By: Gia
Summary: James and Lily are looking for a babysitter to watch over Harry. Lily won't pick Sirius, and resolves to interview the people who come in their home for the job. What lengths will Sirius go to get rid of them?
Disclaimer: I only own the plot.
�But why James? I�m his Godfather! Aren�t I responsible
enough?" Sirius whined.
�Don�t make
me answer that. Besides, Lily wants to pick a babysitter for Harry while we go
on our little trip. She obviously doesn't want you to be it. Godfather or
not.�
Sirius
pouted, but nodded. �Fine, but don�t come crawling to me if your babysitter is
some nut case. There are some real shady people out there."
James
laughed, clapping Sirius on the back. �Relax, Padfoot old pal, Lily and I will
be very careful with choosing. Look, if it means that much, you can come over
while we interview them. Alright?�
A glint
appeared in Sirius�s eyes, and he grinned. �Alright."
Lily and James set out the next day, to clear out the living room
temporarily. They set a long table at the front of the room, and put a chair in
front of it. That would be the place where the interviewee would be asked
questions. Sirius, who came over early, helped them out. He wished them good
luck quickly, and said he�d be outside to get some fresh air. James shrugged to
his wife when Lily threw a suspicious look at Sirius�s retreating back.
�What�s he up
to?�
�Ah, come on,
Lily. He�s not up to anything. Now, I�m going to bring down Harry, and let�s
see how he takes to his candidates for a baby-sitter.�
Still looking
at her husband, she nodded and sat down on one of the two chairs set behind the
table. She was going to drill these people hard, and see if they were capable
of handling Harry. Harry could be the sweetest little boy, but with the sudden
bouts of magic Harry seemed to be coming out with, it made it more difficult.
Harry adored his parents, and clung to both like a leech. Of course, it didn�t
help matters when Lily encouraged it. She couldn�t help it, and she was sure,
all mothers couldn�t either.
She arranged
a few sheets of paper together on the table, with a list of questions on them.
James had put an ad in the Daily Prophet about needing a baby-sitter for two
weeks. The Potters� were known for their assist in the war, and they were
looked up to by many. As Aurors, they were skilled, and it earned them praise.
Harry even got his share of media, when he was voted cutest child of the month
in one of the Wizarding World�s magazines. It sported an enlarged picture of
Harry, smiling and giggling, while waving his small hands. His hair, combed,
sat neatly on his head save for two locks. Coincidentally, they stuck up on
both sides of his head, resembling little devil horns.
Of course,
the whole image was completely destroyed with Harry�s little face grinning at
you, green eyes shining. Lily had a sneaking suspicion that James and the other
Marauders� had something to do with it, but she kept her notions to herself.
Admitting only that it was cute, but she would never to say that out loud. She
was brought out her musings when James trudged down with Harry in his arms. He
was sporting a long-sleeves green shirt, with a white strip across the front.
He was wearing little tiny khaki pants. His bare feet were kicking, as James
lifted him up in the air.
Harry gurgled
happily, and when catching sight of his mother�s red hair, he immediately
reached out his hands towards hers. �Ah, Harry. Don�t you want to sit with your
old man?�
Harry
promptly started crying loudly, making James wince. Laughing at her husband,
Lily looked pretty smug when she held Harry in her arms, and whispered softly
to get him to calm down. Harry�s red nose sniffled, but otherwise, Harry kept
quiet.
�Harry,� Lily
cooed, �You smell like lilies! Did daddy put your favorite powder on you?�
Harry only
tilted his head, at Lily�s smiling face. Shaking her head, she set him down on
a mat covered floor. A cotton blanket was already put down for Harry to be
comfortable with while his parents interviewed the people.James conjured a
stuffed animalto keep Harry occupied. Crafted in velour, the wizard has that
magic look, with floppy starred hat and long, textured beard; the entire look
of the toyreminded James largely of Albus Dumbledore. Crying out happily, Harry
reached out, and immediately crushed the stuffed animal with a big hug.
Just then,
the doorbell rang. James made to go get it, but Lily told him to sit down. She
lifted her wand, and the door opened by itself. Instead of seeing just one
person, there seemed to be a lot more than they had anticipated. Her eyes
widened, and she stood to get everything under control. James followed his
wife, and ushered the people in. There appeared to be a dozen, so they lined
them up in the hall. Lily lifted her voice, and everyone quieted down. �We will
be interviewing each of you one at a time. There will be a silencing spell, so
you won�t be able to plan ahead with your questions.�
James
continued for her. �But thank you for coming over,� he pointed to the first
person in line. �You there, Mr..?�
�Mr.
Fleming.� in a surprisingly squeaky voice.
James winced
for a split second, and motioned him towards the living room. �Mr. Fleming,
would you please come in first.�
The man
followed James in, and he sat down on the chair facing the table. Lily and
James, immediately got down to business. After many questions, Lily was nearing
the end of her questions on her sheet. She and James planned to alternate with
each interviewee.
�And finally,
Harry has been showing magic at an early age. I fear he�s been learning how to
master it in his own way. Are you sure you want to take.. The risk, I should
say. Although it�s nothing really dangerous�� She trailed off.
