By Xanthia Morgan
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"Dakin," Grimmel called from the front counter. "Can you help these ladies, please?" Dakin grumbled and wiped his hands. Grimmel's voice continued on "As you well know, ladies, I have to crush and bottle these leaves immediately or they won't work properly. Ah, here's Dakin. He'll set you right."
Dakin parted the curtain that separated the back mixing room from the shop proper and stepped up to the counter. "Whaddya need?" he asked gruffly, looking up. Molly Weasley, a frequent customer, stood in front of him. Dakin could see the shadow of another woman behind her, perusing the various dried herbs that were laid out in front of the shop's large sunny, window. "Two pinches of moth's wing dust. That was right, wasn't it, Glynnis? I can't find the letter from Ron."
The woman stepped out of the bright sunlight toward the counter. Dakin's jaw dropped. It was her! He was sure of it! He quickly shut his mouth before anyone could notice his discomfiture. The woman Mrs. Weasley had called 'Glynnis' fished a piece of parchment out of her pocket.
"I've got Harry's note right here, Molly," she said. "Yes, that's it. Two pinches of moth's wing dust."
"Two packages of those, please," Mrs. Weasley said, nodding toward Dakin. "And a package of gutter leaf tea."
Grimmel looked up from where he was crushing hemlock leaves. "Not again, Mrs. Weasley?" he asked with a grin.
Molly Weasley blushed. "Oh, dear, no! It's not for me, Mr. Grimmel, it's for a friend."
Glynnis made a face. "Gutter leaf tea?"
Molly laughed. "I'll explain later," she said. "Oh! Where are my manners today? Glynnis, I'd like to introduce you to the apothecary, Mr. Grimmel. Mr. Grimmel, my friend, Miss Babcock."
"A pleasure, madame. Please forgive my not shaking you hand but I sincerely doubt you want hemlock all over you." He chuckled as if he'd made a great joke.
Dakin ignored their pleasantries, his mind working furiously as he spooned up the moth's wing dust as slowly as he could. His invisibility cloak was in the back room. He had to follow her, it might be his only chance. Only how would he explain it Grimmel? As much as he hated this place, he needed the money he was paid. As he packed up the dust, he knew he'd simply have to leave. Grimmel liked him well enough, he figured he could get away with something like this and not pay too dearly. He'd think of some excuse like a forgotten appointment or something. He wrapped up the gutter leaf tea as well and put all three parcels together on the counter.
"That's four sickles and three knuts," he mumbled to the women.
"Oh, my! So expensive!"
"It's the moth's wing dust, I'm afraid," said Grimmel by way of an apology. "Wrong time of the year for local moths, so the dust has to come in from Spain."
"Oh, yes, I hadn't thought of that. Well, here you are, young man. Thank you." Mrs. Weasley handed the money to Dakin who deposited it into the cash box and disappeared back behind the curtain. "Good-day to you, Mr. Grimmel."
"And to you, Mrs. Weasley. Pleasure meeting you, Miss Babcock. Enjoy the rest of your shopping!"
The shop bell rang again as the two women walked back onto Diagon Alley.
"Mr. Grimmel is very nice," remarked Glynnis, putting her parcel of dust in her handbag.
"Oh, yes, he is!" Molly agreed. "I can't imagine why he hired that rude shop boy, though. I dare say, he's an improvement over that Goyle boy, but still. Those eyes of his make me nervous."
Glynnis shuddered. The stick-thin young man with the murky brown eyes made her uneasy, too. Something about him seemed vaguely familiar but she knew she'd never seen him before. Still, she couldn't dismiss the feeling.
"Glynnis? Are you still with me, dear?"
Glynnis looked at Molly Weasley who was smiling fondly at her. "What? Oh, Molly! I'm sorry, I got thinking about that shop boy. He makes me nervous, too. I can't help but think I know him from somewhere but that's impossible. Especially considering he's American. I know I'd remember meeting him."
