Teddy Lupin: The Boy Who Remained

Chapter 1. The Boy Who Remained

Teddy lay on his bed, staring blankly at the dark ceiling, listening to the relentless ticking of the clock on the wall opposite. The room was still, save for that rhythmic sound, counting away the seconds. Then, with a sudden jolt, he shot upright as realization flooded him. Today was the day his godfather, Harry, had promised to take him to Diagon Alley to buy his school supplies for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. His acceptance letter had arrived only a week ago, signed by the Headmistress herself—just as his parents and his godfather had received in their own time. A thrill surged through him that words couldn't capture; his excitement felt as if it might burst out of him.

He had devoured every book he could find about Hogwarts, including Hogwarts: A History, which Aunt Hermione had given him for his birthday. (She wasn't his real aunt, of course; he wasn't blood-related to the Weasleys, but Weasleys had always been like a family to him.) He'd spent the past week bombarding his gran with questions, eager to know every detail about the school, right down to the enchanted ceiling in the Great Hall. And now, at last, he was about to see Diagon Alley—the place he'd read about in so many books, where so many magical lives began.

He squinted at the clock in the darkness, hoping dawn had finally arrived, but the hands rested stubbornly at just past three. Groggy but far too restless to go back to sleep, he climbed out of bed and stumbled over to the large window, pulling back the curtains. Outside, the world was silent, bathed in the silvery glow of a full moon. The palm tree that stood just beyond his window swayed gently, its leaves casting faint shadows across the ground. The scene was hauntingly beautiful, but Teddy shivered slightly, pulling his gaze away. "Dad wouldn't have liked it," he murmured softly, remembering his father's dislike for full moons. With one last glance outside, he let the curtains fall back into place.

As he returned to his desk, he clicked on the old lamp that had once belonged to his mother. Its warm light spilled over the cluttered surface, casting gentle shadows. His fingers brushed against familiar objects—a stack of quills, a notebook scrawled with questions about Hogwarts, a small magical compass his gran had given him. But his hand stilled when it found the photograph. He picked it up slowly, his heart tightening as he gazed at it.

The moving picture showed a young woman with bubblegum-pink hair, cradling a newborn in her arms. Her gaze was fixed adoringly on the man beside her, a weary-looking but happy man with light brown hair, his robes slightly frayed. Teddy could almost see the love in his father's eyes as he looked down at him, and he could feel the warmth of his mother's joy. The two adults shared a smile, the picture capturing a moment of happiness that was both timeless and painfully fleeting. Below the photograph, in elegant script, was written: Nymphadora, Remus, and Teddy Lupin, April 16th, 1998.

He stared at his parents' joyful, vibrant faces, feeling as though they might step right out of the picture and wrap him in their arms. But reality settled over him with a cold weight; his parents were gone. They had fought valiantly in the Second Wizarding War, battling the Dark Wizards, and had fallen on the last day of the war, leaving him an orphan. Since then, his grandmother, Andromeda Tonks, had raised him. He also had a wonderful godfather, Harry Potter, who was as famous as he was kind—a man who had taken Teddy in as though he were his own son.

Teddy loved them both deeply, but sometimes, when he saw other children holding hands with their parents or laughing as a family, a hollow ache grew within him that even Gran and Harry couldn't quite fill. Yet he held no resentment toward his parents; if anything, he was fiercely proud of them.

From stories told by Harry and Gran, he knew his mother had been a humorous, spirited witch who could brighten any room. Gran had often told him that she was a skilled Auror—a protector of the wizarding world—who had fought Dark wizards with courage and compassion. And he knew, without question, that she had loved him with all her heart. His father, on the other hand, was known for his quiet strength and boundless kindness. Teddy had even met some of his father's former students, each of whom said the same thing: Remus Lupin was the best Defense Against the Dark Arts professor they had ever had. Both of his parents had served in the Order of the Phoenix, a group formed by Albus Dumbledore to stand against Voldemort.

Teddy's gaze drifted back to the photograph, and a bittersweet pang ran through him. He couldn't help but wonder what life would have been like if his parents had survived. What would it feel like to hear his mother's laugh or to see his father's proud smile on the day he boarded the Hogwarts Express? But he quickly shook himself free of the daydream, knowing that such thoughts would only leave him feeling emptier.

With a heavy sigh, he placed the photograph carefully back on the desk. He sprawled back onto his bed, the soft glow of his mother's old lamp casting warmth over the room, and before he knew it, he had drifted off, his last thoughts lingering on the parents he never truly got to know but would always love.

"Ted, you'd better wake up," Andromeda's voice rang out, clear and sharp, cutting through the quiet of the early morning. Teddy grumbled something unintelligible from beneath the layers of blankets—something that probably sounded like "five more minutes, Gran"—as he burrowed further in, hoping to avoid the slivers of sunlight peeking through the curtains.

But Andromeda was undeterred. She gave him a firm shake, adding with a knowing smile, "Harry's waiting for you downstairs. Are you sure you want to miss your trip to Diagon Alley?"

The words hit him like a spell, and Teddy shot upright, his eyes wide with excitement. He flung the blankets off, nearly tripping over them as he scrambled to his feet. "Tell him I'll be down in five—no, one minute!" he exclaimed, hastily yanking on his sweater, his fingers clumsy with anticipation.

Moments later, Teddy thundered down the stairs, skidding into the kitchen, where Harry stood waiting. Harry's face lit up as he spotted Teddy, and he opened his arms with a wide, welcoming grin.

"Hi, Ted," Harry said warmly.

Without a moment's hesitation, Teddy launched himself into Harry's embrace, gripping his godfather tightly. The familiar scent of Harry's robes and the strength in his arms wrapped around Teddy like a comfort he'd known his whole life.

"We're going to pop over to my house first," Harry explained, releasing him. "Then we'll head to Diagon Alley. Sound good?"

Teddy's face lit up, and he nodded eagerly, the thrill of the adventure ahead sparking in his eyes. He'd waited for this moment since he first heard the name Diagon Alley; it was the start of everything he'd read about Hogwarts.

Harry chuckled, pulling a small, delicate pouch from his pocket. It shimmered faintly in his hand, its green contents swirling like stardust as he handed it to Teddy. "Alright, you take this and go ahead. Ginny's waiting for you at home, and I'll be right behind you."

Teddy caught a flicker of something in Harry's expression—something serious, almost hesitant. But his faith in Harry was unshakable, so he didn't ask questions. He simply flashed a reassuring smile. "Alright. See you, Gran!" he called over his shoulder as he took a pinch of Floo Powder in his hand.

Stepping into the fireplace, he inhaled sharply, the familiar yet strange smell of ash and magic filling his lungs. "Godric's Hollow, number five!" he shouted, tossing the powder at his feet. Instantly, emerald flames erupted around him, and the room blurred, twisting as he felt the pull of the Floo Network. He held his breath as a rush of spinning green light engulfed him, carrying him forward, and the last sound he heard was the faint, comforting echo of Andromeda's voice calling after him.