* * *

The full moon was upon them and Catina was like a dead woman walking. Her feet wouldn't pick up off of the floor, in fact, it was as if she was dragging concrete along with her. Anytime she sat down she was asleep within seconds. Her arms were floppy and heavy and her eyes droopy.

Fred had left early to go the shop so that he could finish early and see Catina before she, Remus and Sirius apparated to the Shrieking Shack for the night. He and Catina had worked on their communication after their talk and Fred was quick to return to his usual, cheeky, mischievous self which Catina was very grateful about. She didn't want to have Bill as a boyfriend and certainly not a knock-off version of him that Fred was turning into.

Remus spent the majority of the day curled up in the armchair in the living room of The Burrow. Occasionally waking up to have a drink or a snack but ultimately returned to a deep slumber, light, barely audible snores tumbling from his lips.

Throughout the day, Sirius popped in and out of the living room, tugging up the blankets to make sure Catina and Remus were fully covered and warm. He too napped to make sure he would be energised for the night ahead, it always saddened him that he couldn't take away the pain for Remus when they were teens and how he couldn't be there for him whilst he was locked away in Azkaban. He felt even worse over the fact that it was his fault. He accused Remus of being the rat of the Order, he entrusted Peter Pettigrew which led to him being framed and locked away unable to aid Remus.

It was even worse now that Catina, a girl he adored as if she was his own child, suffers in the same way. He wasn't sure whether the suffering would be worse, less or the same as Remus' considering she was a female. He hoped it would be less, or at least the same, he couldn't bear the thought that it would be worse.

Tucking Catina in, her leaned down and kissed her forehead. "I wish I could take the pain from you both," he whispered, "you don't deserve any of this. Neither of you do. I've hurt people, I caused pain by being an idiot, I would be better if I suffered for that."

"Don't be daft," Catina mumbled, "spending years in Azkaban is enough pain, stop torturing yourself with regret over past choices." Her eyes fluttered open and she stretched with a small whine as her bones cracked before pushing herself to sit up.

Sirius sat down beside her and shook his head, "it's not that simple. I am the reason James and Lily are dead, the reason Harry is an orphan-"

"No. Pettigrew is the reason for that. He betrayed you. I know it's hard but it's been nearly two decades, you need to accept that it wasn't down to you. If it was you to blame then Harry wouldn't want anything to do with you. He adores you, Sirius, he holds you on a pedestal, a rightfully deserving one at that."

"You're too kind, Cat."

"What use is being unkind? I know I'm a Slytherin and we are supposedly arseholes but we aren't. Not all of us. I feel like I've said this a thousand times, like I have to defend myself with everyone about my human nature. I get so tired of doing so-"

"I know, I know. I fall into the category of judging every Slytherin under the sun, I judged you when you first came into my life. Hopefully, I've redeemed myself, though."

"Of course."

"Truth is, sweetheart, you and Harry are my children. Maybe not by blood but I love you both as my own. I've always wanted kids, I was so jealous of Harry's dad when he told me about he and Lily expecting. I might be too old to have children now but I hope you don't mind being an honorary child of mine." He chuckled softly, placing his arm around her shoulder and pulling her into his side.

Catina tugged her bottom lip between her teeth, "what if I wasn't an honorary child?"

"What do you mean?"

She tugged out a folded piece of parchment from her pocket, which was rather warm from where she was leaning on her side as she slept. Handing over the parchment, she watched warily as Sirius' eyes scanned the page. "You're...You're my-"

"Father."

Sirius was flabbergasted. His eyes welled with tears. Tears Catina presumed meant was bad. She went to stand up to run away (even though she vowed not to run from her problems anymore) but instead, the man- her father- pulled her back into his arms and held her close.

The paper was clutched tightly in his hand. His dream had come true. He was a father. A father to a headstrong, beautiful but deeply fragile girl and yet he wouldn't change her for the world. Tears streamed down his cheeks out of joy as he cradled her; he lacked the willpower to let her go.

"Say something. Please." She whispered as her voice cracked.

Sirius drew back to see her frightened face, but still held onto her arms. A smile, like one you would see on a child when they wake on Christmas morning and see presents for them, rose on his face. He was beaming as bright as the star of which he was named after. He was happy.

Relief flowed over Catina like a river and a weight lifted from her shoulders. She finally had a father. A family who wanted her.

"Holy mother of Godric Gryffindor I have a daughter! A biological daughter! My own child!" He exclaimed and leaped up from the sofa as the tired but ecstatic Catina remained seated.

He stared up at the ceiling as Remus stirred awake and people flocked to the living room upon hearing his exclamations of joy. This included Fred and George who returned from the shop.

"HA! I TOLD YOU PRONGS! I TOLD YOU I WOULD HAVE A BABY GIRL!" He shouted up into the air.

Charlie smirked knowingly from the doorway as everyone else look positively puzzled. "What is going on?" Vocalised Tonks who had also just returned from work.

"Nymphadora, dearest cousin, I have a daughter. A real life daughter!"

"What?"

Sirius spun on his heels to see Remus with his eyebrows furrowed. "I'm Cat's father."

"Nah, you're pulling our legs. Leave the jokes up to us, old man," George clapped Sirius on the back and motioned to himself and Fred, "there's no way you're her father."

He shoved the parchment into George's face. "Read it and believe it, gingerbread."

Remus simply nodded his head and smiled softly at Catina who stared at him, right as Fred sat beside her, pecking her forehead.

"Shouldn't you three be resting? Celebrate after the full moon, you need your rest," said Bill, "we'll have a party. Is that alright, mum? I think that's the least Cat and Sirius deserve after everything they've been through."

Mrs Weasley, who had her lips pursed, nodded her head and brushed her hands over her pinafore, "of course we can. Now, chop, chop, out! Everyone out, let Cat, Sirius and Remus rest."

Fred refused to leave and lifted Catina onto his lap for a cuddle to which she almost instantly was out like a light. She nuzzled into the crook of his neck, her breath fanning his skin causing goosebumps to rise and he stared down at her lovingly, rubbing her back gently.

"Hurt her, Weasley and you have me, her father to deal with." Sirius pointed at him. "And trust me, you do not want to mess with me."