O-Okay

Avery let out a surprised laugh at the news that he'd been a counselor. "Well. I'll be careful what I say from here on out, then."

Not that she really would, or that her expression implied that she wanted to do so. But it seemed like the thing to say, and was at least a lame attempt at a real joke. Still, she sobered up as he explained. Throwing away her coffee cup in a trash bin as they walked, she did her best to keep her attention focused on him in a sort of understanding way rather than one of those overly penetrating ways. That would probably just make him too embarrassed to continue.

Say what you will about Avery as a whole, but she can definitely be quite considerate when she wants to be. So perhaps that was why she felt like her heart was breaking just listening to him.

By the time he was into the thick of it, they had made it into a more quiet, residential area. Between rows of houses, there was a tiny little fenced-in park with a bench. She opened the gate and made her way over to the bench, unable to look at him anymore. But when he finished, she couldn't leave it alone and switch to her problems like she was supposed to. Instead, as she turned towards him, Avery hoped that he wouldn't mind it.

"I don't think you give yourself enough credit. You've spent your life helping people, and I think that means that sometimes your problems go unnoticed. Like I said, people just don't realize they ought to ask. I think, sometimes, that people get used to other people asking about them, and feel comfortable that way. People like talking about themselves, which, I guess means that this conversation isn't particularly exceptional as far as most people would be concerned."

Had she been sitting next to Keiran, she probably would have just hugged him. But she didn't know what Teddy would actually think of that, so she didn't.

Instead, her hand settled on his knee.

"You are not a mess," she told him firmly, expression insistent. "You just need some people who'll ask more often."

Her comment made him immediately want to retract his statement, to clarify that he ended up being a rotten counselor when it came down to it and she was quite alright, he could barely understand his motives, let alone get too preoccupied analyzing her own... but it was a good thing he looked her way, because there was a smile in her eyes, a lightness in her lips, and he knew she was just teasing. "Oh," he said, a laugh stumbling from his lips as he nodded. "Right." He was grinning, and it was enough that a kid Lily would have rolled her eyes and made some comment about him being a total goof.

Lily had a tendency to be right.

One of things Teddy didn't like about life is ending up somewhere you had never planned on being. Mostly, he hated the sensation because he had never accidentally ended up somewhere pleasant. He ended up in a fragmented family, in the thick of a betrayal, in the thick of heartache. Never did he take in his surroundings, and find them to suddenly be changed for the better. Lily was always farther, the boys always more distant, his certainties less certain, and his morals further compromised.

But he found himself realizing they had found a park, if one could even call it that, and that not only was the bench comfortable, and the view charming, but the company was a far nicer thing than pleasant.

And suddenly, everything felt so sudden to his slow soul, her gaze was on him in full and he became painfully aware of the empty cup in his hands, which he should have had the thought to have abandoned, because here it was, clumsily keeping him tethered to feelings of hesitation and uncertainty and awkwardness. But Avery's eyes. A blue grey that was everything bright, slowly turning a deeper, darker color. Quite a bit like the woman herself, if he followed these poetic whims.

Her hand was on his knee, and the words he had heard before, always much less enthusiastically and always more placating, were burrowing deep into him, and he wanted to thank her and make things better for her, the way she was doing for him. But what could he do? He hardly knew what to say.

And his hand settled on top of hers, and his eyes were down, staring at their hands, heart pounding because he felt too embarrassed to look at her. "Avery. Would you maybe want-"

And then a silvery cat with a distinguished face and large eyes was bounding towards them, calling Avery's name. It's words, in Keiran's rumbling voice, were reassuring, promising it wasn't an emergency, but that Sophie (whoever that was) was sick and she should probably come back. His hand had jerked away at the Patronus' arrival, as though it were a spy sent by the Headmaster - and Teddy weirdly wouldn't doubt that, all these strange coincidences of Hayes interrupting too numerous to ignore. He swallowed and looked over at the blonde. "I don't want to hold you up. You should, you should handle that."

You. Teach. Curative. Magic.

...

Oh yeah.

He cleared his throat, suddenly feeling more nervous than he had since his failed attempt to leave the coffee shop and start over. "Do you need... would you like help? I mean, Mungo's is probably best. But, if you need me..."

You have me.

