Victoire, Dominique, Louis, Molly, Lucy, Fred, Roxanne, Rose, Hugo, James, Albus, Lily and Teddy sat outside under the large oak tree in the Burrow's backyard. All of the adults were inside talking amongst themselves about boring grown up stuff. Summer was just a few weeks away and, as with every other year, the family got together to commemorate something that the kiddies didn't quite understand, not yet anyway. They only knew what their respective parents (or godfather in Teddy's case) had told them. This time, many years ago, a battle had been fought at Hogwarts and many brave souls had died, including their Uncle Fred, whom none of them had ever known, though they knew that he was their cousin, Fred's, namesake. Teddy's parents had also died in this fight and he was always quiet when this time of year come around. He didn't like spending it with his grandmother because she always cried, and Teddy felt guilty. He felt guilty because he never cried, because he had never known his parents. His closest link to them was Harry, and even he didn't say much about them. It was left up to Ginny and his grandmother to tell him about them. They did fine telling him stories. But Ginny hadn't known them that well and his grandmother only knew the basics about his father.
The others didn't say much to Teddy at this time of year, knowing that he didn't know what to think. Knowing that he got frustrated at Harry every year at the same time. This was more difficult for James, Albus and Lily because they didn't like it when Teddy and their daddy fought; it was odd to see Harry so choked up about anything. But this was the only thing that did.
"Well…" Louis fought to find something to say but come up with a blank so he fell silent again. The back door opened and they all looked around to see who had come out. They saw Uncle Bill striding towards them, his long red hair flowing out behind him in the wind. Victoire jumped up and ran to greet her father. It hadn't arrived with them and they hadn't seen him since the day before. Bill swung his eldest daughter up into his arms and planted a kiss firmly on her cheek. As he set her down his other children rushed over, followed by his nieces and nephews (Teddy was counted as family amongst all the Weasley's). He greeted all of them with either a kiss on the cheek or manly handshakes.
"How are all of you?" They all cried "Good" in unison. Bill laughed heartily. They could see Grandmother Weasley standing in the doorway, smiling at her eldest son, glad to see one of her children happy. They were all so dismal at this time of year. Not that surprising really, but at least she managed to act happy in front of the children. No one else even tried.
"I hope you haven't been a nuisance to everyone while I was away." They all smiled sweetly at him. Bill glanced at Fred and almost let the charade slip. Fred looked so much like his namesake; it was almost unbearable for everyone at this time of year. Bill didn't know how George managed but knew that his brother was fine. Even if a little less mischievous, but still happy and still with the joke shop. Bill smiled. He couldn't help loving his family. He was so happy that after everything they had been through they had all found happiness with another person. Except Charlie, but he had his dragons and that's all he wanted. He didn't mind not having kids. He was a very doting uncle.
"Uncle Bill?" Bill looked down at Hugo, Ron's only son.
"Yeah, Hugo?"
"What's for lunch?" Rose hit her brother's arm, which he simply ignored. All of the boys looked from Hugo to Bill, the same question in their eyes. The girls only sighed. Bill laughed at all of them. Trust Ron's son to ask about food.
"Not sure, buddy." He turned back to where Grandma Weasley was standing. "What 's for lunch, mum?"
"Roast lamb. It's almost ready." Just then a shout came from inside the house.
"Mum!" Molly sighed and went back in.
"Come on, guys. Let's see what Uncle Charlie's done this time." They giggled and followed him inside. All of the adults were standing in the lounge room, genuine smiles on their faces. The children's own faces lit up when they saw that their parents were happy. Bill caught Hermione's eye and cocked an eyebrow. She smiled at him and rolled her eyes.
"Charlie set the oven on fire. No idea how he did it." She glanced over at George, who was actually grinning and said quietly. "Though I have my suspicions." Bill laughed with her and the others joined in when Charlie entered covered in black soot. They laughed even louder when Molly come in looking exactly the same, except for the murderous look in her eyes, which was directed squarely at George. He smiled back at her, happy that his latest invention had worked. He sought out his son's face and gave him a quick thumbs up. They had invented this one together, the first of many to come. Fred smiled back at his dad; he loved inventing jokes as much as his dad did. He also knew that his namesake had been loved it too. He hoped he could live up to that standard and make his dad, and his dead uncle, proud.
"Was this your idea, George?"
"Would I ever do a thing like that?" Everyone who had known George before Fred had died laughed behind their hands, knowing full well that he already done something like that when he was younger. Just without magic.
