(Ariah23, the last few chapters were Sevvie based because I'm going somewhere with a plot bunny. Remus will be much more involved in this chapter :) AriesPrincess-Slyffindor, there will be no cheating.)
Chapter 24
While Hermione was debating the state of her lunacy, Remus was panicking inwardly about the arrival of their new baby. He loved children, yet there was something terrifying about adding another little one to their already chaotic household.
Remus showered, dressed, and headed into town, intent on a day all to himself. Hogsmeade wasn't too far away, so occasionally Remus would skip out of lunch in order to grab a bite at one of the pubs instead. The atmosphere wasn't really what he craved (after all, who likes dirty old drunkards?). He simply enjoyed being on his own. He'd been that way for so long that it sometimes irked him to have his wife and kids around.
"Firewhiskey and a turkey sandwich," he called over the bar before taking a seat at the nearest booth. Surprisingly, the pub was rather empty. Remus only spotted two other men settled around.
After his meal was delivered and he was just about to dive into the chips that came along with it, in walked a very old friend.
"Remus," Arthur Weasley took a seat across from the slightly younger man.
"Good to see you, Arthur," Remus smiled and took a bite of his gargantuan sandwich.
"Likewise. How's that wife of yours?" Arthur inquired with a slight frown. Remus didn't like this.
"She's just fine. Due any day," Remus forced another smile, "What brings you here?"
"You need to watch her," Arthur warned.
Remus quirked a brow and set his sandwich down, suddenly no longer hungry, "What do you mean?"
"Ginny wrote home and told her mum that Hermione has been spending an awful lot of time with Severus," Arthur paid for his own firewhiskey and took a bite.
"Yes. I'm well aware," Remus replied curtly.
"Well, she saw them getting rather cozy by the lake just a few days ago," the redheaded man darkened considerably.
"What?" Remus sneered.
"Yeah. Apparently the two of them have been spending more time together than you are aware of," Arthur drained the bottle in his hand and stood, "Just thought you ought to know."
Remus watched his friend leave the pub, anger rising from deep within himself. Hermione had never given him reason to suspect her of infedelity, but now he wasn't so sure that his young wife was as happy in their marriage as she seemed.
He stood and stormed back toward the castle, fury flooding through him.
BBBB
"What?" Hermione blinked at Remus.
"Yeah. That's what I said. Is there any truth to it?" He scowled, pacing in front of a seated Hermione.
"No! Not at all! I gave him a hug and a peck on the cheek for being so helpful with the children! Nothing more!" Her eyes were wide, tears threatening to pour fourth. Why did Ginny have to open her mouth?
"I don't want you spending so much time with him. You're my wife!" He thundered.
Hermione squeaked out a response, "I'm sorry!"
"Do you have anything to be sorry for? Just be honest," Remus stopped dead in front of her before kneeling down so he was at her level.
"I... No!" Hermione squealed, her own fury now coursing through magical veins, "I haven't done anything wrong!"
"Keep it that way," he patted her knee, forced a smile, and exited the room.
The couple stayed their separate ways for the next few days. Remus kept himself occupied with work while Hermione made sure she was preparing for their newest addition to the Lupin family. Everything was strained between the husband and wife. Even simple conversation was becomming incredibly difficult for either to manage.
Hermione knew she'd done nothing wrong, but Remus wasn't so sure. The combination of insecurity and old memories were making him paranoid.
It was approximately three o'clock in the morning when Hermione shook her husband awake, "Remus! Remus!"
"Huh? What?" The weary man sat up slowly before glancing over at the clock.
"I'm in labor," she hissed, attempting to keep the children asleep.
"I'll get Severus. You go down to the hospital wing with Dobby," Remus slid out of bed and began jerking clothes on.
"Dobby?" Hermione whispered, hoping the little elf would pop up once he was needed. Sure enough, after only a moment, Dobby apparated into the bedroom wearing a nightie of sorts.
"Dobby can help Mrs. Lupin," Dobby grinned at the prospect of being needed.
"Yes, please escort me to the hospital wing. I'm about to have the baby," she smiled softly to the adorable little elf who was now bouncing up and down with glee.
"Yes, Mrs. Lupin. Dobby will take Mrs. Lupin to the hospital wing straight away!" He grabbed her hand and pulled the pregnant woman unceremoniously through the bedroom door.
BBBB
"Push!" Poppy urged.
