What I Did Tonight Instead Of Studying...
Ops!!! Well, I figure if I don't know my 10 Codes and Police Signals by now...
Title: If You Could Turn Back Time
Author: gijane7702
Format & Word Count: Fic//1748
Rating & Warning: PG13// AU; cursing
Summary: Remus’ “insurance” spell before heading to the Battle of Hogwarts goes slightly wrong…
Author’s Notes: This is what happens when I tune out my trainer in class at work…I get plotbunnies!
14 May 2000
Harry Potter wandered aimlessly about the house, trying not to think.
He had already cleaned for the day and Teddy was down for his afternoon nap. Andromeda was out with her friends doing the exact same thing he, Harry, was trying to accomplish: trying to forget that it was the second anniversary of Remus and Tonks’ deaths.
Of course other people had died that day. Ron and Hermione were spending the day at the Burrow with the whole family in remembrance of Fred. Professor McGonagall had a memorial planned for the students that had died; the Ministry for the others. And wizarding families nationwide were holding their own personal tributes.
Harry hadn’t wanted to go to any of them. He had gone to the Ministry’s first anniversary remembrance only because it was also the dedication of the new war memorial. It had been absolutely ghastly for Harry and he told Kingsley Shacklebolt he was never doing another one.
He wandered over to a window and stared out into the yard. Smiling wryly, Harry could almost see the spectral forms of Remus and Tonks taking their wedding vows under the blooming arbour. He turned slightly towards the mantelpiece where their wedding picture resided and felt himself responding to the looks of absolute joy on both Remus and Tonks’ faces as they waved at the camera.
Harry sighed. It wasn’t fair. They had been married less than a year and had a two-month-year old son waiting for them at home when they had died. He leaned his head up against the surprisingly cool glass of the window and sighed again, this time holding back tears.
There were two loud cracks from the yard. Harry had his wand drawn and was out the backdoor and down the path before recognition of the two voices now coming from the garden sank in:
“What the bloody hell just happened?”
“My insurance policy.”
There was a slight pause, a sigh, then, “You would have one.”
Harry didn’t need to see him to know exactly what the look on Remus’ face looked like- exasperation at Tonks nailing him perfectly- and he grinned.
He then came to a jerking halt. How could Remus have an annoyed look on his face at what Tonks had just said if both of them were dead?!
With trepidation, Harry turned the corner. There, underneath the arbour, laid a panting Remus and Tonks.
“What the…” and he used a few words that he had picked up from Ron over the years.
Tonks sat up. “Such language, Harry!” But she grinned at him. “And what are you doing at my parents’ house?”
“What are you doing alive?” he blurted back at her. Looking at Remus, who was still laying down, he added, “Both of you!”
Tonks blinked at him, then said, “No idea…darling,” she turned to her husband before continuing, “Harry wants to know why we’re alive.”
Before Remus could answer, a baby’s crying rent through the air.
“Teddy,” Harry and Tonks said at the same time.
“I’ll go get him,” Harry said as Tonks began to struggle to stand. “You stay here and heal one another. Tonks, you’re bleeding over your left eye and Remus looks like he has at least a broken leg. You both look like you’ve just come from…”
“Battle,” Remus finished hoarsely for him. “At Hogwarts…”
Harry felt his jaw drop. Tonks looked at him for a long moment, then asked, “How long has it been since the battle ended, Harry?”
At Teddy’s blood-curling scream, Harry said, “Let me get the baby…then we’ll talk.”
Tonks nodded at him, but was already turning her attention to Remus, who was grimacing in pain. Harry walked, as if in a daze, back into the house and up the stairs. It wasn’t until he reached Teddy’s room, opened the door and was greeted by Remus and Tonks’ screaming baby that what had just occurred outside sank in.
“Oh fuck,” he said aloud and leaned against the doorframe for support.
“Fuck!” Teddy stopped crying and repeated back.
Harry groaned. Teddy was at the phase where he was repeating anything and everything he heard. He’d now be repeating Harry’s curse for the rest of the day. They were keeping Ron as far away from Teddy as possible.
