April.
A month had passed and Kira let her guard down completely, she was no longer afraid that they might lock her somewhere, she stayed in the room when Derek and Oweiry visited, she let herself be happy. She loved her life with James and finally became the smiling little girl that James had hoped she would be. Lilly had quickly seen the change and it made her excited. Kira trusted Lilly more and they went shopping on Mondays. Lilly loved to buy Kira clothes, though it was hard to find some that were her size. Lilly even took Kira to Muggle clothing stores.
James had been back at work for a while, but he refused to bring home any paper work. He did not think that Kira needed to hear about the dark arts. Lilly had been so careful about putting on a happy act when they went shopping even though she was scared Voldemort might attack. Lilly was also worried about what would happen in July, when their son would be born. So far, on name choices they had about 471 names, in many different languages.
Cota suggested they pick 365 they like and then the kid could have a different name every day. To this, he was glared at by Lilly and retreated to the stable to feed Pat. James told her not to worry; they would know what name they wanted when the time was right. Lilly wanted nothing that would be too weird; she wanted something that would reflect a good spirit. Even though this comforted her, she went shopping with Kira and brought home more name books.
Kira plopped down onto her pillow and opened one of the books. Cota and James had made Kira a big puffy pillow, because she liked to be ready for anything and when she was on the couch, she had to hop down in order to hide. She had fallen the first time Sirius had come over unannounced. Kira had leapt from the couch, scraped her knees, and hid behind the stairs. Now she was braver though. She did not jump or anything, she just continued whatever it was that she was doing, but she was still a bit scared. Cota walked over to Kira and helped her read the book; she was getting slightly better at it. She would point to a name; he gave her the definition and then had her pronounce the name.
"More name books?" James asked.
"Pick a name, any name," Lilly growled, not in a good mood.
"Sorry" James apologized.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell" Lilly was suddenly very sad. "I just wanted a name, I looked through a hundred books, all the names are either to flashy or have been used to many times, or don't go with the name Potter (Percy, Peter, Pat, ect) or they have horrible meanings" She continued.
James gave her a sympathetic look, he felt bad because he had turned down the name Tyler, but it just did not sound right. Tyler Potter, no, nothing that ends in er.
"It means hero," Cota stated as Kira pointed to a name.
"Hay-el...Hale" Kira read.
"I just want something simple, not flashy, or hard to say" Lilly stated, James nodded. "Something with a good meaning, I can tell a bit about this baby, James. It is inside me and I can tell. And most of the names don't fit him. He's been through so much"
James looked at her, he knew why she said he had been through so much, it was because he, the baby, had nearly died. The doctors were rushing to save him, and just before the gave up, he kicked and showed he was alive. The healed him, but it was still upsetting to Lilly to know that she almost lost her baby.
"I can feel it James, he is strong. He doesn't like to be forced into things, but that's just because he likes independence, and he's a lot like you, James," Lilly continued.
"I know, I know, I feel it too" James was worried, he didn't want Lilly to waste her energy, but Lilly was upset and he understood.
"I wish we could find a name to match his personality and something that fits what we want. But it looks hopeless; maybe we should just pick the name that sounds best, regardless of its meaning. It's not going to be perfect but it-"Lilly stopped as she heard what Cota was saying.
"You are an 11th hour person, always succeeding just in the nick of time. You have a lack of confidence in your mental abilities and do not like being forced into giving your opinion. Your independence and freedom are important to you. You have a great deal of loyalty to those you love. You have a very individual, reserved, serious nature. You are steadfast and loyal, and do not allow gossip or anything belittling to be said against those whom you accept in friendship. You have much inner strength," Cota said as Kira pointed to another name.
Lilly looked to James.
"Why are you always picking 'H' names, Kira?" Cota asked.
Kira opened her sketchbook, there were three letters written down, one was blue, one was green and one was red.
Kira pointed at the J "Joy" She said, then pointed at the L "Love, loyalty" She said then she pointed at the H "Harmony, happiness, hope" She said.
"What name is it?" Lilly and James asked at the same time. Kira closed the book.
"Nope" She said.
"What?" Lilly asked.
"I'm not gonna tell you" Kira stated.
Cota shook his head at James that he hadn't seen the name.
"Why not!" Lilly exclaimed. "I need to pick a name. I love the meaning and why you wanted it to start with an H," Lilly stated.
