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In the Tower by Marauding Savior
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In the Tower

Marauding Savior

In the Tower

Part Two: 1979 (second HALF)

Summary: Sirius, Remus, and Peter lock James and Lily in a tower over Christmas Break. They don't have anything, except a little bit of food and the passion within themselves. And right now, they're just letting it out.

Disclaimer: NO.

Author's Note: This chapter was so damn long I split it in half. Obviously.

Previously: He placed it softly on the white feather pillow, and then grabbing a handful of floo powder, he screamed, "Hogsmeade!" Where he walked against the rising snow into the Hog's Head, got drunk off his ass, and after a few too many drinks, flooed home and passed out on the floor of the kitchen.

Neighbors bring food with death, and flowers with sickness, and little things in between. Boo was our neighbor. He gave us two soap dolls, a broken watch and chain, a knife, and our lives. Scout, To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)

"Come now, child," Lily said, soothingly to Somailia as she stepped bashfully out of the Hogwarts Express and looking for Lily. Somailia walked toward her and started crying softly.

"I feel old," Somailia told her sadly, looking back at the train that was still smoking.

"Yeah, well, everyone gets older," Lily told her, getting Somailia's trunk and putting it on a cart, pushing it easily through the barrier with Somailia trailing after her.

"But I graduated," she said, looking at her ring finger as her engagement ring flashed in the sun.

"But you're going to get married,"

"That makes me feel even older!" Somailia said to Lily as they walked through the barrier and out into King Cross Station.

Lily glanced behind her at Somailia and gave her an exasperated look. "Three months. You set the date yourself, and if you don't go through with it, I will personally go after you for breaking Remus' heart."

"Yeah right," Somailia muttered.

"I will," Lily said, grabbing Somailia's hand and dragging her to the car she rented for the day. "Anyway," she said, as Somailia slammed her door shut and shifted looking at the car.

"It's a very nice car," Somailia said as Lily got in the car and shut her door carefully, and they both put on their seat belts.

"I know, it's freaking brilliant," She said grinning as she put it in drive, and slowly coasted her way out of the parking lot, keeping her cool against the traffic situation. "No magic in the parking lot," She grumbled to herself.

They eventually made it out and drove for an hour or so in silence, and then Lily pulled up to the apartment building that the five of them would live in until James got his inheritance money, which wouldn't be long now, he got a letter that his mother had died valiantly fighting against five Death Eaters at one moment. "So, when are you and James moving out?" Somailia asked, trying to be casual as she lugged her trunk out of the back seat and dragging it toward the building.

"Why so eager?" Lily said grinning, locking the car before jogging to join her. "Do you really want my bathroom that bad?"

"Of course, from what you and Remus tell me-,"

"I should have never let him use it," Lily cut in, coyly looking at Somailia.

"-it's extraordinary."

"Of course it is it's my bathroom."

"But really, when are you moving out?"

Lily sighed and helped Somailia carry the trunk up the flight of stairs, then simply dropped it, took out her wand and said firmly, "Wingardium Leviosa." It jumped out of Somailia's hands and followed after Lily like a lost puppy. Somailia, looking down at her hands, which were red at the places where the trunk had been held, were looking ghastly. "Are you coming or not?" Lily asked, and Somailia jumped, looking up and seeing Lily already two flights over her.

"Coming," She called and then rocked up awkwardly to her feet and trotted up the stairs to meet Lily, who was tapping her foot, looking around at the pale blank walls.

"Well," Lily said, grinning at Somailia as they finally stood outside the apartment door, "this is it. It's magically modified of course, because the boys had more stuff than I had, so you know, it looks small to a Muggle, but it's really a rather nice little place."

"Get on with it," Somailia said, smiling slightly at Lily.

"Fine, fine," Lily said, and then throwing open the door. The place was spotless, and utterly huge. Somailia stepped in, feeling overwhelmed as she gawked at it. Lily magicked the trunk in behind them.

