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The Raven's Song	By : Quills Category: HP Canon Characters paired with Original Characters > Het - Male/Female Views: 6266 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Lyra perched anxiously on the edge of the bed as she waited for Sirius to return, her nausea building once more in anticipation of the headmaster’s arrival. It had struck her after Sirius had left to fetch him that there was every chance Dumbledore would not react well to the news they had to give to him; not only would their child be another person to care for and keep safe, but the impact her pregnancy would have upon the work she could do for the Order could not be underestimated.

Fortunately, she did not have long alone with her fears, for within a minute Sirius was striding back into the bedroom with Dumbledore no more than two paces behind. “What’s wrong, Lyra?” the headmaster asked urgently as he crouched down in front of her, his nimbleness belying his advanced years. “Sirius said you need to see me.”

Lyra nodded, her mouth suddenly dry as she looked into his piercing blue eyes. Unable to find the words to say what she must, she glanced up at Sirius in a mute appeal that he instantly understood. Though he drew a sharp breath, he sat down at her side and slipped his arm around her shoulders as Dumbledore’s eyes almost imperceptibly widened behind his half-moon glasses.

“Shall I tell him, sweetheart?” Sirius said gently.

She nodded, and despite her spiralling fear her eyes flickered between the two men as she rested her head against Sirius’s shoulder and listened with a low thrill to the blazing pride in the unwavering words he spoke.

“Albus, I’m going to come right out and say it. We’re having a baby, and we couldn’t be happier.”

Already Lyra knew precisely what the scowl on Sirius’s face meant – it wasn’t that he was not happy, far from it, simply that he was daring the aged headmaster to challenge them. She half-expected him to do so, but then to her giddying amazement the elderly wizard’s face lit up with a beaming grin that near split it in two.

“A baby?!”

At her side, Sirius released the breath he had been holding. “Apparently so, yes. You’re not going to tell us off, then?”

Dumbledore’s blue eyes were twinkling in delight as Lyra nestled into Sirius’s hold, unable to feel anything but joy about this child now that the two men were so expressive about their own happiness. “The two of you have come a long way since you were my students to admonish as I saw fit, Sirius; and let me tell you how overjoyed I am that you found each other! I wondered if there was something between you both from the start, but clearly you had your reasons for wanting to keep it quiet. With a baby to come, though, I fear that will be possible no longer; not living at such close confines as we do here.”

“We realised that, that’s why we knew we had to tell you,” Lyra finally said, her gratitude shining in her eyes as she met the headmaster’s gaze for the first time since he had come into the bedroom. “Professor, I know the timing’s shit, and we didn’t plan this, but we really do want this baby. I want to do as much as I can for the Order, but from now on our baby has to come first.”

“And I would not have it any other way, Lyra. I can see without needing to ask that you’re both thrilled – afraid, perhaps, and no little nervous, but it is plain to see how happy you both are. The only question, I suppose, is how this will affect the Order and how we should proceed.”

She felt Sirius tense again next to her, and despite the way she reached for his hand to silently caution him, he leaned forward and placed his hands on his broad thighs with a low, rumbling growl that struck her as being near canine in origin. “What do you mean, Albus?” he said slowly.

“Simply that your child’s future will be of concern to all of, Sirius, and we must discuss how best to keep it and Lyra safe. I think this calls for a further convening of our minds – if nothing else, Severus must be told.”

“Snape?” Lyra watched in resignation as Sirius leapt to his feet to pace back and forth, rage burning in the depths of his eyes as all trace of his good humour disappeared into the murky fury he had displayed earlier in the evening. He was so very volatile, and with all that was in his past she knew that should come as no surprise. Still, though, she drew her knees up to her chest and shuddered as his black scowl contorted his face. “What the hell does he have to do with my child, Albus?!”

“Voldemort will need to know –“

“No!”

Her panicked cry flew from her lips even before she realised she was speaking it. Telling Dumbledore and the rest of the Order was one thing, but to announce their child’s conception to Voldemort himself was not a risk she was willing to take.

Sirius nodded his head in furious agreement with her exclamation, the red spots that coloured his face announcing the tenuous grip he had on his temper once more. “No way, Albus! My son or daughter is not a pawn to be used to strengthen Snape’s position as Voldemort’s lapdog!”

