“Harry? mummy is here.” Lily’s voice echoed through the living room where Harry and Sirius laid in a mess on the couch in deep sleep. Harry’s leg was resting on Sirius chest and both of their, black, hair blended in together so you couldn’t tell which strands were whose.
“Sirius! Wake up!” Remus shouted and rolled his eyes before catching Lily’s slightly terrified look.
“I’ve been calling his name all morning he won’t get up… and Harry as well they’re like the same person.” Remus explained and Lily shook her head and knelt to the floor by the couch. Her hand went to Harry’s hair, she softly spoke to him and a minute later he was slowly opening his eyes.
“Hi darling, I’ve missed you…” Lily said and Harry stretched out his weak arms to her. “Come here…”
“Sirius…” Remus groaned and patted his hair like Lily had done to Harry but the man only squirmed in his sleep and let out a low groan.
“I’m gonna hex him awake” Remus said and started looking for his wand.
“Pa’foo sleepy” Harry said his voice still not recovered from the sleep.
“Yes and for way too long” Remus pointed his wand at Sirius ready to throw a quick tickling hex.
“Remus please don’t do that in front of Harry, it's not good for kids to witness such violence.” Lily said in a sing-song voice trying to conceal her annoyance from Harry.
“How is this violence?” Remus asked.
“Using magic on someone to get your way especially while sleeping?” She explained and Remus couldn’t deny that she had a point.
“Hey Harry, how about we try waking uncle padfoot together?” Lily said and Harry nodded as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. He crawled out of her arms and onto Sirius, pressing down on his abdomen. Harry poked his cheeks and patted his hair like his mother had just done to him.
“Pa’foo” Harry said and kissed his cheek. The man stirred his hand going to embrace Harry in a cuddle as he kept his eyes closed. “Noooo wake up mummy is here”
Sirius groaned and fluttered his eyes open, slowly taking in his surroundings. “Hi Harry, good morning” he said and cuddled the boy closer.
“Owiiie pa’foo” Harry whined and Sirius let him go.
“What’s owie baby?” Lily asked.
“His stubble probably… good morning pads…” Remus said and kissed Sirius on the top of his head.
“Mornin…” Sirius muttered his eyes half closed as he let go of Harry.
“Why are you so sleepy today hm?” Remus asked and lowered himself to sit right by Sirius' head. He ran a hand through his hair and observed his exhausted boyfriend.
“I don’t know. Maybe because I was watching James Potter’s child all of yesterday” Sirius said sarcastically as he hummed at the feeling.
“That’s right, did you have fun Harry?” Lily asked and Harry beamed instantly.
“Yeah! We played witich and pa’foo put me on his back like a dragon!” Harry reported to his mum excitedly, almost jumping with energy.
“Oh no wonder uncle padfoot is so tired then.” Lily smiled and Harry looked slightly concerned at Sirius but his smile still stood.
“Don’t say uncle, please I’m only 23!” Sirius whined and Remus laughed, patting him on the head.
“24 in a few days” said Remus and Sirius rolled his eyes.
“No pa’foo is a hundred one hundreds!” Harry laughed.
“Yeah he definitely is acting like it, get your bum up we have things to do.” Remus said gently patting Sirius’ cheek which made him groan and turn away from him.
“Like what?”
“Cleaning, making breakfast, getting ready…”
“We can do that in like an hour. Why the rush?”
“Yeah sure.”
“Pronsie!” Harry yelled and ran to pick up his stuffed animal which was a custom made stag that spoke in his parents’ voices whenever he pulled on one of the horns.
“Ow, not so hard potter!” James’ voice filled the room and Harry pulled on it repeatedly.
“Potter spots the snitch, speeding after it aaaaand UNBELIEVABLE! HARRY POTTER CATCHES THE SNITCH GRYFFINDOR WINS!” James’ voice comes up again from the toy and Sirius can’t help but laugh.
“Harry is being conditioned already. Prongs really misunderstood the type of gift.” Said Remus, shaking his head.
“Mum and dad love you Harry” said Lily through the toy and Harry hugged the toy as he got up again.
“Lily, your son is the epitome of adorable.” Sirius sobbed dramatically. “I wanna bite his cheeks!”
“No. Don’t you even dare touch his cheeks, Black.” Lily glared and Sirius didn’t even complain, he wouldn’t make Harry uncomfortable like that.
“Pa’foo” Harry called and Sirius made himself get up and twisted his wand into his hair to get a better look at the child. “Hm?” He asked and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, leaning forward to meet Harry at eye level.
“Get your bum up Black!” He said with more attitude than necessary and Sirius felt so taken aback that he snorted a laugh.
“Harry!” Lily said in a whisper as she stifled her own laugh.
“That’s how it’s done, Harry, good job.” Sirius praised and offered Harry a fist bump which he half met.
“Come on Harry, we are leaving. Let’s get you changed.” Lily said and as if those words had threatened his world, Harry shook his head and his face turned red, a sign that he was not at all happy and was minutes away from showing it to anyone and everyone.
“We are matching!” Harry pouted and pointed at Sirius’ shirt, they were both wearing gryffindor quidditch shirt with each of their last names.
“Harry, don’t start now. Let’s get this over with, we have to leave.” Lily sighed and started pulling clothes out from her bag. Harry panicked more at the clothes being in his sight and started jumping in his spot out of frustration.
