Chapter 35: Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place

It was late afternoon. Sirius and Cassiopeia as well as Tonks and Remus and Buckbeak followed Dumbledore to their temporary home at Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place. The house belonged to Sirius's parents. Sirius hated that house and never returned to it since he ran away at age sixteen. He never expected he would need to return to that house again. However, Sirius knew that his family was under a threat and the house was an ideal protection. The trip proved to be very tiring. The group walked all day and only stopped to attend to Baby S.J. Sirius grew concerned for his wife and son.

"Cassie, you need to rest. You haven't gotten any as it is between getting attacked by Greyback and having a baby," he said attentively.

"Sirius, I'm fine," Cassiopeia insisted. "If I can withstand a werewolf and having a baby, I can endure a long walk."

"I think we should stop," Sirius said. "You need it."

"I'd rather not," Cassiopeia argued. "The sooner we get to Grimmauld Place, the easier I'll rest."

Sirius scowled as he heard that name. "I hate it that we have to go there."

"Don't complain, Sirius," Cassiopeia scolded. "You agreed that we would go."

"I didn't actually think I would have to go back to that…prison," Sirius said bitterly. "I'd rather be back in Azkaban."

Cassiopeia slapped Sirius's cheek. "Don't say that! Merlin's beard, you can be really thick sometimes. You should be thankful that we have another place to hide. If you love our son, you wouldn't be so picky as long as he is safe."

"If you lived there for sixteen years, you'd be picky, too," Sirius countered.

Remus, who carried Tonks, smiled slyly. "My goodness, are you two actually having a fight? That's a first!"

"Shut up, Moony!" Sirius and Cassiopeia said together.

Cassiopeia rolled her eyes. "Will you quit whining?"

"Cassie, you didn't know my parents. If you had lived in that house-" Sirius said.

"Honestly, I don't care whose bloody house it is! All that matters is that we are safe."

"I don't want our son living in that miserable place," Sirius argued. "My banshee of a mother's portrait still hangs there. And then there's that miserable elf Kreacher. He despises me."

"Just shut it! I don't want to hear about portraits and elves! You're making this much more difficult than it is," Cassiopeia snapped. "We are taking refuge there so our son can be safe, and all you do is complain about a silly portrait and a house-elf."

"That's easy for you to say," Sirius said angrily. "You didn't live there. You don't know how terrible they are. You've had the luxury of having parents who loved you."

"But I don't anymore, do I?" Cassiopeia snapped. "You think your life was hard with pureblood maniacs for parents? I was an orphan since I was twelve years old. For the last time, I don't care. If you do not quit your moaning, so help me God, you will regret it."

Baby S.J. was crying as his parents argued. Buckbeak was squawking.

Sirius sighed. "You're right. I'm sorry. I've been a whiny idiot about this."

"Yes, you have," Cassiopeia said.

"I was wrong to complain so much. You and Little Remus are more important than my disdain for a house," Sirius said sincerely.

"Yes, we are," Cassiopeia replied.

"Can I make it up?" Sirius asked.

"You can make it up when we get home," Cassiopeia replied slyly.

Sirius's eyes widened as he grasped Cassiopeia's meaning.

Cassiopeia grinned. "Now you must be desperate to get home, aren't you?"

"Oh, you wicked woman!" Sirius laughed. "You are very persuasive."

"Good. Now keep walking and don't stop until we get home," Cassiopeia said.

"Yes, darling," Sirius said obediently.

Remus was still grinning as he eavesdropped on Sirius and Cassiopeia's argument. "Have you two kissed and made up? I'm so glad. Relief at last."

"Shut up and keep walking, Moony," Sirius said.

Meanwhile, Tonks finally woke up and realized she was being carried by someone.

"Where are we?" she asked groggily.

"We're on our way to Grimmauld Place, my parents' house," Sirius explained.

"Why am I being carried?" Tonks asked.

"You were asleep," Sirius replied.

"Who's carrying me?" Tonks asked.

Tonks looked up and saw that it was Remus carrying her. "Remus, why did you…why would you carry me? You don't even like to touch me."

Tonks then rephrased her statement. "Wait, that sounds bad, doesn't it? You won't even shake my hand."

"Someone had to," Remus replied with a smile.

"Why are you smiling like that?" Tonks questioned.

"Nothing. Do you remember falling asleep?" Remus asked.

"Not really, no," Tonks replied.

Remus smiled. "Ask Cassie."

"Shut up, Moony," Cassiopeia snapped.

Tonks shook her head. "Do I want to know what she did to me?"

Remus jerked his in toward Cassiopeia. "Ask her."

Cassiopeia whistled innocently, pretending not to hear Remus and Tonks.

"I'll get her for it later when my head stops spinning," Tonks said nonchalantly.

"Hey, you knocked me out so I couldn't hear my son," Cassiopeia said defensively. "I'm sorry, but I had no choice."

"You needed sleep," Tonks said quietly.

"I'm fine now," Cassiopeia said. "It's you, Sirius, Remus, and Moony I have to worry about."

"I'm fine. My head is just spinning," Tonks said.

"That's not fine," Cassiopeia countered. "Don't make me knock you out again because I can."

Tonks hair turned scarlet red for a moment. "Oh, screw you, Cassie!"

"No need for language," Cassiopeia said calmly. "I'm taking care of you like you did for me. You're welcome."

