Post Tenebras Lux

Chapter Seventy-Five

"Congratulations on your pregnancy," Cassiopeia exclaimed as she saw Alice, "How are you feeling?"

Alice grinned at her friend, "I'm so excited, Cassie. We've got a long way to go before I give birth but I already love my child."

Cassiopeia laughed, "I'm so happy for you. You and Frank will make wonderful par- ow, ow, ow," She keeled over in pain as she clung onto her stomach, "Sorry, I'm fine."

Alice rubbed Cassiopeia's back as she stared at the girl in worry, "How long have you been in pain for?"

"On and off the past few hours. I've been busy with work though. Had to just push through."

"Have you been hit by a curse?" Alice went to check her temperature before looking up and down, "Where is the pain?"

"It's just my stomach," Cassiopeia replied, "I'll be fine. I feel sick every so often but it passes quickly."

Alice pursed her lips, "Come on, you need to be checked over to make sure everything is okay. We can't have you come down with something. James would come straight here and berate us all for hours."

Cassiopeia felt nervous as she entered the house she shared with James. She was met with silence as she shut the front door and called out his name. A clatter from the kitchen notified her where James was so she quickly walked into the room. 

Before James even had the opportunity to speak, Cassiopeia blurted out, "I'm pregnant."

"My parents are dead," James simultaneously said, "They succumbed to Dragon Pox."

It was then that Cassiopeia noticed how red his eyes were and the dried tears on his cheeks. She had never seen him in such a state. Rushing over to him, she engulfed him in a tight hug, "Oh James, I'm so sorry."

Remus and Sirius dropped by later in the evening to see how James was coping and were both ecstatic with Cassiopeia's news, "So you are telling us that James Potter, the James Potter we grew up with, hasn't reacted to the news you are having his child?" Remus asked her in disbelief, "What in merlin's beard is wrong with him?"

"I think he's in shock over the death of his parents so hasn't processed the fact he is going to be a father."

Sirius shook his head, "It was terrible news. They were amazing parents. I'm glad they died within hours of each other though. It would have been torture if one had to live without the other."

"He hasn't taken their deaths very well, which is understandable."

Loud bangs were heard as James made his way downstairs and burst into the kitchen, a look of shock on his face as he shouted loudly, "You're pregnant?"

Cassiopeia frowned, "Yes - I told you a few hours ago?"

James suddenly ran over to her, picked her up and began to twirl her around as he screamed loudly, "We are going to be parents! Padfoot, Moony, I'm going to be a father!" He then continued to yell about how happy he was that they were beginning their family as he ran back upstairs. 

The three in the kitchen looked at each other, wondering what had just happened, "I think he might have just processed it, Cassie," Remus joked.

"He's going to be overbearing isn't he?"

"Oh, he's going to be the worst. He'll be in full-on James Potter mode before the day is out."

Cassiopeia groaned, "This is the end of my life as I know it. He won't want me to do anything. I'll just be forced to sit here and do nothing all the time."

"What a hard life, Cassie," Sirius joked. 

"I'm used to being an Auror - he won't want me to be now I am having his baby."

"If he gets overwhelming, Cassie, tell us and we'll try and calm him down."