Padfoot in the Park

"Come on Lily, you're going to have to hurry up sweetheart."

"I'll just be a minute Daddy!" called Harry's daughter from her room, Harry and Ginny had decided to take Lily and her little brother Sirius to the park. They had arranged to meet Ron, Hermione and the boys at 10 o'clock. Lily's indecisiveness, however, was going to make them late. Harry loaded Sirius' pushchair into the car, Ginny loaded Sirius into his car seat.

Harry smiled as his son made little gurgling noises and waved his tiny fists in the air. Sirius was just under a year old, making Lily four. He had Harry's dark hair and green eyes. Those who had known Harry as a baby always said Sirius was the spitting image of Harry. When Ginny said that Harry could name their newborn son, he could only think of one. There was no doubt in Harry's mind about what to call him. Ginny decided that Ron should be his godfather, something that Ron was only too happy to do.

Ginny managed to get Lily ready. She had been looking for her bucket and spade for the sandbox. Harry loaded the picnic they had packed and they were on their way.

"Are Uncle Ron and Auntie Hermione going to be there?"

"Yes, but they'll probably be there by the time we get there."

"What about Donald, Henry and Jonathan?"

"They should be there," said Ginny, "that's not a problem is it?"

Lily was less than impressed. "They're boys! Boy's are smelly," she stated sulkily. Both Harry and Ginny laughed. Their daughter said the funniest things.

"Daddy's a boy; does that mean he's smelly?" Lily shuffled uncomfortably in her seat.

"Well no, but Sirius is smelly sometimes." Sirius wasn't listening. He was far too busy sucking on his toes.

When they arrived they found Ron, Hermione and the boys already in the park, sitting on a picnic blanket. Donald was sitting with his parents with his nose in a book and Jonathan was pouring sand down Henry's trousers. The Potter's joined them near the play area.

"How are you guys?" asked Hermione after hugging them both. She bent down to tickle Sirius on the cheek, making him giggle.

"We're okay. This young man isn't keeping us up nearly as much nowadays." Sirius started squirming in his pushchair, showing that he wanted to get out. Ginny undid the straps and took him over to the baby swings. Hermione had to persuade Donald to put his book on basic charms away (which she also reminded him he shouldn't be reading when there are Muggles around anyway) and to go play with Lily. Harry managed to convince Lily that Donald wasn't a 'smelly boy' and that she wouldn't get 'boy germs' from him. The two of them raced over to the climbing frame.

"Looks like Donald takes after his mother," said Harry.

"If you mean that he's intelligent and eager to learn then yes he does," said Hermione in her usual tone, "it's the twins that take after their father."

"Just what are you trying to say?" asked Ron, a little confused. Henry waddled over from the sand box, scratching his bottom awkwardly.

"Mummy, sand in pants," he stated in his little voice. Harry couldn't help laughing after all the talk of the twins taking after Ron. Henry threw his uncle a stern look.

"Not funny!" he said grumpily.

"I know it's not honey," said Hermione softly. She passed a bag of spare clothes to Ron. "Could you take him to the men's toilets and help him change?" Ron sighed as he picked up Henry.

"Sand in pants Daddy!"

"Yes, I know that son." Harry reached for a cucumber sandwich when he noticed something in the bushes a few metres away. At first he thought he was dreaming, or maybe the heat was getting to him. It was a hot day, yet he could swear that he recognised what he saw. Then it disappeared.

"Sirius," he breathed.

"It's alright, Ginny's with him," said Hermione as she helped herself to a sausage roll, "Jonathan's joined them now."

"No, I mean Sirius .....Sirius Black, as Padfoot! In that bush!" Hermione looked at the bush Harry was pointing at. She saw nothing. Harry ran up to the bush. He found nothing. He searched the surrounding area. Again nothing. He returned to Hermione who was still with the picnic basket.

"Maybe you saw a dog that looked like Sirius' Animagus form."

"I could have sworn it was him, it was him as Snuffles." Hermione put her hand on Harry's shoulder.

"Harry, he's been dead for a long time now. It's been hard but you have to move on."

A tear rolled down Harry's cheek. "I'm just telling you what I saw."