Grown up. That's what he was now. An adult. He'd hit the big one seven. Seventeen. Old enough to leave school. Old enough to get a job, earn serious money, fall in love.
Really?
He didn't feel old enough. He was still mesmerized by the first snowfall of the year. He was still content to play hide and seek with his almost but not quite cousins. He still couldn't cook.
Old.
That's what he was. Old enough to stop changing his hair colour, to stop splinching, to stop missing the last train home. Old enough to buy girls flowers, to drive a car, to stay out late.
He didn't want to. Didn't need to. Didn't have to. Could stay wrapped up in a cosy cocoon that the Potters and Weasleys would willingly provide. It's why he had to go.
Had to step out, go out, move out. Had to strike out, had to learn from his mistakes.
And that was how Teddy Lupin ended up being the best he could be. Because he tried, even when he didn't want to. Because he tried. Because he learned not to be old.
An: I'm not really sure where this came from. It's probably OOC, and feel free to tell me if you think that. I think I had a bit of a "My friends are all old" freak out. Hope you enjoyed.
