2010

2010:

Teddy Lupin was now 12 years old, nearly 13 in fact, and very nervous. He had gotten his Hogwarts letter two summers ago (it had turned out his parents themselves had told the school authorities of his birth and given them his birth date, although he had always assumed that it had been either his grandmother or even Harry), and they'd only had a few months to prepare him for his third year. He had asked Uncle Harry what it was like to go to Hogwarts and Harry had been only too happy to enlighten him, especially as to what his own third year had been like. He now considered him old enough to know about the things that had happened that year, even though they were never likely to happen again, since he had vanquished Voldemort years before. However, that was why he had become an Auror, and was in fact now Head of the Auror Department at the Ministry, in order to make sure that another of Voldemort’s ilk didn’t arise.

“Was my mum an Auror too? Nana says she was,” he had asked Harry recently.

“She was. She was also a member of the Order of the Phoenix, as was your dad. However, she didn’t become one until 1994, a few years before you were born.”

“How long does it take to become an Auror?”

“Three years. It was tough work, but well worth it. I’m now Head of the Department at the Ministry.”

“Do you think I would make a good Auror?”

“Couldn’t say, mate. That depends on how well you do in the necessary subjects at school. Once you’re in fifth year—that’s usually when they do career advisory stuff at Hogwarts—you could discuss it with your Head of House then.”

“Which House was my mum in, do you know?”

“I think she once mentioned that she was in Hufflepuff. Your dad was in Gryffindor, like I was.”

“You know, the Sorting Hat wanted to put me in Hufflepuff, but I said I wanted to be in Gryffindor. Of course, I didn’t know at the time which Houses my parents had been in; I just wanted to be in the same House as you because I admire you so.”

Harry had smiled and blushed with pleasure, thankful the boy couldn’t see it since his head was bowed. “Thanks, mate, but the Hat usually knows best how to Sort students.”

“Probably too late to change it now, huh?”

“Most likely, mate. Have you got your trunk ready? Remember, we’ve got to have you at Platform 9¾ at King's Cross station day after tomorrow. You also better have your cat ready.”

Last year this time, Harry had taken Teddy to get him a familiar. Hogwarts students were permitted either an owl, cat or toad—and Teddy had chosen a black cat with green eyes, naming her Dora after his mother. Harry was convinced the colour of her fur and eyes were a tribute to him, but didn’t say anything at the time.

“Just got to put my new robes in,” Teddy had announced, proud of himself for having his trunk ready on time for once. “I plan to do that just before I go to bed tomorrow night.”

However, during one of the times he had visited Teddy in Hogsmeade, Harry had been unable to help noticing that the boy preferred Muggle clothes like jeans, T-shirts and sweatshirt jackets. His mother’s influence again … at least in part. As for his studies, Teddy seemed to be every bit as intellectual as his father had been. In fact, Harry had even told him once that Remus had been a Prefect, which usually only happened to the smartest students at Hogwarts in their sixth year. Maybe he would even end up one if he applied himself. That would be one way to do his mum and dad proud … not to mention everyone else who knew him. But that was a few years away yet. Meanwhile, the best he could do was apply himself to his current year’s schoolwork.

* * * * *

Harry and Andromeda took Teddy to King's Cross station that Saturday morning, September 1, at 10 a.m. so he wouldn’t miss the Hogwarts Express, due to depart at 11. Ginny had wanted to come, but was still recovering from a nasty cold. In fact, Lily Luna, named for her paternal grandmother and one of her parents’ friends, was just two years old, and young James had turned seven a short time before. Their second son, Albus Severus, named for the last two headmasters of Hogwarts, was now four. However, Teddy had made sure to say goodbye to her before they had left the house, promising to owl her and Harry as often as possible.

One of the proudest days of Teddy’s life had been when he was presented with his mother’s wand on his eleventh birthday. It had been salvaged from the debris at the Battle of Hogwarts and carefully preserved for when Teddy was old enough. They had searched for Remus’s as well, but it was discovered to have been destroyed in the battle. Harry hadn’t been pleased to hear that; Teddy had so little to remember his parents by. It would have been nice to have his father’s wand, if only as a family heirloom. He had not had the heart to tell Teddy about that, although he had had Hermione do research on Tonks’s wand.

It was made of rowan (mountain ash tree) wood and had a dragon heartstring core, making it both very magical and very strong, which wasn’t really surprising. Tonks would go for that sort of wand, considering that she had been an Auror and needed all the advantages she could get against adversaries. It was also said that rowan wood had strong protective qualities, so it was probably the best one for Teddy to have, especially if he intended to become an Auror himself one day.

