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Chapter Thirty Six

Over the next couple of weeks, Maia lived in constant fear. The war had made everyone on edge, and she'd already been worried for her family and friends, with joining the Order, but this was a whole new level.

Dumbledore hadn't found out anything new, despite his ongoing extensive investigations, so the Potters and the Longbottoms hadn't gone into hiding yet. It was becoming more and more important that they find out what Voldemort knew and stop him.

She hated to be alone in the house with Harry, worrying that she wasn't good enough to defend him if the worst happened. James had pointed out numerous times that she was highly skilled - in fact one of the most brilliant witches of their generation - but her worries couldn't be calmed. James had to continue going to work and going out on Order work, but with a newborn son, Maia was still excluded from Order work.

Alice was in a similar situation and they kept each other company as often as they could, although with the amount of things babies needed, it was difficult for one of them to spend the whole day at the other's home.

With nothing to do except some of the Order work, Remus ended up spending more and more time at the Potter's while James was at work. It was a comfort to Maia to have someone else around and it was nice to see her friend. He adored Harry and was very good with him, and a calming presence for Maia.

Peter visited at least once a week, but Maia couldn't help but notice that his visits were becoming less and less frequent. She put it down to his mother's ill health and the danger of travelling these days.

As always, James' parents were a huge help, though they hadn't told them about the prophecy yet. They didn't want to worry them until they knew all the details - the least people that knew about it, the better.

James had strictly forbidden Maia from going anywhere by herself and although she'd told him she wouldn't be forbidden by her husband to do anything, she agreed. She didn't want to be anywhere alone anyway.

Sirius' presence in their house was increased too. He'd always spent a lot of time there, often calling around for breakfast a few times a week and dropping in after work, and they'd never minded because they'd all spent every day together since they were 11. Now, he came every day.

He never said it but Maia was felt like it was because they didn't know what was going to happen to them, and he was spending as much time as possible with her, while he still could. She hated that thought, but having him, and the rest of her close friends around, was what she needed.

One evening, Maia came downstairs from her bath wrapped up in her fluffy scarlett dressing gown, her wet hair hanging around her shoulders.

She went straight into the living room, where the boys were all laughing loudly about something. Sirius, Remus and Peter were all over.

James was sitting on the sofa holding Harry, propping him up so he was facing the rest of the room. Maia walked in just in time to see Sirius throw a cushion at Peter's head, while Remus lightly reprimanded him. She smiled to herself - Remus and Sirius were such a married couple sometimes.

She sat down beside James and raised her eyebrows at Sirius, " Was there a reason for that? "

" We're trying to make Prongslet laugh," Sirius told her.

Maia sighed, " Oh. I don't know what it's going to take, we've been trying for weeks. "

The various baby books they'd read said it could be anywhere from 2 months up that Harry started to laugh, and they shouldn't expect anything just yet, but James had insisted that Harry would be an intelligent boy and he'd develop soon. Maia knew this was just a parent's bias but would like to believe it.

" Here James, let me have him," she said, nudging her husband.

James hesitated , " He's ok down here with us, love. Why don't you go do your hair, have a little time to yourself? "

What he actually wanted to say was that she needed to have a break. She hated to leave Harry for even a moment - not that he could blame her - and she had to be exhausted. He was worried beyond belief about her and he was sure he was capable of looking after Harry.

" I'm fine," Maia told him, " I'd rather be down here with everyone. Here, let me have him. "

James fixed her with a firm look, " Maia, I'm capable of looking after my son. Especially with three other people in the room. "

At his tone, which was firm but fair, Maia relented a little. She knew she was being obsessive but how could she not be? It was affecting them all - James needed to know where she was every minute of every day and Sirius, who had always been a fiercely overprotective brother, was no better.

Still, she knew she was being irrational - she couldn't be there all the time and she had a strong support network around her - James and the boys, Frank and Alice, her parents-in-law.

" I know," she mumbled, leaning up and kissing his cheek softly, " sorry. "

" Don't be silly," he replied, " no need to be sorry. I just want you to look after yourself, as well as Harry. "

She nodded by way of reply and forced herself to relax back against the sofa, leaning in and resting against him lightly and taking hold of one of her son's tiny hands. She didn't push to hold Harry because she knew she'd been going overboard recently, but she stayed downstairs because when all of the boys were here, it was easier to pretend that nothing was wrong.

