12 Oct: Parenthood: Obscurus Books (Charlotte)

[Remus Lupin]

Tuesday, 12 October 1982

Remus had spent twenty minutes trying to understand exactly how to carry his child in this blasted piece of fabric before he’d given up, phoning Daisy to ask her for help. After she had finished laughing at his explanation, she’d decided it was much easier for her to swing by and simply show him. She made it look easy, her movements around the Lupin cottage graceful with her daughter attached to her. But Paisley wasn’t nearly as squirmy as Lowell was, and Remus was still getting used to this whole parenting thing. His friends kids had been good practice, but he’d never planned on having one for himself. Which meant he’d neglected to participate in the activities that required holding a squirmy infant.

But, after much frustration and pleading with his nearly three month old child, he’d managed to get Lowell in the baby carrier. Daisy - bless her - was currently in the process of doing everything the way a muggle would, and had refused to let him use magic to help. But Lowell was looking up at him, and Remus had to admit that having free range of motion of his hands was a nice change of pace. Diaper bag gathered, and wand in his pocket, he made his way out of the house after Daisy had left. Apparition with a baby was simply out of the question, which meant that this trip would need another form of transportation.

“Ready for your first trip on the Knight Bus, buddy?” Remus asked with a chuckle as he stuck out his wand, taking a few steps back as he waited for the familiar purple bus to appear. Climbing onto the bus, he had to shoot the attendant a grin as he dug through diapers and changes of clothes for the correct amount of money. “Hold on Lowell, and don’t get sick on me please.”

The trip to Diagon Alley was thankfully a quick one, and before he knew it he was outside of Obscurus Books. When the war had ended, it had also meant the end of the Order. And while some of his friends didn’t need to work, others had been able to simply shift back into other jobs. But the world outside of Hogwarts had never been simple for him. He got odd jobs in the muggle world when he could, but Charlotte’s position at Obscurus was what kept their little family afloat. He entered the shop, giving a smile to the witch who greeted him. “We’re here to see Charlotte.”

[Charlotte Fudge]

"Charlotte, there's a man with a baby here to see you."

"Thank you," Charlotte said with a tired smile, wiping ink from her hands onto a handkerchief as she got up from her desk. The manuscript she was editing could wait; she'd only come back to work this week, but already she was missing her days at home with Lowell and Remus. They weren't easy days, as she and her husband were learning on the go, despite the best efforts of friends whose children were already toddling around had made to teach them. But she missed the comfort of home, of being able to heal and adjust to this new life with those she loved most dearly surrounding her. Granted, the academic had sorely missed Obscurus during her months of leave, but knew she wouldn't have been able to handle the stress of it right away. Hell, in those first days she could hardly get through an hour and feel like herself. And besides, she'd wanted the time to start knowing her son, to start knowing herself as a mother, to start knowing Remus as a father...it's all about finding a balance, isn't it? You'll figure it out together. She followed the younger woman out through the maze of narrow offices and narrower halls, ducking to avoid a few flighty memos as they walked, and entered the foyer with a brightness in her eye reserved for her family.

"Would you just look at the pair of you," Char said, amused to see her husband so decorated for this adventure. Lowell was held to Remus' chest by the wrap James swore by but Remus had avoided until now, the ungainly diaper bag was over his shoulder, and... "However did you get here?" she asked, coming close to stroke their son's heavenly soft hair and give her husband a kiss. The little family had been visited more often than being visitors as of late, seeing as most magical transportation was far from baby-friendly. It was good for them to be out of the house, surely, and Lowell seemed entertained by the newness around him. But what had brought them here today? The thought of Remus knowing she was missing them and home and bringing home to her was nearly enough to make her eyes water, her emotions being much closer to the surface nowadays than before Lowell was ever thought of.

[Remus Lupin]

Babies were so strange. He had been around babies prior to the birth of his son, but he’d never been keen on interacting with them when they were so breakable. Harry was two now, and toddling around the house with more energy than Remus knew how to handle. It was an age Remus had really started to enjoy, watching his brother’s son learn and explore. But Harry was considered a toddler, while Lowell was barely more than an infant. But he had learned that the things he had been so wary about with Harry, were the last things on his mind anymore. Supporting Lowell’s head and neck had become second nature, he was learning the difference in the different ways he cried, and after the time Lowell had been sick directly in Remus’ mouth, he’d gotten over that as well. This time last year he never would have guessed that he would willing leave his house with a baby, confident that he could get through a trip without help.

He was really starting to get the hang of this whole father business.

While he wasn’t sure if Lowell could really see what was going on, the baby seemed to be intrigued by the activity happening around the store, little blue eyes looking around as they waited for Charlotte. “Hello love,” he greeted her, wide grin on his face. He was quite pleased with himself for pulling this off, and happy to see Charlotte. He’d gotten used to her being around everyday, and he was missing her just as much as she had to be missing being home with them. “Well, Lowell told me he missed you. So I said, do you want to go visit her at work? And after Daisy came over to help me get this thing on, we took the Knight Bus. I think he liked it, he’s been awake the whole time.”

[Charlotte Fudge]

The pride in her husband’s warm eyes at having pulled this off was palpable, and she in turn was proud to see it. Fatherhood and motherhood hadn’t been on either of their bucket lists of life, but after the initial shock, and many repairing discussions of not only coming to terms with it but accepting their new roles…Charlotte was glad for the unexpected changes their new life was making in each of them. Knowing their son was something she now couldn’t imagine having considered giving up, and now that the war had been over and done a year, she was grateful that Remus had something good to focus his energies on. And so she listened in pleased amusement as her husband retold the "conversation" between Lowell and himself that led to this occasion, making a mental note to thank Daisy for her part in it. "The Knight Bus?" she asked in surprise, although she knew she really shouldn't be caught off guard by it; wizarding transportation was hardly baby-friendly, and that really was the best option. She had to laugh at the mental image, though, of her little family rocketing around in the giant and precarious purple bus.

"Braver than I was as a child, I'll say," Charlotte continued, holding out her hand to Lowell to grab on to. Returning her gaze to her husband, she asked, "Do you want to stick around here for a bit? Or we could go to...Rosa Lee, I'd think, the Leaky would be terribly loud for him." The teashop was a calmer spot than the raucous wizarding pub, after all. And she could use a little break; Charlotte loved the work, really, but had enjoyed the more lenient schedule of being home. Hours at her desk had once passed so quickly, but now her mind kept drifting to what her boys were up to without her. Perhaps they could make this a regular occurrence; not daily, surely, but...every few days wouldn't hurt.