Behind a Mirror 1.

Nymphadora Tonks Lupin barely felt the pain of the cruciatus curse though she fell to the cold stone floor beside her already murdered husband, killed by a killing curse from Dolohov, but it was still second to the pain in her heart as the pain subsided for only a brief moment before all at once it was like an electric shock ran through her body to her heart where it released its full power making her heart stop after a single gasp of air before everything first went out of focus then black. In the next moment she opened her eyes gasping for air as though she were under water as she sat up her gasps slowing as she looked around herself, she was in a bare and empty room that was completely white. She got to her feet and looked around for a way out her mind racing and begging that this was a cruel joke. After a minute of looking she turned around and blinked seeing a full body mirror across the room and on the floor feet away was a golden bracelet, she slowly made her way to the objects pausing to lift up the bracelet looking it over and reading a note attached to it that said 'Wear me.' She thought over her options but slipped the band on none the less and at once she regretted it as the band tightened so it was flush to her skin and white hot making her scream as the heat seemed to spread from her hand to her chest then the rest of her body before conesntrating in her chest once again.

As the heat dulled it became a soft warmth before vanishing leaving her shaking where she stood and tears covering her cheeks as she slipped to the floor in front of the mirror...the mirror! Maybe this was the way out! She looked quickly up at the mirror but what she saw was not a way out but rather as if it was no longer a mirror but a window into her mother's home. As she looked she could see her mother pacing in front of the fireplace holding a sleeping infant boy in her arms, with a painful lurch of her heart she realized she was watching her mother with Teddy.

"Mum!"

She watched as her mother paused in pacing and for a moment she thought her voice had been heard and she reached up touching her fingers to the glass, big mistake, the band on her wrist became white hot again and sent searing pain all the way from her finger tips to her shoulder making her retract her hand at once holding it to her chest as the pain slowly ebbed away. Once the pain was bearable she looked back at the mirror and seen the reason for her mother's pause in pacing, a girl, a young girl with red hair and a sorrow filled expression had come from the dyeing green flames of the fireplace, what was Ginny Weasley doing there and why did she look so sad and why was her mother holding her hand over her mouth. The answer came as Ginny wiped her own eyes before speaking her tone ringing like a broken bell.

"I-I'm sorry Mrs. Tonks...we found them before it was all over...both were...both were killed by a killing curse..."

Dora watched as her mother shook her head and sank into the strait backed arm chair closest to her still holding Teddy who was sleeping soundly his hair a small patch of teal fuzz under the blanket he was wrapped in. Rage made Dora's blood boil, she wasn't dead why couldn't she get past this stupid mirror to get to her mother and comfort her tell her it wasn't true, was it? She gritted her teeth and slammed her fist against the glass and was met with the same wave of white hot as before but she ignored it repeatedly hitting the glass with her fists until the pain became to much and she crumpled to the ground curling in on herself sobbing.

She curled tighter around herself as tears rolled down her cheeks, not from the pain of the heat but from the breaking of her heart. A small sound made her gasp and look up at the mirror again her heart racing but as soon as she seen the images it stopped. Teddy was now in his grandmother's lap in the armchair looking at the book before him as her mother pointed to it.

"And this is your mama and daddy."

Teddy examined the pictures then smiled widely his hair going bright pink as his high pitched voice squealed.

"Mama!"

He then proceeded to put his tiny hand over what she could guess was a picture of herself and Remus before he bent down and placed his lips to it his pink hair darkening to a mousy brown while Andromeda smiled sadly a tear gleaming in her eye as she watched the display of her grandson's love for his parents though he'd never really met them. Dora felt a sob bubble in her chest making her look away as tears streamed her cheeks, even if he couldn't see her she wasn't going to cry in front of her son if she could help it.

The action didn't last long however as she heard her son giggling and turned once again to face the mirror now sitting and holding her knees to her chest tears soaking her cheeks and shirt as she watched him laughing happily from where he was sitting on the couch his hair a bright blue as he watched his grandmother make smoke figures with her wand above his head, first a grey wolf that ran above him as if in search of something than froze looking where now a pink pixie like figure without wings was sitting looking as though she was crying.

