A/N: Thanks for all the reviews so far! I thought I'd mention that this chapter contains pieces from animalwriter's "The Serpents' Kiss", specifically the third epilogue "Yule". The scene at the end of this chapter goes along with the Yule epilogue in that it is mostly told from Lucy's perspective and showcases her dancing with Severus while animalwriter's scene follows Dinah and Sirius. If you're holding off on animalwriter's epilogues as you read this story "Yule" is as far as we should be at the moment. Thanks and enjoy!


Chapter 54

"Mmm, apple crepes," Lucy grinned, sitting in the bed as the kittens slept in the apple basket nearby. "I hope this is okay? I'm afraid my apple cravings haven't subsided."

"Mmmm," Dinah shook her head, stuffing her face full of crepes, "These are perfect!"

"I'm glad you like them," Lucy giggled, "So, um, I've never had kittens before. I had Mum's cat and then Dora…how do we tell if we have boys or girls? I mean they're not all developed yet, right?"

"I think it's hard to tell at this point," Dinah admitted, reaching over and lifting the tail of one kitten with a frown of consideration, "But as I understand it if the two orifices are closer together then-"

"Is this important?" Severus demanded, looking highly displeased at Dinah's action.

"It is if we want to name them," Lucy insisted, while Sirius silently ate his breakfast, "How would you have liked it if your parents named you…Amanda before they found out you were a boy?"

"Amanda Jennifer…" Sirius murmured, looking like he was considering that name. "If the baby's a girl…"

"No," Lucy said, "I just pulled the name out randomly. It doesn't fit with the whole celestial theme your family started."

"Stop staring at the cat's genitals," Severus snarled, pulling Dinah's hand away and forcing her to drop the kitten tail.

"Whatever you say, Amanda," Dinah teased, getting a death glare in return. "No? Well, then how about Sarah? Miranda? Jacqueline?"

"No more making ridiculous jokes while my wife still has the mind of a four-year-old," Severus growled at Lucy.

"I wasn't joking!" Lucy protested, "If one of those kittens is a boy he's hardly going to enjoy being called Amanda anymore than you did."

Severus rolled his eyes, "Simply have Hagrid sex the cats when they are older. It is the most efficient way."

Lucy rolled her eyes back at him, "That doesn't help with what we call them now."

Sirius sighed, "You're probably just better off leaving them to it Severus. They both seem to be in one of those moods."

"Thanks," Dinah grinned at Sirius, "Now, as I was saying if they're closer together it's a female and if they're farther apart it's a male... I think. And for some reason male cat's don't really have visible tes-"

"You've made your point," Severus cut in, "All right. That one's female."

"No, Sev, you can't tell if it's closer together or farther apart until you compare it side-by-side with another," Dinah scolded.

Lucy sighed, "So we're kind of screwed if they're all the same, huh? Or would Dora and Godric be good examples? Probably not since they're adults…"

"I think there's another trait to look for but I can't remember what it was. I can run an internet search later if you like? Or do you have any books on animals in here? Well, let's compare the kittens first, maybe we won't need the other trait," she reached for another tail.

"I have this," Lucy said, waving her wand and calling an encyclopedia over, "I don't know if it'll help though."

"Never mind, I don't think we'll need it," Dinah said, holding all three tails together above the three kittens as they fed again, and twisting the basket so Lucy could see.

"Looks like one boy and two girls to me," Lucy said.

"That's what I see, too!" Dinah clapped her hands together, "So we've got two girls and one boy. But I still like the idea of naming them Grey, Brown, and Tabby."

"At least for now," Lucy agreed, "and I don't know if I like the idea of naming one then giving it away…"

Dinah nodded, "The name might get changed then and that would be sad. Plus we'd get too attached."

"I believe you already are attached," Severus smirked.

Lucy smiled, "I think it's hard not to be attached to such cute little babies."

Sirius shook his head and held out a forkful of crepes out to her, "Eat."

Lucy carefully ate the offered food, "I'm not going to starve you know. Madam Pomfrey has advised me to start watching it now so I don't go overboard later."

"Funny, she didn't tell me anything like that," Dinah said.

Severus smirked, "I think she's afraid to give you any food-related orders."

"Oh, stop!" Dinah playfully smacked him.

"I think she's just being extra cautious because of how sick I was in the beginning and then…you know…the complications," Lucy said, laughing at the other couple's antics.

"Mm," Dinah agreed, serving herself another crepe, "But you seem to be doing just great now! That's wonderful!"

"Yeah," Lucy nodded, "things have been a lot better lately. Well, except for that Septimus incident…and that letter from Henley…" She hadn't heard anything about the Board of Governors situation lately and was hoping it'd stay that way. Reaching out to stroke the kitten closest to her she sighed, "Do you think you should bring Godric over? You know meet his children and all that."

