See You Again
It's been a long day… without you my friend
I'll tell you all about it when I see you again!
"…Up! Get up!"
*Groan*
"Will you just get up?"
The man only turned around to escape from the annoyance that kept disturbing his sleep.
"Get Up! Get up! Get up! Get up! Get up!"
"For the sake of all that's pure and holy, Padfoot, bugger off and let me sleep!"
Remus Lupin tried to go back to his sleep but then again, his mind caught up to what he just blurted out. He sprang up from his previous prone position and looked around wildly, only to find the person who woke him from his nap grinning at him remorselessly.
"Sirius?!" He managed to say in a choking voice.
"Hiya there, Moony ol' pal, miss me?" Sirius Black replied jovially.
Remus lunged forward and wrapped the man in a bear hug. When he let go of him, one could see the tears in the corners of his eyes as he smiled widely at his childhood friend. But then, something struck him odd about their situation.
"Hang on, how are you here? How are we here?"
Sirius, very seriously, put a hand on Remus' shoulder and said, "Remus, we are here because… we are not there."
Remus shouldn't have expected a serious answer from Sirius, he shoved the snickering berk back.
"Will you be serious for a moment, Padfoot?"
He knew his mistake the moment he uttered those words, he could only stifle the groan that was about to escape his mouth.
"I'll let you know, my good sir, that I am always Sirius."
Before Remus could reply, another voice spoke up from behind them.
"Not that lame pun again. You need to get some new materials, Padfoot."
Remus whirled about to face the person who spoke, but his voice failed him when his eyes fell on the individuals who joined the two friends. There was no mistake about the identities of the newcomers. He knew them… knew them very well.
"Hey there, Moony." The bespectacled, black-haired male's smile was as wide as the never-serious Sirius Black.
"Hello, Remus." The beautiful red-haired woman beside the man also gave him a dazzling smile, although her bright green eyes were saddened.
"Prongs? Lily?"
Once more Remus lunged forward and wrapped his arms around the couple. Both of them also engulfed him within their arms. Remus didn't know he had any more tears left to shed for his friends, but he cried again.
"Hang on, if you are all here… and I am here… then I am…?"
James Potter could only nod.
"Yeah, you kicked the bucket, ol' bean." Sirius had joined them.
"I am sorry, Remus." Lily rubbed the arm of the stunned werewolf.
"But hey, you got your revenge, at least. Greyback finally paid off for all his sins." Sirius tried to cheer his friend up.
James clapped the shoulder of his quiet friend, "Yeah, there's that. Now come on, Moony, let's get you home. Mum and dad will want to see you."
Remus nodded and started walking with his friends mechanically, he was still lost in his thoughts.
James and Lily exchanged a glance before looking at Sirius, who could only shrug. Lily frowned at the males before speaking up again.
"Um… Remus?"
"Yeah, Lily?"
"Just so you know, Dora is here too…"
Remus stopped walking.
"She… She is also…?"
"Yes, Moony, I am afraid so."
The three waited for their friend to register another world-shattering news in his mind.
"We just had a son."
"Really, Padfoot? 'Easier than falling asleep', that's all you got to say?"
"Hey, I was trying to encourage the Pup to walk into his death so he could get rid of the git from his head. I had to say something mature so he could f… reaking do it." Sirius took a glance around the room. He was lucky that he caught himself when he did. Because James' mother, his Aunt Dorea would have washed his mouth with soap otherwise.
Charlus and Dorea Potter; Henry and Heather Evans & Remus and Nymphadora Lupin were on the edges of their seats as they looked at the pensive image which was showing them the Battle of Hogwarts. But unlike the pensives in the mortal world, this one showed current events, rather than memories.
Lily, fed up with the bickering duo, slapped both of them in the back of their heads as she used to do when they were being silly on purpose.
"Shush, both of you!"
"Sorry, Lils."
"Sorry, Lily."
