THE SECOND OF MAY, 2004-
It was Harry's turn to get up early this morning. Ginny had dealt with the nightmares and refusal to sleep during the night, so she slept snuggled up in their pale blue duvet, whilst in the kitchen Harry juggled helping James cut his sausage into manageable slices and cooking a purple afro'd Teddy egg and dippers. The purple Afro had become a favorite of Ted's when he'd found a picture of some 80s disco dancers. He'd quickly scrunched up his eyes and thick black curls had popped out of his head. When he eventually got bored of that, he'd decided that purple was his favorite color and accordingly turned the corkscrews an eye-catching shade of violet.
When the eggs were eventually cooked, Harry levitated over the eggcup, used a slicing charm on the buttered toast, and then cracked open the egg for Teddy. The little boy quickly began dipping the 'soldiers' as he liked to call them and began dipping them in his boiled egg.
Harry turned to one year old James, who, already heavily resembling his namesake, was attempting to climb out the highchair.
"Now, James, what are you up too?" Harry inquired of his son, lifting him out of the chair and above his head, which the toddler enjoyed immensely. When he was placed securely on his father's hip, it became clear that the object of his attention was a small model broomstick leant against the kitchen counter, which belonged to Teddy. James reached out greedily for the broomstick, a miniature replica of a Cleansweep 10.
"No, James. You can't have the Cleansweep. It's for over fives and you, I'm afraid, are one," Harry explained diplomatically, "But if you behave nicely today, maybe we'll see about getting you one for your age." James smiled, a look of pure excitement on his face.
"I hope you're not making promises you can't keep, Harry Potter." Ginny was at the foot of the staircase, looking as beautiful as ever in a blue nightshirt that showed plenty of slim, quidditch player legs. She walked over to her husband, arms wrapping around him and her son.
"Good morning." Harry murmured into her hair, which smelt sweetly of something floral, prickling a memory of Amortentia in Slughorn's class.
"Hello dears," She said, lifting James from her husband and walking around the kitchen table to ruffle Teddy's hair, "Harry, take Teddy upstairs to get ready, would you? We mustn't be late."
Teddy finished up his eggs, thanked his godparents politely, and then trotted up the stairs chattering about Victoire. Harry followed, bemused.
"It is Victoire's birthday today, isn't it?"
"Yes, Teddy."
"Will we see her later?"
"I expect so Ted, but her birthday party is tomorrow."
"I expect so," Teddy repeated, trying out the unfamiliar word, "I expect so, too. Shall I say 'Happy Birthday' when I see her?"
Harry chuckled at his godson, he was inquisitive and curious, a sure sign of an intelligence like Remus' to Harry, and also possessed Tonk's fascination and enthusiasm with life. He had also inherited her clumsiness, which is why Harry had brought the Cleansweep 10 with caution two months ago for his birthday.
"Do you think you should, Ted?"
Teddy paused on the top step and thought for a second, "Yes, I think I should. It's a nice thing to do."
The two boys proceeded into Teddy's room, where under Harry's supervision the little boy brushed his teeth and got himself dressed into a smarter outfit than usual.
"Harry?" Teddy began in his usual curious tone.
"Yeah, Ted?" Harry replied, smiling again.
"What is today?" His eyes had literally grown a bit bigger at the question, curiousness evident in the glimmer of green. Harry's smile faltered.
Teddy knew his parents had died, and he knew today had some sort of connection with the event. He understood that a lot of people had died also; last year at the memorial he had stood up on his chair and observed somberly: "There are too many people crying. Did their mummies and daddies die, too?" But despite all this, Harry still hadn't managed to explain exactly why it had happened. But he would have to at some point, and wasn't today as good a day as any?
"Teddy, did you know that my Mummy and Daddy died too?" Harry asked tentatively.
"I think so. Because James doesn't have a Grandpa Potter."
"That's right. When I was younger, I lived with my Aunt and Uncle."
"Not your godfather?" A brief stab of pain hit Harry. He deliberated explaining, but of course, Sirius, and the Marauders, would have to wait for another time. Instead he focused on the funny look of outrage that had appeared on Teddy's face. Harry smiled again.
"No, not my godfather. But my parents died because of a man, who wasn't very nice." (Harry grimaced at this understated description of Voldemort) "And then when I grew up, the Man tried to hurt me too. And not just me, a lot of other people. Your mummy and daddy wanted to protect those people. There was a big fight, at Hogwarts, do you know where that is?"
"Is it where Jimmy Bones' brother goes?"
"Yeah, that's right: he goes there to school."
"Will I go there to school?"
"Yes, Teddy, I think you will. So will Victoire."
"That's nice. Did you go there?"
"Yes, I did, and so did Ginny and all her brothers and sisters."
"Did Victoire's daddy go?"(Harry nodded) "And Victoire's mummy?"
"No, um, she went to, um, a... a different school. But look, Teddy, today is when we go to think about everyone who fought in the big fight at Hogwarts."
"So can I think about you?"
"No, Teddy," Harry sighed. There was so other way to put it: "We think about the ones who died."
"Oh."
"But, Teddy, what I really want you to remember forever, is that your mummy and daddy died because of something very important, just like mine, and we wouldn't be safe right now if it wasn't for them, if they hadn't fought for muggles, and wizards, and for me."
"For you?" Teddy looked up at Harry.
"Yeah, Ted," Harry said softly, "For me. Now do you promise you'll remember that forever."
"I promise." Teddy spoke the words solemnly, holding out his pinky finger.
Harry linked his finger with the little boy's and held his gaze, "I love you Teddy, remember that too."
"I love you too, Harry!" Teddy said, jumping into his godfather's arms. Harry laughed at the show of affection, then swung the boy up onto his shoulders, and together they romped down the stairs.
Harry watched as again, Teddy stood up on his chair beside Harry's, and surveyed the scene of hundreds of Wizards around him. Some day, when Teddy was older, and Harry's name had been mentioned at least a dozen times in his History of Magic class, he would explain to his godson about the Marauders, and show him the map, and tell him all about the Shrieking Shack, and what had occurred there, and the Order of the Phoenix, and the DA, and how much Tonks hated being called Nymphadora, and how she always knocked over the umbrella stand in Grimmauld Place, and just how much she loved Remus, and most importantly; about the Resurrection Stone in the Forbidden Forest, and what Remus had said to him there. Harry was sure these stories would gradually be told, and Teddy would know all he could know about his brave, wonderful parents. But for now, at the memorial service, he would only have to know that Lupin and Tonks died for something they believed in with every inch of their heart.