Disclaimer: This story is being written by "I 4 2 write" I am just posting it here for him.
Don't own Harry Potter.
Friends and Fathers
Chapter 1-Unexpected meetings
Harry Potter sat in the living room of his home filling out some paperwork for the Ministry. He'd never imagined being an Auror would involve as much paperwork as legwork, but given the events of twelve years before he would gladly fill out boring papers all day for the rest of his life rather than go through that again. So many people had died that night and in the years leading up to it. Even after all these years he missed them. He was no stranger to loss and had learned to accept death, but that didn't change how much he missed them.
Except for maybe Sirius Black, Harry missed Remus Lupin most of all. Never knowing his own parents, Remus had been the closest thing to a father Harry had known until he met Sirius, and then after Sirius had died Remus had stepped into the role of father figure again. Thinking on that, Harry realized it was a role Remus had never left, merely shared with Sirius for a time. Harry had later learned Remus had visited him when he was a baby at the Dursleys', and he knew Remus must have visited him often before his parents had died. The visits at the Dursleys had been forced to stop though when the Ministry had passed a law that werewolves were forbidden to be near children in Muggle districts under the threat of arrest. So Harry's first memory of Remus was when they'd met on the Hogwarts Express in his third year. That didn't mean that by the end of third year that Harry hadn't developed a close relationship with the man who had become much more than a teacher to him. He had been there whenever Harry had needed him, giving him advice and support, telling Harry his memories of happier times.
Once, as a sort of reward for Harry doing so well learning to cast a Patronus, Harry had talked Remus into a Quidditch match with the Weasley twins on his team and Ron an Ginny on Remus's (Hermione never cared to play Quidditch). Remus had joked that Harry had an unfair advantage being younger, but it had been obvious how much Remus had enjoyed it, and had actually come very close to beating Harry to the snitch. It was the sort of thing Harry had always imagined doing with his father, but somehow it didn't feel wrong having Remus there. Harry had learned by then what close friends James and Remus had been, and was sure if James could see he'd be glad at how close his friend and son had become.
Harry missed Tonks too, her humor and wit, and her friendship. She'd always been so easy to talk to. They had been good friends almost since the moment they met. Harry was proud that he had the chance to repay they're kindness by raising little Teddy, Remus and Tonk's only son.
Lost in thought, Harry barely heard the knock at the door. If it hadn't been so surprising he might never have heard it at all. Most people he knew either used the floo network or apparated. Shoving the papers aside Harry went to the door and opened it, nearly passing out as he saw Remus Lupin standing there, looking exactly as he had the last time Harry had seen him alive. For a moment he thought he was seeing a ghost, but the figure before him looked solid, and besides, ghosts never knock. His Auror instincts kicked in and he raised his wand and pointed it directly at the chest of what could only be an illusion. A proud and loving look was on Remus' face.
"Your defense against the dark arts training is still remembered I see. But you can put your wand down. It's really me, although I know it seems unbelievable."
Harry needed to be sure.
"How does the Maurauders' Map Work?" It was a question very few people knew the answer too, and none of them would disguise themselves as Remus. It was one question that would prove if the man standing there was who he wished he could believe it was.
"It's a map of Hogwarts that shows where everyone there is. To read it, you tap it with your wand and say 'I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.' When you finish you say 'Mischief managed' to be sure no one else can read it. Once that is done it will only insult whoever tries to read it."
Lowering his wand, Harry's mouth fell open and for a moment he felt as lightheaded as if he were facing a swarm of Dementors. He wanted so much to believe it. But there was no spell to bring the dead back to life. That was a fact he'd always know. And yet Remus had known the answer to his question. It couldn't be an imposter. And yet how could a man he'd seen dead twelve years ago be standing here looking very much alive in front of him?
If he needed further proof, Remus added "Remember when you called on your parents, Sirius and I that night in the woods? Your mother complimented you on being so brave. James said you were nearly there and how proud we all were. You asked if it hurt to die, and after we'd answered you'd said how sorry you were, and apologized especially to me that I had died so soon after Teddy was born. Remember what I said? That I was sorry too, but that he would know why I died? Trying to make a world where he could live a better life?"
Harry dropped his wand to the floor. He had never told anyone exactly what he and the spirits had said that night. Now he was certain. This had to be real. Remus held his arms open and, grown man though he was, Harry ran into them, giving Remus a tight hug that was somewhere in between the hug a son would give his father and one that one brother would give another. When they finally pulled apart Harry grabbed Remus' arms and stammered.
"But- how is this- how can you-?"
"I'm not sure I know how to explain. Dora is waiting in the driveway. She thought seeing both of us at once would probably be too much of a shock. I think she was right. But maybe together we can try to tell what seems to have happened."
After telling Harry everything Sirius, James, and Lilly had told them and how they had come back, Remus and Tonks could tell things were only slightly clearer than before, but the only thing that was important now was that they were together again. Harry quickly filled the couple in on what had happened since their apparent deaths, how he had married Ginny and now had three children with her, how Ron and Hermione had married and had two children, and how he was an Auror now. Remus and Tonks had both beamed at that. Remus because he had taught Harry so much of what he knew, and Tonks because she remembered telling Harry how she had become an Auror at an unusually young age just a year before they had met, and how he had always said how much he wanted to be one. Finally Tonks asked the question Harry had almost been dreading.
"Where is Teddy?"