“Just what your parents need, Mr Lupin,” Harry told him while holstering his wand and taking Teddy out of his crib. Laying him down on the changing table, Harry continued, “To be greeted by their son cursing.”
“Fuck!” Teddy told him.
“Lovely. Your mum’s going to kick my arse.” Harry grinned when Teddy laughed at him.
“Arse.”
“Why do you only repeat the curse words?” Harry asked Teddy as he expertly changed his nappy.
“Fuck!”
Harry bit his lip. Andromeda had warned him that laughing would only encourage Teddy on. “Stop it!” he said crossly.
“Okay, Har-wee!” Teddy squealed, clapping his hands.
“Thank you, Ted-dee!” Harry blew a raspberry onto the baby’s belly. “Come on…I have to figure out how the…” he caught himself in time, “your parents are alive.” Teddy looked at him seriously as he was picked up. “Exactly,” he told him. “All right here we go.” Harry exited the room and headed down stairs.
They came to an abrupt stop halfway down. Remus was laying down on the couch, eyes closed, in the living room. Tonks was rummaging through her mother’s potions supplies, muttering to herself.
Realizing what he hadn’t done yet, Harry drew his wand and pointed in their general direction. “Identify yourselves!” he demanded from them.
“I was wondering when you were going to ask that,” Tonks said, not even turning around. “Where is the dittany? Ah…here it is. Just a moment, Harry, I have to brew this bruise healing paste for Remus.”
Without opening his eyes, Remus told him, “I am Remus John Lupin, werewolf, married to Dora, father to Teddy. We first met on the Hogwarts Express where I gave you chocolate for remedy for the Dementor that searched the train. I later taught you the Patronus Charm to ward them off since they unfortunately took to you. It takes the shape of a stag, which is your father and my friend, James’, Animagus form.”
“Nice one, darling,” Tonks told him as she smeared the paste on her husband’s side. “My turn, isn’t it? I hate my given name, so I am Tonks, Auror and Metamorphmagus, married to Remus, mother to Teddy. We first met when your Advance Guard freed you from your aunt and uncle’s house your fifth year. Um…what else? Mine’s not going to be as good as Remus’.” She turned around, grinning. Seeing Harry and Teddy on the stairs, she dropped her bowl and then screamed.
Remus’ eyes flew open. Harry didn’t even see him draw his wand until he had to duck the hex that Remus cast at him.
“Bloody hell!” Harry yelled. “Remus!”
“Sorry,” Remus apologized.
“Bloody!” Teddy repeated.
“Teddy! No!” Harry told him. “We just talked about this.”
“Who is that?” Tonks whispered, pointing at her son.
Teddy looked at her. Cocking his head to one side, he studied Tonks for a few moments before asking in a hesitant tone, “Mama?”
“Teddy…” she answered back in a disbelieving tone. “My baby?” she asked Harry as she approached.
Teddy whimpered as Tonks reached through the railing to him and buried his face in Harry’s t-shirt. “Teddy, it’s Mummy,” she told him in an agonized tone. “It’s Mummy…”
“Bugger, that’s Teddy!” Remus exclaimed, struggling to sit up. “Good God…I only planned the spell for one, to return me in two days. When I took Dora with me, it must have thrown the spell off…”
“To two years instead,” Tonks finished for him. “Teddy, it’s Mummy,” she whispered to her son, reaching for him.
Teddy pulled further away from her, frightened. Tonks bit her lip and a tear leaked down her cheek. “He’s only seen you in pictures, Tonks,” Harry said, trying to explain.
“And here we are…live and in person,” Remus said. “He’s confused.”
Teddy peeked up from Harry’s t-shirt and asked, “Dada?”
Remus smiled at him. “Yes, son, it’s Daddy.”
“You cast a spell to return you…in case?” Harry asked him.
“Yes,” Remus told him. “It was to activate when I was close to dying…”
“Except it wasn’t cast for two,” Tonks finished. “When you had to take me with you, I threw the spell off. Teddy?” she asked her son quietly.
