Disclaimer: Don't own. Please don't sue.
A/N: This will be the last chapter. My exams are nearly done now. I have English tomorrow. Lupin's thoughts are in italics
Discovery, Secrets and A Bit of Magic
Chapter 8 – Laid to Rest
Lupin saw Harry running towards him, arms outstretched. It was his last day at Hogwarts, and it was all over. Harry reached him and threw his arms around his neck joyfully. Lupin welcomed the close contact, although he was aware students were staring at the pair of them, sniggering and pointing. He ignored them, hugging Harry back.
Suddenly, everything started to fade away. Lupin woke to find himself hugging his pillow. Then it dawned on him. He kicked himself for almost believing it was real.
If you have to leave, I wish that you would just leave.()
Sighing heavily, he checked his watch. Four a.m. Damn you, Harry. There was no point trying to get back to sleep now. If he did, he'd only end up remembering Harry again. It was like when Harry had written to him in his fifth year, because he had been having nightmares about Voldemort. Not that all Lupin's dreams were nightmares, the situation just seemed parallel to Harry's.
There he was, thinking about Harry again. It was really starting to annoy him now.
000
"How are you, Remus? Everything all right?"
"I'm fine, Minerva. Teaching's fine. I'm actually starting to enjoy it again," replied Lupin, tucking into his dinner while trying to feed Mirabelle, now seven months old. She started screaming, having just seen a bowl of humbugs.
"No, Mira! Don't eat that!" shouted Remus, grabbing the bowl and moving it away. Mirabelle immediately started crying, her small arms outstretched.
"I think you'd better feed her somewhere else, Remus. There's too many temptations in here," said Minerva matter-of-factly. "I'll go and get Raff off Poppy for you."
"Thanks, Minerva. I think they're tired anyway. I should be back soon," replied Lupin wearily, lifting Mirabelle and standing up as Minerva made her way over to Madam Pomfrey and lifted a sleeping Raff out of her arms. Minerva cradled him, careful not to wake him up. Handing him to Lupin and giving him a chuck under the chin, she bade Lupin goodnight and went back to the teacher's table to finish the feast.
He lugged the sleeping twins all the way back to his quarters. They felt like dead weights. Since when were these two so heavy? Placing them as gently in their cots as he could, he tucked their blankets over them and kissed their foreheads. He yawned widely and looked at his watch. Eight p.m. Merlin, I'm tired. Who knew kids could take so much out of you? Rubbing his eyes, he pulled off his jumper, again covered in the remains of baby food from dinner. Followed by the rest of his clothes. Followed by...
He paused. Can I really do this? Can I really give this up after all that's happened? Sighing, he removed his engagement ring and placed it in a box on his bedside table, out of sight.
000
"Look at this! Can't they give him some peace?" snapped Hermione, shoving the latest edition of the Daily Prophet under Ron's nose. The front page was almost all taken up with a moving black-and-white photograph of Lupin, walking along the high street in central London, his hand curled around that of a tall, and although the photo didn't show it, blond man they didn't know. Underneath the photograph there was the start of the article, which Hermione proceeded to read aloud.
"Remus Lupin, 39, Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, was yesterday seen out shopping with attractive blond Richard Lewis, 32. The pair appeared to be very much in love, holding hands and Lewis with his arm round Lupin's waist at one point. It is not known whether Lewis is a wizard or not, but if he is, he certainly doesn't act like one. continued on page three."
"How can he have a new partner so soon after Harry died?" Hermione asked indignantly. "He told me he really loved Harry!"
"Maybe this is his way of dealing with it, Mione. It's been eight months since Harry died, it's probably time Remus found himself someone new," replied Ron.
"They look so happy together in that photo. I wonder if Lewis is a Muggle. Maybe that's why they're in London, rather than Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade." said Hermione, folding the paper up and placing it in the magazine rack with the many other editions of the Daily Prophet and copies of Witch Weekly and Quidditch Monthly.
"It shouldn't matter, as long as he's happy, Mione. That's all we need to worry about."
"I suppose you're right, Ron," she replied wearily, sitting in an armchair near the window and opening a book. This signalled the end of the conversation and Ron went upstairs to fix up the bedroom.
000
"See you in two weeks, Richard," Lupin said, giving him a kiss on the cheek and picking up his bag. Richard nodded, giving Lupin a quick one-armed hug. Lupin returned the hug, savouring the contact. Then, after saying goodbye again, Richard left the room. Lupin waited until he was out of earshot, then Apparated to Hogsmeade with a faint 'pop'. He didn't need Richard suspecting anything was out of the ordinary.
I'd better go and fetch the twins. They'll be wondering where their dada is. He walked briskly back to Hogwarts, swinging his bag gently. Reaching Hogwarts, he realised just how cool the evening had got. Shivering slightly, he let himself into the castle though the oak front doors, and found himself standing in the Entrance Hall. Everyone must be at dinner, he thought, looking around the deserted Entrance Hall. He could hear faint chatter.
Lugging his bag back to his quarters, he let himself in after saying the password. He dumped his bag in a chair and threw himself on his bed. Oops, I forgot the twins. Better go now.
000
11 years later...
"Dad, where's my trunk? And Raff hasn't packed yet!" Mirabelle yelled up the stairs, standing with her hands on her hips. It was nearly nine thirty on September the first, and the twins were due to start Hogwarts.