Dinah shrugged, "I don't know that he'll know or care. But it would be interesting to see how he reacts to kittens."

Lucy nodded, "You're probably right. After all he's a cat and not a human. Most male animals probably don't care much about their offspring."

"It actually depends on the species," Dinah grinned, "Male seahorses even give birth."

"If you don't stop her she's going to keep going," Severus warned with a smirk, "She is completely full of useless Muggle information."

"Seahorses are animals, not Muggles," Dinah protested, sticking her nose in the air.

"Actually I think I want to go back to this males giving birth thing. It sounds lovely," Lucy said, messing with Severus.

"Well, as I understand it after the eggs are fertilized the female deposits them into a pouch on the male's belly and then goes away and-" she broke off as Severus put a hand over her mouth. She shoved it off and finished triumphantly, "and the male raises them from there on out! Merlin, Severus, that's all I was going to say!"

"I don't suppose there's any way for us mere humans to manage that, huh? Not even for a couple days. I could really use a break from all this. The aches, the pains, the hormones…"

"It would be nice," Dinah said with a sigh and a laugh, "but I don't think even magic can do that."

"Sadly, I think you're right," Lucy said, petting Dora before stroking a finger along each of the kittens.

Dinah sighed, picking up the brown female kitten and laying her head down on the nearest pillow, cuddling it with a content expression, "They're good husbands, though. They're putting up with this pajama day. Maybe it's the next best thing they can do short of carrying these kids for us," she said, running her hand over her belly.

"Mmm. You're right," Lucy said, scrunching down in bed, "They are good husbands."


Lucy sat across from Minerva's desk Thursday afternoon, nervously tapping her leg. Sirius reached over to rest a hand on her knee, stilling the action. They'd left their door unlocked with a note inside saying Dinah was welcome to play with the kittens, as she had every day since their birth, while they were out. Everything was in order and things were looking as if they were starting to settle down. Except that Minerva had called them here and had a concerned expression on her pinched face.

"I take it you received another letter from the Board?" Sirius asked.

"Yes," Minerva sighed, "I've gotten them to agree to wait until after the new year before talking to Lucy but I'm not sure I can get them to wait much longer than that."

"They'll just have to," Sirius protested.

"Maybe it'll be okay," Lucy said. A part of her wanted this over and done with so she didn't have to worry about it anymore. Another part wanted to run away and achieve the same result. "I'm off most of my restrictions and I…I haven't done anything."

Sirius turned to her, "Lucy, no. It's not…The stress…"

She made sure to meet his gaze before saying, "I don't want to do this, but my choices are: talk to them or quit. And neither one of you are willing to let me quit." She liked her job and deep down she didn't want to leave it, but Lucy was beginning to wonder if all this commotion was really worth getting everyone upset. It was only one class and she was only one professor after all.

"I have already taken the step of responding to the Board informing them that I will consult with Madam Pomfrey on whether or not Lucy is fit enough to go through an interview with them," Minerva said, taking some of the nervousness away from Lucy.

"Thank you. Even if it doesn't work, I'm grateful for everything you've done for me," Lucy said.

"Lucy you are not being sacked. I know I had misgivings in the past about your readiness for this position but you have proved them wrong."

Lucy nodded while Sirius stood, offering her his hand for help up.

"Thank you," Sirius reiterated, "If there's nothing else we should be going."

Minerva waved them out, "Go on. I'll see you both at the Yule Ball."


Lucy spun in front of the mirror, admiring the ice blue dress Nerissa had made her. It was absolutely perfect and made her feel almost like her old, non-pregnant self.

"Mmm, you look wonderful," Sirius said, wrapping his arms around her.

"I look like a pregnant woman," she sighed, "but that's okay. Dinah's finally starting to look bigger than me."

"Shall we make our way to the Great Hall and see if we can spot your friend then?"

"All right," she nodded and gave the kittens a quick pat before she and Sirius went up to the Great Hall.

They mingled in the crowded Hall before finding a spot to stand and watch the champions and their dates enter and start off the first dance. As other couples started to join the champions Sirius pulled Lucy out on the floor, guiding her through the steps of the traditional dance.

His hands dropped to her waist to lift and twirl her as part of the dance. Lucy just laughed, "Don't you dare. You can't lift me!"

It was nice, focusing on having fun while chaperoning this dance. Dinah had been stuffing her face a moment ago but now it seemed that she and Severus were joining in the dance as well. It was good to see them laughing together even when Dinah tripped a little and Severus shot a death glare at some nearby staring students. And Dinah's dress was lovely as well.

As the music changed and swirled into another song, Sirius steered Lucy over to where Severus looked like he was trying to get Dinah back on the dance floor. "Cut in?" he asked, grinning.