Dumbledore straightened back up and tilted his head to the side. His voice was low and calm, but its soothing tones seemed to do nothing to calm the other man. “It isn’t about that, Sirius. We have to know which way Voldemort is going to react to this; if he sees the pregnancy as a weakness to be exploited, then we have to take certain steps to ensure Lyra is protected. However, it may be the case that he places a certain value on the head of your child, and if that is so it then we will want to know.”

Lyra reached out for Sirius, aching for the touch of his hand on hers to give her the strength she knew she needed. The cool logic in the headmaster’s words could not be denied, but still she found herself siding with the man she needed more than any other before him, the fierce protectiveness she already felt for the child they had made together making the thought of even telling Voldemort unbearable.

Her reticence must have shown, for with a near imperceptible sigh Dumbledore pushed his glasses up his crooked nose and spoke again. “Lyra, Sirius; you must realise that I would never knowingly place your child in danger. Telling Voldemort would be nothing to do with strengthening Severus’s position at his side, merely discovering how much Lyra is able to do. If Voldemort wants to either snatch the child for himself or even see to it that it is never born, then it is imperative we know in order that we might keep it protected.”

“You mean by confining me to Grimmauld Place as well?”

“If it comes to it, Lyra, then yes. I know that might seem intolerable to you, but I’m sure you’ll do whatever you have to in order to keep this child safe.”

“Of course,” she said instantly, but even as she spoke her stomach lurched. Every day she saw firsthand how Sirius suffered from being trapped in the dark, poisonous shadows of Grimmauld Place, and she did not know if she would be able to bear it; and worse, she did not know if their fledgling relationship would withstand it.

Lyra twisted her head to look up at Sirius, and he must have seen in her wide, tear-filled eyes how badly she needed his reassurance. With what seemed to be a great effort, he forced a tight smile onto his face and pulled her up into his arms. “I guess you’re right, Albus,” he said slowly. “We have to know, for we’ve already seen how easy it is for Malfoy to get to her at the Ministry. This pregnancy can’t stay a secret forever, and we need to be prepared.”

“Indeed. Time takes us for a fool, Sirius, so perhaps we should waste no more of it. If you and Lyra feel up to it, I think we should head back downstairs and alert those of the Order who are here to this latest development.”

Sirius glanced down at her. “What do you think?”

She wanted to stay alone in the bedroom where it had seemed so simple; the three of them against the world. However, the world outside was determined to intrude. Lyra closed her eyes and breathed in deeply, allowing Sirius’s scent to wind around her before she squared her shoulders and twisted towards the door. “Come on, then. Let’s get this over and done with.”

Sirius seemed just as loathe as she was to share their precious secret with the rest of the Order, but they found themselves silently falling into step behind Dumbledore as he hastened out of the room and directly down the narrow stairs. As always, the Order had assembled around the long kitchen table for dinner and stayed there, and the continued discussion about who would fetch Harry abruptly ceased when Dumbledore pushed the door open to lead them in.

Remus watched Sirius warily as they came into the room, but when Lyra sought out his hand and entwined their fingers, the werewolf’s eyes widened in surprised delight. It was he who broke the strained silence. “Is everything okay?”

Lyra and Sirius’s eyes locked, and to her dizzying relief he finally exhaled. “More than okay, Remus. Look, everyone; Lyra and I have got something to tell you.”

A violet-haired Tonks laughed loudly. “Sirius, sorry to burst your bubble, but it’s been obvious for weeks that you two are together. No surprises there, I’m afraid!”

Lyra blushed hotly as the laughter rippled around the table, and with another gentle squeeze of her fingers Sirius broke away from her side to lean on the tabletop. “Is that so?” He smiled again as he arched one brow at his cousin. “Then how’s this for a surprise, Tonks? We’re having a baby.”

The kitchen erupted.

Amidst the loud cacophony of cheers, backslapping and whoops of glee, she shrank back against the wall and breathed in deeply to calm her spiralling nausea. All those around the table had leapt up and swallowed up Sirius as they offered their fervent congratulations; all except one.

Severus Snape had arrived in their absence, and without speaking he had extracted himself from the masses to await Dumbledore’s instruction. When Sirius noticed Lyra’s eyes settle upon the Potions Master, he broke away from the throng to come to her side as Dumbledore approached.

The headmaster’s genial smile did not reach his eyes. “You know what I must ask you, Severus,” he said quietly, his words heard only by the three of them and the ever-watchful Remus. “We need to know how Voldemort will react to this – his reaction will determine what Lyra can do for us from now until she is delivered.”

