A few days passed and Victoire and Teddy relaxed around his home. They walked around the neighborhood and Teddy even showed her what a Muggle mall was. She bought pretty Muggle clothes and freaked out during a movie. "It's like a really long, talking picture!" she exclaimed. They enjoyed the warm summer weather by sitting outside and playing with the hose. The couple also spent their time practicing magic around the house. Andromeda marveled at the young witch and wizard's skills and was thankful that she could take a break from doing the chores.
The last day came for Victoire to stay, and she packed up her things. Teddy was going to take her home and then immediately leave for his godfather's house. They said goodbye to Teddy's grandparents and Apparated to Shell Cottage. Teddy said hello to Victoire's family, and they promised that in a week his room would be ready. He thanked them and said goodbye. Teddy Apparated to Harry's house where everyone was waiting for him. Lily, James, and Albus gave him a hug and Ginny and Harry took his bag for him. He sat down at the kitchen table, already feeling at home again. Harry's house had always been open to Teddy, ever since he was a little kid. The Potters treated him like one of their own children. They had dinner, and then James and Albus invited the others to play Quidditch in the backyard. Lily shook her head and grabbed Teddy's hand. She dragged him to her room, and he shrugged to the boys. She sat him down on the bed and locked the door. "Teddy," she said firmly.
"Yeah, Lils? Is there a reason you kidnapped me?" he said with a smirk. She laughed and rolled her eyes.
"So I know I need to tell my parents about me and Caspar. But I have no idea what to say…Do you have any advice?" she bit her lip and cocked her hip to the side. "Augh, I mean what if they make us break up?" She sat down next to Teddy and he put his arm around her. Lily was like a younger sister to him; he hated seeing her upset. She never really told people if she was sad so he knew he had to help her now.
"Lily, I've talked to your dad about the Malfoys. He accepts them, and I don't think he'll be mad. I think if you tell your parents that Caspar really respects you and that he treats you well, you don't have anything to worry about."
"Really, Ted? I mean my friends don't even like him. How will my parents?"
"That's not true. I like him." She looked up at Teddy with surprise.
"You do? Why?"
"Because I've seen the way he looks at you. I can tell he cares about you," he said. She smiled and punched him in the shoulder.
"Thanks, Teddy. You're the best." He laughed and punched her back. Lily jumped up and walked over to the door. "Um, do you think you can be there when I tell them? Haha…" Teddy smiled and stood up.
"You got it." They walked downstairs where Harry and Ginny were watching something on their Muggle TV. Lily walked into the living room hesitantly; she grabbed Teddy's wrist and pulled him down onto the couch next to her.
"Hey, you two!" Ginny said. "What's up?" Lily took a deep breath.
"Well, me and Teddy need to tell you something." Harry turned to the kids and switched off the TV.
"What is it, sweetie?"
"Um…" Lily looked at Teddy like she was going to throw up. He motioned his head towards her parents and squeezed her hand. 'You can do it,' he mouthed. She nodded and swallowed. "Well, for the past few months, I have been…I've been seeing someone. And I just wanted to tell you in person. He's a really lovely guy, he respects me and everything, and he treats me wonderfully. Um…Teddy? Teddy can vouch for him." Teddy looked at the Potters' faces trying to read them, but their expressions were blank.
"Yeah, he's a great guy. I've talked to him myself a few times, and he's really nice to Lily. Um, she's made a good choice, and you guys should be happy for her?" He said slowly. Harry and Ginny looked at each other. Harry finally spoke.
"So, who is he?" Lily's mouth opened a few times and she looked at her knees.
"It's Caspar Nielsen." The room was dead silent. After a few minutes of awkward tension, the silence broke.
"Well, I think that's wonderful," Ginny said. Lily's head flew up to look at her mother. "I've heard that Caspar is a very smart boy, and he's a fantastic Quidditch player…Isn't that right, Harry?"
"Yes, yes. Quidditch…" Harry said. The man looked at his daughter and saw her desperate eyes. He sighed and gave a weak smile. "Look, Lily. If you know in your heart that he treats you well, and he makes you happy, I don't have a problem with it. Even though I do have a problem with his family…" he grumbled. Ginny smiled widely and smacked her husband in the arm. Lily was so excited that she barely even noticed. She jumped up and clapped her hands.
"Oh, Dad! Thank you so much. And Mum, you're amazing! I'm so glad! I love you!" She grabbed Teddy's arm again and ran out to the backyard. "That was brilliant, I could never have done it without you!" she whispered in his ear. She threw him a broom and jumped on her own. Albus and James cheered when they joined in the game. They played together for a few hours, and Teddy wearily walked in the house after the games of Quidditch. His muscles ached and he was relieved when Ginny handed him a thick towel and pointed towards the upstairs bathroom. He closed the door behind him and turned on the hot water. Teddy pulled off his shirt and breathed in the steam. He slipped off his jeans and boxers and hopped in the shower. The spicy eucalyptus scented soap made his eyes water. When he got out of the shower, he put on some clean boxers, pajama pants, and a shirt. He called goodnight down the stairs and went into the guest room that was so familiar to him. he dropped his dirty clothes on the floor and fell on the queen- sized bed.
