Thanks Gracie

This is for Steph, because she helped me decide the first bit, it has her man in it and it's a bit... well you'll see. I watched The English Patient last night, blame it on that


Six, part four, Grey

Eight weeks later, Teddy was sat in Harry’s garden in Godric’s Hollow. The house had been rebuilt after the second war and Harry had lived there ever since. Lilly was enjoying being his nurse, bossing him around and fussing over him. She had tucked a blanket around his knees because he had been feeling cold. Now she was bringing him a cup of tea. He had asked for coffee, but she had refused on the grounds that coffee might “over excite” him.

“There you go. Victoire is coming to see you this afternoon.”

“Oh, is she? That’ll be… lovely.” He tried to sound enthusiastic, but he couldn’t. During his convalescence, Teddy had thought a lot about Victoire. He remembered the how his parents had looked at each other, the way that they had spoken to each other and it had brought him clarity of thought, allowing him to come to a decision. He just didn’t think that it would be a popular decision.

Lilly was chattering away, telling Teddy about her exams and how the new astronomy Professor wasn’t as nice as Professor Sinistra.

“Well, Professor Sinistra is a one-off; you’ll never have another teacher like her. I’m sure that Professor Schofield is well qualified. How’s Neville?”

Lilly’s answer was interrupted by the appearance of Victoire at the kitchen door. Lilly jumped up, ran over to her cousin and hugged her, gave Teddy a grin and a wave and disappeared into the kitchen. Victoire kissed Teddy on the cheek, her strong perfume filled his nostrils, causing him to cough and gag.

“Is that a new perfume?”

“Yes, don’t you like it?”

“It’s a bit strong, that’s all.”

“Oh. How are you today?”

“I’m alright, I’d be better if I was allowed to have a cup off coffee, but Lilly’s in charge so I’ve got no chance.” He tried to smile, but his lips were not co-operating.

“Right. Would you like me to smuggle some out for you?”

“No, no. I wouldn’t want to get you in trouble with Lilly. She’s like Ginny when she’s cross, scary.”

The conversation was stiff and formal somehow, as though they had argued. Teddy took a deep breath.

“Vic, I need to say something, and I need you to listen.”

She nodded, waiting for him to continue.

“I’ve had a lot of time to think recently. When I was unconscious, I had a weird experience. It was like being inside a memory. I was listening to my Mum and Dad talking and I could see how much they loved each other. It made me think about a lot of things, but especially about you and me. You deserve someone who’s completely devoted to you, who will love you to the bottom of their soul and that, well, that’s…”

“Not you.” Her voice was steady, but cold. “I’ve been waiting for you to say that. I’ve known you all my life Teddy Lupin, did you think I hadn’t noticed how different you’ve been since you came out of St.Mungo’s? At first I could put it down to you being ill but I was kidding myself. You’ve been pushing me away for ages, ever since Andromeda died. It’s like you were expecting me to leave you, so you pushed me away first and to save yourself the heartache. That was tough but since you’ve been ill, you’ve been so far away and I can’t reach you, no matter what I try.” She looked down at her hands and slid her engagement ring off her finger. “Here,” she put the ring in his hand, “I can’t keep that. Do what you want with it.” She stood up and walked away, not looking back.

Teddy sat in the garden for a long time, thinking about what he had just done. He was sure it was right thing. The feelings that he had for Victoire were a pale imitation of real love, he was certain about that.

Ginny appeared at the kitchen door.

“Are you ready to come in? I’ve made sausages and colcannon, just the way you like it.”

“Sounds great.”

Ginny helped Teddy to stand up and supported him as they walked back towards the house. “When you were a baby I told your mother that you were so handsome, you’d be a heartbreaker when you grew up. It looks like I was right, doesn’t it?” Ginny’s voice was light, she wasn’t scolding him but Teddy felt his cheeks flush.

“I know it puts you in a difficult position and I’m sorry. I didn’t want to hurt her but isn’t it better for me to be honest now than to let things get any further, to get married and then have to tell her that I don’t love her. That would be just awful.”

Ginny nodded in agreement. “You are more like your Dad than I think you could ever realise.”

“Is that a compliment?”

