(open) a stroll among muggles

[Deleted]

"Yes. Have you ever thought about having kids? I mean, after you find that someone who is the one for you. I would have to say a person's animals are like their own children because they are just like any other kind of child but the only difference is that the animals are not humans but it's just the fact they become family to you. It's ok. I understand though. I never thought of having kids especially one that took similar gifts that I had, being an Metamorphmagus and all. His father wants more kids though." she said thoughtful.

"Yes I agree that they do. Yes, Willow will be very much like the pair of them, she already is and she loves people though it's surprising since both of them, Selene and Airous, her parents, were both abused by their fathers. They both had trouble talking to people but they keep people around now that they have each other and they are glad their daughter is a talkative to all people." she said.

"I sometimes wonder what keeps it as it is. Though he knows that, during the time we broke up, he knows that there was a relationship between me and someone else during the time of the split but the love i had for my Fiance now, is stronger because I realized that I cared and loved him more then the other. I cared a lot for the man I was with and possibly even loved him but it was a different kind of love then the love I have for my Fiance." she said thinking back on when she was with Peter. She still cared for him and she still loved him but not the way she loved Tony.

"I am sure that what your going through will make you stronger it will over time. I am glad you will show them all. It's hard to control that power sometimes because you slip into people's minds by accident and start answering their thoughts when they are not talking. I will see what i can do for him." she said smiling kindly.

[Amanda Hopkins]

The question caught Amanda a bit off guard. Of course, at one point, she had considered having a child with Lloyd. And one day, she would like to have children with whosoever she ended up with. "Yes," she admitted after giving it some thought, "My ex and I almost considered it. Probably a good thing we never went through with it, considering," she said with a shrug, "I suppose one day I'd like to," she smiled at her dog as she listened to Nerefon speak. She supposed that she was right in many ways. Of course, she realized her dog and cat were not humans by any means of the word. But they were still so dependent on her. "I would have to say that I agree. My two are definitely like family. Do you think you'll ever have more?" she asked, "Kids, I mean, not animals," she added with a light chuckle.

Amanda looked at Nerefon solemnly when she mentioned that the two had been abused. She herself couldn't imagine what that was like, but her own ex had and she knew the toll it often took on people. It changed them. Whether for better or for worse was up to the individual. "It's good that she loves people," Amanda said with a smile, "And good that they're breaking the cycle," she added, "It sounds like the two of them are really good for one another,"

Amanda had her eyes on Nerefon as she spoke, listening to each word. Her dog pulled gently on the leash, sniffing at another dog as he walked past. "It's good that it strengthened your relationship," she said with a bit of a solemn smile on her face, "Most people can't say the same. I don't even know him, but, I'm rooting for the two of you. It sounds like you've been through a lot," Amanda nodded at her next words, "I sure hope that it does," She glanced at Nerefon again, wondering what it would be like to be able to slip into people's minds. She wasn't sure she could handle it, "It sounds hard. I mean, there are some things that I think you just wouldn't want to hear."

[Deleted]

Nerefon looked back down at the now sleeping child in her arms and watched him with a small grin on her face when he yawned and she couldn't help but adore him as much as she already did. He was so spoiled and she hardly ever talked about his biological father though she just had everyone believe that Tony was his father though Sirius was pure blood and not half blood, he was just like his half brother Airous who was also pure blood.

"I guess. It is always better that way since then you don't have to cart the child around to go back and forth between homes to visit the child's father and it would be harder on you knowing he is with someone else and...all. Eventually but don't rush it. Sirius was never planned but I am happy to have a son, he is precious to me. I have a cat and a pure husky puppy and they are like family to me too." she said chuckling a little.

"Well kids are animals in a way, getting dirty all the time. But yes, not yet though but yes I do plan on having more children." she said looking at Amanda with a grin.

"I hate what their father's did to them. Though I have always thought that Airous's father would change. He has a good heart but he just needs to stop drinking, that's what his problem is. I have tried to help him change and even though he has two boys now, I hope he changes for the youngest and newest one in the family." she said though forgetting that she had been trying to keep the fact Sirius's father was Airous's father too.

"Yes and both had agreed that the only way that their parents would see the child would be if both were there or they wouldn't see them at all. Yes, they love her very much and that they have been showing her all the love they can give her and she has tons of people to love her too. You should see them, they are perfect for each other." she said.

"It has. We had many problems but we worked through them. The recent problem we had was over Sirius. Thanks You will have to come meet him some time. He also is a people person but also busy with working at the school but yeah. It can be hard but it comes in handy when you are finding out who is lying, who is trying to harm you and so on." she said and looked back at Sirius.

