Chapter 26

March arrived in all its blustery glory. Remus and Tonks expected that it would still be more than a month until the birth, but they grew increasingly antsy. Remus compulsively reread the chapter in his book about what to do in the weeks before the baby was to be born. Tonks was convinced that every time the baby kicked that she was going into labor. Andromeda had her hands full trying to keep the two normally rational and intelligent people calm. The only time she ever chuckled, or even smiled, was when she was watching their antics.

One day Remus returned from a meeting with Kingsley looking as ashen and worn as Tonks had ever seen him. "Is your mother around, Dora?"

"Yeah, she's in the kitchen. I think she was on her fourth pie."

"Sit down. I'll go and get her." When they were both seated on the sofa, Remus paced in front of them. "There's no easy way to say this. I just talked to Kingsley, and he's discovered that Ted was caught, along with Dirk Cresswell and a goblin named Gornuk. They were all summarily murdered." To her surprise, no tears came to Tonks' eyes. She supposed that she knew her father was lost and had spent her grief when he left in September. Her mother was also stone-faced and dry-eyed, although notably paler. "Also, Hagrid has fled Hogwarts. He held a 'Support Harry Potter' Party." Remus allowed himself a grim smile. "No one's seen him since he ran into the Forbidden Forest."

"Any more Muggle murders?" Tonks asked with trepidation.

"Unfortunately, yes. A family of five was killed in Gaddley. It was undoubtedly Avada Kedavra." Tonks shuddered. Andromeda excused herself and went to her room. "I wish we didn't have such news, but on the bright side, if there is a bright side, we've found a new location from which to broadcast."

"Are you sure that's a good idea? The Death Eaters have already gone to Hestia's flat and Dedalus' house. Just the other day Kingsley went home to find everything he owned in disarray. We're lucky that none of them was home when their homes were ransacked. I'm surprised they haven't come here."

"I don't have a choice, Dora. It's been weeks since the last Potterwatch. We have to maintain the morale of the resistance. If we surrender, why should anyone else keep fighting."

"I understand that, but do you have to go personally." If he was going to keep her home, she wasn't letting him go without a fight.

"Yes, I think I do, Nymphadora. We're broadcasting tomorrow."

"I think Kingsley, Lee, and Fred and George can handle it."

Remus sighed. "Ron and the others might be listening. I want them to hear support from as many of their friends as possible. They need to know we're still here, waiting for the opportunity to strike."

Tonks couldn't fault his logic. "Fine. Just be careful. If you don't come back, I'm going to start looking for you."

He blanched. "Tell me you're making a very bad joke, Dora."

"I'm still an Auror, and you're my husband and the father of my child."

"I'll be careful. I'll come back. Please promise me that you won't go looking for trouble if something happens to me."

"I couldn't just leave you to the devices of the Death Eaters." Tonks was indignant, but she didn't know what she would do if Remus went missing.

His eyes hardened into a desperate sort of horror. He cupped her face with his palms. "Please, Dora. I couldn't bear it if anything happened to you or the baby." She wanted to argue, but she had never seen him look quite so haunted.

"All right. I promise I won't go looking for you myself. Just remember your promise to be careful."

"I will." He pulled her to him.

When he returned the next night, safe and sound, Tonks wasn't sure if she had ever experienced such relief.

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As their anticipation increased throughout the month, time defied logic and seemed to speed up.

In the early morning on April first, Tonks, who had gone downstairs early because she was unable to sleep, called to Remus, who was making tea for her. "Remus, I think I'm going into labor."

His answer was unconcerned. "Forgive my disbelief, Nymphadora, but that's the third time this week that you've said that."

"This time I'm pretty bloody sure. My water just broke."

"Oh." Remus paled. But he immediately got himself under control and got in touch with Madam Pomfrey using a charmed galleon that was based on Hermione's trick for the DA. Tonks wasn't in too much pain yet, so Remus helped her up the stairs and into their bed. He woke Andromeda, and they settled in to wait.

Poppy Pomfrey arrived shortly thereafter. Tonks' contractions began, but they were short and widely spaced. Remus simply held her hand and tried to control his own thundering heart. All his insecurities ambushed him at full force. What if he somehow passed his condition onto his child? What if he ended up dying in a battle? Even if he survived, how would he support his family?

He let those thoughts go, though, when Tonks squeezed his hands. He soothed her the best way he knew. He whispered to her and coached her through her breathing.

