Happy Surprises

[evenscribbles.livejournal.com]

Author/Artist: Evenscribbles
Title: Happy Surprises
Rating & Warnings: G, references to a character who died in DH.
Word Count: 1142 words
Prompt(s): #41, A picture of a blue sock.
Summary: Teddy has been born and Remus is so blissfully happy as a father, he's overwhelmed. Especially as more happy surprises occur.
Notes: Certain quotes taken from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, pg. 513- 514, US version.

Happy Surprises

April 1st 1998

Tonks breathed in slowly, as she pushed her hair off her face. Sweat dripped off one strand and ran down the back of her neck. She shivered from the sensation, but made no comment as she stared awestruck at her son being swindled in soft blankets by her Mum less than a foot away from her, her beautiful beautiful boy...Teddy.

Remus who settled onto the bed next to her, now that he was no longer needed to help clean up, wrapped his arms around her. "Dora, he's..." He broke off, supposedly not able to figure out a word expressive enough to describe what he was feeling.

Tonks smiled and buried her face in his neck for a moment. She breathed in his scent of parchment and ink - feeling overly euphoric and answered, "I know. We did good."

Remus laughed, "We did, didn't we? Without even trying -" He broke off again, fully distracted by Teddy waving his hand outside of his blankets as he was passed to his mother's waiting arms. Tonks took him carefully, almost afraid she would drop him, and wondered at how perfectly his warm weight rested on her breast. After they had both had time to drink him in and Teddy had yawned and fallen asleep, his hair now an alarmingly bright shade of ginger, Tonks bumped her nose against Remus' playfully, which he kissed, almost absentminded.

"Don't you think the others should be told?"

Remus who had to be asked twice, looked up, a almost dopey looking grin on his face. "Of course. Of course, I'll go and let them know. And Harry. Harry needs to know what we've decided. So yes I should go, but I won't be long, I promise."

Tonks smiled, "Go go - The baby and I will get some much needed sleep while you're gone." Remus nodded, kissing her and Teddy both on the forehead. "Love you both. So much, Dora. So much."

Tonks smiled again and yawned around her response. " 'ove 'ou too."

Remus drunk them in for another moment, before rushing down the steps, pulling on a random pair of blue socks and shoes as he went. The quicker he let the others know; the quicker he could be back. Once he reached the kitchen, he stopped for a moment to observe Andromeda who had disappeared after handing off his son to Dora and was now sipping tea from a blue flowered saucer. Her hands were steady even as she had a mist of tears in her eyes.

Remus instantly settled into the chair across from her. His plans forgotten for a time. "Is everything alright?"

Andromeda smiled slightly, "Yes. I just was thinking about Ted. Reminiscing. It got to me."

Remus nodded, it made sense with what Dora and he had named their son. "Do you want to talk about it?" He asked gently, happy that he could even do that. It had taken awhile for Andromeda to warm back up to him again after the disaster of last year.

Andromeda shook her head, "No no. Let's...just discuss..." she paused, reconsidering. "How's the baby."

Remus grinned, unable to help himself. "He's beautiful and already special. You saw how when he was first born he had black hair? Well now its auburn."

Andromeda laughed a watery giggle. "Nymphadora was exactly like that when she was born. It seems my grandchild has inherited her abilities. Which is a miracle and a burden all in one. But with you both as his parents he should do perfectly fine."

Remus touched her hand. "Along with a wonderful grandmother to teach him to never be ashamed as well."

Andromeda raised an eyebrow, looking more than regal for a moment. "So now that we've agreed on something, where were you in such a rush to go? Don't try and hide that you were clumping down the stairs like a niffer after gold."

Remus shrugged. "Dora wanted me to go and alert the masses. I thought I'd go to Bill's. That way the Weasleys will know. I mean Molly and Arthur would want to know first but since they'd be in bed at this hour..."

He trailed off as Andromeda rose from her seat, "Well then what are you waiting for?"

Remus hopped up, "I'll be back soon."

Andromeda, who had been spelling her cup to wash itself, paused to smile at him.

"I know you will. Have a good night Remus. I'll see you in the morning."

Remus wished her a similar farewell before he walked with lengthening strides to their Apparition point. He took a deep breath to calm his nerves, thinking of Shell Cottage all the while, and blinked out of existence.

-O-

He materialized less than a second later outside of a pretty white washed cottage that seemed to be a breath away from falling off its perch and into the raging sea below. Knowing he had the right place, even though he had never been there before, he rapped his knuckles with as much fever as he could muster.

Which in his state was probably a lot.

"Who is it?" Bill called cautiously though the weathered door.

Knowing that he should cover all of his bases. Remus blurted everything that came to mind. "It is I Remus John Lupin. I am a werewolf, married to Nymphadora Tonks, and you the Secret- Keeper of Shell Cottage, told me the address and bade me to come in an emergency."

The door suddenly opened and Remus found himself falling through the door, as clumsy as his wife or a newborn foal. Once through, he looked around and was pleased to see so many of his friends, including Harry, were present.

"It's a boy! We've named him Ted, after Dora's father!"

Everyone offered their congratulations and wonderment, but Remus only had eyes for Harry as he wandered over to him for a hug. "You'll be godfather?"

Harry sputtered, his jaw dropping a bit. "M-me?"

Remus wanted to laugh at his dumbstruck expression, but held it back.

"You, yes of course. Dora quite agrees, no one better -"

Harry nodded, " I - yeah - blimey-"

Remus felt joy rise up in him, with Harry's agreement, he and Remus had became closer to being something like family. A feeling Remus had felt towards Harry but had never had recuperated. Another happy surprise to add to his already euphoric night.

