"I never meant for them to die for me. Any of them, but certainly not your parents."

Teddy turned his head to face his godfather as he knelt on the grass in front of two grey headstones.

"You think they died for you?" Teddy shook his head, motioning to the headstones as he continued. "Hate to break it to you, but they died so that the world could be a better place for me."

Harry bit his lower lip, keeping his mouth firmly shut. Of all people, he might know what to say. But he didn't, and wondered if Sirius, though their time together was brief, ever felt the same way with him.

"Look, Harry," Teddy continued. "My parents liked you a lot, I'm sure—wouldn't have made you my godfather if they didn't. You're a big part of the world they died to make better, so in some convoluted way I suppose they did die for you, but with that same reasoning I can argue that they died for Ron and Hermione too. Not bad people to die for," he paused, "but I'm afraid not exactly who my parents were thinking of."

Harry knelt down next to his godson, putting a hand on the young man's shoulder. It was the only time he was ever able to do say anymore: newly sixteen, Teddy now towered over him, clearly having gotten his father's height.

"You're right, Teddy. I'm just sorry, is all. Sorry you never got to meet them. It just feels like it's my fault, sometimes."

Teddy snorted, shaking his head again.

"Oh, Harry, it's a miracle they lived as long as they did, and that has nothing to do with you, and everything to do with them living horribly dangerous lives during equally dangerous times," the boy explained. Harry smiled softly. Teddy was far more mature and level-headed than he had been at sixteen—unsurprising, given the boy's father.

"They'd be very proud of you," Harry insisted. "I know I am."

Teddy's eyes lit up, but Harry couldn't tell if it was because of what he said or something else entirely—it was hard to tell with the Metamorphmagus. At times, Harry would think he was getting through to his godson and Teddy would apologize and admit that he hadn't been paying attention.

"Thanks, Harry. I'm sure your parents would be very proud of you too."

This gave Harry pause. Teddy was hardly ever very serious.

"Could you do me a favor though, Harry?"

"Anything."

Teddy sighed.

"You've already got a set of parents that died for you—just leave me mine, and stop feeling guilty, yeah?"