"It's extraordinary," she said, finding a good word to describe it. All three guys came tumbling down the stairs, bickering loudly to one another, and then Sirius, who was in the lead, stopped on the first stair, and James behind him screeched to a halt, knocking Sirius forward slightly. Remus, who was behind all of them and in the greatest rush to see her, noticed too late that the guys in front of him had stopped, and barreled right into James' back, knocking them all over.

Lily, spontaneously, grinning like a child with a lollipop, ran over to them and jumped on them, screaming, "DOG PILE ON SIRIUS!" He moaned and the boys groaned and Lily laughed her arse off until Somailia launched herself onto the pile, knocking Lily flat on her stomach on top of Remus.

"… I think I broke something," Sirius said as they all laughed their selves hoarse just despite him.

"I think I broke my funny bone," James said, wrinkling his nose as he was squished uncomfortably against Sirius.

"What funny bone?" Remus reprimanded, and quickly got caught with a hit to the gut.

"This isn't the most comfortable position," Lily said after a long while.

"For you it isn't," Somailia laughed, and shouted, "I'm the queen of the, uh, apartment!"

"Sorry doll, but that's me," Sirius said in falsetto, and James gave out a guttural scream.

"Lily, is that you?" he said, poking Sirius in the back.

"God I hope not," Remus said, "or else Sirius is pushing his pelvis into my behind and I don't want it."

Lily chortled and butted her head against Remus' shoulders affectionately. "Of course, darling," she said in a deep baritone voice.

"You know," Somailia said, flicking Lily in the small of her back, "you actually sounded like him."

"Okay, that's an insult!" Sirius said, struggling to move.

"No, no not yet," James said, smiling despite his position.

Remus just shifted.

"Did anybody else notice that we're-?"

"-Talking in the order we're in from the dog pile?" Somailia asked, finishing off Lily's sentence.

"Well that's odd," Sirius said.

"Indeed!" James chortled.

"I was supposed to give you something-,"

"But it's shoving into my thigh so it's unreachable," Lily finished.

"Well then, I'll just move," Somailia said, and jumped off Lily's legs, and she immediately rolled off the boys, who all tried to get up at once and fell again. Lily rolled her eyes and pulled Remus and James up with a rough jerk by the loops of their jeans. They went flying backward and crashed into Lily, and she screamed as they all landed hard on their backs. Somailia helped Sirius up trying hard to stifle her laughter, and together they stared down at them.

"Weren't we just in this position?" He said with a leery grin, and Somailia, affronted, smacked him hard in the chest before leaning down to help Remus up. Sirius, reluctantly followed suit with James and Lily.

"Now," Somailia said, smoothing down her shirt and looking at Remus and Lily, "first, what are you supposed to give me, and Lily, when are you moving out?"

"Meanie," Lily and James said together, sticking their tongues out at her. "Two weeks," they said after the moment of playfulness wore off and they were faced with the situation. "So, you and Remus get the master bedroom-,"

"AH-WOO!" Sirius howled, and they all stopped and stared at him, and then shook their heads.

"-And Sirius keeps his room and Remus' room will turn into the guest room."

And Remus wrapped an arm around Somailia's waist, and gave her a box, "and I was going to give you this." She opened it and squealed starting to jump up and down. She pulled out a spectacular gold necklace with rubies and emeralds encrusted into it.

"This is…" she couldn't finish her sentence and blinked rapidly, trying to hold back tears. She turned toward him and held it out to him, and he took it from her hands and she turned again, lifting her hair as he placed it around her neck. When it finally hung from her neck, he placed a finger on her neck, gently tracing the cold metal. She touched it and the tears sprung from her eyes; she couldn't hold them back anymore.

"It looks wonderful," Sirius said, honestly, staring at the necklace as it sat on her collarbone lightly. Somailia smiled as teardrops fell down her face and she turned to hug Remus tightly and gave him a long tender kiss before hugging Sirius and James at the same time, awkwardly. She let them go and wrapped Lily into a big bear hug, and then the boys surrounded them, hugging each other.

