MC4A; Hogwarts

Fill 2
Stacked With: Hogwarts; BAON; Starry Strums
Individual Challenges: In a Flash (N); Lovely Triangle (N); Yellow Ribbon (N); Yellow Ribbon Redux (Y); Gryffindor MC (N)
Representations: Neville Longbottom; Teddy Lupin; Insecurity; Triad
Bonus Challenges: Found Family; Nontraditional
Prompts: Teddy Lupin (auction); Cuddle (365 words); Thestral (Insane Prompts)
Word count: 509


There was a quiet knock on the door that went unanswered as Teddy remained curled around the thestral that was his best friend—even if he couldn't see him. The knock came again and Teddy groaned as Mortimer butted him softly with his head. He knew he should open the door. Whichever one of his parents out there would knock once more before leaving him alone for a bit longer and Teddy didn't really want to be alone anymore. He also didn't want to have to explain himself.

The third knock came and Teddy responded by throwing the closest book—1,001 Magical Plants and Fungi—in the direction of the door. The door cracked open and Neville peered in, smiling softly at Teddy.

"Hey there, Sprout."

"Hey, Dad," Teddy replied softly, his voice raspy from crying.

Neville bent down and picked up the book. He placed it gently on the bookshelf. "You know, you should really take more care of that book, it saved your Pa's life once."

Teddy scrunched up his nose. "How?"

"He needed to be underwater for a long time and the answer was in that book. Not that he knew to look there, of course. That was my job."

"That's the problem." Teddy sighed and buried himself further into Mortimer, feeling the thestral nuzzle his hair.

Neville sank down on the floor next to Teddy, fiddling with the thestral figurine Luna had made for Teddy so that he knew what Mortimer looked like. "What's the problem, Sprout?"

"You! You and Pa and Mum and even my birth parents!" Teddy flinched at the hurt crossing Neville's face and hurried to explain his outburst. "You guys are all heroes and have this amazing legacy that everyone is expecting me to live up to and I don't think I can! I'm just a kid, Dad!"

"Yes, you are," Neville said softly. "You're still young, Teddy. There's no need for you to make your mark on the world just yet."

"You guys did."

"We were in a war; we had to. Even if all you did in life was work in a shop, Sprout, we would still be proud of you."

"I don't want to work in a shop."

"Not even George's?" Neville asked.

Teddy giggled and shrugged slightly. "Maybe his shop."

Neville opened his arms in offer and Teddy crawled into them, curling up in Neville's lap and accepting the cuddle with relief. "You'll be okay, Teddy. You'll be okay."

"Promise?"

"I can't promise it'll be easy, but you'll make it. And if you ever need anything, you have me and Harry and Luna. We're always going to be here for you, even if you think you don't want our help."

Teddy sniffed and nodded as he turned even further into Neville, grasping his shirt as he sought out comfort. Mortimer shifted closer and lay his head across both human's laps, letting out a large sigh. The pile of comfort remained silent, soaking in each other's presence until Harry called them out to the kitchen to eat dinner.