Disclaimer: see previous chapters. It's a tad long, this chapter. I sort of didn't want it to end, you know, avoid the inevitable as much as I could. Oh well :)
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"Ugh, remind me to never try on clothes again as long as I live." Lily complained, throwing off yet another garment that was not to her liking.
"Oh shut up Lily." Diana spat. "At least you fit into these things."
"Hardly. I swear I was a size four yesterday."
"Maybe you're getting your period." Nicole said.
"That would make sense." Diana said. "Oh my god…….."
"What?" Lily asked.
"I look like Buddha." She said, rubbing her stomach.
Lily laughed. "No you don't." She walked out of her dressing room and pulled away the curtain to Diana's.
"Hey!" she screeched. "Privacy."
"Nic, come here." Lily said, still in her bra. Nicole followed her in, wearing not much else. "Now, make a wish." Lily said, rubbing Diana's belly, which she found incredibly irritating.
"Oh great, lets all have a party in my dressing room. Go ahead, point and laugh." Diana said.
"Oh, it's not bad at all." Nicole said. "You're pregnant. Its like there is a little present inside just waiting to come out."
"That's poetic." Diana said, chuckling. "But look though, I am huge. I've never been this big."
"It's not that bad, Di." Lily said. "Really, you're not that pregnant."
"So I've always had a Buddha gut?" she said panicking.
"Oh stop complaining. That's all I'm hearing lately is yap, yap, yap, I hate my life, Sirius is a prick, being pregnant sucks, blah, blah, blah." Nicole said, growing annoyed.
"I never said I hated my life." Diana said. "And shut up. You try being pregnant and how you look at Remus. We'll see how chipper you are about it then." She said. Nicole looked at her crossly, and then silently went back to her dressing room. "What did I say?" she asked Lily. Then it hit her. She knew full well Nicole's body was incapable of bearing a child, let alone Remus' child.
"Oh Nic, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it." Diana called, walking out of her room and into hers. Nicole didn't answer her. "Really, you know I'm horrid lately. I really didn't mean it, honey. Oh please don't be mad at me."
"She didn't say it on purpose." Lily said.
"No, you're absolutely right." Nicole said, pushing back the curtain. "Who am I to talk of children? I'm never going to be a mother."
Lily and Diana were silent for a minute, trying to decide what to say.
"You can always adopt, Nicky." Lily said.
"Oh yea." She chuckled. "Who's going to give a child to a Mudblood and a werewolf? That'll go really well with the Ministry, oh and an unmarried couple too."
"Well I'm sure Dumbledore—" Diana began.
"Is Dumbledore Minister of Magic?" Nicole asked rhetorically. "And even so, we would have to raise it in secret and go into hiding. Do you think I want a child to be raised like that? I would never."
"Well, I don't know what to say to you then Nic." Lily said.
"I don't want you to say anything." She answered.
"You can baby-sit mine whenever you want." Diana said, cracking a smile. "I'll bring it over all the time, I promise."
Nicole smiled back. "I know."
"And I'll let you spoil it to death." Diana said.
"Well, alright. Although I did plan to anyway." Nicole said.
They tried on clothes for another few minutes. Diana was simply looking and judging Lily and Nicole. She wasn't ready to try her own yet.
"I was thinking about names last night." She blurted out of nowhere.
"Didn't we talk about this yesterday?" Lily asked, tossing another article of clothing aside.
"Yea, but last night I was thinking about it." Diana said. "I became rather attached to the name Aurora."
"That's pretty." Nicole said. "Aurora Black. Has a nice ring to it."
"And what about if it's a boy?" Lily asked.
"Yea, that one's harder. I liked the name Michael, but everyone has it."
"Eh, yea. What do you think Lily?" Nicole asked.
"Whatever you want, really." She responded. "I always liked the name Tom, after my dad, or you could do Mark after yours."
"That's true. I don't know. What do you think of Harry?" Diana asked.
"Harry Black? No, I don't like the way it sounds." Nicole said.
"It's a good name though." Lily said. "That's James' dad's name."
"Oh right." Diana said. "Screw that then."
"What's Sirius father's name?" Nicole asked. Diana laughed.
"Sirius would never name his child after anyone in his family, you know that." Diana said. "I like Serena too."
"Oh, I love that name." Nicole said, gushingly. Diana laughed.
"Well, how are we doing in here ladies?" Madame Malkin asked. She was the owner of Madame Malkin's Robes For All Occasions, which is where they were trying on clothes.
"I was wondering if you had a large paper bag, or perhaps a tent I could fit into." Diana joked. Madame Malkin rolled her eyes playfully, and then laughed.
"Oh, you have nothing to worry about dear." She said, fondly. "You're just carrying a little bundle of joy. Expecting mothers come in here all the time. You don't have to hide it, embrace it. Motherhood is a beautiful thing."
"But I don't want to be fat." Diana said. Madame Malkin laughed again, thinking she was joking.
"I think I have something that you can wear." She said, and disappeared into the back room.
"You guys find anything?" Diana asked, with her hands on her hips. "We've spent almost two hours in here already."
"I still have this." Nicole said, pulling a light blue dress robe from behind the pile.
"Oh, Nic, that's gorgeous." Diana said, touching it. "Is this cashmere?"