"I love you guys," she managed to choke out.

"Goddamn we are drama queens," James said, laughing.

"No kings here," Lily said playfully as she poked James in the ribs, making him laugh all the more.

"Well," Remus said, pulling out of the hug and everyone else followed suit, leaving Somailia within the confines of the circle they had around her, "we did have something that just us boys made, and I'm telling you it was damn hard to do." He grabbed her hand and squeezed it gently before looking over her head and inclining his head, barley. Sirius came up behind her and put his hands over her eyes, and she pouted.

James walked up to her and held her other hand, and all three boys started slowly pulling her toward the kitchen. Lily befuddled but grinning despite, followed them. She grinned slowly as she saw what was in the kitchen, and stood on the other side of the table as the boys and Somailia stood in front of it.

James let go of her hand, and stood at one end of the table, and Remus did the same. Only Sirius stood behind her, and then he slowly unveiled his eyes. "You're spoiling me!" She said awestruck, as she started at the rather large chocolate cake, and then her face softened as she reached out and pet the cat as it walked around the cake, its tail held high and meowing curiously. Milkshake jumped up on the table and strutted up to Somailia, pushing against her torso and being ever so sweet.

"It's fun to spoil somebody else besides Lily," Remus said with a small grin as he watched as the delighted Somailia picked up the black cat next to the cake and started scratching its ears as he purred appreciatively. "And Sirius," Remus added, smiling, as Sirius scoffed and picked up Milkshake, turning so Milkshake was hidden from Remus.

"You do not spoil me!" He said, whiney, and Somailia giggled at the act. She reached out a hand and patted his shoulder.

"Of course they don't," she said sarcastically. "I'll call the cat-,"

"It's a he," Remus interrupted, and she smiled.

"-Sebastian," she finished, and Sebastian meowed in approval.

"Ah, that reminds me," James suddenly blurted, ruining the precious moment. He turned to Lily and said, looking at her narrowly, "didn't you have a cat?"

"Yes," she said, suddenly remembering what she told James that night they played twenty questions on the tower roof. "He's at my parents' house. They adore him, and he feels the same way about them. They three are inseparable."

Sirius suddenly butted in, and looked at James, stroking Milkshakes fur like the evil mad scientist he was trying to be. "I want to go see Charlie!" He pouted, and then set Milkshake down and apparated away.

"Um…" Both the girls said, looking at James, and then Somailia caught sight of the cake again. "Anybody want some?" She asked innocently, and the boys told her they would raucously, trying to stifle their laughter.

As the remaining now adults sat at the table, Somailia asked them with a raised eyebrow, "whose Charlie? Sirius' gay lover?"

The other three choked on their cake and coughed as she watched them, delighted.

"Charlie is my horse," James said, recovering.

She raised her eyebrow, and feeling happy enough to be slightly perverted, she asked in her same innocent voice, "Then why didn't he just drag you up to the bedroom?"

Remus burst out laughing with tears streaming out of his eyes. "Som!" Lily said, gasping and trying to hold back the laughter that was bubbling up in her throat.

James, dramatically, scratched his chin, pondering the question. "Why didn't he indeed," He jumped up in the same way, gave them a sweeping bow, and told them proudly, "I must go see Sirius, so we can see… my horse." He giggled like a school girl then, and sounded exactly like one, he apparated away, but Lily heard him land in their bedroom upstairs, walk to her bathroom, and laughed him silly.

Somailia started to cry and smile widely as James and Sirius walked her down the isle in her rich white wedding dress. Remus was watching them come down, smiling radiantly. Lily smiled sweetly as she stood beside the isle in front, and took a glance over at Peter. He stood, shifting his weight and looking at his feet or looking lustfully at all the girls around. Lily ignored the fact that there weren't many. James and Sirius both kissed her cheek and walked over to either side of the isle, Sirius standing straight and tall a serious- no joke- look on his face. James had a grin on his face as he stood in the same way next to Lily, watching with his eyes as Somailia and Remus recited their vows.

