Thank you to all my reviewers! And thank you to the guest reviewers who I can't personally respond to. Seeing reviews really makes my day.

It was a beautiful day. The sun shone brightly overhead in the cloudless sky and flowers were beginning to bloom in Molly Weasley's extensive garden. It was the perfect day for Teddy Lupin's sixth birthday party. Teddy himself thought he was quite lucky, living with mummy and visiting daddy meant he could have two parties and no one thought it was strange!

Remus was smiling as he watched Teddy and Victoire flee past him, squealing with shrieks of delight as Bill, Harry, and Ron chased after them. Neville and Luna were nearby, walking in the garden, holding hands and talking in hushed voices. Hermione and Ginny were sitting close to Remus, chatting about babies, pulling him into the conversation occasionally and Molly was fussing over her smallest grandchild.

George approached slowly and was met with three smiles.

"Ah, George! Just the man I was wanting to see," Remus' smile was warm and George's lips twisted in what they had come to know as his pitiful attempt of a polite smile. "Walk with me?"

The tall red head nodded and kept pace with Remus' wheelchair as he guided it across the uneven lawn to a cove of trees. George transfigured an old tree stump into a chair and slumped into it.

"How have you been?" Remus' voice was warm.

George glanced at the werewolf and shrugged. "Fine. How's your shoulder?"

"Completely healed. Severus was worried the last full moon would re-open the wound but it passed without event."

Good. Good."

"George." Remus turned to the younger man and studied him closely.

"Don't lecture, Remus, it doesn't suit you."

"Oh, I think it suits me well enough. I wasn't planning to lecture you though, lad."

George snorted. "It's all my brothers do now."

"They are worried about you. It's been six years and I don't think I have seen you smile more than a half dozen times."

"What is there to smile about? I thought you of all people would understand." The bitterness ran deep in the young voice.

Remus sighed and turned as the laughter of his son drifted past him. "I did not lose my twin, George. You and Fred were inseparable. But…"

"Now you tell me I am doing injustice to his memory!"

Remus winced at the accusatory tone. "When the first war ended all I could think about was what I had lost. And then what I didn't have to live for. Everyone who had called me a friend was dead or imprisoned. The other Order members had viewed me with suspicion for so long because of what I am that I felt no friendship for them and the only person that could have saved me was taken from me. I could barely find enough work to feed myself and spent many a night in London's homeless shelter, too weak and sick to be of any good to anything. Full moons I spent chained to whatever abandoned building that were as far away as possible from any humans tearing myself to shreds. I was lucky, but I did not realise that at the time. I had a little cottage that my parents had left me in Wales. I spent most of my time there when I was not sulking in London."

"Why did you stay in homeless shelters in London if you had a cottage?"

"Self-flagellation," Remus admitted. "They were the week closest to the full moon where I would try to earn whatever I could to eat a decent meal before the moon. I didn't have the strength to apparate. I was too stubborn to ask for help."

George snorted. "So nothing new then."

Remus chuckled. "Well, yes, that might be true. You must admit I more readily accept help now than I did in the past."

"Yes."

"Then perhaps it is time for you to do the same? You have so many people who love you, George."

"Every time I look in a mirror…"

"It's like the mirror of Erisid?"

A convulsive swallow. "How..?"

"I visited it twice. Once, after that Halloween and once after…" Remus' eyes were fixed on a far-away-distance. "After I was injured."

"I miss him. I… I wish I had died with him!"

Remus reached out and pressed a hand to George's arm. "We don't wish you had died. You lived, George, you survived and you are still surviving."

"I thought about killing myself," the young man admitted and Remus' hand tightened convulsively. "But… I didn't think Fred would approve of that and… It would have broken Mum's heart."

"It would have broken everyone's heart!" Remus insisted. "You are loved, George! Never think that you are alone."

"I am driving everyone half mad. They think I mope."

"No," Remus argued. "Bill and I were speaking of you after I was injured last month and he is worried, George. They don't know how to help you. They are afraid that anything they say will make it worse."

The young man was frowning.

"You are loved and cherished. Fred would hate to see you like this. Tell me, if it was you who had died, and Fred whose life had seemingly ended, what would you say to him?"

George studied Remus' face for a long time. "Probably to get his head out of his arse."

Remus chuckled. "Please, refrain from using language like that around my son!"

A ghost of a smile crossed the too-old face.

"Angelina is here often, I hear."

"Yes. Not sure why, really. I am not much company."

"Because she sees that you are still inside, the real you. That girl is special."

"Yes," George admitted. "She is. I owe you an apology."

Remus frowned.

