Oh my goodness! I am a terrible human being. I'll give you all my lame excuses at the end of the chapter. For now a lovely thank you to my reviewers, Looz-x-bbz, WeasleyTwin3Some, kb1073, Kaladelia Undomiel, Pixie Black, stuck-in-tv and PrincessDripDrop. Now on with the story!
Chapter Eleven: The Thirty-First
Serverus
"So we're agreed? Thursday nights shall be our nights for cards?" Voldemort asked and I was wise enough to keep the frown of confusion from my face. He stood facing an ornate fireplace while his loyal minions sat grouped around a long table. I sat among them though separate by an empty chair saved for a latecomer.
The door was quietly pushed open and a black robed figure attempted to sneak into the room.
"Nice try Lucius" Voldemort said before turning to face the straggler. Lucius Malfoy bowed his head and then glided over to take his seat beside me.
"Why were you late? And don't tell me you got lost, it is your drawing room we sit in after all" Voldemort said
"My son-"
"Ah" Voldemort held up a hand to silence him, "The child bride not adapting to motherhood?
"She's sixteen in September" Lucius muttered.
"Just leave the family stuff at home Lucius this is business" Voldemort said and Lucius seemed smart enough to not point out this was his home.
"I have a task for you. All of you – what the hell is that?" Voldemort stopped and we each stopped to listen. It was the unmistakable sound of wailing and it was steadily growing louder. Voldemort turned toward Lucius who lowered his head
"Don't, don't, don't, don't" he was muttering under his breath as Voldemort narrowed his eyes dangerously. The door swung open and Narcissa Malfoy hurried into the room sobbing loudly while the tiny baby in her arms squirmed restlessly crying, not as loud as his mother though. Lucius stood up and strode over to her hissing furiously at her. She shook her head crying and pleading.
Voldemort cleared his throat pointedly and Lucius glanced at him before glaring at his wife.
"What did I say?" Lucius snapped
"Please. He likes you, he never cries when you hold him"
"Two hours Narcissa. Two hours"
"No. Just... just make him stop please. "
"Go!"
"Lucius, please"
"When we married I your mother didn't tell me I'd be taking care of two children" he snapped and Narcissa whined softly lowering her head, shoulders shaking as she cried. "I have half a mind to send you straight back to her so you can grow up a little. Now go!
"Fine! I'll throw him off the fucking roof" she snapped and then turned. It took Lucius four seconds to realise what she said and he quickly hurried to stand in front of her stopping her in her path.
"Narcissa, hand over the boy" Voldemort said. Narcissa's eyes widened and she stepped closer to her husband away from Voldemort.
"Now" he said in a voice that broke no arguing. Narcissa headed toward him, Lucius following right behind, they stopped in front of Voldemort and Narcissa handed over the fussing baby. Immediately the boy quietened and Narcissa gasped softly.
"Babies sense fear. You my dear in your full blush of youth are more timid then a kitty cat in a thunder storm. Lucius here fears nothing other than a world shortage of hair care products" Voldemort said Narcissa blanched and Lucius tried not to appear insulted "What name did you give him? I hope, Lucius, you didn't name him after your father or yourself. You know how I hate that"
"Draco. His name is Draco" Lucius said
"A beautiful name. It's a constellation, though I'm sure you were of course going for its Latin meaning of dragon" Voldemort said and handed the boy back to Narcissa. Immediately he began to cry and Narcissa whimpered before looking at Lucius. He glanced quickly to Voldemort before relieving his wife of her burden.
"Yes with you two as his parents I'm sure he'll be as fearsome as his namesake" Voldemort said dryly and then reached up to pat Narcissa on the head "You may go my dear" she went to take Draco from Lucius but Voldemort stopped her.
"Can't have his guts splattered all over the walkway interrupting our meeting" he said and Narcissa lowered her head before sweeping from the room closing the door softly behind her.
"I apologise my Lord. She's not well"
"Oh you noticed that too? You should probably look into it before your precious peacocks are eating your son's entrails after one of your wife's outbursts" Voldemort said. Disturbed by the imagery Lucius turned and walked back to his chair in silence.
"Now is there anything-" Voldemort stopped when he spotted the raised hand. It belonged to Bellatrix Lestrange. "Bella?"
