A love like no other
Chapter 24 - A love like no other
Before they knew it, September had ended, making way for October. Dora used to love Halloween as a child as it was the one time a year where she could use her powers out in public as she went trick or treating with the other muggle children. Although she had to keep her morphing constant, it was always explainable to overly attentive muggles who noticed several changes throughout the night about her appearance. For Remus, Halloween had a completely different meaning since the year 1981. He had lost all four of his friends, whom he came to regard as family. Although he got Sirius back for a couple of years before losing him forever two years ago, his heart still ached at the memory.
Dora knew Remus hated Halloween, but to her surprise, she found their sitting room full of Halloween decorations when she woke up that morning. Remus had carved several Jack O’ Lanterns, hung cobwebs, as well as a few other things here and there. There was also a large bowl of chocolates on their coffee table, but Dora knew they were really for Remus, not the kids who came trick or treating. For the first time, they decided to skive off their defensive magic practice.
After dinner, Dora took to entertaining Remus by morphing her features to the most ridiculous ones she could come up with. Remus actually snorted out butterbeer through his nose a few times. This was the first Halloween Remus had celebrated properly in a long time. He would usually spend the day reminiscing about James and Lily, but this time it was different, he had his own little family, his house was now their home.
Once Halloween was over, Dora and Remus managed to find another form of entertainment; blowing up the Jack O’ Lanterns once they began to turn bad. Of course this was short-lived since they only had about half a dozen of them. But it was still fun while it lasted, and that counted as practicing defensive magic. Andromeda and Molly would still pop in over certain weekends, to check on Dora. Although Remus would have preferred Dora seeing actual healers, that was not an option as Ted was still on the run, and on the wanted list of the Ministry.
Since things had cooled down slightly, they did have a few Order meetings in between, although it was essentially the same things on the agenda every time; discuss potential locations of Harry and co, guesses at what their mission was, and tailing Death Eaters to see what they were up to. The Order knew that Voldemort had set up headquarters at Malfoy Manor, but infiltrating it would be unwise at the moment as they didn’t have a complete plan of the mansion yet.
Christmas was fast approaching, their little cottage was blanketed with snow on Christmas eve, it looked like a postcard. Andromeda and Lyall would be dropping by for Christmas dinner later that evening. This was their first Christmas as Mr. and Mrs. Lupin. They spent Christmas morning snuggled under the covers in their pyjamas, getting up only to fetch the presents they had gotten each other, and so Remus could make them hot chocolate. Dora had gotten Remus a Lupine pendant, similar to the one he had gifted her two years ago, except Remus’ was slightly larger. Remus magicked a photo frame so it would transform to about 50 different photographs of the Tonks family. He had spent hours looking through Andromeda’s photo albums, but the look of joy on his wife’s face made it worthwhile. He knew how much Dora missed her father.
They finally got out of bed at noon, Remus was in charge of cooking, as he normally was, Dora just didn’t have the patience, although when it came to potion-making she was an ace. Dora decided to make herself useful by tidying up the place a little. Granted, Remus was always picking up after her, so there wasn’t much to do. Dinner was a simple four-course meal, but Dora and Remus wouldn’t have had it any other way. Andromeda and Dora were rather quiet throughout, Ted’s absence during this time hit them particularly hard. This was the first time their families were meeting, Remus wished his mother could have been with them. She would have been ecstatic, she had always told Remus he’d find love someday, and have a family of his own. Remus never believed her, but here he was, his mother was right in the end.
A few days after Christmas, the Order had gotten wind of disturbances in Godric’s Hollow, and the partially decayed corpse of Bathilda Bagshot was discovered in her home. These were definitely signs of Dark Magic. Remus remembered her, James and Lily had lived a few doors away from Bathilda, and The Marauders used to hang out at James and Lily’s pretty often before they found out Voldemort was after them. Harry was just a baby then, Remus smiled as he remembered the little black-haired tyke. But now James and Lily were buried under the ground, they were the first to leave Remus, but certainly not the last, he thought sadly. But Harry proved to be a bigger man than Remus was. He was ultimately the reason why Remus had come to his senses and gone back to Dora those few months ago.
