A Pint-sized Point of View

Author’s note: Yes, I realize that I should not be starting another fic when I have two more fics to focus on, but it’s hard for me to concentrate on anything when the plot bunnies are running rampant. I know the prologue is short, but I’d love some feedback!

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Prologue:

Martha’s delivery had been one of the hardest times of Remus’s life. He’d spent hours talking her out of killing their unborn child, but what if she changed her mind? What if when it was born she sent it off to the Ministry to be put down? But it might not be infected with lycanthropy. It might be a healthy, happy child. Oh Merlin, how he hoped the baby would be healthy. Everytime he thought about it, another chunk of his hair would end up on the floor, peeled skin from his scalp caked grotesquely under his nails.

Oh Merlin, his nails, his nails! He hadn’t bothered to trim or even clean them! They were unfit for holding a newborn. What if he hurt him? Or her? …What if it was twins…oh bollocks!

But this could all be a moot point if Martha had the child put down.

Oh no, oh no, oh no!

“Mr. Lupin,” the receptions called haughtily. “There is no need to wear a hole in the floor with your incessant pacing!”

She sneered at him. They all sneered at him. The Healer’s wouldn’t let him in the birthing room due to his condition, but really, he thought it was so that he couldn’t try to pressure Martha into handing over the child to him. A werewolf parent could only have custody of the child if the human parent willingly agreed. When he’d told Martha about his condition, he’d actually believed that she might actually accept him. She’d seemed happy about the unplanned pregnancy, eager to share in the joys of parenthood with him… Then he told her. Excitement turned to horror.

She’d wanted to abort the baby. He’d begged and begged her to keep it, to let him raise it. He swore he’d never try to contact her again if she’d please, just please let him keep the child. She’d reluctantly agreed after he’d thrown a few dollar signs into the equation. Remus was by no means a rich man, but he would sell everything in his name to save his child.

But what if the Healers convinced her to destroy it? Or it had lycanthropy and grew to resent him? Or—

“Mr. Lupin,” a man in a white coat and a blank face came out. “Sign this form and you may take your daughter home.”

Remus’s chest squeezed with a dizzying tightness. “Girl, she’s a girl? I have a daughter? Is…is she..?” his voice faltered.

The Healer shook his head. “She has been exposed to your lycanthropy and has picked up a few side effects, but she is not infected; however, you must be very careful with her Mr. Lupin. Usually with werewolf bites, there is a chance that the victim will not turn, but if you were to bite her—“

“I assure you, that will never happen,” Remus said coldly, quickly snatching the documents and signing them.

The Healer’s face remained impassive. He took the documents, scanned them, and nodded. “I will return with her shortly.”

The second the Healer was out of sight, Remus slumped against a nearby wall in relief, ignoring the annoyed huff of the receptionist. His daughter was normal. She would live a normal, healthy life. A happy life. Remus would see to it that he gave her the best possible life she could possibly have.

The Healer returned and slipped a small, squirming bundle in Remus’s arms. He looked down at his daughter in awe, heart swelling with a ridiculous amount of love. She looked so much like him..the same thin, straight nose, softly curved eyebrows, tawny hair, brown-gold eyes (though hers leaned more towards the brown shade than his). It was as if someone had taken all of his features, but smoothed them out, nipped and tucked, and given them a feminine softness.

He walked out of the hospital and looked towards the sky. James, Lily, Peter, look. Do you see her? How perfect she is? I’ll tell her all about you; her brave family. You’ll watch out for her, won’t you? A gentle breeze ruffled his hair, and he smiled sadly, knowing in his heart that yes, they would. Even in death, they would always be his truest friends.

His mind drifted briefly to one Sirius Black, but he quickly forced his thoughts back on track. Seven years had passed since his life had gone to hell, but he was ready to heal. He’d turn all of his heartache into love for his daughter, and fill her life full of only nice things; Sirius Black was a thing she’d never have to know of.