AN: Thank you for all the support! It is very deeply appreciated!
Even across the room Severus was inundated from the happiness emitting from Sirius' aura. Although Severus was reluctant to call the sensation he felt warmth, it was something which forced his lips upwards. If he had a heart, Severus knew it would be fluttering and his magic would be strong enough to cast a Patronus based on Sirius' energy alone. He expected to feel this type of emotion from Hermione, but not from Sirius.
Thank goodness Severus had put his robe back on what he guessed hours before Sirius arrived. The last thing he needed was to deal with a giddy Sirius ribbing him about his appearance. Then again given that his glow was so intense that his facial features were barely distinguishable from each other, he may not notice something as insignificant as Severus.
"Hermione may not be able to meet with you tonight," Sirius began.
"Why not?" Severus furrowed his eyebrows. So help him if Black was giddy about a possible misfortune...
"Luna is having her baby today!" Sirius was shimmering. "Harry is going to be a godfather!"
"Oh joy, more Potters," Severus muttered.
"Depending on when the baby is born, she may go see him. If she is gone, don't be surprised."
"Did she communicate that she'd be gone?"
"Not in so many words."
"So you finally are reading between the lines."
Sirius made no indication that he'd heard Severus. He folded his hands and looked up to the sky. "St. Pete! St. Pete! Where are you?"
The saint materialized before him, a frown etched on his face. He squeezed his golden staff as he stepped towards Sirius. After one step, the saint's glow went from red to yellow. His grip on the staff was loosened.
"Thank you for coming," Sirius began.
"Usually I don't appreciate being summoned," St. Peter began. "But this seems quite important."
"I have two favors to ask."
"Only two," Severus smirked.
St Peter gave Severus a look. The spirit glanced at a book, deciding it was best not to interrupt.
"First," Sirius kept his gaze on St. Peter. "Can I take a night off to watch over Luna Potter?"
"Why does she need someone to watch over her?"
"Because she's having my godson's baby!"
"Congratulations!" St. Peter's eyes lit up. "It's always so happy when a new baby is born."
"Yes, and given that I was Harry's godfather, I would like to be there for him."
"Well, it doesn't directly pertain to your mission, but you are not confined to Purgatory either."
"I know I'm not supposed to do anything which doesn't pertain to Hermione…"
St. Peter held up his hand. Severus' eyes grew when Sirius closed his mouth. Was the dog finally learning when to stay silent?
What kind of day was this?
"Dismas has allowed Severus just outside of heaven's gate on several occasions. This does not seem to be much different." St. Peter nodded. "So long as the Trinity does not object to you being present for the birth, I will allow it."
Sirius' face became clearer due to the lessening of his glow. "How will I know if the Trinity has disapproved of me seeing Harry's baby?"
"They'll let you know," St. Peter looked up at the sky. "But I have a feeling they want Harry to be surrounded by as much love and support as he can be."
"Speaking of love and support," Sirius continued. "Does James know he's about to be a grandfather?"
"Most likely, no."
"Can I tell him he's a grandfather then?"
"No."
"Why not?" Sirius' glow returned to its normal hue.
"Souls in Purgatory are not allowed to travel from one level to another on a whim. Since you are in the program, you cannot just visit any tier and return."
"Fine, but does James knows he's a grandfather then?"
"More than likely, no," St. Peter answered. "Souls in Purgatory do not interact with earthly souls. They should be focused on repenting of their sins, not on the cares of the world."
"But James deserves to know he's had a grandson."
"He also deserves five hundred years in Purgatory for sloth and cruelty."
"True, but isn't the Trinity about mercy? Can't some mercy be shown in this case?"
Severus cocked his head. Since when did Sirius know anything about the nature of the Trinity given that earlier it had barely registered with him that Jesus would be offended by laughing at a hanging? Was he actually paying attention to what people in the afterlife were telling him, or had he cracked open a book while on earth?
Had Potter having a son really changed Sirius that significantly in the span of a few hours?
"The Trinity is all merciful," St. Peter explained.
"I know, but James would really love knowing he has a grandson. I mean," Sirius' voice cracked. "He died protecting Harry. It would make him so happy to know he has a grandson. It would make his sacrifice mean more than it already does."
Even Severus had to admit Black made some good points. Despite the lingering ill will towards James, he believed James' sacrifice for his son should mean something.
"James is on the fourth terrace of Purgatory, meaning he's dealing with records," St. Peter began.
"Like birth records?"
"No, he's doing intake on souls entering Purgatory in addition to ensuring that hell has all the supplies it needs."
"What supplies does hell need?"
"Ice," Severus cut in.
The other two turned to him.
"I asked Dismas about how Dante got to hell. He mentioned free ice," Severus explained.
"Dismas always was a bit of a chatterbox," St. Peter muttered.
"Why he not supposed to tell anyone that?"
"It's something we would've preferred to keep quiet." If St. Peter could've sighed, he would've.
"Where does hell have ice?" Sirius shook his head. "No, never mind. I'll ask later. Right now, I need to get down to see Harry, just as soon as I get this James situation worked out."
"Form A1 gets mixed in with others sometimes," St. Peter mused.
"What is form A1?" Sirius asked.
"When someone is born, a new form is created. We have to assign them a guardian angel who watches them from heaven. The final assignment is processed in Purgatory via the A1 form."
"Meaning someone needs to go down to Purgatory and get it processed," Sirius' glow was yellow as a dandelion.
"There are some fairly sensitive forms I need processed. I was going to have Raphael take them down, but I could use a break from my gatekeeping duties."
"Yes, breaks are excellent."
"I'll take the forms down, along with this little baby's birth announcement. If I somehow get the A1 for mixed up with the others and hand them all into James." St. Peter's eyes gleamed. "I am an old saint. Accidents are expected happen. Surely Uriel can sort everything out."
"Oh thank you!" Sirius embraced St. Peter.
Severus' eyes grew as their essences drew closer. The closer they got, the less distinguishable their bodies were. Perhaps love did not bind them, but if love was involved in such a fusion, if he could have that type of connection with Hermione...
St. Peter laughed and backed away. "You are very welcome, Sirius."
"Anyway, I need to go. Wish me luck. Er," Sirius' glow pulsated. "Wish Luna luck. She probably needs it more"
"I am sure the Trinity and Raymond are looking over her."
"Raymond?" Severus asked.
"He's the patron saint of childbirth," St. Peter explained.
"Thank him!" Sirius exclaimed. "Thank you! Goodbye!"
The room darkened when Sirius left.
St. Peter turned to Severus. "How are you feeling?"
"I am well," Severus shrugged.
"You appear to be lost in thought."
"I am simply wondering if Hermione will be present in her house tonight."
"I suppose you'll have to go down and see for yourself. If she is there, she may appreciate the company. It must be hard to await the birth of her godson."
"I would imagine it is," Severus replied.
With that, St. Peter vanished, leaving Severus alone in the room, contemplating the implications of another Potter in the world.
AN (yeah, two for the price of one!) So the patron saint of childbirth is a man named Raymond Nonnatus, or No Birth. He was born via c-section, which in the thirteenth century meant he wasn't technically born. He spent most of his life freeing Christian slaves before being taken captive himself. He died after being ransomed by his order.