His Boy
Chapter Twenty-Eight: New Year's.
"Are you ready?" Sirius asked as he sat down on the sled he'd fashioned out of an old cookie sheet that he'd transfigured. He'd enlarged it and made the sides bend up as well, getting it perfect. A piece of string was attached to the front. He was feeling much better than he had been after four days of resting in bed. His back was still scarred, but at least the wounds had healed shut and the pain was more of a twinge than anything else. It still really hurt sometimes, but at the moment, he was much too busy to think about his back.
Harry nodded and climbed into the sled, fitting snugly into it with his legs crossed, Sirius's wrapping over them and holding him even more in the sled. "I never sled before, Paddy."
"Well then this should be quite fun. It's like flying, only without the lack of gravity." Sirius explained, not even knowing if Harry knew what gravity was.
It was New Year's Eve and they were up in the Weasley's orchard, sledding down the large hill it was located on and down into the garden. They were having a pre-party sledding party with all of the Weasley kids plus Luna who seemed to find the idea of flying down a hill on the metal trash can lid she'd arrived with to be one of the most enthralling things on the planet. She and Ginny were small enough to share the lid, sitting facing one another with their little hands clasped to keep themselves from falling off for as long as possible. Though they didn't cry when they fell, they just rolled and laughed.
Sirius pushed off and Harry let out a shout that was a mixture between fright and joy. He'd never gone sledding in his life that he knew. The wind rushed at his face, the hair that wasn't covered by his winter hat flying. The speed of the sled picked up, the woosh and shloosh of snow beneath them. Sirius veered the sled away from hitting Fred and George who were dragging their sled back up to the top of the hill. The sled hit a bump and Harry let out a yelp of shock when it landed again safely.
As they neared the bottom, it got even faster. They hit another bump, but weren't so lucky this time. The sled lost balance and Sirius and Harry were flung from within in, rolling the rest of the way down the hill, sled slipping down ahead of them until it stopped about ten feet away further than they had gone.
Harry sat up, covered in snow, it cheeks red, eyes open wide in shock. Sirius shot up to comfort him, but the second Harry's mouth opened, he knew he needn't. The little boy laughed, rolling on the ground holding his stomach. "That was the funnest thing ever, Paddy! Again! Again!"
Sirius laughed and scooped Harry up under one arm, the sled under the other and traipsed back up the hill, Harry squealing the entire way. He was so thrilled with this newfound winter game that hen wouldn't have minded if winter could stay forever.
They went down the hill until it grew too dark to be safe, though it was only around four o'clock.
"We'll see you lot in a bit." Sirius called, waving from the top of the hill as he, Harry, and Luna watched the Weasleys head back into the Burrow to changed out of their wet things so they could go the New Year's Eve party Sirius and Remus were having. Harry was very excited about the party, because he would get to spend a lot more time with his friends and they were going to get to stay up late, late, late! After bidding Luna and her daddy goodbye, Sirius and Harry made for home.
"What d'you think, Harry? Will you be able to keep your eyes open until midnight?" Sirius asked, hoisting Harry up onto his shoulders as they headed across the orchard and then down the opposite, shorter slope that was across from their house.
"Yeah!" Harry nodded, beaming. His little body was raging full of adrenaline from sledding and excitement about tonight. Cheeks red, eyes bright with life, Harry was set down in the hallway of the house, covered in snowy mess.
After getting out of his wet snowsuit and changing his clothes to something a bit less damp, Harry ran about the downstairs, running circles from the hallway, to the living room, into the kitchen, the dining room, and then back to the hallway, Hedwig chasing after him. His socks slipped and slid on the wooden hallway floor as he veered around the staircase and into the living room, his arms above his head. He ran at the couch, floomping over the arm and into it with a plumpf! He giggled loudly, hugging one of the couch pillows for a moment before he sat up and began jumping up and down on the couch.
