Remus smiled to himself as he helped Teddy into his jumper. After weeks of planning with Molly and Ginny the day was finally here. Hermione had left earlier that morning to help get the Burrow ready for Teddy's party. Teddy had woken them that morning by propelling himself onto their bed and jumping up and down asking for presents. Hermione grinned and offered to make him pancakes before she left leaving him to occupy Teddy until lunch when she thought it would be safe to arrive.
"Are you ready for your party Teddy boy?"
"Yes! Go see my Mione and my friends! Mione made chocolate cake!" the young boy beamed at his father. Remus chuckled and stood offering his hand to his son. In the living room of the Burrow he let go of his hand as Teddy pealed off towards the back door. As he thrust the door open he let out an excited shriek before running to Hermione who had just left the colorful tent they had up to protect from the rain. Hermione snatched the boy up and twirled him around while he asked questions about what was inside. Remus walked up behind them and pressed a soft kiss to his mates forehead, slinking his arms around her waist. He could feel her nervousness and could only smile, knowing that it would be perfect despite her worries.
He's going to love it.
I just want it to be perfect, she leaned back into him.
Squeezing her waist one last time he let her go to guide her into the tent and he stopped just inside the flaps. Hermione, you outdid yourself! She smiled at him and turned back to the tent as Teddy wiggled out of her grip. The inside of the tent was as colorful as the outside with red, yellow and blue streamers meeting in the center of the tent and various dinosaur and magical creatures balloons floating around the room. There was a mound of presents in the far right corner of the tent with a dinosaur themed cake in the left corner. Between them was an empty table that Remus assumed was for food when it was ready.
Remus grinned when he felt Hermione's happiness as Teddy ran around the tent reaching for various animal balloons before another caught his eye. Everyone in the tent watched him with smiles on their faces until he noticed the presents and made a beeline for them. Ron intercepted and scooped up the boy and Remus felt a tinge of fury through their bond. She took a step towards the two and he wrapped an arm around her waist again, It's okay. Watch. She calmed slightly at his reassurance and waited. Sure enough Ron merely tickled Teddy and whispered something in his ear before setting him back down and gently guiding him towards he others. See.
I don't want him around my son, she bit out.
Remus smiled at her protectiveness and her slip up, I don't want him around either of you. Not with how he treats you. She leaned into him and watched Teddy get passed around the Weasley's as they wished him happy birthday and smothered him in kisses. Slowly they walked over to the group and they sat to talk while Teddy and Victorie chased the charmed balloons around the tent. Other kids from their magical preschool began to arrive and Hermione relaxed beside Ginny as she watched them play.
"It's perfect you know?" Ginny nudged her. Hermione merely smiled at her and linked their arms together.
When it was time for cake Remus grabbed her hand and guided her beside him and Teddy while everyone sang to him and he concentrated hard on his wish before blowing out his candles. He barreled into her legs after blowing them out and clung to her. She shared a concerned look with Remus before Teddy pushed away towards his friends and family and she rejoining Remus by the cake. He'd started to cut the cake but relinquished the knife to her instead choosing to pass out the cake with Ginny instead. Shortly after the cake was devoured, Teddy came over to her and pulled her with him towards his presents and seated himself in her lap. Remus watched with utter devotion as his mate summoned presents for their son, smiling as he tore one after the other open.
As the sun set other children began to leave and the family slowly made their way into the house leaving just Hermione and Ginny in the tent. They were busy sending Teddy's mound of presents to the cottage and cleaning as they went when Hermione staggered back and practically ran into the house Ginny following closely behind her.
Molly ushered everyone into seats and started serving dinner. Teddy was still savoring all the attention he could and was currently squished happily between the twins laughing helplessly when the pair charmed their hair to alternate between various shades of florescent green. "What did you wish for Teddy?" George questioned smirk spreading across his face when his hair was its normal shade of red.
Teddy looked around the room and spoke in a hushed tone, "For Mione to be my new mummy." Remus grinned at his sons proclamation, as did almost every other adult at the table.
"I think she would love that," Fred spoke.
But Teddy shook his head, "No.."
Suddenly everyone was quiet with concern. Remus stilled and leaned across the table, "Why do you think that Ted?"
