Living Again

Summary: 20 years after the fall of Voldemort, something extraordinary happens. Nymphadora and Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, and Lily and James Potter return to life. Can they catch up with what they missed in the years since they died? And can they help Harry to move on from the death of his daughter? Non-Epilogue compliant. Set in a parallel world to my other fic Heiress of Slytherin.

Rating: T for potential language and violence.

Chapter 4: Acceptance

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Sirius was pacing…again! "Would you sit down Padfoot? You're making me nervous!" James said exasperatedly.

"I don't like this. I don't like this at all," Sirius replied, "I hate small spaces. There's no air…"

"Its alright Padfoot," Remus interrupted, "Its just a bit longer. You heard Kingsley. You were cleared of all charges. Once they verify our identities, this whole mess will be over. We'll be able to go home."

"Home?" a voice questioned, "What home? We've been dead twenty years…the Potters have been dead even longer than that! What home is there to go to?" Dora broke into tears.

Pulling his wife tighter to his side Remus spoke, "Shhh. It will be alright. You'll see. We'll find Ted…Kingsley will probably find him for us even. We'll get to know him…"

"Get to know him?!!! He's grown Remus! He's grown up…and…and we missed it! We missed it all…"

At this Lily broke into tears as well. They were distracted however by a voice from the corridor outside of their room.

"NO!" the voice spat, "I don't believe it! You're lying! Why are you lying?!"

"That was Harry!" Sirius said, staring at the door.

Lily looked up at this, "My baby? You're sure?"

"Without a doubt," Remus replied perking up a bit as well. Collectively the group stared vigilantly towards the door.

"What's taking so long?" James asked, "Why haven't they come in yet?"

Almost as soon as the words were spoken, the sound of a key was heard turning in the lock. The door creaked open, and a man stepped through shutting the door quickly behind him. Several moments passed as the man hungrily surveyed the people in the room. Finally, he smiled kindly, "Hello. My name is Ted."

Dora leaped from her chair at these words, Remus close behind, "Teddy?" she asked, "My Teddy?"

The man grinned widely his hair turning bright turquoise in response.

Dora threw herself at her son sobbing into his robes. A more practical Remus kept a calmer façade, a few tears escaping his eyes in joy at seeing his grown up son.

Ted allowed his mother to cling to him for a few moments, clinging to her in return, but he knew there would be plenty of time for this in the future. Regretfully, he held his mother away from him, "There are things that I need to explain to you," he told them, "and I'm not sure how long I have to do so."

Sirius spoke up at this with a snort, "Forever apparently!!! We've been in here ages!"

"Sirius Orion Black! Let the boy explain himself. I'm sure the ministry is doing everything as quickly as they can," an irate Lily scolded. Turning to the boy, she said in a calmer tone, "We heard shouting just before you came inside. Sirius and Remus say that it was my son. Is it true? Is my son really here? Why hasn't he come inside?"

Looking sadly towards the young woman, Ted sighed, "You had all best sit down. Harry is who I need to tell you about."

"What? What's wrong with my baby?" Lily demanded, fire gleaming in her eyes…green eyes, Ted observed, exactly the same shape and color of his godfather's.

"He's fine," Ted replied hastily, "Physically at least." He paused for a moment. The glint had not left those green eyes, and the hazel ones beside of her held a similar fire.

"What exactly is that supposed to mean?" James asked, growing impatient.

Sighing again, "There's no easy way to say this, so I'll just say it. Nine years ago, Harry's daughter, my sister, was murdered. Harry, in response, killed the two people that he felt were responsible…brutally," several noises of protest met this statement, continuing on quickly, he tried desperately to make them understand, "Lily, that was her name, was everything to him. We all were. Me, Lily, and baby James…but Lily was always his favorite, his little girl. When she died, it killed him…he broke. The ministry wanted him in Azkaban, but Kingsley interfered. He's been in St. Mungos ever since."

Pausing, Ted noted the shock on all of their faces. "But…but he's alright. Right?" asked Sirius, "He's still Harry."

Solemnly Ted shook his head, finally replying, "He's still Harry. I…I was eleven when this happened. I remember Harry…my godfather…the good person that he was…the person who took me for ice cream, who told me stories about my parents, who taught me to ride a broom and tie my shoelaces and so many other things…" he smiled as he reminisced, the smile fading, "…but, now…occasionally, he has a good day, and its like nothing ever happened. He's Harry, smiling and joking and criticizing my clothes…but mostly…he fades in and out. Sometimes he's lucid. Other times he's far away, trapped in memories and nightmares. He breaks easily. When he comes in, there are certain ways that you need to behave. Any sudden movement will be construed as a threat…actually, it might be better if you were sitting with your hands still and in plain sight. Keep your voices low and calm. Don't speak to him unless he speaks to you first…He'll be very suspicious. It won't be easy for you to see him like this, I know, but try to hold it together. If you break down in front of him…it could be disastrous. He could hurt himself, and I know none of us wants that. You must be extremely careful. Do you understand?" he asked, a challenging look upon his face.

The group nodded, the shock still evident on all of their faces. Tears streamed down their faces. They all sat immediately, their hands in their laps.

