Chapter Text
Underneath the morning sun stood a boy clad in royal attire. His name was Remus Lupin and he was a Prince. In front of him stood his parents, both of their expressions melded into worry or concern.
The queen, Hope Lupin, held onto her husband's arm as if she was going to faint if she didn't. Her Husband, Lyall Lupin, The King of Hogwarts, held a hand over her own, gripping tightly back as if she were giving him the strength he needed to talk to his son.
“You want to do what?” The queen asked, her voice soft but with a disbelieving undertone. Lyall gripped her hand tighter, jaw clenched tight and knuckles turning a brief shade of white before his grip softened and he smoothed out his grip.
“I would like, if it is alright with you, to bring over a few children from The Isle of the lost.” Remus asked bluntly. Lyall nodded his head once sharply, Brown hair bouncing around his head as he swiftly turned around and raised a hand to his mouth. His wife's grip slipped from his hand up and over to his shoulder to rub soothingly.
“Why do you ask this?” Lyall questioned stiffly. Remus straightened up immediately, glancing over towards where his best friend stood. Lily Evans, The adopted daughter of the king and queen. The Fairy Godmother Of Cinderella, her Mother. Lily gave a nod back at him as if in agreement and support. Remus inhaled deeply to steel himself.
“I wish to prove that there is a difference between the children and their parents.” Remus stated sharply. “They are children just as I am. They should have a chance to prove themselves.” Lyall only stared out of the balcony that opened up to the Blue sunlit sky.
“Honey.” Hope started, her voice carrying a small tremble as if she were scared. “They are the children of Villians. Surely you understand that the way they must have been raised isn't up to par with the rest of our standards?”
“You have always taught me not to judge a person by their heritage. You have always told me to treat our subjects with respect as it is necessary. Being Kind and respectful of people develops trust among the people and trust is always better than fear. Why should this be any different?”
“Because they are Villians.” Lyall snaps. His voice is sharp and unrelenting. His tone leaves no room for argument and Remus falters. He glances once more at Lily who bites her lip worried. She shares a look with him, an unspoken communication. Remus turns back to his father, his resolve hardened by Lily's unspoken words.
“They have done nothing to prove they are. They are only children of Villians. Who's to say they are the same? They could be different.” Lyall turns around sharply. Remus shrinks if only a little but he stands tall meeting his fathers gaze head on.
“Could be is a whole lot different than Is. It is Factual evidence. They are the children of Villains. They were raised much differently than you or I Remus.” Remus's jaw tightens, his hands clenched behind his back.
“But we do not know for certain that they are the same as their parents. I am not the same as you or mother. I have not gone through the same things you have. We have yet to know them. We have yet to see who they really are or if they even have the spirit of a villain. They have been raised on the isle as I have been raised in a castle. The only difference in life is their heritage.”
“And their heritage has been evil since before you were born. They have been villains for a long while.” Lyall sneers, the fangs from his curse, lingering long after the spell was broken, peek through his lips.
“The Potters were not inherently evil.” Lyall flinches like he's been struck. Hope takes an unsteady step backwards as the three whip their heads to Lily. The girl messes with the hem of her corset.
“How do you know about that?” Hope asks shakily. Lily shrugs.
“I read about it. They were originally Lords and Ladys. Until Lady Euphemia grew into a frenzy. A curse that drove her slowly insane. She was a Lady who was praised for her own work in the fashion industry, one of the greatest seamstresses we had and when she married her husband—”
“Do Not!” Hope shouted, her voice overpowering Lily's in a second. Lily's mouth snapped shut immediately. “Do Not speak of that. Euphemia Potter was a woman who slowly drove herself insane. Do not blame it on her husband. That was not his fault it was not his fault she grew obsessed with– With those animals skin!” Hope shouts outraged. Lily shrinked.
“But it's true.” Remus snapped. “Euphemia Potter was a great woman who slowly went insane. As well as the great Black's them—” Hope shouted out a cry, eyes going wide as she clenched her hands into fists.
“DON'T YOU DARE!” Lyall roared. His voice boomed across the room. Remus winced only to raise his own voice in return.
“But they were!” Remus shouted to himself. His parents, momentarily stunned by the defiance, stared at him dumbfounded. “The Blacks were the greatest of their own time! They ruled the kingdoms better than anyone! By their side The Potters! Sure they were strict and harsh with their rules but their subjects respected them! They were not hypocritical! They were blunt and harsh and at least they spoke their opinion about how they truly felt about something rather than hiding behind their own walls and self-made image!” Remus shouted. Lyall stared at him red faced and angry.
The Prince and his father had rather harsh tempers, both carrying the effects of a Lupin.
“Don't you dare insinuate us hypocritical, Remus. You do not know what we had to go through when we were your age. We have been through a lot. A lot more than you will ever understand, do you hear me?” Hope hissed. Remus stared at her and slowly slumped his shoulders.
“I am sorry.” Remus said. “I apologize Mother, I shouldn't have yelled nor insinuated anything.” Remus sighed, raising a hand to rub over raised face.
“All I am asking is that you give their children a chance. They could be different. I am asking as your son to please try to be more forgiving to people who haven't proved themselves bad yet. I am asking that you give them a chance just as you had given father when he was still a beast.” Hope inhales sharply glancing at Lyall, who still red faced has stalked out to the balcony.
“Please. They are children. Weren't you still young when Father imprisoned you? You gave him a chance didn't you? These children have only ever known Evil; they haven't experienced anything good. Why can't we give them a chance to experience change? We treat them as if they're the mud on the sole of our shoes. They are human too and there are children on that island, some who are probably never going to understand that they don't have to be bad. Why are we treating them wrong?” Remus asks gently. He grasps his mothers hands tightly. Hope inhales shakily, staring into the hazel eyes of her son.
