A/N: so...this marks my first try at a multi-chap. I already have the plot planned, so updates should be fairly regular. I'm not expecting it to pass 6-8 chapters (unless something unforeseen happens), but I will definitely be finishing it so no worries :)

Harry sat at the large wooden table that dominated the kitchen of the Burrow while Teddy nuzzled into his neck, chubby fingers gripping the collar of his godfather's shirt. The duo waited for Molly to return with what she'd called 'leftovers' but what anyone who knew Mrs. Weasley well enough would tell you was a full meal, prepared in particular for the two Potters and Teddy. Harry raised his free arm to rub his godson's back soothingly as Teddy relaxed further into the warmth provided by the auror's chest – relaxed enough in fact, that Harry could feel a pool of drool forming just between his shoulder and sternum. Stifling a chuckle, he turned his head to brush a kiss across Teddy' downy head of dark locks, breathing in the smell of whatever was in the shampoo Molly had been making since before anyone could remember.

The fresh, flowery scent reminded Harry of his lovely wife, Ginny, and the first time he became aware of his less than brotherly feelings. Given the fact they'd been married for more than a year, it hardly warrants stating that Ginny reciprocated those feelings.

The last year being married to her had been better than he'd dreamed. They certainly argued and grated on each other's nerves at times, as is expected when two independent individuals are suddenly bound in marriage and must figure out how to coexist together in their day to day routines. In particular, they had to deal with two demanding careers, one a high-ranking Auror with increasing levels of responsibility and the other a chaser for the Holyhead Harpies on the fast track to stardom in the world of Quidditch. However, the tension rarely escalated to any fight worth mentioning, as the two managed to diffuse such situations with much more pleasurable activities…Harry was jerked back to reality by Teddy, who was currently attempting to stick his entire fist inside his mou-

"Teddy, no," Harry said, pulling the tiny, spit covered fist from the metamorphmagus' mouth and drying it on his robes. Not like the slobber wasn't already there, little bugger.

Seemingly woken from his Weasley induced sleepiness, Teddy began to wiggle in his godfather's arms, trying to get down to explore the kitchen.

Harry tightened his grip, "Don't wander too far."

Given the way Teddy's eyes had clouded over and his hair reverted to its natural mousy brown, Harry figured that was exactly what he'd hoped to do.

As Harry allowed Teddy to slide down, Molly emerged from the scullery with a basket that he knew must have an undetectable extension charm. Molly Weasley never went halfway, which meant the dinner she sent home would be enough to feed an army, let alone two adults and a five-year-old for one night.

"Here you go dear," Molly began, "Make sure the three of you eat! I know little Teddy gets fed well enough, but you and Ginevra work yourselves to the bone. And you are looking quite thin Harry."

Harry smiled gratefully; cooking was often the last thing on either of their minds at the end of the day. Teddy certainly never suffered, but sometimes he and Ginny were so exhausted at the end of the day that they'd collapse on the couch and wake up a few hours later, only to brush their teeth and slide into their warm, comfortable, fluffy – maybe I'm more worn out than I thought.

"Harry?"

Shaking himself out of his stupor, Harry answered, "Sorry Molly. This smells wonderful."

"Of course! I always take care of the family."

Harry stood, calling Teddy, who came in from the garden, suddenly getting a whiff of something that didn't smell wonderful, ugh.

"Molly? Did you by any chance recently fertilize the vegetable patch with a gift from Charlie? I think Ted here wanted to bring some to Andromeda."

"Gran says she wants to make a garden like Nana Weasley," Teddy put in.

"Well mate, I think maybe stuffing dragon sh-," Harry began, before Molly cleared her throat. Harry sighed, "C'mere you. Molly can we use the washroom?," he asked, peering into his godson's pockets.

Molly dismissed Harry with a wave of her hand, "Pish, I'll take him up, you sit here and have a biscuit or two, I just made them this afternoon."

Harry released Teddy to Mrs. Weasley, who was mumbling something about 'too skinny' and 'having a word with Robards' before she disappeared up the stairwell.

Leaning back to stretch his tired muscles, Harry sighed and twisted to work out the kinks that came from a full day of paperwork. Having just come off a long and arduous case, there was a lot of filing to be done to wrap things up. Harry sniffed around for the promised biscuits and found a plate overflowing with oatmeal raisin biscuits – ah heaven…all I need now is m-

"Harry dear, there's a jug of milk in the larder!" Molly called from the landing. How does she do that?