"I… I know I have seen you since the first attack at Hogwarts but… I wanted to see you! I just…"

"George, look at me! I don't care! It does not worry me in the slightest that you do not come to Hogwarts. I am here often enough and Merlin knows that I feel the same way about Godric's Hollow."

A questioning look.

"I have not stepped foot near the Potter's home since… since I saw the destruction myself. There is no shame in not wanting to see the place where you lost so much. The thing you have to remember is… You have to live. You owe it to Fred. He would expect it of you."

George stared up at the sky for a long time. "What did you see?" He asked, shattering the stillness. "In the mirror. What did you see?"

"Which time?"

"Both… I suppose… If… I mean…"

"This last time… I saw myself standing, under the light of the full moon, my arm around Dora and holding Teddy in my other arm. Perfectly whole. There is a reason you should not look at the mirror."

George was staring at the werewolf. "How do you do it?"

"Do what?"

"You hold such pain inside but… you never reveal it."

"I focus on the good things. You family has accepted me as one of your own for years now. I finally have the relationship with Harry I always dreamed of. I am teaching! Students willingly come to me to talk. And, most importantly, I have a beautiful, wonderful son, who, thank Merlin, adores me. That, George, is how I can be happy."

George ran his hand through his hair. "I don't know if I want to be happy."

"Feels like a betrayal to Fred's memory?"

"Mmm."

"It's not. Every smile, ever laugh is an honour to the memory of your twin."

"Do you still miss them? James and Sirius?"

Remus nodded slowly. He didn't notice Harry approaching slowly, or the way the young man froze, waiting for the answer to a question he had always wondered yet never dared ask. "Yes, each and every day."

Teddy ran towards Molly and hurled himself bodily into her arms. Scooping the boy onto her lap Molly smiled at the bright red hair that Teddy had adopted for the day. "Thank you for my cake, Grandma Molly!" He wrapped his arms around her neck and hugged her tightly. "It was the bestest cake ever!"

Molly pressed a kiss onto the boy's head. "I am very glad you liked it, love."

"Daddy said you made it 'specially for me!"

"Well, we had to celebrate you turning six didn't we? It's such a big number!"

Teddy nodded energetically. "I am a big boy now," he boasted. "Jamie is a baby," he wrinkled his nose. "And no fun. He can't play. Victoire thinks he is cute though. I don't think he is cute. He is boring. Do you think he is cute?"

Molly laughed and tapped the boy's nose. "I do think he is cute. But, it won't be long before you can play with him."

"Uncle Harry said it will be like having a little brother."

Molly smiled and glanced around her children. They were all congregated around her now and her eyes met Remus'. He was watching their interaction with a warm smile. She had adopted him after her initial fear of being so close to a werewolf and he had spent many meals after Sirius' death in Molly's kitchen.

"It will be exactly like having a little brother," she confirmed.

"Gran said that Mummy and David should give me a little brother or sister." Teddy said innocently. There were sharp, indrawn breathes around the group that had suddenly fallen silent and the smile had fallen from Remus' face to be replaced with an impassive mask. Molly swallowed. The ache in her heart was replaced with astonishment as George reached out and gripped Remus' arm in a comforting gesture, the first to move and she felt her heart lift a little at the gesture. Perhaps her son was finally learning to live again.

Turning her attention back to the child on her lap Molly spoke gently. "Little brothers and sisters are very precious..."

"Is that why Aunty Ginny has so many brothers?"

Charlie's bark like laughter made Molly turn a stern look on him. "Yes, love. Because we wanted lots of children."

"Why only one girl?" Teddy persisted. "Didn't you like girls?"

"Not particularly." Ron was heard to mutter. Followed by. "Ow! Ginny! Harry, tell your wife to stop hitting me!"

Teddy looked at the adults with a confused frown.

"They are being silly. We were only lucky enough to have one girl."

Teddy nodded. "I like girls," he admitted. "Even Victoire, 'cept she can be annoying."

Molly smiled. "I think that Victoire would say the same thing about you."

Teddy snickered. "If Mummy and David have a baby will Daddy be its daddy too?"

More silence and a low groan from Harry.

Molly stared at the now white faced werewolf helplessly. Remus' eyes met hers and the pleading to make his son understand broke her heart.

"No, love," choosing her words carefully, Molly spoke slowly. "If mummy and David had another baby then David would be that baby's daddy."

Teddy frowned. "Why is my daddy my daddy then?"

Molly could feel emotions beginning to choke her and she felt swift relief when Fleur came to kneel beside her, their eyes meeting in tortured understanding.

"When you were very small your mummy and daddy were married." Her soft French accent covered her words like honey.

