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“We can’t keep this from out parents!”

“They don't need to know right away. Don’t you know how angry they will be?” He’d never meant for this to happen.

“I do know that, but it isn’t going to be an easy thing to keep from them. It’s not something that can be well hidden,” Adhara said, just as nervous as Sirius.

“Listen...I’m late for class. I have to go. It’s Defense Against the Dark Arts; if I miss one thing the next day is hell. I’ll talk to you tonight at seven, I promise. I love you.” Sirius wanted to stay and comfort his girlfriend but he needed to leave as fast as possible, for the sake of his future; the future that he easily could have just ruined.

“Alright, fine...and Sirius?” she called back to him once he was at the door.

“Yeah?” he asked back with concern.

“I love you too. ”Sirius gave her a comforting smile and left for Defense Against the Dark Arts. He tried not to think about what he just found out for the rest of the day...he failed miserably.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Adhara found Sirius waiting in their storeroom. She glanced around at the less-than-cozy looking space. Every type of furniture that was in the castle was in this room. Couches, mattresses, tables, chairs, footstools...and the list went on. The only difference from the rest of the castle’s furniture, was most of the room’s contents were barely useable. There were couches that had slashes through the cushions, chairs with only two legs so that they tipped too far in one direction to sit, and mattresses that spit out feathers when you sat on them. Although it was not the most comforting sight, they had found that the room could be very generous. Although that is how they got into the situation they were in now.

She greeted him with a sweet kiss on the lips. “We need to talk about what we are going to do about this,” Adhara pushed on as if the day’s classes hadn’t interrupted their conversation.

“I told you, we don’t need to tell them right away.” Sirius had no idea what they were going to do. He didn’t know what to tell her. It would only be their two-year anniversary in one week. And this already? It couldn’t be happening. He couldn’t bring himself to believe it.

“But, when are we going to tell them that I’m pregnant then, Sirius? When it shows? When!?” Adhara was extremely frustrated. Her usually pale face was now red with frustration.

“I don’t know! I wish I did, but I don’t know!” Sirius reached for Adhara’s hand and held it tight. “I love you and nothing will ever change that. Even something or someone as...unexpected as this.”

She embraced Sirius and they stood there holding each other, Adhara crying gently into Sirius’s shoulder, Sirius stroking her back. All too soon it was nine o’clock and they parted, giving each other one last kiss to hold them over until the next morning.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

When daylight came, they greeted each other with the same sweet kiss. It was Adhara’s turn to eat at the Gryffindor table with Sirius. They tried as hard as possible to show that nothing was out of the ordinary, but of course Danny new better; Danny knew everything. Or at least she knew when she didn’t.

“Danny, there is nothing wrong! We’re fine!” Sirius was agitated by his cousin’s constant badgering.

“I know there is something going on! Please tell me!” Danny wanted to know, her mind told her that she needed to know and she wouldn’t rest until she did.

“Uh, Sirius I’m going to go to the, er bathroom,” that was Adhara’s way of telling Sirius to keep his mouth shut and go to the storeroom.

Sirius snuck in the door a few minutes behind her.

“I think Danny should know,” Adhara told him looking at the floor. “She’d be so hurt if she found out any other way...and I think she’ll be able to help.”

“We might as well, she’ll figure it out sooner or later.” Sirius shrugged it off; at this point, if it makes Adhara happy, I’m all for it.

“I just wish this never happened. I wish I could go back in time and do everything over.” Adhara whispered with tears silently streaming down her face. Sirius wished he could do things differently, not everything, but some things. He gently pulled Adhara close to him and tried to lessen her tears before they left for classes.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Later that night, Sirius, Adhara, and Danny were all in the storeroom. Danny was extremely eager to know what was going on...until Sirius actually told her.

“You’re what!?” Danny screeched.

“She’s, er...pregnant,” Sirius mumbled again.

“When did you find out?” Danny didn’t know what to feel. She was angry at them for getting themselves into that situation, and yet she felt so bad for all the trouble they’d inevitably have to go through.

