Summary: Hermione and Sirius are having a baby, but aren't a couple (don't know if you've heard!). Just a few things to sort out before said baby arrives, like telling the world now that their friends and family know, and where will the baby sleep?
A/N: If I'm honest, I'm not sure what was going on with this one. I seem to have these moments where my brain says, 'Yes, but what if...' and 'Oh, you need to resolve this problem that you've created for yourself.' And next thing I know, I've created a monster. Prompts at the bottom.
Pregnancy: A Four Part Story
After Family and Friends Find Out…
'Hermione, there's something I have to tell you,' Harry said hesitantly.
Sitting at the dining table in the kitchen of Grimmauld Place, enjoying some burnt toast, Hermione's head snapped up from the report she was reading for work. She narrowed her eyes when she spotted The Daily Prophet in his hands.
'Did you know I'm the father of your unborn baby?' he asked, finally meeting her eyes.
Sirius looked up from the paint samples in his hands. 'I can assure you that no one is claiming the paternity of the baby except me.'
Sirius wasn't lying. Hermione and Sirius had had a one-night stand, with the help of alcohol and some self-pity, precisely fourteen weeks and six days ago. The result was an accidental pregnancy, because they hadn't thoroughly thought their actions through at the time, for two supposedly intelligent people. It was an accident that had made her struggle with morning sickness. And now that she had started telling people, which meant she no longer needed to hide the pregnancy, the morning sickness had disappeared. Of course it had. This was definitely Sirius' child.
Harry sighed, started to turn the paper to face Hermione, and then stopped. He dropped it on the table to stare at the front page again. Hermione and Sirius exchanged bemused glances. Harry grimaced for a moment and finally turned it around.
'Just try not to work yourself up about it,' Harry said, holding the offending item in front of his face.
The Boy-Who-Lived to Welcome Child with Childhood Friend, the headline announced boldly. It was accompanied with an old photograph of Harry and Hermione right before Harry took part in the first task of the Triwizard Tournament.
'How–– Who–– I—' Hermione attempted to start her sentence a few times, pointing at the paper.
'Use your words, kitten,' Sirius said, returning to his paint samples.
Hermione rolled her eyes. 'You all only found out last week! How can they possibly have gotten hold of this news? And why would they think you're the father?'
She reached over and snatched the paper from him, reading the article. She kept snorting in disgust the more she read. 'They write it like it's the best scandal they've ever had.'
'With Voldemort gone, Kingsley doing a great job of running the Ministry, you're changing laws for magical species across the board, and I'm a boring Auror – of course they're looking for a scandal,' Harry said, getting up with his empty breakfast plate and coffee cup, taking them to the sink as he spoke.
'Not sure what the scandal is, though,' Sirius mumbled, still engrossed in the paint samples.
'It's because I'm not married – that's what they keep inferring to.' Hermione slapped at hand at the paper. 'Apparently we're still in the eighteenth century,' she growled.
'Tell them I'm the father, that will really give them a scandal,' Sirius said proudly, lifting his head to give her a smirk and a wink. 'Older and an ex-Azkaban prisoner.'
'Expunged,' Hermione said.
'Can't expunge that memory, though.' Sirius tapped twice at his temple with a finger, eyes still on the samples.
'Technically, you can…' Harry trailed off at Hermione's scowl.
'What are you doing, by the way?' She pointed to the squares of colours he had dotted around his untouched breakfast.
'Colours,' he stated simply, holding two squares up to her. 'For the baby's room – almond or iris?'
'You mean beige or purple,' Hermione said with a frown. She picked the paper up and shook it at him. 'Aren't you remotely annoyed about this?'
'And on that note, I'm going to work – are you coming, Hermione?' Harry shrugged on his coat and stood by the fireplace in the kitchen, holding the pot of Floo powder.
'Yeah,' she said heavily, giving Sirius a sullen look as she threw the paper towards him. She ignored the confused look he gave her at her attitude and left with Harry. Everything was always a joke to Sirius.
When they made their way through the Atrium, Hermione felt her cheeks get warmer and warmer as she realised people were trying to stare at her stomach – not that much could be seen under her dress, not without pulling it tight. 'In hindsight, we should've arrived separately,' she whispered to Harry.
'Let them talk. You've got nothing to be ashamed of,' Harry said, staring down a couple of Ministry workers as they got in a lift.
'Except for the fact they think you've cheated on Ginny and I'm some kind of harlot,' Hermione pointed out.
'Ginny will be having a laugh about this, and then she'll thoroughly enjoy herself setting people straight.'