Her eyes widened as she watched him and tried to figure out what he was going to say. Why she couldn't just wait and listen, well -- I couldn't tell you, reader. But Avery didn't come up with a guess before he was cut off and she turned her head to look at the cat that had slithered up to them. In the middle of Muggle London. Merlin. It was incredibly lucky that they had found a quiet part of town. Anyone looking down from windows would surely think they had imagined it, but it still made her uncomfortable.

But that discomfort was nothing compared to when he ripped his hand away, as if he were ashamed. It wasn't like Keiran would say anything if he knew. But, if he knew what, exactly? Even Avery couldn't answer that question, which reminded her that she needed to calm down. Surprised. Surely he was just surprised.

But when he looked at her again, concern for her daughter was written across her features. She did need to go. Regardless of Keiran's phrasing, she couldn't leave that. Teddy didn't know who Sophie was, and that had been done deliberately, now that she really thought about it. Nobody found out about Sophie unless they were going to stick around. Like Keiran and Bridget and - and Claire. Sophie just couldn't take people coming and going, it seemed. Not that she had ever said so, of course.

She felt bad, though, about just up and leaving. And she was still curious.

Still, as the patronus dissipated, she stood up and realized that she had jumped away after he did. Thank Merlin she hadn't left her hand there without his to approve. Avery glanced around uselessly, trying to determine the best way to get back to the castle. But Teddy spoke again, and she turned to look at him, hands safely in her pockets.

"Well, then." She replied, slightly surprised, but recognizing her lapse of judgment. Of course he could help. She did feel some level of anxiety over bringing him back to Keiran's rooms at Hogwarts, and over Sophie being introduced to him. But in theory, she would see it as a him being a healer of sorts.

Not as him being someone Avery wanted to see again.

"That would be nice, actually. Thank you," she said, deciding it would be a great deal less stressful for Sophie if they didn't have to go to St. Mungo's. As if that was the only reason, Avery just tried to figure out which way they had gone after leaving the Leaky.

But Teddy had a solution for that. Within moments, they were standing outside the Shrieking Shack, and Avery was frowning at it. What in Merlin's name was-?

Interesting. Her nerves getting the better of her with the tunnel they found themselves in, she followed behind him - perhaps a bit too close, considering she kept brushing his sleeve with the hands that fidgeted anxiously in front of her stomach. Much to her surprise, they came out on the other side underneath a giant, gnarled and oddly worrying tree. But they were somehow on the Hogwarts grounds, and her sheer surprise was enough to distract her from her uncertainty with him. At least for a little bit.

But then they were finally to the castle, up the stairs, and to Keiran's quarters in the tower she could not have found on her own. It was massively lucky, really, that Teddy had offered a helping hand. When Keiran opened the door, Avery hurried past, scooping up Sophia almost before the girl's arms were extended towards her.

While she murmured greetings and reassurances, Keiran blinked at Teddy. He could not believe that she had mentioned Sophie, but more than that, he wasn't sure what to do. Thank him for showing her the way? She'd gotten lost last time. Ask if he needed anything? Invite him in? He didn't know why that would be a good idea. But-

Avery looked around Keiran to find the older professor. "Teddy? Can you-?"

He was certain his desire to help was probably weird, that it had come out either too eager or too hesitant, he could hardly tell which. Not that it mattered, for there was no way she was going to take him on his weird offer. It was probably intrusive, a step over the boundaries, and they had only agreed to coffee. All this soul-searching and heart-baring had probably given her her fill of Lupin angst for the month. She would thank him, apologize for the intrusion, and they would part ways, leaving him to fret over whether or not the day had gone well, when he should follow up, if it was too personal to ask her after this Sophie person's health.

Oh.

But his help would be nice.

Oh, Merlin.

Everything he knew about curative magic flew out of his head. Figures.

The complication of getting back to Hogwarts quickly was solved, luckily, by all of that aforementioned Lupin angst. Part of him wanted to mention during their walk that the tunnel and tree existed because of his father, but he could see the worry lingering in her expression, and he didn't want to seem insensitive. Instead, he stayed on reassurances that the tunnel wasn't too obscure, that there was a chance Keiran knew about it, and joked that even if he didn't, they could have something on the Headmaster.

