10. After Nikki's memory: Bloody Baby!
The next morning, Harry woke up really early to find Remus fast asleep in
the armchair next to him. His arms were wrapped around Cassie's book.
Harry got hold of a tip of it and started pulling it out really carefully
so Remus wouldn't wake up. But all of a sudden, Remus' grip tighten and his
eyes flung open.
'What do you thing you're doing?'
'Erm... cleaning?' said Harry with a 'Jamish' look of pure innocence.
'Uh, yeah, right' replied Remus sarcastically, taking the book from Harry.
'Really, Harry, if you want to read the book by yourself then you only need
to ask and I'll give it to you'
'No!' he said quickly refusing to take the book Remus was giving him 'I
just wanted to know what's Cassie's memory about'
'Everything on its appropriate time, Harry' said a voice from the bedroom
door.
'Prof. Dumbledore!' both him and Remus gasped in unison.
He walked to Harry's bed and asked Remus to leave. That was the first time
Harry was eager to listen to anyone else but Remus.
Remus left after swearing he would return later and Harry spoke to
Dumbledore the entire morning. (A/N: we all know that this talk was
probably more important than my whole damn fic, but since J.K. must have it
already, I'm just gonna leave it to her, how nice of me!)
After finishing all the important topics, Harry tried to ask him about the
Marauders and specially about Cassie but just got the same answer he had
got before. 'Everything on its appropriate time'
Dumbledore left as Ron and Hermione arrived around lunch. Harry immediately
told them about his conversation with Dumbledore and Remus' stories. They
were really intrigued about what happened in Cassie's memory and wanted to
stay for the night to hear the story, but Harry said no.
'It's something between Remus and I, then I'll tell you and even let you
read the book' he explained 'but this must be with only Remus and I'
'Don't worry, mate' said Ron understandingly 'we have plenty of time to
read it'
'Yes' agreed Hermione and added in her characteristic great-idea smile 'In
fact, I believe we could write one too'
Both boys stared, as usual, and as usual, Hermione rolled her eyes. Some
things never change.
'I mean, look at all we have done!' she continued 'Look at all the rules
we've broken! I bet that not even Fred and George broke as many rules as we
did!'
'Yeah, but they were all broken for good reasons' sighed Ron, looking
disappointed of himself and his Percy-like behaviour.
'True' said Hermione, far from being taken aback 'but I guess it could be
nice anyway'
'You can do that, Hermione' said Harry
'Of course I was going to! You and Ron can barely spell your names'
'I can SO spell my name!' yelled Ron looking hurt.
'We know, Ron' said the other two at the same time.
The rest of the day was eventless, except for Ron kicking everyone's ass in
wizard's chess.
'Checkmate' he said grinning for the one-hundred-and-eleventh time that
day. Harry smiled as Hermione looked at Ron with narrow eyes.
It was right after dinner, when Ron was trying to convince someone for the
match No. 112 when Remus returned.
After exchanging a few comments on Molly's cooking and Fred and George's
new fortune, Hermione and Ron left and Remus read Nicole's memory to Harry.
'She never wrote her point of view?' asked Harry, looking at the picture
where Nikki and James were with the Gryffindor Quidditch robes. Remus shook
his head. 'And neither did I' he said, looking at the blurred blue ink
under Cassie's handwriting.
'Ok... what are you gonna tell me about today?' asked Harry eagerly.
'Hum... dunno, I haven't prepared my class'
'That's terrible, Prof. Lupin, how about... hum... something about when I
was little or about Cassie's memory?' he asked, looking at him with big
eyes.
'You won't stop until I tell you, will you?'
'Nope'
'Fine, go on... what do you want to know about the little you?'
'Erm...' began Harry while thinking but Remus got ahead of him.
'How about when we had to baby-sit you while your parents went on their
anniversary?' he proposed Harry. Harry grinned.
'Sounds like fun!'
'Ok... It was the time when Nikki and Sirius where in what they called "The
twilight zone" ('The what?'), that's how they called their relationship.
Nikki didn't want any titles and denied the whole thing but Sirius and her
had been dating for around five months, and they were totally faithful to
each other. It was Friday night; everyone had got up early to work or
study. James and Lily asked Cassie and Nikki to stay with you in their
place while they spent the night in Paris, but Sirius and I kicked in...
