April 14th, 1978

It was post day. Every week for a while I was torn between excitement and dread getting out of bed on that day. You see, I was waiting for the letter that would decide what my future would be. The letter from the Ministry's Law Enforcement Department that would tell me if my application was accepted or declined. I was the only one in our group of friends to be in this state of anxiety. The growing war was responsible of most of the lack of superior studies attractivity. Mary was joining the family's business. Her parents were florists, they were growing their stuff themselves in big greenhouses. She wanted to diversify the family's business by adding magical plants and flowers to it, in a wizards only accessible boutique and greenhouse, of course.

All the others weren't bothered by career plans. They all wanted to be part of The Order of the phoenix. James and Lily were planning to get married soon after we would graduate from Hogwarts, and James' parents, as we could have guess it, left him a small fortune, so it would be easy for them to do whatever they wanted without needing an income. James didn't want to stay at the Manor, though. It always was too big for him. He would sell it. At first, he would stay with Sirius, then after the wedding Lily and him would buy a cottage somewhere. I wasn't fooling myself, James would be more than often at our flat, but I didn't mind, I was actually planning to be a pain at Sirius and his' place too... Remus and Peter weren't rich, though, so they were planning to take at least a part-time job to be able to have an income. Marlene, to my astonishment, was still planning to join the Order. She wanted to be actively working for it, and her parents were kind of loaded, so she would be able to devote herself to it completely.

I was the only one who was planning after-Hogwarts' studies, that was weird. Of course, I was planning to join the Order too, but I would be a part-time member only. I was so deeply in my thoughts that I didn't see the letter fall on me before it landed in my cereals, splashing me with milk. I took it and removed the milk from it with my wand. I read the sender's address. It was from the Law Enforcement Department. Oh Merlin.

- Dorcas? You have milk in your hair, hon, I heard Lily said next to me.

Seeing that I wasn't answering, she took off her wand and removed it from my hair.

- What is it? She said, her head coming closer to mine to take a look at the letter. OH. This is it? Open it! She urged me.

- I... I can't! I panicked.

- Is it the Auror's acceptance letter? Sirius said on my other side.

- Yes, it is, but it may also be a rejection one, I said, still panicked.

- Do you want me to open it? He asked, his hand on my arm.

- I don't know! What if they say no?

- They won't, he said. And even if they did, you'll be fighting with us anyway, he added, trying to comfort me.

- All right, all right... Open it, I said, giving it to him, my hand shaking.

- Calm down, Fury, he said, taking my hand and gently kissing it.

That intimate contact with him send a jolt through my underbelly. How was it that even at the moment, as I was completely stressed out, that his touch was rendering me immediately turned on? Was it supposed to get less intense someday? Why on heart would I want it to? Focus, Dorcas, the letter! I shouted in my head. He was tearing up the envelope. I put my hands in front of my face, not wanting to see, wanting pretty much to disappear, actually...

- You got in, he said, pulling on my hands.

- What? I said, looking at him.

- You. Got. In, he said, smiling widely at me.

I heard my friends loudly cheer up around me, making the other students turn to us in curiosity.

- I really did? I asked.

- Look, he said, raising the letter in front of my eyes and pointing at a sentence with his index finger.

(…) Have the pleasure to announce you that you've been accepted as an Auror's trainee in the program (…)

- I GOT IN?!

- You did, Sirius laughed at me.

- What is that racket about? I heard Professor McGonagall's stern tone behind me.

- Dorcas is officially an Auror trainee, Lily smiled at her.

- Oh, I never doubted she would, Professor McGonagall said. Now please, tone it down, I'm sure you will have plenty of celebration in that room of yours later, she said, winking at us, before she went away.

We all look at each other's, flabbergasted. I wish she would have been that cool before we were about to left school for good, I thought merrily.

June 20th, 1978

I was looking at the plain black robes and hat on the rack, wondering how many people wore those and if they were actually ever washed, grimacing. I couldn't believe that it was already that day. Graduation day. Then, tomorrow, we would be on our way back home, and we were not coming back in september. That would be weird. And sad. I loved that bloody castle.

