Forget Me Not

The little white room was too large, which was funny because it was an objectively tiny room. But to Maggie it was too big, there was enough room for a whole family like the one she saw in the hallway. Maggie cringed, she was still upset when thinking about that happy perfect family. She cried for what felt like hours after running into them in the hallway. Why did she have to sneak out on that stupid camping trip, then she wouldn't be in this whole mess. 

Madam Blassen walked in to her crying, “Nothing to cry about dear”

Maggie sniffled and started to cry again. Madam Blassen placed a hand on her shoulder. “There are some folks who want to meet you”

That’s different. It was the night after a moon, she was never allowed to see anyone after a moon. But it didn’t matter, because they would turn her down again and couldn’t do that, not today. 

“Don’t want to, they won’t want me”

“Chin up dear, I have a feeling this time will be different.” Maggie doubted that but, if only to please the healer she agred. She was in no mood to fight anymore.

“Wash your face I’ll go get them alright”

Maggie dragged herself out of bed to the bathroom. She still didn’t have a mirror, but she could still brush her hair without one. Her face was extremely puffy so she splashed some cold water on it, it didn’t work. She put on long sleeves to hide the scars, determined to try this time, it was the only way. 

Madam Blassen knocked this time, and Maggie reluctantly opened the door.  She was surprised to see not only two men, but the same man who knocked earlier. He looked much less flustered this time and smiled down at her. 

The other man had an ugly cane, and leaned on the first one for support. He smelled so nice and familiar she couldn’t help but think home, home, home. 

“Margaret, this is Sirius Black and Remus Lupin, say hello”

Remus. That was the name of the man Madam Blassen left to go check on, it explains the cane at least. 

“Hello Margaret”, Serious (?) said, he stuck out his hand, never letting go of the other man, “mind if we come in” 

“It’s Maggie”

“Sorry Maggie, I’m Sirius, like the star” he put his hand back down

“You can come in”

The two men walked into her little room and sat down in the chairs by her bed. Once they sat down Remus extended his hand to Maggie as well.

“Hello Maggie, I’m Remus. I apologies for not introducing myself earlier but I’m not in the right shape to bend down right now”

Maggie shook Remus’s hand and felt rough raised skin and dropped it in surprise, then she  looked at his face properly and gasped. 

He had scars. 

“How do you know about me”

“I’m pretty clever”

“Why are you here”

“I was told you’re in need of a guardian”

This had to be a joke. He wanted to take her home away from the hospital. He knew what she was already, he still wanted her.

“I’m dangerous ya know” 

“No more than I am”

Then it hit her, Remus was a werewolf. 

Maggie thought for a little bit. She was told werewolves were monsters and the dregs of society, that it would be hard for someone to want to live with her. But Remus was nice, his clothes weren’t shabby and he looked overall healthy, except for the cane. But why was Sirius there? He was still holding onto Remus, was she just going to another cage?

“Will he be coming with us”, she nodded towards Sirius. 

Sirius gasped dramatically. weird.

“Of course Sirius will be there too, is that alright, though there isn’t much I can do if it’s not” He was very calm. Maybe he was still tired from last night. She was always told that children have more energy than adults.

“Yes”, she answered, “but why”

Sirius and Remus laughed. Is the question really that funny? Was there some rule about werewolves not allowed to be alone that she didn’t know about?

“He’s my husband”

Oh. It explains why they haven’t let go, why Sirius was so frantic earlier, why Sirius isn’t scared of her. Even re-examining them, all the touches are full of care and tenderness, not how a bodyguard would handle his charge.

But it was still so unexpected . Matron would be livid if she knew Maggie ended up with two queer men, but she didn’t mind that part. The shocking part was that he was married as a werewolf. No one wanted her, a ten year old child. How did Remus end up finding a husband who stuck by his side

“Does he know?”

“He does”

Maggie sat with the couple for an hour before Madam Blassen chased them out. Remus was witty and sarcastic, Sirius was the most dramatic man she has ever met, but she liked them. They didn’t look at her like a beast like everyone else did, they didn’t give her looks filled with pity, they just wanted to know her. She told them about the orphanage and her time in St. Mungos, they told her she was magic.

Maggie knew she was a magical creature, but not that she was a real witch. No one bothered to explain that part to her, but she was ecstatic at the news. Five months ago she cried when someone called her a witch, today she was happy. 

She was happy throughout dinner, she was happy when Madam Blassen forced her to go to bed, she was happy as she closed her eyes to go off to sleep. For the first time in nine years, Margaret Iris Brenton had a chance for a family, she would not screw it up.

***

Remus was happy to be home, actually he was happy to be anywhere that wasn’t a hospital. The place was too tidy, too clean, too distant from the world. It was nothing like their cottage. The cottage with sagging bookshelves filled with muggle books and vinyls, their cozy bedroom, their shared bed.

Sirius was equally happy to have Remus home. He pulled them into the bedroom as soon as they got home, wrapped his arms around Remus and did not let go until they were sleeping, which didn’t take long. He was still tired from the moon, and Sirius was warm and strong and beautiful and Remus was just in love with him, with all of him.

