Chapter 6

The moved back to 12 Grimmauld Place hadn't been that difficult once Hermione gave her approval. She had packed all the things that Liv needed and a few clothes and pajamas of her own as she had moved into the old house, leaving rest of the things to the boys or men who had requested her to let them do it for them.

She was given the room on second floor where the boys each had their room. Harry and Sirius lived next door to each other and Hermione was beside Remus. Liv's nursery was in between Sirius and Harry since Hermione didn't want Liv far away from her and the accommodation gave her easy access to her nursery since it had its door in front of her room.

Hermione had been insistent on shifting to the third floor since she was too used to live alone only to be told by a smirking Sirius that she seemed nervous to live with three handsome bachelors. It was enough to rile her up. Another change that came into the old house was that the witch now took over cooking. Out of the three wizard, Harry was the only one who could cook but he was always tired handling his job and two parts of family so Hermione decided to ease him. Besides since Liv was always with either Hawy, Paddy or Dada, she got a lot of free time.

It was two days since Hermione moved in with them and they had decided that since Christmas was arriving soon, the dinner on Christmas would be the best opportunity to tell everyone about both the females that have returned. Technically, only one of them had returned, but well you know…

It was the day before her coming out party (you know what I mean) that she found herself alone with the resident werewolf in the couch. In the few days, Hermione had been there, Remus had realized that she had been avoiding him. In fact, if she hadn't been so lost in thought, he was sure she would have already left. He looked at the beautiful witch wondering what he had done for her to choose to ignore him. Was it because he was a werewolf? It hadn't bothered her earlier though. Did a werewolf kill her lover?

She must have felt his gaze on her as she raised her head to look at him. A pained expression on her face as she noticed Liv with him. Liv had been with Sirius earlier before he went to loo. She got up to leave.

"Hermione" Remus called her from his place on the couch where he was sitting with Liv sleeping on his chest.

"Yes?" She asked wiping the pain from her face and pulling on a smile as she faced him. However, it couldn't fool him. He motioned her to join him by his side on couch. He didn't want to wake Liv up by speaking too loudly.

"Is there anything you want to say to me?" He said and saw her eyes widen in panic. He hated it. The feeling in the pit of his stomach made him want to run away. To not have to make this conversation. But he would. Because Remus Lupin always did the right thing. He wouldn't blame Hermione if she asked him to stay away from Liv. She was a mother and it was her right to think about the safety of her daughter. No matter how much he has grown to love the baby, he knew he was dangerous.

"I don't know Remus. You tell me?" She said.

So, he would have to say it. He would make it easier for her then.

"I have seen you watching me whenever I hold Liv which is too often. I have seen the pained look on your face whenever she is with me. Don't deny it." He said when she opened her mouth to protest. "It is not with Harry or Sirius. Just me." He cleared his throat. " I know no one in right senses will trust their child in hands of a werewolf. You will just have to say Hermione. I won't go near her again." Though he said the words, His hands pulled Liv closer. He didn't want the girl away from him. He had no idea she could matter so much to him in such small time. The wolf looked at her as his cub and Remus knew if he ever wanted a child in future, he would think about her as an inspiration.

"Remus!" Hermione shrieked and realised the sleeping girl then lowered her voice. "How can you even think that. You know that your lycanthropy doesn't bother me in the least. If there is anyone in this world, I would trust her with," she placed a hand on his cheek. The simple touch sent shivers through his body. "It's you and Harry. I would have trusted Sirius and Ron too but I believe then my girl will end up wearing nappies on her head." he chuckled at the thought. It had a high probability. His heart lightened. The pain he had felt a while ago lifting and happiness taking its place. "I have no problem with you looking after her. She loves you too much for me even think about that."

"But I have seen you."

"There is no denying that it hurts me a lot when I see her with you." There it is Remus thought. She had said all those to make it less painful. Hermione was too good to say that directly to his face. He braced himself for the blow. He had let himself be happy too soon. No one else to blame but himself. She looked away from him straight at the hearth. "But it's not what you think. I couldn't care less about your lycanthropy. It just looks like you love her a lot." She said.

