Wow. At time of update, I have 393 reviews on this story, and I'm in shock. In a good way, obviously. This is my most reviewed story, so thank you all.

The final chapter should be up on Wednesday, then, unless something comes up to stop me getting on the computer. I'd've put it up tomorrow, but I'm at college all day.

Chapter 21

"Teddy! Victoire's here!"

Teddy jumped at the sound of his godfather's voice, and swore quietly.

Victoire wasn't an easy person to get rid of. And he wanted to be alone right now.

He walked down the stairs slowly, and into the living room, where everyone was gathered. All turned to look at him as he walked in, which make him feel awkward.

"Hi!" Victoire said brightly, apparently oblivious to the way everyone else was watching him apprehensively.

"Hi. Not a good time." Teddy said flatly. "I'll come round to yours sometime, OK?" With that, he walked past her, into the kitchen and out of the back door.

"What was that about?" Victoire asked, turning to Harry and Ginny.

He'd needed to get outside, needed the air. It was cold out here, and he hadn't stopped for a jacket, but he didn't care. The colder the air was, the fresher it felt, right?

He felt a little guilty now, as he walked to the end of the garden and leaned against the tree Victoire had once fallen out of. Because his voice had been harsher than it should have when he'd spoken to Victoire, because after the surprise and before the confusion, he'd seen the hurt that flitted over her face.

He was annoyed, but not altogether surprised, when he heard her voice. He'd expected her to follow him into the garden.

"Teddy?" It was all she'd said, just one word, and he spun round to face her, trying to keep his voice flat, his face blank.

"I said it's not a good time. Go home."

"No." She lifted her head, jutted out her chin. Challenging, he thought.

It was tempting to take out his anger on her, but he fought for control.

"Yes. Just leave me alone. I don't want to talk to you." He turned away from her, took three steps before she grabbed his arm in a painfully tight grip.

"Don't walk away from me. Don't you dare." He turned back to her, and was a little alarmed at the anger on her face. "You don't have to talk, Teddy, but you'll damn well listen."

He would never, ever, for anything in the world, have admitted that he was scared of her. It was a shameful secret he'd take to the grave with him.

But as she stood glaring at him, eyes blazing, with her death-grip on his arm, he was terrified of her.

"Uncle Harry said you've been shut up in your room all yesterday afternoon and today. In other words, since Andromeda came to see you."

"Well maybe Harry should keep his mouth shut."

"What the hell did she say to you?" When he said nothing, she shook her head. "I think I can guess. Do you think you're hiding it? Jeez, Teddy, you're like an open book. It's all over your face. She asked you to go live with her, didn't she?"

"No." He said it quickly, too quickly, auto-matic denial.

"She did. Or she mentioned it as a possibility. And you're out here, all angry and ashamed, and you've been shut up in your room, because you were tempted, weren't you?"

"No." He said it even faster this time, is voice a little too high, slightly panicked and very guilty. She ignored him.

"Just for a second, you were tempted. Because she's a link, isn't she, to your mother? She's family, real, blood, family, and for a second you were tempted."

He didn't even bother to deny it. She'd just ignore him.

"So you're all guilty and mad at yourself, because you feel like you've betrayed Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny, don't you?"

"Yes! Yes, I do, because when she said I could live with her if I wanted, I actually considered it! Considered going off with this stranger just because she happens to be my mum's mother. After everything Harry and Ginny's done for me, after they've brought me up, I actually thought about leaving them!"

And the guilt still burned him. He couldn't face them, of course he couldn't. He couldn't face himself, he'd been going crazy shut up in his bedroom for the last twenty-four hours, going downstairs to eat in silence while he avoided looking at any of them.

How could he have thought of leaving them? After everything they'd done?

"For how long? A second? Half?"

"I - I don't...It doesn't matter how long. Harry and Ginny are more family to me than she's ever been, ever will be. They're my parents! In every way that matters, Harry and Ginny are my parents! You know what? I realised yesterday - when she came - I realised why Harry doesn't like to talk about her. You know I always thought he was mad at her? Well, that's not what it is. He's scared."

He saw he'd surprised her. The anger on her face faded, turned to thoughtful confusion.

"He's scared, he's always been scared, that she was going to come back and take me away. Do you know how they'd've felt if I'd left?"

"But you didn't, you didn't leave! You never would have. Do you think Uncle Harry or Aunt Ginny would be mad or upset that you'd thought about it for one little second? If I'd've come here today and been told you'd gone of to live with her, I'd've hunted you down and cursed you until you're ears bled. But you didn't, you wouldn't. For god's sake, Teddy, she's your grandmother, of course you thought about it!"

"Harry's always said family's not about blood. It's about - about love and trust and - and stuff like that. She's just a stranger, blood or not."

"Yeah, she is. But do you think if - if Uncle Harry's grandmother came out of nowhere, he'd just dismiss her? No, he'd be curious. And, OK, so she's not your family, not really. Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny and everyone are, and she's just someone who you happen to be related to, like...like Bellatrix Lestrange. Like you said, like Uncle Harry said, it's not about blood, not really. But she brought your mum up, didn't she? She could tell you about her. That's why you thought about it, isn't it? Not because she's related to you, because she knew your mum." He saw sympathy now, and understanding, instead of anger. And she finally let go of his arm.

"So did Harry and Ginny, so did your parents." He replied, rubbing a little at the place she'd gripped. It was going to bruise. "So did lots of people."

"It's not the same, is it?" She said softly. "You shouldn't ever go live with her. She doesn't deserve you to. And maybe you should feel just a little guilty for considering it. But you should still be able to face them. And there's nothing stopping you talking to her - Andromeda - every now and then, is there? You're not going to go live with her - I won't let you - but you can see her sometimes, can't you?"

"Yes. I guess."

"OK. Well, I'm done. So, if you want to stay out here sulking -"

"I wasn't sulking!"

"- I'll leave you alone."

"Hey - wait." He grabbed her arm before she could turn away from him. "Thanks. You're right. I'm OK now."

"I'm always right." She replied, smiling. "Are you coming inside?"

"In a minute. I just want to stay out here and..."

"OK." That, he thought, was the best thing about having someone who knew you so well. You didn't have to explain yourself, justify yourself, to be understood. "I'll see you inside."

"Wait." He hugged her. "Thanks. Again."

"Welcome." She replied, and drew back. He rubbed at his arm again.

"That's gonna bruise you know." He told her, looking down at the faint red marks.

"Yeah, well." She smirked. "Maybe next time you'll just listen, instead of trying to walk away."

"Maybe I will." He murmured, but she was already striding towards the house. He watched her go, smiling a little.