Well this has taken me a very long time to get right and up. Sorry about the wait. Even though I did lie awake half of last night with ideas running through my head. But well we will see if my life allows me time to write them. I hope you like this update it's sad, but I think I have gotten a balance there.
Harry nodded at Kingsley before stepping through the door and hearing Kingsley close it behind him. He remembered the last time he was here and prepared himself for seeing Andromeda Tonks again knowing that she would probably still look a lot like Bellatrix. No matter how much he thought about it he couldn't think of anyone he knew who had lost more through the latest wizarding war than Mrs. Tonks. Her Husband her only child and her son in law, it hardly seemed fair. She had after all taken that step and removed herself from her dark and evil family by marrying Ted Tonks all those years ago. She had chosen the side Harry was on again and again at a huge cost to herself.
"Harry, you're here." He heard, and turned to see Mrs. Tonks coming towards him with her arms open wide. "You have no idea how good it is to see you."
Harry returned her light hug glad she clearly wasn't a bear hugger like Molly. "Mrs. Tonks, I'm so sorry you have lost so much. I was sorry to hear of your husband's death as well." He answered her, having a look at her face. She still looked a lot like Bellatrix, but she had aged considerably since Harry had last seen her less than a year ago. It was hardly surprising she looked strained.
Mrs. Tonks just nodded at him. "It's been a hard year on us all hasn't it? But Teddy is a delight, a bit of a handful but a complete delight."
"Aunty An, I think Teddy needs changing again." Harry heard a familiar voice calling out.
Andromeda sighed. "Now why doesn't the surprise me." She half smiled. "Harry I believe you know Angelina Johnson."
She said as Angelina walked in holding a baby with bright blue hair. "Oh, hey Harry I didn't realise you had arrived."
"I only just arrived." He answered her, a little confused he was sure that Angelina being related to the wider black family had never been mentioned before and she couldn't be on Ted's side because, well, he was a muggleborn after all.
"It's mad out there I can't believe the daily prophet telling everyone you would be here today." Angelina smiled at him while she handed the baby to Andromeda. "I will wait till he smells a little nicer before handing you your Godson." Angelina smiled at him. "Come I want you meet my parents they are in the family room."
Harry just nodded as Andromeda walked off with the baby cooing at him slightly. Harry then followed Angelina. "I didn't know you were related to the Tonks'?" He questioned her.
She just nodded. "We're not really. But well, growing up a black wasn't fun for Aunty An, she was my Mum's bestfriend at school and moved in with my Grandparents as soon as she turned of age. A little like Sirius did with your grandparents. So yeah Tonks was sort of like my cool older cousin." She explained before stopped in front of an older couple.
"Harry I would like you to meet my parents Ian and Freda Johnson." She introduced to Harry to couple in the living area they had just entered. But Harry had frozen with his eyes elsewhere he wasn't sure why he was so surprised but he was. There in the corner say Draco and Narcissa Malfoy. They at least had the decency to look a little uncomfortable.
Harry had to half shake his head and turn back to Angelina's parents. "It's nice to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Johnson. Angelina's been a good friend and team member to me over the years." He held out his hands reminding himself that Draco and Narcissa were related to Andromeda.
Mr. Johnson shook Harry's hand. "The pleasure is all ours boy." He said shaking Harry's hand then lowering his voice. "It's a tricky situation, they turned up yesterday to ask An if they could come today. They say they are turning a new leaf." He finished half nodding in the direction of the two Malfoy's in the room.
Harry just nodded. "Right." He answered trying to push down the sick feeling that was rising within him. He had personally seen Lucius Malfoy battle with Tonks at the Ministry and Tonks trying to prevent Hogwarts being attacked by Death eaters Draco had brought in through the vanishing cabinet. He couldn't help but wondering how Tonk's would have felt about them being here. Glancing back in their direction he was tempted to ignore the slight nod Draco gave him but swallowed his pride and half nodded back. Then turned to shake Mrs. Johnson's hand.
