Collected Short Stories
The Best Thing Ever
A Short Story
By
Bfd1235813
The aftermath, new circumstances, everything different, Harry Potter can't rest. There is saving to be done!
The house and surrounding lawn and garden looked untouched by conflict and mayhem. The visitor had seen it once before. It didn't appear to have undergone any significant changes since he was last there.
"How nice!" he thought. "She's at least got her house."
He wasn't old enough to appreciate such subtleties as associations or emotional damage. He would learn about those. He possessed plenty of seeds for both, and seeds exist to germinate.
"Hullo!" he called out.
No one answered. The visitor began to feel a chill, right over his spine.
There was movement at a window followed by a flash, in between his feet.
"Next one will be higher."
He recognized the voice, thank Merlin.
"Mrs. Tonks, it's me! Harry Potter," shouted the visitor. "Remember? Can I come to the door?"
"What do you want?"
"There's been a big fight. It's all over. I'm here to check on Teddy. Look—wand put away, hands empty."
He stood still, nothing between him and the window, hands at shoulder height, no wand, no weapons. Nothing to duck behind. Oh, well.
"Come a little closer, I'm tired of shouting," said the still-disembodied voice.
Potter crossed the dooryard, thinking back to his last visit, when Tonks and Lupin had been alive. Ted Tonks, too. In fact, Ted had negotiated a peaceful resolution to a potential conflict. Harry Potter had mistaken Andromeda Tonks for her sister, Bellatrix Lestrange, Voldemort devotee and sworn enemy of Harry Potter and all of his allies.
"Stop right there," ordered the voice. "Keep your hands up. How do I know you're Harry Potter?"
"Ah, let's see. I passed through here last year on my way to the Burrow and I thought you were Bellatrix and your husband Ted got me to put my wand away so it all worked out. Remus came and found me when Ron and Hermione and I were fugitives and asked me to be Teddy's godfather."
Something about the absurdity got to Potter and he couldn't suppress a chuckling snort of a laugh. Then he felt like an absolute cad because he knew Teddy's parents were dead and he doubted if Andromeda did.
"Okay, come on, I'll get the door. Try not to touch anything until we introduce you to the wards, will you? You won't know what you've done until it's too late. My daughter, you know," said Andromeda.
Harry Potter stepped onto a huge chunk of granite that functioned as the step up to the door and waited. A latch sounded and the door opened inward. Potter stepped inside. His eyes adjusted to the light and he saw Andromeda still had her wand in her hand.
"Anything? Want to check my wand? I don't have any conventional identification. Everything has been lost or destroyed, several times over," Potter said.
"Your wand will do," said Andromeda. "Now that you mention it."
Potter felt the corners of his mouth turn up, a mirthless reflex. 'Very good idea,' he thought.
When she was satisfied she had the real Harry Potter standing before her kitchen table, Andromeda bade him sit. She heated water and fixed a pot of tea, moving the pot to the table to steep, then put a mug and a bowl of sugar cubes in front of her guest.
"You don't take milk, do you?" she asked.
"No, ma'am," said Potter.
He was feeling the exhaustion climbing from the soles of his feet, up his legs to the small of his back. It was hard to hold his head still. It really wanted him to lay down and leave it alone.
"Has anyone come by?" Potter asked.
He sent a silent request to Merlin to let the answer be yes, knowing at the same time that it wasn't.
"No," answered Andromeda.
"Well. It's over. Voldemort heard I was at Hogwarts and summoned the Dark Army. Someone put the word out to the Order and most of our Dumbledore's Army people were students so they were there anyway. Voldemort's dead. Also, Tonks, or Dora, and Remus. Fred Weasley, too. Your husband was with some fugitives and there was a fight and he didn't make it."
Andromeda sat, staring at the checked tablecloth.
"Voldemort?"
"Dead."
"You're sure?"
"Yes. I'm sure."
"How?"
"I killed him."
"Oh. People thought he was dead before and he came back."
"I don't understand the magic, not in detail, but we—my friends, Ron and Hermione—destroyed the things that bound him. It's hard to explain. He was bound somehow so that it didn't matter what happened, he wouldn't cross over. Even after he tried to kill me and my mother's magic sent his killing curse right back at him, he didn't die. He died this time."
"For good?"
"As far as anyone knows, yes."
"Ted, Dora and Remus are all dead, too?"
