The Beholders, Part VI: Ted

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

Author/Artist: author_by_night

Title: The Beholders

Part VI: Ted

Rating & Warnings:  PG-13

Word Count/Art Medium: 1,777

Prompt(s): 4. Style: Multple narrators, not to be Remus or Tonks.

Summary: For better or worse, Remus and Tonks didn't always know how to see themselves. At their worst, they were too similar for comfort, yet too different to grasp. At their best, they were deeply in love, and that was all that mattered.

Who they were, then, was in the eye of their beholders.

Notes: Impending character death. Merry Christmas, everyone!

(Also, I'm not sure I have my DH timeline exactly right. Feel free to nitpick, as always.)

Ted

June-September, 1997

Ted wasn't easy for him to accept that his daughter had eloped. He understood - of course he understood. War meant there was no time to be wasted, and anyway, it was fitting. Dora had never liked big to-dos. That was why she had kept her relationship with Remus secret for so long.

Well. Among other reasons.

They'd thrown a reception of sorts for Dora and Remus, inviting mostly Order friends. Those were really the only friends either of them had, although a friend or two from Dora's Hogwarts days attended as well. Dora certainly seemed happy, from where Ted was standing; so did Remus. They'd both been hugged excitedly by Hestia, her cheeks as pink as ever. Ted laughed as he recalled the first time he met Hestia, when she and Dora were eleven.

"Ted? Are you in here to help or stare?" Andromeda barked.

"Sorry, 'Dromeda," Ted said, and he quickly helped Andromeda dry the dishes. "Well, I guess our little girl's married now."

"Are you upset that she didn't invite us?"

"When we eloped, we at least invited Alice, Frank and Sirius. There were more risks in doing so."

Andromeda shrugged. "I would have been fine with not doing so. Personally, I'm just glad she and Remus have made amends."

"Me too," Ted said a little too loudly.

Andromeda frowned."Do I sense a 'but' there?"

Ted hesitated. "It just seems such a bad idea right now. I've caused enough trouble as it is."

"You've caused trouble? Ted-"

"-Andromeda. The moment you married me, I put a permanent marker on this family, and you know it."

"I don't know what you're saying, but I sure as hell don't like it."

"What I'm saying - and it pains me - is that now Dora has added to it."

"I know." Andromeda took Ted's hands. "I can't deny I've thought about it, too. What I did to you. It goes both ways, Ted... I almost left, you know. Seeing what Dora went through, I'm glad  he came back, I'm glad didn't leave all those years ago myself and hurt you the same way, but..." Andromeda stopped.  "Watch her, Ted. She's so happy."

Ted looked out the window again; Remus and Tonks were dancing together now, alone yet in the presence of their dearest friends. Just like he and Andromeda once had.

But would it be worth it?

Ted tried not to let his concern show; he loved Remus, and he didn't want his son-in-law to know how he felt. However, it got slightly harder when he and Andromeda were interrogated for several hours in their home. They knew what had happened. They'd both had nightmares about it.

It didn't help that Bellatrix was the interrogator.

"Come on, sissy," Bellatrix simpered as Andromeda panted on the floor. "Where's my dear niece and her half-breed husband?"

 Ted reached for his wand, but Bellatrix kicked it out of the way. What was worse, however, was Andromeda's anguished cry: "Leave them alone!" He'd never heard her so vulnerable before.

"I'm the threat," Ted told her. "Just let her go, and do whatever you want with me."

"NO!" Andromeda screamed.

Bellatrix smiled. "Oh, this isn't the worst, my widdle mudlood bwuther." She stroked his face. "Now tell me where they are."

"Bella, it's me," Andromeda moaned; she was grasping at anything she could think of now. "We're sisters. Remember the doll house we had? No one was allowed to touch it, not even Narcissa. We made Mum get her one of her own so we could keep it for ourselves. You have to remember that."

Something in Bellatrix's eyes flickered, but she remained still.

"I know the old you is still in there somewhere."

"The old me?" Bellatrix laughed loudly. "There was no 'old' me. I only played with you because Mum made me. I didn't even like that house nearly as much as you did."

"Then you would have let Cissy play too. You're telling the truth about not liking it as much as me, though.  I was your best  friend. That's why you let me play."

"Shut up," Bellatrix hissed.

"You miss it, don't you? Isn't that why the time you broke in our house all those years ago, that was the only thing you destroyed?

"What makes you think-"

"-who else would bother destroying a doll house?"

"You think I'm a softie at the core, don't you?" Bellatrix asked.

"You? No. I'm talking about my sister. You've met her. You can't escape her. Because you can never not have a bit of her-"

Bellatrix pointed her wand at Ted. "If I kill him, will you still think that?"

"It won't change anything I've told you," Andromeda said, though her voice was very shaky now. Ted's palms were sweating.

"AVA-"

Before Bellatrix could finish, there was a cracking noise, she flew into the air, then fell violently back onto the ground. A soft moan told Ted she was gravely injured.