He looked around the room, reliving all the memories he had there. He flashed back to when he was six and he and James were having a sleepover in that room. They had built a fort out of sheets and pillows and Harry lit his wand for them and they stuck it in the corner. They read books and Harry and Ron came and told them stories of when they were kids. Then he remembered when he was ten and Fred and Roxanne played a prank on him. The two troublemakers put firecrackers under his pillow, and when he went to bed his hair caught on fire.
He then went to age thirteen, when he was playing hide and seek with Liam, Victoire, Lily, and Dominique. He had been hiding under the bed and Victoire suddenly ducked under backwards. Her butt was right in his face and she didn't think anyone else was hiding there. He didn't know what to do until she felt him and gasped. She turned around and her face was touching his. "Sorry," she had whispered. His face was red and he couldn't say a word. She laughed and ran out when Dominique's eyes peeked under the bed and she squeaked "found you!". Teddy laughed at the memories. Someone knocked on the door and Teddy welcomed them to come in. Harry opened the door and sat on the bed.
"You've certainly had a lot of memories, huh?"
"I was just thinking that," Teddy said. Harry nodded.
"Hey, I just wanted to say that I'm incredibly proud of you. I never got to say it, but what you did out there…I hear it was legendary. You might even become more famous than me," he said with a wink. Teddy laughed.
"No, it was nothing. I just wish it wasn't me, you know? I don't get it."
"Trust me. I understand." They laughed. "But honestly, thank you for protecting my niece, and thank you for protecting yourself. I'm very proud of my godson." He slapped Teddy on the shoulder and pushed up his glasses.
"Thanks, Harry. That means a lot."
"Well, no problem. And I'm glad you can stay with our crazy family for a few days! I'll let you sleep now, you look exhausted."
"Goodnight, Harry!" Teddy said as his godfather walked to the door.
"Goodnight, Teddy."
The next morning, Teddy woke up later than everyone else. He had a vivid nightmare of Sagitta's attack, but instead of blocking her spells, Teddy found Victoire dead in the forest. He sat straight up and heard everyone downstairs. He went into the bathroom and saw that his face was covered in sweat. He washed his face in the sink, and walked down the wooden stairs. Ginny and James were cleaning up the table and Albus was doing the dishes. "Goodmorning, Teddy!" Albus shouted. "Morning, Teddy," Ginny and James said.
"I saved the rest of breakfast for you here," she said and pointed to a plate on the table. He thanked her and sat down. The eggs were a bit cold, so he heated them with his wand. "Do you like being able to do magic outside of Hogwarts?" Ginny asked as she stacked some dirty plates and handed them to her youngest son.
"Oh, definitely," Teddy said through a mouthful of food. "It's still kind of weird, though." Ginny laughed.
"Yes, I remember feeling strange as well. I felt like at any moment I would see a howler from the Ministry flying in my living room." Teddy nodded in agreement. Just as she had said that, a large black owl flew in the kitchen window carrying three letters. "Hm, that was strange…" she said. Teddy gasped when he read the envelope.
"It's my test results!" he cried. The two boys and their mother dashed to the table and sat down. Teddy gulped as he opened the letter and began to read.
Lupin, Teddy Remus Test Results Sixth Year Gryffindor
Muggle Studies: O
Transfiguration: E
Defense Against the Dark Arts: E
Charms: O
Potions: A
Teddy Remus Lupin will be able to take his N.E.W.T.S. in whichever classes he desires.
"Yes!" he shouted. "I passed all my tests!" Ginny, James, and Albus all cheered. Harry and Lily came in from the garden and asked what all the commotion was about.
"Teddy passed all his tests, isn't that wonderful?" Ginny exclaimed. Harry and his daughter cheered, then Lily's face suddenly dropped.
"Was there only one letter?" Teddy looked at the table and saw two others. One said "Lily Luna Potter" and the other "James Sirius Potter". He held up the letters and Lily dashed out the room. James rolled his eyes and took the letter. He smiled when he read the results.
"I got all O's!" the family whooped and called for a celebration. "LILY! GET IN HERE!" James called. Reluctantly, Lily trudged back in the kitchen and snatched her letter from Teddy. She tore open the envelope and held her breath. The kitchen was silent until Lily finally showed an expression.
"I got 1 O, 2 E's, 2 A's, and only 1 P!" she smiled and held up the letter. Her parents hugged her and congratulated her.
"Not bad, not bad…" Harry said. "Though next time, I want all O's, do you hear me?" He said with a stern look. Lily crossed her arms and finally Harry's eyes twinkled. He picked her up in a bear hug and she screamed. "I know you did your best, Lily-petal. We're all proud of you." She laughed as he set her down and let her mother kiss her cheek. "Now come on, let's have a celebration for our genius children and godchildren!" They all helped Ginny bake three different cakes for the occasion. They set up balloons in the back garden and enjoyed the desserts together. As a treat, Teddy set off fireworks with his wand. They laughed and had a wonderful time, completely forgetting the troubles behind them.
