Chapter Text
The Potter manor was always lively during their weekly dinners, but tonight, someone, though absent in person, had completely stolen the conversation. Or rather, Harry had.
Euphemia Potter watched, utterly enchanted, as her grandson chattered between small bites of arroz con pollo, his little hands waving excitedly. “An’ ‘den Weggie made me soup! Was sooo yummy! ‘Den he gived me potion, and I go all better!”
“Hold on, hold on,” Monty interrupted with a chuckle, dabbing at his mouth with a napkin. “Who’s this ‘Weggie’ fellow now?”
James coughed into his drink, face going a little pink, but Harry, unfazed, beamed up at his grandfather. “Weggie! He’s pwitty.”
Sirius made a strangled noise and dropped his fork. “Oh, for Merlin’s sake!”
Effie arched a brow, intrigued. “Sirius, you know him?”
“Oh, he knows him, alright,” Remus muttered with a smirk, taking a sip of his horchata.
Sirius shot his boyfriend a glare before sighing dramatically. “Regulus. That’s who Harry’s been talking about. My baby brother.” He threw his hands up. “And somehow he’s become Harry’s favorite person in the world.”
Harry gasped at his Godfather’s words. “No, Paddy! You my fav’rite too!”
Sirius placed a hand over his heart. “Too?! Too?! Not first?”
Harry, now deep in his own crisis, pouted and shoved a spoonful of mashed plantains into his mouth. “Uhm…”
James bit back laughter as he ruffled his son’s unruly hair. “It’s alright, bud. You don’t have to choose.”
Effie, meanwhile, shared a curious glance with her husband. “Regulus Black,” she mused, her tone contemplative. “Of course, we knew about him, but he was still with your parents when you came to us, Sirius. I don’t believe we ever actually met him.”
Monty nodded, thoughtful. “He took over their estate, didn’t he?”
James hummed. “Yes, but he built his own business. His potions company is one of the best in the market.”
“He’s vewy smart!” Harry supplied cheerfully. “An’ he got pwitty hair.”
Effie’s eyes twinkled. “Oh?”
“Yeah!” Harry turned to his father, wide-eyed and enthusiastic. “Daddy say so too.”
James’ face went red. “Okay, bedtime for you, kid.”
Sirius howled with laughter, slapping the table. “Oh ho ho! This is golden!”
Remus barely suppressed a grin. “Oh dear.”
Effie covered her mouth with her hand, but her amusement was unmistakable. “James, darling, are you quite alright? You look a little red.”
James groaned, rubbing his face. “Brilliant. My own kid betrays me.”
Monty chuckled softly. “He must be a remarkable young man,” he said, “if Harry loves him so much.”
Sirius huffed, but there was no real bite to it. “He is alright, I guess.” Then, after a pause, he muttered, “James could do worse.”
James nearly choked on his drink. “Sirius!”
Remus snorted.
Harry, blissfully unaware of the conversation happening, grinned and clapped his hands. “Yay, Weggie!”
Effie laughed, her gaze warm as she looked at her son. “Well, James? Are you going to invite him over?”
James, still recovering, covered his face with both hands and groaned. “Merlin, help me.”
Later that evening, when the meal had been cleared away and the golden glow of sunset bathed the Potter Manor grounds, they all found themselves outside. Harry ran barefoot through the grass, giggling as he chased fireflies, his laughter ringing out into the evening air. Sirius, still pretending to be offended, watched him with fond exasperation, while Remus chuckled beside him.
Effie and Monty stood arm in arm, watching their grandson with soft smiles. Monty glanced at James, his tone knowing. “You should bring him over next time, son.”
James exhaled, glancing skyward as if asking the heavens for patience. Then, after a moment, he smiled. “…Yeah. Maybe I will.”