"Yes you would. And you have. A long time ago and without magic but yes." Molly's eyes had lost their murderous touch but they were still blazing. Angry and happy at the same time. George hadn't played a joke on her for a long time and she relished in the moment. Maybe this was the year that everyone would move on completely from the events at Hogwarts all those years ago. But then she remembered Harry refusing to tell Teddy about his father, or talk to any (save Ginny) about anything that happened. All hope for that wish vanished.
"I didn't do it all on my own, though. I had some help. I didn't have any help with that first time." This was true. George had done that one alone. Fred had been busy teasing Ginny with a snail. Sadly, Ginny smiled at this memory. She remembered squealing as Fred broke the shell and pulled out the dead snail, and then proceeded to squish the snail into her hair. He had gotten into big trouble for that. George got in more trouble for setting the oven alight.
Molly had turned her sights on Fred after careful consideration. Not that it was that hard, but because a few of them had that spark in them. Fred simply seemed the most likely.
"Fred? Did you help your father with this?" Fred blushed. None of them could lie to their grandmother, even Teddy.
"Yes." He said quietly. All of the adults secretly beamed at this news. This was good. Fred was Fred. They loved it. George loved it. His brother lived on in his son.
"Hmmm. Guess we won't be having roast lamb then. Guess we won't be having anything." They all looked at her horrified. "What? I mean, we won't be having anything if I have to cook." She fell into the closest chair and wiped her hand across her forehead. Everyone waited for her to get up again, but after a while it was obvious that she meant it. Hermione, Ginny, Fleur, Angelina and Audrey went into the kitchen, followed by their daughters. The boys went outside and lazed around for the rest of the afternoon until the ladies had finished cooking. They would have, and could have, helped but they were all forbidden from entering any kitchen if they wanted to remain alive.
--
That night George, Angelina, Fred and Roxanne finally walked through the door of their two-story house, in an out of the ways suburb. Angelina set about putting the children to bed while George retreated to his study, where he began going through the shop's inventory. A few hours later, Roxanne, running through the door yelling at the top of her lungs, interrupted him. George spun around in just in time for her to jump into his lap and cling onto his cloak. He wrapped his arms around her tiny frame and rubbed her back soothingly. Angelina appeared in the doorway a quizzical look on her face. George shrugged he didn't know either. Angelina left to check on Fred.
"What's wrong, honey?" Roxanne mumbled something into his chest. He kissed the top of her red curls and held her away from his body keeping his arms around her.
"Roxy?" She looked up at him with big brown eyes. "Was it Fred?" She shook her head no. "A nightmare, then?" This time she nodded. "What about? Nothing can hurt you now. I've got you." He murmured reassuringly.
"I dreamt that a scary man with red eyes hurt us." George froze. Red eyes? That sounded too familiar.
"What else?" He didn't want to press her but he knew that he had to. Roxanne was silent for a bit.
"His nostrils were slits. Like a snake's. And he was really white and he didn't have any hair and he was wearing a long, black cloak. He had a wand." George hugged her tighter to him. She had dreamt about Voldemort.
"What did he do, Roxy?" He hated himself for the fear in his voice.
"He pointed his wand at me." George cursed silently. He was still hurting those he loved after all these years. "He said something and there was green light. Then someone, a man, pushed me out of the way. The light hit him and he fell to the ground. The scary man vanished." She looked up at him. "The dead an looked like you, daddy. But he had his ear." She reached up and touched the side of his face, where his ear had been. "But the man wasn't dead." Her hand dropped back down and she cuddled closer to him.
"What d'you mean, sweetie?" He didn't want to know, and yet he had to ask.
"He opened his eyes and looked at me. He smiled and something."
"What did he say?" The question came out as a whisper. Angelina was standing in the doorway again, her eyes wide, listening and watching her daughter and her husband. They were both thinking the same thing. Fred had saved Roxanne in her dream.
"He said 'Tell your daddy I love him. Tell him that I'm watching over all of you. Tell him that I'm okay. Tell your mummy that I'm happy she found her true love and not to feel so guilty.' Then he smiled and I woke up." George and Angelina weren't looking at her. They were looking at each other. How could their daughter have known that Angelina felt guilty about falling in love with George when she had dated Fred? How could their daughter have known any of that? "Daddy? Did I say something wrong?"
"No, honey. You didn't say anything wrong." George looked down at her and smiled. "It was just a dream, that's all." Angelina took Roxanne back to bed. They would talk later. George turned back to his desk. After only a few minutes the door opened. He turned around expecting to see Angelina and instead came face to face with his son.
"Is Roxy okay?" George smiled. Fred was very protective of his older sister and she was protective of him too.
"Yeah, she's fine. She just had a nightmare."
