I'll Tell You
A/N: MAJOR SPOILER ALERT FOR DEATHLY HALLOWS! (Just in case you didn't read the summary)
This shows Harry going back for his godson. It's my sort of tribute to all those who died.
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Harry slowly walked up to the house, grief almost overwhelming him. But at the same time, he could not help but thing: It's finally over.
He'd much rather not be here, pretend it never happened. It was too painful. But Harry had agreed, and he would not back out. He had to do this. And he would do it right.
Hesitantly, he knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" a frightened female voice asked from beyond it.
"Harry Potter," he answered, then to prove it he continued. "Remus Lupin was my third year Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, he taught me how to produce a Patronus—a stag, he married Nymphadora Tonks your daughter, mostly known as Tonks or Dora, and I am their son's godfather.
The door flew open. "Harry!" said the woman—Tonk's mother. Her face was full of grief as well, grief for her own husband who had been killed. "The battle's over then? Is Dora all right? Remus? Did you win?" she spoke so quickly, Harry could barely decipher the words. There were two questions in there he very much wished to not answer.
"Voldemort is dead," he said bluntly, but he avoided her eyes. "Never to return."
He did not see how she took the news, but her long silence suggested she knew why he had avoided answering the others. "Why are you here, Harry?" she asked instead, very softly.
"I'm…" he thought of a way to phrase this. He continued to stare at the ground. "I'm here for my godson."
"No!" She burst into tears, knowing there was only one reason for Harry to be here for that purpose. She retreated inside, then pounded her fists against the wall. "NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NOT MY DORA!"
"I'm sorry," Harry whispered, fighting the urge to cry as well. "I'm not sure how she died. Or Remus. I didn't see it happen." She pointed blindly towards the opposite wall, towards the door. "Thank you," he said, placing a hand briefly on her shoulder. Her choking sobbing did not cease.
Harry wished he could comfort her. But that was not why he was here. So he moved through the door.
He entered a makeshift nursery. The crib was in the center of the room. He walked over slowly, and starred down at the baby's sleeping face.
He was so tiny! His hair was currently blonde, but going by what Remus had said, that would change. The baby seemed to sense someone was there and opened a sleepy eye. Seeing a complete stranger over his bed, he opened the other and tipped his head to the side, curious. But when Harry reached in to pick him up, he began to cry.
"Shh, Teddy, it's all right," Harry said, holding him closely. The infant calmed at the mention of his name, but shook slightly, obviously still scared. "You don't know me yet, but you will. My name's Harry, and I'm going to take good care of you." Harry only half registered the fact that this baby would not understand him, but he seemed to calm from the words.
A tear leaked down his cheek. "I'll tell you all about your parents. You'll never have to wonder what they were like, like I did. I'll tell you how your father wanted so much to do what was best for you and Dora, even if it meant losing you. And I'll tell you how he realized he was being an idiot and came back. Because that already was what's best for you. I'll tell you how he was a werewolf, like you might be—we don't know yet. How living such a hard life made him cherish life all the more.
"I'll tell you how your mother always believed love was worth everything, any risk. I'll tell you how clumsy she was, which always made anyone laugh. I'll tell you how she never stopped believing in hope, how she was always willing to fight for a brighter future, even if it meant she wouldn't be there to see it.
"And I'll tell you about tell you about their friends and mine, who died along side them. The ones who taught me so much, and will teach you—through me." Tears were poring from his eyes now, but he didn't realize. His voice was oddly steady, despite the anguish inside of him.
"I'll tell you about Dumbledore. How he always knew what was going on and what to do. He always had the right thing to say, the right plan. Even after he was gone, he seemed to guide his followers through the war. He guided me, that's for sure. I'll tell you how he could see the best in anyone, no matter how many peopled doubted that trust.
"Like Severus Snape. I certainly didn't trust him, though Dumbledore did. But he was faithful the whole time. I'll tell you how much respect I have for him now. And when you go to Hogwarts, I'll tell you it doesn't matter whether you're in Gryffindor or Slytherin. Snape—Severus—was in Slytherin. And looking back, he's the bravest man I've ever met. I'll tell you how he defied Voldemort, how he risked everything to save the one person he loved more than anything else: my mother, even though she could never be his.
"And I'll tell you about my mother. And my father. The way they sacrificed themselves to save me. I can't tell you much about them, because I don't know much, either. But I'll tell you how James was unnaturally loyal to his friends, and always trusted them. Even though that trust eventually led to his death, but I'll tell you how I still want you to be like him. And my mother, who would defend anyone who couldn't defend themselves." Images of his father in the Shrieking Shack with his werewolf friend and his mother defending Severus from James flashed into his mind.
"And I'll tell you about Sirius. He went to prison for twelve years, for a crime he didn't even commit. He was loyal to his last breath, always fighting. He always worried me, taking chances, living life on the edge. But sometimes you need to take risks. He taught me that, and I'll teach you.
"I'll tell you about Mad-Eye Moody. He was so over-cautious it was almost funny. But I'll tell you how that's not surprising, because of the things he's seen. I don't know what, exactly, but anyone could see he'd been through a lot.
"And I'll tell you about Fred Weasley, who was as carefree as Moody was careful, he always had a joke ready, in even the most desperate of situations. He could make anyone laugh, no matter what. You'll meet his twin, George. Those two were inseparable, and no one could ever tell them apart. So in a way you will meet Fred, through George."
"I'll even tell you about Dobby. He's a house elf. He died saving my friends and I. I'll tell you how a long time ago I made him promise to never save my life again—since the last time ended up with my entire left arm boneless. And I'll tell you how glad I am he broke that promise. He was a true friend, even if he wasn't human.
He cradled the baby. "You're the new generation. The one that doesn't have to suffer through indescribable fear. The most you'll have to fear is make-believe monsters hiding in your closet, or—" he laughed, thinking of Luna, "or nargles hidden in the holiday mistletoe.
"You're free. In a way that no one has been for decades."
A/N: I hope you like it! Please R&R.