Ok, so I had another night were sleep eluded me completely, so here's the next chapter. Something happens later in this chapter that some of you may not like. All I can say is that it's Mustang Sally's fault, I was chatting to her when the decision was reached!
Six, part one, Grey
From her perch by the window, Moony could see her master tossing and turning in his bed. His usually vibrant hair was grey and sweat was pouring down his face. She became agitated, hooting and clicking her beak, but he didn’t wake up. She swooped across the room, landing on his bare chest and hopped up to his shoulder, nipping his ear in an effort to wake him. Her master rolled over and she took flight, perching on the bedstead, watching over him.
~~~
“Have you seen Teddy this week?” Harry was leaning against Hermione’s desk while she read the latest update from Azkaban.
“No, I haven’t. He was supposed to be in the meeting this morning but he didn’t turn up.”
Harry frowned. Teddy was usually very punctual and always sent his apologies if he couldn’t attend a meeting. He was like Remus in that respect.
“D’you think he tied one on last night? It wouldn’t be the first time; he’s twenty four after all. I remember drinking…”
Harry’s remembrance of a drunken night out with Ron and George was cut short by the irritated expression on Hermione’s face.
“No, I don’t think that he ‘tied one on’. He knew how important that meeting was this morning. If we are to stand any chance of stopping The Movement before they gather any more support we need all hands on deck. Teddy knows that. When was the last time you saw him?”
“Friday, he came for supper.”
“So that’s five days. Go and find Victoire, see if she’s seen him. If not we’ll go to Lupin Cottage and see if he’s there.”
“Yes boss.” Harry said, with a little mock salute.
Hermione sighed and went back to the report. She was worried, it just wasn’t like Teddy to be out of touch for so long, let alone miss a meeting.
*****
“Mum, please stop fussing, it’ll be fine, Fred and George are going to be with me. I can Apparate, I’ll be okay.”
Molly frowned. She did not want Ginny to go and help evacuate Remus and Tonks from Lupin Cottage. If the intelligence was right and Dolohov was intent on killing Remus, Molly didn’t want any of them to go.
“Molly, we’ll take care of her, she’s an able fighter, she’s proved herself.”Ginny flushed with pride at Kingsley’s words. He believed in her abilities to look after herself, at least.
“Well, I’m not happy, and at the first sign of trouble you are to Apparate back to here, do you promise?”
Ginny agreed, with no intention of keeping that promise. A Weasley leave her friends behind to fight? Never!
Kingsley showed them the addresses of Lupin Cottage and Andromeda’s house, throwing the parchment into the fire afterwards. They set off into the night, Ginny’s stomach churning with anticipation and nerves. For the first time in weeks she was going to do something to resist Voldemort. The very thought made her heart sing.
The group popped into view at the end of the lane. Ginny saw a wooden frame cottage, surrounded by a slightly messy garden. Remus was waiting at the door, wearing his travelling coat. “He raised his wand to Kingsley and asked “The last joke Sirius told?”
“The one about the Minister and the Veela? I think Ginny is a little young for that one Remus.” Remus lowered his wand. As they walked up the path he gave them a grim smile of welcome and led them into the kitchen. Ginny could see some suitcases and a few of rucksacks. Tonks was sat at the table, cradling a tiny baby with turquoise hair.
“Right, I think we should get out of here straight away. Grab a bag and we’ll Apparate at the boundary.”
Ginny, Fred and George all took a rucksack and pulled them on to their backs. Remus and Kingsley both took a suitcase and Tonks brought Teddy. They trouped back down the path and on Kingsley word, they stepped through the boundary, turned on the spot and disappeared.
Andromeda was waiting for them at the door, just as Remus had been. She threw it open and marched to the boundary, wand aloft. Pointing it in her daughter’s face, she cried “What did Sirius Black do to you when you were five years old?”
“He gave me an Acid Pop and it burned a hole in my tongue.”
Andromeda threw her arms around her daughter briefly and then dragged her up the garden path and into the house. The others followed.
“There’s no wonder you don’t like Acid Pops Tonks!” Kingsley was chuckling. “I need to go, but I’ll stop at The Burrow, tell your mother you’re ok, give you some time.”
“Thanks Kingsley.” He left in a whirl of robes.
Tonks had settled on the settee, still clinging to Teddy. Ginny settled next to her while Andromeda showed the men where to put the luggage.
Ginny looked down into Teddy’s face. “He’s gorgeous Tonks” she whispered.
Tonks smiled widely. “Thanks, I like to think so. I never really thought about being a mum until I had him and now… I’m totally besotted with him. The way that you love your children, it’s different to any other kind of love. It’s irrevocable, complete and brilliant.” She kissed Teddy and then chortled. “Irrevocable? Being married to Remus has expanded my vocabulary! And to think, if Remus hadn’t come to his senses Teddy wouldn’t be here. Do you think he looks like Remus?” She said, turning her attention back to her slumbering son.
“I think he looks like both of you, in different ways. He’s going to be very handsome when he grows up.”
The others had returned. Andromeda, Fred and George were busy in the kitchen. Remus leaned up against the door frame, looking at the young women cooing over his son. He announced his presence with a small cough.
“Ginny, could you take a photograph of the three of us? We don’t have a family portrait yet.”
They arranged themselves on the settee, Tonks holding Teddy, Remus with his arms wrapped around them both and Ginny took the photo.
Looking at them and how happy they were, Ginny gave a wry smile at the thought that all their love could have come to nothing if Remus had continued to be so stubborn. Lifting the camera to take a second photograph she said to Tonks “Y’know, these Lupin men, they're heart breakers.”
*****
Harry ran back into Hermione’s office.
“Victoire hasn’t seen or heard from him since Thursday.”
“Right, let’s go.”
Hermione grabbed her wand, and they ran down the corridor to the Auror office. Harry shouted for Ron and the three of them bolted for the lifts. People stared at them as they thundered through the Atrium towards the fireplace. Throwing Floo powder in to the flames, one by one they shouted
“Lupin Cottage”.
Harry span out of the fireplace first. He only just had time to register how untidy the kitchen and parlour were when Hermione and then Ron had joined him.
“Teddy? Are you here mate?”
They heard a distraught hoot from Teddy’s bedroom. Hermione pulled open the door and gasped. There on the bed was Teddy, naked to the waist, deathly pale, his hair grey. There was a strong smell of vomit and urine.
“Harry, you stay with him, we’ll go get a Healer.”
Hermione and Ron dashed for the door and Harry to his godson’s side. When he touched Teddy’s skin, he was shocked by how clammy and cold he was. “Teddy, mate, can you hear me? Come on mate, wake up, wake up…”