Chapter Twenty-Five:

Lily wasn't the only one crying. Remus had returned to his room and for the first time in years, cried himself to sleep over his baby girl. Hermione was his world after he lost Becca. He was a good father to her, until he had to give her up. He was so young, trying to balance finding what their next meal would come from, where they would live, a way of supporting her. Albus had been the one that convinced him to give her up for adoption. Then Remus was sent to the werewolf communities in hopes of learning a way of organizing them. He now knows it was a ruse to get rid of the last sticking point in his plan for Harry. He should have gone to his brother and sister for help. The minute they knew he was in town, they would have come running to help. The Kings also.

When he came back to London, Remus started looking for his daughter. He knew she would be in Harry's class at Hogwarts, and had a sneaking suspicion that it might be his best friend, as they were always insepretable. He tried not to get his hopes up though and taught his classes to the best of his ability.

At the end of the year, he was again chased away by rumors of his condition. The parents were worried for their children. This time though, he stayed close to home, basically hiding Sirius from the law.

He and the Grim had many discussions about Becca and Hermione. There were many a drunken night when Sirius had to almost carry him to bed because he was too drunk and distraught to make it there on only his own power.

Moony would pine away for his cub every full moon. It was one of the things that sent him towards the kids on that night at the end of their third year. Moony smelled his cub.

He could see James' point of them making the decision to keep Hermione without anyone's approval; Remus' didn't know and Becca was killed for it by her own father.

His mother has a point with his reaction causing Hermione stress, he could see his cub cowering from him as he spoke to her. Harry's reaction to this was what made him back down. To hear that she is thinking that he would do that to her is sobering. She doesn't need more stress on top of trying to make life easier for Harry.

His little brother was willing to give up his sanity and possibly his life for Remus' daughter's happiness. That is a crushing blow to his pride. The fact that he didn't pressure her into the decision and was not even going to mention it, makes Remus want to cry all over again. Harry loves his daughter deeply.

Remus gets up and knocks on his parent's door. His father opens it up and invites him in. "Came to your senses yet?" Ares asks him as they sit down on the chintz sofa in front of a roaring fire.

Remus looks around the room. "I think so. Were you mad at me for not telling you two about Hermione?" This was one of the burning questions in his mind.

"A bit. Mostly pissed that you felt that you had to give her up and that you couldn't come to us for help. When Jane found out abouther being put up, she hit the roof and that is how we found out. We were upset with the three of you and your uncle for not telling us. Believe it or not, but you cheated us out of her early life. Being able to see her first steps, words. To hear her calls us Grandpa and Grandma. Hermione is very formal with us, because she doesn't know us enough to be casual.

Becca, James and Lily's deaths were tragic, but what is more tragic is that you were ashamed of us. It is one thing to not tell the school about us, and I understand about not telling the guys, especially in the face of Peter's betrayal, but to not tell your mate about your parents? Remus, we could have helped you protect her.

You need to think of this, do you want to have a relationship with the only child that you have? With your grandchild(en)? Your mother was trying to get through to you earlier, she is very broken up about this and will be taken Hermione and Harry and I expect James down tomorrow to tell your mate.

I would not be surprised if a letter comes back. Are you willing to lose your mate? Becca was very vocal to Hermione about wanting grandchildren. When she finds out about your outburst, what will she do? I figure, at very least, she will tell you not to come ever, if you don't make up with Hermione and become excited for the child.

The Grangers will need someone to talk to about this that has a level head and explain that the Wizarding world has different views on appropiate ages for parenthood.

You are also forgetting that they are soul bound. That means that they aged to seventeen, the moment they kissed. Hermione will have been turning seventeen, instead it will be nineteen.

Now go and write to your daughter. Explain that you were caught by surprise and tell her on paper how you feel about her, Harry, this situation and what you want from your relationship with her from now on." Ares points to the door and Remus nods before getting up to go.

"Thank you Dad, for talking with me." He says quietly as he walks out. Hermione's fear of disappointing her father comes to her naturally. Remus is the same way with his. His father doesn't scream or shout at him or his siblings but you can tell when you've done wrong in his eyes. Remus has never seen him this upset with him before and that means that he messed up as badly as he could.

When he gets back to his room, Remus takes out a few sheets of paper and a pen. It is easier to write with both.

My Dearest Daughter,

I am sorry for blowing up at you earlier. Mostly, the news caught me unaware. Conciously, I know that the Marriage Law is leading towards this very thing, but when confronted with the news that your child is already complying, it is vexing.

I have talked to both of your grandparents and they have for the most part set me straight. My mother and James raised some vaild points about the whole picture. My father and I discussed his and my mother's hurt feelings about not knowing you as a child, how my temper tantrum might have made things pretty rough with your mother, and how your other parents might need someone to explain the whole thing to them.

