16

Teddy sat in the living room, reading while his godmother and godfather washed dishes in their kitchen. This had become a nightly ritual since he had started frequenting Harry's home when he was nine. They would eat dinner, Teddy would clear the table, his siblings (well, they were practically siblings) would make sure the table was devoid of crumbs and spills then their parents would wash the dishes together. James, Lily and Albus would play some made up game and eventually would 'attack' Teddy begging him to entertain them with his metamorphamagi ability. That would no doubt come later, as of now he was too absorbed in his book: 'Muggle Battles of the 19th and 20th Century.'

"Teddy! Teddy! I'm gonna hide in here! Don't say anything!" Lily ordered dashing into the room.

Teddy grinned slightly and raised a finger to his lips, signaling he wouldn't say a word.

Lily rolled under the couch noiselessly.

"Ready or not, here I come!" shouted James from upstairs.

It took him ten minutes to find Lily who had managed the fold herself up into a small ball under the couch.

"Teddy! Did you tell him?" whined Lily.

Teddy peered at her over the top of his book with an amused smile on his lips.

"After I told you that I wouldn't, Lily? Don't be absurd."

Lily giggled and retreated, yelling about how she was now 'it.'

Remus shut his book and massaged the bridge of his nose, standing and setting it aside on the coffee table. He walked towards the mantle where a clock resided to check the time.

'7:40' the hands of the clock read.

His eyes slowly drifted to another picture on the mantle. The one he used to steal and take to his bedroom at night as a child. The one of his father, Sirius, Black, James Potter the first and some boy scarcely spoken of named Peter Pettigrew.

They were very young in the photo. Still in Hogwarts uniforms. Probably in their fifth year.

James looked like the younger pictures of Harry, though the eyes behind his rounded glasses were different. His hair was black and messy and there was a confident smile on his face.

To his left was a boy who looked much more mysterious. Shoulder length, dark, shaggy hair and smoky eyes. His lips seemed to be in an infinite smirk. That was Sirius Black.

A plump boy with watery eyes stood on Sirius' left. Teddy knew all about that treacherous swine. When Teddy asked Harry as to why he didn't remove Peter from all the pictures Harry had told him that seeing Peter would remind them the importance of loyalty and the consequences that breaking a promise could lead to. That was why Peter Pettigrew remained in the photo.

And then on the far right of the boys was his father. Long and lanky with hardly perceptible muscle tone, much like himself. His face had three long slashes across it with a mop of light brown hair hanging over his forehead just above his eyes. Eyes that were far too wise for someone his age. Eyes that had so much experience in them. His mouth was twisted up into a grin, though his brows were slightly furrowed as though he were exultant to be with these boys and at the same time, hesitant.

James had his long arms around the shoulders of Remus and Sirius. He yanked Sirius closer to him, making Peter laugh; then he stretched his hand upward and ruffled Remus hair who rolled his eyes with a small laugh and promptly fixed it.

Slowly, Teddy's eyes wandered up to the long rectangular mirror that hung horizontally above the mantle and caught his reflection.

Much like he was always told by Harry, who had seen young Remus in a pensive, he was the spitting image of his father.

'Well, minus the scars, of course,' Hardy would remark.

They had the same square jaw and high cheekbones, hollowed out just slightly. Both their noses were erect and straight, set between two light brown eyes that were in a constant state of vigilance and beneath two brows that furrowed a bit.

His hair was also a thick mop that fell in his eyes, though neatly shaped overall.

The hair color though, had always been different.

Though it was his preference to have a shocking hair color ever since he was a child, it was also a tribute to his mother. He often felt guilty for not looking more like his mum. That was the other reason behind his vibrant shades of hair color. According to photos and recollections from his friends and family she always had a bright shade of hair. Primarily, bubblegum pink.

He'd wanted a few times to try on the light, golden brown his father had in his younger years but could never bring himself to.

Teddy didn't know why, but the thought of looking identical to his father frightened him. Perhaps it was fear of what emotions might emerge from such an act. Try as he might to find other reasons, he couldn't.