I took a dress robe and went away to let the others chose after me, going to a corner of the room. As I was about to try it on, I saw James through a half-open door. He was sitting on a bench, looking at his dress robe in his hands, looking sad. I went in to talk to him.

- Hey, I said, seating myself next to him.

- Hey, he said back.

- That day, it bring back our recent lost, doesn't it, I sighed.

- You know what? I understand why you did it, he said.

- Did what?

- Why you did that stupid dark magic spell on yourself.

- Oh, yeah, that.

- I mean, that hurts so much, like, all the time... He sighed. It must feel good to forget about it for a while.

- It's a load of crap. I know this now. I understand why it's classified in the dark arts. It comes with a too high of a price. It sure cuts you from your grief. But it also cuts you from all the other good emotions you could feel. I'm never doing this again, I don't want to not feel love and friendship ever again. Your parents may be absent, today, to see you graduate. But, we're here for you, we're family, too, I said, looking at him.

He looked at me, raising an eyebrow.

- You? You would be the most annoying sister ever, I would have passed my childhood pulling on your braids, he said, smirking.

- Yeah, to get back at me for all the times I stole your things and kick your butt, I nudged him.

- That would have been great, though, he said, smiling at me.

- Yeah, team lonely childhood, right? I answered. But, seeing as you will always be squatting my flat, I guess I would miss that loneliness, I smirked.

- Come on, you love me, admit it, he grinned.

- You know I do. When you'll be up there, on that stage, getting that stupid fake paper from Dumbledore... Don't look for the absents... Look at us. Look at your incredibly gorgeous girlfriend, or at me, it will be my pleasure to make you a face to make you laugh and feel better, I said, passing my arm around his shoulder.

- You already did, thanks, Meadowes, he said, hugging me tightly.

September 14th, 1978

I was sitting in an isolated corner of a muggle coffe shop, enjoying a tasty croissant and discreetly reading the Daily Prophet. The big titles were so depressing. ''Muggle family murdered, '', ''Death eaters's ranks growing exponentially'', ''Death Mark seen in multiple locations, bringing murder and carnage in the Wizarding community'', '' The trial of an important member of the Ministry on suspicion of being under the Imperius' curse''... I sighed, closing it. I took a look around. It was getting late. I had just come out of a particularly arduous day of physical training for the Auror training program and was soon to attend a meeting of the Order of the phoenix. My weekly schedule was killing me, even if it was my choice to begin with. Those calm moments, indulging tasty food and relaxing were rare. I saw that I was pretty much alone in here, everyone would be at home with their family...

The waitress was sitting on her counter, reading newspaper too. The door opened, ringing those annoying bells that were purposed for the staff to hear when costumers would come in. I frowned at them, seeing that they were cloaked and mysterious. I took my wand, but as soon as I did, multiple things happened fast. First, my wand left my hand to fly in direction of those cloaked people. Then, the waitress got hit by a jinx and fell behind her counter. At the same time, the store in front of the windows got closed, as well as the door got locked. I stood up, feeling a cold sweat taking over me.

- You can sit down, Dorcas Meadowes, no harm will be done to you, I heard someone say behind four cloaked people.

Those people turned around and went to sit at a nearby table without a word. The one that was behind came to my table. He took off the cloak, making me see that it was Voldemort in the flesh. I felt all the blood draining from my face at once.

- May I? He asked, pointing the chair facing me at my table.

- Because I'm allowed to say no? I asked.

- I guess it was just politeness, indeed, he smiled, before he sat in front of me.

- So, what brings you here on this fine evening? I asked, faking that I was not afraid to death right now, wandless, in front of Voldemort himself and four Death eaters...

- I wanted to discuss about your future, Dorcas Meadowes. My sources told me that you're a brilliant witch. Though, it also went to my attention that you're thinking about becoming an Auror. I wanted to offer you other opportunities. I wanted you to know that there were other more appropriate options.

- Oh, really? Like what? Becoming one of your minions? I asked.

I saw the cloaked blokes next to us turning to me.

- You're still young, Dorcas Meadowes, you don't know what you're talking about. Think about the great things you could accomplish, by siding with us. You really want to end up like your mother?

- Don't you dare talk about my mother, I groaned.

