Here's chapter three. Thank-you so much everyone who's following this. It makes me feel all special to have one of my stories have of 600 hits less than a week after it's posted. Chapter four might take a little while, seeing as every other chapter I posted I had at least the next one finished, and I have about a paragraph of chapter four done. Anyways…..I hope this is good; Tannis told me it was so that's nice to hear. I apologize for minor spelling and grammatical errors, I write everything on my ipod and some things slip through my editing process. Remember to read and review!
"Well they'll come back down at some point. Tell them that; if they're any relatives of yours they'll listen and understand," Victoire patted his knee and left one hand resting on his elbow. Teddy sighed.
"You always were the smart one," he chuckled, wiping his face with his sweater sleeve and running a hand through his tumbled still-blue hair. Just then the creaking of an opening door sounded from far above followed by the slow pounding of two sets of feet down the stairs. This is it, Teddy thought to himself, pull yourself together. He took a big breath and exhaled slowly, hoping all his worries and insecurities would leave with it. Then Tonks and Lupin appeared once again in the doorway, both looking a little frazzled. His mum's face was still streaked with the fading lines of tears and his father's brow was furrowed.
"Hi mum, dad," Teddy said, raising his chin. He was determined to make this work.
"Oh god that's almost as bad as Nymphadora," to Teddy's surprise Tonks laughed, "I didn't think I'd be getting called mum anytime soon. Heck you aren't even born yet. Let's just stick with Tonks and Remus. At least until you're born." Beside her, Remus chuckled. Teddy wondered what had transpired upstairs. Both his parents seemed in a better mood, almost too much of a better mood.
"Same for you," Remus motioned to Victoire, "unless you prefer Ms. Tonks and Mr. Lupin."
"I'll just stick to the prior," Victoire let a faint smile out, but still kept her hand on Teddy's elbow.
"So do you two want some tea or something?" Tonks asked kindly, "I'll get it!"
"Maybe I best be getting it," Remus suggested, "we, or more accurately you, have broken enough of the Black family china already. That combined with Dung's little raids might leave Harry with nothing valuable to inherit." Tonks raised an eyebrow innocently, as if to say 'who? Me?' but let him meander off towards the kitchen without protest.
"So," Tonks started, slowly making her way back to her chair and settling down on it's edge. Her brow furrowed, as if thinking of exactly what to say. Finally she said, "why blue?"
"It's Tori's favorite," Teddy laughed and Victoire squeezed his elbow encouragingly.
"We were telling the truth when I said we were over at my Grandparents for a reunion," Victoire added, "and Teddy went all special just for the occasion."
"A reunion?" Tonks said, "Weasleys and friends I'm guessing? Who all ended up together, or is that too much for you to reveal?"
"I think by now we've revealed plenty," Teddy laughed again, feeling his entire being relax, "a little more won't hurt. Harry and Ginny got married. Ron and Hermione. Bill and Fleur..." He trailed off, realizing another implication of knowing the future. How could they tell his parents that they, along with Fred Weasley and several others would be dead before Victoire was even born? Before Teddy could even try to come up with some slick back-story, Remus returned looking oddly out of place with a tea tray laden with all the fixings. He set it down on the coffee table and sat down in a stiff-backed armchair next to Tonks. As they all poured themselves a cup, he looked up at Teddy with the gaze of an inquisitive teacher.
"So are you two," he paused and cleared his throat, "together?"
Teddy almost laughed at how cliché this was. Bringing his girlfriend home to meet the parents. But this was an easier topic to discuss; he was just glad to be off the subject of the future.
"I guess so," Victoire answered and squeezed Teddy's elbow again.
"Well I guess if I'm any sort of a good father I'd tell you to treat her well and not rush into things," he started, but Tonks put up a hand to cut him off.
"I'm sure the boy's already heard that lecture from you," she said.
"That's right, I forgot there's a future me," Remus sighed, "time travel is a tricky thing."
"Tell me about it," Teddy murmured under his breath so only Victoire could hear. She stifled a giggle. Teddy felt a small glow of pride settle in his chest. It always felt good when he said something and Tori laughed.
"It's interesting though," Tonks said, "just imagine being able to find out what happens with this war. Who wins, who loses, who lives and who dies." There it was again, the topic of death. If that pesky little theme didn't keep popping up this little adventure might have even been mostly enjoyable.
