Warning - **sniff** I smell a rat!
Chapter Four –
The atmosphere of the Potter Manor had changed drastically. A few days ago one would be greeted by a tense and sombre atmosphere, as if doom itself was approaching. Dreadful silence had descended upon the Manor and its inhabitants.
But now, it was anything but so. Gales of laughter could be heard ringing through the huge halls of the house. The atmosphere was light and filled with love, laughter and happiness.
"Come on Moony, enough is enough. I want to feed Harry too," Sirius complained, pouting, for the hundredth time while Remus simply rolled his eyes and went on feeding a sleeping Harry. Sirius growled.
Lily looked at her husband's best friends, now hers too, with fond amusement. They had been going on and on since morning. Taking turns in holding Harry, feeding him, playing with him, while James cat-napped beside them on the couch. Her eyes softened as they landed upon her husband. He had been up the entire night, feeding and changing Harry. Though the house-elves were more than capable of doing so, James absolutely refused to hand Harry over to them. Once again she marvelled at the strong connection which had clearly formed between him and the baby. It was nothing sort of beautiful.
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Harry suddenly woke up, his brilliant gaze landing on Remus, Sirius and then her respectively. Remus gently pulled out the bottle from Harry's mouth. The sight of the bottle soured Lily's mood a little. Perhaps, a mother's greatest connection was formed with her baby when she fed him from her own breasts. But the potion… the potion which Voldemort had made her drink; made her unable to feed her own child.
She broke out of her despairing thoughts and watched Harry's adorable little face scrunching and getting ready for a good cry. Remus winced and tried to stem the inevitable. He was, needless to say, unsuccessful.
You, my son, have got a healthy pair of lungs. Taking him from Remus, Lily gently crooned, "What is it, my little darling? Shhh… or you will wake Daddy up."
As if on a cue James woke up from his nap, blinked a few times and then demanded, "Where is Harry? Why's he crying?"
Lily watched bemused as the little devil quietened as soon as James took him in his arms. She chuckled. Sirius too was watching all this with one of his eyebrows raised, "Well, if I had not known better, I would have definitely thought James to be Harry's mother."
Everyone burst out laughing while James playfully growled, "Quiet, you three. I am trying to get him to sleep."
This only made them laugh harder till a house-elf arrived and along with him… Peter Pettigrew.
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The sudden arrival of Peter made James and Remus stiffen, while Sirius growled, "So Wormtail, finally decided to grace us with your presence?"
Peter laughed nervously, his eyes locking on James, "Yes, I came back as soon I got Lily's message about Harry's birth."
Lily frowned watching the tense exchange between the Marauders and wondered for the umpteenth time what was wrong. She had asked James several times but he had point-blank refused to tell her. Well, whatever it was, they would have to get over it. A war was going to start and she wanted James' friends standing right beside him.
So she turned towards Peter and smiled, "Welcome home, Peter."
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Later, much later, she would realize what a grave mistake she had made that day.
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James stared at Peter for a few moments and then announced, "I am going to put Harry in his nursery. It's his nap time." Saying so he turned away, carrying Harry with him.
Once he put Harry in his crib, James sighed and sat down beside him. He knew Lily wanted him, Remus, Sirius and… Peter to resolve whatever was wrong between them. But Peter had done the unthinkable. He had not told Lily about what exactly Peter had done. He could not. But he also knew he would have to forgive Peter one day… for Lily. Well, he would forgive, but he would never forget.
Blinking his thoughts away, he gently cradled one of Harry's little fists in his hands and brought it upwards to lay a gentle kiss upon it. He was just about to put it back when he stilled and brought the little fist closer for a better look. He frowned when he found nothing unusual.
That's weird, I could have sworn on seeing a mark right there, on the underside of his palm… two silver circles intertwined.
Well, what do you all think Peter has done? We'll know... soon. Review, review, review, review, review... pretty please?**blinking eyelashes**