After the Moon

After the Moon

*

Harry

***

"Are you okay?" Harry asked concernedly, stroking slightly Remus's hand.

Remus sighed. "Yes, Harry, I am," he replied. "Exhausted and hurt, yes, but nothing else. Stop treating me like a baby."

"Sorry," Harry said, grinning sheepishly. "I just - I don't know. I guess I'm just not used to taking care of anyone."

"It's not your fault," Remus smiled. "Think of it as a good thing instead; at least you haven't had your friends injured so you had to take care of them."

"It's not a good thing if I can't take care of you." Harry stroked slightly his cheek. "No offense, love, but you don't look very good."

"I know," the werewolf replied, suppressing a yawn. "I can't look very good the day after a full moon."

"You should sleep anyway," Harry said gently. "You usually sleep the whole day afterwards. Why not now?" he asked, suddenly suspicious.

"Not real reasons," Remus said with a faked grin. "If anything, I only feel better than usually." It was a lie, of course. But he had to lie, since he definitely wasn't going to let Harry know that he was in too much pain to sleep. The younger man was too worried even as it was.

He'd have to talk with Severus. Something hadn't been right with his Wolfsbane Potion this month. He'd stayed in control, yes, but it hadn't eased the pain at all. In fact, the transformation had been even worse than usually.

"Try still to sleep, okay?" Harry pleaded. "Your body needs all rest it can get." Then, suddenly, he asked, "Are you in pain?"

Remus startled. After a moment of thinking he realized that there was no reason to lie to this question, since Harry'd find out anyway. "A little," he said, trying to ignore the jolts of pain flying through his whole body.

Harry watched him closely for a moment, then nodded. "I'll get you some painkillers then."

Remus nodded, inwardly thankful. He'd never asked painkillers from Harry. From Severus, maybe, when the Slytherin would have come to the monthly examination the next day. Harry was too worried anyway, and he knew very well Remus shouldn't have almost any pain once the actual transformation was over. But, the opportunity given, Remus wanted nothing as much as some relief to the continuous ache.

Harry gave him the last concerned glance, then, after a last questioning about Remus's wellbeing, left the room. As soon as he was out of hearing, Remus sighed in relief. He truly loved Harry, as a friend and as a lover, but sometimes the young wizard's endless worrying was too much to him to cope with. He had to stay strong in the sake of his own sanity. He'd always handled his curse and its effects on him. Even during the Wars, he'd slept the next day and been up and about the next one. If he started pitying himself, he'd probably break down.

He rested his head back to the pillows. His head was aching like there were Hippogriffs running around inside his brain. Every bone and muscle in his body ached also. The transformation hadn't been this bad since the first time.

The ache was particularly bad in his stomach. He placed a hand on his abdomen, pressing it testily. A fresh wave of pain flew through him, and he couldn't help but groan aloud.

"Remus?" asked Harry's startled voice from the doorway. He turned wearily to look at his young lover.

"Harry," he said, his voice raspy even in his own ears. "Why'd you come back so soon?"

"I came to ask if you wanted something to eat or drink as well." Harry crossed the room to his bed. "Remus... Are you okay? And don't lie to me this time. I have to know." The emerald eyes watched intently the brunette wizard, showing only sincerity and demanding the same in return.

Remus sighed deeply and shook his head. "No, Harry, I'm not okay. I'm in too much pain to even think straight, leave alone sleep peacefully."

"I'll go and get someone," Harry said, suddenly very pale. "It is unusual after all... Isn't it?"

The werewolf nodded tiredly in response. Harry didn't wait for another command but hurried out of the room. Remus closed his eyes and hoped desperately that Nymphadora wouldn't be around when Harry announced his need for help. Otherwise, he wouldn't have a moment's peace.

After mere minutes, Molly Weasley came to the room. "Harry went to contact Poppy," she told, smiling concernedly at him. "She'll be here in half an hour, I guess. Is there anything in the meantime I could do to help you?"

