Chapter 27: Vacationing with Veela

Bern, Switzerland: A Few Weeks Later

It felt weird being on a date. And yet, that was what she was Apolline told her she needed to move on with her life and not be scared anymore. It would help her with a lot of things. And both Apolline the veela coven said she needed a release—she couldn't disagree with that either.

"Your allure demands you let loose,"

"But…I don't know if I can." She said, "Not after what Rafael…"

Apolline shook her head. "It doesn't have to be an actual relationship, Claire. Do not punish yourself because of what that man did to you."

"But casual sex just isn't who I am." She said.

"You're a veela," Apolline said. "You haven't noticed that you crave physical affection that it helps calm the beast within."

"I just…"

"This man you saw. You barely even knew him, yet you wanted him, didn't you?"

"That was different," She thought blushing when she thought of Sirius.

Sirius who clearly didn't want her.

Apolline gave her a look, "I doubt it was 'different' considering you didn't know the man. Any attractive man would've given you that feeling."

"It felt like…"

"Jean Luc," The older veela said hearing about Claire's dead lover. "Don't conflate desire with love, mon chère, it never ends well."

She wanted to argue with her, but what was the point. Sirius had made his intentions or lack of intentions with her clear. Besides, she knew a part of what Apolline was saying was right. Her feelings of desire had returned.

She frowned heavily realizing how little she knew about herself or had forgotten. The local coven she had been spending time at least had been helpful in that, even though she still never thought she'd get used to her own kind. It was through them that she met him.

Gil.

He was writing a book. A part of him thought he had asked her out just because she was a veela and it would make for an exciting chapter in her book. Really though she didn't care. It felt good to have companionship again. And like Apolline had said she need intimacy.

Besides, it wasn't something she thought could be serious.

A face popped into her head when she thought that and she instantly shook her head thinking of Sirius. She had only seen him a couple of times in passing since their not date. It was too painful. It helped she spent more time with the coven than she had originally intended.

"Did I mention you look just captivating tonight Gil said eying her.

She noticed his eyes were not on face. Inwardly she rolled her eyes. She should be used to it by now, but it still felt new. She guessed she should be glad he wasn't drooling like he was when he had first visited the coven.

She was getting better at controlling her powers. She wondered how she had functioned for so many years without being taught. Maman had died so young and then when she had experienced the change she had been in school. She never really had tried to use or focused on her powers too much. It helped that she had found Jean Luc so early in life and had not seemed affected by her allure. Conjuring a fireball had only been something she had been able to do more recently with control and she hadn't even tried to shift into her other form since the one time she partially did it at the hospital.

She didn't want to, even though the elders in the coven insistent that she get used to changing back and forth. It just…she wasn't a fighter and that form was something she did not want.

"It could've saved you the night you were beaten, no?" Giselle one of the women in the village said. "It has its benefits, Claire. You shouldn't try to suppress that part of yourself. Or any of yourself."

But suppression was what she had done for so long. Maybe it was because she didn't want to be like Maman, Apolline had indicated that much.

She finally turned her attention back to her date. Gil had taken her to one of those restaurants Sirius would've only taken someone to impress.

That comment still stung and she didn't know why.

Had she honestly expected something out of the man? He was clearly devoted to his late wife, and he seemed nice enough. They had got along great even, just…he didn't want her.

She didn't know why that rubbed on her so much. By all accounts Gil was a better catch. He was a bestselling author, was in great shape, and he was clearly unattached. Yes, a little pompous but most men were.

Not everyone was a Jean Luc.

"This place is nice." She said fingering a strand of her white-gold hair. It had finally grown back to her preferred length. She really was finally starting to feel like herself again. The voice had been barely present.

"Only the best in Bern," Gil said. "I thought you might want something different from the rustic food your coven serves."

"They're not my coven," She rolled her violet-colored eyes, but she was actually glad he had chosen this restaurant. The food at the village where the coven was based was a little too rich for her taste. Much like the coven lifestyle.

The coven was more or less in a fairly remote part of the country, and it required a portkey to get to it. She didn't think she could live her life like that hiding from the world because of what she was.

"You do seem to like the finer things in life," Gil said his eyes traveling down the fitted silk violet colored robes she had ordered all the way from France.

It was the first time she had felt like herself in a while. It helped that all her physical injuries were all but gone. The remaining scars had faded, the swelling of her face was gone completely, and while still thin she was no longer malnourished. Her robes fitted perfectly emphasizing her regained curves, she noticed that Gil's eyes had settled on her breasts.

"Your eyes remind me of my favorite color lilac," he said his eyes still not leaving her cleavage.

It was a bit gross. Much like he always had a way of turning the conversation back to himself. That was Gil for you. At least the pretty face made up for it in other aspects. She still couldn't help but be surprised with how much she missed having a paramour. How much it helped control her urges.

