Heya Peeps.

So, this story happened for "Reasons". Honestly, I just felt like writing some fluff.
To the people who are anxiously waiting for Dichotomous Centre. It will happen, soon-ish.
I've already begun writing Chapter 16 for that. No worries.

Enjoy
WaskeHD
XxX

Big Appetite

Chapter 1: Returning to England

Harry Potter wiped the sweat off his brow with a dish towel he had hanging from his hip. He looked down at the Filet Mignon that he had just done the finishing touches on. He made sure that it had been arranged the way he had been taught by his current teacher. The French Chef Ramillion had been one of the best teachers he had had in these last five years.

He had left Britain after winning the war against Voldemort. There had been too much death and too many expectations about what he was supposed to do after it. Hermione had wanted him to go back to Hogwarts to finish his N.E.W.T.s. Molly had already been planning a wedding between him and Ginny, it hadn't mattered that neither of them had even talked about whether they were still together, they had technically broken up before Harry, Hermione and Ron had gone on their Merlin forsaken Horcrux Hunt. Kingsley had wanted him as an auror and Ron had wanted him to cash in on the fame to get free things. Harry had wanted none of those. The expectations from everybody had almost made him catatonic. He still remembered how trapped he had felt sitting in the Gryffindor Tower in the days between the end of the war and the memorial for those who had died.

It had been at the memorial where a proverbial lifering had been tossed to him.

"Why don't you leave then?"

Harry passed the dish over to the waiter, before grabbing the next order. He hadn't meant to travel around the world learning how to cook, but it somehow happened. He had been travelling around on Sirius's Motorcycle, exploring the world when that had happened. Sirius's bike had been damaged during the Battle of the Seven Potters as the Prophet had called it, but it hadn't taken long for the repair shop to get it back in shape. It was impressive what money and magic could make people do. He had waited a month for them to finish and then he had been off. He had brought a magical tent for the times when he found himself between towns but mostly he had just slept in whatever hotel he could find.

That had been his routine until one morning he had sat down in a small cafe in a small town. He hadn't known the owner, but the owner had known him. Mr. Marcosi had been a wizard. He had almost fallen flat on his arse when the famous Harry Potter had dropped by his small café. That had been the beginning of Harry learning how to cook properly.

Harry had grown up hating being forced to cook for the Dursleys. Back then he hadn't enjoyed cooking in the slightest. The fact that they never gave him enough food to eat only made it worse, but constantly having to cook for two hippos and a horse had made him decent at it. Being hit if the food was burnt or tasteless had made him analyze everything he put into his mouth and constantly forced him to get better.

Having eaten the House Elves cooking at Hogwarts, while good, had made him realize how much taste was lost when you had to make food for five hundred people three times a day.

And lastly, having eaten Mrs. Weasley's cooking had made him realize how important quality ingredients were for the food's taste.

But what they had all taught him was the importance of food. Sitting in Mr. Marcosi's café listening to him talk about how he had bought the building with his wife and how he had been cooking for the small town for the past thirty years, watching the joy on the man's face had made Harry blurt out something that he normally never would have thought about.

"Could you teach me how to cook?"

It hadn't taken much convincing after that. Harry had even offered to pay for his tuition, but the man hadn't even wanted it. Teaching Harry Potter how to cook had been a great honour for the small portly man. Harry had set up his tent and his motorcycle behind the café and joined Mr. Marcosi in the kitchen.

That had been the beginning of the past four and a half years. Harry had politely thanked him, packed up and begun his travels again, when Mr. Marcosi had told him he couldn't teach him anything anymore. He had happened upon another small café in the next town over and with a recommendation from Mr. Marcosi, it had been easy enough to get the same deal with the new owner. Sometimes it would take about a week and sometimes it would take longer, sometimes he would pay for his tuition and sometimes he would get paid for his work. It didn't matter all that much to Harry in the end.

In the beginning of his travels he would frequently get letters from people back in Britain asking how his travels were going or where he was at the moment, whether he was going to come back for Christmas and such. Then the letters had become occasional mostly from Hermione and one other person. Hermione would still keep him updated on the happenings in their group of friends and how the political climate was in the country. Kingsley had been doing an admirable job according to Hermione and with the deaths of so many Death Eaters there had been a vacuum in the government. Apparently it had turned into a true parliamentary democracy whatever that was supposed to mean. Something about voting for the people you want in the Wizengamot Hermione had written. He was apparently unpopular with the Weasleys meaning mostly Ginny and Molly. It had been one strongly worded letter from Ginny telling him that she had moved on and one howler from Molly Weasley berating him about how he had broken her daughter's heart and that had been the last he had heard from them.

He had been a little annoyed when he realised that the two Weasleys had talked about him and Ginny as if they were engaged to be married. That had never been on Harry's agenda. He wasn't even certain if he wanted something to happen with Ginny after returning back. He wasn't even sure if he was going to come back. There wasn't much for him there and he enjoyed travelling and seeing the world, learning how to cook different food. India had been a big eye opener for him and Japan had been almost intimidating with their raw fish food, but it had been fun. He had learned so much over the years. The world was so much bigger than they would ever understand.

