Chapter Seventeen

"It is I, Remus John Lupin! I am a werewolf, married to Nymphadora Tonks, and you, the Secret-Keeper of Shell Cottage, told me the address and bade me come in an emergency!"

An emergency! Did he find out they were here or did something happen? Ron looked over to Hermione and Harry, who both had worried expressions.

"Lupin," Bill rushed over to the door and opened it.

Remus Lupin walked into the house looking like the miserable weather had got the best of him. He took a moment to collect himself, then his face broke into a grin, and he announced with joy, "It's a boy! We've named him Ted, after Dora's father!"

Ron remained still to register what he had just heard. Though Hermione was much quicker on the uptake and she squeaked with surprise, making him jump.

Hermione had some trouble forming a sentence. "Wha-? Tonks—Tonks has had the baby?"

"Yes, yes, she's had the baby!" Lupin answered gleefully but also with a slight tone that suggested that such a thing should have been perfectly clear to her.

The rest of them seemed to become unfrozen after Lupin spoke. Their frightened and worried expressions relaxed and turned into smiles. Some confusion was evident in Luna and Dean's faces after hearing their ex-professor's news.

Hermione, as well as Fleur, added in two "Congratulations!"

"Blimey, a baby!" Ron said partially to himself. No, he had not forgotten that Lupin had told them back at Grimmauld Place that Tonks was pregnant. It was just that with everything going on, and most of it being bad, it didn't really seem like such a joyous occasion could happen yet.

"Yes—yes—a boy." Lupin said with pure delight. He then walked over to Harry and hugged him. As Lupin relinquished his grip he asked, "You'll be godfather?"

Harry stared at Lupin questioningly, as if he thought he heard wrong. "M-me?"

"You, yes, of course—Dora quite agrees, no one better—" Lupin assured him.

Harry looked dumbfounded. "I—yeah—blimey—"

Ron was glad to see something so great happen to Harry, because he really needed it right now. Ron then looked over at Hermione, who was saying an inaudible "Awe," and he smiled; he loved seeing her like this.

"This calls for a drink!" Bill said aloud and then dashed into the kitchen.

"Oh no you don't have to—" Lupin shook his head.

"We must!" said Hermione.

You 'ave to celebrate with us!" Fleur insisted.

Bill had already returned with the wine and started pouring it into goblets.

Lupin gave in, "I can't stay long, I must get back." He accepted a goblet from Bill. "Thank you, thank you, Bill."

As the rest of the goblets were doled out, Ron turned to Hermione and said in a low voice, "You were very quick to insist on the drinks back there."

She gaped slightly at what Ron was suggesting and slapped his arm lightly, "I wanted just wanted him to stay!"

"Right." Ron said sarcastically.

Hermione narrowed her eyes at him, but she couldn't hold her serious expression for long. She smiled as everyone raised their goblets in a toast.

"To Teddy Remus Lupin, a great wizard in the making!" Lupin said proudly.

"Oo does 'e look like?" Fleur asked.

"I think he looks like Dora, but she thinks he is like me. Not much hair. It looked black when he was born, but I swear it's turned ginger in the hour since. Probably be blond by the time I get back. Andromeda says Tonk's hair started changing color the day that she was born." Lupin finished and held out his empty goblet to Bill, "Oh, go on then, just one more."

"I vish I could zee 'im with 'is ginger hair. He must look zo precious." Fleur said wistfully.

Fleur and Bill shared a loving look.

"I wish I could see him too." Hermione said as well.

Bill looked over at Hermione and then said to the table's occupants, "I'll have to find a picture of Ron when he was a baby. When he was born, he had a good amount of that red hair already on his head. Mum could not stop going on about how handsome and cute he was!"

Ron blushed as he knew that everyone was now imagining him as a baby.

He heard Hermione giggle next to him and then she said, "Awe, baby Ronald." She pinched his cheek and giggled again.

Ron froze at the contact. Did she just do what he thinks she did? And giggle before and after doing it? The wine must be starting to get to her and he didn't know if he liked it or not.

Before they knew it, Bill was time for Bill to open another bottle of wine. Everyone was getting wrapped up in the celebration and they didn't want the happiness to end.

Yet another goblet of wine was offered to Lupin, but he refused it and started getting ready to leave. "No…no…I really must get back."

"Good-bye, good-bye—I'll try and bring some pictures in a few days' time—they'll all be so glad to know that I've seen you—"

After everyone said their good-byes and additional congratulations, Lupin braced himself to face the cold, rainy weather, and stated walking to the edge of the boundary of Shell Cottage.

"Godfather, Harry! A real honor! Congratulations!" Bill said as he and Harry entered the kitchen to put away the goblets and empty wine bottles. Luna went upstairs to her room and apparently Griphook had already gone up sometime during their festivities. The rest of them went into the sitting room

"Wow." Hermione said and then yawned as she plopped down into an armchair. "Lupin looked so happy. And to think he was so…scared about it ending up badly."

Ron knew she was referring to when Lupin visited them a Grimmauld Place and told them the news. He didn't just look scared, he looked distraught. Good thing Harry talked some sense into him. "It was very nice of them to name Harry godfather. I guess he deserves it though."

Hermione met Ron's eyes. He noticed her eyelids were drooping. She was falling asleep though she was trying to fight it so she could figure out what he was talking about. Although her brain was slowed down a bit, she was still able to realize fairly quickly that he was referring to the same visit. She yawned. "I can't think of anyone else who deserves it more than Harry."

"I can't vait to see ze baby. He sounds zo adorable!" Fleur said wistfully.

"Yes. I…can't…wait…to…baby…" Hermione managed to mutter before sleep overtook her.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please let me know your thoughts in a review!

Unless it ends up being really long (though I don't think it will), I think the next chapter will be the last one :'(