NOVEL NEXT Chapter 7: Chapter 7
Chapter 7:
Sirius Black paced the living room of the Potter house like a man on a mission. It wasn't just any kid he was babysitting—no, that would've been too simple. He was keeping an eye on Harry Potter, who, on top of being the son of James and Lily (a.k.a. Loki and Artemis, because why not add a little divine drama?), also happened to be a Metamorphmagus. You know, a baby who could change his appearance at will, even though he was only one.
To top it off, Sirius was pretty sure Harry was having a blast messing with him.
"Come on, kiddo, you had green hair five minutes ago, and now it's purple? Pick a color and stick with it!" Sirius threw his hands up in mock frustration. Harry giggled from his crib, his hair shifting to a bright shade of orange as if to say, "Challenge accepted."
"You're going to give him a complex," James called from the couch, looking like he had absolutely zero concerns in the world, because of course, he didn't. Not when your kid is part-god and part-prankster. "Let him have fun, Pads. It's not like he's turning into a dragon or anything... yet."
Sirius paused, his eyes narrowing at Harry. "Wait. He can't actually turn into a dragon, right?"
"Not unless he feels like it." James grinned, leaning back casually. "Honestly, it's not even the weirdest thing he's done. You should've seen him last night. Looked just like me, glasses and all."
"Merlin's beard, Prongs, this kid is gonna be the end of me." Sirius shook his head, but the corners of his mouth twitched up. Despite the chaos, he wouldn't trade this for anything. Not when it came to Harry.
Before Sirius could even think about more baby-related disasters, the air shimmered, and a silver lynx appeared in the room. It was Kingsley Shacklebolt's Patronus, and that could only mean one thing: trouble.
"McKinnon Manor is under attack. Death Eaters. We need backup. Now."
The lighthearted atmosphere vanished. Sirius's heart plummeted, his mind instantly jumping to Marlene McKinnon. His Marlene. She could be in danger. No, scratch that—she was in danger.
"Pads, we have to go," James said, already on his feet, his face serious for the first time that evening.
Sirius barely heard him. His mind was filled with images of Marlene, surrounded by Death Eaters, fighting for her life. His wand was in his hand before he even realized it.
Lily appeared in the doorway, her eyes wide. "What's going on?"
"McKinnon Manor's under attack," Sirius said, his voice tight. "We're going."
Lily's gaze flicked between them, then landed on Harry, who was now watching the adults with wide, curious eyes. His hair had shifted to a concerned shade of brown, matching the tension in the room.
"I'll stay here with Harry," Lily said, her voice firm. "Just—be careful, alright?"
Sirius hesitated for a split second, his protective instincts kicking in. Lily was Artemis, for Merlin's sake, but still—this was Harry, the kid who could change his appearance on a whim, and who might just start morphing into something worse if he felt the danger. And it didn't help that Sirius already had a tendency to worry about everything when it came to his godson.
"Don't let him change into anything with claws, alright?" he managed to joke, though his heart wasn't in it.
Lily's lips quirked into a small smile. "We'll be fine, Sirius. Go."
James was already grabbing Sirius's arm, pulling him toward the door. "Come on, mate. We've got Death Eaters to deal with."
With a sharp crack, they Disapparated, leaving Lily standing in the now-quiet room. She glanced down at Harry, who promptly grinned and turned his hair bright pink.
"Honestly, kiddo," Lily sighed, picking him up, "your dad and Sirius might not survive you at this rate."
---
Sirius and James Apparated just outside McKinnon Manor, where chaos had taken over. The night was lit with the flashes of spells, and the screams of battle echoed through the grounds. Death Eaters were everywhere, and the air was thick with dark magic.
But Sirius didn't see any of that. His focus was razor-sharp, and it was all on Marlene. Somewhere in that mess, she was fighting, and he had to get to her.
"Pads, focus!" James yelled, grabbing his shoulder. "We've got to do this smart."
Sirius shook his head, his vision narrowing. "Marlene's in there. I'm not waiting."
And with that, he bolted forward, charging into the fray without a second thought. Because if there was one thing Sirius Black knew how to do, it was to protect the people he loved.
—
James burst through the door of McKinnon Manor, adrenaline coursing through him like a double shot of espresso on a Monday morning. He spotted Sirius, his best friend and godfather extraordinaire, fighting like a tornado of chaos, throwing spells around like they were confetti at a surprise party gone awry.
"Pads!" James called, trying to make himself heard over the cacophony of hexes and the occasional crash of furniture meeting magic. "Need a hand?"
Sirius glanced back, his expression a mix of sheer determination and surprise, as if he hadn't expected James to join this swirling mess of danger. "What do you think? I'm starting to feel like a one-man army here!"
"Guess you didn't need my help until now," James quipped, summoning memories from his past life as Loki, the God of Mischief. The thrill of the fight ignited something deep within him, a rush of power and cunning that made his heart race, even if his mortal body felt slightly constrained by its limitations. "Let's show these Death Eaters what we're made of!"
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