Decisions
Chapter 27 - Decisions
A few weeks after Teddy’s birth, the Wizarding World were shocked by news that Harry and co had escaped from Gringotts, and on a dragon too, no less. Apparently they had broken into the Lestrange family vault. Remus wondered what sort of mad mission Dumbledore had left Harry. This should have been the job of older, more experienced wizards, not three Hogwarts dropouts who were barely of age. They must have left Shell Cottage for good now, thought Remus. They would have been so much safer there. But Remus knew, once Harry had set his mind on something, there was no changing it. James' looks wasn’t the only thing Harry had inherited from James, it was his determination too, or as some would call it; stubbornness. Dumbledore was a wise wizard, but sometimes Remus couldn’t help but question his decisions.
It hardly came as a surprise when the Order had received word from Dumbledore’s Army that Harry, Hermione and Ron had returned to Hogwarts the very next day. Apparently the Death Eater’s had found out too, and were rallying their forces. This meant there was going to be a battle. The rest of the Order and Dumbledore’s army had started making their way to Hogwarts via The Hog’s Head.
‘Dora, love, it’s time, we’re going to fight,’ said Remus, ‘but you stay here with Teddy, I’ll go, I’ll be back once this is over,’ he continued, although without much conviction in his voice, Remus didn’t know if he would make it. But he had to fight, their side would need as much help as they could. Remus hated the fact that he would have to leave Teddy, but he knew what must be done.
‘Sweetheart, no!,’ exclaimed Dora, ‘I’m coming with you, our side needs all the wands it can get,’ Dora held his hands as she said this.
Remus knew this, but the main reason why he wanted Dora to stay was that in case he was killed, Teddy would still have one parent.
‘I know love, but Teddy needs you,’ Remus began, ‘why don’t you head over to your mum’s, I’ll come over when this is all over,’
Dora knew the real reason why Remus wanted her to stay behind with Teddy, part of her thought he was right. She hastily agreed, before she could change her mind.
‘Be careful Remus, please,’ Dora’s eyes swam with tears, ‘I need you, Teddy needs you, please come home to me, to us’, Dora was almost pleading with him now.
‘I’ll be careful, love,’ said Remus as he enclosed Dora in a hug, before kissing her passionately, full on the lips.
They kissed as if there was no tomorrow, they both knew what was at stake, and were both well aware that this may very well be the last time they would be in each other’s embrace. They only stopped when Teddy began to fuss. They then rushed to his aid.
‘Teddy, love,’ started Remus, he choked up a little before continuing, ‘Dada’s got to go out for a bit, but you’ll be fine at home with mumma, she’ll take you to granny’s house. You love it there don’t you?’ said Remus stroking his cheek, ‘take care of mumma for me okay, I love you,’ Remus kissed his forehead, and each of his little fat fists.
Remus stowed his wand inside his cloak pocket, as well as two photographs, one of Teddy, and the other of him and Dora, although this particular photograph was only meant for their eyes. He kissed Dora on the forehead, she closed her eyes as his lips brushed her skin, his stubble ticking her a little. Dora turned her back to the door as Remus left, she couldn’t bear to watch him leave, nor did she want him to see her cry. Dora allowed herself a few tears before she began gathering hers and Teddy’s things before leaving for her mother’s through the fireplace.
Remus arrived at the Hog’s Head, and made his way through the passage into the Room of Requirement. That was perhaps the only room The Marauders hadn’t discovered. The entire Weasley clan was there, Order members, and Dumbledore’s army. According to Neville, a lot of overage Hogwarts students had chosen to stay and fight too, that was reassuring, though Remus to himself. The Weasleys on the other hand were having a heated argument about Ginny’s fate, she was so determined to join in the battle, but she was still underage.
To make things even more awkward, they were joined by another Weasley member eager to join the fight too; Percy. In order to diffuse the tension, Fleur turned to him and asked about Teddy. Remus was startled at first, but pulled out the photograph he had on his person of Teddy, and showed it to Harry and Fleur. Remus almost dropped the photograph as Percy began to apologise, rather loudly to his family. The Ginny problem was not yet settled, but Remus suggested she stayed in the Room, away from harm’s way, but at least remained on the scene. Although grudgingly, she obliged, as the remaining people made their way out of the Room, into the Great Hall awaiting further instructions from Minerva.
They had prepared a battle plan. Remus was to lead a group of fighters into the grounds, along with Arthur and Kingsley with groups of their own. There would be groups on the three tallest towers of Hogwarts too. The Weasley twins and Lee Jordan decided on watching the secret passageways. Professors Sprout began listing down plants that she could use to their advantage for battle. Professor Trelawney had decided on putting her crystal balls to better use, chucking them at unsuspecting Death Eaters. Minerva had brought the Hogwarts’ statues to life as Professor Flitwick began to cast protective enchantments all over the boundaries of the castle. They didn’t have much time left, Voldemort had announced they had until midnight.
Andromeda was pleased to see Dora, and Teddy of course, but Dora couldn’t hide her fear, not from her own mother. She broke down as she poured her heart out to her mother, Andromeda put her arm around Dora’s shoulder as she consoled her.
‘We’ll be fine sweetheart,’ said Andromeda, fighting back tears
‘I know mum….but what about Remus? My heart has been racing since he left… I don’t know what I’d do without him, not since Teddy arrived,’
‘Teddy, and I will be alright,’ said Andromeda a little firmly, ‘you go and do what you have to do dear. I know you’ll go crazy if you stayed a minute longer,’ a single tear slid down her cheek.
Andromeda knew what could happen if Dora participated in battle, but they needed as many wands as they could on their side. But Dora was a fighter, she always had been, even before she became an auror.
‘Thank you mum, I’m sorry, but I need to do this,’ said Dora, hugging her mother. Dora was slightly surprised that her mother was actually encouraging her to go into battle, especially since they still had no word on Dora’s father.
‘Teddy, love, mumma’s got to go help dada okay? Granny will take care of you, be a good boy okay.’ whispered Dora to her sleeping son, before placing a kiss on his nose.