The other person still writing to him was Teddy. Well, Teddy's guardian to be exact. It came as part of the territory of being a Godfather. Harry made sure to make it back whenever Teddy's birthday came around. He did his best to visit a weekend a month, sometimes it was every other month, but it had been important for him to watch Teddy growing up. Sometimes work had gotten in the way but he had done his best either way. Teddy was the only reason why he sometimes would think about settling down in Britain.

It was the same person telling him to leave if he wanted to on that day at the memorial. She had stood there with his godson in her arms, sometimes crying, sometimes not, looking completely exhausted and still she had told him to just leave if he wanted to. The one person who might have needed him to stick around, and she had told him to do what he wanted. No, what he had needed in that moment. She had been his lifeline. Nymphadora Tonks Lupin.

Harry had spent the month or so while the motorcycle had been repaired with them, taking care of both her and Teddy and sometimes even Andromeda. They had all been a mess. Andromeda was grieving Ted, Tonks had been grieving Remus, not to mention the amount of attention a one-month-old Teddy had needed. .

Harry had given the small family access to his vaults, he wouldn't even had cared if they had emptied them. It wasn't like he was going to be able to spend all that money himself and they had been Blacks in the first place. He had even offered them to stay at Grimmauld Place but neither of the two women had wanted that. Not that he could blame them. The house was dreary at best.

No, Tonks had been the only other person to frequently write to him after all this time. She would tell him about what Teddy was doing and how he was growing while Harry would tell her about his travels, the cultures he had seen and the food he had been taught how to cook. Whenever he arrived in a new place the first thing he would do was send a letter to Tonks telling her he had arrived safely. It was almost a ritual.

"Hey Potter! We are done for the night. You can head home," Ramilion shouted in his French accent.

"Thanks Rami."

Harry washed his hands and threw his dish towel in the basket before heading out. He grabbed his leather jacket, putting it on before mounting his motorcycle, driving off into the night. He had rented a small flat this time around. He wasn't all that far from Britain living in Paris. He idly thought about making a trip over the channel to see the Tonkses. Well two of them were Lupins, but either way.

He opened up the door to find his flat as empty as ever. He ran a hand down his face in exhaustion. He idly trailed his finger over the nearest surface. A single line in the dust being the only thing left behind.

He reached his fridge. For a world class chef it was pathetically empty. It wasn't that he wasn't hungry but spending all day in a restaurant, left him tired of cooking when he got home. He grabbed a half-eaten box of thaifood, before dropping down on the table. His eyes fell on an envelope lying in the middle of his small table.

Harry reached out for it, flipping it around. He didn't immediately recognize the handwriting. It was just addressed to Harry Potter, it must have gone through Gringotts. He had set up a redirection of his letters via Gringotts, meaning he would only have to check in with them whenever he arrived in a new country. The amount of fanmail he had gotten from after the war had been staggering. It was easier to let Gringotts go through it before forwarding the relevant ones to him. That's when it hit him. This one seemed to be from Neville. The last he had gotten from him was… he supposed it had been a couple of years at this point.

Hey Harry

I guess it's been awhile. How's everything?
Where are you at the moment?
Still cooking? You should come help out at the Leaky.
Hannah bought it from Tom when he got too old.
She's working there now. It's been good.

Harry smiled to himself. He knew that Neville and Hannah had begun dating soon after the Battle of Hogwarts. Last he had heard from him, he had been getting his mastery in Herbology. Something that was so completely Neville. He would be a good professor if he chose that career.

So, the reason why I am writing is that Hannah and I are getting married.
I know. About time right? Well, that's at least what Hannah's Mom says.
So the reason why I'm writing is that I'm asking you to be my best man.
We haven't sent out invitations yet and of course you are going to get yours,
but yeah. The date is the 24th of May and of course you are invited.

Neville

Harry scratched his head. He checked the calendar hanging on his fridge. 18th of March, he mused. At least Neville had asked him with little over two months in advance. He scratched his cheek thinking it over. Teddy's birthday was coming up and his contract was ending at the end of the month anyway. He had already planned to at least spend the days around Teddy's birthday with the Lupins like he had done every year. He could find a hotel or maybe stay at Grimmauld during the time between Teddy's birthday and the wedding. It would give him a chance to get to really know Teddy.

Teddy would be turning five in just two weeks. Harry hadn't yet gotten a present for Teddy, he should get that done before going back. He would have to send a letter confirming him staying for a couple of days with Tonks, but he didn't foresee it being a problem in the slightest.

Two weeks later, Harry parked his motorcycle in front of the small Lupin house. He had missed the homely feeling it exhibited in its almost unremarkable appearance. Tomorrow would be Teddy's birthday. Tonks had been more than happy to let him stay at their home for a couple of days. He just hoped that Teddy wouldn't be freaked out by his presence like usual, it had always taken a couple of days before Teddy was comfortable around him.

