Everything is blue

His pills, his hands, his jeans

And now I'm covered in the colors

Pulled apart at the seams

And it's blue

And it's blue

(Colors by Halsey)

James:

Ever since James could remember, Teddy Lupin had been the most important person in his life.

Of course he loved his mother, because he was clearly the favourite one and would fight his siblings for that position, and he adored his father who would constantly play and joke with him, as well as loving his Godfather Ron and Godmother Hermione, but when it came to Teddy… it had always been different.

James doted, adored, loved and was completely overjoyed when Teddy was around. Teddy, who was always ready to help him create as much mischief as they could; Teddy, who always had enough time to hear everything James wanted to tell him, not caring about how childish or ridiculous it was; Teddy, who never expected James to be the perfect older brother.

How could anyone pretend him not to love Teddy with every inch?

If James was honest, he never truly understood why his parents expected him to be caring for Albus and Lily. Sure, they were his siblings, but so they were Teddy´s. And with Teddy being older, shouldn´t he be the one giving example rather than James?

He was nearly six when that answer arrived.

"Why does Teddy have to leave at the end of some weeks?" He asked his father, helping him preparing dinner one evening.

"Because his grandmother also wants to spend time with him, James" His father had explained, resisting the urge to smile "Teddy already spends many nights with us"

James had scowled "But then he is away toooo long" He wailed, crossing his arms over his chest "Mom and you never send Lily or Albus or me away, even when I caused Kreacher a panic attack after I accidentally sneezed on top of him" His father had definitely laughed then, trying to look serious because James was still punished for it "Then why does Teddy leave us so often?"

"James, Teddy legally lives with Andromeda. We made a deal a few years ago regarding me getting to spend some weeks with him as his Godfather"

That completely struck James as lighting. "You aren´t Teddy´s dad?!" It was scandalous. Terrific. Horrible. His entire life had been a lie!

His father seemed to be surprise as well "James you know I´m not Teddy´s dad" James didn´t miss the pain his father felt by saying so "Even when I love him like I love the three of you, I´m not Teddy´s dad. But he´s as good as my son in every way but blood."

Merlin´s armpit, what else had they told him that was a lie? Was Albus´s hair now ginger rather than black? Was Lily actually good at singing rather than having the same amount of talent that a dying squirrel? Was he RESPONSIBLE now? He needed to sit. Merlin and Morgana, this was too much for him.

"Who is Teddy´s father then?" He asked, wanting to know everything he could about this mysterious man who kept stealing away his Teddy.

His father sighed "Teddy´s father was Remus Lupin. That´s the reason why his second name is 'Remus' and his last name is 'Lupin' rather than 'Potter'."

He frowned, tracing some freckles from his right arm "I´ve never seen this 'Wemus' mate, when can we know him?" Oh, James wanted nothing more than to know him. They needed to talk about allowing Teddy to stay for longer than two weeks.

"James, I don´t fancy having this conversation right now"

"But I want to know him!" He started, crossing his arms against his chest again "We can invite him over to dinner! Him and…" Oh, If his father wasn´t Teddy´s father then obviously his mother wasn´t Teddy´s mother "and Teddy´s mother too! Wouldn't it be great?"

His father had stopped to peel the potatoes, glancing over at James with those shiny green eyes only Albus had inherited. It was one of those times when his Papa looked very serious and strict, the same way he acted since being named head of the Auror department "James, do you remember where your grandparents are?" The boy nodded, allowing his father to continue "Teddy´s parents are in the same place, I´m afraid."

James wasn't dumb. He knew his grandparents were dead even when he couldn't completely understand the concept of dead. And if Teddy´s parents were also…Oh, Merlin.

His father must have sense the change in his behaviour because he sit next to him, silently waiting for James to process the information. After a few minutes the only thing he could say was "Does Teddy know?"

"Yes, Teddy knows it. And I would appreciate if you do not bring up the situation with him, can you James?"

The ginger boy muttered a low 'Yes' and the conversation ended as abruptly as it had begun. James, as loyal as ever, promised himself he wouldn't ever bring the situation with anyone in the family.

It turned out to be the most difficult thing he had ever done in his life, James realized, barely a week into pretending to not know Teddy´s secret and sad situation.

It wasn't that he wanted to speak to Teddy about his parents or had the urge to force the boy to tell him how he felt about them, he simply… felt wrong. James, who usually didn't mind his mother pampering him around had suddenly become very aware of her actions and the repercussions he must have never noticed it were having on Teddy. Did the blue haired boy ever felt mad at him for having a mother while he didn't? Or every time his father played with them to the Tag you´re it, did Teddy felt envious?

