Andromeda's look suddenly turned solemn after they had pulled away from each other, "I hope you don't mind me saying, Harry. It might have been easier to only talk about happier things today but I am really sorry about everything that has happened with Bella's daughter. I am still in shock thinking about Bella having a child with You-know-who. I know she did some terrible things to Albus as well as to my grandnephew, but I can't help wondering what she must have been through, to live with the kind of caretakers she had. Of course her upbringings could never excuse her actions, especially to those two sweet boys and that innocent boy she killed… but I-I have been feeling sorry for her as she's my niece after all."
At her words, he could not help remembering how pitiful and pathetic Delphi had looked begging to meet her father. There was a tiny part of him that knew that she had had it rough and that Andromeda had meant well but he was not ready to feel sorry for her, who had manipulated his son, who was more important to him than his own life, had tortured the sweet and precious Scorpius, and had killed the innocent Craig, which condemned those boys into the same guilt which had plagued him ever since the night of the Third Task, that he numbly nodded. "I understand, Andromeda, but I really prefer not to talk about it." Her mouth parted but then closed again after a few seconds without saying anything.
After a minute or so of awkward eating, he decided to turn to a conversation topic that Andromeda, actually more like everyone present, would feel very happy and proud to discuss, Teddy's job, because he did not want her to feel bad for bringing up the taboo subject. "Hmm… Teddy, how is work going? I feel like I haven't really talked to you much about your job since your promotion." He asked a bit too loudly across the table.
At his question, his godson's face lit up, he had not been following his gran's interaction with Harry too closely that it appeared to him that he had no idea he was being used as a distraction. "Oh, it's been great, Harry. Well, except for the whole hair code nonsense. We have finalised two job matches just this week, you have no idea how satisfying it's to see the hope in those poor people's eyes when they realise they have a shot of living a relatively normal life. And they really are genuinely nice people who deserve to have a life instead of a bare existence."
Harry's heart warmed affectionately looking at the fervent way his godson described his job. Teddy worked at a rather obscure office at the Ministry called the Werewolf Support Services. An older office had been around for quite a while but had never managed to help anyone at the time before its closing because no werewolf had ever come forward requesting any support at the time, just like how no werewolf would voluntarily be registered due to the stigma surrounding werewolves. Thanks to Kingsley, who had respected Lupin, his late comrade at the Order, a great deal, the office had been reopened and Kingsley himself had worked hard to fight for less prejudicial treatments towards the werewolves in the Wizarding community. As a muggle-born who had to defy others' prejudices a lot herself in order to reach her current position, Hermione had remained very supportive of this reopened office and these underprivileged population that she had make sure to provide as much assistance and resources as she could. While there were still a lot of werewolves, most of those had been infected during the war, who preferred not to be identified and would live the kind of nomadic life Lupin had lived in the past, the offices had helped more than a hundred of werewolves by now, by matching them with jobs which matched their skill sets but would allow for a more flexible working schedules, providing them with safe houses, which had mostly been abandoned, in the countryside where they could transform without affecting others, researching on the wolfsbane potion to make it more readily-accessible, and the possibility of using another potion to relieve the werewolves' symptoms and sufferings and so on.
There are some people who had been very disappointed by Teddy's decision to join this office as the boy had been Head Boy and he was talented in so many areas that most people had believed that he could have gotten almost any job that it had been such a waste for him to work at some C-list office at the Ministry. But knowing how Lupin had managed to become a prefect at school and Harry's favourite professor in Hogwarts despite his "disadvantages", Teddy had become so inspired to work for these unfortunate people who shared a similar fate as his father had since learning about the office's existence. With Hermione's help, he, along with his coworkers, had managed to prove that a lot of werewolves were capable of contributing their skills, intellects and talents to the workforce despite some inconveniences that it was safe to say that the world had become more tolerant and accepting towards the werewolves. The office had steadily become more reputable that it had even gotten an expansion recently. Needless to say, Harry was very proud of his godson for the passions he had in his job and being able to make so much difference in the lives of so many. As expected, Andromeda, Vic, Ginny as well as Bill, who felt strongly about the werewolves even though he was not truly one himself, all looked at Teddy with such pride and fondness that the previous awkwardness had been easily forgotten.
