Muggle | 𝐹𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑊𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑙𝑒𝑦

Chapter 176

"What!?" Fred and I explained at the same time. For a second I had thought that Lupin was here to announce that we had to go to Hogwarts for the battle, even though I knew that was a few weeks away from now.

Not a minute later, we heard rushed footsteps running downstairs and into the living room where Lupin, Fred, and I were standing.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were both in their nightclothes with their wands in their hands, and George and Ginny followed them down behind.

"Lupin?" said Mr. Weasley, surprised yet worried to see him here at this time of night.

"It's a boy! We've named him Ted, after Dora's father!" Lupin cried out loudly.

"Tonks — she's had the baby?" Mrs. Weasley shrieked.

"Yes, yes, she's had the baby!" Lupin shouted. All around the room came cries of delight and sighs of relief.

"Oh, this is wonderful!" Mrs. Weasley squealed, going forward and bringing Lupin into a tight hug.

"Easy now, Mum," said Fred with the broadest smile, "the poor man came to tell us the good news. Not to get his bones crushed."

"Congratulations!" Mr. Weasley said cheerfully and I squealed in happiness, clapping a hand to my mouth as George ran to the kitchen to bring us drinks.

"Oh, I really shouldn't be drinking anymore," Lupin insisted, shaking a hand at us impatiently. "I've just been to Shell Cottage to give everyone else the news. They gave me enough wine."

"You've been to Bill's house?" Mrs. Weasley asked excitedly.

"Yes, and they were all very delighted!" Lupin nodded, still in a daze. "I asked Harry to be the Godfather. He agreed right away!"

"Godfather? Blimey! That's brilliant!" said Mr. Weasley.

"Oh, yes," George nodded, "who wouldn't want the Chosen One as their godfather?" Everyone laughed at that.

"But — can we come visit?" Ginny asked excitedly. She hadn't returned back to Hogwarts after the easter break.

"Of course! Dora actually wanted me to invite you for tomorrow, if you've got no problem, Arthur," said Lupin.

"No, none at all!" said Mr. Weasley cheerfully. "We'll just have to be extra careful. We'll come in groups."

"Excellent!" Lupin cried out happily, before wrapping his traveling cloak more closely around him. "I'll see you tomorrow, then!"

But even when he left, the happy atmosphere stayed with us, as if there was no war going on in the world.

***

The next day, we took turns to visit Tonks at her mother's house. First it was Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and Ginny, and then me, Fred, and George.

We took a Portkey from inside Muriel's house into Tonks's house, which was protected by many charms and enchantments as well.

When we knocked at the door, a woman welcomed us with a warm smile on her lips, introducing herself as Andromeda.

"Come on, this way," she said, leading the way inside the house and toward a room upstairs to the right.

As soon as we entered the room, a smile crept through our faces when we saw Tonks sitting on the bed with her back leaned against the headboard and a little baby in her arms.

"Oh good, you're here! Come in, come in!" said Lupin who was standing nearby, looking just as excited as last night, if not more.

"Ooh, look at this tiny creature!" said George as we walked closer to the bed.

"How are you feeling?" I asked Tonks.

"Amazing." She smiled up at me with Teddy in her arms, who was wide awake, staring up at his mother curiously.

"Fred Weasley, pleasure to meet you," said Fred formally, raising his hand for the baby to shake, who did nothing but to stare at him. "Hmm... rude." We all laughed.

     "Aww... this is the cutest thing I've ever seen," I said, my eyes glimmering in happy tears.

"Do you want to hold him?" Tonks told me when she caught we gazing at the little baby admirably.

"I —"

"Ooh, can I hold him!?" George broke me off excitedly.

"Sure." Tonks chuckled, handing Teddy to George, who now sat down at the edge of the bed.

But then the funniest thing happened when the baby looked up at George and then suddenly turned his hair red, the same color as him.

"Look here, Freddie!" George said excitedly. "He thinks I'm his mommy!"

"Cool!" Fred exclaimed. "And who's the lucky dad, Georgie?"

"No idea," George said jokingly. "I've been drinking a lot lately, so it's hard to remember."

Tonks turned to look at me. "How do you tolerate these two idiots?"

I laughed. "I have no idea."

But just then, we turned around toward the doorway of the room when we heard someone say, "Sorry I'm late."

"Sirius!" Lupin said happily as he walked into the room, his eyes on the newborn boy.

"You finally became a dad! Well done, Moony!" Sirius said cheerfully, clapping a hand behind Lupin, making Tonks laugh. "Oh, and congratulations to you too, Tonks."

"Yes, thanks," she said, grinning.

"I'm sorry Jenna couldn't make it," said Sirius, his eyes still on the baby as George was holding him. "She's feeling sick. I have to go back to her quickly, but I had to come here as soon as I heard."

"It's okay, we understand," said Lupin reassuringly, smiling at him. "How's Jenna?"

"Cranky," Sirius answered with a shudder. "She couldn't come herself, but said she would beat me up if I didn't bring her pictures of Mini Moony, as she called him."

Lupin chuckled, going toward the nightstand and giving Sirius a picture of Teddy. "Here. I was planning on taking this to Harry and the others. But I feel like Jenna will be mad if she don't get this earlier."

"True." Sirius grinned, taking the picture and pocketing it.

Just then, Teddy suddenly started crying. "Oh, crap! I think I angered it!" said George, looking panicked. "What do I do!?"

"Here, let me," said Tonks, raising her hands and taking a hold of Teddy. The moment he was back in his mother's arms, he became quiet and gradually fell asleep.

Everyone was gathered around the bed and as I watched them, I felt my smile fade away. Why should the world be so cruel as to take away Lupin and Tonks from this little baby?