'Or adding to the rumours,' Hermione said wryly.
Harry sniggered. 'More than likely.' The lift came to a stop on Harry's floor. He gave her a quick squeeze of her hand. 'Try not to jinx too many people today.'
'I can't promise anything,' she said with a smirk.
XXXXXX
Hermione arrived home to Sirius clearing out one of the spare rooms, sending all the furniture up to the loft with flicks of his wand. She stood by the door, nearly getting flattened by a desk and waited, listening to Sirius hum a vague tune she recognised from a Muggle band.
'What's going on?' she called into the room as a lamp followed the desk. She peaked around the doorframe and quickly stepped in before the bedside cabinet got her.
'Emptying the unused rooms so I can see properly,' Sirius muttered, send a sponge soaked in water and soap to the wall.
Hermione watched the activities of the room for a while, coming back to Sirius every few minutes. His face was clouded, an angry frown on his brow and his mouth set in a thin line. He was so focused she was surprised not to find a cigarette hanging from his lips, as he was prone to do when he looked this intense.
'What is it you're trying to see?' she asked when the final piece of furniture left the room. Another sponge started cleaning the walls and a scrubbing brush was set to work on the floor.
'Which room would be right for her?' He looked to her and it was like the dark cloud following him was gone just by seeing her. 'How was your day?' He took a large step forward to kiss her cheek. 'Feeling better after the front page issue?'
Hermione shrugged, folding her arms.
Sirius stepped closer to her, rubbing at her upper arms. 'The people that matter know the truth. Who cares what the gossipers say,' he said gently.
'It's not the point, Sirius,' she grumbled.
'Would it make you feel better if they did know it was me?'
'Aren't you bothered that they think it's Harry?' she countered.
'As long as I'm the one called Dad and my name's on the birth certificate, I don't care,' he said nonchalantly. He moved them slightly when the scrubbing brush started to approach them.
'Hey!' Ginny said brightly from the door. They turned to look at her, muddy from a day's Quidditch training. 'Need me to make sure Harry pays child support?' She practically cackled as she disappeared down the hallway to the room she shared with Harry.
'Ginny's not bothered,' Sirius pointed out with a smirk.
'I suppose,' she said grudgingly.
'Come on, let me show you the other rooms now that they're empty, see what you think.' Sirius put an arm around her shoulders, leaving the sponges and brush to continue their work.
'You've done all the rooms?' she asked, frowning.
'What? You think I lounge around her all day acting like a kept woman?' Sirius sniggered. 'Don't answer that,' he added quickly when he spotted Hermione thinking about it.
Which Room…?
Hermione sat up quickly, looking over at Sirius, having joined him not that long ago. His nightmare had been so bad that she didn't even have chance to wake up to his shouts. He'd shook her awake, kneeling by her small bed, pleading with her to join him. She saw the fear in his eyes and agreed without hesitation, not even angry at him waking her up from a rare peaceful sleep since her insomnia had returned as the morning sickness disappeared.
Both of them had fallen asleep swiftly, and Sirius was still sleeping with his back to her, but she couldn't work out what had woken her. Hermione peered around the dark room, searching for the answer.
'Oh!' she said, surprising herself at the exclamation.
'What? What's going on?' Sirius asked, sitting up, his wand already in his hand.
'I think the baby's kicking,' she answered.
'What!' Sirius had the lights on in the room before Hermione was prepared.
'Sirius!' She shielded her eyes with both hands, slumping back on the pillows.
She shrieked with laughter when Sirius started pulling at the blankets to get at her growing bump, which was now too big for both of his hands to cover it. 'I don't know if you're going to be able to feel it yet,' she warned him gently.
'I don't care. My daughter is kicking and I'm going to be awake for her first kicks.'
Hermione smiled affectionately at him as he stared at his hands across her abdomen. With the look of sheer determination on his face, she was sure Sirius was going to will the baby to kick hard enough for him to feel. She took a sharp breath when she felt it again – an odd fluttering sensation – and immediately felt guilty at seeing Sirius' disappointed face.
She put a hand over one of his. 'I can barely feel it myself,' she said quietly.
'I know,' he replied. He lay back on his pillow, letting Hermione keep hold of his hand. 'I'm sure she'll be kicking at your ribs soon enough.'
'Can't wait,' she said wryly, squeezing his hand.
Sirius laughed softly, lifting her hand to kiss the back of it before turning the lights out.
XXXXXX
'Hermione,' Sirius whispered directly into her ear.
She nearly head-butted him with the speed she sat up, having been unexpectedly woken up so rudely from a decent sleep. 'Sirius, we've discussed this.'
