Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
A couple of days before the end of the Christmas holidays, the entire family converged on Godric's Hollow to see Harry and Ginny's new house. The young couple smiled as they watched everyone explore the house and grounds while repeatedly telling them just how much they loved it.
It came as no surprise to anyone when the Weasley men dragged Harry to where he planned to build a mini Quidditch pitch, so they could help make plans for it. Ginny, however, decided to show the women around the house, explaining what plans had been made for each room, noting to them that the refurbishment was due to begin in the first week of January.
"Just think," Harry said as he wrapped his arms around his girlfriend in preparation to apparate back to The Burrow. "The next time you are here, the bulk of the refurbishment should have been completed."
As the New Year began, the young couple found themselves busier than ever, though both still made the time to communicate with each other on a regular basis.
Ginny had thrown herself back into school with a sheer determination to get through the final few months that separated her from Harry and the start of their new life together. She was busy training the Gryffindor Quidditch team for their next match against Hufflepuff, while juggling her role as Head Girl with her increased workload, which served to remind her that the N.E. were drawing ever closer.
Harry was continuing his Auror training, which he was moving through at a rapid pace and had now begun working on small cases. His weekends were taken up with spending time with Teddy, while helping Andromeda plan for his upcoming Christening and Birthday. He also took the time to go over to the house to view the work being done by the magical construction company they had hired. Even with magic, the work still took time, but it was coming along nicely and on time.
Valentine's Day landed on the Sunday that year, so the students were able to go into Hogsmeade, something that Ginny and Harry chose to take advantage of. Harry brought little Teddy Lupin along with him to see to his Godmother. Ginny was ecstatic to spend the day with her two favourite boys and was even more shocked and happy when Harry also brought Teddy along to see her quidditch match against Hufflepuff.
The end of March saw Ginny head to Holyhead in Wales for her trial for a spot on the Harpies. The weekend was long, hard and tiring, but absolutely exhilarating for the young redhead, especially after being offered a spot as a reserve chaser.
As Ginny stepped out of the floo in The Burrow, she was not surprised when she was immediately swept into a hug by Harry. She barely had time to hug him back when she was tugged away and pulled into the arms of her mother, before she was passed around and hugged by everyone who was present, including Hermione, who had followed her through the floo from Hogwarts.
"Not that I'm complaining," Ginny said as the hugs finally seized and she moved back into Harry's arms. "But this was unexpected, especially considering that I am only here for the weekend."
She looked around to see that her entire family had expectant faces as though they were waiting for her to announce something. They had known she was coming home for the weekend as it was Teddy's Christening and Birthday party. Then it clicked.
"You told them!" she cried, having spun round and out of Harry's arms, whipping out her wand and aiming it at her boyfriend. "You told them my news!"
"I swear I didn't!" Harry said with his hands held up in surrender. "I swear I have not said a word to them."
Ginny saw in his eyes the honesty that came with his words and realised he was telling the truth. She mentally berated herself for even thinking that he would reveal her news before she could. He had been the only one she had told, having wanted to tell the family in person.
"You didn't tell them, did you?" Ginny said in defeat as she dropped her wand to her side.
Harry shook his head.
"Tell us what dear?" Molly asked with an amused look on her face.
Ginny looked around again and still the expectant faces were there. She realised that they just wanted to know how she had done at the trials and they were obviously confident that she had won a spot.
"My trial went well," she told them. "And….."She paused for a dramatic effect, which she could tell was annoying them all, apart from Harry who had a beaming smile on his face.
"I WON A SPOT!" she screamed in excitement. "I'M ON THE HOLYHEAD HARPIES!"
The room broke out into cheers and shouts of congratulations as the family as a whole swept Ginny into a huge group hug.
Eventually, the family made their way into the kitchen and seated themselves at the table, while Arthur summoned the Firewhiskey and poured a glass for everyone.
"A toast to Ginny," Arthur announced as he raised his glass towards his only daughter, who was sat on her boyfriend's lap and looked radiantly happy. "Just looking at you now, I can see how happy you are. Your dreams are coming true and I could not be more proud of you!"
