Chapter 58

A couple hours after James, Sirius, and Arthur regained their adult forms, the kids showed up at the Burrow grinning like devils. After the inevitable chase around the yard a voice cried out.

"Stop!"

Everyone turned to Molly, who was grinning next to Lily, and ceased their movements. "You men were pranked fair and square. Instead of chasing the children like you are, why don't you go plan your retaliation? Lily and I need to know who's eating where tonight so we can plan accordingly for dinner," she finished. The adult men grinned and trotted off to Arthur's tool shed while the teenagers grinned to each other and went inside.

Fleur, Molly, and Lily were sitting at the table gossiping when the kids showed up.

"How exactly did you five change them into four year olds?" asked Lily with a smile as she bounced Teddy on her lap. The infant cooed and drooled down her arm but she ignored it. Harry and Hermione sat down at the table while the rest of the group left to find the Eye-Spy Balls. Ginny plucked one right out of the kitchen, to Molly's confusion, and left to the living room with a grin.

"Well, we used a combination of spells George and I found in the Restricted Section of the school library. The first aged them backward to a specific age, shrinking anything on their person with them, the second one was a temporary memory block that blocked all previous memories, and a third was a time release to end all the spells. It was complicated to interweave all three spells together and stick it to a door frame, but we figured out the combination and it worked magnificently," said Hermione proudly.

At the same time the other three teenagers joined the group in the kitchen and found places to sit. George took the five Balls and placed them in a circle, each touching another, and waved his wand over them muttering a long incantation. At the end there was a puff of smoke and when it cleared there was one large Ball left. He quickly duplicated it a few times and handed out the copies to his team mates.

"Everyone, this is a Super Eye-Spy Ball. Just like a regular Ball but five times better, larger, and more amusing than a regular Ball. Mum, Mrs. Potter, Fleur, I know you three found the Old Farts team before the toddlers changed back into adults, but I'm betting you are wondering what happened all day in your absence. Right?" George asked.

The women nodded slowly and George smiled as he tapped the Ball, "Ostendo captus vita," he said. Slowly, a hologram showing a three-dimensional version of the Burrow appeared hovering over the table. A voice rang out from the image, "Woo-hoo! It worked!" cried a miniature Ron inside the hologram pointing to a tiny red headed child.

For the next two hours the woman and Team Toddler reviewed the opposing teams' day. They roared with laughter through the whole thing, and only when Sirius crashed into the house did anyone show any sympathy and even that was short lived. When they got to the part where the three children went missing, Percy and Bill walked into the kitchen.

"What the hell is that?" cried Percy. He reached for the Ball and George grabbed his wrist.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you Perce. Could be damaging to your health," he said with a grin. "Besides, mum, Fleur and Mrs. Potter were enjoying watching you two babysit dad and the other two 'adults'." Bill and Percy frowned as they watched the hologram for a few minutes. When Arthur threw up down Bill's back everyone but them howled with mirth. Bill gave Percy a look and the two ran back outside to the shed. A moment later the kitchen was filled with everyone. The older team was trying to grab the Ball while the younger team was holding them back while laughing hysterically.

"Oh be quiet this is the best part!" cried Lily. Everyone, even the older team, quieted just in time to hear Sirius say, "You're so pretty."

The younger team guffawed and Sirius and Fleur blushed.

"Hmm, even as a child you're a flirt Padfoot," said Harry. Sirius reached over and smacked the back of Harry's head which only made the boy laugh harder.

"What is that thing, and how much can I pay you to give it to me and let me destroy it? I have money and lots of it," Sirius said pompously.

"Actually, Sirius, you gave all that money to me when you 'died' and when you came back you said if I tried to give it back to you, you'd toss it down the gutter. And besides, you couldn't afford our price even if you did still have all that money," Harry said with a grin. Sirius muttered a curse before turning into Padfoot and looking at Harry with his puppy eyes, emphasizing it with a pathetic whimper.

This caused the room to erupt into gales of laughter again.

"Sorry, Padfoot, but the answer is still no," George shouted over the chuckles.

