"Where is he?" Sirius said by way of greeting, pushing past James and making a beeline for Lily. "The favourite uncle has arrived!" Lily laughed, hefting the baby up higher on her hip.

"Look Harry, it's Uncle Remus!" Sirius scowled, but accepted Harry when Lily handed him over.

"Your Uncle Sirius is your favourite," Sirius said, in a mock stern tone. "Uncle Mooney's great, but I'll teach you how to talk to birds." The baby chewed on his fingers. "Alright, you think about it."

"He doesn't need to be taught to talk to birds," James said. "He'll inherit my natural charm." Lily scoffed.

"He'll need all the help he can get, then." Sirius tuned out James' indignant squawking.

"I'm your last hope kid," Sirius looked back down at Harry. The baby's attention was still on his own fingers. "Do you have any idea how long it took your dad to get your mum?"

"Well you certainly didn't help matters," Remus said, standing at Sirius' left.

"Yeah, that thing with the giant squid?" Peter said, still hovering by the door. "Terrible advice, mate.'

"Well I didn't think he'd actually do it."

"Of course he'd do it," Peter said blandly. "The man's an idiot."

"He does lack a certain degree of common sense," Remus agreed. James pushed Remus out of the way, taking Harry from Sirius' arms and covering the baby's ears.

"I will not have you slander me in such a way in front of my son!" James said, before turning his head to look down at his son. "Don't believe their lies, Harry."

"Even you have to admit, the Squid Incident was a bit much," Lily said.