Here is the 16th full chapter in Book 5, released on time as promised. Again there isn't much to say as this chapter is the aftermath of the news of the last chapter as we continue the current arc in Book 5 and we close in on what is going to come very soon, this just has to happen before then. As such I will leave it here and as there isn't anything to respond to that means that it time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the 16th full installment of Avatar: The Tale of Harry. Book 5: Duty.
Disclaimer: As always I own nothing related to these two great works of fiction.
Chapter 16
Two weeks had passed since Remus's death and it was finally time for the funeral service to take place in the Southern Air Temple. It had been a hectic 2 weeks for the Avatar, but Harry had done what was asked of him without hesitation, it was what Remus deserved after his long life of service to the world.
After Luna had told the rest of the Western Air Temple the news of Remus's death she'd called a meeting with her Council of Elders and left Harry, Ron, and Ginny to continue sorting things out with Louis and Lorcan. Luna had called the meeting so that the Council could coordinate how the travel to Remus's viewing would work and determine lots for any airbender wishing to attend the funeral as the general admittance would be limited after those entitled to be present at it, so they used a random draw for that.
While Luna was doing this, the rest of Team Avatar had basically come up with a plan to use the two-week mourning period to their advantage despite the seriousness of what was going on. They were going to be there for almost all of it, so it was the best place to ask important members of the Air Nation or airbenders who held prestigious posts outside of the nation about their feelings on Remus.
During the questioning Harry was constantly truth seeing to help determine who they could rely on should the schism they expected occur and Ron would make a list of where they believed people stood. Then, during the mediation period before Conclave, they would coordinate with Louis about what to do about it.
During this time, Luna, Davies, and Bexley, the three voters they knew they could trust, would have to stay out of it but as they were in their rooms meditation period that wasn't too hard to accomplish that part. Before then, during the two weeks of mourning, the National Council ran the Air Nation, so it was best to leave them to their duties while those not part of the Air Nation and people like Louis continued preparing for after Conclave.
In that vein, they had left in the Avatar's airship the night they got the news while the rest of the Western Council of Elders coordinate the trips for the Temple members though Luna was with them but only in her capacity as Head Abbess. They flew through the night which meant that Luna was the second of the voters to reach the Southern Air Temple after Davies who was already there and coordinating the viewings for the members of his Temple as they would go first.
Despite this, Davies took the time to greet them when they arrived as Harry was the Avatar and he was the Head Abbot, so it was expected of him to do so and then escort them to their guest chambers in one of the small side towers of the Temple. It was easier to house the World Leaders in the smaller towers while the high ranking airbenders and other visitors stayed in the main tower. It meant that Luna and Ron had to be separated but they were fine with it given the circumstances of what both had to do while at the Southern Air Temple.
For the rest of the fortnight, Harry, Ron, and Ginny got to work greeting the dignitaries from all over the world who came to pay their respects and helping as best they could with the arrangements for the funeral though for the most part the Air Nation handles those alone. Due to this, it wasn't until the last night that Harry and his friends, along with the other World Leaders in a private ceremony, had the time to enter the Great Hall and view Remus's body before Davies and Teddy made the final preparations for the funeral.
Harry didn't say anything, he was saving that for the funeral, but he did take his time to have one last look at Remus. The man who he'd known his entire life lay on a special wooden dais that had been constructed for such a purpose. His body had been preserved to prevent decomposition using ancient Air Nomad techniques and was surrounded by wild flowers collected from the mountainside and incense torches burning to add to the somber atmosphere.
Remus looked peaceful as he lay there. He was in his finest robes with the pendant around his neck, his hands crossed on his chest as he laid in state for all to pay their final respects to. The pendant would be removed and stored in a special vault for the next Archabbot before the funeral and after Harry left Remus would be prepared for his funeral as he would be the last to see the late Archabbot. No tears had been needed though. Remus may have been murdered but he'd lived a good, full, life so Harry didn't feel the sorrow of his loss as hard as he might have had it occurred decades prior.
Now it was the day of the funeral though and the Great Hall was packed for it. The flowers and incense had been removed but the dais remained. However rather than how he'd been presented for viewing, Remus's body was now wrapped head to toe in a special burial shroud of red, orange, and yellow with the symbol of the Air Nomads stitched in gray in the center. After the funeral, it would be taken and laid in the tomb next to his wife who'd passed away 10 years ago.
