Remus stood and watched as the Dursley's ushered Harry away, albeit a bit
rudely. They soon disappeared out of sight around a particularly loud group
of muggles. "There you have it. Harry's safe with the muggles and let's
hope that those ruddy Durley's take us at our word." Moody growled, his
magical eye swiveling to fix its gaze on Remus. He nodded, but could not
deny that he wished Harry's safety did not rely on the Dursley's. He rather
wished Harry could be left in his care. Though, he thought bitterly, he'd
not be much of a guardian if he was out of action for nearly a week out of
every month.
A sudden sniffle behind Remus told him he wasn't the only one who cared or wanted to give Harry a proper home. Molly Weasley wiped away a tear still gazing at the spot Harry had been moments ago. "There dear, we may be able to take him in nearer to summers end. Don't cry, Molly." Arthur whispered, taking her into his arms. "He'll be so alone with those muggles, especially now t-that -" Molly broke off, burying her face in her husband's chest as he held her tighter. Remus knew very well she'd been about to say "now that Sirius is gone" and was wishing more than ever to get back to 12 Grimmauld Place where he could busy himself with work. He'd give anything not to think of Sirius today.
As if Tonks had sensed what he was feeling, she gently took his hand in her own. "I think it best we go now, especially you two," she addressed Arthur and Molly, "as your children seem quite keen to get home." At this they all turned and found both Ron and Ginny standing two feet away, waiting patiently. "Yes, you're right. Would you all like to join us for a coming home dinner?" Molly asked, looking round to Moody, Tonks, and Remus. "I'd be delighted, Molly." Remus responded, quietly. "I'd love to. How about you Mad-Eye?" Tonks fired at Moody. "Course I am. Miss out on Molly's cooking? Merlin's beard no." He growled, a trace of a small smile on his lips. At this Molly blushed, not a trace of a tear on her face now.
* * * * * *
Later that evening, Remus sat nursing a bottle of butterbeer. Turning his gaze, he watched Molly braid Ginny's hair without aid of a wand while quietly humming. She seemed at peace and comforted in her task. Ginny was no less comforted hearing her mother hum and seemed to relish the feel of her mothers fingers in her hair. Both seemed to be drawing comfort from each other, and they were not the only ones. Arthur was immersed in a game of wizards chess with his son while Moody growled an occasional suggestion or warning beside him.
For the maybe the umpteenth time in his life, Remus wondered what it would have been like to have a family of his own. It was something that quite escaped him, the chance to marry and father children. Being what he was, none had ever seen him as an eligible candidate for . anything to be quite honest. He'd never questioned his lot and was resigned to the fact that he was a werewolf, but it was moments like this that made him question himself. Was it just being a werewolf or was it his fear of rejection that had made him avoid such chances and opportunities? Taking a swig of his butterbeer, he thought it best to put such thoughts aside as it would only make him brood too much.
He soon noticed that Tonks was not in the thick of things as she usually was. Remus stood and crossed the room to the kitchen to find her standing in the doorway to yard, illuminated in the light from the crescent moon above. He noted that she had swapped her pink hair for blue-black shoulder length hair. He stepped up to her but did not speak. They stood side by side for the rest of the evening in a companionable silence.
A sudden sniffle behind Remus told him he wasn't the only one who cared or wanted to give Harry a proper home. Molly Weasley wiped away a tear still gazing at the spot Harry had been moments ago. "There dear, we may be able to take him in nearer to summers end. Don't cry, Molly." Arthur whispered, taking her into his arms. "He'll be so alone with those muggles, especially now t-that -" Molly broke off, burying her face in her husband's chest as he held her tighter. Remus knew very well she'd been about to say "now that Sirius is gone" and was wishing more than ever to get back to 12 Grimmauld Place where he could busy himself with work. He'd give anything not to think of Sirius today.
As if Tonks had sensed what he was feeling, she gently took his hand in her own. "I think it best we go now, especially you two," she addressed Arthur and Molly, "as your children seem quite keen to get home." At this they all turned and found both Ron and Ginny standing two feet away, waiting patiently. "Yes, you're right. Would you all like to join us for a coming home dinner?" Molly asked, looking round to Moody, Tonks, and Remus. "I'd be delighted, Molly." Remus responded, quietly. "I'd love to. How about you Mad-Eye?" Tonks fired at Moody. "Course I am. Miss out on Molly's cooking? Merlin's beard no." He growled, a trace of a small smile on his lips. At this Molly blushed, not a trace of a tear on her face now.
* * * * * *
Later that evening, Remus sat nursing a bottle of butterbeer. Turning his gaze, he watched Molly braid Ginny's hair without aid of a wand while quietly humming. She seemed at peace and comforted in her task. Ginny was no less comforted hearing her mother hum and seemed to relish the feel of her mothers fingers in her hair. Both seemed to be drawing comfort from each other, and they were not the only ones. Arthur was immersed in a game of wizards chess with his son while Moody growled an occasional suggestion or warning beside him.
For the maybe the umpteenth time in his life, Remus wondered what it would have been like to have a family of his own. It was something that quite escaped him, the chance to marry and father children. Being what he was, none had ever seen him as an eligible candidate for . anything to be quite honest. He'd never questioned his lot and was resigned to the fact that he was a werewolf, but it was moments like this that made him question himself. Was it just being a werewolf or was it his fear of rejection that had made him avoid such chances and opportunities? Taking a swig of his butterbeer, he thought it best to put such thoughts aside as it would only make him brood too much.
He soon noticed that Tonks was not in the thick of things as she usually was. Remus stood and crossed the room to the kitchen to find her standing in the doorway to yard, illuminated in the light from the crescent moon above. He noted that she had swapped her pink hair for blue-black shoulder length hair. He stepped up to her but did not speak. They stood side by side for the rest of the evening in a companionable silence.