Stars That Align, The Same Ones That Brought Me You
The Lupins were quite happy in their home in Beaumaris, Wales, with little Teddy in tow, with his cousin Harry playing with him as they grew. As time waxed and waned, they adopted two other kids, who didn’t have homes to go to, blood adopting the kids who they were happy to call their own, ending up with three kids and their nephew to raise. Hope, Charlie, Teddy and Harry grew up very close, and were getting quite big. Harry would soon be eleven and going to Hogwarts, Teddy was now six, Hope was three and Charlie was ten. It was a bit of a juggle for them to try and organise things, but Sirius and Remus were doing the best they could.
Right now, Remus Lupin was doing the dishes as he looked out the window, the cubs, their two sons and daughter with their nephew, playing outside with their respective friends. Harry was sticking close with Fred and George Weasley, as well as Ron, Hope and grown good friends with a nice girl called Luna, as well as Ginny, Molly’s youngest. Charlie was also close to the twins, Harry and Ron, but had also made friends with Neville. Teddy’s best friend was Neville, but he was also friends with all his siblings and nephew’s friends. Smiling softly at the sight, being reminded of him and his husband's childhood with one James Potter, Lily Evans, Frank Longbottom, Alice Fawley, Pandora Selwyn, and a few other friends, simpler days.
While he was lost in thought, his husband, wrapped his arms around him gently, resting his head on the lycantrhope's shoulder. He whispered to the werewolf, "Painful, isn't it, Moony? So like me, you and Prongs...and the others, aren’t they?"
Remus turned to peck the tip of that aristocratic nose which wrinkled at the kiss, causing him to chuckle softly before replying, "Adopting those cubs and having little Teddy was one of the best things we ever did. Imagine, being abandonded in an orphanage so young?" he sighed and replied softly, "It's kind of poetic, in a sad way but I agree with you, sweetheart.”
Sirius smiled softly at his husband’s words, “Agreed. People are cold, darling. Good thing we applied to the Ministry for blood adoptions for the both of them. You know I can’t stand the Pureblood nonsense, but it was a way to make him ours properly. Poetic or not, it’s reminding me of the old days, love.”
The werewolf nodded as he checked the pie in the oven before washing more dishes, “I agree. It was the best thing to do, we gained three cubs, as well as our nephew, for it, my sweet star, as nice as it was to have one of our own in Teddy… However sweet he is, I know that you’ve schooled him on pranking, darling. I’ll have to give him a few lessons myself.” he smirked a little at his husband before adding, “Not that I mind, I wasn’t exactly a bystander when it came to mischief.”
Sirius let out a bark of laughter before replying with a nod, “He’s sweet like his papa but knows how to prank like his dad, so do Hope and Charlie, love. Good, because you’re not fooling anyone, Messr. Moony.” he smirked a bit, nodding to the amber eyed man, “I’ll dry?”
Remus kissed his cheek, “Thank you, stardust. Such high praise coming from the prince of mischief himself, Messr. Padfoot.” he replied, playfully teasing his husband.
Charlie ran in from the garden and asked Remus, “Papa, do you know when the cookies we made will be done? Eds, Ron and Harry are playing together and Hope wanted to read.” he explained, knowing fair playing was a rule of his parents.
The werewolf smiled softly at him and cast a Tempus charm before replying, “Ten minutes. Are your friends anxious to try your cooking, cub?”
The dark haired little boy blushed and nodded, spotting his dad and running over to hug him gently, “Hi dad!” Both of them knew that some of their kids preferred one of them over the other, but loved them both dearly. For example, Charlie and Teddy both idolised Sirius for his nurturing but teasing ways, whereas Harry and Hope liked Remus’ soft but stern approach to things.
Sirius picked the ten year old up and hugged him tightly, “Hey kiddo, I’ll bring the cookies out to you growing boys and girls in a few minutes, alright?”
Charlie nodded before Sirius put him back down, running back outside, his dad following him about twenty minutes later with butterbeer and cookies for the boys, as well as Ginny and Hope.
Teddy came up to him asking him if he could show him his tattoos again, marvelling in them and tracing his dad’s tattoos in wonder, asking if they hurt, blinking owlishly when his dad informed him that if they were done for a good enough cause the pain was worth it. It was a known face between him and his husband that everytime Remus got a new scar, Sirius would go and get a tattoo. which the werewolf hadn’t liked at first, but he was fine with it once his husband explained his reasoning.
