There'll Be Bluebirds

little_bird

Story Summary:
Teddy Lupin finds his father's journals. Order of the Phoenix, Half Blood Prince, and Deathly Hallows from the perspective of Remus Lupin.

Chapter 02 - 10 July & 2 August 1995

Posted:
05/06/2009
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1,697


10 July 1995

We met today to discuss the best way to bring Harry over from his relations' house. Mad-Eye, Sirius, Kingsley, and I. Kingsley had a list of people he thought would be good to help escort Harry. One of them is Sirius' cousin. His second cousin, actually. Let me see... His cousin Andromeda's girl, Nymphadora. Mad-Eye says he trained her. She's an Auror. Kingsley brought her into the Order. I haven't met her yet, but Kingsley says she's very good. She has to be, if she managed to get through Mad-Eye's training program. Kingsley says she does have... How did he put it...? Stealth issues...? I wonder what that means...

We want to fetch Harry soon. The sooner, the better, as far as Sirius and I are concerned. His aunt and uncle aren't very keen on having him around. But Dumbledore said we have to wait until after the end of July. He wouldn't explain why, though.

*****

'Wotcher! I'm Tonks.' The petite, bright-eyed witch grinned widely and offered a delicate hand to Remus.

'I'm sorry?'

Tonks heaved a long-suffering sigh. 'It's really Nymphadora,' she muttered. 'I'm still trying to figure out what potion my mum was on after I was born to insist on it. Dad says she got it from some book she was reading when she went into labor,' she added mutinously, with a shake of her head.

'So... Tonks...' Remus' head cocked to one side. She was tiny, barely coming up to his shoulders. Not that Remus was very tall himself, but Tonks wasn't much taller than Ginny Weasley. 'Are you sure you're related to the Blacks?' he blurted.

'I know... They're all tall and willowy and I'm practically a midget.' She shrugged cheerfully. 'My dad's mum was quite short, too. But I can do this.' Her eyes crossed, and a brief, pained expression crossed her face. Her hair lengthened from its short, spiky style, changing from bright bubblegum pink to the same dark auburn shade as Ginny and her eyes changed from dark blue to deep brown.

Remus grinned. 'That's a neat trick,' he said, impressed.

'Yeah, made all that disguise training a cinch.'

'Tonks, Remus, will the two of you care to join the rest of us?' Mad-Eye growled from the kitchen door.

'Oh, sorry Mad-Eye,' Tonks said cheekily. 'Just getting to know the people I'll be working with, yeah?'

'You can socialize later,' Mad-Eye grunted, as she sashayed through the door, ruining the effect by tripping over her toes.

'Oof!' Tonks kept herself from falling by grabbing the thing nearest to her - Mad-Eye. 'Sorry, sir...'

Mad-Eye's eye narrowed as he glared at her. 'You should have spent more time working on your stealth, missy, instead of showing off with those Metamorphmagus skills of yours.'

'And who was it that let me?'

Mad-Eye's lips thinned as they pressed together, but he didn't have a retort for Tonks. Remus followed her into the kitchen, a small smile playing on his lips. Most people didn't have the cheek to stand up to Mad-Eye like that. Remus slid into a seat around the long table next to Sirius, who gave him an odd sort of look. They were joined by Arthur and Molly Weasley; Hestia Jones; Elphias Doge; Emmaline Vance; and Dedalus Diggle.

Kinglsey stood at the head of the table, looking slightly grave. 'All right, then. The month Dumbledore seemed to deem necessary is over and we need to find a way to lure the Dursleys from their house for an hour or so.'

'I can do that,' Tonks piped up. 'I've been watching them a bit from time to time. D'you know they're the only people on their street who are still using hosepipes and sprinklers on their lawn?' she huffed indignantly. 'Thinks because he doesn't do it every day, he's not as bad as the bloke next door,' she scoffed.

'How do you plan to do that?' Mad-Eye asked.

'Simple. Use the Muggle post. Tell them they've won some barmy contest and there's an awards dinner in London at a posh hotel. They remind me of the people that lived down the lane from my mum and dad. If there's free food promised, they'll go. So will that lot.'

'How long will they be gone?' Kingsley asked.

Tonks shrugged. 'Little Whinging isn't too far from London. It might take them half an hour or thereabouts to get to London, but the address of the hotel is in central London, and that might take forever. I'd guess at least two hours.'