"Yes. I'm so sorry. They showed up and fought with the defenders. They wouldn't listen to anyone who tried to get them to leave."
Andromeda went silent again, then got up and fetched her own teacup from the sideboard. She emptied the cold tea into the sink and brought the cup to the table.
"Voldemort's dead. Right. Lucius Malfoy?"
"Wouldn't fight for Voldemort. Neither one trusted the other any longer, is my guess."
"Ah," said Andromeda. "Took long enough. Cissy? Sorry, my sister, Narcissa?"
"She's well. She… she, for whatever reason, at a critical moment she lied for me. Told him I was dead when she knew I wasn't," said Potter. "She's alive. Or she was, last time I saw her."
"Oh, thank-you Morgana, thank-you Morgana, thank-you, thank-you, thank-you," said Andromeda.
The dam broke.
The tears began and great, shuddering sobs shook Andromeda Tonks. She put her forehead down on her crossed arms. Minutes passed. The crying stopped but Andromeda didn't raise her head.
"Mrs. Tonks? Andromeda? Can I help? Anything I can do?" Potter asked.
Andromeda waved a hand toward the door.
"You can look in the other room, just there, please. Teddy's sleeping in there."
Potter got up and looked into the room. Teddy Lupin was sleeping in a little hybrid newborn crib and changing table. The function didn't vary, with or without magic. Potter had actually seen one in the window of a muggle furniture store. He crossed to his godson and looked him over. Even though he knew nothing about babies he could see the little guy's chest expanding and contracting. Once in a while, Teddy's lips would make sucking motions.
"Sound asleep," Potter reported.
"Good," said Andromeda. "So Lupin caught up to you and finagled you into being Teddy's godfather?"
"Yeah. I tried to beg off. There wasn't any reason to think I'd be around to carry out any godfather duties. He insisted that was what they wanted. He was very convincing," said Potter. "I gave in."
"Uh-huh," Andromeda said, nodding. "There's no money in it."
"I'll help, I just don't know what I'm going to have for income right now," Potter said. "Everything is messed up."
"Sounds like it," said Andromeda. "None of us are going to be able to make any plans, not until things quiet down and everyone can see what resources we're going to have. You don't know what happened to Bella, by any chance? Is she headed back to Azkaban?"
"She's dead. Sorry. She cast something at Ginny Weasley. Do you know her? Ginny dodged it and Molly stepped in. Bella really shouldn't have made Molly angry."
Potter shook his head. He took a moment. That was going to be a bad memory to have rattling around in his head, he knew.
"Ahh…Bella was so nice. So much magic in her. Entertained us all, when we were girls. Unfortunately, she was a pureblood fanatic to the bone. Our parents were devoted to the old customs and Bella bought it all. Along with that no-good husband of hers. The two of them together were Death Eaters before there were Death Eaters. She couldn't see what they were doing to her mind."
"I'm not a historian but my reading tells me they never do," said Potter. "Sad. Lots of other families have the same conflict."
"I know. I still loved her. Suppose I always will. She can't hurt anyone else now so I'll just remember my sweet sister, the one who deserves to be remembered. That other one is no more."
"That sounds good," said Potter.
It wasn't exactly what he meant but it appeared the idea had gotten through.
"Want to send something to Narcissa? Got an owl?" Potter asked.
"Why? She was your enemy," said Andromeda.
"Yeah, she was. And your sister. She's Teddy's great-aunt. One of the Blacks. I never heard Sirius say anything negative about her. I won't mess with the Malfoys unless they make themselves nuisances to me or mine," Potter went on. "The Ministry and so on, that's different. A good housecleaning is indicated."
Andromeda sat, staring across the table, studying Potter.
"What are you getting at? Are you going all Lord Black on me? Didn't Sirius make you his heir?"
"Yeah. I don't know what that does for me, except the townhouse. Grimmauld Place. If it is still there," sighed Potter.
Andromeda went silent again.
His duty discharged, Harry Potter slumped forward and went directly into a deep sleep. Andromeda assessed his position, lower back against the kitchen chair, his weight supported by the table. He didn't look like he'd fall sideways to the floor anytime soon, so she left him there. Using magic to levitate him to a sofa could trigger some unknown ward or other protection and result in yet more disaster.
