Aurora had no idea how on earth she had managed to convince Remus to get married. But she had, and on May 2, 1994, they stood at the end of a short aisle, ready to take the next step in this unconventional journey together.
It wasn't a traditional wedding, with a grand party after the ceremony, a hundred guests, and a feast of decadent food. Instead, it was quiet, intimate, and solemn, attended only by the officiant and Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall, who graciously served as witnesses. Apart from them, no one else even knew that the wedding was taking place. This was for Harry, and so there was no need for fanfare or celebration. Time was short; the end of the school year loomed closer, and with it, the impending court date. They had to act swiftly.
Neither of them had dressed elaborately. Remus wore a simple but elegant dark suit, looking both refined and slightly uncomfortable, while Aurora chose a summery white dress she had found tucked away in her wardrobe. As she slipped it on earlier, a strange wave of nostalgia had washed over her, it was an outfit she vaguely recalled from her school days.
The ceremony was held in the late afternoon, just after the day's lessons concluded. They made their way to Professor Dumbledore's office, where an official from the Ministry of Magic awaited them with the necessary documents. The room was bathed in golden light filtering through the high windows, lending the moment an unexpected warmth.
Remus stepped forward first, his voice steady but soft as he recited the vows that would bind them together in name and purpose.
"I, Remus John Lupin, take you, Aurora Vivienne Moonridge, to be my lawful wedded wife. I promise to love, honor, and cherish you, to stand by you in good times and bad, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, until death do us part."
Aurora followed, her voice trembling slightly but growing stronger with every word, her gaze never leaving his.
"I, Aurora Vivienne Moonridge, take you, Remus John Lupin, to be my lawful wedded husband. I promise to love, honor, and cherish you, to stand by you in good times and bad, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, until death do us part."
The official smiled as he spoke the words that finalized their union.
"Remus John Lupin and Aurora Vivienne Moonridge, by the authority vested in me by the laws of the Ministry of Magic in the United Kingdom, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss."
For a moment, they both hesitated, sharing a brief look of uncertainty and mutual understanding. Then, slowly, their faces drew closer, and their lips met in a gentle, fleeting kiss. It was a simple gesture, unembellished but sincere, and it marked the beginning of their shared commitment.
As they exchanged plain silver bands, the official added warmly, "May your love and commitment be one more to bring you endless joy and happiness. Congratulations!"
The sound of clapping filled the room as Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall applauded the newlyweds. Dumbledore's face bore a wide, genuine smile, his eyes twinkling with approval. Professor McGonagall, ever composed, was visibly moved. Tears glistened in her eyes as she dabbed them with a handkerchief. How could she not be? She had just witnessed the last of the Marauders take this profound step into a new chapter of life.
Once the ceremony concluded, everyone signed the requisite documents, the final pieces to solidify the union. When all was said and done, they quietly dispersed. Each person seemed to feel the weight of the moment, needing a pause to reflect after such an emotional and significant occasion.
Aurora and Remus walked down the hall side by side, their footsteps echoing softly against the ancient stone floors of Hogwarts. Neither had said a word since they left the Headmaster's office. It wasn't that they were upset with one another or feeling awkward; they were simply still coming to terms with this strange new reality. It was a lot to take in, marriage, legal guardianship of Harry, and the implications of what lay ahead. Nothing would ever be the same again. They were married now. Married. And soon, they would officially take custody of Harry. They were going to be a family. The thought warmed Aurora's heart and sent a nervous flutter through her stomach. It was wonderful, but also a little weird.
"Remus?" Aurora finally broke the silence, her voice tentative yet steady.
"Hmm?" he responded, glancing at her with mild curiosity.
"What now?"
"What do you mean?" he asked, his brow furrowing slightly as he turned his head toward her.
Aurora hesitated, chewing her lower lip for a moment before pressing on. The question felt awkward, but it had to be asked. "We just got married, and... you know what happens after a wedding."
Remus gave a quiet chuckle, his lips curving into a faint smirk as he tried to lighten the mood. "A lot of things happen after a wedding, Aurora."
"I mean the wedding night," she clarified, her cheeks flushing slightly, though her gaze stayed on him.
