Disclosure: HP belongs to JKR. The storyline, new character development, new events, and new characters are my intellectual property. Glorioux-
A/N Written for the Quidditch League Fanfiction Competition. Prompt: Cowardice. Remus has loved Hermione forever. Too bad cowardice got the better of him; he is so afraid of rejection, he cannot tell her how he feels. Hermione and Ron are getting engaged in a few hours unless four-year-old Teddy comes to the rescue. A/U HG - RL.
TEDDY'S HELP
Remus wanted to run and tell Hermione how he felt, but instead, he stood there, letting Ron take his witch away. He was a coward; as Moony, his inner wolf, observed, 'Face it, you are under a cowardice curse.' Remus explained to Moony that there was no such curse, but what if Moony were right? Maybe it ran in his family; who knew?
Remus knew that Ron was proposing tonight, but he wasn't going to do anything about it. He had many regrets, marrying Tonks, not saving her at the DH, and not telling Hermione how he felt about her. Remus had loved Hermione since he noticed she was a woman. Although his wolf knew she was their mate, Remus denied it, feeling like a pervert. Sirius had confessed he felt the same; and added he was also a coward.
The Marauders were doomed, but he was more unfortunate than the others because he lost her, his mate, his love. Remus couldn't ask Hermione, he reasoned, how could he? He was too poor, too old, and he was a werewolf. He was afraid she would laugh or run the other way as fast as she could.
Remus sat with Teddy on a bench near a forest. "Daddy, I want to go home, " Teddy pulled Remus's hand; his hair was drab green, "I miss my god-mommy."
"Yes, I miss her as well. Maybe we will go and visit her tomorrow." Remus sighed and stood up, to pick Teddy up.
"No, put me down; I want to walk." Teddy squirmed down.
Remus, immersed in his misery, missed his son's resolute face. The last months were the worse of his life; Moony, his inner wolf, was more than angry with him, 'I am tired of talking to you; you had your chances, and you missed them. You are nothing but a pitiful coward. If you had allowed me to talk, we wouldn't be in this fix.'
Before he could do anything, Teddy let go of his hand and ran fast; he was gone by the time Remus could react. Where had Teddy gone? Remus couldn't find him.
Remus went to Hermione, her flat wasn't far, hoping Teddy was there; he wasn't.
"I will go with you," Hermione insisted. "Where were you?" She was anxious since it was getting late, and Teddy was nowhere to be found.
Teddy hid in the woods next to a berry patch, wanting to camouflage his scent. He'd heard Remus talking to Hermione about hiding in places with strong smells, so he could not be found by Sirius's Animagus dog. From his hiding place, Teddy could see them looking for him. All was well until somebody found him, a giant wolf. But Teddy wasn't afraid; he was four and liked dogs.
The dog sniffed Teddy carefully; its head recoiled; cannot be, the wolf thought. Remembering that his cousin had bitten a young boy, he took a chance and changed to his human form. Teddy giggled, "You made magic?"
"Yes, who is your daddy?" The man asked, moving closer.
"Remus Lupin, I am Teddy Lupin," Teddy answered quickly, reaching for the man's stretched hand, moving closer to the stranger.
"Where is he? Perhaps, you shouldn't be here alone." The man was concerned but calm.
"No, I am not alone; my daddy will find me. I was sad and hid from him." Teddy grinned.
They heard Remus calling. The man picked up Teddy, who liked him. Teddy sniffed him, "You smell good; I 'phink' like my daddy." Teddy said, holding on; he patted the stranger's face, "You look like him. Maybe I do too." Teddy changed his hair to blond, like the stranger's hair. The stranger grinned and buried his nose on Teddy's hair. He closed his eyes to enjoy the experience fully.
Remus and Hermione saw the tall blond, dressed in formal wear, carrying assorted weapons hanging across his back. Hermione thought the stranger wore a science fiction uniform, weird. The blond, holding a happy Teddy, sniffed the air and couldn't believe it. His eyes opened in wonderment.
"Was your mother S-Sarah Miles?" The man faltered, asking Remus.
Remus answered, "Yes," now he was curious. What was happening? And why was Teddy so content and relaxed? He usually didn't take to strangers.
"Where is she?" The blond asked.