Soon enough, they were on the school grounds, heading towards the Headmaster's tower, the conversation slowing now that Teddy was surrounded by workmates and students, nodding his head at the Hogwarts population, not breaking his stride as he tried not to engage with any of them and end up committed to some new task. They ascended the stairs and stepped through, Avery immediately sweeping forward to greet this sick Sophie-

A baby.

Right.

Husband.

Yes.

If Teddy hadn't any experience with healing magic, this is where he would have ducked away, apologized for the intrusion, and hidden away until he was forcibly reminded by fate (or Maddie McKillon) that he had been raised by Gryffindors, damnit.

But his courage returned, because Avery hardly even looked at Keiran, instead turning towards him, her eyes locked onto his, asking for help. And, like that, all of his expertise on curative magic came tumbling back, because a little girl with Avery's eyes needed his help. He stepped forward, holding out his hands to take the little girl. He glanced towards a nearby table and looked to Keiran. "May I?"

His arms cradled the little girl and he offered her a small smile as he took her to the table, setting her down. "Hello, darling," he said quietly, gently placing his wand across his lap as he squatted in front of her. A hand brushed her head, and he could feel the slight build of a fever. His eyes narrowed and he craned his head, spotting the smallest signs of a rash beginning behind her ears and reaching down.

He frowned as she stared at him, registering the patience in the little girl despite his examination. "Alright, dear, do you see my wand?" He lifted it with a smile as her eyes locked on it. "Watch this." He performed a quick movement, murmuring the spell under his breath, confirming what he thought. He reached out and rubbed her back with a smile. "Good show, Sophie, good show. You did so well."

He picked up again and turned towards Avery, saying, "It's roseola, most likely. The rash should be gone in the next day or two, and as long as the fever doesn't last more than three days, she should be fine. Just rest, fluids, and if you put a little anti-inflammatory potion in her juice, her fever won't bother her so much."

[ooc: Fine, break my heart why don’t you. –swoons dramatically– ]


A momentary flash of panic struck Avery’s pulse when he strode into the room and took her little toddler to see to her. Wait. Was it panic, though? There was something impressive about how confident and determined Teddy seemed in this world, in this light. Her eyes followed him as Keiran nodded his assent, adding in an, “Of course.”

It wasn’t until Keiran crossed to stand beside her that she really jerked out of that odd, astounded feeling. Then she stepped forward to stand next to Sophie, even if her daughter was too aware of Teddy to pay her any mind. Something irrationally affectionate flickered through her mind, but Avery slapped it away in surprise, telling herself to focus. She knew Sophie would be fine once he saw to her, but she hated herself a little for feeling so distracted.

But damnit, he was just wonderful. And Sophie looked positively comfortable, though Avery could concede that it might have been because the poor girl was tired. She just couldn’t believe she hadn’t noticed the redness on Sophie’s neck earlier. That would bother her even a few days after the rash had fully gone away, but she knew very well that the problem occurred because Sophie had not said anything about it – at least, not to her. If a single word about feeling unwell had been voiced, Teddy might have had a lonelier day. Not that Avery wouldn’t have tried to make up for it, of course, but still.

He gave her a series of suggestions, which she filed carefully away for later. Sophie reached out for her hand, though, and let out a yawn.

“Thank you,” she said earnestly, as if he had just saved Sophie from a terrible fate, rather than a longer stretch of discomfort and a trip to St. Mungo’s. Reaching out, she gave Teddy’s hand a squeeze before releasing him and turning to look at Keiran. “I should take her home-“

“I’ll make dinner,” he cut in firmly. “Go ahead and take her into my room.”

Avery nodded. “Maybe best to avoid magical travel for now. Alright, then I’m going to go lay down with you for a bit, sweetheart,” she told Sophie. “That sound good?” The little girl nodded, her dark-blonde hair bouncing almost like Avery’s did.

So Avery looked back to Teddy, trying to decide what she was supposed to say now that she wasn’t really leaving. And she didn’t know if he would leave, either. The way Keiran was eyeing them, it seemed like he might not. But more than anything, she didn’t know how to say goodbye without the promise of seeing him again. And that conflict scared her so much that she just looked at him for a few moments, desperate to think of something. And she just couldn’t, because that wasn’t really something she’d had to do with Robin. They hadn’t gone through those steps.

