Chapter 1
Childbirth. Painful, yet jubilant, when you realise that’s your child.
Severus felt it. The pain of watching his loved woman in pain yet feeling euphoric after seeing his child. His daughter. Madeline.
Yet the delight he felt soon turned into distraught, as the doctors hurried around his wife. Blood.
Blood was all that could be seen, the woman’s face turning paler every second. Severus was quick at her side, begging for her to not leave him, to live.
But her response was a small whisper, “I love you... Take care of Madeline...” and her eyes slowly fell closed. “No! No, no, please- stay awake!” His cries were filled with pain, watching his loved one die. “I need you- please, please-” His sobs were accompanied by a child’s - desperate for someone, not understanding anything.
A child cried, not even understanding that it's lost its mother, that its father is no longer the same, his heart crushed.
His wife’s cold skin once so familiar now foreign to his touch. Tears of his, creating a pool of despair and pain over the death of his wife.
His wife, a mother, a sister. A sister to the infamous Sirius Black, who’s never going to get over it. First his younger brother at the age of 17, and now his sister. His sister, who he loved dearly, now gone.
The child’s cries got louder, making its throat raw. Severus turned to the child; his eyes filled with pain. His hands cradled the child, keeping it close to him.
“Shh, I’m here...” He whispered, rocking her, trying to soothe her. The girl’s cries slowly quiet down, feeling safe in her father’s arms. Her big, grey eyes looked up at him, the same as her mother’s. His fingers traced over her soft cheeks, wiping the tears – both hers and his.
“What’s taking so long?” An impatient Sirius thought, his leg tapping anxiously on the waiting room floor. Soon doctors and nurses – a mix of them – were pilling out of the room. But as their expressions were tired, they were sad. Sirius’ face falls at thoughts - “Did something happen to the kid? Did something happen to Aubrey?” Aubrey, his sister wanted him at her birth, but seeing the first of blood, he decided to wait in the waiting room. Was he delighted that she married Snape and is having a child with him? No. But whatever makes her happy will do.
Walking into the room, his heart falls. His sister in a pool of blood, asleep – asleep for eternity. His eyes trail to Severus, tears still streaming down his face, shushing his child, trying to calm her.
“Severus?” Sirius’ shaky voice brings Severus out of his trance. Severus turns and his face is filled with misery. He’s quiet, yet the silence speaks more than words could ever. Sirius’ eyes cloud with tears, his knees giving out. His sobs being the only sound in the room, with the occasional sounds of the newborn.
A hand lays on his shoulder. Looking up, Sirius sees Severus mirroring the same expression as his. A small moment of peace falls between the two men, united by the death of a woman they loved.
After a moment of silence, Severus speaks, “We... we wanted you to be Madeline’s godfather... but I understand if you may not want to.”
Sirius wipes his tears, shaking his head. “No. I want to.” He stands up, his gaze now set on his goddaughter. So much like his sister. Her eyes the same grey as Aubrey's, and his. And Regulus’.
A thought makes its way to Sirius. “I’m the only one alive.” Their parents died at the hands of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. His brother, unknown reason, but you and I both know why he died. Trying to get a Horcrux, he failed to sustain and died. But Sirius will never know. The only one who knows is Kreacher.
And his sister died from childbirth.
Severus stretches his arms out, handing her to Sirius. Sirius’ hands are shaky, yet safe as he holds her. The baby seems content in his arms. “That’s my goddaughter.” He says in his head. He holds her, swearing to himself that he’ll keep her safe.
Oh, how wrong was he?