Chapter 9
That spring and summer passed Sirius in a haze of happiness.
There were dates with Remus, who attended every monthly drinks do for the parlour.
There was Regulus, who had finally started seeing a therapist that Effie had found for him.
He had a job, too, working as a barista at the little independent coffee shop in the village where the Potters lived. He had become an absolute coffee snob, and you could tell he loved his job.
There was James, who threw himself into pre-fatherhood with all the thumos of a Greek hero. He read books and watched documentaries and took night classes and built cribs.
Finally, there was Lily. Lovely Lily, who was positively glowing with pregnancy. There were baby showers and bridal showers, Sirius was the best man and Remus the maid of honour, with Dorcas and Marlene as bridesmaids and Regulus as a groomsman.
The wedding was in early July. The baby was practically due, but Lily insisted. She looked stunning in a floating gauzy dress that flowed off her stomach and pooled around her feet. Her hair was garlanded with pure white lilies, and she looked like a pre-raphaelite vision.
Sirius had cried even more than James did, which Effie and Monty teased him for mercilessly. It had been the perfect day.
—
Today was looking to be even better.
It was the final day of July and Sirius had been awoken by a frantic phone call- reminiscent of one roughly eight months ago….
“This is it Pads, shit this is it”
“This is what, Prongs? It’s 6 in the morning” Sirius said, Remus still asleep, his arm slung over Sirius’ hip.
“He’s coming, Pads. I’m gonna be a dad”
“Oh shit, Prongs. We’re on our way. Kings Hospital, yea?”
“Yeah, Pads. Hurry, I need you here for this”
“I love you, James”
—
Half an hour later, Remus and Sirius stumbled into a white hospital room, half awake, and barely dressed. Sirius was still in his pyjama trousers and a hoodie that had been James’.
Remus looked marginally more put together, but if you looked closely you could see his t shirt was inside out.
Lily lay on the bed, her baby hairs stuck to her forehead with sweat, her round cheeks a robust red colour, her eyes shining with fear and excitement.
“We’re here!” Sirius shouted unnecessarily as they entered, cups of hospital coffee in their hands.
“Oh thank god, Pads” James breathed, throwing himself into Sirius’ arms and holding on tight. Sirius clung back tighter, laughing into James neck.
“This is it, Prongsie!” He half-yelled, delirious with excitement.
Remus had gone to sit on the edge of the bed, taking Lily’s hand in his, and kissing her on the damp forehead.
“My best boy” lily murmured, looking up at him with love.
“My best girl” he said back, stroking her hair with heartbreaking gentleness. It was a stark contrast to the interaction with Sirius and James, but both sets of friends held the same intense love for eachother.
Lily suddenly clutched Remus’ hand and groaned, breaking the giddy peace.
“Shit, Lily” James yelled, running to her other side and crouching down, taking her other hand.
She cried out again, more sweat soaking her hair, and Sirius could have sworn he heard the sound of James’ finger bones cracking as Lily clutched them.
Six hours later, a beautiful baby boy was born. He already had a shock of black hair, and milky brown skin, a shade or two lighter than James’s.
James held him with awe, before turning to Sirius and gently placing the sleeping bundle into Sirius’ arms. Sirius felt hot tears cascade down his face as he beheld the baby, eyes closed and face peaceful.
“He’s too small” Sirius choked out, stroking down the boy’s chest with a careful finger.
“We’re going to call him Harry” Lily said, her voice hoarse from the screaming. Sirius recalled a conversation held almost a year ago, at his rickety kitchen table and turned to Remus and said ‘I told you so’.
Remus laughed gently and eased Harry from Sirius’ arms into his own. Sirius immediate pulled James into his arms and clung to him as they both cried.
“I’m a dad, Padfoot” James said into Sirius neck.
“I can barely take care of myself”
“That’s what mum and dad are for, eh?” Sirius said.
“Speaking of, where are Effie and Monty?” Lily asked, her son back in her arms now.
“Stuck in traffic and very upset about it” James replied, looking at his wife with an awestruck look on his face.
—
Effi and Monty soon arrived, with Regulus in tow, fussing and cooing over baby Harry. Regulus held him gingerly, afraid to break such a fragile being.
Seeing his brother with his godson did something funny to Sirius heart. He would never had imagined that the two little abused boys would ever find their way to so much love.
—
3 years later
“Uncle Padfoot! Uncle Moony! Wake up!”
A boisterous toddler climbed onto the bed and started bouncing on Sirius’ stomach.
“Oof” he groaned, tugging the boy off him and wrapping him up in his arms.
“No cuddles uncle Padfoot! Pancakes! Wake upppp” the boy wailed, tugging at Sirius’ hair with his pudgy little hands.
“Ugh fine” Sirius said, swinging his legs over the side of the bed and standing.
“Let’s go, Harry darling. Leave uncle Moony to sleep. Let’s go make breakfast.”