A Life More Ordinary

Grimmauld Place--July 31, 1991

"What if it doesn't come?"

"It will," Remus said, smiling at Harry as he bounced on his toes and continued to peer out the back window. "Come help me finish your cake."

Harry glanced over his shoulder, distracted for only a moment. "Ron got his at breakfast on his birthday. So did Draco. Maybe they forgot."

"They didn't forget," Remus assured him. "It'll be along."

"Maybe they aren't going to send me one," Harry said, his eyebrows scrunched together.

"Of course they will," Remus said, gesturing with his hand for Harry to come closer. "You already have your wand. Ollivander wouldn't have given it to you if you weren't magical." He squeezed Harry's shoulder when Harry dragged himself over. "The Weasleys will be here soon. Would you like to help me with the icing?"

Harry nodded; he bent his head close to Remus' as Remus demonstrated the proper way to spread the gooey chocolate.

"Go ahead," Remus said, smiling.

"Like that?" Harry asked, tilting his head and giving the cake a critical eye.

"Exactly so, yes. You're doing wonderfully."

Harry grinned, a pleased flush decorating his cheeks as he bent once more to his task. Remus smiled as he turned back to the sugared model of Hogwarts he and Sirius had been crafting with their wands for days now, though he was on his own now as Sirius wrapped a few last-minute gifts upstairs.

"It's a bit lopsided," Harry said after a few intent minutes.

"Perfect cakes haven't any character."

"This one will have plenty of character," Harry said with a smirk. Remus chuckled and then both of them turned at the sound of Sirius' feet pounding down the stairs.

"I spotted an owl!" he crowed as he burst into the kitchen. "Through the window upstairs!"

"You did?" Harry dropped his icing-coated spatula with a loud thunk; the icing splattered across the table top but not one of them paid a bit of attention. Remus spelled the window open and then all of them sighed. "It's only Berenices..."

Berenices hooted indignantly, pausing to grab a tuft of Harry's hair and give it a sharp tug.

"Ow!" Harry glared at the brown owl as she struck a regal pose on the top rung of one of the chairs.

"You all right?" Sirius ducked a bit as he soothed his fingers over the abused scalp. Harry nodded and Berenices hooted again, this time demanding someone release her from her burden as she shook her leg. "Impatient thing, isn't she?" Sirius muttered.

"Probably best not to call her impatient," Remus said, sotto voce and Sirius snorted.

"That wasn't very nice," Harry scolded as he untied the scroll from the owl's leg; Berenices clacked her beak. "Well, I'd refuse you a treat, but since you did have an awfully long journey..." The owl hooted again, this time in approval and Harry smiled and stroked her neck. "All right. Wait while I read this, yeah?"

Berenices shook out her feathers a little and settled in.

Remus and Sirius shared a smile.

Harry unrolled the scroll and began reading, frowning after a moment. "He asked me if I got my letter," he relayed. "He says, 'You did get one? You're not a squib, are you?'" He looked up, his eyes crinkled with worry. "I haven't gotten it yet."

"You will," Sirius reassured him this time. Harry didn't look convinced but he finished his letter, finally smiling as he held up a tiny book. Remus already had his wand out so he enlarged it.

"For my birthday!"

"What is it?" Sirius asked as he leaned over Harry's shoulder to get a better look. "Oi!" he said, snatching the book up to get a better look. "Gladius Gobstone and the Instruments of Doom! That series was my favorite. I think I made your dad read it about fifteen times--and act out most of the scenes; especially ... well, I won't spoil it for you but wait until you get to chapter eight!"

"Draco says it's his favorite too," Harry said, turning around to get a look too, when Sirius didn't hand the book back; he was flipping through the pages, oohing and ahhing over various illustrations.

"I always played Gladius, of course," Sirius said, looking rather proud of that fact. "You dad was Pelligren, Gladius' best mate-"

"Pelligren?" Harry echoed, peering down at the picture of the two fictitious friends. "Sounds like a bird."

"That's pelican," Sirius snorted.

"Well, what about you, Remus?" Harry asked. "Who did you get to play?"

"Oh, that was before we went to Hogwarts--I think I was nine when I read that book," Sirius said, nodding as he remembered. "One of my cousins left it at our house--she was twelve and I couldn't put it down; your dad and I read it every time I went to his house. We'll read it tonight," he said happily, finally relinquishing the book to Harry.