Nicole looked at the tag. "100%."
"Blimey." Diana said. "How much?"
"Too much." Nicole said, sighing.
"Just buy it." Lily said. "Did you at least try it on?"
"I'm afraid to."
"Why?" Diana asked.
"I'm afraid I'll fall I love with it. And where on earth would I wear this? It's impractical."
"Oh I know." Diana said. "Wear it to the Ministry Ball next month."
"What Ministry Ball?" Lily asked.
"The Ministry is having some sort of gala on July 31. It's a new thing, and completely pointless in my opinion." Nicole said. "Just a bunch of drunk Ministry officials schmoosing and pretending to like each other."
"Just like Christmas." Lily joked.
"Except there's no grab bag in this one." Diana said, sounding disappointed. "Oh Nic, just try it. It's lovely and it's the perfect colour for you."
"Oh alright. But no guarantees."
Nicole came out and it was everything they had thought it would be. Her hair glowed and it hugged every inch of her body that flattered her. She even twirled she loved it so much.
"Oh, I can't." Nicole said, looking herself up and down in the mirror.
"Oh, that is magnificent, dearie." Madame Malkin said, entering the dressing wing again. She hung up a string of clothes for Diana, maternity clothes, and continued to compliment Nicole. "Brilliant—perfect colour too—flatters you beautifully—absolutely stunning—"
"Nicole, you're buying it." Lily said, falling in love with it herself.
"Um…….well……" she said, looking at the price again and wincing. "Oh alright." She said, giving in.
"Remus'll love it." Lily said.
"Remus'll kill me." She said.
"He'll thank us." Diana said.
"After he regains consciousness." Lily said.
"Ok, Diana, now you." Nicole said, putting the dress robe back on the hanger.
"No." She whined. "I can't do this. I don't want to do it."
"You said yourself you had to." Lily said, crossing her arms. "Remember. You don't want to make two trips. Sirius—"
"Fine." She said.
After about twenty minutes Diana was sweating and about to cry. She had tried on scores of garments: casual, dressy, none of it worked.
"I swear to god, as soon as this baby comes I am buying my fat ass a treadmill." She complained.
"A what, dear?" Madame Malkin asked.
"Don't ask." Lily and Nicole said at once.
"Honestly Diana, they don't look horrible. That red one suited you nicely I thought." Nicole said.
"I hate being pregnant." She sneered.
"Shh, it might hear you." Nicole said. Diana glared at her. "Well, you never know."
"Diana, stop it." Lily said. "I can't take it anymore. You are acting impossible. How on earth does Sirius put up with you?" she said, exasperatedly.
"Alcohol and Vicodin." She said, tugging at her hair. Nicole looked at Lily.
"She's kidding right?" Nicole whispered.
"Of course I'm kidding. Jesus." Diana said, straitening up.
"Well we never really know." Lily said, honestly.
"Very funny. Seriously. But you're both right, I treat the man like shit, you all say so."
"Stop it. I treat James like shit." Lily said, laughing.
"Well, James deserves it." Diana said.
"True." Lily said, nodding.
"You don't treat him like shit. Well, maybe you're a bit shirty with him sometimes, but we're all like that." Nicole said.
"Maybe." Diana said. "But, it's like everything…..I don't know……I mean, last night, it was strange. He's just so sweet, and he loves me so much. And he wants this baby so badly and I told him the truth—"
"You did?" Nicole asked. "Oh, honey I'm so proud of you."
"Yes, well, it didn't really help. I'm a little calmer about this. I have accepted it. I even sort of want it now. But I always have to worry, always look twice over my shoulder, wonder, wait…….And I feel bad, you know."
"Why?" Nicole asked.
"Because I ruined his life and our future. He would have been better off with anyone other than me and……I just love him so much that it hurts me to even look at him, knowing that I'm lying, deceiving him so. He thinks I don't care, thinks I'm mean. Maybe I am mean."
"I don't think that's what it is Diana." Lily said. "I think that you're scared."
"I am not scared."
"Lily's right." Nicole said. "You're scared that if you publicly expressed how much you actually care that he'll be hurt in some way. I don't even think you realize you're doing it. You have never allowed yourself to get close to a man your entire life, and I don't mean sexually. He's the only man you have ever loved and you think that if you don't act like it, then he's safe."
"Holy cricket, you really think that?" Diana asked.
"It makes sense, doesn't it?" Nicole said.
"You are so good at this." Lily said, looking at Nicole in awe.
Diana chuckled. "She certainly is. God, our lives are so depressing."
"Yes my darling, but like sands through the hourglass…….these…… Lily started dramatically.
"Are the Days of Our Lives……" the three said together, before breaking out on a fit of laughter.
"It's fuckin' true." Diana said.
"Alright, back to business. Diana, what are you buying?" Lily said.
"I don't know—"
"Then I'll do it for you." Lily said. "This red one, which is stunning, the black one, which is slimming, and the violet one, which brings out your hair and your eyes. We set then?"
"I suppose." Diana said reluctantly. "Mum…."
"Look at it this way. When you are thin again you can have them altered to fit you." Nicole said.
"Let's pay already. I am getting claustrophobic in here." Diana said.
"Well that's understandable. You take up most of the store." Lily joked.
