Eeeeee!!!! So cute!!! Eeeeeeeee!! I crazy, eeeee!!! But who cares?! Eeeee!!!!!..
What do u think james would have been like as a father
Oh boy, here we go.
Anon, this might be my favourite ask ever. Ever, do you hear me? So take a seat because this is going to be a long one.
It goes without saying that he would have been incredible, yes, but in what way?
(Under the cut because it got too long)
I don't think Harry was planned, purely because of the war. If it hadn't been for that, I think he would have still wanted to be a dad, without a doubt, and a young one at that: being raised by elderly parents probably made him realise that he was luckier than his parents, because they never got to see him grow up, grow old. Little did he know...
James adored being a young dad. He loved the fun bits and the ugly bits. Harry helped him become the man he was destined to be. In the 15 months they shared together (don't worry I'll answer your question in a moment), James was forced to learn some hard truths and make tough decisions. I've always seen him as someone who had a 'black and white' mindset when it comes to right or wrong: it was simple for him, and he couldn't really understand why people did bad things when they knew they were wrong. Well, he knew why, but it only started making sense when he became a father, because suddenly he realised how much he had underestimated the privilege of being able to choose. Having a kid during a war took a toll on him and changed him, because now he was forced to decide whether he was a father first or a soldier. And it was a choice he had to make every day.
He also had to choose what kind of father he was going to be. The kind who comes back from a mission and drinks himself into oblivion, or the one who goes straight to his wife and son and despite being bone-tired and with muscles that ache at every step, he's there for them with a smile on his face. And don't get me wrong, I do believe he did get drunk and felt utterly defeated sometimes. He could have done that and he knew no one would have judged him for it, but he couldn't let the bad days outnumber the good ones.
Let's pretend nothing bad happened on Halloween 1981, and that Voldemort died and everyone got their happy ending:
James is the kind of dad who has long conversations with his babbling two year old, where he pretends to talk about politics and books and Quidditch without using baby voices.
He does use baby voices sometimes, though. Mainly when Harry won't eat his peas or when James has to change his nappy (honestly I hope wizards use them, otherwise the poor babies just have to sit in their poop until someone vanishes it). He does impressions of all his Hogwarts professors, but Harry's favourite is Filch, he laughs so much he makes James laugh too.
He sings 'Beautiful Boy' when Harry can't fall asleep, a smile painted on his face, and when Harry's brows start to relax he whispers the rest of the lyrics, brushing his hair until his eyes close and his breath becomes even (credits to this post for the headcanon).
He's an extremely concerned toddler parent, because Harry learns to run first and walk second. The little boy hates hats, and he always comes back from his walks with his hair all tangled and with leaves in it (yes, Harry dives into leaf piles before his parents can stop him). James, heartbroken, takes a bottle of Sleekeazy's and pours the product on Harry's hair, apologising the whole time.
He watches him play and talk to his toys for Merlin knows how long, hypnotised by his brilliant son.
When Harry accidentally makes Sirius' pancake float towards his plate, James picks up his son and starts dancing with him around the kitchen, singing a made up song that Sirius will mock him for every time he has the chance. By noon, James has not only decided he's going to throw a party in honour of Harry's first accidental magic, he's also decided the menu and planned every activity. He invites Fabian and Gideon and asks to bring their nephews too because the more the merrier, and that's how Ron becomes Harry's best friend.
I also thinks James would absolutely love to have a big family, so in my headcanon Harry has at least a couple of siblings. Imagine being surrounded by all those Potters... A dream for some (James) a nightmare for others (probably Petunia, who is straight up horrified the one time she pays them a visit).
James teaches Harry to fly, reads him stories every night and they even have movie nights every Wednesday, even the day after a full moon, where James falls asleep on the sofa as they watch Star Wars, and Harry goes out like a light shortly after him, head on his chest, drooling on James' shirt.
But most of all, James listens. He truly listens. He makes sure Harry never doubts his worth. He's the kind of dad who isn't afraid to show his emotions, and probably cries as Harry boards the Hogwarts Express for the first time.
When Harry gets in trouble at school for the first time, James realises that lecturing him is not that different from when he had to give out detentions as Head Boy... Except that it is, because when James has to tell him that it's wrong to put Padfoot's hairs in Malfoy's potion, Harry asks him why, and he tilts his head exactly like Lily does when she challenges him, and this kid has her eyes and James' knowing smile, but he's also clever in a way James and Lily are not, and James doesn't know what to do with this information.
Honestly, I have so many more headcanons and if I had to write all of them this post would never see the light of day, so I'll stop here and maybe I'll make a part two, who knows.
