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superfreakerz · 5 years

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TDS 13

“The Dragneel Scrapbook”

Rated M for smut.

Summary: They’ve loved each other every step of the way, from becoming partners to getting married, and now they get to experience raising kids. Snapshots of the Dragneel family life.

Read earlier chapters on FF.net

Art by @ccrispy :D she says she doesn't like this drawing because it was rushed since she's been busy but it's awesome sooo ;)

Chapter 13

Babysitter Pt. 2

"We have to go home right now," Lucy said the moment they left the restaurant.

"I'm sure everything will be fine!" Natsu replied, trying to calm his frantic wife. "Gray can handle it. And Happy will be there to help too!"

"No, Happy is spending the night with Wendy and Charle, remember? It's just Gray."

"Well he has the rest of the guild to help him!" Natsu grabbed her hand, stopping her in her tracks. He brought a smile to his face, hoping it would ease her mind. "Look, I trust Gray. You do too, right? So let's just go back to the hotel and I'll start a bath for you."

"What happened to you not wanting to leave Nashi either?"

"Yeah, it was hard at first. But now that I'm out, I'm glad we left! We have the whole day to ourselves, Luce! No changing diapers, no screaming children, just us! Let's enjoy it and then spoil the hell out of Nashi when we get home!"

Lucy took a deep breath before smiling at him. "You're the only one that spoils her."

"Oh please," Natsu replied, nudging her. "I can already tell you're gonna buy her a shit ton of expensive clothes when she's older."

"Yeah, with your money. So you better get to work once we get home."

"Which will be tomorrow, right? Not tonight?"

Lucy nodded. "Yeah. We can do this. It's just one night! Gray probably has everything under control."

"Shit, shit, shit," Gray muttered as he held Nashi in one of his arms while he tugged on his hair with his other hand. It had been a straight hour of nonstop crying. He tried everything to calm Nashi down. He rocked her in his arms, which had done nothing. He tried giving her some milk, which she pushed away with her surprisingly strong, tiny hands. He even tried singing her a lullaby- and everyone knows Gray Fullbuster does not sing.

"Why are your parents such idiots?" Gray mumbled. "'Oh, there's a note, Gray! It'll tell you everything you need to know!' Yeah, as if. Where's the damn note, huh Lucy!?"

Gray needed to figure out something soon, lest his ears start bleeding. Nashi was just as loud as her mother back when she was pregnant. It must've ran in the Heartfilia blood.

Settling the wailing baby in her crib, Gray winced as she started to cry even louder- which he didn't even know was possible. He tried everything that normal parents did, it was time to bring some magic into this.

Holding his hands above the crib, he created a Happy-shaped ice cube, which was Lucy's favorite to munch on during her pregnancy. Nashi's eyes widened, her mouth forming a tiny 'o' as she watched in awe. The air around the ice was cold, visible. Tiny specks of ice sparkled underneath the light as they fell slowly like leaves in the wind.

Gray stifled a sigh of relief, not wanting to jinx his good luck. He had finally managed to get Nashi to stop crying, he couldn't lose that now. So, he created more ice, changing the shape. He went with flowers, the other exceeds of the guild, and even recreated ice versions of Natsu and Lucy, which he could've sworn Nashi recognized by the way she held her hand out towards them.

"You know, this ain't so bad," Gray said, a lazy grin spread over his face as he entertained Nashi. Still, he knew one thing for sure now.

He could wait a little longer before having kids.

Lucy and Natsu stumbled into the hotel room, the latter shutting the door closed behind them. Their hands moved quickly, exploring the other's bodies. Lucy's hands splayed against Natsu's chest, leaning into him and causing him to stumble back against the door. Her lips locked with his.

"I've been waiting to do this all day," Natsu said, his breath hot against her neck before he helped himself to her flesh.

"Me too," Lucy replied, her voice airy and light, her eyes rolling back in her head as his lips worked wonders on her.