"Wow…..cruel……I love you Lily do you know that?"
"Yes, babe." Lily said, kissing her forehead.
"And Nicky, I love you too. You two are the best friends a fucked up bitch could have."
"Is this the mood swing part?" Nicole asked Lily.
"I hope so." Lily said. "But now to Muggle London. I need air."
"Fabulous." Nicole said, and they all exited the store.
~*~ (A/N: Readers, forgive me for what I am about to do to my poor men…..*crosses heart* )
"HAHHAHAHAHA!!!……..You're funny, Padfoot, you know that, you're really, really funny." James said, in between breaths.
"Why thank you, mate. You know I've always believed that laughter……uh…..makes the world go round." Sirius said, radically.
"I thought that was money." James said.
"That is beautiful. And do you know why?" Remus asked. "Because without it, the world would stop spinning and then we'd all die……"
"That would suck." James said gravely.
"I know!" Remus said.
"So, it's our duty to laugh then." Sirius said. "Because if we don't, then the world will explode or something……..and then we'd be stuck in the middle of the universe with nothing to do! We'd be so bored that we would resort to singing show tunes from West Side Story and jerking off to constellations!" he squeaked, as if predicting the apocalypse.
"Maria….." James began singing.
"I just met a girl named Maria." Remus finished, even louder, and even more off key.
"Yes! And that's how it'll be, until we all die." Sirius said, slamming his hand down on his knee.
"Maria was a sexy tart." James said.
"She was." Remus said. "So wait, if we're stuck in the middle of the universe with nothing, what will we do for food?"
"FOOD!" James and Sirius said together and jumped up and ran in the house.
"Oh my God Moony, what a brilliant idea!" James shouted.
They came back with about ten sandwiches and two bottles of wine. For the next five minutes all they did was eat, not having time between bites to actually say anything.
"You know what Padfoot?" James asked.
"Mm." Sirius grunted. "Man, this is the best sandwich ever…."
"You have a really nice backyard." James said, looking all around.
"Thanks." Sirius said, sounding truly touched.
"Yea it's like, really nice landscaping." Remus said. "Not big really, but nice. I like the lawn…..very….green."
"Have you ever thought about getting a barbecue?" James asked. "I would love a steak right now."
"With barbecue sauce." Remus said.
"Awwww." James said, pulling out a cigarette, lighting it, and then passing it around.
"I like mustard too." Sirius said. Then they all sat there, contemplating it.
"You know what I was thinking?" James said out of nowhere. "We are so fucked up it's not even funny."
"I feel that." Sirius said, pretending to toast.
"So much stress." Remus said.
"True." Sirius said, nodding his head.
"So how is the fucked up bitch?" James asked Sirius.
"Fucked up and bitchy." Sirius answered, and starting to laugh.
"Nice." James said, laughing. "It's sad, you know. Women…."
"Ugh…. minions of the devil." Sirius said.
"Sent to torture all mankind." Remus finished. "How, I don't know."
"It's the knockers mate. Does it every time." Sirius said.
"Oh yea." James said. "The ass too."
"Damn right." Sirius said. "There's nothing like a nice ass."
"And legs…" Remus said.
"Oh that's right Moony, you're a leg man." Sirius said. "Well, Nic's got 'em, nice ones too."
"Thanks." He said, nodding his head.
"Yes, because you had everything to do with them." James said.
"I did. She takes care of them, cause of me."
"You don't screw with women though." James said. "Whether nice tits, ass, or legs."
"No you don't. See that's the thing Prongs." Sirius started. "You made the very tragic mistake of screwing over your wife. You just don't do it."
"True." James said. "I fucked a whole lot of shit up." He said, before he burped.
"Isn't it the fact that you didn't screw your wife?" Remus said. James glared at him. "Sorry, I'm just thinking out loud."
"But still, she's a sight, right. I'm gonna admit that. Hot girls you don't fuck around with, especially redheads. It's like all their anger built up in their hair and shit. It's fucking lethal." Sirius said.
"I know! But, seriously I didn't know what I was doin'. Narcissa is a beauty right? Could you blame me?"
"Whoa, ew, for one thing." Sirius said. "And two, you knew she was a head case, stalkerish freak of nature. Clingy as all hell. I swear, she is a disgrace to Lily mate. Big, big mistake. You just, shouldn't have gone there."
"You don't think I know that? But it's all good, as long as she doesn't find out." He said, taking a sip of his drink.
"Bloke, are you sure about that?" Sirius asked.
"Yea. If she found out, don't you think she would have brought it up by now? And she'd be mad as all hell. I have a headache just thinking about it."
"Don't you think you should tell her?" Remus asked.
"Uh, no." James said. "Why would I want to do that?"
"So she knows you're man enough to tell the truth….maybe, I dunno." Remus said.
"That's bullshit." James said. "Hopefully, in time, she'll forget all about it."
"But you'll still feel guilt." Sirius said. "Until you tell her. You even told me that you couldn't look at her without feelin' it. You gotta tell her."
"Alright, but not today."
"Whatever, it's your conscience." Sirius said. "And FYI, you can tell someone is lying to you by their lack of eye contact."
"Get off." James said.
