FIC - 'The End is Heaven' - Part 02
The End is Heaven
by Myka
Part 02 - 'short letters'
Pairings: Sirius/Remus, Ron/Hermione, Harry/Ginny
Spoilers: Books 1-7
Genre: AU, drama, romance, angst, tragedy
Summary: Remus Lupin survives the Second War and is left to raise Teddy alone.
---
Time seemed to fly. On September first, Hogwarts opened its doors to thousands of students who were happy to be back, happy that there was nothing to be afraid of anymore. Harry had tried to visit Remus all summer, but it had been impossible. He was no longer the boy who lived, but the man who had defeated Voldemort. Reporters constantly hovered around him no matter where he went, disturbing his every move. The Hogwarts Express was a quiet comfort he was grateful for. A lot of people had tried to convince him not to go back to finish his seventh year. He had been showered with offers of powerful jobs and positions. But Harry knew he couldn’t accept them. He had to go back and finish school. He would regret it if he didn’t. Plus it's not like Hermione would have allowed him to skip his seventh year indefinitely, he would have never heard the end of it.
Harry snapped back to reality when Ginny suddenly took his hand and wrapped it with hers. Hermione and Ron sat across from them. It was clear by the smile on Hermione's face that no one was more delighted than her to go back to school. Her head rested comfortably against Ron's shoulder.
“What are you worrying about, Harry?” she asked as she unconsciously snuggled closer to Ron.
“Some things," he admitted. “I was thinking about Remus.”
“How is he doing?” Ginny asked suddenly. “He hasn't been around since the funeral has he?”
Harry shook his head.
“We'll send him an owl when we get to Hogwarts,” Hermione reassured him. Harry sighed, an owl felt like something so little, but right now, it was all they could do.
---
The first letter to Remus was short. A simple statement that they were back at Hogwarts, that they missed him, and that they hoped he and Teddy were doing well. The response was equally lacking in words. Remus's script looked rougher than usual, the paper not as carefully folded as Harry remembered. The words simple and to the point. 'We are doing well. Thank you for your concern.' But it wasn’t the lack of details that worried Harry the most. It was the picture that came with the letter, the picture Remus had showed him the night of the battle. The picture of Teddy with turquoise hair shaking his fat baby fists at the camera.
Harry stared at the picture of his godson for a long time. To Harry’s mind, this picture should be priceless. It was something that Remus had kept with him during the battle. So why had he given it to Harry?
Harry showed the picture to Hermione and Ron, voicing his concerns for it and the short letter. Hermione quickly rationalized it. That Remus must be very busy and didn't have time to spare to write a longer letter. That it was more than likely that he had newer pictures of Teddy and thought Harry would like to have one. Hermione's words made sense, made lots of sense. He could only imagine how much time and care a baby needed. But even so the little spark of worry didn't dissipate. The next day Harry took a new roll of parchment and wrote another letter.
Two a month. It became a pattern, almost a habit. Harry would ask for details about Teddy, about what Remus was doing for work. Little necessary details. The replies always came three days later, they were always worded differently, and one detail or another might change, but the basic message was always the same: 'We are doing well. Thank you for your concern.'
Hermione had changed her point of view about them and was now finding the letters slightly alarming. “We have to tell someone, Harry,” she said one afternoon while in the owlery, after reading Remus’ latest letter. Ron agreed.
“No,” Harry responded firmly. Then rephrased when he saw the look on his best friends’ faces. “I mean, let's wait. Christmas holiday is only a few weeks away, and for all we know he really is too busy to write a proper reply. We'll visit him first chance we have.”
Hermione frowned a little, but nodded. She knew that Harry was right in a way, they had no proof that anything was wrong aside their feelings. Once they could visit Remus, they would know how the situation really fared and if he needed their help, they would be there for him.
---
They didn't waste any time in visiting Remus. Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione made the trip by broomstick, since nobody was entirely sure where Remus's house was located and they knew that Remus had made apparating inside his home impossible which made things possibly dangerous.
The flight there was shorter than expected and they found the house two hours before sundown. Small, quiet, and secluded. The last one, a necessity. They knocked on the door and waited, everyone except Ginny fidgeting slightly as they waited. Nobody answered. Harry glanced at the others for a minute before knocking again harder. No response.
“I don't like this,” Hermione said, breaking the silence.