Lily began to cry softly as Somailia and Remus began to recite their hand written vows, and James wrapped an arm around her waist comfortingly. As the priest said somberly, "you may now kiss the bride," Remus lifted Somailia's veil, grinned at her nervously, which she returned, and she leaned forward toward him, her chin tilted, upward as they kissed each other tenderly. Lily's crying became full out sobbing, and James wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forehead sweetly. Remus and Somailia beamed at everyone in the small church, and everyone smiled at them, tears stinging at their eyes.

As Remus and Somailia exited the church, she threw the bouquet, and Sirius ran forward and caught it. Grinning, he eyed Peter; Peter looked at him, mock blushed, and stared down at his feet… again. The party afterward, was a surprise until Remus told the ensemble at the church. It was going to be held at the Quidditch Pitch, and those two words made James and Sirius whoop in joy.

The boys, as soon as they got there, started running around screaming at the top of their lungs, and since it was mid-September, lights jumped up in the castle, and many a face peered out their windows. Hoarsely, James wrapped an arm around Lily's middle as she talked animatedly to Somailia, and whispered in her ear that he loved her very much and would she mind sneaking into the castle to get the Marauders' Map? "I most certainly won't!" She said, elbowing him. "That's in dammed Filch's office!"

"He can't do anything to you, Lil."

"He can hang me by my toes,"

"But you're not a student."

"He doesn't know that,"

"James, I am not getting you the Marauders' Map, and if you ask me anymore tonight, I am giving Dumbledore the invisibility cloak."

He gasped. "You wouldn't!"

"I would," Two hours later, a quite drunk James asked Lily again, and she immediately walked to Hogsmeade, apparated to their cottage, got the Invisibility cloak, walked back to the Quidditch Pitch, found James and dragged him by the arm to Dumbledore's office.

Woozily, James painstakingly told Dumbledore, who was clearly amused but hiding it, badly, from James, that he wanted to give the invisibility cloak to Dumbledore until his first child came to Hogwarts. Dumbledore completely understood, looked at Lily and smiled slowly, and she grinned before dragging James out again, saying, and `thank you' profusely.

Lily found Somailia, who was slow dancing with Remus to no music in a secluded corner of the Pitch, and told them that she and James had to go now, because he was quite drunk and she couldn't risk it getting worse. And then she added, thoughtfully, that she would take Sirius home, who was much drunker than James. They full-heartedly agreed, and recommended that she risk floo, and say the destination for him so he doesn't wind up in Siberia. All turned out well in the end, just so you should know.

"I hate Christmas," James mumbled as he waved his wand and the lights on the wood floor in front of him slowly floated onto the Christmas tree he and Lily had bought together two weeks ago.

"Shut up, James Christmas is a time to be goddamn happy, dammit."

"It's also a time," he retorted, "to be a good person. And not swear at your loving husband, who so selflessly bought the tree for you out of the goodness of his heart."

"And out of our joint bank account, where you also spend half the time trying to empty so you can go to Zonko's and buy dung bombs." It was five days until Christmas, and Lily and James were still rushing around getting presents and such.

"Yeah, well, I don't want our children to get big heads from the fact we'll have a fortune that they can spend for their own practical jokes."

"Excuses, excuses," she said breezily, walking into the room and moving him onto the couch so they could sit and stare… at the tree, which was still having the lights and ornaments put on them. She handed him a cookie, and ordered him to eat it. He grabbed one off the tray impulsively, and bit into it.

"These are good," he said after a moment, and he stared at the cookie, not noticing Lily's triumphant smirk. "What are these?"

