“So what’s been done with the girl?” I asked Sirius a couple of days later as he sat in the kitchen.

“I'm not really sure. They were going to modify her memory, but I think they felt it would be a dishonor to her parents to say that they died in some regular accident while she was asleep. She’s fine from what I know, though… the Healers nursed her back to health quickly. Now, it’s all psychological issues that she has to deal with…”

“Think she remembers any of the fight?”

“I hope not.”

****

“He’s a year old in just two weeks,” I said, smiling proudly down at Harry.

“I know, Lily. He’s my son too.” James laughed.

Harry had pulled himself up into a standing position on the coffee table and his face was screwed up in concentration.

“Aww, James, he’s so cute! Go get the camera, will you?”

James scurried out of the room and I looked down at Harry, who’d suddenly let go of the table. Harry turned towards me, and put his leg out. He stumbled, fell and tried again, and before I knew what was happening, Harry was walking to me.

“JAMES! JAMES!” I cried. “Harry’s taken his first steps! Get in here!”

I heard a thump in the other room. “What? I can’t find the camera!”

“Forget that! Come see him!”

James rushed into the room just as Harry fell. Collapsing onto his knees, James said, “Come on, Harry, do it again!”

“James, it’ll help him if you stand up,” I pointed out. “If he looks up, it helps his balance. If he looks down, he’s headed towards the floor and it causes him to fall.”

James shook his head. “You leave school and you still read more than anyone else.”

I grinned as Harry’s tiny fingers slid off of the table’s edge once more. He wobbled a little but then stood firmly. And after looking up at the two of us, he smiled and proceeded forward.

****

“Come in, have a seat,” I smiled at Marie. She looked tired, and very worn out. “I figured you’d be getting more sleep, since Dumbledore pulled all of us off the job. Don’t take this in a bad way… but you look horrible.”

“Thanks,” she smiled. “I don’t know what’s come over me. I feel sick all of the time. I find myself exhausted by the simplest of things. I just want to lay down and sleep, even after a full night’s rest.”

“You want some medicine?” I asked, worried.

“No,” she signed. “I’ll be fine. Just need a quiet place to rest… Peter is always stopping by my house on Ministry calls. They’re driving both of us crazy. Mind if I take the guest bedroom to nap in?”

“Not at all,” I answered honestly.

She stood up. “Thanks.”

As she left, Harry crawled to my side, and then hoisted himself up on my leg.
“Muh… muh. Muh!”

“What is it?” I asked.

“Muh… muh… muhm! Muhm muhm mum!” he yelled triumphantly.

I nearly fainted.