“Most of the time.”

~~~

Teddy stood in the lift, giddy with the excitement of being back at work. It had been six months since he had fallen ill and he had been desperate to come back for the last three. The lift announced that it had reached Level Two and he walk into the familiar corridor. He opened the door of the Auror Headquarters to see them all waiting for him. The entire staff of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement seemed to be packed in there, along with some friends from other departments. Kingsley strode across the office and grasped his hand, shaking it vigorously. “I’m glad you’re back boy, we’ve all missed you.”

Teddy was stunned by the warmth of the welcome. “Thanks everybody.” He made an effort to try and at least say hello to everyone before Kingsley called out. “That’s enough now everyone, he’s come back to work, not to socialise.” People began to make their way out, some of them waving to Teddy. Keith made the motion for “let’s have a drink later” as he made his way back to Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes. Teddy nodded, giving him a thumbs up.

Harry walked over to him. “You’re on office only duties for the next few weeks, Hermione’s instructions. We’ve got a new recruit who needs training up in our methods. She’s from the French Ministry; she’s got plenty of experience, so it won’t be like training a school leaver. She’s waiting for you by your desk.” He clapped Teddy on the shoulder and walked into his own office. Teddy walked around the half height wall that made up one side of his work space. A young woman was sat at his desk, her long black hair neatly plaited. She seemed to be looking at the photographs and newspaper clippings that he had pinned to the wall. She turned round and Teddy saw a familiar pair of intensely blue eyes.

“Amelia?”

She smiled widely. “One and the same. How are you Teddy?”

“Better for seeing you! So you’re my trainee?”

“I suppose I am yes.”

They spent the next few months getting to know each other again, both at work and in private. Teddy was so glad to have her back in his life, he was totally refreshed and re-energised by her that he felt like he had never been ill. Eventually she was given her own cases and they didn’t work as closely. Teddy felt bereft of her company and daft for feeling that way, she was only on the other side of the cubicle wall after all. He wanted to be fifteen again, when kissing her had been so easy. He wanted to ask her if she had thought of him at all. They had written to each other for a few years and visited each other during the holidays, spending intense hours together, talking and exploring each other, but just after he left Hogwarts the letters tailed off. Teddy had thrown himself whole heartedly into his Auror training and it would seem that Amelia had done the same. He wanted to ask her if she had loved anyone but he was afraid of what the answer might be. Sometimes he found himself staring at her when he should have been listening during meetings. He knew that eventually he would have to say something or do something because if he didn’t, she would find someone else.

*****

Sirius was angry. He was banging the cups, plates, teapot, cafetiere and kettle around and muttering under his breath as he prepared drinks for the evening meeting. On and on he went, picking things up only to put them back down again, the rage he was feeling negating any ability to concentrate. Eventually he slammed a cup down too hard and broke it. A stream of violent swearing followed from Sirius.

“You did learn something from your mother then.”

Remus was leaning against the doorframe. “Should I ask or do you just want me to let you get on with it?” He flicked his wand and repaired the cup.

“Snape!” Sirius spat the potion master’s name, “You know that the slimy, greasy turncoat is going to be giving Harry Occlumency lessons. I’m sure that he’s going to use it as an excuse to torture Harry. Why on earth Dumbledore can’t do it himself I don’t know. If Harry hadn’t got in the way yesterday I would have plastered his brain all over the wall.”

“Well, it’s a good job that Harry was here to get in the way then. I’ve told you a thousand times that you shouldn’t let him get under your skin. We’re not sixteen anymore Padfoot, you need to control your emotions a little better than you are at the moment.”

“Oh you’re very good at that aren’t you Moony?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Well we both know that there’s a little Nymph desperate to get to know the big, bad wolf.”

Remus flushed.

“Oh-ho! I see, she already has! Let me think, it’s one of two things. Either she doesn’t meet your lofty expectations or she’s told you that she’s got feelings you. That’s why you’re being so cold with her.”

At these words Remus felt his own anger flare. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I think I do Remus. You’ve become so icy with her I’m surprised that the poor girl hasn’t got frostbite. She’s the best thing that could happen to you, but she wants more than a fling and you can’t handle it. You’re really pathetic.”

There was a loud bang and Sirius was blasted off his feet. He hit the dresser with a sickening crunch of ribs.

“Don’t talk about things you don’t understand Sirius. You may have stopped at sixteen, but the rest of us kept growing.”

“Oh mother of Merlin, you love her.” Sirius was tentatively trying to stand, but breathing was difficult. His own anger was dissipating slightly, returning to the tight ball of resentment that constantly sat in his stomach. They glared at each other for several long minutes, both panting as though they had been running. When Remus finally answered Sirius his voice was measured and calm again.

“What does that matter? Nothing can happen, it can’t go anywhere! Can you imagine the technicolour cubs? They’d be outcasts. I can’t do that to her.” His anger had subsided, leaving a tide of self loathing in the pit of his stomach. He walked across the kitchen and healed Sirius ribs. “Just keep it to yourself. She’ll move on, find someone else.”

“Whatever you say old man, whatever you say.”

Later at the meeting, Sirius watched as Remus and Tonks steadily avoided having direct eye contact. He also noticed that they were both stealing glances at each other. He doubted that either of them would move on, their feelings for each other were so strong Sirius could almost smell them.

*****

“Ted, you’ve been pushing those potatoes around your plate for ten minuets. Are you going to eat them?”

“No, I’m not hungry.”

Amelia looked at him quizzically. It had been his idea to have lunch in the Leaky Cauldron, rather than eat in the Ministry.

“Can you remember the first time we met?”

“I’ll never forget it, you almost died.”

“Yeah, well, the second time then. At Harry’s party.”

“Oh. Yes, I remember.” She remembered that party, kissing Teddy in the orchard and the fireworks that had exploded in her chest.

“Well, what I was wondering was, well, if you still felt like that.”

“How long have you been wondering that?”

“Ever since I saw you sat at my desk on your first day.”

She smiled. “I’m glad it wasn’t just me then.”

He reached out across the table and took her hand. “Amelia, will you, could you, be mine?”

She smiled. “I’ve always been yours. No-one else has ever made me feel the way that you do.”

Teddy’s heart swelled. This was it. This was love.