Sirius groaned as he sat slumped on the chair, his patience fraying with each passing second. "Great, just perfect," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else, his hand rubbing his lower back in a futile attempt to ease the dull ache radiating there. His head pounded, his back ached, and the cramps seemed to taunt him mercilessly.

Regulus, standing close, didn't miss his brother's cranky muttering. "Siri, do you need anything?" he asked cautiously, already bracing for a sharp reply.

Sirius glared up at him, his frustration bubbling over. "If I needed something, Reg, I'd have said it already," he snapped, though the edge in his tone was more weariness than anger. "Just... stop hovering."

Regulus pressed his lips together, holding back a retort. He knew Sirius wasn't trying to be difficult—it was the pain talking. Still, it took effort to keep his voice even. "Alright, but I'm here if you need me."

Sirius sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I'm sorry," he muttered, his voice softening slightly. "I'm just—ugh, I feel like I've been hit by a bloody Hippogriff, and everyone keeps looking at me like I'm about to shatter."

Regulus pulled a chair closer, sitting beside Sirius with a small shrug. "Well, you do look like you're about to bite someone's head off, so maybe we're all just being cautious."

That earned a weak, begrudging smirk from Sirius, though he quickly wiped it away. "Very funny, Reg. Go fetch Mum or Dad. Maybe they can magic this out of me."

Regulus nodded and got up, his movements quick and purposeful. As he left the room, Sirius leaned back with another groan, muttering under his breath, "Merlin's beard, I can't even sit without something hurting…"

Minutes later, Orion and Walburga appeared, their faces shadowed with worry. Walburga moved to Sirius's side immediately, her hand resting on his shoulder. "Sirius, love, what's wrong? Is it the cramps again?"

Sirius leaned his head back against the chair, his irritation bleeding through. "Yes, Mum, it's the cramps. And the backache. And the fact that I'm stuck in this blasted chair while everyone acts like I'm made of glass."

Orion crouched beside him, his calm presence a stark contrast to Sirius's frayed demeanor. "We're just trying to help, Sirius. Let us do that."

Walburga rubbed Sirius's back in soothing circles, though her voice carried a no-nonsense tone. "You're allowed to be cranky, but that doesn't mean you get to bite our heads off, young man."

Sirius huffed but didn't argue. The combination of his mother's touch and his father's calm demeanor seemed to chip away at his irritability. He relaxed marginally, muttering, "Fine. Just... don't fuss so much."

Regulus reappeared with the healer in tow, who wasted no time assessing the situation. "Sirius," she began, her tone professional but firm, "it sounds like your body is preparing for labor. The discomfort you're feeling is part of the process, but we'll do everything we can to make you more comfortable."

Sirius let out a humorless laugh, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, great. Comfort while I feel like I'm being ripped in two. Thanks, that's just what I needed to hear."

Walburga gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze, a warning not to push too far. "Watch your tone, Sirius," she said sharply, though her voice softened when she continued. "She's here to help, not to argue with you."

The healer didn't seem fazed by Sirius's crankiness. Instead, she offered a small smile. "I know it's not what you want to hear, but we'll get you through this. Let's start with a warm compress for your back and some potion for the pain."

As the healer prepared the compress, Sirius muttered another quiet, "Sorry," under his breath, his face softening as the guilt of snapping at his family crept in. He glanced at Regulus, who had stayed nearby, and added, "Thanks for putting up with me."

Regulus smirked, his voice light. "I'm your brother. It's in the job description."

Orion chuckled softly as he stood, watching the healer work. "You're not the first cranky patient we've dealt with, Sirius. Just let us help."

As the warmth of the compress began to soothe his back, Sirius exhaled slowly, the tension easing just enough to make him feel less like lashing out. "Alright," he mumbled, his tone less sharp than before. "I'll try not to bite anyone's head off. But no promises if someone tells me to 'relax' one more time."

Walburga smiled faintly, brushing her hand through his hair. "We'll take it one step at a time, darling. Just hang in there."