Not long afterward, they arrived at King's Cross station and Harry unloaded the trunk from the boot of the car. However, it was Teddy who flagged down a trolley to take it to the train since he hadn’t learned the Locomotor spell yet. Harry made a mental note to tell him that Tonks had been an artist at using that spell at the first opportunity. After they had gone through the portal between Platforms 9 and 10, they found themselves just a short distance from where Teddy was supposed to get on the train. Harry saw a few of his former classmates seeing off their own children, but the ones who stood out (naturally) were the flame-haired Weasleys—or more specifically, Bill, whose oldest daughter, Victoire, was a year younger than Teddy and beginning her second year just as he was beginning his third. Harry had been about to call to them when Bill looked in their direction, smiled and motioned them in his direction. Harry smiled and waved back, motioning Andromeda and Teddy to follow him.

“Hey, mate! How are things with you and Gin?” Bill asked when Harry reached him.

“Fine. She just got over a nasty cold. Our third child, a daughter, is now two years old. We named her Lily Luna."

“Fleur's gone to France to visit her family, but told me to give you and Gin her love if I saw you.” He noted Teddy standing next to his grandmother and smiled in the boy’s direction. “And can this strapping young man actually be Master Teddy Lupin?”

“The very same,” Harry returned proudly. “He’s starting his third year, just as your Victoire is starting her second. Where is she, by the way?”

“She’s talking to another of her friends. That way.” Bill pointed a few yards off to where his strawberry blonde-haired daughter was speaking with one of her friends, another second-year who looked foreign, perhaps even Indian, like the Patils. He couldn’t have said for sure, but wouldn’t be surprised if she was.

“Is she ready for her second year?”

“I would assume so, although whenever I ask her, she simply shrugs and smiles, then says, ‘As ready as I will ever be, Daddee.’ She has an accent and smile similar to her mother’s, although she has my eyes. I’m also sure that she’ll end up every bit as smart as I am. Remember the twelve OWLs I had.”

“Wouldn’t surprise me a bit.” Harry made himself smile, although he had been well pleased with his own seven.

Just then, the whistle on the train blew, indicating there were only five minutes left before the train departed.

Bill called, “Torie! Time to get on the train!”

“Coming, Daddee.” The girl bade her friend goodbye but was most likely to either speak with her further, if not sit with her, on the train later. Victoire smiled at Harry and Andromeda, but her gaze lingered on Teddy. Harry smiled at the way the boy blushed and the ends of his hair turned a deep pink. “Bonjour, Teddee. Good to see you.”

“You too, Victoire.”

With that, the children hugged their relatives quickly and jumped onto the train, waving madly through the windows once they found a place to sit. Harry, Andromeda and Bill waved back, waving until the train had moved sufficiently so they could no longer see the children before turning and heading back to their vehicles—or rather, Harry’s. It was getting progressively more difficult for Andromeda to Apparate, so they didn’t unless absolutely necessary. As a result, Harry was obliged to use his Muggle vehicle to transport them to the train station. Teddy had been disappointed because he had wanted to Side-Along Apparate with Harry, though he understood that his grandmother couldn’t and didn’t openly complain.

“So how are you feeling, Mrs. Tonks?” Bill asked conversationally.

“Andromeda, please.” The older woman smiled. “I’m doing as well as can be expected, although it can be quite tiring, looking after that young dynamo of a grandson of mine. He’s his mother all over again.”

“No doubt,” Bill laughed. “Torie’s the same way.” A short time later, they reached the car. Harry helped Andromeda in, then closed the door, went around and got in himself. Bill lingered a few minutes to make his goodbyes. “All the best to you and Gin, Harry, and take care, Andromeda.” Both smiled and nodded in his direction, although Harry was the only one who replied verbally.

“All the best to you and Fleur, Bill. I’ve got to get ’Dromeda home now, then back to Gin and the kids. See you later.”

“Later, Harry. Say hello to Ron and ’Mione for me if you see them.”

“Will do. ’Bye, now.”

With that, Harry accelerated the car and was gone. Andromeda didn’t seem in the mood for conversation on the way back, so he didn’t engage her, but when they arrived, he escorted her to the door of her home, then kissed her on the cheek before returning to his car and departing. He thought of Teddy and how much he had grown and matured in twelve years. How proud Remus and Dora would be if they could see him now! So very unfortunate that they had been killed by that bloody bitch Bellatrix, and so good to know that Molly had finished her off. He would never underestimate her skills again, that was for sure! But now he had to get back to his wonderful Gin, his wonderful kids and his wonderful new life.