She glances back at Lyall, arms crossed and agitated as he paces across the balcony. Hope turns to look back at her son. His eyes are filled with hope and a wish to be understood. Hope nods at him.
“Okay.” She says quietly. “I will talk to your father. But do not expect him to change his mind immediately. Give it some time Remus.”
“But—” Remus starts only to be shushed by his mother as she raises her hand to his face. He stares at her sadly.
“Your father is a King. He has to put the Kingdom before himself. He will always make room for you in his heart you know that but this is a very big decision that may take a couple of weeks to come to a conclusion on. Do not.” She states firmly pressing her forehead against his. “Do not expect the answer to be yes Remus. Their parents are awful people who have done awful things to us and you know that the danger they could possibly bring will always overpower the possibility of them being good.” Remus inhales sharply before nodding against her cheek as she pulls him down to kiss his cheek.
“Okay.” Remus mutters, eyes fluttering closed. “Alright I understand.” He nods as she releases her grip.
“Good.” Hope nods sharply. “Now go be a child and play with your friends.” Remus rolls his eyes almost dramatically but laughs as he pulls away.
Lily holds her lip between her teeth as she watches the two whisper together. As Remus turns to her she perks up.
“What did she say?” Lily whispers as they make their way out of the Queen and Kings quarters. She darts a look back at the two. “Is she okay with it?” Lily ducks down to catch Remus's eyes. It's quite silly considering she's smaller but Remus has ducked his head and is rubbing his face again. The scar that stretches from his eyebrows over his nose to his jaw line and down stands out stark against the rest of his dark skin.
“She said she'll talk to Father about it.” Remus sighs. Lily scrunches her nose in displeasure.
“Why must you be so proper about this stuff?” Lily asks with a huff. “It's so silly calling him father and all of that. He's your dad. Call him Dad.” Remus gives her an amused smile.
“You're his daughter, there's no reason to call them ‘your majesties’.” Lily shoots him a glare. “ Just call ‘em mom and dad.” Remus smirks at Lily's intensified glaring. With a huff the girl storms off in front of him. Red hair flaring behind her like a fiery cape. Remus laughs, jogging to catch up to her.
“Oh come on Lily.” Remus huffs as the girl sharply turns a corner that he almost skids into. The corridors open up to a wide garden.
“Lily!” Remus laughs, Lily turns to stare at him with a furious look. “I was joking. I swear you don't have to call them that!” He raises his hand as if to surrender when she continues to stare at him. Her frustrated look fading to a worried one.
“It's not that. I just–” The girl sighs, plopping herself unceremoniously onto the ledge of the one of the many intricately carved water fountains. Remus slowly sits beside her, a hand resting over her own.
“Lily.” Remus says calmly. Lily sighs, running a hand through her hair. It catches on her waterfall braid and she winces as it tugs on one of her rings, a gift from the queen herself to welcome her into the family officially.
“I just— Remus I know I'm a part of the family. I understand that but sometimes I just feel like I'm not. I mean people still look at me as just someone the royal family took. I'm as much a daughter to them as I am a commoner. If they had it any less in their hearts I wouldn't be here anymore. I'm not as permanent a fixture as you are. You are elegance, you are blood, I'm not. They could, theoretically, if they wanted to, send me right back to my old home. Not that I would mind, I haven't seen my sister in years. Ever since I've started at Hogwarts.” Remus squeezes her hand, knowing that this is a rough subject.
“I miss seeing my sister. Don't get me wrong, I am so glad your parents took me in when I had nowhere to go. I had always dreamed of going to Hogwarts. It was Petunia and I’s dream. Going together to Hogwarts. Learning how to create our magic together. But then only I got the letter and she got mad. Mom didn't take her side in the argument but dad did. He thought it was unfair that only one of us got the letter. I offered you know, to not go. But she said it was pointless and I always knew it was going to be bitter between us even if I hadn't gone. I got the letter and she didn't. “ Remus held Lily through her rant. Having heard this story a thousand times before. Lily and Petunia didn't have the best relationship. It had been wonderful but the relationship seemed to falter just before Lily had joined the Royal family with her mother years ago.
“She hasn't answered any of my letters and I don't know if she's even gotten them or not. I've tried to explain that practicing Magic isn't what we do. We grew up on outdated tales where Hogwarts taught students how to use magic and wield it to their will. It's not like that anymore but she doesn't know that! I doubt she reads my letters. We haven't been able to visit her either and she won't come visit us. Everyone's so busy and school is steady. I tried, you know?” Lily leans against him tired. “Tried to visit her. She answered my letter that time. Only to tell me that she didn't ever want to see me again.” Lily's eyes welled up with tears. Remus wraps an arm around her shoulders to press her close.
“I'm so sorry about that Lily. It's not your fault.” Remus mutters, pressing a kiss to her braid. Lily sniffles against his chest curling up slightly. “She shouldn't be mad at you for something that was out of your control.” Remus rubs her arm soothingly.
“It's alright.” Lily nods against him silently. She stays there, leaning against him as she slowly works through her own inner turmoil with him rubbing soothing circles into her shoulder.
“It's going to get better.” Remus says after a while. Lily pulls away, wiping her eyes. She nods, inhaling sharply and smoothing over her dress.
“It is.” She glances up at the clouds. Remus follows her line of sight out of the court yard to the sky. “I can feel it.” Remus tugs her closer with a grin.
“Things are going to change for the better.” Lily shove sat him dramatically. Remus laughs at her attempt to push him away. “I'll make sure of it so don't punish yourself for something silly.”
Lily rolls her eyes. Remus smiles as he pulls her closer as both stare up at the sky almost wistfully. Both in their own mind, dreaming of things that could one day change