Into the silent love, like a burning spear
And the poison rain, brings a flood of fear
-U2
"Mr. Black?"
Sirius looked up from his hands and straight at the Healer's sorry face. Immediately, terrible thoughts began to flood his mind. What if she was dead? What if she had an incurable disease? What if Bellatrix had put her to sleep forever?
Sirius got up and followed the Healer into his office. He ran a hand through his hair, displaying just how nervous and agitated he was. The Healer turned to Sirius and began to speak.
"We were unable to identify the curse that Bellatrix LeStrange used on your wife. But she shows clear signs of the Cruciatus curse and a sleeping charm has been put on her."
"What does that mean?" Sirius asked, his tone desperate.
"We don't know if she's going to wake up again," the Healer said, and Sirius felt his throat close up and choke him, "if she doesn't wake up in two days time, then … I'm sorry, Sirius."
Sirius didn't know what was happening around him. The Healer was talking, but no words were coming out of his mouth. The entire room was spinning, and the entire world was pushing down on him.
"But – it was one curse! How the hell – what am I – it was one bloody curse! How did it manage to … to …"
The Healer put a hand on Sirius' shoulder and said in a sympathetic voice, "whatever curse Bellatrix used, it made the sleeping charm work against Iris instead of with her. So it's all really up to Iris if she wakes up again."
Sirius was looking so helpless that the Healer felt compelled to console him more. "Try … try talking to her. It helps if they know that someone's with them in the darkness."
"She knew that already," Sirius said, getting up from his chair, "can I take her home?"
"Yes," the Healer nodded, "it's better if she's in familiar surroundings."
Sirius mumbled a 'thank you' and turned to the door. He couldn't feel himself. It was like his soul had been numbed when they said that there was a possibility that she would never wake up again.
That she could die.
He made his way to the room which she was in. She was lying motionless on the paper covered bed, looking so peaceful in the Hospital gown. Sirius went forward and put her arm around his neck and placed one beneath her knees, and carried her out of St. Mungos.
After reaching home, he carried her to their bedroom, remembering all those times when they came back from parties, drunk and he had to carry her up the stairs.
What if that scenario never came again?
Sirius shoved the door open with his shoulder and went towards the bed. Placing her on top of it, he grabbed hold of the quilt and threw it over her, wishing she could say just one word – one word - to console him.
***
"Twins," Lily said as her and James entered their home. James chuckled as Lily began once again, "twins, James – TWINS!"
"I know, sweetheart," James said, going into the kitchen. He prepared two cups of tea and gave one to Lily. He took a long drink of his own mug, waiting for Lily to let out what she wanted to say.
When Lily spoke, her voice was less than a whisper, "we don't know if we can handle even one child. Two of them … how do we know we're ready?"
James smiled and placed his hand on top of hers, "do you already love them, Lily? Unconditionally?"
Lily nodded and James continued, "are you ready to give up anything for them?"
"Except for you – yes," Lily said and James smiled.
"Are you ready to do anything to protect them?"
"Anything and everything," Lily said. James tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. His hazel eyes looked deep into her emerald ones, almost melting Lily's insides.
"Then you're ready, Lily," James whispered, in a heartwarming voice, "and I know – believe me, I know – you'll make one hell of an amazing mother."
Lily smiled and put her hand on the left side of James' face. He leaned into it, his hazel eyes twinkling. Lily sighed happily and then said again, "but twins!"
James laughed.
"What are we going to name them?" Lily asked excitedly.
"Well, if it's a boy and a girl then … Harry and Gabrielle," James smiled, "named after your Mother and my Father."
"That's perfect," Lily grinned and took a deep drink of her tea, "and if it's two boys, an – GAH! I don't know how I'm going to deal with two mini marauders!"
"Don't worry," James laughed, "I got your back."
"If it's two boys, we should name them Harry and Sirius," Lily smiled, "Sirius Potter."
James burst out laughing, "and if it's two girls?"
"Gabrielle and Iris Potter," Lily grinned and James, again, burst out laughing.
"And what? Their God Parents will be Sirius and Iris Black?" James chuckled.
"It does have a nice ring to it," Lily took a bite of the chocolate biscuits on the kitchen table, "I'll bake cookies for them everyday and I'll dress them up in –"
"Jeez, you sound like my mom," James laughed and stroked Lily's hair, "she always wanted a girl so until I was about one, she would dress me up in pink frocks."
Lily burst out laughing.
"What?" James said in horror, "Lily, it permanently scarred me for life!"
Lily smiled and kissed James' cheek before getting up to wash the dished. James took hold of her wrist and brought her back down on to his lap, keeping her prisoner in his arms. He smiled and pressed his lips to hers.
***
"Alex, you have to stay here."
Alex's surprised violet eyes looked up to meet Remus' face. Remus' hair was dripping wet from the shower that he took a few minutes ago and the shirt was a bit wet, hence it was sticking to his chest and emphasizing the almost sculpted chest which he was gifted with. His blue eyes were bright and wild. Alex had never seen anything more beautiful than that.
"What do you mean?" Alex asked as Remus sank down on to the couch next to her. He ran a hand through his wet hair and sighed deeply.
"I don't want Bellatrix to get you. I mean, she already used the cruciatus curse on you, who knows what else she's going to do?" Remus said, taking hold of her hand and playing with her fingers.
"So …?"
"Stay here. Stay with me so I know you're safe," Remus whispered. Alex opened her mouth to speak, but no sound, let alone words, came out. Remus' blue eyes were almost desperate as he tried to reason with her.
"Just until the Ministry catches Bellatrix and I know you're safe," Remus said, "I really don't want you to get hurt, Alex."
Alex sighed and looked up at Remus. She raised her eye brow and smiled, "you know you didn't really have to give that speech to convince me. I would have said yes any way."
"Really?" Remus asked, confused.
Alex laughed and leaned forward to kiss him.
***
Sirius was getting dressed after his shower when he heard a earth shattering scream come from the next room. He quickly pulled on his jeans, leaving the shirt and ran out of the dressing room.
When he entered their bedroom, he heard her scream again. Her entire body was rigid and was curled up like she was in pain. She was clutching the pillows and screaming into them, looking wild and crazy. She was screaming in her sleep.
Sirius went forward and he realized that she wasn't screaming, but yelling someone's name. It wasn't hard to realize that it was his name that she was screaming.
Sirius could catch words like "don't" and "please" and "take me instead". He went forward and put his hands on both sides of her face, saying, "Iris! Iris, can you hear me? Iris? I'm here, love."
She still clutched all the pillows and was almost suffocating herself. She looked absolutely crazy and it was aching his heart to see her condition. He didn't know what to do or what to say.
Sirius grabbed the pillows and threw them out of her reach. Taking hold of her shoulders, he pulled her up and crushed her to his chest, even though she kept on screaming with her face pressed to his neck.
So ... the last part was a bit sad, wasn't it?
Any way, so the results are in and the majority chose Gabrielle for the twin sister and Iris as her middle name. That's fine with me, even though at first, I was completely set on naming her Iris.
Some one asked me where I live. I think it was Hannah In Wonderland? Any way, I live in Pakistan. It's in Asia.
Some one asked me to explain the entire Iris/James relationship. They asked that how can Lily love James and know everything about him when Iris understands him?
Hey, I love Amile but I understand JD more. It's just one of those things, you know, when you just click with some people? I mean,when I first met JD, I though he was an ass (still do ;D) but I still understood him.
Come to think of it, JD and I are A LOT like Sirius and James. I'm James, and he's Sirius. ;) And Amile is Remus - the only sane one out of all of us. ;)
