The late August weather was sweltering outside of Hogwarts, but inside it was nice and cool much to Ashlynn's relief. Now eight months pregnant Ashlynn had been preparing to start her teaching career at Hogwarts. In two days, she was going to be teaching third and fourth years in their Ancient Runes class.
The Healers at St. Mungo's had said that she was due late September but the baby could come any time. Sirius and Ashlynn were excited to find out that they were going to have a baby girl and had been pouring over baby book names for just the right name.
She sat in the classroom with Sirius by her side in his dog form. Dumbledore had told Sirius that he could not be in the main area of Hogwarts so he had taken to wandering around in his animagus form to be close to his wife while she was preparing for her classes.
Ashlynn let out a little "Oh." and placed her hand on her stomach. She heard Sirius whine and Ashlynn smiled as he petted his head. "It's okay Padfoot the baby was just kicking." She said with a smile. She had absolutely refused to call him Sirius when he was in dog form so he insisted she call him Padfoot instead.
Sirius placed his head on her lap and whimpered. His paw came up and tapped the new watch he had gotten her on her eighteenth birthday. "I know I know. It's time to go meet Lily and James." She whispered. He barked once in agreement and then stood up. Quickly they made their way to the apartment once there he was back in human form.
"That's starting to get really old, hanging out in dog form all day." Sirius said with a small smile. He had refused to go on any missions since Ashlynn due date was approaching.
"Well you know the full moon is soon you can go with Remus and James, you don't have to stay with me." She said with a smile.
Sirius shook his head. "I'm not leaving love. You can give birth at any point in time and I'm not missing the birth of our first child." He said with a small smile.
Ashlynn laughed and nodded as they made their way out of Hogwarts. Once the reached Hogsmeade they apparated just outside of Godric's Hollow. Holding hands, they walked through the village they had first spent time together. It felt like so long ago to both. When the reach the Potter's house Sirius knocked quietly. They entered without waiting for an answer, as both couples were high on the list for the Death Eaters to capture and kill. The Longbottoms were in the same boat as the Blacks and Potters were.
"Surprise!" A house full of people yelled and Ashlynn jumped back startled. She blushed a deep red color when she read the twinkling banner that said. 'Congratulations! It's a Girl!' She knew that Lily and Alice had planned a baby shower for her even though she had insisted they do not do such a thing.
"Lily! Alice!" Ashlynn cried and both women raced forward to give her a hug.
"Well we could not let you welcome the baby girl into this world without gifts!" Alice said as she greeted the younger girl. Ashlynn hugged her tightly and then hugged Lily just as tightly.
"Thank you." She said as both she and Sirius were ushered into the room. "Oh!" She cried suddenly everyone looked at her and Ashlynn forced a smile. The small pain had come and gone quickly so she assumed it was nothing besides the baby kicking. "It's okay, just this little devil kicking me." She said with a laugh.
Later when it was just the Blacks, the Longbottoms, and the Potters sitting around the small living room drinking tea and talking enjoying each other's company. It was not often that all three couples were together, as Sirius, James, and Frank were often gone on long missions. At one time all three men had been gone for three weeks without a word to any of their wives. The three women had relied on each other for strength and had spent the long three weeks in Ashlynn's apartment in Hogwarts, in order to be closer to Dumbledore who was more likely to hear from the men.
Luckily for Lily and Alice had their own missions but rarely they were longer then a day or two as both had to work. Lily had taken a job at St. Mungo's part time as one of the Welcome Witches, and Alice of course was an Auror.
Ashlynn was the only one not doing anything to aid the order besides allowing any of them to speak to her about the ranks of Death Eaters and the Dark Lord. Therefore, instead of dwelling on the fact that she could not help the Order she had thrown herself into her job as Ancient Runes Professor. She had studied for many hours and made plans with Professor Donnelly most days before she finally went to bed.
"So have you thought of a name for the little bun?" Frank asked looking at Sirius with a raised eyebrow. Ashlynn bit her lip to muffle a whimper as the pain had come back. She was not timing it or anything but it seemed to happen every forty to fifty minutes for a few seconds and it was gone. She was sure it was nothing but the baby settling down.
"Not yet nothing seems to fit." Sirius said with a wince.
"What about Aludra? It's in the same constellation as the Sirius star." Alice asked with a small smile.
Ashlynn cocked her head to the side and smile. "How do you remember that?" She asked shocked.
"Astronomy was a favorite subject of mine in school but what is a cool it's a Virgo name and she'll be a Virgo." Alice said with a slight blush.
"I like it Aludra Black." Ashlynn said looking over at Sirius.