'Hermione, I think we should move,' he answered before she was fully awake as she rubbed at her eyes.
Hermione felt the edge of the bed dip from Sirius' weight and dropped her hands to look at him. 'Move?' He nodded. 'Can I at least have my one and only—' A cup was held before her. 'I see,' she said, looking at the coffee. 'I thought we were still deciding on a bedroom for the baby?'
Sirius placed the cup in her hand before picking up his own from the bedside table. 'We can't raise her in this house, love. We just can't.'
Hermione took a small sip of her coffee, watching Sirius as she did. He wouldn't look at her. He shifted so he was now facing the room, sipping his own coffee, and looking at everything in there. Sometimes with Sirius, if she pushed, he shut down, and sometimes he didn't. Most times, if she stayed quiet, he would say a little more – open up a little more.
'There's a bad memory in every single one of these rooms,' he murmured under his breath, like he was saying it to himself rather than Hermione.
She made him move so that she could sit on the edge of the bed with him, putting their coffees down on the bedside table. 'Please talk to me.' She went to take his hand. He moved it away, crossing his arms. 'Sirius,' she said with a sigh.
'I don't have any attachments to this house, Hermione. Talking about what can't be changed won't fix that,' he said firmly. When he met her eyes, the walls were firmly up. 'I don't want our baby being raised in this house. Okay.'
It wasn't a question.
'Okay, Sirius,' she agreed.
Sirius stood up and left the room with his coffee.
Hermione finished her coffee and got dressed before seeking Sirius out, finding him stood in an empty room on the top floor of the house. It was a small, square room directly above Sirius' bedroom, with a large window that let the light into every corner without curtains covering it. The walls were currently sporting a lot of colours splashed over the original dark green.
Sirius was leaning against the wall, staring out the window, the coffee cup still in his hand, but clearly empty, judging by the way it dangled by his side. Without even looking at her, he said, 'I'm not discussing it, Hermione.'
'I'm afraid you don't get a monopoly on the decision, Sirius. This is my life too.' She folded her arms, giving the side of his face a hard stare. Glancing around at the room at the patchwork of colours, she asked, 'What's wrong with this room?'
'I was locked in it for the entire summer after my first year of Hogwarts,' he said simply, emotionlessly.
Hermione opened her mouth and closed it quickly without saying her immediately thoughts. This was the most he'd revealed about those dark years of his childhood to her. Maybe seeking an argument about his sudden decision wasn't what was needed here.
'You remember what I said the morning after? About us being not stable enough to be in a relationship with each other?' Hermione asked gently.
Her arms remained folded, but no longer defensively, more out of protection. Like that one simple act would protect her if Sirius decided to go ahead with an argument and say hurtful things. It got his attention though, she saw it in the way his jaw muscle twitched and he turned his head a fraction.
'We can't afford to remain like this anymore, Sirius. There's another life coming – one that didn't ask to be brought into this world. We need to start fixing us.'
'Why do you think I don't want her being raised in this house?' Sirius asked sharply. He threw his cup in the air and it disappeared before it hit the floor. He turned to lean back on the windowsill, crossing his legs at the ankles, finally looking at Hermione.
'Do you think moving will stop the nightmares?' she asked quietly. 'Will it stop the self-loathing?'
'At least we won't have to hear my mother screaming every time someone even whispers near that fucking painting,' Sirius said with a twisted grin.
Hermione let out a quiet sigh, dropping her arms. She couldn't be sure why, it might have been the hormones, it might have been his lack of willing to try every time she reached out to him, but she felt a flush of anger and resentment towards him in that moment. 'Forget it. Find me when you you're ready to have a proper conversation.'
'Hermione,' he called after her with a heavy sigh.
She ignored him, using her wand to bring her coat to her. She needed to get out of the place and go for a walk.
'Hermione!' Sirius called again as she got to the end of the road.
She barely glanced over her shoulder, seeing him struggling to put his leather jacket on as he raced after her. 'Go home, Sirius. It's my turn to not want to talk now,' she instructed.
Pulling her denim jacket tightly around herself, Hermione rounded the corner, still hearing Sirius' heavy footsteps following, his boots clicking on the pavement. Summer was starting, but the weather hadn't been told; the clouds threatened rain and a cold breeze pushed at Hermione.
Sirius reached her and started walking by her side without saying a word. She refused to look at him or say anything as she listened to him catch his breath, still straightening out his jacket on his frame.
'Where are we going?' he asked once his breathing evened out.