Several hours later it was almost time. Tonks was panting heavily, and her contractions were long and close together. She couldn't remember this amount of pain before, except maybe after the Department of Mysteries battle. Remus felt sure that his fingers were broken, but he did not release her hand.

Then, the head emerged, and the rest of the small body soon followed. Andromeda Scourgified the sheets and Madam Pomfrey cleaned the baby, whom she declared was a boy. "Theodore. Theodore Remus Lupin," said Tonks, obviously awed as Pomfrey handed her son to her. Remus had never seen a more wondrous and beautiful sight than his wife holding their son for the first time. He was sure that the memory would conjure his next Patronus, if not every other Patronus that he would ever produce.

Andromeda and Poppy left the room, so that the new parents could have some time a lone. Tonks gave Teddy to Remus. He could not believe that they had created something so precious and perfect. Remus examined each finger and toe. He was also amused and delighted as his son's hair shifted from black to shade rivaling the Weasleys'. He returned Teddy to Dora, who looked as if she could happily exist in that moment forever. Remus had always thought that James was exaggerating when he said how Lily glowed directly after Harry was born, but he could not deny that he had never seen his wife look more radiant.

A few hours later Remus found himself standing outside Shell Cottage in the midst of torrential rain. He pounded on the front door.

He heard Bill shout from inside, "Who is it?"

"It is I, Remus John Lupin! I am werewolf, married to Nymphadora Tonks, and you, the Secret-Keeper of Shell Cottage, told me the address and bade me come in an emergency!" The door opened quickly, and he practically fell inside. "It's a boy! We've named him Ted, after Dora's father." He heard congratulations all around, but he still couldn't quite believe that they were all for him.

Sirius came up and clapped him on the back. "That's great news, mate. Although I am a little offended that you didn't name him after me."

"As a consolation, would you be joint godfather with Harry? That is, if Harry also accepts." The young man with unruly black hair and glasses nodded dazedly as Sirius beamed. "I can't stay long. I must get back."

He did, however, stay for a few goblets of wine. "To Teddy Remus Lupin," he said, "a great wizard in the making!"

"A great prankster, more like!" exclaimed Sirius. "Any child of a Marauder and a decent trouble maker like Tonks, born on April Fool's Day no less, is bound to be a prodigious mischief maker." Remus laughed. He hadn't seen Sirius so happy in years; he was glad that his friend finally had his chance to take part in the war effort.

When he returned, he found his wife and son asleep. Teddy was curled against Tonks' chest, and they both looked the epitome of peaceful joy. Remus slid in beside her and gazed admiringly at the small bundle of cloths. Tonks blearily opened one eye and offered Teddy to him. Thus, the three of them fell asleep, happy to let the world pass them by for a night without pain and worry.

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Theirs was a small world. It consisted of Andromeda, Remus, Tonks, and Teddy. But they shared bliss. Seeing her grandson gave back to Andromeda some of her color that the loss of her husband had stolen. For their parts, Remus and Tonks were content simply to feed their son and play with their son and even change their son's diapers. His hair continued to shift, but within a week it became obvious that his preferred, and "natural," color was turquoise. Andromeda remembered fondly that that was when Tonks first began to settle on pink.

One day Remus returned home from an errand. The house was utterly silent, and he felt several moments of panic. But he ran upstairs, his knees creaking all the way. Andromeda saw the look on his face and pointed toward Tonks' refurbished room. His heart melted at the sight that he encountered.

Teddy was lying on the bed, idly wiggling his arms and legs. Tonks leant over him, shifting her hair and eye colors while their son gurgled delightedly. He cleared his throat, and Tonks turned to smile at him. "Look, Teddy! Daddy's home!" He drew nearer and cradled Teddy in his arms.

"Hello, Theodore, it's wonderful to see you. I've been looking forward to holding you all day. I do hope your mummy didn't spoil you too much. We men need to stick together." Tonks mock scowled at him and took Teddy back.

"Don't listen to your daddy, Theodore. He's being a git." Remus glared, not in a wholly mock fashion, at her for using such language in front of their newborn. "I could never spoil you too much. Now, I think we should try to get your hair pink." At Remus' groan, she grinned impishly.

The next weeks passed in a blur of similar moments, but their euphoria was not to last. Exactly one month after Teddy's birth, on May first, Remus was called to battle.

A/N: JKR never specified Ted Tonks' full name, so I decided on Theodore. She also never specified Teddy's birth date. I couldn't resist making it April Fool's Day, because it's so obvious that Teddy will be a prankster like his parents. Some of the Dialogue is form Chapter 25 of DH.