"Dragon Dung and chocolate chunk," she said, and he spat it out, choking, and ran to the bathroom. She grinned and kneeled before the fireplace and grabbed some floo powder, throwing into in the fire and saying firmly, "7A Bearoak!" And promptly stuck her head into the fire.

"Sirius," She called as she saw him stuffing his face with cookie dough, and he looked at her with bulging cheeks.

"Lily," He said, and bits of food went flying. He scrambled down to the fireplace and sat in front of it swallowing.

"It worked," she said triumphantly, and Sirius laughed.

"Great!" He was laughing and his gray eyes were dancing in delight.

Remus stumbled into the room, his clothes askew and he was rubbing his eyes. "Ooh, what's this?" Sirius asked, staring at him happily. "Pre-marital then?"

"Oh shut up," Remus mumbled, "for your information, I went to sleep in my clothes, and just woke up for a midnight snack." He suddenly looked past Sirius and jolted more awake. "Hello Lily, I hope your house at Godric's Hollow is doing well?"

"It is," She said grinning, "and practical jokes are ensuing."

"Oh dear," Remus said, "My conscience is telling me that you and Sirius concocted something?" He heated a kettle on the oven and poured in hot water, waiting patiently.

"That we did," Sirius said proudly.

"I baked a tray of cookies for him," Lily started.

"You baked cookies? You've moved up from burnt toast then?" Remus said, smiling easily at Lily. Sirius hit him in the leg. "OW! Hey!" He said in a whiney voice, "that wasn't nice." He got a cup out of the cupboard and poured the water into the cup before fetching himself a tea package and let it seep through the package into his tea.

"That was for Lily," Sirius said, grinning.

"What kind of cookies?" He asked, removing the package and blew on his tea, before sipping on it.

"Dragon Dung and chocolate chunk," she lied, modestly.

Remus choked on the cup of tea. "Excuse!"

"I think," Lily heard a voice behind her, "it's time I got to talk to Lily,"

"Uh-oh," Lily said, glancing around the kitchen nervously, but they knew she wasn't looking at the kitchen. "He's arrived. Gotta go, tell Somailia I said hello," she pulled her head out of the fire to look at James' face. She burst out laughing noticing the green tinge in it. Facetiously, she grinned up at him. "How was your cookie?"

He growled in the same way and bent down, picking her up easily and placing her over his shoulder as he stomped up the stairs to their bedroom. She screamed, laughing, and punching his shoulders, but he didn't, er, budge, and she landed on their bed, laughing hard. He landed beside her, and laughed as he kissed along her neck, making her shiver, and she turned her head as he kissed her deeply.

She pulled back from it, and looking into his eyes, she said somberly, "You taste like your previous activity. Brush your teeth please."

He raised his head by holding it up on his elbow, and looked down at her tenderly. "You totally ruined the moment,"

"I know,"

"Fine, I'll go brush my teeth," he said, getting up and walking away, sending her an adoring glance before bumping into the wall. She suppressed her giggles by pushing her head into the comforter, and she could see him in her minds eye scowling dazed.

She immediately thought of a serious thought and sat up in the bed, rubbing her stomach as she thought. One of the cookies wouldn't be that bad; she thought as she slowly got off the bed and went down the stairs. She walked to the couch, where she left the plate, grabbed the closest one, and bit into it. She closed her eyes in bliss, as the white fudge melted into her mouth, and the chocolate chunks sending out happy waves into her body.

"Are you eating the Dragon Dung?" James asked, incredulous as he watched her from the stairs. She whipped around, her hand firmly placed on her stomach, rubbing it comfortably.

"It's not Dragon Dung," she said softly, looking up to meet his eyes.

"Oh?" He said stepping down the last steps and slowly crossing the room to meet her. "Then what is it?"

"White fudge and chocolate chunk," she said, and he sighed and grabbed another cookie before shoving the whole thing in his mouth, letting her see the sides of it as it pressed against his cheeks. He chewed it thoughtfully as she nibbled on hers, he finally, his eyes widening, swallowed it.

