Lawson
I will admit life has been a little dull at the Ministry lately.
I stayed on as an Auror, it certainly was my true calling and Ominis still worked there but his department was on the opposite side to the building as mine.
Sebastian and Olive were working on very different things to me so I never saw them. Sure, I made new Auror friends, but there was something about going to work with the friends I'd made at school that made it really fun and interesting.
We'd also fallen into a nice routine when my work was slow. It was a nice life.
Ominis would get home before me and start preparing dinner and I would take over while he sat by the fire.
"Here you go, sir." I said, placing a plated roast dinner in front of him.
"Thank you, Lawson. Did ever tell you that you're a fantastic cook?" He said, smelling the mingling aromas.
"You did. But won't hurt to tell me again."
We laughed.
And we shared a glass of wine each.
Then we showered and went to bed like we always did.
I didn't tell Ominis my mind had kept me awake at night lately.
But I was bored.
Not of Ominis, but simply with life in general. It was like I needed a change or something more. I had never been in a proper real relationship until him. Sure, I'd bedded a few girls at school and while I was training as an Auror, but none of them made me feel as comfortable as he did. And our life was comfortable.
But Lawson Carr doesn't like consistency.
Lawson Carr likes a bit of chaos.
Probably why I was so close with Sebastian while we were at school.
Ominis Gaunt likes consistency.
Ominis Gaunt does not like chaos.
I never understood why he was so close with Sebastian.
Yin and Yang, maybe.
We saw Sebastian and Olive quite often, usually once a week for dinner. Though, our dinners were less sit-down-formal and more eat-quickly-so-Eloise-can-go-run-around-again.
That meant we often found ourselves in Aranshire rather than our home in London. Sebastian had a specific room with a lock for all his precious books and other bits and pieces. Ominis and I did not. So when Eloise came to visit, it was a fight over who was going to chase her around the house making sure she didn't tear an ancient tome to shreds.
But we did love our dear niece. And she loved her Uncle Omi and Uncle Laws.
After one particularly enjoyable evening with the Sallows, I had this overwhelming urge to finally broach a topic with Ominis I'd been dodging for months.
As we tucked ourselves into bed, Ominis curling in my arms as he usually did, I pushed back his hair off his forehead.
"What are you doing?" He asked me sceptically, turning to face me.
"Do you ever think about kids?" I asked, a wide grin on my face.
"What? Like Eloise? Yeah, I think about her... sometimes? What kind of question is this?" Ominis said with a touch of annoyance.
"No, I mean like... us having kids."
Ominis laughed. "Do I need to give you a lesson in biology, Lawson? I'm sure you can see how that won't work."
"N-no! I know that." I said with a roll of my eyes, "But maybe there are other ways."
"Like what?" Ominis said, raising an eyebrow.
"We could adopt?" I suggested gently.
"What? And potentially end up with a child like Sebastian was? I don't know... are you sure that's what's best for us?"
"Maybe..."
He didn't like it. I shouldn't have mentioned anything.
"Is this because Sebastian and Olive just told us they are expecting again?" Ominis said, his expression softening.
"No."
Maybe it was a little. Admittedly, I was a little jealous that they had the capability to actually fall pregnant. I had always wanted to be a father but that was a dream I'd pushed to the side when I'd fallen in love with Ominis, something I had never expected when I thought of my future. Of course I knew neither of us could get pregnant. But I still had that dream even though it was now pushed to the back of my mind.
"Let's think about it, alright? We will talk later. Goodnight." Ominis said, giving me a soft kiss before rolling over and extinguishing the lamp for me.
Ominis didn't mention it again. He actually carried on like the conversation hadn't even happened. Which made me a little sad.
"Seb." I asked over lunch one day at the Ministry when I finally caught him alone.
"Mm?" Sebastian responded through a mouthful of sandwich.
"Ominis... has he ever mentioned kids to you?"
Sebastian laughed and almost choked on his bread. "Ominis? Kids? No. Not really. Why? You pregnant?"
