Cheating Death
Written by Christina Elizabeth Lupin
A/N: Oh, I love you guys so much! 11 reviews in one day again! And thanks for understanding why I didn't have Ginny and the kids in the story. I am so thankful. It made me happy. Anyway, here is the next installment of the story. Hope you guys enjoy it more than the last one.
Another Note: I noticed that some of you are wondering if anyone else should come back from the dead. I have taken your words into consideration and I'll think about it. I might have Sirius return (author giggles when she hears the cheers) and Dumbledore will just remain as a portrait for now. I don't know about the others yet, but Sirius is being considered for now. And as for having Harry get into a romantic relationship, I don't think it's going to happen in the story. As some of you may or may not know, this story won't be going on forever (author cringes at the boos and hisses she gets) and I only have so many things to do here. I have at least four conflicts alone and I certainly don't want to add more by giving Harry someone to date.
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Cheating Death
Chapter Four
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James admitted that he had never been completely jealous of anyone. He was an only child and he was never jealous of his own friends. But to sit and watch his only son joke and laugh with Remus, he found that he had become jealous. He wanted to be the one who made Harry laugh and enjoy himself. He wanted to hold his son close and to be the one he looked up to.
"James?" Lily asked softly by his side.
He turned around, tearing his eyes away from Remus and Harry to glance at his wife. "Yes, love?"
"Are you alright? You've been staring at them for awhile."
James blew out a breath and ran a nervous hand through his hair. He began to tell her about what he had been feeling, the jealousy of the close relationship the two men had and how he longed to do those things with Harry.
Lily found herself glancing at the two men and she smiled. "I can understand why you are jealous, James, but you shouldn't be." She held up a hand when he opened his mouth to protest. "I honestly don't blame them for becoming close. After losing Sirius, Remus and Harry nearly broke until they talked. They began by sending letters and then moved to meeting each other when they could. As you heard when we met Harry some time ago, Harry was there to push Remus into getting together with Tonks, was there when they got married, and was named godfather to their child. They deserve each other. I'm not saying that we should step away and not get to know our son, but just let them be."
James couldn't find it within himself to argue that point. If Harry and Remus hadn't grown as close they had, who knows what would have happened. He thanked his wife for straightening him out and returned to watching the two men interact, this time smiling as he did so.
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Tonks stretched as she breathed in the fresh air as she stepped outside. She stared out over the land, as Harry's house sat on a small hill that overlooked some of Godric's Hollow. She shivered when she glanced at the graveyard, remembering how she had crawled out of the earth, scared and hysterical.
"You alright?" a voice asked from behind her.
The Metamorphmagus turned around and smiled at Teddy. His hair was a bright blue and was somewhat spiked.
"I'm fine," she replied. "I just needed some fresh air."
The two remained silent, staring out into the distance. Tonks was therefore startled when she heard her son speak.
"Has Dad always been close to Harry? Is that why he named him godfather to me?"
She smiled and beckoned him closer. "Remus always had a soft spot for Harry, even when the kid was born. That night when Harry's parents were killed and Harry was sent off to live with the Muggles, Remus was upset. He attempted several times to gain custody of your godfather but he couldn't. See, there was a law that werewolves, such as your father, couldn't have kids, adopted or biological. They couldn't have a job either or get married. Devastated, your father then packed his things and left. It wasn't until around Harry's third year that he saw Harry again. Remus allowed himself to grow close to the kid. Then when Harry's godfather, Sirius Black, died in the kid's fifth year, the two were extremely upset. Remus was the first person to contact Harry and tell him that it wasn't his fault that Sirius died.
"Since then, Remus and Harry owled each other back and forth. I remember Remus telling me how he always looked forward to hearing from your godfather. He was so happy, not like the man that had lost his other best friend. I am quite thankful that Harry pushed Remus to accept me. Your father tried so many ways to avoid me, and even when he couldn't he kept trying to scare me off by saying he was too poor, too dangerous, and too old for him." Tonks scoffed. "Honestly, age wasn't an issue since we live longer than Muggles. I didn't mind that he was poor or a werewolf either. It took Harry awhile to finally convince your father to date me. When Remus asked me to marry him, I nearly knocked him unconscious in the restaurant we were in. I fell out of my chair and hugged him, also pulling him to the floor because of my clumsiness. Everyone was laughing by that point." She smiled, a dreamy look in her eyes as she toyed with her wedding band. "It was a quiet affair since Voldemort was still at large. It was just my parents, the two of us, and Harry. He was so happy for us."
"So, is he your, um, godson too? I mean, I know that Sirius was his godfather and all, but I would think that Dad would've…" Teddy stuttered.