"The werewolf, stubborn as he was, knew he had feelings for the pixie and so he comforted her and slowly, sweetly, they fell in love. Theirs was a love that not only made everyone realize werewolves were not all bad people but that also showed that even in the darkest of times love can blossom.."

The grey figure now became a male form that knelt by the wingless pink pixie and helped her to her feet before holding her close.

"As their love grew so did the life that was now inside the pixie, she loved the child unconditionally from the first time she felt it move and the werewolf had never been happier or more afraid in his life...scared of what he'd done to his beloved he fled leaving her behind..."

Suddenly the male smoke figure ran away from the pixie who out stretched her hand to grab him but missed and fell to her knees crying again.

"But the werewolf soon realized that he couldn't just leave his love and force her to live her life taking care of his child alone so he went back to her. She was not happy to see him at first however but in time she forgave him as he swore to never leave again. As time went on the life inside the pixie grew and grew and grew until she had a beautiful baby boy whom they named Teddy."

The two figures then became three as the pixie now held what looked like a little blue bundle in her arms, Teddy giggled happily hearing his name reaching up again to the figures his hair turning first pink then brown.

"Mama! Dada!"

Dora watched as Andromeda had to wipe a tear from her eye before continuing the story.

"Times however were not peaceful around the small family, a war was going on all around them and the werewolf had to leave once more to fight for the chance to give his son a better life..."

Once again the male figure left but not before kissing the pixie and the bundle of blue.

"The pixie had a will as strong as steel but a kind and wise heart and a tendency to be to head strong for her own good, she knew she couldn't let her love fight on his own so leaving her only son in the care of a relative did she hurry away into battle. As the battle came to an end many lives were lost including those of the werewolf and the pixie..."

At this Teddy's hair became brown once again and his eyes watered as his little lower lip trembled seeing the two figures alone.

"But even though they left their son on earth they still watch over him as he grows and plays each day happy that he is healthy and loved by both them and those around him."

As the story ended Teddy's lip still trembled as he was lifted into his grandmother's arms and held close.

"M-mama...dada..."

Andromeda kissed his head managing a small smile though her eyes were sad.

"It's alright Teddy, don't cry they wouldn't want to see you sad, they may not be here but they can see you and are still watching over you."

Teddy clung to her slowly calming down as he looked over her shoulder at the image on the mantel of Dora and Remus on their wedding. The image rippled like water as it changed now laughs could be heard as well as the sound of tottering feet on a floor. The picture slowly came into focus and Teddy stood smiling out of the mirror at her his hair the brightest teal she'd ever seen his shoes were on the wrong feet and didn't match, his shirt was backwards and didn't match the inside out green shorts. There was a laugh somewhere outside the feild of vision Dora was given as her son, who couldn't be more than 3 now, looked at himself in what she guessed was a mirror but couldn't see her.

"Silly boy come here."

Teddy turned around and walked across the room to where Dora could now see Andromeda sitting on her bed with the matching parts of the outfit. Teddy laughed happily showing off the outfit.

"I dewssed mysewf Grammy!"

Andromeda smiled with a nod looking him over.

"I see that Teddy but if we are going out you'll need to dress better."

His little face didn't fall but rather he smiled brighter lifting his arms so his grandmother could remove his shirt and fix it before replacing it as she did with the rest of his outfit before standing and taking his hand leading him down stairs and out the door. The image rippled again and when it came back into focus Teddy and Andromeda were standing in the cemetery in Godric's hollow in front of two head stones each one dawning a rose, upon looking carefully Dora could see that carved into one stone was 'Nymphadora Andromeda Tonks Lupin, November 31, 1973- May 2, 1998. Mother, Wife, and Daughter.' A small ping of rage ran over Dora as she looked at the head stone not at seeing her full name, she was used to it any more from her mother and Remus, but by the fact she had died and these images only made it worse.