Suddenly, James leaped across the group to grab the Ball but was stopped by Harry and Ron, who deflected James hand at the last second. While James was being delayed, Bill lunged passed his mum and wife and nearly had the Ball in his hand when it was grabbed by Ginny. She held it above her head as she jumped up to stand on the counter top. Harry and Ron cheered for her and she stuck out her tongue at Bill. Their success was short lived when the Ball flew out of Ginny's hand across the room and safely into Percy's hand where he placed an anti-summoning charm on it and dropped it into his pocket with a smirk.

James, Bill, and Sirius all cheered.

"First of all, why am I the only one who thinks of the simplest plans? Second…Ha!" Percy gloated with a chuckle.

"Third of all, do you really think we're stupid enough to make only one copy? Fourth…Ha HA!" replied George as he held out his copy of the Ball. He quickly copied Percy and placed it in his pocket surrounded by anti-summoning charms.

"How many copies did you make?" shouted Bill.

"Now that is for us to know and you not to, brother dear," asked George with a snicker.

"That's enough," said Molly as Bill opened his mouth to shout again. Everyone turned their heads to her and waited. "It's nearly dinner time, so I think it's time for my kitchen to be empty so I can get to work."

"I agree. We should get home so I can start our dinner too. Molly, did you have a copy of that recipe you were telling me about?" asked Lily. Shortly after that the crowd separated and went to their homes.

Hermione had decided to stay at the Burrow for dinner to spend some time with her boyfriend. While Molly dominated the kitchen, Ron and Hermione went to sit in the garden together. Neither heard (nor felt) the spell hit Ron in the back as they left the house.

~~Grimmauld Place~~

Harry, holding Teddy, used the nappy bag Portkey to arrive back home. He looked down at the child in his arms and saw droopy eyes and a big yawn.

"I don't think so big guy. You've got a few hours before bed time, and if you take a nap now, you'll be up all night. How about we get some toys and play until dinner, okay?" he asked the baby who simply cooed at him. Harry chuckled as he climbed the stairs.

In the nursery he spread out a blanket on the floor and covered it in plush animals and toys. He set Teddy on his back on the floor before flopping down himself. He sat for a few minutes just watching the baby suck on his fist and giggling. When Teddy yawned widely Harry picked up a stuffed dog that was blue with pink polka dots and wiggled it above Teddy's head causing the baby to reach for the toy. Harry made a barking noise and ploughed the dog into Teddy's belly, wiggling it around, and pulling it back up before the child's hand could grasp it. Teddy laughed loudly, his baby shriek causing Harry to chuckle as well.

"You liked that did you?" Harry asked before repeating the movement a couple more times. Teddy was having the time of his life flailing about and trying to grasp the random toys Harry was poking him with.

All too soon, Lily called up the stairs that dinner was finished.

"All right bug, time for us men to go eat our fill. Then…bath time!" Harry said as he swung the baby up and gave him a very light toss into the air before catching him and cradling him to his chest while the baby giggled madly. Harry chuckled as he left the room and nearly collided with Sirius.

"Sounds like the sprog is having a good time; I was just going to come get you. Your mum didn't know if you heard her," he said.

Harry nodded, "Yep, I heard her. Let's head down."

The two of them trudged down the stairs and into the kitchen together. Lily had cooked a large pot of spaghetti and meatballs using a recipe she'd gotten from Molly. James was already at the table, knife and fork in his hands and an empty plate waiting in front of him.

"James why do you insist on acting like a five year old?" asked Lily from the stove.

"Are you sure you're back to normal dad? No lingering desire to build a fort or play hide and go seek?" teased Harry as he sat down. He'd placed Teddy in a bouncer chair on the table next to him and Sirius sat across from him, laughing loudly.

"Don't you even start; I am going to get you back so good that your grandchildren are going to be born embarrassed," James threatened.

"You can try," Harry said calmly. Sirius barked out another laugh.

"James, you do know you'd be forcing your own grandchildren to a life of embarrassment, right?" he asked. James shrugged.

"All right, dinner is served," said Lily, as she carried a hot pan of pasta to the table. A saucepan of red sauce and meatballs floated behind her. She directed it to the table and returned to the counter for the vegetables. When she returned with corn and a pitcher of Butterbeer half the pasta was piled on the guys' plates and only five meatballs remained.