In conclusion, this James isn't a perfect dad, but he's a wonderful one. He might be too strict sometimes, and other times too lenient; he might disagree with Harry on some things, and they might fight and raise their voices. But James does everything in his power not to make Harry go to sleep angry or sad, and if it does happen, he makes sure to wake him up with a kiss on his forehead and a hug. Or maybe lots of hugs, because James is a very affectionate dad. With his parents in his life, Harry doesn't doubt for one moment that he's not worthy of being loved.
love the ignorance of Peterđ
is this seat taken?
how the marauders sit around you
tags: james potter x reader,, sirius black x reader,, remus lupin x reader,, headcanon,, so soft
a/n: been super inactive!! so i offer this as peace offering <3
james would purposefully find seats meant for for one person. eagerly pulling you to follow him and plop down, patting his thighs. youâd look at him, eyebrows raised in question and heâd just offer a boyish smile, perfect dimples denting his cheeks. heâd spread his legs, pull you into him and sit you on one of his muscled thighs. he would keep a hand around your waist and the other intertwined with yours. heâd make you lean into him a bit more, only to pepper you with light kisses all over your jaw and neck. of course youâd wish to sit on a proper chair once in a while, and when you had said this out loud, he had gasped, utterly offended.
sirius would be sitting on a bench, he would have his legs on either side of the seat, his legs barricading you in place. his knees and the warmth of thighs touching yours and facing you. heâd be leaning to the table, an elbow prompt up supporting his head. while his other hand would be tucking a lock of hair behind your ear, exposing your pretty neck. heâd run his knuckle over the smooth skin and heâs just stare. looking at you and softly smiling. then you would you would offer him bites of your meal, kissing his lips each time he takes a bite.
remus would sit on the couch, grab your hand and slowly guide you to stand between his spread knees. he would kiss your hand, littering little kisses all over your wrist and forearms and the inside of your elbow, as he slowly let your arms rest on his shoulders. as he leans forward to hug your thighs close to his chest. heâd nuzzle your tummy, breathe in your scent - somehow always calming his nerves. youâd bury your hand in his hair, run your fingers through it and rub his scalp. heâd open his eyes, not knowing heâd close them and look up at you, sighing, looking content.
Thats literally me! Sounds narcissistic (no pun intended)!
Sirius Black is that kid who claims heâs dumb and doesnât know anything and then does amazing in all of his exams because he just remembers stuff. Remus gets a bit jealous.
Sweetttt
Omg could we get another part of animagus cat reader and Sirius? Maybe theyâre napping together and the boys try to take cat reader as a joke/because theyâre curious while sheâs sleeping and she suddenly transforms back as they pick her up LOL. Sirius is grumpy to be woken up/have their special time now exposed hehe
part 1
--
Sirius's bedcurtains are drawn, a clear sign that James and Remus should grant him some privacy.
Unfortunately, James Potter has never been one to take hints, and Remus strictly stays out of their shenanigans. It's only when James gasps with the entire capacity of his lungs that Remus peers curiously over at the bed in the corner, intrigue piqued when he finds a newly familiar form curled up on Sirius's chest.
"That cat!" James hisses, and he's particularly lucky that Sirius is laying on his side with your chin nuzzled over his ear, or the boy would have heard him. Instead, it's you that wakes, eyes blinking open wide as you stare at the men staring back down at you.
"Hi, darling," Remus hums softly, reaching out a tentative, scarred hand to hover it near your nose. You don't need any time for inspection before butting your head up against the heel of his palm, and he grants you a warm chuckle and scratches behind your ears. When you're not transformed, the feeling of someone toying with your hair is entirely unwelcome. But now you lean into Remus's touch, slumping relaxed once more over Sirius's ear.
"Stop hogging her," James urges, sticking his own hand less ceremoniously beneath your nose, "I want a turn."
Remus concedes with an exasperated grimace, but lets James take over anyways. He's lucky that you're you and he doesn't even know it, because if he'd tried petting any other cat by jamming his fingers into their neck, he'd be walking away with several scratch marks on his arms. But you forgive him as he tries petting you too similarly to how he pets Sirius in the man's own animagus form, all riling strokes and heavy-handed pats. You let out a soft mewl of protest when he tries picking you up, and Remus mutters something about you being the most patient cat in the world.
"Just leave her alone, James," Remus warns his friend, "Her patience is gonna wear out."
He listens for only a second, then decides he knows best.
"S'alright, Moony," He promises his friend, over-confident and too eager for affection he hasn't earned yet, "She's layin' all over Sirius, clearly wants a cuddle. You snooze, you lose, now it's my turn."
James's hand slides to your underbelly, an area you're not fond of being handled at in this form. Annoyance surges through you, prickling at your fur and making you long for the smooth expanse of your human skin again, an urge that you give into without much thought when James tries prying you off of Sirius's face.
There's a lot of noises at once. A pained yelp from Sirius, when you form suddenly weighs a lot heavier on him than it was when you'd laid down. A 'woah!' from James as your fur gives way to soft skin beneath his hands which he quickly retracts. A soft gasp from Remus who hadn't been expecting the rather unpleasant sound of transforming between bodies.
Two sets of eyes regard you with incredulity, and one blinks slowly beneath you, laden with drowsiness.
"It's you," James breathes, an air of amazement in his voice that shouldn't be there; after all, he's an animagus as well. Surely he should have noticed shifty behavior or a change in mannerisms from you. All of a sudden your preference for Sirius's softer, fluffy sweaters makes sense.
"Yes, it's me." You huff exasperatedly, perched precariously on Sirius's once-sleeping form. He's not pushing you off but you're sure it's not comfortable, so you slide yourself in front of him instead, easing back against him and letting him spoon you.
