Mother’s love. Remus remembers Lily, sweaty and tired on the hospital bed, with triumph and pride and love, so much love it radiated off her, all directed at the tiny baby she had spent nine months carrying and nine hours birthing. Sirius had joked to James that he was the second most important man in Lily’s life, now; James had looked Sirius straight in the eyes, shimmering with unshed tears, and said "good. Harry’s first in my heart, too." They had loved Harry more than Remus had thought possible. They had loved him so fiercely Remus could almost taste it, watching their little family. And Lily had taken that love, so strong it shimmered in the air, so strong it was magic, and she had protected Harry with it. But why, why would she tie that love to her blood, when her only other blood was her sister, who loved neither Lily nor her son?