"I want you both to decide" Kira explained.
"We are trying; can't you help us a bit?" James asked.
Kira looked at him with a puzzled look on her face. "I already did, I told you it started with an 'H', isn't that helping?"
"Yes, but..." James shrugged. "Well, at least we know there IS the perfect name out there" James smiled at Lilly.
"...If we are at the hospital and we can't think of a name, will you tell us the name, Kira?" Lilly asked, kneeling so she was looking Kira straight in the eyes.
Kira smiled "If you REALLY can't think of a name for your own son!...I'll give you 3 names, you can pick out of them"
"Well, we've got about 3 months to decide" Lilly stated.
Kira nodded and picked up another book, she pointed at a name and Cota told her the meaning.
"If you look at all those names won't you forget the one for our son?" Lilly asked, the worry obvious in her voice.
"No" Kira looked up at Lilly "I won't forget, I promise"
Lilly nodded and Kira went back to pointing at names. Kira heard a doorbell ring, someone had come unannounced.
"Kira, go outside" James told her.
He had something important to talk to Sirius about and wasn't thinking how much it would scare her. Kira gave him a deer in the headlights look and her eyes darted towards the door as the bell rang again.
"Oop's" James slapped his hand over his eyes. "I forgot, Sirius was coming over today and I didn't tell Kira"
James had only told her to go outside because he thought he had told her about Sirius coming. He hadn't meant to scare her, but looking at her he could se how much he had scared her. She bolted towards the kitchen door.
"Ahhh" Came Kira's cry as she found the back door locked.
Lilly was slow getting up and James just told her to stay down, and not to worry. He yelled for Cota to help Kira and hopped over to let Sirius in.
"Ahh" Kira stated as Cota sprang into the kitchen and she was trying to pull the door open.
"Sorry" Cota grimaced and fumbled to unlock the door.
"Hello Sirius" James greeted.
"He-" Sirius started.
"Unlock the door! Unlockthedoorunlockthedoor. Please, pleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease" Kira begged desperately as Cota tried to get the lock unstuck.
"Did I come at a bad time?" Sirius asked.
"No, I forgot that lock was stuck" James admitted. "And I just told her to go outside, throwing her into the panic of being trapped" He bit his lip.
"Please" Kira whimpered and tugged at Cota's cloak.
Cota gave up and took out his wand, he blasted the lock and flung the door open.
"You're free!" He stated triumphantly as Kira jumped out of the house.
"And now that lock is broken" James sighed and Sirius made himself at home.
Kira ran down to the stream. She loved living here, she loves the green grass, the blue sky, the clear sparkling water. She took a deep breath of the clean air and closed her eyes. It was a Muggle neighborhood, but it was beautiful and had a stone path, horses everywere, big beautiful houses. It was perfect, and James's house was located infront of a forest and meadow. Kira was still a little shaky, she wasn't a wuss, she was a 1 year old with an advanced mind, who spent the first five months of her life in a lab with mutilated people and test stuff all around her. Kira was watching purple fish swim around in the stream, she liked the fish.
"So, how goes the name picking?" Sirius asked Lilly.
"You'd have to ask Kira, she knows the name, but she's not telling" Lilly answered, the annoyance in her voice wasn't hidden.
"Honey, think, if she wasn't here we'd still be frantically looking through names and probably pick some thing stupid...Like Cota" James smiled.
"I heard that!" Cota growled from the kitchen.
"I know, that's why I said it. You owe me a new lock" James called back.
"Rather owe you a new lock then have your daughter hyperventilate" Cota retorted and opened a soda can.
They talked for a long time, about the latest Voldemort attacks and what, they supposed, he was planning. It wasn't a topic anyone wanted to talk about. But James needed to talk about it in order to be safe. He told Sirius about how the lab was getting strong again, but they haven't done anything big enough to act on, yet. They talked for over an hour, the topic made everyone depressed. After a while, Lilly picked up a book of names and started flipping through the pages.
"Henry...well, it's starts with an H" She said and looked at James.
"Henry? Henry Potter..." James said.
"Henry! You might as well name him 'beat me up'" Sirius interrupted.
"Hansel?" Lilly asked, she liked having an honest opinion.
"Pass" Sirius wrinkled his nose.
"Hermes?" Lilly asked.
