Chapter 25: The Mural

A/N: Poor fluff today. Bear with me, I'm sick. My mind wasn't able to produce anything more substantial. And also, after the last few weeks I reckon we can all do with something to smile about.

Inspiration: . /16d4c1d81c4b70e8a16eb030b1f03c4f/tumblr_meqflthnRq1r064tqo1_

July 2002

The Potter's Flat. London.

Living with a lively four-year-old certainly has it's moments, Ginny discerns as she studies the colourful mural on the pristine white wall of their flat. Who would have guessed Teddy, of all people, fancies himself a great artist.

"Teddy-Bear, what exactly is this?" Buying herself time, Ginny isn't sure whether to be amused, annoyed or admiring the abstract masterpiece.

"A dragon," Teddy explains with an air of importance and an expression that lets Ginny clearly know she should be able to decipher that from the artwork.

"And what a pretty dragon it is," Ginny relents, a smile tucking at the corners of her mouth. Kneeling down, she presses a kiss to Teddy's blue curls. "But as much as I love your work, I'm not so sure about the placement. You know we do not paint on the walls, Teddy."

The little boy has the decency to look down at his shoes. His hair shifts into a slightly subdued shade of blue as he nods.

"And you do know that breaking the rules has consequences. Grandma took away your broom when you threw the ball at the cat, remember? Do you want me to take your broom?"

Teddy doesn't look at her, but shakes his head. Ginny pulls him into her lap, making him look at her.

"No, you don't. So why did you draw on the wall?"

"Luna did it too! I saw her paint a unico'nn on the twinses wall when me 'n Harry went to Or'dwey to bring her Gran'ma's biscuits. No one told her off! Harry 'n Or'dwey said it's perfect!"

"Oh love, your dragon is ever bit as pretty as Luna's unicorn. But Luna is a painter, Teddy- It's what she does for money." Teddy looks put out and not at all convinced he is in fact not a painter. "Percy and Audrey asked Luna to draw on their wall, but Harry and I specifically told you not to do that."

"That's not fair! If my broom is locked away, someone needs to take away Luna's too." Fortunately for Teddy, Ginny thinks her godson is extremely cute when he pouts. Trying to keep her grown-up-face, she runs her hand over Teddy's soft locks.

"No one is going to take away your broom." Teddy perks his head up, giving her a weary look. "If you promise me not to paint on the walls again, I'll let you off this time. I'll find some biiig piece of paper that you can paint another dragon on and we'll hang it right here, yeah?"

"Do I get a frame? Like in the mus'um Mione took me 'n Vicky to?" Teddy's hair changes into an electric shade of turquoise at the thought of his own art gallery.

"Just like that." Ginny grins and stands, pulling Teddy up with her and kissing his chubby cheek. "And now, we'll go floo your Uncle George."

"Why? Will we get new candy?"

"Not today, love. But he will help you clean this because he was so kind to give you these magical markers. Honestly, who in their right mind invents non-erasable crayons?"

So after the last chapter I felt a bit at a loss. Teddy and Ginny are my favourite characters and I have a lot to write about them still, but I needed to take a step back and organize my thoughts. Sometimes pouring your heart and soul and mind out "on paper" takes a lot.

While most of the feedback was positive and very inspiring and kind, one Guest threw me off a bit. "James was at least 13, possibly close to 14 during the Epilogue which was set on Sep 1st 2017. That means he was born in either 2003 or 2004. Your date is out". Now this is probably silly and all, but it lfelt a bit nasty to me. Somehow it caused me to abandon all my other writing for the time being because I felt inadequate. I even went back and re-read the Epilogue. Twice. So as far as I could tell, there were no ages given for any next gen characters in the epilogue. Now it could have been lost in translation (I only have the german books) - if so please do enlighten me?

But either way this is a fanfiction. A piece of my own mind. Something I write out because it fits my own headcanons. It isn't supposed to be accurate.

I do not count Cursed Child, Fantastic Beasts or the Pottermore stuff as canon. All that stuff is amazing and I very much enjoyed it, but it doesn't fit my headcanons. Sorry.

After reading about 150 Tedtoire fanfics this week, I feel a bit better though.

With that out of the way, please leave (constructive) feedback. Fave and Follow. Make my day ;)

Much, much, much Love.