Andy
17 August 2004
The six year old boy sat next to his grandmother, eagerly scribbling a doodle onto the back of his hand. He could hear her heavy breaths beside him. His hair turned from orange to yellow, and was continuing this cycle of rainbow colours as he drew.
"Sorry, love, could you pass the water?", his grandmother interrupted. He looked up at her heavy-lidded brown eyes, and her frizzy, black hair. Her face was invaded with exaustion.
"Andy, are you okay?" He squeaked, obviously nervous.
She did not reply, but closed her eyes as she took the glass of water from him, and drank. He sat and watched her, still evidently worried.
"Thank you, ouch." she rubbed her chest, desperately. Her voice had gone raspy, as if she had smoked her entire life.
She gave the glass back to him, almost dropping it, "Sorry dear, my hands are sweaty."
Her hands were also shaking.
"Teddy? Teddy, hold my hand." Her tone had gone panicky; she grappled desperately at the air, searching for Teddy's small hand.
Her head was wavering slightly. Teddy, being much more observant than his mother had been, noticed this, and said "You look dizzy, Andy."
"Yes, I-"
Her voice faded. A crease appeared between Teddy's eyebrows, which had now turned jet-black.
"I can't hear you."
She fell to the floor. Teddy fell with her, hugging her desperately, trying to shake her awake. "Andy?"
It was no use. Andromeda Tonks was gone.
Teddy knew what to do. He had been told so many times. Hurry. Hurry. The six-year-old flung his hand at the side table, grabbing at the ruddy telephone. Nine. Nine. Nine. It began ringing.
"Nine Nine Nine, what is your emergency?" droned the voice at the other end.
"My grandma fell and now she won't wake up,"
"Okay, how old are you?"
Teddy counted on his fingers.
"Six,"
"Can I talk to mum or dad?"
Teddy inhaled, shivering, but not from the cold.
"Mum and dad are dead."
The perso on the phone remained silent. Teddy felt everything turn black. No. Stay strong for Andy. He focused on the sound of the clock ticking, counting each click. One. Two. Three. Four. He regained his vision quickly, but his breath was still shaky.
"Was she experiencing any chest pains? Sweating?"
Teddy paused,
"Yes."
"We're sending over an ambulance."
He nodded, knowing that the officer could not see him.
15:25
A car and an ambulance had pulled into the Tonks' brick driveway. Teddy watched from the living room window, as a man walked towards the blue door. He opened it.
"Teddy,"
Teddy looked at his godfather. He was perhaps the only familiar face amongst the crowd of strangers.
"Andy is dead."
Teddy stared at him, blankly.
"That's not true."
"Sorry, Teddy."
Harry was holding his hand. The sameb hand which had held Andy's barely an hour earlier.
It was at that moment it sunk in. Dead. She was dead. He sobbed- wailed- into Harry's shoulder. The man simply held him, waiting.
"You can live with us?"
Teddy nodded, attempting a feeble smile.
"How old do you think the baby is now?" Harry tried to distract him.
”Which one?”
”Fred’s- no sorry- sorry, George’s”
Tessy noticed how red Harry’s emerald eyes had gone, and chose to ignore this heartbreaking mistake.
Teddy, as always, counted the months on his finger.
”Eleven months and…” he paused to think again,”three days.”
Harry smiled at him, walking him to the door.
”Come on, in you get,”
Teddy clambered into the car slowly. Dead. Andy is dead.
He sat down behind Harry.
”You can sit in the front if you want,”
Teddy shook his head, shoving his small fists into his eyes, to wipe away his tears.
In about twenty minutes they had arrived at last at the house Teddy recognised as his Godfather’s. It was luxurious, but not big. Rather, it was just a small cottage. Next door to it, was another small, yet luxurious cottage, owned by Ron and Hermione, and on the other side, Fred’s cottage.
Within an hour, he had found himself in the living room of a tall, lopsided house, which Harry had referred to as the burrow.
Nobody said anything to him, rather they just stared sympathetically. They were determined to give Teddy the life which Harry had never gotten.
”L-Teddy. The last time I saw you, you were about this small.”
The six-year-old simply nodded, unaware of a suitable response to this question.
”Take a seat, dear. I’ll bring you some food,”
Teddy looked up at the woman who had said this. Her face was wrinkled and creased, like the pages of an old book, but she looked welcoming. Tired, and sad beyond belief, but surely- welcoming. Her hair was fading to blonde, too.
He did as she had said, and took a seat at the table. People, by this time, had started arriving, each smiling sadly at him as they walked in. He changed his hair to a flushed orange, and splatters his face with freckles, to fit in.
”Y’know,” Hermione had stopped and taken a seat beside him, “Your mum always used to change her nose into that of a pig’s, to make us laugh. It always worked. She was hilarious.”
Teddy nodded and looked down at his plate. She smiled sadly at him.
”Harry?”
“Teddy,”
”May I go upstairs?”