[Amanda Hopkins]

Amanda nodded at Nerefon's words. Of course, that was only part of the reason. She wasn't sure she could handle having a Doom child (pun intended). She often felt certain there would be far too much pressure in it. "I couldn't imagine," she replied, head bowed slightly, "I mean, a lot of people come from such homes and turn out great. I just, don't know if I could handle doing it. That and... I don't know if I would trust his brother around a child. It just wouldn't be a suitable environment," she said, nodding again as Nerefon continued to speak. "I don't think I'd want to rush it," she confessed, "I mean, if I had rushed it with Lloyd... I don't think that would have ended too well," she smiled at the mention of her pets, "I have a cat, too. An old, lazy Persian. Mostly just sits around my house staring at me," she laughed.

Amanda giggled at Nerefon's next words. She supposed that in many ways, she had a point. It was, still, a unique comparison. "I suppose you're right," she said, "Do you know how many you'd like? I think two will be a good number for me. Not too many, but one will always have the other so they won't get lonely," she said. Amanda frowned when Nerefon spoke of Airous' father. "Drinking does a lot to a person," she said, thinking of Jon as she spoke the words, "It changes them. Never for the better, even if they're not angry drunks," she let out a sigh as she caught the end of the thought, "Two?" She asked.

"That sounds like the safest way to do it," she said in reply to their agreement. "Maybe I'll meet them one day," she added, "I think that's the best way to do it. Work them out rather than ignore them. My ex and I generally ignored them. And, well, look where that got us," she chuckled nervously, "That's true. I imagine it would be hard to trick you."

[Deleted]

"It ends up hard on the child but they learn to deal with it but that doesn't mean that it is any less hard on them. They do end up to be great people but it's still a little difficult to live like that. I don't think I could either, it's not only work but it takes a toll on a person too. I agree with that." she said.

"That's good. Children are hard enough in themselves to really deal with so there is no rush. True, I guess it wouldn't and it would be worse I guess. Really? Cat's are fascinating, they don't make any sense sometimes and they end up being creepy cause they stare at you." she said with a slight laugh.

"Oh, two or three would be enough for me. I wouldn't want more then that since it would be a lot to deal with but that's why after Sirius was born I was willing to wait for a while before having another kids. Two is a good number, one isn't lonely because they have the other but they end up having epic fights too." she said.

"Drinking does change a person a lot and it isn't in the good way. At least not for Airous's father who was way to hard on him and ended up not treating him fair. Airous's father is an angry drunk, not the best mix. Two yes. Airous has a half brother but it was a major shock when he found out and he wasn't happy about it." she said thinking of Peter.

"You probably Will though I am surprised that you haven't yet with all the times they have been in the hospital in the past year especially when Willow was born too. We have though sometimes we both are so angry that we have to walk away but we make up for the fights some how. It is and it comes in handy too." she said smiling.

[Amanda Hopkins]

"Yeah," Amanda said quietly, "I suppose they do learn to deal with it. But it would just be so hard," she added, "I think it would take a toll on both child and parent. I could not imagine being separated from my child for more than a day if I had one. Of course, you'd have to get used to it. I suppose that when they're teenagers, they do their own thing more often than not. Nevertheless, it would be hard when they're young. And besides, knowing the Doom's, they probably would have fought me tooth and nail for custody," she added bitterly.

"Yes," she agreed, "I'd like to be absolutely sure I'm ready first. Though, if it happens, it happens," she added with a smile, "Cats really are fascinating," she agreed, "My exes brother hated my cat. I was always afraid to even have her there," she said with a brief shudder. Oh, how she'd grown to hate that man. Ironic, considering. "She definitely can be creepy. Sometimes, I wonder if that's why he hates cats,"

Amanda nodded. More than just two would be too much for her. "I didn't think of it that way," she said in regards to the fighting, "I suppose most siblings, once they reach a certain age, stop the fighting, though," she thought about the Doom siblings and frowned deeply, "With some exceptions. Like my exes family," she added with a quick eye roll, "My parents had four, including me. It always seemed they were under a lot of stress. Granted, they loved us all. I just don't know if I could, personally, do it,"

Amanda nodded again at the mention of drinking. She had a solemn expression on her face when Nerefon told her that the man was an angry drunk. She couldn't even begin to imagine what that was like. "I imagine it would never be a good mix," she said softly, "I may have seen them once or twice," she said, pondering the thought, "but I don't believe I was ever one of their healers. It's good that you make up for the fights," she said.

