Chapter 63

Remus had always been helpful to the younger students as a prefect, had a way with his students, and had done his best to be a good father to Harry and Mila, a job anybody who knew the family would say he succeeded at. He had a gift with children, but the idea of having a child that was biologically his terrified him. The fears he'd had when he adopted Harry, that a werewolf could never successfully raise a child or that the child would someday be ashamed of him, no longer existed. Raising Harry had taught him better. But with this new child, there was a new fear.

What if he'd passed his curse on to an innocent baby? What if the child would never have a normal life? What if the child would someday look at him and hate him for cursing him?

Harry noticed that his dad was the only one not overjoyed about the babies, or rather one of the babies. Everyone else was discussing baby names and what the babies would need and whether they'd be boys or girls. Tonks, naturally, had tried talking about those things with Remus, but he'd been so aloff at those times, even though Tonks was clearly overjoyed about having another child.

This couldn't go on, so one day Harry just decided to go for it and bring up the subject of his new brother or sister.

"Decided to have a baby now just because Sirius and Alex are?" he tried to tease. In return Remus tried to smile but couldn't quite manage it.

"Don't misunderstand me, harry. I already love this new baby. I want them to have the best I can give them, the same as I want for you and Mila. But I can't help being afraid for them, of what kind of life they'll have."He explained how he was afraid the baby would be a werewolf. Harry listened, and when his dad had finished he said

"Dad, that night we found out Sirius was innocent. The way you were worried about if it was safe to be around me after you forgot your potion that night. I should have told you something that was going through my mind then. You thought at the time I'd be better off without you, but even if you had bitten me, as long as nobody found out so you wouldn't get in trouble, I'd still be glad you adopted me. Because if the choice were being a werewolf and being with someone who loves me or being like everybody else but having to live with people who couldn't care less about me, i know what I'd rather have, I know having lycanthropy is hard on you and Mila and I hope my new brother or sister won't have to go through that, but even if they do, I think they'll still be glad to be part of this family."

Remus was touched by what Harry said, and felt a little better. After all, if the baby was going to be a werewolf, there was nothing that could be done about it now. Once the others found out why Remus had been acting the way he had, everyone did their best to reassure him, and with everyone so happy it would have been very hard for Remus to not start being happy about the baby too.

Just as one child was about to enter his life though, it felt as if he was loosing another. Mila was eleven now. With her being so small for her age and her condition leaving her so frail looking it was easy to believe she was several years yonger than she was, but it was time for her to start school. With her condition it was assumed she would learn with the other werewolves of Phoenix House, but when her Hogwarts letter came, she realized she wanted to go very was no surprise that she's gotten her letter. She'd been experimenting with her magic the way all young witches and wizards do and there wasno question she had talent, but still her family was a little surprised she wanted to go.

"I don't want to be treated differently just because I'm a werewolf," she said. "I want to be normal. I want others to see that werewolves are normal."

"Are you sure about this?" Remus asked. "Sooner or later, someone is probably going to figure out your secret, and the way they might treat you-"

"But I could find friends too, like you did with Uncle Padfoot and James."

"People like them are rare," Remus said with a sad smile. He could see his daughter was bravely determined.

"I think she should go," Tonks said. "She's just as good as any other child, and she deserves the chance to go to Hogwarts like anyone else."

Remus knew his wife was right, but it was hard to let her go somewhere he couldn't protect her. He knew he couldn't hold his daughter safely at home forever though.

"I know how you always trust in the good in people, and that's admirable. Still, I don't want you to end up being hurt."

"Dad, it will be Ok," Mila told him. "You were brave and went to school like everyone else. I want to do that too. I'll be fine, I know it."

"And I'll be there," Harry reminded his dad. "Nothing's going to happen."

So in the end, remus agreed. Now that werewolves could find jobs he might have applied at Hogwarts again. But that wouldn't have worked even if he didn't have so many people at Phoenix House depending on him. Children had to grow up sometime.

There was one more full moon before the school year started, and as always Remus and Mila headed to the secured basement to meet Padfoot and transform. Much to their surprise, Padfoot wasn't the only one there. For a moment Remus thought he was dreaming. Prongs was dead. He couldn't be there. Then he noticed the stag's eyes. He'd know those eyes anywhere.

"Harry what do you thing you're doing?" Then he turned to look at the big black dog. "Padfoot we agreed Harry could learn after he came of age."

Hearing the tone of Remus's voice, Padfoot rolled over on his back like a dog who has just lost a fight, but there was a silly grin on his face. "Oh very funny."

