Chapter 9: Full Moon

Harry and Hermione had argued their way back to Hogwarts with both the Grangers and the Potters. Emma insisted they brought a taser. Severus and Minerva had placed several runes and spells in Quirrell's bedroom door, windows, and fireplace. Nothing would come in or out of the office without their knowledge. They also assigned an elf to follow the man around when he wasn't teaching. Three more unicorns had been bled out, according to Hagrid. Filius had been wearing the ring for three full months. When he was questioned, he didn't know who removed his headmaster ring and exchanged it for the poisoned one.

The ring had been harming his body, his mind, and his soul. Flitwick was horrified by the events that had transpired while he was not himself. He owed many apologies. First, he needed to talk to the Weasleys, but since he now was at St. Mungo's Mind Ward, and under the supervision of the DMLE, he couldn't contact anyone. Merlin! He had used an unforgivable on Minerva! Would she ever forgive him? She would be right to give him hell. Eileen! The children! Morgana! He asked a healer's assistant to fetch him parchment, ink, and a quill. He looked at the Auror as if asking for permission.

"You can write any letters you want, Professor, but we need to read it and check it before it is sent out," the Auror said. He had been Filius' student, luckily.

"That is alright. Thank you, Mr. White."

He decided to write to the School Board first. Then, he would write to Arthur and Molly. After that, he would write Eileen and Lord and Lady Potter as well as Dr. Granger. Last but certainly not least, he would contact Gringotts.

Esteemed School Board,

I have decided to step down from my position as Hogwarts' Headmaster. My actions, though they were not of my own free will, as you know, have endangered the lives of hundreds of students. What happened to Mr. Weasley is absolutely horrifying. I will talk to the Weasleys to apologize and offer reparations in the name of the school.

I will be taking a sabbatical since my complete recovery is unlikely. Had I been a regular size wizard, I may not have been as affected as I was by the ring. The goblins and healers that have seen me are surprised I am even alive. Merlin knows that I would have taken Mr. Weasley's place gladly. Such a young person should have never been exposed to such a horrible attack. It is improbable that I have more than a few years left. I would like to spend those years with my family and dedicate myself to writing.

While I know most of you will be incensed that I dare make a recommendation, due to the circumstances that have brought about my resignation, I shall make it anyway. The following Headmaster or Headmistress should be someone who has proven themselves to put safety before profit and students before investors. If Professor McGonagall can be convinced to take the mantle, she will improve things vastly, just like she was doing before that dark day of the Massacre.

I am ashamed and remorseful that I wasn't able to live up to your expectations. I shall apologize to the students and parents myself.

Regards,

Filius Flitwick,

MD, MC*

OM First Class.

Professor McGonagall was acting Headmistress. She was still not happy to do it, but after Filius' lengthy letter, where he informed her that he was dying, she replied that she forgave him for the Cruciatus and would not be accusing him formally. Minerva felt a sense of duty to take the position. It was partly duty, partly fear that someone nefarious could take it instead. Filius had forwarded her an apology to parents, faculty, and students. She sent it out in the morning, and now her office was like a landmine field of howlers. She kept destroying them, but they kept coming. Eventually, one of the elves managed to intercept the owls with tempting bacon to make sure those nasty letters didn't reach their current boss. Elves liked her better than Headmaster Flitwick. She was kinder, more patient, and more protective of their rights.

Harry and Hermione's foreheads were acting up less around Professor Quirrell. They didn't know it was due to Voldemort's weakening. Voldemort thought he was weaker because his vessel was a weakling. Quirrell knew he would have to wait a really long time before he attempted to breach the safety measures around the thing Voldemort wanted. They agreed to wait until Christmas break, when most children and faculty would leave. However, this proved impossible because Grindelwald had demanded Quirinus to go back to headquarters, and disobeying him could cost him his life… or at the very least a limb. He hoped that Voldemort wouldn't be a tattletale, but he knew better than to expect that. Quirrell used a couple of contacts from Knocturn Alley and procured a muggle cyanide pill. If he was going to die, he would instead do it on his own terms. Being tortured to death or insanity didn't exactly appeal to him.

