So this is Chapter 2. I'm so sorry it's taken so long to get it out, but life kept getting in the way and I just couldn't seem to get the chapter right. I've lost count of how many drafts I've written and discarded. In the end, this is what I've got, and I'm not completely happy with it, but I decided to give you something considering the amount of love you've all shown the first chapter.
I want to say thank you to everyone who has reviewed, and added this to their favs/follows. It really means alot. Hopefully, you'll all be happy with this chapter. Enjoy!
The first time Bellatrix saw Sirius, she had not long since turned four years old. When her mother took her to see her Aunt Walburga and the new baby, Bellatrix hadn't been completely thrilled. It wasn't like the baby could do anything other than sleep and cry and eat, and some other things that Bellatrix didn't really care about. She just knew she was going to be bored.
Her mother had made her wear a pretty dress in pale lavender and had tied her hair back in a low ponytail with a matching ribbon. Bellatrix didn't really understand the need to be dressed up. She'd much rather stay at home anyway.
When her, Andromeda (her older sister) and her mother eventually arrived at Grimmauld Place (which, Bellatrix thought, could definitely use some more colour and light. It was entirely too dark), Bellatrix was more than ready to just turn back around and go home. Her mother moved slowly towards the main Parlour room, where all guests were to wait until a house elf came for them (even guests who were family).
Bellatrix couldn't help but sigh at her Aunts silly behaviour. Walburga Black had entirely too much power over the family. Andy glanced at her from the corner of her eye. Her big sister was already six and her mother had another child on the way. Bellatrix knew her father was hoping for a boy, but Bellatrix didn't really care. It was just another baby who wouldn't be useful for a few more years.
Bellatrix squirmed in her seat. She really wanted to just go home. She didn't see the fascination with babies. She didn't think that this baby would change her mind either. Of course, she hadn't whined or put up a fuss about it. She was a good girl who did as she was told. Most of the time.
There was the smallest of pops. Bellatrix turned to see a tiny house elf with bright blue eyes. Bellatrix found that fascinating. She had seen elves with brown and green eyes, but not one with blue. This elf had the clearest, bluest eyes Bellatrix had ever seen.
The small creature announced that the baby was ready to be seen, but Mistress Walburga wasn't up for visitors today.
Bellatrix's mother shook her head, the smallest of movements, belying her exasperation at the woman's theatrics. And it really wasn't much of a surprise, everybody knew that Irma (Walburga's mother) had slept with her husband's father. Even Pollux knew that Walburga wasn't his daughter, but his sister. It wasn't the best kept secret in the world and it was pretty obvious that a thirteen year old, who was at Hogwarts when Walburga was conceived, wasn't the childs true father. The only person who didn't seem to be aware of this was Walburga herself. Even Alphard, Bellatrix's uncle, knew the truth about who had sired him. Pollux's only true child with Irma had been Bellatrix's own father, Cygnus.
Bellatrix knew there had once been a scare that Andromeda was Pollux's child as well. Before their mother had married their father, it was well known that Pollux was sleeping with Druella Rosier. Then all of a sudden, Druella had married Cygnus and nine months later, Andromeda was born. It had taken a blood oath, a paternity spell and a truth spell before Cygnus was satisfied and believed Andy to be his.
Bellatrix was brought out of her musings (which was a good thing, as her mother was looking at her curiously, and Bellatrix didn't think that her mother would be too happy with her knowing the sordid details of the Black family at the age of four). There was a gurgling noise, that made Bellatrix think someone or something was choking She was sure the gurgling sound was the same sound Andy had made at Christmas last year, when a small fish bone had gotten lodged in her throat. That had terrified Bellatrix, and she knew that the elf responsible for the fish had been punished. Bellatrix felt a small pang of guilt over that, but not too much.
Glancing around the room, she located the source of the gurgling. In a crib, decked out in green and silver, was a tiny, pink skinned wrinkly creature with a tuft of dark hair. Eyes the colour of the deepest part of the sea stared back at her.
Bellatrix thought the small creature was the ugliest thing she had ever seen. But she noticed how small and helpless it was, the way it's little limbs flailed about with uncoordinated grace. She stepped a little closer, looking back at her mother for reassurance.
At four years old, Bellatrix knew that even the most helpless seeming of things could be dangerous. Her mother nodded encouragingly. Bellatrix took another step forward, a small frown gracing her small features as she took in this new creature.
"What is It, Mother?" she asked. Her voice was soft and melodious, and her mother smiled, only slightly amused.