The young boy shrugged. "I'm not hers," he said in a tiny voice and Remus's heart break at the words. Moments later Hermione stumbled in through the back door, her eyes training on Remus and then Teddy. Upon seeing the tears in his eyes she understand what had brought her into the house. She slowly walked over to him while everyone watched her and came to crouch behind the boy, turning him to face her.
"Little wolf, what's wrong?"
His hair grew to mimic her curls but stayed the same sandy blonde as his father, his eyes matching her own. Reaching for a lock of her hair he pulled a strand of his to meet hers, "You can't be my mummy. I not yours."
"Who told you you weren't mine?" she spoke softly, heart breaking at his actions and resigned tone.
"I heard Uncle Ron say it," his voice trembled.
Hermione had to work to control the rage that burst in her chest as she wiped a tear from his face, "Do you want me be your mum?" He looked at her curiously and nodded. "Teddy, I may not be your mother and you may not be part of me," she took their mingling hair and showed it to him, "but you are mine. You are my little wolf and I love you." He sobbed and crawled into her arms. "Don't listen to your Uncle Ron or anyone else. You are mine." She sat in his vacant seat and let him burrow into her hair sending a frosty glare at Ron who was sitting further down the table trying to shrink into his seat. I will kill him.
Not while you're holding our son.
"Hey, hey," Hermione chided pulling the boy from her chest, brushing his hair behind his ear, "no more tears. It's your birthday, you shouldn't cry on your birthday." She smiled, kissing his nose as he grinned at her and turned back to his dinner. When she went to move from beneath him and set him down his arms shot out around hers, "It's okay, I'll be right back. I'm going to go talk to your Uncle Ron for a moment." He let her go hesitantly and she nudged George to ensure he'd keep him occupied.
Ron bowed his head and left his seat heading straight for he door. After taking a few deep breaths Hermione followed in the direction Ron left stopping just outside the door. Ron began to speak and she held up her hand, "If you ever say Teddy isn't mine again I won't be able to control what I do to you. Do you understand me?" He turned pale making his freckles stand out even more. Turning back into the house Hermione sat beside Ginny and Remus and sagged into his shoulder.
Ginny leaned in, "You hexed him right?"
Hermione laughed, "No but I will if I ever hear him say that again."
Remus smiled at her words and kissed her temple. He was still reeling from the earlier episode but he chose to push it aside knowing she had handled it. He wanted to kill the young wizard for making his son feel like that. Feeling Hermione's rage and watching her console Teddy was enough to calm him just enough to reign in Moony. Ron had followed her into the house moments after she exited it and the sickly look the youngest Weasley boy was sporting made him smile. Moony was preening over his mates ability to handle the whole situation. Lost in his thoughts Remus barely noticed when Sirius tried to pull his attention until the animagus threw a spoonful of peas at him making Molly screech about manners and everyone around them laugh.
Shortly after when dinner was done everyone moved into the living room. "Mione, have you gotten a dress for the gala?"
Hermione groaned, "Merin, I forgot about the gala."
"I'm going to take that as a no then," Ginny giggled.
"I hate these gala's. I don't like being paraded around with the boys."
"We'll go dress shopping this weekend." Hermione could only groan again and roll her eyes
Lavender perked up from her spot in the arm chair across from them, "May I join you? I haven't gotten mine either yet." The pair agreed and the three of them started planning a day to venture into Diagon Alley for a shopping trip. Hermione was already dreading it and was leaning harder into Remus then before. Eventually Lavender and Ginny started going on about dress style and Hermione toned them out, deciding instead to watch Teddy play with the twins and Harry on the floor. She didn't realized she'd fallen asleep until Remus spoke in her mind, Hermione, wake up love. You're okay.
Rubbing the sleep from her eyes she noticed everyone was still lounged in the living room and she frowned at Remus. You were having a nightmare. Or you were starting to. Nodding she understood and curled into his shoulder once more, bringing her legs across his own and closed her eyes as she listened to everyone's conversations around them. Opening them only when she felt Teddy crawl into her lap and curl against her. With a small smile she caged her arms around him and readjusted so she was leaned back against the arm of the couch with her legs still across Remus' lap watching everyone around her talk. When it was time to go Teddy woke just enough to wrap his legs around her diaphragm and his arms around her neck. Back at the cottage she put him in his bed and thinking he was asleep went to leave.
"Mummy," a small voice called from the bed.