Dora and Remus flew inside, still in nice wedding outfits. Of course; Bill and Fleur's wedding was today...

They pointed their wands at Bellatrix, but she grabbed onto something - Ted didn't see what - and disappeared.

"A Portkey," Remus said matter-of-factly.

Dora looked shaken. "Are you okay? I'm so sorry, we came as fast as we could, but they held us."

"We're fine," Andromeda said. "What's going on?"

Remus and Dora exchanged a look.

"Sit down," Dora said softly. "Things just got a whole lot worse."

The next few weeks were tense. Laws became stricter and stricter, and Ted knew it was only a matter of time before he was apprehended. He wondered if they only let him live because of Dora - with her abilities, she was an asset. They knew it made her easier to turn on them, but they all knew what the Death Eaters - Ted refused to call them the Ministry - was really hoping for. Fortunately, as soon as Dora's pregnancy (announced casually over lunch one afternoon) was further along, she planned to leave.

Ted found it harder to hide his uncertainty over their circumstances. He knew Remus sensed it, although they never spoke of it; this only made Ted feel horrible about himself. Ted was worried Remus was under the wrong impression, but how was what he really wanted to say much better?

Although Ted didn't know what had happened, one night Andromeda and Ted stopped at Remus and Dora's place to find Dora looking frazzled and Remus looking tired. They were not speaking, and when Remus tried to pull out a chair for Dora, Dora merely sat in one across the table. Ted had a feeling - knowing Remus and Dora's history - that it had something to do with Remus reading his concerned expressions and hearing the hesitant openness in his voice. That wasn't all of it; Remus had faults. Many faults. But Dora had mentioned Remus's own grandparents were similarly distant towards him, and Ted wondered if Remus wasn't reminded of that horribly awkward Christmas. Who would want to leave one lukewarm family for another?

So Ted immersed himself in Remus and Dora's life, and soon it wasn't a matter of trying - it became second nature. Remus became every bit as much of a son as Dora was daughter. Ted knew Andromeda felt the same way, although ever the stoic serpent, she did not express such a sentiment.

But reality clouded everything; plans were made for them to go into hiding with Hestia Jones and the Dursleys, but for various reasons, setting up a new place would take months. In the meantime, Ted was to lay low, and memorize Remus's family tree. Ted knew, however, that it really wouldn't do much good. As time went on, and more muggleborns were arrested, their families were too tortured - at best - for not having turned thir own spouses, parents and children in.

Ted knew what he had to do.

He watched Dora, Remus and Andromeda eating one night, standing as far back as possible. He wanted that image in his mind forever. It might be the last image he ever had of them together. That night, he hugged Dora so tightly he thought he heard her gasp in surprise, and once he gor upstairs, made love to Andromeda.

"I love you," he whispered as they looked into each other's eyes. "Never forget that."

Andromeda laughed. "Stop being so morbid. We're going to be fine."

"Andie..."

"I know. I love you too."

Ted kissed her forehead. Once he was absolutely sure she was asleep, he made his way downstairs. To his surprise, Remus was waiting.

"I thought you left," Ted said in surprise.

"I came back. I knew something wasn't right... then I saw the note on the door. Ted, you can't do this."

"Ah, but I must, Remus."

"You don't understand... I almost made the same mistake... twice. What you're giving up-"

"-you're going to be the father of a baby boy. Neither of you will be marked for death. You won't fare any better, but how well were you ever faring?" Ted put a hand on Remus's shoulder.
"I just want you to know one thing - I never cared, as I fear you suspected, that you were a werewolf. I merely had the concerns of a father."

"I realize that now. You don't have anything to prove to me."

Ted paused. "Have you ever read Les Miserables, or seen the musical?"

"No..."

"Do you know anything about it?"

"A former student of mine, Hermione, told me a bit about it, but I don't see what that's got to do with this!"

"You're Marius, Remus. The young rebel jaded by war, yet still capable of loving a spritely young woman. She is my Cosette. Take care of her."

Perhaps knowing he had no other choice, Remus nodded, and shook Ted's hand firmly.

"Good night, son," Ted said, emphasizing the last word.

With that, he disappeared into the night.

Comments

[huldrejenta.livejournal.com]

I wonder what those last days Ted had with his family was like, and I like your take on it. I like the paralels you've drawn between Andromeda's and Ted's relationship and Remus' and Tonks'. And it seems very real and plausible that Ted, as a father, would have mixed feelings.
I always feel so bad for Andromeda, losing so many of her love ones in the war, and it's so sad to see her final moments with Ted.

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

Yes, I can't imagine how it was for Andromeda. I like to think Harry was of some comfort, at least.

[mollywheezy.livejournal.com]

This is so sad and beautiful! I love the relationship between Ted and Remus--I don't think I've seen anyone explore that before. Great job!

[mollywheezy.livejournal.com]

This is so sad and beautiful! I love the relationship between Ted and Remus--I don't think I've seen anyone explore that before. Great job!