Padfoot rolled to his feet before turning back to human.

"Harry's of age."

"But you know as well as I do that if Harry's mastered the transformation by now you must have been teaching him for a long time."

Sirius sighed.

"You know I'd never put Harry in any danger. There was simply no reason to make him wait anymore. He started learning much older than James and I did, and we didn't have someone to teach us. And he wanted so badly to do this for you and Mila. Besides," he added grinning, "I didn't teach him anything."

Remus hadn't seen anyone else in the room, but then he heard a yip behind him that sounded like a dog or a wolf. He turned and saw a wolf with mousey brown fur. Fur that was Tonk's natural hair color.

"No! No! No!," he groaned. "Nymphadora."

Wotcher, Remus," Tonks said, turning back to her human form. "And you know I hate that name," she said, but only swatted at him playfully. Remus could have gotten away with calling her just about anything.

"Of all the insane-"

"I should have guessed what my form would be, I suppose. since animagus forms are poartly genetic and I'm a cousin to a dog. Can't say I like the fur color, but since I can't morph once I'm in animagus form I suppose I'll have to deal with it."

"Dora how could you take such a risk? And with a baby on the way?"

Tonks took his hand gently.

"Remus, relax. As soon as I found out I was expecting I contacted a healer. There's no danger to the baby from the transformations. Once I'm another month or so along they don't recomend transforming anymore because of the changes my body will have gone through, but until then it's fine."

"But what if I hu-"

"You and Mila won't hurt anyone. We know Harry can brew the wolfsbane potion successfully. You two were both fine last month. Besides, everryone in the room is either an animagus or a werewolf. There's no danger."

Remus gave her a look. "I take it you taught Harry each lesson as soon as Padfoot taught you?" That must be what the three of them had been up to.

"Almost as soon. We knew you'd suspect Sirius, but since you didn't think I was learning you wouldn't suspect me. Once he wnt back to Hogwarts for the year we had to meet on Hogsmead weekends. Besides, it took Harry longer than me." She morphed a few times, changing her appearence randomly. "I had a natural advantage. I didn't take anywhere near as long to learn as Sirius did."

"That's because you cheated," Sirius accused.

"I was in Hufflepuff, cousin. Fair play, remember? I can't help having a gift."

"Well, anyway, if I'd had someone to teach me I could have learned almost as fast."

"If you two are finished with turning this into a contest," Remus said with forced patience. "You two," he nodded at Harry and Tonks, "Had better leave."

"There's no reason for us to go, Dad," Harry told him, turning back to human form. "And like Sirius said, there was no reason for me not to learn. And I couldn't have waited any longer. This will be my last year at Hogwarts and I wanted to be sure there was no reason I couldn't keep Mila company on the full moons. And next year I'll be here for you."

"And I wasn't going to just keep letting you go through it alone every month," Tonks told Remus and Mila. Then she bit her lip. "And we have to face the fact that the baby might have lycanthropy. If they do, then at least they'll be able to have their family with them every full moon."

Sirius nodded. "Alex wants to help too. Once our baby is born, she wants to start learning."

There was no more time to argue. Suddenly Remus and Mila both went rigid, their arms and legs twitching. Everybody grabbed to help them as they went down on all fours. It was terrible watching their faces lengthen and fur sprout all over. The wolfsbane made it easier than normal though, and Harry had vowed he wasn't going to look away. When it was over the two werewolves, one gray and taller and the other only partly grown and sabel colored like a wolf cub stood in front of them. Harry was glad he'd learned to be an animagus, but he was also glad it wasn't necessary to transform since they'd taken the wolfsbane potion. He wanted to show them he wasn't afraid. And he wasn't the only one who noticed how Moony's eyes were downcast.

"Don't," she said gently. "What did you think? That seeing you this way would make me love you any less? I knew about your problem when I married you, and when I said for better or worse, in sickness and in health, for as long as we both shall live, I meant it."

Moony put a paw over her shoulder and laid his head against hers in the closest thing he could give to an embrace. Mila watched her parents happily, and once Tonks and Moony pulled apart she was pulled into the hug too. Harry and Sirius joined in, each putting an arm around the others. It would take more than a full moon to keep this family apart.

September first had came with all the usual excitement. Mila had spent the week before school polishing her wand (Ash and unicorn hair) and reading through her spellbooks. Her owl Callisto was in his cage, her tunk was packed. She was looking forward to this much more than her parents were, but part of her was sad too.

"I'll miss everybody," she said, giving Remus and Tonks each a hug.

