The small cottage in the countryside was filled with the warmth of a loving family. Remus Lupin and Sirius Black, despite the shadows of war, had found happiness in their little home with their daughter, Y/N. At three years old, she was the light of their lives, her laughter echoing through the walls and bringing joy even in the darkest times.
It was a quiet evening, and the stars shone brightly outside the window as Remus and Sirius prepared Y/N for bed. Her soft giggles filled the room as Sirius tickled her, his heart swelling with love as he listened to her carefree laughter.
“Alright, princess,” Sirius said, lifting her onto his lap as he settled into the rocking chair by her bed. “Time for a bedtime story.”
Remus smiled, leaning against the doorframe and watching the two of them. The sight of Sirius reading to Y/N, his deep voice calming and soothing, was one of his favorite moments of the day.
As Sirius began to read, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed outside the cottage. Remus’s smile faded, replaced by a deep-seated unease. He exchanged a worried glance with Sirius, who paused mid-sentence, his instincts on high alert.
Before they could react, the front door burst open, and a group of Ministry Aurors stormed in, their wands drawn and faces set in grim determination.
“Sirius Black, you are under arrest for the betrayal of the Potters and the murder of Peter Pettigrew,” one of the Aurors declared, his voice cold and unyielding.
Y/N’s eyes widened with fear, her tiny hands clutching at Sirius’s robes. “Papa, what’s happening?” she whimpered, her voice trembling.
Sirius’s heart shattered at the sight of his daughter’s fear. He gently set her down, standing up to face the Aurors. “There’s been a mistake,” he said, his voice steady but filled with urgency. “I didn’t do it. I would never betray James and Lily.”
But the Aurors were unmoved. They advanced, their wands glowing with threatening light. “You can explain that to the Dementors,” the lead Auror said, his tone final.
Remus stepped forward, placing himself between Sirius and the Aurors. “You can’t do this,” he said, his voice filled with desperation. “Sirius is innocent. You have to listen!”
The lead Auror sneered. “Step aside, Lupin. This doesn’t concern you.”
“It concerns me because he’s my husband,” Remus shot back, his eyes blazing with determination. “And you’re making a terrible mistake.”
The Aurors moved in, and chaos erupted. Remus fought to reach Sirius, but he was outnumbered and outmatched. One of the Aurors struck him with a powerful curse, sending him crashing into the wall. He collapsed to the floor, his vision blurring as pain radiated through his body.
“Remus!” Sirius shouted, his heart wrenching as he saw the love of his life lying injured. He tried to break free, but the Aurors seized him, binding his wrists with enchanted restraints.
Y/N’s cries pierced the air, her small body trembling with fear as she watched her family being torn apart. “Papa! Daddy! Don’t go!” she screamed, her voice hoarse with desperation.
Sirius struggled against his captors, his heart breaking at the sound of his daughter’s cries. “I love you, Y/N!” he called out, his voice choked with emotion. “Take care of her, Remus!”
The Aurors dragged Sirius out of the cottage, his eyes locked on Y/N’s tear-streaked face until the door slammed shut behind them.
Remus fought to stay conscious, his body screaming in pain. He crawled towards Y/N, his vision darkening. “It’s okay, sweetheart,” he whispered, his voice trembling. “Daddy’s here.”
He reached out a shaking hand, pulling her into his arms and holding her close. She clung to him, her tiny body shaking with sobs. “Daddy, where’s Papa? I want Papa!”
Remus’s heart broke as he held her, the weight of their loss crushing him. “I know, darling. I know,” he whispered, his own tears mingling with hers. “We’ll find a way to bring him back. I promise.”
The night was long and filled with grief. Remus held Y/N until she finally cried herself to sleep, her small body exhausted from the ordeal. He gently laid her in her bed, pressing a kiss to her forehead and whispering a vow to protect her no matter what.
The next few days passed in a blur of pain and confusion. Remus reached out to friends and allies, desperate to find a way to prove Sirius’s innocence. But the wizarding world was in chaos, and the Ministry was unrelenting in its pursuit of justice, regardless of the truth.
Remus did his best to care for Y/N, but the absence of Sirius left a void that nothing could fill. He saw the confusion and hurt in her eyes, the way she clung to him whenever someone knocked on the door, afraid that they would take him away too.
Through it all, Remus remained determined. He knew that Sirius was innocent, and he would not rest until his husband was freed and their family was whole again. And though the road ahead was long and filled with uncertainty, he knew that as long as he had Y/N, he had a reason to keep fighting, a reason to hold on to hope.
And so, with his daughter by his side, Remus Lupin faced each day with courage and determination, vowing to bring Sirius home and to give Y/N the family she deserved. For in the face of injustice and loss, their love would be their guiding light, leading them through the darkness and into a brighter future.
