Epilogue, White

“Granddad Teddy, why don’t you look like a granddad?”

“You want me to look old and wrinkly?”

“Well, Granddad’s are supposed to.”

Teddy looked down at his youngest great-grandson, Ambrose, who had curled up on his lap. Of all Teddy’s children, grand children and great grand children, Ambrose had been the only one to be born a metamorphmagus. At six years old, Ambrose was not fully in control of his abilities. His hair would change with his emotions. At the moment, his hair was turquoise like Teddy’s own hair. Whenever they were together, the boy’s hair would always match his great-grandfather’s. His favourite thing to do was to curl up on Teddy’s knee and listen to a story, be it a classic from Beedle the Bard or one of Teddy’s own stories about the Marauders or Harry Potter.

Teddy closed his eyes and concentrated. His hair became long and white, reaching his mid shoulders. A full snow white beard sprouted from his clean shaven face and grew until it reached his chest. His features became blurred by deep wrinkles and his skin took a weather-beaten quality. He looked down at Ambrose once more and saw the boy beaming back up at him.

“That’s better!”

He wriggled on Teddy’s lap, wrapping his arms around him and squeezing. Teddy kissed him on the forehead and watched as his hair turned white too.

“Well, don’t you two make a handsome pair?”

Eloise, Ambrose’s mother, was standing in the door way of Teddy’s bedroom. Just like her mother, Caitlin, she looked very much like Amelia. Sometimes Teddy forgot who she was and started to talk to her as though she was his wife. The realisation that she was not always stung.

“Ambrose wanted me to look my age.”

“Hmm, well you do look at least one hundred and twenty.” Her blue eyes sparkled with amusement.

Teddy chuckled.

“One hundred and twenty? Not too far off then,”

“Come on cheeky monkey, time for bed.”

Ambrose slid off Teddy’s lap and kissed him on the cheek.

“Can I change back now?”

Ambrose grinned “No! You should always look like a granddad!” He followed his mother out of the room, waving at Teddy. Teddy slowly got to his feet. He seemed to do everything slowly now and it was difficult to get used to. He walked to the window and gazed out at the forest around Lupin Cottage. He remembered the first time that he had ever met Amelia, how she had saved his life. He remembered how glorious it had felt to hold her hand, the terrified look in her eyes as they had started to fall and the regret that he had felt at leaving without kissing her. He looked across at the photograph of them which stood on the dressing table. They laughed silently at some shared joke, Amelia looking so beautiful in her wedding robes, her dark hair gleaming. His smile faded. It had been six years sine she had died and taken his heart with her. Without her he felt like an old clock that was running down because it had no-one to wind it. He sighed and pulled off his robes, pulling on his purple pyjamas. He put on his slippers and dressing gown and padded softly down stairs.

“Hello Granddad, would you like a cup of tea?”

“Yes please darling.”

He crossed to the desk in the parlour and took an ancient, well read letter from a draw. He settled into an armchair that he thought belonged to his grandfather and with trembling fingers he unfolded the letter.

Quote:

Dear Remus,
You and I never discussed the dresser but knowing how tidy you are I have no doubts that you will empty it and find the compartment and this letter. It may be the ugliest piece of furniture known to man but it has its uses. You’ll find some gold that I have hidden, as well as photographs and letters from when your mother and I were young. I’m sure by now you’ll know what happened to me.

I only have one thing to beg of you my boy: Don’t let my mistake rule your life. Find someone to love and be happy. You deserve happiness as much as anyone else.

I know you’ll fight. You’re a good man and I’m proud of you. I’m just sorry that I was not brave enough to tell you that long before now.

With love,

Dad

Teddy blinked and tears ran down his face. The letter had been among those that had spilled from the teak dresser which John Smith had destroyed so many years earlier. Teddy doubted that his father had ever read it. The letter had been pristine as it fluttered to the ground that day.

“Oh Granddad, again?”

Teddy looked up, realising that Eloise had returned with his tea. She placed it on the desk beside him. He gave her a watery smile.

