Shadow Claw: The Life Story - The Final Chapter

Ch. 16 - Teddy Remus Lupin

Harry, Ron, Hermione and I approached the bedroom that held Ollivander inside.

Shadow had wanted to talk with Ollivander, but Shade was adamant she rested as much as possible, much to her dislike. However, he seemed to be the only one she listened to, so she respected his wishes and so they were downstairs, cuddled up on the sofa. Fleur had taken a liking to Shade, and while Shadow was completely and utterly jealous, Shade made her feel like- well, a Queen.

"... you really understand him." Ron was saying. Of course, I wasn't listening. I never did.

As we walked into the room, my pale Dark Mark seemed to twitch under my skin, as if trying to get out. I scratched it nervously, but Harry shot me an unreadable expression, so I dropped my fingertips from my arm and hugged my sides instead.

Ollivander was laying on the furthest twin bed from the window. He was anorexic-thin, the sharp bones of his facial features sticking out harshly against his sallow skin. His large, silvery eyes seemed lost in oblivion within their sunken sockets. His hands that laid upon his lap could have belonged to a skeleton.

I stood in the corner, whilst my brother and two friends sat on the empty bed, forcing a calm they did not feel. That I did not feel.

I listened to none of their conversation, except when one wand was drawn and examined. "Hawthorn and unicorn hair. Ten inches precisely. Reasonably springy. This- was- the wand of Draco Malfoy." Ollivander said. Tears brimmed my eyes harshly, stinging my nose and forcing me to cup a hand over my mouth. How dare he handle his wand with such nonchalance!

"Was?" Harry repeated. "Isn't it still his?"

"Perhaps not- I sense its allegiance has changed... to- her-..." Ollivander pointed to me with a crooked, skeletal finger.

My Mark itched again, and I scratched it discretely. That bugged me- not that my Dark Mark squirmed, but that Draco's wand had switched its master... how could I ever hold his wand and look at him the same way. Did it mean Draco was weak? Oh, he was far from weak! If anybody was weak... no. Perhaps we were all weak now. It was not the time to be sentimental.

I slowly walked over and took Draco's wand.

I'd hold it for him.

Always.

Shadow's POV

A Few Days Later

"Shade- it's just outside-" I complained.

"Shadow." Shade growled.

I scowled at him. "Baby, please. It's just outside- look, you can carry me if you're so worried that Snowy might attack me with her mini-claws." I deadpanned on him, then used my adorable kitten eyes. He swallowed hard, groaning in annoyance and tipping his head back. I whined, leaning against his neck, but Bill sat back down at the table and chuckled. "There's a storm outside." He pointed out.

"You didn't take long." I grumbled (Bill had seen Ollivander out. Shade hit my hand, and I hissed at her. "Everybody thinks I'm just a grumpy fleabag." I complained to him afterwards. James gave us all a confused expression, "But- you are, Shadow." He stated casually. I made a move to get up, but Shade had me by the waist, his arm tightly secured over my bandages. I gasped in pain, and he pulled back instantly, eyes wide as I collapsed back into my chair, glowering at James.

"Come on." Shade growled after thanking Fleur for dinner, even though we had not finished. He scooped me up and laid me on the sofa, giving me strict orders not to move or go anywhere. I folded my arms gently and turned my head away from him, but my eyes softened as he pressed a kiss to my cheek.

All of a sudden, there was a loud bang on the door. I jumped, and Shade was back at my side within a single second, crouched with his hands over my shoulders. Fleur came running from the kitchen, looking frightened, whilst Bill leapt to his feet and pointed his wand to the door. I tried to unsheathe my own wand, but Shade shot me a dangerous look that told me I'd be severely scolded if I made another move. My hands dropped from my pockets.

Harry, Ron and Hermione held their wands to the door too, whilst Griphook slipped underneath the dinner table. Jenny was behind Harry, his arm against her side protectively, while James was already in Grim form, padding back and forth in the anticipation. Snowy and Tobias were underneath him, sitting together and mewling out a quiet argument, until Shade beckoned them over, and they came skittering onto the sofa, nestling themselves around me.

"Who is it?" Bill called, his voice strained.

"It is I, Remus John Lupin!" The voice yelled over the howling winds. A shiver ran through my spine, and this time my hands grabbed at Shade, who placed a hand against my cheek to soothe me. "I am a werewolf, married to Nymphadora Tonks, and you, the Secret Keeper of Shell Cottage, told me the address and bade me come in an emergency!"

"It's Lupin- it's him- open the door!" Jenny shrieked. Bill muttered something and rushed to the door, wrenching it open.

Lupin staggered over the threshold, white-faced and wrapped in a travelling cloak, his hair windswept and ruffled. He straightened up and glanced around, making sure who was there, then cried out suddenly, "It's a boy! We've named him Ted, after Dora's father!"

Hermione shrieked. "Wha-? Tonks- Tonks has had the baby?"

"Yes, yes, she's had the baby!" Lupin shouted, ecstatic. The whole room leapt into cheers and cries of delight and relief. "Congrats!" Ron chuckled, "Bloody 'ell, a baby!" He gawked as if he'd never heard of such a thing before.

"Yes- yes- a boy." Lupin said over and over, seemingly dazed by his own happy news. He strode around the table and hugged Harry, the scene in Grimmauld Place only months before completely forgotten. "You'll be godfather?" He asked, releasing Harry. Jenny's mouth fell open. "M-me?" Stammered Harry.

"You- yes, of course- Dora quite agrees, no one better-"

"I- yeah- blimey-" Harry looked quite astonished and overwhelmed. Jenny looked quite jealous.

"What am I? The family cat?" I grumbled from the sofa, now sitting up, Shade's hand settled on my lower waist for support. Lupin turned to me and smiled widely, scooping me into a gentle hug after seeing the bandages securely fastened to my mid-section. "If you want to be, Shadow." He chuckled, ruffling my hair. I swatted him away, a smile finally landing my lips. Shade laughed, "I'll be the family cat, then. And these are the bearded dragons, Snowy and Tobias, and we've got Mr. Shade over here as the family tortoise." I decided loudly. Everybody chuckled at me, including Jenny, who had been rather passive-aggressive towards me for the past week or so. Shade rolled his eyes and kissed me heavily, to which I responded quite contentedly.

Bill hurried to fetch the wine, and Fleur was persuading Lupin to stay for a drink.

In amongst all the pain, suffering and darkness, life had wriggled its way into the middle of it.

"Teddy Remus Lupin, eh? That's a name worth drinking to." I grinned at Lupin, and we clinked glasses.

If I had known I were to drink three bottles of wine that night, I would have stopped at three glasses, but hey, I didn't remember it, so I supposed I learned my lesson.

For the time being, that was.