“I found out yesterday morning.” Adhara tried to put a brave face on. She could feel the tears building up in her eyes and it was only the first thing she had said. How she was going to make it through the rest of the conversation with Danny was next to impossible in her eyes.

Sirius held out his hand for Adhara to hold. It was the one thing he knew would comfort her at this point.

“What about your parents? Are you even going to tell them?” Danny asked in almost a whisper. Then looking straight at Sirius, louder and even more seriously she said, “Oh Merlin. Your dad is going to kill you.”

“I actually have a feeling that my mum will have a bigger part in that than my dad.” Sirius could just picture his mother, Mrs. Walburga Black, screaming at him until he fell over unconscious. Disregarding his disturbing thought Sirius said, “We aren’t sure what to do...you know how they’ll be.” He pushed his dark hair out of his face. “It’s not like my parents are going to disown me again...It’s not even something they’ll have to know if I don’t want them too.”

“Sirius Black. If my parents are finding out, so are yours,” Adhara demanded.

“Well, if not your parents, you need to tell a teacher or someone! You need h-” Danny was interrupted by both Sirius and Adhara yelling the same things.

“WE CAN’T TELL ANYBODY! YOU CAN’T LET ANYONE KNOW!”

“Okay, okay. I won’t tell a soul. I understand, but I want you to realize that someone other than me will find out someday.”

Coincidentally, and even ironically, they heard hurried footsteps running away from the door of the room in which they stood. Sirius whipped out his wand and wrenched open the door ready to curse, jinx or just inflict pain on whomever was eavesdropping outside, until the memory was erased from their mind. Unfortunately, when Sirius looked down the left hallway, right hallway and the hallway straight ahead, all he saw were the metal suits of armor. The girls gasped at the thought of the school knowing about Sirius and Adhara’s secret. When it was finally nine o’clock they promptly left and went straight to their separate dormitories without another word, in fear of someone else finding out.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

If there ever had been any hope that the eavesdropper hadn’t told anyone about the pregnancy, there was none left now. The next morning while Sirius and Adhara went to breakfast in the great hall, everyone they passed whispered and stared at them with curious eyes. The entire school, minus the staff, knew the ‘rumor’ but the only people who actually knew it was true were Sirius, Adhara, Danny and the mysterious snoop. The couple decided that their best chance to avoid entire humiliation was to deny it. While eating breakfast Sirius told Adhara and Danny to meet him at eight, “You know where.” After they hastily finished breakfast, they went to their classes as if nothing were different and pretended not to hear the obnoxious whispering going about the castle. When it was almost eight o’clock Sirius headed to the storeroom to meet his cousin and girlfriend.

“This is the worst thing that could possibly happen!” Adhara moaned frantically.

“I still say you should tell a teacher, or forgive me for saying, but tell your parents, before they ‘hear the rumor’ from someone else.” Danny was so much like a counselor sometimes it scared them.

“Danny, we’ve told you we can’t do that right now.” Adhara was becoming more and more annoyed with her friend’s constant pestering, no matter how innocent.

“I’m starting to think Danny’s right, Adhara. I...I think we should tell our parents before they hear it from someone else. This is a major dilemma. Think about it, they would try to confront us. Don’t you think they’d get angrier if they had to ask us than if we tell them first? If we just go with it and...tell them, it won’t be such a...a shock, I guess.” Sirius was irritated by how Danny was always right about everything, all the time.

“Well, if we do tell them, when and how are we going to go about it then? I seriously don’t think I could look my parents straight in the eye and say, “Mum, Dad, I’m pregnant and I’m having Sirius Black’s baby.” I don’t think you could tell them either so don’t tell me that you’ll do it for me,” Adhara said forcefully as Sirius opened his mouth to say just that.

“Then, I think the only option we have is to write to them and wait for the millions upon millions of Howlers they’ll owl back.” Sirius gave a slight grin and then gave Adhara a hug.

