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"SHE LOOKS LIKE YOU" Remus murmured as he rocked the young girl in his arms.
"She's a baby" Athena pointed out warily, "she doesn't look like me"
"She does... look" Remus continued as he moved to sit down on the bed beside her. Hope was a surprisingly quiet child. She usually stayed silent during the day except for laughs and hiccups. It was at night when she started crying. Athena knew this was driving Remus and Dominique crazy but she didn't really mind considering that she barely slept anyway.
Hope blinked up at her parents with a tiny smile on her face. Athena was sure she got cuter everyday. She was still merely a month old meaning she was still feeble and slightly wrinkly but as the days went by her eyes turned from dark blue to a chocolate brown. Her skin was only slightly lighter than Athena's and the dark curls she had already grown confirmed she was her mothers daughter.
"It's the eyes" Athena whispered, "we have the same eye colour"
"She's going to be absolutely beautiful if she looks anything like you" Remus smiled, "which she will. Can you believe this is our daughter?"
"Yes I can believe it considering that I had to give birth to her" Athena laughed, "I'll never forget that"
"No I won't either" Remus sighed as he rested the side of his face against Athena's head. Both of them stared down in silence at Hope for a moment. They'd been doing that a lot. Sometimes Athena felt she had to look at her. It was so incredible that this was her baby blinking up at her.
So far, Athena believed Hope had been a dream. She wasn't sure what she had expected. After the traumatic experience of giving birth, Athena had had expected what came after to continue the horror. However it was quite the opposite.
It was rather tiring caring for a child but Athena already knew she would be good at it. Of course there was always that stress among new mothers that suggested they weren't cut out to care for something so small but as soon as Athena had held her daughter in her hands she had known that she would do anything for her. Anything at all.
"She's perfect" Athena murmured under her breath as Hope laughed quietly.
She couldn't believe that she wouldn't be a baby forever. That at some point in life, everyone had been this small. One day Hope would start talking, start walking. One day she'd go off to Hogwarts. Maybe one day she'd have a child of her own. It was crazy to think about. Athena wanted her to stay small forever. She wanted to remember every moment that she stared down at her.
Athena wanted to see every moment of her daughters life. She wanted to be by her side every step of the way. However with the war coming to their doorstep, Athena was beginning to worry that she wouldn't be able to see her first birthday never mind the rest of her life.
"Are you hungry?" Athena whispered to her daughter, watching as she smiled in the adorable way she always did.
"A bit" Remus replied.
"I obviously wasn't talking to you" Athena laughed as she gathered herself to her feet with Hope in her arms.
Athena was more than pleased that she had a daughter. It's not as if she was against having a son but there was something about a girl that seemed more perfect for them. She carried her lightly down the stairs, always extra careful whenever she held her daughter in her arms.
"How are you feeling?" Dominique asked as Athena walked into the kitchen.
Dominique had been great the last month. Athena was still amazed and extremely grateful that she'd been so helpful in aiding Athena to give birth. Athena knew that Dominique was simply trying her best to fill in for Auroras absence. Of course she wasn't Aurora but she was doing a great job.
"I'm alright" Athena smiled, reaching into the fridge and pulling out a small bottle of milk. Usually with newborn babies the option was to breastfeed but considering this got rather tiring, they often placed milk in bottles too. The whole process of having a child was still rather stressful. Everything seemed so weird.
"You're looking great considering it's only been a month" Dominique pointed out.
Athena didn't feel great. After pregnancy there seemed to be a myth that the woman would simply go back to how they looked before. Television usually fell into that ridiculous superstition. However the truth was, Athena still had a bump, she was still bloated and she still felt disgusting.
Pregnancy glow was not a myth however. Athena's skin had been looking beautiful ever since Hope had been born. Athena was surprised about this considering that she'd been sweating so much during the process, she'd half been expecting a massive breakout the next day rather than the best looking skin she had ever seen.
"Thanks" Athena smiled as she lifted the bottle towards her daughter.
Hope placed her tiny hands on either side of the milk bottle as she drank. It half looked as though the baby was holding the bottle on her own. Of course this would be ridiculous but Athena still thought she looked adorable.
Athena knew she was completely biased in saying Hope was cute. She remembered when Harry had just been born that he hadn't been especially cute. Lily had thought he was beautiful of course but Athena remembered thinking that newborns were rather creepy to look at.
However now she understood a mother's gaze as she watched Hope drink from the bottle. Newborns weren't the cutest thing in the world but to Athena, Hope couldn't be any more perfect.