"Well, we're out of there now," Molly said. "Now, you've seen just about everything Diagon Alley has to offer. To think you've never been here before. Anything you'd like to see and haven't? I'm enjoying playing tour guide!"
Glynnis laughed. "Harry said I shouldn't miss Fortescue's."
Molly Weasley led Glynnis down the Alley toward the ice cream parlor, pointing out interesting things or people they passed. When at last they were seated at a sunny table with their sundaes, she pushed the package of tea across the table to Glynnis. "Here you are dear."
Glynnis looked at her, puzzled. "What's this for?"
"It's gutter leaf tea," Molly replied. She laughed at Glynnis' expression. "I know, it's a terrible name, but it'll help. I couldn't have managed without it."
Glynnis smiled. "I'm not sure I follow you, Molly. Help with what?" Molly Weasley gave Glynnis a knowing smile. "Morning sickness, Glynnis dear.""
Glynnis just stared. She realized after a moment she must look like a fish with her mouth hanging open so she snapped it shut. "How. . . ?" she managed. Molly leaned over and patted Glynnis' hand reassuringly. "A woman just knows. I've seen my sisters in the family way often enough to know the look, not to mention how many times I've seen it in my own eyes. Have you told Mr. B yet?" It had been agreed upon by everyone close to the little family that Sirius would be referred to in public only as Mr. B.
"No. He won't be home until tonight. And I only just found out myself." Glynnis grinned in spite of her shock. "It is rather nice that someone knows. I've been bursting to tell, but didn't want to spill it until I'd told Sir. . . Mr. B. It was quite a shock when Attivus told me. I didn't think I could have any more children. Oh, Molly! I'm so excited! I still can't believe it's true!"
Molly smiled happily at her friend's tearful face and handed her a handkerchief. The two talked cheerfully for a time about babies and pregnancy while finishing their ice cream. When it came time for them to leave for the Leaky Cauldron and home, neither of them noticed the cloaked figure that followed.
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Glynnis stared down at the brightly lit table and clenched her hands tightly together. She'd had to wait two days to tell Sirius the news, and now she was beside herself with nerves. She'd originally thought to have their dinner in the larger dining room, rather than the kitchen, and had even gone so far as to set the table in there. Then she decided she'd rather break the news to him in the cozy kitchen where they'd first shared a meal. So she'd laid out her grandmother's heirloom china and set the table with silver and glowing candles. A bottle of French champagne stood chilling to one side and the smell of roast beef and herbed potatoes filled the house. She checked the clock again. 6:30. Sirius' last owl had said he'd be home by seven. Glynnis rearranged the flowers for what must have been the tenth time, she realized with a laugh. "This is ridiculous, Glynnis. Just sit down and wait for him," she said aloud. So she settled into the large chair by the kitchen fire and closed her eyes, willing herself to be calm.
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Dakin stood shrouded in the darkness of the trees and watched through the cottage windows as Glynnis set the table and prepared dinner. He knew that he could easily question the woman as to Black's whereabouts. An owl arrival, however, prompted him to wait. Something told him that if he was patient, he'd find what he was looking for.
"Ah, a special occasion?" he remarked quietly to himself as she pulled the china out of the dining room closet. "And a table set for two. How charming." He'd been rooted in this spot for several hours, waiting. The women had been hard to find once they left the store. It was pure luck he'd spotted them leaving the ice cream parlor when he did. Neither woman had realized he was following them. Glynnis, seemed to sense something was wrong and kept looking over her shoulder on the way to her home but she'd not seen him. Now all he had to do was wait.
