Chapter Ten: Christmas
Disclaimer: Do you honestly think I'm JK Rowling? Really? Don't you feel a little silly for asking?
"Not…my…daughter…you….BITCH!"
There was a breath of silence. The entire forest seemed to stop and watch the scene unfold. The mighty oaks encircled them, gazing down with ancient, unseeing eyes at what they knew was to come. The symphony of insects that had been buzzing since the sun set fell silent. It was as if the whole world was holding its breath.
Harry looked between a flaming mad middle aged Ginny and a dumbstruck Bellatrix. The combatants on the side looked on, as if waiting from some silent cue to begin.
"Atrum Incendio!"
Bellatrix recoiled as her robe was engulfed in patch of purple fire. James had managed to regain control of a wand and was chuckling to himself as he lay in the snow.
Bellatrix rounded to take her revenge but narrowly escaped a streak of light from and older Hermione's wand. After that it was a domino effect: all hell broke loose. Hermione dodged a spell from a Death Eater who in turn dodged a spell from Ron who parried a spell from another Death Eater who had to duck to avoid being hit by a stray spell from Ginny…
The clearing rang with the din of incantations and spells firing and igniting. Instinct kicking in, Harry grabbed Ginny and Ron (Who had a hold on Hermione's robe) and threw all four of them to the ground, narrowly avoiding the crossfire above.
Crawling through the snow, he moved himself and Ginny behind a pile of snow where they could watch the melee safely. From what they could see the fight was going well; Hermione had dropped her rival with a stream of metal birds, Ron was currently blasting spells at Rookwood while Harry and Ginny were dueling Dolohov and Lestrange respectfully.
The focal point of the struggle was Teddy and the blonde haired girl who Harry recognized from the vision as Victorie. They worked in tandem, blasting the nameless Death Eaters who charged them with smooth efficiency. Teddy would spin Vickie away as a spell missed her by mere inches, dipping her as they both fired wordless hexes from their wands. If it weren't for the knots of Death Eaters falling around them, it would have seemed as if they were dancing.
"Harry!" Lupin was making his way over to where he lay in the snow, dragging him down as he fired a curse at a large, blonde Death Eater who was about to attack. All around the other Phoenix members were pulling non combatants out of the melee, disarming fallen death eaters and healing small wounds.
Snow was now falling thick from trees as birds fled from their rapidly destroyed homes. Harry put his head down as hex after hex streamed overhead like a laser light show. When he looked back up Ted, Victorie, Ron, Hermione, Harry and Ginny had all closed in on Bellatrix and Dolohov who simply refused to go down. The odds were three on one and yet the dark magicians were equal to it.
Suddenly a figure broke rank and charged with unbridled ferocity. Ted lunged, firing multiple spells with several deft wand moves. Dolohov squealed as a purple blast sent him toppling head over heels into a tree. He slid down, motionless. Now it was Teddy versus Bellatrix, the older parents stepped back as a volley of curses erupted from the combatants wands. Harry watched with mounting trepidation as the slightly goofy, carefree disposition that he had come to expect from Teddy vanished, replaced by a mad look that was herald of darker deeds.
Bellatrix had changed her look as well. The half mad grin she usually wore was rapidly giving way to bitter concentration and (Harry hardly dared to believe it) fear. Was the Dark Lord's right hand actually cowering from a single wizard?
Suddenly there was a blinding flash of light and then absolute silence. Then suddenly the ring of trees erupted in a swath of purple light as they were thrown headlong into a tree. Stars clouded Harry's vision as he felt the rough bark smash against his back and the wind knocked out of him as Ginny collided with his stomach.
Bellatrix was down but Teddy wasn't done. His hair was now a fiery red that occasionally streaked with black, white and purple. His eyes emitted an ethereal glow as he closed in on the crumpled Death Eater.
He was out for blood and he wasn't going to stop until he got it
"Ted!" Harry heard a voice call out to him. Ted looked up sharply to see his godfather slowly walking towards him, palms out in a universal gesture of "let's-take-a-chill-pill" gesture often used with the borderline mad.
"Ted," Harry continued. "It's over; we've won."
"Not…yet." He breathed turning back to the stupefied Death Eater.