James wanted to ask him about it, but with Teddy finishing his first year at Hogwarts and not being able to return until the third week of June, a few days before James´s birthday, it was nearly an impossible task. He didn't particularly wanted to write it down on a letter, not when everything Teddy sent him was about the new friends he had made, how he had managed to become Quidditch commentator after a boy from Ravenclaw had been hit by a Bludger, the amount of trouble his friends and him had gotten into and the typical "James, mate, I wish you could SEE the stuff we´re doing".

Teddy seemed happy, content and didn't really look as if he despised James for the single thing of having parents, so why should he ruin his good mood?

The only one he could speak about what was bothering him was his elder cousin, Victorie, who was also a very close friend of Teddy, giving thought that both had literally weep when their blue hair friend had gone to Hogwarts in September, though James would deny it with sword if someone asked him. The problem was that James, strangely, didn't want to share this feeling of knowing something disturbed Teddy with the half veela girl.

It was already bad enough when Victorie involved herself in the games he played with Teddy for now to give her another reason to be constantly searching the metamorphmagus.

So this left James feeling uncertain of which attitudes of his had displeased Teddy, watching his every move and wondering what could he do to help him.

The answer, like a miracle itself, appeared during a lovely night of July.

Ever since he had arrived from Hogwarts, now having met proper wizards and witches of his age, Teddy seemed even more eager to show James all the tricks he had master for creating mischief.

"You should meet my friends very soon" He had practically yelled at the boy, unable to stay still from the excitement "Cygnus and Hope are the best people in the world! It´s like having a fabric for prank ideas constantly going on"

James had also felt happy for Teddy, who had decided to stay with them the first weeks after returning from Hogwarts. James had been behaving strange with his parents still, careful to not be too touchy or show an affection for them that might make Teddy uncomfortable.

He didn't want to believe Teddy might be angry with him, especially not since the boy had gifted him special sweets from Hogsmeade that he had gotten by sneaking out the last night of the term. James had been gaping when he saw the gift, Teddy giving him his best wolf smile and simply saying "It was too much of a temptation not to try."

It had certainly made the situation more difficult for James, who had the sudden urge to create a solution for Teddy´s tribulations regarding parents. But what could he possibly offer? What option could James give Teddy, who had been left without one from such a young age? And then, during a family dinner while Teddy was making faces in order to make Lily laugh and eat her vegetables, a revelation hit him hard enough he could have fallen out of his chair.

His parents had already admit to him that they loved Teddy as a son. Albus and Lily clearly loved Teddy like a brother, possibly as blind as James had once been regarding the fact that Teddy wasn't related to them. And James would be more than happy to finally accept the Metamorphmagus as an official member.

It was brilliant! The greatest idea he had ever conceived.

It wasn't until midnight, when James couldn't wait anymore to tell Teddy about this new and amazing possibility that he decided to tip toe to the other boy room.

While walking down the dark hallway he checked that his parents were sleeping, careful that they wouldn't walk while he was explaining Teddy the magnificent plan he had. James also checked that Albus and Lily were sleeping, because they were both invasive little shits and James wanted to be granted the whole idea.

Albus was sleeping with the covers fully on, as calm as how he was when not being sarcastic or commenting creepy things he had read from books Godmother Hermione had given him. Then he checked Lily, who looked as if she had fought against the sheets, with one of her legs slung across the bed and her red hair sprayed and tangled all over her face.

At last, James finally reached his location. Teddy was sleeping soundly, his hair a sandy blonde colour James rarely saw on him and that made the boy looked weird. It wasn't that James didn't like his natural hair colour but blue, well, blue was the signature of Teddy. It was very easy, at least for him, noticing if he was sad because his hair radically change.

"Teddy" James whispered, shacking the boy.

"Mmmm, don't wanna go to History of Magic class." Teddy muttered, hugging the covers.

"Wake up, Lupin, this is important" James, realizing small efforts would do no good, decided to climb on top of the guy and start shacking him with full force "Come on, for Merlin´s sake, wake up!"

Teddy opened his eyes with a groggy look, as if deciding if it was too early to commit a murder "James, are you serious?"

"I´m not here to discuss my second name, just wake up!"

Teddy moaned, pushing James aside in the bed and sitting, his hair in all directions and giving him a very Medusa look. He yawned, looking around to try and understand what could have made the boy go to his room so late "Did you broke a glass again?"

"No, but…"

"Then, did you hear something under your bed that you want me to verify is not a spider?"

"No, just listen…"

"James, if you sneaked a goat in the house again I´m going to…"

"TEDDY" The boy claimed, carefully watching that no one had gotten up "I want to speak to you about other thing. An important thing."

