January, 1979
"I'm…I'm what?!" Remus Lupin bellowed in righteous fury. John Lupin frowned at his son.
"You're betrothed," his father said firmly.
"But, how?" Remus demanded in shock. "Surely the girl has to know, that I…that I am what I am? There must be clause in there somewhere about undisclosed conditions."
"Her family knows everything, and they've agreed to the betrothal. All the paperwork has been signed, sealed and approved by the Ministry," John said with a hint of steel in his voice. Remus stood there, his mouth opening and closing for several minutes.
"Father, you can't possibly think that I can do this right now," Remus blustered helplessly. "There's a war on, and you know I've been working very hard for the war effort."
"Oh, that's fine son. The wedding won't be for another fifteen years," Mr. Lupin said mildly. Remus started slightly and then frowned at his father.
"Why fifteen years?" He asked in surprise.
"Because your future wife is only five years old. It gives her time to grow up and you time to get used to the fact that you're getting married whether you like it or not," his father continued on inexorably. Remus' face flushed with fury and he growled at his father.
"She's what? Father, how could you do this?" Remus was screaming now, his frustration, anger and fear pushing him passed his normal behavior.
"I did it because I love you, son, and it seemed the best course of action for you," John Lupin said mildly. Remus' chest was heaving and his eyes were turning amber with the force of his emotions.
"Could you please explain that a little more, father," Remus managed to choke out. He sat down again, in the chair across from his father's desk, so that he could at least maintain the semblance of being a calm, rational wizard.
"You're a good man, Remus, despite your affliction. You're noble and selfless, which I'm rather proud of, but it does provide problems when we look at your future. You would never inflict yourself on any woman. You don't feel that you're good enough, and you blame your…illness. That's not really fair, son. Your mother and I think that any woman would love to have a husband as kind and as caring as you are," John Lupin said firmly. He didn't even mention the increased libido near the full moon because he didn't really think that Remus would appreciate that conversation at all, but that would definitely be a plus for most women as well.
"But, father," Remus said weakly. John shook his head.
"Your mother says there's a new potion that allows you more mental control, it will counteract the years that someone with your condition normally has taken off their life. She's been learning how to brew it herself, and she's got some ready for you, I believe. Our understanding is that it tastes horrific, but it works a treat," John informed his son firmly.
"But…but father," Remus said miserably, his eyes tortured. "What about the children?"
"Merlin's saggy balls, boy! It's like you're bound and determined to not be happy or have any sort of future! The children will be fine. Your mother, and your betrothed's family have spoken to specialists both here and in France, Italy and Germany. All of them assure us that your lycanthropy is not heritable," John snapped in frustration. Remus stared at his father, his mouth open. The Lupins never said the "L" word. Never. It was always 'your condition' or 'his affliction', or even 'you know'.
"It's not?" Remus asked hopefully.
"No, dear, it's not. Now drink your potion like a good boy," Mrs. Lupin said firmly as she pressed a smoking goblet into his hand. He choked down the foul brew and gasped slightly at the taste. His mother patted his head fondly and left his father's study. He turned back to his father and frowned.
"Who am I engaged to, then?" He demanded. Mr. Lupin smiled at his son.
"Miss Nymphadora Tonks," he said proudly. Remus stared at his father.
Nymphadora Tonks?" Remus said slowly, thinking carefully for a moment. Then his face paled and he stared at his father. "Sirius' five year-old cousin? That's who you've betrothed me to?"
"Yes. Charming little thing. She's going to be quite the handful someday," Mr. Lupin said with a fond smile for his future daughter-in-law.
"I see," Remus said faintly.
"Her mother is so sweet and understanding," Mrs. Lupin offered as she entered her husband's study again and set down a tray with his lunch. "You need to eat something, dear. You'll be up late again tonight, and I want you to have something in your body."
"Yes, yes," Mr. Lupin said waving a hand at his wife impatiently.
"Just so you know, Remus, your father and I are going to moving soon," Mrs. Lupin continued happily, shoving a sandwich at her son.
"You are?" Remus said in surprise. "Where to?"
"Ottery St. Catchpole," Mrs. Lupin said with a satisfied smile. "Your father's going to work for the Quibbler as their political correspondent. We're going to live in a lovely house owned by the Quibbler so that your father can be closer to the editor and the printing press."
"Really?" Remus said weakly, his mind working furiously. "You have seen the house, right mother?"
"Oh my, yes," Mrs. Lupin said fondly. "It's just lovely. There's plenty of room for you and your friends to visit, as well. Mr. Lovegood worries about our protection because of the political climate, so he's paid to have the house warded as well."
"I see," Remus said carefully, although he was fairly certain that he didn't. He suddenly had a new potion that helped him tremendously, a betrothed, and his parents were taken care of both financially and politically. He frowned slightly. "Mother…you haven't been speaking to Sirius' new wife, have you?"
"Mrs. Black is a charming young woman," his mother informed him coolly. "She has invited me to luncheon and tea several times."
"She has?" Remus asked cautiously, thinking carefully. His mother nodded, a happy smile on her lips.
Remus Lupin was far from stupid. He knew that his little furry problem had caused issues socially for his mother and made it difficult for his father to get and keep a job. They had been tarred with the same brush he had, if only to a lesser extent. The last time his mother had been invited to tea or a luncheon had been over ten years ago. She hadn't this looked this happy for about the same length of time. He was furious at Hermione—oh, he definitely knew who to blame for his new 'betrothed'—but at the same time, he couldn't begrudge his parents their own happiness. They had sacrificed so much for him over the years because they loved him, and they wanted the best for him. They'd emptied the family vaults to try and find a cure for him. His father had taken menial, degrading jobs to continue to search for a cure for their son, for him. So instead of screaming and yelling, he clenched his teeth and congratulated his mother and father warmly. He went with his mother to their new home in Ottery St. Catchpole and oohed and aahed over its many fine appointments. The house actually was very nice; it was airy and bright, and had a nice kitchen garden where his mother could happily spend many hours. She loved the house, and he couldn't blame her—it was leagues away from the house they'd been forced to live in when the money had run out.