"Cat's out of the bag," Sirius rasps sleepily beside your ear, and you don't have to look at him to know he's grinning at his rather pitiful joke, "Did he try to pick you up?"
"Right around the stomach," You gripe, glaring at James while Sirius wraps his arm around the very portion of your body you'd just forbidden James from touching, "Like a toddler."
"For the record," Remus calls, "I was nice to you."
"I was nice too!" James gawps, "I just wanted a cuddle."
"Get your own girlfriend," Sirius drawls lazily, his face buried against the back of your head, and maybe it's a biting statement considering one Lily Evans is still firmly opposed to the presence of James in her life. Sirius knows, and amends it, "Or crawl into Moony's bed. I don't care, "Jus' keep your hands off m'girl."
I am sorry for suddenly making you cry I cried about it too so should too... Sirius wanted to be the coolest godfather and just when harry was nearly old enough to get a tattoo sirius *sobs* dieeddddd!!!!!đđđđ
officially submitting my first ever entry for @impishtubist âs Sirius & Harry Saturday: a headcanon about baby harry using his crayons to try and draw siriusâ tattoos on himself. (thereâs also protective james and prongsfoot friendship and itâs all quite fluffy)
âHarry! What are you doing?â Sirius leaned forward with a laugh, trying to get a better glimpse of his toddling godson, whoâd stripped down until he was clad only in his diaper.
âLookit Siri, Iâm you!â Harry squealed, finally losing the battle against gravity in his excitement and falling forward. Lucky for him, his godfather knew him enough to be prepared with outstretched arms.
Sirius dangled him mid-air in front of him, hands under his armpits. It was the best vantage point to scrutinise the new additions to his godsonâs previously unmarked skin.
Because, somehow, Harry had gotten his hands on a permanent marker and had drawn all over himself. And not just anything, but very specific artwork that Sirius could recognise instantly, shaky as it was.
âYou know your dadâs gonna kill me, buddy,â Sirius mused absently as he shifted Harryâs weight to one hand and ran one black-tipped nail against the runic figures on his pudgy chest and belly. Well, figures that were attempting to be runic, if he wanted to be accurate. Harryâs hand wasnât steady enough for straight lines, yet, nor was his theoretical knowledge good enough to capture them perfectly even if they were.
âNo, I you, Siri!â Harry repeated stubbornly, and by Merlin, what was the allure of Dark Magic in the face of his adorable godson?
He trailed his finger across the jagged lines on his flank, across his arms, up to his shoulders. There were some unrecognisable scribbles on his upper back, like heâd tried to reach back and color in but couldnât. Of course, he couldnât, Harryâs arms were tiny. But it was clear that he was trying to replicate the antlers on Siriusâ back. Unbidden, his gaze fell to Harryâs wrist and sure enough, there was a messy circle with shapes drawn inside it. It was a valiant effort to recreate his familyâs crest. Sirius could feel his heart-melting out of his pores.
âOh, Harry, you little troublemaker, you,â he cooed, bringing his godson into the circle of his arms to tuck him against his chest, biting his lip at how Harry instantly relaxed into him, head tucked under Siriusâ chin.
âYou like my tattoos, huh? Couldnât wait until you grew up a bit, had to have them right now, is that it?â He continued, slightly bouncing Harry in his arms as he walked back and forth.
âSiri pwetty, Hawwy also pwetty,â Harry babbled from his perch and Siriusâ heart melted.
âDammit, sweetheart, I have a reputation to maintain. You canât go around saying things like that,â he mock-scolded.
âThings like what, Padfoot?â Jamesâ voice entered the conversation and Sirius had to suppress his laughter at what heâd say when he discovered the state his son was in.
âOh, nothing much, Harry just wants to be pretty like me,â Sirius said, special emphasis on the âmeâ. âGuess being a carbon copy of his dad isnât quite cutting it for him anymore.â
He turned to face James as he spoke and couldnât stop the laughter bubbling in him at the expression on his face. Siriusâ words were already pulling a very strong deadpan from him but one look at his son, covered in black squiggles and smudges, and it immediately gave way to one of pronounced horror.
âWhaââ Jamesâ words were more of a strangled wheeze. âPadfoot, what did you do to my son?â
âExcuse you,â Sirius said, offended. âI didnât do anything. This oneâs all Harry. I didnât even know what he was doing until he crawled into the room.â
That didnât seem to help. âOh, baby, I knew I shouldnât have left you alone with Sirius, heâs become rather forgetful in his advanced age, hasnât he?â With an exaggerated frown on his face, James plucked Harry out of Siriusâ arms and settled him in his own. The kid was, as always, overjoyed to be reunited with his father.
Sirius tried hard to hold onto his outrageâhow dare James call him old?âbut it was hard, nigh impossible, when he could see Harry rubbing the top of his head back and forth against Jamesâ jaw, like an adorable little kitten.
âSo, whatâs with-â James ran a hand down Harryâs arm â-all this?â
âHarryâs trying to be like his extremely cool, not-old-at-all godfather.â
James raised a skeptical eyebrow. Sirius ignored him in favour of talking to his godson.
âDonât you worry, love, when youâre old enough, Iâll be right there to take you for your first proper tattoo,â he tapped Harryâs little button nose, making him giggle.
