So here is the next chapter. This time we get to hear from Tonks. Sorry this one took longer than I planned to post this. I wasn't sure how to start it and I'm still not sure how I like it. My new Doctor Who addiction and preparing to move to England for a semester AND getting ready to move houses have been keeping ms busy. Sorry! I hope it was worth the wait!
I still don't own Harry Potter. I'm thinking I never will. Sigh.
"Well, I suppose I should get Teddy from upstairs?" Tonks asked.
Remus went pale. "Yes," he muttered, "I suppose you should."
"He's a ten- year-old, not a Death Eater, Remus. You don't need to look like I'm giving you a death sentence."
"I'm nervous," he admitted sheepishly, "I don't want to disappoint him."
Tonks shrugged. "If you leave again, you will disappoint him for sure."
She turned to walk to the hall door. Remus' voice stopped her. "He seems like a really great kid, Dora," he called, "I know you don't need my approval, but you're... you're a great mum."
"Astonishing, isn't it?" she laughed dryly.
"No. Not really."
"Well, thanks I guess," she muttered, then made her way up to Teddy's room.
Tonks swore loudly when she tripped on her way up the stairs.
"Dora? Are you alright?"
She heard the sofa squeak when he got up to check on her. She felt the color rise to her cheeks and quickly morphed it away. Bloody perfect, she thought, so much for dignity. "I'm fine!" she snapped a bit more harshly than she intended, "Just stay where you are!"
She heard him sink back into the cushions and breathed a sigh of relief. At least she would be able to keep some of her pride. As she lay face-down on the steps, she could not believe her bloody luck. First her son goes missing and nearly scares her to death. Then, her absentee husband is back and wanting to be a part of their son's life-just their son's, she reminded herself forcefully. Now, she falls up the stairs and embarrasses herself in front if him. Bloody perfect. She hoped that the powers that be were getting a kick out of this, because she was certainly not amused.
She looked at her feet to see what had tripped her up and swore again, softly this time. Her bad luck had just gotten worse. A fleshy colored string attached to an ear had entangled itself between her feet. That could mean only one thing. Teddy had been listening in on them.
Tonks pulled herself to her feet and clambered up the remaining stairs. She followed the Extendable Ear cord to Teddy's door, all the while envisioning the hexes she was going to inflict on George when she saw him next. She could hear faint sniffling noises from the other side of the door. She knocked on it cautiously. Teddy took after both his parents in the respect that he didn't like anyone to see him cry.
"Teddy?" she called, "It's Mummy. Can I please come in?"
"Sure," he called weakly after a brief pause Tonks knew he was using to wipe the tears off his face. When she opened the door and saw him, his face was dry, but still slightly pink from crying. He hadn't mastered the art of morphing away emotion. Tonks tried to not give him cause to practice.
She sat on the edge of his bed and patted the spot next to her. "Come now, you're not too old to cuddle your mother. Why don't you come over here and tell me what's wrong? I know you were listening."
"He left because of me," Teddy said sadly, "Neither of you wanted me."
"Come here," she said with open arms. He allowed himself to be wrapped up in a tight hug. "Now, what have I told you about eavesdropping?"
"Always make sure you bug is hidden?" he guessed, clearly bemused as to why his mother would choose this moment for a lesson on espionage.
"Well, yes, that too. What I meant was that eavesdroppers hardly ever get the whole story. Listen to me, your father did not leave because of you..."
"But..."
"No. He didn't leave because of you. I don't even think he left because of me, and it took a very long time for me to realize that. He left because he was afraid, and no one could have changed that. He left me before you were born, and no doubt would have left again even if I never was pregnant with you."
"But you still didn't want me!" Teddy cried.
"There is a very big difference between unwanted and unplanned," Tonks replied shakily. She had never wanted Teddy to find all of this out like this. This was exactly why she had kept the circumstances around Remus leaving away from her son. "I reckon you would have to be mad to plan on bringing a baby into the world when the future is that uncertain. Becoming a parent is scary under the best of circumstances. You tell me it isn't when it is your turn one day. I was certain I would be the most horrible mother on the planet, if I survived at all! You are my greatest blessing, always remember that. If you had any doubt that I love you, well, I haven't done my job properly, have I?"
"No! You are a great Mum! I just wondered... Would it be different if I weren't here? Would you and him still be..."
