The Story of Teddy Lupin
Chapter 1: The Early Years
After the war was finally over and everyone had taken some time to recuperate at Hogwarts with the help of Madam Pomfry, the house elves, and others well enough to help where they could they were slowly sent home. Transportation was set up for everyone. They could take the school train, the floo network, or apparate themselves (if they were of age and had their license, or someone could side-along them). As usual Harry returned to the Burrow with the rest of the Weasleys. Once the were back Molly tried to act like normal even though there was a glaring hole in the family, and not just the hole in George's head were his ear should be. Because of this she had a hard time letting Bill and Fleur go back to their home at Shell Cottage, only giving in when they promised to come for lunch every Sunday. And Charlie was back so that helped a little. But George wouldn't sleep in his and Fred's old bedroom and Harry felt so bad he mainly kept himself away from the family, staying in Bill's old room instead of in the attic with Ron. That is, until the day Andromeda came for a visit.
It was after all the funerals were finally over and Andromeda had decided it was time to have a talk with Harry about Teddy. He was the boy's godfather after all. So one Sunday afternoon she came to the Burrow and asked to speak with Harry in private. The two went outside to the garden, just far enough from the house no one could eaves drop (even with an extendable ear), but easy to retreat back to.
"Harry, I presume Remus told you he and Dora wished for you to be Teddy's godfather correct" Andromeda asked without preamble.
Harry looked down at his feet and answered in a whisper "yes".
Andromeda continued, "I understand that you may not be ready yet, but I feel it is important that you be involved in Teddy's life."
Still not able to look her in the eye Harry looked up and asked, "what exactly does being a godfather entail? I want to be in Teddy's life, to help make sure he knows who his parents were. Remus and Tonks entrusted me to be there for Teddy if they couldn't. so I will do the best I can. But seeing as my only example was Sirius, and you know how that worked out, I do not really know what I am supposed to do."
Andromeda took a deep breath before answering, "technically it means you could take custody of Teddy, but I do hope you won't do that. I want you to be involved, but please do not take him from me."
Harry finally met her eyes then and calmly yet firmly said, "I would never take him from you. He needs you much more than he does me."
Andromeda nodded in understanding somewhat surprised that she basically begged him not to take Teddy from her, some of what she learned growing up in the noble house of Black had stuck with her making begging very rare for her. "Very well. How about we start this out slowly. I will bring Teddy to you once a week, maybe Saturday or Sunday, and he can stay with you for the day and I will pick him back up that same evening. Once you, and I, become more comfortable with this arrangement we can discuss doing overnight visits. How does that sound?"
Harry only hesitated slightly before answering. "That sounds good. Thank you Mrs. Tonks."
"Please, call me Andromeda."
"Thank you Andromeda."
Before they could get half way to the house Molly came out and asked Andromeda to stay for lunch. It took some persuasion from Molly and Harry, but Andromeda agreed under the guise of letting Harry get a taste of taking care of Teddy while she was still there just to make sure things went smoothly.
As the summer went on Harry slowly got the hang of taking care of Teddy, with the help of Molly and Ginny (Hermione helped too until she left to go find her parents in the hopes of finding them in time to return to Hogwarts to complete her seventh year even though the boys had decided not to return with her). One thing the Weasleys had noticed is that on Sundays when all the Weasleys, Harry, Teddy, and Andromeda were present Teddy would change his hair color to match the hair color of who he wanted to hold him. This was fine when he wanted Harry, Fleur, or Andromeda, but when he wanted a Weasley it turned into a frantic game of pass the baby. The longer it took to get him to the right person the more it upset him and he would start to cry, becoming louder the longer it took. Besides that though things went pretty smoothly.
So when September first came along Harry was a bit sad to see Ginny go. When he had Teddy Ginny was always with him, sometimes just the three of them outside of the Burrow and Harry thought they felt like a little family. Not that he really needed help with Teddy anymore, but he liked it when they were all together, he was in love with Ginny after all.
So September first came and went and Harry found himself itching to get out of the Burrow. Not that he didn't love it there, but he felt he and Teddy were taking up space and causing people to lose sleep when Teddy would wake up at night. Plus since he had started working in the auror department as a beginning auror he felt it was time he grew up and got his own place. So that is what he did. He found a little flat to let in muggle London, though the landlord was a wizard and the top two floors were reserved for witches and wizards. It seemed perfect for Harry. It was not very big but it had two bedrooms so Teddy could have his own room instead of sharing with Harry like they did at the Burrow. He immediately agreed to let it. Only on his way back to the Burrow did the dread of having to tell Molly set in.
