Nicole finds Teddy late the next morning, sitting stiffly in a couch in his room. He continues to stare forward as she enters as sits beside him. She follows his gaze, but quickly learns he is looking at nothing. At least, nothing in that room.

Nicole studies Teddy, searching for signs as to why he was acting that way. Even though she felt she already knew. His eyes are dry, and his lips are chapped. He obviously woke up and immediately moved to were he was. He had been there for a while.

"Ted, why don't you cry? You live with your godfather and his life partner. Everybody you know has some sort of reputation, is somewhat famous, and you've had to deal with that your whole life. Most people look at you and see everyone but you.

"You were with your parents for a year of your life, but you couldn't remember anything of them even if your life depended on it. For some reason, people tell you how great your parents were every day of your life. Like that would somehow make not knowing them easier. I know for a fact that your largest desire it to know them. To get to love them.

"You can feel that. All the weight that you carry. You deserve to just take it off for a moment and wallow. To pity yourself and ask, 'Why me?' You do have it pretty hard. I'm sorry for trying to convince you otherwise. So cry. I swear it helps."

"You ask me why I don't cry? It's because I don't know how," Teddy croaks. He obviously hadn't used his voice in a while.

"I... I'm sorry. Do you want me to stay?" It takes a moment for him to answer, but Teddy nods.

"Do you want to talk?" He nods again.

"Do you want to talk about this?" Teddy shakes his head no, but then nods again.

"Okay. You start."

"I met them. In a sick way. It wasn't all that great." Nicole laughs a desperate laugh.

"I know, love. I know."

"They didn't lift up out of their graves and tell me that had been waiting. With the Patronuses always going to them, I thought finally finding what they were bringing me to would be more amazing. It was excruciatingly ordinary."

"I guess it was better that way."

"I got no closure. Not like Harry did."

"Not everyone gets to see their dead parents in person and hear from them that they were proud and misses them."

"I don't think that's what I wanted. I think I just- I think I wanted to somehow... Feel that things were going to be okay, you know? That I could do it, I could make it. But... Nothing. Just the sadness. The loss."

"I'm sorry."

"That's something that's always bothered me. You aren't sorry, you're just empathizing. Sorry is for when you've done something wrong and feel bad."

"Sorry. I empathize for you. Is that what you want?"

"No. I don't want pity."

"Now you're just being difficult, and I hate when you get difficult." Nicole stands up and makes her way towards the door.

"Wait," Teddy calls out just before she leaves the room.

"Yes?" Nicole asks with her hand still posed on the door handle.

"Please stay." Nicole takes in a breath.

"Okay." Nicole sits down again.