The Grangers had decided to tell everyone their pregnancy news at the Christmas celebration. This way, everyone would be there, and they wouldn't have to go around telling the same story several times. Lord and Lady Potter had asked the Grangers to meet with them. The doctors sat waiting in the study. They were still not confident whether living there was a good idea anymore.

"Dearies, would you like some tea?" Dorea asked as she came in.

The Grangers shared a look. "No, thank you."

Charlus came in and sat after, making sure his wife was seated comfortably.

"We have called you here to clear the air. Tolanthe informed us that you are considering moving out."

"It may be for the best," Daniel said with a poker face and sitting up taller.

"While I know there is nothing we can do to change your mind if you are set on that idea, I would like to beg you to reconsider. Dory and I have come to see you like family, and we wouldn't want you to take Harry and Hermione away from us," Lord Potter's eyes were misty. "We adore our grandson and granddaughter… We know she has grandparents already, but we can't help but see her as one of our own now."

Emma smiled. "You are our family too. We don't really want to go. We just think that things can get awkward. And about Hermione… a child can never have too many doting grandparents."

"Awkward?" Dorea asked, holding her husband's hand.

"Look, Charlus, I am really sorry I yelled at you and even at Nagkrat. I just feel way out of my element, and it honestly hurt a lot when you threw me under the bus. I was not expecting that," Daniel said with a slight frown. "I am not the proudest man. However, I am proud of my family, and there is nothing I wouldn't do to keep them safe. The Wizarding World sees all of us as second class citizens. Since Harry and Hermione are married, we don't even matter when it comes to decision making and important matters. If it had been Hermione who was attacked so brutally by that monstrosity," Daniel visibly shook as a shudder of unadulterated horror went through him. He continued, "that school wouldn't have even considered letting us know! Like our children aren't the most important people in our lives!"

A tortured sob escaped Daniel as he covered his face with his hands. The danger their children had been in while hours away was eating up at him with all the what-ifs. Emma rubbed her husband's back in calming motions. Charlus stood up slowly. He went around the desk and put his hands on Daniel's shoulders. The younger man looked up.

"You are a wonderful father. Your family is lucky to have you. If more children had parents like both of you, the world would be a better place," Charlus squeezed Daniel's shoulders. "I am aware that you are disappointed in me. I would rather you'd be angry at me. Disappointment is much worse than anger… However, I want to apologize. What I did was entirely uncalled for. If Lily could have stepped out of that painting, I may not even be here. The sacrifices you have made for our grandson, for our family and friends do you credit. We are so grateful and feel, as Martin would say, completely blessed to have you in our lives. I am very sorry I didn't provide the support you needed in that situation, and I give you my word that it will never happen again. I see you as a son. That is why it has been so difficult to see your disappointment."

Daniel sniffed and replied, "I forgive you. It's just… Being able to protect my family was always a given, a point of pride in my life. I can fight. I can throw knives. I can shoot… but I wouldn't have a clue what to do with a bloody mountain troll!"

"Punch him?" Dorea chuckled. "You have a mean right hook."

Emma and Daniel shared a look and a nervous laugh.

"I want you to feel equal to all of us. I can't make you a wizard, but I can do something else. I can name you both vessels of House Potter, making you essentially Potters in all but blood. That would give you added protection and a higher rank within our society."

Daniel rubbed his forehead. "I would need to know what that entails, but still… We would depend on you."

"What if you don't?" Dorea smirked as a thought hit her.

"Meaning?" Emma asked, wishing for clarification.

"Have you ever wondered why you have magical children?" Dorea asked. Comprehension dawned on Charlus, and his expression turned to curiosity.

"I think we have been too overwhelmed by having them to even question that… Sirius did say that many times magical children are born of non-magical parents," Emma frowned as Dorea's smirk did not change. "What are you thinking, Dory?"

"Sirius showed us his memories of the reading of James and Lily's will. I don't know if you recall, but Augusta said she hadn't heard your last name in a long time…."

"So?" Daniel asked, blinking repeatedly.

"You should take an inheritance test at Gringotts! There was an Ancient and Noble House of Dagworth that through the years became House of Dagworth-Granger," Charlus said as he rushed to his books to look something up. "Why didn't we think of this before?"

