Eight months had passed since Sirius's terrifying ordeal with preterm labor. His pregnancy had progressed, and he was now deep into his third trimester. The room was filled with the soft glow of afternoon light, casting a warm and comforting ambiance over the space.
Sirius lay on his bed, propped up with pillows, his eyes closed in an attempt to rest. The discomfort he had been feeling had shifted over the weeks, with new pains and aches surfacing as his body continued to accommodate the growing baby. His knees, in particular, had started to bother him, aching with an intensity that had only worsened recently.
He winced as another wave of pain shot through his knees, the result of that fateful fall on the ice. The old injury, though seemingly healed, had left lingering effects that had begun to flare up again. The pain was sharp and relentless, making it difficult for him to find a comfortable position.
Sirius let out a frustrated groan, shifting uncomfortably on the bed. He tried to stretch his legs out, hoping for some relief, but the movement only intensified the throbbing ache. His face contorted in a mix of discomfort and frustration as he struggled to find a more bearable position.
Walburga, who had been sitting by the window, sewing a small blanket, noticed Sirius's discomfort. She put her work aside and moved to his side. "Sirius, you look like you're in pain," she said softly, her concern evident.
Sirius opened his eyes, giving her a pained smile. "It's my knees. They've been hurting a lot lately. I didn't think it would still be an issue after all this time."
Walburga gently placed her hand on his knee, her touch soothing yet concerned. "You've been through so much. It's no surprise that old injuries might resurface with the strain of pregnancy. Let me get your father."
Orion, who had been busy organizing supplies for the nursery, came in at Walburga's call. He immediately noticed Sirius's distressed expression and approached quickly. "What's wrong?"
"Sirius's knees are bothering him," Walburga explained. "It's been hurting quite badly, and he's having trouble getting comfortable."
Orion knelt beside Sirius, his hands gently inspecting his knees. "Let's see if we can ease the pain. I'll fetch some soothing ointment and see if that helps."
Sirius nodded, wincing as he adjusted his position slightly. "Thank you. I just… I don't know if I can take much more of this."
Orion hurried out of the room and returned moments later with a small jar of ointment. He began applying it carefully to Sirius's knees, his touch gentle but firm. Sirius closed his eyes, trying to focus on the soothing sensation of the ointment rather than the persistent ache.
Walburga sat beside Sirius, rubbing his arm in a comforting gesture. "We'll get through this. We'll find a way to manage the pain, and you'll be okay."
Sirius let out a shaky breath, the pain starting to ease slightly with the application of the ointment. "I hope so. I just want to be able to relax and enjoy these last few weeks."
Orion finished applying the ointment and gave Sirius a reassuring smile. "We're here for you, Sirius. If the pain persists or gets worse, we'll seek additional help. For now, try to rest and let the ointment work."
As the physical pain began to ease, a new feeling began to creep over Sirius—anxiety. The realization of how close he was to the end of his pregnancy, the lingering fear from his earlier scare, and the constant discomfort all combined to create a knot of tension in his chest. His breathing grew shallow as he tried to push down the rising panic, not wanting to worry his parents.
Sirius shifted uncomfortably again, this time more out of anxiety than pain. He could feel tears pricking at the corners of his eyes, the pressure building until it felt unbearable. But the last thing he wanted was to break down in front of his parents. He didn't want them to see how scared he really was.
"Mom… Dad…" he began, his voice trembling slightly. "Could you… could you give me a moment alone? I just need to clear my head."
Orion and Walburga exchanged concerned glances. "Are you sure, Sirius?" Orion asked gently. "We can stay if you need us."
Sirius forced a small smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. "I'm sure. I just… I need to be alone for a bit. I promise I'll call if I need anything."
Walburga hesitated, her motherly instincts screaming to stay by his side, but she respected his request. "Alright, but we'll be right outside if you need us."
She leaned down to kiss his forehead, her touch lingering for a moment longer. Orion gave Sirius's hand a reassuring squeeze before they both quietly left the room, closing the door softly behind them.
As soon as they were gone, Sirius let out a shaky breath. The tears he had been holding back began to spill over, his body trembling with the effort to contain the overwhelming emotions. He curled up on his side, clutching his knees as best he could with his large belly in the way, and let the tears flow.
The pain in his knees was now overshadowed by the ache in his chest, the fear of the unknown, the worry about the baby, and the sheer exhaustion of carrying on through it all. Sirius sobbed quietly into his pillow, his heart aching with a mix of fear and frustration. He wished he could be stronger, that he could handle this better, but right now, he felt utterly and completely overwhelmed.
For a while, Sirius simply let himself cry, releasing the pent-up emotions he had been holding in for so long. He knew he needed to stay calm for the baby's sake, but in that moment, he allowed himself the luxury of feeling everything, of not being strong for just a little while. The release, though painful, was also a small comfort, a reminder that he was still human, still vulnerable, and that it was okay to lean on others when the burden became too much to bear alone.