I am proud that you and Harry thought and talked it out. It shows that you were not just jumping in this with no concerns. I am also proud that you didn't allow my brother to slowly loose his mind. Harry, though I gave you a hard time, I am glad that you tried to put Hermione's wants first. Above that, stop doing it.

In a way, I guess I am saddened that you didn't come to me, but aside from my hurt feelings over it, I am glad that you have a larger safety net now. I also am sad that you looked at me and think of your maternal grandfather. I would never do that to you. Your mother and I have loved you from the moment we found out about you.

My other half has been pining away for his cub for years now. I think it might have been part of his coming towards you guys that night, he smelled his cub.

I am here and will always be here for the both of you. Never hesitate in coming to me. I love you both very much.

I can only ask now that you allow me to make this all up to the both of you, by being there for you both during the next few months. I want a relationship with my daughter, little brother and my grandchildren, as I know you will not stop at one.

Love your father and brother,

Remus

Remus folds the letter and walks up to Harry and Hermione's room. He knocks lightly on the door and slips the letter underneath. He is about three steps away, when the door opens.

"Thank you, Remus. I will see she gets it in the morning." Harry tells him. The werewolf walks back and hugs his brother. "I am sorry. It is something that I did not think I would hear so early. In my mind, the both of you are still sixteen and going on seventeen. I know a soul bond ages the soul bound ones, but being surprised like that made me loose my mind. I would never do what her grandfather did to us, to her. I love her so much."

Harry nods. "She loves you too. To find out that your favorite professor was your father and then to have him turn on you is a heavy thing. She might need a day to be back to normal around you, give her time." He closes the door and Remus goes back to his room.

Harry lays down and gathers the sleeping woman of his dreams in his arms. He falls asleep holding her and wakes the next morning to his father, Ares walking in with breakfast on a tray. "You know if you keep doing this we will be the size of houses." He hears from the side of him. Ares smiles. "Yes, well your grandmother and father wanted you to have a good breakfast before you left for the Underworld. It is only dry toast, milk, water and scrambled eggs, there is butter and jelly for the toast..." Ares is stopped by the sight of Hermione rushing to the bathroom. Harry runs after her and holds her hair until she is finished and waits until she has brushed her teeth before talking to her.

"So, it has set in then. We will be on the lookout for what sets you off." He soothes her and walks her back out to the bedroom. Ares is still standing there. He sets the tray down and hands her a potion. "Your uncle sent it over once he heard from your father. Truthfully, I think he is happy, which is a scary prospect. A happy Severus Snape?"

"Thank you, Grandfather." Hermione hugs Ares and he leaves happy that he is making headway with his granddaughter.

He walks into the kitchen and smiles. "I was there to see the onset of Morning Sickness. She hugged me and called me Grandfather." He beams to his wife and son. Enyo waps him with the dish towel. "How is she feeling. I imagine she will be green around the gills for most of the day."

"If she takes after Becca, she will toss twice a day and then be fine right after. They hear the toliet flush again and Remus chuckles to himself. Twenty more minutes, and the couple come downstairs, dressed and ready for the trip.

Hermione runs for her father. Remus catches her and hugs her tight. "I am so sorry that I did not react the proper way, Hermione. I know you still have issues with disappointing authority and heaped onto that role I play I am also your father, so doing so to me is doublely upsetting. How are you feeling this morning?" He rubs her back and feels the girl relax in his arms.

"I am feeling better, for now. We will see how this part goes." She says diplomatically. "Are you going with us?" She asks her father.

"I think I should. That way, your mother is able to beat the tar out of me in person instead of in a letter. It will get out of her system all that much sooner." Remus itches the back of his neck. This makes Harry laugh, he can tell Remus is nervous about going to see Becca, with this on the docket.

Becca is understandably concerned when she hears the whole thing, then it turns to anger. Anger aimed at Remus, as was predicted by all. "How dare you of all people come unhinged at our daughter about this. She was helping her mate just as I did for you. Your mother was right, I can see the correlations also. Hermione, don't let these numskulls tell you what you and Harry can or cannot do in your marriage. I am looking forward to holding my grandbaby."

She takes out a real newspaper and swats Remus. "Let that be a reminder to you. She is married, and the two of them are the ones that will carry on our family names. That baby is our heir, don't you forget. Hermione needs someone more understanding, be that person."

James is glad to have gone, just to see Becca lay into Remus. The Smart One, doesn't get in trouble all that often. Sirius will be bummed to have missed this. Remus turns around, seeing his face and leaps for his friend. They scuffle for a bit and dust each other off.