Putting his wand back in his pocket Harry sat down. He reached forward to move aside the box of broom repair tools when he noticed another box was placed on top. Curious Harry opened it. Sat on top of a velvet cloth was a rolled piece of parchment with a piece of string holding it together.
Harry, (the letter read)
Presumably you will have just returned to the attic on your birthday. I don't know how old you will be when you read this but nonetheless I wish you all the best for the year ahead.
Teddy was born today. I've left Tonks with her mother whilst she and the baby slept so I could come here. I am so sorry for the way I acted when I last saw you. I was desperate and foolish and I cannot apologise enough for what can only be called cowardice. You were right too put me in my place and I want to thank you for that.
18 years ago, when, thanks to Dumbledore's time defying portkeys I first met you, Dumbledore stopped me as I was leaving. He told me that there will come a time where I am so scared I will risk abandoning everything just to feel secure again. Although there was a memory charm put on us as we left, the day your parents died I remember just that conversation with Dumbledore. Last year, before he died, he reminded me of this. He told me that, when I reach that point I should drink Madam Pomfrey's potion to help me remember your birthday. So I came here.
I am no stranger to feeling scared. Every full moon I am petrified. When the war broke out, when your parents went into hiding, when you were born, when Sirius went to Azkaban. Even when I was on my way to teach at Hogwarts! But never did I feel as though I was at risk of running. However, the conversation with Dumbledore played in my head the last time I saw you. I almost drank the potion then but I waited.
Today I held Teddy for the first time. I can't wait for you to meet him. I want you to be his godfather. But when I held him and felt how small he really was I felt a new kind of fear. One that I don't think will fade. So I left Tonks sleeping, drank the potion Dumbledore gave me all those years ago and came here.
If you are reading this then I guess I was never able to tell you any of this in person.
If you are reading this then Teddy will be without a father.
I saw how much it meant to you to have those few moments with your parents. And I hope that I am able to spend time with my son. But there is a war raging on and nothing is certain. In this box I have placed a few vials. Just a few memories so that, in the case that Teddy isn't able to create any memories of his own with Tonks and I, at least he'll have our memories of him.
If you are reading this having just arrived at the house after being with us all afternoon then I can scarcely begin to imagine how you must be feeling.
Your parents loved you very much Harry, as did all us Marauders (yes all of us).
Don't get up to too much mischief.
Keep an eye on Teddy for me,
Mooney
(Remus J Lupin)
Blinking Harry stood up. He left the rolled up parchment on the box and gazed around the room. He still had his wand in his hand ready to blast away Pettigrew's name. Harry's gaze rested on the beam which read 'Marauder's Headquarters'. He walked up to it slowly raising his wand arm high. Muttering under his breath he added his own inscription. Leaving the pensive and all the vials under the tree Harry left the attic planning to return with a clear head later. Shutting the door behind him his eyes lifted up one last time to the beam which now read:
'Marauder's Headquarters.
Mischief Managed.'