A/N: Hello everyone! See, I said I'd be back on schedule! So anyway, I had a pretty good week. Rehearsals started and I'm loving this part. Costumes are a pain in the ass, though because nothing in our annex is from the right time period! Also, I have to cut my hair for the play which means I probably can't do locks for love (I don't have enough yet and was going to grow it out more).
Also, there was this really hot substitute teacher in English today and he had a great butt. Like A+.
Anyway, enough about me. Here's the chapter. Please REVIEW! It would make my day.
Chapter 8
When Tonks arrived in Hogsmeade again, she was distracted.
"You almost look alive today, Tonks," Proudfoot joked as they passed in the hallway of The Three Broomsticks, where they all had rooms. She flicked him off and kept walking, needing to find a change of clothes before going back out.
"How's your 'mother' doing, by the way?" he called after her.
"Better than your face if you don't stop bothering me," Tonks called back. She could hear Proudfoot chuckle as he walked away with Savage, their long Auror robes swaying as they walked. She scowled at their retreating backs.
Thomas Proudfoot and Jason Savage were two of the most infuriating men to work with. She could hardly believe that they had even passed their Auror training.
At least I'm not partnered with Dawlish, Tonks thought as she opened the door to her room. She threw off her old robes and got new ones out of the wardrobe. Dressed in fresh clothes, she stood in front of the mirror and screwed up her face, desperately trying to get something to change. Nothing came. She groaned.
Tonks had thought that, with the knowledge of her future son and last night's escapades with Remus, she would be back to her normal shifting self, but to no avail. Her hair didn't look quite so dreary anymore. In fact, it was her natural color and style and didn't look like a dirty rag, but she still couldn't morph.
"Damn it all," Tonks muttered to herself. She grabbed a pair of gloves from the table by the door and hurried out again to get to her post.
Monitoring Hogsmeade on a day when there weren't student trips was much like guarding an empty room. There was nothing to do. Hogsmeade was small- merely a row of shops amongst a strip of empty land. There were maybe a handful of houses but, really, the team of Aurors must've made up a quarter of the town's population. Tonks decided to take back every negative thing she ever said about early Order missions- staking out this potential Death Eater or hiding under a cloak across the street from Harry's house for six hours.
She began her walk down the empty street, watching for anything suspicious, but mostly staring off into space. It was hard to find any suspicious activity when there was no one out and about to be suspicious of. Hours passed.
"I should've said my mother was still sick," Tonks muttered. A cool wind had started up, which was not helping the state of things.
Around lunchtime, Tonks started making her way back to the Three Broomsticks. She was allowed a little break to eat and then she was to patrol until three, at which point she switched with Savage and did a sweep of the castle.
She was nearly there when she walked straight into a young man who had just come out of the old robe shop. He was fastening a thick cloak around his shoulders. It looked expensive, but Tonks admired his wise choice. Despite it being early November, it was frigid- most likely because of all the dementors running rampant.
"Sorry," she said, "I wasn't watching."
"Neither was I," the young man said. She looked up and met his eyes and suddenly gasped, finally recognizing him.
"Sorry," she said again. "You changed your hair and I wasn't used to seeing it like that." Teddy laughed.
"I'm thinking about making it long again. My ears are cold!"
"What are you doing down here?" Tonks asked, perking up. She was glad to have another chance to talk to Teddy. Perhaps they could even get lunch together.
"I was told to make the most of my time here," Teddy said, "by someone who was in a similar family situation. I decided that, since I can change my face anyhow, no one would recognize me and therefore it would be safe to come out." He looked at his feet a bit sheepishly. "I wasn't going to buy anything- you know, in case that would mess up something, the butterfly effect and all, but it was so damn cold I couldn't help myself."
Tonks looked at her watch. "Well, I get off for lunch in a few minutes. Walk with me and then we can eat together." Teddy grinned widely.
"Sounds good," he said. As they started off down the main street again, Teddy looked around. "I don't think I've ever seen Hogsmeade look so dreary," he stated. Tonks agreed.
"There have been a lot of dementors around recently. It's probably that," she said. "Anyway, I'm supposed to be on the lookout for anything suspicious so, you know-"
"Constant vigilance?" Teddy finished. Tonks raised an eyebrow at him.
