Authors Note:
Hey guys thanks for waiting for this chapter. It is of course dedicated to all of my reviewers. It is only taking long to update because I am an exchange student is Sweden, having to go to high school, and not understanding what they are saying and then being told to do homework. But oh well. So here u go ch. 3. By the way it is now my plot begins to develop and the story is being told. So pay attention, send suggestions. And sorry but you will have to wait a little longer for chapter 4.
Disclaimer: If I owned Harry Potter, this would be on every bookshelf in the world. It is all JK's and I thank her for it
Chapter 3: Realizations and a Future for Teddy
Harry stood there looking at Hermione. And then to Teddy, the boy looked so serene, so happy not aware that he had just been orphaned, that his future still lay in questions. Hermione was being such a good friend to them both, for Harry knew he would have broken down if that hand had not found his.
"He'll be okay, Harry." She said as if reading his mind.
He did not respond, but kept thinking, she was his best friend, it had been her that gave up her family, her education, her dreams to follow him into an unknown unrelenting darkness this past year, these past seven years.
He looked at her as she looked down at Teddy. He loved her. WHAT. He thought, no way she was his best friend, she was in love with Ron. Ron, the memory flashed in front of him once more… " I love her Harry… Hermione Knows." No it was impossible, Ron must have broken her heart, he knew Hermione had dreamed of Ron and thought Ron dreamed of Hermione, and he thought they fought for a future together. Apparently he had been wrong.
He would have to confront Ron. He would have to question her.
He thought of her beautiful face. Again his mind mentally kicked him, but wait he thought. She was beautiful, absolutely stunning, and he adored her smile, the way she rolled her eyes at them, the way she was always there, she was always there, her friendship never once wavered like Ron's had. She had stayed with him, for him and no one else, out of pure love. He was beginning to understand Dumbledore's words, beginning to realize that without her he would have died, he would have lost, it was her. She kept him going, kept him alive, she was the last picture in his head as he faced Voldemort. Her love for Harry had saved the world. Dumbledore was right.
But it was just platonic love. Wasn't it? He didn't care, he realized now he not only loved his best friend, but also was in love with her, and had been blindly for years…
Andromeda asking if he could come with her, alone to the Headmasters office, shook him from his thoughts.
"Of course" he stated, regrettingly dropping Hermione's hand and following the elder witch.
"What is this about?" He questioned, shifting a now dozing Teddy in his arms as they reached the stone guard of the office.
"That little boy." She answered with a sniffle.
They climbed the marble, Harry being very careful with the little boy, and whispering as not to wake him.
"Evening Dumbledore." Andromeda stated, as Harry spun only to find Dumbledore's portrait staring back at him, a sparkle beginning to return to his eyes.
" Hello, Andromeda, Harry how are you holding up." The portrait stated in concern
" Not well I am afraid" the elder witch responded, as Teddy's fingers gripped Harry's right index finger.
" Harry I am afraid that we must get down to business, but first I must openly take pride at your uncanny natural parenting skills."
Harry gave a small smile to the picture of his greatest mentor.
" Please tell me what is happening to this boy, but before you start I wish to voice that in no way will I ever allow him to be sent to some unholy distant relatives, or an orphanage, he doesn't deserve that, he belongs here," Harry quietly stated looking at the boy and adding in an even more hushed tone, " He belongs here with me."
He looked into there eyes, "Remus told Draco that I was to take him, to raise him, and I will I promise that to their memories."
"Harry" the two stated at once, then Dumbledore continued, " We would never take that boy from your arms, in fact it is why we are here, Remus and Tonks left a letter in this office before turning onto that field, it held their will and custody request."
Tears started falling down his cheeks. " May I see it."? He asked
"I will read it to you Harry," Andromeda answered and then I fear I must deliver some bad news to you."
He nodded, and with a quiver in her voice began to read a piece of parchment already stained with tears. " We Remus and Nymphadora Lupin do in right body and mind pen this last will and testament." A tear slipped down the women's face as she continued. " We are aware that the final battle against the scum Tom Riddle is approaching, and we will stand by Harry whom is like our second son to the very end. Fully knowing, and being fully prepared to give our lives for this cause so that the survivors, so that our son will be able to truly live life. Live without fear or contempt, so that our boy, our boys can be happy, and be together." Harry was not ashamed of the tears falling down his cheeks. " It is our wish that all of our possessions fall into the hands of our sons Harry Potter and Teddy Lupin. All of our money has already been placed into a vault awaiting Teddy."
