Last hope (a marauders era story)

14.

I open my eyes and groan, Cassie is crying loudly, i crawl out of my bed, and look at her, her face is screwed up red, and there is an awful smell, "oh no" i say, "Cassie , shush the now, I'm going to have to take you to madam pomfrey, i don't know how to change nappies" i say, picking her up and holding her at arms length, and open the door, and walk to the infirmary, "oh dear, i thought i heard a child crying, what's the matter with her?" She asks, "i need your help, i don't know how to change nappies, but she looks like she's in pain" i say handing her over, madam pomfrey nods, "ok, dearie just bring her over here" she says, leading me to a separate room, and transfiguring a table into a changing area, i lay her down, and madam pomfrey unsticks her diaper, "oh dear" she says, pulling the nappy off completely, "what is it, is she ok?" I ask, she doesn't answer, and takes her wand, and runs it over Cassies stomach, and a hologram pops up, "its colic, see her tummy is all swollen up, and if you press your fingers gently over its like a brick inside her stomach, all she needs is a little potion, and that should rid it after a couple of days maybe a week" she says grabbing wipes and cleaning Cassie, she summons a clean nappy, and shows me how to do it, i smile, "what else will help?" I ask, she smiles, "a nice warm bath, and a little warm milk" she says, grabbing a little baby bottle and filling it with milk, and adding a vial of potion, she props Cassie up and holds the bottle to her mouth, Cassie presses her lips together, and shakes her head, i roll my eyes, "ill get her to drink it madam" i say picking up Cassie and cracking her in my arms, i take the bottle and press it to her lips, she moves her head to the side, so i take her dummy and put a little on that and put it in her mouth, she sucks it dry and i do that four or fife times, then i ease the bottle into her mouth and smile as she suckles, i look up and see madam pomfrey smiling at me, "you have a knack with children dearie" she says, "on you go class starts in five minutes, and judging by my records you have transfiguration first" she says, i jump up and smile, and walk slowly out of the infirmary and to my next class.

i burst into professor McGonagall's class, "i suppose you have an excuse for your tardiness, miss Saltford?" She asks, standing from her seat, the entire class looks up, and Cassie giggles, "yes professor, i had to take Cassie to Madam Pomfrey" i say, shifting Cassie's weight to my other hip, "ah, Young Arabella-Cassandra, tell me, what exactly was wrong with her?" She asks, i hear giggles, whispers, i glare at a certain slytherin, "she has colic, ma'am" i say, she nods, "oh dear, very painful for a child, here place her here, that way you can catch up on your work" she says transfiguring an extra table, into a swinging crib, i tap Cassie's nose and she giggles, and i place her in the crib, and set it swinging, and sit in my usual seat beside remus, "hey" i whisper pulling out my black and silver transfiguration book, i pull out a quill and some parchment, and begin to copy his notes when a shrill crying sounds, i sigh and slam my head on the table and continue to copy note, the crying gets louder, and professor McGonagall sighs, "weeah" an extremely childish voice sounds and my eyes widen, McGonagall frowns, "weeah" she says again, i stand up, and pull her from the crib and open the door, and close it behind me, "oh my god Cassie-Bella, I'm your first word" I say swinging her around, the door opens and the annoying voice of delores chimes up in front of the whole class, "she said weeah, and your name is charm so how can you be her first word?" She sneers, i roll my eyes, "darling, my name is Amelia-Charmaine, get it right, i say rocking Cassie until her eyes droop, and walk back in the class and place her in the crib, to see everyone staring at me, "what?" I ask crudely, they all look back to their work, and i sit back down, and finish my work.

I pick Cassie up and cradle her against my chest, and walk out of the class with remus, "merlin help me" i groan, he tilts his head to the side, "what's wrong?" He asks, i sigh, "I've got potions next, and i can't have this one anywhere near the fumes" i say, remus nods, "i can take her to my next class, its history of magic, and lily, Alice or Marlene cam help?" He offers, "oh remus really?" I ask he nods, i throw my arm around his shoulders, "thank you mongrel" i say and kiss his cheek, "here" i say handing him Cassie, "you're a gem, pup" i say, running in the direction of the dungeons.