Suddenly, Danny conjured up two rolls of parchment, two quills, and an inkpot. She laid them on the least damaged table and pulled up three semi-useable chairs. “Start now. The sooner the better...and we have plenty of time before we need to leave.” Adhara and Sirius did as they were told and sat down to write their families the shock of a lifetime.

That night they sent one owl each, to the Number Nine Major Mansion and to Number Twelve Grimmauld Place. Many lives were drastically different now. For good or bad was the question on everyone’s mind.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“Addy?” Danny asked from under her covers. “Are the lights going off anytime soon?”

“Yeah Dan, sorry,” Adhara answered from her own blankets.

“What are you doing anyways...I don’t think that Darren is going to let you skip out on Saturday morning practice to sleep in because you were up at two in the morning doing whatever it is you’re doing...what are you doing anyways?”

“I’m writing the letter to my mum that says not to let my dad see the other letter that Sirius and I sent.”

“You know that it would be a lot easier if you just told Sirius that your dad be-”

“NO DANNY!” Adhara hissed. She looked down to the floor, realizing her sudden outburst. “I’m sorry Danny. It’s not you I’m angry with, I just...I don’t want Sirius to know. Okay?”

Danny climbed out of her bed and walked unsteadily to her friend’s side. She climbed under Adhara’s covers as she said, “Sirius would stop your dad from doing that.”

She nodded her head slowly. “In a way, Sirius already has. He’s asked me to move in with him at his flat in Diagon Alley once school is over. I agreed. The only times I’ll ever be around my dad is with a whole group of people. We’ll never be alone long enough for him to hurt me again.”

“Well, why won’t you tell Sirius then?” Danny asked slowly.

“Because he doesn’t need to know,” Adhara answered heavily.

“It would be an important thing for him to know,” Danny said. Sensing she was losing the battle, again, she added, “He’d never take advantage of you like that...you know that right?”

“Of course I do!” she answered.

Danny continued, “And he wouldn’t think any less of you.”

“I know.”

“Then why won’t you tell him?”

She stopped to let Adhara find her words. “Danny, you don’t know what it’s like...to be hit. To be kicked. To be yelled at and cursed at and looked down upon as if you were a stray dog...” Tears were threatening to spill over her cheeks again. “If you knew what it was like you’d understand,” she whispered, the dams in her eyes breaking, releasing the river that was bound to fall into her lap.

“Oh, Addy. Come here,” Danny requested, lightly wrapping her arms around her friend. “I may not know what it’s like to be abused, but I sure as hell know how it feels to tell people about my weakest moments; my greatest fears. The one thing I’ve got to remember is that no matter how small I felt at the time, I conquered it by being strong enough to stand up, look into the face of my fear, and spit in it, just to prove I could make it that far. I told someone about it and that makes me better than what happened.” Danny took Adhara’s arms from her shoulders and looked into her eyes.

“D-Danny, why d-do you always know wh-what to s-say?” Adhara asked through her tear-streaked face.

“I don’t know...Merlin knows it’s not genetic.” They laughed slightly, knowing very well that both sides of her family were not the brightest of wizards. “Are you going to tell Sirius then?”

Adhara nodded her head wiping her eyes. “I will, just not quite yet. In the meantime, I’ve still got a letter to write, so I’ll get to it.”

“How far are you?”

Adhara sniffed and cleared her throat, “Ahem...Dear Mum,” Adhara stopped and looked to her friend for support.

Danny waited for Adhara to go on but she didn’t. “That’s it?” Danny asked. Adhara dropped her head solemnly.

Danny just shook her head and laughed. “Well, there are less corrections for me to make this way.” She took the parchment from her friend and began writing.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Sirius couldn’t sleep, again. He was sitting at the window ledge, just sitting...just thinking. It had been nearly four days since he found out he was going to be a father, yet it was just now hitting him with the full effect. We’re going to need to buy a crib, and bottles...and clothes...hell. I’m going to need to get a job soon too. We can’t live off of my savings forever. At least I don’t think we can.