It wasnât enough to mask Jamesâ shocked exhale. âWhat do you mean first proper tattoo?â
âLook at him and tell me heâs not interested,â Sirius pointed at the little bundle of joy in his arms. Absently, he wondered what kind of tattoo Harry would like, if any. Would he be the sentimental kind, like his dad who never put something on his body he hadnât considered fifty times over? Or more like Sirius, whoâd only needed the thought to pop it into his head to get it inked.
âHeâs three and thinks colors, and shapes, on your body look cool. Thatâs- that doesnât mean anything!â
âWell, Iâm just saying,â Sirius shrugged, deliberately keeping his face clear of anything that could give him away. Of course he knew the reaction his words would elicit, that was part of why he said it. âThe optionâs there on the table if he ever wants to. With parents like you and Lily, and me of course, the kidâs on the right track for a few pieces of his own.â
âButââ
âAnd of course, no one except his godfather can be trusted with something like this, right? Itâs basically my magic-given duty to escort him to the tattoo parlour,â Sirius finished with a flourish. One of his hands had travelled upwards to ruffle Harryâs hair, marvelling at the soft feel of the inky strands slipping between his fingers.
âNo- Thatâs not- you are not torturing my baby like that!â James finally found his voice, and what a loud one it was too for Harry was startled out of his lazy doze against his dadâs chest by the deep rumble that vibrated through him. His green eyes were wide open, looking at his dad who so rarely raised his voice, and James immediately shrunkâliterally, Sirius could see the transformation in real-time, the way his shoulders dropped, his face relaxed, and his nose came down from its high perch.
âOh, Daddyâs sorry, honey, he didnât mean to shout,â he whispered in between careful kisses pressed to Harryâs face. âDaddyâs gonna be more careful, okay?â
âOtay,â Harry replied, equally quietly, still staring at him with remnants of shock in his eyes.
Sirius broke the moment with a loud snortâaccidental of course but this was too much for himâand immediately attracted Jamesâ ire again.
âYouââ he started accusingly before darting a quick look downward to see Harry was alright. He was. âYou canât beâHarryâs not gonna get tatted, Padfoot! It hurts too much. I wonât have it.â
âYou wonât have it?â Sirius repeated, amused. âMay I remind you when you got your first tattoo? Or mine, for that matter.â That took the wind right out of his sails.
âEr, thatâs not the point here,â James replied shiftily, dropping his gaze to Harry instead of looking at him.
âRemember the runic tattoos we etched into our skin? Couldâve literally blown ourselves inside out right there in the doââ
James slapped a hand against his mouth, effectively stopping him. âOkay, I think thatâs enough, I get it.â
Sirius raised his eyebrows, as if to say âDo you?â. Harry giggled at his father and godfatherâs antics, happily oblivious to the pinched look on the formerâs face as he realised the precedent his own actions had set. Sirius couldnât wait to have this conversation all over again when he was all grown up and could add his own input. He was looking forward to tag-teaming against James, to be honest.
âYouâyou donât think heâll do something like that, do you?â James asked hesitantly, glancing between the two of them.
âHe is your kid,â Sirius pointed out. âAnd Lilyâs. And a tad bit mine.â
âHeâs all yours, especially when he pulls stunts like this.â
Sirius grinned, wide and uncontrollable, at that, unable to help the warmth that spread through his entire body at those words. He knows James was trying to take a shot at him but it didnât take away from the fact that Harry was his too, has been from the day he was bornâno, since the day James flooed into his house, pale and shaking, telling him that âWeâre having a kid, Padfoot! An actual baby! Can you believe it?!â
For all the jokes and potshots and snippy back-and-forths they had, Sirius knew he would never be able to thank Jamie for allowing him into his lifeâinto Harryâs lifeâlike this. James had always been free with his affections, sharing heart and home without a second thought but Sirius knew that there were many whoâd have put their foot down at the level of involvement he assumed in his godsonâs life, and that James and Lily didnât, wouldnât, do that. He didnât know where heâd be without the Potters today, and imagining such a worldâit was chilling, to say the very least.
âPads?â Jamesâ soft voice interrupted his morose thoughts and he snapped his eyes up to meet concerned hazel ones. There was a silent question in them.
Sirius shrugged wryly. Silently raised his hands for Harry, needing to hold him close, and after another searching glance, James passed the now peacefully sleeping child over. Something loosened in his chest when he felt the familiar weight resting against him. He immediately buried his nose in Harryâs hair, taking a deep breath, letting the scent of baby powder and blueberry shampoo fill his lungs, ground him.
âIâll be the coolest godfather there ever was,â he whispered, feeling a knot in his throat where more words should be. He wanted to say that he loved Harry more than life itself, that heâd always be there for him. The world could tilt off its axis but Siriusâ love for the Potters wouldnât wane. It couldnât, really, not with how deeply they were entrenched in his lifeâin his very being.
âOf course, you will. No one would ever doubt that.â James placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing gently. âBut youâre still not allowed to take my baby to a tattoo parlour, no matter how old he gets.â
if you liked this, i have an entire thing on my ao3 about tattoos and harry and sirius bonding over them postwar >.<
âSo⊠what?â Remus gaped, âWe just leave things as they are?â
Sirius scratched behind his ear, looking down, a strange, shy gesture.
