Chapter Text
As Andromeda appears in her front garden she feels the stress of the last few hours begin to melt away. Sighing as she walks into the house she calls out “Ted, Remus! I’m back”
“Well what happened,” Remus anxiously asks as he comes into the sitting room. “Are you going to send Harry to live with Petunia?”
Andromeda lets out a mirthless chuckle before responding, “absolutely not that woman was somehow even worse than I was expecting, and that was before her husband got involved. No Harry will be staying here.”
Remus looks happy at the news before his face falls slightly, “I’m glad to know that harry will be somewhere safe, and I understand if you don’t want someone like me hanging around–but I would really appreciate it if you would allow me to remain part of Harry’s life. At least in some capacity.
Andromeda is taken aback by the man’s words. “Of course you will be in his life. I know that James, Lily, and Sirius would all want to make sure Harry knows you.” She sighs before adding, “look, this is going to be a big adjustment for everyone and it will take time to determine how things are going to look in the long run but–” she looks at her husband trying to get an idea of what he is thinking and sees him nod, encouraging her to continue. “Why don't you stay with us for a few days while we all adjust and things settle down. I’m sure we will need the help and we can take the time to figure out a longer term solution.”
Seeing the look of uncertainty on Remus’ face Ted speaks up, “or if it makes you more comfortable, you can go home for the night and come back tomorrow during the day. We just thought you would want to keep Harry close for a while while you process what happens”
“Thank you,” Remus says quietly. “I definitely would like to stay here with Harry for the night if you are sure it's okay? I don’t want to be an imposition.”
“Don’t worry about that.” Ted chides. “As long as Harry is here you will be welcome in our home. Do you need to floo home to get anything for the next day or two?”
“Er- not really,” Remus says looking distinctly uncomfortable. “I've been staying at one of the Potter properties and I packed this morning after I heard the news. I didn’t feel comfortable staying there since Harry can’t give me permission”
Ted and Andromeda make eye contact again both thinking the same thing: ‘he doesn’t have anywhere else to go.’ Andromeda looks Remus in the eye and tells him “we meant it when we said you would be welcome in our home. You can stay with us for as long as you need while you find a new place to live. Don’t feel like you are an imposition or a burden. We’ll appreciate having an extra set of hands to help with the kids, and Harry knows you better than either of us. I'm sure that will help him settle in over the next few weeks.”
As she speaks, Andromeda can see Remus visibly relax as he realizes they won't be kicking him to the curb. “Thank you,” he tells them sincerely, “it will be good to have the extra reassurance that Harry is okay after everything that has happened.”
Ted smiles and claps Remus on the back, “I’m glad we got that settled but there is one more small crisis that needs to be addressed before we can relax for the night.
“Oh what now?" Andromeda groans, more than ready for this nightmare of a day to be over.
“We need a lot more stuff if we are going to be keeping a baby. I love Sirius but the kid had strange priorities when he was packing a bag and we only have one more diaper and no clothes for him to wear tomorrow,” Ted laughs.
“What did Sirius pack if not diapers and clothes?” Remus asks.
“Toys mostly,” Ted replies. “We have an entire menagerie of stuffed animals and some snacks that are definitely not age appropriate for an 18 month old.”
“Great,” Andromeda snarks. “We get to do a shopping montage because my cousin is an idiot.”
“At least he remembered the baby?” Remus laughs.
“It won’t be too bad,” Ted assures her. “We just need to go to a store to get the basics for tonight. If you want to stay here with Dora, Remus and I can go to the shops. The big shopping montage can wait a day or two.”
“Thank Merlin! I really did not want to leave again.
Andromeda was awoken from a fitful sleep by the sound of a terrified scream and is out of bed and halfway to her daughters room before the memories of the day before register. It was Harry that was crying not Nymphadora, she changed direction and went to the guest bedroom they had put the baby in. As she opened the door she saw Remus was already up and trying to calm the boy.
“Shh. Its okay. You're okay” Remus soothed.
Despite Remus’ best attempts Harry’s crying only worsened. Through his tears Andromeda was just barely able to make out what he was saying “Want mama” the boy cried.
“I know baby, I know,” Remus said helplessly, not knowing what he could do to help the boy. “ she isn’t here right now but I promise you are okay”
As Andromeda watched the heartbreaking scene in front of her she decided it would probably be best to leave Remus to handle it, so that they didn't overwhelm the boy. As she left the room she cast a tempus to see if it was worth trying to go back to bed. 5:43 she sighed and made her way to the kitchen thinking she may as well get started on breakfast.
