Thanks for reviewing the last chapter guys! This chapter is going to be different coz it takes place ten days before Harry's fourth Birthday! From here on is where hits its climax so enjoy!
An issue no more.
The day is Wednesday July 21st. The sky is a crystal clear, ocean blue colour with a ball of fire sizzling from it. James is at work at the Ministry of Magic where he works as a trainer for young witches or wizards whose destiny is to become aurors. He has had this job for the past nine months, ever since he himself qualified as an auror for the Order of the Phoenix. Lily is a housewife. She too qualified as an auror with her husband and their friends nine months ago but wanted to stay home and take care of Harry. Sirius is also a newly qualified auror but he works as manager of Zonkos joke shop. This has been one of his dreams ever since he first entered the shop with his fellow marauders back in their first year of Hogwarts. He accomplished his other dream which was to become an auror and fight on the light side. Finally, Remus he is a part time worker in Flourish and Blotts ever since he qualified as an auror nine months ago.
The two houses that were re-constructed for them are two storey detached houses. They are exactly the same inside. They both have three bedrooms, two bathrooms, one sitting room, one study and a kitchen come dining room. The sitting room is located at the front and has one sofa which is three seated. It is scarlet red fabricated material with matching arm chairs. In this room, the three seated is located in front of you as you walk in while one of the armchairs is located at the back wall at the farther end of the rectangular shaped room, in front of them is a mahogany coffee table which has Harry's "Easy Learning" book on it as well as a copy of today's daily prophet. Behind the door is the second arm chair. The Kitchen is an oblong shaped; long and wide. The cabinets which store the ware are located on the right hand side of the kitchen. Next to them is the oven and to the right of that is the stove. Directly below the stove are the drawers for storing cutlery and other kitchen appliances which Lily bought. Next to the stove on the left is a stainless steel side board and next to that lies the sink. Over on the far side of the kitchen is the kitchen table which can seat six. It is an oval shaped mahogany table with matching chairs. Beside that is the open out window. The study is a small square shaped room with a three seated black leather couch. On the opposite wall is a long semi- circular table with a tall, leather chair with three legs. On both sides of the desk are bookshelves which are polluted with books. Some are Lily and James old school books while others are ones they bought from Flourish and Blotts.
Outside is a newly paved patio, courtesy of the marauders. There is a long picnic table which Lily bought a few weeks ago which resides in between both houses. There is a stone balcony affect which looks out on to the garden and flag tiled steps which lead down to it. Up by the balcony area, Lily has planted several different flowers on both sides of the garden. The garden is not a huge area but it's plenty big for Harry to play in which was James sole purpose for constructing it in the first place.
Since Lily is in actual fact a muggle, and even though she adores the wizarding world, she dresses like a muggle most of the time. The worst part is she has now converted Sirius to dress in muggle clothes too. James didn't need much persuading either but Remus is still reluctant. It is four o clock in the afternoon and the heat of the sun is not as penetrating as it was earlier on. However Sirius is sitting on the picnic table in the shade with his legs crossed reading a book entitled " The world's best Pranks." He is wearing black, three quarter length combats with a turquoise t- shirt which has black, navy and beige stripes. The collar is sitting up right and he is wearing a navy peak cap which is turned side ways. On his feet he has black buckled sandals. Harry emerges from the house and sees his Godfather. He is wearing three quarter length army pants with a red polo t-shirt. His hair of course is a mess, standing up everywhere and he now has glasses. He smiles at his Godfathers image and instantly pulls his collar up. Even though he loves his father, he adores his Godfather and wants to be just like him. Sirius continues reading his book and laughs quietly to himself. "I saw that mate." Said Sirius turning the page. Harry stared at him quizzically. Sirius looked up and sniggered. "You know if you want to be like me you got a long way to go kid!" Harry just smiled at Sirius. "You are so full of it Sirius." Said Harry smirking at his Godfather. "You sounded a bit like your mother there for a second Harry mate!" replied Sirius amusedly.
"Nah- uh!" said Harry shaking his head.
"Ya- huh!" shouted Sirius in a childish tone.
They both laughed a little. Sirius returned to his book. "Sirius?" Said Harry
"Ya?" he replied without looking up. "Where is my mom gone?" he asked ruffling his hair a bit. An old habit which his father still had not lost. Sirius looked up. "Oh...Um... She's gone to the shops to get something for the dinner mate." He said with a soft smile. He looked back down at his book. Harry walked over and climbed up on bench and turned round to sit on the picnic table next to Sirius. Sirius uncrossed his legs and rested them on the bench, tapping them rhythmically. Sirius laughed to himself. Harry smiled at him and turned to look at him asking "What's so funny Padfoot?"
"Hmm? Oh sorry Harry. I was just reading this book on the best ever pranks. There's one here right dated back to the early 1960s. It says that a prank was pulled on a teacher by one of her students. Apparently, the girl put extra sticky glue on the teacher's chair which was transparent and they had to take the teacher to the hospital because she conjured a bucket of slime to drop on her head once she attempted to get off the chair. The bucket too had transparent glue on the brim of it." Sirius laughed out loud at this. Harry just turned away and looked at his bare feet which were dangling from the table.
"And then there's this one….." Sirius stopped at seeing Harry's despondent face.
"Harry what's wrong mate?" asked Sirius anxiously and placing the book on the table beside him.
"Nothing. I'm fine." He replied sadly making no eye contact.
Sirius jumped down from the table and sat in front of Harry on the bench. "Oh come on Harry. This me you're talking to. I thought we didn't keep secrets from each other." He placed his hands on Harry's knees. "Come on mate. Talk to me please? I'm scared now." He said looking into Harry's emerald green eyes. "Well….we are close right?"