Remus and Sirius made plans to visit Maggie again. She was a sweet girl once you broke past her tough shell, and he could tell she just wanted a family. When Madam Blassen chased the two out, the poor girl only settled down when they promised to visit again.

And they did. They visited every day for a week straight. They answered all of Maggie's questions and brought her sweets and told her stories. At the end of the week, Madam Blassen agreed that they would be a good fit for Maggie, and the next step is the Ministry.

Sirius and Remus poured over the books and,thankfully, did not find anything preventing a child with lycanthropy from getting adopted. The problem was Remus.

“We knew this wouldn’t work, you will have to be named the sole guardian, it’s the only way”

Sirius slammed the book on the table, “it’s rubbish, you should have a say in what happens to her, you’re the one who can help her the most”

Remus couldn’t help but agree. He was angry he wouldn’t have any legal say with Maggie, he was angry he wasn’t legally married, he was angry his life revolved around the moon.

But he had been angry his whole life. First  was angry at greyback for biting him, then he was angry at his da for pissing off greyback, he was angry at the ministry for making it impossible to live, he was angry at everyone who stared at him weirdly and treated him differently. 

At some point being angry became exhausting. After a while Remus made peace with it all. Sure he still hated it, but he accepted that it was out of his control. It’s a little helpless, but it took a huge burden off of him. 

Because Sirius loves him, James and Lily love him, Harry loves him, Marleen, Mary, Dorcas, and Peter all love him. It’s time he shares a piece of that love with someone else who needs it, even if he has to be pushed aside a bit. 

“I would still have a say, unless you plan on abandoning me” Remus laughed, hoping to ease the tension.

“Never”, Sirius was firm, as if the idea of him leaving was illegal

“Than what’s the issue”

“It’s just unfair”. Classic Sirius Black, always quick to conclusions and dramatics, always ready to defend someone.

Remus sighed, “my life hasn’t always been fair”

“No it hasn’t”, Sirius whispered to himself, sounding so sad it pierced Remus’s heart. Remus cupped his hands around Sirius’s face, bringing their faces together so close it could be seen as cruel. 

“I love you pads, I love you so bloody much, and we are going to bring Maggie home. You hear me?” Sirius nodded and Remus continued, “but I need you to understand that it may seem unfair, but I’ll still be here. I’m left out in name only”

Sirius sniffled and wiped his eyes, nails with fresh black paint, “but you won’t be her legal father, you deserve to be”

Remus smiled, “am I or am I not your husband?”

“Course you are”

“Exactly I don’t care what the bloody ministry says, your my husband, and I will still be Maggie’s father”

Sirius reached over and placed his hands all over Remus. Those strong magical fingers buzzed all over his scars

“Your so beautiful moony” Sirius whispered in between kisses , “so bloody beautiful”

“Pads, we have to go to the ministry”

“They can wait”, Sirius was at his neck tracing around the delicate stars that lined his scars.

 “I don't think they like to be kept waiting”, but Remus was already betraying himself, his hands wrapped in perfect black hair, a gasp escaping his mouth as Sirius' mouth works its way across every inch of his body. “They can wait”, Remus whispered.

***

“Do you have all your possessions”, Madam Blassen asked. Maggie had emptied out the whole room, taking every nicknack and garment she picked up during her hospitalization. 

Sirius and Remus came by yesterday to tell her the news, they were given temporary guardianship of Maggie. Maggie tried to remind herself that it could end, they could give her back. She couldn’t get her hopes up, not yet.

“Mr Black is from a very respectable family, you are a lucky little girl”

Maggie stared at the floor and nodded. Sirius didn’t seem all that different from any other wizards that she met (though she’s only met a dozen), but Madam Blassen praised him and the ‘Noble House of Black’ ever since she was introduced. 

“You have a bright future ahead of you, your mother would be proud”

Maggie locked up, “you knew my mum?”

Madam Blassen knelt down to her level and fixed Maggie’s hair, “I did. She was training to be a healer before she passed, I only knew her briefly, but I know she was very proud of you, even if you were just an infant, she’d be happy you have someone to look after you”

Maggie gave Madam Blassen a hug and whispered, “I’ll be alright”. It was half a question, half to assure the other witch.

Madam Blassen gave her a brief hug back before she stood up and took Maggie to the lobby where she was instructed to stay seated until Sirius and Remus arrived. Maggie felt like she spent the whole time holding her breath. What if they backed out? What if they decided she wasn’t worth it? What if, what if, what if?

When the two men arrived Maggie could finally breathe again. Remus was no longer using a cane but he still held onto Sirius for support. They were laughing about something and Sirius’s barking laugh echoed through the waiting room. 

Maggie got out of her seat and started to fidget with her fingers. This is it, she’s free. She’s leaving St Mungos to go to a real family, it’s all a moment away.

“Mags!” Sirius called. She laughed, the idea that he gave a nickname for her nickname was absurd. The two did their signature handshake, something Maggie taught him about. The man was clueless when it came to muggles. Remus reached out his hand and the three walked out of St Mungos together.

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