"Yeah, exactly," she said. "Is Mad-Eye still training Aurors in your time, then?" Teddy shook his head.
"Harry says it sometimes," Teddy said.
They walked together to The Three Broomsticks and hurried in to get out of the cold. Madam Rosmerta was behind the counter, talking to a patron in a long, dark cloak. She looked up as they walked in.
"Proudfoot was in here talking about you yesterday," she called out. Tonks made a face and pulled up a chair at one of the tables by the bar. "He always seems to mention you, somehow- bad things of course. He's got it bad."
"Well he better get over it," Tonks muttered.
"Yes, I can see that," Rosmerta said, eyeing Teddy up and down. They both blushed but didn't say anything. It didn't much matter when the explanation was about as believable as Tonks as a professional tightrope walker. She didn't bother to move past the bar to take their order. "What can I get you today?"
"Two Butterbeers, I think," Tonks said. "And I'll have a shepherd's pie."
"Oh, um, bangers and mash for me, thanks," Teddy said. "Proudfoot?" he asked as Rosmerta got them their drinks.
"A coworker," Tonks replied, waving her hand. "He's a complete and utter arse. Nothing's going on between us." She thanked Rosmerta and took a long gulp from her bottle. Teddy followed suit and took a gentle sip.
"Well yeah," Teddy said. "I'm friends with his son. He'd be about a year old now. It's just weird that…never mind." He wondered what Alex Proudfoot would say to that. He knew that his mum and dad were divorced but it was strange that he was hitting on his mum of all people.
"So how did you manage to sneak out?"
"Victoire was fighting with James again and Al and Lily were off entertaining each other. I just sort of…left." He shook his head. "She's probably so mad at me."
"I suppose things are very serious?" Teddy blushed and took a quick drink.
"I didn't think…We didn't say anything about it." Tonks winked at him. "Um…Yeah, it is, I suppose. Back in our time, we were trying to buy a house actually- only a little place in London so I could be close to work and the Potters."
"When's the wedding announcement coming out? Or has it already?"
"No, no we're waiting. I don't know why anymore, but I like the way things are and we have an understanding that it will happen eventually…I just want to pay for the damn house before we blow a lot on the wedding. Originally, we decided to wait until Victoire was done with healer training. Well, she dropped out." He laughed a little.
"Well maybe she was telling you something," Tonks said. "What is she doing now?"
"She's an artist, actually," Teddy said, "and is trying to get an apprenticeship. That's why we're looking for a real house now. There's no room in my flat to do much of anything, let alone set up a bunch of canvases."
"Here's your food," Madam Rosmerta announced as she brought the steaming plates to them.
"Have you seen Remus?" Teddy asked. "Molly said she expected him back at the house, but we didn't see him." Tonks blushed bright red and whished more than ever that she could morph. Teddy raised an eyebrow at her. The last thing she wanted to talk to her son about was sex with his father.
"Um, yes I have," Tonks replied, clearing her throat uncomfortably. "He stayed at my place, actually, and I'm not sure where he went after I left for work." Taking another look at her face, Teddy shook his head.
"I'm not going to ask anymore," he said decidedly. "I'm glad things are working out better, but there's no way I'm talking about that. Just, uh, I'm the only kid, you know." Tonks buried her face in her hands.
"Please, I do not need this talk from…" She looked around and mouthed at him, "my son!" Teddy laughed and took a swig of Butterbeer. Tonks's eyes widened. His laugh was just like Remus's, which was such a rare sound to hear.
Suddenly serious, he asked, "Is Remus mad at me? I know I was a bit rude to him yesterday. I really want to apologize, but I don't know if he'd want to see me…Maybe it would be better if I didn't?" Tonks groaned.
"Merlin's pants, you two are exactly like each other. He was the one being rude, first! He's probably agonizing about apologizing to you."
"Really?" asked Teddy. Tonks could see hope spark in his eyes. "Has he said anything about me? I mean, what does he think? I know we haven't talked much, but Harry always notices when I do things like him, so..."
"We did talk about you quite a bit." Tonks tried to think back to what they had discussed prior to…well, not talking about anything really.
When they were curled up together, wonderfully tired and sated, Remus had said something to her as she was falling into gentle, happy sleep. Pressing his face into her hair, he had murmured, "He seems like a nice boy." Tonks hummed in agreement. "I think it's safe to say we can be very proud of him."