"I'll tell you what would be different," she interrupted, "I would be a very lonely workaholic."
"Do you hate him?" Teddy asked.
That gave her pause. Did she hate him? Hate is a very strong word, after all. "No," she answered slowly, "I don't hate him. When you live someone like that, I don't think you ever loose those feelings completely. He's... well, he's not my favorite person. We'll leave it at that. Are you ready to meet him properly?"
"I don't know," he said quietly. He looked so conflicted that Tonks couldn't help but pull him into an even tighter hug.
"I think you should give him a chance. Your father is a good man. He wants to get to know you, but it is completely your decision. So, what do you say?"
"Sure," Teddy said, "May as well, now that he is here. Are you sure he wants to see me?"
Tonks nodded, "Positive."
Teddy beamed and led her down the stairs by the hand to the living room where his father waited.
Remus jumped from his seat when they reentered the room. "Got everything sorted?" he asked anxiously.
"Yeah," Tonks answered, "I suppose I should give the two of you some privacy. I'll just go upstairs and the two of you can talk down here."
"Don't be ridiculous, Dora. You can stay down here."
"No, Remus, I don't think I should. This is about you and Teddy."
"I'm no going to push you out of your own livingroom. Teddy and I can go to my place and I can bring him back."
Tonks chewed on her lip for a moment. She knew the sorts of places Remus lived before they had married, and she was sure she did not want Teddy around that. Of course, Remus was working now. She had no reason to believe he was still living in poverty. Still... "Fine, but I want you to take me with you so I can find it in case of emergency. I'm sure your house is just as unplottable as mine, so I highly doubt I will be able to find it without you letting me in on the secret. It's not that I don't trust you..."
"I understand. I will most certainly show you where I live. You should know where we are," Remus answered fervently. If Tonks wasn't still more than slightly furious with him, she would be grateful that he understood her overprotective nature.
When no one moved or said anything to indicate an impending departure, Tonks began to grow impatient. "Shouldn't we be getting a move on?" she hinted, none too subtly.
Teddy and Remus both abandoned their previous occupation of stealing nervous glances at each other to look at her with wide eyes popping out of pale faces. They both looked as if they had recently disembarked from a small boat after sailing incredibly rough seas.
Remus coughed hoarsely to regain his composure. "Yes," he stammered, "I suppose we should. I will just side-along apparate both of you and you can apparate yourself back, Dora, if that is okay with you."
"That's fine," she said and turned to lead the way to the edge of the apparation charms. She allowed Remus to take her hand and soon the familiar squeezing sensation propelled them into darkness.
They landed in a wooded area, though Tonks could not see a house, or even a break in the trees. From the way Teddy was craning her neck in an effort to see the house, she knew he could not see it either.
"I live in Woodale Cottage," Remus said, and Tonks felt a slight ripple in the air. The wood melted away to reveal a small stone cottage. It was so Remus, she thought. The cottage was ancient-looking and shabby, but meticulously cared for. The shrubbery was neatly trimmed, the door and window casings painted, and the path tidied. He always was a neat nick.
"Meets your approval?" he asked.
"Yes," she answered, "You've not changed much in that respect, have you?"
"No, I suppose not. I like to think I have changed in others."
"Yes, well, in eleven years I'd be worried if you didn't. I had best be off and let the two of you get acquainted."
"You don't want to come in? I wasn't ready for visitors, but surely we are past that."
"No, Remus. I really should be going. Work stuff, you know," she answered, though she had no intention of going back to work. Ginny would be dying to hear about the Teddy situation, assuming Neville didn't gave loose lips.
"Oh, well, I will see you later this evening then. I'll bring him home about seven?"
"That's fine," she answered, then turned to Teddy, "Please behave. I can't take anymore stunts today. I think I may have gone grey from the last one!"
"Mum, you can change it back if you did," Teddy pointed out."
"Even so," she bent down to kiss him on the forehead even though Teddy tried to squirm away, "I love you. See you tonight."
"You too. Bye Mum."
Tonks stood up again and did what she had been avoiding. She looked Remus dead in the eyes. "Goodbye, Remus," she said evenly.
"I'll see you later... Tonks."
She nodded sharply in response and crossed the apparation boundaries and left for the Potter's. She knew Ginny may possibly have cake and a cup of tea ready... or maybe a large glass of red wine.
So what do you think? Please review!