"That is your cousin, Sirius." She answered. Bellatrix nodded, looking at her cousin curiously.
"Are all babies this ugly?" she questioned. Her mother made a sound, a snort that came across as equal parts amused and disapproving.
"Sirius is actually a very handsome baby, Bella. He's only small because he is still quite new to this world. We must make sure to protect him, as he is family."
Bellatrix thought about her mother's words and nodded seriously. The little person in front of her (Bellatrix had decided that it was indeed a person, and not a creature or house elf), was her cousin. And she was older than him, so she decided that she would like him and protect him. It was what family did. Family protected each other, always.
Very carefully, Bellatrix reached out and placed a small hand on the baby. The baby looked at her, eyes shining with what Bellatrix assumed was curiosity. A small smile graced her lips when the baby (Sirius, Bellatrix reminded herself) grabbed a hold of her hand. Her heart went soft. Bellatrix thought it wouldn't have mattered of Sirius wasn't family. She felt that she would have protected him no matter what. Her heart swelled with the same feeling she got when Andy would cuddle her when she had a bad dream or when there was a thunderstorm.
Even though Sirius was a small baby, who appeared to like drooling, Bellatrix noted absently, not even slightly disgusted when the baby began chewing on her small fingers, and Bellatrix found that she already loved him. She was surprised to find she had room in her heart for him, considering she loved so many people already.
As she asked if she could hold him, Andromeda coming to sit next to her on the plush cushions to also hold the baby, she knew that her main priority would always be the little baby in her arms and the girl sitting next to her.
Of course, that priority would extend to the child in her mother's belly when it was born, and though Bellatrix didn't know it yet, it would extend to include various others in the years to come. But for know, she was content, happy to cuddle her sister and her new cousin.
Sirius Black stares at the screaming terror in front of him. The tiny figure had a red face, screwed up so tightly, he was sure it would hurt. It was such a small person, he never expected it to make such a loud noise. He was also very confused. He had no idea what was wrong with the screaming terror.
Hermione Elara Black. She had been a quiet baby for the last few days, seemingly content to just sleep and watch him. Sirius had found her rather adorable and cute, the way she would gurgle at him. He had noticed some changes in her since her adoption. He was sure she wasn't this small when she had been brought to him. And her hair seemed darker and thicker.
He had thought it would be easy. He found out he was an idiot. Looking after a baby wasn't easy, especially when said baby was screaming her head off and he didn't know what to do.
In some ways, Sirius really regretted agreeing to Bellatrix's plan. He didn't know anything about babies. The only baby he had ever been around was as an adult was Harry, his Godson. His perfect little Godson who didn't scream his head off for no apparent reason. And whilst he had his moments of regret, and really, the only time he regretted agreeing was today, when the baby was screaming like the devil, Sirius knew he never would have turned his cousin away. It didn't matter of Hermione had been Snape's kid, and that was saying something. Sirius loathed Severus Snape with a passion. Sirius still would have taken the baby in because it would have been the right thing to do.
Only right now, at this minute, Sirius had no idea what the right thing was. His baby, because Hermione really was his, just wouldn't be settled. She didn't want a bottle, she didn't want a nappy change, or a dummy. She didn't need burbing (he had seen Lily do that. He figured it was normal to do that for a baby). She didn't seem to need anything. She just... wouldn't stop crying.
Frustrated, Sirius picked up his little bundle, cradling her head carefully. He couldn't get over how new she looked. At least, when her little mouth wasn't wide open, her little chest wasn't expanding as she drew breath, her eyes (Sirius still wasn't too sure what colour they were) screwed shut as she prepared for another scream. He walked around, fighting off his pounding headache, rocking and bouncing and doing everything he could think off to try and get Hermione to just be quiet.
And once again, like all the other times he had tried, nothing he did worked.
He could feel tears welling up behind his eyes, the stress, the headache, the deep sorrow from the last few days finally getting to him. And it had only been a few days. Bellatrix had only been her four days before, looking so tired and worn and weary. Only a few days since he had seen her picture fade on his wall, since Hermione's had appeared.
He hadn't seen James or Lily in those few days. He hadn't heard a word from Peter, though Bellatrix's last words to him were a constant, ringing reminder in his head.
Hermione continued to cry. Biting his lip, Sirius decided that he needed help. He didn't know why he thought he could do this on his own.
