The "Harry Potter" characters belong to JK Rowling, her associates and affiliates. CPT Holdings Inc. and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment own "Bewitched" and "Tabitha". For entertainment purposes only. There. I have spoken.
Ka-thunk, ka-thunk, ka-thunk. Tabitha woke to the familiar noise coming from the room next to hers. Ka-thunk, ka-thunk. Sighing, she swung her legs over the edge of the bed, pulled on some leggings and changed into an oversized shirt. She wasn't quite big enough for maternity clothes, but all her old outfits were too small. Her only dressy outfit was hanging on a peg on the wall, and she was saving it for her job interview later today. She scraped her blond hair into a ponytail and headed to the bathroom while the getting was good. The ka-thunk continued unabated until Tabitha opened the door to find Sarah busily rocking her crib across the floor. One quick diaper change, then Tabitha scooped her daughter out of the crib and hoisted her on her hip to take her downstairs to the kitchen.
Halfway down the stairs Tabitha realized she had forgotten to check that the picture of Sirius' mother was covered. Mrs. Black was simply beside herself that a half-blood and a muggle were living in her home, and yelled diatribe at them whenever she saw them. The first time it happened, Tabitha had jumped, but Sarah had been facinated. Just like watching TV, except the show was about a screaming old lady. Sometimes she would even lift up the curtain covering the portrait, but Tabitha tried to prevent that. After all, there was no use in teasing the old woman.
They were in luck. The portrait was covered. Tabitha yawned as she padded down the hall with Sarah on her hip. Tabitha had stayed awake too late the night before playing wizard chess with Sirius. It was diverting and helped keep her mind off Paul. She dropped into bed exausted and avoided having to lay awake thinking about him. However, she was paying the price now, as she was sure to be woken up at daybreak by her active little toddler.
Tabitha yawned again as she pushed open the kitchen door, and wiggled her nose with her free hand to bring the high chair sliding across the floor to her. As an added bonus, the tray conveniently disattached itself and hovered nearby until Sarah was strapped and buckled into place. Then, the tray reattached to the chair, and Tabitha magicked up a pancake and a sippy-cup of milk. Sarah went to work on the breakfast as Tabitha plopped down at the table, put her head in her arms and mulled sleepily over her own menu choices.
"I've told you, Tabitha, you don't have to make your own breakfast. That's what Kreacher's for."
Without lifting her head, she muttered, "Yeah, sure, and have him spit in my food because my dad's a mortal."
Sirius sounded stern. "If Kreacher's been harrassing you..."
Tabitha lifted her head enough to rest her cheek on one hand, eyes closed. "No, no. I don't want to get him in trouble. He didn't do anything wrong. I spoke out of turn. It's not a problem, really, to use my magic. I actually kind of like it. Dad was always nervous around magic, and it's nice to use it without being looked at oddly." So was Paul, for that matter, but she didn't want to sound disloyal to her departed husband. At that, she opened her eyes to look at him. She saw he was standing a little defensively, wand out. "Why are you..."
She turned slowly to look in the direction he was looking. There, against the wall where the kitchen door was, stood a warlock entirely dressed in black, with black hair and black eyes, wand pointed in Sirius' direction. It was obvious she had walked in on an argument.
"Sirius..." She began.
"Tabitha, may I introduce you to an associate of mine, Severus Snape." Sirius' voice was heavy with sarcasm.
Tabitha rose a little awkwardly and extended her hand. "Hey. Tabitha Thurston." Snape shook her hand briefly, warily keeping his attention on Sirius.
Tabitha sat down slowly, one arm looped over the back of the chair, eyeing both warlocks.
"You know," she said slowly, "It's really none of my business, but maybe it's not such a good idea for the members of the Order to be fighting amongst themselves."
"She knows?" Snape asked.
"McGonagall's niece," replied Sirius.
Snape shook his head as Sirius explained, "This isn't a fight, Tabitha, just a discussion between old school aquaintances."
"Ah-huh. Well, in that case, knock yourselves out."
"So you approve?" Sirius said, amused.
"Look, I went to high school. You think I don't have former classmates I would love to zap if I ever saw them again?. But, no fighting around the baby. You'll just have to wait until after breakfast."
Tabitha turned towards the high chair and wiggled her nose. A cup of tea and a piece of toast appeared before her on the table, and at the same time, every mug on the wall flew up into the air and went spinning around the ceiling over everybody's heads, much to the alarm of the warlocks and the squealing delight of Sarah. Mommy was so much more fun since moving to Grimmauld Place.
"I mean it. No fighting around the baby." She wiggled her nose again and the cups gently returned to their places.
"I was just leaving, anyway," said Snape, glaring at Sirius, who returned his look stare for stare. Sarah watched him with her big, solemn eyes as he left.