"i'm feeling unwanted over here," Sirius commented. Mila laughed and hugged him and Alex.

"You know I love you and Aunt Alex too, Uncle Padfoot."

"That's better."

Once they were all aboard, she, Harry, Ginny, Neville, and Luna sat together on the train, joined by Ron and Hermione between their prefect duties. Then the train stopped and soon it was time for Mila to go to the boats with the other first years.

"Be sure you're in Gryffindor," Harry called after her. She shook her head.

"You know I'm hoping for Ravenclaw."

The sorting was eagerly watched that year. Harry recognized several of the new students as being younger siblings of some students he knew, then finally-

"Lupin, Amelia."

Mila looked smaller and Frailer than usual as she walked up to get the hat put on. It felt like forever, but it was really only a second until it shouted "Ravenclaw!"

She'd gotten her wish! Harry could see how happy she was, but then she looked over at him uncertainly until he gave her the thumbs up. He was happy for her. Luna waved her over to the Ravenclaw table, and Harry smiled thankfully. Mila and Luna had gotten along together very well at all the weddings over the summer and on the train and Mila adored the older girl.

It wasn't long until Mila had made more friends from her own year, but much to Harry's horror some of them were from Slytherin.

"You and Dad owe your lives to a SLytherin," she reminded him when he told her he was concerned about it. "And Grandma's a Slytherin."

"But so many of the Slytherins here have family who are death eaters. You can't trust all of them."

"Just like because some werewolves followed Greyback and Voldemort, werewolves can't be trusted?"

She didn't say it harshly. In fact she said it very gently. She wasn't angry, just trying to help her brother understand.

"That's different-" he started to say.

"How?" she asked. "How is judging one group any different than judging another? I know some of them are pains, but they have three fourth of the school thinking they're all evil. Harry, remember how you said it was when people thought you were the heir of Slytherin? they go through that all the time."

He had to admit she was right. And he was learning not all Slytherins were evil. Slughorn may love adding students to his collection and getting free things from them, but he wasn't hateful or prejudice the way many were. Snape could be a git, but he had saved their lives and ever since they'd learned to get along Harry had spent many hours talking about Lily with him. The stories he told about her made her really seem alive for Harry, and sometimes when they were funny, Snape actually laughed, something Harry hadn't known he could do. Sirius's brother Regulus had given his life to try destroying a horcrux. And Andromeda had always been wonderful.

Mila's willingness to be friends with others no matter what house they came from was a surprise to many of the Slytherins Whether it was because of her trusting nature or because she knew what it was like to have others be prejudice against her, she was tollerant towards everyone. That didn't mean she wouldn't stand up for her brother if certain Slytherins tried starting trouble though, or that during Quiddich matches she wouldn't cheer eagerly for him. Malfoy was still being Malfoy unfortunately, and it ended up getting him taken off his house team. But with him gone and Harry trying to be more accepting, the games against Slytherin that year were much cleaner than usual, and more fun even if the pressure of being captain could get to Harry at times.

Other than that, full moons with Mila, and NEWTS comming up, the year was as close to normal as Harry could have hoped to have. That is until one day in late April when Harry and Mila were summoned to Dumbledore's office. Both were worried something had happened to someone in their family until Dumbledore reassured them.

"I have just recieved an owl saying your new brother or sister is about to come into the world, and I can imagine you'd both like to be there."

Using the floo they headed to St. Mungo's, where Remus seemed stressed to the breaking point. To see him pacing with the expression that was on his face anybody would have thought Tonks was in the middle of a duel for her life rather than having a baby. Andromeda and Ted weren't doing any better. Alex, though heavily pregnant herself, was calmer than the men, though still anxious for her friend. Sirius was wringing his hands nervously too, and was almost as frantic as Remus. He'd been trying to calm his friend, but only ended up making himself more tense. Finally though he said something that had an effect.

"Moony you're as bad as James was the day Harry was born."

"I am not," Remus said indignantly, then asked "Am I?"

"Close to it," Sirius answered.

"Why?" Harry asked. "What did he do?"

He kept trying to sneak into the delivery room. He used the invisibility cloak, which would have worked."

"If you hadn't been under the cloak with him and your feet hadn't been showing," Remus reminded him.

Just then the healer came into the waiting room.

"Mr. Lupin?"

Remus half jumped.

"Has she had the baby? Is everything all right? Is-"

The healer chuckled and said "Everything is fine, Mr. Lupin. Actually a very easy birth. You have a healthy baby boy and your wife is doing well."

