?
2nd August 1980
Remus had never thought babies would be so small; it was ridiculous. They were tiny, so easily destructible by the dangers in the world. One gust of air would knock a baby right up to the gates of Heaven and Remus was having none of it. He wanted to swaddle this child up in a bundle of blankets and hide him away in a castle somewhere, far from people, and he wasn’t even the parent - though he finally understood fairytales.
Lily and James had invited everyone round to their cottage to meet their child (who they had yet to officially name). Sirius had spent the first five minutes constantly wiping his eyes and pretending he wasn’t crying, whilst Marlene seemed to be asking Dorcas if they could adopt a child and Dorcas raised her eyebrows as if to say ‘You’ve already said you hate children, and you never want children’. James took one look at Sirius pretending not to cry and began to also pretend he wasn’t crying, whilst he hugged Sirius half to death.
Mary was simply amused by them all, and started to ask Lily how she felt now that the Prongslet was a few days old.
When Remus sat next to Lily, she asked if he’d like to hold little Prongslet in his arms. Perhaps his instinct reaction was why he was hesitant. “It’s okay Remus, he won’t bite,” she joked, when Remus obviously appeared horrified at the idea. He still felt as if he was a teenager; as if he was someone who should not have responsibility over a child.
“Can I hold him?” Sirius asked, pulling away from James to sit on the other side of Lily.
She nodded, offering Sirius the tiny bundle of blankets. “Say hello to your Godfather my love,” she smiled, caressing his tiny cheek.
When Sirius was holding Prongslet, Remus could see the love growing within him, like a budding seedling in a storm. He moved slowly, and carefully, as if any sudden movement would wake him from his sleep, though he seemed to be opening his eyes regardless. With his eyes open, Prongslet reached out a hand to Sirius, and grasped his finger. Remus watched as Sirius froze.
“Hey Cub,” Sirius said softly, glancing over at Remus who offered an encouraging smile. “Uncle Padfoot here, and - er - I’m not sure what to say to a baby,” he admitted, chuckling nervously. Everyone chuckled with him. “He’s surely got your eyes Lils,” Sirius said, marvelling at the small movements Prongslet would make.
Lily chuckled. “But he looks like his father, don’t you think?” she asked, and Remus watched as James beamed, puffing his chest.
“He’ll be a right troublemaker,” Sirius joked, and Remus snorted, knowing that growing up with James and Sirius as immediate parental figures was certainly going to make this child McGonagall’s worst nightmare. “And I’m sure Minnie is hoping he takes after Lily,” he grinned.
In the years to come, Remus’ biggest regret was not saying yes when Lily asked if he wanted to hold Harry in his arms, for he never got that chance again.