"Oh, ha-ha, Sebastian. No. I mentioned it a few weeks ago, my desire to have one and he shut it down. Hasn't mentioned it since."
Sebastian placed his sandwich down and looked at me with that annoying sympathetic look he gives, like he pitied me.
"Look... if you were a female and had the capability of becoming pregnant, I'd say you're out of luck. Ominis swore he would never, ever have a child of his own. He's ashamed of his family name and the thought of passing down any of his genetic problems is terrifying to him. Maybe you have half a chance of convincing him if it's not his own blood."
You know, sometimes Sebastian did have something helpful to contribute to a conversation.
Sometimes.
That night, I made sure dinner was super delicious, the wine was plentiful and Ominis was in a good mood.
"So, love. Have you thought any more about what I mentioned the other night?" I asked, tiptoeing around the subject carefully.
"Children? I'll be honest, Lawson. I haven't. I don't know if it's for me."
Maybe Sebastian was right. Maybe I was wasting my time. But it was fine. I loved Ominis enough to let that dream go. I understood why Ominis wouldn't want children, I know his childhood was hard even though he didn't like to talk about it with me.
I'd just have to enjoy Sebastian and Olive's kids. I was about to have two to enjoy now. Eloise and the new baby.
"Okay."
Ominis dipped his head and sighed. "I can sense this means a lot to you. Am I correct?"
I looked at him. He was also throwing me the same look Sebastian had given me earlier. "It does, but that's okay. I would give away any dream if it meant I got to be with you."
Ominis sighed, his fingers tapping on the wooden table beneath them.
"I don't want you to give up on dreams for me." He paused for a moment, taking a few breaths. "How would we do it?"
"I-well..." I stammered, not really expecting him to even tempt the idea. "I could look into places that might allow us to adopt. That way you don't need to worry about passing anything on."
"How do you know that's what I worry about?" Ominis said with a scoff.
"Sebastian told me."
"That snake!" Ominis seethed.
"Don't blame him, I was the one who asked. He was just being honest with me." I said, trying to diffuse him a little.
Ominis sighed and took a deep breath, "Alright, fine. Look into it and... come back with what you find out."
"Omi, I don't want to push you to do something you aren't comfortable with..."
"It's fine. If you give me the facts, I'll go over it and then we'll talk." Ominis said, placing his hand on top of mine and giving it a reassuring squeeze.
As much as I didn't want to get my hopes up, I couldn't shake the mixture of excitement and disbelief that swirled within me. Ominis was actually considering the idea of adopting and my heart swelled realising how much Ominis cared about me to even entertain the thought.
So I did research. A lot. And I actually found a place that was a place specifically for magical children to make sure they went to families with similar abilities to keep them safe.
"Here." I presented Ominis with a folder filled with papers and notes.
"Lawson..." Ominis was clearly trying to hold back a fit of laughter. "I can't read this, dear."
"I know, but you said to be prepared. So let me summarise," I said. "I found a magical children's adoption place. They specialise in placing magical children with families that have the same abilities. It's designed to keep them safe and help them develop their powers in a supportive environment."
Ominis raised an eyebrow, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. "Magical children?"
I nodded. "Yes. It's an opportunity for us to give a young child a loving home."
Ominis chuckled. "You're serious about this, aren't you?"
"Absolutely," I replied. "But only if you are. I won't push you into anything you're not comfortable with."
He studied me for a moment. "Read me through this mess you've given me. And then, we'll talk."
Over the next few days, Ominis and I delved into the information I had gathered. We spent evenings discussing the possibilities, the challenges, and the joys of adopting a magical child and Ominis surprised me with his thoughtful questions and genuine interest.
One evening, as we sat by the fireplace, Ominis looked up from the notes. "You really believe we can do this, don't you?"
"I do," I said, smiling. "But only if we're in it together."
So we did it before he changed his mind. We approached the organisation and met a wonderful bunch of witches who looked after the establishment. They assured us we would be a good match for a child and they would keep us in mind when a suitable match came up.
But months passed but we were yet to be contacted and honestly, I had almost forgotten about the whole process.
