Chapter 1: When Moony met Novi

November 1981

Even with the sharp sting of cold late-November air, the atmosphere in the Wizarding world was that of a cheery one.

From the windows of The Leakey Cauldron, one was able to view the Diagon Alley bustling with various witches and wizards, purebloods and Muggle-borns alike. The once closed shops reopened with much hope and glee across their respective owners' faces as long overdue customers flooded in. The excited chatter and cries of relief as friends reunited was heart-warming. Even the sun seemed to glow a lot brighter with its newfound light as the infamous inn-keeper, Tom's jovial laughter carried across the busy bar as many shared silly chitchats.

However, even with all the optimism around, there was one particular wizard sat glumly in the safe sanctuary of the four walls of the rented room.

Remus John Lupin was summoned from his comatose state at home when an urgent letter practically demanded his presence at this room. He had reluctantly removed himself from his inner turmoil before he had made a half-attempt to make himself presentable before coming here.

Just then, a knock sounded from the rickety door, breaking Remus's trance. He looked up from the floor but didn't attempt to get up from the lumpy bed as the door opened and the familiar old wizard walked in.

"Good afternoon, Remus," the older wizard addressed him, his usual twinkling blue eyes behind the half-moon spectacles dull. He took a once glance over at the younger wizard's shabby appearance, but seemed to disregard it.

"Professor Dumbledore," Remus greeted, nodding his head in an acknowledgement. "What was the urgent matter you spoke of?" he asked hastily, immediately wanting to go back to his state of confusion and remorse that had overwhelmed him after the loss of his dearest friends.

Albus Dumbledore's eyes twinkled for a second with amusement at the young wizard's impatience. However the life in his eyes were short lived as it grew dark again and he sat himself across from the wizard in the old chair that groaned in protest. "We found Miss Mary Pettigrew."

Remus's breath hitched at the name and eyes widened with shock. The elder, and considerably more attractive, sister of Peter Pettigrew has been missing for years. "Is- is she alive?" Remus managed to stutter out in curiosity, only to answer his own question by observing the grim look that Dumbledore had.

"I am sorry to say Miss Pettigrew was found dead in her hidings near Barcelona, Spain." Dumbledore calmly explained to Remus who looked as if he wanted to burst out into tears. "When a Ministry official came across the scene, they pronounced her dead for a week."

"Why must you tell me this, sir?" Remus asked stiffly. The news that more of his dear friends were found dead was not the type of information he wanted to take in at the moment.

"Because, it seems that she has failed to mention to anyone she was now a mother," Dumbledore said, further shocking the young wizard.

Remus's jaws seem to unlock as he stared at the professor's face speechless. He had no idea that Mary had even been pregnant! She was such a shy and conservative witch, and when she had simply vanished, seemingly without a trace, he thought she had fled, now he thought otherwise.

"And the child, is he dead as well?"

Dumbledore was silent for a moment, as if not knowing how to explain himself. He drew a quick sigh before clearing his throat and looked to Remus's awaiting face. "When the Ministry arrived at Mary Pettigrew's house, she was surrounded by several Death Eaters, dead from the fight that Miss Pettigrew has put up. The bodies of the Death Eaters were – ah – not fresh, and that's how they assumed the duel was about a week ago. But that's the strangest thing, Remus, the Death Eaters' bodies were disintegrating, whereas Miss Pettigrew looked as if she was recently deceased. Upon further investigation of the house, they found a small girl, hiding, but not terrified." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled a little at the mention of the small girl, as if the thought and idea of her was a curious mystery. "We have reasons to believe that Miss Pettigrew's daughter displayed an extraordinary magic at this young age to preserve her mother's body. It was an incredible amount of power that children her age could only fathom."

A loud silence was what filled the room after. Both wizards sat, evidently both deep within their thoughts. Remus's head was filled with the idea of Mary Pettigrew's death and her daughter. Her daughter. This powerful witch with incredible power, whose love for her mother preserved the state of her flesh. It was both fascinating and terrifying, though he knew he shouldn't have expected any less of the brilliant Ravenclaw's daughter. Meanwhile, Dumbledore sat, thinking about how he should break the following news to the already distressed wizard sat in front of him.