- I'm giving you the opportunity to outgrow your parents, you can do so much better than they did. Don't you see? We're on the winning side, he said, pointing the Newspaper's headlines to me. It's quite simple. You're not going to win. You're going to lose, everything. I'm offering you a chance to survive, and to accomplish grand things, for the wizarding world. For a new order. Think about it, he said, as I was muted.

In fact, I wasn't considering it, I was just not stupid enough to say what I was thinking in front of those armed and dangerous people, as I was still wandless. I looked up at him, as he got up from the chair facing me.

- Think about it, but I won't offer again. Either you're with us, or you're against us, he plainly stated, before he turned on his heels.

The others followed him, and I saw Voldemort put his cloak back on and put my wand on the table near the door, before they left.

October 20, 1978

- I declare you husband and wife, you may kiss the bride.

James, as show-off as ever, made Lily spun around before he tilted her elegantly like you would do at the end of a dance, then kissed her fervently. We cheered and applaud enthusiastically. It was a quiet wedding. We were making ourselves pretty discreet these days. James and Lily, like I did too, not long ago, refused Voldemort's proposition to join his ranks. How stupid was he, to think that James and Lily, of all people, would take his side? Lily told me that she thought that it was Severus' who insisted that he would try to recruit them. They say no, of course, and they left. He was pissed. You cannot refuse Voldemort simply. Like he said to me, you're either with him, or against him. So, since we kind of all refused his proposition, we were all in half-hiding, not going out often and always being careful when we did. So, tonight, we were in the newly married couple's backyard, at their new cottage in Godric's Hollow. There was best man and bridesmaid, aka, Sirius and me, then the rest of our friends, Remus, Peter, Marlene and Mary, plus Lily's parents. She did invite Petunia and her husband, but she was a no-show. I know that despite everything, that saddened her very much... The sisters were very close, when they were young, and like Sirius and Regulus, they grew appart after Lily entered Hogwarts... Lily's parents didn't want to stay for the party, so they left after the ceremony. As soon as their car was going backwards in the alleyway, someone placed a bottle in my hands.

- Dorcas, pop it! I heard Marlene say behind me.

Oh, true, we bring Champagne. I forced like a fool to push out the cork, it rushed off to the wedding ark, breaking a piece of it. There was silence, and I looked at everyone, feeling stupid. James started to laughed, followed by Lily, then everyone, so I join the fun too. The wedding was taking part in James and Lily's new cottage's garden in Godric Hollow's village. We had suspended tons of lights everywhere, set up pretty decorated tables, and ordered food from a caterer. We also took the stereo out to have ambiance music. Also, because of the fact that it was freezing cold November, we add enchanted fires all around us to keep us warm.

I was pouring Champagne to everyone, when James climbed a chair and raised his flute.

- Really? I complained, by tradition.

- Shut up Meadowes, this is my wedding, I can do what I want, James said, pointing me.

I shook my head in disbelief.

- Dear beloved friends, he began. I cannot begin to tell you how happy I am that you all gathered here with us for the happiest day of my existence...

- We're only here for the booze! Shouted Sirius.

- Great, thanks, mate, James laughed. As I was saying, I couldn't hope for a better crowd to have around me today, thanks, everyone, I love you...

- All right, I said, move, I made a sign to James to get off the chair.

- What? He asked.

- My turn, get out of that chair, I said, before I downed the rest of my Champagne's flute.

He rose his eyebrows at me, but got out of the chair, then helped me up on it.

- It's your wedding, so you're not supposed to be the one to make grand speeches, it's our job, as bridesmaid and best man. Sirius, bring your fine-looking arse out here, I said to my boyfriend.

He smiled at me, then bring a chair next to mine and climbed on it.

- Let's roast those bastards, I winked at Lily and James, who were laughing.

- James Potter, mister and misses. The man who wet his bed until he was twelve...

- I'm a deep sleeper, he shrugged, not at all insulted.

- And Lily Evans, everyone, the woman who was clearly giving Old Slughorn wet dreams, I teased.

- What a horrible thing to say! She laughed, mimicking vomiting.

- James Potter, or, as some call him, the man that got caught fingering Lisbeth Bode during fourth year.