The room itself was filled with airbenders from all 5 Temples, members of the ANDF, nomadic ones, and teachers from the Elemental Academy who had crammed into the area in front of the dais. As was tradition they didn't sit in seats but rather on the floor in silence as they waited for the service to begin. The only seated people were those behind and to the sides of Remus's body.
In the area behind Remus several rows of chairs were arranged though each was such that there was space on either side of each chair. Directly behind Remus, in a row sat the 5 Head Abbots, the 4 other Abbots on their respective councils sat directly behind them in order of seniority so that it was 5 rows deep, along with the Head of the Air House and Marshal Bexley on either side of the Head Abbots. Behind the later two were other honored guests like Quirke who sat behind Bexley, but it was only airbenders behind the dais.
The World Leaders sat on either side in chairs creating a flanking of the dais so that a square of sorts of empty space surrounded Remus's body. On one side sat the three Water Tribe Chiefs all in their formal bests but without any signs of office out of respect. Behind each were the special guests they got to invite like Ron and Ginny who sat in the rows behind Dominique. It was the only way they could be here.
On the other side sat Firelord Ursa, President Teddy, and King Xiang, again with their guests behind them like Victoire who sat behind her husband and not with the other airbenders. The only person who wasn't seated and was instead standing in the space designated for speakers was Harry. He'd been asked by the Air Nation National Council to run the funeral as the Avatar and Harry was not going to turn it down. His speech may be last, but he was going to open and close this ceremony.
"Thank you all for making it." Harry began as the time to start came. "It is touching to see so many airbenders present to say one last farewell to Archabbot Remus, as well as to see all the World Leaders and other honored dignitaries present for this somber event. It shows how united and together the world is that we can all be here today to celebrate the life of one of the most important and noble men of the last century."
Harry paused to let his words sink in and looked out to the airbenders seated in front of the body. Many were stoic as airbenders were taught to be, but he could see several crying or trying to contain it as human emotion was only natural to be upset at this. It was clear that Remus had touched many people's lives in his century of life, and it made Harry happy that his friend had been so loved.
"I will save my words about Remus for when it is my turn to speak." Harry said. "For now, I will turn over to the first of the three speakers today who will talk about Remus and his own relationship with him. Head Abbot Davies knew Remus for almost his whole life, but I will let him tell you that. Davies."
Harry turned and stepped away to stand to the side so that Davies, who sat in the middle seat of the 7 given his status as the Head Abbot of Remus's home Temple, could rise. Despite being in his early 80s, Davies was still in good shape from his daily meditations, airbending exercises, and a lifetime of training. Tall, broad, and with a full head of white hair that he didn't shave, Davies easily walked to the space for a speaker as Harry waited to the side where he was supposed to stand for the speech.
"Thank you Avatar, I look forward to your own speech in time." Davies said with a nod to Harry before he turned to the room. "Some of you may be curious as to why I am the first speaker and that is simple, I am the Head Abbot of this Temple, the Temple that Remus called home for his entire life even when he wasn't living here during his young adulthood and again after he became Archabbot. As such, it is tradition that I start the honoring as I do know him well."
Davies paused and Harry watched as the man contained himself for the speech. Harry knew little about Davies, but he did know that he had a similar story to Remus and that the late Archabbot had a soft spot for Davies because of that similar life paths.
"Remus was a mentor to me just as he was a mentor to many of you, but we shared a connection few others in the Air Nation did." Davies continued. "We were both born in the Southern Air Temple, fought in the Battle of the Elemental Academy together, and both of us took the unusual route of becoming probenders. While it is common these days for a good number of young airbenders to try and make it in the pros, it wasn't back in my day, and almost unheard of in Remus's. Back when Remus graduated from the Elemental Academy airbending had only just been added to probending with a recent rule change and many in the Temples saw it as antithetical to the traditions of the Air Nation."
Davies paused and Harry could see where the speech was going already. Davies was going to talk about Remus's life as an airbender which made sense as he knew it best, especially the part Remus played in the acceptance of probending within the Air Nation as many these days forgot about that. With their similarities, Davies was perfect for this.