She looked at the other headstone her heart sinking impossibly lower as she read it. 'Remus John Lupin, March 10, 1960- May 2, 1998. Father, husband and son.' Her heart twisted harshly as she watched her son leave his grandmother's side to go to the space between the stones and sit down his hair turning brown as he looked at the ground.

"I miss you mama, daddy...I werned to wite wetters in my name but I betted you seeneded that..."

He went on quietly until he finally fell silent and went back to Andromeda looking back at the stones and waving as if leaving someone special behind. Dora felt a new wave of sobs hit her as her body shook and she his her face in her knees, she didn't want to see these any more they were to painful to watch. She forced herself to look up as the next image began. Teddy was older now, maybe 5, and standing in front of the headstones again but now Harry was with him watching as the boy took a paper from his pocket and set it on the patch of grass between the stones and placed a rock on top of it so it wouldn't blow away before he turned away wiping his eyes then turning back with a watery smile.

"I love you mum and dad."

He sniffed back tears and walked back to Harry. The image rippled again but this time vanished making the mirror go black, Dora was ready to get to her feet and try touching the darkness before her when something caught her eye on the floor. The note was beside her foot the rock still on top of it making her blink and with shaking hands moved the rock and lifted the paper reading it.

'Dear mum and dad, I hope you both are doing well in heaven, I miss both of you so much but Gran and Harry tell me lots of stories about you both. Last night Gran told me about your wedding and how dad in a rush of nerves spilled wine all down the front of mum's dress but she didn't care she just laughed and kissed him...I know your both still with me even if I can't see you but it still hurts...it has been 5 years since you died but I'm happy to know your still watching me. Love your son Teddy.'

Dora had to wipe her eyes with every sentence of the letter, words were misspelled, the letters were cramped and some of the e's and r's were backwards but the meaning was all the same. He was growing up without parents and it saddened him but it wasn't keeping him from growing up surrounded by Harry, the Weasley's and his grandmother each and everyone never made him feel like an outcast and made sure he had all he needed. She carefully laid the note down and looked at the mirror again as the time inside its frame seemed to speed up.

All at once Teddy was on his first trip to Hogwarts, then his second, third, fourth, all the way through his final year and after that it showed him seeing off Harry's and Ron's gaggle of kids and one blonde girl in particular whom he had snogged in the shadow of a pillar on the platform for longer than necessary. After that he had left after saying goodbye to his godmother and godfather and went right to the flat where, for a month, he had lived with both parents, he quickly grabbed a black leather robe from the hook and pulled on a pair of black boots and fingerless gloves before leaving again. The image swirled and when it stilled Dora was faced with watching her son dodge spells being thrown relentlessly at him until he fired one of his own and they all stopped as he stood tall and proud smiling. A minute later an auror she didn't recognize stepped into the frame placing a hand on his shoulder with a bright smile on his face as they talked walking from the room coming to a stop in the atrium of the Ministry Of Magic facing a board that had gold lettering spelling out 'Fallen Aurors: Second Wizarding War.' and bellow were small golden slides that had names engraved on them along side the salvaged auror badges.

"Your mother would be proud, about your age she was when she first started here in trainin' stubborn as a mule but ever more persistent she never gave up even after nearly all of us have up on her. Boy did she shame us when she became Alastor's best protégée in just three years."

Teddy smiled a bit sadly looking a a good slide near the bottom of the second row beside a rather battered looking badge strung on a fraying and faded pink ribbon, her badge, Teddy put his hands in his pockets his hair turning deep blue yet he smiled turning to look at the fountain of a phoenix where scrolls of names from the final battle were moving every 10 minutes.

"She's not the only one dad would be proud to, worried but proud."

Dora had to give a watery chuckle as she realized it was most likely true, Remus ever the worried prat would be very proud of his son but by nature would worry about him none the less. She watched as the mirror rippled again and as it became steady again she could see what looked like the bedroom of the flat from before but now Teddy was older, 25 at most and a carbon copy of Remus with her eyes, and carefully slipping out of beside from beside a blonde women that looked a lot like Fleur Delacour except her hair had a red tinge to it and her nose was lightly dusted with freckles. Teddy slipped out of the bed and dressed himself before returning to the bed kissing the girl's head making her stir enough to open her soft green blue eyes to look at him.

