Saying Yes, chapter 9
Jun. 6th, 2013 11:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
starfishstarSAYING YES chapter 9
Summary: At 17, Andromeda Black thought being in love was everything. At 57, Andromeda Tonks knew better. Yet the first time Kingsley Shacklebolt asked her out, she surprised herself by saying yes.
Characters: Andromeda Tonks, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Teddy Lupin and ensemble (Harry! Ginny! Molly! Kingsley's kids! All the Potters and Weasleys!)
Warnings: None
Chapters: 15
Story:
CHAPTER NINE
Teddy's birthday dawned a perfect April day, unseasonably warm and not a cloud in the sky.
In the afternoon, Teddy helped Andromeda set up the tables for the dinner they would have later in the garden; Andromeda had Transfigured the garden furniture into a row of stately wooden dinner tables that really looked quite handsome standing there all together.
That morning Teddy had ceremonial toasted breakfast toast for both of them by magic, which they ate in honour of his official first legal magic away from Hogwarts, and Andromeda pretended not to know about all the incidental bits of magic he'd performed at home over the years, and they smiled at each other.
He had seemed quiet all day, not sad but pensive. Andromeda supposed he likely wouldn't mind, then, if she voiced a few of her own bittersweet recollections. No point in pretending they weren't both wishing his parents could have been here today.
"I'll never forget your mother's seventeenth birthday," Andromeda told him, as they arranged the place settings and the flowers. "She wanted an enormous party, and of course we gave in and let her invite as many people as she wanted. I suppose in a way it was the grand wedding party she never got to have."
Andromeda bit her lip as soon as she said that, because she disliked reminding Teddy of the rushed nature of Nymphadora and Remus' marriage.
Teddy was lost in thought, though, and didn't seem to notice. After a moment, he said, "I wish I knew what Dad's seventeenth was like too. There's nobody left who knew him then."
Andromeda was saved from having to find a response to this heart-breaking statement by the arrival of Harry and his family.
"Teddy!" Lily squealed as the family came around the side of the house, and managed to be the first to attach herself to Teddy's leg.
Teddy gently disentangled her, only to hoist a grinning Lily high in the air. Then he did the same for Albus, though he was really getting far too big.
James, as usual, was talking without seeming even to pause for breath. "So you can do magic at home, now, Teddy, huh? Can you show me? What have you done already? Can you Apparate? Did you learn at school? Have you got a license and everything? Teach me a spell, Teddy!"
Andromeda smiled and stepped to the side with Harry and Ginny, to allow Teddy time unimpeded with his fan club.
"How does it feel?" Ginny asked with a smile, as Harry went to put their present for Teddy down on one of the tables.
"Monstrously strange," Andromeda replied. "I'd only just got used to the idea that he's school-age, and here he is, almost in his last year."
Harry rejoined them and said to Andromeda in a low voice, "I'd almost decided to get him a watch, but then I realised you might want to be the one to do that. Was I right?"
Andromeda nodded. "There's one I've been saving for him all these years."
Harry's eyes widened. "You haven't got –?"
Andromeda only nodded again.
More guests started to arrive then, with Bill and Fleur and their children starting off a flood of Weasleys.
When Kingsley and his children arrived, Andromeda was occupied balancing two stacks of plates at wandpoint, but she saw Teddy head over to greet them, the perfect host.
"Thanks for coming, Mr Shacklebolt!" she heard him say.
"Happy birthday, Teddy," Kingsley said. "And really, call me Kingsley. Seems only right, especially today."
Teddy said something in response that she didn't catch and Kingsley's big laugh filled the garden, making Andromeda smile.
She went over to him as soon as her hands were free and he greeted her warmly.
"Hello," she said and kissed him on the cheek. "I hear it's been said already, but thank you for coming. You know how much it means to me."
"Wouldn't miss it for the world," he said.
They always saw a bit less of each other during the school holidays, both busy with their own families, and Andromeda realised now how much she had missed him. She squeezed his hand and he seemed to understand.
The garden was full nearly to bursting at this point with children running and laughing. Teddy had planned a few games he thought the younger ones might like and was organising them into teams now.
Knowing how Teddy hated having a fuss made over him in front of everyone, Andromeda waited for a quiet moment near the end of dinner to give him the watch.
"This was your father's," she said, seating herself in the chair to his left, currently vacated because James had finished his pudding and was chasing off after some creature he thought he'd spotted at the bottom of the garden.
