Easier To Run
5. Octavia
"Oh 'Cissa. he's gorgeous." I smiled at Lily as she held my baby boy.
"Not as gorgeous as little Harry." I bounced Harry on my knee and he chortled happily.
They were roughly the same age, Draco being a few months older. We were playing in the nursery at Headquarters. Not the blasted Order of the Phoenix headquaters but headquarters for the Phalanx.
"They need you in the meeting." Nymphadora droned tonelessly. She was six years old now and was anxious to join the meetings.
"Ok Dora." We left the children with Dora and we left for the meeting.
The meeting went just like the meetings usually do. Except today, Sirius was late. When Addy opened the door Sirius was facing the field just outside talking to himself.
"Talking to yourself is the first sign of madness." Lily called, grinning cheekily as Ted tried, and failed, to stifle his laughter.
Sirius turned, a baby pink blanket cradled in his arms a baby bag hanging precariously from his right wrist. I distinctly rember dropping my teacup. Sirius stepped wordlessly into the kitchen and sank into the closest chair, rocking the baby in his arms. She was gorgeous, at least I assumed it was a she, Sirius was hopeless and the poor child might have been a baby boy confined in a feminine garment. Or blanket, whichever you preferred. Sirius loosened the blanket and gently pulled it off.
"Hey honey." he cooed as the little girl started moving. She gurgled at Sirius. The little baby was wearing a little bear jumpsuit, the hood pulled over her ears. He smiled down at her and I felt my heart fill with affection. Sirius had been upset ever since Lily's wedding. Then he was made Harry's God-Father. Poor Siri.
"Sorry I'm late, Someone had to go to the bathroom." he tickled the girl's stomach.
"OH Sirius she's gorgeous." Addy was the first to speak.
"Did you hear that Octavia? It's not just me, everyone else thinks your gorgeous too."
"So that's Octavia." Lily said, strangely withdrawn.
Sirius looked up at her, "Yeah."
Lily opened her arms and Sirius gently handed Octavia over. Tears filled Lily's eyes as she took in the familiar features of a Dark Veela. I didn't find out what was wrong until much later.