"I am sure that the Avatar will go into more about Remus's days with the Omashu Ostrich Horses as his father was on that legendary team with Remus so I will talk about what Remus overcame to become a probender and his time after his retirement." Davies said. "Now it is considered a noble pursuit but in the early days it was too new to be seen as the right choice for an airbender as Tenzin never truly understood it even if he accepted it as necessary for Korra. Remus however wanted to do it. His 3 best friends all had plans to go into it and at the same time it allowed him to secretly serve Master Albus in the Order of the Phoenix during the First Purity War but again that is not for me to talk about."
Davies took a breath at this, and Harry knew that he was leaving out parts so that Harry could address them in his own speech as he knew those parts better. He thanked Davies for that, it meant that each of the three speakers could address a different aspect of Remus's life.
"Remus must be credited with helping the old masters see the need for probending as a way to adapt to the world and learn more about airbending, in fact the move that earned Remus his arrows would become one of the moves he was famous for during his career." Davies said. "He did all this because he was a damned good probender. At the time of his retirement, he was a two-time league MVP, only the second airbender to earn that honor after the greatest airbending probender and pioneer Hooch, and his number was retired by his team in recognition of his accomplishments. He was inspiration to a new generation of airbenders who wanted to follow in his footsteps, myself included."
That was new to Harry. He knew about Davies's days as a probender, he was one of the best of his era right up there with Oliver as the two had a noted rivalry during their day that dated back to their time at the Elemental Academy were they traded titles in the Academy's tournament, but he didn't know that Davies had actually looked up to Remus growing up.
"After all, Remus was an airbender from the same Temple as me who showed that he could make it as a probender and not just that but become a Hall of Famer as well, the second airbender inducted again behind Hooch." Davies continued. "He was who I tried to emulate when I became a pro while also adopting my own style based around what I'd created to earn my own arrows. It was thanks to airbenders like Remus and Hooch who showed us that true freedom, the nature of our element, was the freedom to choose and if we chose to become a probender that was just an extension of our freedom. It was this connection that allowed me to get close to Remus."
Davies paused and Harry could tell that he needed a moment as it must be hard to talk about how much of an impact Remus had on him. It allowed his words to sink in and gave Davies that time to compose himself.
"However, the first time we actually met was when we fought together to defend the Air House in the Battle of the Elemental Academy." Davies said when he was ready. "We both survived and did what we had to to defend the Academy and defeat the Purist Army once and for all while the Avatar defeated Voldemort and ended the Second Purity War. In the aftermath I sought him out for his wisdom on how to go on after what we airbenders who had fought had had to do and about probending. He took me under his wing then and told me that even though what happened was antithetical to our teachings, we acted in self-defense and that in a changing world even airbenders had to do what we did."
Davies took a breath to let his words sink in so that all knew what he was talking about. The Second Purity War and the Principate War had changed the Air Nation in ways it had never expected as both conflicts had forced them to address the fact that pacifism was not always the best approach and that self-defense, and at times killing in such, was sometimes needed to survive.
"I took that to heart and understood for the first time the true change in the world and our place in it." Davies said once his words had sunk in. "But that didn't mean that I had to follow a path like that. Remus told me I was free to make my own way and if that way was probending then so be it. I did and for the next 15 years I was one of the best probenders of my generation and ended up joining Remus in the ranks of MVP winners and Hall of Fame inductees, an induction Remus introduced me for which was a great honor as at the time I was only the 6th airbender to be inducted."
Davies paused again and Harry saw a few people nodding in agreement in the crowd. Likely they were former probenders who had been able to pursue the career without judgement thanks to people like Remus, or they were just fans of the sport.
"After that ceremony, 5 years after my retirement, Remus asked me what I was doing with my life since retirement and at the time it wasn't much as I hadn't adjusted well to my post probending career." Davies said. "That was when he asked me to come home to the Southern Air Temple and teach probending to the kids there before they went off to the Elemental Academy. The style is important and at the time Remus was doing the same, but he could use a fresh teacher who knew how the game had adapted and could teach them the new moves later airbenders had added since Remus's time. I readily took the post and welcomed the challenge."
Davies paused for breath but that seemed to be it this time. He clearly didn't want to just ramble on and, well, you did need to take breaks during a speech to breath and so that the audience could process what you were saying.