Remaining resolutely silent, Hermione folded her arms tightly and put her head down a little against the freezing wind, the rapid pace she was keeping not quite making her warm yet. Sirius didn't push with another question or comment, accepting her silence. Instead, he started humming an odd tune that lost all rhythm with his footsteps.
When they reached the nearby high street filled with shops just starting to open up for the day, and cafés that were already open for the early morning commuters, Sirius grabbed Hermione's hand and tugged her towards his favourite bakery he went to in the afternoons.
'You've not had breakfast yet,' he explained, tightening his grip when she tried to pull away.
Not that she would admit to him right now, her bad mood not lifting any time soon, but the ten minute walk had taken all of Hermione's energy. She still didn't have a lot of it, her appetite still not what it was. So she let him lead her into the building, pointing to a free table in the corner, before joining her after he'd placed an order.
'Do I not get to decide for myself?' Hermione asked sullenly, once he'd sat down opposite her. She flinched inwardly at her sulky tone.
'Burnt toast with some marmalade. Will that do you?' Sirius asked without any hint of humour.
Hermione sank back in her chair, not answering him, watching Sirius go about some odd routine. He shrugged off his jacket, pulling his black t-shirt sleeves down, letting the jacket hang over the back of his seat. He moved all the condiments to the side of the table closest to the wall it was against, straightened out the cutlery already set on the table, and put the napkin on his lap.
'What?' he asked, freezing for a moment when he looked up to find her watching him.
She felt her cheeks flush, not sure why her body was reacting that way. She sat up, moving her own cutlery slightly for want of something to do. 'One day this baby will ask you about your family – their family – what will you say then?'
Sirius barely suppressed his heavy sigh, instead it came out as a noisy breath through his nose, and he returned to moving things around the table.
'And what about when she asks why her grandparents can't come to visit? What will you tell her?' he asked, keeping his voice low, glancing at nearby patrons sat at their table. 'Why do you even stay in that house when that fucking painting screams that shit at you every day?' Sirius asked this in a whisper, blinking hard as he swore.
'Because you're there,' she said simply, refusing to let herself overthink this. If she did, then she wouldn't say the words, and Sirius needed to hear the words.
'You mean Harry and Ron,' he muttered.
Hermione took in a deep breath as she leant forward. 'Yes, they're the reason I moved in. They're family and we've been through a lot together. But I stay because of you, Sirius. I meant it when I said, you're not alone.'
'It isn't your job to look after me,' he growled. That got him an enquiring look from a nearby patron, who he nodded at with a small smile.
Hermione tried to speak a few times, leaning forward every time she thought the words would come, but her anger was getting worse. 'Will you ever grow up?'
She didn't bother waiting for an answer, apologising to the approaching waiter with their breakfast, and warned Sirius to stay put this time, leaving quickly. She returned to Grimmauld Place and went to sit in the small community park that resided in the middle of the residential square, instead of going into the building. From the bench she sat on, Hermione could see the front door of number twelve, and shook her head when Sirius arrived minutes after she'd sat down. So much for him following a simple instruction.
Hermione wasn't overly bothered about moving to another house. She certainly had no attachments to the one she lived in, much like Sirius. She just needed him to start opening up with her. They were bringing a child into the world and the child deserved fully-functioning parents, especially when they had the knowledge of how poorly children can be raised. Which Sirius had experienced first-hand.
It was over an hour when Hermione felt like she was calm enough to attempt another conversation with Sirius. That, and the fact her stomach was growling and she'd started shivering thanks to that bloody cold wind. British summer at its finest.
She'd barely walked through the door, a shudder running through her as the warmth of the house hit her, when Sirius appeared before her. She frowned, shrugging off her jacket to hang up.
'What do I need to do that will make you agree to leave this house?' he asked, pain in his grey eyes. Hermione wasn't sure what she did, but it was the wrong thing. 'Don't you dare feel sorry for me, Granger.' He strode off into the living room.
Staring wide-eyed at his retreating back, Hermione blew air into her cheeks before letting it go in one gush of a heavy breath. He'd never called her by her surname before, so that was new. Judging by the quiet of the house, the others had long gone for the day. She stared at the stairs leading to the kitchen for a moment.
Slowly stepping into the living room, Hermione found Sirius pacing in front of the fireplace, his arms rigid by his sides with his fists clench.
'I never said I wouldn't move,' she said softly.
Sirius, currently pacing with his back to her, spun around, his shoes scraping on the wooden floor, to look at her with a deep frown. 'Why are you giving me so much resistance?'
'I'm not,' she said earnestly, stepping further into the room. 'I need to understand, though. Something changed last night that's made you decide this now, and I need to know what it is.'