Still silent, Snape turned on his heel and swept out of the room, his black cloak billowing around him as Sirius cursed under his breath and balled his fists at his sides. Though they were near instantly swept back into the Order’s genuine and heartfelt delight at the news they had imparted, Lyra knew that the tension he carried did not lift away; and as the hours passed with no sign of Snape, it only intensified. By the time that Sirius took a seat again and crooked one finger to beckon her into his lap, every muscle in his lithe body was held tightly, and even the gentle kiss she offered up could do nothing to soothe them.

Painfully aware that at this very moment their child’s future could be being decided, she dozed fitfully in his arms as the minutes slowly ticked past. Waiting for Snape’s return felt like a millstone around their necks; but finally, long past midnight, he strode into the kitchen and spoke without waiting to be greeted. “I’ve told him.”

Sirius scowled and Lyra breathed in sharply as she twisted in his arms to face her former teacher. There was clearly no love lost between the two men, but now was not the time to ask why that was.

“And?” Sirius demanded curtly.

Snape looked directly at Lyra instead as Dumbledore came to stand behind them, supremely indifferent to the way that Sirius’s eyes were fixed upon him. “The Dark Lord has decreed that if at all avoidable you are not to be harmed now you are carrying Black’s child, Miss Menadue. Your son or daughter is a Pureblood, after all, and we know how much value he places upon them – and how few there are now.”

Dizzy with relief, she buried her face in her hands and allowed the headmaster to speak for her. “Then in your opinion, Severus, would you say it is safe for Lyra to continue working for the Order as she has been?”

“Yes,” Snape said bluntly. “There are none who would go against his direct command. So long as she does nothing that necessitates the use of force against her, she will be able to work freely without fear of attack, I suspect. A unique position, Albus, and one we should consider taking advantage of.”

“A discussion for another night.” Dumbledore exhaled deeply as he laid his hand on Sirius’s shoulder. “There we are, then. For now, it seems the two of you can breathe freely; and you, Lyra, can continue as you have been until circumstances change again.”

She smiled up at him and slipped down from Sirius’s lap, for now that that weight had been lifted from their shoulders, she wanted nothing more than to retreat to bed alone with the man who consumed her and privately revel in the knowledge of all that was to come for them; but as she turned back towards him, she realised that he was far from being as thrilled by what they had heard as she was. In fact, if she knew him as well as she was coming to, Lyra would hazard a guess that he had been hoping to hear the very opposite.

Badly unnerved by the grim foreboding that burned in his grey eyes, she glanced nervously towards the ceiling – and as always, he understood exactly what she wanted from him. Without even waiting to bid goodnight to the others still in the kitchen, he slipped his arm around her waist and guided them out of the kitchen before Apparating the both of them directly to the side of the bed they shared.

“Clothes off.”

Sirius lowered his wand back to his side as his hoarse words echoed around the bedroom. Lyra found her hands flying to obey his command, but even as she steadily stripped away her robes her lower lip began to tremble. “That was a relief, wasn’t it?”

The wavering question in her voice made him clench his jaw, and he looked away from her as he wrenched his shirt open and tossed it aside. “That they’re going to keep sending you out there to risk your life every day even though you’re pregnant? Or maybe that Voldemort places value on our child’s life, as Snivellus said? Yeah, cracking news, sweetheart!”

His fury was so perilously near to boiling over, and she feared she understood its cause. Desperate to distract him, Lyra wasted no time in removing the last of her clothing then closing the distance between them when his trousers fell to the floor. “At least Harry’s arriving tomorrow, Sirius,” she offered up nervously as his eyes rapidly darkened.

“For all of three weeks, Lyra! Then he’ll be gone again too.”

As Sirius’s face contorted, the puzzle pieces fell into place. Her breath caught in her throat, and she stretched up towards him as he groaned heavily. “But Sirius, I –“

He roughly pulled her into his arms and slammed his mouth down onto hers to silence her answer before it could finish leaving her lips. She could do nothing but submit to him, but the fears he had come so close to exposing lay between them even when they tumbled into the bed and came together.

Their lovemaking was silent, perfunctory and mechanical, no more than a necessary release of the tension that had built up through the day and the aching lust that they each felt every time they touched. When they finally broke apart, the black scowl that instantly returned to Sirius’s face made it very plain that further discussion tonight was not an option.

His soft snores filled the room within minutes, but despite her exhaustion, Lyra lay awake in his arms until long into the still night.
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The Raven's Song