Disclaimer: I own nothing recognisable.
"Teddy, don't run too far ahead," Harry called, a soft smile tugging at his lips as he gazed at the excitable boy bounding ahead of him. Surprisingly, it had been George's suggestion that Harry incorporate more muggle experiences in Teddy's life. Harry often forgot that Remus had spent a large portion of his life within the muggle world, and was sure that he would have loved for Teddy to have a broader understanding of muggle cultures and life.
It had taken little reasoning for Andromeda to agree to the trip. Her grandson meant the world to her and she wanted him to understand and appreciate the people his parents had died fighting to protect. For Harry, he loved the opportunity to experience the things he had missed out on as a child, and with Teddy at his side, there was never a dull moment.
"Harry, why's it so fluffy?" Teddy had paused at the nearest paddock, his eyes wide with awe as he stared up at the fluffy animal before him. He'd never seen anything like it before, but that didn't stop him from immediately becoming enamoured by the animal.
"That's a llama, Teddy," Harry told him softly, crouching down so they could watch the animal together. It paid them no attention, continuing to chew the grass within its mouth as children ran past screaming and pointing at the mammals. "It has lots of fur to protect it from little animals that might bite them."
"Like lions?" Teddy questioned. He was rather fond of lions, and could often be found roaring at unsuspecting guests.
"Not lions no," Harry chuckled. He loved the way Teddy thought, and the way his imagination would run wild. "Little tiny bugs, like fleas and flies." He gazed down at his godson to see if he understood. Teddy's little eyebrows scrunched up in thought as he wrinkled his nose slightly. Harry loved how expressive Teddy could be.
"Kay," the little boy mumbled before turning and heading to the next enclosure, his shoes flashing as he ran. Chuckling, Harry forced himself to stand, his knees creaking in a way that sounded out of place coming from someone so young.
~oOo~
"Hey Teddy, come and look at the elephants," Harry coaxed the little boy away from the paddock filled with zebras. Teddy had somehow managed to find a small hole that he'd been trying to wiggle through for some time, intent on getting an up close and personal experience with the striped animals.
"It's little," Teddy announced, pointing his finger towards the smallest of the elephants, tucked slightly behind the larger ones and barely in view.
"That's because it's a baby elephant, Teddy." Harry softly explained, scooping the little boy up into his arms for a better view of the herd. "See? That bigger one is the mummy, and that one's a baby one, like you."
Teddy seemed to ponder for a moment, struggling to wrap his childlike mind around the statement. His bottom lip stuck out slightly while he tilted his head in contemplation.
"They look the same," he murmured.
"That's because they're a mummy and a baby, remember?" Harry gently prodded, wondering what the boy was thinking now. "It's like how Victorie looks like her mummy Fleur, and baby Hugo looks like Uncle Ron."
"Why don't I look like you?"
It was an innocent question, one that Harry had expected he'd have to answer at some point in the future, but he hadn't been prepared to be faced with it so early on in Teddy's life. Ever since he was born, Teddy had demonstrated the same Metamorphmagus abilities as his mother, although he was still too young to fully understand and control his abilities. For now, he kept his natural features, especially when out and about in the muggle world. Back at home, however, he could play about and experiment with his ability. Teddy knew what he looked like without the influence of his abilities; he knew that Harry didn't have the same amber eyes as him, and his grandma didn't share the same tawny brown hair that he did. Teddy looked like Teddy, but to everyone else he was a carbon copy of the late Remus Lupin.
"You look like your daddy Teddy, with a little hint of your mummy. Do you remember what they look like?" Harry held him tightly in his arms, warding off the inevitable sadness such a conversation would bring.
"Nanna has pictures," Teddy affirmed, nodding his little head at the same time. "Me and daddy have the same eyes."
"Exactly, you and your daddy have the same eyes." Harry spoke softly. "Just like how Draco and Auntie 'Cissa have the same eyes."
"Who has your eyes?"
"My mum." The words were quiet, almost a whisper into the air. "She had the same eyes as me, but I also looked a lot like my dad."
Teddy considered this seriously, clearly confused as he had never seen Lily and James Potter before. He had found the odd photograph at Grimmauld Place, but nobody had ever really told him who they were or wanted to talk about it. It still hurt for Harry to talk about them.
"But who do you look like now?" He prodded, sadness seeping into his voice as he struggled to get Harry to understand him.
Harry took a moment to consider the words carefully. He supposed that to Teddy it did matter who Harry looked like. He often saw George surrounded by the Weasleys who all looked so similar, Andromeda and Narcissa had reconnected and it always surprised Harry how much they resembled one another. Then there was Harry, the odd one out. No one else had his wild black hair, or his green eyes, just like no one else had Teddy's bright amber eyes and tawny brown curls.
"I suppose I just look like me, and you look like you."
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