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sitruunavohveliTitle: Namesakes
Rating: Pg
Summary: “Interesting choice of name, isn’t it?”
Warnings: None
Notes: I wrote this in the Snupin Santa fest of 2010 for miffmiff. It was extremely fun to write so I hope it's also fun to read. Andymort was (once again) quick and good beta.
---
”No way! Severus, there’s something you should probably see.”
It was early in the morning. The sun was shining brightly, and Remus sat in the garden, reading the newspaper, with a cup of tea and some breakfast with him. Severus was still inside, dressing.
“What is it?” Severus asked as he followed Remus’ shout and stepped outside, still buttoning up his shirt. Remus watched his husband and thought, not for the first time, of how good he looked in Muggle clothes.
“You remember when I told you that Harry and Ginny were expecting their second child?”
“You called for me so you could talk about Harry Potter?” Severus asked incredulously.
“You just wait! Well, he was born a few weeks ago and was apparently given a name just this week.”
“Remus, please get to the point.”
“I think you should read this yourself.”
Severus smoothed down his shirt and took the paper. He grimaced for the large family portrait of Harry and Ginny Potter with their firstborn son. Remus could see his eyes moving fast over the letters as he skimmed the text through. Then Severus’ eyes widened and his lips formed words “Albus Severus Potter” as he tried to understand what the article was saying.
“Interesting choice of name, isn’t it?” Remus took the paper from Severus and folded it on the table.
“Indeed. It’s certainly better than that of their first son.”
Remus looked at him amused. Severus was taking this very well, but Remus knew him well enough not to let the calm shell deceive him.
“What are you going to do today?” Remus asked, just to change the topic.
“Nothing much. I have to start preparing this month’s batch of Wolfsbane but otherwise I should not be occupied.”
“Good. Let’s do something together.”
“Remus, you know as well as I that I do not enjoy the same activities as you do,” Severus answered and rolled his eyes.
“Oh really? I can think of quite a few things that you have enjoyed when we have done them together,” Remus pointed out and Severus flushed. “I guess I must go and put some clothes on. Then we can discuss more of today’s schedule.”
When Remus returned a quarter of an hour later, fully dressed now, he could see Severus folding the newspaper quickly away.
“Ah-ha! So you were affected by the news after all?” Remus asked, not truly surprised.
“No! Of course not! How should it affect me how Potter chooses to name his own children? I was just wondering how much teasing the poor child must suffer with a name like Albus?”
“Severus, please. The child is a Potter. How many people do you know who would bully a Potter?”
Severus looked at him pointedly.
“…aside from yourself, obviously. How stupid of me.”
“The other thing I was thinking is what will they do after they run out of names of dead friends and relatives?” Severus said thoughtfully.
“Take names like Severus?” Remus suggested with a grin, and Severus glared at him.
“I have never understood the trend of naming one’s children after people who have passed on or are family members. You apparently are familiar with it. Your own son is named after his mother’s father and yourself.”
“Hey! Ted is perfectly good and appropriate name! There’s nothing wrong with tradition!” Remus objected.
“Maybe then the next Potter born will be called Remus. They already have James Sirius. They could have all the Marauders, except the rat.”
“No, I don’t believe that. As you said yourself, Teddy’s second name is also Remus, and you simply can’t go naming them all after me,” Remus said winking.
“If you say so.”
“But what in Merlin’s name are they going to come up with if their next child is a girl?”
“She would be named Lily, obviously,” Severus reminded.
“What about the second name? Who does Harry know that is female, dead and was dear to him?”
“Nymphadora?”
Remus winced.
“Nah, neither Harry nor Ginny were that close with Dora.”
“Remus, they named their second child after me. When was I ever close to either of them?”
“Point taken, but I still doubt anyone would willingly give their child a name like Nymphadora.”
“This makes me think; I guess your dear Harry has chosen every single one of those names. Why hasn’t Mrs. Potter got a chance to name her own flesh and blood?” Severus asked.
“I don’t know. Maybe her own relatives have stolen every name she has thought of? You can’t have two or more Freds who are first cousins. It would get too complicated.”