"Teddy," Ginny slowly moved to stand beside her husband. "I know what you're thinking…"
"No," Ted said, turning flaming mad eyes to lock on Ginny. "You don't…" A gust of wind kicked up, shaking the snow from the trees and onto the younger kids.
Teddy planted a frost encrusted boot on Bellatrix's chest, raising his wand high over his head while still pointing down. Ted ground his teeth, working his jaw muscles like he was chewing something. Then, even over the howling wind, his whisper carried over the snow.
"I always thought…" he began slowly. "That everything happens for a reason. That we can't alter destiny. I've never thought about my parent's killers because they were dead." Ted nearly spat the last word through clenched, working teeth. "But…"
"Teddy," Harry heard himself say again. "I know what you're feeling now, believe me I do. Bellatrix Lestrange was an abhorrent old hag and our world is an infinitely better place since Molly finished her off. But she still has a part to play in this whole mess, Ted."
"WHAT PART?!" The wind increased in velocity as Teddy exploded at his godfather. Harry saw himself falter slightly but remain firm.
Harry fixed his godson with a most severe expression. "She has to kill your mother. That's the way it happens."
"But…" Teddy turned back to Bellatrix who was stirring slightly. "I can do something…I…I can stop her here…now…I…I" Teddy fixated Bellatrix with such a passionate fury that Harry was sure that he would end her there and then.
Ted raised his arm, a tip of glowing green light forming at the tip then, suddenly, a smaller hand gently grabbed Teddy's shoulder, he looked around to see who had interrupted his vengeful rage only to see…
Victorie
Her hair was whipping in the gale, but she seemed not to notice. Her robes were ripped at the elbow, but she wasn't concerned with that either. Victorie gently lowered Teddy's arm to his side.
"Teddy…please…enough." Two small tear drops rolled out of each baby blue orb.
The gales died down. Teddy's eyes no longer shone but changed back to a watery blue. His hair changed from flaming red to a soft, mousy brown color flecked with the occasional pink strand. He was shaking ever so slightly when Vicky gently pulled him into her arms.
"I'm sorry…I'm sorry..." he said into her strawberry blonde hair as she held him tightly.
Harry looked down to feel Ginny shivering in his arms. He pulled his cloak around the two of them and held her close as Teddy and Victorie did in the lightly falling snow.
CRASH
"Hermione, I swear I didn't mean to…"
BOOM
"Ginny, you've got to believe me!"
CRASH, CRACK, SMASH
Harry and Ron watched as the mid morning light set a strange scene in the Weasley's front yard. Their future wives hurled hex after hex after Teddy who was hurling bits of rock and broken pottery to defend himself. Hermione and Ginny had been perfectly sympathetic towards Teddy until the younger Ginny had let on how much they had been told by Teddy.
"You…complete…idiot!" Ginny screeched, punctuating each word with a bolt from her wand. "What…were…you…thinking?"
"You could have unraveled the time stream you fool!" Hermione roared, firing a stream of rapid-fire curses
Hugo stepped forward. "I thought you said that you should never curse anyone unless its really…"
"STAY OUT OF THIS!!!!" Both women rounded on Hugo who shrank behind his father.
"As for you two," Ginny said turning on Albus and James who quailed under their gaze. James stepped forward.
"I know mom. Albus and I shouldn't have been playing with dad's stuff. But, hey, it's Christmas. Isn't it a time for peace on earth and goodwill towards your slightly screw-up children?"
Albus joined his brother, picking up on a silent cue. "Yeah, because, I learned something today…"
"Oh spare me…" Rose muttered from her place on the front porch.
"And that would be?" his father asked
"Um…that…" Albus fumbled slightly. "I learned to…believe in myself, trust my heart, decode Sanskrit and…um…that your disappointment is punishment enough?" Albus said hopefully
"Well…" Hermione said lowering her wand. "I'm glad to hear that some good has come from all this."
Albus grinned.
"That's still not going to stop us from grounding you until you're old enough to buy firewhiskey." His mother said, folding her arms
"WHAT?!!" James and Albus cried together.
