A/N: This is an important author's note. I am not the author of this story. The author who has been writing this story is very sick at the moment and I'm afraid will not be coming out from the hospital for a couple of months or so. Oh, and by the way, this is her cousin. There are some good news and bad news for you. Let's start with the bad news first.

Bad news is: I am not the author of this story and I am in no power in altering the chapters. I am bad at writing for one, and I guess I will ruin her lot if I do. So there.

There is no more sequel to this story after this finishes unless she gets out of the hospital and start writing again.

Good news is: I am privileged to be the one to upload all her files thrice a week or twice if I am busy for the week (requested by her)

She has already finished writing this story before she entered the hospital, thus this story is actually completed. (She said she didn't want to leave it undone, so there you are.)

I will be editing the author's notes because she will be responding to your reviews because she requested me to print out your reviews (and please do) and show it to her. This means that she will see your reviews. I will post her replies and responses here if you don't mind.

My cousin knew that she was about to enter the hospital before writing this and she said this is her second last story for fan fiction (But They Were Happy and Love Takes You In are also works in progress that I haven't updated yet.) I remember she was up many nights trying to finish this and she really worked hard on this piece. She liked and she enjoyed it with you guys very much. She says to say thank you to all the reviewers and the ones who put this on their favorites and alerts. She said she's really sorry, but this will be her last story until she gets out of the hospital.

Author waves hi to everyone and says that she hopes you enjoy the rest of the story.

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December 2013

"Welcome home, Teddy," greeted Andromeda as she met her grandson home from school. She embraced him and kissed him on the cheek. She held his arms and looked at him beaming. "You didn't get into detention this term," she reminded him. Teddy nodded. Andromeda gave him another tight embrace. "I'm so proud of you, Teddy."

Teddy laughed and threw his head back. "Thanks, Grammy." As Andromeda let go, he walked to the fireplace to get warm. He looked at the photo of his parents that hung on the wall. "Grammy, they would be proud of me too, wouldn't they?" he said. Andromeda nodded, though she was very much surprised at Teddy. He never talked about his parents being proud of him before. Teddy sat on the couch. "Happy Christmas, Grammy."

Andromeda sat down beside him. "Happy Christmas, Teddy." Her eyes lay upon the grandson who had now changed a lot. His face wasn't the same either. He had a soft smile he never had before. Andromeda's eyes shone as she saw the change. "Your parents, I see them in you now," she whispered. She ran her now quite frail fingers through Teddy's hair. "Your mother and your father, I see them live in you." She couldn't take her eyes off of him.

Instead of Andromeda and Teddy going over to the Potters to celebrate Christmas, the Potters went to their place this time. Quite frankly, Andromeda missed the laughter and giggles of a child so she was excited to hear that the Potter kids would be coming to visit them. She made the best food she could and visited herself happily in the kitchen while Teddy set the table.

A knock came to the door. Teddy went to answer it. Harry and his family came into the house with smiles and gifts. Teddy greeted the couple a Happy Christmas. He also greeted the children too who seemed very hyperactive as of the moment. Albus chased James into the house the moment Teddy opened the door. Lily danced towards them, also joining their fun.

"Happy Christmas, Teddy," said Ginny and gave him a hug. Teddy smiled. Ginny looked at Teddy. "You are so tall. I wonder where you get the height from." She and Harry entered the room. Ginny gave her children a stern look. "If I hear one more noise from any one of you, it's straight back to Godric's Hollow," she threatened.

Teddy looked at James sympathetically. He contorted his face at the thought of going home. "It's Christmas, let them be," said Teddy. James jumped for joy and ran for Teddy. Teddy caught him and hoisted him up. He quickly ser him back down since James was getting a little too heavy to carry. "Happy Christmas to you too, James."

Harry tilted his head. "What's gotten into you?" he asked Teddy. Teddy looked at Harry and raised an eyebrow. Harry ruffled Albus as the little boy passed by, still chasing his older brother around the living room. "Neville's told me you've been staying out of trouble since the start of the term." He jerked his head towards the back door. "Mind if we talk outside?" he asked.

And I wanna tell you who I am

"Nope," replied Teddy as he and Harry walked to the backyard. Teddy looked up at the full moon. "It wouldn't be a fun Christmas right now for Dad, would it?" Harry shook his head. Teddy slowly smiled. "I hope he's having a fun Christmas right now, wherever he is," he said.

He knew that he never talked about his parents. He knew that he never wished anything upon his father. This was a shock, even to Teddy himself, but he felt happy saying it. All his bitterness hid somewhere he couldn't find for he couldn't find a reason to be bitter against his parents anymore. Maybe age did get the better of him and cleared his mind. Maybe lowering his pride and looking at Victoire did. Some mysteries could never be solved, or so Teddy thought.