"Hungry are you?" she asked sarcastically. She only received three grunts and mumbled replies as they continued to shovel food into their mouths. She served herself and began to eat when an owl flew down the fireplace and into the kitchen covered in soot. It flew straight to Lily bearing a slightly gritty, cream coloured envelope in its talons. Once it had delivered the letter it flew back out of the chimney.

"What's that?" asked Harry. Lily shrugged before turning it over and gasping. This drew James and Sirius' attention away from food and to her.

"What?" James asked anxiously as he watched Lily tear into the envelope. She dropped it on the table once she had pulled a thick bunch of paper out. Harry saw the envelope had a St. Mungo's seal on it.

"St. Mungo's?" he asked.

Lily gasped loudly. "I was accepted!" she exclaimed.

"Congratulations!" Sirius cried. "Accepted for what?" he asked James with a loud whisper. James shrugged, just as confused as Sirius.

"The Healer's program!" squealed Lily before she lunged to James and hugged him. "I'm accepted! I'm going to be a Healer! Merlin, I have to call Molly!" she finished as she jumped up and ran to the Floo.

Harry, James and Sirius all exchanged confused looks.

"When? How…Why?" stuttered James.

"I think we're all wondering those same questions James, thanks for stating them so eloquently," Sirius chuckled. James reached over and punched Sirius in the arm.

"I thought mum wanted to be a Potions Master…er, I mean a female version," Harry asked.

"That's what I thought too," James said. Lily returned then with a wide smile on her face.

"Molly's baking a cake and everyone is going to come over here to celebrate in an hour," she said.

"Er, Lily dear. Not that I'm not excited for you but when did you decided to…be a Healer?" asked James.

"The other day I was shopping with Molly before meeting up with Harry and Ginny to shop for the nursery things and I decided that the only reason I wanted to be a Potions Mistress was to challenge Severus, but now that I'm older and Harry's going to be an Auror I want to do something that can help him if he's hurt, so…Healer is what I ended up with. You're not mad are you?" she asked suddenly.

"No! I'm not mad, I'm very happy for you! Proud of you even. I was just wondering about the sudden change in what you wanted," James said with a smile.

"Well, I figured Harry will be working all day during the week, and you and Sirius will be working probably full time on Godric's Hollow and I'm not really interested in spending all my time rebuilding a house, so I thought, what can I spend my days doing? I can't keep shopping every day," Lily stated as she reheated her plate of food.

"Er, seeing as how we're all talking about this, I have a confession to make as well," Sirius said with a nervous smile.

"Uh oh, hide the Firewhiskey," James said loudly as he jumped up from his chair and ran to the cupboards. "Sirius, you don't need to resort to alcohol. We can make it through the exams, I swear, it isn't the end of the world!"

Harry and Lily stared at James while Sirius glowered.

"Not funny, Prongs," he said darkly.

James laughed loudly as he returned to his seat. "I beg to differ. Remember the last time you used that phrase on me and Remus? Seventh year, about a month before NEWTs you came to us and said you couldn't do it anymore. All the studying was driving you mad and if someone didn't help you pull a prank you'd drink yourself stupid until exams were over," James howled.

"Yeah, Remus said to shut up he was busy studying Arithmancy and if I bothered him again he was going to glue me to the ceiling of the Great Hall. You jumped up and ran to grab the EPB from the dorm and we ended up pranking all four common rooms with the same prank. A clock that, every hour on the hour, screamed 'STUDY BREAK!' and all the books in the room went black for ten minutes," Sirius said with a happy grin on his face.

"That was you two?" asked Lily with disbelief. "Even Dumbledore couldn't undo those charms for a week. They had to turn the Great Hall into an inter-house study room for the next week."

"Brilliant! I bet the Ravenclaws were so angry," Harry chuckled.

"Not just the 'Claws. Remus was furious. He wouldn't talk to us until we undid the charms. But I overheard Madam Pomfrey talking to Dumbledore later that week and she said that the study break alarm was actually doing the students some good. She had seen a significant drop in panic attacks and her stash of Calming Droughts were fuller than they'd ever been during a finals week. Dumbledore was actually reluctant to take it down and that's why it took him so long. Remember, there were only two days left of tests and he figured anyone who flipped out in those two days would be fine," said James with a sideways grin.