Harry's first curled around her hand and she smiled broadly.

" That's a good look for you," Sirius smirked, nodding at Maia's dressing gown.

" Oh shut up you mutt," Maia replied, rolling her eyes, " do I need to remind you this is my house? "

Sirius stuck his tounge out at her, " Mutt? I take offense at that. "

As if to agree with Maia, her cat sauntered past Sirius and jumped up on her lap. Maia smiled and stroked Athena with her free hand, " You were supposed to. "

" Oh, bite me," Sirius sighed dramatically.

" I might get fleas. "

Sirius chuckled, " Oh, I only had fleas the once. " After a pause, he added, " do you think Harry might become an animagus one day? "

" No," Maia replied at the same time James said, " yes," causing everyone to exchange amused looks. Maia glared at James, " Our son is not running around as an unregistered animagus - it's illegal. "

" But we're - " James started, gesturing at himself, Sirius and Peter.

Maia cut him off, " I know. And I know it's hypocritical but is it too much to ask that we keep our son away from illegal activities? "

" I suppose not," James sighed, bring a hand up to stroke her cheek briefly. While she was distracted, he glanced at Sirius and shook his head, indicating that he did not agree with Maia and he'd work on changing her mind one day.

Fantasising about what Harry would become was a regular past time for them all. Would he be a Gryffindor? They liked to think so, but it didn't matter really. Would he be a quidditch player? He would if he was like his quidditch mad family, who were intent on teaching him as soon as he could walk. What position would be play? Beater, Sirius insisted. Who would his friends be? Neville, for one, probably. Girlfriends, first time James and Maia received an owl from Hogwarts about his first prank, future career. They'd speculated over everything and Maia was determined that he'd have all of this future - they wouldn't let Voldemort take him away.

Soon, with all the Marauders in the room, Maia was feeling more at ease. It was almost like the days at Hogwarts when they had none of this to worry about, except now all their attention was focused on Harry.

They spent an hour pulling funny faces and using silly voices to try and make Harry laugh but none of it achieved anything. Eventually - when Maia was half falling asleep against James, eyes fixed on Harry, who was across the room from her, being held by Remus - Sirius grinned widely.

" I think I know just the thing," he said.

" Might have to give it up as a bad job for tonight," sighed Maia, her eyes drifting shut as James' hand occasionally ran through her hair.

" No, no," Sirius grinned, " if anyone can make Harry laugh, it's his favourite uncle. "

Remus rolled his eyes at Sirius and bounced Harry up and down gently, " Uncle Sirius is very silly Harry, you must always remember that. "

Harry gurgled and waved one of his arms, almost catching Remus in the face and Sirius laughed in delight, " See? He just tried to hit you for insulting me. "

" He didn't," Remus replied, rolling his eyes again, " he agreed with what I said so strongly, that he got excited and lost control of his arms. "

" Do you think so? " Peter asked, eyes wide as he looked at Remus. Peter had never outgrown the ridiculous hero worship of the boys.

James snorted, " Don't be an idiot, Wormy. C'mon Padfoot, let's see what you've got. "

Sirius stood up, holding his arms out and taking a dramatic bow, before closing his eyes and clutching his wand. Moments later, a big black dog was stood in his place.

Maia's cat hissed unhappily , jumped off Maia's lap and ran out of the room. Maia sighed as she looked at the huge shaggy haired dog, " Don't you dare get dog hair all of my house, Sirius Black," she said sternly, " and don't you be terrifying my poor cat. "

The dog held his head up in the air and turned his back on her, as if to dismiss her words. Maia sighed - her cat had never been comfortable around Sirius, and ever since he became an animagus, she'd given him a wide berth.

The young parents watched Remus hold Harry up so he could see the dog, who approached Harry eagerly. The dog nuzzled Harry's foot with his wet nose and Harry was captivated. He reached for the dog's fur and took hold of a handful.

The dog let out a howl of pain when Harry tugged on his fur and the rest of the room burst into laughter.

James laughed the loudest and Maia slapped his thigh, though she was laughing too. She told him, " Oh Merlin, he's going to be trouble when he grows up, isn't he? "

" No doubt about it, " James nodded, " go on son! "

The dog turned to glare at James and Remus took pity on him, easing Harry's hand away. The dog barked and licked at Harry's bare foot, making Maia groan.

