Chapter 4

As dinner went on, the chatter around the table grew lively, conversations bouncing between family and friends. Laughter and stories filled the room, but Sirius found himself detached from it all. He stared down at his plate, untouched, feeling his appetite slipping away. What he really wanted was something simple, something light—just cheese and crackers, nothing too heavy.

Regulus, who had been watching him closely, leaned in and whispered, keeping his voice low so as not to draw attention. "Siri, you okay?"

Sirius sighed, mumbling quietly so only Regulus could hear. "I'm not really hungry. I just want some cheese crackers… something small."

Regulus nodded understandingly. "I'll be right back," he said softly before excusing himself from the table. Discreetly, he made his way to the elves, requesting that they bring Sirius his desired food without making a fuss.

A few moments later, a small plate of crackers appeared in front of Sirius. He looked down and smiled softly, appreciating the gesture. When Regulus returned to his seat, Sirius gave him a grateful glance, silently thanking his brother for taking care of him.

Sirius nibbled on the crackers while trying to keep up with the conversation happening around him. He listened to the familiar voices of his family and friends, laughing at the occasional joke but feeling more and more drained as the night wore on. Slowly, he began to slump forward, resting his arm on the table and laying his head against it. The comfort of the position was soothing, and before long, his exhaustion caught up with him.

Without even realizing it, Sirius drifted off to sleep, his soft snores breaking the otherwise lively chatter. The gentle sound caught the attention of those closest to him, and soon enough, everyone at the table noticed.

Orion frowned, his gaze locking onto his son. "Regulus… is he okay?"

Regulus sighed and shook his head slightly. "No… he wasn't very hungry. He's just tired, really."

Walburga chimed in, her voice carrying a touch of concern. "He needs to eat something light, though. He can't just go to bed without eating properly."

"He's eaten," Regulus reassured them. "The elves brought him some cheese crackers, just like he wanted."

Orion, still worried, stood up from his chair and walked over to Sirius, who was still softly snoring at the table. Gently, he placed a hand on his son's shoulder, his expression softening. "Let's get you to bed, son," he said quietly, not wanting to wake Sirius too abruptly but also knowing that Sirius would be more comfortable resting properly.

With a small nudge, Orion roused Sirius just enough to help him stand. Sirius blinked groggily, leaning heavily against his father as Orion guided him away from the table and toward his room. Sirius murmured incoherently, too tired to do much more than follow along as Orion led him to bed.

Once they were upstairs, Orion helped Sirius settle into bed, pulling the covers over him. Sirius barely stirred, his exhaustion so deep that he immediately curled into the warmth of the blankets.

"Sleep well," Orion whispered, brushing a hand gently through Sirius's hair before stepping back. He watched his son for a moment, making sure Sirius was comfortable, before quietly leaving the room, closing the door behind him.

Back at the dinner table, Regulus sighed softly, hoping that a good night's rest would help Sirius recover some of his strength.

As the room filled with tension, Walburga's concern deepened, and she turned to Orion, her voice laced with worry. "Orion, what's going on with him? Why didn't I know about this sooner?"

Orion met her gaze, his expression a mix of guilt and concern. "He didn't want to worry you, Walburga. He's been trying to handle it on his own, but it's become too much."

James, leaning forward with a furrowed brow, couldn't keep quiet any longer. "What fall? Why was he on the ice in the first place?" he asked, his voice filled with confusion and worry. Sirius was always careful, especially given his current condition, so hearing about a fall was unsettling.

Orion sighed deeply, preparing to explain. "It happened about a month ago. Sirius was feeling restless, and he wanted to go for a walk in the snow. Regulus was with him, and they thought it would be a good way for Sirius to get some fresh air."

He paused, his expression growing more serious. "But as they were walking, Sirius hit a patch of ice and felt unsteady. Regulus quickly ran to get me, but before he could reach me, Sirius fell and hit his knees hard on the ice. The fall triggered preterm labor, and we've been dealing with the consequences ever since."

Walburga's eyes widened in shock, her hand flying to her mouth. "Oh, Merlin… why didn't he tell us? Why didn't you tell me?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"He insisted he was fine," Orion explained, regret heavy in his voice. "He didn't want to worry you, especially with everything else that's been going on. But now, I see that we should have been more cautious."

James shook his head, still processing the severity of the situation. "I had no idea it was this serious. If I had known, I would have done something sooner."

Orion nodded solemnly. "We're all in this together now. We'll make sure he gets the care he needs, but we need to be careful about how we approach him. He's been through a lot, and the last thing he needs is to feel overwhelmed."

Walburga took a deep breath, her worry still evident but her resolve growing. "We'll do whatever it takes. I won't let him go through this alone, not when he needs us the most."

James nodded in agreement, his concern for Sirius deepening but matched by his determination to be there for his friend. Together, they would ensure Sirius felt supported and cared for, especially during such a difficult time.

As the tension in the room settled, Dorea spoke up, her voice gentle but filled with concern. "He's okay now, though… and the baby?"

Orion gave a reassuring nod. "Yes, they're both okay for now. The healer was able to stop the preterm labor, but Sirius needs to be careful. Any disturbance could make things worse."

Just as he finished speaking, Sirius, who had been resting upstairs, started to stir. A sudden cramp shot through his abdomen, freezing him in place. Panic set in as the pain grew sharper, and he instinctively called out, his voice trembling. "Tibby! Tibby, please… fetch my mum!"

The house-elf Tibby appeared immediately with a pop, his large eyes widening at the sight of Sirius in distress. "Right away, Master Sirius!" he squeaked before disappearing again to fetch Walburga.

