A/N: Thanks to everyone who leaves positive reviews. And thanks- or "thanx" to mindi for leaving the most worthless piece of shit review I've ever gotten. So, this chapter takes place 11 years after the battle. Letters have always been a huge part of my life- I have best friends in different states or countries, and we never see each other. My writing has also been heavily influenced by Nicholas Sparks. "The Notebook" and "Dear John" by him both featured writing as a huge part of the story. If you've never read them, do. I like to think of letters as a way to remember people when they're gone. It's a pretty big part of my story- letters from Moody as he died, and letters that Tonks wrote to everyone before she died. Now, on Teddy's 11th birthday, he is finally given the letter that his mother wrote him when he was only an infant. Enjoy!
It was still early when Teddy awoke. He decided to get up and make his grandma some tea. Rolling out of bed, the boy suddenly remembered what day it was. Today was his 11th birthday. Only falling once, Teddy made his way downstairs. His grandmother had already laid out eggs, toast, bacon and hot chocolate for him.
"Happy birthday, dear!" Andromeda said. She gave him a hug and a kiss. "I heard you fall. Are you all right?"
"Course I am, Grandma. It's only stairs!" he said.
She laughed. "Your mother always said that, too. It amazed me how well she could bounce right up again. She was clumsier than you, by far. Couldn't walk twenty feet without falling or dropping something."
He liked when his grandma talked about his parents. Sometimes, Teddy could pretend that he knew them. Harry and Ginny told stories to him, too. Though they served as a reminder for what he didn't have, the boy wasn't lonely. His grandma, the Potters, and the Weasleys showered him with too much love for loneliness.
"What time are Harry and Ginny coming?" he asked, munching a bit of toast.
"At noon. You'll need to clean your room, but I have a present for you first."
"Shouldn't we wait for everyone?" he asked, puzzled.
"No. This one's special."
Teddy finished his breakfast in silence. When he had eaten, Andromeda handed him an envelope. It was yellowed with age. Turning it over, Teddy concentrated on reading the words scrawled on paper in purple ink.
To Teddy Remus Lupin to be opened on his eleventh birthday"Your mother wrote it before she died," Andromeda explained. "Would you like to read it alone?"
When he nodded, she slipped out of the room. With trembling fingers, Teddy opened the envelope. Inside were pages of purple ink. Bending over it, Teddy began to read. The letter was dated 3 days before his parents' death.
Dearest Teddy Bear,
If you're reading this it means I'm gone. Yesterday, Bill and Arthur came to visit. Your dad sent me upstairs but I snuck back with my Invisibility Cloak. The Death Eaters have taken over. The Order is planning one last battle. Your dad will probably try to make me stay home and take care of you. I'm not going to. My cousin Sirius Black and I were both given one trait of the Black family. We're fighters, all of us. We can't stand by and watch a battle take place from the sidelines. For Sirius, that strength in the end led to his downfall. For me? Well, if you're reading this, it probably led to mine, too. I guess I should say sorry for leaving. No, that came out wrong. I didn't mean it like that. There is only one person I love as much as you, and that's your dad. Some people may say that I made a choice between you and dad and chose dad. Never, ever think that that's the case. You have to understand the times. There's no hope. Spring is here, full of new life but equal amounts of death and despair. We have one last chance to make it better. I left because I couldn't bear the thought of having you live in this world. I don't know what it's like now. Maybe we lost- no, probably we lost- and the Death Eaters are in rule and I don't even know if you're alive because dear Auntie Bella, as she is fondly known, is doing her best to make her family tree pure again. If by some miracle we lost, you are probably confused and a little scared because of how casually we discuss death and how real and close it seems. I'm sad to say that that is our world. Before you were born, I was sitting on the couch one day when your grandma came to tell me that my father had been killed by Death Eaters. We couldn't even have a funeral because we didn't want to draw attention to ourselves. Your grandfather was a good man, much better than those who killed him. He never deserved to die, and at the very least deserved more recognition than he got. People are funny. To them, someone like Bellatrix Lestrange or Lucius Malfoy is better than someone like your dad. You probably know by now that your dad was a werewolf. You will probably face teasing for that- I certainly got my share. But never, ever, even for a minute be ashamed. Your father had flaws, like everyone else, but an untreatable disease wasn't one of them. Would you prejudice someone for having a peanut allergy or an untreatable clumsiness? Of course not. Lycanthropy is no different. Actually, I don't even know if your dad is alive still. If he is, be sure and take care of him. Sometimes he needs reassurance that he's good enough. But he is, and don't ever forget that.
I'm wasting time and paper. I'm sure in a little while, your infant self will need something so I should make this quicker. I don't pretend to be wise or qualified enough to give you too much advice. But in this life, I have learned one thing that you need to remember. Live each day as if it is your last. You never know when it will be. Imagine if your interactions with people were the last you would ever have. Love and take chances and never ever be afraid of confronting your fears.
I love you so much. The thought of leaving you is a horrible thing but I know it will be worth it if I help to win this war. There are so many things I wish I could tell you, but it isn't really important. Live, love, laugh, and learn. Those are the best pieces of advice I can offer. Make your own mistakes and you'll soon figure it out.
I don't speculate about the afterlife. Besides the ghosts, I don't pretend to know where the dead go. But there is one thing I'm sure of. One day, we'll meet again and get to know each other for real. I hope to see you soon, but not too soon. After all, what's a century out of an eternity? I know how much I am repeating myself when I say how much I love you but it's really true, all of it.
Love, Mum
Teddy put the paper down. With one finger, he traced over the last two words again and again. Love, Mum, Love, Mum.