"Anyway, Sirius had a confession to make," Lily prompted.

"Oh, right. I, uh, kind of acquired a job of sorts as well," Sirius said quickly. They all waited for a moment before Harry spoke up.

"And that job would be?" he asked.

"Trnsfgrtnprfssr," Sirius mumbled.

"I'm sorry, but did you just say what I think you said?" asked James.

"If you think I said 'Trnsfgrtnprfssr,' then yes. That's what I said," replied Sirius with a smirk.

"Funny, it kind of sounded like 'Transfiguration Professor', but knowing Minerva the way I do, she would never, in her right mind that is, hire you to be a Professor, Padfoot," retorted James. Harry's jaw was hanging open as was Lily's.

"As a matter of fact, James, she would and she did. You may refer to me as Professor Padfoot now, thank-you-very-much," said Sirius with a haughty smile. James stared at his friend.

"You won't last a single term," he said finally.

"Thanks for the overwhelming burst of confidence, oh best friend of mine," Sirius scowled.

"Is that why you've had all those mysterious meetings the last week or so?" asked Harry.

"Yep, Minerva wanted to test me out for a few things and we had to go over a bunch of paperwork. She's made Filius her Deputy and she's considering making me Head of Gryffindor if I have a good first year." At this James snorted. "What, you don't think I could be a good Head of House?" asked Sirius sounding strange.

"No, I think the Giant Squid would make a good Head of House. You, Sirius, would be a disaster of a Head of House. You'd favour the Gryffindors and totally annihilate Slytherin's house points. Not to mention you'd end up pranking them every class period," James said with a chuckle. Sirius frowned at his friend.

"Actually, I think Sirius would make a great Professor. He might have a hard time at first learning how to properly discipline the students, but he'd take his job seriously and treat the students' right. Especially now that Snape isn't there," said Harry. "Congratulations Sirius! If only I was going back to Hogwarts for the last year," he added sadly.

"Thank you, Harry. I appreciate the support. More than I thought I'd get from some people," he added with a glare at James.

"Well, I think this is a good thing for you Sirius. I'm proud of you. Taking such a tough job like that, it's going to be hard, but I think you'll be fine. You seem excited about it at least," said Lily. She had finished her dinner and picked up Teddy and was bottle feeding him.

"Thank you Lily," he said as he picked up his plate and hers before bringing them to the sink. Immediately, Kreacher showed up and began washing the dirty dishes. Sirius quickly left the room with a frown.

"What is wrong with him?" asked James as he sucked up the last of his pasta. Lily reached over and smacked him behind the head.

"His best friend is showing absolutely no tact, that's what's wrong with him. James Harold Potter, how could you say that to Sirius, he's your best friend!" she angrily whispered. She handed the baby to Harry before rounding back onto James. Harry, not wanting to see his parents fight, left the room and headed up to the drawing room where he found Sirius glaring at the Black family tapestry.

"Hey," Harry said as he entered the room.

"Hey," Sirius replied.

Harry sat down on the couch with Teddy and waited for the explosion. He didn't have long to wait.

"What the hell is his problem? Why can't he just congratulate me like he did for Lily and be happy for me? Maybe when I was twenty I wouldn't have been a good teacher, but I'm thirty nine now, I'm more responsible than I was back then. Yeah I have a sense of humour and like to prank people, but I know when to hold back. I know when to be an adult! I would be loads better at being a teacher and Head of House than the bloody Giant Squid," Sirius ranted. He went on for several minutes and when he finally stopped to take a breath Harry took that moment to speak up.

"Sirius, think about it this way, dad and mum only woke up a week ago. They were only twenty-one when they went to sleep and when they woke up…it wasn't like seventeen years had gone by for them. It was like waking up from a long nap. You have aged and matured, probably more than you would have if you hadn't have gone to Azkaban for twelve of those years. Dad doesn't understand that you are essentially seventeen years more mature than he is now. Give him some time to acclimate himself to the idea of you teaching and he might realize that you'd make a pretty damn good Professor. I remember you helping us kids with our homework before fifth year. You know your stuff and if you follow McGonagall's lesson plans, you'll be a great teacher," Harry finished.

"And if I don't follow her lesson plans?" Sirius asked with a weak smile.