Harry grabbed his bag from the sidecar and made his way up to the door. He didn't even get to knock on the front door before it was opened wide. Harry lost his ability to speak. She didn't look like she had aged a day since he last saw her. Teddy was as usual firmly planted on her hip like the last time he had stood in front of her door.

"Hiya," he began lamely.

He didn't get to say more before he was pulled into a tight hug.

"It's so good to see you, Harry," Tonks whispered.

"Good to see you too, Dora," Harry equally quiet.

"Most people still call me Tonks, you know," she groused.

"Alright alright, Mrs. Lupin," Harry smirked. "How are you Teddy?"

"Dad?"

Both Harry and Tonks froze. Harry wasn't sure if this was better than Teddy freaking out at his presence. The adults decidedly looked away from each other. Harry decided to ruffle the light blue hair on top of his small head to gather his thoughts.

"Hey Teddy," Harry said softly. "I'm here for your birthday."

"Dad!"

Teddy flung himself towards Harry, forcing Harry to catch him with both his arms. Harry gently held him against his shoulder. He nuzzled his nose into Teddy's hair. He didn't dare to look up until he heard the sounds of footsteps disappearing into the small house.

"I made food. I know you're a professional chef and all…"

"No worries," Harry chuckled. "I love eating what other people make for me. I'm sure it's delicious."

"Whatever…"

Harry couldn't see her face but the tips of her shoulderlength hair had turned and even rosier pink than they had been before. She might be embarrassed. The thought made Harry chuckle to himself. Harry helped Teddy into his adjustable highchair and sat down at the small kitchen table next to him. He loved visiting the Lupins. There was something about being here. It wasn't an impressive place by any means. There were three bedrooms and a single basement, which Harry suspected was outfitted to contain Remus during the full moon, even if he had never asked about it. The front door was connected to a hallway which split into the stairs on the right and the living room on the left with the bedrooms in the back. The living room was connected to the kitchen which in turn was connected to the back door and the garden. The bathroom was off the hallway just before the three bedrooms.

Looking around the kitchen and living, it seemed like Teddy had reached the age where he would leave behind his toys everywhere. Harry remembered that Tonks didn't seem to have gotten the hang of household charms when she had first picked him up before his fifth year at Hogwarts and it looked like she hadn't gotten better at them since. The thought made Harry chuckle to himself.

"What are you laughing at?" Tonks asked from her position near the stove.

Harry watched as she bent down in front of the oven, making his mouth dry out instantly. She pulled out what looked like a simple lasagna and placed it on the kitchen counter.

"Nothing," Harry said quickly. "I just took in the surroundings. It's been what… Two months since last time I was here? I wanted to come around more but Rami had me working constantly."

"Something like that, and don't worry about it," Tonks mused. "Not a lot of stuff has changed. It's the same old house. Teddy is the one who changes the most. I've tried to tell him to pick up his toys after himself but…"

"Don't wanna!"

"Then you don't get dessert," Tonks said simply, a single eyebrow raised.

Tonks and Teddy stared at each other for a minute before she gave up on it. "You're getting off easy, because Uncle Harry is here."

Harry winked at Teddy as he pumped his fists into the air. "Do you need any help?"

"Nah, I'm all good. Got some carrots and cucumber sticks in the fridge, but you don't need to get up for those."

Harry had already gotten up and moved to the fridge. He quickly grabbed the two bowls filled with greens while Tonks put down the lasagna on the table. He also grabbed a pitcher of water and placed it in an empty spot on the table.

"This smells absolutely brilliant," Harry sighed. "Much better than what I usually eat."

"I very much doubt that," Tonks snorted sarcastically.

"I never really cook for myself," Harry shrugged.

"Why not? I assumed you would be good at it, considering the letters you've sent."

"When you spend your days in a kitchen, more cooking when you get home isn't really all that interesting, so I usually just get either leftovers from the restaurants or take-away."

"I used to live like that before this little guy," Tonks smiled fondly at Teddy who was engrossed in eating his cooled down lasagna. "With work and everything it just seemed easier to order in. Some days we still do but it's more the exception than the rule at this point."

"That's good," Harry smiled, tucking into his own piece.

He would have lied if he had said he hadn't tasted a better lasagna in the past few years but there was something about this one compared to the restaurant ones he had tasted before. Something that made this one more delicious than anything.

"So…" Tonks began nervously. "How is it?"

"It's great," Harry said genuinely. "It's really great."

"That's good," Tonks sighed in relief.

Harry enjoyed the small smile flickering across Tonks's lips. She seemed to be a lot more relaxed after that. It was like that every time he visited at least in the beginning. They would be awkward with each other for the first fifteen minutes until somehow they found out that there was nothing to be awkward about, they would still be the same good friends. This time around it hadn't helped that Teddy had called him Dad before he even stepped through the door. They had both decidedly agreed to sidestep that field of landmines without speaking a word.

"So Teddy, what do you do while Mum is at work?" Harry asked, like he always did.

