Rebuilding Your Life

The pink Chameleon

When they stepped out of the floo they were immedietly surrounded by the loud bustle of the burrow. One of the twins was in the living room.

''Look, who decided to show up. Busy making goo goo eyes?'' Charlie snorted while Harry shot back. ''No, in case you haven't noticed, we have a kid to get ready as well.''

''Pfft, we all know you are a planner, Harry.'' His voice had a slight dislike in it.

''What's your problem Fred?'' Charlie asked perplexed. ''He is not Fred, he is George and he is bothered by organized people like me and his twin. Fred is doing all the books and payments, while he is the more experimenting one. The one who likes to live in chaos.''

Charlie looked a bit shocked. ''Maybe I was gone for too long.'' He mumbled to himself.

''Well, now that your are here, about time, I might add, PRESENTS!'' He screamed as loud as he could. Teddy began crying and Charlie hit his brother on the back.

''Shh, baby-bear, everythings fine.'' Harry rocked him slowly, rubbing his back and shooting daggers at George, who looked guilty. It took him five minutes to calm him down, by now the family was gathered and Molly was scolding her son for being childish and selfish and not thinking about sweet, innocent Teddy.

They sat around the tree and began exchanging gifts. Molly had made a jumper for everyone this year, using special soft baby wool for Teddy. She redressed him after he had shredded the wrapping paper under loud giggles. Teddy was looking at the little bear on his chest with interest. Percy captured the moment with his new camera.

The little one was startled by the flash of light. He sobbed and stretched his arms out to Charlie. ''Dada!'' He took him and kissed his cheek.

The rest of the family looked stunned. ''Whoa, didn't exspect that.'' Ginny said in awe.

Harry just smiled proudly. The twins handed him a brightly wrapped package. ''Do I need to be scared?''

''Please, you wound us.''

''We would never hurt the little one.''

He gave the present to Teddy, who squealed and started war on the purple gift wrap paper.

''So, if Charlie is Dada, what are you going to be?'' Bill asked in his deep voice. Harry thought about it while watching Teddy destroy the paper with hands and mouth.

''I think Papa sounds good.'' He looked around his family, they were nodding, Bill gave him an understanding smile.

''Ohh.'' Teddy had beat the paper successfully, inside was a plushie. But it looked so different than all his other ones. It was pink and looked funny. He shook his little head and crawled away from it towards Harry.

''What's wrong little guy, don't you like it?''

The twins looked dejected, they had thought it to be the best present ever, designed by George.

Harry stroked the toddlers cheek with his thumb, Teddy turned his head looked at the plushie and buried his head in Harrys chest.

Harry took the little chameleon in his hand and pushed the snout inside Teddys hand. Teddy fisted his hand, squeazing the toy by accident. The bright pink animal turned turquoise. He gasped softly and reached out. He hit it on his head but nothing happened. He hit again harder, still nothing. He tucked on the tail and it turned green. Harry put him down next to his new toy, where he hit and stroked and squeazed it, his hair changing along with his plushie.

They stayed like this for a few hours, talking and enjoying the peaceful time with each other, before getting up and setting the table for Christmas lunch. They had expanded the burrow during the rebuild, so they could easily sit at the enormous new table together.

Molly had outdone herself, a masterpiece of a meal.

Roasted turkey with stuffing and gravy, roasted vegetables, mushed parsnips and potatoes, the dessert mince pies, Christmas pudding, trifle and brandy butter was waiting in the kitchen. Fleur had brought a few dishes as well, roasted Bresse chicken with redwine sauce and apple tarte.

The difficult part was to separate Teddy from his new best friend, they ended up putting the toy in a chair next to him, so he was in eyesight.

After the lunch Molly went upstairs to put Teddy down for his nap. Fleur and Ginny sneaking after her.

Ron and George grabbed his arms and steared him into the kitchen, out of the corner of his eyes he saw Fred and Bill do the same to Charlie, only they went the other way. ''What are you doing?''

''Nothing we just want to talk, since you can't be bothered to write to your best friend.'' Ron said with a glare. ''I'm sorry, I just didn't have time, I wanted to, I promise.'' He said with pleading puppy eyes. ''Humpf. Fine, let's talk now and forget that you are a meanie. Are you happy?''

''Yes. Yes, I am. I was never as happy as I am now. Teddy and Charlie are the best that ever happened to me.''

''So, you two are serious? No fooling around, this is for real?'' It wasn't often that George looked so ernest. ''He is not using you?'' Ron added with slight uneasiness.

''No, you don't have to worry about us, we love each other, no games.''

They both looked shocked. ''Love? Really?'' George shook his head in denial. ''Aren't you too young to fall in love, you are just barely 18.''

''And you are so much older? Love doesn't know age. My parents, your parents fell in love way before 18.''

''He is right.'' Ron said. ''Well, who are you taking to the quidditch matchs?''

They broke out in laughter at the abrupt topic change. ''We thought to go together.'' Harry said with a straight face.

''What? No, you can't, you have to take your brothers. Thats an unspoken rule.''

''Never heard of it.'' He said and got up. George was snickering. ''Because it is unspoken.'' Ron ran after him when he left the kitchen and tackled Harry from behind. They wrestled on the ground for a bit. ''Okay, I give up, I take you to the games against the Cannons, you git.'' He said between gasps. ''Good.'' They stood back up and saw Arthur look at them amused, Hermione looked slightly disapproving, but her lips were twitching.

''Where are the other guys?'' Harry asked a tiny bit concerned.

''Outside.''

''Thanks. Come on, before Fred grilles Charlie too much.''

The three marched outside to find Bill, Charlie, Fred and Percy in the middle of a snowfight.

''Woopie, let's join.'' With that George took of, Ron hot on his heels. Harry simply watched the brothers laughing, before taking aim at Charlies back and scoring full points.

The two started their own fight, getting closer and closer together, till Charlie was able to grap him and stuff the snow down his back. Harry screamed and wiggled to get away from the cold. They both collapsed in the snow. Breathing hard.

''Charlie?''

''Mmh.''

''Can we build a snowman? I never did before.''

Charlie pulled him back on his feet and showed him how to build a snow-wizard.