Everyone joined Arthur in raising their glasses to Ginny as Harry gave her a tender kiss on the cheek, his eyes beaming in pride for his girlfriend.
"To Ginny, Holyhead Harpies' newest chaser!"
"Ginny!" everyone bellowed before knocking back their firewhiskeys.
"When do you start with the team?" Ron asked, excited that his sister would be playing professional quidditch, even if it was not for the Chudley Cannons.
"September," Ginny answered. "I'll just be training with them and playing for the reserves. But Gwenog says I will probably play for the first team next season, so she wants me trained up and ready for January."
"Will we get free tickets to your first game?" Ron cheekily asked, earning him a nudge in the ribs from Hermione. However, it seemed the entire family were also hoping that this would be the case.
"Yes, you will, but I don't think there will be enough for everyone," Ginny told them. "That part of my contract is still being dealt with. They said we can put that together when I start."
"The management team were keen to stress though that Ginny made it onto the team all thanks to her own talent," Harry continued. "But because we are well known thanks to our parts in the war, they have said that they would make sure the press is kept away from us when we attend games and security will be increased if needs be."
"Hang on a moment," Hermione interrupted. "Just how would you know that? Were you there at the trials?"
"No," Harry said bluntly. "Ginny told me, but the team also wrote to me. They wanted to assure me that while they were aware of our relationship, they would not use me or my relationship with Ginny for publicity or anything else of the sort."
"Oh, erm, sorry," Hermione said, feeling thoroughly chastised.
"Anyway," Ginny said, forcing the conversation forward. "They took my relationship into account when informing me of what I needed to know. While I would have usually stayed and lived in Holyhead to begin with, they have agreed to allow me to continue with our plan to move in together. A room will be available for me if needs be. My schedule for training is five days a week from 10am till 4pm."
"What about weekends?" Molly asked anxiously. "Will you be able to attend Sunday dinners?"
Ginny smiled, laughing internally at her mother's worries.
"As long as I don't have a match, my weekends are free," Ginny replied, causing her mother to relax and smile. "Anyway, enough about me, I think Hermione should tell everyone her news!"
Hermione looked like a deer caught in headlights at Ginny's change of topic. "Oh, umm, I was offered a job in the Department of Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures and I accepted."
The entire room erupted in cheers at the news. It was definitely a weekend for celebrations.
The next morning, Harry apparated himself, Teddy and Ginny to Godric's Hollow to view the progress on their house. The building work and decorating was complete and the grounds were clear and tidy. The only things left to do was to buy furniture and other necessities for the house and to begin planting any trees and flowers they wanted as well as build the quidditch pitch. Before that though, the wards needed to be erected and that was happening the following week. Today, though, was about showing Teddy the house and making decisions on what each room needed.
The red bricked three storey house looked even better than their previous visits, thanks to the replacements windows Harry had asked to be installed. He had ordered and paid for double glazing for all windows and doors throughout the house. He had specifically chosen the style for the child proof locks and for the capability to keep the cold out and the warmth in. Yes, he knew there were a variety of spells that could help him achieve all that, but when it came to the safety of his precious godchild, he was not taking any chances.
The ground floor had been opened up, providing more space and the ability to move between with more ease. To the left as you walked into the small entrance hall was the sitting room. Originally, it had been two rooms, but the wall had been knocked through to create the much wanted and needed space. To the right was the kitchen, dining area, pantry and laundry area. Knocking the wall down between the kitchen and dining room had allowed for more space for a bigger dining table. Ginny was already looking forward to hosting a family dinner.
The first floor consisted of a spacious bathroom, three bedrooms and a playroom. The second floor consisted of the master bedroom, a walk in closet, a bathroom, a study and a small outdoor garden. It was more space than they needed right now, but the perfect size for when they chose to have children.
After making the list of required items and furniture for the house and having shown Teddy what would become his bedroom, the two teens and toddler settled down in the garden for a picnic. Harry couldn't help but grin as he watched his precious godson crawl around the grass. Teddy being here with him and his beautiful girlfriend made, for him, them feel like a real family and that gave him a sense of hope and happiness.