Potter was awakened by his godson's distress call. Nap over, Teddy had taken care of his usual baby business and was ready for a change and something to eat. Potter and Teddy had similar ideas. Potter couldn't remember the last actual meal he had eaten, nor the items on the menu.
Andromeda guessed he would need something digestible. It was still morning so she had made porridge, which was in a pan sitting on the sideboard, ready for eating. They had breakfast at the kitchen table, Teddy taking a bottle, cradled in Andromeda's arms, Potter sitting across, spooning porridge, unable to take his eyes off his godson.
Potter felt his strength returning as he filled up on the excellent porridge. Much as he would have liked to stay and enjoy domesticity, he knew he needed to get going and see what the rest of the ill-omened day would bring. Hogwarts would be the starting point but who knew where it would finish? He could leave with a clear conscience if he could tie up one loose end. Forgetting his manners, Harry Potter dropped some floo powder in Andromeda Tonks' fireplace grate.
"Malfoy Manor," he said, speaking into the fireplace. "This is Potter."
"What is it, Potter?" came the reply, Draco Malfoy sounding pompous and uncontrite as ever.
He ignored Malfoy and went straight to the person whose help he sought.
"Lady Narcissa, your sister and nephew need you over here at the Tonks.' It won't be but a few hours, I promise. Can you come through?"
"Not a CHA…"
It could have been either Lucius or Draco. Potter couldn't suppress the smile.
"Step aside," came the answer as the green flames flared.
"Mr. Potter," said Narcissa, walking out into the kitchen.
She might have been taking a stroll in her garden.
"Harry," he said.
"Narcissa," she replied.
She gave him that smile, that brittle, heartbreaking smile that told too much about a young witch of promise married off to a brilliant, walking, talking flaw of a husband. Potter smiled back.
"Narcissa, can I ask a big, big favor? Andromeda is here all alone, except for Teddy. I have to leave and I don't know what they're going to be asking me to do. I'll help with permanent arrangements but things are a mess and could stay that way for a few days…"
He didn't finish before Narcissa got to Andromeda and held out her arms.
"Rocker?" she asked.
Andromeda pointed at the door to the living room, standing and following Narcissa and Teddy. Potter had to get going but he saw the three of them settled.
"Okay?"
"Go, you've things to do," said Andromeda. "Dinner will be at six. Come if you can."
Potter made his way back to Hogsmeade by apparition. He paused on the rise that gave the best view of Hogwarts' castle, letting his eyes go wherever they wanted and stop to study any feature or damage that stood out. Getting the old wreck back into school trim was going to be a real chore, magic or no magic. Potter took a deep breath and started walking.
Once inside, he reported to the Acting Headmistress, Professor McGonagall.
"I'm free until six," he said. "What do you want me to do?"
"You're very generous with your time," McGonagall observed. "We don't know what we'll need over the next seventy-two hours. Food, water, shelter. Parents and guardians are being notified right now. Many have heard from other sources and are showing up, as you'd expect. Students with a place to go are encouraged to go there. The elves report their stores in the kitchens are sufficient. There won't be as much variety as we're used to but we'll all be fed. Poppy is treating the wounded and some have been transported to St. Mungo's. The dead…that is a work in progress. We emptied a classroom and it's become a morgue."
"The ghosts?" asked Potter.
"What about them?"
"Well, it seems likely they'll be asked to receive some new members into the community, doesn't it? I mean, Fred Weasley? I don't see Fred missing out on a chance like this," Potter said.
Despite himself, he began to laugh at the prospect of Fred Weasley joining the Bloody Baron and Moaning Myrtle and the Mad Monk, haunting and tormenting and judging the present and future students and faculty of Hogwarts.
The headmistress snorted.
"That is something I could have overlooked for days, or weeks, with no lasting damage," she said. "You are right, though. Want to go check and see if Myrtle is around? We can talk on the way."
Moaning Myrtle was around, as it turned out. She expressed delight that Harry Potter was alive combined with disappointment that he would not be coming to join her in a kind of ghostly marital haunting of her bathroom. Potter overlooked the contradiction, referring vaguely to whenever the time came, he would give her proposal all due consideration.
"What concerned us, Myrtle, was the battle. I mean, the people who died. The Headmistress and I were thinking about the spirits of the dead. Some will go on, of course, but it seemed likely you may have some new neighbors, if I understand how that works," said Harry. "We didn't know how to go about checking on their welfare. Maybe you could give us some background."