With Nashi crying through the night most of the time, the two rarely had time to indulge themselves. But now, they were finally alone and able to do whatever they wanted.

Natsu's hand traveled underneath her shirt, his thumb smoothing over her nipple, which was only covered in a thin lacy bra. He pulled away, a smirk on his face.

"You're wearin' my favorite bra of yours, aren't you?" he asked. He could tell just by the feel of it.

Lucy smiled coyly at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and bringing him closer. "Not just the bra."

His eyes flickered down to her skirt. His hand moved to take it off when she grabbed his wrist.

"Nope. Not yet," she said. "You have to earn it first."

Natsu grinned, crashing his lips against her neck again. His hands latched onto her hips, squeezing the plentiful flesh. He'd always loved Lucy's curves. Trailing butterfly kisses down her neck and onto her shoulder, he moved his hands up to her breasts. Squeezing the mounds, he felt himself growing beneath his pants.

Lucy smirked as she felt something hard prodding her thigh.

"That was fast," she teased.

"Shut up," Natsu replied. He pulled away from her and tore off her shirt, leaving her in her red, lacy bra. His eyes were trained on her breasts, so voluptuous that they barely fit in the measly piece of cloth. With eager hands, he massaged the soft skin, watching as her nipples grew erect under the thin fabric.

His warm mouth covered one of her hardened nubs while he ran his thumb over the other. Even through the lace, Lucy squirmed from the touch. Her hands wound up in his hair, tugging on it as she needed to do something with her hands.

Natsu slid his unoccupied hand over her bum, squeezing it before trailing it up her back. Skillfully, he unhooked her bra with one hand. Tugging on the fabric, he pulled it off with ease, leaving her chest exposed.

Hoisting her up by her thighs, he carried her to the bed, dropping her onto it. He watched as her breasts bounced from the action, stirring a wild hunger within him. He grabbed the hem of her skirt, giving her a mischievous grin.

"I think I've earned it now," he said before tugging it off of her. Just as she said before, she was wearing his favorite underwear of hers. It was small and red, made up of see-through lace. The borders were outlined in black lace as well. His two favorite colors.

Taking off his pants, Natsu positioned himself over her, allowing his cock to rub against her underwear. Even through the material, he could feel how wet she was and couldn't wait to feel all of it. A shaky breath slipped past his lips as Lucy's legs hooked around him, pushing his length harder against her.

He grinded against her, the friction causing his gut to tighten in his resolve to wait it out as long as he could. Not having been able to pleasure himself in a while, he knew that he would finish soon if he didn't control himself.

Lucy's hands splayed against Natsu's biceps, loving the feel of his muscles. His cock was warm against her, the friction alone bringing her close to climax.

"N-Natsu," she breathed out. "I'm already close."

He stopped his movements but didn't pull away from her. "How do you want it?"

Lucy tapped his lips, giving him the answer he needed. With an eager grin, Natsu repositioned himself, leaving butterfly kisses down her body until he landed at her underwear. In the blink of an eye, he tore off the fabric, leaving her naked.

He took a moment to admire her bare body. Her face was flushed with heat, strands of her golden hair plastered to her face with sweat. Red splotches covered her neck, signs that he had left his mark on her. Her large breasts led way to the curve of her hips, which he loved to run his hands along. Her belly still had a small pocket of fat and stretch marks, the effects of bearing his child.

"You're beautiful, Lucy," he whispered, his voice laced with adoration.

"Prove it," she replied, her lips tugged into a coy smile.

Natsu nodded, not needing to be told twice. His mouth left kisses along her thighs before landing on her clit. He sucked on her flesh lightly, amused when he heard a sharp intake of breath coming from Lucy. Her hands landed in his hair, tugging on it.

He continued to suck on her folds, knowing that it drove Lucy crazy. He could hear her breaths getting louder and louder. His tongue darted out, sliding against her lips and eliciting a whimper from the girl. He licked her clit, his ministrations slow and steady.