Smiling she turned back to the bed, "Little wolf, it's time for bed."
"I love you," he grinned, looking too much like his father.
"I love you too. Goodnight love," kissing his head she smiled and left the room, shutting the door quietly behind her. Leaning against it she smiled and wiped a tear from her cheek before walking into her shared room with Remus. "He's in bed."
"How are you?" he asked smiling at her from his spot in bed.
She moved slowly over to their closet and stripped off her jeans. "I don't know how to describe it. But I still want to hex Ronald," she huffed, "I can't believe him." Shaking her head she tore her jumper off and pulled on a small pair of shorts and an old tattered jumper of Remus' that she had commandeered. Getting into bed she turned to face Remus and inhaled deeply. "He called me 'mummy'," she smiled softly.
"He said he wished for you to be his new mum. That's how the whole thing came up. What did you tell Ron? He looked sickly coming back into the kitchen."
Hermione's smile grew and she blushed, "Honestly, not much. I only told him if I ever heard him say that again I wouldn't be able to control myself."
"I think you can channel Mooney now. You're eyes were a bit more gold then just a few flecks," he shrugged. Hermione laughed and pulled herself against him. When he put his arm around her he continued, "He was quite happy with how you handled Ron."
"Was he?" Hermione yawned.
"Oh yes," he chuckled. "You've outdone yourself today, love." Turning over he pulled her to his chest and buried his head into her neck. "Go to sleep, you've had enough excitement for one day." She mumbled a reply but her breath soon evened out and he worked to match her own, falling asleep with her wrapped around him.
Remus woke feeling a little dizzy. Reaching his hand out he found Hermione's spot empty but warm. Groaning as he rolled over he heard her in the washroom and closed his eyes, calmed knowing where she was. Remus?
Yes love.
Can you make me some tea? I am not feeling too well.
Getting up from the bed Remus put on his robe and left to grab her tea. When he had it ready he joined her in the bathroom and found her in the tub, looking a little pale. "Hermione, please let me run some tests, you look miserable." She frowned and narrowed her eyes at him, "I didn't mean it like that. You are beautiful but these bouts of sickness are making me worried and they're taking a toll on you."
"I'm okay," she tried to dismiss him but he was having none of it.
"Let me, please. I am a healer, what use am I if I can't even help my w-mate," he corrected himself blush creeping into his cheeks making Hermione smile and arch a brow.
"Remus Lupin, did you almost call me your wife?" she teased.
"And if I did?"
"I'd be flattered," she said simply, leaning her head against the tub. "Really Remus, I'm already feeling much better. Please stop worrying," she rubbed her chest.
He knelt beside the tub and grinned, "If it continues I will run tests in your sleep." When he kissed her softly she mock growled at him and snaked her arms around his neck. "I need to get ready for work," he mumbled against her lips. He wanted to stay but they both knew he couldn't.
Biting his lip gently she released him, "Go on then." He smiled as Hermione watched him strip and step into the shower. Summoning the tea he'd brought her she drained it quickly before pulling herself from the bath and pulling on Remus' robe, snuggling into its warmth and his scent slinging to it. She got herself ready and had just woken Teddy up when she heard the shower shut off. "Get ready love, I need to get you to grandma Dromeda's." She kissed the boys head and almost laughed when he groaned and tried to hide behind the covers. "Oh no, none of that. That doesn't work on your father and it won't work on me. Come one, I can make you some pancakes," she bribed in a sing song voice.
"With chocolate?" he shot out of his bed.
"If you'd like," she laughed, "Honestly, you Lupin's and your chocolate." Teddy ran to his bathroom and she heard his faucet turn on before she left the room. Using her wand she began making pancakes while rummaging through her case, checking over her presentation on last time before setting it back in her pack and mentally running through her speech.
"Love, your nervousness is overwhelming. Are you going to tell me what bill you're presenting today?"
"Not until after it's been pushed through or denied," she replied looking shy. "I don't want to jinx it."
Truth be told she was working to push through a reform law for lycanthropes, one that would give them full rights, just as any other witch or wizard. It had been in the works since the war ended and she learned how many people were infected during the war. But she would be lying if she said she hadn't been considering it long before when she first learned how people like Remus were treated for something they couldn't control. Remus was a unique case as a healer, but people were still weary of him and he was still looked down on by others for no other reason but his lycanthropy. An anger rose within her and Remus frowned feeling it and attempted to console her, "It will pass, as all your bills have. You are brilliant and you never present them before they are perfect and irrefutable."