"The Order isn't the issue here," Harry said, folding his arms to match his wife. "Even though it's a cliché, your mother and I were worried sick about you!"
"And as for you two…" Hugo and Lily shuffled uncomfortably under Ron's frightening impression of his wife. "You put yourselves in serious danger by coming along with them!"
"What's more," Ginny said, rounding out the fray. "You blackmailed your cousin into coming with you!"
Albus gaped. "H-h-how did you know that?"
Teddy made a back and forth motion with his fingers indicating bouncing waves, educing a collective "oooh" of dismay from the kids.
"And as for you young lady," Ron said, brandishing a certain incriminating photograph casing Rose to tremble and her brother and cousins to snicker triumphantly.
Ron crumpled up the picture and threw it away. "I guess there's nothing we can do about it."
Rose looked at her dad like he had just pardoned her from capital execution. "R-really?"
Albus and James looked at their uncle like he had lost his tiny little mind. "R-Really"
Meanwhile Teddy and Victorie were sitting off to the side of the deck, watching Rose hug her mother and father.
Victorie leaned her head against Teddy's shoulder. "Awww. How cute. Rosie's dating the little blonde haired git and everybody's happy about it."
Teddy chuckled as strains of Albus and James' bitter tirade carried over the field ("So let me get this straight: We accidentally destroy some stupid shield and we get grounded but she willingly snogs the son of your nemesis and you guys are fine with that?!??!?!)
A gentle hem-hem from behind him caused Teddy to turn around to see Tonks shifting uncomfortably behind him, looking for a convenient ice breaker to try and instigate conversation with her future son, but all she could think of was, "So…"
Teddy racked his brain. Since he was five years old he had thought what he would say to his parents if he ever met them but now that he actually had, the best he could do was say "Yeah…"
"So…" Tonks started again. "Sorry for Stupefying you in the chest."
"Yeah…" Teddy feebly said. "Guess I should have watched my back." They both chuckled nervously and looked down at the same time.
"Can I just-" They both said simultaneously.
"Sorry"
"So ahead"
"No you go"
"No, go ahead."
"Well…" Teddy said, rubbing the back of his hair, changing it to pink as he did so. "I've…always wondered what I'd say if I ever met you; like somewhere beyond the grave or something. But…now that I'm here…I'm speechless."
Tonks nodded. "Well…I'm not exactly sure to say to my...my…"
"Son." Victorie supplied helpfully.
"Yes…you're right. You know something?" Tonks gave a watery chuckle. "While most of me was trying to win Remus over, I was never really sure what it would be like. If we could even have a normal life or family, But now I see you and…it's like everything's going to be alright somehow."
Teddy smiled. "Then…I guess there's really nothing left to say."
Tonks sighed. "Yeah. Everything's peachy except for…" she looked off towards the Weasley's house where the rest of the Order was being briefed on what was happening. Lupin was leaning against the railing, looking out at the forest with a faraway look in his eye.
Teddy stared at his father for a second before turning to his girlfriend. "Vicky, why don't you chat with my mum for a bit? I've got to take care of something."
Ginny was sitting on the back steps, watching her future sons sulkily blow up clods of dirt. A little ways off, Harry and Ron were doing the same. Every now and then, Ginny would glance over to see Harry looking back at her. They would start and look away quickly, suddenly shy.
Hermione came through the back door. "Well, they've brought the rest of the Order up to speed. You said….well, not you you I mean the older you…that they would be able to leave shortly, but they had some things to take care of first." She sighed and flopped down next to Ginny and resumed watching the kids.
"They look like their world's come to a close." Ginny said, indicating James, Albus, Lily and Hugo.
"Well, I did tell them not to go." Ginny and Hermione looked back to see Rose coming through the back door, sipping a mug of cocoa in a satisfied way. "I wouldn't have come myself if it weren't for that damned picture."
Ginny chuckled quietly to herself. "What?" Hermione and Rose asked in unison.
"So…you and Malfoy, huh?"
Rose blushed scarlet. "Oh…that. I really don't see what you guys have against him. He's perfectly sweet and charming and…"
"You sure his name's Malfoy then?" Ginny asked
Hermione and Rose reluctantly laughed. "Hey, can I ask you something, Rose?"