"I'm still going to preschool, you know that," Teddy rolled his eyes, lasagna hanging from his chin. "I'm one of the big kids now!"

"Oh is that right, little man?" Harry smiled. "And what does being a big kid in preschool…"

What followed was a series of stories from Teddy's time in preschool. At one point Tonks had gotten up to grab a tub of ice cream from the freezer, scooping it into three bowls for their dessert. Harry's eyes had followed the way her hands had moved as she seemed to glide around the kitchen. She had once more apologized for it not being fancier. Harry had waved it off, his focus completely on Teddy eating his own bowl, enjoying it immensely. Teddy hadn't lasted much longer after that. The little guy had fallen asleep on Harry's lap with his mouth open almost as soon as the three of them had moved to the living room. Tonks had offered to take him but Harry enjoyed having the little guy sitting on his lap.

"When you get tired of him, just tell me. I'll put him down for you," Tonks whispered.

"No don't," Harry said softly. "I don't see him enough as it is."

Harry leaned back in the chair pulling Teddy close to him, slowly humming a lullaby. While Harry was focused on Teddy, Tonks got up and walked into the kitchen bringing back a bottle of wine and two glasses. She poured one for herself.

"You want a glass?" she offered.

Harry nodded, while stroking Teddy on the back. He received the glass from Tonks, clinking it to hers before he leant back again. They sat in silence, sipping slowly. It had been easier to talk with each other when Teddy had been there. Harry was interested in knowing all about Teddy's life, well their life in general and Harry had more than one story to tell Teddy in return. Harry kept looking anywhere but at the woman on the couch. It felt too intimate.

"So how long are you going to stay this time around?"

Harry finally turned his head towards her. Tonks had been the forbidden fantasy when he was a teenager. The older woman close enough to his own age with a flirty personality to top it off. She had wowed him back when he first met her and she continued to do so right now. It wasn't the same punk style as she had had back then. Being a mother suited her, even with the stains of food that had been splashed to her shirt and the way her tied back hair had tufts coming loose, hanging down her face. It was the way she would smile when she looked at Teddy and the way her personality would still light up a room, it was all still there if you looked for it, though most of the time she just looked tired.

He remembered when Remus had shown up at Hogwarts without her with the excuse that he needed to be there for his first son. Harry had felt relieved that she was out of danger. He wasn't sure if he would have wanted to live in a world with this woman in front of him. Then she had been the only one who hadn't had any expectations for him after that battle even if she was the only one who had any right to have them.

"I'll be in the country until the end of May this time around," Harry said.

"Oh… Really?"

"Yeah, Neville is getting married to Hannah," Harry ran a hand through his hair. "I got asked to be his best man."

"Wow," Tonks sighed. "I suppose it was in the cards. He finished his mastery in Herbology and got Sprout's old job, so this is really just the next step."

"I'm still surprised he asked me," Harry ran his fingers through Teddy's hair. "We haven't been that close since I left."

"Don't sell yourself short," Tonks teased. "You're probably Neville's best friend. Did you accept?"

"Of course, I did. Neville's a good friend."

"Where're you going to stay?"

"I was thinking of cleaning up Grimmauld Place," Harry said thoughtfully. "If I'm going to be in the country for a couple of months. It could be a fun project."

"Sure… I suppose, if your idea of fun involves a crusade against magical pests and replacing every screw, broad and pipe in that place. You'll stay here tonight right?"

"If you want me," Harry agreed. "It's Teddy's birthday."

They fell back into silence. Harry knew that they had exhausted whatever distraction was left before they addressed the elephant in the room. Teddy had called him 'Dad'. Harry gestured with his empty glass towards the sofa table. Tonks leaned forward giving him a glimpse of skin down the neck of her shirt when she grabbed it putting it down.

"So, are we going to talk about what Teddy called me?" Harry asked nervously.

"How he called you 'Dad'?" Tonks stated flatly.

"Yeah that," Harry sat up uncomfortably, still making sure that Teddy did not wake up in the middle of that conversation. "I didn't realize… you know."

"You are the only male adult in his life," Tonks said softly. "He began asking about you when he saw the other kids' dads pick them up in preschool. I told him you were his Godfather… I guess he misunderstood that."

"I see."

"So… yeah…"

"Yeah," Harry breathed out.

Personally, he didn't mind it at all. He would be more than happy to be Teddy's dad. He had been thinking about moving back permanently just to be closer to Teddy after all, becoming a bigger part of his life. He had seen the world, he didn't feel the overwhelming urge to get away from everything anymore. He might even get those N.E.W.T.s this time around. Not that he really needed them with his cooking but it would be better to have them than not having them. He hadn't stopped reading because of his travels, so he was probably more than ready to take them.

"I'll tell him not to," Tonks said after a while. "You'll go back to being Uncle Harry. No worries."

"Right, sure. If you think that's best… I should… I think it…" Harry sighed. "I'll carry him to bed."

