BLACK MOON ⍋ Remus Lupin

Chapter 119- Aunty Arty.

Two years later

"They haven't revealed the gender yet. How am I meant to buy something?" Marlene fussed as we walked around a sweet baby shop.

"They're keeping the gender a surprise, Marl!" I laughed.

"Oh Merlin, I'm going to be the worst Aunty ever. She's just had a baby and I haven't bought it a thing!" She sighed, placing a teddy back down on a shelf.

"That's not true, you were just fine handling Neville yesterday and he's a newborn too! I'm pretty sure they're all similar." I reminded her.
"Look, what did you buy for him?" I added, flicking through the mass of baby clothes.

"Alice and Frank had a present list! It was much easier! I don't know what babies need?" She said stressed.

"Well let's look at their list as ideas for Lily and James." I said.

"Good idea." She sighed with relief.
"Why is everyone having babies? We're still so young!" She rolled her eyes.

I laughed, silently agreeing with her.

"Can't even go to the bloody lake this summer because Alice and Lily will be dealing with so much poo and sick." Marlene vented.

"It's just one summer, Marl. Alice said she's going to start taking Neville to the lake once he's got all of his jabs and can walk. We'll all be back by next year." I explained, an amused smile on my face.

Suddenly the bell of the shop rang, as a smiling Sirius wandered in.

"So I found this which I think James will love." Sirius said, holding up a tiny quidditch jersey.

"That's so cute." I laughed as he folded it back in the gift bag.

"What's up with her?" Sirius smirked over to Marlene, rubbing her temples.

"It's been a long day for her I think. She's also longing for the lake." I giggled.

"Ugh I wish we were going this year too!" Sirius piped up. Not helping the situation.

"I'm gonna teach them both how to cannonball into the lake." Sirius said.
"Every year Uncle Sirius is going to take Neville and mini Lily or James to that lake and I'm going to teach them bad habits their parents will hate." Sirius said excitedly.

I gave him a playful slap to pack it in and stop being mischievous.

"Where's Rem?" I asked.

"He's with them already, helping James." Sirius said.
"And Peter is helping Alice and Frank"

"Can you believe they had babies one day apart? It's like they planned it!" I said still amazed.

"Alice and Lily always said we'd all have babies around the same time so that we could raise them as best friends." She pulled a grotesque face.

Both Marlene and I felt too young for children, or didn't want them entirely. Peter and Sirius were still single, and probably felt similarly.

What caught me by surprise though was how delicate Remus was meeting and holding baby Neville, yesterday. I could tell he wanted a baby, broody for one maybe. Though I assumed him being a werewolf made him suppress his paternal instinct.

"He's so tiny." He said as he let Neville wrap his entire hand around Remus' pinky finger.

Remus loved babies. Which was a wonderful but confusing surprise, as we had never shown interest into having them. Two years into our relationship, it's never been a desire he'd expressed.

We all decided upon gifts and paid. Growing anxious to meet the first tiny member of the marauders and the second tiny baby this week.

The sun shining gloriously for both gifts of new life.

"Hello?" We all said, pushing open the door to James and Lily's new cottage. That they had only moved into four months prior.

"In the living room!" James shouted and we all slowly wandered our way through.

Lily was sitting on an armchair, with James by her side. Hand resting on her shoulder. She was holding a small bundle of blankets. She looked tired but was glowing with pride.

Remus was sat next to Peter, both on the floor. As Alice and Frank took up the sofa. Alice nursing baby Neville, with Frank gently stroking her back.

"Hi Neville!" We all cooed walking past the hungry baby.

"And hello..." Sirius began, lingering for an introduction.

"Guys, meet Harry." James said proudly as Lily exposed more of the tiny babies face.

"Hi Harry!" The three of us said, as the rest of the group smiled already having been introduced.

"Look at his hair!" I said in a cutesy voice.

"I didn't know a baby could have so much!" Marlene said amazed at the dark locks on the newborns head.

"He'll lose it all soon the midwife said, but it'll grow back again." Lily smiled, stroking the soft looking dark hair that mimicked James'.

"I knew he was going to be a boy!" Sirius said smugly, oozing with pride.
"Which is why..." he trailed off, rummaging around the gift bag. Taking out the tiny quidditch jersey.

"Mate!" James gasped and grabbed the jersey excitedly.
"This is amazing!"

"I'm so proud of you guys." I said looking both at Lily and Alice.
"Both your boys are so lovely." I smiled, gently stroking the soft cheek of baby Harry Potter.

I sat down on the floor in Remus' lap and he gave me a big kiss on the cheek.

"We got Harry a lullaby box." I whispered in his ear letting him know the gift 'we' had bought.

"The same one you anonymously sent for Draco?" He wondered.

For the first time in two years, around a month ago, I reached out to Narcissa. Completely anonymous, with no trace of my new address. I had found out she had given birth to a baby boy, with Lucius. I needed to send a subtle sign that I was proud of her. I also needed to give my nephew something from me, whether he found out about it or not.

"Shhh." I hushed Remus. Knowing Sirius would go insane if he found out I stepped outside the boundaries we had so meticulously followed all this time.

I was both now a blood and honorary Aunty. I wondered if they'd both meet, Draco and Harry. Being so close in age. Would Narcissa go down the home schooling route? Would Draco find out about me through Harry?

I so deeply wanted to meet my nephew but I knew I couldn't, and therefore I couldn't help but feel thrilled that life had gifted me with two baby boys to fill the void of not meeting one.

I had been through a similar feeling when I found out Andromeda had a baby, a baby that was now a child. A child that in a few years would maybe be going to Hogwarts herself, if she had inherited a magical ability.

So I was thrilled to welcome these two babies into our lives, not as a replacement but to mimic the adventure of being an Aunty that I won't experience otherwise. Not officially.

"Who wants cake?" James said.

(Sorry for the filler chapter but can we just take a second to reflect upon the fact that canonically Neville and Harry SHOULD HAVE grown up together as childhood friends but only actually met properly at Hogwarts for the first time? Not knowing of each other's existence until then. Tears. They should have spent summers together and Easter's and New Years and their parents would have thrown joint birthday parties for them. Crying.)