"Ya of course." Said Sirius.
"And I can tell you anything or ask you anything?"
"You know you can mate!" said Sirius
"Well it's just that…..I think that I made you mad at me Sirius." Replied Harry sheepishly still looking at the ground. "What? Why do you think that kid?" asked Sirius perplexed.
"Coz we never spend anytime together anymore Sirius. We always used to spend time together before. Loads of time! I love spending time with you Padfoot coz you are so much fun and I don't like us not being friends or the idea of you mad at me. So how come……" Sirius cut him off.
"Harry hold it right there." Sirius got back up on the table and put his arm round Harry's shoulder.
"Why do you think that I'm mad at you?" Harry shrugged his shoulders looking at the ground still. "The reason we used be able to spend loads of time together was coz I wasn't working. When I was it was part time. But now that I'm manager I got loads of hours to work Prongslet! That is the only reason we don't spend a whole lot of time together. Plus you have Ron. I didn't think that you would want me hanging round ya mate!"
Harry looked into Sirius eyes. He slid in closer to Sirius and rested his head against his chest. Sirius lifted him up so that Harry was sitting on his lap. "Padfoot it doesn't matter who I'm friends with. You're my Godfather and I ALWAYS want to spend time with you. Nobody will ever come before you Sirius. Nobody will ever take your place in my heart." Sirius just smiled at this statement. He never heard anything more moving, especially from a three year old. He kissed the top of Harry's head and rested his chin on top of his unruly mop of hair. "You know what Harry?" asked Sirius.
Harry who still had his head against his chest looked up and said "What?"
"You are right. We don't spend enough time together. But don't worry coz I'll sort that out mate." They both smiled at each other. Just then Lily appeared with Remus who was carrying a bag full of groceries.
Lily and Remus smiled at Harry and Sirius. "Hey guys." Said Lily pleasantly.
Harry jumped down from the table and ran to his mother who had bent down with her arms open. As soon as Harry ran into her embrace, she lifted him up. "How are you mister?" she asked smiling.
"Good thanks you?" asked Harry sweetly.
"Oh I am very well thank you Harry. I hope you were good for Sirius." She said looking over at Sirius who was sitting on the table with his feet on the bench and his hands resting on his knees. He then jumped down and approached them. "Oh god Lily love of course he was! We are like two peas in a pod. Completely inseparable! Aint that right mate?" he asked smiling and ruffling his hair.
"Yup!" he shouted happily. They all laughed a little at this. Lily turned to Remus and said;
"Ok Remus could you do me a favour and dump that stuff in the kitchen please?" she asked amiably.
"Of course Lily. No problem." He said smiling softly. "Thanks" she grinned at him. Lily put Harry down and went in ahead of Remus and kept the door open for him.
James then appeared a few metres away from Sirius and Remus house. Sirius was glaring at the back door through which Lily and Remus had just entered. Harry was just gaping up at him. They heard a voice which brought them back to reality.
"What's a marauder got to do to get a hug round here?" asked James grinning. Harry ran to his father who bent down and picked him up. "How are you champ?" James asked ruffling his son's hair.
"Fine dad you?" asked Harry smiling. "Oh I am triffic mate!" They both smiled at each other. Sirius turned his attention to the back door as soon as Harry ran to his father. He had a feeling that Remus had a crush on Lily or worse. But Sirius was determined not to think the "L" word or voice his thoughts to James. James approached Sirius with Harry in his arms. "Ya alright mate?" He asked anxiously.
Sirius turned to face James and smiled. "Ya I am great mate! Never better!" They smiled at each other. James put Harry down and said "Harry mate could you do us a favour? Could you go inside coz I need to talk to Sirius." Harry nodded and said "Sure dad." James smiled and said" Thanks mate." Harry ran inside. James then turned his attention to Sirius. "Oh my god what if he thinks it too! What am I gona say? What am I gona do?" thought Sirius.
"Sirius I need to talk to you about something. Can we go over here?" he asked gesturing to the picnic table. As they approached it, they took a seat opposite each other. "What's up?" inquired Sirius.
"Well, I was at work today and I ran into someone who we went to school with. She's actually a friend of Lils." Said James smirking. "who?" asked Sirius. "Shariana Stilton." Replied James. Sirius smirked to himself. "Really? Well what is she doing in the ministry?" asked Sirius smiling.
"Her dad works in misuse of muggle artefacts office. She came in applying for a job in the same section and we ran into each other. She's just back from America actually. Her sister is married over there with a daughter who was born last month." Said James. "And what did she want?" asked Sirius curiously.
"Well when she asked me out to lunch I thought me." Grinned James. Sirius smirked and rolled his eyes.
"It turns out she wants you mate. She has seen you round here when she and Lils go out or whatever and was wondering if you were single. Ya still got it Padfoot me ole mate!" Said James smirking and winked at Sirius. "So what's the story?" asked Sirius.
"Well she's going out with Lils and a few more girls tonight and they're coming over here about 7:30 so just ask her then mate!" said James. Sirius nodded. "Ok. Grand job mate. Cheers. Nice one!" They both laughed. "Anyway." Said James banging his hands on the table "lets go in and see my beautiful wife!" Sirius smiled at James and they both got up and headed inside.
Ok guys I hope you like this chapter. Before anyone kills me, I am not trying to break up Lily and James ok? I just think that Lily and Remus were exceptionally close and well I cant say anything else coz it would give away stuff that I have planned but I AM NOT GOING TO BREAK LILY AND JAMES UP! And no, Lily and Remus are not gona have an affair or anything! Was trying to make Harry and Sirius relationship as fatherly as possible! Coz lets face it, he is like a father to him as well as a friend! So I hope I succeeded! Il shut up now! Lol. Talk 2 ya!