He stumbled through the gate of the Burrow and made his way down to the river. Ron saw him through the kitchen window and waved, when Harry didn't seem to notice Ron decided to follow him.
Once they reached the river Ron finally spoke. "Everything alright mate?"
Harry jumped, surprised to hear Ron. "Yeah, I'm fine. You?"
"I'm fine. But I'm not the one who is an auror and didn't notice he was being followed. Something on your mind?"
Harry sighed, "I let a flat today."
"Oh. And you're afraid to tell mum?"
"Yeah."
"I would be too mate. Why do you think I haven't let one yet?"
"Because you're waiting for Hermione to finish school so you two can live together."
"Well yeah that too. But I also don't want to tell mum. Saw how she was with letting Bill and Fleur go back to shell cottage didn't I?"
"Yeah. And they're married and were living there before the battle. I was just so pleased to find it that I snatched it up not thinking of what it really meant. Don't get me wrong, I love it here with your family, but I think its about time I start taking care of myself. And Teddy. It's the right move for me, but I don't want to upset Molly."
"Blimey Harry, you defeated the darkest wizard to live and you're the youngest auror ever. But you're still afraid of mum. Not that I really blame you. But if you can't tell her something like this how are the rest of us supposed to be able to do it?"
"Don't know mate."
Ron sighed, "its best to just get it over with. You know, quick like pulling off a plaster."
"Pulling off a plaster hurts whether you do it quickly or not", Harry mumbled back.
Ron nodded in silent agreement. "Come on mate, dinner should be ready soon. You can tell mum after."
Dinner was a bit uncomfortable. Harry was sure Molly knew something was going on even though she didn't say anything. Dinner was just so quite. Which is unusual at the Burrow. So once dinner was over Harry approached Molly while she was doing the dishes. Sometimes she did them by hand, tonight was one of those times.
Hesitantly Harry asked, "Can I help with the dishes Molly?"
Molly looked up from the soapy water and smiled. "Of course dear. Here you can dry", she said handing him a towel.
They worked silently together for a few moments before Molly looked at Harry again saying, "something on your mind dear?"
He nearly dropped the plate he was drying shocked by her voice in his anxious state of mind. He put the plate down and cleared his throat. "I let a flat", he mumbled just barely loud enough to be heard.
Molly's hands stilled on the fork she was washing. Slowly she put it down and turned to look at Harry. "What did you say?"
He cleared his throat again and said a bit louder this time, "I let a flat. In muggle London. Not far from the tube so it'll be easy to get around the muggle way. And I can apparate from right outside my front door in the hallway. The top two floors are reserved for witches and wizards so no muggles would see me apparating. And the fireplace in the living room is hooked to the floo network. Its two bedrooms, so Teddy would have his own room. One bathroom and little kitchen and living room. Its more than enough for me and Teddy." All of this came out in a rush for fear he would lose his nerve if he stopped even to take a breath.
Molly looked him over for a moment. "You know I still see that small 11 year old boy asking how to get to platforms 9 and ¾ when I look at you. But somehow you've grown up on me. All of you have. It doesn't seem real that you and Ron could actually be 18. I know you can take care of yourself, you were doing that before you started at Hogwarts. So its not that I don't think you're ready for this, you are. I've seen you with Teddy and you are wonderful with him. I know you will be if you move out. But are you sure this is what you want? You know you are always welcome here with us. Arthur and I love you like you are one of our own, whether you're with Ginny or not. So just know that you do not have to leave any time soon if you do not want to. Ok?"
Harry smiled at her. "Thank you Molly. I really appreciate everything you and Arthur have done for me. And for Teddy. I think this is the right move for me though. My lease starts in two weeks. I plan to ask Ron, Dean, Hermione, Ginny, and Luna to help me since the girls will be home for the Christmas holiday. I thought about asking George, but I assume if Ron is helping me then George will have to be at the shop."
Molly looked reproachfully at him "you will not be moving out over the Christmas holiday young man", she said sternly.
Harry gulped, "I'm just moving my things into the flat then so I can have help while the girls are here. I will remain at the Burrow until they go back to school if that is alright with you."
