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[furry_lil_prblm]

Christmas was only a few days away, and perhaps it was due to the fact that his two best mates were so much younger than he, but Remus had been thinking lately of Christmases past, especially the ones of his youth. Before Hogwarts, and after being bit, he'd had no one to celebrate with save his parents, who were lovely, but couldn't provide that

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[polly_okeefe]

"Hello, Remus," I called, as I ambled up the path. I grinned at the little child who was obviously Remus's son. I looked up at the slightly sinister tree they were touching. "Why are you talking to a tree?"

[furry_lil_prblm]

"Telling my son about the tree, to be precise," Remus replied, glancing over at Polly. "This particular tree is one I am quite familiar with. It is called a Whomping Willow."

[polly_okeefe]

I stopped and looked up at the tree a little nervously. It did look sort of like it could grab you.

I swallowed. "And the difference between a weeping willow and a whomping willow is...?"

[furry_lil_prblm]

Remus shifted Teddy in his arms as he reached out again to touch a tiny hand to the tree. "Normally, it would be trying to flatten anything that got within reach of its branches," he explained. "That particular trait seems to be gone here, though, like so many other things."

[loaded_wolf]

"Goodness, this is a frightening looking tree, isn't it?" Angua murmured, wandering over to stand next to Remus and his son, eyes still on the towering thing.

[furry_lil_prblm]

"It's called a Whomping Willow," Remus said, giving Angua a small but slightly strained smile. Tee! Teddy chimed in, and Remus dropped a kiss to the crown of his head. "It's normally able to move its branches about, and attacks anything that gets too close."

[loaded_wolf]

Angua's eyes widened, and she looked over at Remus.

"Remus, you certainly find some strange things around here, do you know that?" she said, a small twist to her lips.

She waved to Teddy. "Hi there. You look warm."

[furry_lil_prblm]

Remus gave a rather dry laugh. "It seems the island has decided recently I needed a few reminders of home," he replied. Teddy returned the wave, along with a bright hi!

[backup_hero]

Neville was bundled up for the weather, out in the woods looking for mistletoe, when he came across the familiar - and out of place - tree. "Is that...?" he said in disbelief, moving cautiously closer to it. It seemed safe, particuarly with Remus and his son so close to it, but old habits died hard.

[furry_lil_prblm]

"It is," Remus confirmed, nodding. Any student of Hogwarts would immediately recognise the tree; Remus, perhaps more than anyone else. "It seems to be stationary here, though." Teddy, recognising Neville, reached towards him with one mittened hand.

[backup_hero]

"Well, that's a relief," said Neville, giving Teddy a friendly smile. "I've seen what this tree can do. What's it doing here?"

[furry_lil_prblm]

"I suppose to serve as a reminder to me, a reminder from home," Remus said, shifting Teddy from one arm to the other, and glanced at Neville before looking back at the tree that had once been so important to him. "Neville, do you know why this tree was planted at Hogwarts?"

[permanentlypink]

Tonks headed towards Remus and Teddy, and it took her quite a few seconds to realize what was off about their surroundings.

She stopped short, blinking.

"Remus, darling, is that what I think it is?"

No, there's probably more than one great bloody tree that looks exactly like that.

[furry_lil_prblm]

Remus nodded as he turned towards Tonks, a slightly strained look on his face. "It is," he confirmed, before having to take a tighter hold of his son, who had cried Mama! at the sight of his mother and had tried to launch himself from Remus' arms.

[permanentlypink]

Tonks was too stunned to even notice Teddy's flailing for a moment, but finally she reached out and took him from Remus. He immediately laid his head on her shoulder and began sucking his thumb.

"Is it... quite safe?" she asked tentatively.

[furry_lil_prblm]

"Yes, it doesn't seem to be able to move here," Remus replied, turning back to regard the tree once Teddy was safe in Tonks' arms. "I suppose it's similar to how we don't have our magic here."