"Well, he will be a god of flying... Hermes Potter... no, it sounds like a disease" Sirius shook his head.
"Herbert?"
"Eeww"
"Hideki?" Lilly asked.
"Hideki Potter, sounds alright...What language is that?"
"Japanese"
"Hmm..."
"Or Harry?"
"Harry Potter?...hmmm" Sirius nodded slightly.
"Hatchel"
"Hatchel Potter um-"
"Hiram" Lilly interrupted.
"Lilly" James said.
"H-" Lilly continued.
"Lilly, enough" James warned as Sirius's head spun.
Lilly nodded and went back to reading. James apologized and they started talking about a less depressing subject. Annoying Severus. They were discussing different ways to annoy him at the next reunion, when an owl came in through the opened backdoor. It looked tired and James offered it some water. It drank the water and delivered the note. Which read:
"Hey Kira...you can't read this...so get someone to read it for you...go...Found someone did you? Good. Anyway, our parents say that if you want, you can come over. We are supposed to promise not to play any tricks on you. Anyway, Bill is writing this and says Hi. He'll see you when you get here, he doesn't believe your eyes are really gray and sparkly. If you could come on the 24th that'd be perfect. Mum says to send her an owl if you can come.
From: Fred, George and Bill (George, Fred and Bill, Bill, Fred, and George, Bill, George and Fred....... Bill, Fred and George...it's alphabetical)
"Kira" James called as Sirius read the letter.
Kira hopped up and ran towards the house, this meant the coast was clear and whoever was visiting was gone. Kira entered the kitchen and hoped up onto the couch. Then jumped back in surprise as Sirius looked over at her. Lilly smiled at her and told her about the letter. Kira gave her a confused look.
"They've invited you over to their house" Lilly explained.
Kira gave her another confused look.
"They want you to visit them" Lilly told her.
"Not here?" Kira asked.
"Umm, no, over at their house. But you'll be ...safe...there...yeah..." Lilly was getting worried.
"They are expecting a baby too, I think" James stated after a while.
"Well, I guess it'd be okay..." Lilly pondered.
Therefore, it was decided, Kira would go to Fred, and Georges house the 24th.
A month had passed and Kira let her guard down completely, she was no longer afraid that they might lock her somewhere, she stayed in the room when Derek and Oweiry visited, she let herself be happy. She loved her life with James and finally became the smiling little girl that James had hoped she would be. Lilly had quickly seen the change and it made her excited. Kira trusted Lilly more and they went shopping on Mondays. Lilly loved to buy Kira clothes, though it was hard to find some that were her size. Lilly even took Kira to Muggle clothing stores.
James had been back at work for a while, but he refused to bring home any paper work. He did not think that Kira needed to hear about the dark arts. Lilly had been so careful about putting on a happy act when they went shopping even though she was scared Voldemort might attack. Lilly was also worried about what would happen in July, when their son would be born. So far, on name choices they had about 471 names, in many different languages.
Cota suggested they pick 365 they like and then the kid could have a different name every day. To this, he was glared at by Lilly and retreated to the stable to feed Pat. James told her not to worry; they would know what name they wanted when the time was right. Lilly wanted nothing that would be too weird; she wanted something that would reflect a good spirit. Even though this comforted her, she went shopping with Kira and brought home more name books.
Kira plopped down onto her pillow and opened one of the books. Cota and James had made Kira a big puffy pillow, because she liked to be ready for anything and when she was on the couch, she had to hop down in order to hide. She had fallen the first time Sirius had come over unannounced. Kira had leapt from the couch, scraped her knees, and hid behind the stairs. Now she was braver though. She did not jump or anything, she just continued whatever it was that she was doing, but she was still a bit scared. Cota walked over to Kira and helped her read the book; she was getting slightly better at it. She would point to a name; he gave her the definition and then had her pronounce the name.
"More name books?" James asked.
"Pick a name, any name," Lilly growled, not in a good mood.
"Sorry" James apologized.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell" Lilly was suddenly very sad. "I just wanted a name, I looked through a hundred books, all the names are either to flashy or have been used to many times, or don't go with the name Potter (Percy, Peter, Pat, ect) or they have horrible meanings" She continued.
James gave her a sympathetic look, he felt bad because he had turned down the name Tyler, but it just did not sound right. Tyler Potter, no, nothing that ends in er.