Teddy watched the clock, whispering something that sounded similar to "I swear to Merlin and Morgana´s corpses, if you woke me up at midnight and it´s not important I´m going to pull some vomit flavoured bertie botts in your breakfast" But because Teddy was yawning, it sounded more like "Going to ´ull some ´mo´t fl´vo´red bertie ´otts"

Teddy sat and put his hand against one hand, crossing his legs and looking at James intently while making his eyes bright yellow, because of course he had to make his threat look dramatic.

"Look, I´ve been thinking about it for a long time and I finally found a solution" James started happily, ignoring the fact that Teddy looked as if he was falling asleep. James, politely, kicked him in the leg "Pay attention!" He pouted.

"I am, I am" Teddy muttered, laughing "The things I do for you, honestly. I don't get paid enough for this"

"You don't get paid at all" James yelped, reminding himself of what had he come to do "Listen! I´ve been knowing about it from a time now and I thought of how bad it might be for you, so obviously, I came to your aid and I have finally found the perfect solution for all your miseries"

Teddy looked truly confused "James, what are you talking about?"

"My parents are going to adopt you!"

"WHAT?"

If Teddy hadn't woken up, he was truly awake now. His eyes were wild and his hair was a vibrant purple that made him look like a disco ball.

James smiled brightly "Isn´t it wonderful? You are going to finally stay here all the time, you will be the big brother officially, and my mom and dad will be your mom and dad. Don't you like it?"

"No!" Teddy shouted, making James jump. Now it was James´s brown eyes the ones that were wild eyed "My God, Jamie, what are you talking about? Where did you get this lunatic idea out of?"

James had prepared himself for various reactions: Teddy hugging him, telling him he was the best and being excited about becoming his official brother, with an unlimited bonus of doing James´s chores the rest of his life as a payback being on the top of the list. But Teddy looking sad and angry, yelling that he didn't wanted it wasn't on it.

"But- but I thought you wanted to have parents" James hadn't meant his voice to sound so depressed and low, but he couldn't help it. What had he done wrong for Teddy to be so angry with him? Wasn't he helping?

Teddy noticed it, immediately calming himself and forcing his hair to recover the characteristic turquoise colour "James I-I… of course I want that, but I already have parents"

James scowled "But they are with my grandparents! Don't you want someone closer to you? Someone who can take you to the park and play and buy things to you?"

"I do"

"Then why don't you like my idea?" James was hurt. If Teddy desire to have a family, what was so wrong about sharing theirs?

"It´s not that I don't like it" James scowled again "Oh, stop that, you looked like a cow. Look, what you described- I know that many children want that- but… but I don't want to replace my parents" Teddy ran a hand across his hair, making it look as if he had wrestled with his pillows "I´m the last Lupin around, my father didn't exactly believed he would have children one day and my mother was an only child who probably believed she would have more time to have a family; nobody was expecting what happened- it´s not like you can figure out this things- but…but I am their son. And I like when people discover that."

"Even when they are not around anymore?"

Teddy smiled, rolling his eyes "Yes, James, especially because of that. Being adopted would mean that I´m trying to change them and what they went through. Don't get me wrong, I love Godfather and Ginny but…"

"It´s not going to be the same" James finished, not resisting the urge to laugh until Teddy was looking at him as if trying to discover if he had went mad. When he had finally calmed down, rolling around covers until he was under them with Teddy he said "I was murdering my conscience, I tell you, and murdering it by thinking you resented me for having parents"

"You still have a living conscience? I thought that one had died with your common sense after you tried eat earth to become a plant" Teddy turned around before the pillow hit him in the face, James cursing his half werewolf reflexes. The blue haired boy laughed too, throwing himself against the pillow and turning around to look at James "I wouldn't, just so you know. Hate you for that"

"Good to know" James muttered, glad to see the gleam in Teddy´s eyes intact "Thought I do not longer know what to do with the presentation I had prepared. I even had confetti and everything with a poster that said 'Make Teddy my older brother' in rainbow colours."

Teddy had truly laughed so hard then that his hair was a bright yellow, making him look like a lantern. "I didn't knew how badly you wanted to renounce to your primogeniture tittle"

"It wouldn't be so bad. I´m still older than Al and Lilu for molesting them freely"

Before more words could be exchanged, thought, Lily´s voice resounded in the hall "It´s half past midnight, you idiots! Be quiet!"

James and Teddy laughed again but soon after they both fell asleep.

And as years went by, James promised himself that he would always do whatever was in his hands to make Teddy feel appreciated for the family he had and the one he had lost.

After all, James might like Teddy with blue hair but it was also good to see him smiling freely with a bright yellow.