"Sure."
"What in God's name possessed me to name my son Hugo?"
"Classic Muggle Literature." Hermione felt a chill run down her spine as her own voice, modified by the years, answered from her daughter's side.
"It was originally supposed to be Victor Hugo Weasley but Ron had some…qualms with naming him Victor." Hermione giggled in spite of herself. "Rose came from Shakespeare."
"Huh?" Ginny asked.
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose would smell so sweet." Hermione quoted perfectly. "Romeo and Juliet. A story about forbidden love between the children of rival families. Rather interesting to see how she's lived up to her namesake." Rose blushed and all three girls laughed as the older Ginny joined the trio out on the porch.
"But why Severus?"
Harry looked up at the father of the sullen youths who had come to join them on the edge of the snow covered fields. Harry was looking at Albus who had formed a lump of snow into a perfect snowman and sent it after his brother who fled in terror, blasting fireballs from his wand tip as he went.
The older Harry looked thoughtfully at his youngest son before responding. "I'll tell you now what I told Al the day he came home from school, crying because the kids had said he was named after a murderer." The younger Harry's eyebrows shot up at this remark, but chose not to pursue it. "I told him that I had named him after two headmasters of Hogwarts and…" Harry watched himself pause for a second, choosing his words carefully. "And after the bravest people I knew."
"Snape?" Ron said incredulously
"I tried to talk him out of it," Ron looked back as his older self came up behind them. "But he swore up and down they made the right decision."
"Just remember," Harry said seriously. "Whatever Snape says, whatever he does and no matter how terrible those Occlumency lessons are; remember that Severus Snape will do anything, anything to keep you safe."
"But…he hates me...us" Harry said dumbstruck.
"He hated Dad." Harry said finally. "But Mum…"
"What?" Ron asked. "What about his Mum?"
"Nothing." Harry said quickly.
Ginny was picking gloomily at the Dumbledore's Army photo, looking at how Harry's picture was subtly moving towards Cho's figure. Her stomach twisted when she thought back to the kiss she witnessed when they thought they were alone. She didn't mean to spy; she had just left her bookbag in the Room of Requirement when she walked in on them making out under the conveniently placed mistletoe. That was almost a week ago and her prospects with Harry were looking slimmer and slimmer by the moment.
"Don't worry about Cho." A familiar voice said. Ginny turned around to see her older self leaning over the rail, sipping her coffee, watching over her son run from the hell-spawned snowman conjured by his brother.
"How did you…" Ginny asked.
Ginny shrugged (An: Oh God this is confusing…) "I wore that same expression when I was, well, you."
"Yeah, I guess…"
"No worries. In a few months he'll get sick of her being a drama queen and she'll get sick of him being "insensitive" and move on." Ginny said with a satisfied smirk.
Ginny gave a watery chuckle. "So I'm guessing that Michael and I are…"
"Doomed. But did I really need to tell you that?"
Lupin stirred his cocoa as he watched Tonks and the blonde haired girl meander though the snow. He chuckled to himself as Tonks destroyed the evil snowman with a blast from her wand, showering them both with snow.
"She's…" Lupin mused to no one in particular.
"Go on." Teddy came up behind him. HE leaned back against the railing, folding his arms. "Say it."
"I…" Lupin's voice failed.
"What?" Teddy snapped, hair flashing red. "Say it."
"Its not that simple. People like me can't-"
"Can't what? Feel?" Lupin quailed under his son's tone. "Remus…Dad…Look at me."
Lupin looked up to see Teddy glaring back at him. "I'll say this and then you'll do what you will. You and her are not long for this world. You've got maybe two years left." Teddy leaned in closer, lowering his voice to a deadly whisper. "It's up to you to decide how to spend it. You can't keep pushing people away, especially people who care you"
"I…couldn't risk it." Lupin said, desperately.
"Risk?! RISK?!!" Teddy angrily shoved his hand into his pocket. Lupin's hand twitched towards his wand, afraid that Teddy was going to attack him. But instead of a wand, Teddy produced a black, velvet box, slamming it down on the railing, making a dent in the snow drift. Cracking it open, he revealed a ring with three shining diamonds embedded in the band.
