A/N: Your reviews made me happy. Have any of you seen 'Wizard Swears' on Potter Puppet Pals?
If you type in 'baby's breath meaning' into Google, you get things like the following: innocence, purity, sincerity festivity, happiness, everlasting love, and finally, a symbol of the hope of procreation and new life, both for the married couple as a new unit and for future offspring.
I don't care if my date isn't when the Order of the Phoenix picture was taken. It works.
This is short. I know it is, and I'm sorry. I will be posting the next chapter before next weekend. The reason why this is so short is because I don't want to start the next conflict in this chapter. I feel bad about the length of the chapter... It's shorter than every other chapter.
Time is moving in a rather arbitrary way, but this is because I'm focusing on specific things.
Oh, and Twinkles is around. She's just in the house or on the grounds. I don't say much about her because she really isn't important right now.
The Scribe's Resurrection
Part Two: Chapter Seventeen
Early Morning on Monday, April 2, 1979
Selena, weary and keyed up, failed to take a shower before getting into bed. She just collapsed onto their large bed in her underwear.
"That was mind-blowing," she muttered, referring to the Order's endeavors of the previous day. Sirius plopped himself down on the bed.
"I still don't get what happened. With the Apparition and the door, I mean."
"The door was enchanted in such a way that when it was closed, the room was separate from the world. When it's open, it's like a normal room. We've got a lot of doors like that in Level Nine, so that's how I knew. I don't understand how Voldemort got one though. Oh well. It's a shame, what happened to Alastor." Selena spoke into her pillow.
"Leg severed off knee down. What was the Death Eater's name again?"
"Karkaroff. Poor bloke, Alastor can't wait 'till he gets his hands on his ruddy neck."
"Yeah."
"It's a boy," Selena said suddenly, propping her head up to see Sirius' reaction.
"Pastel blue, then!" He exclaimed. "What shall we name him? I think Sirius is a fine name for a boy."
"Psh, and he'll turn out like you." Her husband's face morphed into an appalled look.
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
"He'll be reckless, childish, and insane."
"And you love me for it."
"Right." Selena rolled her eyes as Sirius laid on his stomach next to her, mimicking her position. He purposely shoved his shoulder into hers, and Selena returned the favor.
"Okay, if not Sirius, what then?"
"I don't know. We've got to name him after something in astronomy."
"Why?"
"Because you're family's been doing it for years."
"Ughhh."
"You're named after a star, and I'm named after the moon. C'mon now, work with me."
"Can we name him Bill? Or Joe?"
"No." Selena's upper lip contorted in disgust. "Don't like those names."
"Tom?"
"Some evil people were named Tom, so no."
"Like who?"
"Like Voldemort, duh. I found it out in the Archives of the Ministry. I was trying to see if my dad's dad was a wizard."
"Was he?"
"No. Nothing about my father being born to any wizard, just the words, 'Raphael Stephane Riviera: Muggle-born born to Sophie-Lucie Riviera and Jacques Bron Rome.' I'm officially a Muggle-born witch. Anyway, I like the name Raphael."
"Raphael Sirius Black?" Sirius did not point out that the name Raphael had nothing in common with a star, let alone astronomy.
"Sure."
"Yesss." Sirius smiled widely, then put his lips on Selena's tattooed shoulder. "The Order's having a party."
"What for?"
"Just to have one. James says it's to make memories, because after what happened to Moody..."
"Yeah."
"I dunno when it is, though."
Saturday, July 14, 1979
"Say, 'Phoenix!'" Dumbledore exclaimed. He moved next to Alastor Moody, who was leaning on his cane.
"Phoenix!" Everyone smiled, looking their best for the camera. It flashed, and everyone resumed his or her merrymaking.
"Here's your cherry soda," Sirius said, placing the glass before Selena.
"Thank you." Selena grasped it with both hands and sipped on it, directing her attention to Dumbledore.
"I've been meaning to ask- who do you believe was behind that enchanted door?"
"Oh, you can only get those from the Department of Mysteries... My bet's on Rookwood. He's the Head, so he's got access. And, he gives me the heebie jeebies. I don't get those often."
"Hmm. Will you watch him for me?"
"Oh, yes sir. And don't worry, I haven't given him any information he'd find helpful."
"Thank you. And may I say you are looking particularly round."
"Hahaha! Thanks, Headmaster." Selena snatched a cauldron cake off of Sirius' plate and bit into it.
"And that's why she's round," Sirius said.
"'S not me. 'S the baby." Selena patted her stomach. "Anyway, Headmaster, you know that room on Level Nine that you asked about? Well, just the other day, I went in. Don't you know there's a fountain in it? Of course, there're other things than that, but my job that day was to take the potion. It's a love potion. There's some awfully ancient magic in that room, by the way. Love can protect you from a lot of things."