Daniel and Emma shared a confused look.

"Aha!" Charlus exclaimed as he read. "Hector Dagworth-Granger, one of the first Potion Masters, and his wife, Agatha Noelle Aubert, researcher and homemaker, had seven children. Unfortunately, only one of these children was magical while the rest were squibs. The magical child (no name) died within a week of his birth. Hector and Agatha chose to move to Muggle London when they received backlash and unkind comments from the magical community at large due to their other children being squibs. Nothing else is known about them to this day."

"Do you know of any family members with those names?"

"No," Daniel replied. "When did they live?"

"1800s," Charlus replied after checking the book.

"We have no way of knowing, then. Us muggles don't keep such a detailed family… tree as you do," Daniel shrugged.

"You don't, but Gringotts does. They just need a few drops of blood," Dorea explained. "They will test it against their records of Dagworth-Granger House."

"And what if that is the case?"

"Then you would be the Head of a Most Ancient and Noble House. Which would revive their lines and would give you the right to be a part of the Wizengamot as a powerful house. This would let you stand on your own two feet legally in the Wizarding World. However, if you are not related to Hector, you can still be vessels of this House."

Daniel nodded. "Let's do that soon, then." Charlus stood in front of Daniel and pulled him up for a hug. "Being a vessel is the closest we can do to make you our children. We know you have parents and we are looking forward to spending time with them. We would never want to step on your parents' toes."

"We understand. Thank you," Daniel squeezed Charlus tight.

Emma and Dorea rolled their eyes… Men were such complicated creatures when it came to their egos.

"Now for something a bit more cheery…" Dorea opened one of the drawers on the desk and pulled out a few beautiful, ornate invitations. "Here. For both your parents. Dan, your sister, and her kitten are more than welcome to join us too. We already cleared it with Madam Bones."

The doctors smiled and took the invitation cards gently. After they thanked the Potters, they retired. Emma was exhausted. Even with all the potions, spells, elven salves, extra food, and concoctions, her body was struggling. Reading the books on magical pregnancy had her a bit terrified.

The authors explained that for a non-magical body, carrying a magical baby was the equivalent to having a non-magical pregnancy with several babies in one go. Apparently, her requirements for nutrition and other aids were three times those of a normal pregnancy. Now, Emma spent most of her days eating every hour of the day, walking around (which was the only exercise she could do), and working on paperwork for the hospital. Her belly was growing faster than the last time too.

She had gone to an obstetrician and ended up not coming back. Dorea had to confound the doctor as he freaked out when Emma told him how far along she was. The obstetrician could not believe she wasn't around six months pregnant, given the baby's development and how advanced the process seemed. Emma's blood pressure was a bit high, as were her glucose levels, but her weight gain was slow. She only felt fatigued and really heavy. Luckily there hadn't been any bleeding or pain as she had experienced with Ajax. Her feet were extra swollen, so much so that she had to get new shoes.

Sirius groaned. He was in a lot of pain, and he was sick and tired of being in bed. He never thought that would ever happen. As Padfoot opened his dry eyes, he immediately noticed that Remus wasn't with him. Memories of his beast attacking Remus were physically painful.

"Lord Black, please stay still," Newt placed his hand on Sirius' shoulder, and Sirius smelled it. He smelled of kindness and nervousness.

"Where's Remus? Is he okay?"

"Yes, he is. He is in the next room. Mr. Black… I have been studying your genome."

"My what now?"

"Your blood. What makes you who you are… Your blood has changed radically. Mr. Lupin's has changed too. We are still not sure if this means you now are a different species or at least a more evolved kind of werewolf."

"Oooookay. And what would that mean?" Sirius was growing more nervous by the minute.

"We still don't know. You did attack each other. You are both alphas, and neither wants to compete with another alpha."

"And that could mean?"

"That while you may be in love with each other, your very genetic makeup may make you… incompatible."

"How?!" Sirius asked agitatedly, trying to get up only for Newt to shake his head and push him into the bed.