Teddy stared at the object in her hand. She hadn't wrapped it. It hadn't seemed necessary and besides, she had other presents of her own to give Teddy later. This one wasn't from her.
"It was his father's before him, I believe, and Remus treasured it. He managed to hold onto it through everything. There's no question he would have wanted you to have it."
Teddy reached out an uncertain hand and Andromeda placed Remus' pocket watch in his palm. It was a plain and timeworn, but somehow possessed a quiet dignity that really only came with age.
It was true, Andromeda reflected as Teddy turned the watch over in his hand, it wasn't fair that there was no one left who could tell Teddy what his father had been like at his age. Andromeda cast around for memories of Remus as a teenager, the few times Sirius had brought him round, but the most she could seem to come up with was an image of sandy-coloured hair and an apologetic smile.
She wondered if Sirius had at least mentioned at the time what they’d done on Remus' 17th birthday, but she couldn't remember now. What she did remember was Sirius' own 17th. With the help of his friends, the boy had thrown himself the birthday bash to end all birthday bashes and made a point of inviting every Muggle-born acquaintance he could. But then, Sirius had never done things by half measures.
That gave Andromeda an idea, though. "I wasn't there for your father's 17th birthday," she told Teddy, "but knowing him and his friends, I think I can imagine what it was like. Shall I tell you what I picture?"
Teddy shrugged, but his posture said he was listening. Andromeda smoothed her hand just once over his bright hair and began, “Knowing Remus, he wouldn’t have wanted anyone to make a big fuss over him.” Like you, she thought. “His birthday was in March, so he and his friends would certainly have been at school then. And Remus would have told them not to go to any trouble on his account, but of course they would have ignored that, because they really were wonderful friends to him.”
Teddy smiled and glanced across to where his friends Ben and Zach were chatting with Alastor and Victoire.
Andromeda continued, “So I picture Sirius pouncing on him first thing that morning, before he was even really awake. And James showering him with presents, because that’s what James was like, always wanting to do everything he could for his friends.”
“Harry’s dad,” Teddy said.
“Yes,” she said, looking over at Harry, who was laughing at something with Ginny and Ron. “Harry is very much like his father. And like his mother, as well. I’m not sure how close Lily was to Remus at that point, when they were still at school, but she certainly would have remembered to wish him a happy birthday, because Lily never forgot things like that. And Peter as well, because as hard as it is for us to think that way now, in those days Peter was a good friend to them.”
Teddy nodded. Andromeda knew talking about Peter Pettigrew didn’t affect him deeply as it did her, but she would never find it in herself to forgive the man who had put Sirius in Azkaban.
“Then,” she continued, “his friends would have made sure they had some sort of grand adventure planned for the day. I can imagine they might have snuck off to the Forbidden Forest together, though that wasn’t allowed in their day any more than it is in yours.”
Teddy chuckled appreciatively and Andromeda gave him a sharp look. “No, Gran,” he sighed, “Before you ask, no, I don’t sneak into the Forbidden Forest.”
“I didn’t think you did.”
“You looked at me like you thought I did.”
“Well, I certainly hope you don’t.”
“I don’t!”
“All right, then.”
There was another barely suppressed eye roll on Teddy’s part.
“Shall I continue?” Andromeda asked.
“Yes, please.”
“Well, I never met Remus’ parents, unfortunately, because they passed on before Dora and Remus met. But I know they loved him very much, and I think they must have been extraordinary people. It wasn’t easy getting him into Hogwarts; that took great perseverance on their part. I imagine they sent him their presents by post, making sure their owl arrived by breakfast on the day of his birthday.”
“I like to picture them at Hogwarts,” Teddy said suddenly. “Every now and then, I look over at the Gryffindor table and pretend Dad is there, or Mum is with the Hufflepuffs.” He shrugged and gave an embarrassed laugh.
“There’s nothing wrong with that,” Andromeda said.
James came running up again then, to report back to Teddy on some Purlocks he seemed convinced he’d spotted just beyond the garden, and Andromeda stood up to cede the seat of honour next to Teddy. She watched as Teddy, grinning, leaned in to listen to James’ chatter.
First, though, Andromeda saw him tuck his father’s watch carefully into an inner pocket of his robe. She knew he would treasure it at least as closely as Remus had.
– – – – –
Just a small note... Andromeda's little mention here of how Sirius "had thrown himself the birthday bash to end all birthday bashes and made a point of inviting every Muggle-born acquaintance he could" immediately got that episode unfolding in my head... and it turned into the short story "The Great Guest List".
