Somehow, despite the fact that Andromeda had been wearing a smile bigger than anyone could remember seeing, Dora was clearly nervous, and Teddy had been chattering with Harry since they arrived, the Lupins still managed to make it through most of Bill's birthday dinner without giving away their good news.
Small talk was the order of business for the better part of the night.
Well, small talk and fawning over Bill and Fleur's little daughter with white-blonde curls.
Victoire was 18 months old and the newest baby to the little Order of the Phoenix family.
At first, Teddy had been jealous of the baby girl and all the attention lavished on her by his honorary aunts and uncles- and his parents as well. However, as time went on, he began to enjoy having the new child around.
Molly called out to say that the meal was ready and everyone gathered under a large marquee in the back garden of the Burrow; the walls of said marquee had been enchanted to keep out the wind and heating charms had been cast to keep the occupants warm despite the chill of November around them.
Somehow, it actually managed to be comfortable. Which is more than could be said if the entire party had been crammed into the Burrow.
In addition to the Remus, Dora, and Teddy, the group included Molly, Arthur, Andromeda, Charlie, Bill, Fleur, Victoire, Percy, his wife Audrey, George, Ron, Ginny, Harry, Hermione, and Neville.
After dining on more food than should be possible for one person to make, Molly brought out a beautiful cake decorated with charmed shimmering leaf and a tall, sparkling candle.
Shortly after all tucked into that lovely orange cake, Remus felt his wife grabbing his knee under the table.
He turned to look at her and saw that she was looking at him with an expression that told him she was ready to share their news.
Remus smiled at her and moved his hand under the table to take hers.
"Excuse me, everyone," Remus said, raising his voice to get the attention of the whole table, "We…ah…Dora and I have something we'd like to share."
Everyone's eyes were suddenly on him, most of them curious (although there was something about Molly's expression that indicated that she had some idea of what he was going to say).
Andromeda beamed at both her daughter and son-in-law.
Remus gave his wife's hand another squeeze and cleared his throat.
"Sometime at the end of next July or the beginning of next August, the Lupin family will…ah…will be growing," Remus announced, looking around as he waited for the news to set in for their friends.
"You're having another kid?!" Ron shouted with a smile.
Harry bolted from his chair and was around the table in a flash. "And on my birthday, too! Fantastic!" he said, wrapping his arms around first Tonks and then Remus.
Molly clapped her hands together, "How wonderful! Congratulations to you both!"
The rest of the table shared their congratulations and Dora's nervous look was replaced by a smile even bigger than her mother's.
The sun had long ago set by the time everyone finished eating and the marquee was lit by several orange lanterns floating about.
It cast the entire gathering in a warm and rather autumnal light that made everything seem wonderfully cozy.
Molly caught Dora and Remus conversing with Harry and, seizing on a lull in the conversation, asked Dora, "How are you, dear?"
The younger woman looked confused for a moment before realizing, "Oh, the pregnancy. Yeah. I'm...I'm good. Well, I'm as good as I was with Teddy."
Remus shook his head, "Don't let her tell you that. She spends every morning as sick as a human being can possibly be."
"That's not true."
"It certainly is."
Dora rolled her eyes at her husband's over-protectiveness, "You're such a dad, Remus."
"Well, you know, that makes sense" Remus said with a cheeky grin, "since I am a father."
His wife swatted at him," You know what I mean."
Molly watched the two with a warm smile, "I'm just pleased to know that you're both happy. Forgive me, Remus, but after last time-"
"I deserve your suspicion, Molly," Remus said, cutting her off, "I deserve everyone's suspicion and wariness-"
"Remus-" Dora began, but he silenced her by gently raising a finger.
"I deserve all of that, but that's just all the more reason that I'm going to do the right thing this time," he said, looking his wife, then to Molly who seemed pleased with the answer.
Dora scoffed in an attempt to defuse the overly emotional conversation, "You'd best. Because if you think that I'm going to be chasing after a three-year-old while I'm nine months pregnant, then you have doxies in your skull."