Harry should've known he couldn't be more than just an Uncle to Teddy. For him to be his dad… Well that was as much a pipedream now as it had been seven years ago. Harry slowly rose carrying Teddy close to his chest. He didn't dare to look at Tonks as he walked past her. He knew that his face was betraying his thoughts as much as it always had. Snape had been right about one thing. He would always carry his emotions on his sleeve.

The next morning Harry woke up early. He had made sure to set an alarm almost at dawn. He had planned to do something nice for the Lupins. He opened up his bag and fished out the toy broom he had gotten for Teddy. He also fished out his bag of cooking tools and spices. He had gotten enough ingredients to feed a full Weasley family but it was only Teddy's birthday once a year. Harry placed the broom on the table with the children's books next to it. There were paints and coloured pencils and a stuffed dragon that he had gotten in Paris, it looked like the dragon he had seen in China when he had been there. He liked it because the dragon looked different from the ones he had gifted to him since his first christmas. The first set of stuffed animals were the three 'good' marauders. He had noticed last night that the Werewolf and Dog had looked especially chewed up but still very much cherished. Harry liked to think that he had grown up with his own stuffed animals as well if Voldemort hadn't happened.

He began looking around in the cupboards for pans and pots to help him cook. There was something different, a different feeling to his cooking this morning. He was both simultaneously more relaxed and more concentrated than he had ever been at work even when he had cooked for some of the richest people in the world while he was in New York but that still didn't come close to cooking for his pseudo-son and his mother.

Harry hadn't noticed Tonks arriving until she put a hand on his shoulder. He jumped a little up into the air when she pulled him out of his thoughts.

"Woah, easy there," Tonks chuckled. "Didn't mean to frighten you."

"No worries," Harry wiped his face with the dish towel hanging over his shoulder. "There is some fresh Frenchpress coffee over there. I brought your favourite beans."

"You are amazing," Tonks leaned in and kissed his cheek. "How long until you think Teddy wakes up?"

"I'll give it five more minutes maximum."

"Probably. These are all for him?"

"Yeah," Harry shrugged. "You think it's too much?"

"You do realize that I as his Mum only got him two gifts right?"

"Uh… I might have gone overboard," Harry awkwardly scratched his cheek. "I guess the main gift is the toy broom. It only levitates three feet above the ground, if you're worried. I remember reading a letter about my Dad getting me one when I turned one though according to what my mum said in the letter she wasn't all too pleased about it. I thought it was time for Teddy to get one. The rest is just some drawing stuff, some children's books and another stuffed dragon."

"You're spoiling him," Tonks huffed goodnaturedly. "This is why he likes you better than me."

"That's not true."

"It is."

"Is not."

"Is."

"Not."

"Is," Tonks whispered in his ear. "You're spoiling both of us. Nothing compares to the coffee you bring back. Where did you say you got it?"

"I roast it myself," Harry shrugged. "I learned it when I travelled through Columbia. They were very eager to teach me how to do it. You can't find it anywhere."

"Well… guess I'll just have to get it from the source."

"As much as you want."

Harry's eyes followed Tonks around the kitchen while she picked at the different foods. She was wearing some very small cotton shorts and an all too loose tank top in Harry's opinion. The fact that they didn't cover nearly enough on her body was both fantastically distracting and infuriatingly tempting. The small moans and groans, whenever she tasted something different, didn't help with the thoughts he shouldn't be having . The chocolate covered strawberries with a hint of Saffron seemed to be a big hit because she ended up sharing the leftover half with him. Whenever she leaned up against him, his nose would be filled with the faintest hint of feminine sweat so dirty and enticing and arousing at the same time. He felt himself leaning into her touch even if he shouldn't allow himself to do so. She had found another one of his small treats and held it up to his lips. He fought the urge to shake his head, it had clearly been too long for him.

Harry tilted his head to the side in an overtly questioning way. He couldn't understand what her game was.

"You told me you rarely get to eat your cooking," Her eyes had turned into crescent moons because of her smile. "So I thought now would be as good a time as any."

"You do rea—"

"Are those for me?!"

Harry and Tonks looked back to the table spotting Teddy standing there looking over all of the gifts on the table.

"Yeah, Little Man," Harry laughed. "Happy birthday!"

"Wow! Mum can I open them now?"

"How long until you are done cooking?"

"At least ten more minutes," Harry said easily. "He can open them up now if you think it's a good idea or he can wait until after we've had breakfast but he might not be able to focus on eating. They are awfully distracting."

Tonks looked like she was thinking it over with a finger on her lip. Her hair had been tied up in a very loose bun with different parts falling out of it. He loved the purple colour she had chosen this morning. It felt more mature and sedated compared to some of the other ones she normally chose. Harry watched in amusement as Teddy's hair kept circling through all of his 'excited' colours. Harry already knew that she would allow him to open his gifts.

"Oh go on then, these ones are from Harry. You'll get the ones from me and Grandma after we've eaten breakfast, okay?"

"Okay, Mum!"

Teddy dived into the seven odd gifts with a renewed vigour. Tonks leaned back against the kitchen counter, her hands holding the coffee mug in her hands, her head coming to a rest on Harry's right shoulder.

