Questions and Answers

The conversation was cut short by a knock on the door.

*****

Andromeda froze, her head cocked toward the front door. She nervously wiped her hands on a tea towel, draping it over a hook near the sink. Teddy's brow furrowed in concern as her eyes widened and face drained of what little color it had. 'Gran?'

'Could you answer the door, Teddy?' she asked, in a strained voice.

Teddy didn't say anything but gave Andromeda's shoulder what he hoped was a reassuring squeeze, as he walked past her. He went to the front door, hurrying as another knock sounded. He was greeted by the sight of Scorpius bobbing excitedly on the balls of his feet, accompanied by two women. 'Teddy!' Scorpius cried, beaming.

'Hiya.' Teddy looked at two women standing behind Scorpius. 'Come in,' he said, gesturing to the sitting room. 'Gran'll be out in a moment.' He ruffled Scorpius' hair. 'Since you know everyone, why don't you do the honors?'

'Oh, right.' Scorpius turned to his grandmother and mother. 'Grandmother, Mother, this is Teddy Lupin. Teddy, this is my grandmother and mother, Narcissa and Daphne Malfoy.'

Teddy automatically held out a hand. 'It's nice to meet you both,' he said politely, still unsure what to make of the older woman, given what he had heard about Andromeda's childhood.

Narcissa hesitated for a moment, and then took Teddy's hand in a firm grasp. 'It's a pleasure to finally meet you. Scorpius talks about you often.'

'Oh, well...' Teddy flushed and his hair went orange at the tips for a moment.

'He's convinced you're the most brilliant person in Britain.' Daphne's wry tone made Scorpius blush.

'Mother!' he whispered, scandalized that she made his obvious hero-worship public knowledge.

Scorpius was saved from further embarrassment by Narcissa's sharp intake of breath. She focused on something over Teddy's left shoulder. Teddy turned and saw Andromeda standing in the doorway, her shaking hands clasped in front of her. 'Narcissa,' she said softly, biting her lip.

'Andromeda,' Narcissa breathed.

It was then both of them knew the sporadic contact with letters had never been satisfactory for either of them. They slowly walked toward each other, eyes fixed on the other's face, barely breathing. Narcissa reached out and took one of Andromeda's cold hands.

It seemed to crack the carefully constructed wall behind which Andromeda had pushed everything regarding her family for nearly fifty years. She lifted a hand and timidly traced the fine lines around Narcissa's eyes with a trembling fingertip. 'You haven't changed,' she breathed.

Narcissa gave her a tremulous smile, as she traced the streaks of silver that grew around Andromeda's face in her light brown hair. 'Oh, how I've missed you,' she sighed. 'You have no idea how much I've missed you.'

For several long moments, they stood still, just taking in the changes the past twenty years had wrought.

Teddy put a hand on Scorpius' shoulder and met Daphne's eyes. He wordlessly jerked his head toward the kitchen and began to steer the younger boy into it. 'Have a seat,' he said quietly, gesturing at the table. 'We'll give them a moment, then.' A snuffling sound reached their ears. Teddy gave the doorway a long, thoughtful look. 'Maybe two,' he said, considering.

'So, Teddy, you're out of school?' Daphne asked, desperately trying to make conversation.

'Yes, two years ago. I'm an Obliviator.'

'And he plays football,' interjected Scorpius.

'Football?' Daphne looked in bemusement between her son and his cousin.

'Muggle sport,' Teddy answered. 'You have to kick a ball into a net around the person guarding it. You can use your feet, knees, chest, head, but no hands. I went to a Muggle primary school,' he said unabashedly. 'Nobody in my family's very good at it. They prefer Quidditch.'

'Family?' Daphne was confused. If memory served, Narcissa and Andromeda were the only two people left in their family, and Andromeda had been disowned; and Teddy was an orphan.

'My godfather's family.' Teddy shrugged. 'They have a rather wide definition of what makes one a member of the family. And more than enough affection to spread around.'

'I see.' Daphne toyed with her ornate wedding ring for a moment, digesting that tidbit of information, searching for a different direction to take the conversation, so she didn't have to feel so grateful near-strangers had been more welcoming to her son than her own family had been. 'Scorpius also tells me you're a Metamorphmagus.'