"My mother died; Death Eaters killed my parents. A long story, I, err, well, my father's old enemy was behind it." Remus grimaced.
The man shook his head, visibly upset. "May I walk with you? An enemy could have killed your son. Best be aware, there are wolves in this forest."
Hermione kept looking at the man, "Remus, maybe he is your relative; he looks like you."
"Who is this young witch? Is she your wife?" The blond asked, checking Hermione.
Hermione blushed.
Teddy said, "She is my god-mommy. I miss her, but my daddy says we cannot pester her since she is going to marry Ron; I don't like him." Teddy made an awful face. Remus wanted to run away. He knew Teddy and worried about what he would say next.
"I see," the man was trying not to smile.
"Yes, I want her to be my real mommy, but daddy says she won't want him because he is where. I am not sure where he is from." Teddy tapped his lip, thoughtful. "He also said he is sick 'wif' a cow 'somefin.'"
Remus hit his forehead, "Teddy, don't be a gossip, please stop." Moony was laughing inside Remus' head, 'Teddy is correct. You are Mr. Coward, or is it a cow?'
The man couldn't stop grinning. Remus wasn't smiling. Damn, Teddy didn't need an audience or encouragement.
Hermione asked, "Remus Lupin, is that true; so how do you know what I will say? You never asked." She tapped her foot and crossed her arms.
Remus took a chance, nothing to lose, time to be a lion, sort of. "If I asked?"
"No ifs, ask, and I will answer." Hermione wouldn't budge.
"Hermione Granger, do I have a chance?" Remus was scared to ask the real question; oh yeah, he suffered from acute cowardice.
"A chance for what?" Hermione lifted her eyebrow. The blond chuckled. He guessed Remus was a big chicken; it ran in the family.
"A chance you might want me; I mean to be with me." Remus could feel sweat running down his back.
"But I am with you, " Hermione flirted.
"Daddy is silly; he means do you want to be my mommy?" Teddy explained, reasoning that was what Remus meant.
The man carrying him guffawed; he couldn't stop laughing. Teddy wondered why the laughter.
Remus decided why not? Teddy's help was just what he needed, "Teddy is right, do you?"
"Maybe, but what are you saying? Exactly, " Hermione wanted a proper proposal; she deserved one. She had liked Remus forever. After the battle, she fell in love with Remus but thought it was impossible; now, she wanted to hear him ask.
Remus held her hand, going on one knee, "Hermione Granger, I barely make ends meet as an Auror, but do you want to be my wife and Teddy's mommy?" Remus spoke without breathing; then, he felt calmer and stood up, still holding her hand.
Ron saw them; he was looking for her. He was late after spending the day with Lavender, now married to Seamus. He was often late to meet with Hermione because of that.
"Mimi, sorry I am late, let's go, or we will miss our reservation." Ron tried to grab her arm.
"Go alone, I know where you were, go back to her. Yes, Remus, yes, yes; I thought it was hopeless." Hermione smiled like never before.
Remus didn't wait for a second; he had already wasted too much time.
Ron blinked. Why was Remus kissing Hermione? Damn, it was an open-mouth wild kiss.
"Why is Remus kissing you?" Ron asked.
Teddy pointed his finger at Ron and said, "You are silly. She is going to be my real mommy, and mommies and daddies kiss like that." Teddy stated and nodded twice.
The man laughed at Ron's outraged face, "Son, scram, you are not wanted or needed." The man told Ron.
Teddy nodded, "'Ascram, asides,' I don't like you. I saw you kissing that 'anodder' nasty witch."
The man holding Teddy couldn't stop guffawing. He was in love with the little wizard; his heart was bursting with happiness.
When Ron left cursing, Teddy screamed, "I'll tell grandma Molly to watch your 'mouf' with soap."
Remus joined the laughter; he was riding high. Hermione laughed as well.
The man said, "I am Sebus Greyback. Please don't run. I am not my cousin. I am not from here; I am from Sweden. Your mother came to visit my country; as soon as I saw her, I fell in love; it didn't matter when your mother told me she was getting married. After some days, I was sure she was mine. No, she wasn't; she left, breaking my heart. She wrote me a letter, saying she had to leave overnight. I suspect Fenrir was behind her quick exit, telling her I was a were, you know." He didn't want to say much more around Teddy, smart wolf.