"Oh..." Remus stopped in his tracks, rubbing the back of his neck as his expression shifted to one of thoughtfulness and mild embarrassment. He looked down the corridor for a moment, as if searching for the right words among the stone walls and flickering torchlight.
"Do you think we should...?" Aurora asked softly, her voice trailing off at the end. There was a hint of vulnerability in her tone, though she tried to mask it with composure.
"I think we have to," Remus admitted after a moment's pause, his tone both reluctant and resigned. His gaze flicked to hers, warm but serious. "I was looking into it last night. Failure to consummate a marriage can be grounds for an annulment, and I think Fudge would be happy to use that to keep Harry from staying with us."
Aurora nodded, her face steady but her heart racing. She hated that their choices were being dictated by technicalities and Ministry loopholes, but she knew Remus was right. This wasn't just about them, it was about Harry.
"So... mine or yours?" she asked after a moment, trying to sound casual as she broke the silence.
"Where do you feel more comfortable?" Remus asked gently, his fingers lightly brushing her arm in a gesture of reassurance.
"Let's go to mine," Aurora decided after a brief pause, a small, wry smile tugging at her lips. "Just for a change. Last time it happened in your quarters."
"Okay," Remus replied, his lips twitching into the faintest of smiles at her attempt to inject a bit of humor into the moment. Despite the weight of the situation, he appreciated her ability to lighten the mood, even if only slightly.
"We're not going to use contraception?" Aurora asked as Remus almost inserted his penis into her vagina.
"I don't want to tempt fate that Fudge will have a problem with that too" Lupin explained "But don't worry, I swear I don't have any STDs"
"What if I get pregnant?"
"Abortion is legal in this country" Remus reminded "Ready?" he asked, to which Aurora nodded.
His eyes were full of worry. He was afraid that he would hurt her. Merlin, he hated doing things out of necessity, especially having sex. He and Aurora had only done it once before and only because they had both made such a decision, guided by reason and desire. Now they had to do it so that the Ministry wouldn't have a problem with anything.
Remus kissed Aurora's neck while moving slowly inside her. The woman gave herself over to this pleasure, with quiet moans. One of her hands was in his hair, the other was intertwined with his own.
"We have to tell Harry. Everything is best," she said at one point.
"Aurora, with all due respect," Remus began, who stopped kissing her for a moment to look into her eyes, "But we're having sex, let's not talk about our cub right now, okay?"
Remus closed his eyes, as if concentrating on the pleasure and moving inside Aurora. It looked like he was really close to cumming.
"Our cub?" Aurora asked with a smile.
"Aurora, don't say anything now, please. For a moment."
And then Remus came inside her.
"Merlin, I'm sorry," he mumbled, lying down exhausted next to her. "Give me a moment and I'll take care of you."
"You don't have to."
Aurora snuggled up to him, resting her head on his chest, listening to how fast his heart was beating
."What are you talking about? You're the most important person here, Aurora. Let me show you..."
"I don't want to, Remus," she interrupted, "I'd like to talk to you about Harry, everything else can wait."
Harry Potter entered Remus Lupin's office early in the morning, his messy hair even more unruly than usual from the rude awakening by an owl's incessant tapping at his dormitory window. The message it carried was brief, summoning him urgently to the professor's office. Harry didn't know what to expect; Lupin had never called him so suddenly before. The pit in his stomach told him something was wrong.
As Harry stepped into the room, he saw Aurora and Remus already waiting for him. Remus, standing behind Aurora, gestured for Harry to take one of the chairs positioned near the desk, directly across from her. Aurora's expression was warm but serious, and Remus's hands rested firmly on her shoulders, as if grounding himself for the conversation ahead.
"Harry, we need to talk seriously," Remus began, his voice steady but tinged with an undercurrent of unease. "There are things you should finally find out about."
Harry sat down slowly, his heart pounding as his gaze flickered nervously between them. He could feel the weight of their words coming before they were even spoken. It was clear from the tension in the air that this wasn't an ordinary discussion.
"Harry," Remus began, leaning slightly forward, "have you ever wondered about the reasons for my monthly absences?"
Harry hesitated, his brow furrowing as he fidgeted with the hem of his robes. "I never looked for reasons, Professor," he admitted, his voice quiet but sincere. "I didn't want to get into your private business with dirty boots. But I was worried about you."