"As for the question of the custody of Theodore Remus Lupin, we grant full custody of the boy to his loving godfather, Harry James Potter. Harry it is our last wish that you not only take guardianship of Teddy but adopt him and raise him as your son, never forgetting to tell him of his parents, and his past. Harry, we know that is all you wished for as a lost child, and we want you to give it to Teddy so he never has to feel as you did."
Harry nodded, fully agreeing to the terms, as the reading continued " We wish Harry for him to become Theodore Remus Lupin- Potter, and know all of the love in the world, you will be an amazing father Harry and we are sure those watching you now holding Teddy can bear witness to that. Harry we must warn you that there is an ever-present chance of Teddy inheriting the werewolf gene. If by his third birthday he shows no signs, then the gene has thankfully passed, but if he does inherit it Harry, you and Hermione know what to do and how to help. You helped me so much."
"Mother, you know the reasons why you did not get custody and we feel it pertinent that you share them with Harry, soon… We love you all, and will watch you alongside James, Lilly, Albus, Sirius and even Severus if he joins us for eternity."
Harry cried, it was all he could do, all he wanted to do. And they let him, they all cried he even noticed Dumbledore's portrait with tears running.
He finally, stopped himself, promising to shed no more tears, but to move o fulfilling their wishes, and loving them even more for their words, for considering him a son. " I will follow all of their wishes." He calmly said, " But Andromeda what are they talking about."
"Well Harry I am thankful for you for taking Teddy, but there is a reason I could not take the boy. You see Harry through my daughter's childhood, and my own childhood I was plagued with the muggle disease cancer. It is part of the reason my family shunned me. But if seemed to go away, but this year it reappeared, and after Ted's death my health turned for the worst, and now I am afraid it has fallen another degree."
"But isn't there anything-" he pleaded
"No Harry, there is no cure muggle or magical, and my condition is to deteriorated to fight it with treatment. So Harry I will spend this summer, this year spending as much time as possible with that boy, and I will take a trip I promised to Ted years ago, a trip we never got to have. I will set my affairs in order, but then I am afraid I too will leave to meet my family in the heavens."
"No," Harry stated, "He isn't allowed to lose anyone else, he isn't allowed to lose people the way I have."
"Harry, my dear boy. I am afraid that there is nothing else we can do, it is amazing the Andromeda fought long enough to get her grandson into good hands, and now we must allow her peace, no matter how much it hurts." The eyes of Albus Dumbledore bore into Harry, and even though they were nothing but a picture it was as if they were trying to tell all of the old mans secrets, all of his regrets, all of his wishes.
Harry nodded, as more tears threatened to fall. "Okay, but Andromeda I need you to take Teddy, just for two weeks, give me two weeks to mourn, to find us a proper home, and maybe find that little boy a proper mum, I have someone in mind," he stated absentmindedly allowing his thought to drift back to Hermione long enough for him to miss their shocked faces. Then he continued. "In exactly two weeks I will meet you at the ministry and sign all of the adoption papers. Of course I can watch him whenever you need during those weeks, but for the most part I need to get things settled, find a job, take my newts perhaps."
"Of course" Andromeda said, before coming over to Harry hugging him and lifting the boy from his arms, before excusing herself from the office.
Harry got up and prepared to leave, he had to go, he had to think.
"Harry" the wizened professor said
"Yes, Professor." He answered
"Thank you Harry, for making the choices you have, thank you Harry for your undying love and outstanding courage."
"Sir, it is I who should be thanking you. You saved me, you sent me away to protect me as a child, you took this journey with me, you brought me to my first home, the only one I know, you allowed me to find friendship, to find love. Without that the end of this war would have never been found."
"It is you who found that love Harry. You Mr. Weasley, Ms. Granger, you learned the greatest lesson that can be learned within these walls. That it is not a lesson in any book, Harry you learned of true friendship, of loyalty, bravery, cleverness, and love. It was your choices that allowed you to learn that Harry, not myself or any other Professor." He paused. " Harry, I would like to talk with you again, and soon, but for now I can tell you need to think and to rest. But I hope you will find your feet leading you my way within these two weeks."
"Of course, Professor."
"Thank you my boy, and good luck with Ms. Granger, I do believe you have finally made a realization, have you not?"
"I love her." It was a simple statement a simple thought, but it was the most meaningful thing he had ever said.
" I do believe that I owe Minerva a galleon." With that he released a chuckle, and Harry turned to find the twinkle back in those brilliant blue eyes.
Harry smiled, and left the office with a shout of luck and happiness being heard in the distance.