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Chapter 5- Maybe, Baby
Macy was released the following day, still with massive bandages on her wrists as the cuts were so deep the magic took it's time to heal. Sirius escorted her back to her common room on the way snarling at passers-by to leave her alone. The truth had somehow got out probably because Professor Flitwick had gone to her dorm and removed everything sharp including all of the of the girls leg razors much to there annoyance. Macy hated all the staring and the fact that people actually seemed scared of her, like she was going to run around on a murderous rampage brandishing a knife! So she and Sirius mainly kept themselves to themselves with the exception of James, Remus and Peter, with Sahara occasionally popping up. She was looking increasingly dishevelled and ill as the weeks drew on. A month after the fateful day when Macy tried to top herself and Remus 'became a man', Sahara was regularly having to rush out of class to vomit. Remus was getting seriously worried, she must be really ill, it's not just the being sick, she's also lost her silvery glow, her skin, which was previously flawless, has now developed a few spots and worst of all one minute she's laughing and joking, the next crying and hitting him. Two weeks later Sahara fainted in the corridors, there were hundreds of hungry teenagers rushing towards the Great Hall for Lunch, nearly trampling her
"Sahara" Remus shouted out. He pushed everyone away and knelt next to her limp frame, she was completely knocked out
"Go and get a teacher!" he demanded from a scared looking first year. Then out of no-where he realised he had feelings for her, there was no Sirius in his mind now only the poor shaking girl lay in front of him. They had spent hardly anytime together in the past six weeks just hug here and a kiss there, not really talking much. But looking at her beautiful delicate face, her flickering eyelids and little button nose…'definitely part vella' Remus thought. Madame Pomfrey arrived and took Sahara to the Hospital Wing, Remus didn't go with them he went to find Sirius and James. He looked everywhere in the castle and still couldn't find them, he went to the grounds and looked in the usual places such as the massive tree next to the lake, the cave round the back of the school and the edge of the forest where the met to transform if they were staying in the grounds. Suddenly he heard a giggle and the rustle of leaves looking around he saw Sirius lay on top of Macy kissing her and generally feeling her up in very rude places!
"Hm Hm" signalling his approach. There was quite a lot of movement as Sirius rolled off and removed his hands(!) and Macy stumbled up straightened her skirt and blouse and tried to look dignified, but failed.
"Erm…I just came to erm to tell you that Sahara got sent to the hospital wing she fainted and got trampled, probably broke a couple of fingers ,you know, and I just wanted to talk to you Sirius there's some stuff I need to get off my chest. But if your busy I'll go see Sahara to check on her. Okay then, bye" That was one of the most uncomfortable moments of his life and his face showed it, a deep blush crept up his face, which was echoed on his friends. Sirius glanced at Macy who nodded solemnly and he took off after Lupin,
"Mooney mate, wait up what's the matter? Is she alright?"
"Yeah just fainted, it's just…Oh bloody hell I can't tell you!!!" he sighed and flopped down onto the grass with his head in his hands
"Why, I'm supposed to be your best friend" indignation in his deep voice,
"Because"
"Because what?"
"can't say"
"Tell me or I'll beat you up"
"No, you're the one person I can't tell. I was looking for James"
"Tell me"
"No"
"Tell Me"
"No"
"TELL ME YOU BASTARD"
"NO" Sirius lost his temper and grabbed his friend threw his down on his back sat on top of him and pinned him down with his wrists above his head.
"Tell me" he whispered scarily calm again
"BECAUSE I LOVE YOU OKAY!!" Sirius stared into his eyes not moving a muscle
"Well I did but… I just don't know, 'cos when Sahara fainted I felt things for her. I'm just so confused by it all. When I slept with her 45 of the time I was seeing you" he couldn't believe he said that but he had to tell someone, "and then everything with Macy happened and I hardly ever see you anymore and that's all I want, you, I don't even care if I ever kiss you or touch you, even though that's all I want in the world. For your lips to touch mine would be heaven but I know that can never happen because your straighter than a bloody ruler. I don't even think I'm gay cos guess what…no-one knows this but me and Sahara fucked 5 times, yeah 5 and that's not all. Five time in one night!!! Bet you haven't done that have you. Bet you don't know the reason why either, it's because I had to prove it to myself that your just a friend that's it. I can't be bent. It's going to be hard enough to find love being what I am. Please stay my friend I couldn't bear to lose you." He stopped abruptly panting for he hardly paused for breath. Sirius still stared into his eyes, while his eyes were stormy. Remus could practically see his brain working furiously trying to take in all that information
"You love me" he couldn't say much else
"Yes…no, I don't know it's so hard" Sirius kissed him tenderly slipping in his tongue for good measure,
"Are you gay now?" almost childishly
"It's not that flaming simple is it?" he wasn't angry he actually felt exhausted mentally and physically,
"I don't know" he kissed him again more passionately letting his hands roam freely whilst Remus just lay there limp, "Now?"