- My dad told me after that he wasn't mad, he was just pretending in front of my mom, James laughed.

- You never told me that! Lily shouted, her mouth wide-opened, giving him a blow on the arm.

- You're no better, Lily Potter, may I remind you those precious times discovering human's anatomy with Derrick Thomas, when your family was in vacation?

- You strumpet! James laugh at her.

- How could we pass under silence the long, awkward, annoying... Sirius began.

- LOUD, I added

- Desperate, Sirius said.

- Pathetic! I added.

- Enthusiastic? Anyway, James courting Lily. It was a long shot, man. I never thought it would work, to be honest.

- That's not what you were saying to me, James said.

- I was lying, pal, Sirius laughed.

- And Lily was passionate, and creative, turning him off, wasn't she? I added.

- She was indeed, altering between some lovely nicknames like... Sirius began.

- Toe rag, I said.

- Insufferable idiot, Sirius added.

- Brainless cockroach, I laughed.

- annoying boggart, he said.

- Putrid troll, I laughed.

- That was my personal favourite, Sirius smiled at me. Anyway, Lily finally decided to give him a chance...

- And by that, you mean that she threw herself at him in a dark corridor of a muggle bar, I pointed out.

- Totally, I saw that, he said. And now, we're here, celebrating their wedding, how lame is that?

- Completely lame, I agreed with a smirk.

- James, brother, I'm honoured that you chose me to be your best man, even if the competition wasn't high...

Remus and Peter booed him.

- Jealous blokes, he teased them. You're my first ever man-crush, hell you're my first ever friend. It's been a jolly ride, pal, and it's not over yet... I love you, Prongs, he said, raising his glass.

James came to hug his friend warmly.

- And Lily. Sweet, stupidly stunning, clever and kind Lily, I began. I must have a good karma to have deserved to get you as best friend. I'm the luckiest. You're my soulmate and I love you so much... I said, my voice breaking.

- Aaaawww, Dore, she said, coming to hug me too.

We settled to eat, laughing and drinking together, making the most of that precious time together. We would be seing each other less often. I mean, I was already seing less of Marlene and Mary, since we were not living together. Peter and Remus I saw more often, since I was spending a lot if time at Sirius' home or he was at my flat and when James and Sirius were somewhere, those two were never far... But, now that Lily moved out to be with her husband, that would be less frequent...

Returning from the loo, I spotted Remus, seated alone and went to sit next to him. We were looking at Lily and James, slow-dancing and kissing, looking completely ecstatics and in love.

- They're great, aren't they? I sighed.

- Two of my favorites people together, he sighed back, turning to me with a smile. She did it, you know? Wolfbane.

- Oh, she didn't tell me that! It works?

- Yeah. I just sleep it off, every full moon, since we first tried it last june. Can you believe how easier my life got?

- She's so talented, I smiled back. I'm so happy for you, Remus, you deserved a break...

- And James is financing the expensive ingredients, she's brewing me potion every month, can you believe? I don't deserve those guys...

- Are you really still trying the self-pity thing on me? You should know better, by now, I smirked at him.

- I'm not, it's just... He began.

- Remus, it's quite simple. Every freakin' one of us would do it if we could. We would eat bloody oatmeal at every meal if that was to make you feel better this way. James sell a gigantic manor and is now loaded. Of course, he would use it for you. Will you someday realise your value, Remus? We love you, idiot! You deserve every freaking positive thing that happens to you, understand?

- All right, thanks for the pep talk, Dorcas, he laughed.

- I'm always ready to shake you up, I winked at him.

Sirius came back with a second plate of desert, sitting himself next to me. Marlene arrived at this moment.

- All right, Lupin, I know you and I didn't work, but I need a dance partner, and there's not much of a choice, tonight, so, care to dance?

Remus smiled warmly at her.

- I guess I can try, he said, getting up and following her.

- You want some? Sirius offered me to dig in his chocolate cake.

- Yeah, sure, I said, taking a bite.

-We never talked about it, is this something you want? To get married, I mean? He asked out of the blue.

- If this is your way of proposing to me, because it's lame, I laughed.

