirius shouldn't have expected Harry to get out a coherent word yet, the boy was barely six months old! Nevertheless, Sirius tried for a good hour to get Harry to say "Padfoot", and Harry just giggled and smiled lovingly up at his godfather. After a while, Remus walked over to Sirius, and Harry latched onto one of the werewolf's fingers as the two adults spoke.

"Time's up Padfoot, it's my turn to hold Harry!" Remus almost whined. Sirius clutched baby Harry tighter to his chest. "No fair Moony, I've only just got him!" Sirius' reply definitely came out as a whine.

"You've had him for over an hour Sirius. Don't make me call Lily in here!" Sirius narrowed hid eyes and, giving Harry a gently squeeze, unwillingly gave him to Remus. None of the Marauders like dealing with an angry Lily Potter. "Low, Moony. Very low."

Remus chuckled and childishly stuck his tongue out at Sirius as said man left to check on the food as his stomach growled. Remus took the lounge chair his friend had vacated, and laid Harry out on his legs, head resting just below his knees and feet tangled in the werewolf's robes. One of Remus' thumbs each grasped in a tiny fist, Harry seemed content to just lay there. He gurgled happily, eyes taking in the decorations around him, and occasionally chewing on one of Remus' thumbs. Remus kept his eyes one the baby in his lap, happy tears prickling at his eyes. He was the most content he had ever been since becoming a werewolf, sitting here, being trusted to look after another persons child even with his condition, and surrounded by his friends. A wide smile was almost splitting Remus' face as he spoke softly to Harry.

"Your parents and godfather are three of the most amazing people in the wold Harry. They love you so much, and so do I. Remember that Harry. Your Uncle Moony loves you so much." The werewolf's grin turned roguish and he whispered, "But don't tell your Uncle Padfoot that, he'll think I'm going soft."

Harry giggled, as if understanding every word that Remus had just spoken to him. One hand let go of his thumb and reached up towards the grinning face above him.

"Moo'ey". Harry gurgled, and Remus' eyes widened in surprised glee. "Can you say that again for me Harry? Say Moony!"

"Moo'ey!" Harry giggled when Remus' grinned turned downright wolfish, and he called Lily, James and Sirius into the lounge room. Lily came out first, holding the door as James chased Sirius out of the kitchen, the dog animagus grinning around a piece of ham he had obviously taken.

"Oh Sirius!" the three walked over to Remus, who grinned at his friend, then looked down at Harry again. "Harry, tell Sirius who your favourite uncle is! Its Uncle Moony isn't it?"

"Moo'ey, Moo'ey!" Harry giggled, and Sirius went from looking pleased, to annoyed, and to shocked in a matter of seconds. Lily was soon gushing over Harry, meanwhile Sirius turned to his best friend.

"James! Your child is broken! He said Moony's name first!" James just laughed at Sirius, grabbing his son off Remus and giving him a cuddle and a kiss on the head. "He spoke Padfoot, just be happy!"

"But I'm his godfather! He should say my name first!" Sirius wined, looking like a kicked puppy. Remus grinned at Sirius' expression before standing up and heading to the table as the Potter house elf, Twinkle, began to fill it with their Christmas Eve meal.

"Don't worry Sirius, he doesn't really like me better. Words starting with a 'M' are just easier for him to pronounce. He could probably say 'mutt' if he tried hard enough!" James roared with laughter, giving Remus and approving smile before handing Harry to Lily and making his way to the table.

Remus was just about to sit down when Sirius vanished his chair, giving the werewolf a smug look as he took the seat across from James. Remus growled lowly but was soon smiling again when Twinkle conjured another chair without so much as a glance when she came out with the side dishes. Sirius took his seat next to Remus, holding out his hand.

"Truce until after dinner?" Remus nodded and shook his hand, his eyes then straying over to watch Lily place Harry in a floating bassinet right across from them, in between herself and James.

The four soon dug into their feast, laughing, joking, and telling baby Harry stories of the Marauder's days at Hogwarts, much to Lily's joint amusement and annoyance.

The night was indeed a Merry one, and by far the happiest Christmas the four had ever enjoyed.