Ebb and Flow

The Cottage, Halloween 1981

****

Althea yawned and scratched the top of her head as she woke from a marvelous dream. I wish I could go back to that dream, she thought, the dream still fresh in her memory. In her dream, she was no longer pregnant, but sat on the beach of her Bermuda home and watched her children from under a large, floppy straw hat. Her daughter, now five, with her younger brother, were hunched over a tide pool--cheering and giggling as Sirius picked up a wiggling starfish. Unfortunately, she woke from her dream as her daughter excitedly called her to see the rather large starfish. Sighing at her interrupted dream, she arched her back and felt the popping of her lower spine. Two more weeks and no more back pain, she thought, resting her hand on her stomach. Lowering her back, Sirius held her tighter, which caused her to smile. He fell asleep on my stomach again, she thought, stroking the back of his head, which lay just above her enlarged stomach. She admired the gesture, but the extra weight on her body made it uncomfortable. She had to roll onto her side.

"Sirius," she said quietly, stroking the hair away from his face. "Sirius, wake up."

Sirius shifted and sat up. "Morning," he mumbled sleepily, rubbing his eye with the palm of his hand.

"Morning," she replied, slightly sitting up. "She was cuddling next to you again," she added, rubbing her stomach--still feeling her daughter cuddled to the one side where Sirius had been.

"She was," he smiled, resting his hand on her stomach. Suddenly, he raised an eyebrow. "Is that a foot?" he asked, looking into Althea's eyes.

Althea placed her hand where Sirius's had been. Indeed, she felt a foot--a tiny foot pressed against her side. "It is her foot," she answered excitedly as she lifted her nightgown. "Look," she said as she gazed at the imprint.

Sirius quietly laughed and gently traced the outline of the tiny foot. "Beautiful baby foot," he said affectionately and kissed the imprint. "She's full term, right?" he asked, kissing the imprint again.

Althea nodded and Sirius leaned his face close to her stomach.

"Come on out," he said and tickled the baby's foot.

The baby quickly retracted her foot and flipped, causing the two to laugh. "Oh, she didn't like that at all," Althea commented, rubbing her sore stomach.

"Ticklish, just like her mother," he replied, tickling Althea's side.

Althea squirmed and laughed as Sirius tickled her sides. "St--stop! Stop it!" she forced herself to exclaim through her giggles. "Stop!" she laughed, pushing him away from her.

Sirius stopped and frowned. "Come on out," he said again to her stomach. Sighing, he directed his attention to her face. "Althea, is there any way of speeding this up?"

"We have two weeks until she's due, and telling her to come out won't work," she replied with amusement as Sirius sighed disappointedly. "She'll arrive when she pleases."

Sirius bit his bottom lip and furrowed his eyebrows. "Maybe she's not hearing me," he muttered and attempted to open Althea's legs.

"Sirius what are you doing?" she asked laughingly, sitting up and sliding her legs away from him.

"I was attempting another angle," he said, feigning innocence, shrugging his shoulders.

"'Another angle,'" she repeated, covering her mouth as she laughed. "You are hopeless," she replied, holding his face in her hands.

"So, what if I am?" he replied, smiling, as he placed his hand on her stomach. "I've never wanted something so much. I don't know how you can carry her for nine months--I'd want her out immediately."

"I've wanted to hold her for a long time," she replied, resting her forehead against his. "But she'll come out when she's ready. She's probably having a laugh that she's driving her father mad," she remarked, sliding her arms around his neck.

"Probably," he murmured and kissed her lips. Pulling away, he threw himself backward on the bed and covered his face with his hands. "I can't take anymore waiting!" he bemoaned as he flung his hands at his sides.

"Be patient, in two weeks you'll wish you could shove her back in," she replied, lying back on the bed.

Sirius sat up and crawled next to her. "No, I won't," he scoffed, lying beside her. "I'm looking forward to three in the morning feedings and dirty nappies."

"Are you?" she laughed.

"Of course, I am," he replied happily and kissed her cheek. "You know," he began--resting his head on her shoulder, "we really should find a name for her."

"What names have we gone over?" she asked, kissing the top of his head.

"The entire book, I'd say," he replied, sliding his arm around her.

"I did like Eugenie Frances," she said, resting her arm on top of his.

"I liked it, too, but she doesn't seem like she's a Eugenie Frances," he explained.

Althea giggled and smiled. "How would you know she's not a Eugenie Frances?" she asked, messing his hair.

"It's a feeling I have," he explained, kissing her collarbone. "Maybe we should wait until she's born--then we can decide on a name."

"A good idea, but we'll have to wait for Lily's gift, then," she replied. "She wanted to know the baby's name so she could sew it on a blanket she made for her."

Sirius propped his head up on his bent arm. "So, is that what she wrote about yesterday?" he asked, playing with the strap of her nightgown.

Althea nodded. "What did you think she wrote about?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh, I don't know," he muttered, still fiddling with the strap of her nightgown.