"Way. Mrs. Black lied to me today and I fucking knew." Sirius said. "Shame really, that it doesn't sink in when I tell her shit." He said, taking a swig of the bottle and stuffing another piece of the sandwich in his mouth.
"Like?" Remus asked.
"Like when I tell her she can tell me anything and that no matter what I'll always be there, blah, blah, blah…….she loves me, I know that, but she does a really shitty job showing it sometimes. It's just lately really, this whole baby thing. She's worried, I'm worried, we're all worried. She's flipping out, and I can't blame her. She's got a lot of weight on her shoulders, and on her hips for that matter……..and if I don't get laid soon--"
"Shit, she's pregnant mate!" Remus said. "Do you really expect her to spread her legs when she has another human being inside her?"
"Don't give me that. The least she could do is get on her knees and put her mouth on my bollocks—"
"You have absolutely no respect for the sanctity of motherhood, you wank-shaft." Remus. "It's pathetic really."
"But she's impossible. I love her, but she's making my life miserable!"
"Yea mate, mus' be hard, married to someone like that." James said. "Don't get me wrong, I love the girl to death, I mean, she's family, and she's a trip, but you have to admit she is sort of a liability."
"No woman is a liability." Remus said. "You shouldn't say that." He said, clearing his throat.
"And last night, she was all like, cryin' and shit. Made me feel really bad. She said I was married to catastrophe."
"Damn. Morbid." Remus said.
"Wow. Good thing you've got those painkillers." James said.
"Right." Sirius laughed. "Whatever. I don't want to talk about this."
"We don't have to. We already waste time on it when we're sober." James said.
"Amen to that." Remus said.
"We need music." James said. "What've you got?"
"I'm not getting up." Sirius said.
"Ugh, fine." James said. "Where is it?" he asked, reluctantly getting up from his chair and sliding open the door.
"Right when you walk in, mate. Did you forget?" he chuckled.
"Shut up." James said, rubbing his eyes. He flicked on the light switch. "Shit it is bright in here!" Remus burst out laughing. "Ok, let's see here…." He said, flipping through the records. "We've got some Barry, some Beatles, Frank and Jimmy—"
"Jimmy." Sirius and Remus said together.
"Yeah." James said, and did so.
The song started with the hard, heavy metal guitar in the background. Sirius put his head back and just listened, his hands doing the strum of the guitar, every note in sync with the movement of his fingers.
"PURPLE HAZE ALL IN MY BRAIN
LATELY THINGS DON'T SEEM THE SAME" James started to sing. He sat back down on the chair outside, and
lit another cigarette. Remus started to
tap his foot on the ground.
"ACTIN' FUNNY BUT I DON'T KNOW WHY
'SCUSE ME WHILE I KISS THE SKY." Sirius joined in. "Prongs, pass it." he said, and James handed him his
cigarette. He took one long puff, and then passed it to Remus.
"PURPLE HAZE ALL AROUND
DON'T KNOW IF I'M COMIN' UP OR DOWN." Remus belted out at full volume.
"AM I HAPPY OR IN MISERY?" Sirius screamed expressively.
"WHATEVER IT IS, THAT GIRL PUT A SPELL ON ME." All three shouted at once, and then broke out laughing.
"Oh man…." James said.
"Just like the good 'ole days." Remus said.
"Fuckin A man, this shit is good." Sirius said in between giggles. "I want a woman."
"How animal of you." Remus said.
"Think the wives are back yet?" James asked, looking at his watch. "Holy shit!"
What, what!" Sirius yelled.
"It's five o'clock!"
"Seriously?" Remus said, trying to focus his eyes on his own watch. It wasn't working.
"Damn it, we've got to go." James said.
"Ugh, I can't even see strait." Sirius said, rubbing his eyes. Then he stood up and almost tumbled backwards. James and Remus started laughing. "Think it's funny, do you? Let's see you two do it."
They did, but with just as much difficulty. They stretched a bit and shut off the record player in the house. They decided to walk the whole five blocks to the Leaky Cauldron, hurrying, yet taking their time. They walked in and tried to exert some manners and stability in their actions.
"Good they're not here." James said, glancing around.
"What'll it be boys?" Tom called from the bar.
"Water." They all said.
"Look, there they are now. Oh, they look tired." Remus said.
"Look at them, they're knackered." Lily said walking in. She was wearing a new outfit she had bought in Muggle London.
"Why? They did nothing all day, well, as far as we know." Nicole said.
"My feet are killing me." Diana said.
"Really? I don't think you told us that enough." Lily said.
"You hungry?" Nicole asked, to no one in particular.
"I could eat." Lily said. The three women walked over to the table their men were sitting at.
"Hey!" the three men said, trying to sound as cheerful as possible. The women looked at them, then each other, and started laughing so hard they dropped their shopping bags.
"What?" James asked when the ladies' laughter had ceased and they sat down next to their respective mates.
"Nothing." Lily said, shaking her head at them.
"You look pretty." James said, sounding like a child. "Is that new?"
"No. I scammed it off of this woman walking down the street. Suits me nicely, don't you think?" she said, looking at it.
"You look sexy." James said. "Used or not."
"Good, just the reaction I wanted." She said. Then she leaned in closer. "You should see what I'm wearing under it."
"Check please." James said, looking up. She slapped him on the shoulder.
