Chapter 10: Clarity

Remus stepped out of the Leaky Cauldron and into the chilly night air that filled the roads of Diagon Alley. The letter still tightly gripped in his hand. He pulled his hood up and walked vehemently towards the destination designated in the letter. It was getting late and there was barely any shops open. Even as he passed he could see lights dimming or turning off with the shops. Only people left to be seen were the late drukards who thought it was fun to stumble around the alley before going home.

Picking up his pace, Remus passed the twins' shop and turned the first corner. This street was narrow and was filled with small lamps that floated above their designated doors. Where they all lead to was a mystery and he was only curious about one, door number 249. It was a dark door that had a light that shined the lowest. He would have surely missed it if he was not a werewolf. His amber eyes roamed around wondering if was safe to proceed. With a quick deep breath to help calm his himself and his wolf, Remus reached for the door and tore it open.

The inside of the door seemed to lead him to a space much larger than one would expect of a Alley apartment complex. In fact, the design of what he saw did not match an apartment complex at all but a house. Stepping in cautiously with his hand gripping his wand tight. He assessed his surroundings. The room he stepped into seemed to be a kitchen. There was a small island in the center filled with books, papers, and cooking utensils. Even though there was a lot on it nothing looked misplaced or messy at all. Pots and Pans hung from the ceiling close to the stoves and oven like an old time house. Turning around he realized that the space he entered turned into a walk-in pantry stalked with ingredients for both food and potions. It too was quite orderly.

Remus could sense he was no longer at the alley at all, looking out the window over the sink confirmed his suspicions. How did this person get the approval to gate way a door in Diagon to their house? It was quite odd.

When he was about to step out of the kitchen and into a well-lit living room with a fireplace and…and a television, a voice spoke up from the other side, "It is nice to see you again, Remus."

He knew that voice. From where though? His mind was reeling trying to figure it out while the wolf yelped happily inside to have finally gained back a member of its pack. It was beginning to hurt his mind.

"It is fine if you do not remember me, Remy," she said, "I mean Albus Dombledore made damn sure he did a good job of eradicating me and my children. But you will remember. There is a loop hole you see, to his spell."

He turned and stared at her in the eyes.

"Hi, my name is Cecelia Hawkings," she smiled, "I am the mother of Sirius's children." Remus grabbed his head as a soaring pain shot through him. He began to scream in pain. His wolf was close to the surface trying to shapeshift in hopes to counter the pain. He fell to the floor and the last thing he saw was bright brown eyes before the world went black.

He was eleven again. He remembers the nervousness he felt going to Hogwarts for the first time. He stepped onto the train and the noise hurt his sensitive ears and the smell of all those small bodies stuffed in such a confined space filled his nose. He cringed and tried to shy away from the world. He stepped into the closest compartment he could find. The occupants went quiet and looked at him curiously. There sat three people. Two males and a female. He looked at them curiously back.

"Hello," he spoke up finally after a few more minutes of silence, "I am Remus."

"Hello Remus," one of the boys spoke up. Remus turned and was instantly mesmerized by the pair ice blue eyes, "I am Sirius Black, that is James Potter and she is Cecelia Hawkings." ….

….He was in the library alone. He was fed up with the three idiots who did not bother to study for anything. All they cared about was themselves and their tricks. Do not get Remus wrong he loved pranking and coming up with mischievous endeavors but he did not let it consume him like it did with the others.

He heard the chair next to him move and looked up from his book to find Cecelia flopping down in it. He smiled at her as she pulled out their third year potions essay. He leaned over her shoulder and began to read what she wrote and began pointing out the inconsistencies in her work. She pouted and grabbed his and began scrutinizing it. After that they always checked each other's work.

Cecelia was easily added into the mix of their mischief group. Though she, like Remus, refused to be any part of tormenting other students. She was particularly against the bullying against Snape. Those two somehow hit it off since their first assignment in potions during second year. They had an argument about certain steps in the potion and in the end she ended up being right. It was the first time someone bested Snape at his best subject. He cursed at her and called her horrible names which he got detention for but Cecelia just smiled and ruffled his hair.

Remus wished he could be more like her. Confident enough to know when to stand against something she believes in even if it meant standing against her best friend. Strong willed enough to make this friendship worked even when James and Sirius were down right gits. Though, he realized she does not get along at all with Peter. She practically ignores his existence and when she does she just glares at him. Odd…

…."Come on Remy," Sirius laughed, "do you seriously think she will say yes?" They were fifteen and Gryffindor had won the game against Slytherin. Remus remembered feeling hurt and angry at the fact that his mate, who he just figured was his mate, was so smitten by the wrong member of the marauders. It was not Cece's fault nor was it Sirius's but a part of him blamed them for not realizing that Sirius was meant to be with him. Though he would never tell either of them.

"Yes," Remus said trying to keep the hurt from his voice, "I think she would say yes."

"You are such a great friend," Sirius smiled. He wished he was more. A part of him wanted Sirius to fall for him on his own. But he knew Sirius would never look at him in that light…

…"You were what?" Remus growled.

"I was blown of my family tree," Sirius sighed solemnly with dark bags under his eyes.

"Why pray tell were you blown off the family tree? I mean you argue with your parents yes but it was never this bad!" Remus looked down at the ground as they sat in James' living room.

"…I…Remus what am I supposed to do?" Sirius cried into his hands, "I knocked her up."

"Who did you knock up," he was dreading the answer already.

"Cecelia," Sirius whispered her name in reply.