Nikki was trying to make little Harry sleep in the living room and Cassie was sitting there, watching her go around with the baby, when a ring of the door bell made the almost asleep baby wake up again. Cassie got up cursing of who could be as Nikki was trying to shush Harry. She opened the door to see two standing so-called adults grinning at her. 'Hey Cas!' they said together. Her frown disappeared as they planted a kiss on each of her cheeks. 'What in Minnie's name are you doing here?' she asked as she moved away to let them in. 'Well... Prongs' house was almost empty and we couldn't leave this amazing chance alone!' said Sirius. 'We came to make you company' said Remus smiling at her. Cassie just smiled and hugged him after she had closed the door. Sirius was already in and going to his godson. 'Heeey Harry!' he said taking the baby, who giggled as he recognised the new comer 'Look who's here! It's Uncle Padfoot! Say Padfoot, come on... say Paadfooot' 'Papoo!' Harry was again as awake as ever. 'That can be taken as Padfoot, can't it?' he asked looking at Remus whose arm was around Cassie's waist. Both him and Cassie shrugged. Nikki got close to the baby (and Sirius). 'Say Nikki, you can say it! Say it for Aunt Nikki!' 'Iki!' repeated Harry, throwing his little arms towards her. Nikki threw Sirius a triumphant look as she took Harry back. 'That wasn't even close, Iki' he argued, looking at her. 'Well... Papoo, anyway he prefers to be with me' she retorted, cuddling the baby. 'It's just because you have boobs and thinks you're gonna feed him' 'That's something you don't see everyday! Sirius Black complaining because someone has boobs! I thought you just looove them!' 'I happen to just looove BIG boobs, yours are not included in this category!' 'Ha! As if you knew anything about my boobs!' 'See Cas?' said Remus 'They already seem married!' 'Shut up!' yelled Nikki and Sirius at the same time. They were cut as Harry started crying. Cassie rushed, got the baby and said 'There, you can continue your argument on Nikki's boobs as Remus and I get Harry to sleep' They went upstairs to Harry's room; the last thing they heard was Sirius saying 'As if your boobs were that big!' Harry was munching a lock of Cassie's hair when she placed him in his baby- bed. Harry pouted a little but immediately, Remus flicked and swished his wand and baby Harry levitated some inches and began rocking magically. Cassie tapped a little toy and it started playing a sweet lullaby. Remus wand-less hand found its usual way over Cassie's shoulders. Cassie moved closer to him. 'I'm glad you came' she whispered putting her arms around his waist. 'I'm glad you're glad' Remus whispered back and kissed her forehead. Cassie rested her head in Remus' shoulder and they stood silently like that until Harry fell asleep, about half an hour later. They were going down the stairs by the hand when Remus stopped in the middle of it. 'Things are a bit too quiet, don't you think?' he said. Cassie laughed silently with a hand over her mouth, as they both poked their heads from the top floor to see Sirius and Nikki making out in the couch. They turned back, and entered the Potter's bedroom (the only other room in the top floor besides Harry's bedroom and a bathroom). 'I don't want to be left behind, do you?' said Cassie, sitting in James and Lily's bed, looking at Remus. 'Hum... let me think about it...' he said sitting next to her, with his hand on his chin thoughtfully. Cassie punched his side playfully. 'Ok, ok...' he said as if he had no other choice. He kissed her and gradually laid her on the bed. The moment Remus moved on top of her, the door was opened. Nikki and Sirius just stood there smiling as if they had entered and the other two where playing cards. 'Don't you two know how to knock?' said Remus frowning their way and moving next to Cassie again. 'Erm... nope' said Sirius, jumping into the bed and crawling between Remus and Cassie, grinning like a five year-old. Nikki just sat in the border of it. 'I'm starving' she said 'Wanna order some pizza?' 'Ok' said Remus ' as long as Sirius doesn't orders... you all remember what happened last time' 'Hey! It wasn't that bad!' he complaint. They all casted cynical looks at him. 'I'll order' said Cassie getting up 'The usual for each of you?' The three of them nodded and Cassie went downstairs. They were down in the living room actually playing cards, when the bell rang for the second but not last time that night. Harry started crying, Nikki ran up to put him to sleep again, Sirius and Cassie went for drinks and glasses to the kitchen and Remus went to get the pizza. They all returned after a while except for Nikki. 