It was twenty minutes later as she was finishing cooking that Remus made his way out of the guest room with a much calmer Harry in his arms. “I’m glad you were able to get him to calm down. I was worried he was going to make himself sick if he kept on crying like that.”
“Yeah I think he tired himself out, hopefully there won't be a repeat when he wakes back up,” Remus sighed. “I Just hate seeing him so upset. Especially since there isn't anything I can really do to help him.”
“I know it may not seem like it right now but you are helping him by being here. He is going to need people who can be a steady and constant figure in his life.” As she sets the table, Andromeda considers the best way to ask Remus about how involved he is prepared to be in Harry’s life. Taking a deep breath she decides that it is best to just get it over with. “Now that we have all had a chance to calm down and come out of crisis mode, I wanted to talk to you about Harry”
“What about him,” Remus asks with anxiety clear in his voice.
“I need to know how involved you want to be with him now. I know that right now you are in a transitional period and can't take in a baby, but are you going to want to get custody when you get settled or do you just want to be an uncle to him?
There is a pause where Remus just looks at her completely gobsmacked. “You would be willing to let me take custody of Harry?” He asks. “After you fought Dumbledore to be able to keep him yesterday?”
“I fought Dumbledore because it is my job to make sure that Harry is in a home where he is safe and loved, I see no reason you cannot provide that for him if you want to,” Andromeda answers. “Its okay if you don’t want to take custody, taking in a baby is a huge responsibility especially for someone so young. I will always let you be a part of his life as long as you don’t hurt him.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to take him in,” Remus says in a shaky voice. “I can’t take him. Dumbledore and the ministry would never allow it.
“What do you mean they won't allow it?” Andromeda asks, confused. “You are more than welcome to stay here until you find a job and somewhere to live so there shouldn’t be any concerns about your ability to provide for him.”
“It’s not just that. They would argue that Harry isn’t safe around me.”
“Remus don’t take this the wrong way but how would anyone look at you and come to the conclusion that you are dangerous?” As she asks she realizes there must be something about the man that she doesn’t know. “What am I missing here? What aren’t you telling me?”
Looking dejected, Remus’ hold on Harry tightens as though he is afraid someone is going to take the boy from him. Finally he sighs and says, “The ministry won’t let me take custody of Harry because I’m a werewolf.”
Andromeda doesn’t know what she had been expecting him to say but it certainly had not been that. “You’re a werewolf” she says hesitantly, sounding like she doesn’t believe it even to herself.
“Yes, I was bitten when I was a child. I understand if you want me to stay away from Harry and I can pack my things and be out in 20 minutes,” Remus says trying to hand over the sleeping boy.
“Wait, no. Why would you leave?” Andromeda asks, thinking she must have missed something again.
“Because I’m a werewolf,” Remus said, sounding just as confused as Andromeda feels. “You can’t want to have something like me around the kids now that you know.”
Understanding what the issue is, Andromeda looks the young man in the eye and speaks with conviction not wanting there to be any room for confusion. “First of all, you will never refer to yourself or anyone else as a thing while you are in my house. Second, I see no reason that you can’t be around the children outside of the full moon. You are still the same person that my cousin trusted and wanted to help raise Harry.”
“Are you sure?” Remus asked, tears shining in his eyes. “You really don’t mind letting me stay here?
“Look, I can tell you have been taught to hate this part of yourself and to expect everyone else to hate it as well but as long as we have a plan to keep everyone safe on the full moon, I have no issue with you staying here.” As she finished saying this she heard Ted and Nymphadora coming down the hall, “We can discuss this more after Dora goes to school and figure out what our plan is, okay?”
“Sure,” Remus says, still looking a bit confused at the unexpected acceptance.
As Ted comes into the kitchen he gives Andromeda a questioning look, having noticed Remus’ strange mood but let it go when she gave him a ‘we’ll talk later’ look. Instead turning to Nymphadora to ask if she had all of her homework done for the day.
It was as the family ate and made small talk that the morning mail got delivered and with it the newest edition of the daily prophet. As Andromeda looked at the headline she realized that today was going to be yet another long day, because there in big bold letters was ‘You-know-who defeated at last, several key supporters arrested.’