"WELL, Harry," Myrtle began, "That's very thoughtful of you. No one worried about ME when I passed over. There I was, watching my Earth-body get carried out of school on a stretcher, unable to move a pinkie, and no one around to tell me what was going on. It was very disorienting! I had this strange desire to hang around in this bathroom, which I couldn't understand. It would have been nice to get some counseling at a time like that. The first few witches who came in ran away when they saw me. All I was doing was occupying my stall and sobbing a little. They made me feel like a pariah."
"Myrtle, I have apologized to you for that, I don't know how many times now, but we can come back to it later," said McGonagall. "We have a situation on our hands. It looks like we will have forty or fifty deaths when it is all added up. Mr. Potter and I want to do whatever we can to keep any ghosts who result from going through what you went through. Can you talk to some of your colleagues and see if you can recruit a few? I think 'Ghost-Counselor' would give a very favorable impression on a resume.'"
"There is something to what you're saying," Myrtle agreed. "Yes, I think a ghost with some communications skills, empathy, a generous spirit—Hee-hee, that sounds funny, doesn't it?"
"Very droll, Myrtle," said Harry. "You're just the ghost we need at a time like this."
"We'll leave you to it," said McGonagall. "I'll be around the Great Hall or in the office if you have a problem."
"Right, then," said Harry as they walked back to the hall. "What needs doing?"
"I expect rubble clearing will take a few days so you may as well get started," said McGonagall. "If your charms are strong enough go ahead and repair whatever you find that's reparable."
"I'll get right on it," he said.
Harry Potter drew crowds wherever he went that day, so in a short time he had recruited an eager group of rubble-clearers. He asked for anyone who had confidence in their charms to step forward and took the smaller group on to look for reparable damage. There was much more of that than he anticipated. Centuries of magical construction and maintenance meant the great stones themselves knew where they were supposed to be and what they were supposed to do. The crew put their minds together and soon, with a few standard repair spells, had gargoyles returning to their places and entire walls moving back into place. When Potter called a halt at half-past five, his minions could stand still, take a deep breath and see the structure of Hogwarts emerging from the detritus of battle.
"That's enough for now," he told the group. "Tomorrow's another day. If we get together here after breakfast in the morning, we'll do some more of the same. Good job and see you then. Go on inside and get some dinner."
Potter was ready to drop and just go to sleep wherever he fell. If it hadn't been necessary for him to travel in order to check up on things at Andromeda's, he probably would have done just that. He was used to sleeping under canvas. Sleeping under the stars would not have been a challenge. Potter realized he still carried his wand in his right hand and slid the tip into his left shirtsleeve just as someone spoke.
"Potter!"
A voice, sounding stressed. A normal condition but from an uncertain cause. It could have been a challenge. He spun, drawing the wand and aiming before he stopped moving. His target opened her mouth, not going for her own wand, just freezing, shock from his reaction showing.
"Greengrass! Merlin, I thought you wanted to fight! Don't do that, we're all a little jumpy right now," said Potter. "What do you want?"
Daphne Greengrass, a Slytherin from Harry's year, remained still as he tried to put the wand away for a second time.
"I didn't want to give offense, rest assured," said a shaky-voiced Greengrass.
"Right. I never thought you did. Just the tone and the last name and you were coming from behind…"
"Sorry," she said. "Again, I…"
"It's okay, really," said Potter. "I apologize for my reaction. It's been rough, for all of us."
"It has," said Greengrass. "Are you leaving? Before dinner?"
"Oh, I'll be back in the morning," said Potter. "I have people I have to check on. Relatives."
"I didn't know you had relatives."
Coming from her it sounded like an ordinary observation of some natural phenomenon.
"I'm not some space alien," said Potter. "Are you going home?"
"I hadn't decided," said Greengrass.
Her face really did look like it was melting. In less than a second it changed modes, from standard conversation between peers to broken young adult. She turned her back to Potter and began to sob.
"Hey, what's wrong? Tell me about it. Maybe I can help," he said.
Greengrass took her moments then turned back and faced him, wiping her eyes with the back of her right hand.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry," she said, over and over.
"For what?" Potter asked.
"For that. Everyone's hurting. I shouldn't…"
She'd run out of words. Potter let her recharge.
"I haven't heard from home."
"Ah," said Potter. "What did you plan to do? Where's your sister, anyway?"
