Holy crap! Two in two days? Don't get too used to it lovelies :P

Well, without further ado, here is the fourth chapter of "Legally Binding"…

Disclaimer: I own nothing. For more detail view the initial disclaimer.

July 31, 2008

"Oh Jamesy the poor little lad has your hair."

James's exhausted face turned to throw a weak glare in Sirius's direction. Sirius chuckled at the tiny bundle in his arms, examining the reddened face and miniscule hands. Sirius Black had never held a baby this small before, in fact, Sirius Black may never have held a baby before at all. It was a strange feeling for him, holding a life in his hands, being entirely responsible for the wellbeing of another human being. Truth be told, it made him uncomfortable. He looked back and forth slightly frantically and Remus Lupin took this as his cue to emerge from the shadows to hold the baby.

Sirius very gently slid the infant into Remus's arms, trying his very hardest to not jostle the baby awake. Remus's eyes lit up as he held tiny Harry in his hands and he rocked side to side slightly, cooing nonsensical words at the sleeping infant. Remus walked to the window, looking out of it as he cradled Harry in his arms. Sirius stood, hands in his pockets in the middle of the room, suddenly feeling extremely out of place. He turned to leave, and Remus's voice broke the peaceful silence, stopping him in his tracks.

"Sirius." Remus's voice was barely more than a whisper. "Come look at this."

Sirius padded across the floor, making little noise against the hard linoleum. He stopped nearly a foot from Remus's back, peering curiously over the smaller man's shoulder. It was then that he saw little baby Harry's eyes for the first time. He let out a small breath in disbelief, distantly wondering when he had gotten so soft and Hufflepuff. The tiny baby had Lilly's eyes, the exact shape and shade of green. It was almost unsettling. The little boy already looked so much like James, but there was a sense of Lilly somewhere in there too. Examining the baby, the two men were both caught up in wondering what Harry would be like when he was older.

He would surely be intelligent, like both his parents, loyal and brave. But as for his other traits, there was much to be considered. Would he be studious and rule abiding like his mother, or have a mischievous streak like his father? They were both lost in thought, imagining a thousand scenarios, a thousand ways that little Harry could turn out, when Lilly cleared her throat loudly, startling the two men out of their thoughts.

"If you two are very much done" she said with a smirk, "I would like my little boy back."

Remus and Sirius quickly realized that somewhere in their thoughts they had gravitated closer together, with Sirius nearly pressed right up against Remus's back. They both shifted awkwardly, trying to avoid eye contact. Lilly watched with a look of knowing from her place in the hospital bed, smirking almost triumphantly as she gently stroked the hair of her sleeping husband. Remus walked over to Lilly's bed, gently perching beside her and placing Harry in her arms.

"He looks like you."

She smiled softly, a look of pure adoration on her face as she looked at her tiny son. James sleepily lifted his head from his wife's lap to look at the little bundle.

"He looks like both of you."

July 31, 2009

"Jameesssss! He's pulling my hair! Make him stop!"

Sirius tried in vain to disentangle Harry's pudgy little hands from his long hair, pouting all the while. James, standing a few feet away, was laughing hysterically at his friend, doing absolutely nothing to help him. Lilly was bustling around the spotless kitchen putting finishing touches on a cake as well as a large spread of food, specially cooked in honor of a certain little baby's birthday. Remus was perched on top of the counter, his long legs dangling and hitting the cabinets with a rhythmic thumping. Sirius glared at him, valiantly struggling to not drop the baby while he unwound strands of his hair from Harry's impressively strong grip.

"And what are you smirking at Lupin?" he said with a raised eyebrow.

Remus laughed lightly.

"Oh, the usual" he said, gesturing at the scene as if it was an everyday occurrence. "Watching a fully grown man bested by an infant."

Sirius scowled darkly at him, pausing in his struggle.

"Now, now boys" Lilly said, soothingly as she effortlessly untangled Sirius and Harry. "Let's not fight today. It is after all, Harry's birthday."

Harry gurgled as his mother nuzzled his face with hers, a large toothless smile filling his round face. James came up behind his wife, securely wrapping her up in his tight embrace and resting his chin on her shoulder. They both looked down at Harry, beaming at the child's sunny nature. Remus felt the desire to take a picture of the moment, as perfect as it seemed, but also felt a hollow pit forming in his stomach. Seeing his friends happy reminded him exactly how lonely he was. He was happy that they were happy, but he wished he were happy too.

While Remus was in his own little world, he hadn't noticed James, Sirius and Harry sneak out into the backyard to do "man" things. Which Lilly knew meant that they were going to coo at the baby alone, where their manhood wasn't in question. Remus slid to his feet, grasping the counter for support. Thin arms wound around his waist and he exhaled heavily as he leant back into Lilly's warm embrace. She smelled of flowers and home baked cookies, a smell that Remus associated with his own mother. She squeezed him tightly, her small frame oddly comforting.

"It'll be alright Rem," her voice was soft. "We'll find you someone eventually. I promise."

Remus's face formed into a small, sad smile at her words, trying his hardest to believe her.

"I have you Lil," he whispered back, his voice getting thick through tears. "and James and Harry. How could someone like me believe they deserve more than that?"

Lilly pulled away from Remus, turning him around so that he looked her in the eyes. She grabbed his face between her hands and forced him to look her in the face.

"Remus John Lupin." She said, unleashing her full mother voice on Remus. "Don't you dare talk like that. You are just as, if not more, deserving of love than anyone I have ever met. And don't you ever forget it mister."

He exhaled sadly his head dropping forward onto her shoulder. He wrapped his long arms around her waist, holding her in place. He sniffled quietly, trying his hardest not to cry.

"What would I do without you Lil?"