The rain gave of herself unto the world's ocean, each fragment becoming a part of the body of brine, of the waves and sea-lace. Lupin as he Apparated onto the beach where Shell Cottage, Bill and Fleur Weasley's new home resided. Remus heard each watery gift, softer than the patter on a rooftop, moving in subtle waves of its own according to the wind. He briefly wondered as he paused if this was how music in the world began, how mankind and wizardkind alike had thought to conjure song and dance, by hearing the natural rhythms of nature. Upon the sand, the rain was almost silent, enriching the hue of the sand beneath his shoes. As he climbed the sand dunes towards Bill and Fleur's cottage, something caught his gaze. Curious, he moved forward slightly, wanting to get a closer look at whatever that thing was.

A small pile of stones rested against one of the dunes on a bed of beach grass. As he neared closer to read the inscription on one of them, his heart sank to his stomach. Here lies Dobby, a Free Elf.

"Oh no, not you," he moaned, running a hand through his hair. "I'd hoped…one day, to say thank you, Dobby," Remus croaked hoarsely.

Another strong gust of wind blew, and with it carried the faint heady scent of a rainfall to come later. He couldn't linger too long, he'd promised Dora he would return shortly, not wanting to stay too long away from his wife and newborn son. But first, he had to pay his respects.

As he eyed the grave, Lupin knew without so much as a second thought that whoever had dug this grave for the incredibly brave and selfless little house elf had dug it by hand, opting not to use their magic.

Whoever did it must really have liked you, Dobby, he thought sadly.

Grief. It felt like an emptiness in his heart, a sheer nothingness that somehow managed to take over and threatened to kill him entirely. It gave Remus this heavy feeling, even amidst the immense happiness he felt at the birth of his son. It felt like the weight of the world, or at least his world, which consisted of his wife and family, rested squarely on his shoulders and there was nothing Lupin could do to get out from under it.

It was like this hole in his heart that was the shape of the one he'd lost and made him feel the need to wipe away the non-existent tears he wanted to form, to cry for Dobby the Free House Elf, but he couldn't.

Lupin knelt, his wand clutched tightly in his wand hand, and silently, fighting back the lump forming in his throat that made his words catch in his throat, rendering it almost impossible for him to speak, he conjured a few simple wildflowers to place at Dobby, the free House Elf's grave.

"Thank you, Dobby," he whispered softly. "For saving my wife." Not wanting to linger any longer than was necessary, he lifted his head to the sky, murmuring a silent prayer under his breath, hoping that Dobby could be free and at peace, knowing the little house elf had done so much good.

His respects paid, he chanced one final glance back at the burial site and headed up towards the cottage. The eldest Weasley son and his wife's cottage stood solitary on a cliff overlooking the sea, the walls embedded with shells and whitewashed with the salt air of the ocean. Lupin as he strode up towards the front steps could hear the ebb and flow of the waves, which was somehow strangely soothing to Remus's fragile spirit.

The cold, salty wind whipped about his face as he knocked, his wand clutched in his hand in the event he needed to use it to defend himself.

"Who is it?" came Bill's voice from the other side of the door.

"It is I, Remus John Lupin, member of the Order of the Phoenix, Secret Keeper of the location of this cottage, werewolf, and married to Nymphadora Tonks, Auror at the Ministry!" he bellowed over the roar of the wind, hoping his voice was audible over the gusts of strong wind. "You, Bill, gave me the location of this cottage and bade me come in an emergency." He bit his lip and fell silent, hoping Bill would let him in.

Lupin didn't have to wait long before the door flung open and Bill stepped back a few steps to the left to allow Remus access to enter inside.

Winded slightly from the powerful gusts of wind outside, his breath seemed to stutter in his lungs before he let it go, feeling the tension drain from his body. His breathing returned to normal as he straightened, brushing his hands on his jacket and cloak, making sure of who was there.

Remus could see Harry, Ron, and Hermione at the foot of the stairs leading to the second floor, and for just a moment a pang of guilt pierced his heart as he remembered their horrible argument at Grimmauld Place.

"It's a boy!" he called out, unable to keep out the note of excitement in his voice, nor did he try. "We've named him Ted, after Dora's father!"

Silence. And then squeals of congratulations from the women.

"Congratulations!" squeaked Hermione, practically barreling Ron and Harry over much to their annoyance in her haste to take the steps down, two at a time, so she could engulf Remus in a usually strong, tight hug.

"What, blimey, a—a baby!" Ron said, sounding dazed, as though he'd never heard of such a thing before. But Lupin's gaze was fixed on Harry.

"Yes, yes, she's had the baby!" Lupin replied excitedly, making his way through the small crowd of congratulations, hugging the women, not protesting as Bill motioned with a wave of his arm to join him and Fleur and the others in their small but cozy kitchen for a drink. "I cannot stay long, I must get back," he grinned, feeling and he was sure he looked years younger than he felt. Remus wanted to let the happiness soak right into his bones. He wanted the feeling to stay for as long as it wanted to.