'I'll go see if she's doing ok' said Sirius running upstairs, since Harry's cries were still audible. Remus and Cassie casted understanding looks at each other. 'Those two will end up marrying before us' said Remus, shaking his head. Cassie nodded but immediately, Nikki called them from the top of the stairs. 'Come here! He's about to kill the brat!' 'Who is about to kill which brat?' asked Cassie, from her seat. 'The drooling one!' 'Again, which one?' said Remus smiling. 'They'll kill each other if you don't come!!' Remus and Cassie got up and ran upstairs, confused. When they reached the bedroom's door, they saw Harry's tears rolling down his puffy cheeks and biting Sirius' hand as he was trying to let him back into the bed without dropping him. Cassie took the baby and shushed him against her chest but Harry kept crying. 'He's got a whale's lungs, the little bastard' said Remus covering his ears as Harry gave a specially sharp scream. The crying and handing away the baby to the next contestant persisted about two hours, until Cassie took hard measures. 'Isn't Lily related to a banshee?' asked Nikki, covering her ears as she handed the baby to Sirius. 'Or James related to a mandrake...' said Remus. 'I've had enough of you!' said Cassie taking out her wand 'Silencio!' Their ears were aching as they could see the baby still crying his heart out. They all sighed as Harry was looking perplexed that he couldn't hear himself crying anymore. Luckily, he found this funny and as he started laughing Cassie removed the charm. Almost an hour later, Harry was playing with Remus' face and babbling incoherently as he sat in an armchair in the living room. It was way past midnight and the youngster was awake as if it was midday. 'Isn't he ever going to fall asleep?' asked Nikki, who was lying in the couch with Sirius sitting under her feet. 'Dunno' said Cassie who was sitting with her legs hanging from the side of another armchair, her eyelashes as heavy as everyone else's but Harry's. 'Why don't you make him a sleep potion?' suggested Sirius, yawning. Cassie didn't answer, just got up and returned after a few minutes with a baby bottle. Harry clapped at the sight of it. 'Drink it, lad' she said as she held Harry and the bottle. Just after a minute, he was asleep. Sirius went up to put him into bed when the doorbell rang, again. Cassie looked at her watch. It was two in the morning... 'Who the bloody hell can be at TWO IN THE MORNING?!?!?' she bellowed as she flung the door opened. 'Hi' said Peter 'Is James home?' Nikki, Remus and Sirius were behind Cassie looking at Peter in disbelief. 'Go home, Wormtail, it's really late' she said 'But I was wandering if...' 'Go home, Wormtail' said Remus 'I just wanted to know if...' 'Go. Home. Wormtail' said Sirius now threatening. 'Are you guys...' 'GO HOME, WORMTAIL!!' they all howled at him. He squeaked and Dissaparated. Harry started crying one more time. Cassie hid her face in Remus' shoulder and whined as he patted her head, Nikki was about to rip her hair off her head and Sirius started bumping his head against the wall. The four of them walked lazily up the stairs and stared at the giggling baby in his baby-bed they all wanted to slaughter. Sirius was the first to speak. 'I have an idea... I saw it work with James but I don't know what else to try...' He placed Harry over his shoulders and transformed into his animagi. Harry was giggling loudly but after riding Sirius all around the house and everyone singing a lullaby, Harry was still fully awake. Sirius went back to his human self over James and Lily's bed where he dropped almost dead. Cassie looked at her watch again. Half past three in the morning... 'I can't keep my eyes open anymore!' she said. Nikki took baby Harry and placed him in the middle of the bed. She lay down next to him and Sirius. 'I don't know if the bloody baby is gonna sleep, but I certainly am.' Remus and Cassie looked at each other's bagged eyes and faded faces. They all laid surrounding Harry and his favourite stuffed dragon and quickly fell asleep...
... The next morning when Lily and James came back, they found the five of us asleep in their bed.' He grinned. 'God, we wanted to shatter you to tiny pieces!' Harry laughed a bit, but he had got up really early that day so after a drowsy 'good night, Remus, thanks for everything' he fell completely asleep. But Remus didn't fall so easily... he turned in his chair and remembered when Cassie and him hooked up.