"I love her a lot." He stated urging her to continue. He could not understand that why the fact that he was a Werewolf didn't hurt her but that he loved her child hurt her.

"You are so much like a father with her. I can't help think about her father." She said and Remus felt his heart break for her. The poor woman. He now understood. She shook her head trying to will away the tears that threatened to fall out. "And that she calls you Dada!"

Remus had wondered often how bad Hermione must feel when Liv called her Dada. The child regarding someone else as her father who was not her father must be painful.

"I am trying to get her to call me Moony." He said, he won't admit though that he secretly liked that she called him she considered him worthy enough to call him that. Not harry or Sirius but him. Of course she was a child and didn't know better but it still made him happy. . It was the closest he would ever come to have a child.

"Don't do that." She said then said, "if it bothers you…" she started.

"It doesn't." he said sincerely. How could it ever bother him!

"Then let her. When she is old enough to understand in a couple of years then I will tell her. I will explain it all to her."

Remus reached out to her and pulled her closer to himself. She tensed at the sudden touch and Remus regretted his actions. He was about to pull back when she snuggled even closer to his side. It felt so good to hold her with his one hand and Liv with the other.

"Aww! Don't you three look like a happy little family." Sirius said as he walked through the kitchen a glass of fire whiskey in his hands.

Remus blushed under his gaze and looked down at Hermione who had fallen asleep. He had a small doubt his friend had heard them talk and had stayed away because of it. Otherwise, how can someone pee for half an hour!

"Do you like her?" Sirius raised an eyebrow in question as he took the sit in front of him.

Remus shrugged his shoulders. "Not in the way you think. I love Liv and she is her mother, not to mention a former student and a friend. It feels good to have them both around." He told him.

"What kind of good? Like Harry feels?"

"Gods no. He looks at her like a sister." Remus said quickly and realised too late what he had said.

"How do you look at her?" He smirked.

Remus shrugged. He really didn't think anything about her. Did he? He asked himself and told himself that of course he didn't. "I respect her Padfoot. And I love Liv. You know Remiel is the archangel of hope. The name fits so true on her. It has been just days and I feel like she has become an integral part of my life. Right now, it feels like I got my missing piece back." He looked down adoringly at the beautiful girl in his arms snoring softly and couldn't help but look at the other woman who was also in his arms.

"I think I know what you mean. This little Granger has brought the brightness back in our lives. Now this family feels complete. Now there is a woman and a child too with us." He said and then added, "Its back to Godrics Hallow, remember how Lily used to be so irritated all the time."

"Its like being back to square one." Remus smiled fondly at the memory.

"Yeah. You, me, a Potter, a muggleborn witch and a toddler." He barked out a laugh. "The only difference is that, during those days the witch used to be in Prongs' arms and now its yours' old man."

"Who are you calling old Padfoot?" Remus raised an eyebrow at his old friend. "I would like you to know that I look younger than you even if you lost five years of age in that veil."

"That's because of your bloody lycanthropy. Why don't we test your strength?" He got up with a mischievous gleam in his eyes and took Liv from him. "I am putting this lady to bed, you put the other lady to bed." He smirked at his friend who looked at him his mouth open. Remus had wondered for a minute there why Sirius had challenged his strength despite knowing that werewolves had superficial strength. But this cleared it. Sirius Black and his bloody meddling ways.

"Don't forget to tuck her in." He called over his shoulder laughing.

Remus looked at witch and decided he can't let her sleep on the couch. As he picked her up, she buried her face in the crook of his neck breathing slowly. Remus froze. He was no saint and Hermione was a beautiful woman. Her breath sent shivers through his body. He rushed upstairs, unsure what he wanted more, to get away from her or to hold her close and never let her go.

In the end the rational part of his brain won and he left her room placing her inside the covers on her bed.