Of course, a part of her screamed at the fact at what she was doing with Gil. She guessed that was the part of her that missed Jean Luc.

"We are not monogamous creatures," One of the older veelas, Lisle, said when Claire had mentioned this.

"I'm not a creature," Claire pointed out she hated that there were several people who classed her as such a thing just because she had Maman's heritage. Lisle was one of them.

Lisle rolled her eyes. She hadn't been born a veela like Claire or most of the other veelas in the coven she was turned when she gave birth to her daughter, Karina. It was a rarity but it occasionally happened. The change wasn't exactly an easy thing either. She seemed very bitter about her now veela state which admittedly Claire would understand since she herself had been thrown into this world as well.

"We're creatures," she said. "You were never normal. I was. I wish anything to be what I once was especially after that man left me…However, I adapted. You will too. You will see I'm right."

Admittedly, she did think Lisle had a point she loved being ravished by Gil, but it felt somewhat empty.

However, it did release an urge she didn't realize she had and it helped with her control.

Which was one of the reasons she put up with Gil talking about himself. "I'm thinking about calling my new book Vacationing with Veela. What do you think?"

It was a terrible title, but she wasn't going to tell him that instead she just smiled. "It sounds wonderful. I suppose I'll be included?"

"I shall think so, maybe an entire chapter if we keep going the way we are." He said, "Describing your eyes alone…"

She'd endure Gil for now and get the release she was seeking tonight. At least when she was done with him he'd shut up about the color lilac.


Sirius had noticed that there was something off about his cousin at the memorial service.

He grimaced thinking about that awful day. Saying goodbye at the crypt in Nice. He didn't even remember going to Nice with Bella, but having the service in the UK would've been a complete disaster.

Not that there had been anything to bury, just a pile of ashes.

Cissy looked terrible, which was one of the reasons he decided to ask her to come see him.

He frowned as he looked at his cousin. She seemed even paler than she had been at the service. Ridiculously pale and her face seemed almost gaunt, but there was something else. He was pretty sure he knew what it was too based on the fact she had ran to the bathroom almost immediately after she flooed here.

When she came back into the living area, he decided he was just going to perform the spell if he was wrong… well, she'd get over it.

Sure enough, as soon as he removed the glamor charm he saw what he suspected a baby bump.

You didn't focus on fertility and obstetrician healing for years without noticing a few things.

Cissy glared at him as futilely tried to hide her belly.

He smirked.

"Didn't your mother tell you it was rude to remove other people's glamor charms?"

"Those robes look uncomfortable," he said. "Ever heard of maternity robes."

"I have some on back order," she said. "I can't help that I've pretty much exploded in the past week or so."

Exploded was a good word for it. He was amazed she had even gotten on those robes on in the first place with how stretched out they were. He could literally see her belly button popping out at the top of the robes. Something he knew would have her blanching if she noticed.

"How far along are you?"

"About fourteen weeks."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Triplets," she said answering his unasked question. "At least when I did the diagnosis charms."

Triplets.

Merlin.

Though it did explain her size at fourteen weeks. She looked very well into her second trimester even though he knew she wasn't.

"I guess congratulations are in order."

"Thanks," she said with a terse smile putting her hand on her stomach. "Though I'd appreciate if you kept this between you and me. I haven't even told Lucius yet."

"Why?" He asked as it dawned on him from his conversations with Narcissa in the past. "Cissy, are they…"

"Three girls," She said. "And I have experienced symptoms. I got the blood test back the other day and they confirmed what I feared."

"So, you're changing then as well?"

She nodded, "Yes. It's a full change based on my blood levels…I don't know how to tell him, Siri. I don't even know if I can deal with it yet. I know I should be thinking of termination so I could just focus on the transformation, but I can't. I want them. It took us far too long. I won't give them up. I won't kill them."

He remembered. He had been there. Of course, they had done things to prevent conception unless they had a boy.

"It was a happy accident," she said. "I stopped taking the drought because I really didn't think having another was possible. And now now…"

"You should talk to Lucius," He said. "He may know…"

She shook her head. "I can't. He'll want me to end it. He thought it was too risky to have Draco, remember."

He remembered. Logically, termination was her best option. She would still have to go through the transformation, but she'd have a better chance of surviving it. With the pregnancy it would be exceedingly more difficult especially with having multiples.

"You probably shouldn't be flooing that much," he said going into full healing mode even as far to taking his wand out and running diagnosis.

It felt like second nature it had been so long.

"Really, Siri," Narcissa said rolling her eyes when he was casting spells but looking relieved as well.

"You're right it is triplets." He said looking at her. "Your weight gain so far is in the normal range, but it's very easy for it get out of hand and for you to be at risk for complications. I am going to recommend you start taking a prenatal potion that we give for multiples so there will be less of a chance for preterm labor. Watch the sugar though, your levels are sort of high."