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Sirius' apparated into the parlor. It was the best place to appear as it was rarely used, and it had the least number of windows of any room in the house. He stretched and inhaled deeply. The rich scent of cooking food made his stomach growl. "Bless you, Glynnie," he thought. "You've made a home I can't wait to come back to." And he thought of how considerate she was to have dinner waiting for him, even when he came in very late. Years of deprivation ensured that he was almost always hungry, but thanks to regular meals and Glynnis' cooking he was quickly gaining back the weight he'd shed in captivity and exile. He smiled wolfishly as he remembered how Glynnis had delighted in the feel of the extra padding under her hands. "It's nice that you've filled out, Rover. I was beginning to think very macabre thoughts what with making love to a skeleton night after night." To which he responded by pointing out all the places where she was deliciously filled out, mostly with his mouth. Just the thought of it had him tingling with desire and with that happy thought, he went in search of his wife.
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Dakin watched the sun slowly set and pulled his cloak tighter around him as dusk fell. "Something better happen soon," he muttered, "or I'm . . ." His thoughts were interrupted by something stirring inside the house, away from where the woman slept in the kitchen. He crept closer and peered in through the parlor window. A wizard had apparated into the room. It didn't look like Black. Although, he admitted to himself, the pictures he'd seen of Black had all been from his time in Azkaban. Could he have changed that much since his escape? Dakin couldn't be sure. He moved closer to the kitchen.
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Sirius walked into the kitchen and smiled at what he saw. Glynnis had fallen asleep in the fireplace chair, the glow of the flames turning her skin golden. He kneeled next to her and kissed her softly. Glynnis came awake slowly, smiling when she saw him. He kissed her again. "Hello," he whispered against her lips.
"Hello yourself," she whispered back and claimed his mouth again. He lifted her in his arms so she stood close against him. "Dinner's ready," she said after breaking off the sweet kiss, "if you want to get cleaned up. I made your favorite. Roast beef and mashed potatoes."
Sirius held her closer and nuzzled her neck. "Maybe we could eat later."
Glynnis shoved at him playfully. "Not on your life, Rover. I'm hungry. Besides, you've smelled better. Where were you this time?"
"Romania. I looked up Charlie Weasley. He's going to contact some people he knows around that area."
Glynnis frowned. "I thought he already was. I mean, Arthur Weasley and Bill are pretty deeply involved in this."
Sirius nodded. "That they are. However, I wasn't talking about recruiting with Charlie. I was seeing if he knew any Animagi who could transform into dragons."
She gasped. "You can't be serious! Can that be done?"
Sirius shrugged. "There are rumors. I'll wash up. Unlike me, dinner smells terrific." Glynnis continued to shake her head in disbelief as she put dinner on the table. Dragon Animagi. That was a thought. And what a powerful weapon. She still had a hard time believing all of the things she'd learned in the past few months, even though she should have been prepared what with all that Hermione had told her over the years. Still, hearing about it was one thing, living it was another. She was still musing when her husband returned to the kitchen.
"Everything looks beautiful, Glynnie. Special occasion? Or did you just miss me?" His smile melted her. She could only stare at him and smile back. "Hmm? Oh, both, I guess," she said after a moment. "Shall we?"
Sirius sat down and pulled out the chilled bottle. He perused the vintage and raised an eyebrow at her in question. "Champagne?"
Glynnis simply smiled innocently and shrugged as he poured for them both. "I felt like something special."
Glynnis barely heard anything Sirius said during the meal, she was so nervous and excited. She picked at her food and sipped her wine and smiled at what surely must have been odd moments. Finally, she couldn't wait any longer. Sirius had been going on about several of the dragons he encountered with Charlie Weasley, and how he'd been knocked over by one's tail and tipped into a large pile of dragon dung, which is why he smelled so peculiar when he got home. "Not that it smelled bad," he was saying, "it was just..."
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Dakin took in the tender scene unfold with a twisted smile. "Awww," he thought derisively, "how sweet. It's enough to make anyone gag." He saw them talking, but couldn't quite hear what was being said, so he took out his wand and tapped the wall near the window. "Vox amplificatus" Dakin mouthed. Instantly, the voices inside became as clear as if they were standing next to him.