"Listen, I'm sorry to disturb you from what you enjoy best, I need to go see my girlfriend she'll wonder where I am" he pushed Sirius off him with all the strength he could muster and strode off towards the castle.
He didn't have to go far when he met Sahara
"Oh thank Merlin, are you alright?" hurrying towards he and gave her a hug.
"No, I'm not you bastard" she sounded very angry but scared and in need of comfort at the same time,
"What why? You make it sound like it's my fault!". Indicating towards an small broom cupboard beyond the Entrance Hall she marched off and Remus followed half-heartedly, he didn't feel like getting yelled at not after the fiasco with Sirius. Looking disgruntled she bobbed in and waved at Remus to follow,
"It is your fault with your 'it'll show much I care' bollocks"
"You'll have to be a bit more pacific babe I'm not quite sure what your going on about" now he was starting to get a bit incensed.
"What I'm going on about? WHAT I'M GOING ON ABOUT?" she looked livid but still scared
"Calm down and explain"
"I SKIPPED A PERIOD!"
"Is that it really, I miss classes all the time. The most you'll get is a detention" he sighed then chuckled
"No, a period" she swept her hand loosely over her midriff
"You mean your pregnant?" he collapsed onto an up-turned bucket and looked up at her, his skin all most as pale as hers
"Yes, I'm with child as they say."
"No, no, no. Maybe your just a bit later than usual. It's not like on a perfect schedule is it" he really knew nothing about girls bodies
"Oh yeah I was only due 6 weeks ago…it'll probably come any day now" she shouted sarcastically. It would explain a lot though, her fainting, being sick regularly, bad complexion and awful mood-swings. She lifted up her robes and Remus noticed her t-shirt stretched a little over her normally flat stomach.
"I really don't understand we did the contraceptive charm" he was trying to find away out of this mess
"Well apparently you have to cast it every time you do it not just once a night" she sat down as well now and looked everywhere but her boyfriends face. Does any teachers know? he thought and she answered, like she was an accomplished Legilimens
"No, no-one knows, not even Pomfrey." she sounded really dejected, Remus noticed this and clasped her hands in his
"I'll be here, you won't be alone. I will be there every step of the way" it was like a heavy weight was lifted of her shoulders and it was really as she now knew she wouldn't be a barely sixteen young mum. She hugged him so hard blood was restricted from his limbs.
"Shall we go see the nurse together?" she nodded and he took her hand and lead the way. When they got there they greeted as usual by Madame Pomfrey's warm smile and strong smell of disinfectant
"What can I do for you…weren't you just here Miss LaRonetti?"
"Yeah I was…we were wondering if we could talk to you privately?" Sahara looked so nervous Remus squeezed her hand tight
"Both of you?"
"Yep"
"okay this way please" she led them into her offices which was absolutely fascinating. There was thousands of multi-coloured potion bottles lining the spherical walls. There was round ones, short ones, tall ones, rectangular ones and even a couple of hexagonal ones. The light bounced from one to another making the ceiling appear to be covered in rainbows and crystals. Remus would have loved to look closer at some of them, especially that which looked like it contained millions of fairies and miniature leprechauns. Unfortunately though he was about to tell the school he had knocked up his 16 year old girlfriend, now was not the time.
"So what is it?" she definitely looked worried with a little bit of suspicion mingled in.
"Well, miss I'm…erm…well the thing is I'm…I've missed…," she shot a desperate look at Lupin, he silently laughed; she was playing with her fingers, cracking, lacing, he couldn't tell which was he left or right!
"The thing is miss, we think…we think that Sahara is p-p-preg-gnant." he just couldn't get that one word out right
"I see, and why do you think this may I ask?" looking sternly at them over the wire frames of her glasses,
"That's what I was trying to say earlier…I'm six weeks late" she blushing tremendously as was Remus
"there is a simple spell I can do to find out" she pointed her wand at Sahara's swollen belly and muttered 'Infantius Revilius'. A tiny baby about 4 inches long appeared wrapped in a golden bubble, it was bigger than a muggle baby as both of it's parent's were magical. Sahara dissolved into tears partly through sadness but mostly through intense elation only a mother could understand.