“When you get to be as old as me my darling, you will understand. I know what is coming and so there is a certain magic in thinking about the people I’ll be seeing soon.”

She gave him a sad smile and kissed him on the cheek.

“I’m going to check on the children and round-up some washing. I won’t be long.”

He nodded. Her footsteps faded as she climbed the stairs and Teddy relaxed into the armchair. He was very tired and the chair was very comfortable. His eyelids drooped and he began to drift away.

“Go to sleep, my Teddy Bear,
Close your little button eyes,
And let me smooth your hair.
It feels so soft and silky that,
I'd love to cuddle down by you,

Go to sleep, my darling Teddy Bear.
Golden slumbers kiss your eyes;
Smiles await you when you rise.
Sleep, Teddy Bear,
Do not cry,
And I will sing you lullabies.

Cares you know not,
Therefore sleep,
While over you a watch I'll keep.
Sleep, Teddy Bear,
Do not cry,
And I will sing you lullabies.”

Teddy’s eyes fluttered open. There in front of him was Remus Lupin. His tall, thin frame was clad in care-worn robes and his tawny brown hair was streaked liberally with grey. He looked just as he had in the photograph that Teddy had been given for his eleventh birthday. The only thing that was different was that Remus was surrounded by a very familiar silver blue light.

“Those were the last words I ever said to you, but I doubt that you remember.”

Teddy shook his head. Words failed him. He stared at his father, drinking in his appearance. He did not dare to look around in case his father disappeared, but he could smell apples.

Remus smiled. “Your mother expected you to have lots of questions but I rather thought that you had already worked it out.”

Teddy frowned. “What am I supposed to have worked out?”

“The lights.”

Remus’ statement was simple but the meaning behind it crashed over Teddy like a tidal wave. He looked up at the silver blue glow that his father was emitting.

“It was you? All those times?”

Remus smiled widely. “That’s right. Not just me, your mother too.”

“Pink.” Teddy whispered.

“That’s her. Brilliant, stand out in the crowd pink.”

“So, does everyone…” Teddy didn’t know how to finish the question but Remus seemed to know what it was.

“Every person leaves something behind of themselves, in the hearts of the people who love them. We all go on living so long as there is someone who remembers us with love. That connection can draw us back to the one remembering us. Your mother and I were so determined that you should live a full life that we managed to intervene when your life was threatened.”

“What about Amelia? That day, in the kitchen, you were there, weren’t you?”

“If you had lost her, it would have broken you. Your children would have been left alone. Your mother and I couldn’t have that.”

Teddy nodded. He had thought at the time that if Amelia had died that day, he would have died with her.

“My boy?” Teddy’s voice cracked with the emotion. “What about my boy?”

A could of regret passed over Remus’ face.

“Your mother was protecting the twins. I tried, so did you and Hermia… It was his time; it was his time to come to us.”

Tears ran freely down Teddy’s face. As he lifted his hand to wipe his eyes he saw that he too was glowing, with a turquoise light. He looked back at his father.

“So, it’s my time?”

“Yes.”

A feeling of peace spread through Teddy and he knew that his father wasn’t going to disappear. He looked around and thought that he was in the Weasley’s orchard, but the Burrow was no-where to be seen. Just beyond the gate was a bright white light, as though the sunlight was being reflected by a pond or a mirror.

“We have to go over there, don’t we?”

“We do. They’re waiting.”

Teddy smiled. He stood up, his knees no longer aching as they had done in recent years. Together, he and Remus walked across to the gate. He hesitated, with his hand on the gate, taking a deep breath. The scent of the apples made him feel so young. He looked up at his father and smiled.

“Let’s go home.”

Teddy wasn’t sure if it was a thought or if it was spoken or indeed who it belonged to. He pushed the gate open and led the way through it, into the light.




So here we are, the very end. Thanks to all my readers and commenters, I hope you've enjoyed it as much as I have.

For my new Fan Fic, which features Hermia and Ashtad (as well as Teddy&co), check out Tempestuous