"Your brain and heart may want you together, but your genetics may force you apart. Alphas, especially in wolves, tend to be hierarchic in terms of power within their packs. Alphas do mate with alphas, but only when their genders are opposite."

"But there are gay wolves… aren't they?"

"Yes, but the problem is not being gay, nor is it sex. Reproduction is still male to female. The problem is that as you may be a new species, your genes may want you… even force you to reproduce. And as much as you love one another… you can't do that."

"But we don't even want children!"

"Your inner animal may want them…"

"Bloody hell!" Sirius exclaimed.

"Are you alright, love?" Remus' voice asked through the wall.

"Yes. You?"

"Fine. Newt, can we be in the same room for a while? We need to talk."

"Of course, but try to behave."

Newt brought Remus in a wheelchair. The man felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. His alpha reacted to another alpha in the room. Newt brought two copies of his research and levitated them in front of the couple's face. They started reading. Sirius looked progressively more confused the more he read. Remus looked green and greener as he read.

"What the fuck even are we?!" Remus asked Newt.

"We will not know the extent of your changes until the coming full moon. The problem here is that you did not start the same. Mr. Lupin, you were already a werewolf when you were bitten, and a werewolf from a different strain at that. Mr. Black, you were a wizard that was a dog animagus. Now dogs are related to wolves, but they are not the same."

"Because dogs can be domesticized?" Remus asked as he finally stopped rereading the pages in front of him.

"Yes, but not just that. Listen, both wolves and dogs belong to the species Canis lupus. They share 99.9 percent of their DNA. They can actually interbreed, although it doesn't happen very often."

"But less than 1 percent should not matter that much, should it?" Sirius asked, scared of Remus' grave expression.

"You would think that. However, take this example. Both wolves and dogs have the exact same number of teeth, but those teeth, the skull, and the jaw are both significantly larger and stronger in the wolf. There may be many reasons for this, but the main one is that wolves bite and break things like bones in the wild. Dogs evolved more towards scavenger hunters of what humans left behind."

"But is it just appearance?" Sirius asked. Newt and Remus shook their heads.

"Animal bodies are not just for show. They are for function. While dogs' faces and eyes are different, a bit larger, they also have floppy ears and shorter tails. Wolves have pointed ears and a long sickle-like tail. Wolves' feet are enormous compared to a dog's. Their two front, middle toes are much longer than their side toes."

"And that means?"

"That wolves can spring off of their toes, flex their longer ankles, keep their elbows right together, and spring at incredible distances. They can also go much further than dogs while preserving their energy. Their anatomy is designed to do just that. Dogs are sprinters. Wolves are marathoners," Newt replied.

"Dogs can't survive without humans, love. There are some feral dogs in the wild, of course, like the Grim. But those dogs don't do well. They've been domesticated to the point where they can no longer adequately survive alone," Remus said. "Dogs will obey commands. Usually, people train them with treats, and dogs rely on them for food. Wolf behavior differs. People have tried to 'train' wolves using food. However, wolves eventually grow frustrated and walk off to find something else to eat."

"Wolves know they can find their own food without having to survive by putting up with humans' silly requests," Newt smiled. "Also, dogs form attachments very quickly, but wolves do not. They don't even exhibit similar behaviors to dogs that are domesticized."

"But their development is similar, right?" Sirius asked.

"Only as pups. Wolves and dogs are weaned at around 8 weeks. However, wolf puppies mature much faster than domestic dogs. And, if you think about it, it makes sense. Wolves have to survive in the wild, but dog puppies have people to care for them. Studies prove that wolves can be a good companion for about six months, but then they become hard to handle."

"Dogs can breed several times throughout the year, but wolves breed only once a year," Remus added.

"Indeed, this next part is quite important as far as you are concerned. Wolves have a set breeding season from February through mid-March, and pups are born in April and May. Pregnancies are 62 to 75 days. Litter sizes differ too. A wolf can birth four to five pups, but dog litters can vary and are usually larger," Scamander added. "Both wolf and dog mothers care for and nurture their pups. However, dogs care for their young without the dad's help. Wolf packs are made up of a mother and a father wolf and their offspring."

"Why is that important for us?" Remus asked with a frown.