"Like you and Uncle Bill?"

"Yes."

"And Uncle Harry and Aunty Ginny?"

"Yes."

"Why aren't they married now?" Teddy was frowning in fierce concentration.

Harry joined Fleur beside his mother-in-law. "Do you remember Daddy telling you he got hurt in a war and that's why he can't walk anymore?"

"And his hands are funny."

"Yes," a ghost of a smile crossed Harry's face. "That's right."

Molly's arms were very tight around Teddy.

"And remember how mummy said she doesn't remember anything for a while?"

Teddy nodded. "She got hitted with a hex," he sounded important. His eyes turned to his father and he frowned. Remus head was cradled in his hands and Ginny was leaning against him. "What's wrong with Daddy?"

"It makes him sad to remember," Molly's voice caught.

"Why aren't mummy and daddy married? Is it because she doesn't remember?"

"Yes. You are very smart, Teddy bear." Harry ruffled his hair. "But, it's ok. Because you have a daddy and a mummy who both love you very, very much."

Teddy nodded, still clearly confused by the entire situation.

Molly kissed his nose. "Why don't you go give daddy a hug?" she suggested. "I think he could use a cuddle."

"Aunty Ginny is hugging him," Teddy pointed out. Even more confused now.

Molly smiled and looked deep into the soft green eyes that were so like his father's. "Yes, she is. But to your daddy your hugs are his favourite in the whole, wide world."

Teddy's grin threatened to split his face. "Really?"

Molly nodded.

Teddy slid of his surrogate grandmother's lap and ran to his father. Remus' head snapped up when a small body collided violently against his legs and he stared at the boy who was looking at him with such loving, trust filled eyes. Eyes that were, at that moment, filled with uncertain worry.

"Grandma Molly says my hugs are your favourites."

Remus nodded. "They are," he whispered. He held his hands out and Teddy pulled himself onto his father's lap. Wrapping his short arms around his father's neck he rested his cheek against the scarred one of the werewolf. "I love you, Daddy."

Remus' arms tightened around his son. "I love you too, Cub."

Harry was staring at Remus, who was cradling Jamie in his arms, his voice a soothing murmur that was finally lulling the angry baby to sleep. Harry had spent hours pacing, pleading with his son to sleep, before he had fled to Remus' room in hopes of some support. Remus had simply held out his hands and, with Harry's help, arranged the baby to lie across his chest, the tiny, fragile head nestled against his neck, and one hand rubbed the shuddering back while his other arm was securely under the small body, supported by a pillow. It had taken nearly ten minutes of Jamie's screams, followed by several burbs before the baby had fallen asleep.

"How do you do that?" Harry whispered.

Remus glanced over at him and smiled gently. "I am not quite as sleep deprived as you, Harry. Why don't you have a nap while I watch him?"

"That would require moving and I don't think I am up for that just yet."

Remus' eyes twinkled.

"Merlin, who knew such a small thing could make so much noise."

"They get louder. You remember Teddy at five months."

Harry grimaced. "I was trying to forget," he mumbled. His eyes closed. "He's worth it though," a small smile. "When he is happy he looks up at you and…"

"It's a look of pure adoration."

"Yeah," a wider smile. "That still doesn't stop me being terrified every time he cries! Or, if he sleeps too long!"

Remus smothered a laugh and adjusted the baby slightly. "I don't think the terror ever quite fades, lad."

"Yes, but…" Harry's eyes flew open and the panicked look returned to the young face. "What if… What if he hates me because I feed him beans and he hates them? Or what if he is crying and I can't make him stop! Like today! What if I scar him for life?"

"Harry! Calm down!" Remus' firm tones didn't hide the smile that was threatening to spread across his face or the laughter in his warm green eyes. "A child might hate you for a full five minutes for making them eat beans. He will get over that. And as for crying scarring them for life, it won't."

"How do you know?"

"Because you do not leave him alone, crying for hours in his cradle. You pace with him. You whisper to him."

"But I couldn't cope today."

Remus' face softened. "Come here."

Harry obediently settled into a chair beside Remus' couch and the werewolf reached to grip his hand. Jamie whimpered softly at the loss of contact at his back and Remus tipped his head so that his cheek rested on the soft, downy black hair. "You get help when you can't cope, Harry. There will be plenty of days when that happens. It does not make you a bad father. Quite the opposite actually, it makes you a good one. You recognise your limits and you pay attention to them."

Harry relaxed back into the chair and squeezed the hand that encircled his. "Thanks."

"I recall a very similar lecture once when I was still sick and could barely hold my son without help."

Harry snorted. "That's different."