"You thought we were writing about you and James, didn't you?" she asked and laughed as Sirius smiled sheepishly. "Like we spend our entire letters gossiping about you--we save that for our conversations," she teased and Sirius frowned slightly, increasing her laughter. "You're wondering if we contrast and compare, aren't you?" she asked as Sirius blushed a little. "I don't tell her everything, if that's what you're wondering."

"What do you tell her then?" he asked, letting go of her nightgown strap.

Althea sighed and stretched her arms before her. "I told her about the song you sometimes sing to wake me up in the morning."

"You told her about the song?" he asked disappointedly, a small crease appearing between his eyebrows.

"I hope you're not upset, but it came on the wireless and I started to giggle," she began to explain, stroking the hair out of Sirius's eyes. "I love when you sing to me, and she thought it was cute. James doesn't sing to her."

"That's because James can't sing," he replied with a slight smile. "So..." he began slowly--tugging at her nightgown strap again.

"Don't even ask because I'm not telling you," she replied. "Anyway, you can ask him when you see him next. Oh, don't frown," she added, ruffling his hair. "At least you can see James and write him directly. I have to go through you and I can't see Lily."

"It's too dangerous," he replied, kissing her cheek.

"I know," she muttered. "It's too dangerous for me to visit Diagon Alley. It's too dangerous for me to visit Lily. It's too dangerous for me to leave the cottage. Now it's too dangerous for me to stay in the cottage," she added with frustration. "Where the bloody hell am I supposed to go?"

"That's why we're leaving tomorrow," he answered, taking her hand in his.

"Thank God," she muttered, "I'll finally be able to walk about without the fear of being blown up."

"Althea, don't talk like that," he replied and kissed her hand.

"It's true; sometimes I wonder just how much of a liability I am," she replied, staring at the ceiling. "You shouldn't have to worry about us. We're keeping you from fighting. You could barely stand staying inside this entire week--I saw you. It's not fair," she explained, turning her head toward him. "So, if you want to stay here...I'll understand."

Sirius furrowed his eyebrows. "What...you want me to leave you?"

Althea nodded. "Others have done so."

"Well, I'm not like other wizards," he replied, massaging her hand. "Althea, I'd never think of leaving you. Whatever you're thinking right now, stop--you're not a burden. Tomorrow we'll be in Bermuda and it'll be better, I promise," he said softly and kissed her cheek. "No danger and no Voldemort."

I hope you're right, Sirius, she thought, caressing his cheek. Sirius smiled and kissed the inside of her wrist. She would not blame him if he left--other wizards had done so to protect their loved ones. She was a liability--he could not deny it--and he needed to stay and fight. From what he told her, the Order was not growing; it was shrinking and some suspected someone had turned spy.

Three weeks ago, they had a horrible fight when Sirius had berated her for inviting Remus for tea because he believed Remus to be the spy. Voldemort had made it known to give special privileges to Dark creatures that had been previously denied them, and many Dark creatures had already turned to Voldemort's side. Sirius believed that it was only a matter of time before Remus was enticed by those freedoms denied him by the Ministry and Wizarding society. Althea thought this absurd because Remus had far greater loyalty to his friends and to Dumbledore, and not some Dark wizard making false promises. She reminded him that a week prior, one of Voldemort's supporters had approached him, and she hypothetically accused Sirius of being the spy to prove how ridiculous his assumption was. Enraged that she would even think him a spy and supporter of Voldemort, Sirius stormed out the cottage and spent the night in Godric's Hollow. The two did not speak for an entire day, and secretly, she hoped he had remained away.

There was nothing legally holding him to her, and their daughter would never carry his last name. She often wondered that if she weren't pregnant, would they be speaking? The pregnancy had not brought them closer together, and they were no closer than the day Harry was born. Now, in the early morning, they would leave for Bermuda, and she wished the seclusion would strengthen their fledgling relationship. However, it was not right taking him away, and she knew he would resent his decision, and in time, grow to resent her. If it came to it, she would leave him.

"Sirius, I want you to be honest with me," she explained, looking into his eyes. "Have we lost?" she asked, intently looking for any change in his expression that would give his true answer away.

Sirius's grey eyes flickered. "Lost?"

"Yes, lost. Have we lost?" she asked again with agitation. "Is everyone in hiding now?"

"No, no," he said soothingly, cupping her face in his hands. "Not everyone has gone into hiding. James, Lily, Harry, and us are the only ones in hiding so far," he explained, stroking her cheek with his thumb. "Hiding isn't necessary for them--not yet at least."

Althea frowned. "Maybe we're just temporarily preventing the inevitable," she muttered darkly, turning her face away from him.

With his fingers, Sirius turned her face to his. "Don't you ever say that," he said emphatically, looking into her eyes. "We'll be safe, and I would do anything to protect you and our daughter. I won't let them touch you," he assured and kissed her lips. "I promise."

"So, she'll be born in Bermuda," she said, massaging her stomach.

"Not unless she comes out today," he replied, sitting up. "Come on out," he said tenderly to her stomach.

As he frowned, Althea smiled. As if saying for her to come out will make her immediately come out, she thought as Sirius leaned closer to her stomach.