"Aludra Tempest Black." Sirius said with a smile looking over at Ashlynn for approval.
Ashlynn laughed and nodded. "She'll be named Aludra Tempest Black. Thanks Alice." Ashlynn said with a grin.
"No problem. Aludra is a pretty name but why Tempest?" Alice asked with a grin.
Sirius laughed and said. "Well Ashlynn wanted to name her Stormy as in Stormy Black so I talked her into Tempest as a middle name."
Ashlynn giggled and snuggled into Sirius chest. "Always got to be telling people why something happened." She mumbled. "My back is really achy is it okay if we go home?" She asked hopefully looking around the room apologetically.
Sirius nodded and stood up; he held out his hand and pulled Ashlynn off the couch. Ashlynn let out a small. "Oh!" when she was hugging Lily. Suddenly everything was wet. "Oh no!" Ashlynn cried tears forming in her eyes. Did she just wet herself in front of everyone? "I'm sorry Lily." She said embarrassed.
"Oh Ashlynn hunny!" Lily cried when she looked down. "There's nothing to be sorry about your water just broke! You're in labor."
"Looks like she was just waiting to have a name!" James cried.
"We have to get her to the hospital." Alice cried.
"Can you apparate?" Sirius asked suddenly coming her side and holding her waist.
Ashlynn shook her head. "No I'm likely to splinch myself right in half." She whispered. "Can't we use the Floo network?"
James nodded. "We can but we aren't connected but Bathilda Bagshot is. She's just down the street." He said with a smile.
"Then let's get going! Oh someone needs to owl Dumbledore." Sirius said with a smile.
"I'll do it." Alice said with a laugh.
Fourteen hours later an exhausted Ashlynn still had not given birth to Aludra. Sirius sat next to her his feet propped up on the other chair and he was smiling. "I don't know why you're smiling." She grunted at him.
"Because soon we are going to be parents!" He cried happily.
Ashlynn screamed and gripped Sirius' hand harder. "I hate you Black!" She screamed at him. "I swear if they hadn't taken my wand away I'd kill you!"
Sirius chuckled and kissed her forehead. Healer Thompson had asked Ashlynn if she was in pain while she still had her wand, the healer now had a piggy tail. Soon after, they had taken Ashlynn's wand away.
"Just a bit more Mrs. Black. On the count of three, I want you to push hard as you can. Alright ready?" The new Healer Rose said and paused swallowing the lump in her throat. This was the first birthing she was the lead Healer on and she was a bit nervous especially since Ashlynn Black seemed to have quite the temper. "One…Two…Three!"
On the word three Ashlynn pushed as hard as she could as she screamed as loud as she could. Everything went silent as a new sound was heard that of a crying baby. "Oh there she is!" Healer Rose said with a smile as a mediwizard cut the cord. "Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Black you have a beautiful daughter. She has all ten fingers and toes." Healer Rose said happily, as she flicked her wand and the baby was cleaned. The mediwitch took the newborn into her arms and wrapped her in a soft pink blanket.
"Mr. Black would you like to hold your daughter while we get Ashlynn patched up?" The mediwitch asked with a smile.
Sirius nodded and took the little girl in his arms. He gasped in amazement at seeing her dark grey eyes, so much like his and Ashlynn's. Her hair was his black but already she looked so much like her mum already. "What's wrong?" Ashlynn cried as she heard Sirius' gasp.
"Nothing, nothing at all love. She's perfect." Sirius whispered happily. Ashlynn sighed in relief and closed her eyes as Sirius came and sat by her. "I know your tired love but meet our daughter before you fall asleep."
Ashlynn forced her eyes open and Sirius handed over the newborn. Ashlynn gasped and tears started to form in her eyes. "Oh my beautiful Aludra." She cried she finally tore her eyes away from the little girl. "I love you Sirius." She said.
Sirius smiled and kissed her deeply. "Get some rest love." He said as the Mediwitch came and got Aludra.
When Ashlynn was well rested, they brought back in the newborn. "Do we have a name for this stunning beauty?" The mediwitch asked after she had handed the baby to Ashlynn. Sirius sat next to Ashlynn on the small bed his arm around her shoulders staring at the little girl in Ashlynn's arm.
"We do." Ashlynn said looking up smiling. "This little girl is named Aludra Tempest Black."
The mediwitch filled out the paperwork and then smiled. "Well Mummy and Daddy there are some people waiting just outside anxiously waiting to meet the new Miss. Black. Is it okay if I let them in?" She asked with a smile.
Ashlynn nodded. "Oh please let them in." She said with a laugh.