Kingsley nodded. 'How long will it take to get Harry's things packed up?'

'Knowing his relatives, he probably hasn't unpacked them at all,' Arthur said. 'And if he has, well...' Arthur rubbed the top of his balding head. 'He hasn't got much,' he mumbled.

'Buggering arses...' Sirius muttered under his breath.

Arthur cut a glance at Sirius, but said nothing. He continued mildly. 'An hour should be plenty.'

'And once he's here, we'll put him with Ron,' Molly interjected. Remus gazed down the table at her. Normally Molly was gregarious and cheerful, but lately it seemed forced and her customary smile was tight and pinched.

'We have to do it before the tenth,' Remus said suddenly. He'd been counting days to himself. Every head swiveled to look at him. 'Full moon,' he said succinctly. 'Someone that has a good relationship with Harry needs to go, and since Sirius can't leave -' Remus ignored the muffled, pungent curse from his friend. 'It has to be me.' He glanced at Arthur with a sympathetic shrug. 'Sorry... But you're not a very good flier and Harry doesn't know Bill that well. He won't willingly come otherwise. Well, he will, but it might take longer for you to convince him you don't mean him any harm.' Remus paused delicately. 'He's not a very trusting sort, for good reason, you understand...'

Mad-Eye nudged Tonks' hand. 'How soon can you put the letter to the Dursleys in the post?'

'Tomorrow morning. They ought to get it by Wednesday. I'll make it for Friday evening.'

'Why Friday evening?' Emmaline Vance asked curiously.

'That's when Muggles have their big, fancy dos,' Arthur said knowledgeably.

'They'd get suspicious if it was on Thursday,' Tonks added.

Suddenly, Dumbledore spun from the fireplace. 'Arthur, come with me, please.' He waited for Arthur to make his way to the kitchen door, following him out to the landing and upstairs into the grubby sitting room. Dumbledore drew a circle around them and an eerie silence surrounded them. Arthur, I need you to send a note to Harry to stay at his aunt and uncle's and not to give up his wand. He'll listen to you. I'm on my way to the Ministry to sort it all out.'

Dumbledore's wand jabbed at the spindly table next to Arthur and a scrap of parchment and a Self-Inking Quill appeared on the dusty surface.

'Sort what out?' Arthur pulled on one of his ears, hoping he hadn't misheard the Headmaster.

'Fudge wants him expelled for performing underage magic,' Dumbledore replied briskly.

Hurriedly, Arthur scrawled a note to Harry, and was in the process of sealing it when he heard a loud crack, and a ruffled-looking owl stood in bemusement on the table in front of him. He offered the rolled up parchment to the owl, who disappeared as soon as he accepted it.

'How bad is it?' Arthur asked, a frown deepening the crease between his eyebrows.

'Dementors,' Dumbledore replied.

'Oh, bloody...'

'I must go now. Please inform the others.' Dumbledore swiftly left the sitting room and left the house.

'What happened?' Molly asked when Arthur returned to the kitchen in a daze.

'They're trying to expel Harry from school,' Arthur said quietly.

'Whatever for?' Kingsley sounded confused.

'Underage magic,' Arthur sighed.

'But isn't there a loophole if they're in danger?' Sirius blurted.

'There is,' Mad-Eye said shortly. 'Why would Potter perform underage magic at a time like this?' he added in exasperation.

'There were Dementors,' Arthur said, dropping into his chair.

'That's self-defense,' Remus argued. 'They can't...'

'Sod it...' Sirius muttered. He yanked open a drawer in an old dresser and pulled out a piece of parchment, an old, but usable quill, and a bottle of ink. He quickly, but neatly, wrote a short note to Harry. 'He's going to do a bunk... He did it two years ago...' As he sealed the short note, he turned to Remus. 'Could you...?'

Remus nodded and waved his wand, making an owl appear. 'Where do you want it to go?'

Sirius shrugged helplessly. 'I've only seen the house from the outside, eh?' He frantically searched his memory. 'Chimney, I suppose...'

'Good enough,' Remus muttered, jabbing his wand at the owl.

'Right, then...' Kingsley cleared his throat. 'We'll meet here Friday evening, fly on broomsticks to Privet Drive, and bring Harry back here. You say he's a good flier?' he asked Sirius and Remus.

'Better than James,' Sirius assured him. 'And I'm not saying that because he's my godson. He's really good.'