"I hope you're right love," she passed him a stack of pancakes as Teddy ran in the room hoping onto the table as she handed him his own plate with a wink. He said his thanks and dug in, much like his father had already began doing. She sat down and tried to eat but found herself once more overtaken by nerves, her stomach uneasy.
"Are we staying at Uncle Paddys tonight?" Teddy asked around a bit of pancake.
"Not tonight Ted, tomorrow." Remus corrected. "But we are going over for dinner tonight. Uncle Harry is cooking your favorite and I need to get my potion from Pads."
Teddy nodded his understanding and Hermione rose, using her wand to start the dishes as she finished another cup of tea. Remus joined her shortly after winding his arms around her waist, "Stop worrying. Promise you'll eat something when you get out of court. We don't like when you don't eat." She turned into him and saw his eyes battling gold and nodded. "Thank you, I'll see you at dinner?" She nodded again and kissed him. He deepened the kiss and pulled her closer to him, making her moan silently into his mouth.
When he was gone Hermione finished getting ready and took Teddy through the floo to his grandma's house where he hugged her tightly. "Have a good day little wolf, be good for your grandma."
"I will mum. Love you."
"I love you too." She gave Andromeda a wave and smile before going back to the floo and entering the ministry.
Remus picked up Teddy around lunch time and they spent the day in Diagon Alley on a 'secret mission', as Teddy called it, before flooing to Grimmauld place. They found Harry in the kitchen cooking and Teddy ran outside when Harry told them Sirius was working on his bike. Remus grew suddenly nervous in sitting at the table. Fondling with the box in his pocket he struggled with the words to say when Harry turned to him. "Hermione passed a big bill today."
"Did she? That's amazing. She still hasn't told me what it is. Said she was worried about jinxing it." Harry only laughed and came to sit at the table. "I wanted to ask you something Harry."
"Oh? What might that be?"
"I want to marry Hermione," he breathed. "You are her only family with her parents gone."
"You're asking my permission?"
"Yes. I know it's a muggle custom but we both know how Hermione loves some traditions," he smiled absently.
Harry smiled back, "Remus, as long as you continue to treat her properly and love her, I have no objections. Do you have a ring yet?"
"Teddy helped me pick one today. Would you like to see it?" Harry nodded eagerly and Remus smirked withdrawing the box from his pocket sliding it to the wizard across from him. Inside was a simple solitaire diamond in a white setting with a winding band. "It's beautiful, she'll love it. Teddy has good taste." Remus laughed as Sirius and Teddy came in the house.
"Oh is that it?" Sirius plucked the box from Harry, "Nicely done Ted, you picked a gorgeous ring." Remus listened to his son retell their trip to Diagon Alley and their visits to different jewelers when the floo activated and Sirius threw the box with lightening speed at Remus who snatched it up and pocketed it as Hermione entered the room. He'd felt her excitement when she came through.
"Hello everyone," she sang as she rounded the table giving first Teddy a kiss then Remus one, "Can I talk to you upstairs please?" He nodded and followed her from the room, up the stairs and into the library where she was bouncing with the excitement he could feel radiating through their bond.
"Your bill was passed."
"It was," she grinned and she began to explain what exactly her bill entailed. Remus sank into a chair by the fire as he listened to her speak, his mind desperately trying to grasp her words. He barely noticed when she stopped speaking and came to stand before him, a worried look marring her face. "Remus?"
"Truly?"
"Yes," she whispered. "You, and every other lycanthrope, have full and equal rights just any other witch or wizard does." She squeaked as he picked her up and twirled her around.
"Gods you are perfect," he breathed setting her down and putting his hands on the sides of her face, "You have given me everything I have ever wished for."
He moved to kiss her but she stilled him with a hand on his chest meeting his golden eyes. "I love you Remus. You deserve so much and this is something you should have always had," and she kissed him. Wrapping her arms around his neck and melting into him. Remus tucked her to him and held her securely to him. Harry calling them to dinner broke them apart and he led her from the room with hungry eyes. To be continued love. It was a promise that made her knees weak and she folded into his shoulder, his arm over his shoulder, hers around his waist.