That comparison in itself was enough to startle her into action. Stepping forward and managing to do so quickly enough that she didn’t scare herself out of it, she threw one arm around his neck and the other released Sophie so it could settle on his chest. Lifting her chin, she settled it on his shoulder. “Thank you,” she said again, but quietly this time, so Keiran couldn’t pry. Then, a bit more quickly: “For today, for all of it.”

Avery nearly pulled away, but suddenly, something came to her. “Whatever you started to ask earlier…” I would have said yes. “..I hope you’ll try again.”

So then – then – she drew back, genuinely embarrassed as much as she was reluctant. Sophie, though. She turned around as her cheeks warmed, lifting Sophia into her arms and glancing back for just a moment as she disappeared into Keiran’s room.

The headmaster was thoroughly conflicted, as he wanted Avery to feel like she was allowed to move on when she was ready. But Robin was the best friend he’d ever had, and had truly been good to Avery once he understood what that meant and knew he loved her like he should have. So although he let silence reign for a moment and gave Teddy a few seconds to try and decide what to do with himself, Keiran eventually reached for his wand and cast a silencing charm in the general direction of his room. Not on his side, but for hers. Then he turned to Teddy, folding his arms despite the way he still held onto his wand.

“So. It seems like you two had an interesting day.”

Teddy was certain that the only reason his first meeting with Avery’s daughter (though she had never actually said, it seemed only logical that this little clone was a product of her marriage) had gone well was because of the fact that there was something that needed fixing. Had she just needed an escort back to Keiran’s office and the meeting stumbled unto, he would have put his foot in his mouth and done something to ruin everything. But as Sophie left his arms for his mother’s, he found that the ice had been broken rather authentically, rather than awkwardly, which was usually the case with him.

Though it had been he who had diagnosed her, the little girl looked all the more better just be in her mother’s grasp, to have that physical connection to the one person who would always take care of her. Roseola was hardly something to worry about when it came down to it, especially in such a mild case as Sophie’s, but he had no doubt that Avery would labor over her daughter’s health until there was no trace of the sickness, and then labor some more.

And that was why children needed their mothers. For that assurance, that certainty, that lifelong guarantee of someone who would guard and protect you from every enemy.

Sophia was lucky to have Avery.

He felt his hand warm and he glanced down, before looking up at the owner of the attached hand, and offered Avery a smile, shaking his head. “Don’t mention it,” he said, settling on that in his fit of self-consciousness and humility. He would have done no less, considering the condition, his resume, and his willingness to be of help to the Bishop woman.

Avery wanted to leave, which was more than fair as the little girl needed her rest and Teddy had managed to steal the entire afternoon from her despite their interruption. But Keiran would have none of it, and it struck Teddy belatedly that remaining where she was would be the best option for the child until she managed to get some of the potion in her system anyway. Teddy was now struck, however, with the dilemma of what was to come next. Obviously, he was meant to go. They had gotten their coffee, he had done his duty, but Avery was lingering.

And once again, their good bye was complicated by the presence of a certain Headmaster with a rogue eyebrow that seemed determined to lift and make fools of them all.

He opened his mouth, deciding he would excuse himself with the reasoning of needing to get back to grading or wanting to get out of their hair, but she had suddenly stepped forward and enfolded him into a hug. He blinked in surprise, arms hanging uselessly at his sides far longer than they should have, considering he had played Quidditch and should have had better reflexes. But then she was speaking and he felt a smile form despite his own uncertainty, and he felt an arm lift to wrap around her waist, returning the hug that both so desperately needed after an emotional day. He whispered, “Thank you for asking. For coffee, for a walk, for the rest.”

He felt her begin to withdraw – hardly fair since he had just gotten in on the embrace – but she stopped herself. Surprise touched onto his expression, in part because he hadn’t expected her to remember, and he certainly hadn’t expected her to acknowledge it if she had, especially in such an encouraging manner. He would have been more embarrassed but a sense of victory was pounding deep in his chest, the encouragement having roused a sense of happiness in him that expressed itself in a pleased, if bemused look on his face.