"Recently, we have been looking into the possibilities to make education accessible to all school-aged werewolves. Seriously, if my dad could do this fifty years ago, I don't see why the others can't do it fifty years later with all the revolutionary advancements we have make over the past twenty years. Both Hermione and Professor McGonagall are very supportive of the idea but it's the school board which is the biggest problem. I have met with them myself and they're absolutely unbeli-" Harry knew that his godson had perhaps wanted a passionate speech from him agreeing with everything he said or some practical suggestions about how he should persuade those bull-headed governors. Instead, he looked at him with a gentle smile and could not help from saying out loud, "Remus would definitely be so proud of you."
His godson stopped abruptly, he looked slightly down while his ears were turning red. Unlike Albus, who did not take compliments well at all, Teddy did like praises but he just happened to be way too modest for his own good. The boy was absolutely brilliant without realising just how good he was. "Thanks, Harry… I-I really hope so. We feel like there are still so much there for us to do…" Vic playfully kissed him on his cheek at this moment, which made him stuttered even more. "Hmm… t-thanks, Vic. That's a nice surpr… I mean, it's lovely, b-but what was that for?"
She made a face, "Why should there always be a reason for me to kiss you? Perhaps I just find it cute how you would feel all embarrassed when being complimented." Most people present were fine with her rather public kiss, except for Bill, who rolled his eyes. Teddy did not miss it, he stole a glance at his future father-in-law before looking back down and quietly said, "Vic, everyone's looking." It was clear to everyone that by everyone, he had meant Bill alone. At least Ron, George or Fred was not present, they would have mocked the couple so bad, most likely by whistling.
Vic, on the other hand, did not see a problem at all, "Let them look, we are getting married in s…" Suddenly, the young lady urgently patted her fiance's arm a few times before leaning in for a whispered conversation. They went back and forth for a minute before he gave her a nod, he then turned towards his grandmother and gave her a meaningful look, she responded with an encouraging smile and nod.
Teddy coughed once before taking his time to look around the table, looking at everyone of them who had practically been his family all his life, then he finally said, "Harry and Ginny, Aunt Molly and Arthur," for some unknown reason, Molly had always been "Aunt Molly" to Teddy but Arthur had never been "Uncle Arthur", "Vic and I are getting married on the first Sunday of August at the Shell Cottage." Hearing that their eldest granddaughter was getting married so soon, Arthur let out a delighted cheer while Molly burst into tears. Harry felt his own tears threatening to fall even though he had known about the engagement for well over a year, perhaps having a tangible date made the marriage that much closer to being a reality. Teddy might not have been his own but he had literally seen him grown up before his eyes from an infant into such a lovely young man that the sentiments he was feeling would not be much different from how the father of a groom would be feeling. The marriage was extra special for Harry as Teddy had lost his parents in a war like him and just like himself, his godson was going to officially become part of this extended family which he had always been a part of. For all the similarities there were between Teddy's life and his, he wished that his godson would never have to experience anything remotely as terrifying as he had.
Bill left the table only to return a moment later with a large bottle of champagne, the father of the bride had obviously come prepared for this specific moment, which they later found out had originally meant to be at the very end of the evening after eating the birthday cake. They had already been having a great time that Harry had a stronger-than-usual drink before this. Everyone took turns to congratulate the couple with a hug while Andromeda looked on with her most motherly smile, appearing not the least bothered for being upstaged so early on her own birthday. Harry was full on crying when he hugged his godson for more than a whole minute and would not have been able to let go if Ginny had not make her impatience known by tapping her foot and coughing a few times. After warmly hugging Teddy, then her niece, who she had always liked much better than the girl's quarter-Veela mother, Ginny returned to his side while he was still shamelessly wiping his tears and blowing his nose.
"Get a grip, Harry…" He turned towards her and was immediately and forcefully reminded of the night they had gotten engaged, to remember how unbelievable it had felt that even Harry Potter, for whom a bunch of people who had been closest to him had died, could have a family of his own. The Time Turner incidents and the emotional journey he had been through the past few months had reminded him never to take any of his happiness for granted. He had a wonderful family himself and now his baby godson was going to form his own family as well, Teddy deserved his happiness just as much as he had… "I can't bloody believe it, this is so embarrassing!" He had now held her tight in an embrace and was tearfully saying "I love you" over and over again, seemingly blind to all his family present.