Sirius opened his mouth, nothing came out, not even a noise. He stared at her, almost like he was pleading for her to just look into mind and take it all. 'You felt her kicking,' he said in a low whisper.
Hermione frowned, moving closer to him. 'Is this because you didn't feel it?'
He gave a single shake of his head, a dismissive one, making a curl slip from the bun he currently had his hair in. 'There's a baby coming. A real baby.'
'There is,' she agreed.
'What if I ruin her like they ruined me?'
The question hung heavily in the air, freezing both of them in their actions.
Sirius was the first to break, returning to his pacing. Hermione felt a tear slip down her cheek, a deep ache in her chest for the way Sirius viewed himself and his place in the world.
Silently, she walked to him, moving slowly – carefully. She reached a hand out, touching the back of his upper arm first; that got him to stop pacing to her, looking over his shoulder in confusion. Hermione gently pulled him to face her, stepping closer and closer until her arms encircled his waist. She rested her cheek on his chest and listened to his rapid heartbeat.
Sirius didn't respond, his arms remained by his sides, almost leaning back from her hug. She clasped her hands together, to prevent him from stepping away.
'You are not ruined,' she whispered.
She heard him swallow.
'You are not perfect, none of us are perfect, but you are not ruined,' she said loudly this time, her arms remaining firm on their hold of him. 'You are an inherently good man who came through it all despite what they did to you.'
She let go of him, gripping on to the material of his t-shirt at his waist so he still couldn't move away from her. His head was turned towards the fireplace, away from her, but she could see the wet on his cheek.
'You are flawed – like me and Harry and Ron and Remus and countless others, but, Sirius – look at me, please.' She waited for him to look.
A small, silent sob left him as he turned to look at her, another tear falling. Hermione reached up to wipe it away, leaving her hand on his shoulder.
'You are not ruined.'
'What if I fail her?' he asked.
Hermione gave him a small smile. 'Failure isn't an option. Not in this.' She quickly wiped away another tear of his, wishing she could take his pain away, her words feeling useless. 'I already see the love you have for her, the need to protect her from all that is bad in the world.'
'The only thing you might fail at is giving her some breathing room, but I'd say that's an acceptable fail,' Hermione said, earning herself a snort of a laughter from him.
She took a breath, slipping her hand down his arm to take his hand. 'If you want to move, then we'll move. We'll raise her somewhere else, but it comes with a condition,' she added the latter quickly.
'Anything,' he said hastily, holding her hand painfully.
'It's time for therapy – whether it's Muggle or Magical, I don't care,' she kept talking when he started to refuse, 'and I'm going too.'
Sirius blinked hard, frowning as he did. 'You are?'
'We've become co-dependent on each other to sleep, what do you think?'
Sirius used his free hand to wipe his damp cheeks with the back of it. 'Some might say that's a solution.'
'I say it's a plaster on a wound that needs stitches,' Hermione replied evenly, ignoring Sirius mild frown at her Muggle metaphor. 'Just like moving house will be.' Sirius met her gaze, a flurry of thoughts clear in them. 'You think I'm wrong, but I know I'm right.'
'Don't be smug, kitten.'
Hermione pinched her lips between her teeth for a moment before saying, 'I didn't think I'd be grateful to hear a detested nickname again.'
Sirius chuckled, looking around the room for a moment. He shook their joined hands between them as he did. 'Therapy? That's the deal?' He brought his gaze back to her. She nodded. 'What if it doesn't work?'
'What we're doing now isn't working,' she pointed out. 'It's wishful thinking.'
It felt like a lifetime before he finally relented.
Growing a Baby and Making a Home
Hermione entered the Atrium, still reading the file she'd been going through all day, when she heard a very familiar laugh. Looking up with a frown she spotted Sirius by the large fountain, laughing and talking with someone she didn't recognise.
'Sirius?' She approached him, tapping at his elbow when her call hadn't gotten his attention. 'What are you doing here?'
'Kitten! I've found somewhere – or Remus has—'
'Oh! You're with someone,' the woman cut across Sirius' words.
'Not a couple,' they said together, immediately laughing.
'Jinx!' Sirius said with a smirk.
Hermione frowned, lightly pinching his wrist.
'Hi, I'm Eloise,' the woman said brightly, holding her hand out to Hermione.
'Hermione,' she replied, shaking it firmly.
'You owe me dinner,' Sirius announced triumphantly.
'I do?' Hermione and Eloise asked together.
'Jinx!' Eloise said quickly.