"He said that it seemed that we could be very proud of you," Tonks said. "And he finally agreed that Hufflepuff was superior to Gryffindor…At least I think he did." Teddy laughed, but Tonks could tell that something was wrong. He pushed his food around the plate with his fork, redness growing in his neck.
"That's, um, that's good of him to say," Teddy said. "I'm…well, I hope he's right."
She and Teddy headed out on the rounds again, talking about little things. They laughed together and Teddy thought that he couldn't remember a time when he was happier. A chill went through the air and he pulled his new cloak tighter around his shoulders. His breath puffed out and froze in the air. Teddy suddenly stopped and put his hand out to stop his mum as well. She already had her wand out.
Further down the road, past the limits of Hogsmeade, there stood a figure looking frail under a thick bundle of layers. Above him was trailed the cloak of a dementor, blowing in the cold wind. His face lifted to the sky in a silent scream as the dementor fed on his happy memories.
It wasn't hard to think of a happy memory to use. Remembering that day's lunch and the long chat he had with his mum, Teddy waved his wand and said, "Expecto Patronum." Beside him, Tonks did the same and a pair of wolves, nearly identical charged at the dementor. The wolves chased it down, nipping and scratching at the folds of its cloak until it drifted away and disappeared. The victim of its terrible hunger fell to the ground and Tonks rushed forward to help.
"Stay back and watch the perimeter," she told Teddy. He wanted badly to go with her, but knew she would be safer this way just in case there was an ambush of some kind waiting. Wand out in front of him, Teddy scanned the area around them in a wide arc as Tonks tended to the dementor's victim.
He watched with awe as she helped the poor soul up and walked back towards Teddy. He could see now that it was an old man, bundled up with about half a dozen layers. Teddy stayed a little ways away, still watching Tonks's back as she escorted the old man into Madam Puddifoot's, which was the nearest shop that sold hot beverages. She emerged once again alone.
"Everything alright?" asked Teddy. He slipped his wand back into his sleeve. Tonks nodded.
"His name is Henry Chalmers and he was coming up to get a spot of dinner at the Hog's Head with a friend." She shook her head. "I hate those things," she said.
"Nice patronus, by the way," Teddy said, elbowing her playfully. Tonks grinned.
"Thanks. It's new. I used to have a very pretty jack rabbit and then Remus had to come along and screw me up emotionally and now I have that fuzzy little guy."
"I like mine," Teddy said. "I've always had her, but I never knew it was the same as yours."
"Same as Remus's too," Tonks said. "He doesn't like to produce a corporeal one in front of people because he thinks they'll find out what he is." She shook her head. "I've always worried he'd pull that trick and get himself the kiss of a lifetime. Anyway, I like this one too. It reminds me of him- both the wolf side and what he's really like, you know, because wolves are gentle unless provoked and very family-oriented."
When Teddy slipped back into the house, being as quiet as he could possibly manage, Victoire was already waiting for him, arms crossed, in the hallway. He stood stock still, like a deer sensing danger. She did not look happy at all. Teddy could already imagine the storm he was about to face. He'd seen her fight with her mum before.
"Um, hi Vic," Teddy said. And so it began.
"Edward Remus Lupin, you utter shit! I cannot believe you would tell us all 'lay low, stay inside and out of sight' and you go off without a word- not even a note- to Merlin knows where! You were gone for four hours and you don't even think to maybe let me know? In case you've forgotten, I'm the only Victoire Weasley around so you can send me as many damn patronuses as you bloody well feel like!"
Teddy stood silently, looking at his shoes, as she caught her breath, waiting for the next wave to come crashing down. It never arrived.
"She's right you know." Teddy looked up to find Victoire standing off to the side and Remus Lupin heading his way. Victoire raised an eyebrow at him, as if to say, 'There you have it. Let your father chew you out'.
"Damn," Teddy murmured to himself. At the age of twenty-four, he did not think he would have his first telling off by a parent. The lunacy of the situation would've been funny if he wasn't so damn worried about making his father proud of him.
"There's a war, going on, Teddy, not to mention the time travel stuff. I know you probably figured, as a metamorphmagus, you could get away with things. More importantly, you need to remember that this time is not like yours and there could be Death Eaters around every corner." Teddy nodded.