A moan slipped past Lucy's lips as Natsu's tongue grazed her entrance. Finally, it delved deep within her, moving in circles.

"Oh god," she breathed out, her hands tightening on his hair. "It f-feels so good, Natsu."

"Oh yeah?" he replied, a smug grin on his face before he continued pleasuring her. He enjoyed hearing her moan, and he especially loved hearing her scream his name.

He shoved his tongue as far as it could within her, exploring every inch of her. He pushed his tongue in and out of her, picking up speed. He could tell that she was nearing her climax by the way her breaths grew quicker and louder.

Pulling out his tongue, he flicked it over her clit, skillfully moving his tongue quickly against her. Lucy moaned, rolling her hips and grinding against his face.

Lucy grabbed his head, pulling him harder against her as she grinded against him. She could feel his warm tongue glazing over every inch of her. His lips sucked at her flesh, tugging on her clit. Pleasure built up within the pit of her stomach, her toes curling until finally, ripples of ecstasy washed over her. Her body shattered against him as she screamed his name.

Natsu didn't stop there. He continued to pump his tongue in and out of her while using his finger to massage her clit. Every breath Lucy released was more like a moan. Only once her legs fell limp at his sides, he withdrew. Lifting his head, he smiled at her.

"Well?" he asked. "Sounds like you had a good time, Luce."

"Shut up," she replied between pants. Her face was red with heat.

Natsu chuckled, moving beside her and brushing some of her hair out of her face. He watched her chest rise and fall as she panted, still trying to catch her breath. He trailed a finger over her stomach, tracing her stretchmarks.

"You know it drives me crazy when you keep going after I finish," Lucy said, drawing his attention.

"I know," he replied, his lips curling into a smug grin. "That's why I do it."

"You're evil."

"Don't act like you don't love it."

Lucy pushed him onto his back, mirroring his expression. "Well, time to return the favor then."

She moved down the bed, positioning herself between his legs. She eyed his cock, admiring its length before wrapping a hand around his shaft. She pumped up and down, slow but hard. She stretched his skin, enjoying the velvety feel against her hand.

She watched as Natsu released a shaky breath and closed his eyes. She picked up the pace, jerking him harshly. She knew he loved when she pulled on him hard.

She could feel the vein on his shaft bulging out. Her thumb grazed his head, pushing on it as she pumped up and down.

Natsu inhaled sharply. He knew he was reaching his climax already. It had been a while since they indulged each other, he couldn't help it!

Lucy slowed her movements, knowing that Natsu was going to finish soon. She wanted him to enjoy it as long as she was able to, so she refrained from making him climax. Not yet, at least.

She leaned over, pressing her lips softly against the tip. Her tongue darted out, sliding over his length before she pushed it deep within her mouth. He was warm sliding against her tongue. She tightened her mouth against his shaft, tugging at his skin as she bobbed her head up and down.

"God, Lucy," Natsu breathed out between clenched teeth.

She ignored him, continuing with the task at hand. Wrapping a hand at the base of his shaft, she worked her mouth over the top as she simultaneously pumped up and down. His hand landed on her head, tugging at her hair. She didn't mind. In fact, she liked it rough.

Natsu's gut tightened as he was on the brink of climax. Lucy quickened her pace with her hand and kept up with her ministrations. Knowing that Natsu was about to finish and knowing what he liked, she removed her hand from his shaft and shoved him as deep as she could into her mouth. Her gag reflex nagged at her, but she pressed on to keep pleasuring him. She went as fast and as deep as she could until she felt him shatter.

Profanity flew past his lips, his hands clenching the sheets as proof of his climax came in liquid form that landed on Lucy's breasts. He forced his eyes open to take in the view. He had a love for finishing either in or on her body, and his wife knew that.

"Well? Sounds like you had a good time, Natsu," Lucy teased, repeating his words from earlier.

