Disclaimer: Not mine.

His Calling

Chapter 23

Nymphadora

Remus stepped out into the Tonks' sitting room, where Andromeda immediately pulled him into a quick hug, and shoved him towards Sirius as she tried unsuccessfully to do the same to James. Laughing to see the dark haired boy dodge her greeting, she draped her arm around Remus' shoulders and headed toward the kitchen. Remus peeked around Andromeda's arm and glared at Sirius who stood nudging James with his elbow and making gagging faces as her hand patted his arm and keep squeezing him, not letting him go until they had left the sitting room. Seeing the light fixed on the kitchen ceiling, Remus grinned, reached out and flicked the light switch on the wall, chuckling as the small white light flick on and off.

"You must be Remus, I must say I have heard a lot about you," Andromeda laughed. "I was surprised when Peter said that your Mum keeps a completely wizarding house, I would have thought with your dad he would have wanted some of his Muggle things around. Anyway, I hear you keep my cousin here at his books."

"You know my Mum?"

"Oh heavens," she sighed. "It's been years and years since I've seen her. She was ahead of me at school, but I lost touch with her after, now what was his name…Marcus? Then when he was in school, your father moved her to that farm. I just meant with him being Muggle and all I always thought she would keep the house more… Muggleish. Like Ted does, he's a Muggle born wizard, look around we have all sorts of things."

He tried to twist and see where Sirius was, only to feel her arm wrap more tightly around his shoulders and propel him toward the back door, glad that she didn't ask questions about what had become of his brother.

"Now you just go on out and grab a plate, I am sure you boys are hungry. Those two are always hungry." She nodded at Sirius and James as she released him, giving him a gentle push towards the outside door.

Remus stopped and turned back, reached in his pocket and gave her the globe, not knowing what to do with it now that he was here. She took it from him with both hands and smiled, set it down on the kitchen table and sat down looking at it as her eyes misted over.

"This is wonderful, Remus. You know it's a tradition in the Black family to … well, just thank you."

"It lights up all by itself, you know, sort of like a night light." Remus saw her eyes getting worse and toed the floor. "My dad said Muggles use night lights for their kids all the time. I thought that, you know… maybe…"

Peter set his fireworks globe next to Remus' and earned a hug of his own as Andromeda reached up and pulled him into a quick embrace. "She'll love them, I know she will. Peter, it's perfect." She wiped her hand over her eyes and stood, turning back to the door.

"Here," James shoved his package at her and stepped back, almost knocking Sirius over in his hurry to get outside.

"Thanks James, and don't worry, I won't embarrass you," she chuckled. "Now go eat before Aberforth gets here or there won't be anything left. He and Alastor will be by shortly, they had to run to work for something."

The boys made their way to the back yard and ran to the long table, picking up plates and loading them full of food, then finding a place at one of the empty tables sat down to eat. Sirius rested both arms on the table, looking around at the wizards that stood in clumps around the yard quietly talking. He knew most of them, and the rest he had most assuredly heard about.

"The tall guy, the one with red hair, taking to … the shorter one, that's my uncle Ted … the one talking to him, is Weasley, Arthur Weasley. That's his wife behind the table, the one putting the treacle tarts out." Sirius whispered to Remus. "Make sure you get one of those, they are wicked good, but wait until she leaves, she's a worse hugger then Aunt Meda."

James tuned around in his chair to take a better look, frowning. "Who is the other one?"

"Gideon Prewett. His brother is here too, but I can't remember his name. He's the one over at the butterbeer, with the blonde. My Dad says Gideon is the worse to go up against, said he is wicked with a wand," Sirius tried to smile.

Peter shoved a mouthful of food into his cheek and pointed to the cold box. "Who's the blonde?"

"Don't know," Sirius shrugged. "Potter? You know?"

"Yeah," he smirked and waggled his eyebrows. "Jugs."

Remus snorted, turning his head quickly to let the spray of food hit the ground. "Gods, James. At least wait until she is gone."

"I don't want her to go. I want her to come here and give me a hug like the one Aunt Meda gives you." James winked. "Bet I could bury my face and…"

"Shhh" Peter blushed, seeing the blonde's head turn toward their table. "Gods, she heard."

"No," Potter tuned to look at the back gate. "Don't think so."

"Sirius, thought you said she was your Aunt?"

"Yeah, but I've always called her Aunt Meda," he shrugged. "It avoids the whole how and to who thing. Blacks marry Blacks. It gets confusing."

"So, why didn't your mum…"

"She doesn't know I see her, no one does." Sirius looked up to the house. "It's a Black thing Okay? Just… I have to sneak out to get here."

"Look who shows up now. Is that who you wanted to see, Remus?" Peter nudged him.

"Yeah," he started to get up, but sat down quickly seeing Moody's angry face and the adults starting to cluster around him. "What's going on do you think?"

"Boys," Arthur Weasley's wife waved to them, indicting that they come to her. "Bring those plates in, now quickly. There's my good boys, now take them into the sitting room. Don't worry about spilling, just hurry."