âIâd rather not.â
âYouâd rather not.â Remus repeated, dumbfounded.
âNo. I mean, if you want me to go âround telling everyone I know then sorry, but weâre not all as ballsy as you. I need more time. But⊠I could try.â
âYou could try.â This was not the outcome Remus had expected when the conversation began. âWhat do you m--â
Sirius cut him off, placing a palm on Remusâs cheek to turn it towards him, and kissing him gently on the lips.
âI mean I will try.â He said, as he pulled away. âI miss you, Moony.â
Oh, you would go and say something like that⊠Remus grabbed him and pulled him back. It was like water after a drought, shelter in a storm - they were the still point of the turning world and every other stupid sloppy cliché you could think of. They kissed for a long time, and when they came apart they were practically gasping with relief.
âNo more girls?â Remus asked, still holding Sirius in place, as if he might run away.
âNo more girls.â Sirius agreed. âLetâs see how this pans out first.â
âOh, charming.â Remus let go, satisfied.
âShuddup,â Sirius nudged him with his shoulder, hands deep inside his pockets. âCâmon, letâs go back to the tent eh? Freezing.â
Credit to Atyd by misskingbean89
I am not really a slash person but even i have to admit this is cute
So what country are u from? How old are you?
P.s .: Never have I ever been so happy to find a friend.... Probably cuz we both love that sirius and harry bonding and fluff fics
Gawwwd i... I would love to be friends with u n @snufuffles is that the name sorry i forgot but i love their writing!!!!! N urs too
screaming crying throwing up omg we r friends i deem it official
and @snufluffles has the best, softest harry&sirius content i miss their writing
thank you đ
Harry Potter the Casanova of Gryffindor Tower.... Sounds great to me! What do u think?
@goodgodfathersiriusblack
After the first task, Sirius reaches out to Harry to offer dating advice for the Yule Ball, which changes things.
AO3
***
Given that the first task is finally over, and Harry survived, Sirius can breathe a little sigh of relief.  At least one task down, and the fact that he did so well makes Sirius incredibly proud.  Next on the order of business for Harry is probably the Yule Ball.  Since heâs a champion heâs probably going to have to open it, and it may be a bit presumptuous, but Sirius couldnât resist offering dating advice to his godson.  He figures heâs young and he doubts the Dursleys would bother to offer much guidance. Â
Hopefully, Harry doesnât really need too much, but Sirius had to offer just in case.
Sirius smiles when he gets another owl so quickly, Harry writing to him will always make his day.
Sirius,
What do you mean thereâs a ball for Yule?  What do you mean that I have to open the ball? Â
No, no â they canât really expect that from me, right?
Youâre pulling my leg, right?  Please tell me youâre pulling my leg.
If not, I need help.
Say hi to Buckbeak.
Harry
Sirius is stunned for half a second.  How had Harry not known about this?  Then, again, no one appears to tell the kid anything. Â
Alright, well, at least Sirius was right to offer.  Heâll just have to meet with his kid on his own and give some concrete advice. Â
Everything will be okay.  Heâs sure of it.
***
âI still donât get how they could expect this of me,â Harry groans as he sits on the floor of the cave beside Sirius.  âI mean â dragons are one thing, but girls?â
Sirius laughs.  âTheyâre not as scary as you think.â
âThey travel in packs, and they giggle like ⊠like my mere presence is hilarious.â
âTheyâre giggling because one or more of them have a fancy of you â hard not to given everything, and they travel together because ⊠well, I never really understood that.â
âWhat am I supposed to do?â Harry questions, seeming quite freaked out.  âYou were right, McGonagall says I have to open the ball with a date, and itâs only been like a day and a half, and every girl has gone nutty and I donât know how to dance and I donât want to go on a date⊠this is â this is unfair.â
âAnd the whole dragon thing wasnât unfair?â
âThe dragon thing was actually kind of fun.â
Sirius snorts and rolls his eyes.  âAlright, letâs start with the basics.  First, you have to select who youâre thinking of asking.  I would suggest someone you either fancy and want to get to know â but know there will be awkwardness and youâll have to push passed that or a friend that you could potentially enjoy an evening with.  You could perhaps go with a friend that is someone you may possibly fancy or go with a friend that is someone who would only be a friend, but youâd have to be clear about that.  Do you have any ideas?â
He watches as Harry digests this information and says, âWell, I could go with Hermione if I wanted just a friend, but I think that would upset Ron and frankly, be unfair to her.  Iâd really like to go with Cho Chang â I kind of, maybe, have a fancy of her, but all I know about her is that weâre both seekers.  I suppose another friend could be like Parvati Patil or maybe Katie Bell.  Iâve talked to both enough that maybe it could be⊠a friend date.â
Sirius nods.  âOkay, letâs leave Hermione out of it.  We wouldnât want to disrupt your friendship with Ron again so soon.â
âAgreed.â
âThat leaves Cho, Parvati, and Katie.  Now, this is where you have to make a decision â do you want someone that you barely know, but fancy or you know, but donât fancy?â
Harry shrugs.  âI mean â it would be nice to get to know Cho better.â