”Of course!”
Teddy smiled thankfully and sprinted out the the living room, seating himself on the bed waiting for him. It was in perhaps less than half an hour, he had simply fallen asleep.
The air was cold. Icy- more like. Hence, within an hour, he woke up with a start. The moon had now risen. No wonder it was freezing.
The cottage in which he and Andy had once lived was homely- welcoming. Igniting joy in whoever stepped in it. It usually smelled of sweet Jasmine tea and hot buttered crumpets, as if its residents had been smiling their entire lives.
The curtains were almost always drawn back, letting the warm golden sun filter through the panelled glass. Even the shutters on the outside remained open unless it was night. The little cottage was also coated in honeysuckle, rose and star jasmine, all of which were veins on the cream-coloured brick walls. That was simply the nature of his grandmother. Except she is no more. His grandmother is dead, and with her, died the atmosphere of the house.
The bluebell paint on the door became cracked and greyish. The bricks became infested with sticky green algae, which seeped into the cracks and wear. The climbing flowers and ivy all became an ugly yellow and appeared so brittle and flaky that they would crack in even the slightest breeze. Oddly enough, they were persistent, to his misfortune. The last sight of it was stuck in his head.
He sat there, unaware of what to do. The side of his bed was comfy enough. Comfy enough for him to lie there and never get up again. No. No, don't do that. Andy would not like that.
He stood, and walked absently to the window, unhinging it and carefully pushing it open. He was met at once by soft, cool air. Not cold; cool. Teddy closed his eyes, letting it play across his face. The boy could hear the rush of wind from the woods on either side of the little cottage. Unable to bring himself to open his eyes, he decided to simply listen. He could not look. The grass was also dead. As dead as the house he was currently in. As dead as… as his grandmother.
He opened the window wider, and wider yet. The cold air was oddly soothing. I shifted to the side, rubbing my elbow, which had been placed at the edge of the window sill, and was now aching dreadfully.
Sleep. Sleep again.
He flung himself back onto his bed. It wasn’t working. Still, Teddy lay awake. Five minutes later, and he began to hum. Andy often told him his dad had loved Bowie and Queen. Queen was his favourite. It was all he listened too. For his dad. Soon enough, Teddy had slept.
23 August 2009
Teddy sat up, groggily, rubbing his eyes, but not getting out of bed. He signalled for the dog to get on his bed. The animal jumped excitedly, resting his large paws by Teddy’s arms. The boy looked- still half-asleep -at the dogs fluffy, pointed ears. He knew it was no coincidence that Harry had chosen him a dog identical to a wolf. He was a Northern Inuit, playful, yet intelligent, and Teddy had been given the freedom of naming him. He remembered the day, like yesterday, although it was merely two days after he had arrived at Harry’s home. The boy, who (back then) was six, knew the obvious choice of naming the dog Remus or Moony. Maybe even Sirius or Padfoot, who, from what Teddy had heard, was his father’s (probably more than) friend.
He felt either of these names were not right, rather, disrespectful. A mere dog will never be able to replace the role of his father. So both Remus and Moony were cancelled out, and with them, Sirius and Padfoot. At the young age which he was, Teddy still decided to research nonetheless. He eventually settled on the name Lupa. Lupa was the wolf whom had raised Remus and Romulus in their story. Teddy thought it fit. Now, looking back on himself, Teddy realised that the dog had raised him perhaps even more than Harry had. Lupa was like his actual father, but like his brother at the same time. He did not even have a relationship like this with a human. That dog was his life. He hugged him, wrapping his arms carefully around the dog’s neck.
At last, Teddy stood, walking to the letter, which had been dropped lazily on his bedside since July. It was his Hogwarts letter. He inhaled in anticipation, glancing at the ‘pet’ section.
Cats. Owls. Frogs. Rats. And.. no dogs.
Teddy sighed.
Who’d ever heard of a wizard with a dog anyways.
He dragged open his bedside draw regardless, and pulled out a piece of parchment, an inkwell, and a quill. He had no idea as to how wizards did not know what emails and text messages were. Nor did he know how nailing through owl was any quicker than simply flooing to the recipient’s house, but he decided not to make a fuss.
Dear Mr Professor Dumbledore McGonagall,
My name is Teddy Lupin and I will be arriving at Hogwarts in less than a month. Before I arrive, I have one simple request.
As you know, students are allowed to bring pets into school. I was scanning through the list of allowed critters, and did not see that we are allowed dogs. Perhaps, you could make an exception, as my dog is as much of a father to me as Harry, perhaps even more. I understand that dogs may be distracting, however Lupa is carefully trained and will cause no trouble.
Kind regards,
Teddy Lupin
He folded the letter, sealing it gently with a wax stamp.
“Ginny?” he called, from the top of the stairs.
She answered, peeking around the banister, with her fiery red hair tucked carefully behind her ears. ”Yes, Teddy?”
