Hello all, I've returned to FFnet after a very long hiatus! I will also be uploading more for my other story soon too.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything sorry! Also although nothing happens during the first few chapters as Teddy is still underage and Hermione is still married to Ron, this is a story about an older woman and younger man in the end, so look away if this isn't your thing!
Teddy Lupin tapped his foot agitatedly as he sat on his bed in his bedroom at his Uncle Harry's. He stared blankly at his Ancient Runes book, pretending to read, despite the glorious summer weather outside. After two torturous hours of watching his godfather's friend Hermione run around wearing a fantastic dress that cut low enough to give him a hint of cleavage, and flowed playfully around her knees allowing him small glances at her toned thighs. He had no idea why Hermione had suddenly decided to dress so casually but after spending a long morning getting increasingly more uncomfortable and flustered, he had escaped to his bedroom with the excuse of homework. And after hearing the splashing of his peers playing in Uncle Harry's pool not long after, he was glad of it, as walking around in swim wear would have just exposed bodily reactions his family just did not need to see. Rubbing his fingers through his hair, he leaned back against the headboard and groaned in frustration. His feelings for Hermione had started off innocently enough, in the beginning he just enjoyed being around her the most after his Granny and Uncle Harry, after all she was the most fun. This gradually lead to nervous blushing around her and wanting to hug her, before suddenly he found himself wondering what it would be like to feel her lips against his and more.
Before he could let his mind wander to dangerous territories again, he was brought back to reality by the sound of harsh whispers from outside his room.
"Really Hermione you're acting ridicules, what has gotten into you?" came the voice of Ron Weasley.
"I'm trying to get your attention Ronald!" came Hermione's agitated reply.
"What the bloody hell for?"
"Well… I took a fertility potion, and I'm ovulating," Hermione replied, her voice sounded uncomfortable as she lowered it, "I wanted to try again."
Teddy shifted uncomfortably, blushing at the implication of her words. He prayed silently to Merlin and the four founders that they did not start "trying" outside his bedroom door.
Ron sounded horrified as blurted loudly "What, why? Hugo's six now, don't you think you're getting on a bit now for having another baby?"
Teddy cringed. Despite the supposed ignorance of his age, he had been raised well enough by his Granny to know that was not the thing to ever say to a lady. Especially to a witch like Hermione.
"But I really wanted another baby," Hermione whispered so faintly Teddy had barely heard her.
"But we've got one of each, why would you want to have another? You never got your figure back after having Hugo anyway!2
Smooth Ron, very smooth, Teddy thought, rolling his eyes. Personally he had no idea what Ron was talking about.
"Thank you Ronald for that!", snapped Hermione, her voice began to hitch with emotion, "I thought we talked about having more?"
"I just don't want our children to go through what I did, you know struggling for your parent's attention, never having anything new…" Ron sighed.
"It's not exactly pleasant being an only child either!" hissed Hermione.
Ron sighed again, "I'm sorry 'Mione, I thought we'd already decided on this. Teddy heard Hermione sniffle wetly in response.
"Look we'll talk about this later, I better get back to the kids, why don't you take a minute to calm down and clean yourself up? Maybe cover yourself up a bit, as much as I appreciate it, maybe it's a bit too much for a family setting eh?"
Teddy heard the sounds of footsteps retreating as Ron walked away, leaving Hermione crying quietly in the corridor, and promptly decide Ron was a moron. He returned back to his arithmaticy text and tried once more to focus on the words in front on him. At least the argument had turned off his more amorous thoughts for now. His peace didn't last long before his door burst open suddenly, and Hermione walked in, causing him to jump, dropping his heavy text with a loud thunk.
"Oh goodness Teddy!" Hermione gasped, clearly startled, "I'm so sorry, I thought this was the bathroom!"
"It's ok, it's just next door," Teddy paused, taking in her red eyes and red cheeks, "are you alright" he asked concerned.
Hermione sighed, fiddling awkwardly with the end of a curl, "I guess you heard all that?"
Teddy blusher, "Yeah, sorry."
Hermione shook her head, "It's not your fault, we shouldn't have argued outside your bedroom. She offered him a weak smile, which was quickly betrayed by another tear escaping.
"Would you like a hanky?" Teddy offered, shuffling sideways slightly in order to pull his from within his jeans pocket. "It's clean I promise, Granny just insists I always carry one, she says a gentleman must always have one to hand".
Hermione chuckled faintly as she accepted his hanky and dapped at her eyes. She sighed again and soon more tears began to fall. Quickly she tried to dry them with his hanky. Teddy felt his heart clench at the usually strong woman looking so vulnerable before him. Hermione had always been his favourite from his pool of pseudo family members. Some of his earliest memories had involved Hermione his toys to act out scenes from books or dance around him. She had shared her newspapers with him, laughing as he morphed his hair and facial features to mimic the people in the photos, and accepted his (useless) help to complete the crossword puzzles, seeming to enjoy the weird and wonderful combinations he left her with. She helped him with his homework, and was always happy to let him join in baking with her, Rose and Hugo. As he got older she even introduced him to the muggle playstation, involving him with regular gaming nights when he wasn't at Hogwarts. As he got older his feelings became more confusing, developing into a painful crush which had led to him to always trying to win a breath-taking smile from her. Seeing her so upset made his stomach twist uncomfortably.