"It was good," he said, looking down at her curiously.

"I know,"

"Why are you rubbing your stomach?" He blurted, and she spread her fingers around her stomach.

"Be-because I'm hungry,"

"Of course you are," he said sardonically.

"I am!"

"After you had three sets of ribs, mine included, and three bowls of tomato soup. Of course you're hungry."

"You should know I have a large appetite," she defended herself.

"This only coming within the last two weeks,"

"Gah!" She suddenly yelled, and he backed up. "Stop badgering me about it! I won't tell you, until the right time!" With that, she recovered her composure, kissed him lightly on the cheek, and stomped back up the stairs.

"James?" A frantic voice called from the fireplace, and he glanced at it, running a hand through his hair agitated.

"Yeah, Remus?"

"Where's Lily?"

"She just went upstairs, why?"

"I need to talk to her,"

"Why can't you talk to me?"

"Because she would know from women's logic."

"…Yeah. Right, okay, um, can I at least try it?"

After a long moment of nervous worrying, Remus finally said in a quiet, meek voice, "Somailia is going to be an auror."

"Now?" James asked worriedly. Remus nodded. "But there isn't enough time for the training and all..." Remus shrugged wearily. "It's a noble job."

"The times are getting worse, James, and Somailia wants to join right in the middle of it. I don't want her too," Remus looked like he was about to cry.

"She can make her own decisions," James said with difficulty, trying to find the right words for it.

"I know she can," Remus said, rushing on, ignoring the fact his voice was cracking, "but I don't want her to get hurt."

"When's she starting training?" James asked with a sigh.

"As soon as she can. Around New Year's I suppose,"

"And you can't change her mind?" James asked despairingly. A curious meow interrupted their heavy conversation, and Remus turned his head a moment before looking at James with a slight smile.

"Sebastian and Milkshake say hello," and then he added with a quirky grin, "and so does their four kittens."

"Oh Merlin no," James said, his eyes widening. "Please do not tell Lily of this." Ostentatiously, he added, "that's a perfect Christmas present. How old are they?"

"They just opened their eyes a few days ago." Remus informed him.

"Oh good," James said grinning. "Can I come over tomorrow while Lily is doing something with Guinevere and choose one?"

"Sure," Remus said. "Uh-oh, Misses is coming,"

"Hi, James!" James heard and immediately stifled laughter as he Sirius shoved Remus over to talk to James.

"Hey Sir,"

"Want some pudding?" Sirius asked him randomly, and James stared at him, lost for words. Sirius tossed a rotund, big canister of pudding through the fire, and it hit James in the forehead.

"Um…"

"Eat it, I promise it's good! I have to go; Somailia and I are getting a pedicure at the mall." Sirius left, and James stared dumbstruck at the place his head had just inhabited.

"They do all sorts of girly stuff together," Remus said nonchalantly.

"Oh good lord that's weird,"

"Well," Remus said shifting, "my knees are starting to hurt, so I think I'm just gonna go start wrapping presents."

James, who had been ignoring the steady pain in his knees, nodded. "I should probably be doing that as well."

"See you on Christmas?"

"Yep, `till then?"

"Yup,"

"'Kay, bye,"

"Bye," James watched as Remus pulled his head out of the fire and realized that they didn't decide on what to tell Somailia about her career options.

"James," Lily whispered, shaking James' arm a little. He grunted and rolled over. "JAMES." She said more forcefully.

"What?" He asked groggily.

She grabbed his arm and turned him over so he was on his back again. "Happy Christmas,"

He shot up, and then looked at her, joy radiating from him. "Merry Christmas," he shouted, and then gathered her up in his arms and kissed her hard.

They got out of bed and tumbled down the stairs and sat next to each other in front of their Christmas tree, staring at the pile. Lily reached in and handed James a richly wrapped present. "You first,"

He ripped it open, and looked over it. "'101 ways to annoy your least favorite person'" he read, and then hugged her tightly. "Watch out, Snivellus," he said evilly, and she shoved him a bit.

