Where do you see yourself in five minutes?
Where do you see yourself in five seconds, Alasia?
Where do you see yourself in fifteen years?
In the darkest part of Surrey a woman marked by struggle and battle and suffering and survival makes her way to...
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"Harry!" wailed Hermione. "How could you?"
"It was easy," said Harry. He stood up, so full of anger he was shaking. My heart hurt. "Don't look at me like that!" he snapped at Hermione.
"Don't you start on her!" snarled Ron.
"No - no - we mustn't fight!" said Hermione, launching herself inbetween them.
"You shouldn't have said that stuff to Lupin," Ron told Harry.
"He had it coming to him," said Harry
I stood silently outside the kitchen, Atlas looking at me quietly as I bounced him up and down lightly. His little smiles were a temporary escape and I can't believe how desperately and madly I love him even though we've only just met.
Sirius was drinking tea, arms crossed as he stood in front of the stove - letting the kids fight. They probably forgot he was still there anyway.
"Parents," said Harry, "shouldn't leave their kids unless - unless they'vegot to."
It felt as though he's punched me and Sirius staggers just like me. We both catch each other's eyes, a sudden sadness enveloping them. His anger wasn't solely at Remus, it was also at everything else. He was more empathetic with his unborn child than he was mad at him.
"Harry -" says Hermione, stretching out a consoling hand, but he shrugs it off and walks away towards Sirius's side, not looking at anyone.
Hermione and Ron glare at each other, eyebrows wiggling in a way that makes it obvious they're deciding on something.
Harry turns around and catches them turning hurriedly away from each other. "I know I shouldn't have called him a coward."
"No, you shouldn't have," said Ron at once.
"But he's acting like one."
"All the same . . ." said Hermione.
"I know," said Harry.
"But if it makes him go back to Tonks, it'll beworth it, won't it?" Sirius interrupted and Hermione and Ron both jumped a little. They had definitely forgotten about him.
"But -"
"Enough, Hermione," Sirius' voice was sharp. "He deserved it. He was leaving his pregnant wife behind to go die in a war so he wouldn't have to deal with the consequences of his actions. Coward was a rightful word for him. Your sympathy won't make it any better. He's a coward and worse and Harry did the right thing. Instead of antagonising him at every step of your life, you could for once open your eyes and see the pain behind his words. Dora's child would've grown without a father just because he was too much of a scaredy cat to be present."
Hermione had tears in her eyes and Ron looked like he was a step away from murdering Sirius. Well, kid or not - should he harm a hair on my husband's head, I won't hesitate to remind them why they call me the daughter of Morgana.