“Mama…?” Teddy asked, still nervous, but now looking at his mother.
“Yes, sweetheart, it’s Mama. I love you, Teddy.” Tonks reached for him again, smiling when he didn’t pull away and let her touch his arm.
“What kind of magic is that?” Harry asked Remus, coming down the remaining stairs. Teddy pulled closer to him, but had locked eyes with Tonks, who hadn’t moved closer yet.
“Ancient magic…like what your mother used, Harry,” Remus told him. “Not Dark magic.”
Harry grinned. “You know me too well. So…you cast the spell to return you here if you came close to death…like an insurance plan. Brilliant move. But since Tonks unexpectedly showed up at Hogwarts, you had to take her with you…thus throwing off the spell. Two years instead of two days.”
“Ops…sorry,” Tonks said, blushing.
“You’re not…angry with me for wanting to…bail if I came to close to death, Harry?” Remus asked him.
“No!” Harry told him vehemently. “You had Teddy to live for! And Tonks. I’m glad you cast your insurance plan. It went slightly awry…but you’re here now.” Harry looked at Teddy who was still eyeing up Tonks. “Look, Teddy, its Mummy! Mummy’s here for you. She’s come back.”
“Mama,” Teddy said, reaching for his mother.
Tonks snatched him up and held him close. “Hullo, Mummy’s baby. I missed you so much!” She kissed Teddy’s turquoise hair, and then walked over to Remus. “Look, Teddy…Daddy.”
“Dada,” Teddy repeated, reaching for Remus.
“My son,” he whispered, taking Teddy from his wife. “My Teddy. I love you so much, baby.”
Harry smiled at the reunited family as Remus and Tonks cuddled and cooed on the couch with an exuberant Teddy. Before he knew what was happening, the front door opened and Andromeda walked in.
“I had to be with Teddy today,” she told Harry while unbuttoning her cloak. “Is he still napping?”
Harry felt his face blanch as Andromeda hung her cloak and walked into the living room. His eyes slid shut as he head Tonks greet her mother with a “Wotcher, Mum!”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
TBC(?)
Title: If You Could Turn Back Time
Author: gijane7702
Format & Word Count: Fic//1748
Rating & Warning: PG13// AU; cursing
Summary: Remus’ “insurance” spell before heading to the Battle of Hogwarts goes slightly wrong…
Author’s Notes: This is what happens when I tune out my trainer in class at work…I get plotbunnies!
14 May 2000
Harry Potter wandered aimlessly about the house, trying not to think.
He had already cleaned for the day and Teddy was down for his afternoon nap. Andromeda was out with her friends doing the exact same thing he, Harry, was trying to accomplish: trying to forget that it was the second anniversary of Remus and Tonks’ deaths.
Of course other people had died that day. Ron and Hermione were spending the day at the Burrow with the whole family in remembrance of Fred. Professor McGonagall had a memorial planned for the students that had died; the Ministry for the others. And wizarding families nationwide were holding their own personal tributes.
Harry hadn’t wanted to go to any of them. He had gone to the Ministry’s first anniversary remembrance only because it was also the dedication of the new war memorial. It had been absolutely ghastly for Harry and he told Kingsley Shacklebolt he was never doing another one.
He wandered over to a window and stared out into the yard. Smiling wryly, Harry could almost see the spectral forms of Remus and Tonks taking their wedding vows under the blooming arbour. He turned slightly towards the mantelpiece where their wedding picture resided and felt himself responding to the looks of absolute joy on both Remus and Tonks’ faces as they waved at the camera.
Harry sighed. It wasn’t fair. They had been married less than a year and had a two-month-year old son waiting for them at home when they had died. He leaned his head up against the surprisingly cool glass of the window and sighed again, this time holding back tears.
There were two loud cracks from the yard. Harry had his wand drawn and was out the backdoor and down the path before recognition of the two voices now coming from the garden sank in:
“What the bloody hell just happened?”
“My insurance policy.”
There was a slight pause, a sigh, then, “You would have one.”
