A/N: I'm very proud of myself for updating so quickly. Of course, I was not intimidated at all by a certain person's staring-werewolf-threat... Or maybe just a little ;) I'm afraid there won't be a sequel though, Messr-Paddifoots-love, when I've reached the end of the story everything is pretty much finished. And you caught a mistake! She did stay inside the house, so she didn't change her appearance, but I completely overlooked the midwitch! Bad me! I'm still thinking about how I will fix that.
I'm happy to be back too, Katy :) You really think Harry will die in book 7? I've always had the suspicion it's gonna be Ron. And I really, really don't want Lupin to die. He's one of my favourites. And Tonks! And Gred and Forge! And Sirius - although he doesn't really count in this list, since he's already dead... Hmm.
You know, for a person who has no trouble at all killing her own characters off, I seem to be very worrisome about JKR's characters...
Anyways, thanks to Kurama-forever and SiriusLover08 (always great to hear from a new reviewer!) for reviewing and I hope you all like the next chapter.


Autumn

"Enjoying yourself?" Severus asked, raising a sardonic eyebrow at me.

I grinned at him over the top of my wine glass. "I'm just bouncing with delight," I riposted.

"The bride is looking lovely," he then said, with his usual way of making a mockery out of light conversation.

I chuckled. "Yes, she looks very happy," I agreed innocently.

Severus gave me a sharp look, but snorted in amusement when I batted my eyelashes.

It wasn't as if I was lying; Sophie Westley – pardon me, Sophie Rosier – looked exquisite; and of course, so was Evan. A very handsome couple indeed.

My mother had thrown quite an impressive temper tantrum when our family had received the invitation to Evan's wedding. I was dying to go, however. Finally I would be completely free from that man. Married off to another. No more sly comments from my mother and sister, no more worrying that Evan wanted to pick up where we had left off. Free!

Though I was so happy I could do a dance on the spot, I grudgingly admitted I felt sorry for Sophie. The girl had no idea what she was getting into. She was so innocent it almost hurt. I had felt like a scandalous and perverted woman when she had welcomed me to her wedding with open arms and shining eyes and had gasped, "Miss Carden, I'm so happy you're here. Evan has told me so much about you and I couldn't wait to meet you. And now you're here!"

I had forced a smile on my face. Sophie was an angel in her pure white gown – I had no doubt the colour was justified – and flowing golden hair. Happiness danced in her baby-blue eyes. She bombarded me with information about the arrangements of her wedding and asking me advice in all sorts of things. She requested I would help her pick a new set of clothes. "After all," she said, "I can't go around looking like a girl anymore and I've always admired your gowns."

"My gowns?" I had stuttered.

"Yes, from the pictures in the Daily Prophet and Witch Weekly," she clarified. "Please, please say you'll help me."

Oh God. How can I say no to that?

I couldn't. And so, ten minutes later we had planned a visit to Diagon Alley the moment she returned from her honeymoon.

"Niamh?" Severus asked.

I blinked, realising I had been lost in thought. In one gulp I downed my wine. "She's so bloody innocent it's driving me mad," I said to him.

This took him by surprise and he let out a short laugh. "I'll drink to that." He waved at a waiter to refill my glass. We clinked our glasses together with a grin.

Severus wasn't unpleasant company to be around. Well, he could be sullen, cruel, and condescending, and Sirius thoroughly disliked him – if not hated – but I always felt that Severus's sarcasm and sharp tongue kept me sharp instead of numbed, like I usually felt when chatting away like a cow at these sorts of gatherings. We'd been sparring partners since our first year at Hogwarts.

"You know she'll never be happy with him," he said, inclining his head to Evan, who was just whispering something in his wife's ear. Her whole face lit up.

I groaned inwardly. He had clearly put his charms to good use. She adored him. Poor girl.

"Marriage isn't about happiness, Severus," I sighed. "It's about connections."

"Well, well, well," he scoffed. "Haven't you listened carefully to your mother."

I laughed. "Severus!" I scolded.

He looked sideways at me, his mouth twitching. "You know what I mean though?"

"Of course I do," I said. "He'll put her in his family's house, get her pregnant, and do as he likes."

"She obviously loves him," he stated in a bored fashion.

"Her family should have taught her better," I retorted mercilessly.

"Cold witch."

"Psh, don't tell me you disagree!"

"As a matter of fact; I am madly in love with a woman myself. I plan on picking wildflowers for her, bring her a serenade, and ask her to marry me," Severus replied straight-faced, and so dryly that I sprayed my wine back into my cup.

"You're killing me," I coughed.

"Do forgive me."

"Of course I do." I automatically looked around for Aoife, but that was useless. She had been packed off to Ireland when our fathers had found out about her liaison with Cecil. Cecil might be a pure-blood, but he was most definitely not of our social standing. There had been nothing Aoife could do about it. Within an hour my uncle Fionn had had her bags packed and had Disapparated with her.

I had no doubt Aoife would be married soon – whether she liked it or not. Fionn's leniency towards his daughter had ended. Another life wasted, I thought glumly.

I became aware of the fact that Severus's eyes were examining my face, so I quickly conjured up a wicked smirk. "Do you think Evan will appreciate it if I give his bride some advice on how to behave in the marital bed?"

"I imagine he'll be thrilled that you and his bride are swapping stories."

"You're sharp today, Severus."

Before he could reply, Narcissa floated by and stopped to chat. Only a few months after the birth of her son, Draco, she had already regained her old figure.

"Cissy, darling," I chirruped. "How are you?"

"Wonderful, darling. And you?"

"Good, good. How is your baby?"

"Oh, absolute madness. I have a constant headache from all the crying. If I didn't have my nurse, I don't know what I would do," she sighed.

"Fortunately you have some time away now," I replied. "You should have fun."