George laughed happily at something Charlie had said, causing the amber eyed boy to flash the red head a unmistakably familiar crooked grin causing Sirius to smirk a bit to himself because, Charlie was so like his wonderful husband, however much he looked like him, and that crooked grin was what he used to use and still used to this day when flirting with his husband. He hummed in thought at this and went back inside to his husband, “You know, Charlie just used the same smile I use on you when I’m trying to get you to agree with me on something.”
Remus, who was now making dinner, the pie for afterwards, rhubarb and pear, was cooking away as he mashed potatoes with strong, scarred arms, shirt sleeves rolled up. He chuckled softly at his husband, leaning down to kiss his cheek, “How does it feel to have it backfire on you, stardust?” he teased him, eyes sparkling with a little gold.
The shorter man pouted, “It’s bloody weird, moonbeam. He’s so young too! He’s ten.” he told him with a bit of shock in his voice.
“And this is coming from the same man who was once a boy on a train, who I recall, once he saw me, flirted with me. ten isn’t too far from eleven, sweetheart.” the werewolf mused in an amused tone, knowing his husband was nurturing and worried about their children’s safety and such.
Sirius flushed a bit, “You’re not wrong… Fine, I’ll leave it alone.” he sighed, getting the peeler and busying himself by washing, peeling and chopping the carrots for tonight’s dinner as he tried to ignore his husband smirking at him.
The summer days faded into winter and before they knew it, the children were growing like trees. and it was time for Harry and Ron to go to Hogwarts, being helped by his uncles to board the train and get his supplies, he arrived on the train and made friends with a bushy haired girl that he’d never met before, going on to be sorted in Gryffindor after all but begging the Hat not to put him in Slytherin, looking forward to see his uncle in Defense Against the Dark Arts.
The next year after that, Charlie went off to Hogwarts, his parents going with him to the platform, looking forward to having his papa as a teacher, and not shocking anyone by being sorted into Gryffindor after the hat was on his head for about twenty seconds. The grin on his face as he sat down beside Fred and George Weasley made Remus smile from the teacher’s table. Sirius would be staying in Beaumaris, but the two of them had a Floo network set up, as well as their two-way mirrors, and not to mention the mental bond they found, had remained but was nothing to do with Severus’ invention, it was due to something called a werewolf mate bond, in which the wolf could speak mentally to their mate. He would still be going home every night to his husband and two under school age kids, spending his weekends playing with Teddy and Hope, grading papers and being still very much in love with his starry eyed mate.
When it was Teddy’s turn to go Hogwarts, which by the time, Harry was in sixth year and Charlie in fifth, having grow up far too quickly, he ended up getting sorted into Hufflepuff, surprising his parents but was accepted by his family still. The older boys had promised to keep an eye on him.
Sirius had been right too, because Charlie was now dating his best friend George, making his parents’ smile thinking of their early days at the start of their relationship. Luna expressed that she quite liked Teddy, and they had started dating, making his parents laugh when he had a growth spurt that made him around his papa’s height, dwarfing Luna, but he didn’t care, just calling her his ‘pretty moon’. It wouldn’t be Hope’s turn for a while now, but she would go onto be sorted into Gryffindor too, a little spitfire reminding them of Lily, but turned out to be as gay as her dad.
Teddy walked over to his father at lunch, asking him curiously, “Hey papa, could I ask you a question about how dad can turn into a dog?” he had been curious since he was little about that. Now, fifteen with long dark curls with coloured streaks, eyeliner, leather boots, very much his dad’s son.
He smiled at him, “Animagi are wizards or witches that can shapeshift into the form of an animal, which usually takes the for of their patronus. The process of becoming an Animgaus is dangerous, but if done properly, and well researched, it can be done safely.” he replied a bit tiredly, having not slept much yesterday with it having been a full moon.
Teddy grinned cheekily at him as he replied, “Wow, and I got the answer in full teacher mode too, thanks papa.”
Remus smiled, ruffling his already tousled black and currently blue streaked hair, “Careful cub, you might be a big tough teenager, but you’re still my cub.” he warned with a small growl, being playful.