'Quick learner.' Sirius smiled proudly at the tall woman.
Hermione stood awkwardly, watching the two of them smile at each other, her folder tucked under one arm and the other hand pushing into the bump as the baby kept kicking frantically. 'You must be new around here,' Hermione said when it was clear no one was going to speak.
'Now you owe Eloise a dinner,' Sirius said with a wink to the woman in question.
'Oh, honestly! I'm not staying quiet because of a silly children's game,' Hermione snapped. Partly due to the ridiculous situation happening, partly due to the baby now kicking at her ribs.
'Oh, a baby!' Eloise exclaimed when she spotted the movement.
'Well spotted,' Hermione muttered.
'Is she kicking?' Sirius asked, already pawing at her six-month-old bump. He dropped to his knees and loudly proclaimed, 'Daddy's here, love!' with his face close to her stomach.
If people didn't know Sirius was the father of Hermione's child at that point, they did now. Hermione felt her cheeks heat up with a blush as nearby people laughed, some rolled their eyes, and one woman looked scandalised at the show of affection.
'So you're having a baby together, but not a couple?' Eloise asked, curiosity clear in her voice.
'I'm sorry, who exactly are you?' Hermione couldn't hide the annoyance in her voice at this woman not going away.
Sirius stood up, putting a calming hand on her upper back. 'Be nice,' he said quietly into her ear.
Hermione shrugged him off, giving him a withering stare. 'I'll see you at home when you're done.'
'Wait,' Sirius called after her. She heard him apologise to Eloise before his footsteps followed, an odd pattern to them as he skipped around the people rushing to get home for the day.
'Sirius, it's fine. Go have your date, I just want to get home,' she said over her shoulder as she reached one of the fireplaces.
'Date? What – no!' Sirius pulled at her elbow before she grabbed some Floo powder. 'I came to wait for you so I could show you the cottage.'
Hermione looked around Sirius to see Eloise still stood by the fountain, watching them. She gave Hermione a small wave. 'She seemed nice.'
'Would you mind telling your voice that?' Sirius laughed. 'You sound like it's the worst trait a person could have – tears? I thought the tears had stopped!'
Hermione stomped her foot, clutching onto her folder tightly with both arms. 'So did I,' she said with a sniff.
'Did you stomp your foot then?' Sirius stared down at her feet.
'No.' She turned to grab the Floo powder and Sirius stopped her again. 'What now?'
People were starting to grumble at them blocking a fireplace.
'We're going to Remus', not home.' He wiped a stray tear off her cheek before pulling her close. They stepped into the fireplace together and Sirius threw the powder down, calling out Remus' home.
'You were jealous, weren't you?' Sirius asked as they stepped into Remus and Tonks' living room. He brushed off soot from his leather jacket, looking a little too happy about his question.
Remus and Tonks appeared from the kitchen, Tonks sporting a bump not much smaller than Hermione's and vibrant purple hair.
'I was not jealous.' Hermione went to give Remus and Tonks a hug, while Teddy launched himself at Sirius, who caught him with ease, showering the six-year-old with kisses all over his face, causing him to shriek with laughter. 'I'd just rather not be around when you start dating someone new,' she said, flinching as the baby kicked sharply again.
'You're dating someone?' Remus asked Sirius.
'Right in the ribs?' Tonks asked Hermione.
'It was harmless flirting while I was waiting for Hermione.' Sirius put Teddy down, ruffling his dark curls as they turned back to straight hair in a violent shade of blue.
'When isn't it in the ribs?" Hermione asked, taking a seat on their couch, throwing her folder down on the coffee table.
'Oh no,' Remus said firmly. 'Up you get.' He pulled Hermione back to her feet. 'We've got something to show you.'
'Can't you bring it to me,' Hermione groaned.
Tonks linked an arm through Hermione's. 'It'll be worth it,' she whispered, pulling her towards the front door.
Hermione let herself be guided by Tonks' pulling as she glanced over at Remus and Sirius with their heads close, whispering, Teddy pulling on Sirius' arm to follow.
'What are you two planning over there?' she asked when they were still whispering outside, trailing behind her and Tonks.
'Here we are.' Tonks pulled Hermione to stand in front of her, barely a few paces away from Lupin Cottage.
Hermione looked at the double-fronted cottage with a second floor, and a blue door in the middle bearing the number nineteen on it. It had a small front garden, barely enough room for the rose bushes nestled under the two front windows and ivy started to creep up the right side; the other side was attached to Lupin Cottage.