"A broom!"

"Of course, he chose that one first," Harry groused. "No flying indoors and not until I've made sure that nobody will notice it in the garden either alright?"

"Yes, Dad."

Harry felt Tonks tense for a moment so he stealthily reached out and squeezed her upper arm. She instantly relaxed back into him. He felt her snuggle even closer to him as if leaning on him for support. It felt… nice.

Teddy kept thanking Harry whenever he opened up a new gift. The Dragon had been a miss. Apparently five year olds were too old for stuffed toys and the books hadn't been all that interesting, but Harry was sure that Tonks would end up using them to help him get into reading later, or as goodnight stories. The different paints and colours were another hit however.

He gestured for Tonks to take a seat. If Harry didn't know better it almost felt like she was reluctant to leave his side, but he did know better of course. He flicked his wand and all the gifts levitated neatly into the living room while the paper from the gifts vanished in one go before he filled the table with more food than was probably good for them. He topped off Tonks's coffee mug before pouring himself a mug.

"Well go on you two," Harry said with a chuckle. "Don't hold back."

There is something fascinating about watching two metamorphmagi eating. The amount they put away was incredible compared to people without the surname Weasley. Harry couldn't stop smiling as he watched the two of them devouring his food. Watching Teddy light up with a smile whenever he tasted something new and the almost seductive moans and closed eyes from Tonks made everything he had done more than worth it.

This is what it is like cooking for a family, Harry thought. It was like a warmth spreading through him, almost as good as putting down Voldemort for good.

He had thought that he had made more than enough food but somehow nothing was left in the end. Harry couldn't even comprehend where all of the food had gone. They both looked halfway comatosed.

"That was amazing, Dad." Teddy groaned.

Tonks cracked open one eye looking between Harry and Teddy but she didn't comment on it. Harry flicked his wand to begin cleaning everything while the two of them digested the food. He got out of his chair.

"And where are you going?"

"To make sure that nobody spots Teddy on his new broom," Harry said softly, squeezing Tonks's shoulder as he walked past. "It won't take long before Teddy decides that he wants to fly, am I right?"

Teddy nodded his head enthusiastically but he didn't move from his chair just yet.

"Don't worry, I'll be back in a moment."

Harry was just about to finish when Teddy walked out into the back garden with his new toy broom under his arm. Harry had placed a large scale notice-me-not charm over the garden, so no one should register anything happening there.

"Alright, go on mount your broom."

Harry spent the next fifteen minutes teaching Teddy how to hold his hands correctly before finally letting Teddy slowly fly around the garden. The broom didn't fly all too fast so he wasn't worried that Teddy would hurt himself but he still decided to keep an eye on him from the pateo. It was times like these Harry enjoyed the most.

"I thought you said you would be back," Tonks's amused voice sounded behind him.

"Well he was ready before I was done and I wouldn't let him fly around by himself," Harry shrugged. "You good?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well I'm almost certain you ate your own body weight in food," Harry teased. "I don't understand where you two put it."

"It was delicious, okay?" Tonks blushed. "I haven't had something so delicious in a long time."

"I'm glad you liked it."

Tonks handed him another mug of coffee. Harry nodded in thanks and sipped it while keeping an eye on Teddy, his laughter filled the garden as he sped around the length of the garden. Harry felt more than saw Tonks sitting down next to him. She hadn't put on more clothes so Harry reflexively put his jacket over her bare legs, and cast warming charm on top of both of them.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome," Harry said. "It's still April. It's too cold sitting around like that."

"You didn't have to, you know. I would have just gone back in if I felt cold."

"I know," Harry breathed out. She had leant up against him again. "But I enjoy your company."

"You're sweet."

Harry made a nondescript voice and turned his attention back to Teddy. It had been perfect to buy him a broom now. Every boy and girl should have their own toy broom growing up, Harry thought to himself. Teddy himself had been harping on and on about getting his first broom. Harry was almost sure that if he hadn't brought it then Tonks would have given it to him soon afterwards.

"So when is Andromeda coming?"

"Lunch. Though I'm not sure we will be ready to eat by then," Tonks commented ruefully. "If you keep cooking like that you might be able to get even me fat."

"I very much doubt that," Harry chuckled. "Though I'm glad you enjoyed it."

"It was the best breakfast I've ever had. I should keep you around just so you could cook more often."

"I'll cook whenever you want me to."

They sat in silence drinking their coffee. Harry had almost finished his mug when Tonks spoke again.

"He keeps calling you dad."

"I noticed," Harry chuckled. "Honestly, I don't mind. If he wants me as a Dad I'd be more than happy to fill that role for him, although I'm afraid I'm just setting him up for a disappointment."

"Why?"

"I don't ever want anybody to grow up without parents like me. I have no idea what being a Dad means, the closest I ever got was Sirius but by then I was already thirteen turning fourteen. However, if I can be for Teddy what Sirius could have been for me… then I'll be that."