"Maybe I'll have to try something else," he muttered, not taking his gaze from her stomach.

"What are you going to try?" she asked, sitting up slightly. "You're not attempting to try what you did before?" she added--her eyes narrowing.

"No, no," he murmured, and cleared his throat. "'The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful, and so are you. Dear Prudence, won't you come out to play,'" he sang softly and kissed her stomach.

Althea smiled as he lifted his head from her stomach. "I liked that."

"Is it working?" he asked eagerly, resting his hand atop hers.

"No, but I liked that name," she answered, "and I think she liked it, too. I can feel her little hand pressing against mine."

"Really?" he replied excitedly and slid his hand underneath hers. "I can feel it," he replied, grinning. "That's it, that's her name," he added, sitting up.

"Prudence?" she replied, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah--it's a perfect name. I don't know why we didn't think of it before."

"Probably because one wouldn't assign the trait of prudence to either of us," she replied and Sirius playfully frowned. "Lily and James will find this very funny, you know."

"Let them," he replied, lying next to her. "I think it's a beautiful name for a beautiful baby."

Althea took his hand in hers, holding it in front of her face. "Are you going to act this way with every baby?" she asked, folding and extending his fingers.

"Probably," he smiled, resting his fingertips against hers. "How many did we decide on?"

"Four," she replied quickly.

Sirius laughed quietly and shook his head. "No, I think it was more like seven," he reminded, removing his hand from hers. "That way we can play the Potters--"

"Like Lily will have seven children for a Quidditch team side," Althea interrupted, rolling her eyes. "By the way, we've decided against your plan of simultaneous pregnancies."

"Oh come on," he sighed heavily, gently tugging at one of her curls. "It's a wonderful plan--James loved it--born around the same time, grow up together, attend Hogwarts--"

"What if they're sorted into different Houses?" she interrupted.

"Like they'll be sorted into different Houses," he scoffed, wrapping a curl around his finger.

"You never know," she replied, looking into his eyes. "My parents were Ravenclaws."

"Ravenclaw," he repeated, rubbing his unshaven chin. "I suppose if we're going to have seven children, there will be a Ravenclaw or a Hufflepuff in there somewhere," he added, rubbing the side of his face.

"Well, we do know the Sorting Hat will tire of our family," she replied, stretching her legs.

Sirius smiled mischievously. "'Bloody hell, not another one,'" he replied, imitating the Sorting Hat. "'Mother is part Muggle...why don't they get some bloody Muggle birth control--the Wizarding kind's obviously failed them. Well, I suppose I'll put you with the rest of your lot,'" he finished as she snickered at his Sorting Hat imitation.

"Hogwarts is so lucky you don't sort the children," she replied, messing his hair. "You'd constantly insult them."

"I'd just insult the children I didn't like," he replied, fixing his hair. "Malfoy, eh? Seems like your mother uncrossed her legs just enough for the one."

"You're awful."

"I'm not awful--I'm telling the truth," he explained, tugging at a curl that had fallen into her face.

"I wonder what they'll say about our children," she muttered, brushing the strands of hair out of her face.

"They'll be too horrified to say anything," he remarked. "To be able to see their faces as we parade our children down Diagon Alley to get school supplies," he added and smirked. "I hope my mother's there--maybe it'll kill her."

Althea sat up. "I don't know," she responded, adjusting her nightgown. "Once she sees our daughter, your mother will change her mind."

"I'm not letting her anywhere near our daughter," he replied harshly, folding his arms. "Anyway, she doesn't like children, and she especially doesn't like babies."

Althea awkwardly swung her legs over the side of the bed. "How could she not like babies?" she asked and grunted as she stood.

"Easy," he replied, as she walked toward the dressing table. "Babies bring joy and my mother despises joy. And they're messy, cry a lot, and smell," he explained as she sat at the dressing table.

Althea dipped her quill into the inkbottle. "Your mother probably didn't want to marry your father as well, huh?" she asked as she started to write a letter to Lily.

"You are perceptive."

"How tragic," she replied wistfully, "marrying someone you didn't love, while you watch the person you do love marry someone else. Each of you going through the motions of a loveless marriage--having children and watching your youth slip away."

"How did you come up with that?" he asked with amusement.

"I read a lot," she quipped and smiled--placing her quill on the dressing table. "Your mother is the melodramatic sort."

"You have no idea," he sighed and Althea heard him sit up. "What were you writing?"

"A letter to Lily," she answered, folding the letter and slipping it into an envelope. "You can take it to her later this morning with the tin of Pumpkin Pasties I made yesterday."

"Do I get a Pumpkin Pasty or two?" he asked, resting his hands on her shoulders.

"Yeah, but not the ones in the tin--ours are on the plate on the table," she replied, placing her hands on top of his.

"Right," he replied and kissed her cheek. "I'll make us some breakfast and after I'll go."