"I ordered her to stay in the dungeons. The common room. That's as safe as anyplace."
"I'd say that was the right decision. Go see if she's there. I'll wait here until you come back. We might as well get you both back to your parents. I'll go on from there by apparition," he said.
Daphne Greengrass got a big smile and turned, running back to the castle. Potter sat down on a boulder to wait.
By the time Greengrass got back, Potter had slid down to sit on the ground, the boulder behind his back, head down, chin on his chest. The Greengrass sisters walked up. Daphne put a cautionary hand on Astoria's arm as they approached. Potter's right hand was inside his left sleeve, no doubt wrapped around the grip of his wand. She thought that was pretty smart, if one were Harry Potter. An idea occurred to Daphne Greengrass—Magical Britain was likely to go through some unsettled times before normal life returned. Someone with Harry Potter's battle-honed skills might be a good person to have around oneself.
"Potter," said Greengrass, without result.
"Potter!" she said, just a little louder.
Potter said something like, "Mmmm-Hmm-Mmm."
It was time to change direction.
"Harry, can you wake up? I've brought Astoria!" Greengrass called across the several meters' separation.
She kept a hand on her sister's forearm, ready to take the two of them straight to the turf if Potter awoke in the midst of drawing his wand.
"Huh? Who?" Potter said as he woke and looked around. "Oh, Greengrass, you're back. And there's your sister."
He glanced at his wristwatch.
"If you're ready we'll just get going," he said.
Daphne Greengrass thought she had plenty of magical strength for ferrying the three of them to her parents' manor. At the same time, she saw no need to find out the hard way that she didn't, so as soon as the three were outside the castle's wards she took Astoria home, before coming right back for Potter. Daphne collected her sister and they all fell in and walked toward the front door of the manor together, the witches becoming more agitated as they closed the distance.
"STOP!"
The voice boomed, amplified by a sonorous charm, no doubt.
"It's Daphne and Astoria!" Daphne shouted.
The door opened, slowly. Potter crossed his left arm over his right, the right hand disappearing into his sleeve.
"Who is that with you?" said a man, speaking from just inside the threshold.
"Father, it's Harry Potter! You've seen him, haven't you? I know you've seen his picture," said Astoria.
"I've seen a picture, but how do I know that is Harry Potter? How do you know it's Harry Potter?"
The man emerged, slowly, from the shadow to stand at the top of the stone steps that led up to his front door.
"Come on down here and I'll show you my scar," Potter said, cutting off two replies at once.
"Merlin," said the man, motioning with his wandless hand. "Come on up, that's cheeky enough to merit a closer look."
Once they ascended the stairs and entered, Astoria and Daphne were captured by their mother, who quite naturally had myriad questions for her daughters. Potter tried slipping slowly outside, and away, intending to go straight back to the spot where they had materialized, then directly to Andromeda Tonks' place.
"Harry Potter! You get right back here so I can introduce you to my parents!" shouted the suddenly assertive Daphne Greengrass.
Harry obeyed.
"Harry Potter," he said, extending his hand to Mr. Greengrass.
He kept the handshaking to a minimum, pivoting to Mrs. Greengrass and repeating his name.
"So very honored to meet Daphne and Astoria's parents," he finished, adding an inclination of his head, hoping that would be sufficient and that he could make a getaway before he collapsed for the third time that day.
"Well, but Mr. Potter, you must come in," Mr. Greengrass protested. "You need to take coffee or tea with us, at the very least. Tell us how you came to return the girls to our home! To what…"
"Father, Mr. Potter is ready to drop, just look at him," said Daphne. "So are we, for that matter. He brought us home and that will have to be enough for this evening. Can we reserve you for another time, Mr. Potter?"
"Only if you will call me Harry," Potter said, returning a wink for Astoria's snicker.
"Fine, Harry," Daphne sighed, sliding her hand under his arm with just the slightest possible pressure.
"This way," she whispered, escorting Potter down the steps.
Daphne spoke at a normal volume when she judged they were out of earshot.
"You have a commitment, I know," she said. "We'll get you back as soon as you feel up to dinner and a few hours of intense conversation. This means a lot to me, Harry. A lot. I didn't know what we would find and I was afraid Mum and Dad might be…"
Daphne tried but couldn't swallow one great sob.