Harry didn’t need to see him to know exactly what the look on Remus’ face looked like- exasperation at Tonks nailing him perfectly- and he grinned.
He then came to a jerking halt. How could Remus have an annoyed look on his face at what Tonks had just said if both of them were dead?!
With trepidation, Harry turned the corner. There, underneath the arbour, laid a panting Remus and Tonks.
“What the…” and he used a few words that he had picked up from Ron over the years.
Tonks sat up. “Such language, Harry!” But she grinned at him. “And what are you doing at my parents’ house?”
“What are you doing alive?” he blurted back at her. Looking at Remus, who was still laying down, he added, “Both of you!”
Tonks blinked at him, then said, “No idea…darling,” she turned to her husband before continuing, “Harry wants to know why we’re alive.”
Before Remus could answer, a baby’s crying rent through the air.
“Teddy,” Harry and Tonks said at the same time.
“I’ll go get him,” Harry said as Tonks began to struggle to stand. “You stay here and heal one another. Tonks, you’re bleeding over your left eye and Remus looks like he has at least a broken leg. You both look like you’ve just come from…”
“Battle,” Remus finished hoarsely for him. “At Hogwarts…”
Harry felt his jaw drop. Tonks looked at him for a long moment, then asked, “How long has it been since the battle ended, Harry?”
At Teddy’s blood-curling scream, Harry said, “Let me get the baby…then we’ll talk.”
Tonks nodded at him, but was already turning her attention to Remus, who was grimacing in pain. Harry walked, as if in a daze, back into the house and up the stairs. It wasn’t until he reached Teddy’s room, opened the door and was greeted by Remus and Tonks’ screaming baby that what had just occurred outside sank in.
“Oh fuck,” he said aloud and leaned against the doorframe for support.
“Fuck!” Teddy stopped crying and repeated back.
Harry groaned. Teddy was at the phase where he was repeating anything and everything he heard. He’d now be repeating Harry’s curse for the rest of the day. They were keeping Ron as far away from Teddy as possible.
“Just what your parents need, Mr Lupin,” Harry told him while holstering his wand and taking Teddy out of his crib. Laying him down on the changing table, Harry continued, “To be greeted by their son cursing.”
“Fuck!” Teddy told him.
“Lovely. Your mum’s going to kick my arse.” Harry grinned when Teddy laughed at him.
“Arse.”
“Why do you only repeat the curse words?” Harry asked Teddy as he expertly changed his nappy.
“Fuck!”
Harry bit his lip. Andromeda had warned him that laughing would only encourage Teddy on. “Stop it!” he said crossly.
“Okay, Har-wee!” Teddy squealed, clapping his hands.
“Thank you, Ted-dee!” Harry blew a raspberry onto the baby’s belly. “Come on…I have to figure out how the…” he caught himself in time, “your parents are alive.” Teddy looked at him seriously as he was picked up. “Exactly,” he told him. “All right here we go.” Harry exited the room and headed down stairs.
They came to an abrupt stop halfway down. Remus was laying down on the couch, eyes closed, in the living room. Tonks was rummaging through her mother’s potions supplies, muttering to herself.
Realizing what he hadn’t done yet, Harry drew his wand and pointed in their general direction. “Identify yourselves!” he demanded from them.
“I was wondering when you were going to ask that,” Tonks said, not even turning around. “Where is the dittany? Ah…here it is. Just a moment, Harry, I have to brew this bruise healing paste for Remus.”
Without opening his eyes, Remus told him, “I am Remus John Lupin, werewolf, married to Dora, father to Teddy. We first met on the Hogwarts Express where I gave you chocolate for remedy for the Dementor that searched the train. I later taught you the Patronus Charm to ward them off since they unfortunately took to you. It takes the shape of a stag, which is your father and my friend, James’, Animagus form.”
“Nice one, darling,” Tonks told him as she smeared the paste on her husband’s side. “My turn, isn’t it? I hate my given name, so I am Tonks, Auror and Metamorphmagus, married to Remus, mother to Teddy. We first met when your Advance Guard freed you from your aunt and uncle’s house your fifth year. Um…what else? Mine’s not going to be as good as Remus’.” She turned around, grinning. Seeing Harry and Teddy on the stairs, she dropped her bowl and then screamed.