Althea watched as Sirius left the room. By the time I'm done dressing, there'll be no more Pumpkin Pasties for me, she thought as she stood and collected her things for her bath. Sirius was a notorious snack eater, and as she noticed this morning, had the beginnings of a small stomach to prove it. After her bath, she dressed and entered the kitchen. The smell of cooked sausages and eggs filled her nostrils, causing her stomach to growl. Slowly sitting in her chair at the table, she eagerly waited for Sirius to place the plate in front of her.

"Here you go," he said as he placed the plate in front of her and kissed her cheek.

"Thanks," she replied and took a mouthful of egg. "This is fantastic," she said and took another bite of pancake. "I had the most awful breakfasts when you were gone."

Looking up from her plate, she noticed Sirius already reading the Daily Prophet. She was about to ask if there was any interesting news, but frowned when she saw the headline--she was not very hungry anymore. In bold black letters the headline read:

'Family of Four Found Dead in their Beds:

Supporters of You-Know-Who Suspected.'

Pushing her plate away, she continued to read the article. The family of four was found the day before, lying in their beds dead, by their Muggle neighbor. The Ministry collected the information and Obliviated the neighbor's memory. The supporters were still at large, and the Ministry believed they would never be captured.

"The youngest was two," she murmured as Sirius turned the page.

"What? Oh, yeah," he replied dully as he closed the paper. "Horrible," he sighed sadly, folding the paper and setting it next to his plate on the table.

"The attacks are becoming more frequent on the continent now, too," she replied, leaning back in her chair. "Jane sent me a letter with news of her neighbor's disappearance. They're very scared," she continued and took a sip of water. "She has two small children and another's on the way."

"Three kids," he whispered as he leaned back in his chair and shook his head. "You haven't told her anything, have you?" he asked--his eyes narrowing.

Althea shook her head. "No, I haven't told her anything about tomorrow. Lily, of course, knew and I've only discussed it with Gran," she replied and bit her lip. "I didn't want Gran to worry."

"Do you think she'd worry?" he asked, staring up at the ceiling.

"Yes, she would," she answered defensively, narrowing her eyes. "I'm her only living relative, Sirius," she continued despite his derisive laughter. "She's highly protective of me."

Sirius leaned forward on his chair and the chair created a loud crack as it hit the floor. "So, was that why she hexed me out of the house on your seventeenth birthday? Threatened to kill me when she found me in our bed last March?" he asked bitterly, folding his arms.

"She didn't kill you, did she?"

"She didn't kill me because you threw yourself across me and told her you were pregnant," he reminded, frowning. "Bloody hell," he sighed, running his hands through his hair. "What will it take for that woman to trust me?" he asked with visible frustration.

"Present her with Voldemort's head," she quipped, but Sirius frowned. "She'll warm up to you eventually."

"Eventually," he repeated as he stood. "I'll dress and leave," he said as he walked toward Althea. "I'm not sure when I'll be back, though," he added and kissed the top of her head.

"Right," she sighed as she watched Sirius exit the kitchen.

No more Pumpkin Pasties for you, she thought, frowning as she looked at the half empty plate. You don't know it, Sirius, but you are going on a diet when we reach Bermuda.

***

"Be careful," she said, tugging at his jacket.

"I will," he sighed and kissed her cheek. "I'll be back as soon as I can."

"No, spend some time with James," she replied, handing him the tin of sweets. "It'll be awhile before you see him again, and I doubt he's enjoying his forced seclusion either."

"Thanks," he replied, smiling. "I'll see you later, then," he added as he started his motorbike.

"Bye," she mouthed over the loud roar of the motorbike engine.

Althea waved goodbye and watched as the motorbike kicked up dirt and dust as it traveled down the driveway. Closing the front door, she sighed--she was alone, and how long she would be alone, she did not know. He probably won't be back before dinner, she thought, resting the back of her head against the door. He needs to spend time with James, though, their friendship has been so strained this past week or so. Both men were extremely restless, and a forced seclusion increased their agitation. Althea had never known them to fight, and two days ago, they did. According to Lily's letter, it was an awful fight, obviously brought about by the events of the week. Upon reading the letter, she immediately confronted him about it, and after some arguing, he returned to the Potters' hiding place to apologize.

"So, what am I supposed to do now?" she thought aloud, looking around the empty sitting room.

She had an entire afternoon and evening before her--an entire afternoon and evening of nothing. I suppose I could go out into the garden and pick a pumpkin or two, she thought, walking toward the kitchen. It is Halloween after all. Smiling at her small rebellion of not wearing a coat, she opened the kitchen door and headed out into the chilly late morning air. My last day of this horribly cold place, she thought, watching her breath linger before her in the cold air. In the early morning, the couple would take her car that he charmed to fly, leaving everything behind--except for those things previously sent ahead--for her family home in Bermuda. They would start a new life in Bermuda, where the threat of Voldemort had yet to reach. She hated the idea of total isolation from family and friends, but they had to do it--to protect themselves and to protect their baby.

Entering the garden, she carefully stooped to pick two small pumpkins. These will make decent jack-o-lanterns, she thought, carrying them back to the cottage. Resting one small pumpkin on her stomach, she awkwardly managed to open the cottage door and entered.