âOkay, thatâs fair.  Youâll have the dinner and dancing to get to know her, if you ask her,â Sirius states.  âNow, before asking, you should make it clear that youâre not that into dancing, but if you ask any of them to go, you should expect to dance more than just the opening dance.â
He groans.  âItâs bad enough having to do it once.â
Sirius nods.  âYes, but youâre going to a ball.  Itâs expected that you dance.  If you donât want to dance too much, you should make that clear so that they donât expect to be dancing all night and are disappointed.â
âOkay, but what if I tell them and they say no?â
âThen you have to accept no for an answer and find someone else who would be willing to support you.â
Harry nods.  âI suppose that I should try and learn dancing then?â
âThat would be a good endeavor.  Iâd suggest asking someone youâre comfortable with to practice or your date would be better, but it could be embarrassing admitting that, so you could always Hermione or one of the quidditch girls who would no doubt love to help you.â
âThat sounds like a good plan,â Harry states.  âWhat about the actual asking?  If theyâre traveling in packsâŠâ
Sirius laughs.  âThey may giggle, but simply ask for a moment alone and once youâre alone, tell them either â that youâd like a romantic date to the ball or a friend date to the ball â depending on who you ask.  Explain about the dancing to help them make a decision, and once they do â if itâs yes, ask them to meet up to practice dancing or if itâs no, accept their answers and move on.  Just be sweet and polite and youâll be okay.â
âThat sounds easier than itâs probably going to be.â
âItâs usually not that bad, I promise.  Maybe a little embarrassing, but the sooner you do it, the better,â Sirius assures him.  âThen you can focus on the actual date.â
Harry grimaces.  âBesides dancing, what would be expected?â
âWell, you should meet her at her common room probably with a nice flower â try asking her favorite or finding one that matches her dress robes.â Â
Harry nods.  âSounds easy.â
âYou should offer your arm, and smile as you lead the way into the ball and take out her seat first before you sit.  At dinner, make sure you talk to her about her interests.  Start with something you have in common and let the conversation flow.  If it stalls, try to ask about things that are around you â the food, the music, the dancing, the people⊠anything that can spark something.  Remind her about being uncomfortable with too much dancing, but that youâll make an effort.â
âOkay, okay.  Seems like genuinely good advice so far,â Harry says.  âThen, of course, the dancing.  I suppose if we practice before it might not be so bad.â
âIâm sure it wonât be as bad as youâre imagining,â Sirius assures him.  âMake sure to still pay attention to her as you dance, and if need be, make light conversation.  If youâre done dancing or taking a break, try finding a quiet area to continue chatting from dinner.  Donât ignore her and even if it ends up being Parvati or Katie rather than who you fancy, remember that you canât just glare at your fancyâs date â just focus on your own date.â
âYeah, that â that wouldnât be fair to her if I was staring at some other girl.â
âExactly.  The focus should be on making sure that youâre both having a good time.â
âOkay.  Okay.  What about at the end?â
âWalk her back to her dorm, tell her you had a great time â if you fancy her (and this could go for if the date started as a friend, but you find you do like her) â then ask her to have another date.  This could be something simple and we can talk about that when the time comes in a letter.  Just maybe vaguely ask if sheâd like to go out again.  If she says yes, tell her that youâll let her know a time and place, if she says no â respect it and thank her for being your date and that you hope she enjoyed it.â
âAnd⊠then leave?â
Sirius tries not to laugh.  âWell, she might expect a kiss on the hand, the cheek or even the lips.  It all depends on the vibe, just go with your instincts on that one.â
Harry swallows, but nods.  âI guess.â
âItâs not as bad as it sounds,â Sirius attempts to assure him.  âJust take it one step at a time.  Youâll be fine.â
âIf youâre sureâŠâ
âI am, I promise.â
***
A few weeks later, Sirius knows that Harryâs managed to ask Cho to the ball.  Heâs nervous, but heâs been preparing for the ball, and Sirius has assured him that it should be just fine.  He just needs to relax and not worry so much. Â
He also told him to write to him afterwards no matter the outcome.  He wants to know how well his advice went over.
He grins when the owl arrives.
Sirius,
Thank you â thank you â thank you!  Your advice was perfect. Â
Cho and I had a great date.  We practically danced the night away!  Okay, maybe not.  She was okay with only dancing half the time, but we went for a walk and â and it went so great that she kissed me before the end of the night! Â
There was plenty of kissing before a final dance and walking her back to the dorm.  It went so well she said yes to a second date. Â
So, now, I need advice on that.  Got any ideas?
Thanks again,
Harry
Sirius grins, happy for his kid.  Heâs happy to offer more dating advice as long as his kid needs it. Â
Heâll certainly be a ladiesâ man after this.
Just like his father and godfather and itâs great. Â
reblog if youâve read fanfictions that are more professional, better written than some actual novels. Iâm trying to see something
to me too... I was crying rivers and canals and my friends were just at me and saying "Hey what happened?" And the MFs cried over cedrics deathđ
Sirius is explicitly, canonically, the closest Harry has to a parent.
