Priori Incantatem [HARRY POTTER FANFICTION]

Chapter 53: The Calm Before the Storm

Chapter 53: The Calm Before the Storm

Six hours later, James staggered into the lounge where Sirius, Peter, Morwenna, Dorcas, Mr and Mrs Potter, and Mr and Mrs Evans sat, waiting for news. Seeing James coming, they all stopped talking and turned to watch him, their expressions expectant.

Tired as he was, James' face split into a grin. "It's a boy."

The room erupted into chaos at the news; Sirius let out a whoop and spun Morwenna off her feet, Dorcas dashed down the corridor to tell Alice, James found himself sandwiched between his parents, and Mr and Mrs Evans bombarded James with questions and congratulations.

Finally free of bodies, James informed everyone that Lily and the baby were fine; Lily was sleeping and the Healers had taken the baby away to bathe him. Everyone continued celebrating, laughing and talking and asking questions, until a Healer hurried over to shush them all and kick the visitors out of the hospital. After being informed in no uncertain terms that they wouldn't be permitted to see Lily and the baby tonight, the four proud grandparents decided to return to home to inform people of the good news and to catch a few hours' sleep before returning to visit in the morning. Dorcas suggested that she, Morwenna, Sirius, and Peter all go out to celebrate, but Peter begged off, claiming to be too exhausted.

"You coming, Sirius?" Dorcas wanted to know.

"Be right down," Sirius replied. "I'll catch up with you." Shrugging, Dorcas and Morwenna gave James their parting congratulations to pass on to Lily and left.

"So?" Sirius demanded as soon as they were alone.

"So what?" James had no patience for guessing games at the moment.

"So what was it like?" Sirius wanted to know. James flopped into one of the waiting area chairs as he considered.

"It was………" he began, then stopped. Even now he didn't quite know how to describe it, even to his best friend. The hours of waiting, letting Lily squeeze his hand while she made sounds that had made James feel sick to his stomach. James had been terrified, thoroughly grossed out, and inexplicably fascinated by the whole ordeal, and when the Healer had come round the bed, placed a squirming bundle in Lily's arms, and said: "It's a boy!" James had felt an overwhelming joy mix with the terror. Those feelings had only intensified when he'd actually held the baby, a tiny, red, slimy, wrinkly thing wrapped in a blue blanket. "It was all right," James finished lamely.

"All right?!" Sirius stared. "All right?! After all of the horror stories about blood and screaming and pain and that entire miracle of life crap, it was just all right?"

"Don't get me wrong, it was disgusting," James shuddered slightly as he got to his feet. Of course, he'd known in theory what was supposed to happen, what was supposed to be coming out of where. But deep down, James hadn't actually believed it until he'd seen with his own eyes….James shivered again.

"What's the baby – like?" Sirius seemed embarrassed by his eagerness to know, but continued to ask questions regardless.

"Well, he's small, and red and wrinkly, and…….and he's amazing, actually," James grinned.

"Congratulations, mate," Sirius said gruffly, patting James awkwardly on the back.

"Thanks," James returned the gesture. "I'd take you to see him if I knew where he went. They're cleaning him off. In fact, he might be back soon, and Lily's asleep….I'd better be getting back, actually. I wouldn't want Lily to be on her own when she wakes up."

"Right," Sirius nodded. Things had changed, and he accepted that. "I'll see you lot tomorrow then." He broke into a sudden grin. "Told you the bananas would work!" Sirius crowed. "We have another Marauder!"