Tonks hid her head behind her mug, her eyes looking far away into the distance. Harry wasn't sure what she was thinking about but it seemed like she was far away.

"You'll have to be there more if you want to be his dad. No more travelling…"

"Okay."

"Just like that?"

"Yeah. For Teddy I would give up anything. It doesn't mean that I would have to stop working. I've been thinking about starting up my own place, just a small café or something, doesn't really matter where I do it. Maybe I'll make it a brunch place."

"Okay."

"Okay what?"

"You can be Teddy's dad."

"Oh… Okay."

"Good."

Tonks got up and put Harry's jacket back around his shoulder. She bent down and planted a kiss on his cheek. Harry looked up into her eyes, finding himself lost in their depth. He wasn't sure what he had just agreed to and it didn't seem like they were going to talk about it at this moment.

Lunch with Andromeda had been more of the same. Harry had cooked for all of them and they had still cleaned up everything, this time though he had made smaller amounts of food. Harry enjoyed his conversations with Andromeda. She was looking much better and it was clear that she spoiled Teddy just as much as Harry did. She had asked the same questions her daughter had asked the night before. She had been pleasantly surprised that Harry had chosen to stay this time around. She had stayed until Teddy had fallen asleep in her arms after they had played cards late into the night. Thankfully, it was a saturday and Teddy didn't have to go to his preschool in the morning. Harry had agreed to look after Teddy while Tonks had a shift at work. He wasn't in a hurry to leave either just to go look at Grimmauld Place. He hoped he could at least have a livable room in the foreseeable future. He couldn't constantly intrude on Tonks's hospitality.

Spending time alone with Teddy was some of the most fun Harry had had in a long time. He had apparated them to Hogsmeade and Teddy had been excited to look around. It was impressive how quickly people had bounced back after the war. Zonko's had turned into a Weasley Wizarding Wheezes but Harry had quickly led Teddy away from it. He wasn't sure it was a good idea to let a five year old get even remotely close to pranking items.

They had gotten a bit of candy from Honeydukes and Teddy had been very interested in the stories about the Shrieking Shack. Harry hadn't told Teddy the real story of the Shack, how his real dad would once a month take the secret passage under the Whomping Willow, so he could endure the involuntary change on the full moon. That would have to wait until Teddy was older or until Tonks decided he was old enough to hear it.

They had arrived back only a short while before the sound of Apparition had announced Tonks's arrival. She looked completely exhausted. Harry had already begun cooking for them while Teddy told her all about what they had done in the day. Harry loved the way she looked at him. There was so much love and kindness in her and he couldn't imagine a more loving mother than Tonks in that moment.

He had just cooked up something light for them since Teddy had had more than a heavy lunch in the Three Broomsticks. After dinner Harry had offered to put Teddy to bed before Tonks even had a chance to suggest it herself. It helped that Teddy himself had asked for Harry to read him a bedtime story.

"Do you want to read or should I read?" Harry asked as he sat up against the headboard of Teddy's bed.

"You know I can't read yet, Dad," Teddy sulked.

Harry chuckled. "Maybe we could begin to change that now?"

Teddy focused intently on the letters in the book. They were big and easy enough to read, the sentences were comically simple, but that only made it easier for Teddy to follow. Harry would read the words slowly and have Teddy repeat them back to him. It was closer to memorisation than actually reading but it was as good a place to start as any. Neither of them had noticed Tonks standing in the doorway looking at them with an unreadable expression on her face. She was gone by the time they were through with the book.

"Do you want to read it again?"

Teddy scrunched up his nose. His hair switching into the same raven black as Harry's. Teddy didn't look convinced about reading the small book again.

"If you get good enough you can read it to Mum," Harry tempted, feeling a little relieved that Tonks hadn't heard him say that.

"Okay," Teddy nodded.

Once more Harry slowly helped Teddy through the story until he began yawning. Harry continued reading the story over and over again until Teddy's snores filled the room. Harry helped him lie down in the bed before he extracted himself from the blanket. He watched as Teddy snuggled into his stuffed werewolf. He bowed down and kissed Teddy's forehead under the black hair before dimming the lights.

He found Tonks standing in the hallway after he closed the door. She looked even more tired than she had been when she came home. Harry hoped it was just a coincidence and that she hadn't heard too much of what he had said to Teddy.

"Long day?"

"Idiots the lot of them," Tonks growled. "Ugh… I don't even know what to do."

"Tell me?"

"It's stupid."

"Come on, I'll help you relax."

Harry pulled Tonks towards her bedroom and pushed her into her bed. She almost ooked frightened as she pulled the covers close to her.

"I'm not going to do anything," Harry chuckled. "I was just going to give you a massage or a foot rub while you tell me about your day."

"Oh," Tonks said sheepishly, extending her foot towards him.

Harry gently took it into his hands and massaged it. He could feel the tension slowly flowing out of her. "So what happened at work that got you so worked up?"