[Deleted]

"They do. I just wouldn't be able to live without being in my child's life and I wouldn't want to be away from him. I believe that a child should have both parents together and have a healthy home to live in where both the father and the mother are together rather then separated. I don't ever want to be separate from Sirius at all. Probably but I don't know them that much actually." she said and felt Sirius's hand grip her index finger and she looked down adoringly at him.

"I can tell you that you never want to rush in having children until your absalutely sure you are ready. I was never ready but then again who really ever is but I don't think that anytime after I had Sirius would I have been ready. Yes cats are but they are super mysterious. Ironic isn't it though that they can love and hate people I bet it is." she said calmly.

"Yeah, the probably would grow out of it and all but it only brings them closer and that's what matters. I don't think I would want another kid right away since I want Sirius to be out of Diapers first before having another one. Yes some exceptions since they always do seem to have fights now and then as they grow. I was the only child so I don't know." she said frowning wishing she had a brother or sister.

"Nope. I have seen good in him and thats what I have fallen for with him, the goodness I had seen in him and during the time I was with Peter, trying to help him, Tony and I were no longer together and Well...Sirius is not my Fiance's child. He will raise the child as his own but it upsets him that it isn't his. We do but it's hard sometimes." she whispered the last bit.

[Amanda Hopkins]

Amanda nodded her agreement, reaching down briefly to give her Papillon a quick scratch between the ears. She thought about Lloyd and how he'd been raised by his brother rather than either of his parents. Nerefon was right. Children needed healthy homes. Whether that meant one parent or two was subjective, but everyone could agree that healthy homes were ideal. "I think you're right," she said, "I don't think it would be healthy for either the parents or the children. I think about having a child, and then I imagine not being able to see him every day... I don't even have a child and the thought is scary," she said, eyes on Sirius as she spoke.

She nodded again, agreement clear on her face, "I definitely won't be rushing," she said, "Though, you're right, even those who plan it are never truly ready," she grinned and said, "I bet it is, too. Funny the expressions cats can give us. As though they're wondering who we think we are, keeping them in houses," she laughed lightly as she listened to Nerefon's next words.

"It does bring most siblings closer," she said, thinking of her own brothers with a smile. The smile faded slightly when she thought of her eldest brother, currently in Azkaban. He was the only exception in her family. "That is what matters, though," she said, voice trailing slightly, "I think out of diapers will be best. Can't imagine having two in diapers at the same time," she laughed, "What's it like as an only child?"

She listened as Nerefon confided in her, nodding gently at the words. "Most people have good in them somewhere," she said. Then, Marcus crossed her mind and she repeated the word "Most," with more emphasis, "It's good that he's raising Sirius as his own. It says a lot about his character. You guys were separated, after all," she said, thinking about what she herself had done. Her and Lloyd had been as good as separated, too.

[Deleted]

"It can be scary and not being able to see him all the time frightens me a lot and it becomes harder because I know I have to go back to work but I always want to be near him and always make sure that he knows I am there for him. Though thats why I will always make sure to have someone who he knows watch him when I can't like his half brother and his wife who absolutely love him and would do anything for him they are also godparents to him. It isn't healthy for anyone." she said.

"That's good, no one wants to rush through this kind of thing and becoming a parent right away, it becomes a lot more difficult to deal with a child who constantly needs you and counts on you to know everything. Yes, it's true though I believe many don't really understand what they are getting themselves into. Yes, it is. I think they are conspiring against us half the time." she said with a soft laugh.

"Sometimes its probably best that most don't get along and don't ever see each other after school but only on occasion when they run into each other.True then they can help with the younger sibling when the other child comes in to the world for kids are curious and always want to be involved in everything your doing. I think that would be dreadful but then again sometimes it's nice to get it out of the way." she said with a smile.

she thought before answering the question for it was difficult for her since living with her uncle who never truly loved her and always somehow brought her down in things and it never helped her. She was glad she didn't have to worry about dealing with him for he no longer was a part of her life for he had disowned her as his heir.

"It was nice for a while till my parents died and I had to live with my uncle who had always hated me and always brought me down. An older sibling would have been nice but then again I never had to deal with the fights of siblings but it would have been nice to have an older sibling to protect me when I was living with my uncle." she said honestly.