"That should have been the end of my story with Remus but alas fate did not intend that." Davies said when he was ready to continue. "For many years we had peace here and Remus continued his inevitable climb to the top, his reputation, connection to the Avatar, and global service meant he was guaranteed to make it whether he liked it or not. When he was 60 the then Head Abbot of the Southern Air Temple appointed him to the Council of Elders here and a few years later when Head Abbot Green died, Archabbot Filius selected Remus to replace her. What I was not expecting was for Remus to appoint me to the Council of Elders as soon as there was an opening after I became eligible for it."
Again, Davies took a break and Harry could tell it was so that he could transition onto the next part of his speech. As humble as Davies was trying to be, Harry had known that he'd end up on the Council of Elders. With a history like Davies, he was almost guaranteed to serve on the Council at least, especially under a Head Abbot like Remus who'd want his perspective on things. Later events that Harry knew the Abbot would get to soon would show how he ended up where he had today.
"It was a high honor and one that I could not pass up." Davies said. "I never expected it, nor did I plan on running a Temple, but I couldn't say no to Remus. Then the day that changed everything happened. I was here when the Principate coup happened. I saw a recently freed Arncliffe and her supporters break into the Council chamber and murder Filius. As a last act, one of the other Elders took the pendant of the Archabbot and gave it to me to take and ordered me to flee the Temple. I was the youngest and thus the most likely to be able to get out and take it north. Remus was there as the Air Nation's representative for the Solstice Celebration due to his friendship with Chief Sirius so he too survived."
This time when Davies paused Harry knew it was to take a moment as what he was saying was emotional. The day of the Global Coups as they were now known had been a bad one for many people as so many good men and women had died because of James and Harry noted that Dominique was dabbing her eyes at it. He didn't blame her; she'd watched her father be murdered before her eyes that day and it had been on the orders of the man she'd secretly been in love with.
"The Principate War changed those of us who lived through it." Davies continued when he was ready. "The few surviving voters chose Remus as the Archabbot, an expected decision as he was the one we all knew would succeed Filius, but no one expected it to be under those circumstances. As one of his first acts Remus elevated me to acting Head Abbot of the Northern Air Temple as the Head was unable to perform her duties at the time and sent me to help there. I willingly did so and worked with Inglebee, Teddy, and Ron to defend it. I was there when it fell and fled as ordered. I was also with Remus fighting in the city during the Second Siege a few months later."
That was something Harry didn't know. He knew that Davies had fought in both northern battles and had been wounded in the Second Siege though it was only a minor one, but he hadn't known that he'd been with Remus. Remus had fought in the city during the battle to help repel attackers and as such hadn't been there when Harry's parents had died but Harry knew that Remus had been where he'd been needed just as his parents had been.
"In the wake of the war, I knew what Remus would ask of me and while I hadn't wanted it, I was prepared for it." Davies said bringing Harry back to the speech at hand and realizing that it was almost over. "I was named as his successor as Head of the Southern Air Temple and have run it since. Up until his death Remus mentored me and was an advisor unlike any other. He truly was one of the finest and greatest airbenders since Harmonic Convergence and an Archabbot who will be remembered fondly for centuries to come. However, I am but one of many who he touched in his long career, and I ask his son, President Teddy, to come and share some words on his father that only his son can share."
Davies finished speaking and bowed to the dais before turning and taking his seat. Only when he was seated did Teddy stand and walk to the same spot that Davies had just vacated.
"Thank you Abbot Davies for you touching words about my father." Teddy said with a nod to Davies who returned it. "You truly knew him in a way that even I couldn't know as you are both airbenders and I inherited my mother's earthbending and mentality as seen by my own career choices. It warms my heart to see that in addition to mentoring me, my father could be a mentor to those of his own bending and those who followed the unconventional path that he followed as I knew he could be."
Teddy the turned and looked out over the gathered airbenders and Harry knew he was meaning them and all those who were not present who Remus had taught airbending or who he'd offered his wise advice to over the years. It had been the one thing that Harry knew Remus felt bad about, the fact that he couldn't teach his own son bending but the fates had decided that Teddy would he an earthbender though one of Teddy's children was an airbender thanks to Victoire and Remus had loved that, and his other grandchild, dearly.
"There isn't much I can say on my father's life in the Air Nation that hasn't already been said or recorded in the annals of history." Teddy began. "He lived a long, rich, and good life. What I can tell you is that he was the finest father a boy could ask for. He loved me and my mother dearly, I know her death was hard on him but together we got through it and soon he will be by her side for eternity as they always wanted to be."