"Just some idiots who keep telling me that I'm a bad mother for working or not remarrying when I'm raising Teddy. They seem to constantly question that I am a good mother, but can't even decide if I should remarry, stay at home or - Just a bunch of the same type of idiots."

"Hmm…"

"You know why they keep saying that?"

"No."

"Because they think of me as the fountain of youth personified," Tonks huffed. "This is what I look like without my morph."

Harry watched but not much was different. The only part about her that looked even remotely her age was the tiredness in her eyes. Like Andromeda, Tonks was an incredibly beautiful woman. Her black tresses framed her face as she closed her eyes for his judgement.

"You're beautiful," Harry whispered with awe, completely forgetting what his hands were supposed to do.

"You're sweet, but the truth is I am growing older. They just want me to be their trophy wife who can look perpetually young for them, same as always. Instead of the usual excuse that women aren't supposed to work as Aurors, which is bullcrap, now it is mother's shouldn't work as Aurors. I need to work to have enough money to raise Teddy."

Harry held his tongue. It wasn't the first time he and Tonks had talked about this. Harry had offered to pay half of what Teddy would need growing up, the only reason why he hadn't offered more was because he knew Tonks would have cursed him for even suggesting it. She denied anything that even remotely could be construed as charity. Harry had insisted on at least putting up a trust vault like his own for Teddy's Hogwarts years. He had the money for it. It had been a compromise back then and it would likely be a compromise in the future. He did not want Teddy to grow up having to wear second hand clothes when he had more than enough money.

"It's not the same with you," Tonks said so quietly Harry almost missed it.

"I didn't say anything,"

"But you were thinking it."

"I guess," Harry shrugged. "You know my stance on it."

"And you know mine."

"Yeah," Harry smiled, picking up the other foot. "I know it, but I won't let Teddy suffer because of our pride."

"I know… I wouldn't either…"

Harry noticed that she had put up her morph again. He wasn't going to force her to do anything, but he wished she would feel comfortable enough around him to completely relax around him.

"I do relax around you."

"Are you reading my mind?" Harry asked bemusedly.

"You really can't hide anything. Your face is like an open book," Tonks laughed. "I appreciate what you did for Teddy today."

"I told you I wanted to be part of his life," Harry set leaning back on his elbows, her feet resting in his lap. "He calls me Dad, and he copies me when we spend time together. He's as good as mine you know."

"I think I should be offended on my late husbands behalf but honestly I'm not," Tonks sighed deeply. "Remus… Remus was many things but he wasn't all that consistent during our relationship and marriage. He was filled with self doubt at the worst of times."

"What do you mean?"

"If I say that you've been here even with your travelling about as much as Remus was during our relationship."

"I visited once a month."

"But you sent letters constantly. Even when you were on the other side of the world. Remus was constantly with the other werewolf packs."

"It was important work."

"I'm not saying it wasn't, but usually we would have a date every other week but he wasn't there during those either, mentally at least."

"You sound like you regret it."

"Sometimes I do."

"And Teddy?"

"Teddy is the best thing that has ever happened to me," Tonks growled. "And don't you dare suggest otherwise."

"Good," Harry levelled an even glance at her. "Because whatever was between you and Remus and Merlin I understand where you are coming from. Hell, the war messed up what was between me and Ginny, and there was no choice which would have made everyone happy. But whatever was between you and Remus, that was never Teddy's fault."

"I know… I just wished it had been someone else who had been the donor to him."

Harry didn't say anything. He felt like anything he said at this moment would be the wrong thing to say.

"Do you know why I didn't follow him to Hogwarts?"

"No."

"Because he hadn't been home for a week when it happened. He had left for a full moon which I understand, not agree with but understand. He never quite considered the basement safe enough for him to change but he hadn't returned after that. It had been a week, Harry. I was sitting here in this very house with Mum, waiting for him to return and then I got the news. There had been a battle at Hogwarts and he was dead. I'm proud of him for doing the right thing but I'm still angry that he didn't even bother to say anything, no explanation why he didn't return after the full moon, no goodbye, nothing. Not one word, and then he was gone - forever."

Harry looked into her eyes. She was staring straight back at him, not moving her gaze in the slightest, not moving to wipe at the tears that threatened to pour down her face. Harry hesitated before he moved over to pull her against his chest. He didn't know how many times she had cried because of her late husband but somehow today she needed it too. She clung tightly to his t-shirt and she buried her face in his chest letting everything out. Harry just ran his fingers up and down her back, resting his chin on top of her head.

He felt her hands move from his shirt to her eyes as she wiped at her eyes. Her sniffles filled the silence of the room. Harry was just about to move from her bed when he felt her wrap her arms around his back.

"Stay and hold me?" her voice barely above a whisper.

"Are you sure it's a good idea?"

"You're Teddy's dad, are you not? Mum and Dad share a bed, everybody knows that."

"That's a weak reasoning even for you."

"I just don't want to sleep alone anymore," Tonks whispered, not looking up. "I - I just - I can't - "

"Okay," Harry hugged her closer. "I'll stay here tonight."

"Thank you…"