". . .Animagi who could transform into dragons," the unknown wizard was saying. Dakin nearly jumped. Dragon Animagi! Impossible! And from the woman's reaction, she thought so too. He mulled this over as he waited for the man to resume the conversation. It was a moment before he peeked in the window and realized that the wizard had left the room. Dakin almost panicked, then saw the man return, clean shaven and washed. "Washing up before dinner? How genteel," he mused in a whisper. They sat down and began to talk and Dakin filed away certain bits of information as he eavesdropped. The woman's name was Glynnis. The man knew a wizard named Charlie Weasley who was in Romania and had something to do with dragons. Dragon Animagi were only rumored to exist, but this Weasley was going to investigate further. And, it was all he could do not to laugh, this wizard had been knocked on his face into a pile of dragon dung!
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"I went to see Attivus today."
Sirius slowly put down his knife and fork. "And what did he say?" he asked softly, his heart in his throat. He'd been so worried these past few weeks. He was terrified at what the doctor might tell them. To his horror, Glynnis put her head in her hands and her shoulders began to shake. Instantly, he was on his knees beside her. "Glynnis! Oh, God. Glynnis, what did he say? Oh, don't cry, please! Tell me, Glynnie, please just tell me!" She raised her head from where she'd put it on his shoulder and he could see the tears streaming down her face. He blinked, for despite the tears she had a huge smile on her face. "Glynnie. What's wrong?"
Glynnis stared into his loving, worried face and wiped her tears. "I'm sorry. It's just so... I can't help it. Oh, Sirius! I'm... we're... I'm pregnant."
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"Sirius," she'd said. Dakin wanted to crow in triumph. He'd found Sirius Black! And his woman was pregnant. Dakin could have jumped for joy. It was more than he could've asked for. Whateer he wanted from Black, he would certainly get it now. It was obvious that Black cared for this woman. And because of that, he'd placed himself right into his hands. "He'll do anything I ask of him," Dakin mused to himself with malicious glee. And with that thought, Dakin crept away from the house, and slunk back to Diagon Alley.
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Sirius stared at her. "What?" he asked stupidly, as if she'd just said something in a foreign language.
She laughed. "That's exactly what I said to Attivus! I imagine I had quite the same look on my face as well. Oh, Sirius! I can't believe it myself. I'm pregnant. Attivus said it was all the magic. It somehow healed me. I mean, I somehow healed myself. I know I said I couldn't have children and it's very confusing but it's wonderful! I'm a bit floored myself, still, and I can't help but think it's all a dream but Attivus was very certain and all the feelings of being sick and being tired all the time are just from. . ." Glynnis' breathless explanation was cut short as Sirius grabbed her up in his arms.
"YES!" he whooped. Sirius spun her around in a dance of joy, lifting her off her feet and yelling with glee.
"Sirius!" Glynnis laughed, "you're making me dizzy!"
Sirius stood her back on her feet and took her face in his hands. He studied her shining features, the glowing skin, the sparkling eyes, and he could picture a little girl who was the image of her beautiful mother. His heart swelled. "A baby," he whispered. She nodded. His hands moved down to grasp her hips and he rested his thumbs on her lower abdomen. "A baby," he repeated, his eyes meeting hers.
Glynnis nodded again. "Our baby," she said softly. Her voice caught as she saw the moisture shine in Sirius' eyes.
He smiled brightly at her, several tears spilling onto his cheeks. "Our miracle," he said. And then he kissed her.
Glynnis melted into him, all the tension and worry about his reaction dissolving at his touch. She could feel the joy and the passion in him and she returned it in full. Her arms went around his neck and she pulled him as close to her body as she could. Sirius drank in her sweet taste, his thoughts swirling. As pictured her ripe figure growing round with his child, he felt a rush of pure, male pride fuel his already aroused passions and he groaned into her mouth. *I want you* he sent. Glynnis heard the thought and opened her mouth more fully to him, moaning deep in her throat.
A surge of sparks shot down her spine and ignited the fire at her center. *I'm yours* she replied, sending along with her spoken thought all the desire she felt for him.