Chapter four- Teddy and Tea
Almost immediately, Harry saw a small child peer around the corner and into the hall in which Harry was in. In an instant, the bright-blue hair of the metamorphmagus shifted so that Harry was facing a messy black haired and green-eyed figure; almost an exact smaller version of himself.
Harry had realized only after having lived with Teddy for a year that the small boy showed his affections towards others by making himself look like them. At the moment, Teddy was shy and only took on the forms of two other figures besides Harry; Ron and Hermione. Otherwise, his hair stayed bright blue, a color which always reminded Harry of Teddy's now-dead mother, Nymphadora (but she hated being called that) whose hair used to take the color bright, bubblegum pink, for she too was a metamorphmagus.
Teddy, now resembling Harry, ran as fast as his little legs would carry him up to the man he perceived as his father. Without saying anything, he wrapped his arms tightly around Harry's legs. Harry stood there for a moment, stroking Teddy's hair whilst he hugged him. Then, Hermione came out, followed closely by Ron. Hermione smiled pleasantly at Harry and Ron nodded towards him. Harry nodded back. It felt good to be standing here with his two closest friends and the boy he had taken in as if he were his own son. If Draco were in the picture, his life would be complete. But, he forced the thought of Draco out of his mind. Draco was outcast from the Wizarding World and Hermione and Ron, especially Ron, could not know Harry knew where he was, let alone that he was in Harry's own home.
In a few minutes, Harry found himself situated on a soft, pink couch; Hermione's choice of furniture, of course. Teddy had gone off to play, and Harry was going to have a chat with Ron and Hermione. In his hands, he held a cup of tea, which he began to sip at as Ron spoke.
"So, what's the whole story then?" He asked.
Harry looked up from his tea. Hermione and Ron were sitting opposite him, Ron in his favorite light red armchair and Hermione in a neighboring light gold one. Both of them had an eager look in their eyes. They wanted to know the story…and the whole story.
"Alright, you both now Blaise was caught and killed," Harry began. They nodded. "Well, the Auror that caught him was inexperienced. We did not want Blaise dead. For all we know, Lavender was lying." They nodded again. Harry thought about what he would say next. Mentioning Draco was out of the question, so he ended his speech feebly by saying, "So, I was ordered to stay at a hotel and I slept the morning and day away."
Ron looked expectantly at him, a look mirrored by Hermione.
"Really Harry?" Hermione asked. Harry knew she didn't really believe that was all, which it wasn't, but Ron came to his rescue.
"You felt good about the mission being over. That's why you slept so well," Ron said.
"Yep," was Harry's reply.
"Bet you were glad that whatever-his-name-is killed off the bloody Slytherin, eh?" Ron asked. Hermione gave him a disapproving look, which was a given, but Harry's reaction startled both of them.
"He could have been innocent. And now he is dead. And who cares if he was in Slytherin?" Harry asked, his voice cold and blunt.
"I was making a joke?" Ron said. It was meant to be a statement, but Ron's uncertainty had changed it into a question.
"At least you're safe, Harry," Hermione said at last, to break the uneasy silence that had fallen over the group.
"Thanks, Hermione," Harry said and he was grateful. He was grateful for the change of subject as well as for her concern. But at that moment, he wanted to do nothing more that leave. His mind was back on Draco, and on the fact that Harry would have to make enough dinner for Draco, Teddy and himself. Harry just wanted to get away from his friends and see if Draco was okay…who knows what could have happened by now? If Draco had made another attempt to kill himself, he would be dead. Harry shivered at the thought.
"Cold?" Ron asked.
"I'll make some more tea," Hermione replied before leaving the room. At that moment, Teddy came in and his hair changed from messy and back to a bright ginger. But his eyes remained green. Slowly, the little boy spoke, something rare for the gentle four year old.
"Dada an Ronnled pway wif Teddaa?" he asked hesitantly. Ron laughed and nodded his head.
"Of course we will play with Tedaa," he said, pronouncing Teddy's name the same way Teddy did. But Harry still had his mind on getting home, so he reluctantly agreed but only after Teddy promised that they would only play for five minutes.
Hermione entered a deserted sitting room with more hot tea. Sounds from the guest bedroom could be heard; the sounds of two boys-at-heart playing with a young child. Abandoning the tea, she went to join them.
An hour later, they emerged from the room. Laughing and having a good time, everything else forgotten but here and now and this moment. Playing with Teddy had made them feel like a family. Hermione felt as if Teddy were her own child, her own child with Ron and when Teddy kept making himself have Ron's hair and Hermione's eyes it wasn't hard to believe.
Ron's thoughts had drifted to the ring he had in store for Hermione. He couldn't wait to start a family of his own.
And Harry was like the uncle who was loads of fun and came to visit often. The uncle who both the mother and father of the child were close to, but an uncle none the less. Even in the imaginary world with Teddy, even in a place so thriving with friendship and love, Harry was a bit like a third wheel. He was apart from Ron and Hermione, if only slightly. Ron and Hermione's relationship was one more than just friendship. Their relationship was pure love.
Glancing at a clock and realizing how late it was, Harry's stomach dropped. It had been an hour. What if Draco thought Harry had forgotten him? What if Draco was…dead? Harry rushed to pick Teddy up, but Teddy did not want to leave. Yet, there was a sense of urgency in the air, Harry needed to get back home. Back to Draco.
"Harry, just stay for dinner!" Hermione offered, seeing the look on Teddy's face; the boy was so unwilling to leave.
"Sorry Hermione, but really, I must go," Harry said, trying to usher Teddy towards the door.
"Go? Why?" Hermione questioned, but instead of answering, Harry was trying fervently to get Teddy to want to leave Hermione and Ron's house.
"Eat with My-nee-nee and Ronnled!" Teddy screamed, something he would normally not have done.
"Teddy," Harry said, getting down on one knee, "What do you want to eat? Your favorite food?" he asked.
"Wes!" Teddy cried in delight, knowing that Harry would cook him whatever he asked for. His face took on a serious look of consideration…or at least as serious as a four-year-old could look.
"Psketti wif cheeses!" Teddy finally decided.
"Alright," Harry said, "We will go home and cook you that."
Teddy nodded happily, his frame of mind changed so easily, as any young child's frame of mind would. Harry hoisted him up onto his hip. Then, Harry waved goodbye to a dumbstruck Ron and Hermione, before using side-along apparition to apparte himself and Teddy back to their home. And, at least for the moment, Draco's home too.