“I guess.”
“What I don’t understand is why to name everyone after dead people? Why cannot give them names of dear alive friends?” Remus said thoughtfully.
“I’m not dead! I wasn’t dear to them, but I am still alive.”
“But they think you are dead. Isn’t that kind of the point of us living here?”
“Well, it’s true that Potter would never name his son Severus if he thought I am still alive.”
“You will never know, will you?”
Remus and Severus had disagreed many times before of this particular topic. Remus would have liked to return to “home” as he called Britain, but Severus opposed. He had said he had never been this content with his life back there, and Remus could understand that. There were still people important to Remus outside this island, but he had a sneaking suspicion that Severus believed no one had missed him after his faked death. After all, here Severus could live his life without judgment or references to his past. Remus could understand it; it was the first time in his life, too, that he could forget his own condition when interacting with other people.
He also had someone he loved more than anything, and that was more precious than all the old friends he might still have way back home.
“I actually think I like this Albus Severus person already,” Remus said. He didn’t want to fight with Severus right now.
“Why is that?” Severus lifted his eyebrows.
“I just can’t help thinking that, if he would have both Albus’ and your characteristics; he would truly grow to be an interesting person.”
“Nothing good can come out of combining a Slytherin and a Gryffindor.”
“Oh, really?” Remus asked, and Severus looked a bit sheepish for a moment. “I actually think that is a very functional combination, most of the time. Look at Harry himself, for example.”
“Potter’s both parents were Gryffindors and so was he. I don’t see your point.”
“Harry is just in between a Gryffindor and a Slytherin. I think he has qualities of both houses. In both good and bad.”
“Hmmph.”
“A Potter child in Slytherin. Well, that would be a truly intriguing thing,” Remus pondered aloud.
“As if that would ever happen! His father would be devastated and kick him or her out of the family.”
“Harry would do no such thing; nor would Ginny. They might be surprised, but not disappointed, I think. Harry has nothing against Slytherins.”
“Ooooh, doesn’t he now?” Severus mocked.
“Against some Slytherins, sure, but not against Slytherins in general. At least that’s what I think, but how would I know. I can’t see inside his head; that is supposed to be your job,” Remus said. “Still, I like this Albus Severus, and I’m excited to see what he will become.”
Severus didn’t look convinced, and just shrugged.
“So what did you think about doing today? I expect that you have some suggestions?” Severus asked.
“Not really. I don’t have to work today so I thought we could do something together. I can hardly believe that we’ve lived here for almost eight years and still seen so little of these islands’ tourist attractions.”
“I seem to remember saying that we do not enjoy the same activities. I rest my case.”
“I’m sure we could find something to attract you.”
“I seriously doubt it. This is a Muggle island. I’m not interested in lying on beach, seeing Muggle art, studying Muggle history, nor am I interested in researching some ridiculous old ruins of a castle that Muggles see as cultural history.”
“Ah, but there are always boat trips, and I happen to know there’s a small wizarding community on another island not far from here.”
Severus thought about it for a moment.
“So would you join me if I went to visit there?”
“Alright, alright. I’ll come with you. I have to make sure that you will find some friends there so you don’t have to bother me all the time anymore!”
Remus smiled. He knew Severus didn’t mean anything by that; he was probably just as excited to visit new places and meet some witches and wizards as Remus was. What was surprising about Severus was that he actually enjoyed boating, and had once or twice even mentioned the possibility of them getting their own boat. It was one of those things Remus would have never suspected before moving here with Severus after the end of the second war.
They had been together all this time, and still almost every week Remus found out new things about Severus that just made Remus love him even more. During the second war it had been difficult and even dangerous at times to meet with Severus, but it had all been worth it. His marriage with Dora had been all about appearances and keeping them both safe, the Death Eaters had suspected that Severus was seeing someone in the Order, and Remus and Severus had both agreed that it would be better if nobody ever found out about them. Tonks had been along in the plan all the time; she had accidentally found out about their relationship by knocking over a very unlucky suit of armour when Remus had been behind it with Severus. That memory still made Remus smile, remembering Severus’ expression after being surprised.