"Because while your human side is definitely gay… your animal side may be straight?" Scamander replied in a questioning tone.

"Whoa! Are you asking us or telling us?" Sirius was scandalized. He had always been bisexual, but Remus had never been attracted to women.

"I am presenting a possibility. We will not know until we get to February. Then, if you are not attracted to each other, we will know… It's November now, and the full moon is coming soon. I advise you to spend your first full moon separately. Your alphas don't seem to like each other. We don't know what will happen. It will probably show us the extent of your changes."

"Fine. Different rooms but same place. It can't be here. The basement under my cottage has no divisions."

"Lady Longbottom offered her runic basement. It has solid stone walls, and that would work well. I already went to visit, and it seems a great place for this," Newt smiled.

"Alright, then. Mr. Scamander, if you don't mind, I need to speak with my husband alone."

"Of course, but you are staying right where you are."

"I am not divorcing you, damn it!" Sirius exclaimed.

"Sirius, be reasonable! Our alphas will clearly not allow us to be together!"

"We won't know that for sure until February!"

"Sirius, I love you, but I can sense you are territorial just about me being here. The hair on the back of your neck is standing because you are tense and feel threatened," Remus said with a sigh. Sirius gasped. Before he could ask anything, Remus continued. "I can smell your aggressiveness. I know that because I feel the same way. Fuck! Out of all the ways we have made each other feel, this is the one I hate the most."

"How can I want to hug you desperately and at the same time want to push you out of the room?" Sirius whispered in a pained voice.

"I don't know… Maybe you should have just let me die, love. It might have been less painful than this." Remus whispered as he used a spell to roll himself out of the room.

Longbottom Manor was its usual magnificent self. Winter plants were in full bloom. The river that bordered the house was starting to freeze. It was a well lit night outside. The Longbottoms, the Potters, the Grangers, Narcissa, Severus, Newt, and Poppy, were all sitting down in the dining room. All they did was push food around on their plates. No one could eat because they were too nervous. The full moon was about to reach its highest point. Augusta insisted Frank and Alice remain in the living room. They could walk on their own, but they couldn't use wands yet.

Newt placed instruments that would allow them to see and measure what was happening in the two chambers. He excused himself. He had enchanted quills ready, so he could take better notes. Poppy would also be taking notes and attempting to run diagnoses from the small window high up in both chambers' walls. Newt had placed a temporary sort of ladder for them to reach two small windows with silver-coated bars on them. They had silver weapons at the ready, just in case. The thick led doors had been coated by goblins with a silver layer on the inside to ensure neither Remus nor Sirius would approach it.

Scamander was in his element. He explained to everyone that Remus' transformation stood to be the worse. His wolf would attack himself and try to dig any remnants of silver that were missed. Due to this, Newt had sent Lupin in naked without a wand. The man had complained about having to be naked. Sirius winked and loudly told Remy not to be shy. Padfoot wanted to show off his sexy husband, who had nothing to be self-conscious about. Remus blushed furiously at this.

"We are all adults here, love," Sirius had told him through the wall as they were separated.

The only objects inside the chambers were a deep stone dish full of water and, next to it, another empty dish where elves would place raw venison soon. Remus was pacing in his chamber. He had horrible shivers, and cold sweat dripped down his back. Newt insisted on many onlookers because he wasn't sure how many spells it would take to subdue Remus, so he went for a robust magical number: seven.

Sirius sat in the middle of the room, his legs crossed, his back against the wall that he shared with Remus. All he was doing was taking deep breaths with his eyes closed. His skin was covered in goosebumps. He was naked, but he felt no cold, quite the opposite. He felt a strange warmth in his core. He tried to stop his nose, but he couldn't help it. He could smell Remus. This would make him feel safe, happy, and at home before. Now, he felt threatened. But oddly, he felt like, despite the threat, he could win in a confrontation. After all, he had bitten Remus, not the other way around. According to Lily's research, that alone should make Remus lower in the hierarchy.