"I'm twenty year old half-werewolf Metamorphing orphan who makes his Galleons hunting deranged Dark wizards. You want to talk to me about risk?" Teddy was shaking with rage. "I have next to nothing but I'm willing to risk it all for Vicky because, well…I love her. Merlin, I love her more than I've ever loved anyone in my life."
Teddy pocketed the ring, angrily brushing the tears from his eyes. "It's your call, Dad."
Victorie had made her way onto the porch as Tonks and Teddy talked out on the snow. She couldn't hear, but judging by the way Ted was gesturing back towards the porch and how Tonks was nodding like some kind of bobble-head, he was convincing her to do something about Remus. Tonks shot an uncertain look at Remus and for a second she looked as if her once infallible nerve had failed. Then Teddy put a reassuring arm on her shoulder. Tonks looked back at him and, for the first time since he could remember, he hugged his mother. Teddy pulled back and with a helpful nod and a light push, she headed out over the snow to where Remus was staring off pensively.
Teddy was coming back to where Victorie was sitting with a slightly pained look. Most people couldn't tell but over the six years they had been a couple, Victorie had learned to pick up on the slight fluctuations in Teddy's demeanor. His hair slightly flecked with grey and his eyes changed to a watery blue.
Victorie wrapped her arms around his slim shoulders and pecked him lightly on the cheek. Almost at once he relaxed, hair returning to his favorite blue.
"And now we wait." He said, leaning his head against hers
It was a few minutes before they spoke. Once again they couldn't tell what they were saying but judging by how they were slowly inching closer to each other, it was clear that it was going well. One by one, the rest of the Order and the time travelers made their way on to their side of the deck to see what was happening. Minutes ticked by agonizingly slow for Teddy who waited to see if his words would convince his parents to commit.
Finally, after what seemed like hours Tonks grabbed the front of Remus' jacket and kissed him full on the lips.
All around them a general cheer went up. Everybody awwwed and Sirius let out a surprisingly loud wolf whistle.
"Congratulations, mon amor." Victorie whispered in Teddy's ear.
"For what?" Teddy asked, slightly confused
"You may have been the only person in history to have set their parents up."
"Ten…nine…eight…seven…six…five…four…three…two…one…"
The air split apart as if someone had taken a knife to it, revealing a cozy sitting room all decked out for the holidays right in the middle of the snowy field.
Harry turned back to face the old Order. "Well, that's our way home."
"How…" Harry looked at his older self for some explanation
"A very long and complicated spell that would bore everyone except Hermione." Ron said to general amusement and a smack across the head from his wife.
"Hey, wait!" Teddy said, reaching into his cloak and pulling out a large camera equipped with a tripod. "Let's get a picture with everybody in it!" Harry looked at his godson who shot a wink in return.
"Yeah…" Harry said catching on. "Everybody get together, nice and close. Remus, you and Tonks on that side…let's put the kids in the middle…" While Harry was arranging the picture, Ginny spotted her older self handing out pairs of sunglasses to everyone from the future. She shot a questioning look at Hermione who just shrugged.
"Alright!" Teddy said, putting on a pair of black aviators. "Now on three every body say "Permanent Memory Loss!"
"Huh?"
The last thing Harry remembered was six wizards pulling wands and shouting "Oblivious Maxima!"
Harry blinked a few times. "What…what just happened?" he asked the strange looking wizard with blue hair who was stowing his wand and walking towards a strange looking light. "Who are you?"
The wizard looked back and with a wolfish grin replied. "Me? I'm just a figment of your imagination."
A moment later he was gone.
Rose sat upstairs, looking thoughtfully out the window of her aunt's house. Christmas had gone on without a hitch: presents were opened, pie was eaten and, like every year, her dad would try to do something clever with the ornaments which would result in little glass orbs rocketing around the house until her mother stopped them.
What bothered fourteen year old Roslyn Juliet Weasley was what was going to happen to everyone in the past. She had known the memory erasure was necessary but she couldn't help but think what would change because of their meddling.