Teddy took a breath and Harry knew he was taking a personal moment. Even after both of his parent's living long lives, Harry could tell that this would be hard on Teddy. It was hard on him when his own parents died despite them living a long and full life, so he understood the feeling that his godson was going through.
"One thing about my father was that he was an intensely private man when it came to his personal life." Teddy continued. "He knew that he had to be a public figure within the Air Nation, but he kept his private life separate because of who he fell in love with. It was during the clean up after the Battle of the Elemental Academy that they met and quickly fell for one another. My father had been assigned to assist Commander Nymphadora in her operations routing out the last of the purists in the southern ISEK. It was thanks to this that they fell in love despite their different lifestyles, she a hardened earthbending soldier and he a retired probending airbender."
Harry had to admit, it was an odd pairing. He hadn't seen it coming until he'd heard of their rather quick courtship and pretty secret marriage but in hindsight he probably should have seen it as they were close during the cleanup operations. They were also a good decade apart in age which was a little surprising, but they were both adults, so it hadn't mattered in the end.
"They kept their relationship quiet and married in secret because it might come off as bad in the United Forces when it was discovered." Teddy continued. "But in the end they could be open about it and no one cared. It also produced me; the second child born to one of the three remaining members of my father's legendary probending team. Even though Peter wasn't dead, his treason made him dead to the world and he ended up dying in prison as he deserved thanks to the Avatar."
Teddy paused after this and looked first to Harry and the Altinak, the other two children of the so called 'Marauders' one of the most legendary probending teams of all time. Each of the three good benders had had one son which was amusing and all 3 were present today.
"Course the first was the Avatar so I had a tough comparison right off the bat." Teddy said with a chuckle that got some smiles. "And my father decided to ask Harry to be my godfather, a strange decision but also a way to mess with Governor James as well. It was just like them to do that."
There was a light chuckle at this from those who knew Remus, Sirius, and James. It was the kinda thing Remus would have done to fuck with Harry's dad. It had been expected that Sirius would be godfather to James's son, James to Remus's son, and Remus to Sirius's but Remus had changed it at the last minute as Harry was old enough for the role and he was the Avatar, so it added to everything. Sirius had decided to make James Altinak's godfather instead as a way to get back at Remus, all in good fun of course and Remus hadn't minded in the slightest.
"One of the best things about my father was that he always told me to be who I wanted to be and not what others wanted of me despite my parentage." Teddy continued. "He was an airbender, a probender, a teacher, and when called upon a warrior whose skill was top tier. However, I was not the former ones but the last one. I took after my mother in almost all aspects. I was born an earthbender and as with her showed an aptitude for metalbending that was honed thanks to the Avatar and my teachers at the Elemental Academy. I also followed mom's footsteps and entered the United Forces officer training school right after I graduated from the Academy."
Teddy paused for a breath here and Harry heard the sadness in his voice. It was one thing he knew that Teddy had always felt he'd missed out on, similar to how Remus felt, was that he couldn't share his bending with his father. Still, Teddy had found a roundabout way to do so in an amusing reversal of what his father had done.
"It probably wasn't what the rising star of the Air Nation expected for his son, but he supported me nonetheless and I never traded on his or my mom's name as I made my own way up the ranks of the United Army." Teddy said. "And my father was a wise man, he knew me too well and he knew I had a little of him in me. However, he did tell back when I was at the Academy, that I would find a way to honor him and that there was Air Nation in me as well despite being an earthbender."
At this Teddy stopped again and Harry knew it was for a little dramatic effect and some foreshadowing that everyone already knew about. After all, Teddy ended up sucked into the crisis because it had revealed he was her boyfriend as well despite them trying to keep it a secret until she graduated from the Elemental Academy as well.
"Little did dad know he was already right." Teddy said with a smile. "I turned out to be the inverse of my dad and had my own special love for the Air Nation, or more specifically when he told me I was already head over heels in love with an airbender and she'd finally agreed to date me. As with me, Victoire took after he mother, but her story is well recorded. Of course, dad loved her when he learned and told me he knew I'd fall for an airbender."
Teddy smiled at Victoire at this who just smiled back. Harry knew that Remus being an airbender had helped Victoire feel more at home in the family when the news came out and how he, like everyone else, supported her through her decision to abdicate her claim to the Southern Throne.
