The Importance of Being Different

Anne spent most of her time studying or going through wedding arrangements with the Scamander’s, but on Christmas Eve, Remus forcibly removed her textbooks from her. They were all going to spend a few days at the Longbottom’s. Julian was spending the first Christmas with his own family for the last four years, so he wasn’t coming.

Anne packed her bag with enough clothes for a few days and the Christmas presents for everyone and headed downstairs to get in the car with the others.

Mr Weasley had done another undetectable extension charm because they could all fit in the car, Sirius, Remus, Tonks, Teddy, Olivia, Anne, Jack and Harry. Kreacher and Dobby were meeting them there.

The Longbottoms lived about three hours away and Frank and Alice were waiting for them excitedly on the driveway.

“Anne!” called Alice as Anne got out of the car and she gave Anne a huge hug.

“Hi Alice, hows Neville?”

“He’s great, the Abbots arrived yesterday, Hannah’s a lovely girl isn’t she?”

The Longbottoms were holding a huge Christmas because this was their first family Christmas in sixteen years.

“You must be Dora?” asked Frank as he helped Tonks out of the car.

“Most people call me Tonks, only Remus and Anne really call me Dora.”

“Well it’s a pleasure to meet you, Tonks,” chuckled Frank as he helped Remus with Teddy’s car seat.

“How go the wedding plans?” asked Alice as she put an arm around Anne and they headed into the house.

“Great,” nodded Anne, “we’ve got the dress but I’m mostly busy studying for my exams.”

“I cant believe you’re getting married only a fortnight after your NEWTs,” said Neville as he came out to help with peoples luggage.

“Hey Nev!” called Harry, “Merry Christmas.”

“Hi Anne,” said Hannah, “it’s a bit chaotic isn’t it?”

“Hi Hannah,” Anne chuckled, “so you taking your exams this year or next year?”

“Oh me and Nev think we’re as ready now as we’ll ever be.”

“Fair enough,” shrugged Anne.

“I’ve had to lock away her textbooks, so she actually takes a break,” explained Remus, “if she asks to borrow some Neville don’t let her!”

After they had all taken their bags up to their rooms then they all gathered in the sitting room around the fire for mugs of hot chocolate.

Harry was busy catching up with Neville, and Mrs Longbottom was fussing over Jack and Olivia. Frank and Alice were reminiscing about the old order with Remus and Sirius. Mr and Mrs Abbot where listening to the stories of Frank, Alice Remus and Sirius’ youth.

“We never joined ourselves,” said Mr Abbot, “my parents wouldn’t let us.”

“Yes we all know,” muttered Tonks, “you were all ruddy heroes, it may not have occurred to you cous but this lot are the heroes this time.”

“I’m sorry, who killed our charming relatives Bellatrix and Rudolphus?”

“Who killed Voldemort?” Harry pointed out looking at Anne.

“And Neville got that snake,” Hannah said not wanting him to lose out on any glory.

“You were all very brave,” said Mrs Longbottom, “but please no war talk for the next few days?”

“Alright Mum,” said Frank.

Hannah and Anne were sat on the floor warming themselves by the fire whilst Anne told Hannah about the wedding plans.

Teddy was racing around the room and Harry was chasing him.

“We’ve started thinking of having the bridesmaids in Ravenclaw colours, light blue dresses and bronze accessories.”

“Who you having?”

“Well there’s Luna, and then there’s Aislynn and Olivia who are both Ravenclaws in training, and both me and Irwin are Ravenclaws.”

“It could be gorgeous,” nodded Hannah.

“So when we getting our invitations then?” asked Frank.

“We haven’t done them yet,” said Anne shaking her head, “there should be something within the next few weeks.”

“What kind of cake are you having?”

“Well Gwen’s doing most of the planning so I’m leaving it up to her,” Anne shrugged.

“Do people never talk of any but weddings?” grumbled Jack who hadn’t heard of nothing else for two weeks.

“Neville,” said Mrs Longbottom, “I think we’ve got some of your old toys in the attic, why don’t you take Jack and Olivia to take a look?”

“Ok Gran,” said Nev getting up and going up to the attic with the kids.

In the evening they all had dinner and then headed to bed early, tomorrow was Christmas day.

Hannah, Anne and Olivia were all sharing a room and were staying up late gossiping. Hannah and Anne were braiding tiny little braids into Olivia’s hair.

“Are you going to be a bridesmaid Livi?” asked Hannah.

“Yes,” nodded Olivia, “I get to scatter the flowers.”

“You and Nev know what you want to do after school?”

“No idea,” sighed Hannah, “I think Nev wants to go into teaching, but at the moment he just wants to spend time with his parents.”

“Yeah, that must be nice,” muttered Anne thinking how nice it would be to have her parents here with her for a wedding in a few months.

“I’m sorry Anne, I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“Do you still miss your Mummy and Daddy?” asked Olivia.

“Of course I do Livi,” said Anne.

“So its ok to miss my Mummy and Daddy, it doesn’t I mean I love you and Irwin any less?”

“No sweetheart of course it doesn’t,” said Anne giving Olivia a hug.

“Anne!” said Remus frantically bursting through the door.

“What’s wrong Remus?” asked Anne getting up from the bed.

“It’s Dora,” he stammered, “she’s having the baby.”

“Should I go get Alice?” asked Anne.

“No, she wants you, we need to get St Mungos, now.”

“Its ok Remus,” said Anne calmly.