"I heard." George cocked on eyebrow. Fred pulled something out of his pocket. It was a piece of fleshy looking string with an ear attached to one end. George smiled. "The man in her dream, the one that saved her, that was Uncle Fred wasn't it." It wasn't a question. George could only nod, keeping the tears at bay. "What was he like, daddy?" The question surprised George. He turned away and pulled out a photo album.
"This is what he was like." He pulled his son onto his lap and showed him a picture of Fred and Ginny. "That's him. Your Uncle Fred, my twin." Fred stared at the picture for a long time, drinking in the image. Fred and Ginny were smiling at them out of the picture. Fred touched the corner of the picture and smiled.
They stayed there for a long time. Father and son. Going through the photo album, looking at all of the faces. George told him stories about Fred and Lee Jordan, who was Fred's godfather. He told him about all of the pranks they had pulled together. He told him how Fred had died, not leaving anything out. At the end of he night they both felt closer to Fred then ever. They felt like he was in the room with them. Laughing at the stories George told. Now Fred would truly be with them forever. The stories passed down through the generations.
--
Harry, Ginny, James, Albus, Lily and Teddy arrived at their modest two-story house late that night, as well. James, Albus and Lily were herded into bed quickly before Teddy could ask Harry about his father. As Ginny did the herding she shot Harry a look that clearly said "Tell him or I'll make you". Harry ignored her. It was too painful talking about Remus, even to Teddy.
"Harry?" Harry looked at Teddy, knowing the fight that was to come. Teddy had only held off for the sake of James, Albus and Lily, knowing that they didn't like it when they fought (which was very rare). Harry was quietly thankful for that. "Please tell me about him."
"No, Teddy. I need to get you home." Harry turned away, not wanting to see the hurt on his godson's eyes again. Remus had made a mistake in making him Teddy's godfather. Harry didn't know what Remus had been thinking. Anyone else would have answered Teddy's questions as soon as he had asked. Harry hadn't. The memories were too painful, too vivid. Harry knew he was being stupid, not telling him about Remus, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. He was a coward. He could destroy the most evil wizard ever and yet he couldn't bring himself to talk about the man he had considered a father.
"Harry. He was my father. I deserve to know, I need to know." Teddy emphasised the need part. "You aren't the only one who misses him." Teddy was cut off by Ginny coming into the room.
"Harry, can I talk to you?" She smiled at Teddy reassuringly as she led Harry out of the room. Teddy sat down to wait for Harry to come back, knowing that the answer would be the same. Ginny had tried to convince him to talk about Remus, about everything to Teddy but simply and stubbornly refused. Harry walked back into the room looking tired. Ginny followed him. Teddy stood up as Ginny hugged him.
"Sorry," she whispered. "I tried. Now you do the same. Say what you've never been game to say before and he'll tell you." Ginny let him go and smiled at him. He just stared at wide-eyed. "Night, Teddy. Tell your grandmother I said hi."
"Will do. Night." Ginny glanced at Harry and left the room going upstairs to bed.
"Come on, Teddy. She'll kill me if I don't get you home before two." Teddy looked at the clock on the wall. It read 11:30. Perfect plenty of time. Harry went to leave but stopped when he realised that Teddy wasn't following him. "Teddy?"
"Why won't you tell me about him?" Teddy stared at Harry, waiting for the dismissal.
"Because I can't." Harry turned his back, this time to hide the tears that sprang to his eyes.
"That's not a very good answer." Harry shoulders sagged. Teddy wasn't letting up. "You're like a father to me and I know that my dad was like a father to you. Ginny told me." He added as Harry finally looked at him.
"What else did she say?"
"That you loved him and my mum. That dad was your family and that you trusted him even though he was a werewolf. That when he was a teacher at Hogwarts and his secret come out you stood by him." Teddy fell silent. Harry was staring at him, his face unreadable.
"Your father was a good man. He didn't deserve to die. Neither did your mother. And that's all I'll say. Now let's go." Again Harry made to leave and, again, Teddy didn't follow.
"Tell me!" Teddy shouted. Harry turned around and opened his mouth to speak but Teddy wasn't finished yet. "I deserve to know! I ask you every single year and every year you give me the exact same answer. Well, I'm sick of it! Tell me about my father!" Teddy stopped, hoping Harry would give in so that he didn't have to do what Ginny had told me to do. Harry was silent for a few seconds staring at him.
"And the answer is the same again this year."