�It�s no
problem really. I have a niece who�s having the same problem. Keeps making her
parents� hair fall out. It�s no problem at all.�
Lily turned
to her husband, �He seems like a capable man. What do you think?�
James
blanched, �He�s awfully squeaky isn�t he?�
�James,� she
whispered back angrily, �That�s a silly reason. Now, honestly, what do you
think?�
Trying not to
get Lily mad at him, he smiled weakly. �How about we see how Harry reacts to
this, first.�
Nodding, Lily
addressed the man. �Would you like to hold Harry? We�ll have to see how Harry
will react to a stranger.�
She walked
over to Harry, and picked him. Harry, not expecting this, dropped Lil�
Albus.The green-eyed boystared after the fallen toy sadly, but perked up when
he noticed himself being carried to that strange man. Harry didn�t really watch
his parents interview the man, but Harry didn�t like the squeaky voice. So why
was he being carried over to him? Harry wondered.
Two things
happened simultaneously. The minute Mr. Fleming held Harry in his arms, he
sneezed.
�Ah-squeak!�
The next thing that happened, Harry transfigured the man�s ears into bananas.
Mr. Fleming sneezed again, his face turning read. Looking concerned, Lily
immediately pulled Harry off his lap, �Mr. Fleming?�
�I--ah-squeak!--don�t
know what�s wrong--ah-squeak!--It seems I�m allergic to--ah-squeak!--something!�
James stood up,
and quickly walked over. �Are you allergic to anything, Mr. Fleming?�
�Ah-squeak!--Lilies!�
�Oh, dear.�
Lily immediately stepped back with Harry, hoping to create distance so the man
wouldn�t keep sneezing.
�I must--ah-squeak!--make
a call to my--ah-squeak!--doctor--ah-squeak!--good day!�
The man stood
and apparated from their home. �He should get his ears fixed too.� James
muttered, amused. Lily rounded on him, but he only grinned innocently. �What?�
Rolling her
eyes, she wordlessly handed him Harry and strode into the hall. �If any of you
are allergic to lilies or anything else that concerns toddlers--"
To their
complete amazement, half the people suddenly acquired stricken looks and
promptly fled from the house.James watched as they left, and wondered why they
had come in the first place if they knew about their own allergies. 'And
they didn't have to run our here like that...' James had a nagging feeling
that he was missing something but shook his head to clear his thoughts.
Lily came
back with the next person, and the interviews went by without a hitch. Three
people were told that they would call back later, while two had to suddenly
leave for another event. Only one person was left. Lily came in again followed
by an old woman. They started again with the questions, this time with James
interviewing her.
When the
interview was done, both Lily and James were quietly discussing on what to do.
The old lady, Mrs. Hoch, let her eyes look down at Harry. She smiled kindly at
him, and it was returned with a smile too. Still seeing that they were
discussing, she look out the large window and her eyes widened.
Sirius held out his hand, and transfigured the stick into man-size
dummy. He put a little glamour spell on it to look like a real man. Half the
people left thanks to a few befuddlement charms on their ears. Sirius had to
cast a silencing charm on himself when he roared with laughter. Merlin only
knew what they heard when Lily came over with an annoyed look on her face.
Now though,he
had to get rid of this Mrs. Hoch, who looked like the perfect baby-sitter. He
lay the man on the ground in front of the window. Changing into his animagi
form, he bounded towards it, and proceeded to make vicious growls and started
to bite the �man�s� arm, pulling him this way and that. As luck would
have it, the woman had looked at the window.
'Time to
put my acting skills into motion..'
Mrs. Hoch
looked with horror as the dog proceeded to try ripping the man�s arm off.
�Mr. Potter��
she trailed off in horror.
Still
discussing with his wife, he hadn�t heard what she said. Harry, looked at the
kind woman�s face, and saw that she seemed frightened. Trying to be friendly,
Harry got up and walked towards Mrs. Hoch. She looked down at him, seeming to
be dazed. �Harry.. Do you have a dog?�
She didn�t
expect an answer, but bent down and lifted Harry in her arms. Harry got a good
look out the window and broke into giggles. Turning to Mrs. Hoch, Harry said in
a correcting voice. �Puppy!�
�That�s
a puppy?� she said incredulously.
Harry nodded,
clapping his hands. As Sirius managed to rip off the arm and was going for the
head.
Mrs. Hoch,
abruptly set Harry down upon the floor, gently of course. Clearing her throat
she caught Lily and James� attention. Lily was smiling. �Mrs. Hoch, we are going
to hire--�
�I�m quite
sorry, dear, but I just realized I have a.. thing.�
�A thing?�
Lily said, in the same incredulous tone that Mrs. Hoch used when she inquired
about the dog.
�Yes, I�m
afraid I can�t stay any longer. Good day.� She apparated quickly.
Bewildered
she turned to her husband, �What was that all about?�
The doorbell
rang.
Lily lifted
her wand, and the door opened--
�Is the job
still open?�
Sirius Black.
Grinning madly.
�Puppy!