Sebastian and Olive had delivered surprise twins which was enough for all of us as we helped them navigate adjusting with two newborns instead of the single one they thought they were having.
Our lives were filled with the joy of being Uncles that we were distracted enough to forget most of the time, even though I did feel like I was giving up hope. But Ominis remained steadfast and calm, trusting that the right moment would come.
Then, one crisp autumn evening, as the leaves fell gently from the trees, we received an owl.
We both argued about who was actually going to get up and retrieve the letter, both too comfortable in front of the fire. Nothing unusual for us.
But Ominis was the relentlessly stubborn one in our relationship, so as usual I had to drag my arse off the lounge to collect the mail. But for once I was glad to do so.
The letter was addressed to us both and when I opened it, I skimmed to the end and realised it was from Agatha Cross. The witch from the adoption organisation.
"Ominis. It's them." I said, bounding back towards the lounge.
Ominis almost leapt up from his seat and demanded I sit with him before I read it. And I appeased him. I sat back and tucked him into my lap, his face peering up towards me.
"Alright, now you can read." Ominis said, patting my stomach gently.
"Not that I needed your permission, but sure,
Dear Mr. Gaunt and Mr. Carr,
We thank you for engaging with us and expressing interest in the adoption process. After careful consideration and in alignment with our magical matching protocols, we are delighted to inform you that we have found a potential match for your family.
A baby girl has been born yesterday and is in the process of being discharged into our care. We believe she would be a perfect fit for your family.
If you are still interested in proceeding, please send an owl no later than tomorrow morning.
Regards,
Agatha Cross."
"A... a baby girl?" Ominis said, sounding shocked but also excited, pleased and a touch nervous.
I nodded, a smile spreading across my face as I reread the letter to make sure I wasn't imagining things. "Yes, a baby girl. Born just yesterday. What do you think?"
Ominis's eyes widened, absorbing the information. "A baby... I never imagined... I thought we'd get one a little older than that."
I chuckled, placing a gentle kiss on his forehead. "Well, imagine it now. We have an opportunity here, Ominis. What do you think?"
He took a moment, processing the idea. "A baby girl... a daughter. I never thought I'd say those words."
I held him a little tighter. "Well, she's waiting for us, Omi. What do you say we send that owl tonight and let them know we're ready?"
Ominis nodded softly and I attached our response, sending it off right away.
The next morning, we received a swift response from Agatha Cross. She confirmed our desire to go ahead and instructed us to visit them that afternoon to meet her.
As we entered the expansive grounds of the home, we were met by Agatha who greeted us with a warm smile and ushered us inside.
"Tea?" She offered.
No time for tea! Give me my kid!
"No, thank you." Ominis replied with a smile.
A much better response than I would have given...
Agatha smiled at us and held out a hand to the door. "Very well. Would you like to meet her?"
Fuck yes!
"Yes, please." I said, holding my excitement in.
Well done, Laws.
Agatha led us down a corridor adorned with magical paintings telling stories until we finally reached a door with a small note on the door that said "Gaunt-Carr". Agatha opened it, revealing a cozy room bathed in soft, magical light. In the center, a bassinet cradled the sleeping form of our potential daughter. She was wrapped in a soft blanket adorned with a pattern of stars.
Agatha whispered, "She's been waiting for you."
Oh great, now I was crying.
We both stood there looking over her, taking in the image of her for the first time. She had a head of jet black hair and soft, porcelain skin with delicate features.
"Won't really fit in to a two-blonde-headed-dad family, will she?" I joked. Until Ominis elbow me in the ribs.
"Ouch! Okay, no more jokes. Got it." I said, rubbing my side where Ominis had nudged me.
Agatha chuckled softly. "She is a special little one. We believe chose you both, you know."
Ominis smiled and carefully reached down to pick up the baby from the crib. As he held her in his arms, fingers tracing her features, a look of pure adoration crossed his face. It was a sight that melted my heart, and I couldn't help but smile.
"She's perfect." Ominis whispered, his voice cracking as he spoke.