"Despite my different path in life my father was always there for me when I needed advice." Teddy continued. "We would often get together whenever I was on exercises down here, but we didn't see much of each other after he and mom retired here, and I began to climb the ranks of the Untied Forces. Still, we tried our best. Then the Principate War happened. I will not rehash that old wound, but I will say one thing, it brought me and my father closer together."
Harry could see the surprise on the faces of many gathered. The Principate War had been many things, mostly bad, but no one had really considered it possible of bringing people closer given how many families were ripped apart by it, though in the aftermath the veterans of it who had survived were closer because of what they went through.
"I know, the worst war in generations and yet it brings us close." Teddy said. "Well, that was because we were both thrust upwards and into roles we didn't expect or ask for. In one fell swoop I became the President of the United Republic following the assassinations of President Romilda and Chief Beifong and dad became first the de facto and then the actual Archabbot of the Air Nation. We, along with Xiang and Dominique, were thrust into roles we weren't ready for and unlike them had not been prepared for. Still, we relied on each other and our friends and got through it. It was an honor to serve with my father in that war and be reminded of the warrior he was."
Teddy again paused though Harry knew that this was for a different reason. The Principate War was a heavy topic and still fresh in many memories so when it was brought up often a brief moment of silence for the thousands who'd lost their lives and the millions more affected by it was almost always done.
"Afterwards it was dad who convinced me to run for a full term as President so that I could continue my work in the post Principate War cleanup." Teddy continued. "He saw how I led and realized that I was meant for this. He was stuck but I had a choice. Thanks to him I know that I made the right one. It has been an honor to serve with him as a World Leader and ensure that peace and balance has reigned for almost two decades. I will always miss him, but I know my father lived a full life that helped countless people during it. If I can be but a fraction of what he was then I will know that I have done well and that my father raised me right. That is all I have. I now turn over to the Avatar for the final words."
Teddy turned and took his seat and Harry noticed that he was dabbing an eye as he went and Victoire put a comforting hand on his shoulder once he sat down. It made sense but Teddy had to maintain a stoic front. Later Harry would make sure that his godson was alright but for now he had to close out the funeral with his own speech.
"Thank you President Teddy and Head Abbot Davies for your kind words and how you showed two sides of Remus that even I didn't fully know about." Harry said as he took his place again. "A lot has been said about the great man we are remembering today so I will try and keep it brief as I tell my own story of Remus through how I knew him. There is little I feel I can add but I will do my best."
Harry deliberately took a breath before continuing. He wanted his speech on Remus to begin separately as he talked about a man he'd know for eight decades, though it was little less as his earliest memories of Remus were from when he was 5 or 6 years old.
"I have known Remus all my life, longer even than I have known my wife or my best friend and before I was revealed to be the Avatar." Harry said truthfully. "I grew up with him because I grew up in Omashu the son of the great probender James and the talented Lily. From as early as I can remember, Sirius, Remus, and Peter were always around my family's house joking, laughing, and having a great time. Sirius may have been my godfather, but Remus was as good as one as well. Between the two of them and my own parents I was raised well and from an early age showed my talents. I will not discuss the traitor Peter; he betrayed his friends and that is all I will say on the matter."
Harry took the mention of Peter to take a break before moving on. Peter was a sore subject when talking about his father's crew as Peter had been one of them but in the end had betrayed them to Voldemort and joined the Death Eaters becoming their spy within the Order of the Phoenix.
Thanks to Regulus, though, they had learned of his treason even if they failed to apprehend him during the Global Raids and Peter had been able to kill at least one person during the Battle of the Elemental Academy. In the end though Peter had been captured by Harry and ended up dying in prison 11 years later while serving his life sentence in the frigid northern tundra.
"It was Remus who taught me footwork and how to be as light as an airbender and when combined with Sirius's training on stealth and my father's training with seismic sense I could sneak up on all of them by the time I was 8 without any of them noticing." Harry continued when he was ready. "Even after becoming the Avatar, Remus was there for me if I needed it and I was honored he fought alongside us at the Battle of the Elemental Academy, though I always knew he would. He was a member of the Order of the Phoenix and had fought in the First Purity War, he was going to fight in the one battle of the Second one."
That was true, Remus was always going to fight back then. While Harry hadn't seen Remus during the battle he knew that his friend had fought hard and well to defend the Academy. He'd even been named the temporary head of the fledgling Air Nation military by Milo, a post he resigned after the battle. The highlight though had been how Remus and Filius had taken down Dolohov, a Death Eater who'd once been a respected master in the Air Nation, and the two future Archabbots had been who'd finally ended the worst airbending Death Eater.