- I'm not proposing, silly, I'm asking you if you would want me to, he smiled at me.

- I... I don't think so. I never really gave it a thought. What about you? I said.

- I don't care about weddings. My parents were married and were clearly unhappy together.

- I mean, surely, those pure blood folks and their arranged marriage... I said.

- Morons... He said. It's your call, though, if you would want to, I wouldn't mind.

- I don't care too, I said. I mean, the party is great, but it's pretty easy to do it without the fuss, right?

- Completely, and besides, I already bedded you, why on heart would I marry you? He laughed.

- We're hopeless romantics, I smirked.

- We are, he agreed. I love you, though, he added.

- Yeah, I think I love you too, I replied, leaning in to kiss him.

December 25, 1979

We were spending Christmas' eve at Sirius' home, with James and Lily, Marlene, Remus and Peter. Mary was spending it in her new boyfriend's family. I was making spiced globin wine, following James recipe, in the kitchen, when Marlene joined me.

- So, Lene, getting back to your parent's house? I asked her, knowing that Mary was moving in with her boyfriend after the holidays.

- Yeah, temporarily, my older sis' is back from her traveling and she'll be home for a while, so I'll stay with them for that time. After, I don't know, I guess I'll chase for a flat or something. Tell me, you wouldn't want to sell me yours? I mean, you and Sirius wouldn't have two homes forever?…

- Yeah I know, it's silly… We're both attached to our places, we find it difficult to choose… Maybe after a year or two we could decide where to stay together, but I love my flat and he loves his cottage, I smiled. All right, this is ready, watch out, it's hot, I said, passing in front of her with the hot cauldron containing the warm alcoholic beverage.

I poured it in the cups placed on an old platter, one of the things that came with the house, and took it to the living room, where the others were.

- It's hot! I said, putting the platter down on the coffee table.

Everybody took one, except from Lily.

- Lils? You don't like that? I could make you something else, I suggested.

James and Lily look at each other's, exchanging an amused smile.

- I just don't drink, these days, she smiled at me.

I frowned, that was new… Marlene got up from the couch and pointed Lily, clearly excited.

- Lily Evans, ARE YOU PREGNANT? She asked.

I looked at Lily, flabbergasted.

- Yes, I am, she simply nodded, James taking her hand in both of his' and kissing it gently.

Oh. OH! Merlin!

- YOU ARE?! I said, still flabbergasted.

- Yeah, we just had the good news couple of days ago, we thought that we would announce it to you guys tonight, Lily explained.

- Wow, guys, that's amazing, Remus said.

- James Potter, a father, hm, I kind of like that idea, I laughed. That kid would be lucky to have some saner adult role models, though, I smirked at James.

- Oh? Like who? He mocked me, while I was grimacing at him.

- Congrats, lovebirds, Sirius raised his cup at them.

We spend the night hanging out and having fun, exchanging gifts, eating and drinking… I was getting out from the bathroom and nearly had a heart attack seeing James waiting for me outside the door.

- What the hell?! You want to kill me? I said, giving him a small blow on the arm.

- I wanted to talk to you alone, he said.

- Stalking me to the bathroom is clearly a good plan, I rolled my eyes. What did you want to talk about? I asked, intrigued.

- Lily and I, we thought that, if everything goes right and we indeed have a baby next summer, we wanted Sirius and you to be the godparents, he said.

- You… You do? I said.

- Of course, idiot, I need this child to learn from the bests, he smiled. And… You know, in case… We would not get out of that war alive…

- You will, I said, refusing to think otherwise.

- Probably, but just in case, you know… It would be a great thing to know that the kid would have you to take care of him or her…

- I… Don't know what to say… I said, at a loss for words…

- Don't feel forced to say yes if you don't want to… He began.

- Are you crazy? Saying no was never an option, I meant to say that I feel… Very honoured… James, I said, feeling my eyes filling up with tears.

- You're not turning all emotional on me, are you? He smiled.

- No, I'm not, I said, feeling a tear run down my cheek.

- You silly over-sensitive girl, he said, his eyes gleaming with tears too.

He took me in his arms and hugged me tight.

March 12th, 1980

- Okay, Lily, show us you bum, Marlene asked her.

