SorrySorrySorry about the long wait to update! The good news is that I am now officially a college graduate! I will try to update as much as possible before I start grad school and that claims all my time. Thanks for hanging in there with me!

I still don't own Harry Potter.


Given Teddy's anger last night, Remus did not think he would be ready to see him again quite yet, but he felt he must share his news before his excitement and anxiety bubbled over like an untended cauldron. It was early, but he was sure Dora was up getting ready for work, and with any luck, Teddy would still be asleep. He quickly penned a letter to Dora, asking her to meet him for lunch. He whistled his owl Gwyn over, and though grumpy at the early hour, she clasped the letter in her beak. "Take this to Dora, please," he urged, "Be quick and there is an owl nut in it for you." Gwyn hooted and ruffled her feathers proudly in response before taking off through the open window.

By the time Remus was done with his second cup of tea and toast, Gwyn was speeding through the window with Dora's response in her beak. She was flying so fast that she skidded across the coffee table and crashed into a stack of books. She recovered herself with as much dignity as she could muster and hopped to the arm of Remus' chair. She dropped the letter in his lap and immediately began rooting in the pockets of his dressing gown for her treat. "You think you deserve a treat you silly bird?" He laughed at the owl's indignant look and fished the treat out of his pocket. "Here you go, speed daemon," he said as he tossed the treat to the coffee table.

Dora's reply was short and to the point. I'm off at 1:00. Meet me at the Leaky Cauldron. –Tonks. He folded the paper and tucked it in his pocked. He looked at his watch. Ten o'clock. That left three hours to occupy himself. He tried to focus on the book that he was supposed to be writing a review on for the Prophet, but his mind insisted on wandering. He marked his place and tossed it on the end table. He decided to get dressed and kill time in Diagon Alley until it was time to meet Dora. He wandered in an out of shops until he came to Flourish and Blots. The shopkeeper greeted him brightly. "Hello, Mr. Lupin! Looking for anything in particular?"

"Not today, Angie," he answered. He was a frequent visitor, and this was their routine. He drifted through the shelves aimlessly, gathering a small stack of books as he went. Without meaning to, he found himself in the textbook section. He looked over the volumes, forming a booklist in his mind. He shook his head sharply. He would come back after he talked to Teddy and Dora.

Dora was enthusiastic about his news. "Remus, that is fantastic!" She gasped around her mouthful shepherd's pie. "You'll take the job, of course," she stated, then noticed his hesitation, "Remus…"

"Dora, there are reasons that this is not the best choice."

Dora sniffed daintily. "One of those reasons had better not be an adolescent boy that had his feelings hurt." Remus didn't respond. "No. You are not going to give up this job. You've wanted this job your whole life and you are not going to let it go because you think our son can't stand extra time with his dad."

"That's hardly fair to him, Dora."

"I'm sure he will be happy about it, but even if he isn't, he will get used to it. Why not come to tea this evening and talk it over with him." They parted after lunch, Remus feeling a bit lighter at heart, but still worried about what Teddy would say.

Remus, taking Dora's advice, came for tea. Teddy mumbled a greeting. "Teddy," Dora admonished lightly, "Give your father a proper hello."

"Hi, Dad," Teddy said dully, but clearly, looking up at Remus.

"Hello, Teddy? How was your day?"

Teddy just shrugged non-committedly. "Right," Remus sighed lightly, "Would you mind if we had a little talk?"

"I'll just leave the two of you to it," Tonks said with false cheeriness, swinging a basket with various gardening tools as an alibi, "Make yourself at home, Remus." The door shut behind her and for awhile the only sound was the metallic clanking of Tonks digging through her basket outside, looking for some tool or another.

"How about I make us some tea, and then we can sit down and talk?" Remus asked gently.

Teddy just nodded and said, "Okay."

They sat in chairs opposite each other with steaming cups of tea. They had once again lapsed into silence. "What do you want to talk about."

Remus hummed softly, as though in thought. "Your mom and me, mostly. Anything on your mind that's bothering you, even if it is nothing to do with your mom or me. Then, when that is out in the open, I have things I would like to share with you," Remus explained in his most reasonable tone.

"Do I have to go first?" Teddy whined petulantly.

"I am afraid this is one of those occasions where the order of things matters."

"I don't want to say it. It's stupid."

"I doubt that. Nothing that you are feeling can be stupid."

"I'm sad you and mom are getting a divorce. It shouldn't matter. It's not like you were together properly before."

"There is nothing wrong with that. It's certainly not stupid. It is okay to be disappointed because things didn't work out how you wanted."

"I thought we would be a proper family," Teddy grumbled quietly.

"We are a proper family," Remus assured him, "Families come in all shapes and sizes. Your mother and I don't have to be married for us to be a proper family. We care about each other, and that is what counts. I know I haven't done a good job of showing it, but I care about you more than life itself."

"And you promise not to go away again?"

"I promise. In fact, I have some good news that would mean you seeing me very often, if you like."

Teddy looked up so quickly he was at risk of sustaining whiplash. "What is it?"

"Professor McGonagall came by this morning. She wanted to offer me a job at Hogwarts. If I accept, I will live in the castle during term time and teach Defense Against the Dark Arts."

Teddy looked at him cautiously. "Do you want to?"

"Yes, if you don't mind me being your teacher," Remus said with a smile.

Teddy answered with the same smile, "That would be amazing!"

"You know not all the other kids will think I'm so great."

"I know. Nobody thinks everyone is great."

"Okay. Just so your sure. I will owl Professor McGonagall right away to tell her I accept." Remus felt lighter than he could remember feeling in quite awhile. It was as though his chest was so full of happiness that he could float away. "Why don't you tell your Mum we've had our talk so we can give her the good news." Then, his happiness would be complete.

Teddy bounded eagerly to the door, slamming it behind him. Remus could hear him chattering excitedly, then he came in dragging Dora by the hand. "What's this news, then?" Tonks asked brightly, with a wink to Remus.

Teddy looked over at his dad for permission. "You go ahead and tell her," Remus encouraged.

Teddy did not need anymore prompting. "Dad's gonna be a Hogwarts professor!" He blurted, all in one breath.

"Why, that's fantastic!" Tonks laughed joyfully, wrapping Teddy in a hug. She caught Remus' eye with a broad smile. For a brief instant, she caught a glimpse of the happiness she saw in his eyes the day they were married. He had found a purpose.


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