Hereâs why:
Sirius is his godfather. He was appointed as his godfather in the middle of a war. He is his rightful guardian and is literally the only one with actual legal authority when it comes to Harry.
(He is also the only one Harry actually regards as as a parental figure, which is why it confuses the heck out of me when people make it out to be some kind of competition. There is no competition. There is no list of candidates to choose from. Sirius is the only adult Harry actually thinks of as a parent to him. He is literally the only legitimate candidate.)Â
The first thing he did after seeing that Lily and James were murdered was try and take custody of Harry. He argued against giving him to the Dursleys. He wanted to take responsibility for his godson right from the get-go. His first priority was always Harry.
He single-handedly breaks out of Azkaban, a feat no one has ever accomplished or will ever accomplish in history, literally risking his soul, because he wants to protect Harry.
He travels all the way to Privet Drive just to catch a glimpse of Harry. A glimpse.Â
He comes to watch Harry play Quidditch just cause.Â
He sees that Harryâs broom is broken and sends him a motherfucking Firebolt as 13 yearsâ worth of birthday presents from his godfather, shut up, iâm not crying
His first instinct when they meet (other than killing the piece of scum that is Wormtail) is to shield Harry. He gets furious at Wormtail for even looking at Harry, he relives some of the worst moments of his life to try and give Harry and the others some context on the situation, he respects and listens to Harry when he requests them to not kill Wormtail.
He asked Harry if he wants to live with him at his first available opportunity, fully understanding if Harry would prefer otherwise, but being so fucking happy when Harry says yes. They donât even make it to the end of the tunnel before he asks him that!
(This is the moment where Harry officially starts thinking of him as family, btw, to the extent to which it becomes the happiest moment of his life so far.)
He somehow realizes that Harry isnât allowed in Hogsmeade and signs the form for him.
He sent Harry a gorgeous birthday cake while being on the run.
He has been writing letters to Harry over the summer, getting to know him, inquiring about Harryâs daily life, and itâs gotten to a point where Harry feels comfortable low-key bitching about Dudleyâs diet habits to him.Â
He also keeps reminding Harry to call on him if he needs help in anything.
When Harryâs scar hurt, and he wishes that he had a parent to confess to, he immediately feels stupid for not thinking of Sirius sooner. At this point, he has known Remus for a year, he has stayed at the Weasleysâ house, and he regularly visits Hagrid, and yet the first and only person he thinks of is Sirius. Sirius is the only adult he actually regards as a parental figure in his life.
When Sirius receives the letter, he flies back into the country, crouches in caves, lives on rats, and risks recapture, all so he could be closer to Harry.
The entire fireplace scene. The thought of talking to Sirius is the only thing getting Harry through the worst two weeks of his life. And the moment he sees him, the entire fucking dam shatters, and he pours out all his emotions to Sirius, from his terror at what heâs going to face to more trivial worries like his sudden unpopularity and the lack of support from Ron. This is the first time he has actually let himself vent to an adult like this, the first time he actually wants to vent to an adult. And Sirius listens patiently to him blow off steam with an expression so full of concern, and would have solved all his worries by telling him how to get past the dragon had they not been interrupted.
But people will still claim that (*insert any other adult*) somehow knows Harry better than Sirius. Lmao.Â
While Mrs. Weasley was believing Rita Skeeterâs articles on how Harry weeps over his dead parents and sending Hermione immature passive-aggressive Easter Eggs, Sirius was listening to Harryâs actual feelings regarding this whole mess, but no, by all means, keep arguing that she is somehow more of a mother to him than Sirius is a father.
Sirius also informs Harry about the various current and historical contexts + his personal suspicions regarding this whole mess, to try and let him have a more comprehensive view on the whole situation so he can be on his guard.
His first reaction at actually explaining things in-depth to the Trio was to say âyouâre too young, you wonât understandâ. But after they ask him to tell them more, he does, and he does it in a very articulate way that gives both us and them proper clarity on how things were back then.
He keeps reminding Harry to stay cautious and to be on his guard, reprimands him when for being out-of-bounds past curfew, and makes him promise to remain within the castle and to not venture out. This is totally someone who is careless and irresponsible when it comes to his godsonâs safety, amirite?Â
He gives Harry good practical advice, telling him to try and practice useful hexes and jinxes, which we know are extremely useful to Harry both for the task and for his life later on.
He sends Harry daily letters before the last task, and then gives him an adorable good-luck paw print. Aww.
He apparently made arrangements with Dumbledore to meet Harry after the third task.
He immediately argues for Harry to sleep after he emerges from the graveyard.
He stays behind Harry, with his hand on Harryâs shoulder, as Harry recounts what happened to him.
He stays with Harry through the night in the hospital wing and is pissed as fuck at Fudge for doubting Harryâs credibility.Â
He sets off to alert the other Order members, but reassures Harry that they will meet again very, very soon, realizing that Harry didnât want him to go.
He has, once again, been sending Harry letters over the summer, and is 1) the only one who is understanding for how hard his situation must be, and 2) the only one reminding him not to act out and encouraging caution.
