Hi everyone - I'm a bit nervous, as this is my first HP fanfic! But after reading Deathly Hallows, I just had to write this. Main character is Teddy Lupin, but as I've always loved Remus and Tonks they will also be explored in depth if I can manage it. I'd love reviews and constructive criticism! Thanks!

Summary: 21-year-old Teddy Remus Lupin sets out to discover that which was taken from him.

SPOILERS FOR BOOK 7. DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE NOT READ DEATHLY HALLOWS.

Disclaimer: HP and everything in it belongs to JKRowling. Original characters (which will be obvious) are mine.

Dies Veritas

Prologue

June 1998

Tap.

Taptap.

"Wh…who is it?"

"It is I, Harry James Potter, son of Lily and James, godson of Sirius Black, whose Patronus is a stag, with tidings of the battle at Hogwarts!"

Snapbang!

"Harry! Oh, thank goodness you're here, I've been so worried – well, where is she?"

"Mrs. Tonks…I – I've come to see Teddy."

…

"No – "

…

"No no no NO NO!"

…

"Mrs. Tonks – An-Andromeda… may I see him?"

"It's all his fault, my fault, your fault, oh god Dora oh Merlin – "

3 years old

"Granny?"

"Yes, you little Teddy bear?"

"Mummy and Daddy like me, don't they?"

"…of – of course they do, Teddy. Why on earth with a smart little boy like you think anything so silly?"

"They away f'ra long time."

"Yes, I know, sweetheart. But your mummy loves you very much – she had to take a long journey with your daddy and some friends, but one day, you'll be with her again. And look at how much you look like her, with your pretty pink hair!"

"Like bwue better. Can I have some more chocolate?"

5 years old

"Uncle Harry?"

"Yes, Teddy?"

"Igottapresentforyou."

"What was that?"

"I – I got a present for you, Uncle Harry. And one for Aunt Ginny too. H-happy Christmas!"

"Oh, Teddy, you sweet thing! You shouldn't have, really – here, come in the kitchen and we'll get you some chocolate."

"Yum!"

"You shouldn't spoil him, Gin – honestly, he eats more chocolate than his dad did, and that's saying something."

"Dafovolate?"

"Eh?"

"Swallow before you talk, dear. Come, sit by the fire and get warm – oh, hello Andromeda! So nice to see you again…"

"Sorry, Uncle Harry – I said, Dad loved chocolate?"

"That he did – more than anything. 'Cept you and your mum, of course. Oh, and that reminds me, I've got your present here – "

"YAY! Presents presents presents presents…"

"Uh-oh, you said the magic word. Thank you so much for inviting us, Ginny! You look glowing, dear."

"Thank you! Here, have some eggnog…"

"Why don't I get eggnog?"

"You're too young, that's why, young man. Now, are you going to open my present or aren't you?"

…

"It's of them at their wedding. I wasn't there, but I found this at my own godfather's old house…do you like it?"

"…yes…yes…I-I do…"

"Gracious, look at that! Still gives me a shock every time he does it back at home – every time he sees a picture – of anyone at all, mind – he copies their hairstyle. Oh, but Teddy, do you have to add in the grey to the brown? You're not an old man, after all!"

8 years old

Whoosh.

"Teddy! My word, we weren't expecting you this early and – I thought you were coming with your gran by broomstick, not Floo! …Teddy? Teddy, what's wrong?"

"G-gran yelled at me! S-she said I w-wasn't to m-make my hair like d-dad's anymore a-and that d-dad t-took mum away a-and th-then she said d-dad was a m-monster and – "

"WHAT?"

"Harry! Harry, don't yell, you'll frighten him into – "

Crash.

"There, you see! That vase just exploded!"

"Well what do you expect, Ginny? He's distraught… oh, Teddy, it's alright…don't cry, Teddy, we're here…"

…

"D-dad wasn't a m-monster, w-was he?"

"No, Teddy. Aunt Ginny promises, your daddy was the one of the nicest men anyone could know. Come here, dear – that's it, it'll be all right, shh…"

"Right, that's it. I'm off to see his Gran."

"Harry, don't be so cross – "

"Oh, don't worry. I'll be quite polite…"

Whoosh.

…

"Teddy?"

"…y-yes, Aunt Ginny?"

"How would you like to stay with Uncle Harry and I for a few days? Hmm? Would you like to stay and play with James and Albus?"

"J-James and Albus?"

"Oh, of course! You haven't seen your newest cousin yet…shall we go upstairs? He likes meeting new people."

"Y-yes please…"

"Don't worry, Teddy – everything will be fine…"

10 years old

"She's so little, Aunt Ginny! Was I ever that little? I can't have ever been that little."

"I know from personal experience that you were, Teddy. Here, hold her hand… awww, how cute!"

"What?"

"Your hair turns red when you're blushing – and only over holding Lily's hand, too!"

"Does not!"

"Does so."

"Does not!"

"Find yourself a mirror, squirt."

"Uncle Harry! Aunt Ginny's teasing me!"

"Too bad. She's right, you know. Your mum's hair changed colors with her emotions too."

"I'm not blushing!"

"Of course you're not. Here, d'you want to ride with me to the Weasleys'? I reckon you're good enough to fly on your own."

"Yeah!"

"Here, it's an old broom of mine – but faster than the one you were practicing on, so just kick off lightly – "

Zoom –

"Haha!"

"Teddy! Teddy, not so fast!"

"Whoa! Tree, tree, help!"

Crack – thump.

"OW! Ow – ow – ow – bugger!"

"Language, young man! Let's see your ankle, come on – Ferula!"

