DISCLAIMER: This is not mine. The wonderful magical world of Harry Potter belongs to the one and only J.K. Rowling.
Childcare
Walburga Black was exhausted. Sirius' governess, Angelica, had caught the dragon pox and died suddenly after. Now thanks to her death, Walburga was left to care for her child alone since Orion was useless with babies. It had been two weeks and since it was near the holidays, they hadn't been able to find another nurse or governess to care for the heir to the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. Since then, she had to take upon several duties that were not supposed to be hers.
For one, she actually had to nurse her own son. Usually she'd pump for a while and then let the nurse take care of it, but now she had to do it all at once for Sirius. The boy was very needy and it irritated Walburga to a large extent, since he was supposed to be perfectly well behaved. He pulled at her clothes, jewelry and hair harshly when she held and fed him. And second, she was ill. She felt sick all day, even more tired than she would admit and much more emotional than she would have been. Childcare was taking a lot out of her.
She sat in the rocking chair, nursing her son, mulling over her predicament when she heard the door open downstairs. Oh thank Merlin! Someone who can hold an intelligent conversation. She heard footsteps climbing up the stairs and saw her husband finally enter the nursery, his black hair combed back and his grey eyes softening into a gentler gaze. "Orion," she said in a large exhale, "Thank Merlin you're home."
He nodded at her and looked toward his son who had detached from her, clearly finished with her. She covered herself quickly, blushing from embarrassment. Her husband smirked, "Why are you hiding? It's nothing I haven't seen before…"
She looked at him annoyed, "Would you like to take your son? I've been with him all day."
Sirius looked over at Orion with wide curious eyes, the color matching his father's. Orion moved to grab Sirius and swung him onto his hip, "Hello my boy," he said, greeting the one year old formally.
"Papa!" cooed Sirius excitedly.
Walburga frowned, "Of course he says 'Papa'. Meanwhile, it was I who birthed him and has slaved away to care for him for these past weeks and not one 'Mama'. Just 'Hungwy' and 'No'. Children are so selfish."
Orion sighed, "I'm sure he has said it. You probably weren't in the room though…"
"The only place I've been in this Merlin forsaken house is in this nursery with him." she said bitterly, "I'm sick of it. Have you interviewed a governess yet?"
Orion looked at Sirius who was busy looking at his reflection in the mirror behind him, patting his growing patch of beautiful black hair. "Yes, I've interviewed several. I have narrowed it down to two fine women. I'd like for you to have the final say."
"Thank God. I want to meet with them tomorrow and decide. I don't even know if I can last another day with this." she snapped.
"You know…most women do this for their children." he prodded gently.
"Oh sorry that I'm such a terrible mother!" she shrieked.
Sirius began to cry again after her outburst and squirmed in Orion's arms. Orion bounced him on his hip, giving him soothing shushing noises. Walburga narrowed her eyes, "Again with the crying!"
"Why don't you go get some sleep and I'll care for him tonight. I'm bored anyways." he said as he continued to try to soothe his boy.
"You do that." she said harshly, launching herself from her chair and stormed off. I'd like to see Orion try. She slammed the door to their bedroom and left Orion to handle their son.
Orion sighed and looked at a quieter Sirius, "Your mother is a tad emotional." he said as if this would explain to a toddler why his mother lashed out at him, "Let's go into another room. You must be sick of it in here."
Orion took Sirius into his office, a place forbidden to many, including his own wife. He cleaned it himself without the use of house elves, he just couldn't handle that invasion of privacy. He needed his own place to relax without the stress of a wife, child and the duties as a patriarch to the House of Black. For now he could handle that invasion in order to care for his whimpering son. He brought out an old cradle his father had stored away in the office. The cradle was enchanted to play a song that made the child fall asleep almost instantly, and was essentially a way of cheating.
Patriarchs hardly had any time to care for their own children, that's what a wife and governess was for. Yet they were without one, since Angelica had the nerve to die. It must have traumatized his son who had cried for weeks over her, asking "Where An'ca?"
Orion set Sirius into the cot and the cradle instantly started playing a tune for the baby. Within a few minutes, Sirius was asleep so Orion could continue his work. He should've informed his wife of this little trick, but he had hoped Walburga would become more maternal and affectionate towards their son if she had time to be with him. No such luck. Orion had always known Walburga wasn't that keen on the idea of motherhood, but she had taken to the task anyway. Twelve years of trying and they finally had a son!