"To carve them with a wand or a knife?" she said aloud, holding up her wand in one hand and a large carving knife in the other.

Frowning at the wand, she decided on using the knife. My magic has been a bit wonky lately, she thought, cutting into the top of the pumpkin. Unlike Lily, Althea developed the rare side effect all witches dreaded developing in the last months of their pregnancies--Misfiring Magic. Not much was known about the rare side effect, but one leading researcher believed it to happen due to the baby's magic interacting with the mother's magic; however, it did not explain the cases of Muggle mothers. Yes, not only was Misfiring Magic a Wizarding phenomenon, but there were a few documented cases of Muggle mothers who later gave birth to Muggle-born witches and wizards as well. With the arrival of the Wizarding School letter, the Muggle mother discovered that the blown up light bulb or exploded toaster oven was not the error of some faulty wiring, but infrequent surges in the baby's magic. Of course, Sirius had his own theories about why it happened, but it had more to do with his ego than actual scientific evidence.

"Would you like to listen to some music?" she asked her stomach as she paused from pulling out the pumpkin's insides.

Making a face at her pumpkin covered hands, she decided it turn on the Wizard Wireless with her wand.

"Amplificare," she said, pointing her wand at the Wizard Wireless.

With a soft click, it turned on and she smiled with relief, as she did not blow up the Wizard Wireless.

"Oh, your mummy's favorite band," she said happily as she continued to pull out pumpkin seeds.

Humming along, she decided to turn up the volume and as she cast the charm to turn up the volume, it began to spark.

"Oh no, no!" she exclaimed nervously as she waddled over to the kitchen counter. "Don't! Just stop that!" she continued, waving her arms as it hissed and sparked.

The Wizard Wireless rattled across the counter, spun, and fell to floor, leaving a pile of shattered and melted plastic.

"Bugger," she mumbled and shook her head. "You are going to be a handful, aren't you?" she remarked, staring at her stomach.

Finding the broom, she swept the broken Wizard Wireless into the dustbin and continued carving her pumpkins. The kitchen still smells like burnt plastic, she thought as she finished the last pumpkin. For a moment, she entertained the thought of casting a charm to remove the smell, but decided against it. The thought of kitchen cabinets spewing dishes at her, or even worse the house exploding around her, caused her to place her wand in the kitchen drawer.

"You would blow up the house, wouldn't you?" she said to her stomach and felt the baby kick. "We're not having seven," she muttered as she left the kitchen.

***

It was half past seven and Sirius had not arrived home yet. Althea decided to cook dinner for herself as surely Sirius was enjoying dinner with the Potters. After her solitary dinner, she entered the nursery that was once the guestroom and sighed sadly. Prudence will never enjoy this room, she thought as she leaned against the doorframe. The same day they discovered she was pregnant, the two started to collect things for the nursery. However, most of the time, it was Sirius seeing something in a shop somewhere and buying it on impulse. Resting her hands on the cot, she gazed at the mural as a white rabbit hopped across the lush grass, stopping to eat a dandelion, while an orange butterfly flitted across the blue sky, landing on a thick blade of grass. She had decided to paint the mural to keep her occupied in her voluntary, and then forced, seclusion. She had not intended the mural to move, but Sirius had charmed the walls one morning in September. At first, she was upset that he would charm the mural without asking her--she wished just one thing would be hers and hers alone to give to the baby.

"I don't know when I'll be able to paint another one," she said sadly, looking around the painted room. "Maybe you'll see it one day," she added, and massaged her stomach. "But when you're older, we'll paint your room in Bermuda together," she added and walked toward the rocking chair.

Hopefully, we won't have to leave there either, she thought as she carefully sat in the rocking chair. Unfortunately, she was not careful enough and the back of the rocking chair slammed into her head. You'd think I'd know how to sit in this thing by now, she thought, rubbing the back of her head. I wish I could take it along, though, she thought, resting her hands on the smooth wooden armrests. She closed eyes in an attempt to remember the few memories of her mother. Slowly rocking, she remembered her mother in that very rocking chair, holding Althea on her lap, while combing Althea's hair after a bath. I suppose we could buy a new rocking chair, she thought, opening her eyes, but it won't be the same.

"Sirius, where are you--it's almost eight o'clock," she said and sighed, looking up at the painted ceiling as a bluebird flew across a slightly cloudy sky.

Suddenly, she heard Sirius's motorbike traveling against the gravel driveway and relaxed. A few minutes later, she heard a pop and the deliberate footsteps of Sirius as he walked into the kitchen.

"Althea?" he called as she heard him enter the drawing room.

"I'm sitting in the nursery," she answered and started to stand from the rocking chair.

"Don't stand, I'll come to you," he replied as she heard him change the direction he was walking in.

A few seconds later--cheeks pale pink from the wind--he entered the nursery with a large, elaborately wrapped package.

"Hello, lovely," he said happily, bending to give her a kiss.