"Weirdo," she said, but kissed him on the cheek nonetheless.

He handed her a small package, beautifully wrapped in a deep blue. She unwrapped it carefully; ignoring James' goading of, "rip it." She gasped as she opened another package and a set of ruby earrings winked up at her. "They're gorgeous, James." She said, staring at them. He opened his mouth and she silently closed it with her finger held to his lips. "Don't you dare say it, it would be very cheesy, and right now I don't feel cheesy."

"Oh fine," he said grudgingly. She handed him a thin envelop when she finally got her wits about her, and he raised an eyebrow but opened it and read the letter inside. His eyebrows rose higher and his eyes got bigger until the last line. "Merlin…" he said, awed. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"It's a present, isn't it? And I wanted you to be happy on Christmas, because most people are ecstatic when they hear the news that `Congratulations! You're a father!' But apparently-."

"That's not it at all! I am ecstatic! I just wish you gave me notice a little ahead of-oh. Is that why you were rubbing your stomach when you gave me one of those cookies?" She blushed as an answer. "Figures," He kissed her cheek, and then stood up and walked around the tree, coming back out with a large wicker basket. "This might help," he said, as she took off the cover and a small, tabby kitten stuck its head out, yawning widely.

"It's adorable!" She said and then cooed at the kitten.

"Of course it's adorable, I picked him out. Adorable knows when Adorable sees Adorable, and your big tall handsome Adorable saw this small tiny fluffy little adorable and had to get it."

She pondered what he said as she gently reached into the basket and picked the kitten up, letting it crawl into her arms and purred as he rubbed against her hand. "You said adorable too much,"

He smiled and set the kitten on her shoulders, and it dug its claws into her large, old shirt and looked down at the world curiously from its new perch. "Shall we exchange the rest of our presents, milady?"

"Certainly, my kind sir,"

And that they did. As they lie in the midst of all the wrappers and bows afterwards, James gently stroked her cheek while she closed her eyes and dozed. The kitten, which they decided to name Godric, that lucky little kitten had a lot to live up to, climbed around on their limbs, pouncing at random, making James chuckle sleepily, and watching him.

The doorbell rang, echoing thorough out the small cozy cottage, and Godric fell down off James' knee in fright. He calmly picked him up and set him on his shoulder, stroking his fuzzy pallet of fur. He walked slowly through three more rooms before opening the door with a crooked grin on his face.

"Hey, James!" Three voices echoed each other, and he opened the door wider and let them step in. "How's Lily like the kitten?" Remus asked, shrugging off his coat and scarf and placing it on the coat rack.

"She thinks he's superb," he said, his smile growing as Godric hopped on his hair, sinking into it. "We named him Godric,"

"He's so cute!" Somailia gushed, rushing forward and gave James a dazed kiss on the cheek before trying to reach Godric. James rolled his eyes over her head and slowly bent his knees until she could reach Godric, and she instantly scooped him up, and started talking to him. Sirius watched her go as she walked out of the hall and toward the living room.

All three of the boys, er I mean men, looked at each other oddly. "Odd," they all said together, and shrugged. "Oh what the hell, we'll still love them anyway." With that said, they all looked at each other, and followed Somailia to the living room. The first thing James noticed was that somehow Godric was up in the tree and batting at the tinsel and ornaments, and second thing he noticed was that Lily and Somailia were talking on the couch, Lily rubbing her stomach thoughtfully as Somailia talked to her in hushed tones.

"Are we interrupting girl talk?" Sirius said cheerfully, and bounded over to them and squished between them getting comfortable. "Because if we are, I'll join you!"

They stopped talking immediately. Sirius pouted and leaned forward, putting his elbows on his knees with a dramatic flair. Lily rolled her eyes and stood. "Who wants ham?" She asked, and everyone responded. "Right then, hold on a moment." Lily walked into the kitchen and James followed her.

