Song:
Chiquitita (ABBA)
"Sing a new song, Chiquitita."
JULY 1980
The day Harry Potter was born, Lily was left alone with the two worst people for the job; Callisto Claire and Sirius Black.
In her defense, her birth was scheduled for the 5th of August, right on Callisto's birthday, but things didn't go quite as planned.
Callisto had been surrounded by pregnant ladies for the past few months. On one hand, there was Lily, with the most ridiculous pregnancy cravings, and Narcissa who had grown an aversion to everything other than home cooked meals. Despite her complaints about how moody they both were, she was always one call away. She would never be able to experience this for herself, so the least she could do was be there for them. It was weird to admit it, even to herself, but both kids felt like they had part of her heart already. They weren't her own, and she doubted they would even like her when they grew up, but she couldn't have been more excited to meet them.
Would it be too unrealistic to hope they'd ever become best friends?
She really hoped they would at least be friendly acquaintances.
"My prediction is," Sirius announced. "That in five years from now, baby Potter will be a national Quidditch player, James will get tricked into joining a cult, Lily will be a milf, Peter will be in a throuple, I will be a sex icon, and Callisto with Remus will be married."
"Why do I get the lame one?"
"Married on a pirate ship."
"Okay, that's cool." Callisto admitted. "But, so far from the truth for the most part. I mean, I doubt Lily's little beast will be in the national team before he knows basic grammar, and... actually, that's the only unlikely part."
"So, you want to get married to Lupin." Lily concluded, smirking. "Got you there."
"Maybe." She shrugged. "If things don't go to hell again... I don't think they will."
It was true, for the most part.
They had promised to take it slow, but they ended up going on that date and they both gave in that evening. They had spent the entire night on the rooftop, dancing under the stars, and when she looked at him at that moment right before he kissed her, she knew there was no point in waiting. The first months had been a bit hard, but that was only natural. She needed to learn to trust him again, and he needed to understand that his and her condition alike, were no longer obstacles to their relationship.
To say that she loved him, would be an understatement. It wouldn't do justice to how she felt for him, and she would never be able to find the words to express her emotions. So, she never really spoke about it, she just showed him everything he was to her. Remus was much more eloquent. He had a way with words that she hadn't ever known anyone else with. In another lifetime, he probably had been a poet or a musician. In this lifetime, his words lulled her to sleep and soothed her when the anxiety of the war got too much to handle.
Remus just knew, and when your thoughts are limited by your expression, that was all that mattered.
"I just hope that baby still isn't in there when he proposes." Lily huffed, resting her mug on her belly. Lily had always been quite thin for her height, so it was a wonder how her stomach had managed to stretch as much, without ripping in half. She had given up on most of her clothes, and had started wearing James' sweatpants, and Sirius' shirts in the summer, while she stole Peter's and Remus' sweaters during winter. Callisto on the other hand, had three pairs of shoes confiscated, because Lily's feet had swollen up and her own shoes felt like the worst type of torture.
"He's due in a few days." Callisto reminded her. "I doubt there will be any proposals by then."
"I swear, this kid is probably a grown man." Lily complained, shaking her head. "He's 3 meters tall and he is shaped like a war tank."
Sirius gasped, "Hey, stop insulting my son!"
"Are you carrying him?"
"No, but-"
"Then shut the fuck up before you get smacked the fuck up."
"Callie!" Sirius whined, turning to the blonde for defense. "Protect me from the evil, pregnant vampire!"
"Sorry, I'm busy."
"You're doing your nails."
"Yes, exactly." Callisto scoffed, returning back to filing her nails. "I can't have unmanicured hands when the baby appears."
"I doubt he minds."
"No, hygiene is important." She insisted. "Lily and I, as the actual parents of the child, agreed that he won't be like one of those dirty, unwashed, smelly, rotten-looking boys we saw in the park."
"I refuse to have a dirty son." Lily stated. "If he smells like the Gryffindor changing rooms, he better stay in there where I know he's clean."
"It wasn't that bad!" Sirius defended. "There were worse things than the changing rooms."
In fact, they were that bad, and there actually weren't worse things than the changing rooms.
"I'm sure that he'll have my eyes." Sirius sighed, smirking. "Have fun explaining that to Potter."
