They end up inviting Fleur, Victoire and baby Dominique to the park with them. The outing goes well for the most part, with the adults talking and cooing over Nique while the older children pretend the grass around the playground is lava.
By the time they start getting ready to leave, thoughts of Caitlin are the furthest thing from Harry's mind.
But as he walks over to give the kids a ten-minute warning, Victoire says something, and Teddy bursts into tears. By the time he reaches them, she's patting Teddy's shoulder awkwardly, an expression of panic on her face.
"Teddy, what's wrong?" he asks, hurrying over and crouching down beside him.
Teddy shakes his head vehemently, refusing to look up.
Confused, Harry turns to Victoire. "What happened?"
"I didn't do nothing," she says. "We were playing, and he was fine, but then I asked about Hogwarts and…"
She shrugs helplessly.
"It's alright, sweetheart. Why don't you go and ask your mum for a cup of water? I'll stay with Teddy."
To his relief, she leaves without protest.
When he's sure they won't be disturbed, Harry wraps an arm around Teddy's shoulders comfortingly. But Teddy just curls in on himself more in response.
Harry sucks in a sharp breath, confusion and fear rushing through his mind. Crying and even tantrums aren't new to him, but Teddy has never resisted comfort before. For him to shy away from Harry's embrace now, whatever's troubling him must be serious.
"Teddy," he whispers, "you can tell me anything. You know that, don't you? Nothing you say could ever make me love you less."
In the distance, he can hear Victoire telling Fleur and Hermione about the situation and Fleur reassuring her. He wishes that consoling Teddy were that easy, but if anything, the boy's sobs just get louder.
"Can I get you some water or something to eat? That always makes me feel better. I think we even have some chocolate left over." Silence. "You know, your dad always liked — "
"I don't want to talk about my dad!"
The vehemence and desperation in his voice makes Harry flinch. "Teddy, what?"
"I'm not my dad. Or my mum."
"Of course you're not. You're you."
Teddy gives him a disdainful look, and the pieces click into place in Harry's mind. "Teddy, we know you're your own person, but —"
"Then why do you keep saying how much I'm like them?"
"We all loved them both very much," he explains, "and you are very much like both of them. But none of us want you to feel like you have to be. I'm sorry if we've ever made it seem like you do."
Teddy's tears start to lessen, and he lets out a watery sniff.
"I didn't know anything about my parents when I was your age. The only time my aunt and uncle spoke about them was to insult them. By the time I went to Hogwarts, I was desperate to find out anything I could. I wanted to make sure you never felt like that, but I guess I took it too far."
Teddy's whole countenance softens at his words. "I want to know about them. But everyone keeps saying I'm like them. Vicki asked if I think I'll be in Grephen— Gryffindor like Dad or Hufflepuff like Mum. What if I'm not? What if I'm not like them at all?"
"We don't care what house you're in or what you grow up to be like, as long as you're happy. And a good person," he hurriedly adds. "You don't have to worry about whether or not you're like them. We'd like you just as much if you hated reading and couldn't tell a joke to save your life. We love your parents, Teddy, but we love you as well. Don't ever forget that."
"I love you too."
Teddy reaches out for him. Relieved, Harry lifts him onto his lap and hugs him tightly.
How hard it must be for him. Everyone sees his parents when they look at him, and even for those who love him, their first instinct is to compare them to the people they lost.
How much harder will it get as he grows up? At the moment, it's cute and harmless when he changes his appearance to mimic the people around him. But what about when he's older? How will he know who he is when he can look like anyone he wants?
Not for the first time, Harry wishes that Remus and Tonks were alive. He's had his own experiences with identity issues, but Tonks is the only other Metamorphmagus he has ever known. If she were here, she would know what to say to help Teddy through the ups and downs of growing up.
He doesn't know what they'll do without her.
Except that he does. They'll work it out as they go, just as they're doing now. It will be tough, but they'll get through it together — as a family.