I really love the idea of stories like this. I don't know why.
They sat together down by the tree by the lake, as they did every year on May 2nd. Harry would take the evening off from the Auror office, and would come by Hogwarts to spend time with Teddy.
It was one of the days that McGonagall really didn't care about curfew, even though students(the ones that had no personal connection to those who had died) usually still went to their common rooms at the usual time.
"Oh." Harry said suddenly. "I did get something else for your birthday for you."
Teddy raised an eyebrow. He had turned 17 a few days before, and he had been accosted by too many owls in the Great Hall. Harry had apparently spent a few weeks hunting down where Remus would have stored his wizarding watch, because he never wore it, but Harry had been sure he had owned one- and he had been right. He had written a letter to Teddy, saying he wished he had been able to get away from the Ministry to give it to him in person, but hoped the sentiment would be the same.
Harry reached into his robes, pulling out a bottle of firewhiskey. He handed it to Teddy.
"You do realise I've been drinking for nearly two years, right?" Teddy asked, taking the bottle.
"Yes, but I felt obligation to the buy your first legal bottle for you." Harry explained. Teddy uncorked it with a smirk, taking a swig. He offered the bottle to Harry. "I'm supposed to work tomorrow, Ted."
"You're not going to make me drink alone, are you, Uncle Harry?" Teddy asked. Harry smirked, but took the bottle and took a swig.
"Sometimes I wonder if I'm the bad example or if you are." Harry commented.
Teddy grinned. "Maybe it'll be both in the long run."
"Maybe." Harry commented.
They drank for a few more hours, and Teddy knew usually Harry would have mentioned how fast the bottle was emptying, but it seemed that Teddy could get away with everything he wanted to on May 2nd. Somehow, he did always understand what the day meant, and knew when to stop pushing the limits.
"So, Auror training." Harry said after a while of silence. There was a certain softened edge to his voice, which Teddy recognised to mean that Harry was well on his way to being completely and utterly sloshed.
"Yep." Teddy said, leaning his head against the tree bark. "Although, I've heard the Head of Magical Law Enforcement is a jerk."
Harry laughed loudly. "I would say that I resent such a comment, but I can't deny it."
Harry sighed loudly. "Ted, are you sure? About being an Auror?"
"What else would I be?" Teddy asked.
"I don't know, a Healer? A teacher? Even an Obliviator, I heard that's a fun job-"
"Did Gran ask you to try to dissuade me?" Teddy asked.
Harry was silent for a moment. "Yes." He said quietly, running a thumb over the label of the bottle. He took another swig. "She thinks that's why your mother died."
Teddy inhaled sharply. He thought he would have been able to get through the day without this conversation. "I don't think her being an Auror had anything to do with it." Teddy said quietly. "I mean, from what you said-"
"You could do something with your drawing, Ted." Harry said. "Work for George, draw graphic novels-"
"Graphic whats?"
"Graphic novels, comic books. I got you some when you were a kid, Ted, come on." Harry said.
"Right! Of course!" Teddy said. "But I don't want draw signs for George or draw books for kids, Uncle Harry. I want to do something meaningful."
"Your Dad was a really good teacher-"
"I don't want to be a teacher, Uncle Harry." Teddy said firmly. "I'm going to be an Auror, like Mum was."
Harry sighed. "Ted,-"
"Teddy." Teddy corrected and Harry smirked.
"Teddy, then. You know I support you-" Harry began.
"I know where this is going." Teddy cut him off. "I just want to make Mum and Dad proud, you know."
"I know." Harry said quietly. "I'm sure they'd be proud even if you sold broomsticks for a living."
"I'm going to be an Auror." Teddy said firmly.
"I know. And your parents will be so proud of it." Harry said. "But you do know that whenever Andromeda asks me to talk to you about things-"
"I know, I know. You have to talk to me." Teddy said. He leaned back, staring up at the sky. Harry was looking up too.
"Shooting star." Harry said quietly, pointing up at it. His voice was becoming more slurred. "Muggles think wishes come true on them. What would you wish for, Ted?"
"I would wish that the wars never happened."