"Harry! Potter! Harry! Harry! Potter! Harry! Potter! Harry! Harry! Potter! DUMBLEDORE!" Harry shot off the couch for the figure standing in the doorway of the living room. He hadn't even noticed the doorbell ring!
Harry hadn't seen Dumbledore very many times, but he knew he always had something sweet in his pocket for Harry. Padfoot and Moony spoke of the old wizard fairly often, making Dumbledore's name recognizable to the four year old.
"Hello Harry." Dumbledore smiled, stooping to get down to the young bouncing boy's level. Harry bounced in place, unable to calm down. "And how are you this evening?"
"I went sledding with Paddy and we're having a party and I get to stay up til midniiiiiiight!" Harry suddenly shot off like a rocket, half running, half bunny hopping a circle around the living room before stopping back in front of Dumbledore who gave a chuckle.
"Well that all sounds wonderful, Harry."
"Are you gonna stay?" Harry asked, still more excitedly. "Moony says we're gonna have snacks and butterbeer! I dunno what that is, but Paddy said it's the best best best best beeeeest drink ever!" His eyes grew wide, as though the very idea of the unknown drink had him wired. "And Ronnie'n'Ginny'n'Luna'n'Neville'n'mione'n'n'n'n'n'n…. And… and… Miss Tricia and Mister Xeno and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, and Bill'n'Charlie'n'Percy'n'Fred'n'George."
"Dun forge' me."
"Hagrid!" Harry laughed, running around Dumbledore to Hagrid who had just squeezed himself in the front door. He saw Hagrid once a month or so, usually the morning before Sirius and Remus had to go out. He knew now it was because Hagrid would bring something for werewolf-Moony to eat, but he still liked seeing him.
"Hi Harry. How's yer owl?"
"She's good!" Harry beamed and pointed to where Hedwig was sitting on the mantle, having perched there when Harry was bouncing. "She takes letters to Ronnie'n'Ginny'n'my Luna -sissy. I love her better than trains."
"Which is a lot, because Harry really loves trains." Remus laughed, coming downstairs and holding out his hand to shake Dumbledore's and then Hagrid's. "We're glad you could make it. Is Minerva coming?"
"Yes. She's been delayed grading some tests, but she should be along shortly." Dumbledore smiled, offering Harry a lollipop from his pocket as the little boy continued to bounce.
"Thanks!" Harry unwrapped it and popped it into his mouth. "Who's Minerva?"
"Professor McGonagall is a teacher at Hogwarts, Harry. She used to give Padfoot and your dad detention all the time. That's like a time out."
"Why? Were they bad?"
"Not bad really…. Just a little out of control." Sirius smiled, peeking out of the dining room.
"You were more than a little out of control, Black." The door shut and a tall witch stood there. "I saw you all in here and figured it pointless to knock." Harry retreated, hiding himself behind Sirius, clinging to his leg.
"Minnie! So glad you could come." Sirius beamed and Professor McGonagall heaved a sigh.
"Black, if you call me Minnie one more time, I shall give you detention in your own house. Ah… Harry Potter." She leaned down a bit, tilting her head to see better behind Sirius's leg. Harry bit his lip, staring up at her apprehensively. He wasn't sure to make of this particular witch. She pulled a small tin out of her pocket and opened it, offering it to him. "Biscuit?"
Harry reached his hand out, taking one. He bit into it, smiling when he found it to be one of the better biscuits he'd ever had. "Thank you, Professor McGooglegul."
Sirius snorted, unable to help himself. Harry's mispronunciation was both adorable and hilarious, though he was trying very hard to be respectful.
"You're welcome, Potter." Professor McGonagall handed the tin to Remus who led them all into the living room.
"Oh! Hello Professors, Hagrid." Lexie smiled as he came into the living room, carrying Harry's stuffed lion under her arm. "Hey buddy, come here a moment?"
Harry dashed from where he was still stationed behind Sirius and over to Lexie.