“No! Wanna stay!” He shouted and tears streamed down his face as he grabbed Sirius’ fingers in his own small ones. He sobbed and refused to go anywhere near Lily. He lifted his arms in Sirius’ direction in request to be held by him and Sirius obliged, unwilling to watch his godson cry any more than he had to, no matter the reason.
“Hey, hey Harry, it’s okay I’m still here.”
“Wanna stay with pa’foo and moony” Harry hiccuped and grabbed Sirius’ shirt in his fist.
“Alright, alright, but wait a minute! Do you know what day it is today?” Sirius asked, overly enthusiastic to catch Harry’s attention. Harry shook his head as he continued crying.
“It’s halloween! Certainly, you wouldn’t want to miss such a fun day, would you?” Sirius asked with genuine excitement. Harry shook his head, his arms crossing his chest and lips pouting.
“But don’t you want to go to Ron’s Halloween party?” Sirius asked and Harry finally paused for a second and sniffled, pondered and then shook his head with a slight uncertainty.
“Whaaat? sure you do! Did you not prepare that costume of Hmm what was it again…?” Sirius asked, pretending to think.
“a dragon” Harry sniffled again and wiped his eyes.
“Yes! It’s so cool! you can’t wear it if you stay here can you?”
“No… but I wanna stay with you…” Harry pouted as his tears returned.
“Mhmm… how about this…” Sirius started and Harry looked at him with a bit of hope.
“If you go with mummy now…” Sirius said and Harry was about to protest, “Moony and I will meet you at Ron’s party later tonight?” Sirius said and Harry thought for a few seconds.
“You promise?“ Harry asked.
“I promise.” Sirius said and kissed Harry’s cheek. At that moment he heard a click of a camera. Remus stood in front of them with one of his muggle cameras.
“Sorry this was too adorable not to capture, continue please” he said and waited for the photo to print.
“Pinky promise.” Sirius said and interlocked his pinky with Harry’s and stamped it with his thumb. Harry smiled and Sirius pulled out a tissue and wiped Harry’s nose and tears.
“Wanna go to mum yet?” Sirius asked and Harry looked at his mum, and then shook his head. “Alright you can stay here for a bit but don’t forget our promise.”
“Okay…” Harry pouted and reached for his stuffed animal on the floor which Sirius picked up and handed to him. Harry pulled on the horn and james’ voice came through.
“Ho ho ho merry Christmas!-why do I need to do this? Who’s Santa? Who is Rudolph?!” Said James and Remus bursted out laughing from where he sat on the couch.
“You’re brilliant Lily, how come I’ve never thought about this?” Remus snickered.
“I’m confused” said sirius and looked at Lily for an explanation.
“Of course, you’re a pureblood how would you understand any of this.” She said.
“Tell meeee!” Sirius demanded as he stopped Harry from pulling on the plushie again.
“Nope we won’t” teased Remus and laughed at Sirius expression.
“You’re discriminating against me.” He huffed and adjusted his grip on Harry.
“Quite frankly yes, and you can’t even be mad about it.” Said Lily and laughed along with Remus.
“Okay fine, Santa is this red dressed man from the North Pole who makes toys with his elves and every year at Christmas he comes down the chimney and delivers Christmas gifts, and Rudolph is one of his reindeers that pulls his flying carriage. Santa is known for the hohooho merry Christmas thing…” Remus explained and Sirius burst out in giggles.
“So muggles let their children go around saying hoe hoe hoe?” Sirius laughed.
“It’s not even r-“ Remus started but Lily hushed him quickly.
“Harry believes in Santa don’t you love?” She asked and Harry nodded.
“He got me my new broom!” Harry said and Sirius let his mouth drop open in a gasp.
“I can’t believe you evans! Letting him take all the credit” He exclaimed and Lily shrugged with a smile.
“Harry nooo give it back! -please” Remus suddenly yelled as gently as he could. Lily and Sirius turned their attention to what was happening. Harry held the printed picture between his fingers and Remus pulled it from him, afraid he might rip it.
“Its pa’foo and me! Meanie!” Harry said and huffed, sticking his tongue out, Remus stuck his own out towards Harry.
“Remus is that necessary?” Asked Lily and remus nodded, observing, his now marked with fingerprints, Polaroid. He then rolled his eyes and poked Harry on the hand to get his attention.
“Hey harry, let’s show mum our new handshake.” He suggested and Harry’s frown disappeared in excitement. They moved their hands clumsily and got a small applaud from Lily when they finished. “Well done little lad, let’s be friends again?” Remus smiled and Harry nodded, returning the smile.
“Okay now we really gotta go, your dad is waiting for us.” Lily said and reached to grab Harry. Harry was about to protest but then quickly glanced at Sirius who gave him a meaningful look, which was enough to quiet him down.
Lily dressed him with a spell and gave him the apple slices she brought with her. “Say bye to moony and padfoot.”
“Bye moony and pa’foo see you later! Don’t forget the promise black!” Harry said and pointed at him determinedly.
“I won’t little potter! You’re gonna rock that dragon costume!” Sirius laughed and hugged him goodbye and Remus ruffled his hair.
“Be nice to mum alright?” Remus reminded and harry nodded, waving at them as Lily carried him out.
“See you later boys, thank you for watching him and I’m so sorry for this mess” Lily shouted from the hall even though the couple was following them.
“Don’t worry it was mostly me!” Sirius yelled with the same exaggerated volume.
“Bye Harry bye Lily” said Remus and waved back with sirius, Harry’s eyes left them only when they turned a corner and a few seconds later they heard a faint but familiar cry of a three year old.