The rest of the visit passed in a sea of joy, erasing almost everything from his mind, though he did remember mentioning the similarities between Dora and Teddy and Andromeda's passing comment, before he left. Back to his home and the family. Two things he had never even let himself dream of having when he was younger. Today was definitely the best day of his life and he couldn't wait for what would come next.

Fin.

Comments

[faeriemagic07.livejournal.com]

Omg, It's so wierd when Andromeda and Remus gets to have small talks. Define ackward. The forboding feeling as if they're equals in terms of age. Normally, shouldn't parents call their son-in-law son? Like say, the Weasley matriarch to Harry... But Andromeda would be like, "he's almost my age."

[evenscribbles.livejournal.com]

I can understand how you feel but at the same time I find it interesting. Because it really goes to show that love does not take into account things like age.

And who knows, maybe if he had lived, eventually Andromeda and Remus would have gotten to the point where she could have casually called him son. Or maybe not, but it was still fun to sketch out a random moment in their lives before the Final Battle.

[faeriemagic07.livejournal.com]

Sorry. You misuderstood me. I also found it amusing and interesting actually.

[evenscribbles.livejournal.com]

Oh that's good. I'm glad you enjoyed it then.

[starfishstar]

Ah, how very, very sweet! I love seeing Remus and Tonks and Teddy so happy together, and also Remus hurrying because "the quicker he let the others know; the quicker he could be back." (It always struck me as slightly odd in canon that he would celebrate with friends instead of wanting to be home with Tonks and the baby, so the eagerness to tell all their friends being tempered by just as much eagerness to get back home feels right!)

And Remus and Andromeda's moment of bonding! They're my two favorite characters to write about, so I love any chance to see them interact... This feels right – still a little cautious in figuring out their way around each other, but the good will is there from both sides.

And Remus thinking that this will make him – finally – more like family to Harry. Yes!

[evenscribbles.livejournal.com]

I know, seeing the Lupins happy and together gets me through the horrible moments when I remember that Tonks and Remus died in the Final Battle.

And I agree, that I always saw it as weird that Remus wasn't with Tonks, so I tried to show that she gave him a push out the door. And as for him and Andromeda, I love writing about them as well. They are both complicated characters and the ways in which they could interact when placed in an enclosed space, is such a constantly changing thing; so interesting to write about and read.

I'm glad that you liked this, as I love reading your stories. Thank you so much for the comment.

[an-english-girl.livejournal.com]

Nice to see Remus and Tonks so happy. But poor Dromeda...
:) :(

[evenscribbles.livejournal.com]

I know, right? Poor Andromeda. Every time her grandson is discussed, she had to hear "Teddy this and Teddy that", a name so close to her dead husbands'.

But at the same time, I'm sure she is glad that Ted's name is living on within another person that she has a connection to and that she loves.

[gilpin25.livejournal.com]

Welcome to comm! :)

I think my favourite moment is when Remus acknowledges that Harry's agreement has made him family, too. That's lovely - as his realization that he'd wanted that for a long time. It seems Teddy's birth has really opened him up emotionally. And you made the Tonks-pushing-Remus-into-leaving scenario (while needing to sleep herself) very convincing. I know JKR was concerned about the Harry/godfather point, but Remus was so thrilled about the baby, and his family... but had popped out elsewhere?!

Andromeda must have such a mix of feelings on this night, but good to see her and Remus understanding each other. And aww - there's such contentment in that final last line from him.

[evenscribbles.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for your comment. I always loved how Harry becoming Godfather to Teddy, meant that he had a connection to Remus, besides that of a student and his professor. That Remus didn't live longer so we could have seen how that connection would have gone is another thing to be sad about.

As for Andromeda, I feel bad for her, because as you said she is probably all mixed up inside. But at least it doesn't seem in character for her to push away the family she has fought so hard to create. So she'll have had them for support.

The last line came to me in a bittersweet fashion, because it is so hopeful until you think of what is about to happen. Sigh. This is why I live in denial land.

So all in all, thank you so much for your comment and your greeting. I am more than happy to join a community with so many wonderful people that write in it.

[articcat621.livejournal.com]

Ohhh, this is just so happy and left me smiling! Goodness, I just love this. I couldn't help but feel Remus's euphoria at being a father <3 <3 <3

[evenscribbles.livejournal.com]

Isn't in wonderful when Remus is happy and has accepted his son? I loved that bit of Deathly Hallows, even as other parts of it made me sad. He deserves more moments like that, which is what makes fan fiction so wonderful. Thank you for your comment.

[shimotsuki.livejournal.com]

So nice to see the happy moments finally coming for Remus, one after the other! This is wonderful backstory for JKR's description of Remus as "dazed by his own happiness". I like the way that, in addition to Remus's joy at Teddy's birth, you also pull in a moment of understanding and acceptance between Remus and Andromeda, and Remus's feeling of connection to Harry.

[evenscribbles.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your comment! I love looking at the backstory behind canon in stories and was happy that this fic came to mind.

At first it started as only an answer as to why Remus would leave Tonks and the baby behind when it was obvious he was overjoyed with them. But then it changed when Andromeda wanted to take part.

I'm glad that the moment showed the warmth and acceptance that I imagine that they would have been able to develop if they had more time.

As for Remus' connection to Harry, I always saw it and was overjoyed that Remus asked Harry to be Godfather. They could have been family after the war. Sigh

Thank you again for your comment. I can't wait until another Kaleidoscope chapter comes out.