Tonks looked at both of them, obviously expecting some sort of comment. But there was an awkward silence in which Teddy looked over at Victoire anxiously.
"Is anything wrong?" Remus asked, "Is it the tea? Knowing Kreacher he probably slipped doxy eggs into the leaves when no one was home. Some sort of retaliation against us "half-blood, muggleloving, traitors". He does know my preference to Chamomile."
"No, no," Victoire stammered, "the tea is-the tea is lovely."
Teddy nodded in agreement though he hadn't taken a single sip. There was another awkward pause. Then Tonks cleared her throat.
"You two have been avoiding something," she said, her eyes narrowing, "something you don't want to talk about."
"What happens Ted?" Lupin asked seriously, pausing for a moment, "does...does he win?" It seemed that Remus was catching on to the fact that Teddy had issues lying to him.
"No," Teddy said softly, "we win." Victoire shot him a look of pure shock and anger, sharply drawing back her hand that had been resting on his elbow since his parents came back down. For a fleeting instant Teddy caught a glance of what an angry Veela could look like. She didn't even need to use words to express her fury. Her glowing eyes screamed "What the hell are you doing!" her pursed lips shrieked "why!" and her nose, often crinkled in laughter or joy but this time far from it, wailed "you idiot!".
"No?" Tonks couldn't contain a smile, "so you mean we won?"
Teddy nodded slowly, trying to ignore the icy glances from Victoire. "Well that's wonderful!" Tonks was now beaming, "Harry pulled through. I always liked that kid." Then she noticed Ted's somber expression and quieted.
"What happened Teddy?" Remus asked, "why is that not a good thing?" Teddy started clasping and unclasping his hands nervously again.
"Who died," Remus said in a softer voice, "someone died didn't they Teddy?"
"He doesn't have to say anything Remus," Tonks interjected. Teddy could hear the curiosity that laced her voice though. She was even more interested than her would-be husband. Teddy himself had witnessed himself using that very tactic, attempting to avoid the subject but really hinting at the very opposite, "look how stressed he looks." Teddy could feel thin beads of sweat building on the tip of his nose and felt his hands go suddenly cold and clammy. How does one tell their parents that they'd be dead in probably a years time? He'd been given a lot of advice in his lifetime and that subject was hardly touched upon.
"She's right," Remus said, "I have no right prying like that. The future shouldn't be revealed to those in the present, it causes much to much trouble." But like with his mother Teddy knew his father had not lost interest in the subject. He looked into both his parents eyes for a moment, seeing the sincerity. They had gone upstairs and worked something out so he, their son, could meet them properly. They deserved to at least not be lied to.
"Dumbledore," he whispered softly, giving up. "Mad-eye, Hedwig. Dobby. Ted Tonks." He paused for a moment, trying to slow the increasingly hysteric tempi his voice had taken, feeling the salty tang of tears creep into the corners of his eyes. He looked over at his mother who went stock-still and glassy eyed at the last name. But Teddy didn't dwell, he continued on with the list he had heard repeated dozens of times in his life, the list of major casualties to both sides. "Snape. Wormtail. Vincent Crabbe. F-Fred Weasley. Colin Creevey. Bellatrix Lestrange," Teddy was now brutally fighting back tears as he spoke the name of his mother's killer, "Voldemort. And-and..." He broke off, placing one hand over his face and trying to contain the sobs that were wracking his entire being. Every breath he took caught in the back of his throat. Every time he opened his mouth to speak those last two fateful names absolutely nothing came out. Through the crack between his outstretched fingers he could see his parents' faces glazed in pure shock. A steady stream of tears was trickling down Tonks' face but she made no move to brush them away. Remus didn't blink at all and Teddy could swear he saw one tiny teardrop slide down his cheek. Victoire meanwhile wasn't crying, but the fury in her eyes had been replaced by worry and realization. Probably the realization of what Teddy was doing. Finally Teddy found his voice and managed to say two more words. "And and," before it slipped away again once more. Gradually he pulled his hand back down into his lap and stared purposefully at his parents, raising one tear-soaked shaking hand to point first at his father and then to his mother.
"And Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks." He finally whispered and felt the tears overcome him.