After a few silent moments, once more a hushed argument broke out between the irredeemable duo.
"The day you start sounding mature will be the day the universe collapse."
"Hey, I am as mature as you, Mr-smooth-with-the-ladies-except-Lily Evans."
"That is nowhere near what we are talking about and you know it."
"I am warning you two…" Lily growled.
Both men winced and spoke in unison, "Sorry, Lily."
After several quiet moments, once again one of the men whispered –
"Lily, if we behave, can we go and torture Pettigrew some more?"
With an exasperated sigh, Lily replied, "Yes, you can." After a second of thought, she added, "And if you behave really good, you can also rain hellfire over both Albus and Severus."
"Say no more, Lily flower, we will be the saints amongst men."
The unholy glee that spread over their faces made the unaware three dead men shudder in fear for their afterlife.
Harry walked up the path to the door of the modest home. He stopped before the door and stood there for minutes with his head hung low. He raised his hand to knock on the door but before he could do so, the door opened and revealed Andromeda Tonks with her wand pointing at him.
"I thought the worse when the ward alerted me of an arrival but none knocked on the door."
"Sorry," Harry said sheepishly.
"Come in, Harry."
Harry entered the house behind the last remaining Tonks. They both stood there looking at one another, none of them could find the words they wanted to say. It had been a week since the day of the Battle, and four days since they laid both Remus and Tonks to rest.
Harry took a shuddering breath before his face crumpled and he broke down sobbing. Andromeda hurried and caught the young wizard before he crashed down on the floor. She had no trouble supporting the emaciated youth. Harry had his arms around her like she was his lifeline and he was afraid to let go of her. Andromeda too, had her head on his shoulder as she shed her own tears remembering her husband, daughter and son-in-law. She could understand how he felt. He grew up an orphan; knew his godfather for only two short years before he too was taken from him. And now, he had lost the last link to his parents. He was as alone in the world as she herself felt.
"I am sorry, Mrs Tonks," Harry managed to stutter out once he composed himself.
"Hush now, dear. I can understand."
"If only I was a little early… if I had known what was kept hidden from me…"
Andromeda grabbed his face within her hands and made him look at her in the eyes.
"Harry, listen to me." She waited till he gave her a short nod, "It was not your fault. The blame lies with Voldemort and his minions; or in some ways, with Dumbledore. You tried your best with what you had available for you."
"But it didn't help Remus or Dora, did it? They should have been here for Teddy. They should've been the ones to raise him… And then Mr Tonks… I could've helped him at that night…"
"If you keep blaming yourself like this, Harry, you will soon find yourself at the bottom of a bottle, just to make it all bearable." Andromeda told him sternly, "I know, because I have seen men and women do exactly that in my career as a healer, and I won't let it happen to you. Teddy needs you to be present in his life. You owe him that, don't you understand?"
Harry stood silent for a few minutes squirming under her glare. Finally, he nodded, "For Teddy…"
Andromeda smiled, "Yes dear, for Teddy." She patted his cheek.
"Come, have a seat. Would you like to have some tea?"
"Yes, please."
"Sit. I'll just put the kettle on."
Harry sat there looking at the photo album Andromeda had left on the table. He couldn't help but smile at the mischievous little girl in Hogwarts uniform smiling and waving at him from the wizarding photographs. He sighed at the thought of Voldemort's madness taking another bright smile away from this world.
"You haven't met him yet, have you? Your godson?" Andromeda returned with a floating tray containing teacups and a plate of biscuits.
"I am afraid not, ma'am. I was on the run for the past year, and then afterwards… the funerals…"
"Yes, it was not a place for a small child like Teddy to be." She agreed, "Would you like to meet him?"
Andromeda smiled inwardly at the genuine smile that blossomed on the youth's face hearing the proposal.
"Can I?"
Andromeda nodded with a soft smile, "I'll see if he is awake and bring him." She got up and went out of the room. Harry sat there feeling nervous. What did he know about raising a child? All of his experience consisted of the Dursleys only. He was sure of one thing at the least, he wouldn't raise Teddy the way Dudley was raised.
