Book 4

Chapter 68 – Andy's

OoO

It was night out when I landed in the front garden, the garden was surrounded by twinkle lights, making it feel very welcoming. The lights laid a path straight to the front door. I readjusted my bag and squeezed the little hand that was tucked in mine. The portkey was laying on the ground, and the little boy next to me picked up the toy yellow cone. I kneeled down, so I was face to face with the small boy. I swiped his brown, wavy hair back that covered his eyes, the hair mostly brown, had a few streaks of purple in it today. And I had a feeling as why he'd chosen that colour, instead of his favourite. His eyes were light brown, with a blue edge around it. Even though he could change his appearance just like me, he still resembled his father more than anything. His kind eyes and brown hair, the shape of his nose, it all reminded me of him. He did change his hair sometimes or his eye colour, but mostly he stuck with this.

It's been over four years since I left, since I disappeared into the night. I did come back to England after a while, but only to see Andy and Teddy, or I went to Romania to visit Bash and Charlie, after that I was gone again. I looked over at the house, where the lights were still burning inside. I smiled at my son, who was trying to balance the cone upside down.

"Are you ready, sweetheart?" I asked while I ran a hand through my blond pixie cut, pulling my long fringe back.

"Yes, mummy." The cone tipped over and he looked up at me with a beaming and impatient smile.

"Let's go then." I pushed myself up and took his hand in mine again as we walked over to the house. I took in a deep breath and knocked on the door. It was silent for a long moment inside the house and around, then the door finally opened.

Andromeda Tonks stood in the doorway, her dark brown, curly hair had grown even longer since the last time I saw her, and it nearly reached her bum. Her eyes were excited and her smile so large, I couldn't help my own from stretching on my face.

"Gwen!" She sighed happy as she wrapped me up in a fierce hug. "I'm so happy you're here." She pulled back. "How long has it been?"

"Five months, I think." I said with a small frown.

"But you were only here for a few days then. And now..." She asked, letting the sentence hang between us.

"We're staying." My son piped up before he wrapped his arms tightly around Andy's leg.

"Wha-" Andy's mouth dropped open as she looked from him to me, she patted his head lovingly. "Really?"

"Really."

Andy smiled wide; her face lit up even more. "I missed you so much." Andy kneeled down as she stroked his cheek. "But there is someone inside who wants to see you, maybe even more than I do."

"Teddy?" He asked with large, beaming eyes. Andy nodded and stood back up. He rushed past her and started calling out for his best friend the moment he was in the house. "Teddy!?"

Andy and I walked inside, and she closed the door behind me. We saw him search for Teddy under the table, the couch. Then a thundering noise sounded through the house, and I subconsciously reached for my wand. But it was just Teddy. He had grown too, at least a few centimetres since his birthday. His purple hair matching my son's.

"CJ!" He cried out and the boys ran up to each other. They collided and toppled over as they laughed. "Gran got me a new bed. Want to see? It's like a muggle race car thingy." Teddy said excitedly as they scrambled up. CJ looked over his shoulder to me with questioning eyes. I smiled.

"Go, just don't crash the bed." I chuckled. They both nodded perfectly in sync before they bounded up the stairs.

"Now, let me make us some tea and you can tell me everything." She patted my hand before she walked over to the kitchen. She was just putting on the kettle as I sat down at the table.

"How's he doing?" I asked, taking one of the cookies from the plate she placed between us. "Harry's letter said he's been asking questions."

"Yes." She sighed as she sat down in front of me, a hand going over her face. "He's been asking why they aren't here."

"That's a hard one." I said as I twirled the wedding ring around my necklace. "CJ's been asking me about it too."

"What did you say?" She asked me as the kettle whistled. She waved her wand, and the kettle flew over. As she was pouring out the tea, I said.

"That daddy died saving him and me, that he's watching over us, one way or another. And I hope to Superman that's true."

"Superman?" Andy quirked a brow.

"It's a superhero, from muggle comic books. It was Ced's favourite, now CJ's too." I smiled sadly.

"You're doing amazing with him, Gwen." She reached out for my hand. The touch of her hand was so comforting, and I always felt at home when I was with her and Teddy.

"You are doing amazing with Teddy, Andy." I squeezed her hand in return. Then a loud crashing sound came from upstairs and then there was a suspicious silence. A few seconds passed before both boys yelled.

"Nothing's broken!"

Andy and I looked at each other before we laughed. "They'll be a menace in school." I chuckled. We talked about more about the boys and their abilities. Before another topic came up.

"How are Cedric's parents?"

"You know they came to live with me in Australia, right? When CJ was born." She nodded. "They were still grieving. I mean we all were. But it helped taking care of CJ, since he was born two months early, it wasn't easy." Andy looked at her with sad eyes.

I remembered when she came over with Teddy to Australia, for CJ's first birthday. Even then, a year after he was born, you could still see he was born premature. His was smaller than other kids his age, in hight and in size. His abilities came in later too, he was almost eleven months when it started. But now, CJ had almost completely caught up. He was almost as tall as Teddy now, and would weigh about the same, give or take a kilo. But giving with how he could eat, it didn't surprise me.

