Author's Note: Um…yeah. Sorry about the delay. Real Life has Really Sucked lately.

Chapter Seven: An Unintentional Taste of Fame

A week later, Harry was still smarting over Remus' disappointment and anger with him. And it was nettling him that they hadn't spoken about it yet. He and Andromeda, like they always had, aired the issue out the moment they got home and the two of them were all right. However, Remus, with Teddy, was now permanently at his family house in Scotland (since Andromeda finally had it up to her exacting standards) and maintaining a stony silence towards Harry.

Harry hadn't purposely lied to him; he had just wanted to reassure Remus that Tonks was safe and sound before he had told him what exactly had happened during the mission. They had been sidetracked with the worry of having to locate Andromeda and Harry forgot to tell Remus everything before he had left.

Harry and Remus were both unconsciously trying to act as if everything was fine in front of Tonks and Teddy. But, Harry, acting in both a professional and personal capacity, stood awkwardly holding Teddy to the side as Tonks was quickly examined one last time by a Healer. Remus, prompted up against the wall, was looking mostly at his wife, but anywhere else except at Harry. Andromeda, sitting ramrod straight in the one chair in the room watching the proceedings, was biting her lip and twisting her hands, unsure at what to do.

Tonks, they found out, was not immune to the palatable tension in the atmosphere nor was she fooled by their acts. Officially discharged from St Mungo's, she politely thanked the Healer for his services, but the minute the door closed behind him, she turned towards her husband and Harry and angrily hissed, "What the bloody hell has been going on between you two all week?"

"Oh-oh," Teddy said.

Harry caught Andromeda stifling a smile but since he was biting his lip as well, he couldn't say anything to her. Remus shoved his hands in his trouser pockets but remained silent. Tonks arched an eyebrow. Harry and Remus both exchanged uneasy glances. When neither said anything, she said, "Someone please tell me what is going on between these two?"

"Dada mad at Har-wee," Teddy informed her, since it seemed neither man nor her mother was going to. This time a snort of laughter escaped Andromeda before she could suppress it.

Harry glared at her (earning a mocking arched eyebrow back), and then told Tonks, "I didn't mean to…lie to Remus about your condition, but he and Ted looked so worried when they came through the Floo that I had to reassure them you were okay." He paused when Remus made an undistinguishable noise from the back of his throat but didn't say anything. Continuing, Harry said, "Then we realised we needed to find Andi…and I took off before I could tell him…I don't blame him for being angry…or disappointed in me."

"I'm not disappointed in you, Harry," Remus spoke up hoarsely, rubbing his face wearily. "Or angry. Well, maybe slightly angry, but I should have known better. I was just so…so…" He pushed off from the wall and started to pace back and forth next to him.

"Worried about Tonks," Harry finished for him. "Yeah, I know. I took off too quickly." It was Harry's turn to jam his hands into his robes' pockets. "Andi and I just went through so much together in the past two years that I rushed off wanting to protect her." Teddy laid his head on Harry's shoulder as if comforting him and Harry saw Andromeda and Tonks smile at him. "I'm so sorry, Remus."

"I'm sorry too, Harry." He made a move as if wanting to embrace him, but stopped. Harry wasn't offended; he knew it was going to take Remus some time to feel comfortable showing affection towards him. Things might have had changed for Harry in their relationship, but they hadn't changed for Remus yet.

He then caught sight of Andromeda surreptitiously dabbing at the corner of her eyes with her robes and grinned. She sniffed as if daring him to say something (but he heard Tonks' giggle and knew she had seen too), then stood up and marched over. Taking Teddy from him, she hissed, "Hug him," softly in Harry's ear.

His green eyes caught her grey ones and he nodded. Harry turned towards Remus and caught him in a quick embrace before his godson's father knew what was happening. When Harry let go and looked up into Remus' eyes, he could see the genuine warmth shining in them.

"That's my boys," Tonks sniffled. Clearing her throat, she then said, "Let's go the apothecary and get my potions then go home. Mum can cook tonight for us."

"Mum can cook?" Andromeda echoed. "How'd I get volunteered?"

"Do you want me to cook then?" her daughter asked back.

"Not particularly, no," Remus said, and then blushed when his wife glared at him. Harry and Andromeda laughed. "Sorry, Dora…it's just that…um…"

"I can only cook about one thing and you're not in the mood for porridge tonight, sweetheart?" she asked rhetorically and Remus' cheeks flamed scarlet.

"Por-idged, yum," Teddy shouted, reaching for his mother.

Tonks wrinkled her nose as she took him from his grandmother. "He gets that from you, Remus. I can't stand that horrid stuff."

"Your father loved it as well," Andromeda said quietly, her eyes slightly downcast.

"Oh yeah…he did," Tonks agreed, her eyes shining brightly with tears. Remus leaned over and placed a kiss on her forehead. She cleared her throat, and then pronounced, "I still say the stuff is horrid."

"Then why is it the only thing you know how to cook?" Harry asked, perplexed.

Andromeda grinned slyly. "Because it's Remus' favourite."

Tonks blushed becomingly, but Remus laughed. "What's the Muggle saying, Harry? 'The way to a man's heart is through his stomach'? Well, it's true."

"Are you saying the only reason I won your affections because I cooked porridge for you?"

Harry laughed at the trapped look on Remus' face. "Er…no…" he stuttered.

