Harry didn't know how long he laid there, tears streaming down his face until he couldn't cry anymore. He only looked up when he heard shouts coming from upstairs and realized it was already early morning.
He pulled himself up and went upstairs to find Crosby excitedly shaking the bars of his cribs. When Harry picked him up, he started babbling to him about 'presents' and 'Santa'. Harry watched him excitedly opening his presents until he came to the last one, the toy broom Sirius and him bought a few days ago.
After that when he was cooking breakfast, Crosby sitting on the floor playing with the new fake wand that shot out different colour sparks, Harry finally was able to think clearly. What had happened that had made Sirius suddenly rush off? They hadn't had a serious fight, not since a couple of weeks ago when Sirius had hit him, but they seemed to be over that and were getting along better. He wondered if maybe it was the sex? Everything had seemed okay to him there too. Different of course, he thought, looking at the stomach in front of him, but if that was the explanation then Sirius had no real reason for it, considering it was partly his fault.
"Mummy?" Crosby said, finally looking away from his new toy. "When's daddy coming back?" He asked and Harry stopped what he was doing and kneeled down next to him.
"Daddy's not coming back baby." He said gently.
"Why not?" Tears welled up in Harry's eyes and Crosby put his hand on his mother's cheek, attempting to wipe away the tears. Harry laughed and hugged his son. Both stayed like that for a few minutes until Crosby wriggled away.
"Does daddy still love us?" He asked randomly.
"Well, the babies are doing ok, but it's you I'm more worried about." The healer said to Harry as he sat in the examining room. "Tests show you're under a vast amount of stress lately."
"You could say that."
"Well, you need to relax, stay off your feet for a couple of hours a day. Your body's already working hard enough to keep them alive and growing. If it's put under stress, it increases the chance of early labour by about eighty percent. Twins are already born smaller than normal so we need to prevent labour for as long as possible." Harry glared at him.
"I have a son to take care of, a house to clean and a twelve-hour job. How do you suppose I can relax?"
"Isn't there anyone to help you? Family, friends, a lover, maybe?" Harry shook his head. "Well, under the circumstances, we can probably expect these two by New Year at the latest. Here's my floo address. Call me if you feel any changes. If nothing happens till then, I'll see you for your next appointment in a week."
Harry tiredly walked home after another long day, his feet aching and spine feeling like it was about to snap in half.
His vault, as he'd discovered the next day, had been closed about three weeks after they'd left, most likely by his father in an attempt to get him to come home, and he'd realized shortly after that, despite how much he didn't want to admit it, without Sirius's paycheque each month, they would soon go broke. He'd gone straight after that and got a job. Unfortunately, this one seemed worse than his last, but he needed the pay too much to quit.
He fetched Crosby from one of the neighbours, not Mrs. Tout, she'd ask questions and go find Sirius and force him to come back. Harry had decided he would rather suffer than have Sirius staying with him and not wanting to be there. He cooked dinner for Crosby, knowing he should have some himself but being too tired to at, and fed the eagerly waiting mouth.
"Mummy? Can we fly my new broom from Santa?"
"Of course we can after dinner, now hold still." Harry replied as attempted to wipe the spaghetti sauce from his son's face. After he'd gotten him clean, he dressed Crosby warmly and got the toy broom from upstairs, then followed him onto the snow covered front yard…
Wow, once again MadamBlack is to thank for the update. She went through desperate measures, annoying the hell out of people to get them to review.
You know what, I tried thank yous, and it's taking too long. People want updates. I shall be posting the thank yous on my yahoo group as soon as I get the, finished (probably take another week)
Thank you to all and a late happy halloween!
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