"Patience, James, patience." She said, while scanning the drink menu. It was dinnertime so the menus were out and placed on every table. "I bought you a present."
"Did you? Wow honey, that was nice." James said.
Lily reached down and pulled a clear box out of her shopping bag. Inside was a dark red dress shirt.
"Isn't it fab, darling?" lily said. "I saw it and thought of you. It is the most fabulous shirt I have ever seen and it would look so fine on the sexiest man alive. But I bought it for you instead." She said.
"Ha, ha. Thank you baby, I love it." he said, giving her a quick kiss on the mouth. "I will think of you every time I wear it."
"Good. Hopefully it'll prevent you from doing anything you might regret." She said, and gave him a sly wink. He laughed nervously at her comment. No guilt tonight, he thought. Nope, she looks too good tonight.
"Hi honey." Diana said, and kissed him on the cheek sweetly.
"Hi babe." He said, exaggerating his enthusiasm. She giggled at him. "So, you didn't buy a tent? Pity, we could have used one."
"No, they didn't have any in my size, unfortunately." She said, petting his hair tenderly. He noticed this.
"Does this mean you missed me?" Sirius asked, before blowing a raspberry on her neck.
"What the—" she said, startled by his behaviour.
"What? You just have such a tasty neck." He said, thinking that was an adequate response. He continued to kiss her, and after a few seconds it started to feel very good.
"Sirius?" she giggled. "Sirius, stop……stop, people are looking." She said, pointing to a couple, married she figured, staring at their table with impolite interest. "What will they think? You kissing a pregnant, frumpy looking woman."
"I am a man, who thinks his wife is a vision of loveliness, and I just want to show her, that's all. You are not frumpy." He said, looking displeased. "And I don't give a shit what those spinsters think."
"Vision of loveliness?" she said, looking into his eyes. Then she noticed something about them, something that made her irritated, but made her crack up just the same. "Oh my god." She said.
"What?" he said, nervously.
She grabbed his chin and forced his face closer. She stared deeper into his eyes. "I can't believe you." She whispered, laughing.
"I don't know what you are talking about Miss Renton." He said, pulling away.
"I didn't think you were serious." She said, putting her hand over her mouth.
"But I was, and am Sirius, my dear. Or did you forget?" he said, rubbing his eyes.
"Unbelievable." She said, shaking her head. "What the hell are you on?" she asked, her eyes tearing from laughter.
"Life, my love, life." Sirius said, taking a sip of his water, thinking he was incredibly intelligent.
"Oh yea, and this is just water retention." She said, pointing to her stomach. "You are a trip."
"So they tell me." He said. Then he looked at her bags. "What did you get?"
"Shit." She said, shrugging. "Lily made me buy them."
"Oh well, they're necessary right? And it's not a t-shirt." He said, surprised.
"Ha ha, No. You like it?" Sirius noticed she had changed into clothes that she had bought that day. She looked very lovely indeed, and feminine too.
"Stand up and let me see it." he said.
"Alright." She said, reluctantly and pushed her chair over. She stood in front of him, running her hands from the top of the outfit to the bottom.
"Lovely." he said, grinning. "Now twirl."
She slapped his shoulder. "You don't think I look too big?"
"Nope. In fact, for a pregnant woman, you look incredibly delicious." He got up from his chair and walked behind her, scanning her deliberately, and rubbing his chin. "Hmm, heels too."
"Stop that." She said, folding her arms in protest, but she had to admit, it felt good to be thought of as a sex object in the back of her mind. He stopped behind her and began rubbing her stomach and kissing her neck again. "You haven't shaved." She said, and turned around to face him. "But that's ok, I like you rugged." She whispered, before kissing him on the mouth.
"Mm, that's nice to hear. And what is this little thing?" he asked, rubbing her thigh over her skirt. "Does it come off easily?"
"Hey, you dirty people, would you mind terribly if we asked you to stop snogging and sit the fuck down?" Nicole spat, glaring at them, but laughing just the same.
"Yes ma'am." Sirius said, plopping down on his chair. Diana remained standing.
"So you like the skirt do you?" she said, playing with the bottom of it, which came down to her knees. "I like it. I picked it because it swishes like a bell when I walk."
"Well ding, ding." Sirius said, intoxicated by her. Then she went to her chair and sat down on it, but all the while feeling a pair of eyes on her.
"Is that all you've got?" he asked.
"No. I got a couple of things, in Muggle London that I liked. But they're for after the baby. I just got them in my old size. It was mostly for laughs though. Lily's actually wearing hers."
"Let me see." He said.
"No." she laughed. "It'll ruin the surprise." She said, touching his shoulder.
He grabbed her hand and kissed it. When he finished she held it there, caressing the back of his hand with her fingers.
"Can I ask you a teensy, weensy little question?" Sirius asked, fiddling with her hair, which was pulled back halfway now.
"Yes?" she answered, amused.
"Well, you're pregnant right? So, what I want to ask you is, is the urge just gone? I mean, does it exist at all, or are you just totally not interested?"
"What, exactly, are you referring to? Sex?" she asked. "Aw, is my love feeling neglected?" she asked, batting her eyelashes.
He sighed dramatically and gave her sad eyes. "A little." He said.
"Well, we'll just have to do something about that now won't we?" she said.