"Where are you going Ted?"

Teddy gave a soft smile placing another kiss to her head.

"Work, I'll be home in time for dinner I promise Victorie."

The girl smiled tiredly and leaned up to kiss his nose before sinking back onto the pillows.

"Be safe and don't forget you promised."

He smiled softly and nodded before leaving the house but the mirror didn't fallow him instead it stayed focused on Victorie as she sighed and got up then disappeared into the bathroom before coming back showered and dressed. The shirt she had on seemed to fit right everywhere but her torso and she was smiling fondly as she placed her hands over it before leaving the room and the mirror rippled once more.

Once it was steady it reviled an image of Teddy pacing a whole in the living room of the flat while Harry tried to hide his smile before Ginny came down the stairs with a smile gesturing Teddy up them, the pool of glass rippled for half a second before it turned solid again now showing Teddy sitting on the bed beside Victorie who was holding a tiny bundle in her arms smiling tiredly.

"What are we going to call her?"

Teddy looked at the baby and his smile widened as he watched the once blonde hair turn pale pink.

"Remy, Remy Nymphadora Lupin."

Dora watched through misty eyes as Victorie smiled looking at the infant in her arms.

"It's prefect, welcome to the world Remy."

The mirror then turned black and the gold hand around Dora's wrist grew away from her skin and slipped off her hand clinging to the floor as tears streamed her cheeks and her heart broke ever so slightly, she had just watched her son grow up without his parents and become a father and husband before her eyes, the tiny baby she half in her arms hours ago had grown up right in front of her. She tried to smile and see the bright side of it, that he was happy and okay, but it was impossible for her to fully grasp as she hid her face in her knees once more letting her sobs control her until she felt a hand shakily grasp her shoulder, she didn't need to look up she was some how sure of the owner of the thin, page warn hand was but she looked up anyway her heart lifting slightly as she seen Remus kneeling beside her smiling sadly but there was something slightly different from before. His hair was more of a dirty sandy blonde with less grey in it, his face seemed slightly less worn as though the years of transformations left no effect on him but she didn't care as she hiccuped a sob and through herself at him wrapping her arms around his neck and burring her face in his neck as he held her tightly to him. Neither spoke just silently held each other while Dora's sobs slowed into sniffles as she calmed herself before looking into his eyes as if just realizing he was there holding her.

"Remus!"

He chuckled placing a kiss to her forehead.

"Yes Dora?"

She smiled her eyes blurring again as she put her hand to his cheek.

"You're here too so it was true."

Her face fell as she looked at the black mirror.

"What was true love?"

He fallowed her eyes to the mirror and realization crossed his face.

"You saw Teddy grow up in the mirror didn't you?"

She nodded looking at him her eyes searching his face.

"Did you see it too? See him grow up without either of us right in front of you?"

Remus looked confused at her like she was raving mad.

"I saw him grow up yes but he wasn't without us just without me.."

It was Dora's turn to look at him like HE was raving mad before she looked at the mirror again as the glass wavered a final time like a rippling pool of black. Something was drawing her to it, calling her forward. She slowly rose to her feet but kept a tight grip on her husband's hand as he stood and fallowed her to the mirror as she reached out her hand. His fingers suddenly grabbed her wrist pulling her fingertips away from their place inches from the rippling glass.

"Don't touch it! It'll hurt you if you do."

She looked up at him then to the mirror.

"Remus something's different there's something calling me I can feel it."

He turned her head so she was looking up at him and he studied the look in her eyes for a moment before he slowly removed his hand and nodded stiffly taking her hand again as he released the other wrist.

"Alright I trust you."

She smiled softly and reached out to the glass again and lightly touched her fingers to it and was surprised to see her fingers go right through it without the pain she was expecting making her turn back to Remus with a smile, he returned it though it was weary as she pushed the rest of her arm through the glass then her side, fallowed by the rest of her until only her hand clasped in his own was left. He took a deep breath and fallowed her through the black wavering glass into deep darkness...