There were a few moments that passed in a blur of congradulations, hugs, handshakes, and pats on the back.

"Yes!" Harry shouted happily. "A baby brother."

"And what's wrong with a sister?" Mila asked, teasing.

"Well, so far I've only had a sister, so I might like having a brother better," he teased back. "I'm still your favorite brother, right?"

"Well, I haven't met the new baby yet, so I may like him better."

They laughed, but Remus still had worries.

"Is there anything unusual about the baby?"

"As a matter of fact, there is."

Remus felt like he needed to set down. Were there already signs the baby had inherited the curse?Seeing Remus' reaction, the healer understood.

"Oh, no Mr. Lupin. The baby is healthy in every way. When I said he was unusual, I meant he's the first baby I've ever seen change their hair and eye color, much less three times within a few minuets of being born."

""The baby's a metamorphmagus?" Remus's mouth dropped slightly. Wow! Metamorphmagi were rare, yet now he had two in his family.

"Can we see them now?" he asked.

"She's been asking for all of you. You can see her, but she should rest before long."

The family hurried into the room where Tonks was holding the baby. No, holding Teddy. Now that they knew he was a boy, they could start calling him by looked and felt about ten years younger, the love he felt for the baby obvious on his face.

"Would his daddy like to hold him?" Tonks asked.

Remus hesitated a moment despite the longing in his eyes.

"He's so tiny."

Harry laughed. "It's not as if you're going to break him, Dad. And you held me when I was a baby."

Remus smiled. "It's been a long time since you were a baby."

"You'll remember as soon as he's in your arms, I'm sure." Remus took Teddy carefully, and the sleeping baby opened his he was only minuets old, still far too young to notice anything for more than a few moments, he seemed to notice Remus especially. His hair changed color to exactly match Remus' right down to the streaks of gray, and his half opened eyes changed from blue to family looked on in amazement. This was so incredible, and Remus didn't know whether to laugh or cry tears of joy. Teddy looked around the room, his appearence changing to match each person there as they caught his attention until he fell asleep.

"Maybe now you'll relax a little, Moony," Sirius joked.

"You weren't much better," Alex reminded him. "And I'm guessing you won't be any better when our child is born."

"I'm going to be perfectly calm when our baby comes," Sirius told her. "I'm not going to be one of those new fathers who goes to pieces."

A week later, Sirius kicked at the waiting room door, nearly breaking it.

"Doesn't a father get any rights around here? They could at least tell me what's going on."

"Watch your godfather closely, Harry. This is how a grown man acts when he's calm," remus couldn't resist.

"Oh shut up." he made a noise that was almost a growl. That was when the mediwitch came out.

"Mr. Black?" You have a son. The healer is with your wife and child now."

Everyone looked at each other cautiously. They were all happy about the new baby boy, but why was the healer still with them? Was something wrong? Then another mediwitch came out.

"It's a boy, Mr. Black."

"Yes I know, but what's-"

"No, I mean it's another boy."

"You- you mean it's twins?" Sirius had to set down. "Wow! And Alex? She's all right? The babies are all right?"

"She's perfectly fine. They all are. You can see them in a moment."

There was another rouind of cheers and congradulations, but Remus had gone white.

"What's the matter, Moony?"

"I was just thinking. I know who you're favorite babysitter will be, and if these two are anything like you-"

Sirius laughed. "You know you'll love babysitting them. They'll be perfect little angels."

"With you as their father? Not likely." He laughed. "Congradulations, Padfoot."

When they were shown into the room, Sirius couldn't wait to go over and kiss his wife.

"How are you feeling?"

"Like I just gave birth to twins," Alex answered with her usual cheekiness. Sirius laughed, then looked at the two little bundles. One look at them and he already was caught up in how perfect these two little beings he'd helped to create were.

"What are their names going to be?" Harry asked.

"That is going to be a problem," Sirius said. "We only thought of one name for a boy."

Harry thought he knew what that name would be, but instead Sirius said "Regulus."

"What?" Harry asked in surprise. "I thought you would name one of them James."

Sirius had a reminiscent smile on his face, no doubt thinking of all the good times he'd had with his best friend.

"I would love to have done that for James, but we talked about it before. James was closer to me than my own brother was, but someday, you're going to be a father Harry. And we thought you'd like to name one of your children after James. That should be your right."

Harry smiled and nodded. He would love to do that.

"That still leaves the problem of what to name one of the babies though," he said.

Alex thought. "Hmm, my father's name is Jacob. What do you think of that?" she asked her husband.