All the other people and elves in the house felt cold fear with Remus' and Sirius' first simultaneous howl. Howls, groans, growls, and the snapping of huge canine teeth hitting each other had everyone outside feeling tense and horrified. Outside, owls hooted, and the wind made the trees make eery sounds as they danced. Emma's hand grabbed her husband's. Dorea hugged Charlus. Severus and Narcissa held hands and tried to read the notes that Newt and Poppy were taking. Remus' body felt on fire. Not even his first transformation ever had been so painful. He wanted to shave his skin off with his own claws. Something was polluting his blood. Damn silver!

Scamander watched with horror as Remus' razor-sharp claws did cuts all over his body. Then they burrowed under his skin to try to find silver, creating a gory mess. Burgundy, almost black blood, came out in rivers. In the next room, Sirius's body contorted as he painfully fell down on all fours. He could smell Remus' blood. Padfoot's thoughts were still human, despite the blinding pain. He knew his husband, the love of his life, was in worse pain, and he couldn't be there for him. Fucking silver!

The notes were already a couple of feet long. Poppy kept trying to hit Remus with episkeys as she was scared he would bleed out. Newt had guaranteed that he would not kill himself. His wolf wouldn't let him, but the matron was not so sure. Sirius was now clawing at the wall between him and his husband with desperation. He wanted to comfort him, to hold him, to take away his pain. Padfoot's mind was still his.

"Remy! You need to stop cutting! Please!" Sirius begged, his deeper, animalistic voice scaring even himself.

Emma felt a chill run through her. That wasn't Sirius's voice… but he was speaking! That meant his human side was powering through whatever else was going on. She was very proud of Sirius. If only Remus could hold onto his humanity more. Whimpers from Remus' room made everyone stop: he sounded like a small puppy, crying over being left alone for too long. Emma motioned for her husband to help her up towards the window.

"Remus! We love you! You can fight this! You are a brilliant, kind, man!" Emma said from the small opening. The first time she had seen Remus as a werewolf, it had been scary, but now, he was different. His body had taken characteristics that Sirius' werewolf gave him. His appearance was more human-like. Remus' body was taller, more muscular, and furrier. His eyes were terrified as her voice broke him out of his reverie.

"E-E-E," he tried with difficulty. His voice was similar to Sirius but raspier. This was the first time he had ever managed to keep his ability to talk or almost talk when fully transformed.

"Yes, honey, Emma. We are all here for you. Okay? We love you. You got this. Whatever happens, you are not alone. We are not going anywhere. Hold on to your mind."

"T-T-Trying, S-S-Sirius?"

"Yes, love," Sirius replied, feeling pride bursting in his chest. His husband was so strong. "I am here, and I am fine… Don't worry about this old dog. Keep trying. Don't you dare give up!"

"H-Hurts," Remus doubled over and threw up: a viscous green sludge that smelled horrible. Poppy vanished it from the window. Newt immediately told her off. He needed a sample.

"I know it hurts. I wish I could feel that pain for you. This is all my fault," Sirius punched the wall in frustration and jumped away when he saw the big dent and cracks that his fist had caused.

"Sirius, calm down. The walls are sturdy, but you are freakishly strong," Daniel threw a thick iron bar into the room. "Newt wants you to try and bend this."

Sirius took it and bent it with ease, turning the bar into a spiral. Daniel's jaw slacked. Padfoot looked at his own shaky hands in fright. Scamander took over for Daniel as the doctor came down the steps. His eyes widened at the spiral. He wanted to test several things. "Mr. Black, can you please jump as high as your body lets you?"

Sirius jumped, and his head hit the stone ceiling, denting it. "Ouch!" He rubbed his head.

"Damn! Sorry. Try to jump as forward as possible?" Newt requested.

Sirius went smoothly across the room around 13 ft. He had to put his hands in front of him to prevent himself from kissing the wall. Scamander realized they would need a bigger basement to test his running speed.

On the other window, both Narcissa and Poppy threw healing incantations at Remus. He had a fever, and his body was breaking out in hives. He began rubbing his body against the walls. Remus was so itchy.

"S-S-Snape!" Remus groaned.

Severus came to the window. "How can I-? Oh! Give me a minute." Remus needed allergy medication. The Potion Master asked his wife to hand him a potion in an iron cup. "Here," Severus levitated the glass towards him. Lupin drank it in one gulp. His itchiness began reducing right away.