“Hannah you stay with Livi ok?”

Hannah nodded and Anne ran from the room only stopping to pull on a dressing gown and a pair of slippers.

Remus had run down to the sitting room where the flu was and Tonks was sat in a chair with her suitcase next to her, all three of them were wearing their pyjamas.

“Dora, you go with Anne,” said Remus trying to keep calm, “I’ll follow with the suitcase.”

Anne took Tonks hand and they walked over to the fireplace together.

“St Mungos!” Anne called clearly.

Her and Tonks spun from the room Tonks grasping firmly onto Anne’s hand.

They stepped out of the fireplace and were followed closely by Remus who went to find the reception desk.

“You’re going to be ok Dora,” said Anne gently, “you’re going to be fine.”

“Hmmm,” she muttered.

“Do you want a girl or a boy?” asked Anne.

“Girl,” Tonks smiled.

Remus came running over with a healer who had a wheelchair for Tonks, fortunately the maternity ward was on the first floor.

When they got to the right ward, Remus and Anne helped Tonks up onto the bed, and then the healer checked on the baby.

“This baby is coming now Mrs. Lupin,” said the healer.

“But its not due for a week,” stammered Remus.

The healed shrugged, “babies don’t always come on their due dates.”

The contractions were already four minutes apart and lasting for a minute. Tonks was gripping onto Remus’ hand on one side and Anne’s on the other.

“Just focus on your breathing Dora,” said Anne calmly, remembering all the times Irwin had to help her with her breathing when she was hyperventilating.

“In and out,” said Anne slowly as Tonks breathed with her.

Anne was sure that Tonks was trying to break her wrist but she didn’t mind, Tonks was going through ten times more pain than this.

“You’re nearly there Dora,” said Remus, “we can see the head.”

“Just a few more minutes Mrs. Lupin,” said the healer.

“Come on Dora,” said Anne, “you’re nearly there.”

“Just think how pleased Teddy’s going to be when he meets his little brother or sister?”

“He’s not getting any more after this one,” Tonks grimaced as she pushed through yet another contraction.

“One more push,” said the healer encouragingly.

Tonks squeezed Anne’s hand one final time and it was all over.

“Congratulations Mr and Mrs Lupin, you have a daughter,” said the healer as she passed Remus the newborn baby in a white blanket.

“A daughter?” stammered Remus.

“She’s beautiful Remus,” said Anne walking over to look at her.

Tonks held her arms open for her daughter and Remus sat down on the bed and passed her their daughter.

“She looks like you Remus,” said Tonks as she stroked a lock of dark brown hair.

“I should hope so,” he said jokingly.

“What are you going to call her?” asked Anne.

“Hope, we wanted to call a little girl Hope,” said Remus as he looked lovingly at his daughter.

“Hope Anne Lupin,” said Tonks.

“Anne?”

“Well you are her godmother,” said Remus.

“And I wouldn’t have made it through today without you,” said Tonks as she passed her Hope.

“Hello Hope,” said Anne sitting down as she held the baby, you are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

“You know sweetheart,” said Remus, “I thought the same thing when I first held you. But then I held Teddy for the first time, and the feeling was ten times stronger.”

“Not possible,” said Anne as she looked into Hope’s deep brown eyes.

Tonks had been in labour for six hours, and it was now five o’clock in the morning.

“I should get back to the Longbottom’s,” said Anne, “they’ll be worried.”

“Merry Christmas,” said Remus as she left the ward.

Anne flued back to the Longbottoms hoping they were all asleep, she was still wearing her pyjamas and dressing gown.

When she got out the fireplace at the Longbottoms though, everyone was awake and waiting for news, even the houseelves Dobby, Kreacher and Winky, Andromeda Tonks was there too.

“Well?” asked Sirius nervously.

“They’ve got a girl, Hope Anne Lupin, Mother and baby are both fine.”

“Thank you, Anne,” said Andromeda before fluing to St. Mungos to see her daughter.

“Did you hear that Teddy?” asked Harry bouncing Teddy on his hip, “you’ve got a sister.”

“You must be exhausted dear,” said Mrs Longbottom as she brought Anne a mug of hot chocolate.

“I’m fine,” sighed Anne as she sat down.

“Seeing as we’re all awake,” said Jack.

“Can we do presents?” finished Olivia.

Everyone looked at Mrs Longbottom as if waiting for permission.

“Well don’t look at me,” said Mrs Longbottom joining Anne on the sofa, “go and get the presents out.”

There was a mountain of presents in the middle of the room which Harry and Neville sorted out.

Teddy had got the most presents, including a toy broomstick like the one Harry had had as a child.

“Wow,” muttered Neville, “gran never let me have one.”

“You had enough accidents without flying Neville what did you expect?”

“Fair enough,” shrugged Neville as he opened a huge set of Herbology books from his parents.

Anne had been given her usual presents from her friends, books and chocolate. Irwin had sent her a page cut out from a muggle newspaper with some Welsh farmhouses that were for sale. They still had to find a house.

Both Harry and Anne had hundreds of thank you letters and Christmas cards for defeating Voldemort.

But the best came at the bottom of the pile.

There was an envelope with a letter and two tickets.

“Dear Anne, Hope you are having a lovley Christmas, Brenda says you’re probably working really hard, but if you want a night off from studying feel free to use these, Kieth.

Anne had a look at the tickets, two tickets for a Seekers reunion concert on the 20th of January.