Tonks rolled her eyes, making herself dizzier.

"Don't roll your eyes. You'll make yourself dizzy, you goose. You don't need to make it worse," Cassiopeia scolded.

"Is she always like this?" Tonks whispered to Remus.

"You have no idea," Remus replied.

By nightfall, the group finally reached Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place.

"Sirius, I trust you remember how to get in?" Dumbledore said.

"I never thought I would have to," Sirius muttered.

Sirius stomped on the ground. As soon as he did, the buildings number eleven and thirteen began to shift. Then, a door appeared with a number twelve.

"Home sweet home," Sirius said.

Immediately, the group entered the dark house. The house looked as if no one had lived there for over one hundred years. Sirius waved his wand and the narrow hall was illuminated.

"Make yourself at home," he said courteously.

"Oh, I'll not be staying, Sirius," Dumbledore said courteously. "I only wanted to ensure your safe journey."

"Well, thank you for your help, Dumbledore," Sirius said gratefully.

"Thank you, Dumbledore," Cassiopeia added. "You will look after Harry, won't you?"

"I shall when he returns to school," Dumbledore replied. "You need not worry."

"Thank you," Sirius said.

With a pop! Dumbledore was gone.

Meanwhile, Remus carried Tonks in and sat down in the living room.

"You, get to bed," Cassiopeia said to Tonks.

Tonks did not hear her. She had already fallen asleep on Remus's chest.

"Good. I was afraid I would have to use another charm," Cassiopeia said in relief. "Moony, can you please put your girlfriend in bed?"

"She's not my girlfriend," Remus said defensively. "I'll be right back."

Remus carried Tonks upstairs.

Cassiopeia then turned to Sirius. "Sirius, it's getting late. We have to put Remus to bed. Give me his bottle."

"Right," Sirius replied.

Sirius handed Cassiopeia a bottle and she sat down to feed Baby S.J. After feeding him, Cassiopeia rocked her son until he fell asleep.

"I'll take him and Buckbeak upstairs," Sirius whispered. "Are you coming?"

"I'll be up soon. You go on," Cassiopeia whispered.

Two hours later, Cassiopeia passed by and heard Tonks talking to someone. She spied Tonks talking on a Muggle cell phone.

"Love you, too. See you tomorrow," Tonks said as she hung up.

"Who was that?" Cassiopeia questioned.

"Who was what?" Tonks asked.

"I heard you. Who was that?" Cassiopeia wanted to know.

"No one," Tonks lied.

"Nymphie, I do have some Legilimens skills. Don't make me use them," Cassiopeia said smartly.

"Jason Wilson, drummer of the band. And my boyfriend," Tonks replied.

"Oh, boyfriend, eh?" Cassiopeia laughed.

"Yeah, and it's pretty serious, too," Tonks replied.

Cassiopeia knew very well what "serious" meant. "Nymphie!"

"What?" Tonks asked. "I'm an adult."

"Have you thought on being a godmother?" Cassiopeia asked.

"Not really seeing as how I've either been asleep, patrolling, or knocked out for the past two days," Tonks answered honestly.

"What do you think? Sirius and I think you'll be a wonderful godmother," Cassiopeia said earnestly.

"Well, I don't," Tonks said honestly. "I need to get to know Remus better, and I can't do that if he's asleep in the corner."

Cassiopeia nudged Remus. "Remus, wake up!"

"What?!" Remus said as he awoke. "Oh, Cassie, I was sleeping!"

"Talk to Nymphie. Get to know my son's future godmother," Cassiopeia said firmly.

Cassiopeia turned to Tonks. "And you, get to know the godfather. You're welcome."

Tonks shook her head. "I didn't want you to wake him up."

"Well, now you have a chance. Chop, chop," Cassiopeia said impatiently.

"Shut your bloody mouth," Tonks said angrily. "You're giving me a worse headache."

"I'm doing all of you a favor, particularly my son. You're welcome," Cassiopeia said haughtily.

Annoying bugger of a woman, Tonks muttered.

"Well, it's kinda awkward if you're hovering over us. Leave," Tonks said to Cassiopeia.

"Good. My son will be waking and my husband is waiting," Cassiopeia said. "Enjoy."

Cassiopeia then went down the hall. As Cassiopeia left Remus and Tonks alone, she entered Sirius's old bedroom and found Sirius sitting up with S.J.

"He was awake," Sirius said. "I wanted to give you a break for being such a pain. I put Buckbeak in my mum's room."

Cassiopeia smiled. "Well, how thoughtful."

Sirius set S.J. down in a bassinet next to the bed. "I brought this just in case."

Sirius and Cassiopeia kissed their son goodnight and climbed into bed.

"I really am sorry for how I behaved today," Sirius said sincerely. "You and Little Remus should come before anything."

"I'm sorry, too, sweetheart. We both want the best for Remus," Cassiopeia whispered.

Sirius grinned. "Can I still make it up to you?"

Cassiopeia wrapped her arms around Sirius's neck. "You certainly can."

For the rest of the night, Sirius and Cassiopeia lost themselves in their love.

A/N: Aww, their home and safe! I apologize for the long wait. I've been a bit ill lately. Thank you for all the lovely reviews. You know who you are! I appreciate them very much. As always, thank you to my best friend, Roza Anne! You make this story worthwhile.