"No, it's not. But, I am perfectly willing to be Jamie's baby sitter if you are quite sure about his safety."

"Wouldn't trust anyone more," Harry mumbled.

Remus half smiled and freed his hand before retrieving his wand and, holding it in the awkward grip he had somehow mastered, transfigured a soft chair into a bed. "Go and sleep for a while," Remus ordered. "I will wake you when this little one demands food."

"You are sure?"

"Perfectly, Harry."

"Thank you," Harry stumbled to the bed and collapsed onto it. "I shall name my next child after you in thanks," his words were mumbled into the pillow and Remus shook his head.

"No son of yours shall ever bear my name," he warned sternly. "I forbid it."

Harry's half asleep moan was answer enough and Remus smiled before his attention turned back to the baby asleep on his chest. His heart ached. He missed his son. When Teddy was young Jamie's age he had barely been able to move, Harry would place the baby on his chest and then sit on the edge of the bed, just in case… Remus knew it was only a matter of time before holding Jamie because impossible… unsafe. It would break his heart, just like it had with Teddy, to only be able to hold the child while he slept until he could understand that you had to sit still with Remus, that you could not throw yourself around because Remus' hands would not be able to hold you. He could remember Andromeda's cold, contemptuous voice telling Tonks that it would be her own fault if their son was brain damaged because his father could not keep him on his lap…. It had taken six weeks of pleading after that to see Teddy again. He didn't blame her, of course, what she had woken to had been so horribly overwhelming and Andromeda had been the only constant thing in her life. Thinks had improved as Teddy grew older and since David had been in her life Remus found that he was seeing his son more often than ever.

Lifting his hand Remus stroked the dark hair that was nestled into the crook of his shoulder. He was lucky. He had a son who still adored him and he had family. Family that would always love him.

"Professor? Can we come in?"

Remus looked at the two young men who stood in his doorway and nodded slowly. "Do I even want to ask what happened?"

Epius and Eustace exchanged looks before they both shrugged. "Quidditch." They said in unison. Neither seemed particularily concerned about the large bruises blossoming over cheeks and jaw bones.

"Teddy is never playing." Remus muttered as he waved them to the seats opposite him.

Epius snorted. "Good luck with that, Professor! That kid is born to play Quidditch."

"He's right," Eustace agreed. "It's just convincing him that Ravenclaw is the best to play for."

Epius raised an eyebrow. "Ravenclaw?" he scoffed. "You haven't won Quidditch cup for years."

A shrug. "As long as we can keep beating you in half the matches."

"Did you two come here to argue about Quidditch? Or horrify me with your bruised faces?" Remus interrupted.

Two grins and Remus was struck by the thought that if these two had been in the same house, without prejudices, they would have been good friends.

"No, sir, we came to report back to you about the Defense club." Eustace leaned forward. "It's going brilliantly! And all four houses are represented."

"Professor Potter makes us remove house pins and ties at the door and so we are just students." Epius continued. "He said it was your idea."

Remus nodded slightly. "Is it making a difference?"

"To the younger years, yes." Epius shrugged.

"But the older years. There is too much ingrained bitterness." Eustace looked unhappy.

"Do you really think that?" Remus smiled. "Look at you two. Seventh years from different houses and very different families. Yet, you were laughing when you knocked on my door. That gives me hope. Hope because people look to you as examples. I know you won't be as relaxed in the great hall as you are here, but you will, I hope, acknowledge one another. People look up to you. You are both Quidditch captains and despite the fact I never played I know it has quite a cult following."

"You don't know what you were missing out on, Professor." Eustace shook his head sadly.

"I preferred keeping my feet firmly on the ground." Remus retorted.

"So much for Gryffindor bravery." Epius raised an eyebrow.

Remus fought his smile. "So, my two students come here to abuse their poor professor, I see how this is."

Laughter greeted his words. "We actually wanted to know if you would come along to one of the defense club meetings. There is a teacher that represents each house but… well; I think it would be good if you came. The shyer students might feel more comfortable."

Remus nodded. "Of course I will come along. "

"To the next meeting?"

"Yes. Eustace, how is Percy?"

Eustace frowned instantly. "Very quiet," he admitted. "Keeps to himself and his friends now. Doesn't say much and is pretty jumpy."

"Remind him that he is welcome here, won't you?"

Eustace nodded slowly.

"Something has happened?" There was a resigned note in the werewolf's voice and the seventh years exchanged looks.

"Because of what I am?" Remus prompted.

"You are a bloody good professor!" Epius snapped before he flushed.