"She is rather cute" Dominique smiled as she got to her feet and gathered up the paper she'd been reading.
"Isn't she just" Remus grinned as he walked into the kitchen. He'd been in an extremely good mood ever since Hope had been born. It was as though the war had never happened, as though it wasn't still happening.
"I was thinking of going back to the shops this afternoon" Dominique continued casually, "is there anything you'd like?"
"Um" Remus frowned, "I don't think there's anything specific, right Rena?"
"Yeah I don't think so" Athena replied, "we have everything—"
As she was speaking, there was aloud crack from the garden. Everyone froze. Athena gripped a little tighter onto her daughter and Remus rushed over, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"That sounded like..." Athena began.
"Someone apparating" Dominique finished, "they shouldn't be able to find us. I strengthened the protective charms yesterday"
Athena's heart started to race as she stared at the back door. She didn't want to freak out. Some part of her thought that Hope would feed off her emotions. However she could tell everyone I'm the room was scared. Dominique had a tight hold of her wand as she walked slowly towards the back door.
"Maybe you should go upstairs" Remus said to Athena, "just in case"
"Right" Athena nodded, backing towards the door as she became hyper aware of the baby sat in her arms.
The handle on the back door was turned hastily. Dominique raised her wand higher as Athena ducked into the hallway, keeping a watchful eye out from behind the door. Remus had his wand out now. Both of them pointed at the door.
The door opened quickly and Athena held Hope close to her chest. A figure was stood there, standing slightly limp, leaning to one side.
Athena couldn't see who it was for the light pouring in from outside and for the two figures in the kitchen blocking her view but then all of a sudden, Dominique dropped her wand.
"Rory" she gasped.
Athena's jaw dropped in amazement. It couldn't be. She walked into the kitchen just as Remus turned to look for her. Dominique had ran forwards and thrown her arms round the figure who hugged her back quickly. Now as they stepped into the kitchen, Athena could see her.
It was Aurora. She'd looked better. Her hair was a mess and there were scratches on her face. However she was smiling, looking up at Athena as she stopped hugging her wife.
"You're ok" Athena smiled in relief as she saw her sister walk forwards.
"You've... you've got a baby" Aurora looked at the child in amazement, "you... oh my god"
"Last month" said Athena, "... you have a niece"
"A niece" Aurora gasped as she walked towards her sister, gazing down at the baby still smiling in Athena's arms, "she's beautiful... what's she called?"
"Hope Lily Lupin" Athena replied. Aurora smiled even wider at this.
"I don't want to break up this moment" said Dominique, shutting the kitchen door, "but where the hell have you been?"
Aurora sighed, turning away from Athena and finding a seat at the kitchen table.
"Well" Aurora began, "the death eaters cornered me at Hogwarts. Said they'd captured Athena but she'd gotten away. That I should know where she was. Obviously I didn't"
"I'm so sorry Rory" Athena murmured. Aurora had been taken because of her.
"Don't you dare apologise" Aurora continued sternly, "I was happy you got away. Anyway the Carrow's said that Bellatrix and Lucius were in trouble for letting you escape. The Carrow's work at Hogwarts so it was easy for them to get to me"
"Where did they take you?" Dominique asked quickly.
"Was it Lestrange manor?" Athena frowned.
"Lestrange manor?" Aurora shook her head, "no it was Malfoy manor, they've got a huge dungeon-like cellar there. Already people in it when I got there. Ollivander and Luna Lovegood"
"Luna?" Athena asked in concern, "what do they want with Luna?"
"Her father has been very vocal in his support for Harry" replied Dominique, "I wondered why the Quibbler was taking a new direction recently. I suppose that explains it"
"Yeah" Aurora nodded, "anyway I was in there for a few months before the others came along"
"The others?" Remus prompted.
"Dean Thomas and this goblin named Griphook came first" Aurora explained, "and then... well Harry and Ron showed up"
"What?" Athena gasped in horror and astonishment. They couldn't have Harry and where was Hermione?
"Then chaos happened" Aurora kept going. "Harry didn't look like himself... they were trying to figure out it was him before they called you know who and well... Bellatrix saw Hermione was in possession of a sword. Gryffindor's sword. It's supposed to be in her vault apparently"
"Is it?" Dominique muttered, "I thought it was in the head masters office at Hogwarts"
"There's two" replied Athena knowingly, "ones a fake... I thought the real one was at Hogwarts too"
"Well either way" Aurora went on, "Bellatrix was convinced that Hermione had stolen it from her fault... she tortured her and... it was terrible...the screams"
Athena felt sick thinking about it. Hermione was so young. She knew what Bellatrix's methods of torture were. She still had a scar on her arm to prove it.