Soon enough the small room was crowded with James, Lily, Alice, Frank, Remus, and Dumbledore. Albus stepped up and over to the new family. "What is the little darlings' name?" He asked as he took her in his arms.
"Aludra Tempest Black." Sirius said with a smile.
"Well I'll make sure her name is down on the books for Hogwarts." He said and then handed the child off to Lily.
"Oh Ash, Sir, she's beautiful!" Lily cried and then looked over at James.
"Don't you be getting any ideas Lily Potter!" James cried with a mock-horrified face. "I'm not ready to be a daddy yet!"
Ashlynn laughed as Sirius piped up. "What about godfather?"
"What?" James asked with a shocked expression.
"Well we want you and Lily to be Aludra's godparents." Ashlynn said with a smile. "I mean James your Sirius' best friend, and Lily you're my best friend. It only seems right."
"Of course we will be!" Lily cried happily and looked down at the little girl in her arms. "Hello Aludra I'm going to spoil you silly."
James rambled over to Lily and took Aludra out of her arms. "Hey!" Lily cried unhappily.
James shot her a dirty look and then turned to Aludra. "Hello Princess. I'm your god-da." He said with a laugh. The rest of the day was spent passing Aludra around and discussing how much she already looked like Ashlynn, and Sirius both.
Sirius had gone home with Lily and James to get some rest while Ashlynn and Aludra were staying the night in the hospital one last night. The day had just dawned when Ashlynn heard some one enter. She assumed it was Sirius so she kept her eyes closed, as she was still exhausted from the labor.
"What a pretty little girl." The male voice said and Ashlynn's eyes flew open to see her brother holding Aludra with her father sitting across the room from her.
"Put my daughter down Lucius." She whispered in a low voice.
"She's my niece!" He cried. "I have a right to see her. I am hurt Ashlynn that you did not owl father or I to tell us you were expecting. It was a shock to us when Druella told us about an Ashlynn Black having a baby."
Ashlynn stood up and held her wand out at Lucius. "Put my baby down Lucius. She's no Malfoy you have no right to her."
"She is a Malfoy like it or not she still is my niece and father's granddaughter. Why the name Aludra? You like flaunting that she's a Black?"
"Is that any of your business?" Ashlynn snapped as the door swung open and in walked Sirius. Quickly he took in the situation he walked over to Lucius and took Aludra out of his arms.
"Get out." He demanded to the two Malfoys.
"Not before I deliver a message." Abraxas said standing up and walking to his daughter.
"What is it?" Ashlynn said swallowing a lump in her throat; she was still terrified of her father.
Abraxas smiled evilly and said. "The Dark Lord thanks you for having a pureblood child and also says you cannot hide out in Hogwarts for the rest of your life. When he kills you and Sirius, you do not have to worry about Aludra. She will be in good hands with us."
Ashlynn's eyes filled with rage. "He may try to kill me and Sirius but you will never get my daughter! Now get the hell out of here before I kill you right now." She said clutching her wand tightly.
Abraxas nodded and with a flick of his head both, he and Lucius left the room.
Ashlynn walked over to Sirius and grabbed Aludra. "I will never let anything happen to you Aludra." She whispered and leaned down kissing the young girl. Finally, she looked over at Sirius and sighed. "I'm scared Sirius."
Sirius nodded slowly and hugged Ashlynn close. "I know love, I know." He whispered. His heart had jumped in his throat when he Abraxas' had threatened their lives.
"We have to get back to Hogwarts, it's the one place he can't get to us Sirius. We have to protect Aludra no matter what." Ashlynn said tears forming in her eyes.
"I'll owl Lily and James so they can escort us back to Hogsmeade." Sirius said and then quickly left the room.
Sirius, James, Lily, and Ashlynn walked into the room that would be Aludra's. It was light purple color and her name twinkled on the wall like stars. The room was perfectly decorated and Ashlynn gasped, glad she was not holding the baby or she might have dropped her. "When did you guys do this?" She cried looking over at Lily. She knew that Sirius and James had not had a say in how the room looked.
"Last night, Lily had us bringing up all the gifts while she was organizing and decorating." James said with a smile. "We didn't sleep much but it was all worth it for my goddaughter!"
"Our goddaughter!" Lily piped up.
"Oh no!" James said with a laugh. "She's my Princess back of Lily!"
Ashlynn laughed as the couple bickered she took Aludra from Sirius and laid her in the crib. "Sleep well darling, your safe here." She whispered as she kissed the little girls head. She stood back and watched the little girl sleep. Sirius came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "I love you Sirius."
"I love you too just like I love our daughter." He said with a smile.