A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews guys, really. You're the best! Ok, this chapter annoys me and I was tempted to cut it out...but I kept it in, lol.

It was an early Wednesday evening and Remus flopped into a kitchen chair wearily. Blowing his overly long flecked hair from his eyes, he considered reaching for the Firewhiskey.

No, he thought, not tonight.

Instead, he reached to the crib that held the twins. He rocked it soothingly. They had been asleep all day, causing Remus to demand Molly to return home for the night. Molly had squabbled with him, insisting that she was needed but Remus had been firm and the woman had given in. Remus was now alone with his two beautiful children for the first time…and it frightened him!

Such a daunting task, raising children, especially alone. Remus doubted he would cope well especially when, after Mrs Weasley had been gone for a mere ten minutes, Jake had burst into a shrieking fit for an hour.

Doesn't that hurt you to cry so loud? Remus had wondered. Wouldn't you prefer to be quiet? You know you want to. Give it a try.

But however convincing Remus tried to be, the boy continued to cry. And so, over an hour after Mrs Weasley had left, the kitchen had finally gained its usual peace.

"Have I gone deaf?" Remus had asked aloud, to answer his own question. Apparently not; it appeared that Jake had fallen asleep. And about bloody time!

Remus sat enjoying the silence, unaware that his exhausted eyes began to close. His head lolled forwards slightly, though he remained upright in his chair.

How long he had sat like this, he couldn't tell. Suddenly, a noise from behind him jolted him awake and he grabbed his wand instantly. Scrambling from his seat, he raised his wand, his mouth open to cast a curse. The man faltered and lowered his wand and head.

"Oh, Professor Dumbledore…"

"Good evening Remus."

"I'm sorry…that was really stupid of me," Remus said lamely. Dumbledore was the last person Lupin expected to see, though it wasn't surprising. This is the Order Headquarters as well as your home, he reminded himself. The elder wizard shook his head lightly.

"Not at all, my dear boy. I'm glad to see you're on your guard." The man's eyes twinkled impishly. Remus felt his face heat up.

"I…must have dozed off," he mumbled and Dumbledore chuckled. Remus indicated for him to sit. The Headmaster did so, and peeped in at the sleeping babes.

"Can I get you a drink at all?"

"Tea would be nice, thank you Remus."

Lupin rose from his seat and crossed to the kettle. He lit the stove with his wand and prepared two mugs of hot tea. Dumbledore smiled his appreciation.

"So, Remus, how are you?"

"Not so good," he decided to respond honestly. Dumbledore nodded slowly, a look of regret and sympathy on his aging face.

"Well you seem to have these little ones under control," the Headmaster commented. Remus simply nodded, feeling utterly relieved that Jake had decided to shut up before the Headmaster had made his visit.

"You're going to make a great father, Remus," Dumbledore told him assertively.

"I hope so," Remus muttered and took a small sip from his cup. A silence fell between them and Remus felt suddenly uncomfortable.

"Uh, do you mind telling me why you are here, Sir? Not that I don't appreciate the visit," he added quickly. Dumbledore smiled.

"I've come to talk to you about Harry," the elder man told him. Most conversations held around that kitchen table usually involved Harry. Even if he weren't the topic of conversation, his name would crop up somewhere. Remus pitied the boy, and hope that he himself wasn't talked about too much behind his own back. Then again, why would he be?

"Is something wrong with Harry?" Remus asked. He wasn't heavily concerned though. The boy was at Hogwarts; it was the safest place for him. Dumbledore shook his head.

"No, no…Harry is fine…but he's worried about you."

Remus let this comment hang in the air, not knowing how to react. Dumbledore leant forwards on his elbows. His powerfully pale eyes met with Lupin's and the man almost flinched; such strength in those eyes.

"Mr Potter came to me the other day, speaking of a letter."

Remus felt his stomach jolt. It was almost as if he had been betrayed. He didn't know why though, it wasn't a secret after all. Then again, perhaps he should never have shown the boy.

If Dumbledore read anything on the man's face, he ignored it.

"Harry told me he had read this letter–"

"Did he tell you its content?"

"Only the parts which supported his suspicions," Dumbledore said quietly.

"Which are what exactly?" Remus said, more harshly that he had intended to. He knew, of course, but he wanted it clarified. Dumbledore gave a sigh.

"Harry believes that Nymphadora is still alive."

The words lingered between them. Somehow, hearing it from Dumbledore himself, Remus found himself being convinced. Then he chided himself for it. Such thoughts were dangerous. It would not be wise to even hope.

"Harry's young and foolish," he croaked without meaning too.

"Perhaps," the other wizard countered. "But he has lost a lot of people in his life–"

"As have I," Remus snapped. Internally he cringed. Don't wake Jake. Do not wake Jake … Merlin, don't wake them both!

"You must understand, son. Harry needs hope. He needs something to hold on to." Dumbledore's tone was soft, contrasting greatly with Lupin's and making him feel even more foolish.

"Not this, Albus. He can't have this."

Silence fell in the kitchen once more. A gurgle came from the crib and both men saw that Tilly-Fay was awake. Dumbledore was watching her intently.

"She's a lot like Sirius," he observed.

"Yes. But not a Black," Remus said quietly but firmly.

"Not a Black," Albus echoed.

Remus reached for Tilly and held her in his arms tightly. She blinked up at her father with stunning grey eyes. It made Remus want to cry every time he saw them. His daughter was so beautiful. And he was so lucky to have her, both of them.

"Do you believe Harry?" he found himself asking. His eyes remained fixed on his little girl.

"I wanted to. As I'm sure you did. I know it is unwise to place hope so precariously Remus. But Harry's words sparked a flame in me that I could not let to rest. Curiosity can cause obsession in the most blasé of people."

Remus frowned at the man's words.

"What exactly did you do, Sir?" A pause.

"Naturally…I wrote to the girl."

Remus felt his mouth drop open. He then gave a hoarse and bitter laugh.

"Did she reply?" he asked wryly.

"Well…no, I'm afraid not," Dumbledore admitted regretfully.

"Then maybe you can speak to Harry and tell him to put this nonsense out of mind. He has more important things to be worrying about than me. I will be haunted by Dora's memory for the rest of my life. I see it in my children. I do not need Harry's unlikely ideas filling my fragile mind. Tell him to grieve…and tell him to get over it."

Remus knew his words were harsh, but maybe that's what Harry needed. The man rose, and Dumbledore did the same. The old man gave a slight nod of resignation.

"Very well, Remus. I will speak with the boy."

Lupin hoped, of course, that Dumbledore had sense to word it slightly more tactfully than he himself had just done.

"Thank you for the tea."

"Thank you for the visit. You're welcome any time, of course," Remus said sincerely, feeling slightly cheeky for saying so after the way he had just spoken to his senior.

"Thank you Remus. Good night."

The wizard left, and Remus slumped back down into his seat, feeling even more drained than he had before. He wasn't pleased with Harry; that was for sure. In fact, Remus felt a slight pang of annoyance towards the boy. He suppressed it though. Albus had been right, the boy had lost too many people in his life…it was almost natural to hope for their return. After all hadn't he, Remus, wished for his friends to return years after they had passed on. No, it was unfair to be angry with Harry, especially when a part of Remus secretly longed with all his might that the boy was indeed right.