Eight-year-old Teddy Lupin poked his head around the corner, only to see his god-father sitting on the couch polishing his broomstick… alone. Teddy had been waiting for the longest time to ask Harry about his past, you know, why he has no parents.
"Um, Harry?" Teddy asked hesitantly. "I just have a… um… question."
"Sure what's up?" Harry said cheerfully, moving over on the couch to make room for Teddy.
"Well, see, I was just wondering about my parents, about me. What happened?"
This had taken Harry by surprise; he hoped that it didn't show on his face. He sighed and put his broomstick down. "I was wondering when you'd ask that. It's a long story, you up for it?" Teddy nodded, preparing himself for the worst. Harry took a deep breath and began his story: "Teddy, we are more alike than you think. The reason that the both of us are parentless comes from the same source. A long, long time ago, a man named Lord Voldemort came to power. He killed my parents when I was just a year old. I later found out that because of a prophecy, I was the one who was suppose to kill Vodemort."
"What? But why?" Teddy interjected.
"Maybe I'll tell you another time, you're too young right now." Harry said. "Anyway, I was finally steps away from finishing Voldemort off when the trouble started. The Order of the Phoenix and almost all of Hogwarts was battling against Voldemort and his Death Eaters, his followers. Both your mother and father were apart of the Order, so they were fighting in the battle." Harry was desperately trying to keep his voice steady, trying to control the horrifying images that flooded back into his memory of that night. "Both your mum and dad fought very bravely that night. A lot of people were killed that night, on both sides. Your parents were killed in combat. Remus was killed fighting Dolohov, and your mum a Death Eater by the name of Bellatrix Lestrange. The names aren't important, but what is important is that they fought bravely. They fought for the reason you are alive today."
A new memory suddenly crept its way into Harry's mind. He was in the forest again, staring at the ghosts of his mother, father, Sirius, and Lupin. "Teddy, I know for a fact that your dad wanted you to know this story. All he wanted was for you to grow up happy. He misses you." As do I, Harry thought trying to fight off the lump developing in his throat.
Teddy was silent for a while, then said unexpectedly, "Harry, if you ever get a chance, can you tell him thank you and that I miss him?" Harry was stunned. Was this kid really only eight? "Oh, yeah, don't forget to tell him that… that I'm proud of him and to say hi to mum for me."
"Sure, no problem." Harry replied breathless. Teddy gave a weak smile, then jumped off the couch and left the room. Harry heard him run up the stairs and slam his bedroom door shut. A faint sob reached Harry's ears seconds after. Harry buried his head in his hands. I shouldn't have done that, Harry thought. I've just ruined this child. Harry searched through his mind to find a way to fix this, or at least make the pain easier. The answer came to him immediately: deliver Teddy's message. Harry rose from the couch and made his way outside.