Remus closed his eyes and savored the moment. For the first time in a long time, his body and mind relaxed. In that moment, there were no expectations upon him. He had a wife who he loved and adored more than anything, and a newborn son he would do anything to protect.

"Go on, then," he sighed, half-joking as Fleur uncorked a bottle of wine, pouring them all glasses. To his relief, he met Harry's gaze across the table, and Lupin could detect no tone or sign of animosity there.

He smiled, and Remus felt his shoulders sag in relief. Lupin opened his mouth and had been about to speak, but Fleur quickly interjected.

"'Oo does 'e look like?" the young blonde Frenchwoman asked.

"I think he is like Dora, but she thinks he is like me. His hair was black when he was born, but I swear it's turned ginger in the hour since I left. He'll probably be blonde by the time I get back." Remus paused, thinking of what it was exactly he wanted to say. Finally, he said the only thing he could as he raised his glass. "To Teddy Remus Lupin, a great wizard in the making!" he said excitedly, throwing back his head and draining his goblet in one go. "No, no, I can't," he managed, when Fleur tried yet again to push another glass of wine on him. "I cannot stay. I'll try to bring some pictures in a few days. Tonks will be so happy to know I've seen you all. I'll tell her you all send her your regards," he said softly.

As he rose to leave, hie winced at the stiffness in his joints as Bill and Harry walked him to the front. He zipped up his coat and clutched his cloak he wore around himself tighter for warmth. Remus turned to go, but not before turning towards Harry, who was regarding him cautiously.

"You'll be godfather?" Remus asked happily, clapping Harry on the back, chuckling a little at the young man's expression. How like James he looked sometimes, the resemblance was almost uncanny for Lupin.

Harry was looking dazed and confused. "M—me?" he stammered.

"You, yes, of course. Dora quite agrees, there's no one better!" he laughed. "She wouldn't consider anyone else for this role, Harry."

"I um…yeah, blimey, of course!" Harry managed to gasp out at last.

Remus nodded, feeling relieved and grateful they could let bygones be bygones, and hopefully entomb the memory of that fight in ice, to remember it and look back upon it, to remind himself of what an utter fool he'd been, and to learn from his past mistakes. "I need to get back."

Bill gave a curt nod and a gentle wave as he held open the door for Lupin, who turned and vanished on his heel before Disapparating.

He didn't even have to concentrate and think about where he wanted to go. It was time for him to go home, to his wife and son, where he belonged. True to his guess, baby Teddy's hair was almost blonde by the time Remus returned, windswept, but the happiest he'd been in ages.

Tonks was resting in the guest bedroom of Andromeda's home, so Remus took the opportunity of the peace and quiet to be with his son, gingerly lifting her from her arms and taking the chair next to their bed. He cringed as she rustled in her sleep and blearily opened her eyes. "Hush, sweetheart," he soothed, suddenly feeling incredibly guilty. "I-I shouldn't have woken you. Go back to sleep, Dora. I"m here," he whispered, pressing his lips to hers for a gentle but quick kiss. "Thank you."

"For what?" she murmured sleepily, scooting over to her side of the bed, patting the left side so he could sit. He hesitated, but after a moment, Teddy still clutched firmly against his chest in his arms, followed suit and lay next to his wife, his newborn son resting on his chest as he lay down, collapsing against the pillows.

"For giving me my life back, Dora. The bond that you and I share, love, and now with our son, it's unbreakable, much like an Unbreakable Vow. Well, this is mine. Nothing could ever keep me away from you both."

Tonks smiled, nestling her head into the crook of his arm, resting against his strong, firm chest. She let out a tiny giggle as she quoted one of her favorite Muggle movies. "A day alone, only that would be death, my love."

Remus had to think for a moment. "I think I understand this reference, just...just give me a moment." They'd watched it at Halloween, but he couldn't place the name of the movie, though he remembered the strange husband's quote. "To live without you both, only that would be true torture, and may I never have to," he responded, a smug note of pride in his voice.

"You won't," she promised solemnly, but then she erupted into a wide grin, eager to see if he knew the movie she had just quoted. It was a staple of the days when they'd been dating, the nights often ending at Tonks' flat on the couch for a movie, where they most of the time didn't wind up finishing them, preferring instead to do other enjoyable activities. "You know it?" Tonks asked sleepily, lifting her head just slightly to smile at him. "C'mon, I gave you an easy one!" Tonks joked. When Remus didn't immediately respond, she stuck out her bottom lip in a slight pout. "Addams Family, Rem. The classics, especially at Halloween. You and me seriously need a movie night!"

Her husband grinned. "Might be a while for that to happen again, Dora."

He wanted to drink this moment in, this time with his little boy in his hands. His eyes were more brilliant than he could have dreamed they'd be, his hands more delicate and softer. Teddy Lupin felt so light, born slightly premature at a month early, but to Remus, his son was perfect.

Remus would be his son's protector for as long as he lived and his love for Teddy and Tonks would last for all time, and even until the end. He felt ecstatic as Tonks curled up on the bed next to him, she and Teddy falling asleep in his arms, their dreams coming to them, slowly lulling the happy new family to a pleasant sleep.