"Then I'm guessing you'll struggle a little until she forces you to follow them, then you'll be fine," Harry teased. Sirius smiled and chuckled a little.

"I wish there was a way to get that damn tapestry down. The house looks great by the way. I almost couldn't believe it was the same hell hole I grew up in when I first saw it. But that portrait of my mother and this tapestry…they just have to go," Sirius said as he sat down on the sofa.

"Well, I've had an idea of how to get your mum's portrait down but it's going to be difficult," Harry said. The two spent the next ten minutes discussing how to remove the offensive portrait until James and Lily came into the room. Lily was red faced and James looked properly chastised.

"Padfoot, mate, I—"

"That's Professor Padfoot, to you, thanks," replied Sirius scathingly.

"Er," James said while looking at Harry and Lily. Neither of them said anything and gave James a significant look. "Okay, Pro-Professor…Padfoot, I wanted to say I was sorry for the lack of support downstairs. I realize that you were excited about your new job, and my attitude was in poor taste. You would definitely make a better Head of House than the Giant Squid. So…I'm sorry," James finished lamely.

"Aww you had me at Professor Padfoot," Sirius said as he wiped away a fake tear. James rolled his eyes but grinned.

"Hello? Anyone up there?" called a voice from downstairs.

"No sorry, no one's home!" called back Sirius.

"Oh well I guess we'll have to eat this whole cake all by ourselves then," called Ginny. Harry could hear the amusement in her voice.

"Wait! I lied; I'm home, no one else but me, Sirius! More cake for me!" he cried as he ran out of the room. The three Potters chuckled as they left the room. James quickly followed Sirius so Harry pulled his mum aside and had a quick word with her and then the two went down to the kitchen.

When they arrived in the kitchen there was a group of people sitting around the table where a modest sized cake was the centrepiece.

"Oh Molly, that cake is amazing! How did you make it on such short notice?" asked Lily.

"Well, dear, after cooking for so many years, you learn a few easy shortcuts. It was nothing really just a wave of the wand while I ate," she replied.

Harry went and sat by his friends and teammates.

"No one else smells it?" Ron asked with a scrunched nose.

"Smells what? All I smell is cake," said Harry.

"Dirty feet; It smells like unwashed socks in here. It's so bad its overpowering the cake smells. You really don't smell it?" asked Ron again.

"For the last time, Ron, no we don't smell it. I think it's just you," said Ginny.

"Let me get this straight. Ron smells dirty feet, and no one else does? For how long have you smelt it?" Harry asked.

"Since we got here I guess. It's been getting worse and worse," replied the red head.

"Has anyone thought to check the scoreboard? It should be four to two right now," Harry said.

"I'll run and go check," said Ginny. She darted to the fireplace and disappeared in a rush of green flames. A moment later she returned.

"Four to three, Ron, you've been pranked," she said.

Hermione pulled out her wand and muttered a few counter-hexes and Ron suddenly grew horns.

"AHH!" he screamed drawing the attention to the room. Teddy started wailing in Harry's arms where he'd begun to nod off. Bill and Percy began to laugh loudly. Once the others caught on James and Sirius were guffawing, and Arthur had a wide grin on his face.

"Get 'em off me!" Ron shrieked as he pranced around holding his horns. They were bone white and growing out of his forehead near his hair line. For every spell Hermione tried they grew another inch. She finally stopped when they reached seven inches long.

"I'm sorry Ron, but I don't know how to get rid of them, and I don't want them to keep growing while I try different things. You're just going to have to wait while I research it," she said. Molly walked over and handed the group of kids' plates of cake. Ron sat down to sulk and inhale his cake but after he put the first bite into his mouth he spat it out.

"Blegh!" he cried as he wiped off his tongue with his shirt. Everyone stared at him in surprise.

"Ronald Weasley! That cake was perfectly fine," Molly cried.

"It tastes like nasty, dirty feet! Bill, Percy, you take this stupid curse off of me!" he shouted. All the adults were cracking up, as were some of Ron's own teammates.

"Not happening littlest bro," replied Bill as he savoured his bite of cake. "Sweet revenge," he muttered. Percy just laughed.

"Now boys really, must you continue this?" asked Molly.