"Just wanted to tell Lucius to lay off Cissy, she's been through a lot" Bellatrix said
"Oh yes having you for an older sister how terribly she's suffered" Lucius retorted.
"You want to go pretty boy? I'll wreck that face of yours"
"And make me look more like you perhaps? Tell me does Rodolphus like the chin hair or do you just do that for you?"
"All right Lucius, that's enough" Rodolphus said jumping in to defend his wife who snarled at him.
"Serverus?"
I turned slightly to find Voldemort leaning casually against the back of my chair.
"You seem like a smart young man. Can you tell me why my minions are idiots?"
"Uh..." I hesitated glancing from Lucius who was shouting across at Bella and her husband Rodolphus, his brother Rabastan joining in to defend them leaving Lucius with three on one. That didn't last long though when Silas Goyle and Cepheus Crabbe joined Lucius in insulting the Lestranges.
Voldemort was watching me, clearly expecting an answer to his idiot minion's questions.
"Because they're all inbred?" I offered. Voldemort frowned at me for a moment before he laughed.
"They probably are. I'm surprised the last Black sister didn't marry her cousin" Voldemort muttered
"She married a Muggle-born wizard I heard" I said and Voldemort frowned
"I'd have gone for cousin, at least he's attractive" he said and then glanced at me "Still carrying that petty grudge for Sirius Black? Shall I fetch him for you to torture till your heart's content? You have certainly earned it" I shook my head slightly.
"Don't hesitate to ask me for what you want Serverus. Loyalty should be rewarded, now come, there is absolutely nothing you want?"
"I shall ask when I think of it"
"See that you do. I never could say no to you" he said and then smiled as if remembering something pleasant. "Now about that little bit of information you heard before being rudely interrupted... your sure it was July?"
"The seventh month" I said nodding.
"We haven't much time then" he said and stood up straight, he bellowed an order for silence and then he headed over to his place at the head of the table.
"Now, I have a task for you all. The end of July swiftly approaches" he said his face darkening drastically.
"You will go and collect birth records-" immediately whispers broke out and Voldemort silenced them by banging his fist on the table. "I want to know the name of every child born between now and August first. Every witch or wizard born between July twenty-fifth and July thirty-first. I want to know their names every last one of them"
"Every child?" someone asked
"Every child" Voldemort repeated.
"Just in England my Lord or-"
"Anywhere! Everywhere! Every child!" Voldemort cried.
"May I ask why?" Lucius asked
"No" Voldemort snapped his eyes on me again. I kept my head lowered "You and Serverus will watch St Mungo's and any other hospitals you think of through Ireland, Wales and Scotland. You lot will go across Europe" I wasn't looking to where he pointed or listening to where he assigned anyone else. The Dark Lord commanded a lot of followers not enough though to be able to search country by country, they were spread instead over the continents.
"I don't care how long it takes. None of you are to return without a list of names. Any witch or wizard born between the twenty-fifth and the thirty-first of July 1980, is that clear?"
"Yes my Lord"
"Good. Now go!"
James
"Lily" I sighed knocking on the bathroom door. "I have to leave soon please come out"
"NO! I'll see you when you get home and thrust a baby into your stupid arrogant arms" she replied.
"LILY" I whined banging my fist on the door.
"Just go James!"
"Lily its seven whole days just let me see you for four seconds" I pleaded.
The door swung open and she glared at me. The baby was due any day now and it seemed to be driving Lily mad. If she had her way he would be out of her belly and into her arms already. But my son was taking his time; Potters had no need to hurry. It seemed to drive red heads insane though and that was fun to watch sometimes.
"Good bye I love you please don't die" she said and went to close the door but I simply rolled my eyes and stopped her by slamming my palm into the door. She flinched and stared at me.
"Sweetie, I know it sucks. I will be back in seven days to spoil you and love you and our new baby and... and... and I'm sorry" I said.
"Thank you" she said and leant up to kiss my cheek.
"Remus will take you shopping later today. Don't forget the diapers" I said
"I won't"
"And Sam said you can call her anytime day or night and she'll come running" I said and Lily nodded.
"Ok. Be safe" she said
"Be good" I replied making her smile. "Bye"
"Bye" she said giving me a soft kiss.