A faint smile crossed Remus's lips at Harry's words, though his expression remained somber. "And do you remember how I told you that because of my health problems, there might be difficulties with me adopting you?"
Harry nodded again, his confusion deepening. Aurora, who had been silent so far, kept her gaze on him, her hands resting on her lap, as if ready to step in when needed.
"Harry..." Remus paused, his voice softening. "I'm a werewolf."
Harry's eyes widened in shock, and his gaze snapped up to meet Remus's. The room seemed to go still as he processed the revelation.
"I understand if this means you don't want to have anything to do with me anymore—" Remus began, his tone betraying a vulnerability he rarely showed.
"It's not important that you're a werewolf!" Harry interrupted, his voice bursting out before he could stop himself. The passion in his words was clear, but the moment he realized what he had done, his face flushed, and he quickly backtracked. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have interrupted you, Professor. It's just... There's more to this, isn't there? Is this getting in the way?"
"Exactly, Harry," Remus confirmed with a solemn nod. "Werewolves aren't allowed to adopt minors."
The weight of those words hit Harry like a brick. "So I can't stay with you?" he asked, his voice cracking slightly. "I'll end up with someone else?"
"No, Harry," Aurora interjected for the first time, her voice warm but firm, as though offering him a lifeline.
"You see, cub," Remus continued gently, his eyes softening, "the law forbids someone like me from being your legal guardian. But Aurora and I found a loophole. I can't be your guardian... but my spouse can be."
Harry blinked, his brow furrowing as confusion etched itself deeper into his features. He didn't seem to fully grasp what was being said.
Aurora shifted forward in her seat, lowering herself to kneel in front of him. She reached out, taking his hands in hers with a tenderness that instantly drew his attention to her.
"Harry," she said softly, her voice brimming with compassion, "what do you think about it being the three of us, hmm? You, Remus, and me. I would be your legal guardian, but that doesn't change the fact that Remus would still be present in your life, playing a key role. We'd be a family. What do you think?"
"I..." Harry began hesitantly, searching for the right words. "I don't know if I understood correctly... Your spouse can become my legal guardian, Professor Lupin, so that you can raise me. But that would mean that you and Professor Moonridge..." He trailed off, realization dawning on his face. "You're married?"
"Yesterday we officially became husband and wife," Remus confirmed, holding up his hand to show Harry the simple silver band glinting on his left ring finger.
"But..." Harry stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. "You didn't have to do it for me... You shouldn't have! I didn't want you to ruin your lives because of me!"
Remus was beside him in an instant, his hand resting firmly yet reassuringly on Harry's shoulder. "Harry, you know very well that Aurora and I weren't just coworkers. I'll be honest with you, kid. We've had romantic feelings for each other for a while now. You've probably noticed how much I like her, and she likes me."
Harry looked between them, his expression conflicted. After a moment of silence, he cleared his throat and said, "With all due respect, Professor Moonridge, aren't you... twenty-one? Isn't that a bit young to be..." He trailed off, clearly unsure of how to phrase it.
Aurora chuckled softly, her laughter like a soothing balm to the tension in the room. "Twenty-two for a few days, Harry," she corrected with a teasing smile, "but thank you for thinking I'm young."
Harry managed a small smile of his own. Aurora pressed on, her tone hopeful. "So, what do you say, Harry? Are we going to be a family?"
Harry opened his mouth to reply, but then a flicker of uncertainty crossed his face. "What about Lucrecia?" he asked suddenly.
"What about her?" Aurora replied, tilting her head in surprise.
"Well..." Harry hesitated, his cheeks flushing crimson. "I like her. She seems really nice, and... uh... I thought maybe I'd ask her out. But it's not exactly appropriate to date your own aunt, is it? How will she look at it?"
Aurora blinked, clearly caught off guard by the question, and before she could think it through, she blurted, "Then don't tell her."
Remus's hearty laughter filled the room, the tension from earlier dissolving in an instant. "For Merlin's sake, Aurora!" he exclaimed, shaking his head with a grin.
Harry couldn't help but join in with a sheepish laugh, feeling the weight of the conversation finally lift. For the first time that morning, he felt like maybe, just maybe, everything would be all right.