“May I borrow Pig?” Teddy displayed a rather amused expression, considering how odd the question sounded.
”Sure! He’s here,”
Teddy smiled at her, gratefully, before dashing down the stairs, and grabbing the golden cage from the coffee table. He carried it gently up to his room. Placing the bird onto his desk, he carefully unhinged the door of it’s cage and placed his hand close enough for the owl to climb onto. It was large and handsome, with wide wings, and gorgeously patterned feathers. It was also rather tall, and had large, honest, brown eyes. Teddy carefully tied the letter to its ankle, letting it out of his window. He watched as it flew into the distance, beyond the setting sun, across the rising moon. Away. Free. He grinned, hugged Lupa, and ran with him downstairs for breakfast.
Harry always cooked, well, too. Every morning, Hermione, Ron, George, Angelina, Bill, Fleur and their eleven year old daughter, Victoire. Every day was filled with energy and excitement, which, as stated, would start with Harry’s amazing food. This morning it was a classic English breakfast, which was slightly extravagant, but appreciated nonetheless. Victoire happened to finish her food quickly, as usual, and begun playing with Lupa in the forest-like garden.
Rather than joining her, Teddy decided to go for a walk. Not outside, simply around the house. He first went to the front door. Oddly enough, there were wands stuck in every nook and cranny. They must’ve cost a lot. At last, he went back to his room, signalling with his hands for both Lupa and Victoire to follow him. They did so.
He sat on a small window seat in the left corner of his room. Looking around, he realised he was rather spoilt, thankfully, it didn’t spoil his personality.
The dog lay at his feet, and Victoire sat beside him.
”Hello,”
”Hi,” she replied
Teddy pulled a bunch of cassette tapes and records from the pile beside him, sifting through them.
”What music do you like?”
She paused for a second.
”Bowie. And Queen. Like the 70s songs I suppose,”
Teddy nodded, putting the pile on her lap, so she could choose which one to play.
”Same. Love the 70s music.”
”Remus?”
Teddy nodded.
”What about you? Why’d you like it? James? Peter?” Teddy furrowed his eyebrows, thinking the question sounded rather rude.
”Sirius.”
”Sirius?”
Teddy’s eyes widened in shock.
”Yes. I heard story’s of him. And him when he was younger. Oh and he looked quite good too. When he was younger.”
Teddy laughed.
”Starman, All the young dudes or Good Old Fashioned Loverboy?”
”Play them all, if you want, one after the other.”
Victoire nodded, placing the records into the player. She closed her eyes, carefully swaying to the music. She was only a month younger than Teddy, but he barely knew anything about her, apart from the fact that she played the piano and violin.
”I don’t want to go to Hogwarts.”
The question came out quickly.
Teddy frowned,”Oh,”
”What if I have no friends, or I do really bad in class and let my whole house down?”
Teddy paused. He did not know how to reply.
”You’ll have me,”
That worked. She smiled.
”I forgot you were going!”
Teddy laughed. Silence.
The two eleven year olds sat there, simply listening to the music.
The boy opened his eyes, slowly. The music still played in the background. Victoire had also opened her eyes, and was now rubbing them, as if she had been asleep.
”Lupa,” she smiled, getting up and tapping the side of Teddy’s bed.
The dog jumped up, smiling. Teddy stared at him. He remembered telling Harry that Lupa would smile. He also remembered the response he received. He shook his head, trying to forget. It didn’t particularly work, but Victoire, who had picked up on this action, tried to immediately change the subject.
“What should I get for his birthday?” She stroked the dog, who, yet again, smiled contentedly.
”He’d probably ask for food, but maybe a bed or.. toy or something.”
She laughed.
”Are you ready for Hogwarts?”
This time Teddy laughed, “No.”
”Same. Dad sent a letter to the Headmistress, asking if I could take a dragon,”
Teddy attempted a fairly obvious guess, ”Uncle Charlie’s having a new litter?”
”Yep.”
”Did it work?”
”Suprisingly well.”
”What!”
”Right?” Victoire laughed, “It’s a Hedbridean Black. Lost its ability to breath fire because he was born underdeveloped or something.”
”I can picture you with a dragon.”
”I’m planning on scaring everybody with it, then on the last day of seventh year I’ll tell them he couldn’t breathe fire anyways.”
”He’ll be the assist to Hogwarts greatest pranksters.”
”There’s no way we’re outpranking Fred and George.”
”Oh, I’m going to outprank not only Fred and George, but the marauders and the Prewetts too.”
”Good luck with that,”
”I’ll probably need it,”
Victoire laughed, before asking Teddy whether or not to go to lunch, and running down the oak stairs to land herself at the head of the dining table.
Harry’s cooking, yet again, was extravagant and marvellous. Everyday he seemed to present the family with an even more lavish meal. Teddy changed his eyes to a bright green, for no real reason. Ron then mentioned that he would make a brilliant actor, making everyone laugh.