Disclaimer- See Chronicle 1.
A/N- I sincerely apologize for the confusion relating to Chronicle 3: Brothers. The Chronicles are in no particular order; I just write them as the inspiration strikes me. As this Chronicle proves, I will be bouncing backward and forward through time, depending on my muse. Sorry again! As for this Chronicle, Teddy is an infant, and it takes place before Chronicle 1. Dedicated to Wizard19036, jazzie kings, and Monai, who requested this scene. Enjoy!
HPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHP
Guardian
HPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHP
"Harry, dear, come in." Andromeda smiled at the seventeen-year-old and held the door open for him.
"Thank you, Mrs. Tonks." Harry returned her smile as best he could, but the muscles in that area of his face were stiff with disuse.
"No need to stand on ceremony, dear. Call me Andromeda. You're my cousin's godson and my grandson's godfather. We're practically related!"
As she intended, that provoked a true smile from Harry. "How is Teddy?"
"Sleeping, but his afternoon nap is just about over. Would you like to get him? I know he'll be happy to see you."
"Thanks, I'd like that."
"I'll make us some tea and fix Teddy's bottle while you do that, then we can talk."
Harry headed for Teddy's room and stood there watching the sleeping baby for a moment before reaching down to gently stroke the dark blue hair. His godson opened his eyes and, as always, Harry had to fight down a lump of emotion, because Remus looked at him through his son's eyes. "Hey, mate," he said quietly, picking Teddy up and carrying him out into the living room.
The infant burbled happily at him, having already formed an attachment to his godfather. "Yeah, I'm happy to see you too, Teddy. How've you been?" He could not help but smile at the nonsense-talk. "Really? Well I'm sorry I missed it."
Andromeda watched them unobtrusively as she set their tea on the table and handed Harry the bottle. The seventeen-year-old sat in the rocking chair and fed Teddy, watching him peacefully. After the baby was fed, Harry expertly burped him, and Teddy settled in Harry's arms and happily chewed on the finger his godfather offered.
"Have you thought of what will happen to Teddy now?" Andromeda finally asked.
"Well, guardianship will go to one of us…"
"What I meant was, what are your feelings on the matter, dear?"
Harry blinked at her for a moment. "I'm— well, I'm open to either possibility. If you want to raise him, I certainly won't oppose you. If not, I would do it."
She smiled. "Nymphadora and Remus were right about you, Harry. I was a little skeptical of them making a seventeen-year-old their son's godfather, but you proved me wrong." Her expression turned hesitant. "Harry, dear, I don't like to burden you like this, but I— I just don't think I can raise Teddy. I never thought I would be responsible for another baby at this point in my life. With Nymphadora, I had Ted… I just can't fathom raising him alone.
"I'm afraid I'd always be wishing he were Nymphadora or even Ted… and maybe even resent him because he isn't. No child deserves to be resented for who he is or is not."
"I'll second that," Harry murmured, shifting his grip on Teddy as the baby yawned and curled against his chest to go to sleep. "But I wouldn't limit it to children."
Andromeda looked at him a moment, hardly daring to believe, "Oh, Harry." She reached forward and squeezed his hand, regarding him sadly. "It's so cruel, the way Sirius died. He loved you, dear, and would have loved being your family just as much as your— eh, relatives— hated it."
Detesting himself for it, Harry could not look at her kind face without fear of losing control, nor could he look at the sleeping baby in his arms. Andromeda was Sirius's last living relative, who counted anyway, and she deserved to hear what he had only told Albus Dumbledore. "It's— it's my fault Sirius died, Andromeda. I had a vision— I mean, I thought it was a vision— and went to the Department of Mysteries to save him. He got killed because he came to save me. I was just stupid enough to believe the vision Voldemort planted in my head…."
Even as he huddled in on himself in misery, Harry felt himself being hugged in the way unique to mothers. "It wasn't your fault, sweetheart, any more than it's mine Nymphadora died. She followed Remus because she loved him, just as Sirius came to the Ministry because he loved you." She pulled back to smile gently at him and brush a lock of hair off of his forehead. "I know it's not easy, and that you can't just take my word for it. But keep my words in mind: I don't blame you, Remus didn't blame you, and Sirius never would have blamed you. I know my cousin. He wouldn't want you too blame yourself, or spend the rest of your life grieving for him."
Harry could only nod, furiously blinking back tears.
"I think you and Teddy will be good for each other. You'll understand him in a way I can't, Harry, and be for him everything Sirius would have been for you. Now, business. Do you have anywhere to live?"
"Sirius left me Grimmauld Place, it'll do for now. Any last minute cleaning, I can take care of."
"And I can probably find some way to Silence my aunt's portrait for you. Financially, I'm sure you're set, practically an expert in baby care, but can you cook, dear?"
"Yeah, had to cook for the Dursleys. I'm pretty good at it."
A look of distaste crossed Andromeda's face at the mention of Harry's relatives, but quickly disappeared. They were not wasting the thought. "Since you're not a blood relative, you'll have to file for guardianship with the temporary Ministry. Just a formality, dear, I'll support you and it should go well. And once the two of you are settled in Grimmauld Place, I'll expect you over here for dinner once a week."
"That's a plan, and you're invited over— in general— whenever you feel like it. Owl ahead— or don't. Just come."
As Harry smiled at her and looked at the baby sleeping trustingly in his arms, he felt hopeful about his future for perhaps the first time since Sirius died.
HPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHP
HPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHP
A/N- Another one that ran away from me. About halfway through writing this, I went to see The Order of the Phoenix on IMAX, so that's why Harry had the random Sirius death guilt trip. I hope everyone enjoyed, and that my characterization of Andromeda was believable. She seemed a little too formal to be called a short version of her name, but a really kind person. I dunno, that's just the vibe I got the one time we met her in DH. As always, comments and constructive criticism welcome.
