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Author: Author by Night Story: Beholders Rating: Teens Setting: DH-interview Status: Completed Reviews: 2 Words: 20,690
Spring, 1998 Hestia was growing tired of hiding; and while the Petunia and Dudley Dursley were becoming more and more tolerable, she hated having to tell Vernon nearly every day that she didn’t know when they’d be able to go back. Nor could she stop the other inhabitants of Cyfrinach —a secret village few knew about, now the official Order Headquarters — from practicing magic. There was some small comfort in being able to tell him to “go to hell” in Welsh, though. “It means, ‘you’re right’,” she’d lied with an innocent smile. Dudley gave her a sideways glance. Then Hestia was joined by the ones she loved, and while she hated that it had to be that way, it was far less lonely. First it was Remus, Tonks, Andromeda and Lyall, Remus’s father. Hestia’s own parents followed with Megan, whom they didn’t want to go back to Hogwarts after being forced to watch the torture of a classmate. They’d come just in time for Christmas Day night, staying with the Tonkses. It also helped that Kingsley tended to drift in and out; Hestia enjoyed his company. He was wandering, though, the official leader of the resistance. Portkeys were set up between the other havens, like Shell Cottage and Muriel Prewett’s, where the Weasleys were staying, meaning that she was able to see them on occasion as well. It wasn’t normal. But until the war was over, they had to make the best of it. And in some strange way, they did. Hestia knew Tonks’s baby was due any day now, and was glad for her friend of many years. She knew Tonks still hurt for her father — Hestia still hurt; she’d known Ted Tonks since she was eleven. It was still hard not to refer to him as “Mr. Tonks.” Hestia couldn’t begin to imagine Tonks’s pain. But she was holding herself up well, and not in the false way she had when Sirius and Emmeline died. “I have to tell you something,” Tonks said one day. They were taking one of their many walks down the dirt road, past an old farm where sheep still roamed. A thousand years and so many wars and tragedies later, things were still intact. If that wasn’t a sign of hope, what was? “Yes?” “We’ve decided to make Harry the godfather.” “Oh,” Hestia said. She felt a wave of disappointment. She wouldn’t have been surprised if they’d chosen Bill and Fleur over her; she had expected that, in fact. They were a married couple, and very close with both Remus and Tonks. But Harry? Hestia liked Harry very much, but she couldn’t quite understand why they’d chosen him. “Isn’t he a bit young? Not to mention he’s on the run — I know he’s with Bill and Fleur now, but how long will that last?” “The war has to end eventually. No one has gone to hell and back for everyone like Harry has. More importantly, if anything happens to us, he’ll be the only one who truly understands. They’ll need each other.” Hestia gave her friend a look. “Dora. Don’t talk like that.” “It’s possible. We’re still going to fight, and anything could happen. The point is… I hope you know we still want you to be part of his or her life. Like an aunt.” Hestia managed a smile, though she was unnerved by her old friend’s blunt remarks. “Of course. I look forward to being Auntie Hestia and spoiling your little boy or girl horribly.” “You won’t have to wait long,” Tonks said. “I’m having contractions.” “Wh-what? We have to get back there!” Hestia gasped. Tonks laughed. “We are getting back.” “We should hurry!” “What’s the rush? They’re still several minutes apart.” Hestia shook her head, smiling bemusedly. “Never change.” It would only occur to her later that Tonks just wanted something to be done calmly and without panic. Molly (who happened to be present on Order business) and Andromeda took over from there. Everyone else waited outside. “It’s just so quaint,” Petunia Dursley said. “Why not go to hospital?” “She’s in hiding,” Hestia reminded her. “There is a Healer coming, though, right?” Lyall asked. “As much as I hate to say it, she does have a point… there’re dangers…” “Madame Pomfrey will come once the baby’s born… she’s the only Healer affiliated with the Order qualified to deliver babies, and unfortunately it is not easy for her to get away for as long as the labour could take.” Lyall nodded. “Good. Madame Pomfrey used to take care of Remus, when he was at Hogwarts, you know. She seems stern, but damned if that lady doesn’t have a good heart.” The labour, which had started just before dinner, went until lunch the following day. They received the news by Remus bursting out of the room, hugging Lyall tightly. From the look on Lyall’s face, it had been a long time since his son had given him a hug. “It’s a boy,” Remus announced. Hestia had never heard so much happiness in his voice. “—REMUS! LYALL! QUICKLY!” Remus ran back in the room, Lyall following. Hestia’s heart sank with dread… “Since when do babies have green hair?” Hestia heard Lyall ask. “He’s morphing,” Tonks replied. “He must have my powers… now it’s pink…” Their voices grew quieter again. “Well, that’ll teach me to assume the worst,” Hestia said. A few minutes later, Andromeda came out. Her eyes were wet. “It seems Teddy’s inherited Dora’s powers,” Andromeda said. “Teddy?” “Yes. We all decided to name him that if he was a boy… after Ted, you know.” Hestia smiled. “I do.” She gave Andromeda a hug. “I am so happy for you.”