Without another word, Harry pulled out his wand. Alohomora. The door clicked and soundlessly swung open. It was hard to see. The only light was the one coming from the windows and it made the house look gloomier than it should. Harry's heart skipped a beat. At first glance it appeared that something had happened. Things were thrown around and dust was visible, but after a better look it was clear that the house was just in disarray and very very messy.
“Remus?” Harry called stepping inside and walking a few steps. The others followed him silently. They stepped carefully across the living room and over the things that were strewn across the floor; clothes and books mostly. On the far corner was a small desk with a quill, some unused parchments, and a set of picture frames. One of Remus, one of Sirius, and one of the both of them with James. No Tonks, and no Teddy.
The house's quietness was unsettling and Harry gulped subconsciously. There was nothing in the main living area so they headed towards the back in direction of the rooms. There was a light coming from the room farthest back. The door slightly ajar, but just barely. Harry pushed it slowly, opening it. He took a deep breath.
There was a crib in one corner of the room. Teddy was inside it standing by himself with the help of the railing. His hair was brown again, it looked even more similar to Remus' than the last time Harry had seen him. A few feet away was Remus, sitting on an old armchair, sleeping. He looked worse than anytime Harry could remember, even worse than during the time just after Sirius had died and he was going underground with other werewolves to get information.
Teddy cooed for a second when he noticed them, then suddenly let go of the rail and fell to a sitting position, then he opened his mouth and started crying as his hair turned a dark blue. Remus woke almost immediately and stood up, not even noticing Harry and the others there. He picked up Teddy in his arms with care, his voice a whisper and barely audible as he tried to soothe him.
“Remus,” Harry called. Remus half jumped half turned to look towards them. His eyes wide with surprise.
“What-” his voice struggled, “what are you doing here?” he asked roughly and unwelcoming.
The group took a collective breath and were rendered speechless. Remus glared at them for a second then just as sudden his eyes soften to be more like the Remus they knew. “I'm sorry,” he apologized, his attention back to Teddy who had stopped crying by now, his big baby eyes glancing at the strangers warily. Remus subconsciously held him closer and walked forward, forcing the teenagers to step aside and let him through. All four of them exchanged a look before following. They found Remus busy in the kitchen preparing a bottle of milk.
“What happened here, Remus?” Hermione asked as she looked around at the mess that seemed to be everywhere.
“Busy,” Remus answered simply, putting his wand away once the bottle was ready. Teddy squealed with delight at the sight of it, reaching for it with his small hands, drinking it steadily once it was in his mouth.
“You shouldn't be living like this, Remus,” she said.
Remus suddenly stood very still. “I'm trying my best,” he said sharply without bothering to look at them.
“If you need help-” Ron tried to add.
“No,” Remus snapped, cutting Ron off. “I'm fine. Like I said in the letters, everything is fine. It's just not perfect. Now please go home. It's getting dark and I'm sure Molly doesn't know where you are. I need to get Teddy to bed as well.” Harry opened his mouth to protest and Remus noticed. “This isn't up for discussion, Harry.” Remus said, his eyes growing wary, “I won't have another fight with you in front of my son.” He looked suddenly ten years older, and very very tired. “I'll come visit on Christmas. Me and Teddy. I promise.”
They felt like they had no choice. With reluctance, they left, saying soft goodbyes and wishing him well. They wanted to make it very clear that if he needed help of any kind he just had to ask.
Harry stared at the small house longer than the others feeling lost about what to do, how to help, and a little angry that he was still too young to understand some things. It wasn't until Ginny touch his arm and whispered, 'Let's go' that he finally did.
---
The next few days were restless ones. For Harry, they were days filled with a mix of happiness for being with the ones he loved and worry for Remus and Teddy. But Christmas day eventually came and now all he had to do was wait. The last gifts he had bought were for them. A new set of quills and parchments for Remus and a small flying broom for Teddy.
The hours passed slowly and by noon Harry was already restless.
“Stop worrying. I'm sure he'll come,” Hermione tried to reassure him, but her voice wasn't completely convincing. Another hour passed then another and nothing.
“I'm sure he means to be here by dinner time,” Ron added, his face growing worrisome as well.
Dinner. Yes, he surely meant dinner.
But dinner time came and Remus still wasn't there.
“I'm going to get him,” Harry announced right after Molly had called them down for dinner.
Hermione opened her mouth to say something, but didn't get a word out because suddenly a white blur entered the room, a patronus in the shape of a Bumblebee appeared in front of them and suddenly the voice of Andromeda Tonks filled the room.
“Remus Lupin has gone insane. Help.”
