Chapter 49: Christmas and Cravings

Three months had gone by at Grimmauld Place without Sirius and Cassiopeia seeing the outside world. In the months that flew by, Cassiopeia's pregnancy began to wear on her. She grew a slight round belly the size of a grapefruit. Despite her belly not yet showing, Cassiopeia was certainly feeling her pregnancy. Her feet had swelled two sizes in three months and her back ached as if she were carrying a heavy rucksack.

The house had been decorated for Christmas. The tree was decorated with magical fairies, garland, and all manner of festive decorations. Sirius was actually in a good mood despite months of being locked away. The same could not be said for Cassiopeia.

"Wotcher, Cassie," Tonks said as she entered the living room with a pie. "Happy Christmas."

"Sure," Cassiopeia said tonelessly. "Oh, you have pie! I might have some, or all!"

"Not the whole thing!" Tonks scolded, holding the pie protectively. "I'll cut you a slice."

Cassiopeia licked her lips as Tonks cut her a slice of pie and put it on a plate. Within seconds, Cassiopeia devoured it. Tonks looked at her sideways.

"What?" Cassiopeia said, licking the crumbs from her fingers. "I'm eating for two now. You remember what that's like."

Tonks shook her head. "Don't remind me. I'm never having kids after this."

Cassiopeia half smiled. "Famous last words."

Just then, there was a knock at the door. Tonks looked up and saw Remus enter the doorway.

"Oh, hey Remus," she greeted before whispering in his ear. "Hide your chocolate."

Remus grinned and winked at Tonks. "Merry Christmas, Cassie."

"Sure. I'll trade you your hairy problem and you carry a bowling ball in your belly," Cassiopeia said.

"I'm fine with my own...problem, Cassie," Remus said. "Have you felt any kicking yet?"

"Not yet," Cassiopeia replied. "But everything else I've felt. My back aches, my feet don't fit my shoes anymore, and I feel like I swallowed a boulder."

"Yeah, I'm lucky I just have the tail," Remus said.

"Lucky a******," Cassiopeia chuckled.

Sirius then entered singing Christmas carols, much to Cassiopeia's chagrin.

"Nymphie, Moony!" Sirius greeted merrily as he plopped down on the couch next to a grumpy Cassiopeia. "Happy Christmas!"

"Happy Christmas, Uncle Sirius," Tonks said. "How's Mr. Weasley?"

"Molly says he'll be able to come home for Christmas," Sirius replied. "He'll be out of St. Mungo's soon."

"Are you excited to be a daddy again?" Remus asked.

"Of course!" Sirius replied happily. "I'm hoping for a girl. I got a good feeling it's a girl."

Cassiopeia frowned. "Good. Then let's switch places and you can endure the swelling feet and sweet cravings while I jaunt about singing carols."

Sirius smiled. "I can't switch places with you, my darling, but I can do something to help."

Sirius pointed his wand at Cassiopeia's swollen feet. In seconds, Cassiopeia felt luxurious vibrations in her feet.

"Mmmm," Cassiopeia murmured. "Where did you learn that?"

"I learned it years ago, but I never had time to use it when we had S.J," Sirius replied. "I figured it would come in handy one day."

"You're right," Cassiopeia replied. "Don't stop."

"Molly, did you need help in the kitchen?" Tonks called, feigning interest in her task. "Come on, Remus. I think I heard Molly."

Remus followed Tonks out of the living room.

"Molly is at St. Mungo's," Remus said.

"I know. I was taking us away from Mummy and Daddy," Tonks replied with a chuckle. "You seriously didn't want to get stuck with the two of them, did you?"

"Not at the moment, no," Remus laughed.

"I hope you hid your chocolate," Tonks replied. "She's relentless."

"Don't worry, my chocolate is safe with me," Remus replied. "Even from a pregnant Cassie. Not even a goblin could take it from me."

"Oh, but Cassie might beat the goblin," Tonks said.

Christmas had finally arrived at Grimmauld Place. Santa whizzed by on a broomstick and around the tree. The dank, dark house was for once a bright happy place as the Weasleys, Harry, Tonks, Lupin, and Sirius gathered around the table for gifts and Christmas dinner.

Tonks presented Harry with her presented. "Wotcher, Harry. Hope you like it."

