Chapter 39: Teenagers and Other Tragedies

January 2022

Potter House, North England

"Morning, family!"

"Oh, hey, it's our favourite child!" Harry smiles brightly at Teddy as said godchild enters the Potter's kitchen through the backdoor. Since moving out nearly four years ago, Teddy has taken to walk in and out of his childhood home as he pleases several days a week.

"Harry, no!" Ginny, sitting on her husband's lap at the kitchen table and engulfed in his arms, slaps Harry's chest appalled. "Don't say things like that!"

"Come on, Gin." Raising his eyebrow, he nods his head at the remnants of what was supposed to be the last nice and relaxed family breakfast before the boys return to Hogwarts the next day. Instead, the kids left their parents with a kitchen in shambles and both of them in need of some peace and quiet. Hence the borderline embarrassingly intimate embrace. "They're a menace."

"So, you had a nice morning, eh?" Teddy grins at his godfather who simply scoffs at him. Grabbing a half-eaten waffle from what he reckons is Lily's plate, Teddy takes his usual spot at the kitchen table.

As if on cue, the sound of a door being slammed and angry footfalls are heard from upstairs. A moment later, the house is filled with the sounds of angry screeching and the bass of James' music system has the walls of the kitchen vibrating. Harry gives Ginny a look 'See' and casts a nonverbal silencing charm in the direction of James' room before Albus decides to retaliate and a third Wizarding War breaks out.

"In hindsight, those speakers were a terrible idea for a Christmas present." Ginny sighs and moves from her spot on Harry's lap, but not before he can steal a quick kiss. As Ginny starts to clear the table by hand, Harry directs the dirty dishes into the sink to soak. "Should have put lumps of coal into their stockings, really."

The Christmas holidays had been off to a rocky start when Albus hopped off the train, a frown permanently etched on his face as it seemed and a mood to match. As he hasn't failed to remind his parents on the daily since, Albus would have preferred to stay at Hogwarts for the holidays and has been especially stand-offish for the last three weeks in consequence. Having been subject to Albus attitude throughout the last few years, Ginny and Harry had been fine with all of his puberty induced moods. They were just happy to have their brood home for the holidays - safe and mostly happy.

Things then got really interesting when Ginny forbid James to spend this weekend at George and Angelina's flat in Diagon Alley. As George and Angelina are having the usual ridiculously busy weekend at the shop before school starts again, the kids would have had the flat all to themselves and no supervision whatsoever. While James was usually allowed to spend a great part of his holidays at Freddie's, Ginny decided not this year, not after New Year's Eve, when James and Freddie ended up rather tipsily walking around the biggest shopping street of Wizarding Britain and subsequently grinning and waving from the Prophet's tabloid pages the next morning. James, fuming at his parents' unfairness, has naturally been taking it out on the other two.

To crown it all, Lily has decided that it's utterly unfair that her brothers get to go back to Hogwarts tomorrow whereas she, having turned 10 in Autumn, is supposed to stay back and live the unbearable life of a quasi-only-child. As it would seem, having her parents all to herself and not having to share anything with her brothers until Easter break, is simply excruciating and so very awful – as Lily has been complaining repeatedly and loudly.

"Not that we don't love having you here, Ted, but aren't you supposed to be at Shell Cottage with Victoire?" Taking a sip of his tea, Harry watches as Teddy blushes and rummages around in his battered messenger bag. He pulls out a funny looking construction of metallic and black pieces, holding it out to Harry with a sheepish grin.

"Thank you… I guess?" Harry takes the deranged contraption and examines it closely. He didn't know Teddy had taken up plastic arts. What an odd present – or maybe… this sculpture isn't a sculpture at all. "Is - Is that my camera?"

"I'm sorry. Really, really sorry." Teddy looks genuinely distressed as he sputters on. "I was taking pictures of Vic at the beach, and I must have slipped and fell right on top of the camera. I tried to reparo it, but you know I'm no good at repairing spells and somehow it ended up looking like this."

Harry had bought the magically enhanced instant camera on a work trip to Hong Kong a few years ago. It was supposed to be a souvenir for Ginny, but it turned out he preferred to take pictures of her and the kids more than having his own picture taken. The camera had served them well, having travelled with them to countless celebrations and parties, family holidays, romantic getaways and even a Quidditch World Cup or two. "Oh, Teddy."

"I know you told me to bring it back in one piece, and I tried, you see." Teddy watches his godfather as Harry sighs and turns to Ginny, vanishing the camera with a quick flick of his wand.

"You know what, Gin, forget this favourite child thing. Let's just sell all four of them."

MAN, has 2021 been a year or what?

First of all, wow, I basically didn't post in a year.. that's kind of sad. My new year's resolution is therefore to get back to writing and posting.

In all earnesty, 2021 has been a mess of a year. Covid, my bachelor thesis, new work, new city, new flat, new... me? idk, but it's been a lot.

So, let me just say: happy 2022, have a great year, be you, be bold, be kind and leave me some love.

xx catchingdragons