I turned and headed to the door stopping to look back at her.
"I love you"
"Go" she said and I gave her a small smile before leaving.
I headed into the Ministry and up to Moody's desk. He glared at me and handed me a can of soup.
"What?" I frowned but didn't get the chance to say anything else before I felt a sharp tug and the world fell away in swirls of colour. A second later I was standing on solid ground again in the middle of a field. There was a tall stone wall over to my left with a white envelope attached to it.
"Better be a fucking five star hotel on the other side of that wall" I muttered. I headed over to the envelope and frowned. Potter was scrawled on the front in Moody's messy writing. I yanked it off the wall and pulled the letter out to read.
There's no hotel you idiot. Turn around and start walking away from the wall. Hitch a lift into town. Find Madame Millie's Baked Breads Bread Boutique and ask to speak to Flynn. Find Flynn; persuade him return to England and join our side. Most important: Don't use magic. And don't fuck this up Potter. Ok?
Don't fuck what up? This was the vaguest piece of writing I'd ever read. I rolled my eyes and began to walk in the direction he had told me to. The field was just a never ending sea of green. The occasional low rickety wooden fence popped up dividing the field. I stepped over these fences continuing to walk. I came to stop when I found a dirt road. I can't believe he pulled me away from Lily for this shit.
After twenty minutes of standing with nothing to stare at but dirt and grass a truck began to rumble down the dirt road. I stuck out my thumb preparing to hitchhike hoping whoever was driving the truck wasn't creepy. He wasn't, he was quiet and drove me into town with a mere grunt. He let me off in the centre of town before driving off quickly.
I glanced around the town square. The streets were quiet, unusually quiet and though the shops were all open I could see no one inside any of them, employee or customer. I walked carefully along the street reading the shop signs. It took my nearly an hour to find Madame Millie's Baked Breads Bread Boutique, turns out I'd walked past it already. I quickly headed inside the sickeningly over pink shop and looked around.
"Hello?" I called. No answer.
I glanced around. The display case of various cakes and breads looked like it hadn't been touched for a good while. I couldn't help but get the feeling something was very wrong but I couldn't leave till I knew for sure.
I stepped around the counter. Moody had said no magic but I was not going to risk being ambushed. I pulled my wand out of my pocket and carefully edged to the back of the store. I looked around carefully searching for any sign of a disturbance. Unfortunately there were no tell tale 'Evil was here' signs anywhere, not even a helpful trail of blood.
"I'm trying to find Flynn" I called hoping maybe it was like St Mungo's and you had to talk to the building itself.
I was relieved to find it was exactly like St Mungo's. The relief lasted all of two seconds before I fell through the floor. I fell for a few seconds before landing on hard concrete. I groaned and rolled over. It was pitch black. The hole that had let me into this mysterious room was gone and there were no windows or even a door to let in a crack of light.
There was a soft growl from my left. I sat up quickly pulling out my wand as I did so.
"Lumos" I whispered and the tip of my wand lit up casting light around the room. I immediately wished I'd left it in darkness.
Blood was splattered all over the walls and there were lots of suspicious meaty chunks sitting around the room. One of the larger chunks looked too human for my liking and I flinched when it moved.
"Crap" I muttered. There was another low growl and I turned sharply shining the light over to a corner of the room. There were five people huddled in the corner. Each of them splashed in blood growling softly at me. Had they all been locked down here and forced to resort to cannibalism?
"Any of you Flynn?"
"He was" one of them said revealing a row of pointed bloody teeth. He was pointing to something behind me and I turned to find a single foot lying nearby.
A hand grabbed me and I let out a not so manly shriek because my first thought was that it was disembodied. I turned around and realised it was attached to someone, that didn't make me anymore relieved though.
My wand was kicked out of my hand and I was held down by four of the people. Three men and one female. The light from my wand pointed at a corner of the room leaving the figures shrouded mostly in shadows. I stared at their faces, their eyes glowing almost inhumanely glinting a soft yellow in the dark. Each of their mouths were dripping with blood and saliva
"Your vampires" I said they all growled and hissed at me and one of them punched my face.
"Vampire?" a man growled from above me. I looked up at him kneeling over me. "Werewolf" he corrected.