Lily got up and pulled up her jumper, standing on her side for us to see the tiny new baby curve on her belly.

- You just look like you didn't poop for a week, I laughed.

- I know, she laughed too. Or if I would have eat too many pumpkin pasties, she added. I'm not in a hurry to look like a whale, though, she smiled. I just can't wait to feel the baby move, you know?

She came back to sit next to us. We were having a girls night, something we tried to do once a month. That time was at my flat. Mary was coming back from the bathroom.

- Dorcas? Where's your Foe's glass? You brought it at Sirius'? I kind of like to look at it when I pass in front, it's quite creepy, she said.

- Oh no, Peter asked me if he could borrow it last week. You know, the order's mission and all, it's stressing him out, making him a little paranoid…

- The poor bloke, he shouldn't have let the others dragging him into this. It's clearly too much for him, Marlene commented.

- I know, but how could someone separate those men, I ask you? Lily said. They just wanted to include him, like they always did before.

- It's a chance that he wasn't with you lot, when you freakin' faced You-know-who! I still can't believe it… Mary said.

- He was already mad at us for refusing his offer, now we're really a pebble in his shoe. When we got to fight them and he arrived and saw us in the other team… We putted targets on our foreheads… We use more and more protective spells on the house… Especially to keep that one safe, she said, caressing her belly in a protective gesture.

- You were there too, Dorcas? Mary asked.

- Yeah, and Sirius was, too… I got to caught that bloody whore… I said, thinking about Rosy Gallagher, one of the murderer of my mom, that was until last week still running free.

- Marlene told me that, the woman who…

- Killed my mom, yeah.

- How did you managed to keep your cool? Mary asked.

- Oh, I didn't. I had time to punch her in the face three times before Sirius restrained me… I said, frowning at the memory. He got me out of there before I got seen by the incoming Aurors and lost my place as a trainee…

- A very clever move, I would say, Mary agreed.

- Yeah, it happens to him, sometimes, I smiled, taking a sip at my fairy wine.

July 31st, 1980

- GUYS?!

I was snuggled in bed with Sirius, as we were leisurely pushing back the moment that we would get up, feeling a little lazy on that clouded summer morning.

- Was that James' voice? Is it from the mirror? I asked, raising my head.

James gave us one of the communicative mirror, for us to be able to talk to them when we needed to. Because communication was harder these days, no Floo, owl mail being unsafe… Sirius got up, put some clothes on (yeah, we were wearing none) and got out of his bedroom, walking fast. For obvious reasons, we didn't take the mirror here with us, we let it downstairs, in the living room. I was intrigued by the note of urgency that I heard in James' voice, so I followed as soon as I was dress up.

- Prongs? I heard Sirius say in the living room as I was going downstairs.

- IT'S HAPPENING! Lily's in labor!

- Really? I said, arriving next to Sirius and looking at James' reflection in the mirror.

- Yeah! She broke her water during the night, and the Healer say that we'll meet the baby very soon!

- All right, we're on our way, I said, pulling on Sirius' arm already.

We got out of the house, since it was impossible to disapparate in it anymore. As soon as he closed the door, we were gone. We apparate in front of James and Lily's cottage, opened the little wooden gate and ran to the door. James opened it before we had the time to knock. He was even more dishevelled than the usual, with fatigue rims under his eyes, worry clear all around his features.

- So glad to see you both, he said, welcoming us in.

- How is she? I asked.

- She's crying like someone is torturing her, I feel so useless, he sighed.

At that moment, there was a awful cry from upstairs.

- All right, I'm going, I said, shrugging out of my vest and running upstairs.

I knocked at her bedroom's door.

- Red? It's me, I announce myself.

- You can come in, Dore, she said, her voice sounding tired and weak.

She was walking around her bed, with a female healer supporting her.

- I can take it from here, I told her.

- Vivian, this is Dorcas, Dorcas this is… AAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHH! She cried, her hands on her painful stomach.

- A pleasure, I nodded to the healer. So, I see it's going well? I asked, trying to stay casual.

- Yes, everything is going well, she's nearly ready to push that baby out, Vivian smiled at me, not looking stressed in the slightest, something that reassured me.