"We'll be careful," Lily said, "Please, can I see my son? I…I just need to see him."

Ted nodded, "I'll bring him in now. The healers and aurors will need to come as well, just to be safe. So…" with a swish of his wand the room expanded in size.

Sirius sighed in relief, "Why couldn't someone have done that hours ago?"

Lily smacked him in the head in exasperation, "Would you please stop whining?"

Ted chuckled and turned to the door walking outside temporarily. Kingsley came in first, followed by the aurors and healers. Finally, the group caught their first sight of Harry, clutching tightly to the arm of a healer, a thunderous yet defeated expression on his face, and they drank in his appearance. His hair was a long tangled mess, and Lily could have groaned when she saw it. It came to his waist chunky with tangles. He wore plain attire; a white, cotton shirt and pants with white slippers and a light blue robe. A bracelet around his wrist served doubly as identification as well as suppressing the majority of his magic. He glanced up then and looked dartingly around the room, muttering under his breath.

"Harry?" the healer that he clutched to asked, "Harry are you with us?"

"Yes!" he hissed shortly.

"Can you take a look around?" she lead, "There are people here. We told you that, remember. Could you tell us who they are?"

"No!" he shouted.

Her voice calm, the healer prompted, "No? You don't know who they are?"

Harry's hands flew to his head, shaking, the muttering grew faster. He detached himself from the healer and retreated until his back was to the wall, glancing up and then looking quickly back towards the floor quickly and repetitively. Finally, his gaze locked upon his godson.

"Do it," the first voice demanded, "do it for Ted."

"It isn't true," the second voice chimed it, "so how much harm could it do?"

With a final shake of his head, Harry blocked the voices out, and steeling himself, looked up. He stood his ground as he surveyed the people in the room. It wasn't possible. No spell could bring back the dead…but they looked so real…he'd have to speak to them, he decided…for his godson's sake, he would do anything.

"You can't be whom you claim to be," he declared, "The people you claim to be are dead, and nothing can bring back the dead…SO," he said, his voice raising, "the question is, WHO ARE YOU? And how sick do you have to be to impersonate the dead?"

The group sat silently, allowing Remus the speaking role, calmly he spoke, "It really is us Harry. I promise. I don't know how…"

"YOU'RE LYING!!!!" Harry exclaimed furiously, his eyes dancing murderously, "STOP LYING AND TELL ME WHO YOU ARE!"

"Remus Lupin."

"REMUS LUPIN IS DEAD!"

"But, I'm not, Harry," Remus replied, desperation evident in his voice.

Growling in frustration, Harry began to pace. Finally, he stopped, "Prove it! Prove it then, if you are who you say you are…I spoke to Remus several times in the year before his death. Tell me something only he would know."

Glancing nervously towards Ted, Remus lowered his gaze to the floor, "After Bill and Fleur's wedding, at Grimmauld Place, I was confused…about becoming a father…I tried to come with you…on your mission," looking up into Harry's eyes, "You called me a coward…and I was angry. I attacked you and left without another word…" quietly, he continued, "but then Ted was born, and I realized you were right. You nearly always were. I was a fool to have doubted you."

Harry paused considering for a moment. Then shaking his head, "That isn't good enough. Weasley could have told you that," he said, his revulsion clear in his voice as he practically spat the name. He left the wall, pacing for a few moments before stopping and addressing Remus again, "The summer before fifth year…there's only one person left alive from the group that collected me from the Dursley's…and I sort of trust him," he said with a glance towards Kingsley, "Moody wanted to prove that I really was me. You asked me a question…" then to himself he mumbled, "no…there needs to be more," continuing, "Then, after I left the Dursley's for the final time, when you got to where I was, you had me prove myself again. Where did I go, in detail, after I left the Dursleys? And what are the two questions that you've asked me in order to prove myself…and the answers?"

Remus smiled. He could answer these questions easily. "After you left the Dursley's, Hagrid flew you to Andy and Ted's place on Sirius's old motorbike. You were then transported via portkey to the Burrow. In fifth year, I asked you what form your patronus takes. You replied correctly, a stag. When I arrived at the burrow, we had been ambushed. I had to make sure that Voldemort hadn't planted an imposter. I asked you what creature sat in the corner the first time you visited my office at Hogwarts…a grindylow in a tank."

Harry's face filled with shock at the answer he had just received, barely audibly, he whispered, "Remus?"

Remus nodded. Harry reeled back looking at the others, drinking them in as though noticing them for the first time. Tears streamed down his face as his eyes found his parents, but it was not their faces that he most craved. Sobbing, Harry threw himself at Sirius.

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AN: *creeps slowly into the room

Hee, hee. This took much longer than I thought it would. I DO have a good excuse though. I failed a class while writing the previous chapters, so I decided to buckle down and focus on school for the Spring semester. I love fanfic, but my grades have to come first. Anywho, school has been out a while, but I ran into a bit of a block due to my break and I didn't want to give you something that was only half thought out. Sorry for the wait. I hope you enjoyed the chapter. On the plus, I think this is the longest chapter I have ever written for a fanfic, 2071 words, 5 pages. :) R&R!