"After that I kept in touch with Remus as much as I could during the clean up of the Purists." Harry said. "It was during that time that I learned of his relationship with Dora, though alas I couldn't make the wedding, and of her pregnancy. I'll admit, I was shocked by all of it, but most of all I was shocked when he asked me and not my father to be the godfather to Teddy. I was honored and readily accepted the post, nonetheless. When Teddy showed earthbending, Remus was thrilled as it meant that I could be closer to him and the family as well."
Harry took a breath here so as to end this part of his speech and move on. Teddy had already addressed the familial aspect of Remus, there was no need for Harry to go into more detail than was absolutely necessary on the subject.
"I always kept in touch with Remus even after he retired here to teach with Dora." Harry said. "But I knew that I was always connected to him through Teddy as I saw a lot of Remus in him, and I know Remus did as well."
Harry looked to Teddy as he said this so that Teddy knew. His godson was likely already aware of this, but it didn't hurt to reiterate it now when Teddy needed to hear it the most.
"It was a time of peace back then, so we didn't maintain as good contact." Harry admitted moving on with his speech. "Something I regretted but we were both busy and I knew I would see Remus once a year at the Solstice in the North if nothing else because he'd never miss it, Sirius would kidnap him if he even thought about it."
Harry paused as there was a round of chuckles from those who knew Chief Sirius and Remus's friendship. It was something he'd do because he'd in fact done it once when Remus claimed he couldn't make it and Sirius had decided that he'd attend regardless. Almost caused an international incident in the process that Harry had to smooth over.
"But in all seriousness it was nice to be with all of my father's friends in the North at least once a year." Harry said. "And when Filius named Remus Head of the Southern Air Temple I knew he was destined for the Archabbot position. I didn't expect it to be as it was, but I won't go into that. Instead, I will always remember how welcoming Remus was both before the Principate War after my son's crimes and after it when I retired from public life. I always had a place here or by Remus's side should I need it over the last few decades."
Harry took a breath as he knew he was nearing the end of his speech. He didn't have much more to say so he was going to wrap it up and start the meditation period as soon as possible.
"He was the perfect choice for Archabbot regardless of what preceded his election." Harry said. "Wise, strong, kind, compassionate, and a man of duty who did whatever he could for the betterment of the Air Nation and the world. I often sought his advice these last two decades and he did the same with me up to only months before his passing. The world has lost a great man who will never be forgotten."
Harry paused and bowed his head in an impromptu moment of silence. The gathered attendees did so as well once they realized what he was doing, and Harry held it for a full minute before ending the service.
"That is all I have to say and as such I will end it here." Harry said breaking the silence. "Please file out in a respectful and orderly manner. Those chosen to take the body to the tomb, please see President Teddy and Victoire as from this moment on it is a private family affair. The seven days of meditation have begun so the voters should head to their quarters now. I will be around to talk to anyone about Remus if they want. Thank you for coming and may Remus find peace amongst the Spirits."
With that Harry ended the service and went over to talk with Teddy as the next set of preparations began. The hall began to clear as people went to their designated areas or returned to their duties in a respectful silence. The 5 Head Abbots, Marshal Bexley and Wroxton all rose and left without a word.
Harry knew they had their own things to deal with and hoped for a smooth transition, though given recent events he doubted it. Regardless, soon there would be a new Archabbot of the Air Nation and whoever it was Harry knew that he or she would face the greatest challenge the Air Nation had faced in over 300 years. Things were about to change but even the Avatar didn't know how much they would affect the Air Nation as the process to Conclave began.
A little foreshadowing and foreboding right at the end but with what is coming next I am sure that y'all can guess that the coming Conclave will be interesting at least. That is next up as now we have put Remus to rest and the contentious election for his successor is about to begin. Stay tuned as that is coming next week. That is all I have here, the only remaining thing to say is that if I haven't already mentioned it, Davies is supposed to be based of Rodger Davies from HP, the former Ravenclaw Quidditch Captain. As always any questions in PMs or reviews will be answered before the start of the next chapter (as well as replied to if possible). Please follow, favorite and review, all are greatly appreciated. Until next week.
Stringdog