“Sirius. Do you know what time it is?” James asked from his bed.

“No,” he answered honestly. He knew he had been there for a long time...long enough to lose track of it anyways.

“Well, it’s after three. Are you going to bed at all tonight?”

“No,” he answered again.

“Why not?” James asked with concern.

Sirius sighed and tore his gaze away from the window. Instead of just answering James’s question, he asked, “What would you do if you made a mistake...a wonderful, amazing, breath taking, and terrifying mistake that involved you and Lily, and you knew it would change your life forever, most probably for the bad?”

James thought about his answer and slowly said, “It would depend on what the mistake was.”

Giving in, Sirius took a deep breath and said, “I made a big, terrific, and frightening mistake Prongsie. Adhara and I are going to have a baby.”

There was silence for a long while before James looked him dead in the eyes and said, “Then I would still be happy because my life is moving just a little bit faster than I planned it to.”

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Disclaimer: If you all really think I would (let alone could) try to pass this stuff off as my own then y’all are all crazy.

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“Thank you all for another marvelous year at Hogwarts. To our returning first through sixth year students, have a great summer, and I shall see you again next year. To our dear seventh year graduates, I wish you the best of luck with your extra schooling, your upcoming careers, and most importantly your future families. I have watched you all grow to become such wonderful young adults in the last seven years. There is no other group of people that I’d feel more confident with, fighting in this war. I know when I say, we will miss you dearly, I am speaking not only for myself, but also for the rest of the staff and students you are leaving behind this year. The very best of luck to you all.” With that said, Dumbledore took his seat again and the students all left the Great Hall.

Sirius, Adhara, James, Danny, Lily, Lupin, and Peter found themselves their own compartment on the Hogwarts Express. Frequently, other friends would stop by and give their final goodbye’s, or a quick congratulation. Many stories and tears were shared on that train ride and not a single person wanted to round the final bend that would take them back to Kings Cross Station and into the real world.

Once they arrived in London, everyone gave each other a tearful goodbye. For the most part, families were going into hiding so friends were saying goodbye as if it were the last time they’d ever see each other. Many people were walking with faces set for death; Wether it be for themselves or others, everyone seemed prepared. Life would be completely different now for the graduates of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Adhara and Sirius had made plans for the following few days. The first thing they were going to do was go to St. Mungo’s to make sure the baby was in good health and to see wether it was a boy or girl. Adhara would then go home and talk with her parents about moving in with Sirius while he was going to go to the flat that he had bought and make it liveable for the two of them. The day after, Sirius was going to go to Adhara’s house and help her pack her things, then take them to the flat. The following day they were going to get all of their friends together and tell them about the baby.

So far the plan seemed flawless; that was how little they knew.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~


Adhara’s house was empty when she came home that evening. There was a note on the kitchen counter telling her that her mother and father had gone out to a party with the Minister of Magic and they were expected home late. Typical, she thought to herself.

She went up to her room and began to unpack, but stopped remembering that she wouldn’t be staying more than a few days at most. Adhara was about to call on a house elf to fix her a small dinner, but changed her mind, deciding it would be best to get used to cooking her own food. She and Sirius wouldn’t have a house elf at their flat. They simply couldn’t afford it.

Not wanting to wait up for her parents, she ate and went right to sleep.

Adhara had terrible dreams that night. Some about losing the baby, or Sirius dying. One even about Sirius leaving her and their baby out on the street. Every time she woke up in a cold sweat, she heard the faint sound of a baby crying; Then the eerie silence of the house would shake her almost as much as the sound of her child sobbing.

The next morning when she woke she went straight downstairs to the coffee pot to shake off the night’s scares. Another note replaced the one from the evening before.

Addy,

I’m glad to see you’re home and well. Please don’t wake me or your father unless it’s an urgent matter. I’ll talk to you when I wake up.

