So, this one is an AU. Various people have given thoughts over the years about possible alternative names for Harry's second son. Without making a judgement about the name Albus Severus, this one offers my view on the what the best alternate name for Harry's second son if he hadn't been Albus Severus. Much love and thanks from Arizona for the Harry Potter Naming Thread now having over 6000 views (6045 as of now.)
Today I am sitting in the Leaky Cauldron with those closest to me.
I am sitting at a table surrounded by my two BFF's, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, my wife Ginny Weasley, and two other dear friends of mine, Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood. The landlady of the Leaky Cauldron, Hannah Abbott, has also joined us as she is Neville's wife.
"I have a major announcement to make," I tell Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, Luna, and Hannah.
"Oh, what is it?" asks Hermione excitedly.
"Well, you all know that my second son is due in a few weeks?"
"Yes," chorused Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, Luna, and Hannah.
"I have chosen a name for him," I say clearly.
"Aw, what is it?" asks Luna dreamily.
"Well, " I say slowly, "I am going to name my second son Alastor after Alastor "Mad Eye" Moody.
Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, Luna, and Hannah all nod quietly. All six of them have surprised looks on their faces, but all six of them seem content as well.
'CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" roars Ron, "CONSTANT VIGILANCE!"
"I don't think it's a bad name at all, " pipes up Ginny curiously, "But why have you decided to name you son Alastor after Moody?"
"To me, " I say in a crystal clear voice, "Moody represents the ultimate warrior. A guy who kept fighting and fighting."
"That's inarguable, " agrees Ginny, "You don't put as many Dark Witches and Wizards into Azkaban like Moody did if you aren't the ultimate fighter. You were an ultimate fighter too, Harry, taking on Voldemort face to face willingly as many times as you did. I think Alastor is a very appropriate name for your son."
"It's a wonderful tribute, " agrees Hermione, "Alastor certainly is name that represents the fighting spirit."
"Mad Eye had a really sad ending, " says Neville in a melancholy voice, "After taking on a risky and dangerous profession, Mad Eye paid the ultimate price in the end."
'FUCK MUNDUNGUS FLETCHER! THE WORTHLESS PIECE OF SHIT!" I roar, suddenly angry.
"Mad Eye Moody was well respected throughout the Wizarding World, " says Luna softly, staring off into space, "The name Alastor deserves to be kept alive."
"Which is exactly I'm naming my son Alastor, " I say matter of factly, "It's a wondaful way of keeping the name and legacy of a great man alive."
"Moody's death was the one death during the Second Wizarding War that shocked me the most, " admits Hannah mournfully, "He seemed so tough, so durable, so invincible."
"That's why his death was so unbelievable, " says Luna quietly, looking up at the ceiling, "It would've been impossible, before it happened, to imagine Moody dying."
"That's how we all felt, " I say sadly, "Moody's passing was the one that made us all realize, if Moody was vulnerable, then we all are."
""I think it's very fitting that you are naming your son Alastor, " says Hermione approvingly, "But, are going to give your son a middle name?"
"Yes, " I say in a happier voice, "I am going to bestow the middle name of Rubeus on my second son in honor of Hagrid."
Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, and Hannah all burst into applause at this while Luna frowns.
"I see most of you like my choice of middle name for my second son, so let me explain it, " I say in a businesslike voice, "There are three men who I truly consider having been father figures to me: Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Rubeus Hagrid. I refuse to consider Dumbledore a father figure because of how manipulative he was. I already gifted my first son the middle name of Sirius. I will not use the name Remus. The right to use that name for a son belongs to Teddy."
"You are kind and thoughtful, Harry Potter, " says Luna dreamily.
"No doubt about that, " agrees Hermione, "Harry's EXACTLY the type of person who would think of and take such things into account."
"So, " I say glowingly, "That leaves Hagrid. Hagrid was a great father figure to me and deserves to have his name passed on and his legacy kept alive."
"Hagrid was the one who introduced you to the Wizarding World and showed you the ropes of it all, " says Hermione proudly, "If that isn't being a great father figure, then I don't know what is. OF COURSE, you should name your son Rubeus!"
"Oh!" remembers Ron suddenly, "Hagrid was the one who told you that you are a wizard."
"Yer a wizard, Harry, " I say, imitating Hagrid's voice as best as I can.
"There's no better choice of name for your son than Rubeus, " says Ginny thoughtfully, "I've long been impressed that, at the start of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Hagrid's reaction to that fateful Halloween was NOT joy at the downfall of Voldemort, but legitimate sadness at the losses of James and Lily."
"Hagrid is always loyal to the people he cares about, " says Neville crisply, "He is also deeply compassionate."
"I was never a fan of Hagrid, " says Luna bluntly, "I always thought Grubbly Plank was a far superior teacher."
"This is my decision, not yours, Luna, " I say firmly, "It is my right as a father to name my son how I choose no matter how anyone else feels about it."
"I can respect that, " says Luna sincerely, turning her frown into a smile, "Ultimately. the only person who was any right to have any say in the naming of any baby is the baby's father."
"There's literally no argument against that, " agrees Hannah, "That acknowledged, I love the naming choice. I respect Harry for naming his son after someone who was so important in his life without stealing a name another person has bigger rights to. For what it's worth, I think Hagrid being a subpar teacher is overstated. The only really bad thing he ever did as a teacher was the blast ended skewts thingy. He takes criticism in some circles for what happened in his first lesson with the hippogriffs. And, yeah, maybe starting with a smaller creature would have been more ideal, but the reality is that Hagrid told that class exactly how to handle hippogriffs. it's Draco's own fault he insulted Buckbeak with that offensive "U" word."
"Exactly, " I pipe up, giving Hannah a grateful nod, "The thestral, niffler, and unicorn lessons were wonderfully done, and you hit the nail on the head about the hippogriff lesson. That said, my choice to name my son Rubeus has little to do with the teacher and everything to do with the father figure. He was literally the first person I ever felt I could trust. "
"That sums up perfectly why naming your son Rubeus is a fitting decision, " says Hermione approvingly.
"In naming my second son Alastor Rubeus Potter, I am naming my son after a great man in the Wizarding World and a great man in my own life."
Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, Luna, and Hannah all just smile at this.
I smile myself. Alastor Rubeus Potter is the perfect and proper name for my second son.
I can't wait to hold Alastor Rubeus Potter.