"You look just like him when you make that face. I'm fairly positive he made that face whenever I said anything. He always seemed to be calculating and thinking about what others were really saying whenever they spoke. He could read a person like a book."

The corner of Teddy's mouth tugged up, he stared at his weathered boots for a moment then looked back to Harry.

"Erm-have I got anything of my mum in me? My-my real mum, that is."

"Of course! I told you, she was a Hufflepuff too. You are both-"

"Good finders?" snorted Teddy.

Harry laughed as Teddy walked lazily to the couch, collapsing onto it with a sigh.

"No. You're both very outspoken and charismatic. Hufflepuffs are more than good finders, Teddy. They're also known for being incredibly compassionate and just well liked in general," Harry replied in stern but comforting tone.

Teddy nodded, knotting his fingers behind his head and staring up at the ceiling.

"In fact, one of the most popular, most kind and without a doubt most brave people I've ever known was in Hufflepuff. Cedric Diggory."

"Everyone says he was in Gryffindor," Teddy said curiously.

Harry scoffed and shook his head.

"You don't have to be in Gryffindor to be brave, Teddy. Also, everyone was head over heels for Cedric. There wasn't a single member of the Order who didn't love your mum."

Teddy felt himself smile ever so slightly.

"And I was terribly jealous of Cedric. He always got every woman he wanted. Remind you of anyone?" asked Harry, clearing his throat.

Teddy chuckled and rolled his eyes.

"I don't get everyone I want."

"Correction, you haven't gotten the one person that you want."

Teddy sat up quickly in one swift motion. His eyes darted to Harry who fought off a laugh as Teddy's hair flashed bright red.

"I-I-I-I dunno w-"

Harry raised a brow.

"I won't tell a soul, Teddy. Quit your panicking. Besides, Victoire fancies you right back, I believe."

A sigh of relief escaped Teddy's lips, he rubbed the back of his neck anxiously.

"Well, I punched her in the nose last week, sooo we'll see if that goes anywhere," grumbled Teddy with a slight smile.

"You do that a lot, Teddy. You really should really learn the length of your arms and how to control them," chuckled Harry.

"In my defense, she's gotten really good at dodging my arms."

Teddy's mouth spread into a wide,

humorous smile. Harry laughed, his hands held up in surrender. There was a moment of silence in which their happy smiles slowly faded. Harry ran his fingers through his dark hair and looked at Teddy with concerned eyes.

"I may know better than anyone what you're going through right now, Teddy."

Teddy turned his eyes downward.

"When I was fifteen I started to wonder more about my parents. I saw them in a pensive and that certainly didn't quench my thirst to know more about them. Your dad knew a few good many things about my father. Remus frequently indulged my constant questioning by providing stories of the past. Perhaps nobody new more stories about my father than Sirius Black."

Harry's eyes turned somber as he stared off awkwardly. He didn't see the fireplace ahead of him though. He saw something beyond that. Something not quite tangible. Good or bad, Teddy did not know. He DID recognize the expression though. Teddy often made it himself whenever he thought of Victoire or his parents. When he saw a light at the end of the tunnel or a dim glow of the past. Though Harry's face was difficult to decipher as to the nature of what was on his mind, Teddy knew to stay silent. Let him complete his thoughts.

"He was my godfather. He was killed by his own cousin. Bellatrix."

"The same woman that killed my mother, her niece, also killed her own cousin?" gawked Teddy.

Harry pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head, a look of guilt in his eyes.

"I don't want you to know all the horrors of the world and of your life, Teddy. I want you to see the good. To see the love of your family and peers. Hatred is a powerful thing. So powerful it can bring us to destroy those we hold ourselves most loyal to. Who we SHOULD be loyal to. Bellatrix despised Sirius. She despised your mother. That hatred led her to kill them both."

"Who killed my father? Was it Bellatrix?" asked Teddy abruptly.

Harry sighed.

"We've talked about this, Teddy. It's not important who killed him."

"Because he's still alive?"

"No. He's long gone. That's not the reason though. What matters is that he killed your father. He died. Hatred is not well spent on the dead. Hatred is not well spent ever."

Teddy maintained a steady gaze with Harry. It was both probing and determined. A look that he could not deny.