Tonks seemed more purposeful, Remus more relaxed and so much younger. They doted on their son constantly, even a little reluctant to let anyone else hold him. One day, Tonks and Remus decided to have a “friend-family picnic by that farm.” The picnic included Hestia, Bill, Fleur, Charlie and Kingsley, who’d just recorded the latest episode of Potterwatch with Remus. They sat on a hill across the farm, watching the sheep graze. Remus tenderly rocked Teddy’s pram as Tonks sat beside him, her hair — blue today, like Teddy’s — blowing in the wind. “I think ‘e ‘as your nose,” Fleur told Tonks. “But definitely Remus’s eyes.” “Of course, it changes,” Remus pointed out. “Though this does seem to be his natural face. His hair’s naturally dark, though.” “I wish Dad had met him,” Tonks said quietly. “And Sirius… although with Harry gone God only knows where, maybe it’s for the…” She frowned and began playing with the grass. “It would be nicer if they were here with no war at all,” Bill finished. “I wish I could just know when Teddy’s going to be able to leave this place,” Tonks said, touching his cheek with her finger. “The countryside is all well and good, but what about Diagon Alley? Hogsmeade? Hogwarts?” Remus put his arm around her. “The war can’t last forever. We’re going to win. And now, we have more reason than ever.” Hestia swallowed as she looked at Teddy. He was so young, so innocent… it wasn’t right. None of this was right. But Remus had a point — if nothing else, they had to keep fighting so he could live in a world outside their quiet haven. Because Cyfrinach, as beautiful and pastoral as it was, wasn’t home. Hestia couldn’t help thinking sometimes that they’d surrendered their homes to the Death Eaters. It wasn’t really like that, she knew it wasn’t, but it still bothered her sometimes. Not to mention that there were so many people she missed. Her other friends, her family… No, they had to win the war. Sooner rather than later. For now, however… “Chess,” Bill announced, appearing to have read Hestia’s mind as he pulled out the board. “Who’s with me?” “I’ll have a go,” Tonks offered, already sounding much more cheerful. Charlie, Fleur, Remus began to talk about a book Charlie had loaned Fleur, The Dragpire’s Girlfriend. Fleur had apparently loaned it to Remus in turn. “It’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever read,” Remus said, “but I daresay that’s what makes it entertaining. Please tell me it was meant to be stupid?” “Unfortunately,” Fleur said with a snort, “I don’t zink it was.” “You bloody—!” Tonks exclaimed from the other side of the blanket. Bill was beating her, as usual. Hestia and Kingsley’s eyes met, and they laughed. After a moment, Hestia pulled out a goblet and began to hold her wand to her head. “What are you doing?” Kingsley asked, sounding alarmed. “I want all of us to remember this,” Hestia explained. Especially Teddy.
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