To The Moon and Back | Remus Lupin's Daughter

7. Getting into the swing of things - Remus

April 1993

Life with Astra was finally beginning to fall into place. The past two months I've learned so much about being a father. From he strange sense of pride that swelled in my heart whenever she progressed in her social skills with Molly and Arthur to when she started reading some classics from my mother's collection of muggle stories to herself.  To the heart break whenever I uncover more details about what Dresella did to my pup. 

Slowly, with each passing week she slowly comes out her shell. New exciting aspects of her growing personality bubbling to the surface as she come accustom to the safety of our cottage. As well as the safety of her growing relationship with Molly who's been my rock during these passing months. 

without the Weasley matriarch, i doubt i'd been able to navigate my new found fatherhood as smoothly. She's really helped Astra come out of her shell. Showing her a kindness she never received from her own mother, yet still i can't help but notice little signs of hesitation in her when it comes to Molly's physical affections. I'm pretty sure Molly notices it as well. She's taken on announcing when she's going to hug Astra not to spook the young girl.  

she also hasn't raised her voice in Astra's present after, one evening after work she started giving out to me for not looking after myself for leaving the house without breakfast and skipping lunch as well. The motherly worry only seemed to scare Astra causing her to cower in the corner until molly realised she scared the young girl and calmed down refraining from yelling only to give me a stern look that spoke louder than her words ever could.  in a way it was strange having someone look out for me again. Sometimes her tone and mannerisms in the kitchen reminded me of Lily during nights in godrick's hallow when all of us gathered in her small sitting room for a night of food, drink and catch ups after weeks of long painful missions for the order before our pack fell apart. 

This week had been particularly hard at work, my co-workers were getting suspicious as the full moon approached and i was beginning to get sickly for the second time in the space of two months. I tried my best to keep up appearances but I was exhausted. the work wasn't particularly taxing nor was it overly rewarding but it kept food on the table. 

Stepping out of the fireplace after the long day or constant questions from Jane Bones as to what was making me feel unwell and why i was taking two days off despite them being my usual rostered days, i was fit for bed. I could tell i was in a foil mood and didn't wanna risk upsetting molly. Mentally preparing myself for her motherly codling, i look up only to be met with small thin arms locking around my waist. the impact of the contact nearly making me stumble backwards into the fire yet again. the smell of home cooking filled the air over powering my senses almost making me nauseous. 

"Daddy!" Astra exclaimed, causing my heart to sore. I almost couldn't believe it. she only ever called me by my name. she's never given me the honour of recognising me as her dad before. I could feel my eyes water. 

"Hey there pup, were you good for Molly?" I smile down at her trying to keep my emotions in check. Astra just nodded, looking up at me with big sparkling eyes that were filled with love before she released me from her hug and walked back to her spot on the sofa to continue her newest book. Her love for reading rivalled my own. She was just five years old and she was already slowly making her way through Little Women and refused to let me read it to her, she kept telling me she wanted to read it to herself so that she could read to me after work. it was a sweet jester, she started doing after i was so exhausted one evening last month when i couldn't focus on the words and re-read the space paragraph three times before she started reading aloud in my place. it was a small little routine that i found absolutely adorable. 

She curled up on the sofa and waited patiently for me to join her on the sofa. One of the things I've noticed over these last two months in that on the days running up to the full moon, Astra got very quiet. she barely speaks unless absolutely necessary. Using answering silently yes or no to most questions. i couldn't help but chuckle when she looked back at me with a raised eyebrow as though she was asking me to hurry up.