Remus’ eyes flew open. Harry didn’t even see him draw his wand until he had to duck the hex that Remus cast at him.
“Bloody hell!” Harry yelled. “Remus!”
“Sorry,” Remus apologized.
“Bloody!” Teddy repeated.
“Teddy! No!” Harry told him. “We just talked about this.”
“Who is that?” Tonks whispered, pointing at her son.
Teddy looked at her. Cocking his head to one side, he studied Tonks for a few moments before asking in a hesitant tone, “Mama?”
“Teddy…” she answered back in a disbelieving tone. “My baby?” she asked Harry as she approached.
Teddy whimpered as Tonks reached through the railing to him and buried his face in Harry’s t-shirt. “Teddy, it’s Mummy,” she told him in an agonized tone. “It’s Mummy…”
“Bugger, that’s Teddy!” Remus exclaimed, struggling to sit up. “Good God…I only planned the spell for one, to return me in two days. When I took Dora with me, it must have thrown the spell off…”
“To two years instead,” Tonks finished for him. “Teddy, it’s Mummy,” she whispered to her son, reaching for him.
Teddy pulled further away from her, frightened. Tonks bit her lip and a tear leaked down her cheek. “He’s only seen you in pictures, Tonks,” Harry said, trying to explain.
“And here we are…live and in person,” Remus said. “He’s confused.”
Teddy peeked up from Harry’s t-shirt and asked, “Dada?”
Remus smiled at him. “Yes, son, it’s Daddy.”
“You cast a spell to return you…in case?” Harry asked him.
“Yes,” Remus told him. “It was to activate when I was close to dying…”
“Except it wasn’t cast for two,” Tonks finished. “When you had to take me with you, I threw the spell off. Teddy?” she asked her son quietly.
“Mama…?” Teddy asked, still nervous, but now looking at his mother.
“Yes, sweetheart, it’s Mama. I love you, Teddy.” Tonks reached for him again, smiling when he didn’t pull away and let her touch his arm.
“What kind of magic is that?” Harry asked Remus, coming down the remaining stairs. Teddy pulled closer to him, but had locked eyes with Tonks, who hadn’t moved closer yet.
“Ancient magic…like what your mother used, Harry,” Remus told him. “Not Dark magic.”
Harry grinned. “You know me too well. So…you cast the spell to return you here if you came close to death…like an insurance plan. Brilliant move. But since Tonks unexpectedly showed up at Hogwarts, you had to take her with you…thus throwing off the spell. Two years instead of two days.”
“Ops…sorry,” Tonks said, blushing.
“You’re not…angry with me for wanting to…bail if I came to close to death, Harry?” Remus asked him.
“No!” Harry told him vehemently. “You had Teddy to live for! And Tonks. I’m glad you cast your insurance plan. It went slightly awry…but you’re here now.” Harry looked at Teddy who was still eyeing up Tonks. “Look, Teddy, its Mummy! Mummy’s here for you. She’s come back.”
“Mama,” Teddy said, reaching for his mother.
Tonks snatched him up and held him close. “Hullo, Mummy’s baby. I missed you so much!” She kissed Teddy’s turquoise hair, and then walked over to Remus. “Look, Teddy…Daddy.”
“Dada,” Teddy repeated, reaching for Remus.
“My son,” he whispered, taking Teddy from his wife. “My Teddy. I love you so much, baby.”
Harry smiled at the reunited family as Remus and Tonks cuddled and cooed on the couch with an exuberant Teddy. Before he knew what was happening, the front door opened and Andromeda walked in.
“I had to be with Teddy today,” she told Harry while unbuttoning her cloak. “Is he still napping?”
Harry felt his face blanch as Andromeda hung her cloak and walked into the living room. His eyes slid shut as he head Tonks greet her mother with a “Wotcher, Mum!”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
TBC(?)