Harry only stopped scouring it long enough to write a thank you for Draco, before sending a calmed and fed Berenices off again. He was in the middle of chapter one--reading out loud at Sirius' insistence--while Sirius and Remus were putting the finishing touches on the cake, when a soft rap sounded against the window.

"An owl!" Harry said excitedly, closing the book with a snap as he jumped out of his seat. Sirius opened the window with a quick spell this time, and not even pausing, a very somber-faced black owl swooped in. He dropped a letter from his beak. With a loud hoot, he swerved and flapped out the window and away.

Harry stretched up and snatched the envelope from the air. All three of them stared at the green ink, huge smiles on their faces.

Mr. H. Potter, Number Twelve Grimmauld Place, London

"It's for me!" Harry squeaked.

"Of course it's for you," Sirius said, nudging him with an excited elbow as he and Remus chuckled. "Open it!"

It took a few moments of Harry fumbling with the well-sealed flap before the letter was shaken out and Harry was reading with wide eyes. "Dear Mr. Potter, we are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts-"

But that was as far as he got; Sirius let out a whoop and lifted Harry off the floor, spinning him several times in great circles. Harry's breath was whisked away as he tried to keep the parchments from falling from his fingers. And then Sirius was crushing him to his chest in a hug, while the room continued to spin around them.

"Sirius, he can't breathe," Remus finally said, laughter clogging the admonishment. Sirius planted his hands on Harry's shoulders before pushing him backward until he was at arms' length.

"I don't think I've ever been prouder," Sirius said, a little breathless himself and as Harry grinned, Sirius released him abruptly. "We have something for you. Don't move," he ordered and then he was dashing out of the kitchen and back up the stairs. Harry stared after him for a second, his lips still turned up; his black hair wild from the impromptu whirl.

He used his knee to iron out the wrinkles in his letter; as he did, he glanced up and caught Remus' eye. Remus put an arm around his shoulders and pulled him close to his side. "We are both very proud of you," he said. Harry smiled and Remus patted his shoulder before releasing him. "There should be a list of supplies as well," he added, nodding toward the letter.

"Wow," Harry breathed as his eyes skimmed over the letter. "We need loads of books." Remus smiled at the excited gleam in Harry's eyes.

"You might ask Ollivander for some texts to go with your History of Magic book; I believe you'll explore the basic history of wand making this year."

"Yeah?"

"You'll have to wait to take Care of Magical creatures until you're a second year, but I think you'll enjoy Potions and Charms--Professor Flitwick makes the Charms lessons very exciting."

"Did you have all the same teachers?" Harry asked curiously.

"A fair few, yes. The Defense Against the Dark Arts professor is new this year, I believe. The Potions Professor isn't new--Professor Aarons; he was in the year ahead of Sirius and me."

"Was he a Gryffindor?"

"Ravenclaw."

Harry and Remus turned as Sirius came back down the stairs. He was holding his hands behind his back, a huge grin on his face. "We've been waiting ages to give this to you," he said and with a flourish, he brought his arm around--and something large and covered in black fabric. "Well?" Sirius demanded excitedly. "Take the cover off!"

Sirius' excitement was infectious; Harry whipped the cloth off without any further prompting. His entire face lit up as he gazed up at Sirius. "For me?"

"Just for you," he said, still grinning. "Though it's a bit of a selfish gift, really. You'll need a way to send letters to us once you're at Hogwarts, after all. We'll be expecting many more now that you have such a lovely owl," he said, his tone teasing.

But Harry nodded solemnly, his eyes still shining. "Loads," he promised. Sirius chucked his chin fondly and finally Harry turned his attention back to his new familiar. "A snowy owl," he said, his voice reverent.

"You probably don't remember," Sirius said as he unlatched the cage, "but when we went to Diagon Alley for the first time together, you admired the owls. You especially liked one just like this--because he looked different from all the other fellows there, you said."

Sirius was smiling fondly as he recalled the memory and Harry as well. Remus felt a pang even as he enjoyed the sight of the two of them so happy; what he wouldn't give to have shared those first few years with them.

"I remember," Harry said. Though it didn't seem possible, Sirius' grin widened. He set the owl's cage down on the counter and he and Harry bent together to coax her out.