"Thanks Molly!" Harry returned, pulling a glass from the pale green cabinets hung over the counter. That project had been a debacle – he and Ginny had volunteered to help Molly paint her cabinets the summer after Ginny's seventh year, and Ginny had worn those little cut offs and an old – damn, what time did Ginny say she got out of practice?

After locating the aforementioned jug, Harry poured half a glass of milk and stood over the sink, following each bite of oatmeal raisin heaven with a cool sip of creamy milk.

"Harry! My goodness you can sit down with a plate like a civilized human being," Molly chided as she descended the stairs with sweet smelling, blue-haired Lupin.

Blushing, Harry muttered, "Sorry."

"No harm done, I just wish you'd take a break once in a while. Don't think I haven't noticed those bags under your eyes – "

Harry tried to hide a snicker as Molly's loving reproof continued, with Teddy behind her back, hair morphed to a fiery red streaked with grey, mimicking her stance, hands on hips and brow slightly furrowed. Just as Teddy was bringing up his finger to wag it, furthering the strange resemblance, Molly turned, quirked an eyebrow imperiously, causing the metamorphmagus to slowly shift back to his customary appearance, rebuffed. I suppose raising seven Weasleys gives you a certain sixth sense.

Molly turned back and opened her mouth to continue, " – and Ginny too! Gwenog's not going to have a team to play if she keeps this up!"

Chuckling, Harry placed his empty glass in the sink and stepped forward, shepherding Teddy toward the fireplace, "Don't worry Molly, we'll take a break soon."

Teddy clapped his hands with glee, hair turning the exact shade of the young Mrs. Potter, "Will Ginny be there when we get home?"

"I'm not sure mate, want to head back and find out?" Harry asked with a laugh, grasping the handle of the care package and moving toward the floo.

As Teddy galloped toward the fireplace, Molly placed a warm hand on Harry's shoulder, "I know I nag, but it's just because I love you both so much – " she broke off with a sniffle and gave Harry and Teddy smacking kisses on their cheeks before shuffling them off into the green flames within the fireplace.

Harry and Teddy emerged into the Potter living room with identical sneezes, followed by Harry syphoning the remaining ash from them both with his wand. Teddy giggled, before turning and grabbing at Harry's hand with tiny fingers.

"I guess someone is hungry?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow and smirking, Teddy grinned flipping the switch on the wall, illuminating the flat.

As Harry moved toward the entryway, he kicked off his shoes before entering the kitchen and placing the basket on the counter, calling out for Teddy to come help. Awfully quiet for a five-year-old…Teddy slowly peered around the corner, before jumping out and growling as menacingly as a little boy with bubble-gum pink hair could. Harry feigned shock, grasping his chest and widening his eyes dramatically. As the Teddy descended into a fit of giggles and collapsed to the floor in a move reminiscent of Ginny, Harry looked at the clock to determine how long he had before she would be home.

"Well Ted, when do you think – "

Harry was interrupted by a pop of apparition sounding from the front hall, "Boys? I'm home," Ginny called, dropping her bag on its designated shelf in the front hall and kicking her trainers underneath its legs.

"Boys – "

Ginny's inquiries were answered by simultaneous calls of 'Gin!' and 'Gin-Gin!' the latter of which she tolerated only because Teddy loved it so much, and she couldn't deny that boy anything.

Taking in her husband's appearance, Ginny noted that at some point, Harry had discarded his work robes and made his inky locks even more disheveled than usual. I could just take my fingers and – Little Teddy gazed up at her with impish glee before wrapping his arms around her middle, mumbling 'missed you' into her Harpies t-shirt.

Ginny tore her eyes away from ogling Harry and bent over, joints popping all the while, to sweep Teddy off his feet. "How are you my little man?" she asked, dropping a wet kiss on his forehead before standing again.

Teddy gave her a large kiss on the cheek, which meant more wet saliva sharing. Ginny giggled at the feeling and looked toward Harry, "So what's the plan for dinner?"

"Actually your mum sent home a full meal with Teddy today."

"Remind me to get her an extra birthday gift this year," Ginny sighed, placing Teddy back on the ground and leaning against the sideboard.

"No joke that," Harry returned, stepping around the counter toward Ginny, tipping her chin up, and placing a chaste but lingering kiss on her lips.

Still a breath apart, Ginny asked, "How was your day?"

"Fine, boring, but fine. Lots of paperwork," Harry answered, taking in her freckled face, dark brown eyes, and flyaway flaming waves of hair before rubbing noses affectionately.

Teddy gripped Ginny's fingers and tugged, successfully drawing her attention from Harry's emerald orbs. Nope, waxing poetic about Harry's eyes has never gone well…

"I think someone's hungry."