She looked to Sirius for answers to her unspoken questions but he was busy being distracted by Teddy climbing all over him. Remus gave her a smile. 'The neighbour's gone to live with her son in the Cornwall,' he explained, pulling a key out of his pocket.
Not sure what to feel, as they'd spent the last few weeks finding places, falling in love, and then something would happen that meant they couldn't live there. She was too tired and pregnant to keep looking much longer, or getting her hopes up.
'Just look, that's all,' Tonks said encouragingly, nudging her gently to the gate after Remus.
They stepped into a dark hallway with stairs directly in front of them and small corridor that led to the kitchen, the back door briefly in view from the open front door. The two rooms on either side were square in size, with the right one containing a fireplace on the far wall. She stepped into the latter room, looking up at the dark beams of wood running along the ceiling. She peered out the window, giving her a view of the street she'd just been stood on, a large patch of grass with a war memorial in its centre was directly opposite.
Voices echoed around the building as Teddy chased Sirius around the rooms upstairs, their footsteps thundering above their heads. Remus pointed to the ceiling. 'There are three bedrooms, a little smaller than ours but it's a starting point, right?'
Hermione frowned at the shrieking and laughter. 'Why do I get the feeling he's been in this house already?'
Remus' cheeks coloured a little, his eyes flicking to his wife for a moment.
'Do you like it?' Tonks moved around to face Hermione, rubbing at her bump as she did.
As if hearing Tonks' question, Sirius came clattering down the stairs and skidded into the room she was stood in with Teddy hot on his heels. 'Well?' he asked breathlessly, throwing his arms out as if to present the place to her.
Teddy bounced around Hermione, grabbing onto her hand as he did. 'Are you going to come live with us, Hermione?'
'It does seem perfect,' Hermione said, a smile creeping onto her lips.
Sirius let out a breath like he'd been holding it since he asked his question, clapping his hands to his chest with a smug grin to Remus. 'Good – I've already bought it.'
XXXXXX
Sirius was currently on the floor of the smallest room in the cottage, with a screwdriver in hand, three screws between his lips, frowning at the instructions on his crossed legs. There were three candles floating around him, moving as he did, to give him more light.
'Your sleep is worse here,' Hermione said quietly after she'd watched him for a moment.
'So is yours, love,' he replied around the screws. 'Therapy is working really well.'
'It's barely been a month, besides, I have a baby brewing, she likes to kick,' Hermione said, lifting her wand to create more candles in the room. 'This can wait … or use magic.'
'It's more satisfying this way,' Sirius said, taking the screws from his mouth.
'We have time,' she reiterated. 'But the boxes littered around the house, however, really need to be unpacked. We've been here two days and not touched one of the boxes.'
'What if I start an argument? That usually gets you going on the tidying front.' Sirius gave her a cheesy grin before returning to the task at hand, tapping the end of the screwdriver on his chin.
Hermione walked over to his side and knelt down by him, tucking her feet underneath her, and pulled the instructions off his lap. Sirius rubbed at his face, his eyes looked tired and red. With a sigh, Hermione closed the thin, paper booklet and looked at him for a while.
'Are we doing the right thing living together?' Hermione asked in a whisper.
'Is that what you're worrying about?' Sirius took hold of her hand, leaving it sitting on her lap, gripping it tightly. 'What's going on?'
Hermione gave him a wobbly smile. 'Eloise was a nice person and I don't want to get in the way of you finding someone – which would happen if we live together,' she explained, adding the latter quickly when Sirius had started to cut her off. 'People won't understand.'
Sirius held her gaze firmly, his eyes filled with affection, and slowly stood up, keeping firm hold of her hand. Hermione let him help her back to her feet, letting the instructions and her wand fall to the floor. He gently put his hands on her shoulders, close to her neck, with his thumbs resting on the bare skin above her pyjama top. She frowned a little when he moved forward, feeling her heartbeat in her throat as she realised what he was doing.
The kiss was barely a brushing if lips, which sent a thrill of excitement through her body. He leant his forehead on hers, closing his eyes before saying in a whisper, 'Just so we're clear, that's where I am.'
And then he stepped back, returning to building the cot.
'But you were right when' –he looked at the bump pointedly– 'she happened and you said we're not in a stable place for each other.' He pulled at the instructions by her feet, picking up the screwdriver. 'We need to make sure we're stable for her first.'
Hermione watched him start to screw two pieces of the cot together, a smile lingering on her lips. 'You actually listened to me?'
'I always listen to you.' He picked her wand up from the floor and handed it to Hermione. 'Make yourself useful if you're not going back to bed.' He pointed to the bookshelf that needed putting together.