** Ooh! Thanks for the idea, Peeves!! I'll add it as an extra memory... if you check Sirius' memory, I've said something about it... I'll begin writing it right away! Thanks, love ya all! MOONY
Nikki was trying to make little Harry sleep in the living room and Cassie was sitting there, watching her go around with the baby, when a ring of the door bell made the almost asleep baby wake up again. Cassie got up cursing of who could be as Nikki was trying to shush Harry. She opened the door to see two standing so-called adults grinning at her. 'Hey Cas!' they said together. Her frown disappeared as they planted a kiss on each of her cheeks. 'What in Minnie's name are you doing here?' she asked as she moved away to let them in. 'Well... Prongs' house was almost empty and we couldn't leave this amazing chance alone!' said Sirius. 'We came to make you company' said Remus smiling at her. Cassie just smiled and hugged him after she had closed the door. Sirius was already in and going to his godson. 'Heeey Harry!' he said taking the baby, who giggled as he recognised the new comer 'Look who's here! It's Uncle Padfoot! Say Padfoot, come on... say Paadfooot' 'Papoo!' Harry was again as awake as ever. 'That can be taken as Padfoot, can't it?' he asked looking at Remus whose arm was around Cassie's waist. Both him and Cassie shrugged. Nikki got close to the baby (and Sirius). 'Say Nikki, you can say it! Say it for Aunt Nikki!' 'Iki!' repeated Harry, throwing his little arms towards her. Nikki threw Sirius a triumphant look as she took Harry back. 'That wasn't even close, Iki' he argued, looking at her. 'Well... Papoo, anyway he prefers to be with me' she retorted, cuddling the baby. 'It's just because you have boobs and thinks you're gonna feed him' 'That's something you don't see everyday! Sirius Black complaining because someone has boobs! I thought you just looove them!' 'I happen to just looove BIG boobs, yours are not included in this category!' 'Ha! As if you knew anything about my boobs!' 'See Cas?' said Remus 'They already seem married!' 'Shut up!' yelled Nikki and Sirius at the same time. They were cut as Harry started crying. Cassie rushed, got the baby and said 'There, you can continue your argument on Nikki's boobs as Remus and I get Harry to sleep' They went upstairs to Harry's room; the last thing they heard was Sirius saying 'As if your boobs were that big!' Harry was munching a lock of Cassie's hair when she placed him in his baby- bed. Harry pouted a little but immediately, Remus flicked and swished his wand and baby Harry levitated some inches and began rocking magically. Cassie tapped a little toy and it started playing a sweet lullaby. Remus wand-less hand found its usual way over Cassie's shoulders. Cassie moved closer to him. 'I'm glad you came' she whispered putting her arms around his waist. 'I'm glad you're glad' Remus whispered back and kissed her forehead. Cassie rested her head in Remus' shoulder and they stood silently like that until Harry fell asleep, about half an hour later. They were going down the stairs by the hand when Remus stopped in the middle of it. 'Things are a bit too quiet, don't you think?' he said. Cassie laughed silently with a hand over her mouth, as they both poked their heads from the top floor to see Sirius and Nikki making out in the couch. They turned back, and entered the Potter's bedroom (the only other room in the top floor besides Harry's bedroom and a bathroom). 'I don't want to be left behind, do you?' said Cassie, sitting in James and Lily's bed, looking at Remus. 'Hum... let me think about it...' he said sitting next to her, with his hand on his chin thoughtfully. Cassie punched his side playfully. 'Ok, ok...' he said as if he had no other choice. He kissed her and gradually laid her on the bed. The moment Remus moved on top of her, the door was opened. Nikki and Sirius just stood there smiling as if they had entered and the other two where playing cards. 'Don't you two know how to knock?' said Remus frowning their way and moving next to Cassie again. 'Erm... nope' said Sirius, jumping into the bed and crawling between Remus and Cassie, grinning like a five year-old. Nikki just sat in the border of it. 'I'm starving' she said 'Wanna order some pizza?' 'Ok' said Remus ' as long as Sirius doesn't orders... you all remember what happened last time' 'Hey! It wasn't that bad!' he complaint. They all casted cynical looks at him. 'I'll order' said Cassie getting up 'The usual for each of you?' The three of them nodded and Cassie went downstairs. They were down in the living room actually playing cards, when the bell rang for the second but not last time that night. Harry started crying, Nikki ran up to put him to sleep again, Sirius and Cassie went for drinks and glasses to the kitchen and Remus went to get the pizza. They all returned after a while except for Nikki. 