Remus rolled his eyes with a smile as yet another note slid onto his side of the desk. His eyes met Sirius' for a moment before picking it up and unfolding it, reading the message there.
I love you, Moony ❤️
Remus scrawled on the back of the note and passed it back.
That's the fifth time you've sent a note with that written on it in this lesson, Pads. I get the idea, and I love you too. Now can you please let me take notes? Being pregnant doesn't excuse me from studying for my NEWTs.
"Fine, okay…" Sirius muttered before giving Remus a quick peck on the cheek.
The two continued to take notes with the rest of the class, occasionally pausing when they were sent notes by the other two Marauders about prank plans and James' hopeless crush on Lily. Over their seven years, the Marauders had trained in passing notes under the watchful eye of McGonagall, and could now do it seamlessly.
Half way through the Transfiguration lesson, however, there was a knock on the door. Everyone turned to it as Madame Pomfrey stepped in.
"Can I take Mr Lupin and Mr Black, please?"
McGonagall nodded. "Of course. Homework's a foot of parchment about animagus transformations."
"Got it, Minnie," Sirius replied, leaving the room with Remus before McGonagall could tell him off for using the nickname.
When the door was closed, Pomfrey started leading the two boys through the corridors.
"What is it?" Remus asked. "Did Picani get back to you with the results of the tests?"
Pomfrey shook her head. "The results won't be back until the end of the week. This is about something else…"
"Is the birth going to be fatal for me?"
"What?"
Sirius sighed, squeezing Remus' hand. "Remus has been a bit worried about the birth since what Picani said yesterday. Okay, more than a bit."
"I see. Remus, I'm sure the birth will be perfectly safe. Whatever effected you to make conception possible, I'm sure it will also make the birth just as possible as well. It'll seem no different to an average birth."
Remus nodded, but didn't look completely convinced.
By this time, they had all reached the entrance to Dumbledore's office. Pomfrey spoke the password and led the boys up the stairs, then knocked on the door.
"Come in," Dumbledore's voice spoke.
Pomfrey opened the door and stepped aside so Remus and Sirius could go in first. As they went inside, Remus froze on the spot. He then debated whether or not to run.
His parents were sat in front of Dumbledore's desk. As he stepped inside, they both stood up. They shared a glance, before turning to Remus. They seemed to want to say something, but didn't know how to phrase it.
After a moment of silence, Remus finally managed to get some words out. "I'm guessing this is about the letter I sent you… Okay, I'll just get everything straight. Yes, I am actually pregnant. No, it's not a joke. We don't know how yet, but we went to St Mungo's and Picani is looking into it. Yes, Sirius is the father. No, I'm not going to get an abortion, I want to keep them. Yes, I'm aware being a werewolf means I likely won't be able to have a stable job to raise them, but I'll have Sirius helping me. And there are other means to earn money without getting a job. Muggles have all sorts of ways! I could be a YouTuber, or I'm a pretty good artist, I could do commissions. Maybe even write a book one day! Who knows? My point is, please don't get mad at me, I have this figured out. Kinda. Well, worked out enough. Just… please be okay with it?"
Lyall and Hope Lupin shared another glance. Hope was the first to speak up. "Remus, we didn't come because we were mad. We're just… shocked. We didn't know whether to believe what we read. But it's true?"
Remus nodded. "Yeah…"
There was another pause. Lyall broke it. "You want to keep it?" Remus nodded again. "But… what if it's… you know…"
Remus raised an eyebrow. "If they're what?"
"... A lycanthrope."
Sirius could sense Remus' shift in mood at this, and clutched his boyfriend's hand, ready to hold him back.
"And why would that matter?" Remus snapped. "I've dealt with my own lycanthropy since I was five, I think I can handle it if my child is. It doesn't make them a monster. I don't think werewolves are monsters at all, unlike my father."
"Remus, I don't think you're a monster-"
"Not what you said to Greyback. In fact, wasn't the exact phrasing you used was that werewolves are 'soulless, evil, and deserving nothing but death'?"
"But that was before-"
"Before I was bitten? Dad, that didn't change your view on all werewolves, just one. You still see all other ones as horrible. You're still bigoted to them, I'm just an exception."
"Well… my grandchild would be an exception as well."
"Then why did you just suggest I abort them?!"
"Rem, ssh…" Sirius squeezed his boyfriend's hand and ran a hand through his hair to calm him down. However, it didn't do much.
"Sirius, he just suggested we abort our child just because there is a chance of them being a werewolf! Doesn't that bother you?!"
"Of course it does, but we-"
It seemed Remus didn't appreciate the 'but' being in the sentence, as he turned and stormed from the room. Sirius followed behind, calling out to his boyfriend.
Hope sighed. "Really, Lyall? You couldn't have thought a little before you spoke and kept that to yourself?"
"I just want to make sure he's not getting in over his head!"
"Like you did when you got me pregnant with our son who ended being a werewolf, bisexual, and in a relationship with a Black? Oh, yes, by the way, I saw your expression when Remus came out to us. I know what you really think of his sexuality. You really need to get your head out of your ass, grow up and see the world has changed since we were children. There's nothing wrong with our son. And once you understand that, we're going to work together to make sure Remus is okay through everything."
She turned and left the room, hoping to catch up with her son.
"Moony?"
Sirius shuffled up to his boyfriend, sitting down beside him. Remus' anger had dissipated, and he had crumpled to the floor, just sat in the middle of a corridor, sniffling with tears in his eyes. As Sirius sat beside him, he nuzzled into his boyfriend. Sirius kissed his head and stroked his hair. And that's how they stayed, the silence comforting.
It wasn't long until Sirius felt the weight leaning on him grow, Remus having fallen asleep. He pulled him into his arms and lifted him bridal style, standing up. "Let's get you to bed. I'm sure you'll be let off missing a the rest of classes given your condition."
He started heading back in the direction of Gryffindor tower, Remus curling up to him in his sleep. Soon, however, Sirius turned a corner to see none other than Hope.
"Hope? I thought you and Lyall would have headed home."
"Not until I know my little boy's okay," Hope replied, coming up to the two of them. She frowned at the damp tear streaks on Remus' face. She gently wiped them away. "Oh, Rem… Your father didn't mean any of that. He cares about you so so much. He just is a little bad at phrasing it… Remember all the things he did for you when you were bitten? The effort he put into making sure you were safe and sound, and that your secret wouldn't get out. He loves you, and we're both here for you." She gently pressed a kiss to her son's forehead, a small smile tugging at the corners of Remus' mouth in his sleep. Hope looked up to Sirius. "I think I still have a few things stored away from when I had Remus. Books about pregnancy and childcare… I can get them and bring them tomorrow for you and Remus to look at."
Sirius smiled. "That would be fantastic. Thanks, Hope."
"It's nothing, Sirius. Keep my little boy safe and happy, alright?"
"Won't let you down."
Hope smiled, before kissing his head as well. "I couldn't think of a better man to be my future son-in-law. I'm assuming you are going to propose to him?"
"Oh, I have plans," Sirius grinned, nodding. "For example, since he's not a jewelry fan, instead of an engagement ring, I'm thinking a few other engagement gifts."
"You two are perfect for each other. Well, I'll be going. See you tomorrow, Sirius."
"Bye, Hope."
Hope turned and headed back in the direction of Dumbledore's office, while Sirius continued to carry Remus to Gryffindor tower.