After being forcefully released by his wife and having finally calmed down after the announcement, Harry sheepishly sat while stealing glances at his slightly annoyed wife. Everyone had happily resumed their eating while chatting about the wedding, more accurately, everyone except Molly, who had been trying to reason with Bill that the wedding should be held at the Burrow instead of the Shell Cottage. Unfortunately, it had seemed like a lost cause as Bill had patiently explained that they had decided on the Shell Cottage not merely because it had been Vic's family home, but also because Vic had always dreamed of having her wedding by the sea. For the first few years since the first time Harry had "visited" the Shell Cottage, he had always been painfully reminded of Dobby's death whenever he had come close to the place again. It had gradually become easier over the years as Bill and Fleur had expended it twice and had really make it their own after their children's births. Funny enough, Dobby's grave had become some sort of local attraction since he had make sure that the world would know how this tiny house-elf had sacrificed his own life to save so many people that visitors would come almost every day to pay their respect and leave a sock or two for the freed house-elf.
Ginny now whispered to his ear, "And to think this was only for Teddy, I'm starting to dread the day when James is going to make a similar announcement of his own, don't you dare embarrassing him in front of the whole extended family like that. You know what, I don't believe you should have anything stronger than a beer in any future family gathering…"
He knew he had overreacted and had gotten way too emotional for his own good but he was not feeling sorry at all. However, unlike some other men (like the majority of his brothers-in-law) who would have found Ginny too controlling, he was just extremely grateful to have her that he had rarely ever been able to object to any of her demands, which had mostly been right and reasonable anyway, so he whispered back to her, "Anything for you, love," before planting a kiss on her cheek. Besides, if it was his son's turn, he was pretty sure he would not be able to hold back his tears with or without alcohol.
Everyone had returned their attentions elsewhere in time, Andromeda was obviously feeling very moved about her grandson's upcoming marriage. At one point, she turned towards Harry again and said, "You know, I could still remember Nymphadora's wedding like it was yesterday…" She looked like she really had been transported back in time, Harry smiled as he recalled how much Tonks had detested her real first name. He had imagined that Andromeda would have learned never to use that full name but it still came up surprisingly often considering Tonks had died more than twenty years ago, a part of him could not help suspecting if this dignified lady had actually been doing it intentionally to annoy her daughter. "It was very small with very few people present but she didn't mind it at all as it had only mattered to her that he would go through with it. It was not like she had ever doubted his love but you should know better than anyone how Remus would always think himself not deserving of happiness… it was all very sad but both of them, as well as Ted, would surely be so happy to see Teddy happy…" Andromeda did not look upset, but the happiness she was feeling was a solemn one that the typical words of congratulations did not seem to apply well at the moment that he opted to place his hand on hers and gave her a sympathetic look, to show that he understood her feelings all too well.
Later in the evening, when they had all finished the main dishes, Teddy quickly cleared the table before Vic carefully levitated a marble vase of beautiful roses to the table, which turned out to be the cake and looked completely lifelike and identical to the real things. It was a chocolate and rose strawberry-flavored cake that blown everyone away. While Vic was doing very well for herself in her own job, Harry thought his niece could easily turn cooking and baking into a career. Teddy and Vic were so perfect for each other that he could not wait to officially welcome his godson into the family, and judging by how things had been going lately, he really would not be surprised if two of Teddy's blonde-haired relatives would attend the celebration with all of them. They took their time to finish the last of the champagne before taking leave. Again Harry hugged his godson, who had turned his hair into dark navy blue ending in dark purple with countless starlike sparkles which essentially turned his hair into a starry night, before hugging Andromeda and congratulating her one last time.
A/N: Werewolf Support Services is canon from "Fantastic Beast" and pottermore and it's also canon that it had failed to help anyone because of the stigma. I really like the idea that Teddy would idolise the father he has never known and would pick a career which would be able to help Lupin in an alternate world. (This bit of information has been in my head for so long waiting for the right moment to be mentioned.) Also, with Hermione the house-elf activist as the Minister, I like to think that she would care especially for the prejudices in the wizarding world and would actively support departments that are trying to make some differences in such areas.