Hermione turned her back on him before allowing herself a full smile. She didn't want to make Sirius smug at the fact she was thrilled with his words. Sometimes it was nice to know people actually listened. Or rather that he listened.
A New Life
Hermione lay on her bed, glaring at the bump. She couldn't even see her feet anymore. And she was two days over her due date.
Between her lack of comfort, her insomnia keeping a firm hold of her, and Sirius' nightmares, Hermione hadn't slept properly in days.
In days!
Even with Sirius never bothering going to his own bed anymore, which meant she didn't have to get up to check on him or join him, she couldn't bear him touching her to comfort her thanks to how uncomfortable she was.
She'd even gone on maternity leave earlier than intended after she'd accidentally made Kingsley grow hair down to his waist when he had the audacity to ask her how she was feeling. It wasn't as if she could focus on her work anymore.
Hermione sighed irritably. She'd come to bed to attempt an afternoon nap, but the minute she lay down she needed the loo. After the visit to the bathroom, the baby shifted and stuck a limb in her spine.
'Just like your father,' she muttered to the bump.
Sirius, who was currently sat on the other side of the bed, keeping her company, knitting a blanket (having had Molly teach him the previous month) glanced over at her. She resolutely kept her gaze on her belly.
'You know, glaring at her like that won't make her leave her home anytime soon,' Sirius said. She could hear the amusement in his voice and clenched her fist to prevent herself from slapping him.
'I wish it was possible.' She sighed again, rubbing her hand over the bump. Her skin was sore and firm.
When Sirius lay the knitted blanket over her bump, the needles still attached, Hermione actually growled at him, deep and low. He snatched it back with a loud laugh. 'Did you really do that?' he asked
'Be grateful it's all I did!'
A wolf Patronus came bounding into the room, echoing Remus' excited voice, 'Dora's having the baby!'
'No! She's not due for another week!' Hermione shouted at the dissipating Patronus.
Sirius put his knitting down and moved quickly to help Hermione off the bed. 'You never know, maybe she'll decide to arrive if you're already at St. Mungo's,' Sirius said gently, fear flashing through his eyes at her having hold of his hand while he said this. It was never a good idea to placate Hermione, at the moment.
The baby did not arrive with Samuel Henry Lupin.
The baby waited until Hermione had settled down in bed after they'd gotten home late, having spent the day at St Mungo's while Tonks was in labour, and decided that would be the perfect time to now arrive.
Sirius was sporting a black eye by the time they arrived back at the hospital.
Prompts for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (challenges & assignments)
Spring Funfair
- Cocktail Bar - Strawberry Daiquiri - Lime Juice - (emotion) Jealousy
- Dog Show - Dachshund (Hermione) - Movement/Gait - (dialogue) 'You must be new around here.'
- Leap Frog - (phrase) Wishful thinking
- Milkshake Bar - Flavour 3. Sirius Black
- Cherry Blossoms - 13. (scenario) Your main character has made the scandalous front page headliner of The Daily Prophet
- Levi-Kart (Hermione) - Howler Goblet - 2. Sullen
- Paint a Rainbow - Black 9. Insecure
- Tree Planting - Dogwood - 2. (genre) Humour
- Teddy Bears - Grapes - (action) Stomping a foot in temper
- Petting Zoo - Alpacas - (action) humming
- Bunny Races (Hermione) - Word Count: 6,871
- Spring Parade - Howl's Moving Castle - Castle Float - (plot point) Moving House
Spring Seasonal
- Days of the Year & Religious Events - 10th May - Write about someone who can't sleep
- Aquarium Month - 3. Hood/lid - Write about someone moving into a new home
- Crayon Day - 43. Almond
- Children's Book Day - 9. (dialogue) 'Will you ever grow up?'
- Spring Colours - 12. Iris
- Spring Flowers - 5. 'Failure isn't an option. Not in this.'
April Writing Club
- Written in the Stars - 19. (dialogue) 'You think I'm wrong, but I know I'm right.'
- Book Club - Serena Joy - (colour) Blue, (action) Frowning, (action) knitting
- Elizabeth's Empire - 29. (object) Candle
- The Forecast Says... 29th Cleaning
- EnTitled - 5. (item) candle
Fortnightlies
- Switch Off - 11. (plot point) Write about someone putting together furniture
Spring Quarterly
- Customs Check - (trope) Sharing a bed, (object) Candle, (dialogue) 'I wish it was possible.'
Yearly
- 365 - 212. (weather) Cloudy
- Fantastic Beasts - 178. Swooping Evil - (scenario) Trying to forget bad memories