Brain and Nerve and Bounding Heart

8- Yuletide

November 1st, 1980

"I don't think I've ever seen anything cuter than that." Áine grinned at the photo Lily handed her of baby Harry taken the day before, who had been dressed in his first ever Halloween costume.
He had turned three months old yesterday, and those three months had flown by. Áine was swamped in work, often staying late. This also meant that she was running the extra risk of confrontation with Rookwood, who had not eased up on her much. Just last week he'd broken her nose, yet she was getting quite good at healing bones in an instant. She had also perfected her topical salves that reduced bruising and swelling, so between that and a skilled application of makeup, nobody in her home was any the wiser about her troubles at work.
James only worked for the Order when he absolutely had to, and on the condition that he would only do so while carefully hidden under his invisibility cloak. Áine hadn't seen this cloak yet, but she'd heard about it plenty. It had apparently been passed down in the Potter family for generations, and the boys had used it to their full advantage during their after-hours endeavors at Hogwarts.
Remus was the busiest of them all, as Dumbledore had him traveling quite often. He was attempting to recruit other werewolves for their cause, and it was dangerous work. Peter had a regular day job at a shop in Diagon Alley, his main priority to keep his eyes and ears out for news.
Sirius was at Áine's house whenever James or Áine weren't and he was usually there even when they both were home. He took the protection of both Harry and Roisin very seriously. He had given up his flat, as he was never there anyhow. His furniture had been sold and all of the possessions he'd kept were crammed in with Lily and James' things in the Quinn's garage. On the rare nights he didn't stay on her couch, he crashed with Peter or Remus. Áine should have known that he would become yet another roommate... wherever James was, Sirius wasn't far away. When it came to the protection of those he cared for, swapping a cozy bed for a lumpy old couch to sleep on each night wasn't a sacrifice at all in exchange for knowing that they were safe.
"He really is the cutest thing ever. I can't believe I made him, like... with my body." Lily mused.
Áine laughed, causing Harry to look up at her curiously and smile as well. He wasn't yet sitting up on his own, and the bumblebee costume he'd worn had been Áine's choice. He did know how to smile though, and had just recently figured out how to laugh, which he did often.
  It was an isolated life that they led, but it was happy inside these walls. They all pitched in with the baby, the housework, and looking after Áine's mother. Lily was the only one who often felt restless. The furthest that her or the baby could travel safely was the garden other than the occasional, heavily guarded, trip to the Longbottom's house via Floo for a play date. Their baby, Neville, was nearly exactly the same age as Harry. Given what little that they knew of the prophecy, the Longbottoms didn't know it had even been made. That had raised some contention between Áine and Dumbledore.
The old man was always busy, and they seldom saw him in person. Áine felt that the Longbottoms should have been privy to this information, but Dumbledore had made them promise to keep it between them for the time being.
"You know Sirius has a birthday coming up in a few days, right?" Lily asked.
"Oh... oh that's right." Áine faltered, and
Lily laughed.
"I assume you haven't gotten him anything then?" She asked, her eyes glittering with curiousity.
"No! I haven't, and now I feel bad!"
"I know of one thing you could give him that he would love." Lily observed.
"What's that?" Áine asked.
"You know." Lily chided, shaking her shoulders suggestively.
"Feck off. How could a mother speak so crassly in front of her wee babe?" Áine scolded sarcastically.
"He's too young to understand. Don't change the subject." Lily smirked.
"I'm NOT giving him a gift he's already received."
"Fine. Keep being a stubborn ass. I'm sure he will understand if you don't get him anything. It's not exactly safe for us to go out and about shopping."
"I'll think of something. You know me, I work best under pressure."
Lily only rolled her eyes. It was so plain to her how much Áine fancied Sirius, she knew her better than anyone. And Sirius, he wasn't shy at all about the way he felt for Áine. He would shout it from the rooftops if he could. Yet, she knew that Aine was struggling hard with something internally. She had a feeling it had to do with her job, but Áine repeatedly assured them that she was fine.
"I'm going to bed. I unfortunately have to work in the morning." Áine yawned.
"I'd kill to go to anywhere. Don't take your freedom for granted." Lily scolded.
"Never in a million years. Love you, Lil. See ya in the morn."
"Love you also. Sleep well."
  Áine made her way to her bedroom, her mind stuck on what to get Sirius for his birthday. She wanted to give him something that would express her gratitude for his constant, comforting presence. He truly was the biggest factor in keeping the Potters safe. He was always here, always with James and now baby Harry. He'd been reliable and consistent, and he always had a wisecrack waiting to ease the tension at the end of a long day.
  Opening her closet, she rifled through all of the stuff that was crammed in there. Eventually, she got to the little box of the few things she had kept of her father's. She turned item after item over in her hands, nothing jumping out at her as gift-worthy. Finally she had gone through all of her fathers things, except one. An acoustic guitar was leaned up in the corner of her closet. It had been one of her father's favorite possessions, and she had many memories of him sitting on the back porch of her childhood home, singing and playing late into the evening.
  Gliding her hand up the fingerboard, familiarity sizzled in her blood. This was it: the gift she would give to Sirius.