"What are you smiling about?" Ginny asked, having noticed the big grin on her boyfriend's face.
"About how right this all feels," Harry answered as he continued to watch Teddy explore, while reaching out to entwine his fingers with Ginny's. "You, me, Teddy and the house. A year ago, I would not have thought that this would be possible, that it could even happen. Now here we are, sat in our garden, just like a little family."
"Oh Harry, we are a family," Ginny softly said as she gave his hand a squeeze. She couldn't help but be proud of the man Harry had become, especially considering how much he was getting better at expressing himself. "You, me and Teddy are a family. I may not have the Potter name yet and Teddy may not be ours, but we are most certainly a family in our own little way."
"I can't wait for you to have the Potter name," Harry whispered as he leaned over to steal a kiss. However, before either one of them could intensify the kiss, a squeal caused them to pull apart. The two teens turned to see Teddy sat directly in front of them, a huge smile on his face, clapping his hands as he watched his godparents.
"Dada, Mama," the little boy squealed as he changed his hair to black and his eyes to chocolate brown.
Harry laughed as he scooped up his godson. "No, it's Uncle Harry and Auntie Ginny, little man!"
"Dada! Mama!" Teddy squealed again.
Harry shook his head in resignation. "Fine, have it your way, you cheeky monkey."
Ginny came over and wrapped her arms around her two favourite boys, giving them both a kiss on the cheek. "Well it seems Teddy has decided we are a family, Harry. So who are we to disagree with such an adorable boy?"
Harry and Ginny stood outside the church in Godric's Hollow, posing for photos with their newly christened godson. Despite the aching gap that was visible from the absence of Remus and Tonks, it had been a happy occasion for all those involved and all those in attendance.
Andromeda had been more than accommodating in allowing Harry to arrange for Teddy's christening to be held at the same church at which he had been christened. She, like Harry and Ginny, wanted Teddy to have as many special memories as possible, while still retaining some connection to his parents, therefore she had been unable to refuse Harry's request.
It had been a small and simple ceremony with only Andromeda, Harry, Ginny, the Weasleys and Kingsley in attendance. While the vicar knew of the wizarding community, Andi and Harry felt it was too much of a risk to invite any muggle relatives as Teddy did not have control of his metamorphic abilities. In the end, the metamorphmagus had only changed his features when he had seen his godparents for the first time that day; otherwise he was well behaved throughout the short ceremony.
Andromeda watched Teddy and his godparents as they interacted. Her daughter and son in law had chosen well for the godparents and she knew that they would be happy and proud of the love between their son and the two teens. She knew that if she needed to relinquish her grandson into the care of the young couple full time; they would give him everything he needed and so much more.
"Your daughter and Remus chose well for Teddy's godparents," a voice said from beside Andromeda. "But then again, maybe I am slightly biased."
Andromeda chuckled as she turned to look at the Weasley matriarch.
"Perhaps, but what does that make me?" she responded. "I happen to agree with you. It does help to know they are so good with him, especially if I ever felt he would be better in their care."
Molly looked at the grandmother with sadness. "Are you thinking about giving Teddy to them to raise?"
Andromeda smiled softly. "Only if I feel I can no longer cope having him full time, but enough of this. That day is probably many years away and we have a birthday to celebrate."
Teddy's birthday party was to be held at The Burrow. Molly had offered the house to make it easier for Andromeda to hold and organise the party. Luckily it had turned out to be a beautiful day, with it being warm enough to hold the party in the back garden.
This decision had made both Harry and Ginny very happy as was discovered as Teddy opened his presents.
"Oh you didn't?" Andromeda said in exasperation when she saw the content of Teddy's present from his godparents.
Harry cheekily grinned. "I had to continue the tradition, or at least make it a tradition!"
Teddy was clapping his hands in glee at the present. "Bwoom! Bwoom!"
"That's right, little man!" Ginny cheerily responded as she removed the baby broom out of the packaging.
