Truth or Dare ✔️

AE - 18

Sirius' eyes fluttered open as he heard the familiar bell of the alarm. Nearly forgetting where he was, and all alone in his bed, he sighed as he reached over for his muggle-windup alarm clock and shut if off. He lay his head back on the pillow and turned his head to see that one of the house elves had opened his curtains; he could see that it was still snowing; the snow had begun to fall around half-ten and it was still going...It was going to be hell to get guests to the Dog House for their nuptials...all the roads and the driveways would have to be cleared...he was seriously considering taking Connie up on her offer of having the ceremony in the Tapestry Room at the main house...it would be far easier to get guests to the main house than to his. Why Hermione would want a Christmas wedding was beyond him...but she had made her wishes known and it was up to him to make it happen. And he would...some kind of way...

Swinging his legs toward the side of the bed, he stood and stretched and ran his fingers over his scalp, quickly massaging the skin and hair then threaded his fingers through his long hair...he needed a haircut. He rubbed at his face and realized that the beard would have to go...she wouldn't like that too much, although, he didn't miss the scrape of the daily razor. Perhaps he could talk her into it? It was winter, after all...and he didn't look like a burly lumberjack or anything...

He pulled back the heavy curtain and the white sheers and gazed at the pristine white lawn...even the driveway was beneath a thick blanket of snow. He scratched at the side of his head and let the curtain fall.

After a quick shower, he got dressed for the day. He ambled over to the nursery to find Penelope standing in her crib, pointing at one of her toys that she had thrown out. He stood in the doorway to watch the chosen toy float toward her. She grabbed at the teddy bear that had once belonged to Hermione and embraced it and babbled baby-talk to it.

"Well, look at you," he said warmly.

Penelope looked up, not realizing that he'd been standing there and she dropped the bear and held out her arms to him. "Daaaaaaa...."

He chuckled and approached her. "Better not let your Daddy hear you say that." He picked her up and held her into the air and sniffed and grimaced as his eyes watered. "Eww!"

"Ooooo!"

He chuckled again. "That's right, ewww! You 'tinky little girl!"

She giggled at him.

He took her to the changing table and placed a sticky charm on her so that she wouldn't roll away and fall to the floor and he huffed as he unsnapped her onesie and removed her legs and bottom and cleaned her up and placed a clean nappy on her bottom, then closed up her onesie, removed the charm and picked her up.

"Lets go see whats for breakfast, yeah?"

She huffed and purred as she lay her head on his shoulder.

Once he placed her in her high chair and strapped her in, did he walk to the pantry, to the upright freezer, open the door and pull out a bottle and checked the date...it was still usable. He placed it on the table and placed a clean nipple on it. He then withdrew his wand, zapped it, checked the temperature and held it up.

"Want this," he asked, grinning.

"Botbot," she said.

"Yeah? That's what it is, but do you really want it? Really? You really want this stuff?"

She huffed. "BOTBOT!"

He chuckled and moved to hand it to her only to move it just out of her reach. "What do you say, Penny?"

"Peez."

"Nicely?"

"PEEEEEEZE?"

He smiled and handed the bottle to her and she all but jammed the nipple into her mouth and sucked so hard that Sirius heard the breast milk squirt through the nipple and he thought that she might bite through it.

He chuckled and kissed the top of her head and she rolled her eyes and turned her head away.

"Oh I see how it is," he said as he poured a cup of coffee for himself. He took a sip of the hot beverage and set it on the table as he went to the refrigerator and rooted around for something to eat. When he returned with a piece of cold fried chicken, his coffee was no where to be found. And he looked around and spun on his heel, looking at the coffee pot and then the table and he retraced his steps in his mind. Placing his hands on his hips, he huffed a sigh. "Where the hell did I put it? I know I'm not going mad..."

Finally, he heard her giggle and he looked to find her suspending the coffee cup in mid air over his head.

"Why you little shit," he whispered. "Bugger me!"

Not wanting the hot coffee to spill on him or her, he stealthily removed his wand, trapped the cup and brought it down...it wasn't easy as her hold on it was strong. Suddenly, he heard a man's chuckle behind him...Leo.

"Was I this much trouble," Sirius asked, half laughing in spite of himself.

Leo nodded and smiled warmly as he placed the morning paper on the table for Sirius. "Almost Sir. She has you beat by a few months."

Sirius turned to play-glare at his child. "Show off," he grumbled. And she smiled a nearly toothless grin and he returned the smile and kissed the top her her head. "Just wait till your mummies hear about this!"

"Mum Mum Mum Mum..."

He nodded as he sipped on the coffee. "Mmhm."

He released the cup to pick up the paper and unfold it. In his peripheral vision, he saw his cup leave the table again and he placed his hand on it and brought it back to the table. He sighed and turned toward her. "Damn it, I was hoping that your mother could teach you what hot is, but I suppose that I'll have to. Last thing I want is you getting burned. I don't particularly want a hot coffee shower either..." He set the cup on the table of her high chair.

He took hold of her chair and turned it toward him. Taking her hand in his, he said. "Hot." He then touched her fingers to the cup, but just for a split second. Her eyes widened with shock and fear and pain. And then, her face crumbled and she wailed and she yanked her tiny hand away and held it. He rolled his eyes and then looked at her and shook his head, giving her all kinds of visual signals. "That is HOT, Penny. Hot hurts," he said gently, showing her his sad puppy dog eyes...perhaps she might understand that? He felt awful for what he had just done, but he didn't know any other way to teach the concept of hot. He took her hand in his and placed her fingers in his mouth and then blew on them and she calmed down a little bit, but she was still frightened.. He removed her from her high chair and set her on his lap. He took his wand and cooled the coffee. He reached for her hand again and she screamed. "Penny," he said in a soothing tone. "Come on love, look." He stuck his finger in the coffee and put his finger in his mouth and then looked at her; she quieted instantly. "You try?" He nodded but she refused to move. So he stuck his finger in the coffee again and held it out to her mouth, knowing that she'd open. He moved his finger just inside her lips and he felt her tongue touch the tip of his finger and and she grimaced and shook her head.

"Not hot," he said smiling.

"No."

He shrugged his shoulders and pointed toward the cup. "Hot." and shook his head.

She sighed very crossly and kicked her legs and slapped her tiny hands on the table in frustration...she'd figure it out eventually. He only prayed that it wouldn't take an actual burn to make her understand. He went back to his coffee and paper and she drank from her bottle.

"Want to help me decorate the house for the Mummies today, Pet?"

"Mum Mum Mum..." she uttered in a sing-songy voice.

"Yup, mum, mum, mum...Lovely. The Great Sirius Black...warrior...king! Having been reduced. To. A. Nanny...." He looked toward his child at at the dry cereal now in her hair and he couldn't help but giggle. "Ah, but you're worth it!"

He scooted his chair to help himself to some of her breakfast after she had held out a piece of corn flake toward him to share, only to take it back and stuff it into her mouth. "No!"

"I supposed I had that coming," he sighed as he kissed her brow and then pretended to eat her nose, causing her to laugh.