"That's all you can say? 'And the answer is the same again this year'?" Teddy said mocking Harry's voice almost perfectly. "Well, you know what? You're a… a…" Teddy drew in a breath knowing this would hurt. "You're a coward." Harry stared at him, his green eyes wider than ever before. "I'm not sorry I said that, Harry. It's true and you know it. You can't just not tell me. And you're a coward for not speaking about anything, about him. I understand that the memories are painful for you. But you know what it's like not knowing your parents," That was it. Teddy had crossed an invisible line. He hadn't meant to. The coward thing had been plenty. But to bring up Harry's parents and his past was not on. For anyone. Harry's eyes had tightened slightly at the edges and his breathing had changed. Teddy knew he shouldn't but he kept going. "You know what it's like more then anyone else. You hated your aunt and uncle for not telling you about your parents and then you hold out on me. You keep telling me that they were good people and that they didn't deserve to die, and I don't doubt that. But you've got to give me more than that. You owe me that much. You owe Remus that much." There it was. He had said his father's name. Harry's face relaxed at the name but tears sprang to his eyes. He turned his back on Teddy, on his godson.
"I don't what to tell you, Teddy. Your father was… amazing. Quite simply. I had never met a man like me and I don't think I ever will. He was so caring and kind and loyal. He was there for me during my third year at Hogwarts. He taught me how to conjure a Patronus." Teddy was silent. He hadn't known that last part.
"He did?" Harry turned to him, the tears threatening to break their banks.
"Yes. My godfather, Sirius Black, had escaped from Azkaban, as you know." Teddy nodded he knew that story. They all knew that story. "Dementors were at Hogwarts and they affected me worse then anyone else. Your father agreed to teach me how to fight them. He was a good teacher. Better than any of the other Defence professors that he ever had." Harry sat down on the lounge and Teddy sat next to him. "What do you want to know?" Teddy was silent. He didn't know what to ask now that this moment had finally arrived.
"Did he love my mother?" Teddy whispered ashamed of having to ask. Harry smiled.
"Yes. More than anything else. Though it took him long enough to admit it. He finally gave into Tonks, your mother, on the night Dumbledore died. I remember him saying that it wasn't the time to speak of such things when Dumbledore lay dead. But McGonagall said that it was what Dumbledore would have wanted. Not sorrow, but love. And that's what he got. You see your mother had loved Remus for a long time. So much so that, after Sirius died and Remus with drew into himself, her Patronus changed form. I'm not sure what it was before but it turned it a wolf. I remember thinking it was a dog, you know, because Sirius' animagi form was that of a dog. But no, it was a wolf. And it remained that way until she died. Remus loved her so much that he was prepared to die for her. He died protecting her from Bellatrix Lestrange. After she killed him she killed her in cold blood." Teddy drank all of this in. This is what he had wanted for so long.
"What was he like when he was at Hogwarts?" Harry looked at him and smiled.
"He was best friends with my dad and Sirius. And a boy called Peter Pettigrew. I think I've told you about him?" Teddy nodded. "Thought so. Anyway, Remus was in Gryffindor, like you, and in his fifth year he was a Prefect along with my mother."
Harry continued telling Teddy about Remus long past two. Teddy asked questions and Harry answered. After a time the questions turned away from Remus directly and covered a lot of other ground. Teddy wanted to know more about Harry's parents, Sirius, Peter, what Harry and the others did during the war. Teddy wanted to know everything and Harry gladly obliged, finally. After many hours of sitting together and talking, Harry finally took Teddy home, apologizing profusely to Teddy's grandmother. She didn't mind after Harry had told her why it had taken so long for him to bring Teddy home. After a final goodnight, the two went their separate ways, Teddy upstairs to his room and Harry out onto the street. Harry walked for a long time, thinking over everything he and Teddy had talked about. His feet (and apparition) took him to a familiar place. A graveyard hidden from the eyes of the Muggle world. Inside the cemetery were all the graves of those who had died during the course of the war, from both sides. The cemetery was spilt done the middle by a pathway and fences on either side. One side for the good and one side for the evil. The only grave not there was that of Voldemort. His body had been destroyed and his ashes scattered to the four winds. There was no grave marker, no headstone. Nothing. Harry entered the 'good side' and let his feet take him to the grave of Remus J. Lupin. When he arrived he fell to his knees in front of it and let the tears flow.
"I told him, Remus. I told your son about you and he loves you even more. I am only sorry that you could not tell him the stories of your time at Hogwarts. I am only sorry that you shall never know him. But he will know you through me. I swear to you, my old friend, that so long as I breathe he will know you. Any questions he asks will be answered to the best of my ability. I will be a father to him, the way you were a father to me. I love you, Remus, and I love your son. I will look after him."
Harry left the cemetery after visiting all of the graves from both sides. He left with his heart lighter than had been in a long time. He would keep the promise he had made. Remus would truly live on through his son.