𝙿𝚞𝚖𝚙𝚔𝚒𝚗 𝙿𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚎𝚜 - 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑙𝑒𝑦 | ✔︎

Chapter 30

The rest of the day was full of food and gifts from the Order, including an old golden dragon totem from Dumbledore, who had told Natasha she would know when to use it.

Tonks had gotten her a muggle polaroid camera, which she had enchanted to produce moving images. Natasha had been taking pictures all day, including ones of Sirius that she was definitely going to be using as blackmail.

Her father and Remus had gifted her with a new cloak, detailed with little moons and stars on the bottom, and sporting a deep blue fabric. It was enchanted to always stay warm and had pockets in it that Remus had already enchanted to have a supply of chocolate in it at all times.

It was now late evening, and only a few Order members, including Severus and Tonks were still in the kitchen. Natasha was busy eating a large tub of ice cream on the chandelier, her father not even bothering to ask how or why his daughter was sitting on it.

Fred was asleep upstairs and as the last few Order members apparated out of Grimmauld Place, Severus caught Natasha's eye, a small present in his robes sticking out, drawing her attention.

She let out a yawn and Sirius chuckled. "Go to bed Nat, I'll see everyone else out," he said, and Natasha smiled, apparating to the tapestry room. Even though her father's face had been burnt out, her portrait was still on the tapestry, though she hated the old-fashioned image.

"Natasha?" a drawling voice said quietly, and Natasha turned around to quickly hug Severus, just as he handed her the present.

"Thanks Uncle Sev. Are you heading back now?" she asked, and he nodded.

"I'll see you soon," he said, before apparating out, leaving Natasha with the expertly wrapped silver present. She sat down on the floor and fiddled with it for a few minutes, not noticing that Remus had seen the whole exchange from the staircase.

He watched quietly as she opened the present gently, in a way that was almost identical to how Aurelia would have done it. He noticed how her eyes sparkled with tears as she pulled out a small Ravenclaw tie and a photo frame with a picture of a young Aurelia and Severus.

"Hey mum," she said, stroking her finger on the frame. She opened the locket on her bracelet, where her mother was pacing.

"Happy birthday sweetheart," Aurelia said from the portrait, and Natasha's smiled wobbled, as her mother smiled up at her.

"Uncle Sev's presents are interesting mum, I'm pretty sure this is your first-year tie and there's a picture of you and Uncle Sev of when you were kids," she explained, earning a chuckle from Aurelia.

Remus was shocked to say the least to hear that Aurelia and Severus had known each other from when they were kids, but the only resemblance they even shared was their pale complexion.

"Sev was definitely my favourite cousin, the rest of them were either older than us or muggles who shared the same views as my parents," Aurelia said, and Remus gasped, causing Natasha to see him.

"Uncle Moony?" she called out, and he came into the room, shutting the door quietly behind him. Aurelia's wide smile greeted him from Natasha's bracelet, and he couldn't help but smile back, taking a seat next to Natasha.

"Remy," Aurelia acknowledged.

"Reli," he said back.

"I guess you now know about my relation to Severus," she said casually, sitting on the chair in the portrait.

"You don't even look alike, but the intelligence you two had and your knack for keeping secrets was definitely similar," Remus remarked. Aurelia laughed, and Natasha lay her head on Remus' shoulder, falling asleep.

"You're not mad she didn't tell you?" Aurelia asked, as Remus summoned a blanket to put over Natasha.

"As much as I loathe Severus, I know he would always keep her safe and his number one priority, and he probably told her to keep it a secret, so no, I'm not mad at her," he said softly, picking the girl up in his arms.

"Sirius needs to know, but she can't be the one to tell him Remus. He's an amazing father, but he's also completely protective over her, and Sev would be in his firing line," she said worriedly.

Remus nodded before apparating he and Natasha up to the outside of her room. "Oh, and Remus?" Aurelia called out.

"Yes Reli?"

"Look after Sirius and Natasha for me, would you?"

"Always Aurelia."

~.~

After giving Natasha to George so that he could put her to bed, Remus went back downstairs to the kitchens, where Sirius was quietly drinking whiskey, watching a muggle television program from the television Arthur had brought in from his work.

Currently, there was a gameshow of some sorts airing, and Remus chuckled as his best friend started to get engaged in the show, muttering strange profanities under his breath.

"Alright there Padfoot?" he asked, taking the seat opposite Sirius.

"Bloody muggles amaze me sometimes. How on earth do you make that much money just by spinning a wheel?" he mused, taking another sip of his whisky.

"I would explain it, but unfortunately I have more pressing matters to tell you about, regarding Natasha." As soon as he let her name out of his mouth, Sirius switched off the television, his attention completely focused on his best friend.

"Is she in danger? Is someone out to kill her? Is she pregnant?!" he fired, and Remus calmly shook his head.

"I just found out something about her heritage, regarding Aurelia, Severus and your child," Remus stated, watching intently as Sirius processed the information.

"Natasha isn't his child is she? I swear to-"

"Oh, Godric no, she's definitely yours mate. However, she is related to Severus. Aurelia's portrait confirmed that just a mere few minutes ago," he said slowly.

"Aurelia?" Sirius stuttered, and Remus nodded.

"They were cousins, Padfoot. Which makes Snivellus and Natasha-"

"-second cousins HOLY MOTHER OF GODRIC my child is related to that grease bag?!" he cried, just as Molly sauntered into the kitchen, her face quite red.

"Just because you two are absolutely high on caffeine, does not mean the rest of us aren't trying to sleep!" she whispered harshly, causing Remus and Sirius to shudder. She clearly hadn't of heard what Sirius and Remus were talking about though, as with a last sharp look to them both, she went back upstairs to bed.