Teddy was the only real thing which had come from his marriage with Dora.
And which brought to mind...
“Severus, I must go wake up Teddy. He has to go to school today.”
“Mhhmh,” Severus muttered from behind his newspaper. He was now reading other articles than the one about Potters’ second son. “Remember not to let him put on those awful trousers you bought to him.”
“Yes, Severus,” Remus replied, smiling.
Teddy might not have been Severus’ biological son, but Remus was sure Severus thought of him fully as his own. When Severus talked about Teddy, he always referred to him as “Remus’ son” but that was just because Severus had always been afraid to use the word “us”; even after Remus had married him a few years ago.
Teddy was still sleeping when Remus went to his room. Actually... Teddy was holding himself too stiffly, which told Remus that he was just pretending to be asleep.
“Okay, time to get up, young man! You have probably been awake for quite some time so no lying in bed anymore. You have school today.”
“Awww, Dad. Do I have to?”
“Yes, you do.”
“Why can’t I come to a boat trip too? I like boats! Could we get one?” Teddy asked.
Remus rolled his eyes. Sometimes it was hard to believe that Teddy truly wasn’t related to Severus, like when he was spying like this, listening to other people’s conversations and pretended to be asleep even when he was not.
“You have talk about that with your papa. And now, get up!”
Remus was at the door when he remembered something.
“And do not put on the new trousers. You have other pairs.”
---
“Severus, do you ever really miss anything from home?” Remus asked when they had sent Teddy off to school. Severus was quiet for a moment.
“There’s not much left for me to miss.”
“I know.”
“You know, I guess I wouldn’t mind seeing Potter’s face when he realises I’m not really dead,” Severus said and smiled devilishly. “I’m not completely against returning to Britain some day, Remus. I just don’t see the point. I have everything I need here.”
That was the greatest admission of love Remus had ever heard coming from Severus’ lips.
“I know, Severus. Me too. Shall we leave to the harbour then?”
-fin-
Rating: Pg
Summary: “Interesting choice of name, isn’t it?”
Warnings: None
Notes: I wrote this in the Snupin Santa fest of 2010 for miffmiff. It was extremely fun to write so I hope it's also fun to read. Andymort was (once again) quick and good beta.
---
”No way! Severus, there’s something you should probably see.”
It was early in the morning. The sun was shining brightly, and Remus sat in the garden, reading the newspaper, with a cup of tea and some breakfast with him. Severus was still inside, dressing.
“What is it?” Severus asked as he followed Remus’ shout and stepped outside, still buttoning up his shirt. Remus watched his husband and thought, not for the first time, of how good he looked in Muggle clothes.
“You remember when I told you that Harry and Ginny were expecting their second child?”
“You called for me so you could talk about Harry Potter?” Severus asked incredulously.
“You just wait! Well, he was born a few weeks ago and was apparently given a name just this week.”
“Remus, please get to the point.”
“I think you should read this yourself.”
Severus smoothed down his shirt and took the paper. He grimaced for the large family portrait of Harry and Ginny Potter with their firstborn son. Remus could see his eyes moving fast over the letters as he skimmed the text through. Then Severus’ eyes widened and his lips formed words “Albus Severus Potter” as he tried to understand what the article was saying.
“Interesting choice of name, isn’t it?” Remus took the paper from Severus and folded it on the table.
“Indeed. It’s certainly better than that of their first son.”
Remus looked at him amused. Severus was taking this very well, but Remus knew him well enough not to let the calm shell deceive him.
“What are you going to do today?” Remus asked, just to change the topic.
“Nothing much. I have to start preparing this month’s batch of Wolfsbane but otherwise I should not be occupied.”
“Good. Let’s do something together.”
“Remus, you know as well as I that I do not enjoy the same activities as you do,” Severus answered and rolled his eyes.
“Oh really? I can think of quite a few things that you have enjoyed when we have done them together,” Remus pointed out and Severus flushed. “I guess I must go and put some clothes on. Then we can discuss more of today’s schedule.”
