History and Truth

Explained

Teddy was unable to sleep the rest of the night. He kept wondering if Harry already knew his dad's side of what had happened and wondering what Harry thought about it, if knowing his dad's side would change anything about how Harry saw his dad, if knowing all of this would make a difference to his grandmother. Hannah and Seth stayed with him in the common room until they thought it might be time for breakfast and made their way downstairs. Each of them picked at their breakfast until they saw Harry enter the Hall. All three came out of their seats like there were springs on their butts. 

"What did you read last night," Harry asked before either of them had a chance to say anything. All three tried to tell him at once. Head Mistress Weasley walked up to the three pummeling Harry with information and called for attention.

"Thank you for that. Mrs. Weasley would you and your husband mind joining us in the room off of the hall for breakfast? I have a feeling you might be interested in what they were trying to tell me."

With that Harry called for a house elf and asked that breakfast be sent to the chamber and the adults joined Teddy and his friends. Once everyone was there and seated Harry looked to Teddy.

"Now, to bring everyone up to date. I gave Teddy the book Remus and Tonks left for him before he boarded the Express on Friday. He has been reading it to his friends here and to Ginny and I as well last night. Apparently, they read something they deem very important after they were back in the dorm last night. Now, Teddy. Please tell me what you read."

Teddy relayed everything that they had read and included that what had them upset was the loose pages that fell out and that they have no idea where they fit in the story of everything but that he thought his dad deserved for the truth to be known since he truly had much to worry about in the incident and the others seemingly were unaware of it at the time.

"Thank you Teddy," Harry said quietly. "In all honesty, I had no idea all of that was taking place that night. By the time I arrived at the Burrow my mind was so caught up in being attacked, the loss of Hedwig and leaving Privet Drive for good that it didn't occur to me at the time what any of the adults were dealing with outside of that. Had I thought about it, it wouldn't have been hard to figure out that your mom was pregnant at the time and that your dad was under tremendous pressure and fear."

"I guess none of us did if we are honest," Hermonine said. 

"At the time I was only thinking about my family and my friends," Ron admitted. "I think we all took your parents, especially your dad for granted Teddy. Your dad was Professor Lupin, the man that taught us how to defend ourselves and to look beyond what was expected of us and stereotypes. He was larger than life to us. As a parent now, I can not even imagine being in his place that night." Ron looked at his wife and then at the floor. "If that had been you when you were carrying any of ours, especially our first, I would not have dealt with it as well as he did."

"I wouldn't have either," Harry added. "This just shows, yet again what a great man your dad was Teddy. You were right, he did deserve for that story to be told and cleared up. Its not like any of us held any hard feelings toward him for any of it. It just puts things in perspective. Thank you." 

"Hey Teddy, since we are all here would you mind reading some of it for us," Ron asked. "Hearing things from his way of seeing things makes me look at it different."

Teddy picked up the book and found where he left off before the loose pages fell out.

"With the prospect of attending Hogwarts now in front of us, the next two years passed quickly. There were many things I needed to learn, having never attended an actual school. I had to learn proper classroom procedure and ettiquete. We discussed ways to help cover some of my scars. My parents assured me that I would not be behind but in fact would be ahead of many of my classmates in many areas.

Before I knew it the summer of 1971 had arrived and with it my acceptance letter and booklist. My parents also received a letter stating that all measures were in place and if they would like to look over them before the start of term they were welcome to do so.

Finally, the day came in which we went to Diagon Alley to purchase my school things. While in Madame Malkins, I noticed a boy who looked to be my age. He was being fitted when my parents and I walked in. It turned out that the boy's father knew my parents. They had attended Hogwarts around the same time as he had and obviously they did not get along at all.

We moved out of the way to wait our turn. The boy had black hair and was very confident which I admired. His father made a comment to him we could not hear. The boy looked at me. I offered a small smile which he returned. When his father saw this he promptly slapped the boy across the face. In retrospect my response was not very wise but it was a gut reaction.

"Don't do that," I said loudly. I now had the attention of the entire shop. "He didn't do anything wrong. Don't hit him like that."

The boy looked at me in surprise and smiled then looked immediately at the floor again. His father had taken a couple of steps towards me and drawn his wand. I glared at him. After everything I had gone through over the past 7 years, this man didn't frighten me at all.

Before anything more could happen my father had stepped in front of me and a man I recognized as an auror friend of my father's stepped out from behind a curtain to my right.

"You arrogant piece of filth!" the boys father spat at me. "How dare you..."

"How dare he what, Black? Point out to everyone that you are a heartless bastard that smacks his kids around whenever he feels like it." 

"Hold on," Ron interrupted. "Did he say 'Black?' As in Sirius?"

"I think we just heard how your dad met my godfather Teddy."

"My father clearly thought this was not the first time the boy had been hit.

"Is everything alright over here, Lupin?" my dad's friend asked.

"Well Potter, the blood traitor to the rescue is it?"

"Potter? As in your grandfather Harry," Teddy asked.

"It sounds like it Teddy."

 "Black here smacked his son for smiling at my son. Remus here is not used to such behavior and told Mr. Black to stop and that he was wrong for doing so. Naturally, Mr. Black did not take kindly to being corrected by a child but I find it ironic that an 11 year old knows more about how to treat people than a full grown 'Pure-blood' does."

By this time Mr. Black was livid. He turned to the seamstress and said, 'You have his measurements. Have his things sent to us by our house elf. 'Kreacher.'

"Yes master," a tiny creature appeared from nowhere.

"Stay here to retrieve Sirius' uniforms and robes. Sirius, now!"

As the two of them began towards the door, the boy called Sirius glanced at me and mouthed 'thank you' quickly. Mr. Potter watched them go before turning to my father.

"Your boy has guts, Lupin. I'm betting he's sorted into Gryffindor. Well, have to finish up with mine. See you on the platform."

My parents and I were waited on and I was fitted for my uniform. I was very excited. However, my mind kept wondering what was happening to Sirius right then. We finally finished purchasing my supplies and books. I asked if we could make one more stop before going home. They agreed. I led them to Olivander's.

Mr. Olivander stepped up to his counter and looked down at me with a smile. "Mr. Lupin. Good news to share I presume."

"Yes sir. I'm going to Hogwarts this year! Thank you for selling me my wand 2 years ago. I just wanted to tell you and say thanks again."