Harry opened his present and a tiny black broom was inside. Harry pressed a button and the broom whizzed to life.

"Wicked! Thanks, Tonks!" Harry said appreciatively.

"You're welcome. Still jealous of your Firebolt," Tonks joked.

"Happy Christmas, Harry," Remus said, handing him his present.

Harry ripped open the wrapping to reveal a book titled Practical Defensive Magic and it's Use Against the Dark Arts.

"Thanks, Professor," Harry said.

"I hope it proves of use to you," Remus said.

Sirius and Cassiopeia entered the kitchen, with little S.J. on Sirius' hip.

"Merry Christmas, Harry," Sirius and Cassiopeia said.

"Sirius, Cassie, Happy Christmas!" Harry greeted as he held little S.J's hand. "Happy Christmas, S.J. Are you ready to be a big brother?"

Little S.J. nodded bashfully.

"I got you something," Harry said.

Harry handed S.J. a little box and the little boy ripped it open to reveal a tiny working model of a Snitch. In seconds, the little boy was happily chasing at the toy.

"He'll be at that for hours," Cassiopeia said, rolling her eyes. "Anyway, this is from me and Sirius."

Harry tore open the wrappings on Cassiopeia and Sirius' gift to reveal A History of Quidditch.

"Thanks, Sirius, Cassie," Harry said excitedly. "I did get something for you."

Harry pushed a box into Sirius' hands. Sirius and Cassiopeia opened it and pulled out a quilt embroidered with stars.

"That is adorable!" Cassiopeia gushed.

"It's for the new baby," Harry replied. "Do you know what you're having yet?"

"It's still too early to tell," Sirius replied. "My money is on girl. I'd like a daughter."

"Whatever it is, he or she will get all the dates at Hogwarts," Cassiopeia bragged.

Later that evening, everyone had settled in for Christmas dinner. Cassiopeia gorged herself on turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, and anything she could fill on her plate. Tonks rolled her eyes as she saw her "aunt" stuffing her face.

"Hey, I'm eating for two," Cassiopeia shrugged.

"I'm never having kids," Tonks said, rolling her eyes.

Mr. Weasley then raised his bandaged hand, glass in hand. "A Christmas toast. To Mr. Harry Potter, without whom I would not be here. Harry."

"Harry!" toasted the Weasleys.

"Harry!" cheered Sirius and Cassiopeia.

Sirius winked at Harry as he took a sip from his punch, a sly smirk on his face.

Later that same evening, Sirius and Cassiopeia went to thank Harry for his gift but could not find him anywhere.

"Sirius, my love, have you seen our godson?" Cassiopeia asked.

"I haven't seen him since dinner," Sirius replied.

Sirius and Cassiopeia then heard a guttural, muttering voice coming from the downstairs room.

"Oh no," Cassiopeia groaned.

Sirius and Cassiopeia hurried downstairs to find Harry beset by their gangly house-elf, Kreacher.

"Kreacher!" Sirius cried. "That's enough of your bile. Away with you!"

The ugly elf bowed. "Of course, Master. Kreacher lives to serve the Noble House of Black."

The elf grumbled and ambled off.

"Sorry about that," Sirius sighed. "He never was very pleasant. Even when I was a boy. Not to me, anyway."

Harry was taken aback. "You grew up here?"

"This is my parents' house," Sirius explained. "I offered it to Dumbledore as headquarters for the Order. Bout the only useful thing I've been able to do."

"We all owe you our lives," Cassiopeia said proudly, kissing Sirius' cheek.

Sirius pointed to the tapestry of branches decorating the walls. "This is the Black family tree."

Sirius showed Harry the name Bellatrix Lestrange. "My deranged cousin. I hated the lot of them. My parents with their pure-blood mania."

Sirius pointed to a blacked out spot on the wall on the name Sirius Black. "My mother did that after I ran away and fell in love with a Muggle born. Charming woman. I was sixteen."

"Where did you go?" Harry asked.

"Your dad's," Sirius replied with a smile. "I was always welcome with the Potters. I see so much of them in you, Harry. You are so very much alike."

"I'm not so sure," Harry said doubtfully. "Sirius, when I saw Mr. Weasley attacked I wasn't just watching. I was the snake. And in Dumbledore's office I wanted to...I just feel so angry all the time. And what if after all this time, something's gone wrong? What if I'm becoming bad?"