– – – – –
(continue to chapter 10)
Summary: At 17, Andromeda Black thought being in love was everything. At 57, Andromeda Tonks knew better. Yet the first time Kingsley Shacklebolt asked her out, she surprised herself by saying yes.
Characters: Andromeda Tonks, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Teddy Lupin and ensemble (Harry! Ginny! Molly! Kingsley's kids! All the Potters and Weasleys!)
Warnings: None
Chapters: 15
Story:
CHAPTER NINE
Teddy's birthday dawned a perfect April day, unseasonably warm and not a cloud in the sky.
In the afternoon, Teddy helped Andromeda set up the tables for the dinner they would have later in the garden; Andromeda had Transfigured the garden furniture into a row of stately wooden dinner tables that really looked quite handsome standing there all together.
That morning Teddy had ceremonial toasted breakfast toast for both of them by magic, which they ate in honour of his official first legal magic away from Hogwarts, and Andromeda pretended not to know about all the incidental bits of magic he'd performed at home over the years, and they smiled at each other.
He had seemed quiet all day, not sad but pensive. Andromeda supposed he likely wouldn't mind, then, if she voiced a few of her own bittersweet recollections. No point in pretending they weren't both wishing his parents could have been here today.
"I'll never forget your mother's seventeenth birthday," Andromeda told him, as they arranged the place settings and the flowers. "She wanted an enormous party, and of course we gave in and let her invite as many people as she wanted. I suppose in a way it was the grand wedding party she never got to have."
Andromeda bit her lip as soon as she said that, because she disliked reminding Teddy of the rushed nature of Nymphadora and Remus' marriage.
Teddy was lost in thought, though, and didn't seem to notice. After a moment, he said, "I wish I knew what Dad's seventeenth was like too. There's nobody left who knew him then."
Andromeda was saved from having to find a response to this heart-breaking statement by the arrival of Harry and his family.
"Teddy!" Lily squealed as the family came around the side of the house, and managed to be the first to attach herself to Teddy's leg.
Teddy gently disentangled her, only to hoist a grinning Lily high in the air. Then he did the same for Albus, though he was really getting far too big.
James, as usual, was talking without seeming even to pause for breath. "So you can do magic at home, now, Teddy, huh? Can you show me? What have you done already? Can you Apparate? Did you learn at school? Have you got a license and everything? Teach me a spell, Teddy!"
Andromeda smiled and stepped to the side with Harry and Ginny, to allow Teddy time unimpeded with his fan club.
"How does it feel?" Ginny asked with a smile, as Harry went to put their present for Teddy down on one of the tables.
"Monstrously strange," Andromeda replied. "I'd only just got used to the idea that he's school-age, and here he is, almost in his last year."
Harry rejoined them and said to Andromeda in a low voice, "I'd almost decided to get him a watch, but then I realised you might want to be the one to do that. Was I right?"
Andromeda nodded. "There's one I've been saving for him all these years."
Harry's eyes widened. "You haven't got –?"
Andromeda only nodded again.
More guests started to arrive then, with Bill and Fleur and their children starting off a flood of Weasleys.
When Kingsley and his children arrived, Andromeda was occupied balancing two stacks of plates at wandpoint, but she saw Teddy head over to greet them, the perfect host.
"Thanks for coming, Mr Shacklebolt!" she heard him say.
"Happy birthday, Teddy," Kingsley said. "And really, call me Kingsley. Seems only right, especially today."
Teddy said something in response that she didn't catch and Kingsley's big laugh filled the garden, making Andromeda smile.
She went over to him as soon as her hands were free and he greeted her warmly.
"Hello," she said and kissed him on the cheek. "I hear it's been said already, but thank you for coming. You know how much it means to me."
"Wouldn't miss it for the world," he said.
They always saw a bit less of each other during the school holidays, both busy with their own families, and Andromeda realised now how much she had missed him. She squeezed his hand and he seemed to understand.
The garden was full nearly to bursting at this point with children running and laughing. Teddy had planned a few games he thought the younger ones might like and was organising them into teams now.
Knowing how Teddy hated having a fuss made over him in front of everyone, Andromeda waited for a quiet moment near the end of dinner to give him the watch.
"This was your father's," she said, seating herself in the chair to his left, currently vacated because James had finished his pudding and was chasing off after some creature he thought he'd spotted at the bottom of the garden.
Teddy stared at the object in her hand. She hadn't wrapped it. It hadn't seemed necessary and besides, she had other presents of her own to give Teddy later. This one wasn't from her.