'Excellent. We'll create a barrier around him. There's going to be six of us, so one each above and below him, and four at all points around.'

'He won't like that,' Sirius muttered.

'That's just too damn bad,' Kingsley retorted. 'We can't have anything happening like at the Triwizard.'

'No, we can't,' Sirius agreed reluctantly.

*****

Remus sat at the table after everyone had left or gone to bed, cradling a cup of tea between his hands. He glanced up at Sirius, who was studying him intently. 'What?'

'You like her.'

'Who?'

Sirius rolled his eyes. 'Tonks. I've never seen you look at a woman like that before.'

Remus looked at Sirius sharply. He didn't miss the sad undertone of Sirius' voice, but Sirius' face was smoothly neutral. 'Rubbish,' he snorted. 'I've only just met her. Besides, I can't get involved.'

'But you're interested.'

'No.' The lie came easily to Remus' lips.

'Moony...'

'Padfoot...' Remus sipped his tea. 'I don't feel it's necessary to force my...' He grimaced. 'Lifestyle... on another person.'

'And what were James and I? Pond scum?'

Remus sighed. 'That was different. The two of you guessed.'

'Like she doesn't know about your furry little problem. You're making a bigger deal about it than it ought to be. Just don't go on a date during the full moon.'

Remus set his cup down with a click. 'That's exactly my point. It's my furry little problem.'

'She's not seeing anyone,' Sirius persisted. 'I asked.'

Remus pushed his chair back. 'Enough, Padfoot. All right?' He picked up his shabby cloak and swung it over his shoulders. 'I don't have the energy to argue with you right now. And I am looking out for her best interests. It's not just the lycanthropy. I'm too old for her. And she deserves more than me.'

Sirius tilted his chair on its two back legs and studied his old friend. 'For someone who's not interested and has only just met her, you have an awful lot of arguments about why you shouldn't get involved.' He paused for a moment. 'She likes chocolate...' he wheedled enticingly.

Remus' mouth quirked in a twisted smile. 'Nice try, Pads,' he allowed.

'Where are you sleeping tonight?'

Remus shrugged. 'The flat, I suppose. Technically, it's yours, but if you don't want me to live there anymore...'

Sirius set the chair back on the floor. 'James and I always meant...' He coughed a little. 'We always meant to arrange things for you...'

Remus' face hardened. 'I wouldn't have accepted it,' he said hoarsely.

'And we wouldn't have accepted watching you descend into poverty.' Sirius rose from his chair. He gently brushed Remus' hair from his eyes, with that same sad tone he'd used earlier. 'Get some sleep. You look like hell.'

*****

2 August 1995

I've never blamed my father for the lycanthropy. Although I wish I knew just what it was that happened between him and Fenrir Greyback that made Greyback come after me. I don't mean to complain, but I can't find work, not since Umbridge passed that bloody law after I resigned from Hogwarts. Frankly, if it wasn't for Molly, I'd probably not eat as much as I do. And Dumbledore sending one of the Hogwarts house elves over with food. I know it's charity, and I detest that I need it, but without it... I shudder to think what it would be like to have James and Sirius take care of me. Like I'm a bloody child. Even my pride has its limits.

Dumbledore's managed to keep the Ministry from destroying Harry's wand. Protecting it seems to be rather important, but he won't tell us why. He's also managed to convince them to merely suspend Harry for the time being, rather than outright expulsion, at least until his hearing. And according to what we know, it's an open-and-shut case of self-defense. I'm sure the children heard everything. Fred and George seem to have created something that allows them to overhear things from a great distance. They know more than they ought. But I can't blame them. Molly refuses to tell them anything; on the grounds they're all underage. But I'd chafe under that as well. I'm fairly certain Hermione's already looked up the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery and will have a list of circumstances in which an underage wizard is allowed to use magic. Frankly, I'd be surprised if she doesn't have a list ready now. I hope Harry realizes how much she does for him. It's what I would have done if it had been James...

Sirius' cousin... Tonks... Is rather... I'd best not think about her. Even though she's attractive and is brave enough to needle Mad-Eye. I think I might find myself wanting more with her. And I won't do it unless I can have what James had with Lily. Or what Arthur has with Molly. And since I refuse to inflict my "issues" on someone else, it will never happen and continue to be relegated to a dream.

