Chapter 20: Meeting and Parting

"It's a boy."

The words still had not sunk in for the fake Sirius and Cassiopeia. Finally, after nine, long months, the baby had arrived. The center of Cassiopeia and Sirius's lives was now wriggling and wailing in Snape's arms. For Cassiopeia, the sound of her baby boy's cries was like music to her. An exhausted, yet purely ecstatic smile was on Cassiopeia's face.

"A boy," Cassiopeia breathed in awe.

The fake Sirius took out a handkerchief from his pocket and attentively wiped the beads of sweat from Cassiopeia's brow. Suddenly, they heard the howling from the werewolf.

"Oh, no," the fake Sirius gasped, turning to Snape, "Severus, please take my wife to the hospital wing. I have to go make sure my godson is safe."

Instantly, the fake Sirius ran off into the night. Once Tonks was safely out of sight, she changed back into herself and ran to Cassiopeia's side.

"Aunt Cassie, are you alright?" she asked.

Cassiopeia did not answer her. She was too exhausted to reply. Sweat was still flowing from Cassiopeia's brow. Tonks conjured a small rag and dabbed it on Cassiopeia's head.

"A boy…Remus," she whispered.

Tonks turned to Snape. "Snape, you promised to help her. Please take her to the hospital wing. I'll take the baby to a safe place."

"First, give me your coat," Snape said.

Tonks was incensed. She could not believe what Snape was asking of her. "I beg your pardon?!"

"Not that one, the other one," Snape said, rolling his eyes and pointing to Tonks's leather coat, "To keep the child warm."

"Oh," Tonks said, embarrassed.

Without hesitation, Tonks took off her long, leather coat and handed it to Snape. Snape took the coat and gently bundled the wailing baby in it. For the first time in weeks, Tonks was overjoyed. Her new cousin was finally here. She could not help but smile as she looked at the baby.

"Cassie, he's perfect!" she whispered.

Cassiopeia's eyes were closed, but she was still whispering. "Remus."

"What, Aunt Cassie?" Tonks asked, leaning in closer to her.

"Remus," Cassiopeia whispered.

Tonks was baffled. "What about Remus?"

Cassiopeia shook her head. "No, his name. Remus….James."

Tonks smiled cheerfully. "Oh, that's adorable, Aunt Cassie. He looks like a baby Sirius. I'll call him Sirius Junior, or S.J."

"Charming," Snape said dryly.

Annoyed, Tonks rolled her eyes and slapped Snape. "Just take her to the hospital wing."

Overcome by exhaustion, Cassiopeia lay motionless on the grass.

Although she was asleep, Cassiopeia whispered, "Sirius."

With Cassiopeia weary, Tonks knew that she could not take any chances. She was determined to save Cassiopeia and her baby.

"Please, Severus," Tonks pleaded. "I'll take the baby to the castle and go after Sirius. You take Cassie to the hospital wing."

"Very well. I did promise," Snape agreed.

Tonks ran into the hospital wing with the baby where she found Poppy fussing over Cassiopeia and Sirius sitting next to the bed. Cassiopeia slowly opened her eyes.

"Cassie, you're awake," Sirius gasped, taking Cassiopeia's hand.

"How do you feel, Aunt Cassie?" Tonks asked.

"I'm a bit sore and very tired," Cassiopeia said. "Having a baby wasn't easy, but it was worth it."

"She's still malnourished from being in Azkaban so long," Poppy said.

Cassiopeia ignored Poppy, as she was more concerned with her new baby.

"Nymphie, where's my baby?" she asked.

"He's right here," Tonks said.

She handed the baby to Cassie and smiled. Baby Remus awoke so Cassiopeia could see his deep, blue eyes. Sirius was in complete awe of the baby in Cassiopeia's arms.

"Sirius, this is our son," Cassiopeia breathed. "He's such a beautiful boy. And look, Sirius, he has your eyes."

"He's perfect," Sirius said breathlessly, taking his son's tiny hand in his. "Your mummy and I love you. We loved you before you were born."