"After the kids are asleep," Harry said in a low voice, exiting the room.

*Over an Hour Later*

"His name was Antonin Dolohov. I didn't see your parents die, but I've heard the story. It's rather…romantic so I s'pose you'll hear an exaggerated version eventually from some deranged, love sick girl. Better you hear the real version first."

Teddy scooted to the edge of the couch and took a deep breath through his nose, readying himself for the truth. The truth Harry had refused to tell him all these years about his father's death. The truth he had promised would lead to blind hatred and ruin his pure soul.

"You're very good at dueling, Teddy. You know that?"

"So I've been told."

"You get that from your father. One of the most talented wizards I'd ever encountered. Most wizards fire off spells and quickly deflect those fired at them. Some even go straight for a killing curse. Not your father," Harry said with a nostalgic smile. "I've seen many duels. Many. I've seen wizards throw spells and deflect them and clumsily dodge the curses that go their way. Your father seemed to always know exactly what was coming. He would fire a spell and gauge his opponent's reactions. I once dueled alongside him at Ministry. I saw him finish off a Death Eater in three spells. I saw him defeat four Death Eaters in under a minute."

Teddy's eyes turned to the fireplace where Ginny had started a fire going. The flames licked the walls of the hearth. Part of Teddy wanted to leap off the couch, grab a handful of floo powder and thrust himself into the flames taking him back to Andromeda's. This story had been a long time coming. At least once a year Teddy would ask for this story. Now the story was being told and he was truly frightened.

"After he…came to terms with your mother's pregnancy he ceased volunteering for the most dangerous missions. He came out of hiding underground. He focused all his energy on concealment charms to protect you and your mother and became out of practice with his more…defensive talents. Then, at the Battle of Hogwarts, Bellatrix attacked your mother. Your mother was very gifted too. Yeah, she was insanely clumsy," chuckled Harry, making Teddy smile,"but she was also very talented. Quick on her feet. Just-before I explain-just know that none of this is your fault."

Teddy nodded slowly and shrugged.

"Your parents were so absorbed in the love they had for their new son, a child they never thought they could have, that they were out of practice a bit. Word got to your mother that Remus was battling Dolohov. She knew just how powerful Dolohov was and how much a chance he stood against him, so she ran off to find your father. When she found Remus he had just flung Dolohov into a wall. She ran to him and Bellatrix showed up."

Harry's eyes watered and he seemed to be swallowing something in his throat. Something thick.

"Remus saw Bellatrix start to cast a spell at your mother and sent her flying backwards into a wall. Some people said they even heard her scream. Then, Antonin recovered and did something your father would have never, ever done. Even to the most evil man. Dolohov cast the killing curse at Remus' back. Your father died instantly."

Teddy nodded, trying to appear solid. Not like it was killing him to hear all these things. It was a sick sort of interested that he was feeling. Like when you see a dead animal and can't bare but to look.

"Your mother sent Dolohov out the window, and from what I'm told froze up. She mourned over your father and that's when Bellatrix threw the killing curse her way."

Teddy exhaled and nodded slowly. Harry ran a hand through his hair again and sighed loudly.

"Now you know. Just promise me one thing, Teddy Lupin and don't you dare break this promise."

"I-I won't."

"Antonin Dolohov was killed by Professor Flitwick. He got what he deserved and more. Don't let hatred consume you. Promise me that," Harry said firmly.

"I promise."

*That night…*

Back his Grandmother Andromeda's Teddy was getting ready for bed. Walking to the mirror Teddy inhaled deeply and did the thing he had been scared to do. He changed his hair to a light brown. Looking from a picture of his father as a teenager on his desk up to the mirror, Teddy gasped lightly. He was the spitting image of his father. He resisted an urge to turn back to electric blue. He couldn't though. Not just yet. Not when such pride was filling him.

Harry had been worried hatred would consume Teddy when really it was pride. He was so incredibly proud of his parents after that story. And just before his hair switched back to bright blue, a smile lit up Remus' face. I mean….Teddy's face.

*You like? Review! Also, I just updated my story about young Remus Lupin if you're interested.*