Eustace, instead of mocking the sharp defense, nodded. "You are. But, there was a rumour, started in Ravenclaw after Percy was hurt, that students who come to see you would be attacked."

"That has not seemed to stop anyone."

"No," Eustace shrugged. "It wasn't hard to squash. That and the prefects have all offered to escort students here if they are scared. But, Percy is nervous of everything now."

"Hmmm. Perhaps I will have Professor Flitwick deliver a letter to him. How are your NEWTS?"

"NEWTS are…" Eustace sighed.

"Nasty," Epius supplied, his voice condescending.

"Exhausting!" Eustace retorted cheerfully.

Remus didn't hide his amusement this time. "At least there is Quidditch."

"Yes and Slytherin is going to be slaughtered this weekend!"

"You wish!"

"Boys!" Remus sounded stern.

"Sorry, Sir."

"You remind me of my friends at school. Except, they argued like this and they were both Gryffindor."

"Which explains it all really." Epius pointed out.

Remus raised an eyebrow. "Enough Gryffindor insults. Have there been any more incidents in your common rooms?"

Epius stiffened while Eustace shook his head. "Everyone is well behaved. Tense, but well behaved."

Epius seemed to struggle for a moment before he spoke haltingly. "If you repeat what I am about to say, Middlemarch, I will hex you inside out with curses my father forced me to learn."

Eustace looked rather shocked at the words but Remus' warning look kept him silent. He nodded once.

"There is still trouble in the common room. People are gathering in groups, falling silent when they see they are being watched. One or two as saying that Lestrange is a hero for not speaking up and telling the aurors about his fellow conspirators."

"Hero! Two of them attacked a third year!"

"I know that! I didn't say I thought it! It's what is being said, fool!"

"Boys!" Remus' voice was sharp. "Enough!"

Eustace nodded. "Sorry," he muttered and Epius blinked, surprised.
"Do you know any specifics?"

"The problem is, I don't think that the students who are talking about it are involved. That would be stupid and they don't seem stupid… not like that."

Remus rubbed his hand across his eyes. "So, it is gaining popularity." His voice was low, troubled. "You should both be very careful; neither of you have been subtle in your opposition."

Eustace shrugged. "I will remain as vocal against them as I have. I've seen the destruction from the last war. I don't want it to happen again." His hands were clenched into fists and Epius regarded him curiously.

"What do you mean 'seen'?" The Slytherin demanded.

"Epius," Remus' voice warned him this time.

Eustace's shoulders hunched slightly and his eyes locked with his professor's. "Do you trust him?"

"With my son," Remus reminded gently and the young Ravenclaw nodded.

"I didn't leave Hogwarts during the last battle. I was frightened and locked myself in a cupboard. They found me afterwards. I watched through a keyhole."

Epius felt ill as he stared at the student beside him. The Ravenclaw exuded confidence and was well liked by his house. He was bright, cheerful and never, by a flicker, would you know of this burden.

"You saw…"

"Yes."

"What happened?"

"Bill Weasley found me and carried me out of the castle when they were clearing the rubble."

Eustace was staring at his feet. Remus moved his chair then, his magic guiding it around the desk until he could reach out and tip the teenagers' chin so the young man met his eyes.

"You are strong," Remus' voice was fiercer than Epius had ever heard. "You survived horrors that no child should see and you are no so vehement in your defense of those who are less fortunate or being targeted by bullies. You are strong, Eustace. Don't let these people take that from you."

"I won't." His eyes flickered to Epius. "If anyone hears about what I just told you…"

"You will hex me inside out with curses your father didn't teach you?"

A ghost of a smile. "Something like that." Remus hand had dropped to Eustace's shoulder and he squeezed gently before leaning back and surveying his students. "I hope you will both write to me when you finish here."

"Write? You will probably get weekly visits and me pleading for you to sort out my life." Eustace grinned, his sunny personality returning as swiftly as it had vanished

Remus smiled and relaxed back into his chair. "I highly doubt that. However, you are both more than welcome to visit once you have finished here. I would think it rude if you didn't." He shifted slightly, in an attempt to ease the ache in his back, and, when a stab of pain shot through his spine, his flinch was involuntary.

"Professor Lupin?" The boys were halfway to their feet when Remus waved their concern away.

"It's nothing," he reassured before he glanced at the clock. "Though, it is almost time for dinner. You two should go ahead, I will see you in the Great Hall shortly."

Concerned looks were exchanged before the seventh years slowly left the room. "Epius!" Remus' voice made the Slytherin pause and turn. "Do not betray his secrets."

"I won't." The young man promised softly before closing the door behind him leaving Remus alone, to summon Giant and a pain potion.