"Well, I've lived up to one thing – you always said my mum was clumsy. S'pose I'm living up to it. Yeck, leaves in my mouth! Pbbtht!"

"That you are, Teddy, that you are…"

11 years old

"It's almost eleven, you'd better get on the train – now, promise me you'll write to us and to your Gran, all right?"

"Y-yeah, I will…"

"What's wrong?"

"I – I just – "

"Yeah, I know. I was scared too, y'know."

"Really, Uncle Harry?"

"Was I ever! Your Uncle George and his brother tricked me into thinking the Sorting Ceremony involved fighting a troll. I was terrified!"

"W-well, that was silly… anyone who's read Hogwarts: A History knows that's not true…"

"Merlin, you've read that already? Just like your Aunt Hermione."

"Uncle Harry – would mum and dad hate me if I failed in school? D-d'you think they're proud of me?"

…

"Teddy, come here. I've got something to give you. Take out your wand – "

"Why? It's just a piece of parchment."

"Never assume. Now, repeat after me – I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

"I solemnly swear that I – whoa!!!"

13 years old

"Bill told me you met Victoire at school, Teddy. How'd you two get along?"

"Oh! Er, well – you know, Aunt Ginny… we, er, got along, yeah."

"She's very pretty, isn't she?"

"I – uh – "

"Honestly, Gin, don't tease the poor boy. You're about as subtle as Ron!"

"Ooh, that statement shall not go unpunished, mister. That reminds me, I have to go pick up the children at the Burrow, see you in a few…"

Whoosh.

"We just did werewolves in Defence Against the Dark Arts, you know, Uncle Harry."

"Really? I bet that must have been interesting. Oh, I never congratulated you for that last match against Ravenclaw! Honestly, you're a better chaser than most of ours were during my time at school. Pass the potatoes, would – "

"Did it hurt?"

…

"Dad's transformations, did they hurt as much as the textbook says they did?"

…

"All I can say, Teddy, is that I am glad you're not – "

Bang.

"Daddy!"

"James! Albus! Did you have a good time with Rose and Hugo?"

"Yep!"

"And we had hot chocolate! And candy, and presents!"

"Someone else is here – aren't you going to come and say hello?"

"Teddy!! Teddy, do the pig nose, the pig nose!"

"Nah, the green hair!"

16 years old

"I'm not going to go home for the holidays this year."

"Beg pardon?"

"I'm not going home. I'm staying at school. If I could go anywhere else I would, but I can't, so – "

"Teddy, you know perfectly well you can stay with us whenever and for as long as you like – what on earth are you talking about?"

…

"I can't go home."

"Why in the name of Merlin's beard not?"

"I can't stay with Gran."

…

"Oh."

…

"They call me 'cub' at school."

"Who does?"

"People."

"What people, Teddy?"

"Just people, all right!"

"Look, tell Uncle Harry what's – "

"SHUT UP!"

…

"What?"

"I said shut up! You're not my uncle, Ginny's not my aunt, this is not my home despite whatever platitudes or clichés of love you may scatter about! You don't need to be proud of my OWL record, you don't need to treat me like a child, least of all yours, BECAUSE I'M NOT! My parents decided to abandon me when I was two months old, and they're dead, and you can't replace them, so just STOP TRYING!"

"Teddy Remus Lupin, get back here!"

Slam.

Creak.

…

"It's all right to cry, Teddy."

…

"Have you ever cried for them?"

…

"Your parents were some of the greatest friends I ever had. Your father was the greatest teacher I ever had, you mother was the most cheerful person I ever knew. They died to keep you safe – that's all that mattered to them."

…

"No one will be angry if you cry, Teddy."

…

Just 20 years old

"I, Minerva McGonagall, Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, hereby pronounce the Hogwarts class of Two Thousand and Eighteen full witches and wizards! May all your future endeavors be successful, your lives long and prosperous!"

"Congratulations, Victoire!"

"Teddy! I deed not theenk you would come!"

"You don't need to put on the accent for me, you know. I know you better."

"Oh, hush, you silly Ministry prat, and kiss me before I slap you."

"As your ladyship pleases – "

"Teddy!!"

"Ah, merde…"

"Ah – um, hello James, hello Albus. I didn't think you'd still be here!"

"We stayed to watch Victoire graduate – Bill and Fleur came, so the rest of mum's family decided to make a day of it. No point in us going home before now. Victoire, can you show me the Ravenclaw common room before you go? Please please please? I've never been in there…"

"Oh, all right, James. Come, I will show you zee way – zo I do not know if eet will still be open…"

"So, how has your first year been, Albus?"

"Brilliant! My classes are all fantastic, and James showed me two secret passages he found."

"Only two, eh?"

"Yeah. Why, do you know any more? Tell me, Teddy, please!"

"Hmm…I wonder, Albus – if I gave you something special, that would help you get around Hogwarts easier, would you promise not to get into too much mischief?"

"You did loads of pranks while you were here – why can't I? And what is it?"

"Well, yes, but that's beside the point – here, take out your wand."

"Why? It's just a piece of parchment."

"Repeat after me – I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

"I solemnly swear that I – whoa!!!"

21 years old

Ted R. Lupin, Auror
Auror Headquarters
Ministry of Magic
London

RETURN: GRINGOTT'S WIZARD BANK

Teddy, OPEN THIS ENVELOPE BEFORE YOU OPEN THE PACKAGE. I expect I'll be seeing you soon. Oh, and Happy Birthday.

Harry

Review and you'll be my hero!!! I hope you enjoyed it. To be continued very soon!