"And you know how much I love them but after two years living in the same house, 24/7, I needed to get away. That's when CJ and I started travelling. First going to the places I went with Cedric, then the ones we were planning to go to. Amos and Olive stayed at the house in Australia, we tried to visit them every three months. But Amos has been sick for the last seven months, it doesn't look good. The healers can't really place what's going on, but I think its broken heart syndrome." Andy looked confused at me. "It's a heart condition the muggles call it. It's when someone experiences sudden acute stress that can weaken the heart muscle. I think it started when -"

"Cedric died?" Her voice was soft and her eyes sad.

"Yes. I think helping out with CJ delayed the symptoms." I took a small sip from my tea. "Normally people recover quickly, but I don't think he wants to recover."

"Oh." Andy let out a gasp. We silently sipped our tea, processing everything and enjoying the silence for a while, knowing it won't be long before we were going to get interrupted. And just like I thought, the boys charged in a few minutes later.

"Gran, can CJ stay over? PLEEAAAASSSSEEEE!" He begged, and a smile tugged at my lips.

Andy looked over to me. "Where are you two staying?"

"I was planning to book a room in an hotel near London, at least until I found something."

"Nonsense, you two can stay here. We have plenty of room." She smiled. "But -" Her voice stern as she turned to the boys. "I want the both of you to go brush your teeth before you go to bed.

"Yes." They said.

I smiled as I waved my wand over my bag. A set of pyjamas and a crocodile toothbrush flew out. CJ grabbed them out of the air eagerly before he walked over to me with his arms full.

"Can you tell me a story after?" He looked up at me with his large brown eyes.

"Of course, sweetheart. When do I not?"

"Thank you, mummy." He kissed my cheek, and they disappeared up the stairs again.

OoO

Andy was sitting in a rocking chair, as I sat between the two boys on the racing car bed. I glanced around Teddy's room.

"I see Teddy here has a fine selection of books. Do you want me to read from one of them or do you want me to tell you a story?"

"Story, please." CJ asked, his two little hands clasped mine.

"Alright." I smiled and kissed the top of his head. "Let me think." I glanced towards Teddy, right behind him a picture of his parents. "I have a good one with your dad in it, and your parents Teddy. Would you like to hear it?"

They nodded and Teddy grasped my other hand tightly. With my hands tied, I summoned a picture out of my bag wandlessly and let it fall down in my lap. It was a picture of Cedric, me, Tonks, Remus and baby Teddy was sleeping in my arms, all smiling proudly at the camera.

"Let me tell you about the day you were born." I smiled at Teddy who had his eyes fixed on the picture. So, I told them everything beside the grubby details, the both of them were so quiet, neither of them interrupted me with questions of their own. And believe me that was a first, CJ was quite vocal, and so was Teddy, now I thought about it. CJ had fallen asleep, curled into my side, still clutching my hand. Teddy, although tired, looked up at me with teary eyes.

"Thank you." He whispered.

"Anytime, sweetie." I kissed the top of his head.

"I've missed you."

I took in a deep breath, trying to hold back my own tears. "I've missed you too. I'm so sorry I was gone for so long, but I'm staying, we're staying. We're not going anywhere. I love you."

"I love you, Aunt Winnie." He whispered until he fell asleep, just like CJ.

A tear escaped and I looked from the boy to Andy. She smiled, a sad but happy smile before she stood up from her rocking chair. "Do you want me to help you out?" She whispered.

"I think I'm good here for now." I smiled and glanced at the two boys curled up against me.

OoO

Andy and I were sitting in the garden. The sun shined brightly down upon us as we sat on our picnic blanket with our drinks. The two boys were flying around on kids' broomsticks in front of us. As I saw them flying across the garden, trying to do tricks, I knew I saw quidditch matches in my future. I smiled at the thought.

"Gwen?" Andy tried to get my attention, and I turned to look at her. "I forgot to tell you, Harry's coming over."

"That's alright, Andy. I saw him at a little over a year ago, remember? And we write to each other frequently about Teddy. Is he coming alone?"

"I think so, he mostly does. Sometimes he brings along Hermione, but not that much."

"We'll cross that bridge when it comes to that. Harry knew I was coming over here anyway, he just doesn't know we're staying." I took a strawberry from the plate between us. "And I'll start looking at places tomorrow. It's just, I'm still dealing with the sale of my parents' house."

"Just so you know." She started. "You two can stay here indefinitely."

"I think you'll grown sick of me sooner than later." I snickered. "But thank you."

"Andy? Teddy?"

"In the garden, Harry." Andy called back when Harry's voice sounded through the house. Harry came out to the garden, smiling broadly as he saw his godson flying through the air. He was wearing his Auror clothes, probably coming straight from his work. His happy smile turned shocked and surprised when he saw who was flying besides him, then his shocked eyes found mine. The piercing green eyes, and that bloody Auror suite, send a shock through my body. Taking me back to the time he found me in Australia.