When Remus returned a quarter of an hour later, fully dressed now, he could see Severus folding the newspaper quickly away.
“Ah-ha! So you were affected by the news after all?” Remus asked, not truly surprised.
“No! Of course not! How should it affect me how Potter chooses to name his own children? I was just wondering how much teasing the poor child must suffer with a name like Albus?”
“Severus, please. The child is a Potter. How many people do you know who would bully a Potter?”
Severus looked at him pointedly.
“…aside from yourself, obviously. How stupid of me.”
“The other thing I was thinking is what will they do after they run out of names of dead friends and relatives?” Severus said thoughtfully.
“Take names like Severus?” Remus suggested with a grin, and Severus glared at him.
“I have never understood the trend of naming one’s children after people who have passed on or are family members. You apparently are familiar with it. Your own son is named after his mother’s father and yourself.”
“Hey! Ted is perfectly good and appropriate name! There’s nothing wrong with tradition!” Remus objected.
“Maybe then the next Potter born will be called Remus. They already have James Sirius. They could have all the Marauders, except the rat.”
“No, I don’t believe that. As you said yourself, Teddy’s second name is also Remus, and you simply can’t go naming them all after me,” Remus said winking.
“If you say so.”
“But what in Merlin’s name are they going to come up with if their next child is a girl?”
“She would be named Lily, obviously,” Severus reminded.
“What about the second name? Who does Harry know that is female, dead and was dear to him?”
“Nymphadora?”
Remus winced.
“Nah, neither Harry nor Ginny were that close with Dora.”
“Remus, they named their second child after me. When was I ever close to either of them?”
“Point taken, but I still doubt anyone would willingly give their child a name like Nymphadora.”
“This makes me think; I guess your dear Harry has chosen every single one of those names. Why hasn’t Mrs. Potter got a chance to name her own flesh and blood?” Severus asked.
“I don’t know. Maybe her own relatives have stolen every name she has thought of? You can’t have two or more Freds who are first cousins. It would get too complicated.”
“I guess.”
“What I don’t understand is why to name everyone after dead people? Why cannot give them names of dear alive friends?” Remus said thoughtfully.
“I’m not dead! I wasn’t dear to them, but I am still alive.”
“But they think you are dead. Isn’t that kind of the point of us living here?”
“Well, it’s true that Potter would never name his son Severus if he thought I am still alive.”
“You will never know, will you?”
Remus and Severus had disagreed many times before of this particular topic. Remus would have liked to return to “home” as he called Britain, but Severus opposed. He had said he had never been this content with his life back there, and Remus could understand that. There were still people important to Remus outside this island, but he had a sneaking suspicion that Severus believed no one had missed him after his faked death. After all, here Severus could live his life without judgment or references to his past. Remus could understand it; it was the first time in his life, too, that he could forget his own condition when interacting with other people.
He also had someone he loved more than anything, and that was more precious than all the old friends he might still have way back home.
“I actually think I like this Albus Severus person already,” Remus said. He didn’t want to fight with Severus right now.
“Why is that?” Severus lifted his eyebrows.
“I just can’t help thinking that, if he would have both Albus’ and your characteristics; he would truly grow to be an interesting person.”
“Nothing good can come out of combining a Slytherin and a Gryffindor.”
“Oh, really?” Remus asked, and Severus looked a bit sheepish for a moment. “I actually think that is a very functional combination, most of the time. Look at Harry himself, for example.”
“Potter’s both parents were Gryffindors and so was he. I don’t see your point.”
“Harry is just in between a Gryffindor and a Slytherin. I think he has qualities of both houses. In both good and bad.”
“Hmmph.”
“A Potter child in Slytherin. Well, that would be a truly intriguing thing,” Remus pondered aloud.
“As if that would ever happen! His father would be devastated and kick him or her out of the family.”
“Harry would do no such thing; nor would Ginny. They might be surprised, but not disappointed, I think. Harry has nothing against Slytherins.”
“Ooooh, doesn’t he now?” Severus mocked.