"How did you get out?" Dominique asked in wonder.
"Well... I'm not entirely sure what happened but Harry had this mirror, a method of communication. I don't know who was on the other side but whoever it was sent Dobby... a house elf"
"I'm familiar" Athena nodded.
"Dobby could apparate in and out of the dungeon even though we couldn't. Because we didn't have our wands. Harry said he had to get Hermione but Dobby should take all of us back. I said I'd stay and help but I was no good... I'd been in there so long, I was tired and frail. Not up for a fight"
Dominique let out an annoyed sigh at this point, obviously furious at whoever had done this to Aurora.
"Dobby took us to Shell cottage. It's the cottage belonging to Bill and Fleur. They welcomed us in and about twenty minutes later the others arrived. They were all ok... except for the house elf... he didn't make it"
"Oh" Athena murmured sadly, "that's terrible"
"I know" Aurora agreed, "Harry buried him the muggle way. It was beautiful. Since then I've been recovering at Shell Cottage. It's only been a couple of weeks... I would have gotten in contact but I was scared... didn't know where you were... if they had you"
"It's alright" Dominique smiled gently.
"Ollivander made me a new wand" Aurora continued, "me and Luna... for helping him in the dungeons" she held the wand up proudly. It was rather beautiful with intricate carvings of stars.
"That's wonderful" Dominique smiled.
"Ollivander's been sent to stay at the Weasley's aunt Muriel. All the Weasley's have had to go there except Ron, Percy, Charlie and Bill of course"
"They're in hiding?" Remus frowned, "why? Is Elle there?"
"Elle's safe" Aurora replied, "they all are. They've had to go into hiding because Ron was captured. Of course Ron is supposed to be sick with Spattagroit at the Burrow. That was the ruse to keep the Weasley's safe. It was quick... getting them to Muriel's but they're all ok now"
"Well that's good" Athena smiled lightly, "and I'm so glad you're alright"
"We all are" Dominique nodded, pulling her wife into a hug again, "I was so worried, when I got that note saying help... I thought the worst"
"I'm sorry I left it like that" Aurora sighed, "I was going to write more but they got to me before I could. I knew they were coming for me, heard Snape talking about it"
"How is it at Hogwarts?" Athena asked, half thinking that she didn't want to know.
"Terrible" Aurora muttered, "they wanted rid of me anyway for standing up to them. I know I shouldn't have but I couldn't stand back and let... they use the cruciartus curse as a punishment now... even on first years"
"What?" Remus exclaimed angrily, "they can't... they... that's wrong"
"I know it is" Aurora sighed, "other teachers have been trying to help but... it seems Snape and the Carrow's are everywhere. Some students have it worse than others. The ones who stand up to them"
"Like who?" Athena asked nervously.
"Like... Neville" Aurora looked up in worry, "he's always helping the first years and... I think some of the students are using the room of requirement to disappear. It's a good idea because they can't get to them. The other week, The Carrow's went after Neville's grandmother... Luna told me"
"What?" Athena asked in worry.
"It's alright" Aurora smiled, "she got away... took out two ministry workers and went on the run"
"That's good" Athena sighed in relief, "so... how bad is Neville?"
"He's been a saviour for loads of students in Hogwarts" said Aurora, "of course he's gotten hurt a few times but... Rena I barely recognise him. He's being incredibly brave... a lot like his parents"
Athena smiled. Of course she was worried about Neville, more than she could put into words. However she was also proud. She always knew that Neville would come out of his shell, that he had been put in Gryffindor for a reason. That one day, he'd be able to accept that his parents would have been proud of him. That they were proud of him.
"Anyway... I'm alright now" Aurora smiled, "happy to be home... and I'm so happy for you... and Hope"
"Do you want to hold her?" Athena asked lightly, looking up to her sister. "You're her aunt after all"
"I'd love to" Aurora smiled as Athena held up the small baby.
Aurora seemed to relax even more as she welcomed Hope into her arms. She smiled down at her in wonder with eyes full of love. Athena felt all her worries melt as she saw her sister holding her daughter. It was a perfect picture, a dream. Athena would remember this moment forever.
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A/n
Words - 2666
Published - 24th August 2021
I think there's only
ten parts left now
watching Harry Potter 😎