That was a reminder that sooner or later Teddy would have to be told his parents were alive. Harry wasn't sure how his godson would react to meeting the parents he had believed dead, but Harry had faced far more stressful situations then that by the time he was Teddy's age and was sure Teddy would be able to handle it.
"He's out back in the garden playing Quidditch with James. That's my oldest. Teddy's lived with me ever since I went back to Hogwarts and finished my seventh year. Andromeda felt that was what you wanted since you appointed me godfather."
Remus and Tonks both nodded, and Harry knew that's what they had hoped for. Remus couldn't help asking "How does Teddy fly?"
Harry hesitated. "Well, to be honest, he still needs to build up some confidence. He's always been a bit clumsy, and so he's too tense when he's on a broom."
Chuckling, Remus looked at his wife. "I wonder where he gets being clumsy from?"
Tonks' hair turned red and her eyes narrowed, but in an instant she was hiding a chuckle herself.
"How is he in school?"
"Not so good at potions, although not bad. He got top marks in defense though. That's his best subject by far. I think it's because of all the stories I told him about you both. He tries so hard to be good at everything, but especially that. He always said he wants to make you two proud. He asked me to teach him to make a Patronus, and he's doing very well at it. His Patronus doesn't have a shape yet though, but he understands what he's doing is far more advanced than any other twelve year old would do. I'm sure he'd love having you teach him now that you're back, Remus. And Tonks, he's been worried about being a metamorphagus. Been trying to hide that fact at Hogwarts because sometimes he randomly changes his looks without knowing he's doing it. You can teach him how to control it."
Remus gave a soft groan, and Tonks rubbed her foot back and forth as she looked down at the floor. Harry knew that all three of them were worried about how Teddy would react to the news. They all wanted to explain things to him slowly, but they didn't get the chance. While they were talking no one had noticed it was getting too dark out to play Quidditch. Teddy and James came into the room, followed by Al and Lily. Teddy froze in his tracks, staring first at his godfather, and then at his parents. He knew it was them from the photos he'd seen, but he couldn't believe suddenly they were there.
"Teddy, I-" Harry began, but Teddy bolted up the stairs to his bedroom. Harry was instantly out of his chair and started to head for the steps.
"Harry, please, let us," Tonks said, and Harry turned to them, feeling embarrassed. Of course they would want to be the ones to comfort and explain things to their son.
"Sorry. I've just taken care of him so long that it's second nature to me."
"And we wouldn't expect anything less from his Godfather," Remus said, smiling gently. "Which room is his?"
"Second on the right."
Remus and Tonks climbed the stairs, and found the door to Teddy's room open.
"May we come in?" Tonks asked. Teddy nodded.
"I'm sorry that I ran up here," Teddy said quietly. "It's just that everyone had been told you were dead. I couldn't believe it was possible you were here. I suppose I was just shocked."
"Anyone would have felt the same way son. You should have seen Harry when he opened the door and saw me there. He didn't understand how it could be possible either, and there's a very long explanation. But you can believe it. We're here now."
"And we're never going to leave you again."
After telling Teddy the same things they'd told Harry, and doing their best to help him understand, the family sat quietly for a moment, unsure of where to go from here. Finally Remus started talking.
"So, um, how about some help with your Patronus?"
Teddy moved his foot in a circle. "Sure. I'm not sure just what exactly I'm doing wrong. I know I'm saying the words right. Maybe I'm not coming up with a strong enough memory."
"It's very hard magic too dear," Tonks said.
"Harry learned when he was thirteen, but he didn't learn it overnight. It's amazing that at twelve you can even make a non corporal Patronus." Remus added.
Teddy's face brightened at that.
"Maybe it will just come with practice then. I wanted to show the others that even though I'm clumsy I can do something special though. Although Harry says I'm special no matter what."
"He's right about that," Remus said.
"Well, I didn't feel so special after I was sorted into Slytherin last year."
Both his parents faces dropped, and Tonk's hair suddenly changed color for a split second to a normal looking mousey brown.
"You were put in Slytherin?" Remus asked, almost horrified, but Teddy put his hand over his mouth and started shaking with laughter. Remus started breathing easier, catching on.
"Just joking. I'm in Gryffindor." As if to prove the point Teddy's hair changed to an almost fire like blend of red and gold, leaving them all laughing. His joke had broken the ice. They were starting to feel like a family.
Meanwhile, Harry had just finished explaining things to his own children (his wife had to be gone for the day with her professional Quidditch team), who had always heard stories of their parents' close friends. It was fairly simple with Al and Lily, both much younger than Teddy. All Harry had to tell them was that everyone was wrong about Remus and Tonks being dead, and they'd simply accepted that. James, being older, wanted a more thorough explanation. Although Harry wasn't sure James had understood everything, he seemed to have the basic idea that something strange but wonderful had happened when the spells aimed at his parents' friends had crossed, and that somehow that blend of magic had kept Remus and Tonks away all this time but allowed them to come back now.
It felt strange that Teddy wasn't there. Whenever Harry talked to his children as a group, he'd always made sure Teddy felt loved and included. Of course not for one fraction of a moment had Harry stopped being overjoyed that the man he had considered another father was back and able to be part of Teddy's life. But some small piece of him wondered, would he be hurt if Teddy stopped coming to him when he needed a shoulder to lean on? No, he decided. If that happened, well, that was the way things were supposed to have been all along, wasn't it? After all, as much as Harry loved Teddy, he would never be Teddy's father.