Chapter One
Even though Remus has only been gone for just over an hour, it feels like days. I am so worried, I can't sit down for long. Teddy, my sweet, handsome boy, lies on the floor, contendedly blowing raspberries and laughing as each one pops. I can not help but smile, temporarily distracted. He looks so much like Remus! I notice before I begin to pace again.
"Dora, please," mum pleads, "sit down and relax! Remus will be fine. He can take care of himself."
I sit down next to her and begin to wring my already wrinkled shirt. Mum takes one of my hands in hers and gives it a squeeze. I look into her face.
"I know Remus can watch out for himself," I say. "But that doesn't stop me from worrying. I have already lost my father to them! How will I live if they take Remus, too?"
"Don't think like that, Nymphadora!" mum scolds.
I wince at mum's use of my name, but she takes little notice.
"We have each other, and we have Teddy," she continues. "Remus will come back. Everyone in the Order will. You'll see."
I roughly take my hand from mum's, stand up, and resume my pacing.
"I try not to think about it," I admit, "but the more I try not to think about it, the more I do think about it!"
We are silent. The silence becomes awkward. After several minutes of this, mum stands up and places herself in front of me. This successfully stops my pacing. She brushes my pinkish-brown hair from my face, then puts her hands on my shoulders and looks me in the eyes.
"You should go," she says.
"What?" I ask, eyes wide in surprise.
"Go to Hogwarts," mum explains. "Find Remus and help him."
"What about you?" I ask, searching her gaze. "What about Teddy?"
"I'll watch Teddy," mum says. "We'll be fine. Go."
I smile tearfully.
She smiles back. I pull her into a tight embrace. Then we part, and I bend down and pick up Teddy. He smiles and grabs handfuls of my hair. I smile, tears in my eyes. This may be the last time I see him, I think. I give him a tight hug, then give him to mum.
"I love you, mum," I say. "If anything happens to me. . ."
"Shhh. . . ." mum says. "I'll take good care of Teddy. You have my word, baby."
I give her a peck on the cheek, then I give Teddy a peck on the forehead.
"Mummy loves you, Teddy," I say. "So does daddy. A mother's love is infinite, even when she isn't here. Same goes for a daddy's love. Never forget that."
Teddy laughs in reply, smiling up at me. I smile back, then I run out the door and DisApparate before I could regret my decision.