He sends Harry a letter immediately after Arthur informs them of what happened, which says, âSTAY INSIDE THE HOUSE NO MATTER WHAT YOU DOâ. This is totally someone who is brashand irresponsible, right?
He is the single adult who actively wants Harry to have a general idea of what has been happening, both with the Order and Voldemort, because he correctly recognizes that Harry has been frustrated while being at his aunt and uncleâs the whole summer, and that Harry has been through enough to deserve to know what is happening. This is good. Giving Harry general information is 100% in Harryâs best interests, because Harry likes being respected, likes being aware of what is going on, and feels unrested and worried when heâs kept out of the loop. Dumbledore acknowledges at the end of the book that he should have told Harry everything and should not have left him in the dark.
He is also the single adult who shows even the slightest, mildest inclination to tell Harry anything about the prophecy, which Dumbledore once again admits he should have done right from the start.
It takes a special kind of mental gymnastics to feel furious on Harryâs behalf that no adult kept him informed on what was going on, and then say that Sirius, the only adult who did want to keep him informed on what was going on, was brash and irresponsible for having those opinions.Â
He answers Harryâs questions regarding his family, even though you can tell talking about them is clearly affecting him.
He reassures Harry about the trial when he realizes that Harry is upset, and then once again reassures him and gets him to smile on the morning before it.
He wants to accompany Harry to the trial because he wants to get out of his depression-inducing house for moral support.
He shuts himself up in the room rather than burden Harry with his problems and his unwanted thoughts.
He tries to give Harry a farewell-hug as a dog. Awww.
He shows up at the Gryffindor fireplace to reassure Harry about his letter and to answer the Trioâs questions on Umbridge and Hagrid, and reminds Harry to not go around asking too many questions. He also lashes out with the âyouâre arenât as much like your father than I thought lineâ, which I have always seen as a petty, immature guilt-trip that is a direct parallel to Remus also using James to try and guilt-trip Harry in DH. And while it definitely doesnât change the fact that itâs a shitty thing to say to your godson, I wish more people would realize that this is the one and only time he actually screws up when he comes to Harry. He has never spoken to Harry like this before and never will again. It is completely ridiculous to define his relationship with Harry on his single and only bad moment as a godfather.
He shows up at the Gryffindor fireplace and supports the idea of the D.A because âthere is someone outside school wanting to kill us all and the Ministry isnât teaching you anything, so I think learning to defend yourselves is a very good idea!â Which I 100% agree with. The D.A is a good idea, the fandom and the text both agree with it. Which makes them criticizing Sirius for having the exact same opinion as them even more confusing. Because the fact is, he gives us his reasons for approving of it, and they are all valid reasons. Nothing from what he says at all indicates that he is living through them or egging them on the way Hermione says he is, which makes it perfectly reasonable for me to completely disregard her view on it.
When Arthur is attacked, he is absolutely wonderful, keeping the kids from doing anything stupid, trying to make them understand the situation at hand, keeping his temper even after Fred lashes out, and staying with them through the night, reassuring them that they will know what happens because their mother is there with Arthur. And yet the only thing the fandom seems to remember from this scene is that he had been drinking.
When Harry tells him that he felt Voldemort rising in him, he tries and fails to convince Harry that itâs nothing, telling him to sleep, and immediately informs Dumbledore of what Harry told him.
He is determined that Harry and the others have a good Christmas at Grimmauld Place, and spends all his time decorating the house to ensure that.
He insists on remaining in the room during Snapeâs conversation with Harry.
He tells Snape to stop giving Harry orders in Harryâs own godfatherâs house.
He tries to argue for Dumbledore teaching Harry Occlumency instead of Snape.
He warns Snape not to give Harry a hard time during Occlumency, and then gets furious when Snape insults both Harry and Harryâs dead father as a response.
He gives Harry a mirror to let him know if Snape is acting like an ass.
He is literally the only adult to correctly realize that Snape teaching Harry Occlumency was a disastrously terrible idea, something that Dumbledore admits he should have realized right from the get-go.
He tries and succeeds in giving Harry proper context after SWM and reassuring him that his father was a good guy, which allows Harry to have a more balanced view on his father while also comforting Harry.
He refuses to stay hidden in Grimmauld Place after learning that Harry was in danger, because he knew he wouldnât have been able to live with himself if he did. He risks his freedom, his life, his soul, all to protect Harry.
He is the first one to realize that Harry is in danger from Dolohuv and rams into Dolohuv to keep him away from Harry.
He tells Harry to grab his friend + the prophecy and get out of the Depatment of Mysteries.
He very specifically calls Harry by his own damn name.
He leaves everything he owns to Harry, including his house and his money.
He gives Harry all his love as a ghost, reassuring him that death is not painful and telling him that they will always be a part of him.
HE IS CANONICALLY THE CLOSEST HARRY HAS TO A PARENT AND THE ONLY ADULT HARRY ACTUALLY REGARDS AS A PARENTAL FIGURE TO HIM
LISTEN TO HARRY ON THIS
Lily's temper once they find and reseat her
Cop: Youâre receiving a ticket for having three people on one motorcycle.
Remus: Shit.
Sirius: Wait, three?
Cop: Yeah?
James: OH MY GOD LILY FELL OFF!!!