He laughed, spotting the long blonde head of curls he’d been looking for and smiled softly, “Lunes was curious about how it was done, but thanks, papa.” he sheepishly admitted in a quieter tone, messing with a crescent moon necklace.
The werewolf smiled softly at him, “You two are getting quite cosy, cub. i’m glad, she’s very nice.”
The soft but punk rock teen smiled at his papa, “Yeah, she’s really sweet but er, I’ll talk later, yeah?” he smiled, going over to his girlfriend.
Luna smiled at him, grabbing his hand and kissing it gently, “Hello teddybear, the moon necklace looks quite pretty on you.” she commented with a soft hum.
He smiled down at her, “Thanks, love. You look as beautiful as always. What’s that you’ve got, pretty moon?” he asked, looking at her delicate hands.
She giggled, showing him an ornate bronze ring with a chunky moonstone inset in it, “It’s a ring I found in our garden, isn’t it pretty?” she asked, having slipped the ring onto her hand, smiling at him, gently booping his nose.
He laughed when she booped his nose, kissing the tips of her fingers as he usually did, his golden brown eyes sparkling, “It’s even prettier now it’s on you, sweetheart. Come on, let’s go eat. Don’t mind your house, they’re tossers, come sit with me.” he winked, taking her hand.
She giggled, smiling at him brightly, “Thank you, bluebird.” she replied with another soft smile, taking his hand, “Thank you, dear.” she softly spoke, walking away with him.
Harry spotted his cousin and his girlfriend and smiled, frowning when he saw his own boyfriend, he’d known he was bisexual for a while, but it hurt him to see his boyfriend being subjugated into the usual Slytherin melodrama, even if he was the cause of it sometimes. Grey eyes met green as he glared at him, causing the Gryffindor to throw him a cheeky grin, making the blond blush. The new law, thanks to his uncle Remus, was that houses should be allowed to mingle and sit together should they wish to.
So, he got up and walked over to him, they were supposed to be hiding their relationship because Lucius Malfoy was a bastard, but he didn’t exactly scar the bespectacled boy, so he whispered, “Come sit with me?”
Draco blushed a bit but nodded, saying a quiet goodbye to Blaise, shooting daggers at him when he was teased for leaving with Potter, even if Blaise knew full well they were dating. Once seated at the Gryffindor table, Ron groaned, “Mate, why is he sitting with us? I mean, I know you two are a thing, but still.”
Draco sniffed a bit haughtily as he replied, “Weasley, you’ll do well to remember that Harry and I are dating and if he wants me to sit here, I’ll do so.” he sat closer to the shorter bespectacled boy who pulled him tighter to his side with a grin, eating a ham sandwich happily before answering Ron, “Look, mate, he’s my boyfriend, …You have no problem with Lavender sitting next to you.” he pointed out testily, temper flaring a little, still a bit pissed at his friend for not seeing that Hermione was right in front of him, but then again, she didn’t seem interested in Ron anymore, seeming to blush whenever Fred made her laugh.
Charlie was laughing at something his boyfriend had said, playfully punching his shoulder before resting his head on his shoulder, “You’re such a git sometimes, charmer but you’re lucky you’re handsome.” he teased.
When the weekend came, Charlie asked if he could bring his boyfriend home, Harry asking the same thing as it was somewhat of a safe place for Draco to stay while Sirius could speak with his estranged cousin, Narcissa who he was quite fond of and had missed. She had told him that her sister had a daughter who was in the Ministry of Magic as an Auror.
Remus had walked into the room with a tea service for the three of them, knowing they didn’t mind if he stayed with them and read, sometimes conversing with them, he asked, “Would that by any chance be Nymphadora Tonks?” He could remember a young Auror who had been particularly curious about him in Order of the Phoenix meetings, sometimes going as far as to flirt with him, despite him telling her he was happily married.
Sirius paused, bristling a little, “Is that the witch with the magic hair who tried to flirt with you, darling?” he asked, looking a bit annoyed at the memory.
Remus kissed his cheek with a smile, “I’m afraid so, sweetheart but you know where I stand.” he added mentally, “You’re mine, and no one will tear me from you, ever. Especially not some young witch who’s half my age.”