"Jacob Black," he said thoughtfully. "That has a good sound to it."

Remus' prediction turned out to be true. As time passed, the Black twins turned out to be just as mischievious as anybody could expect a Marauder's children to be, and there was no doubt that when they were older they would be influenced by Fred and George, who had rejoiced at the idea of "successors." Not that they needed any influence, even as babies.

"Daddy doggy!" Reggie exclaimed happily.

"Oh no. Remember the last time we played Daddy doggy? You pulled the doggy's ears."

The little boy looked broken hearted and pleaded "Daddy doggy!"

"All right," Sirius sighhed. He would do anything for his children. With a pop he transformed, and no sooner had he done so than Jacob came up behind him and reached for Padfoot's tail. Sirius transformed back just in time and the twins started laughing.

"Oh perfect. You've learned to team up." But Sirius was laughing too.

"Uncle Sev!"

"There's my favorite little girl."

Lily was soon being hugged by the "greasy git" nobody used to care about. The years had brought changes and one of them was how Severus had gradually come to be part of the family. Remus had acknowledged that he owed Snape a life debt, as did Harry, and since he knew what it was to not be accepted Remus was more willing to accept others. Sirius was a little more reluctant, but he out of gratitude he accepted his former adversary too, and graditude had turned into friendship. Harry had been concerned what would happen to their relationships when he applied to be the new Defense professor when he was ready, but it turned out Snape actually missed his old job, and with Slughorn rteady to retire he was glad to be Potions master again, leaving the Defense position open for Harry.

The next obstacle for them was when Harry had learned of the prophesy and who had told Voldemort about it. At first it looked like that had been the end of their friendship, but eventually Harry realized everyone does things they regret. After all, Sirius had made mistakes too, and Harry loved him like another father, and Harry knew deep down Snape would never intentionally have hurt Lily anymore than Sirius would have intentionally hurt his friends. Eventually things got back to the way they had been, and between classes Harry and Severus often talked about Lily, making her seem alive for Harry and helping Snape think about the good times.

At Phoenix House, things were much the same as always. Following Mila's example, several werewolves had come to Hogwarts. A boy named Mars Decimare had been the first, and when their old friend Lon came to Hogwarts when he was old enough, he did well but made sure to keep in touch with his friends from his time at Phoenix House. Lawrence and Gwen kept in touch with them too. More werewolves were comming to see that they could trust others, and there might come a day when Phoenix House was no longer needed. Remus hoped so. It was good to see werewolves fitting in with others, so even if it meant his job was no longer needed there he would be glad. Besides, with the new laws he would have no trouble finding a different job if the time came, and it even looked like a cure might be possible in his lifetime with new advancements in Potions brewing.

"You know you spoil my grandaughter, Severus," Remus told him as Severus handed the little girl a package.

"I have a right to spoil my godchild if I want to," he sneered back," and it's not as if her brothers don't come to Hogwarts loaded down with joke items and sweets." And you know you and Black will do the same for Lily when she starts next year."

In truth, Severus was a s fond of Albus as he was of Lily. Lily had her grandmother's name, but Harry's youngest son acted the most like her. Severus was not as fond of James, who looked and acted almost entirely like his namesake, although Severus tried to be fair.

All in all, things were good for the family. They bhad each other, which meant their lives were filled with love, and with the next generation, it was certain none of them would ever be bored.

AN: Thank you again to everyone for reading. I especially want to thank Paddyandmoony for always putting up the chapters for me, for her inspiration and advice. Harry's animagus form is the same as in her story "The name is Potter Black and is used with her permission.

Special thanks to my two newest reviewers, iheartmwpp and Raven Wolfmoon. I loved your reviews.

In answer to some of their questions, the scene with Fluffy was inspired by the movie, and nice catch with the Twilight reference. I love Twilight as much as I love Harry Potter. (I thin k you can guess where Jacob got hios name in this chapter. Lol. I was thinking of Having Sirius name one of his sons after james, but after discussing it with paddyandmoony I liked her idea that that's Harry's right to name his son after James.)

I've often wondered about the homophorus charm myself, but even though Lockheart did use what someone really did, it's said throughout the books that there is no cure yet for lycanthropy. I think it only changes them back to human for the rest of that full moon and is probably painful to the werewolf. I left it open in my version as to whether a cure is ever found, so it's up to the reader to decide.

I plan on having a few songfics up soon before doing another multichapter fic. The first songfic will be about Remus and Mila and their relationship. I'm glad so many people liked her. I hope you'll all read my future stories.