Story: Moira
Chapter Forty Seven: Revealing Secrets

And then started the chaos.

"Wait, what do you mean, son?"

"What?!"

"Where?!"

"My baby!"

"May I know where he is?"

"Is our little–"

"–brotherkins invisible?"

"Oh my God! How is he doing? It's all my fault!"

"No, little sis–"

"We'll fix it!"

Ron looked desperately at his friends. Harry sighed. He knew he had to do something and if he did, his pseudo brother would be as good as gone from the Black family.

"SILENCE! ABSOLUTE SILENCE!" Harry shouted at the top of his voice and the whole room feel dead silent that you could hear the drop of a wand. "Let Ron talk!" The family nodded and Ron continued.

"He wants Ginny to know that it isn't her fault. He knows that he made everyone worry and feel sad and he's really. . . sorry about it. He only got to know about this. . . that's why he couldn't approach you before. . ." Ron looked at Hermione who smiled and nodded. He took her hand before revealing the long time undisclosed secret. "The Ronald Weasley you lost this day, nearly seventeen years ago is standing before you, as Ronald Black."

Everything was dead silent for what seemed like an eternity. A tear slipped down Regulus's cheek as he held Harry's arm tightly. Ron was looking at Hermione who was nervously glancing at the Weasley family. Sirius was looking down as Harry watched Ginny's face change several expressions before the tears finally fell. He wanted to hug her and comfort her but he seemed to have been stuck to the place by some sticking prank gone wrong.

"My baby!" Molly shrieked joyfully before running past everyone and enveloping Ron in a bone-crushing hug. Ron hugged her back as well and Arthur joined them. Next was Bill who held out his arms for his siblings. One by one, Charlie, Percy, Fred and George joined the group hug. Ginny was reluctant but finally gave in when Charlie extended his hand to her. Soon enough, the whole room was a sight to the lost family's reunion and there was no single dry eye in the whole kitchen; Harry included.

___________________

Draco and Astoria left early, giving the reason of catching up for the lost time but Ginny knew better; they were probably going to eat the ice cream she and Harry had bought from Florean's. Charlie secretly devoured the same treat.

The Weasley brothers including Ron were engrossed in playing a game of Exploding Snap, with Hermione helping them and Sirius shouting words of 'encouragement' every time the game exploded in someone's face. Suddenly, Ginny clapped her hands and whispered something into Hermione's ear. The latter nodded excitedly before pulling Ron up.

"Oi, what?" Ron asked the brunette who shrugged.

"I want to have a – a word with you and Harry. . ." Harry looked perplexed at her. "Yes, you! Yes, Harry!" Hermione shrieked.

"Blimey, Granger!" George exclaimed, closing his ears.

"Why so shrill!" Fred added, doing the same action as his twin. Hermione turned pink.

"Shut it, boys!" Ginny reprimanded. Neville looked offended.

"I did nothing!" he said. Ginny glared at him. "Just trying to diffuse the tension." Laughter rang around and Neville's plan worked.

"Get going before Granger shrieks again! We don't wanna get deaf!" Fred and George said in unison. Without waiting for anything, Ginny pushed the two boys to the staircase landing and Hermione pulled them up by their arm.

The startled boys had no chance but to follow the bushy haired witch. Hermione walked till she reached the first floor landing where Ginny's room was. She opened the door and after checking, let the boys in. Harry and Ron sat beside each other on Ginny's bed whilst Hermione sat at the desk.

"So, why is he here?" Ron asked Hermione, pointing at Harry who frowned.

"Why'd you say that, Ronald?" Hermione asked, looking amused.

"I thought we were going to – to, you know, snog?" Ron suggested. Harry facepalmed as Hermione turned red.

"Oi! I'll leave and you do whatever the hell you want," Harry said, standing up.

"No! Wait!" Hermione shouted. Harry turned around to face her with an impatient face. He had some enchanting work to do, after all, it was Ginny's birthday. "I – what do you both want to do? I mean, since you finished your schooling."

"I want to become a chef!" Ron piped in. Harry and Hermione raised their eyebrows at him. "So that I can smuggle as many dishes as possible and become a dog like dad!"

"Are you serious, Ron? No. Nevermi –" Hermione started to say but cut herself.

"Nope, Her-me-one! I am Ron, not dad!"

"Whoever invented this joke be damned," Harry swore.

"That's, Her-my-knee!" Hermione corrected.