"They crave it," she groaned. "You know I normally hate the stuff, but all I have wanted to eat today is pancakes. Merlin, I will be bigger than Molly Weasley by the time they get here."

He rolled his eyes though he suspected she was right. "Try to consume it in moderation you're at risk for gestational diabetes if you keep it up. You're also exhausted."

"Tell me about it," she said sitting on his chaise lounge putting her hands on her stomach. When she sat there like that it was obvious that she hadn't just gained a few pounds but was pregnant.

"They seem like they're in good health overall though," he said looking at her. "Scan indicates their identical."

She grimaced, "So they all…"

"Likely," He said as he ran some tests on her to look at her other issues, "You said you had blood work done?"

She nodded. "I did it myself. I don't trust anyone to know about this…though I guess you now know."

"Any symptoms. I can see you're paler. I thought that was just you being ill, but…"

"No, it's the transformation." She said, "My hair isn't fully dark anymore either. I used some muggle dye since a basic coloring spell isn't holding now, but I don't know how long that's going to last. It's even started losing some of its curl now and it's growing so fast."

"I bet you're delighted about that," he said knowing Narcissa hated how her hair would get unruly anytime there was a little stress.

"I would be if I wasn't randomly conjured up sparks the day of Bella's funeral or worried that I'm going to fully transform when Draco gets under my skin. Not to mention that my entire body is going to change and it won't be just pregnancy weight."

He sighed heavily. "There's a veela staying here. I know she mentioned being in contact with a local coven to help her with her powers, I could maybe reach out see if she could help. Are you sure you don't want to involve Lucius?"

She nodded. "Not right now. Not until I know what's going on."

"You know it's not going to be exactly easy."

"He's hardly ever home, Siri," she said. "Honestly, I'm hardly ever home. It's been surprisingly easy to hide so far."

"You're only fourteen weeks along." He said.

"I know it's a short-term solution, but the glamor spells will hold for a while, and I have some concealing robes on order."

"And what about when the muggle dye doesn't work anymore?" He said, " What about when you outgrow those robes? What about if you lose control again and you end up conjuring a fireball again? What about when your body changes and you can't control your allure? What about when you fully transform into your other form?"

"I…I don't know."


He didn't know why he was nervous.

He was doing this for Cissy.

Cissy who was out cold on his couch right exhausted from hiding her pregnancy.

He sort of understood where his cousin was coming from, but at the same time…Lucius deserved to know.

It really wasn't his business though and since he had agreed to be her healer he was bond to not tell Lucius anything about his wife or his three new children.

Triplets.

Merlin. He still didn't believe it.

He wondered what he and Bella would've done had they been in a similar situation. Not that he really could think about that since that wasn't going to happen.

He felt a little awkward knocking on Claire's door. Their last encounter had ended on a weird note to say the least. He had become overwhelmed with emotions as did Harry and he just had to leave. It didn't help that he was pretty sure she had thought he was asking her out.

Talk about awkward.

He had purposely made an effort to avoid her since. It was actually fairly easy to do since she was often not at the facility, probably visiting the coven.

He was surprised when she answered the door. The woman almost took his breath away much to his disgust.

She had looked better than the last time he saw her. She was no longer thin as a rail, it seemed like she had filled out in just the right places. He groaned as he felt his eyes move up and down appreciating the fact that she seemed to be clad in a very short silky purple robe that seemed to be barely covering up a very sheer black negligee.

He also noticed how short she was without her heels. They had at least a foot or so in difference in height. He had always liked tall women, his wife had been tall, but there was something about her…

Stupid veela allure.

Why did she have such a strong affect on him?

"Sirius, I thought you left.""Nope, still incarcerated," he joked though he was hoping he'd be able to leave here soon enough. He wanted to settle down somewhere with his son—though that might all be up in the air now given Cissy's condition.

"How's Harry?"

"Claire…" He heard someone calling from the back of the room.

He raised an eyebrow.

"Give me a minute, Gil." The woman said.

Gil what a stupid name.

"New friend?" He asked as she partly closed the door to give them privacy.

She shrugged. "Friend might be a strong word. But Gil's very nice and interested."

He knew that was a burn directed at him. He hadn't meant to hurt her. "I'm sorry about what happened a few weeks ago."

She shrugged. "You made your intentions clear. You did nothing wrong, Monsieur… I don't think I ever got your last name."

"It's Black," he said. "And yours?"

"Du Pres," She said she frowned for a moment, "Black? Why does that name seem familiar?"

"I may have been in the papers recently," He said, "It's a long sordid tale. Considering you have company it's best for another time."

She raised an eyebrow but said nothing. "So, why are you visiting me? I had a feeling you were trying to keep your distance if you were still here."

"I had a lot going on," he said. "But that's besides the point….I need your help."


Chapter 28 Preview: Claire and Sirius talk about Cissy's condition. Emma is given more upsetting news and must make a decision.