When Andromeda returned to the room with Teddy she handed him to Harry who nervously took the happy baby. He was sure he would drop or break him somehow. But the baby just stared at him for a long moment before Harry gasped as Teddy's eyes suddenly turned green and his hair black.
"Oh, he clearly likes you." Angelina half giggled. "He's never done that for me."
Andromeda nodded at Harry when he looked up at her after Angelina's words. "Yes, he does. Remus and Tonks clearly knew what they were doing to name you Godfather."
Harry heard Draco half chough behind him but choose to ignore it. Today was about supporting Andromeda and Teddy not reminding Draco he wouldn't be alive now if Harry hadn't saved his life twice in the last battle. Harry also knew he owed Narcissa Malfoy his own life. In some cases he had to concede that the lines between good and evil could get very blurry sometimes.
He looked back at the baby in his arms who was staring at him then smiled widely showing off his toothless gums. Harry couldn't help but smiled back. "Hello little one, I never had a little brother but at the moment you look like you could be related to me."
It was then there was a knock at the door, and Kingsley leaned in. "We are ready to start when you are." He nodded to Andromeda. "Have you mentioned to Harry about the end yet?"
"Oh, no I haven't." She exclaimed turning back to Harry. "Could you be one of the pallbearers for Remus? The others are all members left of the order. I asked Bill, Arthur and Molly the other day but I wanted to ask you personally."
Harry nodded, it was an honor he wish he didn't have, his parents and their two good friends had all passed on from this life far too young. "Thank you, I would like that." Harry answered her holding Teddy a little tighter. He couldn't help the feelings that were overcoming him at the fact he was just about to bury Remus and Tonks. He couldn't help but think of Ginny just outside and wish she was here with him.
Andromeda wiped her eyes as she started at him holding Teddy then sucked in a breath before saying. "Right I suppose we should get started. Harry will you please sit in the front row with me and the Johnson's?" Harry just nodded as Andromeda took Teddy back from him.
They exited the back door of the house into the Tonk's yard. There weren't too many people there. Harry wondered if the screaming girls out the front had stopped a few people trying to arrive, but then remembered that Andromeda had asked for the service to be private.
He had only taken a few steps when he felt Ginny join him, and take his hand. "You alright?" She whispered to him.
Harry nodded and tried to smile at her. "I'm going to sit with the family." He whispered back.
Ginny just nodded and gave his hand a squeeze before letting go and joining her family once again.
Harry watching couldn't help but notice George's eyes following Angelina's every move.
"So you're willing to take your traitor girlfriend back are you?" He heard Draco mutter snidely behind him. "I knew she was taking Blaze for a ride last year."
Harry rolled his eyes and didn't even bother to turn around. But couldn't help but smile when Angelina suddenly tripped on nothing and one of the high heels she was wearing scraped up Draco's shin causing him to groan and lose his own footing.
Angelina turned around, looking at Draco holding his shin. "Oh, I'm so sorry." She commended before turning and winking at Harry. "These heels can be quite dangerous weapons."
The service went slowly. There were lots of stories about Tonks that had everyone laughing through their tears. Harry was glad that Andromeda had directed the Malfoy's to sit behind them in the second row at the end. The last thing he felt like doing after Draco's snide comment was sitting next to him for a couple of hours. Harry was pleased though that both Arthur and Bill talked about Remus and how much he had been a part of the order and a quiet voice of reason often in times of stress and how much he had loved Tonks even to the point of wanting her to have a better life than him.
As Harry listened he couldn't help but glance at Teddy who was now sleeping peacefully in his grandmothers arms, seemingly contend and unaware that everyone was here to farewell his parents. Harry couldn't help but think how crazy it was that now he was a Godfather to a child so much like himself. He supposed at least he would be able to help Teddy know what his parents had been like and that they died heroes.
Most of what was happening was a bit of a blur to Harry and all too soon he found himself taking one of the handles of Remus' coffin along with the remaining members of the order. He sought out Ginny in the crowd as they walked down between the chairs that had been placed for the guests in the back yard, Tonk's coffin being carried by Mr. Johnson and the auror's she had worked with straight behind Remus'. Ginny nodded at Harry wiping her eyes, and Harry knew she would seek him out as soon as she was able.