'Yeah. My mum was one, too.' Teddy winked at Scorpius and his eyes unfocused slightly, crossing a bit. His hair grew shaggier and faded, then brightened to the same platinum blonde that graced Scorpius' head, and his features sharpened until he looked more like Scorpius' elder brother.

Daphne's mouth dropped open. 'That's a rather useful skill,' she observed.

Teddy grinned and shook his head. The hair shortened and reverted to turquoise. He looked at the doorway again. 'I wonder what's taking so long?' he mused.

*****

Tears fell freely down Narcissa's face. 'Why did you leave me behind?' she choked.

'Oh, Narcissa,' Andromeda sniffled. 'I didn't want to leave, but I had to. Marrying Lucius and living that life was not an option. I would have died. I was never cut out for it.'

'What made you think I wanted that life?' Narcissa fished for a handkerchief in her skirt pocket, and wiped her eyes with it.

'I didn't. You still had to finish school. You were underage. And I couldn't very well take you with me. Our parents would have come after you.' Andromeda sat heavily on the sofa, pulling Narcissa down with her. 'I hoped until the day you married him that you'd come here.'

'I wanted to.' Narcissa laughed bitterly. 'But like everything else, I was too afraid to do it. I wish I had your courage.'

They sat for another moment before Teddy stuck his head out of the kitchen. 'Gran? Are you all right?'

Andromeda brushed away the unheeded tears, a little surprise showing on her face. 'I'm fine, Teddy.' She drew in a shaky breath. 'Would you mind making some tea?'

'Gran? I don't make tea. It's either colored water, or strong enough to peel paint from the walls. The last time I tried to make coffee at the office, it nearly ate through a spoon when O'Connor tried to stir some sugar and milk into it.'

'Right.' Andromeda shook her head. 'Momentary lapse of concentration, dear.' Her expression softened. 'We'll join you in a minute.' Teddy's head disappeared back into the kitchen. She sighed heavily, and looked down at her and Narcissa's still-clasped hands. 'You don't think it's too late to start over?'

Narcissa leaned against Andromeda, suddenly feeling exhausted. 'No.'

'Can I ask you something?'

'Of course.'

'What was it like - to be married to Lucius?'

Narcissa reared back a little. 'You're joking...'

'I'd like to know what I missed out on by running away like that.' Andromeda couldn't help the smile that played over her mouth.

'It was... Demanding.' Narcissa leaned against the back of the sofa. 'Rather arduous. To keep up the façade all the time. When we went into public, I pretended Lucius had stepped in dog poo in order to keep the proper haughty expression on my face,' she confessed in a whisper. 'Separate bedrooms, but I didn't care. He didn't, ah, visit often, until the rumors started to fly that he was impotent. And once Draco was born...' She shrugged. 'At least Draco took after his father and not our side of the family.'

'Why's that?'

'Put the rumors to rest, kept the façade in place. Appearances were what mattered.' Narcissa gave Andromeda a sidelong look. 'You were lucky,' she commented.

'I was. More than I ever felt I deserved.'

Narcissa's eye fell on the triptych of photographs on a side table. Nymphadora was flanked by Ted and Remus. 'How can you not be bitter? You lost everything.'

'Not everything. I have Teddy,' Andromeda corrected. 'And there were plenty of days I raged against Fate, or God, or whatever it was that took them away from me.'

'I know it's twenty years too late, but I'm so sorry. I wish...'

'You weren't part of it,' Andromeda said firmly. 'Harry told me everything after their funeral.' She rubbed her eyes. 'I'm not sure he actually remembers much about telling me. He was merely going through the motions in those days. He kept begging me to forgive him.'

'Why would he do that?' Narcissa was mystified.

'He felt it was his fault they died. He felt the whole thing was his fault.'

'That's absurd.' Narcissa wasn't one to blame others for her own actions, but even she knew for Harry to take on the entire responsibility for the war was illogical.

'Everyone knew that. Everyone except Harry Potter.' Andromeda knew about the nightmares and spasms of guilt that still gripped him. She looked at Narcissa. 'How long are you staying? In England, I mean?'

'Probably until Scorpius goes back to school in September.'