Andromeda returned with what seemed to be a bundle of clothes in her arms. Harry hurriedly stood up.
"Sit back down, Harry. You have no experience handling an infant. Sitting down should feel more comfortable for you."
Harry sat down and Andromeda gently laid the bundle in his lap. Harry looked down to see the small face looking up at him curiously. Harry had wonders in his eyes as he slowly reached down and touched his cheek with a finger. Teddy graced him with a huge, toothless smile. The soft patch of hair on his head cycled through numerous colours before settling down resembling a mess of black hair, just like Harry's own. Teddy's eyes also changed colour to turn emerald green.
"He is just like her!" Harry looked up at Andromeda, amazement was evident in his voice.
"Yes, Teddy inherited the gift of Metamorphmagi from his mother," Andromeda replied with a smile.
"Did he… I mean to say, Remus was…"
Andromeda shook her head, "No Harry, it was never possible. Lycanthropy doesn't work that way. For all his intelligence and knowledge, Remus was being a bloody idiot."
Harry nodded and once more looked down at the child in his lap.
"Hey, Teddy. I am Harry. I am your godfather. I don't know what your parents were thinking to name me such, but I will try my best. That much I can promise you. Well, I may make some mistakes, because this is the first time me being a godfather. But it is also your first time being a baby, isn't it? We will learn together, won't we, mate?"
Teddy replied to him in baby babbles.
"I am sure you will forgive me if I do something wrong. I only saw my godfather for a short while and he was a bit of a berk…"
"Hey!" The said godfather protested loudly from the land beyond, from where the entire family had gathered around to see the first interaction between godfather and godson.
The best friend laughed out loud and slapped the protesting man's shoulder, "He pegged you just right, Padfoot."
"I resent being called a berk. I was the perfect godfather to him."
"Sure, Padfoot, I believe you."
Padfoot gave him the gimlet-eye, "I hate you, Prongs."
"I hate you too, Paddy."
"…And your father, he saved me the first time we met, you know? There was this scary monster thingy called Dementor. It came after me while we were going in for our Third Year in the Hogwarts Express. I always felt lousy near those things. And Remus, your father, chased them away with a very powerful spell – the only spell that can affect those things. He taught it to me that your, you know? And it takes the shape of my father's animagus form. Do you want to see it?"
More baby babble.
"Alright, here we go… Expecto Patronum!"
An ethereal stag, made of silvery substance, erupted from the end of Harry's wand and cantered around the room, looking for danger. When it found none, it returned to its caster and nudged at him with its almost solid snout. A feeling of love and happiness and warmth washed over the room. Teddy giggled loudly, trying to reach for the shiny antlers. Andromeda kept looking at the godfather and godson interacting from behind the door with a pleased smile on her face. When Patronus Prongs made its appearance, her smile turned into a huge grin. She too felt the love and happiness that gave the spell its power.
A very proud father was jumping around in sheer glee.
"Did you see that? Have you seen anything more majestic?"
"Stop trying to make us praise you, Prongs. Not gonna happen."
"What? I was just talking about Harry's magic…"
"Yeah…Harry is powerful, but his patronus could do with a better shape…"
"Oh? Let me guess, an Irish wolfhound?"
"Obviously."
"In your dreams, Padfoot, in your dreams."
The mother, however, was beaming in pride. Her son had grown up to be a powerful wizard, despite all the hardships he faced in his life, he was turning out to be a good man. She patted the knee of the man seating on the next couch with his wife.
"You were a great teacher, Remus."
The teacher nodded his thanks with a smile and squeezed his wife's shoulder, who was leaning against him and sniffling, looking at her son happily spending time with his godfather.