"Molly dear, leave them be. Ron knew what he was getting into by joining a group in a prank war. The spells will either wear off in a little bit, or they'll be removed eventually. It's all in good fun, and Ron will get a chance to retaliate," said Arthur as he tried to hide his mirth at his son's misfortune. Molly huffed and went to sit by Lily and Fleur.

The impromptu party went on for a couple hours before the Weasleys went their way and only the Potters, Sirius, Hermione, and Teddy were left in the kitchen of Grimmauld Place. The cake had been annihilated and Kreacher was cleaning up the plates and cups.

"Why don't we head up to the Drawing Room? Mum, I wanted to talk to you about something," said Harry. After saying goodnight to Kreacher, which garnered a strange look from Sirius, they all filed up the stairs and into the drawing room. Hermione bid them all a good night before retiring to her bedroom.

"Harry I've been meaning to ask you a question. What does Ron and Ginny think of Hermione living here at your home? Was it just the two of you here before?" asked James.

"No, actually, before you guys…came back, Ron lived here too. Molly wasn't too pleased with it, but the other option was just Hermione and me here by ourselves and that seemed more improper than what we were actually doing. She'd also pop in at random intervals with the pretence to see if we had food, and weren't living in a slovenly hovel. When you all came back, Ron came to me in private and said he was going to move back home. He was tired of his mum popping in and staring at us suspiciously anyway. Besides, Hermione and I are like brother and sister; Ginny and Ron know the two of us would never be able to do anything. It would be too weird," Harry finished. The adults nodded. James and Sirius moved to the desk in the corner to chat and left Lily and Harry to coddle Teddy.

"So Harry, when do you think you'll go over your fifth year with us?" she asked him. Harry lifted Teddy's arms and made him wave at her while he answered.

"I'm not sure. I could go over it tonight, but I was hoping to have Sirius and dad see Remus and Tonks' portrait tonight. I'm still not sure how to get them into the nursery though," he said. Teddy yawned.

"I wish we could watch them see Remus for the first time," she murmured.

"I have the Invisibility Cloak in here from earlier today. Can you get them to put Teddy to bed?"

"Leave it to me," she grinned. "James, Harry and I are having a good conversation, will you put Teddy to bed for us?" she asked across the room. James looked up.

"But we're planning," he whined. She simply gave him a look and he sighed as he stood up. He plucked Teddy from Harry's arms and looked at Sirius. "Come on Padfoot, we'll continue our planning on the move." Sirius groaned as he stood up and followed James out of the room. Harry and Lily jumped up and grabbed the Cloak and followed the guys.

"Don't know why they couldn't have done this. It's not that hard to put a baby down and continue talking, see I'm doing it right now!" James complained.

"I think there's more to this than a good conversation James. Maybe they were thinking of our fight earlier and wanted us to…I don't know, be alone together," replied Sirius as he waggled his eyebrows. James laughed.

"No problem there, Siri dah-ling, we get plenty of alooone time," James said with a wink. The guys both laughed as they entered the nursery. Harry and Lily gave each other a look and both rolled their eyes.

"I warned Remus, that if he saw those two enter the room to pretend like they weren't animated at first," Harry whispered. She grinned and the two followed the others into the baby's room.

"I always hated changing nappies," James said as he laid Teddy on the table.

"I'b wid you all da way, Pwogs," Sirius said thickly while pinching his nose. James shook his head before placing bubble head charms on them both. "Oh, good thinking mate!" Sirius exclaimed happily. Harry stifled a laugh. He remembered doing the same thing when he'd first started changing nappies.

Having changed his nappy and dressing him in his pyjamas, the two men placed Teddy in the cot. That was when they first saw the portrait.

"I miss him," James said softly.

"I miss them both," replied Sirius. "She was my cousin, ya know." The two stared at the painting for a moment before sighing and looking down at Teddy.

"He kind of looks like Remus, doesn't he?" asked James. Teddy blinked up at them and changed his hair to a messy black from his preferred turquoise.

"And now he looks like Harry. Acts just like Nymphy though," said Sirius. Harry saw Tonks open her mouth to shout, but Remus clasped his hand over her face before she made a noise. Harry shoulders shook.