" Sirius, please, I don't know where that tounge's been. "

Sirius ignored her and when Harry tried to take hold of another handful of his fur, he was too quick for him and tilted his head up to lick the boy's hand.

A high-pitched delighted sound filled the room as Harry's face lit up and the adults all gasped and exchanged looks of delight.

" James, take a picture," Maia said, quickly pushing herself off the sofa and going to kneel beside Sirius, in front of Remus and Harry.

James was at her side in a second, taking a million pictures of Harry while Maia took him from Remus and held him high in her arms. " You are so clever, Harry," she beamed, " come on - does Mummy get a laugh? "

Sirius, still in dog form, nudged Maia with his wet nose and though she'd usually push him away, she was in a very good mood and petted his head affectionately.

They spent the following fifteen minutes trying to make him laugh again, Sirius excitedly nudging Harry with his nose, and Maia and James using their best silly voices and pulling stupid faces.

The result was nothing and Maia eventually sat back against the sofa and pouted at James, " I think that's our lot," she said, looking down at her son, whose eyes were closing slowly.

" He's tired," James agreed.

The dog in the middle of the room abruptly turned back into Sirius Black and held out his arms as he bowed dramatically. " You're very welcome, dearest sister," he said.

Maia rolled her eyes at him, " Yes, yes, well done. Just so you know, I'll be the next to make him laugh. "

" I'm sure you will," James mumbled, with a smirk for the competitive nature of the twins. He leaned in to press a kiss to Maia's cheek.

Sirius stuck his tounge out at Maia and she narrowed her eyes. " I'm very happy that you got my son to laugh, but now I just know you're going to bring this up all the time. "

Sirius' smirk softened into a smile, " C'mon sis, I'm only teasing. So I prompted hs first laugh? You were here to see it. "

Maia nodded, though she couldn't help but feel a little jealous. She nodded at Sirius, " Fine, but when the time comes for his first word, you're to stay away. "

Sirius laughed loudly, " I think I'll try and get him to saw Padfoot, for his first word. "

" You will not," Maia said, though a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, " it's going to be Mama. "

" It's going to be Daddy," James corrected, nudging Maia gently.

She rolled her eyes at him as the debate grew louder, with Sirius suggesting everything from Padfoot to Snivellus, and James even suggesting quidditch at one point.

Maia beamed as she watched the conversation around her - they were all in danger and she was terrified for them all, but if there was one thing that would get her through it, it was focusing on her son who was too innocent to know what was going on around him. She stroked a hand over Harry's tufts of black hair and rested her head against James' shoulder.

She smiled in contentment as he pressed a gentle kiss to her head.

The next evening in a darkened room in a house in a remote place named Spinner's End, a young man sat at a table with a newspaper while another strode into the room.

The first, one Regulus Black, looked up from his newspaper and nodded, " Evening Severus. "

Severus Snape, who'd been living with Regulus Black in his late parent's home for some months, nodded at the younger man, " Regulus. "

Regulus was lounging lazily in the chair, feet on the table. He had moved out of his mother's home a few months ago, when his work with the Death Eater's became more and more frequent, though he still visited his mother - whose health was failing - regularly.

" The Potters have a son," Snape said curtly as he took a seat opposite Regulus.

At first, the impact of this sentence did not hit Regulus. The first thing that came into his mind was that he was an uncle. His estranged sister, Mrs Potter, had a baby. It seemed too strange to be true. The last time he'd seen her, she was pregnant but not far along. A slight smile tugged at the corners of his lips, before he realised what this could mean.

" How do you know this? " he asked, voice level.

" Rookwood," Snape replied, " I have come from his home. Naturally he had no idea what this could mean for the Potter's and for the Dark Lord. He was merely informing me because he knew I was at Hogwarts with them, and would be seeing you, their brother. "

" How did Rookwood know? " Regulus pressed, rubbing a hand over his pale skin and then through his dark hair.

" You know Rookwood - all over the ministry. They've no idea what he really is," Snape said, " he says he walked straight past your loud-mouthed brother boasted to one of the unspeakables about his new nephew. The boy is two months old. "

" Two? " Regulus repeated, his voice becoming strangely weak.