"Shut up," Natsu groaned. He ran a hand through his hair to get his pink bangs out of his face.

Lucy giggled, watching as her husband's eyes zoned in on the liquid dripping down her breasts. Grabbing his hand, she pulled him out of bed with her.

"Come on, let's go wash up," she said, leading the way towards the bathroom.

Natsu squeezed her bum and gave her a grin. "Wanna go for round two in the shower?"

"Yep. We've only got tonight, after all."

The next morning, Lucy and Natsu shared a worried glance before opening the door to the cottage. That trip was their first time being away from Nashi, and they left her with Gray, who was inexperienced. They expected the place to be a mess with Nashi crying her lungs out and being held by Gray with bloodshot eyes.

And yet, as they stepped foot into their home, they found the place was spotless. There was no crying baby, spilt food, nothing. In fact, the place looked even cleaner than they left it.

"Gray?" Lucy called out.

"Over here!" they heard the boy shout back.

The couple stepped into Nashi's nursery, finding Gray standing by the crib. He was using his magic to entertain the baby.

"How is everything?" Lucy asked, her brows raising in surprise. She really expected things to be a disaster.

"Fine," Gray answered with a shrug. "Nashi slept like an angel the whole time. Didn't cry once. Looks like someone as inexperienced as me can take care of a baby just fine, huh?"

Natsu rolled his eyes, stepping forward and picking up Nashi. He smiled wide and held her close to his chest, poking her chubby cheek with a finger.

"You just got lucky," Natsu told him.

"Nope, I'm just that skilled," Gray replied.

"I'm sorry for not leaving the note by the way," Lucy said. "I thought I left it on the counter but it turns out I packed it with me."

"No worries. I didn't need it. Like I said, it was smooth sailing."

"In that case, would you like to watch her again on Thursday while Natsu and I go for a job? We were going to have Mira do it, but you're amazing with her!"

Gray's proud smirk faltered. "Uhh, sorry. No can do. I'm busy. But have fun on your job! I'm gonna head home now. Bye!"

With that, the boy practically ran out of there.

Natsu and Lucy shared a puzzled look.

"Wonder what that was about," Lucy said.

"Who cares?" Natsu replied with a shrug. "That guy's just weird. Though, not as weird as you."

"Oh hush!"

Gray stumbled into his home, falling onto the carpeted floor the moment he stepped inside. In truth, he was up all night without a wink of sleep just trying to entertain Nashi to keep her from crying. He used up all of his magical power just from making ice sculptures.

"Yeah, I can wait a while before having kids."

He was about to crawl towards the couch when someone's voice called out to him.

"Gray-sama?" Juvia's voice rang out. "Is that you?"

"Juvia? You're home already?" he asked, forcing himself back up to his feet to go meet up with his wife. He found her sitting at the kitchen table, her cheeks rosy. "You're back early."

"Yeah. Juvia found out something and came home right away…"

"What is it?"

The girl walked over to him, grabbing his hands and giving them a squeeze.

"Juvia is pregnant."

Gray's mouth hung on its hinges, his eyes wider than golf-balls and glazed over with fresh tears. Unable to say anything, he wrapped his arms around his wife and brought her in for a tight hug. Together, they cried tears of joy.

"Looks like I can't wait to have kids like I thought."

#fairy tail #nalu #lucy heartfilia #natsu dragneel #ftfanfiction #nalu fanart #nalu fanfiction #tds #the dragneel scrapbook #super writes

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88missmarauder88 · 5 years

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He had almost fooled himself into believing his parents had just chosen to ignore the Sorting.

After all, Sirius had been rebelling against their ridiculous pureblood rubbish for years now, ever since his mother had sat him and Regulus down at the ages of 8 and 6 to teach them about their "place in the world" -- which was, in a nutshell, a few miles above everything and everyone else.

"The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black stands alone," Walburga Black had said, head held so high Sirius thought she might bump her nose on the chandelier. "The blood of no other family in the wizarding world is as pure."