"I know, sir," he said. Remus raised an eyebrow at him and Teddy shrugged in return. He didn't know where the 'sir' had come from either, but he didn't want to freak Remus out by testing the waters with 'Dad'. It didn't even sound right to him still. He'd never used the word to address anyone before.
"So where did you go, Lupin?" Victoire asked icily.
"Hogsmeade," Teddy replied. "I had lunch with Tonks…er…Mum, that is. I had lunch with Mum and then I patrolled with her and it was all very safe- only one dementor issue which was taken care of. Then she was supposed to switch duties with Savage, so I left. I didn't want anyone else to see us together and talk. Madam Rosmerta already thinks I'm her new guy."
"Oh," Victoire said, sounding as though she was suddenly deflated of anger. "Well then, I'll, um, leave you two." She retreated up the stairs, leaving Teddy and Remus to stare at each other.
"I want to apologize," Remus started. He motioned for Teddy to follow him, leading him down the hall to the library. The fire was already lit and the room was nice and warm. "I shouldn't have pushed you yesterday, but I was curious and selfish and wanted to see more."
"I understand," Teddy said. "Actually, I wanted to apologize for being so rude to you. I'll admit, I was a little angry with you because, from where I came in, it seemed like you were hurting Mum a great deal and, well, I happened to meet her first." Remus nodded.
"No, you're absolutely right," he said. "My motives were pure, but apparently I was doing more harm than good. Sit," he said. "I know you're not a werewolf- and that makes me unbelievably happy- but I hope you've never had to feel the stigma by being associated with me. I wanted to save Dora from that, as well as from any danger present with being with someone like me. Accidents can happen, even with Wolfsbane and I would never have been able to live with myself if I were to infect her."
"I suppose I can understand that, but…I think she knows her own mind, too," Teddy said.
The pair of them sat back in their chairs, staring into the fire a moment. Remus finally got up and offered Teddy a drink. He pulled out a bottle of firewhisky and a pair of glasses from a cabinet in the corner. He poured them both a little and handed one to Teddy.
"Normally I wouldn't, but we're having a bit of a heart to heart and I couldn't really go on without a little something," Remus admitted. They were silent for a little while, drinking together, before Remus said, "I know about what happens, you know, after you're born?"
"I thought you might figure it out," Teddy said. "And now you know why I didn't want you to sift around up there." He wondered whether he had really done the deducing or if Tonks had told him.
"Honestly, I was looking for a memory of all of us together," Remus said. Teddy laughed cynically.
"I used to look for those all the time," he said and took a drink. "But Harry and I stick together- he's my godfather, you know- and I've made it through well enough."
"I saw you were a Prefect," Remus said. "I was one as well in school. Dumbledore thought I would keep my friends in line, but that didn't really happen."
"I was Head Boy as well," Teddy said. "I think, originally, I was made Prefect so that I didn't lose Hufflepuff any more points wandering around at night. I showed you that memory, right? Well, as a Prefect, I was supposed to do that, so it didn't matter anymore."
They sat there talking for quite some time about school. Teddy told him about the new History of Magic curriculum, which included both of his parents as well as numerous other Order Members and Remus shared stories of misadventures with his friends, Harry's father, Tonks's cousin, and the traitor. Before long, Arthur came back from work and everyone was called in for dinner.
Teddy sat himself in between his father and Victoire and they continued their conversation in hushed tones, almost as if pretending that no one else was there. With Victoire's urging, however, he introduced them and Remus began to ask after her.
"Look at the hypocrite," James said stabbing peas with his fork. Teddy made a face at him. "You know next time take me with you at least. I'll leave you be with Tonks and we can meet up again later." Teddy shook his head.
"It's too close to the school," he said. If your parents see you, you'll be sorry. You look too much like your grandfather; Harry will think he's seeing ghosts again."
Remus nodded. "It wouldn't be the first time he's 'seen' James." James rolled his eyes.
"Has anyone ever told you you're exactly like your dad?" James asked. Teddy grinned and caught Remus's gaze. His eyes were shining brightly.
"Yeah, and I would hope they're right," Teddy answered truthfully.
A/N: Thanks for the read, as always. Next time, Dumbledore shows up finally!