Tonks then spoke up. "I have to go find Remus. He's out there lost and confused. I can bring him back."

Sirius jumped out of his chair and walked over to his younger cousin. "Nymphie, no! He'll kill you!"

"I have to. I don't know why, but I have to. He won't hurt me. I know he won't. Before you angered him, he calmed down when he saw the mark on my arm. If I can get him back here, I could probably get him locked away where he can't hurt anyone," Tonks said.

"It's too dangerous. I won't let you!"

"I have no choice. I'll be fine."

"Please just be safe, Tonks."

"I know."

Tonks walked out and into the dark forest. She pulled out a whistle from her pocket. The whistle was one she used for tracking werewolves. Its call sounded like a werewolf's howl. She only hoped it would call Remus to her. She blew on the whistle sending out the call.

"Please Remus, come back here." She said.

She sat down on a boulder she remembered all too well. The boulder she was found by during her first year at Hogwarts. She sat and waited for what seemed like forever. Finally Remus appeared around a tree. He went to strike Tonks. Tonks held up her arms as she had before and he stopped. He whimpered at her. She stared at him in astonishment.
"It's alright. I'm not going to hurt you."
Remus stared at her and whined.
"It's alright. I'll take you back."
Tonks made Remus follow her to his office. When she got him there, he curled up in the corner.
"Alright, stay here. I'll be back."
Tonks ran back to the hospital wing knowing Fudge was probably there. She had to stop him from sending Sirius and Cassie to the Dementors. She walked in, and Fudge was already sentencing them.
"Minister Fudge, wait! Please, their innocent. They didn't kill anyone."
"Ms. Tonks, I will hear no more of this," Fudge said firmly.
"But they are innocent! Peter Pettigrew is alive! I saw him!"
"Ms. Tonks, your job is to take orders and be quiet."
"But sir-"
"Your orders right now are to take the child and go. You are put in charge of that child's care."
"Minister, please."
"That's an order. You forget all too well I hold your innocence, Ms. Tonks. Unless you want to end up in Azkaban."

"…..No"
Tonks walked over to Cassie, tears rolling down her face. "I'm sorry, Cassie. I have to. If not, he'll send me to Azkaban for the people I've killed."

Cassiopeia held Baby Remus closer, as if she was protecting him. "No, I won't let you."

"Please, Aunt Cassie," Tonks begged.

"Nymphie, don't do this. Please, Nymphie. Don't take my baby from me," Cassiopeia pleaded, tears shining in her eyes.

Tonks felt guilt stab right through her. She could not bear taking a baby from its mother.

"Aunt Cassie, if I don't take the baby, they'll throw me in Azkaban," Tonks said, "Please, Aunt Cassie. For my sake, give me the baby."

Tears rolled down Tonks's eyes. Cassiopeia knew she owed Tonks for her life as well as Baby Remus's.
"Please take care of him," Cassie said, crying as well. "Tell him I loved him every day."
"I promise."

Cassiopeia nodded, the tears streaming from her eyes. She gazed at her son, memorizing his face. She leaned down and kissed his head.

"I love you," she whispered to the baby.

Weeping, Cassiopeia handed the baby to Tonks, hugging her tightly. Tonks let go of Cassiopeia and turned to Sirius.

"Promise me that you'll tell him about us," Sirius said.

"I will," Tonks said.

Sirius kissed his son's head for the first and last time. Then, he gave Tonks one, final hug. Baby Remus began to wail as soon as he left Sirius's embrace. Cassiopeia was holding on to Sirius as if he was her lifeline. The last thing Tonks heard before she left the room was Cassiopeia's anguished cries after losing her son.
Tonks took the baby and quitted the room, crying the whole way. Little Remus would not stop crying. It was as if he knew he was losing his mother and father. When she walked in to her room, she collapsed on her bed, crying at her misfortune.

A/N: Awww, so sad! Well, there you have it. You have officially met Remus James "S.J." Black! I hope you enjoy what happens in the next chapter! Thank you to all my reviewers and to my best friend, Roza Anne! :D