Sirius sipped his tea with a smile as he replied internally, “And you’re mine, but thanks for ensuring that, love. You know I get a bit…cagey sometimes.”
The werewolf laughed softly, rolling his eyes fondly as he went back to his book, until he heard Teddy call for him from upstairs, where he went, smiling when he saw Luna with his son, but his son excitedly told him, seemingly casting the whole punk rock image to the wayside temporarily, “Lunes taught me how to dance…would you like to see?” he shyly asked, smiling.
The wolf smiled warmly at him, “Likely getting ready for the end of term ball, hm? You know, your dad taught me how to dance when we were about your age. Merlin knows I am still awful at it, but he is quite good, he could help you practice too.”
Luna pouted a bit, “But I like practicing with him. He makes adorable sounds when he steps on your toes too, it’s sweet.” she told him with amusement, pushing her hair out of her eyes, her crescent moon earrings dangling slightly, charmed not to tangle into her long blonde waves.
Remus smiled at her, “That’s alright then, let’s see you dance with my son, Luna.” he encouraged her, knowing she was a soft soul with a fiery spirit, also reminding him of Lily, which hurt his heart a bit, but not as much as it once would’ve.
Luna took his hands, taking the lead position and dancing with her boyfriend, giggling when he picked her up to twirl her because of their height difference, something he had done to Sirius, he noted with a smile.
Sirius wandered up the stairs when he heard music, “Oi, dancing without me, love?” he tutted, smiling at Luna, “Hey Luna.” he greeted, he liked the spunky but sweet blonde who his son seemed to adore.
Luna greeted him with a smile, “Hi, Sirius! Me and teddybear were just showing Remus our dance for the ball the end of the year. Don’t worry, he wasn’t dancing without you, I don’t think he would dare to.” she breezily stated, playing with the moonstone ring.
Remus chuckled softly, “I wouldn’t, Luna but thank you for sticking up for me.” he turned to his husband, “However sweetheart, should you like to show these young ones how it’s done, we could show them how we used to dance back in the day.” he stated, knowing his husband would be interested.
Sirius grinned, taking his husband’s hands, “Sounds great, moonbeam. Right Luna, Ted, watch us.” he grinned, using his wand to get the air to play some Wizarding song from the seventies, as he waited for Remus to get into position, and started gliding around the room with his much taller husband, giving the kids some pointers on form and position as they did.
Luna clapped her hands and grinned, “Oh, that was wonderful! You dance so beautifully, the nargles even shied away from the ceiling.” she exclaimed excitedly, turning to her boyfriend, “Didn’t they, sweetie?”
Teddy kissed her forehead, “Yeah love, they danced really well, even if the song they used was pretty old.” he teased, knowing they had danced to something pretty new, since the blonde loved music, which was great because the black and blue haired wizard loved music too,a ll kinds.
Sirius poked his son’s shoulder, “Watch it, kiddo. That’s good bloody music you’re calling old.” he teased him playfully before pulling his husband down for a sneaky behind the ear kiss, “Should we go get some water after our dance, my love?” he asked, eyes glittering.
Remus knew exactly what his husband was getting at so he nodded, looking to Teddy and Luna, “We’ll see you later, cubs. Take care, and try to keep out of trouble, hm?” he asked half-seriously.
Minutes later, he and Sirius were in the living room, kissing on the couch after drinking a glass of water each, but after pulling away, Remus murmured to his husband, “Our stars seem to be all aligned, darling. The cubs are happy, and growing well, and you are as impish as ever, my star.”
Sirius kissed him again, grinning against his lips as he replied, “Yeah, all aligned, Moons. Like the stars that aligned to make me lucky enough to have met you, and fall for you. And pfft, I’m not changing anytime soon, love.”
Remus ran a hand through his curls, tugging a little as he grinned impishly himself, “I never said I wanted you to, my handsome mate. Now come on, the kids need feeding, unless you plan on returning to Hogwarts with us?” he grinned, laughing when he was pulled in for another kiss by his shorter husband, life was good and would be, as long as the star that was his husband aligned with him, keeping them together and well, but who could say what would happen, with the impending war with Voldemort, but all they could do was prepare and hpe for the best, wanting the kids safe, so for now, they cuddled, getting up when one of the kids called them from outside.