Saturday, July 28, 1979
Selena was supposed to check up on Marlene today. Wearing James' invisibility cloak, she hobbled with her free hand covering her rotund stomach.
"Oh dear Merlin," Selena whispered under her breath. A Dark Mark had come into view. She did not run, fearful of several different things. One of them was the second life she carried with her, and another was whether or not the Death Eaters still remained in the house. So, Selena wordlessly waved her wand; a silver peacock came forth, and it glided in the direction Selena had come.
In less than two minutes, Dumbledore Apparated beside her. She pulled off the cloak.
"Ah," he said. He began walking up the drive. Alice and Frank appeared after him, next to Selena.
"Marlene!" Alice exclaimed, also following Dumbledore.
"C'mon," Frank mumbled, bracing himself for the worst. Selena followed slowly, waiting for the sign from Dumbledore that Death Eaters were not inside the home.
Monday Evening, July 30, 1979
"That is the very last time you're going out by yourself," Sirius chided. "You could've died."
"I know."
"I'm taking you to work every morning." Sirius, angry, had just heard from Dumbledore what Selena had done that day. After Marlene McKinnon died, everyone in the Order was on their guard, and Dumbledore had entrusted Selena with more important jobs, regardless of the fact that she was pregnant. Today, she had dueled the Lestrange Brothers singlehandedly for ten minutes, and despite doing some very impressive, clever wandwork, Sirius was furious at her.
"Okay."
"Anywhere you want to go, I'm taking you. No ifs, ands, or buts."
"Alright."
"I'm serious."
"I know you are. And I'm Selena. I'm not crazy."
"I'm not joking."
"I know."
"Selena, do you understand the gravity of this situat-"
"Oh, shh!" Selena, starry-eyed, took his hand, placing it on her stomach. "Baby Raphael is moving." Sirius quieted down, feeling the movements of his child within his wife.
"Wow..."
"Wow is right." In wonderment and utter bliss, Sirius and Selena sat like that for a moment, with Selena in his lap, until Sirius decided to move her aside and get up.
"Where're you going?"
"To get a book. I want to read to him."
Sirius returned to the amused Selena holding The Tales of Beedle the Bard.
"Oh, I like Beedle," Selena said quietly. "Read 'The Tale of the Three Brothers,' would you?"
"Surely." Selena sat contemplatively as her husband read her and the unborn child the story. And as they read, Twinkles and her family came out of their hiding spot, eager to listen.
Tuesday, September 11, 1979
"Hello again," Selena said, getting into the lift. She had just come out of her office, and she was ready to go home.
"Hello, Selena," Damocles Belby said in a troubled voice.
"What's wrong?" Selena asked, seeing his distraught face. She had not seen him since the day she had found out she was pregnant.
"Oh... Well, see, I've been testing my potion on rats, and the amount of aconite in my Wolfsbane Potion keeps poisoning them. Some pretty awful effects, too. I've got to find out how to take away the poison effects of aconite without taking away it's potency..."
"Have you tried ginger?" Selena asked. "Some Chinese wizards are experimenting with amounts of ginger and ginkgo in certain potions, and in trials it's shown to counteract poisons..."
"Really? I've not tried that yet. Thanks."
"You're welcome." Damocles, now with his mind not troubled, looked down at Selena.
"Oh, wow, I didn't notice! You're having a baby!"
"Yep. Seven months," she commented.
"Congratulations!"
"Thanks." She smiled and turned forwards. "Oh, hey, what's going on?" The lift doors had opened into the Atrium, and there were posters of a blonde woman up everywhere, which was completely different from when Selena had come through these doors several hours before.
"Fundraising concert. You know Darcy Knox?"
"Yes, actually. But what's she got to do with a concert?" Selena spotted Darcy giving autographs.
"She's a songstress, Selena. You didn't know? Tune into the WWN once in a while. Voice of a saint, she has. Oh, look, she's giving away records. Those Muggle contraptions make no sense. People pay a lot of money for them though. See you later, Selena. Got to buy some ginger."
"See you." Selena hesitantly moved closer to the table Darcy sat in, wondering if Darcy would respond if she were to greet her. The raven-haired woman got in line behind a very ecstatic witch in acid-green robes. Leaning on her cane, she waited in line fifteen minutes before the witch in front of her came to the head of the line.
"Can you make it out to Maggie? Thanks. Oh, I just love you, Miss Knox! What gives you inspiration?" The witch was on the verge of hyperventilating. Darcy signed the photograph with a flourish and looked up.
"Mistakes and memories lost give me inspiration," Darcy said solemnly.