Althea pulled away, touching the back of her hands to his face. "You're so cold," she replied as she smoothed his windswept hair.

"I'm impervious to cold," he replied smugly and sat on the nearby toy chest. "Anyway," he continued, taking a letter from his leather jacket. "This is for you from Lily," he finished, handing her the letter. "And the large package is for Prudence."

Althea quickly opened the letter and smiled. "Oh, she likes the name, and believes at the Sorting Ceremony there will be a few snickers from certain faculty," she paraphrased for Sirius. "She also wrote that you took Harry for a short ride today," she continued, turning to face him.

Sirius smiled and laughed nervously.

"She misses me desperately and dreadfully wants to see me again," she said sadly--tears welling up in her eyes.

She was leaving tomorrow--what was the harm in flying by their hiding place for a quick meeting? She would not know when she would be able to see Lily or Harry again.

"Sirius, is there any way I can see her before we leave?"

Sirius shook his head. "No, Althea, you can't," he replied, moving the toy chest closer to her.

Althea bit her lip. "Please, we're leaving tomorrow and I won't see her for a long time," she replied, tears trickling down her cheeks.

Sirius wrapped his arms around her and she leaned her head against his chest--his leather jacket still cold from the ride. "Don't cry," he whispered and kissed the top of her head. "I know you want to see her, but it's too dangerous."

"Please," she whispered, continuing to cry.

Sirius squeezed her tightly and sighed. "I'll see what I can do," he replied and kissed the top of her head again. "I'll arrange something for tomorrow."

"Thank you," she whispered as she attempted to stop her crying. Sitting up, she wiped the tears from Sirius's jacket. "I'm sorry about that--I'd cast a Cleaning Charm to remove that, but I'd be too afraid I'd blow you up," she explained, regaining her happiness.

Sirius laughed. "Yes, I noticed a smell of burnt plastic in the kitchen," he replied, using his thumbs to wipe the rest of her tears away. "Have to buy another wireless," he sighed, resting his hands on her stomach. "So what was it this time--turning it on?"

"No," she responded--resting her hands atop his, "I wanted to turn up the volume and it exploded then."

"She probably didn't like the song," he replied, smiling to himself. "What was it?"

"It was Orpheus," she answered and Sirius's grin broadened. "Stop smiling," she added, removing her hands from his.

"I can't help it," he laughed and leaned closer to her stomach. "That's my girl," he added proudly and kissed her stomach. "Don't let your mummy listen to that wretched music."

"Wretched?" she repeated, messing his hair as he sat up. "I do remember someone having just as many Orpheus albums as me," she teased, rubbing her chin.

"Yeah, Orpheus were a good band, were," he replied, folding his arms.

Althea bit her lip to stop her giggling at Sirius'ss jealousy. "You only dislike that band because--"

"Alexander Star--what a stupid name--is a smarmy git--"

"Because one of his security guards asked if Lily and I wanted to go backstage after a concert."

"Exactly," he replied and bit the inside of his cheek.

Althea laughed. "We didn't go backstage--"

"But you wanted to."

"Of course, it's Alexander Star," she replied and Sirius muttered something under his breath. "Were you and I together at the time? No. Did I go backstage? No. Anyway, you should take it as a compliment that he found me attractive, and know that I chose you and not him," she explained as Sirius continued to frown. "Like girls didn't chase after you," she teased, stroking the inside of his calf with her foot. "I remember one time, I knocked on your flat door, and some blonde wearing one of your shirts answered. Then I heard you in the back, falling over things while you put your trousers on," she finished and Sirius smiled.

"And what did you have me do to those shirts?" he asked, locking his legs around her leg.

"Incinerate them," she answered plainly, wiggling her leg from his. "I wouldn't want to wear something they wore," she added and made a face. "Thankfully, you never let any of them ride your motorbike, or I'd have you incinerate that, too."

"Oh, I would never let anyone but you ride my motorbike," he replied, stretching his legs out before him.

"That's not true; you let James, Lily, and Harry ride your motorbike," she remarked.

"Anyone romantically involved with," he corrected, running his fingers through his hair. "I'll never forget the first time you rode on the back of it," he mused--his grin widening across his face. "Gran screaming at you to get back in the house, you told her no, and hopped on the back of the motorbike. Then you wrapped your arms around me, and we rode off, leaving Gran screaming," he reminisced and sighed happily. "That was fantastic."

"Yes, back to your flat where we barely made it up the stairs to your flat door," she remembered and Sirius laughed loudly, which caused the baby to move. "You startled her with your laughing," she added, rubbing her stomach.

"Did I? I'm so sorry, Prudence," he replied softly and kissed her stomach. "We should open your present for you and you won't feel so terrible," he added and kissed her stomach.

"Shouldn't we wait until she's born?" Althea asked, lifting the package onto her stomach.

"I don't think so," he answered, looking at the package. "Come on, open it," he added eagerly, tugging at the purple and pink ribbon.

"Right," she replied and started to tear the pink, silver, and purple paper from the box. "This is absolutely gorgeous!" she exclaimed in appreciation, holding up the soft, pink blanket.