"Harry, I'm really sorry but I… I accidentally knocked Lion off the shelf and onto the stove." Lexie frowned, holding out Harry's Lion, half of him completely burnt looking and soggy.
Harry blinked, lollipop falling out of his mouth, the remaining half of his biscuit hitting the floor as he took his lion from Lexie. He'd been playing in the kitchen with his toys earlier and Remus had picked them up off of the floor and set them on the spice shelf so as to keep them out of the way.
"Lion…" Harry's eyes welled with tears and he fell to the floor, wailing at the sight of his beloved Lion all burnt up and wet.
"I tried to fix him, but I'm no good at transfiguration spells." Lexie sighed. "I'm sorry, Harry." She held out her arms, going to pick him up, but Harry lashed out at her, whacking her with his poor lion and running from the room.
"Harry!" Sirius chased after him. He caught him up halfway up the stairs. "Harry… I know you're upset, but you don't hit."
"Lion…" Harry whimpered, holding out his lion to Sirius. "Fix him?"
"I'll try, Harry, but I dunno… he's burnt up pretty badly…" Sirius sighed and then smiled. "But, you know, I know someone who is even better at transfiguration than I am."
"You do?"
"Mhm. And lucky for us, she's already here." Sirius snuggled Harry and carried him back downstairs and into the living room. He took his lion and held it out to Professor McGonagall. "D'you mind? It's his favorite."
"Hmmm…" Professor McGonagall took the lion, looking it over. "It's very badly damaged, but I think…" She set the lion down on the coffee table and took out her wand from her pocket. She pointed it at the lion and a blast of blue light flashed from it, hitting the lion squarely in the chest. It glowed a moment. "Ah, yes, I believe that's done the trick now."
Smiling, McGonagall picked the lion back up and held it out to Harry who stared at her in astonishment. His beloved Lion was all better! A good as new, maybe even better than new! He took it from the Professor and then flung himself out of Sirius's arms at her. She caught him, looking quite surprised at his change in attitude.
Harry hugged her around the neck, beaming. "Professor McGogglegul is the best at transfiguration!" he confirmed, laughing and hugging both her and his lion at the same time.
"I would hope so, considering that's what she teaches at Hogwarts." Dumbledore said with a chuckle, watching as his old friend tried to figure out what to do with the little boy. Having never had any children of her own due to an unfortunately short lived marriage, McGonagall was better adapted for dealing with children a bit older than Harry was.
"Hogwarts!" Harry exclaimed, shimmying to get down as the doorbell rang. His feet hit the floor and he ran, Lion above his head. He tugged the door open and let out a squeal. "Hi!"
The Lovegoods beamed and entered the house, stomping the snow off of their boots.
"Harry!" Luna laughed, hugging him even though it had been only a couple of hours since they'd last seen one another. Harry took her hand and led her into the living room, closely followed by Tricia and Xeno.
The adults greeted one another and then the doorbell rang again. Boy! The house sure was filling up fast tonight!
Sirius ran to get the door and let the Weasleys in. "Hey! So glad you could make it."
"Thank you for inviting us, Sirius." Mrs. Weasley smiled and handed him a huge dish. "I've made some shepard's pie, I didn't want you to have to worry so much about dinner."
"Oh, thanks! This'll be great, we're feeding an army tonight." Sirius smiled, accepting the dish and carrying it to the kitchen.
"Would anyone care for a drink?" Remus called as he skirted between Fred and George who had raced around him. "We've got butterbeer or apple juice or if you want something stronger, Firewhiskey. Dinner should be done here in a couple of minutes."
"I'll have a fire whiskey, Mr. Lupin!" Charlie called, raising his arm over his head.
"No you certainly will not." Mr. Weasley laughed, ruffling his son's hair and ushering him forward. "Oh! Hi there Dumbledore."