Back in the dining room, everyone fell silent as Walburga's hand flew to her mouth, sensing something was wrong. She quickly excused herself and rushed upstairs, worry etched across her face. The others exchanged concerned glances, the gravity of Sirius's situation pressing down on them once more.

Orion watched Walburga hurry out of the room, his own anxiety flaring up again. "I'll go check on them," he said, his voice strained as he rose from the table, following his wife to Sirius's side.

Dorea and James exchanged worried looks, both feeling the weight of the situation. Dorea's hand tightened around her glass, her heart aching for Sirius. "I hope he's alright…" she whispered, barely audible.

James nodded, though he couldn't shake the knot of worry in his stomach. "Me too," he murmured, his thoughts solely focused on his friend.

Meanwhile, upstairs, Walburga entered Sirius's room to find him clutching his abdomen, his face pale and strained. She rushed to his side, her maternal instincts taking over as she gently touched his shoulder. "Sirius, love, what's wrong?"

"It hurts, Mum," Sirius whispered, his voice shaky with fear. "I felt a cramp… I don't know what's happening…"

Walburga's heart broke at the sight of her son in pain, but she forced herself to stay calm. "We'll get through this, Sirius. I'm here, and so is your father. We'll call the healer if we need to, but first, let's try to get you settled."

Orion appeared in the doorway, his face lined with concern as he took in the scene. He moved to Sirius's other side, taking his hand in a comforting grip. "We're here, Sirius. You're going to be alright."

The room was filled with a tense silence as they waited to see if the cramp would pass, all of them hoping it was just a false alarm. But even as the pain began to subside, the fear lingered, a reminder of how fragile the situation had become.

As Walburga knelt beside Sirius, she gently took his hand in hers, her other hand resting on his stomach, trying to offer comfort through her touch. "Sirius, love, when did it start?" she asked softly, her voice full of concern.

Sirius winced as another wave of discomfort washed over him. "Just now… it woke me up," he mumbled, his voice shaky. "It's tight, and it hurts."

Orion, seeing the distress on Sirius's face, knew they couldn't take any chances. "I'll fetch the healer," he said, his tone urgent as he quickly left the room, his footsteps echoing down the hallway.

Within moments, the healer arrived, her expression focused as she approached the bed. She knelt beside Sirius, gently placing her hand on his abdomen, assessing the situation. "Sirius, I need you to tell me exactly what the cramp feels like," she instructed, her voice calm but firm.

Sirius growled in frustration as the pain persisted. "It woke me up… it's just tight, and it hurts," he muttered, trying to stay still as she examined him.

The healer performed a quick diagnostic scan, her wand moving methodically over Sirius's abdomen. After a moment, her tense expression relaxed, and she offered a small smile. "It's alright, Sirius. What you're experiencing is a practice contraction—Braxton Hicks. It's your body's way of preparing for labor, but it's not the real thing. Both you and the baby are fine."

Walburga let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding, her relief evident. "Thank Merlin…" she whispered, squeezing Sirius's hand reassuringly.

Orion, who had been anxiously hovering near the doorway, stepped back into the room, his worry easing at the healer's words. "So, it's not labor?" he asked, needing the confirmation.

The healer shook her head, her demeanor more relaxed now. "No, it's not labor. But Sirius needs to rest and stay hydrated. These contractions can be uncomfortable, but they're not harmful. Just try to take it easy, Sirius."

Sirius nodded, though he still felt shaken by the sudden cramp. "Thank you," he murmured, his body gradually relaxing now that he knew the baby was okay.

Walburga leaned in, kissing his forehead softly. "We're here, love. If you feel anything else, you tell us right away, alright?"

Sirius nodded again, feeling a bit more secure with his parents and the healer by his side. The fear that had gripped him was starting to fade, replaced by a deep sense of exhaustion.

Orion placed a hand on Sirius's shoulder, his voice filled with reassurance. "You're going to be fine, Sirius. Just rest now."

As the healer packed up her things, she offered one last piece of advice. "Remember, Sirius, these are just practice contractions. They'll come and go, but if you ever feel anything more intense, don't hesitate to call for me again."

With that, the healer took her leave, leaving Sirius surrounded by the comforting presence of his parents. Walburga and Orion stayed close, watching over him as he finally drifted back to sleep, the earlier tension slowly ebbing away.

As the healer finished her assessment and reassured everyone, Orion turned to Walburga. "You should go see the guests out. I'm going to stay with Sirius," he said, his tone firm but gentle, wanting to ensure that Sirius felt supported.

Walburga nodded, her expression a mix of worry and resolve. She stood up, giving Sirius's hand one last reassuring squeeze. "It's okay, Sirius. We're here with you," she said softly, her voice full of comfort.

Regulus, who had been anxiously waiting, quickly moved to Sirius's side, offering a comforting presence.

Walburga then addressed the remaining guests in the dining room with a composed but strained smile. "Thank you all for coming. I'm afraid we have to cut the evening short due to unforeseen circumstances. We truly appreciate your understanding and patience."

She turned to Regulus, who was standing by the door. "Regulus, go on up to your brother. He needs you."

Regulus nodded and quickly made his way upstairs.

Walburga then took a deep breath, her gaze sweeping over the room. "Please, make yourselves comfortable while I see to the final arrangements. I'll be with Sirius shortly. Thank you again, and have a safe trip home."

As the guests began to leave, Walburga quietly moved to the foyer, making sure everyone had what they needed before taking a moment to gather herself. With a final look back toward the stairs, she made her way up to join Orion and Sirius, determined to provide the support her family needed during this challenging time.