April 30th, 1998"Out, you!" Narcissa waved her hand in Remus's face as he growled at her; she
looked unafraid. "I'm aware that your animal instincts are trying to take over, but unless
you plan on pulling out the child yourself, you will sit and be still unless called upon!"
He looked at Andromeda for support, but his mother-in-law was far too busy
holding Dora's hand as she fought through another contraction.
"Are you sure there's nothing to be done for the pain?" Remus asked again, the wolf
inside of his head whimpering at the sound of his mate's cries.
"As I've repeatedly said, this is how it must be done," Narcissa informed him. "If
you'd like, send an owl to the Weasleys. If anyone has perfected the art of childbirth, it
would be that woman. Honestly, this is why I was so pleased that Lucius wasn't allowed in
the room when Draco was born. Men have no patience for these things."
"Don't you dare compare my son-in-law to that rotter of a husband of yours,"
Andromeda snapped.
"Ex-husband," Narcissa corrected coolly.
"Oh? Were you divorced when he died?" Andromeda asked bitingly.
Narcissa stared calmly at her sister and then shrugged her delicate shoulders. "If
there is a word that means 'joyful widow' then tell me. Until then, he's my ex-husband."
"Still," Andromeda said with a smirk, "don't put Remus into the same category as
Lucius Malfoy. He's a good boy."
Narcissa rolled her eyes and muttered, "Hardly a boy," under her breath—her words
drowned out by the sound of Dora screaming one last time.
"Speaking of boys.. ." Andromeda grinned and pulled a crying infant from her
daughter, whose hair had turned turquoise by the end of her labour. She waved her wand
in delicate movements to clean the baby up before she wrapped him in a soft blanket and
placed him in Dora's arms.
Remus stood frozen at the foot of the bed, gripping the footboard so hard that the
wood began to splinter beneath his fingers. He inhaled deeply, picking up the scent of new
life and not a trace of lycanthropy.
"I have a son," he whispered reverently.
"He looks like you," Dora said with a bright smile.