With a curt nod of her head Molly said, "good".
Once they finished the dishes Harry scurried up to the attic to tell Ron how the conversation had gone. He had started staying in the attic with Ron again some time after he started spending time with Teddy on a regular basis, only staying in Bill's room when he had Teddy over night.
Once Harry moved into his own flat and got used to being on his own (when Ginny wasn't with him after she got out of school before they got married) Andromeda started letting Harry keep Teddy more. After a while they were spending equal amounts of time with him so that Harry had him 50% of the time. This continued throughout Teddy's life becoming a father figure to him. And Ginny integrated in smoothly too after her and Harry got married. The two treated Teddy just like he was their firstborn. This continued even after having James, Albus, and Lily. To the point that Teddy confided in him and Ginny just as much as he did Andromeda if not more.
This came in handy when he got his Hogwarts letter shortly after turning 11. They all knew he would get it since his hair started morphing when he was only a baby and he started making things happen when he was upset as a small child. Teddy dreaded it though. He knew he would have to go there, the other schools were not an option. So when he got his letter he asked if it would be okay for Harry to take him to get his things for school. The day they went Teddy was sluggish and silent the whole time they were in Diagon Alley. Even when Harry took him to pick out an owl. So Harry used the newly purchased owl to start a conversation with him.
Harry looked down at Teddy as they walked along and asked, "what are you going to name your owl?"
Teddy, who was petting the small grey owl looked up at Harry for a moment before responding with a mumbled "Moony".
Surprised and yet not at the same time Harry nodded, "that's a good name Teddy."
"Yeah, especially since he's grey like the moon."
"Not because that was your dad's nickname in school?"
"No. But that's a good reason too I guess." He tucked his head further down and slightly blushed while his hair turned the same sandy color his father's had been.
Harry put his arm around Teddy and cleared his throat, "you know Teddy its okay to miss them. I still miss my parents. Why do you think I named my kids after them?"
Teddy sighed, "not everything I do is because I miss my mum and dad. I do miss them, but I don't think about them every second of the day. You and Ginny are like a mum and dad to me anyways."
"I know we are Teddy. And we think of you as one of ours, our firstborn. So that means you can talk to me about anything. If its not missing your parents, then what's got you so down today? Most kids are excited to finally be buying their things for Hogwarts."
Teddy sighed again, "people are gonna make fun of me."
"Why would you think that?"
"Because my dad was a werewolf. And I inherited mum's metamorphmagus ability. And in case you haven't noticed, my hair tends to change color with my emotions. That's quite enough for people to make fun of me for."
"Teddy, things aren't like they used to be. Werewolves are much more accepted now than they used to be thanks to Hermione's work in the MLE. There may still be a few who are teaching their children to be hateful, but most won't care. And you can use your metamorphmagus ability to your advantage."
"How?"
"Well, you know how you're always entertaining the younger ones and grandmum and granddad Weasley's on Sundays? Changing your appearance to look like me or Dominique or anyone else the kids ask you to do. They always think its so cool that you can do that. So you could make yourself look like a teacher or another student or something along those lines to entertain your year mates."
Teddy nodded, "yeah, that's a good idea".
Harry smiled but added, "if you tell any adult, especially those at Hogwarts, that I gave you that idea though I will deny it. Don't want anyone thinking I'm a bad influence on you."
"Ok Harry I won't tell anyone about the advice. Or the cloak and map" he added in a quitter voice.
Harry patted him on the back. "There's a good lad, all the things that could potentially get you in trouble stay between the two of us."
"Yeah. Though are you still sure you don't want to save the cloak and map for James when he starts school?"
"No. As I said before, you're our firstborn. That means the map and cloak rightfully go to you. Now that's not to say that when you finish school you shouldn't pass them on to James. I would very much appreciate that. But he does not need them until you are finished at Hogwarts."
Teddy smiled up at Harry and said "thanks".
With that the two returned to Harry's and Ginny's house in Godric's Hollow where Teddy would remain until they took him to the train on September 1st.
A/N: Sorry for this starting out a bit slow and boring. I had to give some information for the set up so everyone would understand Teddy's home life before starting Hogwarts. I promise it will pick up soon since he's starting school in the next chapter. Oh, and please bear with me as I get used to doing this, this is my first fan fiction story.