The smile remained for a moment after she was gone. And then he remembered that Keiran was there, and he had probably get going. He turned to the Headmaster, an excuse on his lips, but the man’s crossed arms and knowing expression immediately assured Teddy that he was going nowhere fast. Teddy offered a nervous chuckle, reaching up to rub the back of his neck. “Yeah, we did. I, um… I confess I haven’t been as social, lately, as I maybe should have. Avery had to help me figure out how to have a conversation again.”

After Avery dug out the correct potion from Keiran's stores, Sophia drank it and snuggled into the blankets on Keiran's bed without question. Avery, despite knowing full well that she might get a bit of what her daughter was now dealing with, let herself stretch out on top of the covers. She turned towards Sophie, folding her left arm at the elbow so she could use it as an extra pillow. For a moment, both simply settled in. But then Sophie looked at Avery, and the elder blonde smiled a little.

"He was nice, huh? The healer."

Sophie nodded, bringing a wider smile to her mother's face. The little girl smiled a little, too.

"I thought so, as well."

Closing her eyes, Avery let her forehead rest against Sophie's arm, trying (though not very hard) to think about something - anything - else. Anything besides how much she would like to hug him again.

Keiran wasn't sure how to respond to Teddy's vague commentary on their day, but he got the distinct impression that it was done on purpose. That, he supposed, was fair enough. Teddy didn't really know either of them well enough to speak openly, perhaps, though Keiran would have preferred him to do so.

The headmaster's eyes followed the movement of Teddy's hand, indeed lifting that eyebrow. He was confused, for the most part, that the other man had asked no questions upon Avery's request for help. He had simply walked in, done the thing, and known her name. That meant, apparently, that they had still been together when Avery got his message.

So Teddy knowing her name wasn't necessarily strange. But Avery had brought him back, and let him just pick her up as though she trusted him with anything when it came to her daughter. And he severely doubted that, but her actions suggested otherwise. Which led him to a shocking conclusion:

"It must have been a bit more than just a simple conversation if she told you about Sophie," Keiran returned, perhaps a bit too bluntly. It may not have been the best plan to go ahead and kick it off, but Hayes wasn't particularly patient, considering they were discussing Avery. He was her big brother, in essence, and couldn't imagine a world or a life where it wouldn't be the case.

"Avery doesn't just tell people about her."

Teddy had always liked Keiran. Not for the usual reasons either. Not because of all he had done, or the firm way he wielded power, or because he was clearly an intelligent man. It wasn't because of his positions in the Ministry, Hogwarts, or various social circles. Teddy's admiration did not come from the way Keiran had withstood domestic tragedy after domestic tragedy without so much as revealing the cracks in his foundations to the outside world, his chin still level and shoulders pulled back. Much of Teddy's respect did have to do with these things, but the thing that drew him to the Hayes man most was a subtle softness he had to him, despite everything else he was supposed to be.

That softness, right now, was absent.

Teddy could feel that respect morphing into a sense of intimidation instead, a more threatening emotion than he had felt all year for the man. His eyes were sharp and his words unbending, and Teddy could feel a heat in his neck that threatened to form into a physical expression of embarrassment...

And then he remembered. Avery wanted him to ask her again. Even Keiran at the height of his scary intimidation couldn't take that away from him.

(He hoped.)

"She didn't tell me exactly who Sophie was," he admitted. "Though I think I've pieced it together." The knowledge that she didn't share with everyone only emboldened him more, the flush of embarrassment quickly turning into something pleasant, a buzz somewhere deep in his chest. "She gave us both permission to share. It turns out we both have a lot of things we usually feel like we can't talk about."

He paused, realizing he was stepping into strange territory, but he felt like he would never have a better opportunity. "She told me about your friend. Her husband." He swallowed, uncertainty gripping him again. "Not much. Mostly to explain why she had Fergus. I felt like I shouldn't ask. And I probably shouldn't, and I don't want to put you in a weird position, she said you were his best mate. It's just... The way that... I just..." He gave up trying to lead into it. There was no easy way to ask.

"What happened?"

At first, Keiran had to swallow back the undiluted outrage that wanted to burst to the surface. She couldn't tell him things? What sort of bull-? No. Keiran knew she told him what was necessary and what was important. Surely, Teddy just meant that she did not regularly share. Right? His eyes flicked to the doorway and back again upon the realization that while Teddy had seemed almost confident at first, he was stumbling now.