Orion made it his own personal goal to be home by five in the afternoon. He technically didn't have to work, but he liked doing so anyway. Much like Walburga (and Sirius), Orion hated being cooped up in Grimmauld Place. As beautiful and traditional as it was, it could be suffocating. He regretted not taking Sirius out a lot, but he vowed to change that. His co-worker, Bartemius Crouch Sr. was already distant from his wife who was with child.
Orion started his work on the Black family tree. It was a hobby of his that he very much enjoyed, especially when he got to put the accomplishments of their members on the tree. It took a lot of research, but it was worth it. It was something he hoped to pass onto Sirius. He worked for a few hours before Sirius woke up, and immediately took him to the kitchen so he could heat up a bottle. Sirius took it readily, "See? There's not much to fuss about, you're a good boy." he cooed as Sirius ate.
Once Sirius finished, Orion decided to take him out on a walk. Fresh air would do the boy some good, as long as it was in a pureblood area. He apparated with Sirius (not the best idea) who started wailing once he reached his destination: the home of Arcturus Black. His father had moved out of Grimmauld once Orion married Walburga and into the Black summer cottage. He knocked on the door and was greeted by Libby the house elf, "Master Orion!" she shrieked, "Master Orion is here!"
Arcturus crept behind Libby and up to the door, "Orion. What is the occasion?" he asked, eyeing his son and grandson.
"Can't my son and I visit you without having another motivation besides enjoying your company?" he asked, an eyebrow raised.
"But you don't enjoy my company." he snarled, letting Orion and Sirius in anyway.
Sirius looked at his grandfather with curious eyes, and reached a hand out to him. Arcturus sighed and took a hold of his grandson and heir, "He's very needy."
"He's one." Orion explained.
"You weren't needy." Arcturus said as he lead Orion into the parlour, "Neither was Lucretia."
"That's because you never saw us. We had a governess." Orion said, seating himself in a comfortable leather chair.
"Have you come here just to criticize me? I'm an old man Orion, I can't take much more of this." he said as he waved his wand to pour the pair of them drinks of whiskey.
"No of course not. I just thought it would be nice for Sirius to see his grandfather and get out of the house. Walburga's exhausted and resting."
"Is she pregnant?" Arcturus asked bluntly, taking a sip of his drink.
"No! Of course not, she couldn't be."
"So you two haven't been...intimate since Sirius' birth?" he prodded.
"Father, I hardly would like to speak with you on this matter. Please just entertain Sirius." he said as he took a big gulp of his drink, a bad idea but he bore it.
Arcturus bounced Sirius on his knee who started smiling and laughing, "If this entertains this boy then I don't see how she can be exhausted." he said, giving a smile to his grandson.
"Papa!" cooed Sirius, clapping his hands excitedly.
"He's such a good baby." his father cooed towards Sirius, "You're such a good boy."
His father wasn't a child friendly person. He had seen the way he treated Bellatrix, Andromeda and Narcissa, with annoyance and contempt. Poor Bella tried so hard, but then again she was a girl. All of them were and thus, in his father's eyes, a disappointing birth. He let his father entertain Sirius for a short while, before he convinced him to take Sirius out into the garden for a short walk. "Any luck on the governess matter? Such a shame that you lost Angelica. She looked to be so helpful."
Orion sighed, "Yes. I've narrowed it down to two women who will meet with Wally tomorrow. She'll have the final say."
"Are they pretty women?" Arcturus asked, with a suggestive undertone.
"Whether they are or are not is of no concern. They are the help and will be treated accordingly." he said sternly, knowing exactly what his father was implying.
"It's something you should think of." his father prodded.
"I would never stray from Walburga. As frustrating as she can be, I love her." Orion said firmly, picking up a toddling Sirius who whined in annoyance.
"No." he said grumpily, thumping a tiny fist against his father's chest.
Orion gave him a firm stare that he was sure would make Sirius stop, but he held his own defiant stare and thumped his fist again, "No!"
Orion had little patience so he just put Sirius back down so he could toddle. Arcturus had ignored the exchange, "It's not uncommon for men in our station to-," he began before Orion cut him off.
"No father, I won't. We're hiring a governess because Walburga and I are tired. Sirius is not as well behaved as he seems to you, and we are quite frustrated. We need time together and with a one year old, it's rather complicated so I'd appreciate it if you dropped the matter." he said gruffly.