There was a faint tapping at the window. Rose snapped out of her trance to se a magnificent snowy white owl pecking at the window. Hastily unlatching the window, she stood back as the bird flapped in, landing delicately on the desk. Hurrying to its side, she tore the letter off the bird's leg and proceeded to scan it hungrily.
Dear Rose,
I would have started off with something like "My Darling Rosie" or something like that but then I realized who it was I was writing to and how hackneyed you would think it.
I'm writing this letter from my room which I fortified with every evil cure I know against every last stinking relative here at old Chez Malfoy. My granddad got smashed again and went on a slurring tirade about how the Dark Lord should have won before passing out on the drawing room floor. Dad also had a few old "friends" over. He says they had to leave the country a while ago because of an "accident". Mum is lecturing the congregation about the long and most noble house Malfoy. I had to leave before I threw up. My cousins are outside torturing squirrels and my bloody baby sister is spiking the punch with bleach. I swear I'm going to one of those Muggle blood testers to see if I'm actually related to these freaks of nature.
I think I'm going to tell my dad about us soon. I'm a little sick of constantly worrying about who's reading my things or who's watching us (I swear there was some one watching us in the broom closet last week). I'm ready to be fully honest but only if you are. If you want, we can talk to your dad together. I just don't want you there when I talk to my dad. I don't know what he'll do and I don't want you getting hurt.
Wishing your Christmas was at least better than mine (Couldn't have been worse)
XXOOXxOxo
Scorpio
P.S. I know you told me not to get you anything but I did. Deal with it :P
Rose smiled as she folded the letter and placed it gently in her pocket. Opening the desk, she drew a quill and parchment and began to write.
Dear Scorpio
Good to hear from you. I thought we would have to wait until we got back to school to talk to each other.
Turns out that someone watching us was my little cousin Lily so my dad knows. He was surprisingly cool with it. That means all there's left to do is break the news to your dad. Be careful though. I'm worried about him too.
Christmas over here was
Rose put down her quill, searching for the right words to sum up what had happened to her in the last few days. In the next room, she could hear her cousin saying "Levitate it, James!"
Rolling her eyes she returned for the paper
Christmas was dull, as usual. Hugo and my cousins got grounded for destroying my uncle's Order of Merlin. The only interesting part was when Teddy asked Victorie to marry him! He's really going to be part of the family now!
Hope all goes well
XXOOXxOxo
Rosie
P.S. I got you something too. You deal with it :P
Rose folded the letter, and attached it to Scorpio's owl's leg. She opened the window and as the snowy bird flew out she inhaled the pure, clean smell of fresh snow. Sighing happily, she turned back to leave the room.
If you could have been there, you would have seen a perfectly normal Potter Christmas. Harry and Ron were still battling the soaring ornaments, Hermione was adamantly refusing to do anything ("NO! I'm not going to do anything about it this time! Figure it out yourselves!") Teddy and Victorie were snuggled up on the love seat, wrapped in a throw blanket while Hugo and Lily were engrossed in a game of exploding snap, Ginny was owling her mum with the news that her first granddaughter was getting married and as Rose descended the stairs, she had to pass her uncle's study. From under the door there was a flash of light, a shattering of glass, a cry of alarm from Albus and finally James' panicked voice saying,
"Don't panic! I've got a plan…"
The End
AN: That's all folks! Thanks to all of you who stuck with it until the end and were patient enough to wait three months for my final chapter. I'd like to thank the author of In The Words of Ginevra Molly Potter for inspiring me to get off my ass (arse if you're English) and finish. For my next trick, I think I'll let you guys decide…
The story of the battle of Hogwarts told from different points of view
Harry and Ginny look over some pictures and conveniently flashback to events bridging the last chapter to the epilogue to beyond (Series of Oneshots: Harry proposing to Ginny; Teddy and Victorie doing…something; Rosie and Scorpius experience troubles and more!)
Teddy struggles through his last year at Hogwarts as an old enemy lurks in the shadows…Slightly AU (Involves a Death Eater that rhymes with Pelladrix Berrange)
Vote on which one you would like to see me do! I'll tally the votes Sunday, January sixth and 12:00 PM (Californian Time) and write a new one from there! So Vote and be COOOOOOOL!!!!!
Peace!
DOTMW