𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤. ʀ. ʟᴜᴘɪɴ

thirty-one

A little after Remus left Evangeline's home, she got a call from Sirius. 

"He's erratic. What the hell happened?"

"He didn't tell you?"

"No! He's showed up at my home and he's been pacing and muttering to himself!"

"I'm pregnant."

She heard him gasp on the other end, "Well, good going, Moony!" she heard Sirius yell to Remus, "how'd he react?"

"He was quiet but said he'd be around for it. He didn't freak out as much as I thought but I suppose he was just containing himself."

"He certainly did."

"Merlin, Sirius, I'm freaking out as well."

"Don't do anything stupid, please. But I reckon this reaches the peak of stupid for the both of you."

"A child is not stupid." 

"This all feels stupid with the state of your relationship and what's happened. How are you feeling?"

"Trying to be optimistic," Evangeline replied, "I don't really know what exactly to think right now."

"The idea of having another godson does sound enticing. Congratulations and good luck, by the way."

"Who said you'd be their godfather?"

"What? Have you got someone else lined up?" he sarcastically asked. 

"No..."

"Good. So that's settled."

"Sirius, he's worried he'll pass down his condition."

She heard him scoff, "that's impossible."

"I told him that."

"Maybe this will... bring you two together."

"I don't want him to get back with me just for this child, Sirius."

"Look, I've got to go. Remus looks like he's about to have a mental breakdown. Will you be alright?"

"We'll see."

Evangeline hung up the phone and stood in place, one person springing into her mind. She got herself dressed and headed out the door to her mother. 

She knocked at the door of her childhood home, Asteria opening the door shortly after. 

"Evangeline."

"Mother."

"What brings you here?"

"I'm pregnant," she blurted out. 

Asteria sighed and let Evangeline in, "that boy you're seeing?"

"Well, was, seeing."

"What did you do to make him leave you?"

She scoffed, "I didn't do anything."

"So you left him?"

"Well..."

Asteria raised a brow at her before turning on her heel, walking to the living room. Evangeline followed, "are you going to get rid of it?"

"No."

She hummed, "interesting. I thought about getting rid of you."

"I bet you're glad you didn't," Evangeline sarcastically said. Asteria sat down and gestured for Evangeline to do the same. She took a seat across from her mother, "I just wanted you to know, should you decide to finally be a good mother and give me some advice."

"Have you told whoever this man is?"

"I have."

"How'd he react?"

"He was scared, but so am I. He left a while after I told him but his friend called me and said he's... erratic."

"Hm, and you're not trying to trap this man into a miserable life?"

"No. And I don't think it will be miserable, you just made it like that because you hate everything and everyone."

"You're not ready for a child."

"I don't think anyone ever truly is, mother."

Asteria sighed, "I wasn't, which is why I considered getting rid of you and never thinking of it again."

"What changed your mind?"

She sighed, "let's just say I had a change of heart."

"How touching."

"So, why did this mystery man break up with you? I can think of a few reasons but I reckon he might have different ones from mine."

Evangeline rolled her eyes, "I don't care to spare the details to you, but he said he did it because he loves me," she sadly said, "he cares about me, I know that, but it doesn't make this hurt any less."

"If he truly cared he would not have done what he did, Evangeline. Stop thinking with your heart and more with your head."

"If you knew what was going on I reckon you'd see things differently. I love dearly, mother. I'm selfishly happy that this has happened, at least I know now that he'll at least stay in my life."

"You've always had blind optimism in the worst of times."

"That might be true," Evangeline said. 

 "I heard about Karkaroff. I cannot say I was his biggest fan, but you do continue to drag down this family name."

"Not much of a family left to have a name to it."

"And this child will be carrying your name... further tainting its image."

"A bit too late for that. Mother... I really am terrified. Everything has just been uprooted and now this, I'm trying to tell myself that this is happening for good reasons but I cannot ignore how anxious I am."

Asteria sighed, "pick yourself up, Evangeline. You'll be fine. You always are, that is one thing about you that I'm proud of."

"You know I want you to be apart of this child's life, despite how much you've pushed me away and torn me down... I'm still holding onto the fact that you're my mother and this child's grandmother. You're the only grandparent they'll have."

"The man has no parents?"

"Both are dead."

"Pity."

"Will you.. be around?" Evangeline hopefully asked. 

She smoothed her dress down, "possibly."