49. Let's Pretend

The small child stumbled as he ran; but it didn't matter, for strong hands caught him before he could hit the floor, righting him and smiling.

"Careful, Teddy-boy." His father's voice smiled. Teddy laughed in reply, then continued his running into the kitchen,where his mother's arms swept him up and held in tightly.

(The child stumbled as he ran. He landed in lightly on the floor, and struggled back to his feet, running into the kitchen, where Grandma asked him to please just walk.)

His eyes flipped open, he sat bolt upright, and looked around the room quickly. No monsters, like in his dreams.

"Mummy!" He called, because he knew his mum would check under the bed and in the wardrobe, and make absolutely sure. Dad came too, and they swiched on the light and thoroughly checked the room.

"All safe, Teddy." His mum said, hugging him. His dad tucked him back in, and they left together, smiling at him before turning off the light. He snuggled back down and closed his eyes, falling back asleep in minutes.

(His eyes flipped open, he sat bolt upright, and looked around the room quickly. No monsters, like in his dreams. He nervously lay back down, tightly hugging the soft purple wolf he'd had since he was a baby. It took a long while for him to fall back asleep, half-convinced monsters were going to slip out of the closet, or roll out from under the bed.)

"And then your mum and I moved a little closer, so we could help if we had to. But Harry had it all under control. And he..."

Teddy snuggled closer to his father, closing his eyes to try and picture the scene.

("And that's when your dad started teaching me how to cast a patronus. I couldn't do it at first, but then..." Teddy snuggled closer to his godfather, closing his eyes to try and picure his father.)

"Teddy. Don't you dare climb that tree!" His mum called, half smiling, half trying to look stern. "Teddy-"

"I'll be OK, mum!" He laughed, but before he could even begin to climb, his dad had lifted him off the ground, carried him back towards the others. Laughing, Teddy let his dad sit him in his mum's knee, where she started tickling him, while Harry and the Weasleys and everyone laughed.

("Teddy. Don't you dare climb that tree!" His grandmother called. Teddy hesitated, before stepping closer to the tree. "I'll be OK!" He called back, half annoyed at the way she always tried to smother him. Before he could begin to climb, though, Uncle Ron lifted him up, carrying him back over to the others and dropping him on Aunt Hermione's knee, who laughed. Teddy rolled his eyes, but settled back against her.)

"And try not to get into too much trouble straight away, Ted." His dad said. His mum rolled her eyes.

"Ignore him Teddy. You just have fun, OK?"

"Without too many detentions." Dad said, sending a smirk at mum, who half laughed before pulling Teddy into a hug.

"Just write as much as you can." She told him. "I want to hear every little detail."

"I will." Teddy nodded.

"And don't even think about staying there over Christmas. You're coming home, OK? We'll miss you." His dad told him, taking his turn in hugging.

"I'll come home." Teddy replied.

His mum smothed his bright blue hair, smiling as she did so.

("Try not to get in too much trouble, Teddy." Grandma said.

"Have fun, though." Harry told him, grinning.

"And don't forget to write." Ginny reminded him.

"We'll see you at Christmas." Grandma said, hugging him. Harry and Ginny hugged him too, then Grandma smoothed his hair, asked him again if he wouldn't prefer a more normal colour to the bright blue.)

Mum and dad hugged him when he got off the train for Christmas holidays.

(Grandma hugged him when he got off the train for Christmas holidays.)

Mum and dad took him to the platform to see him off, every time a term began.

(Sometimes Grandma took him; sometimes it was Harry or Ginny, or Ron or Hermione, or one of others.)

He awkwardly asked dad for advice when he realised he liked Victoire Weasley.

(He awkwardly Harry for advice when he realised he liked Victoire Weasley.)

His mum cried a little when he married; his dad beamed and looked tearful himself.

(His Grandma cried a little when he married; Ginny beamed and looked tearful herself.)

His mum hugged Victoire when she announced her pregnancy; his dad clapped him on the back.

(Grandma uncertainly hugged Victoire, asking if they were sure this was what they wanted.)

Teddy hugged his parents when his first child was born.

(Teddy hugged his first child when the baby was born, and fiercely promised never to leave.)

His parents were alive, and he'd always been happy.

(His parents were dead, and sometimes it hurt.)