"Oh" I said nodding. I would have to remember that not all werewolves were sweet like Remus.
"Yes oh" he snapped and grabbed my neck. "I was going to let you choose your death but now I think I shall rip your smart arse little mouth right off your stupid face"
"Don't you just turn people, you don't have to kill me" I cried and he tightened his grip on my neck crushing it making me choke.
"You're not my type"
"Male?" the female guessed.
"Old" the man at my throat replied. He leant closer, his breath ghosting over my face, a coppery rotten smell making me wince.
The werewolves holding me down positioned me so my neck was positioned perfectly for their leader to rip my throat out. He leant closer and I felt his teeth graze me neck before he pulled away.
"You smell"
"You're not exactly a charming flower yourself" I retorted and he growled in warning.
"Who's your friend?" he spat
"Friend?"
"He's all over you"
"Who? I have no idea what you're talking about"
"You have his scent on you, friend... lover?" he said and I frowned realising what he meant.
"I have his scent... but we haven't spoken in days..."
"No... he's claimed you"
"What?" I asked outraged. That dirty dog...
"Idiot boy. In his pack, you are family and I really don't need vengeful pack leaders after me. So just give me his name and we'll be done"
"No"
"Name"
"No"
"Take his eyes" he ordered and I immediately began thrashing trying to hit any one of them I could. I didn't get much thrashing in; werewolves had far too much strength for me to even fight for more than a second.
"Name?"
"No" I hissed.
"We'll see how you feel after a day down here with dying Dave and mauled Megan" the woman growled. I received another punch to the face, messing my head up a little. By the time I was less dizzy they had gone, my wand gone with them.
Crap...
Lily
I stood staring at diapers frowning. Remus stood beside me with a book in his right hand. I couldn't help but smile, he was here purely to help me carry things. Whatever he was reading was apparently very interesting because he only glanced up when I slipped something into the basket he was holding in his left hand.
I looked down at the shopping list in my hands. Andromeda had written me a list of what I'd need for a new baby and I was about ready to pop any day now I was glad for the extra help. I grabbed the box of diapers Andromeda had recommended off the shelf and then stopped. The diapers still in my arms and took a deep breath.
"Remus" I said
"Hmm?" he muttered turning a page in his book without glancing up.
"Remus!" I said more urgently and he looked up from his book.
"Lily! I told you no heavy lifting; it's why I'm here" he said seeing me holding the diapers, which really weren't that heavy.
"We have bigger problems right now"
"Bigger problems? What could bigger then you hurting yourself?"
"My water just broke" I said. His book slipped from his hand and his face went blank.
"What?" he asked.
"My water just broke" I repeated slowly and clearly.
"But – but... no... it's too soon. James just left... today! Not even twelve hours ago" he began to ramble and I rolled my eyes.
"Remus!" I cried and grabbed his arm making him shut up. "I need a doctor"
"Right! Of course" he said putting down the shopping basket and taking my hand. "Are you ok?"
"Stop asking stupid questions!" I snapped putting a hand on my stomach as a sharp pain shot through my abdomen. "We have to go, now!"
"Ok, hold tight"
"Remus we are not Apparating in a store full of people!" I whispered and slapped his arm. "Stop being stupid. You're the smart Marauder so be smart. We have to go; I'm not having my baby in a supermarket"
He led me carefully down the aisle and then over to the exit.
"You're going to need a cleanup down aisle nine" he said to an employee we passed. He hurried me out into the parking lot and over to the car.
"Ok, I'm taking you to St Mungo's and then I'm going to call my mum ok?"
"Ok!" I said nodding. He helped me climb into the backseat and then hurried around to the driver's side.
He got into the car and quickly pulled out of the parking space almost hitting the car parked nearby.
"Remus I'm not on fire, you can be fast but be safe, I really don't want to die right now. Though I may change my mind if this – ah gets any worse" I groaned.
He pulled out of the car park and into the street almost hitting a car in his haste. He swerved out of the way and held up a hand in apology to the other car which honked him angrily.
"Remus" I sighed
"I'm sorry, I'm panicking and I don't do well when I'm panicking" he replied
"Well stop fucking panicking!" I cried
"I can't! I do not want to have to deliver your baby it's too weird and I – just... I can't do it"
"You won't have to unless you keep driving like a moron" I said.