Harry was surprised at first that he was directed by the celebrant with the other pallbearers to place the coffin on another table at the back of the yard. While those carrying Tonks placed it next to Remus'. Harry followed suit as everyone stepped back from the coffins and Harry noticed Andromeda still holding Teddy but now also holding a thin gold wand. Sniffing a couple of times she glanced at the celebrant who nodded at her and with a flick of her wrist the coffins exploded in a flash of light to be replaced by one beautiful china urn and the celebrants words of. "And in this way they shall rest forever together in the bond of love that they shared."
Harry feeling Ginny beside him again wiped his tears, and was thankful for the support he felt of her once again giving his hand a squeeze.
Everyone mingled afterwards, some of the auror's though returned to duty. They had placed juniors outside the Tonks wards for the service so that those who knew Tonks best could attend. But Kingsley had given orders for the crowd to be dispersed before it was time for everyone to leave.
Harry and Ginny were sitting a few feet away from George with Teddy when Harry noticed Angelina approach George with her parents. He noticed her eyes seeming to take in every part of him with concern before she addressed him to break him out of the vacant look he had on his face. Harry was really starting to worry about George. Yes he could still joke around, but more and more he wasn't a part of all that was happening around him. Harry struggled and glanced at Ginny thinking how lucky he was she had come through the battle alive.
"George, I…..I wanted to introduce you to my parents." Angelina started. Then half stopped when George looked up into her eyes. "This is…..well this is my Mum and Dad. Ian and Freda."
Harry saw George half snap himself out of the vacant expression to mumble. "Oh, nice to meet you."
The Johnsons nodded at him. "We are so sorry for your loss." Freda spoke then turned to her husband. "Why don't we leave Ange and George to catch up for a while? They don't need us here."
Ian Johnson just nodded. "It's nice to finally meet you George. I'm sure we'll be seeing you again." He commented before taking his wife's hand and leading her away.
Angelina took the seat next to George. "Sorry." She started. "I should of known you weren't up for small talk."
"Harry, are you listening to a word I'm saying." Ginny interrupted Harry's listening.
"Sorry." He shook his head. "Your right, I wasn't."
She just nodded. "Look at Teddy he's watching you and his hair and eyes have changed to look like you." She pointed to where Teddy was being held by Molly.
Harry looked up. "Yeah he did that before when I was holding him inside. Andromeda thinks it's because he like me."
"I would say he more than likes you, look he's smiling at you." Ginny pointed out. "I wonder if one of our children will look like that." She blurted out, then. "That's not to say…well I wasn't saying that we were going to…Oh crap, I'm hungry." She finished a bright shade of scarlet showing on her cheeks.
Harry just nodded at her slightly amused as she took off, grabbed Hermione's free arm dragging her away from Ron and into the house.
Harry glanced at George and Angelina again. Angelina had taken one of Georges hand between both of hers. "I miss him too you know." She started. Harry felt like groaning. That was probably the last thing George wanted to hear. Maybe George was right, maybe she still had feelings for Fred. "I was…." She spoke again. "Well I was thinking that maybe…maybe we could help each other through this…I….well I thought that together it might be easier."
Harry almost felt glued to the scene he knew he shouldn't really be watching but couldn't help it as George looked up and stared into Angelina's eyes. Harry could see the heart break in George's eyes. It was the same look George got whenever they talked about Fred since the battle. George sucked in a deep breath then shook his head. "I can't." He paused. "I wish I could…..but….I can't help you grieve for him." Then snatched back his hand and walked away. Leaving Angelina looking crushed with her shoulders slumped.
Harry quickly looked away before she noticed he had heard the conversation. What were Angelina's true feelings he wondered. Was it that she had never gotten over the short time she had dated Fred? Or was it George she was interested in and had just worded her attempt to start something at this painful time in a way that George had taken it wrong.
Please Read and Review. Reviews help me know if I'm on the right track.
Thanks.