"Oh, that's so deep," Maggie crooned, in awe. "Thank you!" She rushed away, squealing.
"And what's your name?" Darcy said, looking down and ready to sign another autograph.
"Selena Black." Darcy glanced up and sighed. Without a word, she leaned to her side and picked up a box with records.
"These are supposed to be for auction," the blonde said. "But you can have these two." Darcy pulled out a sky blue record case with her face on it looking up to the sky. It was entitled, 'The Inner Storm: The Darcy Knox Collection.' And then she produced a black and white one with a montage of black and white photographs on the cover. This one was dubbed 'Painted Wings: The Diary of a Childhood Dream.' None of the pictures moved on either cover.
"How much?" Selena asked.
"Free. I owe you a lot." Darcy signed them both, and then turned her face up to study her friend. She said quietly, "Congratulations on your baby. Regulus and I haven't gotten married yet, but I'm having a baby too. And Regulus isn't as bad as he seems, you know. He doesn't like what the Dark Lord is doing, and neither do I. See you."
Selena, without another word, took her records and moved along to the fireplaces to go home.
---
Selena was in the nursery made up for Raphael Sirius Black. It was painted pastel blue with accents of sapphire. Sirius and Selena had decorated this room wonderfully, and it was clear that Raphael was to be their little prince. In one corner, the white wood crib stood, draped in soft blue linens; a canopy hung overhead. A changing table sat adjacent to the crib, decorated in the same manner. A new soft, furry teddy bear sat on the changing table, a gift sent from Darcy by Artemis; it had arrived earlier that hour. In another area, a plain bed had been placed there by a Healer; Selena was supposed to give birth on that bed in about two months. And near the closet, a record player had been set up.
And so here Selena had immersed herself in her old friend's music, listening carefully and quietly. Her head relaxed on the headrest, the pregnant woman sat in the comfortable rocker with her eyes closed, hands clasped loosely over her stomach. Her eyebrows moved with the ebb and flow of the music, suggesting she was deeply engrossed in it.
Sirius had run up the stairs, wanting to show her what he, Lily, and the other grownup Marauders had got in the house, but stopped when he saw her in the chair. Now he just leaned in the doorway, watching his wife and the sunset in the window behind her. He did not want to disturb her, preferring to capture this moment in his mind.
But the moment did not last, as Selena felt his presence.
"Yes?" She kept her eyes closed.
"I was going to ask you to come downstairs, but you're busy..."
"What I'm doing can wait," she said, waving her wand to cut off the record player. She slowly opened her eyes.
"No, no, I like watching you."
"Oh, Sirius." Selena proceeded to stand, and Sirius ambled over to assist.
As he did, he stole a kiss and murmured in her ear, "I love you very much."
"I love you very much too." Selena waddled along, Sirius chuckling at how silly she looked. "So, what've you to show me?"
"You'll see."
"HURRY UP," James yelled up the stairway. He saw Selena on the landing of the stairs, eyes narrowed. She had about ten more stairs to go down.
"I'm coming. 'S not easy, James."
"I know. That's why mobilicorpus!"
"JAMES POTTER!" Selena and Sirius bellowed in unison. Selena hovered down the stairs.
"PUT MY WIFE DOWN RIGHT NOW OR I'LL BASH YOUR FACE IN!"
"I'LL CURSE YOU TO DEATH'S DOOR IF YOU DROP ME, JAMES!" James, with wonderful deftness and a smile, placed Selena carefully on the wood floor.
"Oh, James, the poor dear's carrying, can't you see that?" Lily said painfully, shaking her head. James rolled his eyes as Lily and Sirius moved Selena into the den.
"Ooh!" Selena cooed as she saw what sat in the middle of her semi-octagonal room. "A piano!"
Her friends had placed a beautifully wrought mahogany piano in the space, right in the middle of the five large windows.
"Isn't it beautiful?" Lily asked. "It's a music room now."
"Oh, yes," Selena concurred. "But too bad I don't know how to play."
"I'll teach you," Sirius said, seating himself on the bench.
"You know how to play?" Selena asked, heading for the nearest comfortable, plushy couch. She sat next to Remus and set her head in her hands.
"Of course I know how to play!" Sirius cried, appalled that his own wife did not know. "Why else would I buy a piano?"
"True."
"Play something," James commanded, handing everyone cold bottles of butterbeer.
"Yes, sir." Sirius flexed his fingers and began running his fingers across the keys. A fast, optimistic melody sounded out of the baby grand piano.
Selena, thoroughly impressed, watched him in awe, and glanced at the others. A shot of happiness coursed through her as she saw all of her friends, happy and warm in one room. She wondered how long life would be like this; she murmured a silent prayer, wishing that the glow she felt now would never leave.