"…When I first met your mother, I was in a really bad place. Something terrible happened to me and I was feeling down. Then there she was, literally crashing into my home." Harry chuckled at the memory of the eternally clumsy Nymphadora Tonks, "She was an amazing woman, Teddy, your mother was. She could lighten up a room just by entering it. She was like a wave of happiness herself. The things she used to do with her face – duckbill, pig snout and so many more – she could make anyone's day better just by being herself. And her temper, whoo boy. If somebody uttered her first name even by mistake, they were dead. She really hated her name, you know? I don't know what your grandmum was thinking when she gave her that name."
"It was a perfectly good name, and she knew it." Andromeda protested from the other room. She was listening in on Harry's conversation with Teddy.
Harry laughed, "But she hated it, and you did it on purpose, didn't you, Mrs Tonks?"
"I did no such thing. It is traditional for Blacks to have names based on constellations."
Harry shook his head and returned to his conversation with the child in his lap, "Where was I? Oh yeah, your mum. Let me tell you a secret, Teddy, I had this huge crush on your mum. How could I not? I mean, she was a beautiful, smart woman, and she was an Auror. Beauty, brain and power – she had it all. But I never told her anything in fear that she might hex me silly."
"Oh, she wouldn't have hexed you, dear, but would have teased you mercilessly. Along with flirting with you somewhat unbelievably just so she could make you blush."
"Er…right, I did the right thing not telling her anything then."
The crush was chuckling softly to herself. Although her hair rapidly cycled through several colours before settling down in red, her cheeks were glowing pink in embarrassment because of her insane cousin who was hollering and making catcalls at her.
"Bet you are feeling lucky that you snapped her up when you did, innit, Moony ol' boy? I mean, you should thank your stars that she loves your furry little arse…else she could've been my god-daughter…who knows?"
Moony frowned and discretely gave the bird to those two hollering hyenas. He would get his revenge on them later.
"I really wish that you could've met them, Teddy. They were amazing people, both of them. You should feel proud to be their son. If it was in my power, I would…" Harry trailed off with a frown on his face. His eyes went to his hand which was still clutching the wand he took out to cast the patronus. He had told Ron and Hermione that he would put the wand back in Dumbledore's tomb, but he didn't. It felt wrong in his guts to be apart from the wand. It was like his magic was clinging to the wand. Slowly, he raised the wand towards the open window and incanted –
"Accio Resurrection Stone!"
He had to wait for a while before a small stone flew through the window and landed on his open palm. It had a funny image on it – a circle within a triangle, both bisected by a straight line.
"You will have your chance to talk with them, Teddy. I will make sure of that. When you grow up, I will give you the chance to meet them and say your goodbyes to them. To all of them. This I promise to you, Teddy."
Andromeda had taken Teddy back to his nursery because the little one became fussy. He was sleeping soundly now. Andromeda returned and told Harry that Teddy still retained the messy black hair and emerald eyes – looking like a mini Harry. She was preparing lunch for the two of them as Harry was standing before a framed picture of Remus and Dora. Both of them smiling and waving at him from it.
"I will try to do the right thing. I will try to be worthy of the trust you've shown me. I will raise him to become a good man. I will help him to become a good student like you, Remus; and brave like you, Dora. I will make sure that he knows about his parents and feels proud of them. I will help him pull pranks, I can't let the Marauder's legacy die, can I? I will teach him how to fly. I will do whatever I can to make him feel safe. I will take on the world for him, this I promise to you."
A gentle breeze blew through the still opened window and ruffled his hair. He could almost swear that he heard a whisper –
"Thank you, Harry!"
A.N. - Apart from the Harry/Ginny and Ron/Hermione endgame in the series, Remus/Tonks was another relationship that felt wrong to me. He was this flight-risk type of man and she was this bubbly personality. Remus would've suffocated her and killed the woman Tonks truly was inside just by being his morose self. Some may argue that opposites attract and all that, but it seems to me to be another hopeful 'what-if' from JKR, just like she revealed later about the Ron/Hermione relationship.