"Her-me-one sounds more hotter, love."

"I'm scarred." And Harry left without even sparing a glance at them as Hermione pounced on him and enveloped him in a special embrace. Surely, the raven haired boy did not want to witness that.

When he came downstairs, Ginny shrieked at him before a blindfold formed around his eyes, knocking his useless glasses to the ground and rendering him to stagger.

"What the hell?"

"Sorry, not sorry, Harry! Just stay still and shut up!" Ginny ordered before a small hand made his arms to cross each other at his chest. A small weight was placed in his arms. It flailed around in his arms as minute sobs were heard.

"Mum! Get everyone here and him too!" Ginny shouted before loosening his blindfold. Harry blinked before looking down at his arms. His eyes widened: looking up at him was a tiny baby with dark emerald eyes and fierce red hair. The baby, a boy was looking at Harry with apt interest, observing what the teen had to offer as he reached his chubby hand to him. He looked back and found that Ginny was scratching her head; her face was slightly coloured.

"Who?" That was all Harry managed to get out.

"Teddy. Teddy Lupin," a voice said before emerging out of the crowd of redheads. A man, slightly balding with grey streaked hair and tired eyes walked to Harry, a tired smile on his scratched face. Harry blinked before remembering him as the Defence teacher of Hogwarts. "Harry Potter, pleased to meet you, my boy. I am Remus Lupin or shall I say, Moony?"

Harry's eyes widened. "Y-you are . . ." he stuttered, unable to form a coherent sentence. Ron and Hermione had come down by that time but Harry was not paying them any attention.

"Yes. I am your father's friend," Remus finished for Harry. "Now, I know that you. . . you are upset with your parents but hear what I have to say."

Remus looked at his student who nodded to him. Ginny then signaled to her family and they immediately left the place, giving reluctant looks. She too, left with them. Sirius stayed back but Regulus left.

"What?" Harry asked.

"Your parents were the greatest people I have ever met, Harry. Do you know why?" Harry shook his head no. Teddy stirred in his arms. "Your father, at the age of fifteen put himself in danger to help his werewolf friend. Your mother, from the age of eleven, loved her sister unconditionally although the latter hated her.

"Your father, convinced his family to adopt a boy who ran away from his vile family –" Remus looked at Sirius who nodded. "Your mother remained friends with a man, who was bullied by us. Yes, Harry. Yes. We were quite the teens back then and when I think of it, I don't think I want my son to become like that." The father looked at his little son lovingly who was observing the three people present in the room. "I know that the circumstances you were brought up in are quite different but I know one thing. One thing which I found out after observing you for days on end when you were at Hogwarts – you yearn for a true family, don't you, Harry?"

Harry seemed at a loss for words as he stood silent, swaying lightly on his spot. Remus continued. "And I want to help you for that, not only as a means of repaying what James did for me but also for helping his son when he needs it. Harry James Potter, I want you to be the godfather for my son, Edward Remus Lupin."

To say that Harry was shocked was an understatement. He was more than just shocked. His heart yearned to accept the offer and become a godfather for the adorable baby in his hands but his mind told him otherwise: his presence was an invite for danger plus he never really had a family to call his own even if he had Sirius, Regulus and Ron.

"I-I want to. . . But –" Harry stuttered. Remus waved him off with a chuckle.

"I understand Harry. That's why I am offering you something. You may visit Teddy and play with him but I won't, let's say, hand him to your partial role of responsibility unless I and his mother, Dora die or you turn at least twenty-three years of age or you get married; whichever comes first. Teddy has his grandmother and grandfather when we must go away for our career. As they are aged, they probably won't be able to take care of a baby like you can. The offer is up to you to choose, Harry."

Harry gulped before he looked at the baby in his arms. Teddy's hair was now jet black and messy to match his. In all, he looked like a mini-Harry. Harry took a deep breath before answering. "Yes, Moony. I'll be honoured to be Teddy's godfather."

Before the celebrations could commence, however, a loud bang was heard and Harry's senses shot up. He cursed himself for letting his guard down, then in an instant, passed Teddy to Remus, withdrew his wand and ran to the window. The scene unfolding in front of him caused his green eyes to widen considerably.

Cliffhanger again! The ending will probably filled with cliffhangers lol.

I wanted Harry to be Teddy's godfather just like canon. Hope it didn't seem out of place.

Your thoughts on this chapter? Comment!

Thank you for reading!

Miyoko x