Tonks laughed. "I guess you could call us Harry's godparents, though I think Remus views him as more than that. I view Harry as a younger brother or a son. That poor kid had so much drama in his life, growing up with unloving guardians and dealing with Voldemort year after year. I seriously thought he was going to marry Ginny and have kids with her. They loved each other so much at the time." She slung an arm around her son. "But if there is one thing I'm proud of, it's of how Harry raised you and of how close the two of you have become. Although I am excited that you will come to live with us, I'm afraid that Harry would become lonely and close up like a clam."
"Invite him to stay with us then," Teddy replied.
"Teddy, Harry's a grown man. Besides, he has his parents with him too so he won't be too lonely. And it's not like we aren't going to visit him."
Teddy and Tonks shared a grin and fell into a companionable silence, her arm still around the teen.
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A knock on the door made the occupants of the house freeze. When another knock sounded, Harry snapped out of his daze and opened the door. Ron and Hermione stood in the doorway, grinning broadly at him with Rose and Hugo in their arms.
"Uncle Harry!" Rose squealed, struggling in her father's arms.
Ron rolled his eyes at Harry before letting his daughter down and the five-year-old clung onto her godfather's leg. (A/N: Let's just assume that Rose and Hugo are also Harry's godchildren. Also, Rose is about eight years younger than Teddy and Hugo about nine or ten years younger than Teddy.)
"Hey Rose," Harry chuckled, lifting her up so he could hug her. He nodded to the other Weasleys.
Hermione peered around Harry and gasped when she saw four familiar figures standing in the hallway. She gazed at Harry, who told her with his eyes that he would explain later.
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Ron, Hermione, and Harry stood in the backyard of Harry's house, sitting on the ground while Rose and Hugo spent time with Teddy and the others.
"So, they're really back?" Ron asked, rubbing his wife's arm absently.
The younger wizard nodded, a smile on his face. "They are."
"What about Teddy? Is he going to live with Remus and Tonks?" Hermione asked, staring at him intently. She knew how close the two were and how it would tear them apart if Teddy went with his parents.
"I told Teddy that I wouldn't mind if he went to live with them and I don't. Teddy deserves to get to know his biological parents. I also let him know that I would always love him no matter what happens."
His friends smiled and the three lapsed into silence, each thinking on the events that happened nearly half a week earlier, when the four had risen from their graves.
"Do you think anyone else will come back?" Hermione's voice asked softly, breaking the silence.
"Who knows," Ron answered. "Though I think Harry will be thrilled if Sirius came back." He gave a small smile to his friend. "Have all his father figures back along with his own father."
"Yeah," Harry replied, drawing his knees up to his chest so he could rest his arms on top of his knees.
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"I think Teddy will be a great father," Lily said as she watched the teen play with the young Weasleys. "Look at how he is with Rose and Hugo."
"I agree," Remus replied softly, wrapping an arm around Tonks. "He's a natural." His eyes flicked toward the back door before turning back to the three kids. He laughed when Teddy was suddenly attacked by the two younger kids and he fell backwards with Rose and Hugo on his chest and stomach. Teddy's hair flashed red, making the two squeal in delight.
The back door opened and the Golden Trio entered, smiling at the scene they walked in on. Harry took a seat in an armchair as Ron and Hermione greeted the Potters and Lupins, shaking hands and hugging.
"When are you going to tell the wizarding world about your return?" Hermione asked, taking the other loveseat with her husband.
"As soon as we get everything settled down," Remus answered. "Next week Tonks and I will begin to move into one of the Black properties somewhere in Scotland and get a couple jobs after we reveal ourselves."
"Lily and I also have to find a place of our own," James added. "We're still young and we can still start a family of our own." Lily smiled and kissed his cheek.
Everyone then turned to Harry, who smiled weakly at them. "I have no objections to that. I think it would be nice having a younger brother or sister, even if I would be thirty-some years older than them."
"But you'll be on your own," Lily replied, concern flashing over her beautiful features.
"I'll be at Hogwarts for most of the year, giving me two months to myself. Besides, I have always wanted to travel around the world."
"He won't accept any of the dates we try to set up for him," Ron admitted to the four adults.
"I don't have time for dating, Ron, you know that. Between teaching and raising Teddy, my life was already hectic."
Ron snickered and Hermione covered her mouth, obviously remembering earlier memories. The four adults looked bemused, wondering what the two were thinking about as Harry scowled at them.
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End of chapter
A/N: Inspiration is a wonderful thing, isn't it? Keep up your reviewing and I might just update every day! I also need to get to work on Blood Brothers sometime soon. I just have to reread Order of the Phoenix and get ideas of what to do. If you like the Remus/Harry/Sirius bonding fics, I advise that you go ahead and read it (that is, if you haven't already, lol). Once again, thanks to the eleven brilliant, wonderful reviewers who love this fic enough to say something.