Heirs of the Black Legacy

Chapter 1

The room was quiet, except for the soft, steady breathing of three bodies tangled together under the thick covers. The night outside was still, the moon hanging high in the sky, casting pale light through the open window. All seemed peaceful—until Sirius stirred.

It started as a dull ache in his lower abdomen, a discomfort he’d become used to over the past few months. He shifted slightly, trying to find a position that would ease the pressure. But when he moved, the ache only deepened, tightening into something sharper, more insistent.

Sirius’s breath hitched, and his hand instinctively went to his stomach. His heart pounded as the realization hit him: this wasn’t normal. It wasn’t supposed to feel like this.

Regulus, who had been curled up close, stirred at his twin’s movement. His eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, everything seemed fine. But then the pain hit him, too—sharp and sudden, like a wave crashing through his body.

"Reg?" Sirius whispered, his voice tight with panic.

Regulus gasped softly, his hand gripping the sheet as the pain intensified. "Sirius... something’s wrong," he whispered back, his voice trembling.

"It’s too soon," Sirius murmured, trying to suppress the rising tide of fear. They were only seven months in—far too early for this. He pressed a hand to his stomach, trying to will the pain away, but it wasn’t working.

Regulus sat up slightly, his face pale, his eyes wide with fear. "It’s too soon," he repeated, his voice a little more frantic now.

Sirius swallowed hard, his mind racing. They couldn’t wake James—not yet. Not until they knew what was happening. He glanced at Regulus, who was already starting to shake, his breathing becoming erratic as he tried to suppress the pain.

"Stay calm, Reg," Sirius whispered, though his own voice was shaking. He reached for his brother’s hand, squeezing it tightly. "We can’t wake James yet."

Regulus nodded, biting his lip to keep from crying out as another wave of pain hit him. He squeezed Sirius’s hand back, gripping it like a lifeline. "What if—what if this is it?" Regulus asked, his voice barely a whisper.

"It can’t be," Sirius replied, though he wasn’t sure if he was trying to convince Regulus or himself. "It’s too soon."

But the pain didn’t care about timing. It kept coming, growing stronger, more frequent. Regulus stifled a sob, curling in on himself, and Sirius felt his own fear rising to a breaking point. The tightening in his abdomen was becoming unbearable, and he knew they couldn’t keep quiet much longer.

James stirred beside them, his brow furrowing as he sensed the tension between the two. Sirius held his breath, trying to keep as still as possible, but another contraction hit him, harder this time. A strangled gasp escaped his lips, and that was enough to wake James fully.

"Sirius?" James’s voice was groggy, but concern was already creeping in as he turned over and saw the twins clutching their stomachs, pale and sweating. "What’s going on?"

Sirius opened his mouth to speak, but the pain stole his words. Regulus was the one who answered, his voice small and trembling. "James… it’s too soon."

James blinked, his sleepy confusion quickly giving way to panic as he registered what was happening. "What do you mean, too soon? What’s happening?" His voice was rising with every word, his hands already reaching out to both of them.

"It’s starting," Sirius whispered through gritted teeth. "We’re… we’re in labor."

James’s face drained of color. "Both of you? Now?" His eyes darted between them, his voice growing more frantic. "But it’s too soon!"

"We know!" Regulus cried, gripping Sirius’s hand tighter as another wave of pain hit him. His whole body trembled with the force of it, and tears pricked at the corners of his eyes. "What do we do, James? What if—what if the babies aren’t—" His voice broke off, too overwhelmed by fear to finish the sentence.

James’s heart pounded wildly in his chest. He was never one to panic, always the one who had a plan, who could talk his way out of anything. But this—this was different. He had no idea what to do.

"I—I’ll get Orion," James stammered, stumbling out of bed, his hands shaking so badly that he nearly tripped over the blanket. "He’ll know what to do." His voice was high and panicked, his usual confidence nowhere to be found as he fumbled for his wand.

Sirius grabbed his arm, his grip strong despite the pain. "Hurry, James," he gasped, his eyes wide and full of fear. "Please."

James nodded, his breath quick and shallow. He pointed his wand shakily and cast the spell to summon Orion. But as he waited for Sirius and Regulus’s father to arrive, the sight of his two partners in such obvious pain was almost too much to bear.

Orion arrived in a flash, his expression calm but serious as he assessed the situation. He moved quickly to Sirius and Regulus’s side, his hands steady as he checked their conditions. His face gave little away, but the tension in his posture betrayed his concern.

"They’re both in labor," Orion said, his voice steady but grim. "And it’s premature."

"Can’t you stop it?" James asked, his voice cracking. "It’s too early!"

Orion’s jaw tightened. "I’ll try. But we need to be prepared."

He worked quickly, administering calming potions to both of them to slow the contractions, but the situation was precarious. Sirius’s baby was in position, but Regulus’s was breech, adding another layer of complication.

Sirius groaned, his face pale and sweaty, while Regulus whimpered softly, clutching James’s hand like a lifeline. James sat beside them, feeling utterly helpless, fear gnawing at him as he watched Orion work.

"Please," James whispered, his voice barely audible. "Tell me they’re going to be okay."

Orion looked at him, his eyes softening. "We’ll do everything we can. But the babies are coming early. We have to be ready."

James nodded, though his heart felt like it was breaking. He tightened his grip on both Sirius and Regulus’s hands, silently vowing that he would be strong for them, no matter what.

As the night dragged on, the room was filled with tension and fear. The twins’ breathing was labored, their bodies shaking with the effort of holding on. And James, for the first time in his life, felt utterly powerless.

But he wasn’t going to let that stop him. He would fight for them—for all of them—no matter what it took.