"Is that my baby?" he asked looking round at the smiling matron
"Yes Mister Lupin!" he was so happy. Well it was a complicated emotion that couldn't explained. She flicked her wand again and the baby disappeared.
"No" Sahara grabbed at her stomach "No, where's my baby gone?"
"I'm afraid you'll have to wait quite a bit yet till it's born…," she suddenly looked stern again "Wait here I'll be back in a jiffy" and with that she swept out of the room. Sahara looked around and noticed to that Remus had a tear or two in the corner of his eyes. He grabbed her and held her close. Neither said a word just held each other until about ten minutes later Madame Pomfrey returned along with the headmaster Albus Dumbledore and a disbelieving head of Gryffindor Professor McGonagall.
"Good Afternoon Miss LaRonetti, Mister Lupin. I believe there's going to be a little bundle of joy arriving soon!" Their Head looked thrilled and McGonagall threw his a look of absolute incredulously
"Really Albus, that's all you've got to say? Not that they broke school rules or that they're way to young to bear the responsibility of a child or even that," she spoke in a carrying whisper for the next part, "that it might be contaminated with Lupin's condition!" Remus looked down and saw to his great surprise that he was stood up although he had no recollection of it transpiring.
"Will it professor??" he was looking directly at Dumbledore. He had never thought that his being a werewolf could affect his offspring. How could he do this…it'll be more sympathetic to abort the baby rather than subject he/she to a life of pain, neglect, no stability when it comes to work or relationships, being forced to be a social out-cast. Remus Lupin had never hated himself more than he does now and that was saying something.
"Remus, there is a very small possibility that It might be" Remus made a small pitiful moan "but, it is unlikely. At the most it will probably just fear the dark and like extra-extra-rare steak!" he said this all quite serenely. Sahara was looking from one person to another, her tear-stained face moving around like she was watching a particularly fierce Quidditch match.
"It is very rare for…someone of your type…to have children" McGonagall added, Remus glared at her
"My type? So what am supposed to do Professor eh? Like my life isn't as unbelievably miserable as it is…now I'm can't have children, or grandchildren cos they'll probably be infected to won't they?" he was very, very enraged now
"I'm sure Minerva didn't mean it that way Mister Lupin!" whispered a distressed looking Madame Pomfrey
"Yes she did" the boy sneered,
"Now Remus I must insist that you stop your attitude towards my staff at once" Dumbledore was still irritatingly calm
"Okay, okay I'm sorry. But none of you understand the trauma of having to grow up with the stigma of being a…,"he shot sideways glance at Sahara, took a deep breath and continued, "…of being a w-werewolf!" She gasped and stood up the rest of them held there breath to see if she'll run away or not. She did not, however she wanted answers.
"What did you say you were?" she demanded
"A werewolf" he muttered, she asked her next questions in rapid-fire:
"How long?"
"I was bitten when I was five"
"Who would bite a five year old?"
"Fenrir Greyback, he specialises in kids!"
"What happens at full moon or whenever?"
"Madame Pomfrey," he gave her a small smile which she reciprocated warmly, "She escorts me down to the Whomping Willow which is a secret passageway to the Shrieking Shack…"
"The haunted house on the edge of Hogsmeade?" she interrupted
"Yes and no. It is the house in Hogsmeade but it isn't haunted. The screams are made by me transforming. The ghost thing is just a rumour which is encouraged by Professor Dumbledore."
"Your not a danger to anyone?"
"No as long as they stay out of my way!"
"But if you came across a human while your…transformed…you'll bite them?"
"Unfortunately yes, but that's why I stay firmly in the shrieking shack" his thoughts wandered to the many nights he ran around the school grounds when he was a werewolf with the animagi James, Sirius and Peter and resolved to tell them that they should defiantly remain in the safety for now on.
"And your certain you won't hurt me or the baby?"
"when I'm at home I chain myself up in the basement and I haven't hurt my parents yet in about 11 years." At this she seemed satisfied and she walked forward and hugged him briefly because of the teachers watching. Dumbledore also now looked content. He rubbed his hands together and rocked on the ball of his feet
"Right then. I'm glad that's cleared up, you'll have to contact your parents of course but I'm quite happy with you staying here throughout the gestation period!" and with that he strolled out closely followed by McGonagall who just nodded stiffly at them. It was obvious she didn't agree but couldn't do anything about it so carried on.