"No more!" Hermione panted out. She'd been pushing for an hour now, and still the baby wasn't coming.
"You must! Push!"
"Arrrggghhhh!" Hermione grunted loudly, bearing her teeth and squeezing Remus to death as she attempted to force her baby out of its cozy home.
"She may need to go under again," Poppy murmured to the medi-wizard assisting her.
"What? No! Not another surgery," Hermione whined.
"We'll see. But if the child doesn't come in five more pushes we're going to have to perform a cesarean," Poppy warned.
Ten pushes later, a brand new baby was welcomed into the world. Hermione and Remus held hands as their new child was cleaned and given a short checkup.
A high-pitched cry echoed through the hospital wing, signifying new life. Remus broke down into tears as he held his wife. The combination of himself and her had formed the most beautiful thing.
"It's a little girl," Poppy grinned as she handed off the pink bundle to her father. Remus stared into the child's honey eyes.
"She's perfect," he leaned down and kissed Hermione's forehead.
"What are we naming her?" Hermione brushed her hand through her daughter's curly blond hair.
"Oh no, you made me name Liam. This one's all yours," Remus laughed.
She feigned irritation with a slight smirk and stared down at the curious little girl, "I think Isabelle is a good name."
"I would agree," Remus smiled warmly.
BBBB
"Liam!" Hermione growled, "Where are your shoes? We have to leave!"
"But I don't want to, Mum!" A four year old Liam stomped through the living room.
"Now!" Remus chimed in. Liam rolled his eyes, flashed his hair neon green (Hermione's least favorite color) and stormed into his bedroom.
"What is with him? He's too little for that attitude. And where's Aariya?" Hermione inquired.
"Here, Mum," the six year old perked up from the couch, "I'm all packed."
"And where-"
"Isabelle is with Severus," Remus smiled and kissed the top of Hermione's head.
"Okay. Everyone is where they should be. When will the train arrive?" Hermione checked her watch, "Gods. We have thirty minutes."
The Lupin family rushed through their Hogwarts home as quickly as possible, grabbing each and every bit of personal material to take home for the summer. Finally, after Remus had sent for help with their baggage, they headed to the train.
With ten minutes to spare the little family ducked into the Hogwarts Express and barely got a chance to wave goodbye to their friends and acquaintances before they were on the way home.
Hermione cradled little Isabelle in her arms, gazing out the window at the trees whooshing past, "We have Ginny and Harry's wedding in a week."
"Yes. No children allowed. We'll have to hire a sitter," Remus nodded as he pulled Aariya into his lap. She had her nose in a book, just like her mother and father.
"Parvati is watching them," Hermione sighed, "I already arranged it."
"Good," Remus nodded and quirked a brow at the green haired Liam sitting on the carpet. He was zooming his toy cars around with wandless magic.
"Our children are exceptionally gifted," Hermione spoke up suddenly.
"Well, they're our children," Remus smirked.
"Yes, but how many four year olds do you know that can control their accidental magic. Look at that," Hermione gestured to their son.
Remus nodded, "Yes. Aariya was doing the same at that age."
"And so will Isabelle. She got angry this morning and a picture fell off the nightstand and shattered," Hermione swallowed hard.
"Perhaps our fallen loved ones have given them gifts," Remus smirked.
"What?"
"Yes. Have you ever heard of the spirit realm?" Remus inquired as Aariya slid off his lap to play with her little brother.
"Oh, what a load of rubbish," Hermione rolled her eyes and shifted Isabelle up to her shoulder. The infant cooed and snuggled into the crook of her mother's neck.
"No, no rubbish. For ages, people have recycled parts of their spirits to make new ones. Such as my mother always said I had the wit of my grandfather, and the temper of my grandmother," Remus explained.
"That's simple genetics," Hermione shook her head.
"No. Have you noticed how powerful You-Know-Who became with the more people he killed? He was using their magic to make himself-"
"Listen, you aren't going to tell me that our children have recycled spirits," anger flooded through her.
"But doesn't Aariya remind you so much of Lily?" Remus furrowed his brow, "The things she does, the way she acts?"
"Well... Yes... I suppose."
"That isn't genetics. You aren't related to Lily, and neither am I," he stated matter-of-factly.
(Okay, so everyone got all terrified that Hermione was going to cheat. She didn't. I just wanted to add a bit of tension between she and Remus. All done! More to come soon. Please review!)