Orion ended the conversation and picked up Sirius. Despite the wailing toddler who reached out for his grandfather, Orion took his leave and apparated back to Grimmauld place. He quickly went into his office and laid Sirius down in the cot, a lazy move, but a necessary one in Orion's opinion. Sirius was out like a light in a few moments, so Orion went upstairs to check on Walburga. She had been in a rather foul and tired mood when he had left. "Darling, how are-," he began before he saw her sitting by the window, looking out towards the sky.
"I'm pregnant Orion." she said bluntly, with no affection or excitement in her voice.
Orion sighed. A governess would be needed very much right now.
Walburga waited in the sitting room with her husband, sipping on a herbal tea. She had been in a foul mood since finding out that she was pregnant. Sirius had been enough, he was more than enough. He was a tiring, needy and loud child who could be increasingly difficult. She couldn't imagine dealing with another one, which is why she needed to hire a governess today. "Walburga, I think you'll really like the candidates."
She remained silent and waited for the first candidate to come in. An middle aged plump woman came in, with red rosy cheeks and dusty blonde hair pulled back into a tight 'no nonsense' bun. She looked stern and authoritative, a true disciplinarian. Walburga already liked her. "Elvira Sharp." she said in a strict voice.
Walburga nodded for the woman to take a seat and offered her tea. Once the few pleasantries were exchanged, they got down to business. "Now, I know my husband has already interviewed you, but I'd like to ask you some questions of my own."
"Of course ma'am. I'll answer any and all questions you may have regarding my qualifications for this position." she said in a proper tone.
Walburga nodded, "How long have you been practicing childcare?"
The woman sniffed proudly, "For thirty-two years. I've been with numerous families and all have turned out wonderful children."
"Did you work mainly with girls or boys?" she asked quickly, though she didn't see real relevance to the question. At this point, she'd be happy to have this woman.
"A bit of both. I would care for two children or more at once. I have experience training both to uphold their positions."
Walburga was ready to hire her, "Sirius is our first child, but more importantly he is the heir to the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. We are the most prestigious and pureblood family in Great Britain, if not the world. His position cannot be overlooked and he is expected to behave accordingly. He's been difficult to say the least, for a one year old that is. I wanted to ask you how you would begin to prepare his education."
"I've done my research Mrs. Black and I know enough about the history and the past heirs of the House of Black. I deal with etiquette first, but history is just as important. Have you hired a tutor yet?"
"Well no, since he is only one..." she said as if this were an obvious reason.
"It's never too early to start. The boy may not be able to read at the moment, but that's no excuse to neglect educating him early." she said stiffly, clearly judging Walburga's parenting skills.
I'll overlook that. "Quite right. We also want him to socialize with other pureblood children that we've picked out to be his peers. It'll be one of your duties to organize play dates between them. We'll send you a list of the families, who will be honored to have their children acquaint themselves with our son."
"Socialization is very important at this young age. I understand your previous governess passed away. How has your boy responded to that?" she asked, reaching into her purse and putting on a pair of lenses.
Orion's brow creased, "He was upset for the first week or so, but he's adjusted."
"How long had she been in your service before she passed?"
"Until a month ago, she had been with us since before his birth." Walburga explained, "But Sirius didn't seem to be completely devastated."
"Big changes for someone so small can be traumatic. Some are out of our hands," she said knowingly, "But others we can prepare for. Do either of you plan on having anymore children? I only ask, because it's important to set the first child up for a change this big."
Walburga really did not want to admit that she was with child. She was still coming to terms with it herself and quite frankly didn't want to believe it. Orion looked at her and gave her a look that said, It's your decision. Walburga sighed, "I am with child now. Our second and last one."
Elvira nodded and gave a genuine smile, "Congratulations."
Walburga gave a stiff smile, "We trust that you will be discreet about this. We haven't announced the news to anyone else."
"Of course ma'am. May I meet Sirius?" she asked.
They presented Sirius to Elvira who did not seem to like her in the least; Sirius always furrowed his brow when he was on the verge of a whine or tantrum. He was much like his father in that manner, though Orion never whined nor threw tantrums. "What a handsome boy." she said kindly and picked up the one year old who kicked his legs, though Elvira refused to put him down, "Quite a rascal, isn't he?"
"If you think you're up to the challenge, that's one of the things we want solved early. It'll be much easier later." Orion nodded, reaching for Sirius who immediately stopped fussing.
Elvira nodded and after another hour of questioning, she bid the couple farewell. The next interview was merely a formality since Walburga had already made up her mind. Elvira Sharp was who she'd choose and she was sure in her answer to Orion. Out of the fifty applicants, only one did the Black's find qualified. Good childcare was hard to find indeed.