"Snowy owls eat rodents mainly--mice and lemmings in particular," Sirius was saying as the beautiful bird wrapped its strong claws around his forearm. "Fish are a treat."

"Won't be able to find those at Hogwarts, will she?" Harry asked, concern tingeing his young voice.

"She'll hunt," Sirius assured him. "And she'll probably enjoy an owl treat or two. Here," he added softly, "hold out your arm ... that's right and be still for a moment to let her adjust."

Sirius stroked the white feathers and spoke quietly, encouraging both Harry and his new familiar to bond; this ease with magical creatures was something Sirius and Harry shared--an interest cultivated at every opportunity by Sirius, and Remus was convinced that Harry would have no trouble bonding with the owl.

"It's all right, girl," Harry said, his own voice taking on Sirius' gentle cadence when the owl peered at him. "I'm Harry." The owl hooted softly and stepped onto Harry's proffered arm.

"Stroke her back," Sirius said. "Just like you do Berenices."

Harry did. "You and I are going to go to Hogwarts," he told the owl. "I'll write loads of letters and you can deliver them for me, yeah?" In response, the bird nibbled Harry's cheek gently.

"I think she likes you."

Harry grinned at Sirius.

"Oh," Sirius added, snapping his fingers. "We bought you a book about post owls as well; there's a section all about snowy owls. Apparently, not many people use them to deliver post though; it says most of them don't bond easily." He withdrew the small book from his trousers pocket and handed it over.

"Wicked! Thanks! Should we see if you're in here, girl?" he asked the owl, who leaned over with interest when Harry sat at the table and began flipping through the pages.

"What are you going to name her?" Remus asked.

"Dunno." Harry looked up from his reading for a moment to study the owl; she studied him right back. "What do you think?" The owl hooted and Remus and Sirius chuckled. "Don't worry," Harry said, quite seriously, "I'll think of something brilliant."

--

Perched on the arm of the sofa hours later, full of cake and much too excited to go to sleep, Harry made a face when Sirius announced it was nine o'clock and time to get ready for bed.

"It's my birthday," Harry reminded him, his face hopeful. Sirius smiled.

"It certainly is. And nine-thirty is still your bedtime, even on your birthday."

"Just a little bit later?"

"You can skip your bath if you want," Sirius answered. "You'll have more time to read about Gladius."

"I'll have even more time if I stay up until ten," Harry pointed out.

"And even more if you stay up all night." Sirius shook his head at Harry's grin. "You're not staying up all night, nutter. Go upstairs," he said, palming the back of his godson's head and giving him a little nudge.

Harry sighed as he slid off the sofa.

Sirius put an arm around Harry's shoulders as they walked together toward the stairs. "I'll be up once you're dressed," Sirius said. "I'll just see if Remus needs any help." Harry nodded but he didn't move away from Sirius, instead leaning into his side as they paused at the bottom of the staircase. Sirius brushed his godson's dark fringe from his forehead with a palm, content to wait until Harry was ready to release him.

"Do you think I'll have fun at Hogwarts?" Harry asked after a moment. Sirius caught his eye and smiled.

"Of course you will. You'll have all your classes, and Quidditch matches to watch; games with all the new friends you'll make. You and Ron will have loads of fun together. And you'll be able to see Draco whenever you want as well."

Harry smiled a little, but still he didn't move away. Sirius squeezed his shoulder.

"Remus and I will miss you," he said, smiling again as Harry squinted up at him and he knew he'd discovered the real reason for Harry's sudden quiet. "I'll have to find something to do with myself all day long."

"Maybe you can visit," Harry said. "If they let you do that..."

"I'm certain Professor Dumbledore wouldn't mind at all. And you can come home whenever you'd like."

"Yeah?"

Sirius pulled Harry against his chest; Harry's arms came up to hug him tight around his waist. Sirius' throat tickled as he thought about all the things he'd miss; especially the things they did together--just the two of them. Flying over the same empty fields where Sirius and James had always flown as children, poring over a book about Harry's latest favorite magical creature, playing wizard's chess--particularly when Harry won.

"It's only a short trip through the Floo," he said gruffly. Harry nodded, the movement a bit jerky; Sirius bent down and kissed the top of his head and they stood together for a long while, bedtime and Gladius Gobstone forgotten.