He nodded slowing down a bit so he was driving more carefully. We arrived thankfully in one piece and I ignored the fact he'd parked in a loading zone and the car would probably be towed.
"St Mungo's?" I guessed as we hurried along the street towards an apparently closed clothing store.
"Yeah" Remus said and stopped in front of the glass window. He knocked once on the glass and then pulled me through it. We emerged into the crowded waiting room of St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injury.
Remus pulled me over to the reception desk where a young woman was twirling her hair around her wand lazily chewing a piece of gum.
"My friends in labour"
"Fill out this form and take a number" the witch said
"Labour! She's having a baby!" Remus snapped she frowned for a second before looking at me and my rounded stomach. Realisation dawned on her face and she quickly scrambled around for something.
A Healer quickly appeared at our side and sat me down in a wheelchair.
"So guys, having a baby?" she asked cheerily. "I'm Healer Cassie and I'm going to take you up to our maternity ward and get you nice and comfy while your hubby here will fill out some forms"
"First, he's not my husband, second I cannot possibly be nice and comfy unless you pump me full of drugs and third if you don't wipe that fucking smile off your face I'm going to tear it off" I screamed.
"She's a keeper" Healer Cassie said to Remus who smiled.
"Lily, I'm going to go call Sirius ok?" Remus said and I shook my head.
"Don't leave me"
"Lily"
"Don't you dare!" I snapped.
"Sixty seconds only, you can count me"
"Remus" I warned
"Sixty seconds" he promised.
"One...two..." I started and he quickly ran off.
I turned to Healer Cassie who was smiling brightly.
"All righty let's get you upstairs"
"If there isn't anything up there to relieve this pain I'm going to kill you" I said and then smiled brightly at her while her face paled.
Remus
I Apparated into the airy little flat and glanced around. I caught only a glimpse of pale skin before I exclaimed in disgust and closed my eyes. There was a moan then the sound of a loud thump and a squeak.
"Sirius" I said putting a hand over my already closed eyes.
"Hmm? Oh Remus – hi" he said breathily, there was another squeak and a whispered, "Please stop"
"Oh don't be like that Will, I know you love it. We could ask him to join us" Sirius said and I rolled my eyes at the arrogance in his voice. His partner, Will, could only whimper as Sirius continued with the assault on his body.
"Ok!" I said loudly, "Lily's in labour, she's at St Mungo's. I trust you to tell everyone" I didn't wait any longer and quickly headed back through the floo network. I came sprawling out in St Mungo's and headed immediately to the desk demanding Lily's room number.
When I entered the room Lily was sitting comfortably in a bed wearing a hospital gown and the chirpy Healer Cassie beside her checking her over.
"You're three hundred and twelve seconds late" Lily said and I smiled.
"Sorry" I said and she cried out clutching her stomach.
"Where are my pain killers?" she whined and Healer Cassie frowned at her.
"I'll just go get them shall I?"
"Shall I?" Lily mocked giving the Healer her darkest look. Healer Cassie quickly hurried from the room and I stepped closer offering my hand for Lily to squeeze. She grasped and didn't let go the whole time. The whole time. I didn't realise how long labour actually was, I mean I knew it was a long time but it just seems a whole lot longer when you're forced to watch every agonising second. Sirius showed up about three hours in and upon walking into the room screamed and shut his eyes.
"Oh gross, that's enough to put you off women for a while. How you doing Lily?" he asked and Lily just screamed in reply.
"Excellent" he said and walked over to stand beside me. "Well it's a much nicer view from here"
"Where you can't see anything?" I guessed
"Why? What is it?" Lily asked in alarm.
"Nothing Lily it's just we're bloke's... babies and birth, it's just wicked gross" Sirius said
"Oh" Lily muttered.
"Told everyone I could think of. Peter will be here in a few hours and then people will drop by in the next few days" Sirius said to me
"James?" Lily asked
"I told Moody but he says James is out of contact for the next seven days. He'll get him word when it's safe" Sirius said and Lily sighed then began to scream making Sirius jump.
"I didn't touch her" Sirius said
"Contraction" I explained and Lily wailed. She wasn't up for much talking after that and for the next three hour could only sob in misery cursing everyone from James for knocking her up to her mother for not preparing her for this. As the time for her to finally have the baby arrived she slipped into a kind of delirium from the potion Healer Cassie had given her.