"Tell Raff to get a move on! Your trunk's next to your wardrobe!" Remus yelled back, while trying to finish his own packing. It was his first day back as well as it being the twins' first day there. Trying to get them sorted out, as well as himself, was a task and a half. Raff, innocent as he had been at seven months old, had become slightly lazy over the years. Mirabelle, on the other hand, had been good from seven months all the way to seven years old and beyond. Her purpose in life seemed to be to keep Raff in line. Lupin could almost see Hermione when he looked at her, except she had bright green eyes. Harry's eyes. And Lupin's straight, sandy brown hair.
Of course he was proud of them, but the looks on their faces were priceless the day they got their Hogwarts letters. He hadn't told them they were wizards; he wanted to see their reactions. He had very nearly got a wizarding camera to capture the moment, but thought better of it. He thought that would be teasing them too much.
"Dad, come on!" Mirabelle yelled, interrupting his thoughts. "We've got to go now!" Lupin heard Raff's trunk clunking down the stairs. He looked at his watch. Nearly ten. Nearly ten! We really need to move it! Checking he had everything packed, he ran a comb through his hair quickly, trying to make it behave. Just like Harry's, he thought grimly. Then he grabbed his bag and trunk and rushed out of the room and down the stairs, with no more thoughts about Harry.
"What were you doing up there? You're going to make us late!"
"Nothing, Mira. Right, come on, otherwise I'll have to take you to Hogwarts myself," he snapped. The children moaned and groaned as they dragged their trunks out of the kitchen and out the door.
000
"Lupin, Mirabelle!"
Lupin watched proudly as Mirabelle walked slowly over to where Professor McGonagall was standing with the tattered old Sorting Hat. She sat gingerly on the edge of the stool and Professor McGonagall placed the Hat on her head. It nearly covered her eyes, Lupin noted.
It was less than a minute later when the Hat called out, "Gryffindor!"
There was thunderous applause from the Gryffindor table at this, and Lupin couldn't help but beam as his daughter took her place at the table, people thumping her on the back and shaking her hand. Lupin thought he saw two flame-haired youngsters sitting a couple of seats down from her. Any relation to the Weasley twins, I wonder?
Raff was also sorted into Gryffindor, unsurprisingly. Well, with two Gryffindors for parents, why wouldn't he be?
He met up with them after the feast; both seemed in awe of the sheer size of everything in the castle.
"Dad, why didn't you tell us the school was going to be this size? It's amazing! There was loads of food I've never seen before!" exclaimed Raff excitedly. Lupin just smiled pleasantly. Just then, Snape brushed past, his black robes billowing behind him dramatically. The twins stared after him unabashedly. Lupin was not surprised, they'd never seen anyone who looked like that before.
"That's Professor Snape, just so you know. He teaches Potions, and he's not known for his nice personality," Lupin told them matter-of-factly. "Come on, I'll show you to your dormitories," he said, taking Mirabelle's hand and leading them towards Gryffindor Tower, all of them yawning widely.
000
The first day of classes was over, surprisingly quickly, thought Lupin. He hadn't seen the twins since breakfast that morning. I hope they got on okay, and didn't cause any trouble. Mirabelle came storming into the Great Hall at that point, red-faced. Oh dear, something's got her vexed, thought Lupin worriedly. He saw her sit down at the Gryffindor table, pull a book out of her bulging bag, and begin reading, her face contorted in concentration. He couldn't see the cover of the book, but he was pretty sure it was a Potions book. Nothing could get her as annoyed as Snape taunting her, I'm sure. She ignored the food in front of her, rifling through the book. She'd better watch she doesn't rip that book apart, or Snape will definitely have something to say.
He stopped watching her and started on his sausages and mash hungrily. He'd talk to the kids later, ask if they'd had a nice day, stuff like that. Right now, he was hungry.
000
It was now three months after the twins had started at Hogwarts and everything seemed to be going as normal as was possible with Hogwarts. Mirabelle was becoming more like Hermione every day, Lupin thought. At least she doesn't sound like her.
He lay in bed that night, just thinking. I think it's high time I visited Harry's grave. It's been nearly eleven years now, and there's some things that need laid to rest. The next day being a Saturday, and a Hogsmeade weekend at that, the castle would be nearly empty. Perfect.
So the next day, with the twins safely in the Gryffindor common room, he met Minerva in the Entrance Hall. She was wearing a set of black robes in honour of the occasion. She took his arm and they set off together, to a specially arranged Apparition point just outside Hogwarts.
Once they arrived, he let go of her arm and went straight to Harry's grave. All it said was, RIP, Harry James Potter, The Boy-Who-Lived. Lupin knelt in front of the grave and placed a single yellow rose on it.
I tried to go on like I never knew you. ()
Almost impossible at first, what with the dreams and the memories. Then I got myself a new partner, a Muggle called Richard Lewis. When he found out I was a wizard, though, he dumped me unceremoniously, leaving me sobbing on the kitchen floor and clinging to him for dear life. When he pulled away from me, I knew we were through. After him, I got on with what was left of my life, looking after our kids, Mirabelle and Raff. They're now at Hogwarts, and enjoying every minute of it.
But now, I've come here, Harry, to your graveside, to say my final goodbye. I realise I need to become more independent now that you're gone. I'll always be with you, forever. Goodbye, Harry. I'll miss you. May eternal light shine upon you.
Lupin stood up, shaking. It was all over. No more Harry. He was gone. Forever.
-Fin-
A/N: Song credits:
() My Immortal – Evanescence
() Incomplete – Backstreet Boys
That was the most difficult chapter to write. I'm all done now. 2,102 words! Feedback please!!