Dora’s belly continued to grow, but that didn’t stop her from practicing her defensive magic with Remus. At heart, she would always be an auror, yes she was with child, but she wouldn’t allow that to stop her. It was for her unborn child’s sake that she practiced so hard, and Remus too. They both wanted a better world for their baby, who was already marked for death simply for being born to a blood-traitor, and a werewolf, both of whom were active members of the Order.
Apart from that, their baby preparations had increased several-fold. They had started doing up Remus’ old bedroom, which was to be their baby’s room when they arrived. Arguments would erupt every time they discussed paint colours for the walls, and decorations. Dora was hoping their baby would be a Hufflepuff like her and her father. Granted Remus wished their baby would be in Gryffindor, he realised sometimes loyalty mattered more than bravery, and Dora was the perfect example of this. It was her loyalty, and kindness that allowed her to take Remus back, twice for that matter, she had never given up on him. Had her bravery triumphed over her loyalty, she would have just told him to hit the road, and Remus would have been deprived of all the joy he had been experiencing these past few months with her.
They decided to hang banners of all four Hogwarts houses instead, maybe their baby would be in Ravenclaw, that would complete the set since Andromeda was a Slytherin, Remus was a Gryffindor, and both Dora and Ted were Hufflepuffs. They could have their own House championships, and quidditch matches, even if Remus wasn’t the sporty type, Dora was sure he would be sporting enough to play with his family. Hopefully, 11 years from now, this would all be over, and they could lead the lives they were meant to live, with no more fear and hiding.
Apart from Order business and Dora, Remus would occasionally guest-star in the Weasley twins talk-show, under the pseudonym Romulus. Although it wouldn't have taken a genius to figure out it was actually him, or maybe it would have since not many Wizards and Witches were aware of the legend of Romulus and Remus. Remus wondered if Harry, Ron and Hermione tuned in on the Wizarding Wireless, but he decided to address Harry anyway, and somewhat apologise for his behavior in August. He hoped his voice would have reached Harry somehow.
Valentine’s day was approaching, Remus’ mind was transported back to their first Valentine’s day together two years ago. He smiled as he remembered their little encounter in the pantry of Number 12 Grimmauld Place. Of course last year nothing happened seeing as Remus had, well, been Remus and broke Dora’s heart and pushed her away. And he was also undercover with the werewolves, so it was the right thing to do, right? No it wasn’t, they could have had more time together had he not been such a prat.
But they were together now, and as husband and wife, who were expecting their first child together. Remus prepared a picnic dinner which they ate outside in their back garden, under the stars. Of course he casted plenty of warming charms so they wouldn’t freeze, in addition to lighting a few dozen candles. It was all very romantic, Dora enjoyed every single moment of it.
Spring was soon upon them, which meant Dora was due soon, she had a few more tear fests in between, but Remus always managed to calm her down. Given their situation, Dora would be delivering at home, with Andromeda and Molly's help. Remus was so grateful for both of them. Although he theoretically knew what to do, Remus wasn't sure he would be able to cope with his wife's screams while she pushed their baby into this world without passing out.
It was somewhere around Easter when Remus and Dora got news that the elusive trio were currently seeking refuge at Bill and Fleur's with an assortment of other guests. Apparently they were taken captive at Malfoy manor, along with Luna, Mr. Ollivander, Griphook, and Dean. Remus shuddered at the thought of his former students in the hands of his mother in law's lunatic sister.
The news of Wormtail dying brought almost no comfort to Remus, his death didn’t mean he would get James, Sirius, and Lily back. Even worse, from what Bill had informed them, he suspected Hermione had been tortured. Dora swore loudly when she heard about this, she was very fond of Hermione, and she vowed to avenge Hermione, one way or another.