-
Part 03
by Myka
Part 02 - 'short letters'
Pairings: Sirius/Remus, Ron/Hermione, Harry/Ginny
Spoilers: Books 1-7
Genre: AU, drama, romance, angst, tragedy
Summary: Remus Lupin survives the Second War and is left to raise Teddy alone.
---
Time seemed to fly. On September first, Hogwarts opened its doors to thousands of students who were happy to be back, happy that there was nothing to be afraid of anymore. Harry had tried to visit Remus all summer, but it had been impossible. He was no longer the boy who lived, but the man who had defeated Voldemort. Reporters constantly hovered around him no matter where he went, disturbing his every move. The Hogwarts Express was a quiet comfort he was grateful for. A lot of people had tried to convince him not to go back to finish his seventh year. He had been showered with offers of powerful jobs and positions. But Harry knew he couldn’t accept them. He had to go back and finish school. He would regret it if he didn’t. Plus it's not like Hermione would have allowed him to skip his seventh year indefinitely, he would have never heard the end of it.
Harry snapped back to reality when Ginny suddenly took his hand and wrapped it with hers. Hermione and Ron sat across from them. It was clear by the smile on Hermione's face that no one was more delighted than her to go back to school. Her head rested comfortably against Ron's shoulder.
“What are you worrying about, Harry?” she asked as she unconsciously snuggled closer to Ron.
“Some things," he admitted. “I was thinking about Remus.”
“How is he doing?” Ginny asked suddenly. “He hasn't been around since the funeral has he?”
Harry shook his head.
“We'll send him an owl when we get to Hogwarts,” Hermione reassured him. Harry sighed, an owl felt like something so little, but right now, it was all they could do.
---
The first letter to Remus was short. A simple statement that they were back at Hogwarts, that they missed him, and that they hoped he and Teddy were doing well. The response was equally lacking in words. Remus's script looked rougher than usual, the paper not as carefully folded as Harry remembered. The words simple and to the point. 'We are doing well. Thank you for your concern.' But it wasn’t the lack of details that worried Harry the most. It was the picture that came with the letter, the picture Remus had showed him the night of the battle. The picture of Teddy with turquoise hair shaking his fat baby fists at the camera.
Harry stared at the picture of his godson for a long time. To Harry’s mind, this picture should be priceless. It was something that Remus had kept with him during the battle. So why had he given it to Harry?
Harry showed the picture to Hermione and Ron, voicing his concerns for it and the short letter. Hermione quickly rationalized it. That Remus must be very busy and didn't have time to spare to write a longer letter. That it was more than likely that he had newer pictures of Teddy and thought Harry would like to have one. Hermione's words made sense, made lots of sense. He could only imagine how much time and care a baby needed. But even so the little spark of worry didn't dissipate. The next day Harry took a new roll of parchment and wrote another letter.
Two a month. It became a pattern, almost a habit. Harry would ask for details about Teddy, about what Remus was doing for work. Little necessary details. The replies always came three days later, they were always worded differently, and one detail or another might change, but the basic message was always the same: 'We are doing well. Thank you for your concern.'
Hermione had changed her point of view about them and was now finding the letters slightly alarming. “We have to tell someone, Harry,” she said one afternoon while in the owlery, after reading Remus’ latest letter. Ron agreed.
“No,” Harry responded firmly. Then rephrased when he saw the look on his best friends’ faces. “I mean, let's wait. Christmas holiday is only a few weeks away, and for all we know he really is too busy to write a proper reply. We'll visit him first chance we have.”
Hermione frowned a little, but nodded. She knew that Harry was right in a way, they had no proof that anything was wrong aside their feelings. Once they could visit Remus, they would know how the situation really fared and if he needed their help, they would be there for him.
---
They didn't waste any time in visiting Remus. Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione made the trip by broomstick, since nobody was entirely sure where Remus's house was located and they knew that Remus had made apparating inside his home impossible which made things possibly dangerous.
The flight there was shorter than expected and they found the house two hours before sundown. Small, quiet, and secluded. The last one, a necessity. They knocked on the door and waited, everyone except Ginny fidgeting slightly as they waited. Nobody answered. Harry glanced at the others for a minute before knocking again harder. No response.
“I don't like this,” Hermione said, breaking the silence.