" Two," confirmed Severus, " born at the end of July. "

" The ... the Prophecy," Regulus said, shaking his head slowly.

Snape had overheard a prophecy made a couple of weeks ago and had yet to inform Lord Voldemort. Voldemort was currently travelling - of course he hadn't revealed details of his journey but it was no doubt something dark. Snape had confided about the Prophecy only in Regulus and now he realised what this would mean, he did not want Voldemort to know about it.

" The Dark Lord needs to know," Snape said simply.

" You can't do this! " Regulus snapped, slapping his hand violently against the table.

" I cannot betray the Dark Lord, Regulus," Severus Snape hissed, " He needs to know. "

" My sister's child ... " Regulus started, before trailing off, not sure how to continue.

" What?! " snapped Severus, " what about your sister? Need I remind you that your sister turned her back on your family, along with your idiot brother? The two of them spent every minute at Hogwarts with Potter, the half-breed Lupin and that pathetic Pettigrew, and eventually walked out and turned their backs on all of you. Then your silly sister was stupid enough to marry Potter and have his spawn. So what, Regulus, what about your sister? "

Regulus' eyes flashed with anger and he slammed his hand down again, " I don't know. But she's ... she's my sister, Snape, can't you understand it? Well no, of course you can't. When we were small, the three of us ... I can't explain it! "

Severus Snape stood his ground and rose to his feet to glare down at the younger man, " Stop it. All that matters is this - I overheard a Prophecy concerning the Dark Lord and a boy born at the end of July, who would bring about Our Lord's downfall. I must tell him, the moment he returns from his travels. "

Seeing that Regulus was about to open his mouth, he held up his hand and added, " Your sister is a traitor whom you have no contact with - what does she matter. I will hear no more about the Potters. I must tell the Dark Lord what I know. If you wish to remain under my roof, I will hear no more about the Potters. "

Regulus fell into silence, a sulky pout crossing his face - an expression that was often seen on his brother and sister's faces, not that he knew it - but he said no more. He was quiet for the rest of the evening, not sure what to do with the information that his sister and her new family might be in danger.

Eventually he told himself that he had no way of knowing that his estranged sisters child was the one from the Prophecy. She might not be in danger. And he didn't know what he could do if she was.

He remembered his encounter with her several months ago in Flourish and Blotts. She'd said very little but the fact that she'd stopped to speak to him, rather than turn away, said a lot. She still thought there was some way back for him. She still cared, he was sure, or she wouldn't have stopped to speak to him. She'd told him to be careful and be sensible and there was an atmosphere between them - he thought that his sister seemed to know he thought he'd made a mistake, but he was stuck.

Briefly, he wondered if there could ever be a way back. Being on Lord Voldemort's side certainly didn't seem like the right thing anymore - killing and harming people for having the wrong blood.

His parents beliefs about blood purity made so much sense when he was younger and he knew no better than to follow his parents. He had liked thinking he was special but the older he got, the more he realised they might have been wrong.

Maia and Sirius had walked out and never looked back, and they were a damned sight happier than any "loyal" member of the Black family. His oppressive father had died, and he hadn't even been that sorry to see him go by the end.

Did it matter what your blood was? Regulus didn't think it did, really. Not anymore.

He realised he had a lot to make up for with Maia and Sirius - if they'd ever accept him back. But how could he leave the Death Eaters? You couldn't just opt out. He didn't have any way of contacting his sister or brother and he wouldn't blame them if they wouldn't hear from him anyway.

No, he decided, he would have to stick with the Death Eaters. For now at least. He was much more use near Severus and the Dark Lord, where he could find out exactly what Voldemort had to say about the Prophecy, who he chose as his victim - because Merlin knew whichever boy was marked as the chosen one would be hunted down and killed.

If the victim was his own nephew, he would have to know so he could find a way to warn his sister.

Voldemort would hunt her down, if her boy was the chosen one, and he'd stop at nothing. He'd kill her, her husband, and the child. Sirius would stick by Maia through anything and was bound to throw himself between Voldemort and the child, and he'd be killed too, most likely.

It was decided - he was unlikely to leave the Death Eaters alive and if there was one last thing he could do, to make up for all the wrong he'd done in his life so far, it was save the life of his sister, brother, nephew and brother in law.