Remus gave Tonks a look before they regained their original poses. Harry could see Remus' eyes glance down before he whispered, "Pst."

James looked around the room and then back at Teddy who was mimicking Sirius' nose now. Harry and Lily silently giggled.

"Pst," whispered Remus a little louder after he and Tonks changed to a less subtle pose. This time both James and Sirius glanced around the room.

"You hear that?" asked Sirius.

"Yeah, I thought I heard something a moment ago too. Think my wife and son are pranking us?" he asked quietly. Harry had to cover his mouth before he made a noise he was laughing so hard.

James and Sirius looked around the room for a few moments before finally going back to Teddy, whose hair was matching the orange monkey toy across the cot.

Harry could see Remus and Tonks hiding their own giggles. Then the two made a ridiculous pose before Remus went, "Pst!" again. James and Sirius glanced up and then around the room again.

"Okay I definitely heard something that time," James said.

"Me too," replied Sirius. They turned their backs to the cot and painting and slowly gazed around the room. They passed right over Harry and Lily's hiding spot near the door leading to Harry's room and Sirius even strode over to the hallway door and glanced out.

Remus and Tonks changed poses again so that Tonks was on Remus' back while Remus climbed the back of the sofa in the painting. "PST!" he whispered again, even louder than the last time.

James froze with his back to the painting while Sirius whipped around towards James with his mouth wide open in an 'O' and his eyes fairly wide as well.

"No…freaking…way!" he said. James slowly turned around and found Remus and Tonks laughing at them falling down over the sofa.

"Remus?" James whispered his eyes wide as if he didn't believe what he was seeing.

"Yep, Prongs, it's me," said the werewolf with a grin.

"Moony, it's really you," said Sirius as he began to grin.

"What no love for Tonks?" asked the pink haired woman.

"Oh, but Nymphy! You know we all lurve you!" Sirius said with a laugh.

"Sirius Ira Cecil Black! I told you when I was seven never to call me that ever again!" she shouted. James, Remus, Lily and Harry all stared at Sirius stunned. Harry whipped off the Cloak.

"Your middle name is Ira Cecil?" he exclaimed before laughing hysterically. Lily pulled off the Cloak and frowned.

"Crap, now my blackmail is useless," she muttered. James had joined Harry on the floor laughing so hard he was crying.

"Nymphadora! How dare you!" Sirius shrieked finally after getting over the shock of Harry popping out of nowhere.

"We had a deal, Black. You broke it thinking I couldn't retaliate, and I could, so I did," she replied smugly.

"Ira…Cecil! Why did we never know this?" James roared. Remus had tears flowing and his head in Tonks' lap.

"Go ahead, laugh it up. My parents hated me from conception, not like they wouldn't condemn me to a lifetime of embarrassment too. I could have had a nice normal middle name like James, or Lee, or John, but no, had to go with the ancient ancestor's hideously outdated family names," Sirius muttered to himself causing the laughter to get harder. "Well, at least one good thing came out of this," he finally said with an evil grin. "Wouldn't you say so, Lily-pad?" he asked Lily who immediately stopped laughing and glared at him.

"All right, I think it's time we took this to another room and let our son get some undisturbed sleep," said Tonks. "Harry can you take us off the wall and bring us with you?"

Harry picked himself off the floor and pulled the painting off the wall and the oddball group headed to the drawing room again.

They spent the next several hours chatting and reminiscing about the old days while Harry sat and listened. He laughed at all the great prank stories, mentally keeping notes about the best, and smiled sadly along with them all when they spoke about those who were no longer with them physically or mentally. Before the sun started to rise, Harry finally drifted off to bed, replacing the painting when he changed and fed the baby.

a/n: Hello All! Sorry again for the wait! Let me know how you think the James and Sirius relationship has been in this chapter. When I re-read it hit me how much I (unconsciously) emphasized their friendship in this chapter. Also...Sirius' nickname? Funny? Should I have left it a mystery or kept it this way? And what do you think of the new job for Sirius?

I love hearing what you all think! So please review...you know where the button is...don't make me do that arrow thing. It takes up too much space. lol

Thanks again to my awesome Beta, Teufel1987, for editing! You should all check out his story. I've been beta editing for him in return, and his story is pretty good.