Cradling Hermione closer to his chest, softly spoken nonsense falling from his lips as he tried to calm her. Taking a step towards his Fireplace, Sirius grabbed a handful of Floo Powder. He had no idea if Flooing with a baby would be safe, but he knew apparition wasn't and Portkeys were a definite no. Hermione wouldn't be able to hold onto one. The Night Bus just wasn't safe. And he couldn't fly, he'd be too out in the open than he was comfortable for, especially with a baby. Taking a deep breath, and turning Hermione towards his chest to cover her face, Sirius yelled out his destination.
James Potter jolted upright, eyes blinking and squinting as he was abruptly awoken from his light sleep, the sound of the fireplace roaring to life greeting his ears. Another blink, and he adjusted his glasses, finger running through his already messy hair.
He blinked hard again, realising Sirius stood in front of him, holding something that screamed, whilst looking slightly put out.
"You are a terrible guard." Sirius announced, his tone holding the aristocratic lilt that his years of upbringing had instilled, and his years of rebellion hadn't quite managed to get rid of.
James blinked again, still slightly uncomprehending, not entirely too sure what to make of the picture in front of him. As soon as Sirius had stopped talking, his best friend had immediately lowered his head and was whispering nonsense to the bundle in his arms. James thought it might have been a baby. It sounded like a baby. But it couldn't be a baby, because James knew that if Sirius knew he had gotten someone pregnant (and Sirius was very strict when it came to contraception spells), then he would have had to have dealt with a panicking lunatic, who would rave and worry and drink and panic. And then repeat the process all over again.
It also wasn't Harry, because Lily had taken Harry to the Longbottoms, who also had a small child of their own, a little boy called Neville.
James wondered what the screaming bundle was.
The screaming continued, and Sirius started to look frustrated.
"I need your wife, Prongs." Sirius announced, his tone pleading, a slight frantic note bleeding through. James frowned.
"Lily isn't here. Besides, she's my wife Pads. You can't have her." He attempted a joke, slightly put out when Sirius scowled.
"I'm not in the mood for jokes." He muttered, still trying to stop whatever was crying.
Sirius finally appeared to give up.
"Make her be quiet!" he begged, thrusting the bundle wrapped in blankets at him.
Startled, James fumbled a little before securing his grip on the screaming creature that had just been literally thrust upon him. The screaming stopped. James looked down.
Surprised was an understatement. James wasn't entirely too sure what to think when he saw the bright, dark blue, nearly black, eyes staring at him. He was actually looking at a baby. Sirius had called the baby her. He was looking at what was obviously Sirius daughter. Looking up, he was surprised to note the look of annoyance on his friends face.
"Sure, she stops crying as soon as you hold her. I've been trying to get her too stop for ages and nothing worked." He muttered. James felt a slight grin coming on. He looked down at the baby in his arms, his crooked smile widening a little when he saw the tuft of dark hair. The Sirius miniature looked at him, red faced, eyes shining.
"So where did she come from?" James asked, looking back down at the child as she yawned, her small mouth getting wider, looking very much like Harry did when he was about to be sick everywhere.
"Well..." Sirius began. "That's kind of a long story."
James nodded, eyes on the baby in front of him. Her mouth was still wide open, her eyes wide as she looked at him.
And then she was sick. It came out like a projectile, hitting the front of his shirt and splattering on his face. Sirius was staring in shock, unable to keep the grin that was forming off his face.
James was pretty sure the child he was holding had done it on purpose.
Sirius' laughter appeared to startle the baby as she jumped on James arms, eyes wide as her head looked to the side.
"I think I'm gonna need to shower."
With a scowl on his face, ruined by the amusement in his eyes, James handed the baby too Sirius.
"She is going to be a nightmare." He muttered. "Only just met me and she's puking all over me." With a shake of his head, James walked from the room to get cleaned up.
Sirius held up his little girl.
"You are an absolute delight!" he crowed, laughing happily. He tucked the baby into his arm, his grin broad. "A little monkey, that's what you are, aren't you?"
Sirius continued babbling nonsense to Hermione, who stared up at him, eyes wide as if contemplating something. Smiling slightly as he settled down on the overstuffed armchair that was usually reserved for him, Sirius gently rocked Hermione, humming under his breath. His struggled to keep his eyes open, eyelids gently closing, as did Hermione's.
That was how James found the two of them twenty minutes later, Sirius' head had fallen back to rest against the back of the chair, Hermione nestled in close, head nestled in the crook of Sirius' neck.
With a gentle smile, James grabbed one of the blanket throws Lily loved so much and gently covered his closest friend, taking care to not disturb the pair.
He figured he could interrogate Sirius about Hermione later, though looking at them, he couldn't help but smile wider at the adorable picture they made.
