ᵒⁿᵉ 𝐀𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐎𝐎𝐍 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐒 ʷᵒˡᶠˢᵗᵃʳ/ᵈʳᵃʳʳʸ (ᶜᵒᵐᵖˡᵉᵗᵉᵈ)

September 1st, 1985

I watch Sirius and Harry run around the house, playing some made-up game Harry wanted to play. Sirius has a hard time keeping up to the energetic toddler. I drink my coffee. Sirius always wakes up early to play with Harry. I like to sleep in, so it's a relief he's willing to do this. I sigh and begin making breakfast. Harry's new favorite thing is ketchup. On anything, especially toast. Don't ask me why. I crack some eggs in a pan. Sirius walks over to me, panting.

"Thanks for making breakfast, Moony." He says. "Boy, Harry really doesn't tire out easily does he?"

I laugh. "No, he doesn't, you tire out much easier, clearly. Where is he now?"

"He's coloring in the living room. Said he was tired. Finally." He says. He sits down at the table.

I reach up to cabinet and get the red bag of flour for some pancakes.

Harry sprints in, carrying his crayons and paper.

"Can I daw in here, Moony?" He asks me.

"Sure, Harry." I say. I take the eggs and pancakes off the pans. I plate the food and hand Harry the ketchup. "Don't put too much on, Harry." I say warningly. 

He squeezes it on all of his food. He laughs and puts down the ketchup.

Sirius and I share a look. "Okay then." I laugh. "Maybe I'll do that next time, Harry."

The next day, Harry is more quiet. He just draws all day. He's a very creative kid, I wonder what he'll be like when he grows up. I think about our days at Hogwarts, when Sirius, James, Peter and I used to run around the castle. I think back to all the adventure we had. When Lily first joined our group. James pining after her. Sirius having the idea for the Marauder's map. Getting our O.W.Ls. I sigh. I wonder if he'll be like James or more like Lily. He seems to be more like Lily, but he's still so young. Harry walks over to me.

"Yook!" He says, brandishing a drawing. I take it.

It has 3 stick figures. Two tall ones, one tiny one. One tall one has long black hair and a black jacket, and the other one has short brown hair and a sweater. The small one has jet black hair, glasses and a red scribble I take to be Harry's scar. They are labeled Moony, Padfoot and Harry, though he spelled everything wrong but his own name. I smile.

"I dawed us!" He exclaims.

I hand him back the drawing. My eyes water. I blink back tears, vividly remembering James and Lily. "Oh, Harry, I love it."

He smiles and waddles away.

I look to Sirius. He's silently crying.

"Pads..." I say.

He waves me off. "I'm fine." He whispers. "I'm fine."

I sigh and shift in my seat. I take a long drink of water, relieving the need to cry. Harry walks past us, laughing, but clearly not taking us in. I resist a smile. He's so small, but has such a big  personality. He's going to be amazing someday. I get up.

"Sirius, come on, let's take Harry to the park." I say.

Sirius groans.

"You can go as Padfoot and play with the kids again!" I say tantalizing.

He reluctantly changes into Padfoot and gets up off the couch, following me.

"HARRY!" I shout. "Let's go to the park."

As we walk down the street, I grab Harry's small, grubby hand. Once we get there, I drop Harry off at the playground to play on the green plastic slide. I sit on a bench and let Sirius run around and play with some red-haired kids. A short, plump woman with vivid red hair is sitting next to me, talking to a small boy around Harry's age.

"Now, Ron, remember, no magic around the Muggles." She says as Ron runs away.

"Um, excuse me, ma'am." I say. The woman turns to me. "Did you say Muggles?" The woman nods. "Well, I'm a wizard too."

The woman brightens. "Well, hello, dear, I'm Molly Weasley. Which one is yours?"

I point to Harry. "And the big, black dog is my husband." I say.

She laughs. "You have an animagus in your family, then?"

I nod. "Yep."

"Well, I have 6 boys and 1 girl. My husband is home with most of them right now. I've just go Ron and the twins, Fred and George, here with me" She says.

I smile. "Well, it's just me, Harry and Sirius." I say.

Molly smiles. "A small family. I prefer my big one, personally."

"I'd like more too, but just Harry's fine with me." I say.

She nods. "Yeah..."

"Well, do you want to give me an owl sometime?" I ask. "Maybe set up a playdate with our sons?"

She nods. "I would love to."

"Oh, and I'm Remus Lupin, by the way."

When we get home, I tell Sirius about Molly.

"She seems nice." Sirius says, washing some dishes. "I hope Harry can finally have a wizard friend. Those Muggle children drive me crazy. They are so normal"

I laugh. "Well, Pads, maybe he will."

"Those Muggles are just so dumb." He says. "I really hope it works out."

"Maybe they can be friends when they go to Hogwarts." I say. "I don't want him to be lonley."

"I hope he makes as good friends as we had." Sirius says.

"Better." I say. "I mean, look at Peter."

Sirius laughs dryly. "Yeah."

He dries a few dishes in silence.

"I'm sorry." I lament. "I shouldn't have brought them up."

"No, no." He says. "It's fine. I hope he does have better friends."

"Well, from the looks of those Weasleys, he will." I say.

Sirius smiles. "Yeah, from what you tell me, they do seem nice."