“Against some Slytherins, sure, but not against Slytherins in general. At least that’s what I think, but how would I know. I can’t see inside his head; that is supposed to be your job,” Remus said. “Still, I like this Albus Severus, and I’m excited to see what he will become.”
Severus didn’t look convinced, and just shrugged.
“So what did you think about doing today? I expect that you have some suggestions?” Severus asked.
“Not really. I don’t have to work today so I thought we could do something together. I can hardly believe that we’ve lived here for almost eight years and still seen so little of these islands’ tourist attractions.”
“I seem to remember saying that we do not enjoy the same activities. I rest my case.”
“I’m sure we could find something to attract you.”
“I seriously doubt it. This is a Muggle island. I’m not interested in lying on beach, seeing Muggle art, studying Muggle history, nor am I interested in researching some ridiculous old ruins of a castle that Muggles see as cultural history.”
“Ah, but there are always boat trips, and I happen to know there’s a small wizarding community on another island not far from here.”
Severus thought about it for a moment.
“So would you join me if I went to visit there?”
“Alright, alright. I’ll come with you. I have to make sure that you will find some friends there so you don’t have to bother me all the time anymore!”
Remus smiled. He knew Severus didn’t mean anything by that; he was probably just as excited to visit new places and meet some witches and wizards as Remus was. What was surprising about Severus was that he actually enjoyed boating, and had once or twice even mentioned the possibility of them getting their own boat. It was one of those things Remus would have never suspected before moving here with Severus after the end of the second war.
They had been together all this time, and still almost every week Remus found out new things about Severus that just made Remus love him even more. During the second war it had been difficult and even dangerous at times to meet with Severus, but it had all been worth it. His marriage with Dora had been all about appearances and keeping them both safe, the Death Eaters had suspected that Severus was seeing someone in the Order, and Remus and Severus had both agreed that it would be better if nobody ever found out about them. Tonks had been along in the plan all the time; she had accidentally found out about their relationship by knocking over a very unlucky suit of armour when Remus had been behind it with Severus. That memory still made Remus smile, remembering Severus’ expression after being surprised.
Teddy was the only real thing which had come from his marriage with Dora.
And which brought to mind...
“Severus, I must go wake up Teddy. He has to go to school today.”
“Mhhmh,” Severus muttered from behind his newspaper. He was now reading other articles than the one about Potters’ second son. “Remember not to let him put on those awful trousers you bought to him.”
“Yes, Severus,” Remus replied, smiling.
Teddy might not have been Severus’ biological son, but Remus was sure Severus thought of him fully as his own. When Severus talked about Teddy, he always referred to him as “Remus’ son” but that was just because Severus had always been afraid to use the word “us”; even after Remus had married him a few years ago.
Teddy was still sleeping when Remus went to his room. Actually... Teddy was holding himself too stiffly, which told Remus that he was just pretending to be asleep.
“Okay, time to get up, young man! You have probably been awake for quite some time so no lying in bed anymore. You have school today.”
“Awww, Dad. Do I have to?”
“Yes, you do.”
“Why can’t I come to a boat trip too? I like boats! Could we get one?” Teddy asked.
Remus rolled his eyes. Sometimes it was hard to believe that Teddy truly wasn’t related to Severus, like when he was spying like this, listening to other people’s conversations and pretended to be asleep even when he was not.
“You have talk about that with your papa. And now, get up!”
Remus was at the door when he remembered something.
“And do not put on the new trousers. You have other pairs.”
---
“Severus, do you ever really miss anything from home?” Remus asked when they had sent Teddy off to school. Severus was quiet for a moment.
“There’s not much left for me to miss.”
“I know.”
“You know, I guess I wouldn’t mind seeing Potter’s face when he realises I’m not really dead,” Severus said and smiled devilishly. “I’m not completely against returning to Britain some day, Remus. I just don’t see the point. I have everything I need here.”
That was the greatest admission of love Remus had ever heard coming from Severus’ lips.
“I know, Severus. Me too. Shall we leave to the harbour then?”
-fin-