"You know they have rooms upstairs." He said.
"Then you can show me what a masculine, fierce, ruthless man you are." She said sensually.
"What's that? Are you—are you coming onto me Miss Renton?" he asked, putting his ear closer to her.
"Why I believe I am." She laughed. "And it's Mrs….." she said, kissing him. "Love you, madly." She whispered.
"Love you, truly."
"Love you, deeply." She said, her eyes never once leaving his.
"Somebody shut them up!" Bellatrix moaned. The entire day stuck at the Leaky Cauldron made her more vile than usual.
"Why don't you shut yourself up, Bella." Lucius sneered. They had abandoned their disguises, but were positioned in such a way that they were not seen by the Marauders and their significant others.
"I think the both of you need to stop jabbering." Severus moaned. "I have a headache."
"That's from all of the Firewhiskeys you've had, Severus." Lucius said, rubbing his eyes to wake himself up.
"Ugh, when are we going to do it already?" Bellatrix whined. "I am beginning to go slowly insane."
"At least you had a break." Severus complained. "We haven't even seen the sun."
"What time is it?" Lucius asked.
"After five is all I know." Bellatrix said, tugging her hair.
"Can they see us Severus?" Lucius asked.
"No, they're on the other side of the bar in the back." Severus said, pointing behind him. "They can't hear us either."
"No, they're too wrapped up in their ridiculous little love lives to notice anything." Lucius sneered. "Ugh, public displays of affection are so disgusting."
"What are they trying to prove?" Bellatrix said. "It's like they want us to vomit."
"They are so faking it. The lot of them." Lucius said.
"Whatever you say Lucius." Severus said, actually chuckling.
"You jest Severus." Bellatrix said. "But I know you wish you were part of their little clique, don't you?"
"Don't be juvenile." Severus said, taking another gulp of his Firewhisky. "They make me sick. I detest them." He sneered, and by his tone, they knew he meant it. "Their cockiness, arrogance, always getting what they want even though they don't deserve it. Taking advantage of brilliant, beautiful women to satisfy their appetite. It makes me sick."
"Thinking about anyone in particular?" Bellatrix laughed. Severus looked fiercely at her.
"It's not like you were being discreet." Lucius said. "But that's ok, we understand, don't we Bella?"
"Oh sure. Shame really, wasting lust on such a filthy creature—"
"Enough, Bellatrix." Severus said. "She is not filth." He said, under his breath.
"Whatever you say. We both know it's impossible, anyway." Bellatrix said, waving the possibility away with her hand. "Oh and look at my cousin and his wife, sickeningly pathetic aren't they?"
"Ugh, why don't they get a room?" Lucius said.
"I think they're planning on it." Severus said.
"Grotesque. Why doesn't she just straddle him right there? It would be more prudent." Bellatrix complained.
"Because she's a tease, and a good one at that." Lucius said. Bellatrix laughed.
"So I remember." She said.
"Yes, and as I recall." Severus began. "Didn't Rodolphus try to sample her, quite indiscreetly, at your own wedding?"
"Well never mind." Bellatrix said, her smile fading. "I am sick of sitting here. I want to get it done, now!"
"Well we can't just walk up to them." Lucius said. "We have to be careful about it. How is this supposed to work Severus?"
"Well, the whole thing must be administered. It can be either swallowed or injected, and takes twelve minutes to go through a woman's system." He said, lazily.
"Where did you get it?" Bellatrix asked.
"I brewed it."
"Where did you find it?" She asked.
"The Dark Arts Medical Journal. But these things are legal now in the Muggle World, so things like this do not need to be resorted to." He said.
"Well, who's going to do it?" Bellatrix asked.
"I will." Lucius said.
"Fine. Now all we have to do is wait until she gets up." Severus said.
"What are the side effects?" Bellatrix asked.
"They're pretty severe." Severus said, guiltily. "There's pain, abdominal, during and after; there's hallucinations and the state of being disoriented; nightmares, paranoia, and depression."
"Oh yay!" Bellatrix said. "Too bad we won't get to see them." She said.
"Alright, drinks!" Lily called. "What are we getting?"
"Scotch. Can we get food too?" James asked.
"Didn't you just eat?" Lily asked. "Oh forget it. Nic, what are you getting?"
"Just a sherry." She said.
"I'll have a whisky." Remus said.
"Rum." Sirius said.
"I am the only one getting a non-alcoholic beverage." Diana said.
"Aw, poor you." Sirius said.
"Indeed, oh well. I'll put the order in." Diana said.
"No, Di, you don't have to, I'll do it." Lily said.
"No really, I don't care. I'm closer anyway." She said. "Tom!"
"Oy!" he replied. "Mrs. Black? What can I get you?"
"Scotch, strait; a sherry; a whisky sour; Rum and Soda, and a Butterbeer for me." She said.
"That's it." Lucius said.
"Wait until she goes up and gets it." Bellatrix said.
"Really, because I was going to do it telepathically." He said.
"Here ya go Diana! Come up and get 'em." Tom called from the bar.
"Bottoms up Lucius." Bellatrix said, slamming a drink down in front of him. He took it like a shot, and then hid his face behind his cloak.