"I hop so but it's so hard to find and make others believe that they have it though they believe they don't. Most don't I agree with that but when you can read their thoughts and memories you know what is inside them in many ways. Tony is a good person, he just is a little to hard on himself and blames himself a lot of the time and he wants to make up for it by helping though he does love Sirius as his own and would do anything for him. Yes that's true. I know but I still feel guilty." she said thinking of how in love with Sirius Tony was and how good he was with him.

[Amanda Hopkins]

Amanda nodded in slight understanding. Of course, she couldn't understand completely, having never had a child of her own. But she imagined that every second without one's child felt like hours. "It's good that you have people who are close to you - and, just as importantly - him that are willing to watch him for you when you can't," she said, smiling, "I think having such a large group of people to help with a child is important. My friend, Jonathan, always quotes this old Muggle saying. It takes a village to raise a child," she said.

"Oh no," Amanda agreed, grinning, "It's definitely not something that should be rushed. That auror I told you I know... I think he rushed into it. He certainly seems to be feeling the stress of it. It is something you should consider. Not everyone is prepared emotionally or mentally, even if they are prepared financially," She heard Nerefon's words and thought about it. She thought about how her cat would often just stare at her for several minutes, as though she owned the home. Then, she laughed, "I think I'm inclined to agree," she said.

"That's true," Amanda said, thinking about it, "My parents always told me how my eldest brothers helped a lot with me. Even changing diapers. It's amazing how helpful kids can be sometimes," she said with a smile, "They really are curious," She listened to the other speak, face softening at the mention of her parents dying, "I'm sorry," she said sympathetically. Then said, "The fighting can be tough. My brothers were always protective over me. Wouldn't even let me date. They'd chase my boyfriends away. But, despite that, I did love them. Your uncle sounds like a real jerk."

She nodded, "It can be exceptionally hard to find good in some people," she said solemnly, "There's one person whose mind I would be curious to read," she confessed, thinking of Marcus as she spoke the words, "Though, I think it would be dangerous territory," she added, "Tony sounds like a pretty good guy. It's good that he loves Sirius as his own."

[Deleted]

"It is yes, Selene, Eclipse and Hecate are all willing to watch him when I have to do things and would take time away from spending time with him. It is important cause then those who spend time and are your loved ones will always find ways to help support you and the child. It does take a whole village to raise a child but in the end it is worth it." Nerefon said and nodded in agreement.

"That is true, it takes time and effort and love to do that kind of thing and wen you feel your ready then try. That's horrible, its not as easy as it looks and it does get stressful. That is very true. Cats are amazing creatures." she said smiling and laughed a little and watched Sirius turn in her arms.

"Well thats good that he helped when you were younger and it is amazing how helpful kids can be when they want to be but the jealousy is horrible. They are curious and that's what gets them into trouble sometimes but you got to let them have a little time or room to explore. Thanks, It is sometimes sad but I don't think about them much any more. I wish I had someone to protect me when growing up I bet that was horrible but thats good you love them anyway. He is a real jerk." she said.

"Yes I would have to agree on that. Sometimes you really don't want to read those people's minds they are dangerous. Thanks, he is though a person that is hard on people a lot but he has a good heart." she said smiling and knew that Tony was the right guy.

[Amanda Hopkins]

"That's good," she said with a smile, "Not that you have to spend time away from him sometimes. That has to stink. But it's good that he has others that are there for him," she rambled, "I think a lot of parents would say it's worth it in the end. And the more help they have raising the child, the better I'd imagine," she thought aloud. Though, she wasn't entirely sure. One couldn't be entirely sure until they had children of their own, she supposed.

Amanda nodded her agreement, "It takes a lot of time and effort. And definitely love, too. I couldn't imagine making such a commitment with someone I didn't love," she added, thinking of her ex once more. "I think a lot of people go into it expecting it to be easy. And then become depressed, even withdrawn when they find out it isn't," she said sadly, Jacoby on her mind as she spoke the words. "They really are amazing creatures," Amanda agreed.

"It was," she replied, smiling, "The jealousy can get terrible. My ex and his siblings were full of jealousy," she admitted, "It tore them apart so badly. I don't think anything can repair that family. Not that the eldest would let it be repaired. Between you and me, I think the other two brothers would be better off if the eldest just... wasn't even around," she said. "I'm sure you have people to protect you now," Amanda said, "And that means something." She nodded, "I think I'd be terrified to see what goes on in his mind."