Teddy leant across and shyly touched her hand. "You can talk about it if you want, I'm an excellent listener, all ears you see" He enlarged his ears comically to prove his point, which earned a slight chuckle from the tearful witch.
"Thank you Teddy, but I shouldn't be bothering you with this," she spoke softly.
"I don't mind, really ", he replied sincerely.
Hermione sighed again, the room fell silent as Teddy watched her contemplate talking to him. "I just always dreamt of a large family," she admitted eventually, choosing her words carefully.
"It hurts to realise that's not going to happen anymore. After holding little Lorcan the other day I knew I wasn't ready to end that chapter of my life yet. Unfortunately, it looks like Ron has already closed the book and it's come as a bit of a shock."
She dabbed her eyes again and put on a forced smile, "But give me a few days to sleep it off and we'll be back on the same page again. I don't have time to wallow in self pity, I'm getting to old for starting over with a newborn, and the wizarding world still needs saving."
Hermione seemed to be trying to convince herself with her statement rather than him, but Teddy could still see the tears shining in her eyes. Her smile didn't quite meet her eyes, and he wasn't fooled. Once she went home, he knew she would tell Ron he was right, and throw herself into work, burying away her desire for more children. Childishly he wished he was older, and then he would happily marry her and give her all the babies she wanted.
"You're not too old", he thought out loud, "not even thirty yet, right?"
Hermione laughed, "Thirty-two, but thank you Teddy, you've officially just been promoted to my favourite."
Teddy grinned cheekily, "I thought I was already your favourite?"
Hermione laughed again. "Well that was before you showed be absolutely no mercy during Tecken last week!" she replied, ruffling his turquoise hair.
"Well I did learn from the best," he rebutted.
Hermione laughed once more, her tears long dried up. "Thank you Teddy, you have your Mum's gift for cheering people up." She got out her wand and charmed her face to hide any signs of crying.
"I should go back down now". She said, and offered him back his hanky, "thank you."
Teddy shook his head, "It's ok, I've got others, you should keep it so you at least have one."
"Well I don't plan to be crying in public any time soon, but you never know I suppose," she joked, placing the hanky into one of the pockets in her summer dress. Part of Teddy felt slightly smug that the witch of his not so innocent dreams was keeping his hanky. Letting his mind wander, his eyes unconsciously drifted down to the front of Hermione's dress, settling on low front outlining her cleavage. Unfortunately, he wasn't subtle enough to prevent Hermione's eyes following his gaze, and she blushed, realising where he was staring. Teddy felt his face heat up, and his hair turn maroon in his embarrassment of being caught.
"Merlin, I nearly forgot!" Hermione exclaimed, "I really need to cover up." She pulled her arms around herself awkwardly, nibbling her lip as she thought.
"I wish denim wasn't such a nightmare to transfigure," she groaned, talking to herself.
Personally Teddy didn't think her dress was too bad, and had certainly seen Ginny and Fluer in much more risqué items of clothing.
"I have a jumper you can borrow if you want," he squeaked meekly, still embarrassed.
"Are you sure?" Hermione asked, still worrying her bottom lip.
"Yeah," he replied, heading towards his wardrobe, and began flicking though the few items of clothing he kept at Harry's house just in case. He scanned through the tops, before settling on a lightweight yellow jumper with a black badger that Grandma Molly had knitted him last summer. "Here," he offered, "It's too small for me now anyway, so don't worry about returning it."
"Thank you," Hermione replied gratefully, accepting the jumper and pulling it over her head. It seemed to fit her well, although the sleeves came up a bit short on her. She tugged at the sleeves gently, and looked at him, smiling. "Goodness, I forget how much you've grown sometimes, it seems like only yesterday you were just up to my knee" she said wistfully, "and now look at you, you're practically towering over me!"
Teddy laughed. Standing next to her he was only a couple of inches taller than her, just as tall as Harry now, but if he took after his father he would end up outgrowing even Ron.
"Soon I will be!" He smirked.
Hermione shook her head, "I've no doubt of that." She looked down at her newly acquired jumper. "Thank you again Teddy, now I look like my usually old self once more", she said, throwing him a smile that didn't quite meet her eyes.
Teddy gulped, "For what it's worth I thought you looked very pretty," he said shyly.
"Oh Teddy," chuckled Hermione as she pulled him into a hug and kissed him on the forehead, causing his hair to turn pink with joy. She swept his moppy hair out of his eyes. "Never change" she added quietly. "Come on, let's go get some food."
Teddy's heart warmed, and he decided then and there he would give anything to make her happy.