Much love from,
Mum

In response to this, Adhara left a note of her own saying that she had gone for a walk and would be back before lunchtime. She walked alone for nearly an hour before she took a seat on a park bench. She checked her watch. 8:49. Knowing that Sirius would be arriving shortly she hugged her knees and rested her chin on them as she watched a mother duck teach her flock of ducklings how to swim around the pond. She wondered what it would be like to teach her child to swim.

Adhara’s face slowly spread into a smile as she thought about all the things that she and Sirius would get to teach their baby. She thought of how much Sirius would love to show their child how to fly a broomstick and swing a bludger bat.

Questions flew into her head. Would it be a boy or girl? What would it’s first word be? First magic? How long would it be until it walked? Would it be blonde like her or dark haired like Sirius? Short or tall? She was still thinking of all these things when Sirius sat down next to her.

“I haven’t seen you this happy since I asked you to move in with me,” he said with a pleasantly surprised expression on his face. He put his arm around her and kissed her on the cheek. “What are you thinking about?”

Adhara smiled slyly and answered, “The baby...do you think it’ll be a boy or girl?” she asked excitedly.

“A girl,” he stated after a moment of thoughtful silence. This made her smile even more prominent, finally reaching her eyes.

For nearly an hour they talked about anything and everything to do with their child. For the first time they talked about their future with hope and joy instead of dread and worry. At quarter to ten they left for the hospital.

Adhara would never forget the look on Sirius’ face when the healer told them that the baby was in fact a girl. Sirius would never forget how happy he felt in that moment. The mere idea of a little girl running around the place was a dream come true to him. By the time they had left the hospital they had gotten down to two names.

“Rose is a perfect name.”

“Could you imagine the how much she’d get teased if she had red hair? And what kind of a nick name would she get? They might as well just call her ‘Flower.’”

“What nickname would she get from Destiny?” Sirius argued.

“She...er...well...” Adhara faltered slightly before saying, “She wouldn’t need one because Destiny is a far better name than Rose.”

With their debate still going on they went their separate ways for the day. Once she was back at home, she found her mother awake in the kitchen waiting for a very strong cup of coffee.

“Addy dear, how are you?” Adhara’s mother asked brightly.

“Amazing Mum. Just great. How about you?”

“I’ve been better. Your dad’s snores woke me up earlier than I wanted to. What’s put you in such a nice mood? Were you spending time with that Black boy again?”

“Mother, I’ve asked you to call him Sirius, and yes I was. We were just at the hospital.” Before she could even think of containing herself she said, “It’s a girl!”

Adhara’s mother smiled a little before saying, “I’m glad that you’ve turned your mistake into a positive matter. That’ll help you get through it.” A quiet moment passed as she stirred her cream into her coffee. “The baby’s healthy then? No problems?”

“None at all. She’s scheduled to be born in early January.”

“Do you have a name picked out yet?”

“We can’t decide between Rose and Destiny. Which do you like better.” Adhara asked her mother.

After a sip of coffee she answered, “It’ll depend on who she looks like I think. If she takes after you it should be Rose, in my opinion.”

Adhara nodded as she helped herself to an apple. She wondered whether or not she should bring up moving out right then. Her mother was in such a great mood and was taking the pregnancy so much better than she had expected her to...did she dare risk it? After what seemed like forever, she decided she had better get it done and over with.

“Mum, I’ve been meaning to tell you for a while now...I’d have written it in a letter but I wanted to tell you in person.” She stopped here as she saw her mothers shoulders straighten up. “I’m moving out. Sirius bought a flat in London and he asked me to move in with him and after all that’s happened I think I should so...I’m leaving.”

Her mother relaxed a little before saying, “I think that’s for the best.” She gave her daughter a hug and a kiss on the head before getting up to leave the kitchen. “I’m going to go wake up your father...when are you planning on telling him all of this?”

Adhara’s stomach lurched at the thought of it. “Today or tomorrow.”

“The sooner the better.”

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