"I know," Narcissa nodded. "Ah, I see Lucius over there. He hasn't entertained me all night. I think I will force him to dance with me."

I waved with my fingers when she walked on. What a difference from James and Lily. Though little Harry was the son of a pure-blood too, he would never have to grow up as one and that was something he should be very grateful of.

I was able to see my godson two days later. I Apparated to Potter Mansion, prepared to do some serious spoiling. I was surprised to find Sirius there, with Harry in his arms. He hadn't seen me yet as he was sauntering along through Harry's bedroom, the two heads with equally black hair close together.

Sirius's somewhat arrogant features by nature had completely softened and he was murmuring something to the baby. There was something utterly endearing about seeing a large man like him holding a tiny baby so protectively.

He looked up when I walked into the room. "Hi," he said softly.

I smiled down at my two-month-old godson. "Hello," I cooed, caressing his cheek with a finger. So soft. Harry looked at me with wide green eyes, exactly like Lily's. As Abby had predicted, the colour had changed.

I frowned. "Where is Abby?"

"She's under the weather, but Lily and James had planned their first night out together, and she didn't want them to cancel it, so here I am. Instant babysitter." Sirius gave me a kiss, before he turned his attention to Harry again. "So Harry and I have decided to have a boys' night in, although he would never deny his gorgeous godmother to come along."

I snorted. "Don't traumatise the child, will you?"

He chuckled and handed Harry over to me. "Here, I'll get his bath ready for him."

I walked around with Harry in my arms, his firm little body snuggled against me. He yawned widely and wrinkled his nose. "Oooh, sleepy, are we?" I chuckled. "Don't worry, we'll get you to bed in a moment. I don't know what is keeping that godfather of yours." I gently kissed his forehead.

I heard a soft sound behind me and turned around. Sirius was watching me. He didn't say anything, but the intense look in his eyes sent a rush of feelings through me. I smiled. "One day."

He remained silent for a long time.

"What?" I asked.

"I want to remember you like this," he said hoarsely.

A blush crept over my cheeks when he continued to stare at me.

Harry suddenly gurgled, making Sirius blink and smile. "Come on, let's give him his bath."

Harry gasped in the way only very young babies can when we put him in the water, his head supported by Sirius's large hand. It made me smile just looking at it.

"If… er…" Sirius began slowly and glanced sideways at me. "If we were to have a baby, what name would you give it?"

Surprised I looked up.

"Well, I mean, my family are named after constellations – Merlin knows why," he added under his breath. "I've been thinking about whether I would want to name my own child in the same way."

I chewed on my lip, realising what was behind this. Sirius fiercely claimed to be free from his family, and though breaking with the name tradition could be viewed as a sign of that, I knew that it was also a sign of his continued hatred towards them. A hatred I had told him kept him linked to his family.

A thought appeared in my mind. "I've always liked Saoirse," I said casually.

His head shot up at the sound of that Irish name.

"It means freedom," I added.

Slowly the serious expression on his face dissolved. "I can't hide anything from you, can I?"

I grinned at him. "No, you can't. You would do well to remember that. Now, what do you think of Cuán?"

"Sounds nice."

"Means little dog."

Sirius burst out laughing. "Very funny," he mocked, but his dark thoughts had floated away.

Good, I thought. Like we don't have enough to worry about already.

With a groan as if he were lifting something heavy he took Harry from the bath. "So, little man," he said, holding the baby up in front of him. "What do you think of a nice long nap?"

Harry merely stared at him doubtfully and proceeded to pee all over his shirt. I shook with laughter at Sirius's expression.

"Why, you cheeky little…" Sirius muttered and laid his godson on top of the chest of drawers Lily used to change Harry on. He cleaned himself with a simple charm.

"Right, I think it's time we establish some ground rules, young man," Sirius said sternly. "One, there will be no peeing on godfathers. Two, there will be no crying when I'm entertaining myself with your godmother." He ignored my indignant exclamation. "Three, there will be no… ah, never mind, too much rules will ruin you."

I grabbed a fluffy towel from a drawer and softly dried Harry's skin.

He was so tired that his eyes were drooping while Sirius put his diaper on. "What have you done with him? He's exhausted," I whispered.

"We've been entertaining each other all afternoon," he grinned.

"You've been boring him with Marauder stories, you mean," I concluded dryly. "No wonder he's sleepy."

"I beg your pardon? We Marauders will be famous for many years to come. I'll have him ready to continue the Marauder tradition long before he's eleven," Sirius declared.

I raised a sceptical eyebrow. "Don't let Lily hear you say that. She'll fire you."

He carried Harry to his cradle and laid him on his stomach. I bent over and kissed my godson, inhaling the scent of baby.

Wrapping his arm around my shoulders Sirius walked downstairs with me. "Lets just hope that any baby of ours has my looks," he commented daintily. I elbowed him viciously in the side. Sirius doubled over, laughing, but quickly redeemed himself by kissing me deeply.

We spent the evening comfortably downstairs. A little Muggle device Lily called a baby monitor lay on the table so we could hear Harry if he started crying.

We brought some tea to Abby's room, who really seemed to be coming down with something. Sirius asked if he should send a message to Roger, who was visiting a friend, but Abby said she was fine. The next day I heard Roger and James had called for a Healer, who had diagnosed Abby with dragon pox. I stared in horror at Sirius. "But…" I stuttered, "at her age…"

"I know," Sirius said sadly. "Roger refuses to leave her side, even though he could become ill too."

I hadn't expected anything else from Roger. He'd been married for over fifty years; he would not leave his wife alone while she was suffering from a life-threatening disease.

"Merlin be damned," I groaned. "Not this too."

Sirius opened his arms, offering me a place to hide, which I gladly took.

Two weeks later Abby died; Roger followed her three days later.


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