A/N: I don't own Harry Potter or any related characters

This is for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Word Count: 1467

"I'm sorry, but I've got to go. It's Mum and if it wasn't...I'd stay, you understand that, don't you?" Ginny asked, looking at Theo.

"I understand, Ginny. Go, be with your family. I'm sure the healers will have her back to normal in no time. Don't worry. I've got this," Theo stated, motioning to the crib across the room from them.

"Alright, if you're sure?"

"I'm sure. Go!"

Ginny nodded, apparating right there on the spot. Theo stared for a moment at the space where she'd been standing before realizing he was alone with the baby. He'd never even so much as held a baby before today. Ginny had been babysitting for Hermione and Severus. Theo had stopped by to drop off some paperwork, next thing Theo knew, Ginny had gotten a patronus saying her mum was in St. Mungo's. There had been no details.

"It'll be fine. It's just one baby and just for a few hours until someone comes back," Theo stated, walking over to the crib. This one was made of wood and had slats so you could see the baby without looking over the top. Right now, the baby was asleep. Theo sat down in a chair and watched her for a moment. She was cute in the way most babies were cute. Right now, her little hands were curled into almost tiny fists. She was wearing a red and gold outfit and her head was covered with little tufts of black hair. Theo wondered if she was going to take after Professor Snape or Hermione. He's started working with Professor Snape his sixth year, before the everything had changed. Theo's always been decent at potions, not something he bragged about though. Now, he was going to be taking over for Professor Snape in a year or so when the man retired.

"Ahh!" little Rose screamed, waking up. Theo darted over to the crib. For a moment, he tried to remember if there was some special way to pick up a baby. Rose looked up at him with her impossibly black eyes.

"Okay, it's okay, I've got you," he promised, reaching down and gingerly picking her up. Rose stopped screaming and seemed confused.

"I'm Theo. I work with your father. He'll be back soon, but for now, it's just us, Rose. Let's see, you probably need your nappy changed, or maybe you're hungry. Let's see," Theo said, looking around the room. He spotted the white wicker shelves with nappies. He grabbed one and gently laid Rose on the changing table.

"Let's see if we can figure this out, right Rose?"

The baby seemed to arch an eyebrow, as if questioning Theo's ability to do this task.

"You look so much like your father, did you know that? He makes the same expression. Now, oh, there's snaps here on the bottom of your outfit. That makes it easier doesn't it? Alright, old nappy off. Where... oh there's a bin here! Do your parents scorgify them?"

Rose didn't answer, but kicked her tiny legs, seemingly happy to be free of the wet nappy.

"Now, I've just got to put the clean one on. There we go, is that right? It looks right, I think?" Theo asked. Rose gurgled at him.

"Right, now we just need to get you fed. Let's check the kitchen," Theo said, picking Rose back up and holding her against his shoulder. He walked into the kitchen and looked around.

"Babies drink milk," he stated, opening the fridge and seeing Rose's bottles, already filled on a shelf. He smiled. This part seemed a lot more cut and dry. He picked up one and offered it to Rose. She took a drink and pulled away.

"What's wrong? You don't like your milk?" he asked. Rose screamed loudly, kicking her little feet at being so close to having her food, but it not being right.

"I'm missing something, aren't I?" Theo asked, thinking about everything he knew about babies. He knew they drank milk, or some kind of substitute. He tilted his head staring at the bottle. This was right, since it was in a baby bottle. But something wasn't right, otherwise Rose would be drinking it. What was he missing? He sighed and looked around the kitchen, seeing if there was some clue as to what he was supposed to do. There was the sink, the stove, the kettle...

"Wait! I'm supposed to warm this up, aren't I?" Theo asked, a half remembered lesson coming to his mind about raising orphaned unicorns, how the milk had to be warm. Maybe human babies were the same? He debated just using magic to heat the milk, but he wasn't reliable at the charm and instead he figured he'd heat it on the stove. Within minutes, the milk was warm to the touch, but not too hot. Theo remembered when he'd been a child, his mother had given him warm milk at bed time, but one time, it had been too hot and he'd burned his tongue. He didn't think Rose wanted to burn her little tongue.

Once the milk was the right temperature, Rose happily started drinking.

"There we go, we figured it out, didn't we, Rose?" Theo asked. Rose burped loudly in response causing Theo to laugh.

"Now, you've been changed and fed, what's next? What do you normally do?" Theo asked, knowing Rose wouldn't answer him. She just waved her hands in front of her face.

"Play? Kids play, so you must play too. Let's see, I think chess is too complicated for you," Theo said, walking with Rose back to the nursery. He looked around and spotted a contraption that looked like a chair, but it was hanging from a bar held up by two legs.

"What is this?" he asked, kneeling down to take a closer look. Rose squealed happily, reaching out.

"You want to sit in here?"

Theo set Rose in the seat, realizing there were belts coming from the seat.

"These must be to hold you inside, good idea!" he exclaimed, buckling Rose into the seat. It swung back and forth slowly. Theo recognized the charm on it, it would move back and forth as long as Rose was sitting in it. Rose smiled, waving her hands in front of her, giggling as she moved back and forth.

"You like this, huh? It's like a swing for you."

Theo's eyes fell on the bookshelf that covered one wall of the nursery. He just laughed, knowing Hermione's obsession with books.

"How about I read to you while you swing?" Theo asked. Rose gurgled, not opposed to the idea. Theo pulled a book off the shelf.

"Alright, here we go. This is the story of The Turtle and The Phoenix," he read, showing Rose the cover.

They'd nearly finished the book when the front door opened. Theo rose to his feet. Rose was sound asleep in her swing.

"Ginny?" Hermione's voice asked. Theo stepped out of the nursery.

"Theo? What are you doing here? Where's Ginny?" Hermione asked, her face filling with concern.

"She had a family emergency. I was here to drop off some papers for Professor Snape," Theo explained. "Rose is fine, she's sleeping in her swing thing," Theo added. Hermione nodded, following Theo back to the nursery. Once she saw Rose was indeed safe and sound asleep, she sighed in relief.

"Thank you, Theo. Here, this was what I was going to pay Ginny," Hermione said, pulling a handful of coins from her pocket.

"Don't worry about it, Rose and I had a great time. Let Professor Snape know that the research I did is on his table in the lab, alright?"

"Of course. Thank you again, Theo. I'll contact Ginny in a bit, see if everything's alright."

"Good night then," Theo said, giving Hermione a smile before stepping out into the chilly night air. He'd only taken a few steps when he nearly ran into Ginny, rushing up the sidewalk.

"Your mum alright?" he asked. Ginny paused and nodded.

"She had a fall, but she's fine now. They've healed her, but it'll take a day or so before she's back on her feet again. I'm guessing Hermione's home, or Rose scared you so badly you're running away?"

"Hermione's home. Rose is fine. This was fun, actually, trying to figure out things. I should be thanking you, Ginny, for you know, pulling me out of my comfort zone."

"Ha, if you really want to thank me and pull yourself out of your comfort zone, you should take me to dinner," Ginny joked. Theo laughed.

"Maybe I will. I've got to head on home though, work to do. I'll see you around."

"See you," Ginny replied, heading to check in with Hermione and let her know everyone was alright.