"What do you mean by tradition, Harry?" Arthur asked as he laid a comforting hand on Molly's arm, who seemed set to lecture Harry about his choice of present.
"Sirius brought me my first broom," Harry explained, a distant look in his eyes. "Plus he brought me my Firebolt."
"Godfather to godson," Hermione muttered in realisation.
"I hope that the godparents of any children that Ginny and I may have in the future continue the tradition as well," Harry continued, causing many hearts to soften at his explanation.
"Too right I will," Ron said in assumption as he came and picked up Teddy and the new toy broom. "Let's go flying, little man!"
Teddy stared at Ron like he was trying to decide something. When it seemed like he had made up his mind, his tiny hands grasped Ron's face.
"Won, Won!" Teddy squealed, causing Ron to groan as he was reminded of the awful nickname his ex-girlfriend, Lavender had bestowed upon whilst they had dated.
Harry, Hermione and Ginny were in fits of laughter themselves as well, knowing how much Ron had hated the nickname.
"You, Teddy Lupin, are a little terror!" Ron declared as he passed the little boy over to his godfather.
"Dada!" he squealed in delight at being in his godfather's arms, to the shock of many of the party attendees. "Bwoom! Fwy!"
Before Harry could say anything, Andromeda spoke up, "its ok, Harry, that he calls you Dada. You are the main man in his life, so it is only natural he calls you that. When he is older, we can encourage him to call you Uncle Harry instead, if you and he both want that."
Harry shared a discreet glance with Ginny, who subtly nodded her head in agreement with Andromeda.
"Thanks Andi," Harry quietly replied. "Right, let's get you flying, Teddy."
Harry quickly carried Teddy down to the Weasleys' makeshift quidditch pitch, wanting to avoid any emotionally heavy conversation. He wanted this day to remain a happy day for Teddy, despite the heaviness on his own heart that he felt from the absence of Remus and Tonks.
Ginny watched as her boyfriend took their godson to go flying, knowing he was beginning to struggle with the looming anniversary of the final battle. She had seen the pain in his eyes when Teddy had called him Dada, especially when she knew he was coming to love him as if he really was his own son.
"I'm sorry," she said as she turned to face Andromeda. "He loves that little boy as if he was his own son, even if he doesn't realise it yet. But he is absolutely petrified of replacing Remus."
Andromeda smiled sadly at Ginny's admission. "Neither you, nor Harry could ever or will ever replace Teddy's parents, but you can still be parents to him. Your own parents could never replace Lily and James, but they have been the surrogate parents Harry has needed."
"I know. I think Harry knows that deep down too," Ginny responded quietly. She looked back towards to where her boyfriend had headed before turning back to face her family. "Let me go and check on him."
As she approached the makeshift quidditch pitch, she could hear the squeals of delight from her godson and as she came into view, she could see him slowly flying his toy broom as Harry followed behind him on foot. She smiled as she watched them from afar. As much as she could tell that Harry was trying to fight his need to be a father to Teddy, to her it seemed he was not fighting as hard as he had made himself to believe he was. Here he was, following his godson, protectively watching over him as Teddy learnt to fly, ready to jump in and help if he needed to. That little boy was as good as Harry's son, whether or not he chose to call his godfather, Dada.
"Mama!" Little Teddy squealed rousing Ginny from her thoughts. "Fwy!"
Ginny moved over to the makeshift quidditch pitch with Teddy meeting her halfway as he flew his toy broom over to her.
"I see that, baby boy!" she cooed in response.
Teddy flew off again slowly, but this time Harry did not immediately move to follow, instead choosing to wrap Ginny in his arms, burying his face in her neck.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I didn't mean to react like that."
"It's ok, Harry," Ginny soothed. "I don't want to replace Tonks, or have you replace Remus, but we are his godparents. Therefore, it is our job to help raise him and be the parents he needs."
"Just like your parents have been for me," Harry concluded.
Ginny smiled at his realisation, happy of his acceptance of their position. "Come on, let's get Teddy and go and have some birthday cake!"
With that, the two godparents scooped up their godson and made their way back to the family to enjoy the rest of the party.