"Judging by his lack of knowledge on genetics, he'd probably not see an issue with that." Callisto snickered. "He's also blind as a bat, so that helps too."
"Fleamont's vision was horrible too." Lily murmured sadly. "I should probably look out for signs of myopia..."
Callisto nodded, "Yes, you should, because we all know Jace can't."
"Nice one." Sirius chuckled. "High-five, Claire."
Lily waited patiently for the abnormally long hand gesture to end. It took around five minutes every time, both of them completely focused on it. Lily simply observed them as they stood up and bumped their hips, when she noticed a stain on her gray sweatpants.
Her eyes widened.
Her first thought? Lily, you just peed herself.
Her second, and more correct thought? Lily, you're about to give birth.
"Eh... guys..."
"Not now, Lily." Sirius responded, shaking his head, as Callisto twirled him around. "Three more minutes please."
"No, it's-"
"High up top!" The both exclaimed, the sound of their hands clasping in a high-five booming. "Andddd.... low down bottom!"
"Guys, I think the baby is coming."
"Tell it to wait." Callisto said absentmindedly, bumping her head with Sirius'.
"Guys, my waters broke!"
"Well then, pick them up." Sirius scoffed. Both their hands froze midair as their faces contorted with shock, the two friends turning around slowly to look at Lily.
"Help?"
"OH GOD MY GODSON IS COMING OUT!" Sirius shouted, letting out an excited laugh. "OH, YOU'RE SO COOL FOR THIS, EVANS!"
"A little help please!"
"YES, TELL US!" Callisto exclaimed.
"I have my bag in the room." Lily said, pointing at the bedroom. "Just call a cab, and then call James."
"Okay, okay, bag in the room." Callisto murmured to herself as she bolted to the other room, looking around. Under the bed there was a huge, pink backpack. She slung it over her shoulder and came out of the room, crashing with Sirius.
"WE'RE HAVING A BABY!" He squealed, pressing a huge kiss on her cheek. "PRONGSLET IS COMING!"
"OVER MY DEAD BODY!" Lily hissed from the couch at the sound of the name. "Call the cab please!"
"Okay, ehm..." Sirius looked at the phone in wonder, because he brought it up to his face. "Hello?"
"No, Sirius." Callisto laughed, taking it from his hands. "Get this to Lily and I'll figure it out."
"Call my Prongslet the best cab that exists!" Sirius threatened as he rushed over to Lily. "Oh, Evans, you're going to make me cry like a baby."
"Please, not now."
"You just made a man very happy."
"Get James!" Lily urged him, her voice contorting from the pain. "Just get James!"
"The cab is coming." Callisto smiled, opening the door. "LET'S GO! LET'S GO! LET'S GO!"
"EVERYONE STAND ASIDE FOR THE FUCKING PREGNANT LADY!"
"THERE'S NOBODY HERE!"
After all, maybe it was a lucky thing that she was with Sirius Black and Callisto Claire when it happened. Lily had just started to realize that her husband would probably faint.
~ ~ ~
One must wonder what was happening to Remus Lupin, James Potter and Peter Pettigrew while Lily Potter was about to give birth.
The answer would probably make Lily curse like a sailor, Sirius start looking for a pirate ship, and Callisto faint.
"You've all grown up so much." Hope Lupin smiled, looking at her son and his two friends. "Now, don't tell Sirius, but you have always been my favorite one."
Peter gave her a weak smile, his tired eyes lighting up for just a second.
"What about me, Hope?" James whined. "I thought we had something special!"
"I'm your son, mom!" Remus protested, frowning. "Fuck you, Wormtail."
"Language."
"Yeah, Moony, language." James scolded. "See? I agreed with you, so that must mean I'm the best."
Hope just passed him the cup of tea, slapping his head lightly with the tea spoon.
"I expect you have good news for me." Hope said, turning to Remus. "Did Lily give birth?"
"No, she's due in a few days."
"Hm... I could have sworn it was today." The woman pondered. She shrugged after a few seconds and turned back to Remus. "What is it, Remmy?"
"Ehm, okay so..." Remus cleared his throat. "Remember Callisto?"
Peter and Hope sent him an identical, 'are you kidding me?' look.