- James ran out of the house? Lily asked me.

- No, he's downstairs with Sirius.

- Of course, those bastards would take a drink while I'm AAAAAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHHHH OOOOOOOWWWWWW!

- He's panicked, I mocked him.

- Are you not? She asked.

- Strangely, not that much, I guess I like to see you suffer, I tried to joke.

- You wait till it's your tuuUUUUUUUUURRRNNnn BLOODY HELL!

- Let's make a check up, the Healer said, pointing the bed.

I went to stand near my friend's head, to gave her some privacy while her naked legs were spread in front of the healer.

- Oh. Great, it's done, you're ready, dear, she said to Lily with a smile.

- AAAAaaaaaarrrgggggghhh PPPPPPPPFFFFFFFFTTTT! I am?! This is it?

- Yes, you should get the father in here, she winked at me.

- See you in a bit, love, I kissed Lily on the cheek before I left.

I went downstairs to the men, who were looking at me with a questioning look.

- Go back, dad, she'll be pushing that painful brat out, I smiled at him.

- Oh, really? He said.

It took a second to understand, before he gave his glass to me and ran upstairs. I took a sip from his drink and went seeking comfort in my boyfriend's arms. It took exactly 34 minutes before the cries stopped. We looked at one another, then waited. Two minutes later, we heard James from upstairs.

- Come up, guys!

We put our glasses on the coffee table and ran upstairs. The bedroom's door was open, Lily, her features red and exhausted, but with a very wide smile, was cradling a small bundle of blankets in her arms. I came closer and looked at it, the little reddish alien-like baby, looking lovingly at Lily.

- It's a boy, Lily whispered.

- How would you call him? I asked them.

- Harry, James said, tears running from his eyes.

- Hold him, love, Lily said to him.

- He's so small, James said, taking it with precaution.

I looked at Sirius, as he was looking at tiny baby Harry, emotion clear on his face.

Later that day

We got back at dawn, having spend the day at the Potter's helping them by preparing food, washing dishes and everything we could do to make it easier for them with the new born. Sirius and I held him for a while, too, in the afternoon, when Lily was getting a well-deserved nap. Harry was mostly asleep in our arms, and waking up very loudly when he was hungry. It was a surreal day…

- May I come with you? Sirius asked me, standing by the bathroom's door, as I was enjoying a relaxing hot and bubbly bath.

- Yeah, of course, I smiled at him.

He took off his clothes and entered the bath, seating himself at the other extremity. We magically enlarged it, to be more comfortable when we would be the both of us in it. He leaned his head back and immerged it in the water, before he came out all wet.

- Well, that was an interesting day, he said.

- Indeed, it was, I replied.

- It made me think.

- About? I asked.

- About the fact that we could do this, too, he said.

- Oh, so you want me to cry my brains out like Lils did? I smirked at him.

- No, Merlin, no… That's horrible… I was more thinking about the fact that I would maybe want to have kids with you.

- Kids? With a S? You mean plural? I teased him.

- Is that crazy? I mean, with the war and all? He asked.

- Totally crazy, I agreed.

- So it's a no-go, right? He said.

- I didn't say that. I said that it's crazy.

- Meaning?

- Since when do we mind doing crazy stuff? I smiled.

- Really?

- Sirius, are you thick? Am I not completely under your charm for years, now? Of course, I want tiny versions of you, idiot! Really, sometimes you can be really dumb, I sighed.

He took hold of my foot and began to torture me by tickling it, knowing pretty well that I hated it. Literally, I was trying to escape his grip like a crazy person.

- Stooooooop, Merlin, stop!

- You still think that I'm dumb? He smirked.

- Please LET GO! No, you're not dumb, you're a genius, and you're my lord and master, happy?

- Hm. Fair enough, he laughed. So, kids?

- Remove the plural, let's go one at a time, and I need to finish Auror's training first.

He raised from his side of the bath and came to face me, passing between my legs.

- All right, what about some practice, then? He said, kissing me.

- Hm. Strange, I would think that we would be considered pretty good already, seeing the frequency to which we practice it... I smirked.

- I'm all for continuous improvement, he smirked back at me.