Andromeda chuckled, and then she and Teddy led the way out of the ward to the lobby. "We'll meet you at the apothecary," she said over her shoulder before stepping to the fireplace to Floo.

Harry, Remus, and Tonks made their way across the lobby, all three aware of the gawking stares of the waiting patients as they went. Tonks' cheeks were the same bubblegum pink colour as her hair by the time they gained the Muggle street just outside the hospital. "Is that what it's like being you, Harry?" she asked incredulously.

"Er…yeah," he answered embarrassedly. "For the most part. Um…sorry."

Tonks smiled, accepting his apology.

"Just perfect," Remus muttered. "Let's go." He led the way to the Apparition Point just around the corner in a secluded mews. Gently grasping Tonks' arm, he said to Harry, "We'll see you there," and Side-Along Disapparated with his wife.

When Harry appeared a few moments later, they all crossed Charing Cross Road and entered the Leaky Cauldron. Since it was mid-afternoon on a workday, the pub was enjoying the quiet lull of business that occurred between lunch and dinner.

"Hullo, Harry," he was quietly greeted from behind the bar.

Harry smiled, and then returned Lavender Brown's salutation. "You remember Professor Lupin, don't you, Lavender?" He heard Remus' sharp intake of breath as he recognised his former student in the heavily scarred woman behind the counter. "Remus, you remember Lavender Brown don't you?"

"Hullo, Professor. I'm so very glad you're back," Lavender greeted him warmly.

Remus shook his shock off and said, "Thank you, Miss Brown. I don't think you've officially met my wife, Nymphadora. Dora, Miss Brown was in the same year as Harry."

"Hello," Tonks greeted Lavender warmly.

"It's nice to meet you, Mrs Lupin. And, yes, Professor, I know you won't ask it, but Fenrir Greyback did this to me. At the Battle for Hogwarts."

"Are you…?" Remus delicately began.

"No," Lavender said with a small smile. "I'm quiet in the same boat as Bill Weasley. Scarred with tendencies, but not a full-fledge werewolf."

"Thank goodness," Remus breathed.

"And it's not so bad. Once Hermione had the anti-werewolf laws repealed last year, Hannah hired me straight off here. Her uncle, Tom, is the current landlord and she's going to inherit," Lavender explained, noticing the questioning look on Tonks' face. "It's not the world's most glamorous job, but it's a job."

"Exactly," Harry agreed. "It's more than werewolves were allowed to have before the war. And Hermione's fighting to get the list of…acceptable jobs expanded. Little by little, she's succeeding."

"I think you're helping her out a far bit, Harry," Lavender said quietly. "Always so modest you are."

Harry felt himself blushing. "Well, you know…it's the least I could do. Um…" he stuttered, now completely embarrassed since Tonks was grinning at him. "We have a bit of shopping to do before we head home. See you, Lavender."

"Goodbye," she called back as they moved off and customer drew her attention away.

"Thank you, Harry," Remus said quietly as Tonks tapped the appropriate bricks with her wand to reveal the entrance to Diagon Alley.

"You're welcome, Remus." And Harry knew there were no other words needed between them. "Look, there's Andromeda and Teddy."

"Hi, Mama, Dada, Har-wee," Teddy called waving at them. "Is Nerva!" he said happily, pointing the woman chatting to his grandmother.

"Minerva!" Remus said in a pleased tone as they approached the trio. "What are you doing away from Hogwarts on a school day?"

"Looking for you and Nymphadora, Mr Lupin," the Headmistress answered his question, gently chucking Teddy on the chin with a smile. "I just missed you at St Mungo's. How are you?"

"I'm much better now that Dora's okay," Remus answered.

Tonks rolled her eyes at his proper tone. "Oh, for the love of God, just hug the woman, Remus!"

Harry snorted.

Remus looked embarrassed, but quickly reached over and hugged Professor McGonagall. Tonks did next, hugging the Headmistress a bit longer than her husband had.

"How are you, Harry," Professor McGonagall inquired.

"You know me, Professor. Trying to have a quiet life…"

"But failing miserably at it," she finished for him, indicating the passers-by that were stopping to stare at them. "Though it's worth trying for, Harry. Should we go inside? Andromeda tells me that you need to make a few purchases before heading home."

He smiled thankfully at her and led the way inside the shop. The proprietoress greeted her famed customers warmly, and then asked if they wanted tea and biscuits. Tonks, Andromeda, and Minerva accepted the tea. Teddy was very vocal at wanting a biscuit, then even louder when fighting with his mother who was afraid it would ruin him for dinner.

Harry, amused at Teddy's antics, declined tea, then turned to Remus to see if he wanted any or not. He frowned as he noticed that Remus looked rather…uncomfortable. "All right?" he asked him quietly.

Remus looked surprised to see that Harry had noted his discomfort, but finally said, "Last time I was here I was trying to purchase ingredients for the Wolfsbane Potion. I was a few Sickles short, so she," he indicated the proprietoress, "was rather…er, short with me."

"Oh," was all Harry could think of as a reply. "Well, like Lavender touched on…things are slowly changing. I'm not supposed to say anything, but I know you'll want to be prepared for it." Remus looked at him, perplexed. "Kingsley wants you to reform the Werewolf Support Office. Well, actually, the entire department. He's going to talk to you when Tonks returns to the roster."

Remus looked gobsmacked, and then finally managed to say, "I…I don't know what to say."

Harry grinned lopsidedly at him. "When the time comes, you say yes."

FIN