"I want to marry her." He announced, hoping he looked less nervous than he felt. "I want to propose to Callisto."
"LYALL!" Hope screamed, jumping off her seat and engulfing Remus in a huge hug. "IT'S HAPPENING! YOUR SON IS NOT A PUSSY ANYMORE!"
"MOM!"
There were loud footsteps in the staircase as Hope continued to hug Remus, with her head buried at the crook of his neck. Lyall got inside the kitchen, slightly taken aback by the image.
"What is going on?"
"Remmy is getting married!"
"I haven't proposed yet." Remus clarified, before his father fainted on the spot. "I just came to tell you before I actually ask her."
"You're no son of mine." Lyall scoffed, shaking his head as he took his wallet from the table and handed Hope 5 pounds. "You just cost me 5 pounds."
"You put a bet on me?"
"It wouldn't be the first time someone does that." James snickered.
"Of course we did." Lyall smiled. "Congratulations, Remus! It was about time... even though it would be more convenient if you did it thirteen months from now."
"Shut up, Lyall!" Hope warned, sending him a glare. "Have you gotten the ring?"
"Yes, we got it today." James chimed in, nudging Remus. He dug his hand in the pocket of his jacket and pulled out a small velvet box, Hope grabbing it from his hands excitedly. She let out a gasp as she saw it, showing it to Lyall. The band of the ring was thicker and bronzed holding a roughly cut, dark grey stone in the middle.
"It's beautiful, Remus." She marvelled, giving him the box back. "She's going to love it, I'm sure."
"She better." Peter whined. "We've been to ten shops."
"When you shop for your own wedding ring, you'll understand."
"Until then, I can complain all I want." Peter smuggly said. "You should probably start praying that she says yes."
Remus' expression slightly fell at the comment, but he said nothing. If he was being honest, he regretted bringing Peter on the ring-spree. He had been in a bad mood the entire day, and this wasn't the first comment he had heard as to whether Callisto would actually want to marry him or not. The only reason he hadn't brought it up, was because Peter seemed more distant these days, and he didn't want to push him away even more.
"She will say yes." James stated surely. "Why wouldn't she?"
"Oh, I don't know... maybe because-"
"Cut it off, Pete." Remus scoffed, looking at the box a bit more unsurely. "There's no need to repeat all that."
"He asked, and I answered."
"It was rhetorical."
"Huh, that's a big word, Prongs." Peter mocked. "Good job!"
Not enough time was given for the tension to rise, as the outline of a dog appeared in the middle of the kitchen. The patronus only got brighter, before it opened its mouth and Sirius' voice filled the room.
"We're giving birth. Meet us at St. Mungo's right now!"
They all froze, for a moment, trying to comprehend the news. It had to be a joke, right? Sirius was joking again.
"IT'S NOT A JOKE!" Callisto's voice was heard from the background. "WE'RE HAVING THE FUCKING BABY!"
"Guys..." Lyall murmured, looking at the three dumbfounded men. "I have a feeling that Lily is giving birth."
"My wife is giving birth." James murmured, his face growing ten times paler. "I'm having a baby..."
"Oh fuck!"
"MY SON IS COMING!" James shouted, shooting up from his seat. "I HAVE A SON!"
"Go!" Hope urged them, snapping them out of their daze.
Remus could only wave his parents goodbye, before James grabbed both his and Peter's arms and apparated them away.
~ ~ ~
"Did he come out yet?" Callisto asked for what seemed to be the hundredth time in the span of the three hours that Lily had spent inside the hospital room with James. He had almost broken his leg from running down the corridor and landing straight on Sirius, and was now in the delivery room.
"No, love."
"What is this kid doing?" Callisto groaned, shaking her head. "I can't believe we don't have the same birthday... Can you imagine?"
"I doubt he planned it." Sirius snorted. "Little guy wanted to make an impression."
"Yes, but we could have been twins!" Callisto exclaimed, taking her seat next to Remus. "I should have told Narcissa to figure out her birth so that little Draco and I could have the same birthday."
"Narcissa was due in like what? Two months ago?"
"Fifth of June." She specified. "I'm sure he could have spared some more days in the womb..."
"Love, it doesn't work like that." Remus chuckled, looking up at her. He took her hand in his, unconsciously fiddling with the rings on her fingers.