Diana had to walk over to get the drinks, since they were in the back. She grabbed her husband's drink, Lily's and James' first, then returned for the rest. Carrying her Butterbeer and the other drinks back to the table, she suddenly felt someone run into her. She jumped back and some of her drink spilled on her.
"Shit." She muttered.
"Oh I am terribly sorry dear, terribly, terribly sorry. I should watch where I'm going shouldn't I?" the voice said. It was a man, she could tell, an old, somewhat clumsy man, but his voice sent shivers through her, and she didn't like it. It reminded her of someone.
"It's alright." She said, although she wanted to slap him. "No problem."
"I feel awful." The man said. "Do you need help?"
"No, I'm fine." She said, trying to walk away.
"Oh well, splendid. Again, I am terribly sorry." He said.
"Really, it's fine. Happens to us all." She said, and walked back to the table.
"Have an accident?" Lily asked, giggling.
"Just a bit. Ugh, I hate people." She said, taking a sip of her Butterbeer. Then she made a face.
"What?" Sirius asked.
"Nothing. It just tastes different. Not bad, but different. I wasn't expecting it." She said. "Probably just more caramel."
"Ah. Is it supposed to be that colour?" Sirius asked, picking up the glass.
"Yes dear. Don't be paranoid." She said. "My taste buds are all out of whack anyway."
For the next eleven and a half minutes they talked, drank, and ate some of the bread that was sitting on the table. The boys' personalities had been restored to normal and everything seemed as it should be. However, after one of James' particularly funny jokes, Diana felt a harsh, sharp pain in her diaphragm. She figured it was just a kick, until she felt it again, harder and more painful. She made a noise from the second one, but no one seemed to hear her. She decided to get up to go to the bathroom. Maybe it's indigestion, she thought. She excused herself and tired to walk, but she couldn't. She was halfway across the floor when the pain hit her again and she screamed.
"Yes, here we go." Bellatrix said, reclining, and taking off her hood. After all, she had nothing to hide, she thought.
Lily, James, Nicole, Remus and Sirius jolted out of their seats when they heard it. Upon getting up, Sirius knocked Diana's glass to the floor, shattering it. Diana grabbed the bar to keep herself strait, but she ended up missing and falling to the floor. Lily ran to her first, catching her before her head hit the bar.
"Diana? Sweetie, are you alright?" she asked, worried out of her mind.
"What's the matter? Where does it hurt?" Nicole asked hastily, grabbing her hand.
Diana clutched her stomach. It was burning with pain. "Sirius." She whispered.
"I'm here, baby, I'm here." He said, pushing Nicole out of the way.
"Something's wrong." Diana said, groping for him.
"What's happenin' here?" asked Tom, peering over to see what all the commotion was about.
"I—I think she's—having contractions." Nicole said.
"That's not possible, you're only—" Lily started but was silenced by another scream.
"No, it's too soon!" Diana yelled. She began to get dizzy, unable to think clearly. She began to sweat.
"Get her to a hospital." Remus said cautiously.
"Call a healer." James said.
"St. Mungo's is too far." Nicole said. "We can't apparate to it."
"There's a Muggle hospital down the street." A woman said, who was sitting next to them at the bar.
"Where?" Lily asked.
"St. Ann's, about two blocks down." She said, pointing to the Muggle London entrance.
"We have to call Dumbledore." James said, hastily.
"Good idea." Remus said, trying to see how he could help in some way.
"Diana, you have to get up." Lily said, but Diana couldn't hear it. The room was spinning and she was looking frantically for her husband. She found him to the right of her and tried to steady her eyes.
"I'm sorry." She whispered, and started to cry. "I'm so sorry."
"Sorry? Baby, what are you—" Sirius started.
"Everything." Diana said, wincing in pain. "It's all my fault."
"You're talking gibberish." Sirius said.
"Look at her eyes." James said. "Look at the colour of them."
"They're violet." Nicole said. "This is no accident. She's been drugged." Nicole put her hand over her mouth, starting to feel sick herself.
"Drugged?" Sirius shouted. "Fuck." He said, and started looking around the pub, for a face, any face he thought might be the cause of this. He didn't see them, but he knew they were there.
"Diana?" he asked, looking at her again, taking the hair away from her face. "Come on, you have to stay awake." He said, propping her up. When he did she yelped in pain.
She couldn't hear him anymore, well; at least she thought she couldn't. She heard other things though; yelling, screaming, glass breaking, but they were not what were in front of her. They were in the back of her mind. Her eyes were open but her mentality was somewhere else, like she was tripping on something. Well, she was tripping on something. She went numb from the waist down, and all she felt was someone picking her up, and begging her to keep her eyes open.
"Can you hear me?" Sirius said frantically.
She nodded feebly. "I can't—I can't breathe."
"It's alright honey, it's ok. We're getting you help. Just keep listening to my voice."
"What's happening?" she whispered, grabbing her stomach. "Sirius, can you feel me?" she said, rubbing his hand.
"Yes darling—"
"Sirius?" Lily said.
"What?" he asked, not looking at her. He was looking worriedly at Diana, wondering what it was exactly that was making her act so strangely. It scared him. Lily then handed him a vile, one that had been on the floor beside Diana's shattered glass. He took it, surveyed it quickly, and then looked at Remus.
"I'll try." Remus said gravely, and stuffed it in his pocket.