"Well I skipped lunch to finish my rep-"

"I meant your little doppelganger over," Ginny said, with a roll of her eyes as she noted Teddy had morphed to a little Harry mini-me.

Harry stepped back over to the basket and opened it taking in a breath, "Smells like fresh bread, lamb stew, and something chocolatey for pudding," he moaned before exploring further, "It's a chocolate orange mousse."

Ginny sighed, "I love that woman."

"Your mum is a saint," Harry agreed.

Ginny snorted, shuffling Teddy into his chair and selecting silverware from the drawer.

Harry chuckled and served out three bowls of stew and levitated them over to the table. As Teddy sniffed his dinner with excitement in his eyes, Harry pulled the butter out of the refrigerator and sliced the still warm bread in thick pieces before carrying both over to the table.

Ginny and Harry sat down with twin sighs, locking eyes for a moment before Ginny slid a spoon in front of Teddy who descended on his meal with a vengeance. Not long after, his dinner companions followed suit, claiming warm bread and spreading it with creamy butter before dunking it in the hearty stew.

After passing Teddy a buttered slice, Ginny and Harry caught up on their respective days. Harry stretched his legs out under the table and Ginny took the opportunity to wrap hers around his left one, scratching up and down his calf with her toes. Stumbling over something he was saying about a meeting with Kingsley, Harry looked up to see Ginny smirking mischievously before she winked and turned her attention to Teddy, asking what he'd done at the Burrow today. Minx.

As Harry soaked up the last of his broth, Ginny wiped Teddy' face with a cloth. As Teddy moved toward his room, Ginny began, "I was thinking we should have pudding in the living room. But lets save some of ours for after little mister goes to sleep, if you catch my drift, Mr. Potter."

Harry's eyes widened as he caught on, "Sounds like a lovely plan my dear."

"I'll just go inside get him changed and then he can wind down while we listen to the wireless for a bit, then we can have the rest later," she said, raising her eyebrows meaningfully.

Harry gaped, before answering with a mock salute, "Aye, aye Captain."

Ginny smacked Harry's bum and moved toward Teddy's room to prepare the dozy boy for bed.

As Harry was dishing out three servings and whistling happily, he heard the floo flare up, followed by a woman's voice calling for Ginny – Gwenog?

Leaving the three cups on the table, Harry trotted over to the fireplace in the living room, kneeling down to find Gwenog Jones' face staring up at him.

"Hey there Harry, is Ginny around?"

"Yeah, she's inside getting Teddy ready for bed; should I go fetch her?" he asked, moving to stand.

Gwenog was about to reply when Teddy and Ginny entered the room, the former wearing freshly laundered Harpies pajamas.

"Glad to see the boy has good taste," Gwenog said with a smirk.

Harry chuckled, "Why don't I take Teddy in the kitch-"

Interrupting, the Harpies captain began, "Actually this won't be long, and you should hear it too – "

Ginny came closer and interjected, "Is everything all right Gwen?"

"It's more than all right, how would you like to play in the Orkney All-Star game in a fortnight?"

At this, Teddy began whooping and tackled Harry in excitement.

Ginny's face broke out into a wide smile before she schooled her features to a more business like state, "I thought they only wanted more seasoned players?"

"You're light-years better than most of 'em and you know it – should've been their first choice regardless of seniority," Gwenog began with a scoff, "Besides, one of the other chasers backed out with a shoulder injury."

Harry sat up, "Gin, this is great – you've got to go,"

"You'd be ok by yourself?"

"I'm not completely inept you know – "

"I hate to interrupt," Gwenog put in, "but I think I have a solution to your concerns Ginny."

Harry and Ginny both turned toward the flames as the Captain continued, "Spouses are allowed to come; why don't you bring lover boy?"

Ginny's eyes lit up, "Oh Harry, d'you think you can get time off?"

Before Harry could answer, Gwenog interrupted, "I'll leave you two to hash things out, just let me know how many to put on the reservation by ten o'clock tomorrow."

As the Harpy Captain's face disappeared into the flames, Teddy wandered over to the corner where his toys were kept, selecting a storybook, having lost interest once the excitement was over and the conversation was merely logistics.

"I could ask…we did just close the case and I haven't taken off since the wedding…I'm sure Andy will be ok without us having Ted over for just a week – "

Ginny let out a hoot and leapt on top of Harry, much like Teddy had only moments before. As she began peppering his face with kisses Harry grinned, "I guess we're going to Orkney!"