So he knew about Ariadne but not about her father. It was one thing to know that Robin was gone, but another entirely to know the truth, and Teddy clearly did not. It would have come out with a greater attempt at specificity. How did he die? Or an apology of some kind, given Avery had told Teddy that his boss and her husband had been best friends. So, while Keiran did not speak of it either, it seemed that it would be his job to fill in where Avery couldn't. If he kept it vague, that would not save her, and while he wanted to believe she could handle it, Keiran just didn't.

Swallowing hard, Keiran shifted his weight in an unconscious show of his own discomfort. It took a moment and a glance away, but he finally collected himself enough to explain.

"It.. sounds, I think, like she told you far less than you think. In this case, anyway," Keiran added, trying not to spoil whatever good had come from their day by assuming a bit too much. But he wasn't wrong about this part. "See, if she had told you the truth, you wouldn't have asked that question. You wouldn't have considered, either, asking why we aren't mates anymore. See, Robin didn't just up and break her heart. He didn't leave, or divorce her. ...He died."

Keiran just sort of looked at Teddy for a moment, trying to pretend that the last two words hadn't been said so weakly. But then he looked down and went on - saying too much, perhaps - but enough to cure Teddy's curiosity until Avery was capable of bringing it up herself.

"See, Avery knows why he disappeared. That it wasn't his choice. There was actually a reason. One that, technically, I can't share with you. That isn't my place. But, he went to practice for the team he played for one morning, and didn't come back. It was Sophie's first birthday, actually. I think that's part of why she doesn't talk. Avery got a letter - we don't know who it was from, but it said that he'd died. As if they just hoped she wouldn't look for him. But she convinced me to do so. To find him. And -- several months later... I did. Face down in the snow, already turning blue. In the middle of nowhere on the continent. I only made it home, myself, because she sent people after us when I never returned. My wand had broken, and I couldn't get word back.

"You know, they didn't even invite her to the funeral. Didn't think to ask his daughter, his wife, his best mate. Didn't sell the house, for some reason. As if they're waiting to see what she does with it. So she took Sophie and left." He looked to the doorway again, as though she might walk in and catch him telling the story. "And who could blame her?"

Teddy wanted to sit, but he also didn't want to intrude any more than he felt he had already - but this was some pretty heavy news to get, and he was feeling almost weak the longer the Headmaster spoke. And as Keiran talked, not only was he struck by the weight of Avery's past, but recognition began to trickle into his head, remembering his brief stint with Dyllan's band of rogue - oh. It had to be that Robin. He had disappeared too. He had connection to Hayes. Teddy hardly doubted there were two such Robins in the world.

Merlin, he really couldn't imagine. Not only was it more than he could bear to consider finding someone to spend the rest of your life with, only to lose them well before their time, but to have them taken in the manner that Avery had lost her husband. The timing was horrible, but even worse was the delay in grief. She had lost him, and then he had been found dead. The bandage had not come off in one clean rip - not that those pains even came close to being equal in intensity - rather allowing her hope as Keiran went off to save their shared friend.

And all on Sophie's birthday.

His eyes were wandering towards the door behind which the two blondes had disappeared. Sophie would grow up not knowing her father. Anyone who came along and tried to fill those shoes never could, never even should. She would be condemned to a life wondering how things would have been different if her father had lived. He knew, better than anyone, that even the best replacements simply never could fill that void. Not completely.

And Avery... Merlin, poor Avery.

Teddy's face had fallen, hardly able to look at the stern-faced Headmaster as he recounted the damages the Bishop ladies had suffered. "Wow," Teddy said, reaching up to remove his glasses and run a hand over his face. He took in a large breath and expelled it, finally lifting his gaze to Keiran. "Yeah, she didn't tell me that. Which, I can understand. It's hardly my place. I wish... well, I wish a lot of things that just... can't come true." He grimaced. "It's a good thing they both had you. I can't imagine never having closure on something like that - though, knowing is hardly a comfort some days, I'm sure."

He glanced away, a series of small, confused expressions flickering across his face, unable to decide between empathy, apology, and discomfort. He shook his head, his arms shrugging as his wrists bounced against his thigh. "I don't know what to say. I'm just sorry."