James shrugged and stood up, grabbing his plate, soon followed by the other three. As they walked into the house, with Mrs. Weasley trying to hurry them along, Remus stepped behind Moody and paused to listen, curious about what had happened.

"Are you sure?" Gideon scowled. "If what you are saying is true, how do you know it was him?"

"Benjy Fenwick, I can't believe it." Arthur shook his head. "Who was with him?"

"Caradoc, he made it out, but Dawlish is up in St. Mungo's." Moody looked around and saw Remus listening. "Get your arse in the house boy, and make sure that Black kid is with you."

"Alastor Moody!" Andromeda walked up hissing at him. "Remus, run along now dear."

"My Dad?" He yanked away from Andromeda and grabbed Moody's arm.

"Got hit, boy, but not full on, just glanced off him. He walked right into it, soon as he showed up he… he'll be home in no time." Alastor frowned. "Now you go on. Do as you were told."

Moody stood watching after him until the slam of the kitchen door let him know Remus and the rest of the boys were inside. "Didn't mean anything about him, but it was a Black that was at the bottom of it and if I know my Blacks there was a Crabbe close behind."

"You don't know that," Gideon said.

"Meda." Ted nodded to the rest as he led his wife back in the house. "We have to go. No, now don't start that … I have to go to the Fenwicks. The others will be busy. It's the least I can do, and you have guests to take care of."

"It's horrid, Benjy never hurt anyone." She bit her lip and choked back her own tears. "He was a good man."

"When Frank and Alice come, tell them what happened," Ted said, kissing her cheek. "Just keep everyone inside, and for gods' sake, make sure the kids don't go running outside until the Aurors tell you its safe."

"I'll feed them and send them back," she sighed. "Poor Sirius, Ted… what if we just …"

"No, we tried that, remember?" He lifted her chin and looked at her closely. "When he is older he can make his own decision, but if he comes here now they have every right to take him back, and then his life will be hell."

Remus stood just inside the door, pulling the curtain back and watching the adults that now all stood around Moody. He wanted to push them away and demand to know what had happened.

"What's going on?" Remus turned to the table where his friends sat. "Maybe I should go down to St. Mungo's. Do you know if your Aunt's floo is connected to theirs?"

"Someone got killed, Remus. They turned off the floo." Sirius said flatly. "It's the first thing you do if fighting breaks out."

"I should go." Peter stood and started for the back door. "They don't want my Grams collecting me and if she finds out I didn't get out before the floo was closed … where's your Uncle?"

The remaining three watched silently as Ted took Peter to the property's boundary and took him home in a side-along.

"He gets nervous around decent people," Potter laughed. "That family of his is nutters."

"Shut up James," Sirius spat. "He knows better than to … he knows better. Leave him alone."

"Sirius?" Ted Tonks had returned directly to the sitting room, and now stood waiting in the doorway. "Hurry, we need to get you out of here."

Sirius stood and joined his uncle, shooting James a dirty look. He followed him into the sitting room, waiting until he opened the floo, stepped in and waited. Andromeda rushed to her husband's side and pushed him out of the way, hugging Sirius to her.

"They won't miss me," he pleaded with Andromeda. "They will think I can…"

"Sirius, I'm sorry," she put her hand on Ted's hand, stopping him from throwing down the powder. "When things calm down we will have you and your friends over for a bite to eat. Maybe this thing will work out, but you don't worry about it. Okay? Promise you will hold you tongue at home and not make them angry or let them know I saw you. Please Sirius, if they or Bellatrix know you come here … please, Sirius, just be patient."

"Sure. Hurry up then, just get me out of here." Sirius clamped his mouth tight, looking at Remus and James, a look of disgust on his face as the green flames took him home.

"I didn't mean it like that, about Peter." James sighed and sat back down at the table. "I only meant everyone knows he is better than them. What do you think happened?"

"I don't…"

"Boy, you Remus. Come with me." Moody stomped through the kitchen toward the sitting room and then started upstairs.

The sounds of apparition started as the adults in the back yard spun away, leaving only Andromeda, Mrs. Weasley and the blonde to clean up after the party. Remus looked at James who sat alone now, before running to catch Moody, not liking the sudden feeling that something else had just gone wrong. At the top of the stairs, he hesitated until he heard Moody call out to him.

"Before you get all twitchy he's fine."

"Is my Mum with him?"

"No, told her to stay put until it was safe for you to go back."

"Why wouldn't it be?"

"Because Greyback was there and if he knows about Rhea and John he could be after you again." Moody paced in the small bedroom, running his hand though his hair. "He's at the god damned thing they call a hospital. Same hospital that was ready to …" Moody stopped and looked to the door. "He was called in when the trouble started, he was hit, but he's fine. Should be home in an hour or so."

"I need to go," Remus started to the door.

"You need to sit your arse down and wait until we know it is safe."

"Are you two done?" Andromeda came pounding up the stairs. "Alastor, you leave him alone. He does not have to know everything yet, and it's not your place to tell him. You know what Albus said about under aged children knowing more than they should."