"It was his father's before him, I believe, and Remus treasured it. He managed to hold onto it through everything. There's no question he would have wanted you to have it."
Teddy reached out an uncertain hand and Andromeda placed Remus' pocket watch in his palm. It was a plain and timeworn, but somehow possessed a quiet dignity that really only came with age.
It was true, Andromeda reflected as Teddy turned the watch over in his hand, it wasn't fair that there was no one left who could tell Teddy what his father had been like at his age. Andromeda cast around for memories of Remus as a teenager, the few times Sirius had brought him round, but the most she could seem to come up with was an image of sandy-coloured hair and an apologetic smile.
She wondered if Sirius had at least mentioned at the time what they’d done on Remus' 17th birthday, but she couldn't remember now. What she did remember was Sirius' own 17th. With the help of his friends, the boy had thrown himself the birthday bash to end all birthday bashes and made a point of inviting every Muggle-born acquaintance he could. But then, Sirius had never done things by half measures.
That gave Andromeda an idea, though. "I wasn't there for your father's 17th birthday," she told Teddy, "but knowing him and his friends, I think I can imagine what it was like. Shall I tell you what I picture?"
Teddy shrugged, but his posture said he was listening. Andromeda smoothed her hand just once over his bright hair and began, “Knowing Remus, he wouldn’t have wanted anyone to make a big fuss over him.” Like you, she thought. “His birthday was in March, so he and his friends would certainly have been at school then. And Remus would have told them not to go to any trouble on his account, but of course they would have ignored that, because they really were wonderful friends to him.”
Teddy smiled and glanced across to where his friends Ben and Zach were chatting with Alastor and Victoire.
Andromeda continued, “So I picture Sirius pouncing on him first thing that morning, before he was even really awake. And James showering him with presents, because that’s what James was like, always wanting to do everything he could for his friends.”
“Harry’s dad,” Teddy said.
“Yes,” she said, looking over at Harry, who was laughing at something with Ginny and Ron. “Harry is very much like his father. And like his mother, as well. I’m not sure how close Lily was to Remus at that point, when they were still at school, but she certainly would have remembered to wish him a happy birthday, because Lily never forgot things like that. And Peter as well, because as hard as it is for us to think that way now, in those days Peter was a good friend to them.”
Teddy nodded. Andromeda knew talking about Peter Pettigrew didn’t affect him deeply as it did her, but she would never find it in herself to forgive the man who had put Sirius in Azkaban.
“Then,” she continued, “his friends would have made sure they had some sort of grand adventure planned for the day. I can imagine they might have snuck off to the Forbidden Forest together, though that wasn’t allowed in their day any more than it is in yours.”
Teddy chuckled appreciatively and Andromeda gave him a sharp look. “No, Gran,” he sighed, “Before you ask, no, I don’t sneak into the Forbidden Forest.”
“I didn’t think you did.”
“You looked at me like you thought I did.”
“Well, I certainly hope you don’t.”
“I don’t!”
“All right, then.”
There was another barely suppressed eye roll on Teddy’s part.
“Shall I continue?” Andromeda asked.
“Yes, please.”
“Well, I never met Remus’ parents, unfortunately, because they passed on before Dora and Remus met. But I know they loved him very much, and I think they must have been extraordinary people. It wasn’t easy getting him into Hogwarts; that took great perseverance on their part. I imagine they sent him their presents by post, making sure their owl arrived by breakfast on the day of his birthday.”
“I like to picture them at Hogwarts,” Teddy said suddenly. “Every now and then, I look over at the Gryffindor table and pretend Dad is there, or Mum is with the Hufflepuffs.” He shrugged and gave an embarrassed laugh.
“There’s nothing wrong with that,” Andromeda said.
James came running up again then, to report back to Teddy on some Purlocks he seemed convinced he’d spotted just beyond the garden, and Andromeda stood up to cede the seat of honour next to Teddy. She watched as Teddy, grinning, leaned in to listen to James’ chatter.
First, though, Andromeda saw him tuck his father’s watch carefully into an inner pocket of his robe. She knew he would treasure it at least as closely as Remus had.
– – – – –
Just a small note... Andromeda's little mention here of how Sirius "had thrown himself the birthday bash to end all birthday bashes and made a point of inviting every Muggle-born acquaintance he could" immediately got that episode unfolding in my head... and it turned into the short story "The Great Guest List".
– – – – –
(continue to chapter 10)