"She made this?" he asked, holding the edges of the blanket.

Althea nodded. "She's always been able to sew and knit, but this--this is so beautiful," she explained and looked into Sirius's eyes. "Thank you for flying over to their hiding place today," she added and kissed his lips.

"No problem," he replied quietly, smiling. "She wouldn't let me leave until she was done with something, and she wouldn't let me go near her to see.... So this was the something, amazing," he explained, looking at the blanket. "Look at her name in gold up in the corner."

"How beautiful," she whispered, running her fingers across the gold lettering. "Just imagine, Sirius, two weeks from now our Prudence will be wrapped in this blanket," she continued, draping the blanket over her stomach.

"Maybe we won't have to wait two weeks," he said, leaning close to her stomach. "Come on out, Prudence. Come on out so your godparents can see you before we travel to Bermuda," he said quietly to her stomach.

Althea laughed and stroked the back of Sirius's hair. "She'll come out when she's ready," she explained over Sirius's pleas for Prudence's birth. "No amount of pleading will work."

"Is she ready now?" he asked, looking up at her.

"No, Sirius," she replied and he frowned. "Enjoy these last few days without a child because we won't have that again until we're very old."

Sirius smiled and rested his face against her stomach. "I suppose you're right," he whispered, closing his eyes.

***

What every mother-to-be witch must know is patience. Be patient. Your child will show magical ability someday, and it may not be for weeks, months, or years. If by a rare case, your child is a Squib, do not frown. Squibs lead happy, productive lives....

What if she shows magical ability in the womb, she thought, placing the book on her stomach. Harry was a very magical baby, but he did not do much that would cause distress--he had never blown up two Wizard Wireless, or one. Once, James had left his wand on the table and Harry had charmed his toys to rotate like the mobiles in Muggle baby cots. Harry's magic was cute and safe, but Althea had the suspicion Prudence's magic would be of the naughty sort. Althea looked at Sirius--who sat perpendicular to her on the sofa--with his knees to chest, intently reading and then periodically writing on a folded piece of paper. For the most part, he was well behaved, but there was that dangerous side to him--and to her, too. What was he like before Hogwarts? She knew what she was like--pampered, adventurous, and demanding--and she knew what he was like during and after Hogwarts. Nevertheless, what was he like for those ten or so years before they met? He never liked to talk much about his life in the Black family house. It was obviously too painful, and in some ways maybe it was better for him to concentrate his mind on their growing family and not the past. Sighing, she picked up her book, Baby Magic and You--What to Expect, and continued reading.

Suddenly, Sirius cleared his throat. "Who wrote Taming of the Manticore?" he asked as Althea continued to read the childcare book.

Althea paused from reading the sentence. "I think it was Aristotle Hamnet," she replied, and continued to read the sentence about magical ability at one month of age.

"Right, thanks," he muttered. A few minutes later Sirius spoke up again, "Who was the late sixteenth century Muggle that started the disbelief in Wizardry?"

Althea placed a bookmark in her book and rested the book on top of her stomach. "Sixteenth century Muggle?" she repeated quietly, frowning. "I think it was Frederick von Spee, but why do you need to know this?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yep, it is Spee," he mumbled, and crossed something out with a pencil. "Oh," he muttered, sitting up. "I'm working on a crossword puzzle," he explained, holding up a folded paper for her to see.

"A crossword puzzle," she replied, sliding herself closer to him. "I thought you hated crossword puzzles," she added, slowly leaning her back against his chest.

"I don't hate them," he replied, resting his chin on her shoulder. "I don't particularly like them though," he explained, wrapping his arms around her. "I'm bored," he sighed. "How were you able to stay in here for so long?"

Althea rested the back of her head against his shoulder. "You forget how much I fought it at the beginning. I eventually thought of it as a well-deserved rest, and I wanted to keep our baby safe, so I found other things to do," she explained, intertwining her fingers with his. "Don't you notice how clean the cottage is?" she asked with a slight tone of bitterness, pulling his arms tighter around her.

"Of course, I notice," he replied. "You keep reorganizing things that I can't find my spare wand."

"We have to start putting things like wands away," she began, "it'll be dangerous to have those things lying about when she's born."

"I suppose you're right, but she's our child and it won't matter," he replied, kissing her cheek. "She'll find them anyway. I always did."

"What would you do?" she asked with slight apprehension.

"When I was five, I found one of my father's spare wands and set the rug on fire. Of course, I did this during a Christmas party. Then, there was the time when I was six, when I charmed Regulus and floated him out his bedroom window--that was a week after I pretended to be lost in front of my house. I sat in front of my house, and as some policeman went by, I told him I was lost," he explained and laughed. "I spent the evening in a police station."

"I bet your parents weren't very happy with you," she replied, frowning slightly.

"No, no, they weren't happy, but I'll never forget them in a police station.... My mother actually fainted. Oh, and at seven, I found my father's broom and rode it out of the house--they didn't catch me until I was at James's," he explained, holding her tighter. "We rode around for at least an hour--that's how we met, actually," he added fondly. "After that, we'd owl each other all the time. I'd steal the Floo Powder and go to his house--"

"Sirius, we're only having one," she interrupted, sitting up.