As the emotional storm within Sirius began to subside, his tears gradually slowed. Exhausted from the day's physical and emotional toll, he found himself growing drowsy. His body, worn out from the pain and stress, began to give in to the fatigue. Sirius shifted slightly, pulling the blankets closer around him, and soon his breathing evened out as he drifted into a much-needed sleep.
Some time later, Regulus quietly entered the room, having been sent by their parents to check on Sirius. The younger Black sibling approached the bed, his heart softening at the sight of Sirius curled up, fast asleep. He looked so small and vulnerable, a stark contrast to the strong, confident brother Regulus had always admired.
"Sirius?" Regulus called softly, reaching out to gently touch his brother's shoulder. "It's time to get up. Dinner's ready."
Sirius stirred, his eyes fluttering open. It took him a moment to fully wake up, his mind still hazy from sleep. Blinking, he turned his gaze to Regulus, who was watching him with concern.
"Dinner?" Sirius repeated groggily, slowly sitting up with Regulus's help. "Oh… right. With the Potters."
Normally, Sirius would have been excited about dinner with the Potters. He loved spending time with James and his family, enjoying the warmth and lightheartedness they brought. But today… today wasn't his day. The weight of the earlier anxiety and the lingering ache in his knees made the thought of attending dinner feel more like a chore than a joy.
Regulus noticed the hesitation in Sirius's eyes and offered him a small, reassuring smile. "You don't have to go if you're not up to it, you know. I'm sure they'd understand."
Sirius shook his head, though he appreciated the offer. "No, I'll go. I don't want to disappoint them. Besides, it might take my mind off things."
With a deep breath, Sirius swung his legs over the side of the bed, trying not to wince as his knees protested. He reached out, gripping Regulus's arm for support as he stood up.
"Can you fetch me a pain potion, please?" Sirius asked, his voice laced with a hint of desperation. The dull ache in his knees was already making itself known, and he knew it would only get worse if he didn't take something for it.
"Of course," Regulus replied quickly. "I'll be right back."
He left the room, hurrying to fetch the requested potion. Sirius stood there, leaning heavily on the bedpost as he waited. The thought of sitting through dinner with the Potters while in pain made his stomach churn with anxiety, but he knew he had to put on a brave face. It was what he always did.
When Regulus returned, he handed Sirius the small vial of potion. Sirius took it gratefully, downing the bitter liquid in one gulp. Almost immediately, he felt the potion start to work, the sharp pain in his knees easing into a more manageable dull throb.
"Thank you," Sirius murmured, offering Regulus a small smile of appreciation.
"Anytime," Regulus replied, his tone gentle. "Are you ready to go?"
Sirius nodded, though there was a weariness in his eyes that hadn't been there before. "As ready as I'll ever be."
Together, the two brothers made their way to the dining room, Sirius holding onto Regulus's arm for support. Normally, he would have been full of excitement and energy, but tonight, he felt like he was just going through the motions. As much as he loved the Potters, tonight was just not his night.
As Sirius settled into his seat, Charlus and Dorea Potter, who were seated nearby, exchanged a glance before turning their attention to him. Dorea, with her warm, motherly presence, reached across the table, gently placing her hand over Sirius's.
"How are you, dear?" Dorea asked kindly, her voice full of genuine concern. "Is everything okay?"
Charlus nodded in agreement, his brow furrowed slightly as he studied Sirius's face. "You look a bit pale, Sirius. Are you sure you're alright?"
Sirius felt the weight of their concerned gazes, and for a moment, he considered telling them the truth—that he wasn't feeling his best and that the pain and fear had been overwhelming. But he didn't want to worry them or cast a shadow over the evening.
Instead, he mustered up the most convincing smile he could manage, forcing himself to adopt a cherry attitude despite the unease gnawing at him. "I'm fine, really," he said, his tone light and cheerful. "Just a bit tired, that's all. Nothing to worry about."
Dorea squeezed his hand gently, still watching him closely. "If you're sure, darling. But if you need anything, please don't hesitate to say so."
Sirius nodded, keeping the smile on his face, though it felt like a mask. "I will. Thank you."
Charlus and Dorea exchanged another glance, both of them sensing that Sirius wasn't being entirely truthful but choosing not to press the issue further. They knew Sirius had a tendency to put on a brave face, especially when he didn't want to be a burden to others.
The conversation at the table resumed, light and easy, with the Potters doing their best to keep the atmosphere relaxed and enjoyable. Sirius joined in where he could, laughing at the jokes and stories being shared, but the ache in his knees and the anxiety lurking in the back of his mind made it hard to fully engage.
He hoped no one noticed how forced his laughter sounded, or how his smile didn't quite reach his eyes. The last thing he wanted was to ruin dinner for everyone, especially when they had all been so kind and understanding. For tonight, he would keep up the pretense, pretending that everything was fine, even if it was just for a little while longer.