Healer Cassie, who had been drifting in and out all day came in to check on Lily's progress, hurried into the room with a team of assistants and a bright smile on her face.
"All right Lily, I think we're ready for this baby" Healer Cassie said and Lily could only nod slightly.
"Ok I'm going to need to push" Healer Cassie said brightly and Lily turned to me.
"Can you eat her? I hate her stupid smiley face" she pleaded with me quietly and I smiled. "No one would miss her"
"I'm not going to eat her"
"Isn't that what you do though?"
"No" I said and she screamed in frustration the hand holding mine gripping tighter.
"Push Lily" Healer Cassie instructed and Lily nodded.
The next hour was probably one of the most disturbing of my life. Sirius out of some sick sense of curiosity and drifted to stand behind the Healers and watch the process. It was amusing to watch his facial expressions and he later told me it was one of the sickest things he'd seen. My transformation from man into beast still rated number one for him because though both involved a lot of blood and screaming in pain but Lily giving birth wasn't accompanied by the sick snapping of bones.
"I see a head, keep going Lily" Healer Cassie soother and Lily cried out.
"One more push"
Lily gasped gave her final push and then flopped back in exhaustion while the Healers separated her baby from her and began a rough quick clean.
"It's a boy" Healer Cassie said handing him over to Lily. He was wrapped in a little blue blanket and squirming, Lily smiled down at him fingers gently brushing at his dark damp hair.
"Thought of a name yet?" Healer Cassie asked and Lily shook her head eyes never leaving her baby boy. She let the Healer take him away to be checked over and then shooed us from the room for some much needed rest. Sirius and I settled into the crappy chairs in the hallway and I ignored him when he snuggled up to me resting his head on my shoulder.
"He's so little" he muttered and I smiled.
"Babies usually are"
"Yeah but, I remember when mum brought Regulus home. He was small yeah but I'm sure not that small"
"Well you were small then too" I pointed out and he nodded.
"But that baby was tiny"
"They grow fast. He'll be your definition of proper baby size very soon"
"Remus?"
"Yeah"
"Can I kiss you?"
"Not really a kissing moment Padfoot and no" I said and he sat up.
"You owe me"
"From when?" I demanded.
"When I didn't want to watch my father die and you made me go into the room and be with him. The condition was a kiss, I never collected"
"It was two years ago" I snapped and he raised his eyebrows at me. "Of course you'd remember that you wanker"
"So?"
"Right now? It's not very romantic is it?" I asked glancing around the hallway.
"Why Moony? Do you want me to romance you first?"
"No"
"Already said it"
"You're a bastard" I said and he smiled. "So when does the torture start?"
"You won't know till your writhing beneath me lover" he said. I rolled my eyes then punched him in the arm.
"Stop being stupid"
"Was born stupid" he muttered and I punched him again. He whined softly but accepted defeat and moved out of my personal space.
"You can be on top, I love when you're feisty" he said. I took a deep breath and counted to ten. No still mad. I turned and punched him in the face.
Serverus
I stood outside a darkened clothing store ignoring the soft mutterings of the hooded figure on my right. It led to St Mungo's Hospital, that I knew and it would be bad to loiter here but there was no choice.
"Shouldn't we wait till tomorrow?" Lucius asked quietly.
"Shut up" I said and he rolled his eyes
"Just because you're the Dark Lord's favourite doesn't mean you can order me about. Don't forget who got you in"
"Oh I'm sure I'll never forget it with you reminding me every ten minutes" I hissed.
"You may go now"
Lucius just scoffed at the hooded figure and received a gleaming yellow eyed glare in reply. He stepped away and quickly hurried forward disappearing through the window of the shop.
"You have ten minutes" the figure said and I nodded
"Thank you"
"You'll regret it you know"
"Regret what?" I asked and the figure shrugged.
"I wasn't told that. Only that you'd regret it"
I said nothing else and quickly hurried through the window and into the hospital. We had ten minutes to go through unnoticed, Lucius already taking advantage of this fact by tripping several people up and switching the samples on a tray carried by a Healer.