"H-H-Hungry," Remus groaned as his stomach grumbled.

Two recently cut, bloody venison legs appeared on the stone dish next to the water. Remus leaped towards them and started eating like a wild animal in all fours. In the next room, Sirius sat by the dish and took one leg and began eating with vigor but at a slower pace with moderate bites. Newt came down the ladder and began whispering to Poppy within a bubble meant to keep their conversation private. Once the bones of the second leg hit the stone dishes, Narcissa went up the ladder to Sirius' room.

"Want me to clean you up?" she offered.

He nodded and turned to face her as he licked blood remnant most of his impressively big canine teeth. Narcissa forced herself not to react. She did two teeth cleaning spells at Sirius' request and went down as he drank the water greedily, and as soon as he put it down, the plate refilled.

"Remy?" Sirius' deep voice reverberated through the dark basement. He was scared the taste of blood would overpower his husband's mind.

Remus groaned and growled, then let out a pained howl as the clouds that had been covering the moon moved away, and the moonlight came through the windows with more force. Emma went back up the stairs.

"Remy, listen to me," the transformed man looked up the window and huffed. "I know you are in there. I need you to fight for your mind. There's a niece or nephew that needs you to teach them about magic."

Remus shook his head and got closer to the window with a cocked head. He knew she was pregnant but didn't know the baby was magical. Emma put her hand through the window, pushing fear from her mind. After all, Remus had just eaten, and she trusted his ability to focus. Once her arm was inside all the way to the shoulder, Remus approached her and smelled her palm. Emma pushed happy thoughts, imagining those thoughts bathing Remus, and gold sparks came out of her hand.

Lupin looked deep into her eyes and placed his cold, sweaty forehead against her stretched hand. She caressed his forehead and face, disregarding that her hand was covered in blood and bits of venison from his meal. Remus felt his animal rage vanishing with each passing second Emma touched him. He felt connected to the little one and Emma. His rational but animalistic mind made an oath to keep that baby safe always.

Severus and Charlus had to hold Daniel back with all their strength before he harshly pulled Emma away. Dan loved Remus, but he didn't trust him at the moment. Loud noises and sudden movements were not appreciated by the animal within. Poppy had to silence the man.

"You are having a little witch or wizard!?" Sirius asked from the next room, his face pressed against the window.

"Yes, we are. So this baby will need his or her uncles there to learn all about magic."

"We… W-Will," Remus said with difficulty.

Newt and Poppy went on taking notes and running different tests through the night. Everyone else stayed to show support. When morning came, Sirius kept his muscles and additional height but lost his furriness, except for his fuller beard. Remus kept half the muscles he developed with the moon, acute hearing and sight, and an animalistic hunger that wanted more meat. When Moony woke up properly and blinked his sleep away, he realized that he wanted something else… to thoroughly fuck his husband. Remy sighed. He hoped that he would not have a biological need to… mate with a female. While he understood the mechanics, he had never felt the appeal. Remus Lupin had never touched a boob in his whole life… and women had two of them!* If his wolf wanted a female… he would need Newt to do something to stop that. He could smell Sirius' new scent distinctly and wanted to vanish the wall between them and have his way with him. Sirius was having a similar problem, but his hormones were raging. His husband was a wall away, and he smelled more delicious than ever… But other smells from outside were tempting too. Ugh! Bloody hormones! All the women outside the door he felt related to… Except for Poppy, but Poppy could be his mother. The men smelled tempting too. Damn all the bloody hormones to hell and beyond!

Emma was the first to wake on her mattress on the floor. They had all decided to set camp in the basement to support Remus and Sirius. She got up slowly, so she wouldn't wake her husband. She approached Remus' window.

"Remy? How are you feeling, love?"

Remus didn't respond. Instead, he rushed to the window and began sniffing the air. Emma Granger was, objectively, a gorgeous woman. Her voluminous, wavy, slightly messy bed hair was deep chocolate with golden and caramel highlights. Her skin was perfect, and had that famous pregnancy glow. Lupin could smell the hormones all around her. She had a beautiful figure that was now fuller as her body got ready to deliver and nurse a baby. Any straight man would find her stunning, and yet, he felt nothing.