"Remus," he called to his fellow Order member, who snapped his head towards him as if he just remembered that Dumbledore was still sitting there. "I would like you to take responsibility of the child."

"WHAT?" the younger wizard bellowed at the sudden information. How could Dumbledore suggest such a thing to him when he knew of Remus's conditions? He had to have lost his marbles to suggest such an atrocious thing, Remus decided. "Why not give her to Mrs. Pettigrew, assuming the child's father is dead as well?"

"We did, indeed, bring into Mrs. Pettigrew's attention of her new grandchild. However, she refused to the offer of custody when she found that the father of the child is currently in Azkaban after the betrayal of his best friend and the murder of another," Dumbledore spoke, unusually calm about the ordeal.

Remus, however, was frozen in shock and speechless once more. He did not have to rake his brains to guess who Dumbledore was speaking of. "Sirius? But he never told me, or anyone…"

"I do not believe Sirius Black, himself, was aware that he was now a father, he would only have been sixteen around the time she was born," Dumbledore calmly stated.

Remus silently agreed. Foolish and childish he may have been, but Sirius would have never run away from the responsibility of a child since he himself had a rough childhood. He loved children, the look on Sirius's face said it all when he held Harry in his arms. He didn't know for sure if the knowledge of having a child would have made a difference in Sirius' decision in his betrayal but he did not dwell on it. "But why me? Why not give her to someone else?"

"Ah, Remus. I thought it would be in the little girl's best interest if she stayed with you. You can provide her with stories of her father and mother, her uncle, even James and Lily and their son Harry. She may be putting on a brave face, but she needs comfort and familiarity, she needs you. Unless, of course, Mrs. Walburga Black would decide to take her." Dumbledore reasoned.

Remus sighed. He really wanted to, but knowing that his lycanthropy can be very dangerous, he didn't want to expose that to a poor child who's already had to grow up so much so fast. However, he knew that no other family would want to take the child knowing her heritage, he could not condemn her to a life in an orphanage or even worse, condemn her to that horrible hag of a woman that was Sirius's mother. That's when he decided. He knew, despite his newfound loathing for Sirius, he owed him this one favour of taking care of his child. "May… may I see her?" he asked, bringing a soft smile into Dumbledore's face.

"Ah, yes. She's downstairs, probably drinking her third glass of pumpkin juice which she undoubtedly charmed her way into getting for free from Tom," Dumbledore answered as he got up from the chair and made for the door, the younger wizard close behind him.

At the bottom of the staircase, it wasn't hard for Albus Dumbledore and Remus Lupin to spot the only small girl that sat on the high stools of the bar. Her side was to them, facing slightly away from the two Order members. And from what Remus could tell, she was talking animatedly with Tom, her arms thrown up in air, excited.

She must have felt the two staring at her from her peripheral vision when she stopped talking and turned. She gave a silly grin that could melt any adult's face as she threw her arms up. Dumbledore walked towards her wrapping the girl into an embrace and holding her while she squealed "Mr. Dumbles, where have you been," to him, and he put him down.

She then acknowledged the younger wizard as she looked up towards him. Her big grey eyes squinting up at his towering featured as she studied him. She broke out into a smile as she jumped up a little before hugging his legs. "You're Remus, right?" she asked with a little bit of Spanish accent, surprising him.

Remus crouched down to her eyelevel, his own eyes filled with instant love for the child. "Yes, yes I am, how did you know?" he asked, his grey eyes twinkling more as he studied the girl who looked exactly like her beautiful mother save for Sirius' mischievous grey eyes.

"Mommy had a photo of you with da, Uncle Peter and James. You were a lot younger in the photo though," she said, making Dumbledore and Remus laugh a little.

"Well, seems like you know my name then, but I don't know yours," Remus stated.

"I'm Novela, it means star, just like da's name. But call me Novi, mommy always called Novela when I was in trouble. I'm five," she decided to add.

"Well then, Novi," he said. "Since da can't be with you right now, how would you like to stay with me?"

"Really?"

"Yes, really, unless of course, you rather not?" he joked which she answered with her giggles.

"I would love to!"