'I'll go see if she's doing ok' said Sirius running upstairs, since Harry's cries were still audible. Remus and Cassie casted understanding looks at each other. 'Those two will end up marrying before us' said Remus, shaking his head. Cassie nodded but immediately, Nikki called them from the top of the stairs. 'Come here! He's about to kill the brat!' 'Who is about to kill which brat?' asked Cassie, from her seat. 'The drooling one!' 'Again, which one?' said Remus smiling. 'They'll kill each other if you don't come!!' Remus and Cassie got up and ran upstairs, confused. When they reached the bedroom's door, they saw Harry's tears rolling down his puffy cheeks and biting Sirius' hand as he was trying to let him back into the bed without dropping him. Cassie took the baby and shushed him against her chest but Harry kept crying. 'He's got a whale's lungs, the little bastard' said Remus covering his ears as Harry gave a specially sharp scream. The crying and handing away the baby to the next contestant persisted about two hours, until Cassie took hard measures. 'Isn't Lily related to a banshee?' asked Nikki, covering her ears as she handed the baby to Sirius. 'Or James related to a mandrake...' said Remus. 'I've had enough of you!' said Cassie taking out her wand 'Silencio!' Their ears were aching as they could see the baby still crying his heart out. They all sighed as Harry was looking perplexed that he couldn't hear himself crying anymore. Luckily, he found this funny and as he started laughing Cassie removed the charm. Almost an hour later, Harry was playing with Remus' face and babbling incoherently as he sat in an armchair in the living room. It was way past midnight and the youngster was awake as if it was midday. 'Isn't he ever going to fall asleep?' asked Nikki, who was lying in the couch with Sirius sitting under her feet. 'Dunno' said Cassie who was sitting with her legs hanging from the side of another armchair, her eyelashes as heavy as everyone else's but Harry's. 'Why don't you make him a sleep potion?' suggested Sirius, yawning. Cassie didn't answer, just got up and returned after a few minutes with a baby bottle. Harry clapped at the sight of it. 'Drink it, lad' she said as she held Harry and the bottle. Just after a minute, he was asleep. Sirius went up to put him into bed when the doorbell rang, again. Cassie looked at her watch. It was two in the morning... 'Who the bloody hell can be at TWO IN THE MORNING?!?!?' she bellowed as she flung the door opened. 'Hi' said Peter 'Is James home?' Nikki, Remus and Sirius were behind Cassie looking at Peter in disbelief. 'Go home, Wormtail, it's really late' she said 'But I was wandering if...' 'Go home, Wormtail' said Remus 'I just wanted to know if...' 'Go. Home. Wormtail' said Sirius now threatening. 'Are you guys...' 'GO HOME, WORMTAIL!!' they all howled at him. He squeaked and Dissaparated. Harry started crying one more time. Cassie hid her face in Remus' shoulder and whined as he patted her head, Nikki was about to rip her hair off her head and Sirius started bumping his head against the wall. The four of them walked lazily up the stairs and stared at the giggling baby in his baby-bed they all wanted to slaughter. Sirius was the first to speak. 'I have an idea... I saw it work with James but I don't know what else to try...' He placed Harry over his shoulders and transformed into his animagi. Harry was giggling loudly but after riding Sirius all around the house and everyone singing a lullaby, Harry was still fully awake. Sirius went back to his human self over James and Lily's bed where he dropped almost dead. Cassie looked at her watch again. Half past three in the morning... 'I can't keep my eyes open anymore!' she said. Nikki took baby Harry and placed him in the middle of the bed. She lay down next to him and Sirius. 'I don't know if the bloody baby is gonna sleep, but I certainly am.' Remus and Cassie looked at each other's bagged eyes and faded faces. They all laid surrounding Harry and his favourite stuffed dragon and quickly fell asleep...
... The next morning when Lily and James came back, they found the five of us asleep in their bed.' He grinned. 'God, we wanted to shatter you to tiny pieces!' Harry laughed a bit, but he had got up really early that day so after a drowsy 'good night, Remus, thanks for everything' he fell completely asleep. But Remus didn't fall so easily... he turned in his chair and remembered when Cassie and him hooked up.
** Ooh! Thanks for the idea, Peeves!! I'll add it as an extra memory... if you check Sirius' memory, I've said something about it... I'll begin writing it right away! Thanks, love ya all! MOONY