"Are you going to tell them?"

"Tell them what?"

"That you're pregnant." James said, and Sirius banged in, hitting the wall and door along the way.

"Well that's good news!" Sirius said, and then called over his shoulder, "Hey guys, Lily's pregnant!" Lily leaned her head against James' chest.

"That is not how I wanted them to find out."

"Too late," James said, and Lily groaned even more.

Katie laughed her head off as she watched the going-on's of those down below. Harry was equally amused, and abso-bloody-lutely delighted that in about a month he could actually be down there in his mother's womb. "You're not gonna miss me, kiddo?" Katie asked with a smile on her face as she sat on the cloud, swinging her legs and drinking straight from bottle of rum.

"Course I will!" He said, sitting beside her and putting his arms around her comfortingly.

"But you won't remember me!" She slurred, and he calmly removed the bottle from her fingers.

"No use getting drunk in Heaven, I'm afraid."

"I can get drunk in Heaven because I know I won't get a hangover."

"Right…"

She stood and stamped her foot, pouting. "I want someone in Heaven with me while you're down there, Harry."

"You'll have my parents in twenty-three months."

"Gee that's helpful." She said sarcastically.

Hurt, he added, "and you'll have her in less than nine."

She growled. "Nine months. Yes, plenty of time."

He stood and walked away from her. "I don't know what's wrong with you, but I think you're pushing me away."

"Oh really, Sherlock? What took you so long?" Harry looked like he was about to cry, and held them back.

"You don't have to tell me I'm not needed here."

"I'm just doing the same thing you did with Ron and Hermione."

"Leave them out of this!" He yelled.

"Why should I?" She shouted back, getting up and walking toward him, looking him right in the eye, fuming.

"I only did that to save them!"

"It didn't help in the end, though, did it?" She said, and he pushed her backward and started advancing.

"Don't bring that up! NEVER TALK ABOUT IT!"

She shoved him back as well. "You didn't want them to be hurt, but they wanted to be there with you, through thick and thin. THEY LOVED YOU! And you ignored them. She loved you more than anything."

"I loved her too!" He said, his eyes blazing.

"You never told her that!"

"I was afraid! I was afraid for her!"

"She could keep her own!"

"Not against all of those Death Eaters! They were going to kill her just because she was a muggleborn! Prejudice bastards."

"Let it out, Harry. Let the whole world, and Heaven, know that you're pissed off." And that he did. He ended up, nearly an hour later, crying into her shoulder as she rubbed his back soothingly.

"I hate knowing I won't be able to remember this when I'm down there."

"I hate knowing that you won't know."

"Can you not come down and visit?"

"No, because you can't see me,"

He coughed and sniffled, wiping his nose. "I hate that."

"I do too." She then sighed and shifted her weight so he was more comfortable leaning against her. "Shall we just watch and enjoy it while we can?"

"I guess," he said, moving his head sadly. "Do you think we can watch Ron and Hermione as well?"

"Of course," she said with motherly tenderness, and kneeling, they both scooted forward toward the edge of the cloud. "Who do you want to see first?"

"Fred and George,"

"Show me Fred and George-,"

"Gred and Feorge,"

"-Weasley," she finished firmly, and they appeared, yelling and screaming while a harassed, and very pregnant, looking Molly Weasley removed the book from little Percy's hands, making his eyes well up with tears, and he started to cry loudly.

"Charlie, will you please take your little brother?" Eight year old Charlie strolled in, picked up Percy, and walked back out.

"I'll let you read me your fairy tales," they heard Charlie say to a whimpering Percy.

"Yay!" Percy said happily, and the door swung shut behind them, blocking out the rest.

"That was sweet," Katie said thoughtfully, and Harry nodded. "I'm gonna go to sleep, okay?" She said to Harry and he nodded, kissing her forehead in farewell. She nodded, and glanced over her shoulder once more at Harry before disappearing to her dream room.


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