Phases of the Moon

Title: Phases of the Moon (1/?)



Chapter 3



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Sirius shot up in bed, throwing his legs over the side as he ran blindly into the bathroom. After several minutes, Sirius took a deep breath, willing his stomach to settle. Finally, he pushed himself up off the floor, fumbling his way to the sink.



After a good rinsing, Sirius looked up at the mirror, his face still flushed from his earlier episode. Sighing, he dropped to the floor again, leaning his head to rest on the side of the sink; this was the twentieth time he had thrown up in these past months.



For the most part he was able to hide it, from using silencing spells that were charmed to keep from waking anyone up, to skipping out in anything that had to do with others not that they asked him to join anymore.



Sirius could feel flutters dancing about in his slightly protruding stomach, resting a gentle hand on the little lump. Closing his eyes, he could now see what he had been trying to not to think about, to deny that he was irregularly getting ill or that he spent most of his time so tired that he slept in class occasionally.



The professors were starting to get very irritated, deducting points left and right, causing more tension between him and the Gryffindors.



His eyes squeezed shut, trying not to think about what it could mean, but he just couldn’t deny it anymore. The evidence was starting to show… He was pregnant with James’s baby…he had to be. Lifting his left hand, he rubbed his eyes, while the other continued to caress his stomach.



There was no other explanation, as Sirius never had slept with anyone else; sure he was popular, but with Quidditch and the Marauders he never had time to really think about sleeping with someone. Besides, he’d been in love with James since they met on the train; he had never wanted anyone else.



Taking a deep breath, Sirius sat up straighter. Squaring his shoulders, he pushed up off the floor. Taking a few minutes to refresh himself, Sirius stared at his reflection; he only saw a pale, sickly, hollowed-out boy looking back at him.



Sirius closed his eyes quickly to block out his image, easing the stinging in his eyes. ‘No wonder James didn’t want him anymore… he’ Sirius put a hand on his stomach. ‘No, he wouldn’t think that way, now wasn’t the time for that, right now he just needed something to help him confirm his suspicions…’



Sirius walked to the door. Carefully turning the doorknob, he peeked out. Seeing his other roommates still asleep, he crept out, quickly making his way to his trunk.



In a few minutes he was fully dressed in a dark blue Muggle t-shirt, black sweat pants, and a think winter robe.



Glad that it was Saturday, as everyone tended to sleep in, he made his way to the library. As quietly as possible, he pulled open one of the double doors; slipping inside, he went to the “Charms and Incantations” section of the library.



Sirius tried not to think about all the time he and James spent, trying to see who could be the quietest in their escapades. Hiding in dark murky corners in the ancient library, he shook himself slightly, banishing the thoughts away as he came to the section he was looking for.



Reaching up on the third shelf next to the “Charms That Will Change Your Looks” and “Using Correct Enunciation in Incantations”. Sirius found what he was looking for; it was lying there innocently. With shaking hands, Sirius picked up the worn book, glancing briefly at the cover: “Charms for the Expecting Wizard or Witch” Sirius could feel panic threatening to boil over.



Tucking the book under his arm, Sirius rushed from the room, his steps echoing in the hall. ‘Don’t stop, don’t stop’ kept running through his head. Finally reaching the Common room door, he whispered the password, slipping inside. Sirius looked around, then running towards the sixth year boys\' dormitories.



Out of breath, Sirius took the steps two at a time. Holding the book tightly as he caught his breath, Sirius walked slowly up to the door. Raising his right hand, he turned the knob gently; pushing it open; he slipped inside, shutting the door quietly.



With softly padding footsteps, he crept around the beds. Coming to the tapestry, he pushed inside. Quickly, he muttered two spells, one to conceal the room and another to silence any sounds that might come out of it.



Sirius gently laid the book on the desk to the left of the window; his hands shook lightly as he opened it. Skimming the contents, he found what he was looking for, reading carefully as he pulled his wand from his pocket.



It was a fairly easy spell; just a few flicks coupled with one swish of the wand, while saying “Vide quod est ingnotus”. A light blue glow would reveal that the person was carrying; a green glow would reveal the person wasn’t pregnant.



Sirius could do this; taking another deep breath, he steadied his hands. One by one, he completed each step; at the end of “ingnotus”, Sirius held his breath as the wand hovered over his slight belly.



A soft blue glow lighted, merrily flickering at Sirius as if to say hello…



With a sharp ‘clack’ his wand hit the floor; hunching over, Sirius folded his arms protectively over his belly. Slowly, he began to laugh. Tears stung his eyes till they fell rhythmically onto the stone floor.



After long minutes, his breath hitching, Sirius swiped his eyes; bending down he reached under the desk where his wand had fallen.



Sirius took a quick look outside the room’s only window; it was midday now. Taking a deep breath to compose himself, Sirius lifted his chin up, squaring his shoulders once more.



James had to listen to Sirius’s side of the story now; Sirius refused to take no for an answer this time. He cared about James and rest of the Marauders; Sirius would prove that he was sincere and earn their forgiveness.



But first he had to tell James he was carrying their baby… Sirius smiled at that thought. ‘Their baby, his and James’ something that would always be a part of them both, and no matter what James decided, Sirius was never going to regret this baby… his most precious love.



With one last breath, he was ready.



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Note: “Vide quod est ingnotus” means, “To see which is unknown”