"Of…of all the selfish, stupid things you could have done! Why did you not use protection! There are so much spells that could have saved you! And…and Hogwarts should have contraception charms that protects from these things…how did you get around it?" Remus whined at the end. His whole world, his dream shattered. His mate was with another. Then there was poor brilliant Cecelia. How could he do this to her?

"Please Remy," Sirius cried, "do not hate me. I…I need you! I want you to be the godfather to our child." He laced his hands in the hem of Remus' shirt. He looked down at the crying man with so much pain. Their eyes reflected it to each other both feeling it for different reasons.

"Remus," James spoke up. Remus turned to look at one of the two people who knew of his secret, "forgive them." With those words a rush swooped down on them and he felt this pain wash away. He decided then that since it was Sirius' cub, his mate's cub, he would love it until the day he died.

He sat down next to Sirius wrapping a supporting arm around him, "why me?"

"I suggested it," James spoke up, "I thought he needed someone book smart to look out for him." So cheeky.

"Would you let your cu-child close to a werewolf like me?" Remus asked looking away from both of them.

"You can call them a cub," Sirius giggled, "and if you think for a second that you are not safe around them I swear I will clobber you."

Remus just smiled…

…Remus stood next to a very angry and very pregnant Cecelia. She looked at him with her cheeks puffed up. If her anger was not turned on him he would have laughed at the look she gave him. He could see why Sirius loved then. She was a strong willed woman who stood her ground and protected those she calls family. Which included, Severus Snape. Don't Remus wrong, he hated the way his friends treated him and he knew that Sirius was being a jealous git. They tormented the poor kid but this was a step too far. Sirius could have killed him.

"I can't control myself Cece," Remus tried, "it was a full moon! He implemented this plan without my knowledge nor my consent! You know I would never do this, even to Severus!"

"I know," Cecelia sighed rubbing on hand unconsciously over her belly. She looked down and smiled a bit when she felt the child move.

"Just, look after him Remus. I know your furious with him and Sev wants his head but I believe that once he holds our child he will become a better person," Cecelia spoke up, "just promise me he never pushes it that far again."

"I promise," Remus smiled…

…Remus was surprised to say the least. Cecelia had just given birth to their first cub in their pack. Even though a part of him wished that he was the father and Sirius was holding the child. She named him Orion Ophelius Black. It was his father's name which annoyed Sirius but the moment he held his child in his arms all complaints fell away. Remus watched his mate transform to a different man…

…It was graduation and Sirius was carrying Orion at the hip. The kid was only one but he was the most adorable and intellectual thing. He always hated stupid baby games like peek-a-boo. He seemed to prefer people reading to him and helping him arrange alphabet blocks to form words. At first Sirius was so confused about this and was half convinced that the child was Snape's but when the child laughed at every small trick Sirius played out for him he knew differently.

After Orion was born Sirius took it upon himself to resolve any and all issues with Snape. He made sure that he worked off his debt to the man. At first Snape hated the attention and apologetic gestures but over time he seemed to come to accept them. Now, Sirius asks Snape for advice about potions. Though they still call each other Snivellus and Mutt.

He sat next to Cecelia during graduation. She reached out and laced her fingers through his and hummed at him happily. She loved watching those two bicker in a friendly manner…

…Three years has passed since they graduated and the war was at an all-time high. Cecelia was now pregnant again with Sirius's third child. She was six months along and Sirius was super happy. He bounced around her along with a three-year-old Orion and a two-year-old Darius Romulus Black. It made Remus chuckle at the fun scene around him. Remus looked at his godson and younger brother with pure affection in his eyes. He knew a lot of wolves would have hated the cubs their mate had that was not of their blood but Remus did not follow their example. Darius' godfather, to everyone's surprise, was Severus. Sirius was the one that asked him to be.

James joked that he called godfather of the third child which Sirius readily accepted if he was made Harry's, James and Lily's first child. Another cub to their growing litter…

…a few days later Dumbledore called a meeting for all Order members. He said it was of dire importance. They all gathered around. All of them were there except for Cecelia and the kids. She had downright refused to join the Order of the Phoenix but no one knew why. Every time someone pressured Sirius he would shoot them down by plainly stating it was none of their business what the mother of his children did. Though it was odd to Remus, he never understood why Sirius never asked Cecelia to marry him. Maybe he was saving up to it.

So caught up in his world that he had not realized what Dumbledore was saying, "…that is why with great regret that I have to do this."

"The fuck are you talking about," Sirius growled. Stepping towards Dumbledore. Instinctively, Remus stepped up behind Sirius with James taking his right and Snape on his left. What was Snape doing here? Wait, wasn't he always a member of the Order? How come he cannot remember!

"I am sorry my boy—" Dumbledore started.

"DON'T call me 'my boy' Oldman," Sirius hissed. Remus was taken aback at how Sirius could talk to Albus in such a manner.

"Sirius, you will come to understand," Albus smiled wickedly, "Gorou Obilivate*".

Remus Opened his eyes. He remembered everything.

Well now you know the story of Cecelia. She was cursed that she would have to tell her children that their father planned this which was why Regulus has such issues with Sirius. She needed someone who was not her to tell him the truth.

*Gorou Obliviate is a made up spell-ish. It just means for all intent and purposes to obliviate a large group of a particular object and this case it was Cecelia and the kids. But the spell side effect is that those memories can only be locked away in their minds and the castor also falls victim to his own spell.

Please read and review and let me know what you think!