"It means hero," Cota stated as Kira pointed to a name.
"Hay-el...Hale" Kira read.
"I just want something simple, not flashy, or hard to say" Lilly stated, James nodded. "Something with a good meaning, I can tell a bit about this baby, James. It is inside me and I can tell. And most of the names don't fit him. He's been through so much"
James looked at her, he knew why she said he had been through so much, it was because he, the baby, had nearly died. The doctors were rushing to save him, and just before the gave up, he kicked and showed he was alive. The healed him, but it was still upsetting to Lilly to know that she almost lost her baby.
"I can feel it James, he is strong. He doesn't like to be forced into things, but that's just because he likes independence, and he's a lot like you, James," Lilly continued.
"I know, I know, I feel it too" James was worried, he didn't want Lilly to waste her energy, but Lilly was upset and he understood.
"I wish we could find a name to match his personality and something that fits what we want. But it looks hopeless; maybe we should just pick the name that sounds best, regardless of its meaning. It's not going to be perfect but it-"Lilly stopped as she heard what Cota was saying.
"You are an 11th hour person, always succeeding just in the nick of time. You have a lack of confidence in your mental abilities and do not like being forced into giving your opinion. Your independence and freedom are important to you. You have a great deal of loyalty to those you love. You have a very individual, reserved, serious nature. You are steadfast and loyal, and do not allow gossip or anything belittling to be said against those whom you accept in friendship. You have much inner strength," Cota said as Kira pointed to another name.
Lilly looked to James.
"Why are you always picking 'H' names, Kira?" Cota asked.
Kira opened her sketchbook, there were three letters written down, one was blue, one was green and one was red.
Kira pointed at the J "Joy" She said, then pointed at the L "Love, loyalty" She said then she pointed at the H "Harmony, happiness, hope" She said.
"What name is it?" Lilly and James asked at the same time. Kira closed the book.
"Nope" She said.
"What?" Lilly asked.
"I'm not gonna tell you" Kira stated.
Cota shook his head at James that he hadn't seen the name.
"Why not!" Lilly exclaimed. "I need to pick a name. I love the meaning and why you wanted it to start with an H," Lilly stated.
"I want you both to decide" Kira explained.
"We are trying; can't you help us a bit?" James asked.
Kira looked at him with a puzzled look on her face. "I already did, I told you it started with an 'H', isn't that helping?"
"Yes, but..." James shrugged. "Well, at least we know there IS the perfect name out there" James smiled at Lilly.
"...If we are at the hospital and we can't think of a name, will you tell us the name, Kira?" Lilly asked, kneeling so she was looking Kira straight in the eyes.
Kira smiled "If you REALLY can't think of a name for your own son!...I'll give you 3 names, you can pick out of them"
"Well, we've got about 3 months to decide" Lilly stated.
Kira nodded and picked up another book, she pointed at a name and Cota told her the meaning.
"If you look at all those names won't you forget the one for our son?" Lilly asked, the worry obvious in her voice.
"No" Kira looked up at Lilly "I won't forget, I promise"
Lilly nodded and Kira went back to pointing at names. Kira heard a doorbell ring, someone had come unannounced.
"Kira, go outside" James told her.
He had something important to talk to Sirius about and wasn't thinking how much it would scare her. Kira gave him a deer in the headlights look and her eyes darted towards the door as the bell rang again.
"Oop's" James slapped his hand over his eyes. "I forgot, Sirius was coming over today and I didn't tell Kira"
James had only told her to go outside because he thought he had told her about Sirius coming. He hadn't meant to scare her, but looking at her he could se how much he had scared her. She bolted towards the kitchen door.
"Ahhh" Came Kira's cry as she found the back door locked.
Lilly was slow getting up and James just told her to stay down, and not to worry. He yelled for Cota to help Kira and hopped over to let Sirius in.
"Ahh" Kira stated as Cota sprang into the kitchen and she was trying to pull the door open.
"Sorry" Cota grimaced and fumbled to unlock the door.
"Hello Sirius" James greeted.
"He-" Sirius started.
"Unlock the door! Unlockthedoorunlockthedoor. Please, pleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease" Kira begged desperately as Cota tried to get the lock unstuck.
"Did I come at a bad time?" Sirius asked.