"Hold on to me, love." Sirius said turning back to her, although she heard it as an echo. His was the only voice she did hear. He picked her up off the floor and forced her arms around his neck.
Diana's eyes lazily scanned her surroundings and stopped at the front door. She saw three figures; cloaked in black, leave the pub. She would have made nothing of it but one of them made eye contact with her. Despite its blurriness she saw that person raise their hand up to their lips, and blow her a kiss. She started to cry. It was the only thing she had energy for. Then she screamed again, burying her face into Sirius' chest.
"Don't you die, don't you fucking die on me." He whispered to himself. It now looked as though she had passed out, and her head kept bobbing like a cork.
The voices continued in Diana's head. She was conscious but her eyes were closed. They weren't the same voices as outside. She heard violence and destruction and death; threats and screaming, she didn't understand it. Images began flashing before her, and she still felt the pain, more defiant then ever, but she felt no movement. She felt like she was being suffocated. She couldn't breathe, or speak or move.
The real world as well as the artificial one began to spin, so fast that she couldn't differentiate between the two. Then, without warning it suddenly stopped. No pain, no sound, so sight, nothing. All she heard was the sound of her own breath, in and out, steady. She thought she saw a flicker of a light, a bright one, but then, as quickly as it came, it faded to black. She couldn't tell then, where reality ended and the nightmare began……
(I know, I know, sad right. I feel so horrible :( But, canon, everyone, canon. It can't be too AU, you know. Thanks again for the reviews, and let me know what you want to happen regarding anyone of the characters (it's up to me whether I choose it though) I'm just curious. If you hate me for this chapter, then you're going to want to kill me for the next one. I love you guys, you are the best! Have a lovely, and cheerful day!)
Thank you's:
Kiara Sedai (Kaeldra)~ wow, you changed your name, I like it :) anyways, thank you so much, I always love when you review, and I am glad you always have time to pop in and say hello :) your great!
Xnedra~ you know you are one of my favorites, and I LOVE your comparisons, whether of confectionary or whatever else you might come up with :) I don't mind that you've run out of things to say, happens to us all. And wow, edge of your seat huh? That one made me happy, because I was worried about it. you lifted my confidence, and I adore you for it :)
ElegyStar~ you're lovely! Thanks for the compliment!
The-Girl-Who-Lived~ thanks so much I am glad you love it :)
Ingenious~thanks! And I will keep going :) you're lovely
Kim the writer(Ashley)~ you are the greatest, and I love that you like it so much!
Flamin phynix~ sorry its too angsty for you*shrugs*, but thank you anyway :)
Professional Scatterbrain~ thanks so much! I will keep it up :)
Dani~ I agree with you there, and I'm so glad you like it :)
Inluvwithjames~ I never did thank you for that wonderful drawing you did for me. I love it and it is on my desk as we speak. I was flattered and it was so creative :) I am glad you love it and there will be more fighting and fluff because I am a drama queen. Keep reading, love ya!
Melissa~ oh don't cry dear, it will be alright :) thank you for the compliment about my writing, it was very sweet :)
Chemically unbalanced~ thanks for the compliment! I'm so glad you like it:)
da90schick~ you are so awesome, you have no idea! Not only have you reviewed more than once, but both stories too! You are too cool :):)
littlepooh~ well, its been here, dear lol, for quite a while. I'm glad you like it, and I love that you think its touching:)
Carolinus Took~Thanks! I will :)
Chocolate Taco~ thanks for putting me on your favs and for loving my story so much you actually lost sleep over it:) thanks for reviewing the other too, you are too cool!
Lelegurl9~ I love them together too, and Diana DOES love him, a lot, she's just not good with affection. And here's to great angst! I had to do it, you all know I had to. And yes, she did tell them about the Order.
Alexia S. Lucwit~ here's to you having your own account! Thanks for putting me on your favs and recommending me on your bio! You are awesome girl, and you know it! talk to you soon!
Wolvesaremylife1~ you flatter me too much, although I do love it :) thank you so much for your kind words and I am so happy that you like it. thanks for adding me to your favs! And I will tell you every time I update:) you're lovely. And the Muses have blessed me, I like how that sounds :)
Evil Goldfish~ its ok that you couldn't wait, I just sort of forgot that it was on that site. Oh well:) I'm glad you think it's awesome!
Senav Shania Gold~ I became fond of Snape during OotP too, weird huh. Bellatrix does rule, even though she is evil, she is so much fun to write. Yes, I love mushy James too, don't we all:) and Baby Black…..*tear*……anyway, thanks dear, you rock! And I know it's two days late, don't penalize me for it *hides behind desk*, but I wasn't that late with it:)
Lily's Star~ thanks so much, you're lovely. I am so glad you like it!
Shorty~ thanks! You rock!
DancinEvy~ there you are dear:) thanks so much and I'm glad you don't think its pointless sometimes, lol. I will try not to keep you waiting for too long.
Chelly~ I answered your question I hope:) I'm glad you like it
Feather~ I know you aren't up here yet (well obviously NOW you are, considering….)anyway, I have the need to thank you, because you are just too cool for words. Love ya!
And…I made it past 100! Woo hoo for me! (there is a party going on in my head) keep them coming! Love ya!