"Mother, have you decided what to do with the other place?" Remus asked curiously. His mother pressed her lips together tightly, and anxious worry reflected in her eyes.
"We're going to rent it out, for now," she said softly. "Just in case."
So his mother was worried that this was all a fantasy, that it could disappear at any moment. He frowned slightly. Hermione, if she was behind all of this, wasn't that type of person. She wasn't sadistic or cruel. If she was doing all of this…he paled dramatically. She must have Seen something. His parents dying? Or his father skewered for his political views? Something had pushed his packmate to protect his family. Remus couldn't find it within himself to be angry with Hermione. He knew how protective she could be about her people, and he knew that she considered him one of her people.
"Somehow, mother, I don't think you'll need to worry too much, but the extra income from the rent might help you out a bit," Remus said soothingly, patting his mother on the back. She nodded in agreement.
"I think it might, too," she murmured with a slight smile. "For the first time in years, things are looking up for the Lupin family."
"Hmm," Remus said noncommittally. He still planned on having a very serious chat with a certain young witch.
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HG/HP/HB
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Morning had rapidly become one of Sirius' favorite times of day. He usually woke before Hermione did, and he loved to lay there with her warm, pliant body against his. This morning when he'd woken, she was sprawled across his chest, using him as a pillow. Her wild curls were spread across his shoulder and her thigh was thrown over him as well. He pulled down the sheet so he could admire the curve of his wife's shapely ass. He lazily stroked her soft skin, and luxuriated in their natural bond. Their magic was permanently meshed now, and he could usually tell how she was feeling. Right now, she was asleep so there wasn't a lot of emotion involved, but there was a peacefulness to their bond that made him bone-deep happy. After the upbringing he'd had, Sirius wasn't sure if he was meant to be happy. He'd never really thought that he deserved to have someone that loved him unconditionally, the way Hermione did. Before their bond, he'd known that Hermione loved him, but now he knew just how much she loved him. Even while she was asleep he could feel her love for him flowing through the bond. She stirred in his arms, moving against him, which did delightful things to his body.
"Sirius?" Hermione murmured in a sleep-slurred voice. He grinned and kissed the top of her head.
"Yes, Mrs. Black?" He asked cheerfully. There was an indelicate snort and then one hazel eye snapped open to look at him.
"Do you have to do that every morning?" She asked plaintively. He hauled her up and kissed her nose.
"Yes," he said simply. She wrapped her arms around him and flicked her hand. Suddenly his mouth felt minty-fresh and her lips were on his. He held her tightly against him and returned the kiss.
With a practiced air, Sirius rolled them over so that Hermione was underneath him and he began to place feather-light kisses down the column of her throat. She squirmed underneath him, gasping and making breathy moans that drove him half mad. Nothing turned him on more, or got him rock hard in a matter of seconds like the sounds Hermione made when he was touching her. He licked and nibbled his way down to the most beautiful breasts in the world. He gave each perfect globe a lingering kiss that included a few nips and licks that made Hermione thread her fingers in his hair and moan low in her throat. He smirked against the curve of her waist and continued his way down to his most favorite spot in the world. She squeaked as he unceremoniously parted her thighs and then gasped in pleasure as he nipped her inner thigh. He settled in because he planned on staying awhile. One of the major perks of being married was that he had every right to do what he was doing right now. As he nibbled and licked and sucked his way around his most favorite spot in the world, his beautiful wife mewed, panted, gasped and when he hit just the right spot…purred.
"No going back to sleep, love, we're just getting started," Sirius growled in her ear. She blinked lazily at him and smiled.
"We are?" She asked curiously, and then gasped in surprise as he slid inside her. "Ooh!"
"We are," he said firmly. She wrapped her legs around his waist and grinned at him.
"If you say so, love," she panted as he stroked inside her.
Sirius ignored her teasing and concentrated on making his wife scream his name. Preferably more than once. His thrusts were deep and hard, guaranteed to take the little minx's breath away and leave her panting and gasping. He knelt between her legs and put her ankles behind his head, allowing him to stroke even deeper.
"Oh, Sirius," she gasped, her hazel eyes wide in surprise. He grinned at her and stroked her with his thumb, and she shuddered around him her cries like music to his ears. "Oh, not fair!"
"Don't worry, love. Still not done yet," he panted in her ear. She looked really surprised this time and frowned at him.
"You didn't swallow a lust potion, did you?" she asked worriedly. He rolled his eyes.
"No, kitten, I didn't. Now be a good girl and get on your knees," he said, helping her turn over. She giggled.
"I don't think anyone's ever said that before," she said over her shoulder, a saucy smile on her lips. He grinned at her.
"Probably not," he agreed as he slid inside her again, making her squeak and then moan loudly. Her moans and squeals, his ragged breathing and the sound of their flesh striking together were the only sounds in their bedroom for some time. He was close now, he could feel his body tighten when Hermione looked over her shoulder at him again, her gaze a mix of love and lust. Their bond was wide open and he could feel everything. They were together in the bond and that look sent him over the edge. He grasped her hips tightly and bellowed his pleasure to the world, she followed, his name on her lips.
After a thorough wash up, which may or may not have involved taking Hermione against the shower door, he was dressed and bouncing down the grand staircase. At the bottom of his stairs was a particularly pained-looking Remus.