Dinah managed a slight, amused smile when Severus gave a sigh. But, unlike at Lucy's wedding, he didn't protest the switch as he released his grip on Dinah.

Lucy moved to stand in front of Severus while Sirius whirled Dinah away. "So…" Lucy said, feeling a little awkward.

"You... appear to be enjoying yourself," Severus finally said awkwardly.

"Yes, I'm…trying not to think about the Board of Governors," she said, making sure to keep the smile plastered on her face so that Sirius didn't worry.

"Good," he frowned, "Minerva is keeping them at bay, so you should try not to think about them. It will do you no good to dwell."

"Easier said than done when they keep sending letters demanding an interview," she confessed as they started dancing.

"You've received more letters?" his frown deepened.

"Several. Most to Minerva. One directly to me," she dropped her eyes for a moment, staring at Severus's chin. "I want to quit," she whispered, "If I quit they'll leave it alone. They'll have no reason…" It felt horrible saying those words out loud because she knew in her heart that she didn't want to leave her kids, but she feared that might be the best option.

There was a long pause and she felt Severus sigh before he said firmly, "You do not want to quit. You will not give up and let them win."

A small, genuine smile crept onto Lucy's face, "Sirius said nearly the same thing you know." She lowered her head so that she was looking down at their feet, "I don't really want to quit but I don't want to reveal everything to them either. I'm done with that. I've left it behind. I don't want to go through it again. Surely you can understand that, Sev?" She gasped, her head snapping up, realizing what she had said, "Oh! I'm sorry! I didn't meant to… For what it's worth I don't care if you call me Lu or Luce.

"Severus?" she prompted when he seemed to be quiet for a long time.

His lip quirked into a half-smirk but he didn't look angry, just bemused. "You..." he hesitated, "May call me Sev. If you truly want to."

That earned Lucy's first true smile since she'd mentioned the letters, "I'll try to keep it to a minimum," she promised. "Anyway, Minerva's been doing her best to keep them at bay but she doesn't think they'll hold out much longer. I don't know what to do…"

"Prove your worth. You can do that, Lucy, you know that. Perhaps this is a blessing in disguise and will garner great respect for your position. I think you would enjoy that. And, if you leave Hogwarts, Dinah will be miserable so I hereby forbid you from doing anything of the sort," at that last bit he almost smiled.

Lucy giggled, "Well, I wouldn't want to be the cause of Dinah's misery. Thank you… for the confidence and the amusement."

He gave a slight smile, "To think that I am starting to make jokes... actually, I'd rather not think about it."

"Mm, it is a rather frightening thought."

Severus gave her a slight smile, "Do not think about the Board of Governors today. Enjoy yourself as you have been."

"I'm trying," Lucy confessed, "if nothing else for him," she nodded towards Sirius and Dinah who were beginning to make their way back over, "and One."

"Having your priorities in order and trying is the first step," Severus agreed as they met Sirius and Dinah.

"Thank you for the dance," Dinah said to Sirius as they went back to their spouses.

"You're welcome," he said, gently putting his arm around Lucy and leading her off the dance floor. "You should rest some," he said.

"One doesn't think so," she grinned, taking a seat and resting a hand on the baby wiggling around inside her.

"One is only concerned with doing acrobatics in there and keeping you up all night."

"And making sure I eat. Don't forget that. Oh, and visit the loo regularly too."

"Yes, that too," Sirius grinned.

Lucy smiled and leaned her head on her husband's shoulder, watching the other couples dance. After awhile the baby's movements slowed and Sirius gave her a concerned look. "I think the baby's just sleeping. They do do that from time to time."

It was around that time that Minerva came up to them, "Have you seen the Snapes? I need someone to check the courtyard for students. Severus usually likes doing that."

"I saw them heading out the main doors a few minutes ago," Lucy yawed.

"You tired?" her husband asked, "Why don't we head back to our rooms? I'm sure Minerva won't mind."

"Of course," Minerva agreed, frowning in concern, "Your health is of the most importance."

"If you need help rounding up the students later just let me know," Sirius offered.

"No," Lucy protested, "That's my job. I can do that." She thought back on her conversation with Severus. "I can't give them a reason to fire me. If I'm going to leave this place it will be on my own terms."

"Lucy, you're pregnant," Sirius stated. As if that wasn't obvious.

"Dinah's pregnant and she's not shirking her responsibilities. She's not being told what she can and can't do. She's not being treated as a special case. I shouldn't be either."

"Lucy," Minerva said, "like it or not you are a special case. You have had complications that Dinah has not. Please be assured if Dinah was in the same situation as you I would be treating her just as I am you."

"But-"

"Go to bed," Minerva insisted, "If I need your help later on I will make sure to have Sirius wake you, but I highly doubt there will be many problems tonight."