When Sirius suggested they may want to rethink that eventually, lest they run out of cousins to marry, she had forced him to write their House words -- "Toujours Pur", Always Pure -- twenty times with a Black Quill, a dark artefact Sirius figured was so named because some psychotic relation of his probably invented it. Afterwards, she'd locked him in his room for three days, a punishment that always came as more of a relief to him than anything else.

Once the stinging in his hand subsided, and with his well-hidden stash of sweets available to stave off hunger, Sirius filled the hours with the only happiness that existed for him at 12 Grimmauld Place: the world just outside it.

Entirely unnoticed by the objects of his attention due to the strong Muggle-Repelling Charms that guarded the home, he would open his window, sit on the sill, and watch the muggles of Islington go about their daily lives. Besuited businessmen filled the sidewalks in the early mornings and evenings, rushing to and from the bus stop or the Underground station like well-dressed ants. Shop workers, students, and families walked and bicycled about. At night, there would be couples out for a stroll, policemen making their rounds, and, if he was particularly lucky, a drunken scrap now and again.

He'd experienced his first burst of accidental magic on that sill one evening when he witnessed a thief snatch the handbag of an elderly woman. The woman's distressed cries upset and infuriated him, and he'd leaned out the window to shout for help, forgetting that no one would hear. Instead, however, he felt his magic surge outwards and watched as the snatcher's progress abruptly halted, as if he'd slammed into an invisible wall. The man fell to the sidewalk, unconscious, allowing the woman to retrieve her bag and a constable time to arrive.

Sirius had felt something he never had before, and hadn't since: proud of himself.

He especially enjoyed watching the neighbourhood children, though it always left him melancholy. Over the years, he'd learnt a fair bit about muggle sports from studying their condensed games of football and cricket. They'd greatly contributed to the expansion of the colourful vocabulary he now prided himself on -- and that his parents tried in vain to beat out of him -- and he'd dreamt up hundreds of adventures they could go on together, if only he could join in. He'd resolved so many times to march down the stairs and right out into the street before remembering he'd be hard put to explain his appearance out of seemingly nowhere.

But what captured Sirius's heart more than anything else he saw from his bedroom window were the cars and motorbikes. He delighted in the colourful automobiles that made their way up and down the street; shining red Cortinas and sleek black Capris rumbled along, their proud young owners vying for the attention of passing girls. He was particularly enamoured of the motorbikes -- the freedom and danger they exuded, the smell of the exhaust, the roar of the engines when a pair would set off on an impromptu race.

His fascination with the muggle world did not go unnoticed by his mother. On occasions she'd caught him drawing pictures of bikes or explaining some of the finer points of football to Regulus, she'd shut him in the vast family library with their loathsome house-elf, Kreacher, standing guard to ensure he read the stack of books she set before him -- books on wizarding superiority and the expectations and responsibilities that came with being a member of pureblood society. Sirius would read until his stomach turned at the things the books implied, then flip the pages absently as he imagined what his life would be like once his Hogwarts letter arrived.

Any scenario that found him away from his parents for the better part of the seven years that would lead him into adulthood was a pleasant one. But even exhilarating thoughts of residing in the majestic castle he'd seen in photographs and learning to harness his magic were tempered by fear over whether he'd finally find the friendship he so desperately craved.

Sirius knew which House he was destined for. He couldn't forget if he tried -- he went to sleep each night and woke every morning to the sight of the green and silver bedclothes and curtains that draped both his and Regulus's beds. He also knew Slytherin House's reputation, and that if his deductions were correct, it was about to go from bad to worse.