"Remy?" she snapped her fingers in front of his face. "Are you alright?" She felt his forehead. He leaned into the touch expecting a foreign stirring somewhere. Nothing. Thank Merlin and Morgana! Remus felt nothing but the overwhelming need to protect Emma and her baby. His new werewolf still saw her as part of his pack but there was no sexual attraction whatsoever.

"I don't want to have sex with you!" Lupin exclaimed triumphantly. This made everyone else wake.

"What?!" Emma asked, taking a step back and blinking repeatedly.

"Hey!" Daniel complained from the mattress as he rubbed sleep off his eyes.

"Newt! Does that mean what I think it means?!" Sirius shouted from his enclosure.

"We cannot know until you go near a female in heat during the mating period, but this is promising," Scamander replied, writing an additional note.

"I was just about to say you wounded my vanity!" Emma chuckled, "But I am so glad you don't find me appealing!"

"I do!" Sirius groaned against the window. "I am so sorry, Emma! I hate myself! I feel yucky and very incestuous about it!" Sirius

"Ewww!" Emma grimaced.

"I know!" Sirius hit his head against the wall. "But it's not just you!"

"Mr. Black, please elaborate? I need to write it down."

"I want to have my way with everyone! And most of you I think of as part of my family, so I am feeling pretty grossed out at myself!" Sirius complained, hitting his head against the wall again.

"But this is to be expected. You have always been bisexual. Right? Perhaps-" Newt was interrupted.

"We should probably leave so Sirius can calm down," Augusta suggested with an amused cackle. "As much as I would enjoy breaking him, I think Remus would skin me alive."

"Augusta!" Lady Potter and Poppy Pomfrey told her off.

"Thanks, Augie! Perhaps if I wasn't married, I would enjoy your… um… rough treatment," Sirius laughed. Augusta had a similar sense of humor to his own. Remus' huff on the next room made him add. "However, I am not just married but head over heels in love with my scrumptious husband."

"Please, everyone, vacate the basement. I need to have a word with the happy couple," Newt requested. Once it was only the three of them, Newt approached the doors. "I will have you meet each other inside the enclosures. Since you haven't been reacted negatively to each other, you should approach and see how it goes."

"Is that safe?" Remus asked with a frown.

"It should be," Scamander pulled a lever, and a section of the stone wall receded. Sirius rushed to Remus' side and pushed his husband against the wall. They kissed with unabridged passion.

"Scamander, as much as we appreciate your scientific curiosity… Get out of here so we can fuck."

Newt blushed scarlet and put his notes down. "Of course, please try to remember anything that feels different or… works different," he said, leaving hastily. He did his most potent silencing charm on the cells and went upstairs to have breakfast.

A/N: Thank you for reading! Happy Holidays! I realize I am a day late for Christmas. However, the holidays are a rough time for me since my mom passed. I wanted to upload the Christmas chapter in Christmas but I had writer's block caused by nostalgia. I hope 2021 is a much better year for all of us. Stay safe and healthy! XO -Lux-

*MD (Master Duelist), MC (Master of Charms), OM (Order of Merlin) [This should have been in my previous chapter. Sorry!]

*Paraphrasing from the song Papi by Todrick Hall. You should hear it. The song is about a gay man trying to get an opportunity to get famous in Hollywood. He meets a deviant female agent that wants to sample his 'goods' in exchange for talking him up to her boss, who is (I think) a big manager that could launch his career to new heights. This excerpt is from his monologue in the song where he tries to decide whether to give in to this agent. "For God's sake, she gotta know/ She's not my body type/ And I know, what's wrong just can't be right/ On the one hand you got one life/ You should cut yourself some slack/ You know once she's had the chocolate then she's never going back/ Is she talking a big talk or is this how you play the game?/ She says I got sharp potential, she can't even say my name/ How many one-hit-wonders sit and wonder why we never knew of them?/ You've never touched a boob in your whole life, and she's got two of them/ This road is full of choices, tough decisions, rough mistakes/ Take the high road or the easy street, the choice is yours to make"