Knowing

Fleamont Potter was a man of many titles. He was a master potion brewer, an executive partner in the ministry, a Gryffindor from a long line of wizards, and a pureblood. To him though, not one of those titles mattered. Not one. The only one he cared about was ‘Father’. 

He had that special title given to him a little over four years ago. The best part about this title was that it was given to him by his miracle baby. He was older than most fathers, but he did not care. James was a living miracle. He and Euphemia had tried for many years, but even though he loved his wife with all of his heart, it was not enough. They spent their thirty’s and forty’s and even early fifty’s trying so hard to be blessed. Euphemia was meant to be a mother. She was so kind and had so much love and it broke Fleamonts heart every time the potion came back negative. 

Fleamont spent his entire adult life making potions to better the wizarding world, but every time that pregnancy potion turned negative, he hated every potion he ever made. 

Then, four years ago, a miracle was born. His baby James. His son with soft dark skin and adorable messy hair and the cutest pair of glasses that had a band wrapped around his tiny head so they don’t fall off. 

He loves James. James has been his entire world for four years and Fleamont can’t believe he was ever happy in a world James was not in. James is his miracle baby. James called him ‘Dada’ and ‘Daddy’ and no matter what his coworkers think he still has the energy to chase his baby around and play games despite his young age of sixty two. 

And as much as he loved James Fleamont Potter, that baby boy was the exact reason he felt like his heart was shattering into a million pieces. 

Orion Black had come into his office that morning. Orion Black was very much like the rest of his family, but he wasn’t as cruel or as loud. He may have his believes, but he normally keeps them to himself unlike the rest of that.. house. He didn’t actively curse muggleborns or halfblooded, but one could tell he saw himself above them. Fleamont would never invite him over or go to any of their balls that he rarely gets invited to, but Orion is not that awful of a coworker whenever he shows up to the ministry. 

Orion black was angry that morning. One of his workers many levels below the two of them did the ‘right and noble’ thing by insulting a werewolf. Orion raved on and on about how impure werewolves are and how they taint any magic they even possess or something along those lines. Fleamont stopped listing very early into the ‘I hate werewolves’ lecture. 

That is, until he heard this

“Last night that monster of a human went and bit the Lupin boy. I almost feel bad for the half-breed. How could you show your face knowing your son is now a monster?” 

That got Fleamonts attention. 

“Lyalls son was attacked?” Fleamonts voice was laced with worry and concern, but Orion didn’t seem to notice. Fleamont wasn’t sure if Orion ever even felt those emotions before.

“Indeed. That vial creature bit the boy on his neck and everything.” 

Vial was indeed. Biting a child? To get back at the father? That was disgusting to Fleamont. This werewolf was an adult and he attacked a child. Fleamont felt sick. 

“And the boy… he’s so young…” Fleamont couldn’t form any other words anymore. He just felt ill. 

“He the same age as our boys. I’ve never seen Walburga so worried. We added every protection charm we could think of to our house. Just in case they come after one of us next.” 

‘One of us’, Fleamont knew, meant pureblood. But that wasn’t what Fleamont was thinking about. 

“How is Lyall?” Fleamont doesn’t know why he asks because any man in this situation would be utterly distraught. 

Orion shrugged, “I’m not sure. I gave him the week off to sort this… mess.” 

Later, once Orion had left to go merlin knows where, Fleamont searched employee records to get more information on the Lupin boy. 

His name is Remus. 

He is only seventeen days older than James. 

And now he is a werewolf. 

Fleamont never met Lyall Lupin, but he was one of the people who hired the man. Lyall was a Ravenclaw, many years younger than Fleamont. Fleamont was the last person who looked at Lyall’s resumé. He was an outstanding student, a shoe-in for a good job. He was paid to live comfortably, but certainly not enough to pay for a personal healer for his son. 

Fleamont couldn’t do much about that, which was the most infuriating part. Lyall didn’t work directly under him so he couldn’t just give the man a raise. This world was going to be so cruel to this boy and he’s barely even been in it. 

Fleamont had to do something. He had to talk to his love. He needed to talk Euphemia. 

-

True to Orion’s word, Lyall Lupin was given a week off. Fleamont waited very patiently and respectfully before going to speak to him. This meant that he waited forty minutes after finding out Lyall had returned. 

He knocked on the door to Lyalls office. His office was a few (many) floors lower than Fleamonts office. His office was also a lot smaller than Fleamont’s. 

“Come in.” A voice he suspected was Lyall’s answered. 

Fleamont walked in. 

Lyall Lupin looked exactly like one would imagine. He was standing by his desk as if he had never seen it before. His hair was everywhere, his eye-bags were large and dark, his clothes looked thrown on, and his eyes looked crazed. Fleamont tried to give the man a comforting smile. 

Fleamont closed the door. 

“My name is Fleamont Potter.” Fleamont practiced this multiple times, but now looking at the broken man in front of him, all he could see was baby James being bitten like young Remus was. 

“I’m aware.” Lyall stared at him blankly. Fleamont deserved that. 

“I have a son, he’s barely younger than your own. When I heard of what happened to your boy, to Remus… I am so sorry to you and your wife.” Fleamont watched as the man in front of him went through every emotion. Guilt, sadness, anger, worry. 

“I’m sure the entire world knows by now.” Lyall scoffed. Fleamont didn’t know he is was about to have a mental breakdown or not. 

“Only a select few know the truth. I made sure of it. Many know your house was attacked, very few know about your son.” Fleamont made sure not to mention that the very few in the know were himself and the Black family. “You won’t have to register him.” 

Lyall looked at him like he was crazy. Like Lyall never expected anyone to ever say that to him. 

“Why… you don’t know me, you don’t owe me anything, why would you help me?” 

It was a fair question. Fleamont knew the stereotypes on him for being a rich pureblood so high up in the ministry chain. He barely even remembered Lupin until Orion mentioned him. And maybe he wouldn’t have helped if he didn’t have James. Maybe he and Euphemia would have talked about how sad it was but then carried on with their lives. But for the past week every time Fleamont looked at baby James, he saw little Remus Lupin with a bite mark on his neck and half the resources James has. 

“My son is seventeen days younger than yours. I searched up your son’s birthday in your records, I hope that’s ok. My son is my entire life. He is the light of my life and my miracle baby. I could never imagine what you and your wife must be going through, but I couldn’t just stand and watch.”

Lyall sat at his desk. He put his head in his hands and sighs. He needs a minute, so Fleamont gives him all the time he needs. Once it seems that Lyall will not fall apart completely, Fleamont keeps talking. 

“My wife was a healer for over thirty years. She recently retired, but she is more than willing to go wherever you need once a month to treat your son.” 

“I can’t afford some fancy personal healer, we-“ 

“There is no charge. We would never accept any payment you would try to give. Your son is going to live a very hard life, we both know that. My wife and I wish to help make his life easier. We can afford any treatment he may need, and my wife is the greatest healer I have ever met. We can set up floo connections and neither of us will ever tell a soul. Please… just let us help your family.” Fleamont was not one to beg. He was a very talented and respected man. He worked for his job and his life and he was very proud of everything he accomplished. He did not know Lyall Lupin, this man owed him nothing. So here he was, begging. 

Lyall looked at him with tears in his eyes. 

“You would really do that?” It almost broke Fleamonts heart. 

“Without hesitation.”