"If you can do anything to ease the pain, then yes. I'd also like a glass of water, if you'd bother."

"Of course," she beamed, taking an empty glass from the nightstand. She flicked her wand, filling the glass with water. She then handed it to Remus, who downed it gratefully.

Molly then started fussing around him - or, at least, tried to. She checked if the blankets were properly around him, but Harry'd already done that. She wanted to prop him up with pillows, but Harry'd stuffed him into an almost sitting position. The lights were already just dim enough to his tired eyes, the temperature set to just right, and the air fresh.

"Well," she said at last, "Harry's at least been taking good care of you."

Remus yawned and nodded. "He wouldn't stop worrying for a single moment. He just kept asking if I was all right."

"And you lied," she said calmly.

"Of course," he admitted just as casually. "I now told him, and he almost panicked!"

"It just shows that he cared about you," Molly reminded.

"I know," Remus sighed. "It just gets so damn irritating at times." He grinned exhaustedly as she tried to scowl at him for his language, then grimaced as he felt another wave of sharp pain going through him.

Just then, Harry walked in, several potion vials in his hands. "Poppy'll come as soon as she can get past the wards," he informed them, placing the vials on the nightstand. He then uncorked one of them and placed it on Remus's lips. "Drink this," he instructed his injured lover. "It will help you."

Remus drank obediently. He then waited for the potion to start working, both Molly's and Harry's eyes fixed on him. After a moment, he felt a sudden, cool blow through his body, and most of the pain vanished.

"Does it work?" Harry asked worriedly.

Remus nodded slowly. "My stomach still hurts," he said then, placing a hand on his abdomen. "It feels like my entrails were in fire."

Harry frowned, taking Remus's hand into his own. He stroked the werewolf's knuckles gently with his thumb. "I hope Poppy knows what's wrong with you," he sighed.

"I'm sure he does." Remus smiled despite his exhaustion and the still continuing ache in his stomach. He brought his hand nearer, bringing Harry's hand along with it. He placed the younger wizard's hand on his lips for a second, then pressed it against his cheek. The two smiled lovingly at each other, not noticing Molly's beaming, motherly smile.

At last, Poppy arrived. She immediately commanded Harry away from Remus's bedside. She started examining his patient, asking him what he felt was wrong.

"Well, the transformation was rather usual," Remus said, "if not more painful. Afterwards, though, I was still all sore and aching, which is definitely not normal. My stomach as worst, and it still hurts even though Harry brought me painkillers."

"Your stomach, eh?" Suddenly, the mediwitch looked amused. "I wonder if..." She drew her wand and murmured a quick incantation which neither of the wizards recognized.

Molly, however, seemed to know the spell, since she gasped aloud. "You can't be serious!"

"I'm always serious about my patients," Poppy answered calmly while watching intently the golden glow around Remus's stomach. "Now', let's see..." In a second, she broke into a broad smile. "Congratulations, Harry, Remus," she said. "You're going to be fathers!"

The two wizards stared at her in disbelief.

"You are joking... right?" Harry asked weakly.

"No, I'm not," she said, shaking her head. "Remus is just a month along now."

Remus looked quite stunned. Then he asked weakly, "Is - is the baby -"

"Lycanthropic? No." The mediwitch smiled broadly. "That's just why you are in pain. Your temporary uterus, as well as some other parts of your body, simply refused to transform. They were keeping the fetus safe. That proves that your child isn't a werewolf - otherwise, it'd only changed form at the same time as you did."

"But - how's that possible?" Harry asked, astonished.

"You are a very powerful wizard, Harry," Molly reminded. "If two wizards or witches truly love each other, and one of them is very strong, the less stronger can get pregnant."

"I mean... Wow." Harry walked to Remus's bed, slowly kneeling beside it. "We're going to be parents."

Remus turned towards him, smiling. "So it seems," he said, a hand on his stomach. "I'm with a child. Our child." He was quiet for a moment, then said, "Unbelievable."

Harry smiled gently at his lover, then leaned forward to press a gentle kiss on his lips.