"He is," said Harry. He looked at Teddy. "He is happy. He received the best gift Christmas gift this year, I believe." Teddy looked at Harry uncertainly. Harry chuckled. "You," he said simply. Teddy looked puzzled. "They're finally seeing the real Teddy Lupin. Well, I'm finally seeing the real Teddy Lupin. The Teddy that we've all been waiting for. It's been fifteen years." Teddy dug his hand into his pocket. "I bet Remus and Tonks are happier than you can imagine," said Harry.

Teddy relaxed his face. "A lot of times I wish my parents were here during Christmas," he admitted. He closed his eyes and felt the cool wind. "They'd come pick me up and we'll celebrate Christmas together. We'd talk about my term. We'd have cocoa to keep us warm. We'll huddle together and keep each other warm." Teddy opened his eyes. "Ill tell them how happy I am to have them, how lucky I am to have them," he said.

"You are," said Harry. "What else is on your mind?"

"You can tell?" said Teddy. Harry nodded. Teddy smiled. "I'll tell my dad that I'm not ashamed of being his son even though he's a werewolf. I'll even tell him how proud I am for overcoming his fears. How grateful I am that he married Mum and had me." He looked at Harry. "I won't be ashamed of the home I belong to," he said. "But sometimes I feel like a coward. Like a little boy."

Can you help me be a man?

Harry shook his head. "That's nothing to be afraid of," he assured Teddy. "Even I get scared sometimes. We all do. Fear is not something we lose in a blink of an eye and I can assure you that it's perfectly fine to feel scared. I'm just glad you're man enough to admit that you have fears in you. Guess what Teddy? You're finally normal."

Teddy laughed. "Finally huh? People keep on saying that word over and over again that it's been ringing in my ear all term." He heard his grandmother call from the house. Teddy looked at Harry. "It's time for dinner. Grammy makes the best Christmas meals. Hope you'll like it," he said, for it was the first time the Potters celebrated with them.

"That's mine!" whined Albus as he tried to grab his gift from James. James, being much taller than Albus, held the gift up high so his brother would be unable to reach it. Albus turned to his mother. "Mum, James is at it again," he said, pointing at his older brother who stuck his tongue out at Albus. "Mum, James stuck his tongue out on me!"

Ginny sighed. "Stop it, you two," she said exasperatedly. She flashed a look at James. "You, sit!" she barked. James dropped the gift and scrambled to his chair. Albus grabbed the gift and went to his seat as well; Ginny looked at the both of them. "Eat your vegetables or there will be veggies for a week every single day whether you both like it or not," she threatened. Both boys began stuffing all the vegetables to their mouths.

Teddy laughed. "You'll choke if you go on like that," he warned. James shrugged as he gobbled up his food. Teddy looked at Ginny. "Aren't they going to choke?" Ginny shook her head. Knowing the boys, if they were to choke on something, it would never be vegetables. Teddy tilted his head and popped the piece of meatball into his mouth and chewed.

After dinner, Teddy helped his grandmother do the dishes while the Potters warmed themselves by the fire. Teddy did it the Muggle way, which he preferred doing rather than magic. For some reason, he liked to get his hands wet by the running water. It reminds him of the first time he and his grandmother talked about his parents.

"Teddy," said Andromeda. The three-yearold popped his head into the kitchen. "Come in here," said Andromeda softly. Teddy walked up to her carrying his favorite toy, the stuffed wolf. Andromeda levitated one of the chairs and placed in near the sink. "You're old enough to help me out," she said. "Step up and wash the dishes."

Teddy blinked. He had never done the dishes with his grandmother before. Andromeda walked to him and held his hands with hers. She helped him pick up a plate slowly. Teddy opened the faucet. Andromeda showed him how to scrub the plates the Muggle way.

"Your mother loves doing this," she whispered to the toddler. Teddy stopped. The tap water flowed as Teddy touched the plates. He felt the cool water reach his hand. "She was very helpful when she was about your age. You do want to be like your grandmother, don't you?" she said. Teddy nodded. He had never heard Andromeda speak of his parents before. "From now on, I'll tell you more stories about your parents."

"Teddy." Teddy looked up. His grandmother was looking at him. "The water's not going to stop flowing until you turn the faucet off. The plates are shinier than ever. You've scrubbed them all twice now and I think they'll break if you scrub even more." Teddy looked at Andromeda's twisted smile. She could pull a joke every now and then. "Now off with you. Go to Harry. I'll finish up," she said.

Teddy nodded and walked toward the living room. James tackled him to the ground before he even got near to the couch. Teddy laughed as he tried to get James off of him, but the boy was getting bigger and stronger by the minute. Teddy finally managed to get James off of him by tickling the eight-year-old into letting go.

"Time to open the gifts!" Albus exclaimed excitedly as he sat nearest to the Christmas Tree. He couldn't help but glance at the biggest package once in a while. He found his name clearly written on the tag and couldn't wait to open it. He looked at his parents willfully. "Please can I get to open the first gift first?" he pleaded.

