The Last Horcrux

In Which Sev Mows the Lawn on the Eve of the Full Moon

On the night before the full moon, Sev and Remus got the children into bed early and retired to their room. They locked their door and cast a silencing charm and Sev allowed Remus to take him to take him apart, bit by bit. Remus, his eyes glowing a feral yellow, clearly relished being the aggressor. After being thoroughly shagged, Sev fell asleep in Remus' arms, bathed in moonlight, while the house slept peacefully around them.

Sev woke the next morning to Oakley's persistent stare. His amber eyes, so like Remus', were fixed on Sev. His expression was one of moderate disapprobation.

"Phoenix woked up," he announced.

Sev scrubbed his face, and sat half way up. He was naked between the sheets, sticky . The smell of last night's lovemaking rose in a powerful perfume to meet his nostrils. He wondered if this would have an adverse effect on his child. Probably not, he thought. It's natural, after all. But he pulled the sheet tight around his neck anyway, as Oakley climbed up on the bed and started bouncing on his chest. Light brown curls, shining softly in the early morning light. Beside him Remus, exhausted for so many different reasons, snored lightly.

"Shh," Sev warned. "Let Moony sleep. She's not crying,"

"That's cause I been playing with her," said Oakley in a condescending tone. "You should make breakfast," he added.

Beside him, Remus stirred. "Tell me it's not morning already," he groaned.

"I'll deal," said Sev. "You go back to sleep for a little while. He planted a kiss on the top of Oakley's soft head. "I can't get up if you're sitting on me," he informed the little boy. "Now, where's my pajamas?"

"You're naked," Oakley observed.

"I was hot," Sev replied.

"Yes you were,'' said Remus sleepily, and Sev kicked him under the covers.

********

Sev got Phoenix up and changed her heavy nappy. He put her in a fresh romper decorated with owls. He tickled her fat belly to make her giggle, taking delight in her plump arms and legs that wriggled with joy, the incredible softness of her skin. "Up we go!" he said when she was dressed, lifting her above his head. He planted a raspberry on her tummy, causing her to shriek with delight.

Down in the kitchen, he put her in her high chair with half a banana to keep her entertained. Biscuit was whining at the back door. Sev let him out into the yard and sent Oakley upstairs to start the tedious process of getting Gavin out of bed and ready for school.

"Tell him I'm making cocoa," Sev said.

Sev made coffee first, taking profound pleasure in the first sip of the day. Everything was better after that. He charmed a cup to stay hot for Remus, and busied himself with eggs and porridge and toast. Phoenix was making a mess of her banana, smearing it over her tray and her face and her hair. Sev scowled at her as he grabbed a cloth to clean her up. Babies, with their profound lack of dignity had always annoyed him, but Phoenix's face lit up when she saw him approach. She smiled and gurgled and clapped her hands. A few sparks flew from her fingertips, and Sev's heart swelled with pride and love. He felt like an idiot, grinning foolishly at his messy child, but smiling was supposed to be good for babies, wasn't it? Something about their social development. He couldn't stop himself anyway. He was in love.

He wiped Phoenix down and picked her up, carrying her about on his hip while he finished making breakfast. Then with a sigh he headed up two flights of stairs to help Oakley rouse Gavin.

Oakley was valiantly bouncing on the bed, chanting "Wake up Gav, Wake up Gav," but he was having little effect. Gavin was buried deep under the covers, resolutely still. Sev opened the curtains and spring sunshine flooded the room.