"Your son is my grandson; he smells like me, same as you do." Once again, Sebus Greyback sunk his nose in Teddy's hair.
"That cannot be I am a were, ahem; you know your cousin,'' Remus coughed and wouldn't say more around Teddy, who was listening to every word. Remus knew better; Teddy never forgot anything he heard or saw, often talking about it, at the worst of times.
"Of course, son, he knew who you were. I wrote asking about Sarah before you were born; he must have cursed you in the womb and then bit you. He doesn't like me because he was angry after our grandfather made me the heir. Hence, I rule over him. I came hoping to find Sarah after my mate died. I didn't have heirs, though I confess I was not often with my mate." Sebus shook his head and continued.
"I can remove the curse, though I suspect that my cousin also did something else; I bet he cursed the pup. Be aware Fenrir is not what he looks like; he is like me. Ask Teddy what he saw." Sebus said.
"He is a wolf, magic, " Teddy nodded, kissing Sebus and stroking his cheek.
"Fenrir saved me at the battle and a few more, but was too late for D…never mind." Remus noticed Teddy listening.
"Maybe seeing you getting hurt made him feel bad." Sebus observed.
A tall man, also dressed fancily, carrying many weapons, approached them.
"You, I don't want to see you. Were you behind Sarah's murder?" Sebus's face hardened, looking stern.
"No, one of my people did it as a favor to me. I hadn't asked, so I had her terminated recently. Sebus, I heard you; you should know that I didn't do anything to the pup. The Dark Lord killed many of my people, including my children. We are the last Greyback, and Remus is one of us; so, how could I let him die?" Fenrir's shoulders slumped.
"Why haven't you lifted the curse?" Sebus didn't trust Fenrir.
"I cannot. Bella damaged my magic. Maybe you can help. Sorry about it. I did scare her and also froze the pup she carried. I am so very sorry; I was afraid to tell you. You know us, the Greyback, we might be fierce but are absolute cowards when taking personal risks." Fenrir looked at his cousin, begging to forgive him.
Hermione said, "Cowards, ah, I see." She grinned, though Remus ignored the remark.
Sebus took a deep breath and considered they were the last Greyback, "I forgive you, we have a pup; hence, we have new hope. Plus, my son is marrying, and more pups might be on the way. So Teddy, do you want the magic to be a wolf?" Sebus asked Teddy.
"Like you? Can I eat people like in the books? Maybe I can eat Ron." Teddy snickered; Hermione rolled her eyes but knew it was best to ignore Teddy. As for Fenrir, he bent his head towards Teddy, breathed deeply, and sighed.
Remus shook his head. "Let's talk later, adults? Maybe we need to go and celebrate."
"I know where, please allow me." Fenrir proposed.
Fenrir asked Teddy to come as well. He was also in love with Teddy.
Teddy sniffed the air. "Okay, you smell good too. But are you mad at me?"
"No, son, just too much sadness." Fenrir ruffled Teddy's hair.
"I know jokes; my mommy is funny." Teddy nodded.
"Your mommy?" Fenrir sounded surprised.
"My almost mommy, my Mimi was my god-mommy, and now is my almost mommy; she kissed my daddy with an open mouth, dirty, yuck." Teddy shivered, grimacing.
Hermione turned bright red.
"My mommy kissed Ron like that too. Hmm, maybe, I dunno." Teddy looked at Hermione, questioning her.
Hermione shook her head, no longer looking happy.
Remus said, "Teddy, enough, come with me now, no more gossiping." Remus took Teddy from Sebus, who wasn't keen on giving Teddy up.
Hermione agreed, "We will walk ahead; he has already heard everything, oh dear."
"Who has?" Teddy wanted to know. "Everything of what?"
The Greyback couldn't stop laughing. But Remus and Hermione didn't join; they knew they had to do something to confuse Teddy a bit. Either that or go away for a few years. Remus wanted to distract Teddy, "Thank you, Teddy. I needed your help; you were right I was a cow-something."
Hermione shook her head, too late. Teddy asked, "What help?"
The group walked laughing and happy. Teddy had helped, reuniting a family and getting a mommy for his daddy. But how to keep him quiet? It wouldn't be easy.
The End