Finally! Sorry about the ridiculously long delay. The school year is not a good time for me to write. Anyways, to all the people who are still reading my story, hope you enjoy chapter 4. Always remember to r&r!
Chapter 4: Teddy Remus Lupin
As the sun peaked over the horizon, a ray of light entered the room, causing Harry Potter to wake up from his long slumber. As his eyes fluttered open, Harry saw the freckled face of Ron Weasley standing over him. Harry removed his blanket from over him and rubbed his eyes.
"Yeah, you'd better wake up," Ron said jokingly. "Dad says Percy has big news, and we have to get downstairs." Harry rose to his feet and walked sluggishly over to him. "Well c'mon then. Get dressed and come down stairs." Harry did just that, and within a few minutes Harry was ready. As he descended down the stairs, he noticed everyone gathered around Percy. Percy was standing next to a woman with long, curly black hair, brown eyes, and a bright smile.
"Who's she?" Harry asked Ron, confused about what was going on.
"That's Audrey Rankin, Percy's girlfriend," Ron explained. Percy then cleared his throat, indicating that he was about to speak.
"As you all have heard, I have a really important announcement for all of you." Percy paused for suspense, and then said, "Audrey and I are getting married!"
"Oh that's wonderful, Percy!" Mrs.Weasley squealed, pulling her son into a hug. "Now you're going to be the second Weasley to get married." After Mrs. Weasley let Percy go, he walked over to George and whispered something to him. Harry could just hear what they were saying.
"You didn't tell them?"hissed Percy.
"I didn't have a chance," George whispered back. George then stepped in front of his family, his arms shaking and his face turning red. "Mum, Dad. You know my girlfriend Angelina, right?" His parents nodded. Harry recognized her as Angelina Johnson, former captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team and a close personal friend of his. "Well, last night, Angelina and I… eloped."
"You did what!?" Mrs. Weasley shouted. "How could you do this to us!?" The rest of the family took Molly's explosion as a sign to slip out of the room, leaving George alone with his parents.
"Mum, I love her." George explained. "We knew we were meant to be together."
"But this is the kind of decision that requires planning," said Arthur Weasley sternly. "It was very irresponsible of you to get married so quickly."
"You two are being hypocrites. If I remember correctly, you two also eloped."
"That's completely different," Molly stuttered. "Voldemort was at large then. We weren't even sure we were going to live to see tomorrow."
"It's not different at all!" George shouted. "After Fred died, I wondered why it had been him and not me. That's when I realized that life was short, and I wanted to make sure I was going to spend every day I have with Angie."
"Fine, I give," Mr. Weasley said, sighing deeply. "We'll talk about this in the morning. We have Percy and Penelope's engagement party tonight."
"Damn, I hate paperwork!" Harry shouted, dropping his pen and banging both fists on Ron's desk. He'd felt like he must have been writing for days now. In frustration, Harry walked out of the room to get yet another quill pen after the last one broke. In the hallway, Harry ran into Hermione, who appeared to be staying here to avoid what would clearly be a very tense party.
"How's the paperwork going?" she asked Harry.
"Awful," Harry responded irritably. It was clear that he was just waiting for someone to ask so he could let out all of his built-up frustration on them. "I've been working for hours and I'm only like halfway done."
"Keep working on it," Hermione instructed, being her usual hardworking self.
"I know I should, it's just that I wish I could take a break and come down to the engagement party."
"Harry, the papers are due tomorrow," lectured Hermione. "You need to finish them up. Besides, the party isn't exactly great anyway. Basically Mrs. Weasley trying hopelessly to act like everything's fine."
"Fine," Harry gave in, picking up a quill from the closet. "I'll see you in a few hours. If I survive the boredom, that is." Hermione grinned at him and headed down the stairs, back to the party. It took Harry all night to finish all the needed paperwork. Shortly after the hour hand on his watch struck 12, Harry let out a sigh of relief, his work finally done. Hands raw and head throbbing, he decided it was time to go to bed. Harry tucked into the bed with the blanket labeled "H" for Harry, and dozed off, not even bothering to change out of his clothes.
"I can't believe that when you get back, you're going to have a baby," said Ron. He and Ginny had gathered at the door to wish Harry luck. "Wow. We're really all grown up now, aren't we?" Harry grinned. It was true. His friends back from when he was eleven years old are now his adult friends. Could it really have been seven years since they met?
"One thing I've been wondering," Ron began to ask. "Would your godchild have a second godfather?"
"What do you mean?" asked Harry.
"I mean if you died, who would get Teddy?"
"If Andromeda died too, it would have to be you, obviously," Harry told him. Ron's expression seemed to instantly brighten at the idea of being Teddy's second godfather. "You're my best mate, you know that."
"Thanks mate," Ron responded. "Even if it is only third in line, I really appreciate the gesture."
"Hey, where's Hermione anyway?" asked Ginny. "I haven't seen her this morning."
"She's fixing my papers," Harry said somewhat bitterly. "Apparently, what I wrote was 'fifty pages of rubbish.'" At that same moment, Hermione came down the stairs with a tightly packed folder in hand.
"Harry, how could you get your wand number wrong?" Hermione pestered. "It's 748625, not 748652. And you completely forgot to include your references. Without references, you cannot adopt."
"Sorry, Hermione," Harry apologized sarcastically. "I must have been just trying to give you extra work."
"You must have been," agreed Hermione scornfully. "Anyway, good luck with Mrs. Tonks."