[Deleted]

“Yeah it can be sometimes but yes I know but it is good to have people who care and would take him if I have something going on that I won’t be able to take him with me. It does in many ways stink but then again you can’t get everything you want I do agree that he has a family that adores him to death and many would say it was worth it in the end and it is worth it. I do agree that the more people to help the better cause the child will learn who he can count on in the family.” She said and smiled at the thought that Sirius had people who would love him and would grow up with him and he had playmates to have to count on as well who would end up like siblings to him.

“Yes it does. It takes a lot but then everything does if you love the person enough and would put in the time and effort to show them that you care enough to be with them. Yes, it becomes harder to make that commitment if you didn’t love them. They don’t realize how hard it is until they get to those points and it isn’t easy, it is hard and you have to take the good with the bad and its give and take. Yes they are amazing, I am an animagus and I become a cat.” She said smiling slightly.

“Jealousy can get really bad. That must have been hard on you to see the family go down like that. That’s bad that it tore them apart so badly that nothing seems to be able to repair the damage that is done to them. Well sometimes that is what is needed. I do have people now but it is nice now. That’s why I don’t like going into people’s minds very much because it exposes to much on a person.” She said and thought of Tony when he got jealous when he found out she was dating Peter.

“When I was with Peter for the time, Sirius’s father, Tony got extremely jealous that he had actually tried to kill him when he found out. He didn’t like the fact that I was with Peter and he was extremely pissed about it.” She said explaining.

[Amanda Hopkins]

Amanda chuckled lightly at her comment about not being able to get everything you wanted. Her eyes were on her dog as she replied, "Isn't that the truth?" she said lightly, still chuckling a bit, "You never know what's going to happen, though, so it's always good to have a support chain. Especially when children are in the picture. I think a lot of parents don't think about that kind of thing. Which can be dangerous. At the very least, children should have godparents," she said thoughtfully. Then she smiled, "That's my friend, Jon's, sentiments. Of course, he doesn't have a very decent family. So, he kind of... made his own, you might say," she added.

"You're right," Amanda agreed with a smile as her dog jumped against her leg, "It's always better to make such a commitment with someone you love. And it really is give and take. From what I've seen of my friends with children, the good times usually outweigh the bad in the end. For all the times they've wanted to pull their hair out," she added with a light laugh, "They still love their children. I can't help but think, though, that it would be less stressful for someone who was absolutely, positively, in love with the other parent," she smiled at the thought of being an animagus. It was a branch of magic she'd never really practiced. "Really? I only know of one other animagus. He becomes a dog. I think a cat is cooler, though,"

She sighed, the three brothers on her mind. Sometimes she felt like she wanted to smack Marcus upside the back of his head. But she was convinced that nothing would change him. People like him didn't change as far as she knew. "It was hard," she said, "I think it was hardest on the two younger brothers. One of them would always try his best to be a part of the family. But he was kind of shunned. For being different. For marrying a Muggle. And the rivalry, it all stemmed from money from what I've gathered. Jealous over who would get what," she said with a slight shrug, "I'm glad my brothers and I never had such problems growing up. Nor now, for the most part," She nodded at Nerefon's next words, "There are some things, I think, that are better off not known. Tried to kill him?" she asked, "I guess I understand him being upset."

[Deleted]

“Yes that is true. When children are in the picture it’s a little more difficult but it becomes better in many ways though children aren’t always the answer to everything but it is helpful to have people. Not many people do think about that kind of thing actually which is actually very dangerous too it’s a good thing that Sirius does, it’s Selene and Airous. I know how that goes, many need to make their own family sometimes in order to actually have one many don’t have families.” She said nodding and watched as Sirius’s eyebrow color changed from bright orange to deep blue.

Yes, it is better that way. That is true that it is like that too but with many sometimes depending it can always be the bad that out weighs the good sometimes. That too but I think, now with Sirius, he was worth it even though sometimes I would say I wasn’t prepared or totally secure with him before I was happy I carried him because I love him. That’s true. It’s a good bit it is cool to be able to turn into an animal but sometimes it’s a little scary too.” She said thinking of the various people who could and possibly could get killed from it.

“I bet it was hard on them. That must be hard trying to fit in where the other was shunned for being different. It seemed like they were like the black sheep of the family just trying to be what others wanted them to be but one gave up and became what he wanted to be in many different ways. That is sad though that they would fight over that. That’s nice that you guys, you and your brothers, aren’t like that, you should have seen Selene and her brothers fighting all the time, that’s what I heard anyway. That too, not knowing a few things are always better though.” She said and nodded in agreement.

“Yes he tried, he was very upset when he found out and he really didn’t want to talk to me much but after he understood he forgave me for it but he was unhappy with Peter for it too.” She said and smiled.