"Can't be ready if he doesn't know what's coming, neither can that Potter kid. Don't do no good hiding it." He blustered. "Why do you think Riddle's got such a good foothold up at that school?"

"Hush now," Andromeda put her arm around Remus' shoulder. "When it's time to tell them …"

"Bloody hell witch! "

"Shut up Moody," her voice cracked. "Now get yourself downstairs if you want to eat. Remus, you come with me. At least you can see Nymphadora before you go … shut up Moody… don't start."

Remus sat down in an overstuffed chair, looking at James and scowling. If he had known he had to sit down and hold a baby he would have stayed home. What did he know of babies? He froze as Andromeda laid the small blanket wrapped bundle in the crook of his arm and pulled back the edge to uncover the babies face.

"Her name is Nymphadora." She smiled and stood up, leaving Remus to hold the baby himself.

"It has pink hair." Remus said flatly looking down at the baby.

"She is a metamorphmagus," Andromeda laughed. "When she is older she will be able to change whenever she wants to, but now she just… I don't know… does what she feels."

"She changes with her moods, Remus." Ted chuckled. "Happy is pink, and she is pink much of the time."

"What is yellow?" Remus frowned looking down, seeing the infant's hair begin to change.

"I'm not sure," Andromeda shrugged. "She seems content. Remus? Is it okay to leave her with you just until I make sure Frank and Alice are okay? They should have been here by now, Frank was collecting her and they were coming together. Don't worry about her hair, she doesn't seem to like all the noise in the other room is all. Come on James, I am sure there is chocolate cake left."

"Umm, yeah," Remus swallowed hard, thinking of Mum's warning to be polite and helpful as Nymphadora wiggled on his lap, twisting her head on his arm, her hair turning bright red.

"Oh, angry are you?" Remus laughed and pulled the blanket down from her head completely, then freed her arms from the tightly wrapped blanket rewarded by her hair turning back to the pink he had first seen.

Her eyes locked on his as her fists beat in the air and her feet fought the blanket that still held her legs. Her hair turned again to yellow, then deepening to amber orange when he loosened the blanket further. Remus looked around uncomfortably, not knowing if he should be concerned. Again, he turned his face to hers; surprised to see a smile replace the inquisitive look she had worn only a moment before. He lifted his head, again breaking eye contact and then brought his face back to hers quickly, in a thinly disguised game of peek-a-boo.

She held her breath, her chin trembled, her face screwed up to cry and then, looking at him she began to smile. Remus smiled at her, and again tipped his head up, delighted to hear a full laugh come out of her small belly.

"That's enough, boy." Moody stood behind his chair, peering over his shoulder.

"Moody! Cor, I didn't know you were there," Remus said happily. "You scared me. Moody? Do you know the Blacks?"

"I know them, can't say I have any use for them other than Meda. Here for Tonks, he's a good man, real good." He limped around to the front of the chair. "Now get off your arse and let an old man sit before he falls."

Remus smiled and stood up, watching as Moody lowered into the chair, carefully favouring his left leg and right buttocks. Moody sneered up at him and twisted his body to get comfortable.

"What's with your leg? Did that happen today?"

"Hexed. Fucking bloody slime will rot in Azkaban he will. Never turn your back boy, if you learn anything, learn to never turn your back."

"I thought I was supposed to remember never to put my wand in my back pocket?" Remus grinned.

"That's what I said. Don't turn your back, not even on your own wand. Now hand me that one 'fore you drop her."

Remus laid Nymphadora in the old Auror's lap, and stepped back smiling as Alastor expertly moved her to the crook of his arm and put his finger under her chin.

"Right pretty one. Can't say that 'bout most," he muttered. "Bad time to be born though, dark times ahead."

"Won't say that about the others you mean." Andromeda handed Remus a plate full of sweets. "Take this back down to the kitchen since Moody here has snatched her back up. And don't be shy about eating, I have enough food down there for at least fifty more since it looks like everyone has left. And you, Alastor, are just prejudiced because she's your goddaughter and she can't talk yet."

"That too," he nodded scowling. "Should find someone younger. Someone more likely to be around if she needs."

"Umm, let's see. My sister and my soon to be brother-in-law? Ted's Muggle sister and her husband?" She laughed. "Yeah, I can see how that will work when she shows up with pink hair but has it purple by tea time. At least the neighbours would have something to talk about. Plus, she likes you. See, her hair, dark orange. I can tell who she is comfortable with already, and it is you she likes. Please, Alastor? I am worried that if this gets worse we may not be here for her, and we don't have anyone."

"Ah, I'll never let harm come to her. You know that. Just … don't go telling everyone. I have a reputation to keep up."

"Alastor, you lost your reputation and your arse on the same night. Now give her to me. She needs to be fed and you need to find out what happened to Aberforth. He never showed up and you know if there is free food he always shows up."

"Yeah." He lifted the baby back to Andromeda as he used both hands to push himself up from the chair. "Going to get in trouble messing around with those damn goats again. I warned him, but he won't listen."