Without another word, Harry pulled out his wand. Alohomora. The door clicked and soundlessly swung open. It was hard to see. The only light was the one coming from the windows and it made the house look gloomier than it should. Harry's heart skipped a beat. At first glance it appeared that something had happened. Things were thrown around and dust was visible, but after a better look it was clear that the house was just in disarray and very very messy.
“Remus?” Harry called stepping inside and walking a few steps. The others followed him silently. They stepped carefully across the living room and over the things that were strewn across the floor; clothes and books mostly. On the far corner was a small desk with a quill, some unused parchments, and a set of picture frames. One of Remus, one of Sirius, and one of the both of them with James. No Tonks, and no Teddy.
The house's quietness was unsettling and Harry gulped subconsciously. There was nothing in the main living area so they headed towards the back in direction of the rooms. There was a light coming from the room farthest back. The door slightly ajar, but just barely. Harry pushed it slowly, opening it. He took a deep breath.
There was a crib in one corner of the room. Teddy was inside it standing by himself with the help of the railing. His hair was brown again, it looked even more similar to Remus' than the last time Harry had seen him. A few feet away was Remus, sitting on an old armchair, sleeping. He looked worse than anytime Harry could remember, even worse than during the time just after Sirius had died and he was going underground with other werewolves to get information.
Teddy cooed for a second when he noticed them, then suddenly let go of the rail and fell to a sitting position, then he opened his mouth and started crying as his hair turned a dark blue. Remus woke almost immediately and stood up, not even noticing Harry and the others there. He picked up Teddy in his arms with care, his voice a whisper and barely audible as he tried to soothe him.
“Remus,” Harry called. Remus half jumped half turned to look towards them. His eyes wide with surprise.
“What-” his voice struggled, “what are you doing here?” he asked roughly and unwelcoming.
The group took a collective breath and were rendered speechless. Remus glared at them for a second then just as sudden his eyes soften to be more like the Remus they knew. “I'm sorry,” he apologized, his attention back to Teddy who had stopped crying by now, his big baby eyes glancing at the strangers warily. Remus subconsciously held him closer and walked forward, forcing the teenagers to step aside and let him through. All four of them exchanged a look before following. They found Remus busy in the kitchen preparing a bottle of milk.
“What happened here, Remus?” Hermione asked as she looked around at the mess that seemed to be everywhere.
“Busy,” Remus answered simply, putting his wand away once the bottle was ready. Teddy squealed with delight at the sight of it, reaching for it with his small hands, drinking it steadily once it was in his mouth.
“You shouldn't be living like this, Remus,” she said.
Remus suddenly stood very still. “I'm trying my best,” he said sharply without bothering to look at them.
“If you need help-” Ron tried to add.
“No,” Remus snapped, cutting Ron off. “I'm fine. Like I said in the letters, everything is fine. It's just not perfect. Now please go home. It's getting dark and I'm sure Molly doesn't know where you are. I need to get Teddy to bed as well.” Harry opened his mouth to protest and Remus noticed. “This isn't up for discussion, Harry.” Remus said, his eyes growing wary, “I won't have another fight with you in front of my son.” He looked suddenly ten years older, and very very tired. “I'll come visit on Christmas. Me and Teddy. I promise.”
They felt like they had no choice. With reluctance, they left, saying soft goodbyes and wishing him well. They wanted to make it very clear that if he needed help of any kind he just had to ask.
Harry stared at the small house longer than the others feeling lost about what to do, how to help, and a little angry that he was still too young to understand some things. It wasn't until Ginny touch his arm and whispered, 'Let's go' that he finally did.
---
The next few days were restless ones. For Harry, they were days filled with a mix of happiness for being with the ones he loved and worry for Remus and Teddy. But Christmas day eventually came and now all he had to do was wait. The last gifts he had bought were for them. A new set of quills and parchments for Remus and a small flying broom for Teddy.
The hours passed slowly and by noon Harry was already restless.
“Stop worrying. I'm sure he'll come,” Hermione tried to reassure him, but her voice wasn't completely convincing. Another hour passed then another and nothing.
“I'm sure he means to be here by dinner time,” Ron added, his face growing worrisome as well.
Dinner. Yes, he surely meant dinner.
But dinner time came and Remus still wasn't there.
“I'm going to get him,” Harry announced right after Molly had called them down for dinner.
Hermione opened her mouth to say something, but didn't get a word out because suddenly a white blur entered the room, a patronus in the shape of a Bumblebee appeared in front of them and suddenly the voice of Andromeda Tonks filled the room.
“Remus Lupin has gone insane. Help.”
-
Part 03