Chapter Text
Remus ran his hands over his thighs, trying to smooth out the wrinkles before Andre came. He was due in five minutes. At an American food ‘joint.’ Merlin, this was going to be either a nightmare or the best thing ever.
“Remus,” Andre’s voice chimed from behind him. “You ready to go inside?” He offered his hand to Remus with a grin.
“I guess so.”
--
Once they got situated at the booth, Remus anxiously messed with his napkin. It was a pretty place, soft red and yellow mood lighting covering everything. “It's a pretty place.”
“It is, weird, but pretty,” Andre said smoothly. “How have you been?”
“Other than blatantly nervous about this date? Looking after my kid is a wonderful nightmare.”
“Then you and I are one in the same right now.”
--
When Remus Lupin went to go pick up Harry, right at 9:10, shortly after he had called the boy, he was still beaming from his...frankly fantastic date. Andre was sweet, a little cocky, but still kind. He...was reminded of this Marauder days, and the good ones at that.
“You look happy,” Maria said with a sly grin, “date go well?” She was out on the front porch, a book in hand.
“I haven't had that nice of a date for...nearly a decade. He's a sweetheart. Kind of reminds me of Harry’s dad.”
Her eyes flickered to the side, then back to him. “Were you married?”
Remus startled. “Oh! No, no, nothing of the sort. I was a groomsman at his wedding with Lily. They past a while back, I just got custody of Harry.”
She stood up with a languid grace only mothers had, staring him down. “Why did you not have him before?”
He swallowed, suddenly very frightened by the look she was giving him. And, well, he couldn't read it worth a damn. “He went to his aunt and her family, not good people, Harry ran away, ran into me, and it just so happened I was trying to get custody for years. He was my best friend’s son.”
Her gaze softened into a look of understanding, “good, I was worried I'd half to keep a closer eye on you, if there was any reason why you didn't get him right away and went into the system.”
“Well, it also didn't help that his first listed godfather was put into a life sentence due to murder.”
“Ah.”
--
“Moony,” Harry said a few weeks later while they sat in the living room, reading. “I've been here for five months, I think.”
“Yes,” Remus looked up from his book. “Any particular reason for it to be noted.”
“Are you my dad?” The boy asked, looking up from his book.
The question took Remus by surprise, nearly dropping his book. “I...well, Harry, I'm your guardian. Do you want me to be your dad? I don't want to take the place of James if you…”
Green eyes were wide and not breaking eye contact, though Remus desperately wanted to look away. “I want a dad, James is my dad too, but...he's not here. I need…”
“I guess I'm your dad then.”
--
With Harry pressed to his side, dead asleep, Remus quietly talked on the phone to Andre. “Tomorrow, do you want to go to dinner with the kids?”
It was silent for a beat. “I'm so not explaining to my daughter that he’s the boy that lived.”
Remus snorted.