Remus closed the diary and tapped it with his wand. 'Nothing to see here...' he murmured, and with the sound of paper tearing, the diary sealed itself. Nobody could open it, unless they knew what to say to it. He'd stolen the idea from the Marauder's Map. He tucked it inside the tiny desk in the small flat and with a sigh, blew out the lamp, plunging the room into darkness.

*****

'Teddy?'

Silence met Andromeda's query. 'Teddy!?' she called loudly. 'I know he can't be outside. Even he's not daft enough to play footie in this kind of weather.'

Andromeda climbed the stairs and poked her head into Teddy's bedroom. 'Teddy?' His battered football sat forlornly on the bed. She turned and fled down to the sitting room. She plunged her hand into the urn that held their Floo powder and threw it into the flames with a shaking hand. She dropped to her knees, ignoring the shooting pains the radiated from them as they made contact with the hard floor. 'Ginny? Harry?'

Harry crouched down with a glass of juice in each hand. 'Andromeda,' he said, obviously surprised. 'Is everything all right?' Andromeda only firecalled in emergencies.

'I'm so sorry to bother you right now... I know both Al and Lily are ill,' she babbled. 'But I can't find Teddy. He's not in his room and I just stepped out for a moment to go to the market because he's out of the that infernal peanut butter he likes so much, and he was there before I left, I know, because I told him I was going out for a bit...'

'Give me a minute. I'll just take these up to Al and Lily and tell Ginny where I'm going.' Harry ran up the stairs and darted into Al's bedroom. 'Here you go, Albie. Are you still itchy?'

Albus held the glass in both hands, gulping the juice thirstily. 'Nuh-uh,' he gasped explosively when he finally lowered the glass.

'Good. And don't scratch, or I'll Spellotape your mittens to your hands. Ask James. I did it to him,' Harry warned when he saw one of Al's hands creep to his face. Al's hand dropped back to his lap. 'And I'll send Mum in with the potion for the itchies, all right?'

'I don't like it,' Al complained. 'It smells icky.'

'It's either that or the mittens,' Harry said sympathetically, as he crossed the corridor to Lily's room.

'Daddy!' Lily exclaimed, holding out her hands for the juice. 'When is Teddy coming?'

'When you're better, Flower-Power.'

'But I'm better now!' Lily protested.

'Maybe next week,' Harry murmured, tilting Lily's face up to examine the welts that dotted her cheeks. She still hadn't reached the crusty stage yet. 'Don't spill that juice,' he told her, using a finger to right the slowly tilting glass. He left Lily's bedroom and clattered down the stairs walking quickly into the kitchen. 'Hey, Andromeda can't find Teddy...'

Ginny looked up from the biscuit dough she was helping James roll out on the table. 'Where could he have gone in this weather?'

'No idea.' Harry leaned over James' head and kissed her. 'I'm going to go help her look for him.'

'Is Teddy coming over?' James asked, a smudge of flour on his nose.

'Not until Lily isn't sick anymore,' Harry told him, ruffling his hair. He went into the sitting room and Flooed to Andromeda's house. He stumbled a little, as he came out of the fireplace. 'Any luck?'

Andromeda shook her head. 'No.'

'Where have you looked?'

'Study, his bedroom, my bedroom, the spare bedroom, bathroom... I haven't checked outside much.'

Harry raised his eyes to the ceiling. 'Did you check the attic?'

'Of course not,' Andromeda scoffed. 'Nothing up there but a bunch of old rubbish...' She trailed off. 'Oh dear God...' She turned and ran up the stairs, with Harry following her. She darted to a narrow door at the other end of the corridor and yanked it open, before rushing up the creaky, narrow stairs to the dim, dusty attic.

Teddy was sitting on the floor, surrounded by battered leather-bound diaries, smudges of dirt on his face. 'What?' he asked innocently.

Andromeda pulled him to his feet and hugged him tightly. 'Why didn't you answer me?' she demanded.

'Geroff, Gran...' Teddy grunted. 'Can't breathe...' Andromeda released him a little. 'Why didn't you tell me...?' he asked, holding up the diary. 'They're Dad's...'

'I'd forgotten they were here...' Andromeda admitted.

'How could you forget?' Teddy shouted. 'These are my dad's! He wanted me to read them and you forgot!' he huffed sarcastically, before stomping down the stairs. The reverberation of his bedroom door slamming echoed up the stairs.