The Lambs

14. The Wolf and The Lamb

August 27th 1999

It had been three months of relative peace and quiet. After Ginny's murder, Remus had begun to interact more with the Pack once again, but most notable was the amount of time he spent around the pregnant Harry. It was only their bond of Godfather/son that waylaid any jealousy Fenrir might have felt. The Alpha understood as well as anyone, that Pack needed Pack when there had been a loss of life. Tonks was dead, and Remus' next immediate family was his sire, Fenrir, and his godson, Harry, and Harry's unborn cub.

Remus smiled softly, the edges of his lips pulled up just barely, as he looked down on Harry. They were sitting on the ground in front of the fire, Harry lying on his back with his head in Remus' lap. Fenrir was making the rounds of the Pack, checking with his other Beta and with Charlie's new mate. Pansy was pregnant already, which everyone agreed was some well-deserved good news. Remus had even managed to congratulate them without beginning to cry.

"Cub," Remus whispered softly, carding his hand through Harry's thick, dark hair. "What are you going to call the baby?"

"Depends on if it's a boy or a girl, I suppose. Fenrir suggested I name it after dad, if it's a boy." Harry looked up, his eyes wide and green.

"Don't you agree?"

"I just- dad's dad, you know. This baby isn't him. This baby is its own person, and it'll probably be nothing like my father. It deserves to be seen and known as a separate entity. I know I wouldn't have wanted to be called James. Harry might not be the best name ever, but it's mine, you know?" He smiled softly, fingers spread out over his swollen stomach.

"I understand perfectly. However, naming the child won't be an issue, if the baby is never born." Remus teased, eying the large bulge.

"Uh!" Harry snarled, "I know! I'm already a day overdue!"

"A day? Just one? Oh cub, that's nothing. Wait until you're two months overdue, like my mother was with me." Remus chuckled as Harry's eyes widened in horror. Mouth opened, the teenager stared up at him silently, not quite able to process the information he had just received.

"Two months?" He squeaked. "That isn't possible. It's not! My baby isn't as ungrateful and difficult as you obviously were as a baby. I won't be two months overdu- OH!" His fingers pressed down hard against his stomach. Breath whooshed out of his lungs as he gave another cry. The pain in his stomach was new and different. Harry wasn't sure what it meant, or why it was happening, but it wasn't unbearable. When it passed, he relaxed, willing to forget about it for the moment. But Remus had other ideas.

"I think you might be in labour." The elder Werewolf said, pulling the boy to his feet.

"No, I'm not, I just-" Harry stopped speaking, an embarrassed flush spreading across his cheeks as the seat of his pants was suddenly wet. "I just wet myself?" He asked himself, strangely disorientated.

"No, your waters broke. Time to get you to the Healer." Remus began steering Harry in the direction of his own tent. His eyes met Fenrir's and the man bared his teeth in a silent snarl. Remus lowered his eyes submissively, but refused to leave Harry's side. Fenrir stormed towards them, pulling Harry into his arms, and shifting his weight so that Remus was partially blocked from Harry's reach.

"Go get Snape," the Alpha ordered. He didn't take his eyes off his mate as he lifted the boy and carried him into the tent.

Severus Snape, one of the resident Healers at Hogwarts, had been living with the Pack for the last fortnight. When Harry's due date drew near, Draco and Sirius both had tried to convince Harry to return to Hogwarts and have his baby inside, where it was safer and more sanitary. But the boy had refused. Harry wanted to have his child within his Pack, at his new home, surrounded by every member of the Werewolf's family. Severus had been outvoted, and against his will had been sent to live within the Forbidden Forest.