Chapter 1: Paddy

Learning to talk is hard. Especially when you are trying to learn a child a new word. Sirius had been trying to learn a nearly one and a half year old Harry to say Padfoot for the last thirty minutes. Harry could already say mommy, daddy and Moony. He had tried bribing Harry with extra candy, promised to get him a new toy and more of the sort. And Sirius was now getting frustrated to say the least. His face got an impatient look.

Lily and James were in the background looking very amused, watching Sirius trying to get Harry to say Padfoot. James said:"Padfoot give it a rest." Sirius exclaimed:"Prongs, Prongslet here cannot say the name of his godfather." Lily answered amusedly:"Sirius children go in their own pace."
Suddenly Harry took a large breath and said:"Paddy." Lily and James doubled over in laughter while Sirius looked frustrated. He said:"All that hard work for nothing." James and Lily now roared with laughter. Harry was now looking scared.

James was the first to notice, walked over to Harry and picked him up. After his laughter had died down a lot he said to Sirius:" Come on Padfoot at least it is a start." Sirius was pouting. James chuckled and said to Harry:" Let's take you for a nap huh," as Harry was looking rather tired. James took Harry to his nursery. After fifteen minutes he came back and said in a soft voice:" Harry is sleeping."

Sirius was still pouting. James caught it and chuckled. Then Lily said:" Sirius you'd better get that toy while Harry's sleeping." Sirius answered:"Why?" Lily said simply:" Because you promised." Sirius caught her eye and mumbled:"Okay I'll go."

He walked out of their house and Disapparated to the room on the upper floor in the Leaky Cauldron where wizards and witches Apparated. When Sirius was downstairs in the café he bumped into Remus. At first he didn't recognized who he bumped into and raised his wand.

When he saw who it was he dropped his wand a little and asked quietly:"In what animal do I transform?" Remus answered:"A big black dog." Sirius dropped his wand completely and asked:"What are you up to?" Remus answered:"Buying a present for Harry. And you?" Sirius answered:"Me too."

Remus chuckled and asked:"Still trying to learn Harry to say Padfoot?" Sirius' face turned exasperated and answered:"Yes and I am beginning to think that Harry is broken. What godson cannot pronounce his or her godfather's name?" Remus chuckled a little bit louder and said:"Maybe children who are learning to talk like Harry?" Sirius pouted and said:"If we want to get those presents, we'd probably go."

They left the Leaky Cauldron and entered Diagon Alley. Soon they found a toy shop. Remus and Sirius quickly went inside. Both sought something out for Harry. After a while Sirius found a stuffed doll in form of a Snitch and Remus found a stuffed version of a stag.

They both met again in the queue for the counter. Sirius looked at the stuffed stag and smiled. Then he said:"That is a good present for Prongslet." Then it was their Remus' turn. He put it on the counter and added his money. The surly looking woman said:"That is not enough money sir. It costs 14 Sickles and you have 13."

Remus wanted to pick the stuffed doll but Sirius quickly intervened. He pulled the missing Sickle from his pocket and put that next to Remus' money. She huffed and took the money. Then she put it in the counter and Remus quickly walked to the exit with the toy.
Then it was Sirius' turn. He put the stuffed Snitch on the counter and put one Galleon next to it. The woman took the money and gave him the change. Sirius took the change and the toy and followed Remus to the exit.

Outside he found Remus waiting for him. Remus said shakily :"You didn't have to do that." Sirius answered:"Yes I did. You also should be able to give Harry presents if you want to." Remus snorted but said nothing. Instead he walked away. Sirius followed him.

Remus walked straight to the Leaky Cauldron. A few moments after Remus had entered Sirius also entered. They Disapparated in silence.

They silently walked to Lily's and James' house. Remus knocked on the door and James answered it. He said:"Remus what a surprise. Come in." Then he went to Sirius and said:"Did you get it?" Sirius held up the bag as an answer.

They walked into the living room where Lily was reading. All three men sat in chairs and Lily looked up from her book and looked pleasantly surprised at Remus. Lily's face began to look worried when she looked at Remus' face.

"What's wrong," she asked. Remus did not answer. Sirius said:"We went to a toy shop on Diagon Alley and Remus had chosen a toy for Harry. He did not have nearly enough money for it so I paid the rest. Remus thinks that I should not have done that."

Remus said shakily:"He shouldn't have done that." James responded:"Remus we appreciate your gesture. What did you choose?" Remus pulled the bag to him and took the stuffed stag out. James' mouth fell open. It took a while before he said:"Very nice. What did Sirius get?" Remus took the stuffed Snitch out and James grinned.

Suddenly Harry began to cry. James looked at Remus and nodded towards Harry's bedroom. Remus understood the hint and went to fetch Harry. When he was away Lily mumbled to Sirius:"That was a very nice gesture of you in the shop." Sirius grinned as an answer.

Then Remus returned with Harry, he went towards his chair. When he was seated, he gave Harry the toy. Harry took it and examined it. Then he took it in his arms and clung to it as if for dear life. Sirius said:"Oh deer."

Remus put Harry on the ground next to the bag with the Snitch in it. Harry took the bag in his little hands and pulled it downwards. Then he saw the Snitch and cried out. He tried to take the Snitch out of the bag but couldn't.

Sirius smiled and stood up. He walked towards Harry and took the stuffed Snitch out of the bag. He took Harry in his arms, sat down on the ground and set Harry in his lap. Then he held the Snitch close to Harry. He reached it with his little hands. He grabbed it with his little hand and kicked his legs around.

Harry went very red in the face and all the adults thought he was going to cry. But Harry took a deep breath and said very slowly:"Pad-foot," and Sirius' mouth fell open. Then Sirius fainted due to extreme joy, with James and Lily smiling in the background.

Harry was looking very confused and reached over to Sirius and tried to wake him unsuccessfully with his little hands. Then Lily and James walked over to the both of them and James said:"Harry, you have made Sirius very happy today."