October blossomed with an early frost, and everyone in Godric's Hollow worried about an early snow. Nate and Kit played with Caleb at any chance they got, and Harry spent hours making up lost time with Hedwig. Remus dropped by a couple days a week, usually for just enough time to meet Caleb for the umpteenth time, and to have a drink with Harry. Each time he brought with him an update on the renovating of his cottage. One day he came with more than his usual update.

'Hey, guys!'

'Tonks!'

The bubble-gum pink-haired woman beamed at Harry and Kit as Nate ran forwards with Caleb squirming in his hands.

'Look at Caleb!'

'Wow!' Tonks exclaimed, taking the little animal in her own hands as Nate clapped and skipped around her. 'He's pretty ace, if you ask me.'

'Ace!' Nate mimicked, and Kit grinned at her.

'How are you, Tonks?' she asked as the older woman put Caleb back in the cage.

'Oh, I'm great,' Tonks said, but her smile faltered a bit as Harry and Remus left the room together, already in discussion about the renovation. 'Just, you know, putting up with the same old.'

'The wolf or the tiger?'

Tonks laughed. 'Both, I suppose.'

'Popsicle time!' Harry called from the kitchen.

'So, are you still at Grimmauld Place, Tonks?' Kit asked, unwrapping Nate's Popsicle. Tonks blushed.

'I'm, uh, actually living with Remus now,' she said softly, and Remus flushed as Harry and Kit looked surprised at him.

Harry scoffed. 'Thanks for telling us, Moony!'

Remus rolled his eyes good-naturedly. 'Why else would I need to renovate the cottage?'

Kit laughed, tossing Tonks a Popsicle. 'Well, I'm happy for you,' she said. 'Have you set a date yet?'

'The contractor said it should be all done by Christmas, so –' Tonks began, but Harry cut her off.

'No wedding?'

'And that's it, isn't it?' Remus sighed, sitting down at the table, catching the Popsicle tossed at him.

Tonks rolled her eyes. 'He's sore because Molly doesn't approve,' she told them.

'It's not that she doesn't approve,' Remus corrected her, 'it's that I'm apparently setting a bad example for you,' he said, looking at Harry.

'The bad example is in my blood!' Harry laughed.

Kit rolled her eyes as Remus shrugged.

'I say she can shove it if she doesn't like it,' Tonks said, biting off the end of the Popsicle. 'Ah! So cold!'

They all laughed, and then lapsed into silence, each absorbed in their thoughts, worries, or, in Nate's case, their quickly melting popsicles. Remus glanced at Harry, and then averted his gaze. Harry, his brow furrowed, looked from Remus to Kit, who shrugged. Nate threw his sticky Popsicle stick at Harry.

'Done!'

Tonks laughed. 'Then I want to see Caleb again,' she grinned, and Kit stood up as well, following them out of the kitchen, wet rag in hand.

Harry looked at Remus.

'What's really going on?' he asked, and Remus sighed.

'Usually I wouldn't tell you,' he began softly, 'but I mean, Tonks is moving in and we don't need any, well, accidents.'

'Your transformations.'

Remus nodded. 'I don't have any more of the Wolfsbane that Snape had brewed, and now that he went and got himself killed by Death Eaters I don't have a way to get it. And Tonks and I can't brew a potion for the life of us, and you two are way too busy to even try.'

Harry sighed. 'Why don't you ask Hermione?'

'I don't know if I want to stress her out any more than she is,' Remus said.

'Stressed? How? With the wedding?'

Remus looked up at him, shocked. 'You mean you haven't heard? She's pregnant.'

'What?'

'Before marriage as well,' he nodded. 'That's another reason why Molly is insane lately with anything pre-marital.'

Harry shook his head, flustered. 'I'm sure she wouldn't say no, right?'

Remus shrugged. 'I don't want to endanger her health.'

'The fumes are non-toxic, aren't they?' Harry asked incredulously, and Remus nodded. 'She would want to do it,' Harry said comfortingly. 'Ron is probably sheltering her like crazy anyways. Remember the summer when Kit was pregnant?'

-- 'Don't forget the sunscreen!'

Kit rolled her eyes as Ron came bounding the stairs with sunscreen in his hand and a worried expression on his face.

'The baby isn't going to get sunburnt, Ron,' she told him.

'But you need to stay healthy!' he exclaimed, squeezing the bottle and applying the lotion to her bare shoulders.

'Ron!'

He blushed as Kit knocked the lotion out of his hands. 'I know you care, but honestly! A tan never hurt anyone!' --

Remus shook his head. 'I suppose it wouldn't hurt,' he offered lamely.

'She'll love you for it,' Harry agreed. 'Just watch out for Ron's wrath.'

Remus laughed.

It was later that week when Hermione knocked on their door.

'Let me brew the potion here,' she pleaded, her eyes wide.

Kit laughed quietly and ushered her into the darkened foyer. 'I take it Ron doesn't like the idea.'

Hermione laughed coldly. 'Doesn't like it? He rounded on Remus with his wand.'

'I don't know where you would want to brew the potion, though,' Kit said softly as Harry descended the stairs from tucking in Nate. 'Unless you wanted to use the attic, but –'

'Oh, the attic should be fine,' Hermione said quickly. 'I don't need a big space. I just need it now. The potion needs a couple days to set and has to be ready at least a week before the full moon.'

'So tonight would be ideal,' Harry smiled.

'And I'll be really quiet.'

Kit and Harry looked at each other.

'Follow me,' Harry said, leading her up the stairs.

'Oh, and don't tell Ron I'm here if he comes,' Hermione added in a whisper as Harry lowered the ladder.

'Why would I?' Harry asked, shocked. 'There's no fun in that!'

Hermione grinned at him. 'Oh, and should it be snowing outside?'

Harry gaped at her. 'No. We don't want it to.'

Hermione shrugged, climbing up. 'Like Canada out there, I tell you.'

'You read too much.'

All Harry heard was a snicker before she had pulled the door closed.