"It's okay," said Potter, lifting his left hand to cover Daphne's where she held onto his right bicep. "I expect we will all be doing some crying. One day at a time. I hope I see you tomorrow. If I don't, I should be at Hogwarts, days, and a friend's place at night."
They'd reached the spot where Daphne had brought them a few minutes before. Potter meant to take his leave but he turned to say good-bye. When he looked into Daphne's eyes she somehow held his in a grip both strong and impossible to feel. He knew it was a cliché at the same time he would have stated under oath that he felt time stop. Potter, just for a moment, entered a Universe inhabited by two people, himself and the owner of those two tyrannical eyes.
"I apologize," he said, smiling.
"For?"
"A silly thought," said Potter. "Your eyes want to hold me captive."
Daphne Greengrass flinched, a little, then she smirked.
"Perhaps we'd ought to continue someplace a bit less…public. I'll try to come tomorrow but I don't know. A rest day may be indicated."
"For all of us," said Potter. "Don't feel bad. Now I really do need to…"
"I know, I know," she said.
Turning, she began her walk back toward the house. After a couple of steps she turned her head, although she continued walking.
"I'll owe you one kiss between friends for doing this," she said.
"I'll collect, whenever it is convenient for you," Potter replied.
He turned as he pictured Andromeda's place, materializing just outside of her white picket fence.
"It's Harry!" he called.
Someone opened a door. He didn't see anyone inside, then his angle changed and he saw Narcissa Malfoy sitting in a rocker holding Teddy Lupin and a baby bottle.
"Hullo, Narcissa, and Teddy," said Potter.
"It's our favorite cousin, Teddy," said Narcissa.
They both felt the need to share a very chaste snicker at that.
"I owe you…" Potter began.
Narcissa cut him off.
"Shush."
"I will keep your secrets and you will keep mine," she declared. "At least those pertaining to the last forty-eight hours. It might be important. For our mutual self-preservation. Do you understand? Riddle is gone, it appears, but there will be irreconcilables, perhaps for as long as you live. My sister and I know these people well. A witch like me knows how to watch someone's back."
She stopped there. Harry Potter thought to himself, that might have been the most honest and informative few words he had heard for a long, long time. Teddy stopped sucking and made some sounds that might have meant discomfort.
"So, we hand Godfather Harry this," said Narcissa as she held out the bottle. "Then we put young Master Teddy up on our shoulder…"
Potter watched as Narcissa kept Teddy's head still while applying gentle pats to his back. She watched Potter while she waited for Teddy to get rid of his gas bubble.
"Think you can do this?" she asked.
"Looks like something I could learn," Potter answered.
"You're really his godfather?"
"Yes. I don't know what Remus was thinking," Potter answered.
"He was thinking you were the best he could possibly do, if he wasn't around. Dora would have agreed, too, or he never would have asked," said Narcissa.
Andromeda came out of the next room. Her hair and blinking eyes said she was in a post-nap period.
"Thank Merlin and Morgana!" she said. "Oh, I needed that. Look at the time! Cissy, you have to get home. Please, you've done enough for one day. Do you need anything for dinner? We'll send for Kreacher. If that is alright?"
She looked at Potter who was accepting the transfer of Teddy from Narcissa.
"Yes. Anything," he said. "He's a Black family elf. Maybe Walburga's portrait will shut up if she knows we're helping her more acceptable relatives."
Narcissa and Andromeda both laughed at that.
"We're fine, for now," said Narcissa. "Who knows—Lucius and I may be getting free room and board soon, compliments of the Wizengamot."
Potter and Andromeda Tonks both tried to downplay the implication as they moved with Narcissa to the hearth.
"Andy," said Narcissa.
"Cissy," Andromeda answered.
The two embraced, putting their cheeks together. Potter saw their arms flexing, each pulling the other tighter to herself.
The green flames roared in the fireplace and Narcissa Malfoy disappeared up the floo.
"Blood and magic," said Potter.
"Blood and magic," replied Andromeda Tonks.
Potter maneuvered Teddy Lupin so that they were face-to-face. The baby was awake and alert. He stared directly into Harry Potter's eyes.
"Blood and magic, Teddy," said Potter. "Blood and magic. The best thing ever. Will you remember that?"
He shifted Teddy and held him against his chest, one hand flat on his godson's back.
"Blood and magic. Best thing ever. You'll see."