The party was nice and very fun, Harry thought. He was surrounded by a lot of nice people and he had his Ronnie, Ginny, and Luna-sissy. When it was time to eat dinner, they all gathered around the table in the dining room, which was different because they normally ate in the kitchen. Harry knew it was a special occasion though. They'd eaten in here on Christmas as well. The kitchen table wouldn't have been big enough to hold them all either, it only had six chairs around it. And even now, Remus had had to put an extension charm on the dining table and duplicate some of the chairs to accommodate all of their guests. Harry happily sat between Ronnie and Ginny with all the other kids down one half of the table, the adults sort of sticking to their own half so they could talk to one another better.
The food was good too. They had Mrs. Weasley's shepard's pie, chicken, baked potatoes, cranberry sauce, and green beans. For dessert, everyone got a warm piece of blueberry or treacle pie which was Harry's favorite.
After dinner, the children were sent upstairs to where Harry's playroom had been set up with a table of snacks, including butterbeer. Bill and Charlie had been placed in charge of the younger ones, a task they were alright with, being used to doing so at home anyway.
"Who wants to play a game of Simon Says?" Bill suggested.
"Yeah!" Harry shouted excitedly, bouncing up and down as he had done earlier. He and the other younger kids gathered in a line across the room while Bill stood in the front. He would be Simon first.
"Alright then. Simon says to rub your belly with your right hand… No Luna, that's your left hand, the other one." Everyone began rubbing their tummies, giggling. "Simon says stop. Simon says everyone jump on one leg… Stop. Ginny, I didn't say Simon says, you're out."
"No!" Ginny complained, sitting down on the floor sadly, but she smiled after a moment, excited to just watch the game. She wasn't very good at it yet, still being only three.
They continued to play until Ronnie was the only one left standing. Apparently he was the champion of Simon Says at the Burrow too, so none of the Weasleys were the least bit surprised when he won.
They feasted upon butterbeer and chips with dip for a while, playing other games. Harry had done Musical Chairs, Red Light Green Light, and Who Took my Bone? at school, but he had never heard of some of the wizarding games.
The Weasleys taught him how to play Gnome in the Hole, where he had to find the garden gnome they set loose in the room.
"Over there!" Ronnie shouted, pointing the small, potato-like creature as it darted beneath Harry's toy box.
Harry and the others bolted after it, Bill and Charlie laughing at their antics while Percy looked on from the chair in the corner, not seeming at all pleased with this particular game. He'd done alright with the other few, but then he'd sort of gotten bored and decided to sit down with a book he'd brought down with him.
"I'll get him!" Harry called, laying down flat on his belly and shoving his small hand beneath his toy box, groping for the gnome. It bit his finger and he yelped, pulling his hand out as the gnome laughed and bolted from beneath the toy box, running in the opposite direction.
The kids scattered, having lost sight of the gnome. Fred spotted it next, let out a shout, and slide fast across the foam puzzle floor, trying to grab hold of it as it ran. He missed it by his fingertips and George dove as well.
"Gotcha!" He raised his hand high in the air, only to find it empty. "What? I had him! I had the little bugger!"
"I got him!" Harry laughed, holding the gnome up in both of his hands. He'd snatched it from the floor as George had gone for it, giving the gnome nowhere else to go.
"Good job, Harry!" Bill smiled and took the gnome from him, replacing it in the small cage he'd brought it in. The gnome yawned and flopped down on the fluffy bed made out of a small doll's blanket.
"What time is it?" Percy asked, looking up from his book.
"About ten thirty." Charlie answered, glancing at his watch and sitting down on the floor.
"Wow!" Harry's eyes went wide. He'd never been up that late before without having been to bed first and that was usually only so he could go potty. "How much longer til midnight?"
"An hour and a half. Think you lot'll make it?"
"Yeah!" The preschoolers cheered, raising their arms in the air. They were wired on butterbeer and lollipops form the snack table.
Thirsty, Harry went over to the table and picked up the bottle of butterbeer with his name on it. He chugged at it and then set the bottle back down on the table. It was delicious, his favorite thing after treacle pie. "Hey Ronnie, wanna color?"
