Growing Up: Sequel to Secret Existence

Chapter 2: Learning and Beginning to Understand

A week passed and I was beginning to understand how to take care of Sky. She was an odd kid. Sometimes she’d look around innocently, despite what Lilly said about her not being able to see I swear that’s what she was doing. Other times she’d grab at whatever came near her. Another apparently unusual thing was that her eyes already were turning green. Although James says it may have to do with her being a witch. Kreacher was a bit annoyed with her. She seemed to be fascinated with grabbing his ears. I had really started to pick up on what needed to be done. This little girl had done what people had tried to convince me to do for years; she had made me settle down.

She also got Kreacher to help occasionally without being asked. When people would come to the house he would keep her quiet enough that no one knew she was with me. I was a bit nervous when they were there, and no one ever went into rooms to close to hers.

I was sitting in the nursery rocking Sky. She wasn’t asleep, but she was being quiet. I couldn’t help but smile. She was so truthfully her mother’s daughter. Kreacher came running into the room looking annoyed, “Dumbledore is here.”

I put Sky down in her crib and closed the door behind me. I rushed out to meet Dumbledore. I had no idea why he was here.

“Dumbledore, what’s going on?” I asked as I went into the room.

He frowned, “I need your help. I know you had asked me to slow down with the big projects, but I don’t know who else to ask.” I nodded at him to go on. “We got some information about a death eater. You’d be gone for anywhere from two days to a week.”

“Of course, when do I need to leave?” I asked feeling apprehensive about leaving Sky with Kreacher.

“Today, in a few hours,” He said sympathetically. He gave me the information and I started running around my house. Normally I could leave in a few minutes, I needed one change of clothes and that was enough. Now I had to get everything set up for Sky as well. I sent an owl to James and Lilly letting them know. They were nervous too, but it was the only real possibility.

The first day I was following the Death Eater I wanted to leave numerous times, but I couldn’t let Dumbledore down. He was being subtle, so I had to do as Dumbledore wanted. I was to follow silently and unnoticed, just listening. If he tried anything, if anyone’s life was at risk, then I was to intervene.

It took him four days. Four days before he went after anyone. It was good, but it was also horrible. The plus was he was dead, so I had fully accomplished my mission. The second it was done I apparated home to see Sky. I picked her up and smiled. She was safe and alright. I held her close to me and breathed a sigh of relief. Kreacher came in holding a bottle that I took from him and fed to Sky. He glared at her, but I let it pass. I was too happy to be back to start a fight with him.

When she was done she went to sleep and I shook my head. I had only been gone for four days and she already looked so different. I sighed and snapped a photo. James and Lilly should see her, even if she couldn’t be with them. I wrote them a brief letter and sent it as well as an equally brief letter to Dumbledore. I was happy she was asleep so I could meet with Dumbledore without missing a second of watching her. That baby really had me wrapped around her finger. I couldn’t help it.

I sat in the front room waiting for Dumbledore. He was there within minutes, as I had expected. “Sirius,” He greeted me solemnly.

“Dumbledore,” I nodded at him before telling him all I had learned.

“Well done,” He smiled. “I’m happy your back. James and Lilly seemed panicked the entire time you were gone. Would you like to come with me now to see them and the children? I haven’t seen Sky since she was born and it’s been a few days since I saw Harry.”

“I’ll meet you there,” I nodded. I grabbed the now awake Sky and apparated into the nursery. IT had a second crib haphazardly put in the corner.

“Sirius,” Lilly yelled. “What are you two doing here?”

“Dumbledore,” I replied. “He wanted to see Sky. You didn’t want him to know.”

“Thank you,” She smiled and picked her up. “Would you take Harry? James and Albus are talking and I want to hold my little girl.”

“Of course,” I smiled and carried Harry out. He was awake and reaching for my hair to pull it. Sky was smiling happily at her mom.

“There are my kids,” James said as we came in. He shot me a look that said we would all talk later and I nodded. This wouldn’t work for long.

Dumbledore looked at them, “They are both going to look just like you two when they grow up.”

“Are they safe again?” I asked feeling mixed feelings.

He shook his head, “No. They won’t be safe until Voldemort is gone.”

Albus stayed for a few hours before leaving. The two babies went to sleep and we all sat down on the couch.

“It’s suspicious if no one ever sees her,” I admitted.

James nodded, “I know, but she needs to be safe amongst all else. Only a few people know about her though. She can’t come home. We’ll lie as long as we can and if necessary I’ll come pick her up from you.”

“Alright,” I nodded.

“Are you alright? How did the mission go?” Lilly gushed handing me some butter beer.

I smiled at her, “I’m fine. It was too long, but informative. We learned about a few of the people they want to recruit, and about one death eater meeting.”

“I was so worried you might get hurt,” She said.

I shook my head, “I was careful. I have a very important reason to come home. I can’t totally devote myself to the cause anymore.”

It wasn’t long after that I took Sky home.

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It wasn’t long before Sky was a happy two week old baby. I however was less than happy with the new developments. She was starting to really grow, which was accompanied by her wanting more food. So naturally I was awake every 1-2 hours feeding her again. According to Lilly we were all lucky neither kid had colic, which from what she said just meant more crying and less sleeping.

Lilly had also sent me new things to decorate Sky’s room with and give to her. Of course I had pictures of James, Lilly, and even baby Harry in the room, but Lilly sent me more baby things. Little black and white pictures of animals, pictures of colorful lines and shapes, and something called a mobile that hung over the bed. Of course I never had it move, but it hung there.

Sky was also having even more time where she would just sit quietly. Lilly had sent me an audio thong of her and James telling stories and singing songs that I’d play sometimes. Other times I’d just sit and hold her telling her stories about our days at Hogwarts.

Kreacher was starting to really help. Since Sky was less interested in his ears now, he would help if he noticed how fully exhausted I was. He would still take every chance to be rude to me, but even he loved the baby.

It was also getting harder to keep her a secret. With the constant crying and eating it took everything Kreacher had to keep the bottles out of sight and the baby from crying when there were Order members over. It was also very clear something was disrupting my sleeping patterns. No one guessed she was there, but they were all very suspicious that something was going on.

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How do we feel about this chapter?

So question of the week is: How do you feel about this story so far? Does everyone seem in character, or at least close?

I'd like twenty votes and twenty comments before I upload, but since this one was so late I'll upload as soon as I have it written.

I am so sorry I didn't upload. I am in this crazy program in school and have like 10 papers and projects due over a two week span of time. I also started like 3 new stories, which is totally my fault. I owe all of you an apology.