"Thanks everyone, for all your help," said Harry. "I'll see you all tonight." Giving Ginny a quick kiss before he left, Harry closed his eyes and turned his thoughts to his destination. The next moment, he disapparated from the Burrow and found himself swirling through space.
Seeing the world move quickly by him, Harry felt as if he were weightless. Landing on the ground in front of the Tonks house, he was startled by the change of gravity and promptly fell to the ground. Harry then got up from the moist grass and knocked on the front door. Before he could even knock his fist against the door a second time, he was greeted by a middle-aged woman with light brown hair and soft facial features. Unlike the last time he saw her, Andromeda's kind, wide eyes were red and shining, indicating that she had just been crying.
"Come in," she said dolefully. Harry felt a sharp feeling of guilt the second he saw Andromeda so depressed. Just by looking at her face, he could feel all the pain of her life: the deaths of her husband, her daughter, her son-in-law, and now the loss of her grandson, the last person left in her life. As he walked through the house, the guilt seemed to overwhelm Harry, keeping him from focusing on the adoption.
"Did you bring the adoption papers?" asked Mrs. Tonks. Silently, Harry handed the papers to her. After looking them over, Andromeda concluded that they were suitable. "Okay, I'll take this information down to the Ministry tomorrow. Well… you can take the baby now." It was the moment he had been waiting for since the funeral. However, now he was filled with doubt. He did not want to take the child away from Andromeda.
"Wait, Mrs. Tonks," spoke Harry. His mind was made up. "I want you to take Teddy. I'm not ready to raise a child. You would raise him much better than I would."
"Oh, God bless you Harry Potter," Andromeda's expression instantly brightening. Harry could tell that she wanted that child more than anything in the world, and he didn't have the heart to upset her so much. "Are you sure? I don't want you to give away a child just to please me."
"I'm sure. Take Teddy, I know having him means a lot more to you than it does to me," Harry insisted.
"At least take him on the weekends. And you can come over to visit him any time you want."
"That would be perfect, Mrs. Tonks."
"Hey, Harry's back!" said Ron, seeing the young adult materialize in the front yard of the Burrow. In that moment, everyone in the Weasley household ran out to greet him. When they arrived, they noticed he did not have a baby in hand. All he had with him was yet another stack of papers.
"Harry, you are not supposed to apparate with a baby. It's bad for their growth and risky to-," Hermione paused. She showed up late and therefore did not notice the absence of any baby. "Wait a minute, where is the baby?"
"He's with Andromeda," Harry explained. "She was really upset about all the tragedies she's been through lately, and I didn't have the heart to cause another. I still get to have Teddy on weekends though."
"I think that's very kind of you Harry," praised Mrs. Weasley. "Not many would be able to do what you just did."
"Thanks, Mrs. Weasley" Harry responded. "Well, I've gotta get started on this next batch of forms. See you all later." He then went inside to make a dent in the paperwork. After several hours of staring at the wall of Ron's bedroom, he saw Hermione walking through the hallway.
"Hey Hermione!" Harry called.
"Oh, hey Harry," Hermione responded, walking through the door. "How are the forms going?"
"Awful," Harry spat. "Could you help me with some of it?"
"Sure thing, Harry," said Hermione. She pulled over a chair from Ginny's room and pulled it over next to Harry. Looking at the forms, Hermione was shocked to find them blank. "You haven't written anything?" questioned Hermione.
"I told you I needed help." Harry shrugged. Sighing, Hermione pushed Harry's hand away and began writing. Though sour at first, Hermione's mood softened over time and she and Harry managed to have a rather pleasant time together.
"-and to give away custody of Teddy to Andromeda Tonks, sign here, here, and here," Hermione finished. Harry signed the document and the two were finally done.
"Wow that was painful," joked Harry. "Remind me never to do this ever again."
"You mean put a child up for adoption?" asked Hermione.
"Yeah. That." Said Harry "You know thanks for helping me fill out all these forms. You were really helpful to me today."
"You're welcome, Harry." Having finished early, Harry and Hermione spent the rest of the night talking about everything they could think of from potions, to Quidditch matches, and even the newest tricks at George's shop.
"-and a bill regarding a spell to clean Drooble's off the underside of tables is being put through to the Creation of Spells and Charms office."
"Wow, is there anything you don't know?" Harry complimented.
"Oh, stop it." Hermione responded modestly.
"No seriously," Harry continued. "You have really got to be the smartest person I know."
"Well, that's true," Hermione admitted jokingly, prompting Harry to give her a gentle nudge.
"You know, Hermione, I had a lot of fun spending time with you today."
"Me too, Harry," she responded. She glanced at the clock; it was 12:00. "Wow, it's really late. I should be getting to bed. Good night Harry."
"Good night," responded Harry, giving Hermione a friendly hug good night. However, feeling her body against his, he didn't want to let go. The two of them stayed in an embrace for a while, both to afraid to look into each other's eyes. However, when the urge became to strong, their eyes met. Instantly entranced by each other's gaze, they soon found their lips locked as well. Harry kept his lips on Hermione's for several minutes, moving his hands onto her back. However, the forbidden kiss would not last much longer, the two of them suddenly becoming aware of the loved ones that would be coming up the stairs any minute.
Hope you all enjoyed Chapter 4 of "The Aftermath". It was nine months in the making! I hate to leave you all on a cliffhanger :(.
In the next few chapters, you'll find out what couples will survive and what won't. Make sure you keep on reading and reviewing!