"Okay." Ronnie nodded and he and Harry sat down at the paper and crayons that had been set out on the floor. The drew for a little while. Harry put the finishing touches on his Hedwig drawing and then looked up. "What time is it now?"
"Ten forty five. An hour and fifteen more minutes." Charlie replied, bending down to scoop Luna up off of the floor. She had fallen asleep next to the toy chest, a dinosaur in her hand. "One down, Bill."
Harry watched as Charlie carried Luna over to the opposite side of the room where he placed her down in the large red beanbag chair. He covered her with a blanket.
"We're not gonna fall asleep, are we Ronnie?" Harry asked.
"Nope." Ronnie shook his head and pounded on his chest with his fists. "We're big boys. We can do it."
"Yeah!" Harry beamed and began coloring again. Around eleven, he was distracted by a thump and looked up to find Ronnie had slumped over on the floor. He'd been sitting with his legs crossed, but now his head was down on the floor, butt in the air, orange crayon in his hand. "Ronnie?"
"Two down." Bill sighed, coming over and picking Ronnie up off of the floor. He placed him down in the beanbag next to Luna.
Harry looked around the room. Luna and Ronnie were fast asleep now. Percy was slumped in the chair with his book falling half out of his lap.
"Harry!" Ginny bounced over holding Harry's toy broom. "Harry, ride withs me? Puh-ease?"
"I not apposed to ride inside." Harry frowned and looked around. He stood up and reached out, taking Ginny's hand and pointing over to his pedal train. "Let's do that."
"Okay!" Ginny smiled and bolted over to the train, dragging Harry along behind her. She climbed onto the train and Harry got into the car.
"Choo-choo!" He laughed, raising his arm and pretending to tug the whistle. Ginny began to pedal, steering the train by the handles around the room.
"Chugga-chugga-chugga choo-choo! We is the Hogwarts Express!" Ginny laughed, ringing the bell. Percy jolted a little at the noise, but he didn't wake.
Harry and Ginny rode around in the train for a while, eventually switching places so that Ginny could 'rescue' some of Harry's other toys and place them in the car before getting in with them.
Harry chugged along, pedaling round and round the room, not noticing when Ginny stopped contributing to the choo-chooing until the playroom door opened.
Padfoot peeked into the room and smiled. Percy as half falling out of the chair. Ronnie and Luna were snuggled up together on the beanbag. Bill and Charlie were playing cards in the center of the room. Fred and George slumped against one another beneath the snack table, their mouths opening and closing to breath at the exact same rate. Harry was chugging his pedal train along, Ginny fast asleep, curled up among the toys in the train's car.
"Hey guys."
"Paddy!" Harry beamed, jumping off of his pedal train and racing over to him. Padfoot picked him up and snuggled him.
"Well, aren't you a little trooper? We've only got about three minutes til midnight. Would you like to come downstairs and ring it in with us? Bill? Charlie?"
"Yeah!" Harry laughed and Bill and Charlie dropped their cards. They all headed downstairs to the living room where the adults were hanging out. It looked as if they'd been playing card games as well. Bottles of butterbeer and fire whiskey were spread throughout the room. Hagrid sat in one corner with Remus, both of them swaying and singing, though it was too garbled to really understand.
"There's my boys." Mrs. Weasley smiled, holding her arms out for Bill and Charlie, who, though they were 13 and 11, went to her and curled up on the couch on either side of her, allowing her to wrap her arms around them.
"Everyone else tuckered out?" Mr. Weasley asked, reaching out a hand to brush Charlie's hair back from his face as he yawned.
"Yeah. Completely." Sirius nodded and sat down in the armchair with Harry. Lexie came over to sit with them, wedging herself into the armchair beside Sirius. Harry smiled, snuggling back against both of them.