Andromeda nodded. 'You'll come see me before you go?' She couldn't keep the faint plea from her voice.

'Try to stop me.' Narcissa pulled Andromeda into an embrace. 'Try to stop me,' she repeated in a whisper, a hint of defiance in her voice.

*****

'The England-Argentina match will be next Tuesday evening in Tutshill. The Ireland-Ukraine match will be on Thursday in Kenmare. We'll need as many of you to help out both nights as possible. There's going to be a lot of people coming in from all over Britain and using the campgrounds in the area. As hard as we try, you know we just have to show off to each other, but seriously, try to keep the Obliviations to a minimum on any one person. Makes 'em loopy for a good while later. Sign up sheets for either Tutshill or Kenmare are over here,' Carolina Hodges, the Head of the Obliviators, waved her wand at the wall, and two sheets of parchment appeared.

Harry, who had been standing in the doorway, made a mental note to see if he could get tickets to either game next week. The boys had been behaving, but he didn't trust them to sit in the press box with Ginny. He didn't come all the way into the large room that housed the Obliviators on shift. Music blared, games of Exploding Snap and chess were played, and charmed toy dragons flew about the room, while they waited for an incident to light up the large, detailed map of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. It was like being in a Hogwarts' common room. Harry searched for Teddy's tell-tale bright hair in the chaos. 'Could I be helpin' ye a'tall, then, Mr. Potter?' A mellow Irish voice broke into Harry's thoughts.

Harry looked down at a small witch, who looked like she had barely finished her fourth year of school. She had sandy hair and freckles and looked vaguely familiar. 'You wouldn't happen to be related to Seamus Finnegan, would you?' he asked.

'Oh, aye. His mam and my da are brother an' sister, now. Siobhan Kiernan,' she said.

'How old are you?'

'Twenty-six, sir,' she said, laughing.

Harry goggled. 'You hardly look older than my oldest son.'

'Comes in handy.' Siobhan grinned widely. 'Now, then, who is it you're lookin' for?'

'Teddy Lupin. I thought he was supposed to be working the early shift this week.'

'Oh, aye, he is.' Siobhan turned around and cupped her hands around her mouth. 'Oi! Lupin! Ye got a visitor!'

Teddy's head popped up from the floor, where he'd been lying on his stomach, playing chess with one of his year-mates from school. He gave the board one last grimace, and tipped over his king. 'You'd have had me in a few more moves anyway,' he said reluctantly. He scrambled to his feet and loped over to where Harry stood with Siobhan. 'Thanks, Siobhan. Hi, Harry, what brings you down here? Ready to give up being an Auror and do the real work?' Teddy teased.

'Not quite yet, but can I have a word with you?' Harry asked quietly. 'In private?'

Teddy's eyes went wide. 'Harry, I swear, I had Vic back at Shell Cottage before midnight.'

'What?' Harry looked at Teddy in obvious confusion. 'Why would I care about that? And Victoire's of age anyway.'

'Tell that to Bill,' Teddy muttered, his hair flashing deep purple.

'I'd rather face a Horntail without my broom. Good luck with that.' Harry clapped a hand on Teddy's back. 'Come on, we'll go to my office.' They rode the lift to level two, and Harry closed and locked the door to his office. 'I have a question about Memory charms.'

'Okay...' Teddy said uncertainly. 'Don't you know about them?'

'Of course I do. Head Auror's office... Hello?' Harry said cheekily. 'Seriously, this isn't like the time when I asked if you knew about sex, and you asked me, in all sincerity, if there was something I needed to know.' Harry sat on his desk. 'When you Obliviate someone, it's totally gone, right? You can't see it with Legilimency or Veritaserum?'

Teddy sat in a chair and put his feet on the desk, staring at the ceiling. 'Depends on how good the person is. If one of us does it,' he said, flicking the badge on his shirt, identifying him as an Obliviator. 'Then yes, it's usually gone. They won't even remember the person who performed the charm. It's like it never happened.'

'But what about someone else?' Harry prodded.

'Like I said, it depends. If the person doing the charm isn't particularly skilled at it, they leave the memory behind, but it's got so many holes in it, the person just assumes it was a dream and goes on with life.'