"What? No," he replied, sitting up as well.

Althea turned to face him. "I was just as terrible as a child--except I didn't have the access to magic. I would decide I wanted to play and I would leave--never telling my father or Marie. Then, I'd climb things--the higher the better. After spending an entire afternoon or evening looking for me, they'd finally find me in some tree, or on a roof of some building," she explained, rubbing her stomach. "Sirius, if we were like that, just imagine what our children will be like."

Sirius laughed. "I doubt they'll be as terrible as us, and if they are we'll hide the wands, the brooms, the Floo Powder, and we'll live underground where there are neither roofs nor trees," he replied and rested his hand atop hers. "If anything we'll know what to expect. Plus, you know, once she's born, she'll probably be lonely," he added and kissed the tip of her nose.

Althea rolled her eyes. "No, Sirius," she sighed, attempting to suppress a smile. "Not right away--at least two years before another baby."

"Oh, come on," he murmured, nuzzling her neck.

"No, and don't even start--"

"Start what?" he asked, faking innocence.

"Oh you know, 'Oh, Althea, I know we shouldn't have a baby right now, but wouldn't it be fantastic to have a baby together,'" she said, imitating Sirius.

"I never said that," he replied laughingly.

"Yes, you did--a month after you moved in--"

"Oh, now I remember, I did say something like that, but you agreed," he replied, smiling to himself. "You have to admit February was very fun."

"Yeah, I'm still attempting to recover."

"You're not funny when you're pregnant," he replied and pinched her nose.

"You wouldn't be hilarious either if you had something kicking you at all hours of the day."

"No, I just have you doing that while I'm trying to sleep," he replied, scratching the back of his head.

"I don't kick you," she replied, folding her arms.

"Yes, you do," he began to explain, resting his head on his bicep against the top of the sofa. "Two days ago, in your sleep you kicked me."

"I probably kicked you because you took the bedclothes away," she muttered, playfully kicking him in the shin. "You don't know how many nights I wake up shivering and find you wrapped up in all the bedclothes."

"Why don't you get your own bedclothes, then?" he teased, making a face.

"Why don't I kick you out of bed, then?" she teased, making the same face.

"Get off my new bed," he replied, smiling.

"Obviously Prudence will be our only child then," she replied, smiling.

"Right, this teasing has gone too far," he said and Althea laughed. "You can't kick me out of the bed until we're married for at least twenty-five years--"

"But your mother might live for another twenty-five years."

"God help us," he muttered, looking toward the ceiling.

"Besides, I thought we decided we wouldn't marry," she replied, raising an eyebrow. "That we didn't want our children or me having your surname."

Sirius nodded. "Still true," he murmured, leaning his back against the arm of the sofa. "I want the name to die with me."

"Really?" she asked, turning and resting her back against the sofa.

"Yeah, I do," he replied as she picked up her book and continued reading.

Do not be alarmed if your child has not levitated his bottle toward him by the twelfth month. Be on watch for another possible outlet to the child's magic. Observe his favorite toy, for example....

Althea looked up from her book and blinked her dry eyes. He's reading my New Witch magazine, she thought, looking out of the corner of her eye. What could he possibly find interesting in there? She laughed quietly as he turned the page and continued reading, engrossed in the article. Glancing at the cover, she realized he must have been reading: 'Twenty Ways to Please Your Magic Man.'

"Hmm," he murmured, fixedly reading the article as Althea watched him.

Suddenly he started laughing, and Althea raised an eyebrow. He's obviously remembering number fifteen, she thought, smiling to herself. As she was about to continue reading, she noticed Sirius had stopped reading. He looked at her thoughtfully, raised an eyebrow, and a small smile crept across his face. Sighing, he went back to the article he was reading, and Althea continued to stare at him.

"You're thinking about number twelve, aren't you?" she asked as she placed her book on the coffee table and turned to face him.

Sirius jerked his head up and laughed. "No, I'm not," he replied, smiling. "I'm not even reading that article. I'm reading about facial treatment potions."

"Are you sure?" she laughed, narrowing her eyes as Sirius turned the page.

"Very sure," he answered. "Oh, I think I'll buy you some of this. It's supposed to relax you after a tiring day."

"Right," she sighed, resting the side of her face against the back of the sofa. "Not thinking about number twelve."

"Nope," he replied, attempting to cover a smile, as he turned the page.

"Right, so you want to try number twelve?"

Sirius closed the magazine and placed it on the coffee table. He mockingly frowned and rubbed his chin as if in deep deliberation. "Perhaps," he answered, "but I do have certain fondness for number fifteen."

"Well, when you decide, let me know, right," she replied, rolling her eyes as she stood. "You can be such an idiot sometimes," she muttered, but suddenly felt herself being lifted into the air. "Sirius! Sirius put me down!" she scolded, laughing as she wrapped her arms around his neck.