I nodded in agreement, feeling a surge of overwhelming joy. Even in her slumber, she seemed to radiate a warmth that touched us both.
Agatha motioned toward a comfortable-looking chair in the corner of the room. "Take your time. Get to know her and decide on a name for her so you can finalise the paperwork and be on your way."
We sat down together with the baby still in Ominis arms, we simply relished in the joy of finally being parents.
"So, we need to name her. What do you think?" Ominis asked me.
I laughed, "Honestly, I've got nothing. My mothers name is Gertrude, not really something I want to carry on or anything."
"Actually," Ominis said, his fingers strumming on the blanket covering her, "There's one I like."
"Oh? Well, don't keep me in suspense."
He smiled, looking down at the sleeping baby in his arms. "Noctua."
I grinned. I knew about her. She was one of the only family members Ominis ever spoke about. And even that wasn't often.
"I love it, Ominis. I think it suits her." I smiled, "I do have a suggestion for a middle name. I did run it by Sebastian months ago when we first mentioned the possibility of having a child."
Ominis raised an eyebrow, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. "Really?"
I grinned, "Anne."
Ominis's eyes softened, and a gentle smile played on his lips. "Noctua Anne..."
"Yep. Noctua Anne Gaunt-Carr. I think it rolls off the tongue, don't you?" I smiled.
Ominis head dipped and he shifted a little in his seat. "Actually, there was one more thing I wanted to discuss about the name."
I looked at Ominis with a curious expression. "Oh?"
He took a deep breath, as if contemplating the right words. "Well, it's about her last name—Gaunt-Carr. I was thinking... I don't want her to have Gaunt in her name. Frankly, I don't even want myself to have Gaunt as a last name. So, if it's alright with you, I'd like her to just use Carr."
I looked at Ominis. The sincerity in his eyes spoke volumes. I took a moment to consider it, recognising the significance behind his request.
"Omi, I understand," I replied, reaching over to place a hand on his. "We both have our own histories and reasons for wanting certain things. If you feel strongly about it, then I'm with you. Noctua Anne Carr it is."
Relief washed over Ominis's face, and he gave me a grateful smile. I noticed a few tears welling in the corner of his eyes as he held Noctua in his arms. The weight of the decision, the choice to reshape our family name, seemed to lift a burden from him.
Agatha returned and we finished up the rest of the formalities, signing off her new name.
"Well, congratulations. You are parents. I'm certain Noctua will be given a happy and fulfilling life with you two."
"Thank you, Agatha," I said with genuine gratitude. "We appreciate everything you've done for us and for bringing Noctua into our lives."
Agatha nodded with a warm smile. "It was my pleasure. Now, take good care of each other and little Noctua. Parenthood is a magical journey, filled with surprises and wonders."
As Agatha left us to return home and savour our newfound parenthood, Noctua continued to sleep peacefully, unaware of the love that surrounded her and the circumstances that surrounded her already short life.
We spent the rest of the day in a happy blur, getting to know our daughter, marveling at the intricacies of her tiny fingers and the softness of her baby skin. The world seemed to slow down as we embraced the simple joy of being a family.
In the days that followed, we adjusted to the rhythm of parenthood—sleepless nights and the overwhelming love that now filled our home. Noctua Anne Carr became the center of our universe, and we marveled at her every day.
We received our usual invitation from Sebastian and Olive for that Sunday. Travelling to Aranshire seemed scary with a newborn, but we figured we might have an easier time of it than them coming to us considering they were outnumbered.
We headed out to Aranshire that afternoon via the floo network and I cradled Noctua in my arms as she slept peacefully while Ominis knocked on the door.
The cacophony of children crying and screaming ended when they heard the knock and I could hear Eloise's excited little footsteps run towards the door.
""Watch out, Ellie, I'll open the door." Sebastian's muffled voice called out.
The door swung open, and there stood Sebastian, a wide grin on his face. However, as his eyes fell on the sight of me cradling a baby, his expression transformed into one of surprise.
"What's this?" he asked, pointing accusingly at the infant.
"Surprise!" I said.
Sebastian was dumbfounded.