"I would like to see you every 2 weeks and when your 12 weeks gone I'll book you in for a Magiscan at St. Mungo's. Yes, you can come to boy you are the dad after all!" It was at that point that it hit him that he actually was going to be a father. This little blob is going to grow up depending on him completely,
"…and I'm going to prescribe you this as well" she handed Sahara a big bottle of green gooey liquid,
"ewww, that's gross. So I'll see you in 2 weeks. Bye" it was clear for all to see that she was very happy. They had just stepped out of the hospital wing when they heard a voice call after them,
"Oh and good luck both of you!"
"Thanks miss" They closed the door and walked slowly back to the common room hand in hand oblivious to there surroundings!
"When do we tell our friends?" Remus asked he wanted to tell them right now and was hoping that Sahara felt the same,
"erm…well the rate I'm growing they'll find out soon any way so I suppose now?" she looked nervous
"Yeah that sounds great. Pretty please can we tell Sirius, James and Peter first?!?!?!" he pleaded looking at her with puppy-dog eyes,
"Okay you big baby, god it'll be like I have two children not one" she sighed but then they both burst out laughing. Then Remus suddenly thought of something extremely important,
"come with me" he grabbed her arm and steered her outside towards the lake. It was a beautiful Autumn day. The tree next to the lake looked like it was enchanted even though it actually wasn't, it glowed gold with little drips of molten gold spilling onto the lush green grass below. There was a very slight breeze which caused tiny constant ripples on the waters surface. In the whole it looked perfect. He held her hand and then out of nowhere got down on one knee,
"I remember the first thing you ever said to me, you said 'can I help you' and I never realised the extent to which one soul can help another. You have made me happier in these last few months then I've been in my entire life. You've helped my to realise what's important, friends, family and most importantly love. And I love you! So Sahara Paprika LaRonetti (or Hot & Spicy whatever you prefer!) Will you do me the greatest honour a human-being can possess and agree to become my wife?" he finished and looked up into her eyes.
"Yes…Yes. Oh Remus I would love to marry you!!" she wailed through incessant tears. With that he took out his wand and tapped it gently on her ring finger. A band of daisy's slowly encircled it then burst into cool flames, when the fire disappeared seconds later the daisy had gone and was replaced by a stunning White-gold ring with a series of diamonds set into the shape of a daisy!
"Oh I love it. How did you do it?"
"My dad taught me. He said that his great-grandmother was a world-famous magical jeweller and the secrets have been passed on throughout the generations!".
He was beaming from inside as they made they way slowly back to the common room again. The most obvious of Remus' idiosyncrasies came about when he was particularly joyous, which he was now, so of course he was playing with his hair! He pulled it and styled it and twirled it.
"Why did you propose?" she just kept staring at her ring,
"Well obviously because I love you, but I think that learning that we are going to have a baby sort of encouraged me do it quicker. If you hadn't of fallen pregnant I probably would have waited about a year" he revealed. He wasn't sure how she would take this so he waited with bated breath, she thought about it for a moment, Remus getting more nervous with every second,
"I…I completely understand. I probably wouldn't have said yes if it wasn't for our little son or daughter!! Oh my Merlin, it sounds so weird 'our son or daughter'"
"I know I'm really excited. And also a little nervous about telling my friends!" his voice shook with the nerves,
"Don't be I'll be right beside you"
They both climbed through the portrait hole and found his group of friends in a corner which was perfect because then no one else would hear.
"Hey guys I've got something incredibly important to tell you!" He helped Sahara in to comfy armchair next to James and then he stood behind her with his soft hands protectively on her shoulders.
"Oh cool, what is it. No, no let me guess! Hmmm…I'm going to say you've decided to have a massive party in honour of both Macy and Sahara getting better!" he jumped up and down, James loved parties
"No It's bigger than that," he glanced at Sirius who was staring resolutely in the opposite direction. "Well a couple of hours ago I was a boring, pathetic werewolf," his friends sat up alert looking from Remus to Sahara
"It's okay I know!" she laughed looked up at Remus
"Yeah well a lot has changed in those few hours…..I'm now an….engaged-to-be-married, father-to-be werewolf!"
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