Choices Without Regrets

Chapter XIV: Shocking Talks and News

In a way you want, Harry. Is it a boy or a girl?" He asked

Harry smirked, "Our already spoiled little princess, Ananya Nagini Peverell."

Remus stilled, "You're not using the Potter name?"

Harry tensed, "No. Peverell preceded it and I am Death's champion. I might use it on occasion every once in a while, but the name Potter has been legally reverted to Peverell. Tom even took that name for himself; not wanting reminded of his past too much."

Harry eyed him a moment, "Would you like to see her?"

Remus started and then stared to the floor, "Well yes, I'd love to, but I wasn't sure that you would trust me that much. I know that your bonded would have...choice words about this."

Harry smirked, "He can complain all he wants, Remus. You were not a part of the most gruesome aspects of what Albus wanted to do; you would have vehemently fought them. Tom knows this and is why he is...neutral, where you are concerned."

Harry said all of this as he snapped his fingers and Talifa appeared with the child; knowing her master had been speaking of this. A child who squirmed and squealed as she saw Harry. Held her arms to him and waved them eagerly. Harry smiled to her gently and took her.

"Thank you Talifa, it has been several hours now, so when was she last fed and changed?" He asked her

The elf smiled, "Only moments ago, so she should be fine for a while."

He nodded and dismissed her as he held her close and rocked her while Remus's eyes watered a moment; remembering a very different scene. One with a vibrant and smiling Lily Potter as she hummed and rocked little Harry.

Harry stilled as he suddenly sniffled and his eyes began crying silently; his powers having picked the thoughts up. Remus stared as he had never really seen Harry cry genuinely before unless you counted his brief instances of being around while Harry had been an infant.

Or, after Sirius had been cast beyond the Veil...

"I always wondered, you know, if my mother ever held me like this and sung or hummed to me." He said quietly, "I knew they gave their lives for me and that they loved me, but nobody ever really told me about them. Not things like that."

Ananya then made soft sounds and Harry's smile to her was gentle as he placed his nose to hers and closed his eyes. "It's okay princess; your Dad is not upset, not really. He's sad, but happy too."

She smiled and Harry did so again slowly as he tossed her up and watched her squeal with delight. Blue eyes shining with excitement. Harry did this several more times before he carefully handed her to Remus; who softened as he felt something he hadn't in a very long time.

Belonging. A sense of true acceptance and belonging.

Ananya eyed her Dad as he passed her over and then began to try and protest; Harry smiled to the child.

"It's alright. I am right here, Ananya. This is Remus and he will be around a lot." He told her softly before he smirked to her and pretended to whisper a secret to her ears, "He's a big softie."

She had no idea what he had said, but smiled and laughed to the actions. Remus smiling now too as he slowly began to rock her.

"So, you cannot mention her to anyone else...as Tom and I decided to surprise them." Harry said off-handedly and Remus snorted quietly to that, "We're almost sure that we might cause some seriously hilarious reactions from them all. Since we're letting them believe that Ananya is actually ours."

Harry grinned, "Which she is. But they don't need to know the details."

Remus then smirked, "I am almost positive you might cause Albus a heart-attack with that."

Harry's eyes gleamed, "That would be such a hardship."

Remus sighed with sudden discontent, "He really didn't do anything he promised, did he? Or, if he did do something he promised; it hid a great many other hidden agendas. I didn't want to believe it; he allowed me to enter Hogwarts despite my affliction."

Harry saddened, "I never really fully trusted him, but I did once believe that he cared for me. That didn't last after I learned something very important that he had known since he left me at the muggle's place and then never intended to tell me."

Harry shook his head as Remus watched him with guilt; he knew he should have done more for Harry and been there.

"Would you mind staying with her while Tom and I deal with some interrogations?" Harry asked slowly, "She isn't used to the elves yet, and I don't want to leave her alone quite so much. Especially if she gets nervous and tries to be overtly fussy or noisy. It makes her magic become pronounced and erratic; even more so since she was abandoned and she knew it. There was not even a parental bond to her mother. She hadn't been named when we found her."

His eyes hardened with anger, "I still cannot fathom it; the woman never wanted her; never wanted the burden of parenthood. Yet, she was careless and didn't avoid a change she didn't want by protecting herself. She just wanted to spend her time enjoying herself and partying.

She just brought her child into the world and then dumped her on the orphanage without allowing her magic to be known to her child. Never acknowledging her with a name. She actually restrained it and refused to allow it."

Harry glared now to the ceiling, "Even Tom's mother; sick and ill as she was before he was born and before she had died giving birth to him...she had let him feel her faint magic and given him a name. Acknowledgment of his presence in the world..."

Remus stared at Harry; horrified by the circumstances the child had been through and honestly wondered how the woman could live with herself after what she had done.

"I would be honored to stay with her. " He said softly, "Has her godparents been decided, yet?"

Harry looked to the wall before him as he approached the door, "I have moved your things that are here to a room in the west wing for you, Moony. Talifa will take you to her nursery there and then show you to the rooms if you decide you need a break. This is because you are like family to me; an honorary uncle, and I want you close still.

Also, it is to avoid being spotted and found. And no; not yet. Tom and I are still deliberating, but decisions need made soon. If the worst happens and one of us dies; the other won't be here for her for long."

Harry walked out briskly as Remus stared to that and eyed the child with sadness and remorse. Remorse for not having done better for Harry after James and Lily were gone. For not doing better in really seeing if Sirius had betrayed them all.

Promising to himself to be better than before; to do what he could to help and to protect Harry and his family with whatever capability he had to do so with.