"Don't believe that for one moment," Cassiopeia said solemnly.

Sirius took Harry's shoulders. "I want you to listen to me, Harry. You're not a bad person. You're a very good person whom bad things have happened to. Besides, the world isn't split into good people and Death-Eaters. We've all got both light and dark inside of us."

"It's the light and the dark that makes us human," Cassiopeia said. "What matters is what part we choose to act on. That's who we really are."

Harry embraced Sirius and Cassiopeia. "I'm lucky to have you."

"When this war is over, we'll be together properly," Sirius said. "You'll see."

As Cassie and Sirius were talking to Harry, Tonks and Lupin were sitting in the kitchen drinking eggnog that was most likely laced with some firewhiskey. It was funny how the two seemed to gravitate towards each other, spending time with one another. Remus had his suspicions on it being because of the mate mark but he refused to acknowledge he had do that to her. Tonks was sitting before him, happy at the current moment. He wasn't going ton bring anything up.

"So how is the job at the ministry." Remus said smiling more then normal. Perhaps it was the firewhiskey, but he was more relaxed with her then he had ever been.

"Oh gosh I don't even want to think about work right now. Or Cassie being pregnant, Or Arthur being injured. This has been the worst Christmas ever. My head is killing me from everything that has happened. "Tonks said laughing a little. Remus was almost certain she was tipsy if not all the way drunk.

"Well drinking the eggnog is probably not helping. I think Sirius might have put something in it."

"Yeah that seems like my cousin. At least I am not on call tonight. Because if I am getting drunk I should not be on duty tonight." Remus laughed at how the young witch in front of him was acting. She was truly a joy in his life, even if he couldn't admit it himself

"You should probably sleep off the alcohol. Unless you have to be at your parents house tonight."

"Nah. I'll just see them tomorrow. Though I think my mom half considered coming over here. Sirius always her favorite cousin."

"She did always seem close with him." Tonks laughed when Remus said this

"You act as if you know her."

"I did at one point. I mean she is Sirius's favorite cousin after all."

"True….Well I guess I'm crashing here tonight. It's better them me trying to drunk apparate to my flat." Tonks got up as she said that but lost her balance. Remus jumped up catch her and the two ended up in the door frame under mistletoe.

"You alright" Remus asked and as he helped Tonks straighten up

"Yeah…Sorry haha. Dead clumsy and drinking does not help….Oh bloody hell we ended up in the door frame with the mistletoe." Tonks said looking up

"Is that bad."

"I thought I heard Sirius saying he jinxed it. Like you can't leave until you kiss someone."

"Well I guess we should try to move then." The two moved to leave the doorway and much to their surprise found that Sirius had only been bluffing.

"That git I swear. Lying to everyone to make us avoid doorway. I suppose he thinks it funny to –"Tonks tripped over the troll leg once again and this time she took Remus down with her. When the two hit the ground they ended up kissing. This however was all that was needed for a certain spell to be undone. As they went to sit up Tonks looked at Remus with recognition that she had not it a very long time. One that lead to do the only thing that came to mind, a loud slap that rang out in the front hall.

"You bastard!" Tonks cried as she ran up the stairs.

Cassiopeia and Sirius heard the loud slap and only heard the slam of the door. Remus was all alone and Cassiopeia stared at him, her face red as Tonks' hair and she looked like a tea kettle about to boil.

"What did you do?" she demanded.

"Cassie, let me explain," Remus said.

"I just heard a slap and my cousin running up the stairs. So start talking!" Cassiopeia shouted.

"Now you're in trouble," Sirius chuckled.

"Stop enjoying this," Remus grumbled.

Cassiopeia shoved Remus. "What did you do to her?"

"She got her memory back," Remus blurted out. "I kissed her and she got her memory back. She knows everything."

Cassiopeia smacked Remus across the face. "You complete and utter asshole, Remus Lupin!"

Remus looked at Sirius for help. "Aren't you gonna help me?"

"She's my cousin and you're messing with a pregnant woman," Sirius chuckled. "You're in the dog house now."

Cassiopeia grabbed Remus by the scruff of his neck. "Get out! Find somewhere else to sleep tonight. Get out, now!"

Heartbroken, Remus Disapparated. Before he Disapparated, Remus felt sick as he thought about what he had done.