Sirius's Uncle Alphard, his mother's brother and the only member of his family, save Regulus, who had ever shown him any kindness, was aware of his young nephew's fondness for all things muggle. Entertained by it -- and all too conscious of the fact the boy needed occasional reprieve from Grimmauld Place -- he'd become Sirius's chief source of information when it came to the world running parallel to their own, taking him on outings when he could to the chiefly muggle areas of the city. Alphard had also gifted him a set of books written by a wizard author for muggle entertainment. His uncle told him if there were three skills above all others he would do well to develop as a member of the House of Black, observance, vigilance, and suspicion would comprise the list. Sirius had read the exploits of Sherlock Holmes eagerly, and more out of boredom than any desire to know what his parents and their company prattled on about, he had become a rather talented eavesdropper, lurker, and amateur sleuth. Through those pastimes, he was aware of unrest in the wizarding world, unrest fueled by blood supremacists who felt the time had come to "further assert" their lofty status. Sirius was as yet unsure what exactly they meant by that; he did, however, know the conversations filled him with a cold sense of dread.

But foreboding aside, Sirius was also already acquainted with most of the other scions with whom he was meant to share the dungeons of Hogwarts. He'd met them at weddings, funerals, banquets, balls, and all other manner of wretched social affairs for which he was violently stuffed into uncomfortable dress robes by Kreacher and threatened within an inch of his life against shaming his noble and most ancient House. They were a dull, tedious, jumped-up lot of all-around smarmy gits -- his various and sundry cousins included -- and he'd long ago resigned himself to the fact he would have to rely on the good graces of members of some other House if he hoped to establish even a casual friendship.

Then he'd ducked into a random compartment on the Hogwarts Express and found pieces of himself he hadn't even realised were missing.

Warmed by thoughts of his friends as he made his way to the Great Hall for breakfast, Sirius clapped James on the back as he dropped into his seat. The boy grinned at him before tossing a piece of bacon across the table at Remus, who had his nose stuck in a book. Peter laughed loudly.

Sirius felt happier than he reckoned he had a right to, and perhaps that's what jinxed him.

He hadn't even looked up when the owls came soaring into the room with the morning post. The thought of any fond letters or care packages from home arriving for him was laughable. He was therefore caught completely unawares when his family's great grey owl, Nobilis, dove low over him, dropping a bright-red envelope onto his plate and pecking him hard on the head before reversing course. "Ducklifors!" Sirius shouted, aiming his wand at the moving target. Nobilis's screech quickly became a series of quacks as the bird transformed into a duck before escaping out the window.

"With any luck, it's bloody hunting season in Hogsmeade," Sirius muttered.

"Nice shot!" James said, impressed, before turning his attention to the envelope on Sirius's plate. "Oh, bugger, mate..."

Sirius stared at the Howler with pure hatred in his eyes. She'd waited on purpose. Letting him get comfortable, probably counting on the fact he'd been able to forge a friendship or two amongst his new Housemates by now. He knew how her callous mind worked. Whatever words were slithering around inside that envelope, she intended them to ruin him. To further incite the Slytherins, likely, but primarily to humiliate him in front of his fellow Gryffindors. To let them know he wasn't one of them. To make them mistrust him. Suddenly afraid, he glanced briefly at the faces of his friends. Had a week been long enough? Did they have sufficient measure of him to know he'd never betray them? Or would the looks of concern and anger on their faces soon turn to scepticism?

The Hall grew quiet, all eyes on the Gryffindor table.

"Sirius, we can take that thing outside--" James began.

"No," Sirius said firmly through clenched teeth. "Everybody's seen it now. If I run out of here, it'll just make me look weaker than setting the fucking thing off will."

With that, he picked up a knife and slashed the edge off the envelope in one furious motion.

The Howler rose off the table, morphing itself into an angry mouth, its parchment teeth gnashing, before Walburga's screeching voice issued forth.