The records were kept according to each ward so I followed Lucius' trail of immaturity past the confused people who had been tripped by a seemingly invisible force.
I was hurrying along the maternity ward but stopped when I spotted to familiar figures lounging in a chair. Sirius Black and Remus Lupin, just the sight of them made rage flare up inside me. Black was sleeping, his head resting on Lupin's shoulder and Lupin was reading a book biting at his fingernails and trying to subtly move away from Black making the man only move closer. I knew I should leave it, now was not the time to extract vengeance for their torturing of me in school but oh it was tempting. I turned instead to the door they were opposite knowing of course they would be in the maternity ward for only one reason. I crept toward the door and hesitantly pushed it open. My eyes were immediately drawn to the figure in the bed. Lily Evans was sleeping peacefully, her body showing all recent signs of giving birth. I wondered where her baby was but then shook my head; I didn't want to see it. The by-product of Potter... no...
I turned back to Lily who sighed softly shuffling slightly before settling. I could have watched her for hours but knew I should leave quickly before I was discovered. I tried to leave but couldn't. Simply standing engrossed in watching her until I heard a soft chime that indicated I had a minute left. I hurriedly left giving Black a swift kick as I passed making him yelp and sit up causing Lupin to hit him with the book he was reading and reprimand him.
I found Lucius in the records room next to the stunned witch in charge. He was idly flipping through a magazine.
"Why are you holding a copy of PlayWizard?" I asked and Lucius dropped it immediately.
"It's hers"
"Right. I'm supposed to believe that a woman would bring her lewd magazine to her place of work. They're usually a little more composed, I'm having doubts about you though"
"Just find the records" he snapped throwing the magazine at the unconscious witch. I turned and began to search through the filing cabinets on the left side of the room. It didn't take long to find the most recent ones. They were at the top of the closest filing cabinet sorted by month. I found the section of July easily and plucked it out of the cabinet. I turned to Lucius and we quickly began to pull out files to check the birth certificates. Each one dated after the twenty-fifth we duplicated, returning the proper one to the file so no one would notice anything amiss. I quickly noticed that there was no birth certificate for Potter. There wasn't one under Evans either and I was struck by curiosity. Perhaps the child had died? My curiosity became relief at that thought. It was unfortunate yes that Lily had lost her child but she would be safe and that was really all that mattered to me.
"Is that all of them?" Lucius asked
"Yes I think so. We need to be careful leaving, the spell is over" I replied.
"Careful? I'm not the one who can't resist kicking Sirius Black when he sleeps"
"Oh you saw that did you?"
"No but I saw him and I knew you wouldn't be able to resist temptation, you're so bloody predictable.
"Yes, I suppose I am" I muttered and let him lead the way out of the room.
We headed down the hall acting casual; well as casual as two men could act strolling through a maternity ward. The only way to not be spotted was to be ordinary and we were. We made it past Black and Lupin who were making out though Lupin looked thoroughly displeased by this and was trying to squirm away. Thankful for the first time of Black's horrible lack of morals Lucius and I slipped past them easily and quickly hurried out of the hospital hoping for no more familiar faces. We were safely outside before Lucius began to snigger. I slapped his arm making him stop immediately to glare at me.
"We need to report back" I said and he nodded quickly disappearing with a loud crack. I allowed myself a brief glance back at the disguised hospital and the smallest of smiles before I followed Lucius' path back to the Dark Lord.
I apologise profusely for the long time it took me to update but I was busy! My laptop broke and it was the only place I had this chapter. Oh No! So I sent it to somewhere for fixies and then it came back all nice and with my files all safe. I will never make that mistake again though and now have the files on my laptop and my desktop comp which is all nice and big and safe from the danger of me breaking it with clumsy dropping or spillage. Then I had to study for my Psych exam – I totally failed by the way – and then of course I had to actually finish writing the chapter. So I'm sorry it took me so long and I hope my nice chapter with a little something different will make it up to you. I also hope that the next chapter won't take so long but I am in my final year of school and I do need to pretend to actually do some work so who knows. I'm trying really I am but my fanfics have fallen to the wayside in favour of my original writing and my school work. I am determined though and will never, ever abandon a story! Thanks a lot for reading my rant. Please leave a review, even if it's to tell me to get a move on, Penny.