Dumbledore and McGonagall sat on the window seat, discussing something about Advanced Transfiguration. They seemed quite spirited about the subject.
"Ah…" Remus said, halting his singing and pointing towards the clock on the mantle. The second hand was getting closer to the ten.
"Ten… nine…" Sirius began and the others joined in, everyone watching the clock and picking up party blowers.
"…two…one! HAPPY NEW YEAR!" Everyone shouted, Harry joining in a little delayedly, having never done this before. He blew hard into his party blower, making it toot loudly as Sirius and Lexie both leaned in to kiss his cheeks. He laughed, clapping his hands and tooting his blower again.
He had done it. He'd stayed up until midnight!
…...
"Yooou… should tell him." Remus swayed slightly as Lexie helped him up the stairs to his bedroom. "Teeeeell hiiiiim noooooowwww."
"Here we go, Remus." Lexie sighed, pressing Remus towards his bed.
"Tell… himmmmmm!"
She left the room and made her way back down to the second floor where Sirius was tucking Harry into bed. The little boy had conked out as their guests were leaving, finally giving into his body's need for sleep, the sugar high ending.
"Hey." Sirius smiled, pulling the covers up to Harry's chin as Lexie peeked into the room. He bent down and kissed the little boy's forehead before removing his glasses. Harry slept peacefully, his chest rising and falling with ease, a small smile upon his lips, as though he were already having a lovely dream.
"Hey." Lexie leaned against the doorway and yawned before entering the room and sitting down on the end of Harry's bed. She reached up and brushed some of his hair back before bending over to pick his lion up off the floor. She placed it down beside him and sighed. "I can't believe he managed to make it all the way to midnight."
"He's really something else." Sirius smiled and bent down to give Harry another kiss before offering a hand to Lexie. She took it and allowed him to pull her up off of the bed.
"Remus is going to have one hell of a headache in the morning."
"Yeah. It's the one night a year he really let's himself go." Sirius laughed, tugging Lexie from the room as he clicked off the light, leaving Harry to sleep with his music box playing and emitting it's normal magical light. "Well, we should probably get to bed."
"Yeah." Lexie agreed and followed him down the hall to his bedroom at the end. She paused a moment before turning to look back at Harry's ajar bedroom door. "Actually, I think I'm going to sleep with Harry tonight."
"Aw, and leave me all by my lonesome?" Sirius feigned pouting and then smiled. "Alright then." He gave he a quick kiss and then opened his bedroom door. "Good night, love."
"Good night." Lexie smiled and turned around, heading back into the little boy's room where she shifted him aside and cuddled up with him. Remus's words echoing in her brain.
Hehehe. I really like this chapter solely because it has McGonagall or McGooglegul, in it.
Now then, some of you are basically either really loving the idea of the end of the last chapter with Lexie's secret, or you are angry at me for even putting it in there. Now, we all know what's going on, it's pretty obvious. And I know most of you have your worries that this will take away from the Harry/Sirius relationship we've got going because every other Sirius/Harry story like this is all BAM girlfriend BAM Harry fades into the background and all the focus is on Sirius and this girl. I want to assure all of you nay-sayers right now, that I am NOT that kind of writer. No matter what I throw in, the amount of Harry/Sirius action will not suffer. When I write a story, I don't add things to have them take away from it, I add them to add to the storyline as a whole without sacrificing what has already been created. I'm building upon it, not tearing some blocks off of the tower. It would be cruel to never allow Sirius to fall in love simply because of Harry. It would be cruel for Harry to not have a strong female rolemodel in his life. And they both deserve to have a wonderful, loving, and fully complete family. Together.
Understand where I'm coming from now?
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I particularlly love the image of Ginny falling asleep in the train car and of Fred and George under the table. Seems like something they'd do. Let me know what you thought if you want. All opinions are welcomed, especially if it's set so I can respond to you personally. I love interacting with you guys and really seeing what your thoughts are.
Love always,
S.Q.O.