"No, I forgot that lock was stuck" James admitted. "And I just told her to go outside, throwing her into the panic of being trapped" He bit his lip.
"Please" Kira whimpered and tugged at Cota's cloak.
Cota gave up and took out his wand, he blasted the lock and flung the door open.
"You're free!" He stated triumphantly as Kira jumped out of the house.
"And now that lock is broken" James sighed and Sirius made himself at home.
Kira ran down to the stream. She loved living here, she loves the green grass, the blue sky, the clear sparkling water. She took a deep breath of the clean air and closed her eyes. It was a Muggle neighborhood, but it was beautiful and had a stone path, horses everywere, big beautiful houses. It was perfect, and James's house was located infront of a forest and meadow. Kira was still a little shaky, she wasn't a wuss, she was a 1 year old with an advanced mind, who spent the first five months of her life in a lab with mutilated people and test stuff all around her. Kira was watching purple fish swim around in the stream, she liked the fish.
"So, how goes the name picking?" Sirius asked Lilly.
"You'd have to ask Kira, she knows the name, but she's not telling" Lilly answered, the annoyance in her voice wasn't hidden.
"Honey, think, if she wasn't here we'd still be frantically looking through names and probably pick some thing stupid...Like Cota" James smiled.
"I heard that!" Cota growled from the kitchen.
"I know, that's why I said it. You owe me a new lock" James called back.
"Rather owe you a new lock then have your daughter hyperventilate" Cota retorted and opened a soda can.
They talked for a long time, about the latest Voldemort attacks and what, they supposed, he was planning. It wasn't a topic anyone wanted to talk about. But James needed to talk about it in order to be safe. He told Sirius about how the lab was getting strong again, but they haven't done anything big enough to act on, yet. They talked for over an hour, the topic made everyone depressed. After a while, Lilly picked up a book of names and started flipping through the pages.
"Henry...well, it's starts with an H" She said and looked at James.
"Henry? Henry Potter..." James said.
"Henry! You might as well name him 'beat me up'" Sirius interrupted.
"Hansel?" Lilly asked, she liked having an honest opinion.
"Pass" Sirius wrinkled his nose.
"Hermes?" Lilly asked.
"Well, he will be a god of flying... Hermes Potter... no, it sounds like a disease" Sirius shook his head.
"Herbert?"
"Eeww"
"Hideki?" Lilly asked.
"Hideki Potter, sounds alright...What language is that?"
"Japanese"
"Hmm..."
"Or Harry?"
"Harry Potter?...hmmm" Sirius nodded slightly.
"Hatchel"
"Hatchel Potter um-"
"Hiram" Lilly interrupted.
"Lilly" James said.
"H-" Lilly continued.
"Lilly, enough" James warned as Sirius's head spun.
Lilly nodded and went back to reading. James apologized and they started talking about a less depressing subject. Annoying Severus. They were discussing different ways to annoy him at the next reunion, when an owl came in through the opened backdoor. It looked tired and James offered it some water. It drank the water and delivered the note. Which read:
"Hey Kira...you can't read this...so get someone to read it for you...go...Found someone did you? Good. Anyway, our parents say that if you want, you can come over. We are supposed to promise not to play any tricks on you. Anyway, Bill is writing this and says Hi. He'll see you when you get here, he doesn't believe your eyes are really gray and sparkly. If you could come on the 24th that'd be perfect. Mum says to send her an owl if you can come.
From: Fred, George and Bill (George, Fred and Bill, Bill, Fred, and George, Bill, George and Fred....... Bill, Fred and George...it's alphabetical)
"Kira" James called as Sirius read the letter.
Kira hopped up and ran towards the house, this meant the coast was clear and whoever was visiting was gone. Kira entered the kitchen and hoped up onto the couch. Then jumped back in surprise as Sirius looked over at her. Lilly smiled at her and told her about the letter. Kira gave her a confused look.
"They've invited you over to their house" Lilly explained.
Kira gave her another confused look.
"They want you to visit them" Lilly told her.
"Not here?" Kira asked.
"Umm, no, over at their house. But you'll be ...safe...there...yeah..." Lilly was getting worried.
"They are expecting a baby too, I think" James stated after a while.
"Well, I guess it'd be okay..." Lilly pondered.
Therefore, it was decided, Kira would go to Fred, and Georges house the 24th.
