Title: Ink on Parchment

Rating: K +

Disclaimer: I do not own anything to do with the Harry Potter universe, no matter how much I may wish I did.

Author's Note: I wrote this ages ago, after I'd read the last book, because I felt that Teddy needed something to remember his parents by. I know that he'll have seen pictures of them and all, but Remus always struck me as the kind of person who'd write a letter to explain why they've done this.

Anyway I'd love to know what you guys think, because this is my first real stab at a bit of poetry and I've never written in this style before so that was exciting xD.

Okay, so I hope you enjoy this and please let me know what you think.

Thanks


To my son, we're sorry we had to leave you behind.

One day, my son, you'll understand why we had to leave you.
One day, my son, you'll understand the job we had to do.
One day, my son, we'll meet again.

Words, endless words that mean nothing. Written by people who have long since departed from this world. Written in haste, as they hurried through the door and out to their deaths. These words were not written to reassure the reader, they were written in the hope that he'd understand one day. How can you understand something that happened when you were only a few months old? How can you understand why your parents left you promising that they'd come back, but they never did?

You are our pride and joy, always will be.
I hope you realise, I hope you see,
That you mother and I wanted to watch you grow up.

Sleepless nights, filled with wonderings of how they died. Was it in a blaze of triumph, or a quick and unfitting death? Did they fearlessly attack the oncoming hoards of evil, or did they sit back and wait for their end? How can you understand what they went through, when you don't even know who they were?

All those nights we watched you sleeping,
So peaceful, beautiful and loving.
Sometimes I wish that I'd taught you more,
Taught you about the fearless four,
But no longer can I sit by your side,
And tell you stories or take you for a ride.

If life is fair and just, then why were they taken? Words, endless phrases and rhymes that seem to blur on the page. Spots on the parchment, caused by tears that have already fallen. No longer can you cry when you read this, no longer can you fill the hole in your heart with his words. They left you for a reason, but one you may never understand.

One day, my son,
When this is all over and done,
We'll meet again and you shall realise why we left.

Rips in the paper, from where you have torn it already. It has been thrown into every corner of the room, but then neatly pieced back together when needed. It can no longer stem the ache of your heart, but it can give you a glimpse at the past.

Forever we'll watch you,
And delight in the things that you do.
Because you are our child,
Our gift, our joy, forever and always.

Forever and always. Such a strange phrase, one that can mean so much and so little all at once. Maybe one day you will meet them again, and be able to hug them, talk to them, learn more about them. For now all you've got is the photographs, from when you were small. You're father was thin, tall and scarred. You're mother was happy, colourful and proud. One day you'll learn more about them, but for now all you've got are the words on the page.

Remember our love is true,

We will always love you.

Our son,

Our only one.

Remus J. Lupin, a proud father.

Nymphadora Lupin, a wonderful mother.