'Would that show up?'

Teddy scratched his nose meditatively. 'Maybe. But generally not. We had a decent Legilimens on the squad last year before he retired. He said that's what usually happens with a Mass Memory charm. It makes the person think they were dreaming, and dreams don't show up in the same way as genuine memories in Legilimency or Veritaserum.'

'What's the difference?' Memories were Harry's least favorite area to deal with.

Teddy sighed explosively. 'The only sure way is to use Legilimency. It's got the same quality when you use a Pensieve to look at a memory that's been tampered with.'

'Shit,' breathed Harry. While he was pretty sure the person he was looking for wasn't Draco Malfoy, the fact that he was a skilled Occlumens made this that much more difficult. He looked at Teddy askance. 'How do you know all this?' he asked curiously.

Teddy began to crack his knuckles. 'My fourth year, I guess. I'd spend a lot of time between classes at that memorial wall in the corridor just past the entrance, looking at those portraits of Mum and Dad.' He paused. 'It's stupid,' Teddy said mulishly.

'It's not stupid,' Harry said quietly, remembering how badly he'd wanted to know his own parents. Remembering wondering if he deliberately failed to produce a Patronus, just so he could hear his parents' voices.

Teddy looked at the floor, tracing a scar in the wood with the toe of a shoe. 'Sometimes,' he continued in a low voice. 'Sometimes, it felt like... Like I was being watched. The hair on the back of my neck would stand up. But not in a bad way,' he added, seeing the flash of alarm cross Harry's face. 'Like when Vic and I were younger, and we'd go for a walk after Sunday lunch, and I'd get a feeling that we were being watched, and it was one of the little ones. Or a lot of the little ones.' Teddy looked at Harry, his grey eyes bright with tears. 'I used to think it was Mum or Dad watching me.' Harry said nothing, but nodded in understanding.

Teddy was silent for several long moments. 'It made me start to think about memories. If I had any of them, even though I was barely a month old when they died. Gran had all of Dad's books in the attic, so I started trying to find out everything I could about memories.' Teddy looked out of the window of Harry's office. The 'weather' that day was gloomy and rainy. Teddy supposed it was because it was Monday, and Maintenance usually chose rubbish weather on Mondays. 'Does it sound nutters?'

Harry snorted. 'No. I know exactly how you feel.'

'Is that why Dad picked you? To be my godfather, even though you were only seventeen? Because you knew what it was like, in case something happened to him or Mum? Or both?'

'Probably. Almost a bad decision, in hindsight.'

'Why is that? You've been brilliant at this. My whole life.'

'Because there was a very good chance that I was going to die before Remus or Dora did.' Harry chuckled. 'Not a very good quality in a godfather, mind you.' He sobered and fixed Teddy with a piercing glare. 'So what's this about you and Victoire?'

'Damn. I hoped you'd have forgotten that,' Teddy muttered.

'So?' Harry's eyes narrowed slightly. Teddy wilted under his gaze.

'Over the Easter holiday, I took Vic out on a date, and we didn't get home until three in the morning.' Teddy blew out a gust of air. 'Bill damn near ripped me a new one, almost held me up on the wall by my throat, and informed me in no uncertain terms the next time I wanted to take Vic out on a date, we had to take Maddie with us.' Teddy paused meaningfully. 'As a chaperone!' he exclaimed in disgust. 'And you know how Bill talks when he's really angry. He gets all quiet. Like Ginny.' Teddy shuddered. 'He also told me he'd rip my balls off and have them for dinner next full moon.' Teddy raised his eyes to meet Harry's. 'What is it about Weasleys and threatening your anatomy?' he asked in exasperation.

'That, Teddy, is a question I've been trying to answer for nearly twenty years. If you do find out why, let me know, will you?'

'Yeah, I'll do that,' Teddy grumbled darkly.

'Coming over for dinner tonight?'

'Do you want to see your only godson die of food poisoning?'

'See you at six-thirty, then.'

Teddy walked out grinning.

Harry slid off the desk and slumped into the chair Teddy just vacated.

One question kept chasing through his mind in endless circles: How was he going to get Draco-Sodding-Malfoy to submit to Legilimency without blocking him out?