"How did my cousin even settle on that name anyway?" Sirius scoffed. "Draco? What is that even?"
"Oh, ehm... it came up at the spur of the moment..." Callisto murmured, her cheeks turning the faintest shade of pink. The change of demeanour was slightly suspicious, making Remus nudge her questioningly.
"It's a secret." She whispered, shrugging. "I won't reveal more."
"Okay, then, keep your secrets."
"Does he look like Narcissa or like the less important parent?" Sirius questioned, his eyes narrowed at the mention of Malfoy.
"He's adorable." Callisto smiled. "He has Malfoy's eyes, but other than that it's only Narcissa. Dare I say, we kind of resemble each other."
"But, you and Narcissa aren't relatives." Peter pointed out.
"No, but we both have blonde hair and blue eyes, so we could have been." She replied, seemingly trailing off for a moment. "Anyway, as his godmother, I think he's the cutest baby."
"My godson will be better than yours."
"Your godson will need glasses before he learns how to use the bathroom." She argued. "Natural selection will end him like that-'' She clicked her fingers, rolling her eyes.
"My godson will be a cool, national Quidditch player, while your godson will be a lame Ministry official."
"My godson will become a very smart gentleman that can do more than handle balls, unlike you."
Sirius cracked a smile, leaning back in his seat as he nodded in defeat, "Okay, you got me there."
"I didn't get it." Remus murmured, glancing between Sirius and Callisto. "What's funny?"
"I was referring to... testicles."
"Oh." He murmured, letting out a small snicker. "That was a bad joke, love."
"Because you made me explain it." She defended. "And you laughed."
"Yes, but that's only because you talked about Sirius fondling balls."
"But...that was the joke." She murmured, her eyebrows furrowed. "Are you fucking with me?"
"Yeah."
"Glad we clarified that."
Lily was in the delivery room for four more hours. Remus had ended up falling asleep on Callisto's shoulder, while Peter had left after a bit to run some errands. Sirius was about to barge in the delivery room and assume the position of a healer himself, when the door opened, and a slightly dazed James Potter came.
"He's here..."
"Can we see him?" Callisto asked, on the edge of her seat. "I mean, do the healers take him now? Is Lily okay with us seeing him?"
"Of course you can see him." Callisto didn't need to hear anything else to jump off her seat and hurry inside the room, waking Remus up in the process. The man just looked around him a bit confused, before he saw Sirius tackling James in a hug.
"Where's your son, Potter?"
"He's inside."
"Then why the fuck are you hugging Padfoot?" Remus questioned, as he got inside the room. "You'll give the baby fleas."
He swerved at the last minute as Sirius went to slap his back, turning around to flip him off, and walked over to Lily's bed. Remus was about to make a joke, probably something about how James looked like a deer in headlights, but that was all forgotten when he saw Lily and Callisto.
Lily seemed quite tired, sipping on a few potions that Callisto had carefully tested before she handed them to her. Callisto was holding the baby in her arms, swaying slightly as she looked down at him, her pinky finger going over his cheek.
He could easily remember the day Callisto had come back from the hospital after Narcissa had given birth. She couldn't shut up about Draco, and she seemed genuinely happy, but there was something off about the way she spoke. He hadn't questioned it, instead attributing her behaviour to tiredness. Narcissa had called her in the middle of the night and Callisto had stayed in the hospital for more than 12 hours.
Now, he realised what a clueless idiot he had been.
"How are you feeling, Lils?" He asked, smiling at the redhead. She had just finished her last potion, letting out a yawn.
"Exhausted." She replied. Callisto carefully placed the baby back in Lily's arms, smiling fondly.
"He's got your eyes." Callisto commented. "I'm afraid he has Jace's hair though..."
Remus looked down at the baby. Surely enough, the jet black hair on the top of his hair resembled a mop, and although his eyes were half closed, he could see his eyes shining emerald green.
"James and I decided on the name before we called you." Lily started, getting distracted by James who had taken his seat next to the bed.
"It's Harry James Potter."
Remus smiled.
"Harry Potter... I think I like it."
~ ~ ~
Y'all aren't used to me writing wholesome, sweet chapters, are you?
Well, there you have it!
Callisto and Sirius >>>>