"Meet Noctua Carr." Ominis added with a proud smile.
Sebastian's surprise shifted to pure joy as he looked at the little bundle in my arms. "Noctua? You adopted?"
"We did. We've had her nearly a week now." I smiled.
Sebastian reached out and collected Noctua in his arms, instinctually rocking her back and forth as he took in her appearance.
"Wow, Ominis. She looks just like you." He teased.
"Oh, shut it, Sebastian" He rolled his eyes.
Sebastian walked into the house, startling Olive in the kitchen.
"Uh, whose baby did you steal? Take it back! We have plenty." She said, a look of concern on her face.
I chuckled, "No stealing involved. This is Noctua, our daughter."
Olive's eyes widened, and she rushed over, wiping her hands on a towel. "Your daughter? When did this happen?"
"Just a week ago. It was a bit sudden, but she's been the greatest joy," Ominis explained.
Olive's initial surprise turned into sheer delight. "Congratulations! Oh, she's precious."
Sebastian passed Noctua over to Olive and she also joined the swaying that parents apparently do instinctually when handed a baby.
"Oh, you're so light compared to my two! Yes, you are!" She cooed, turning on the baby voice.
As everyone got acquainted with Noctua and the circumstances of her arrival, I could see Ominis and Sebastian talking in a way I had only heard about from Ominis. How they used to get along as kids. I knew they'd had quite the journey to get to this point, but it seemed the bonds of fatherhood tethered them back to the unbreakable friendship they had once had before that seemed irreparable.
I was happy.
If anyone needed a happy ending, it was those two.
And they got it.
The four of us, Ominis, Sebastian, Olive and myself stood beside the Hogwarts Express, watching Emma, Archie and Noctua board together with Eloise showing them where to sit before wandering off to find their other friends.
Emma and Archie had selected their first year to travel to Hogwarts on the Hogwarts Express, like their big sister had done and Noctua followed in their footsteps.
The three of them fought for the window to stick their heads out and wave goodbye to us in the most ridiculous manner and I was suddenly scared for their time at Hogwarts. These three were going to be trouble and I was suddenly feeling thrilled Sebastian was going to be lurking around.
As the train chugged harder, ready to make its departure, we all waved goodbye to the kids and I heard the faint sniffles of Ominis next to me. I pulled him under my arm and held him close.
"She'll be fine. She's your kid. She's tough." I reassured him with a kiss on the head.
"I know." Ominis replied, taking a handkerchief out of his sleeve, "I just wish I could see this. I am just so proud of her."
Sebastian patted Ominis on the back. "They'll do great. We did, didn't we?"
"Debatable." Ominis retorted with a gentle sniff.
The four of us stood and shared a laugh together. Four parents now with all their children at Hogwarts.
Sebastian bid us farewell with a promise to keep an eye, but not too close, on Noctua for us and I took Ominis home, the both of us falling into our bed with tears in our eyes. The house was quiet and still, not like it used to be when Noctua was around.
Until an owl dropped by a letter.
This time, I made Ominis get it.
"Hey Carrs,
The Sorting Ceremony just wrapped up so I thought I'd keep you updated. Emma and Archie both sorted into Slytherin, as expected.
But, Noctua... you'll never guess.
She's a Ravenclaw.
Well done on raising such a smart, intelligent kid. She'll thrive there. She was a bit deflated she didn't get to be with Emma and Archie, but she's already made a new friend.
I'll keep an eye on her for you both and write often because I have a feeling she'll be having so much fun she'll forget.
Love you both,
Sebastian."
Ominis wiped a tear from his eye and I could feel the weight of a thousand tonnes lift from his shoulders.
Ominis was free. No longer shackled to the Gaunt name and the curse that was being an heir to Slytherin. Our daughter was a Ravenclaw. And she was going to kick ass.
A/N: I think that's all the loose ends tied up for now so I'm definitely taking a break for a while! Though you can catch me doing a few one shots over on Tumblr if that floats your boat (I'm ginger-lala). Thank you again for all the reads! I can't believe it's almost at 16k :')