Remus Lupin's Goddaughter

{ Chapter 12 }

Alternative Universe | What would've happened if Remus raised Cora?
What if he disappeared the night James and Lily died and took Cora with him?
Let's see...

31st October

"Remus...we have to listen to Dumbledore...he knows what's best for Harry and Cora." Sirius said, snapping Remus from his trance.

Remus looked over at him with tears in his eyes before looking at Cora who was peacefully sleeping in his arms, wrapped in the blanket Remus had gifted her. He shakes and kisses her on the head and holding her close to his chest. He shakes his head.

"I...I can't, Sirius. She means too much to me. I can't just let her go..." he says, his voice cracking.

Sirius sighs and shakes his head sadly.

"I know, Remus. I can't bare to loose them both either, but it's for the best."

Remus looks back at Cora and thought for a moment. Could he raise her? It'll be just the two of them. It would be hard but he would make sure to protect and give everything to Cora. He would make sure she had the best childhood, even if her parents weren't in her life.
He took a deep breath before turning to Sirius who had given Harry over to Hagrid. He shakes his head whilst taking a few steps back.

"I'm sorry...but she's my responsibility. Nobody else's. I should have the right to raise her."

"Listen Remus, I'm only following Dumbledore's orders and what Dumbledore says, it should be followed." Hagrid says.

"Well, I don't agree with Dumbledore. He's a great man but...he doesn't know the heartbreak I'm going through right now".

Sirius slowly walks over to Remus.

"Remus...listen to me...you need to hand Cora over to Hagrid. She needs to be safe."

Remus scoffs.

"She can be safe with me. I know what I'm doing."

Sirius takes a deep breath.

"Remus..."

Remus shakes his head.

"I'm sorry Sirius..."

And with that, Remus held onto Cora and apparated. Sirius tried to run over and stop him, but it was too late.

That was the last people saw of Remus and Cora. Nobody could track them down, not even Dumbledore.
Sirius was arrested and sent to Azkaban as he was falsely accused of betraying the Potters. Harry was sent to live with his aunt and uncle and cousin. Neither Harry or Cora knew that they were siblings. They didn't know of each other's existence.

A few months later...

Remus was currently living in a small cottage in the countryside. He made sure to keep a low profile in case Dumbledore came looking for him. Himself and Cora managed to live a normal life after James and Lily's death - though Remus did grieve for the loss of his friends but he was happy he had Cora to raise. He managed to scrape up some money to buy a crib, toys and baby supplies for Cora. As for his lycanthropy, their neighbours seemed to take pity of Remus, thinking he was a widowed father raising his daughter, so they offered to have Cora for a few nights to give him some rest. This benefited Remus a lot since he could give Cora to them whenever it was a full moon. Of course, since his neighbours were in their 60's, they never took notice of the weird schedule. They would have Cora for a few nights and once Remus felt better after his transformations, he would go and bring her home. Remus always made sure Cora never had an empty stomach, even if that meant going hungry himself. His neighbours offered money but he'd always refused. As long he and Cora was safe, that all that mattered to him.