Ginny shook her head. "Rules are rules," she reminded him. She turned to Lily. "The last one will be the first." Lily stuck her tongue out at Albus who scowled. Ginny looked at Lily sternly. "I saw that. One more move like that and you aren't going to open any gifts at all," she warned. Lily curled her lips and went silently to the Christmas Tree to open a gift.

Harry placed his arm around Ginny. "It's Christmas. Don't be so hotheaded," he said calmly. Ginny leaned back on the couch. Harry looked at Teddy. "I think you'll enjoy what Ginny and I decide to give to you," he said. Teddy squatted on the carpet next to James who looked enviously at Lily who intentionally slowly unwrap her gift. Harry looked at her. "If it takes you more than ten seconds to unwrap it then you should be last," he said.

"Now who's getting hotheaded?" said Ginny. Harry sighed and shook his head. Ginny stroked his hair. "It isn't easy being parents, is it?" Harry shook his head again. Ginny giggled. "I bet you'd rather be out there battling Voldemort again than facing another day babysitting this three," she whispered, but Teddy must've heard it because he slightly frowned.

They can't break me

Although Teddy had gotten over his bitterness of his parents, for some reason, he cannot seem to get over the fact that they were gone. It was that battle that took their lives. He couldn't let go of his wishful thinking that his parents would one day come through the door and tell him that it was all an act and they had to come home.

Harry looked at Teddy thoughtfully. "Guess what?" he said. Teddy looked up as he dismissed his thoughts. "I think you're going to like our present this year. We meant to give it to you last year, but I think this year would be a lot better." She looked at Lily who had just finished unwrapping her gifts. Ron and Hermione bought her a doll. Harry looked at Albus. "It's your turn," he said.

Albus lunged at the biggest package there was. Andromeda joined them. She sat on the armchair opposite Harry and Ginny Potter. She watched as Albus excitedly tore the gift wrapping into shreds. His eyes widened as he stared at the big box before him.

"A big ball?" Albus's voice sounded very disappointed when he saw a big ball in front of him. That was all. He looked at the tag. "Practical. I bet it was Aunt Hermione's turn to buy the gifts this year. They got Lily a doll and I doubt Uncle Ron would buy anything like that." He looked at James. "Go on, open their present. I bet you're going to get a broom," he said.

James crawled towards the tree. He took Ron and Hermione's present. He slowly tore it open it wasn't as Albus predicted it. "It is a book," said James. Albus laughed. James read the title. "Hold on, at least it's useful." He stood up and gave the book to his parents. "Aren't they awesome? They really know what to get me," he said happily, causing Albus to grow envious of him.

Ginny smiled. "How To Play Quidditch The Right Way," she read. She looked at James who was looking very delighted. "You look happy." James nodded vigorously. He danced around the living room with the book. Ginny laughed a bit. She looked at Teddy. "It's your turn now," she said. "Mind you, you might want to open ours first. I think I'm more excited to see you see it than you are." Harry snorted. Ginny slapped him lightly. "Harry," she scolded.

Teddy smiled and took the gift from under the tree. "A book?" he asked. Harry shrugged. He tore it open. Teddy's eyes widened. "Harry, how did you…?" he asked, but his voice trailed off. Harry and Ginny looked at each other with amusement. Teddy looked at them gratefully. "I can't…I…this…" he couldn't find the right words.

"It's yours. We found it when you were three years old and we decided to give it to you when we think you're ready," Harry explained. Teddy stood up. Without warning, he threw his arms around his godfather. "This is the best gift ever, Harry. Thank you very much!"

Harry hugged him back. "I'm glad you like it," he said. Teddy stood straight again. His eyes dazzled as Teddy stared at his gift. Harry looked at the crackling fire. "I've never seen what's inside it. I meant it for you. I promise that I haven't even opened it." Teddy nodded, but he hadn't taken his eyes off Harry's gift. Harry chuckled. "Happy Christmas, Ted."

After the Potters left, Teddy went up to his room. He sat on his bed and stared at Harry's gift. On the cover was scribbled, clearly and very wonderfully to Teddy: REMUS JOHN LUPIN. Below it was a small paper, apparently permanently taped to the notebook: JOURNAL. Teddy took a deep breath before opening it.

"Here it goes," he whispered excitedly. He slowly opened the notebook. Before even reading the first place, a picture fell out of the notebook. Teddy picked it up. It was another picture of the three of them, but this time he was awake, unlike the picture he had on his bedside table. Teddy turned the picture and saw a messy scribbling behind it. He smiled as he read it.

To Teddy Lupin: I believe that I'm gone as you read this, but I hope you know that I love you and your mother more than anything else in the world. I'm sorry that I will never get to see you grow up, be the man you want to be. I will miss all that and I'm sorry if I cause you pain. I'm sorry if people tease you because of being a werewolf's son, which I know they would, but please keep your head up high. I will always love you, no matter who you are or what you will become. I love you, Teddy Lupin.

Love, Dad

As long as I know who I am

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