"SIRIUS ORION BLACK, YOU CONTEMPTIBLE WRETCH! HOW DARE YOU STAIN THE NAME OF YOUR NOBLE AND MOST ANCIENT HOUSE! THE SHAME YOU HAVE BROUGHT UPON YOUR FAMILY! GENERATIONS OF PROUD, RESPECTABLE WIZARDS AND WITCHES, ALL DISGRACED BY YOUR DEVIANT BEHAVIOUR! YOUR FATHER AND I, UNABLE TO SHOW OUR FACES IN PUBLIC! CONSORTING WITH BLOOD TRAITORS AND MUDBLOODS IN THAT ABOMINATION OF A HOUSE! DO YOUR LITTLE COHORTS KNOW THE LENGTHS TO WHICH YOU WENT TO MANIPULATE YOUR WAY INTO THEIR RANKS? WHAT YOU REALLY ARE? WHAT YOU WILL BECOME, REGARDLESS OF YOUR PATHETIC ATTEMPTS TO FURTHER EMBARRASS--"

The Howler was cut off midstream by James’s fist, which he thrust into its mouth before grabbing hold of its ribbon tongue and yanking roughly, turning the thing inside out. He proceeded to swing it upward by the ribbon, then back down as hard as he could, bashing it against the table. The Howler disintegrated into a pile of paper shreds, which James promptly set on fire.

"That's a filthy lie," he snapped to the shocked faces at the Gryffindor table. "The Sorting Hat cannot be manipulated. You can say whatever you like to it, but it makes the final decision, and it puts you where you belong. End of story."

"Mr Potter is entirely correct!" a distressed-looking Professor McGonagall called from the High Table.

James stared at their classmates, challenging anyone to dispute the fact. Lupin, Pettigrew, and Longbottom were the first to recover, followed quickly by the Prewett twins.

"Absolutely!"

"Everyone knows that."

"Ridiculous to suggest otherwise."

"Black is as Gryffindor as any of us!"

"Way more than Gideon, if we're being honest."

The rest of their Housemates were soon murmuring similar words of agreement. The Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw tables remained silent, but the derisive laughter beginning to rise from the Slytherin table was difficult to ignore.

Sirius sat staring at the pile of ashes. Everything around him seemed to be happening in slow motion, like a nightmare made all the worse by the fact he knew himself to be awake.

That's not a mother.

Never had been. Mothers held their children when they cried, they didn't make them cry. They read them fairy tales, not doctrines.

His wide, glazed eyes turned on their own towards his best friend. All the thoughts and feelings careening around Sirius's mind at that moment made him feel quite mad, but James was something he could focus on -- his first real friend. He wanted to stand up and rake every dish, platter, and goblet on the table into the floor and kick them into the stone wall behind them, and he knew James would dare anyone to stop him. He wanted to scream at the top of his lungs, to curse Walburga Black with every expletive he could think of, and he knew James would remind him of any creative adjectives he forgot. He wanted to let the sobs he was forcibly confining to the pit of his chest come tearing out of him like a hurricane--

Something in his eyes must have changed at that last thought, because James’s hand shot out and clutched Sirius’s shoulder firmly. "Laugh at it," James whispered, his lips barely moving, an urgent look on his face. "She’s pathetic and cruel and quite frankly sounds like an Augurey being plucked, so LAUGH AT IT."

For a split second, Sirius didn’t catch the boy’s meaning, but then it registered. James had seen both sides of the coin. And he knew Sirius desperately needed that barrier between himself and the world.

Rising, Sirius ran a casual hand through his hair before gesturing to the ash pile in front of him. "Well, then," he said loudly, his customary smirk back on his face. "Mum, everyone... everyone, Mum."

The silence held for a few more seconds before students all over the Hall began bursting into laughter. Soon, the entirety of the Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw tables were roaring, and Sirius made a show of blowing the remains of the Howler onto the floor before retaking his seat.

"James, mate," he said cheerfully, "pour me another pumpkin juice, will you? I think a bit of bitch landed in mine."

As the Gryffindor table erupted anew, Sirius shot James a look he hoped properly conveyed his gratitude in that moment. Judging from the smile James gave him in return, he understood. As always.

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