One
"Harry," Remus calls, walking over to him. Everyone is working on putting the shield around the school and saying goodbye to their friends, just in case. Hogwarts is under siege. It may not come out from under it.
Harry Potter turns to see Remus and hugs his old professor. His friend.
"This is for you," Remus says. He hands Harry the picture of Teddy on his broomstick. "I thought you might like a snap of your godson," Remus smiles.
Harry watches the turquoise haired image zoom in and out of the frame. He can't bear to tell Remus that little Teddy will need a new godfather.
Neither can live while the other survives.
Instead he says, "Thanks, Remus. Wow, he's already got his own broomstick!"
Ron Weasley walks by, takes one look and says, "Bloody brilliant, mate. You're one cool dad, Remus."
"I'm a cool dad," Remus whispers as the boys walk away to meet Hermione and prepare for battle.
"The coolest," says his wife from behind.
In her mother's house Tonks had used spell after spell of protection and shielding. Her mother had as well, and sat in her rocking chair, with Teddy, and her wand poised.
"Do you think I'm doing the right thing, mum?" Tonks had asked.
"I think Teddy will understand why you had to, and that is all that matters," her mother nodded. As Tonks prepared to leave, her mother asked, "Didn't you and Remus make Harry Potter his godfather?"
Tonks smiled. "Yes, he's a lovely boy. Young man, I should say."
Her mother nodded again. "Yes, with Harry Potter to guide him, Teddy will understand everything."
Tonks kissed her mother. Then she kissed Teddy and told him how much she and daddy loved him, and how they would always be with him, because the ones that love you never really leave you. Tonks raised her wand and said,
"Expecto patronum," and a silvery wolf darted straight to Teddy, licking his face and sitting obediently by the rocking chair.
"Stay with my boy," she told the patronus.
The silvery wolf let out one, silent howl.
Now she was standing behind Remus. He whipped around and grabbed her, pulling her into a crushing hug.
"What are you doing here? You're so stupid Nymphadora Tonks, I love you!" he cried, kissing her.
"I was unwilling to leave Teddy, truly," Tonks says, "but I was also unable to stay."
"It seems neither of us wants to live if the other dies," Remus whispers. "But for Teddy, we must promise to go on, even if…"
"Yes, for Teddy," Tonks promises. "But I couldn't forsake you now. I love you…I couldn't leave you."
Suddenly all of Hogwarts shakes. The battle has begun.
Death Eater after Death Eater do Remus and Tonks disarm. Together they dodge the killing curse, often pushing each other out of the way. Calling to each other, barking orders at each other, keeping each other alive.
"There's Voldemort!" yells Remus, unafraid of the name, its taboo status now null.
"Let's get the son of a banshee," replies Tonks.
They join hands and aiming their wands, scream hoarsely,
"Expelliarmus!"
Voldemort flinches as his wand nearly topples from his grasp. He turns to face the Lupins. They shout spell after spell, counter curse after counter curse, but Voldemort always replies with 'avada kedavra' and inches ever closer.
They knew they were destined to die when they shouted that first spell at Voldemort. But if they can give Harry a few extra minutes to prepare –they know he is frantically searching for something. Something essential to beating Voldemort. Something essential to giving Teddy a future where the sun could shine all the clearer.
It only takes one flash of green light to kill them, for they die as they lived, as one.
The silvery wolf who stands guard lifts its head, its ears raised as if it can hear something. It lifts up its head and howls a soft, mournful melody. It rises in the air and runs straight as Teddy. It faded into nothingness as it reaches his heart. Remus and Tonks are gone. They are home, never to be parted.