A/N: Thank you again to everyone who read/reviewed. Your encouragement is much appreciated and it's what keeps me going! I have exhausted my backlog of chapters and am switching to a weekly update schedule, posting every Sunday. As someone who devours fanfics myself I know this is frustratingly slow, but I hope you'll bear with me!

I should also take a minute to give a shout-out to the other fanfictions which served as inspiration for my own. Vox Corporis by Missanthropic is an extremely well-written Harmony fanfic and the scene in the Common Room from Ch. 3 was heavily inspired by a similar one from this story. I also would highly recommend That Old House by vanillaparchment, which is just the sweetest thing I've ever read.

...

Thursday, 12/24/98

A young couple dressed in heavy winter clothes stood at the doorstep of a modest suburban home. The afternoon sun brightly shone on the cul-de-sac, illuminating through the crisp winter air. The street was a blinding vision of white. It had received a good 6 inches of snow last night, steady waves of soft flecks that pillowed on the roofs and trees.

Harry was touting a pile of shopping bags whose total volume easily exceeded his own. He had somehow looped and wrapped his arms around the pile in a precarious hug, awkwardly leaning back to adjust for the pile of weight tipping him forward.

What is it with males and needing to carry everything? Honestly, he can't even see in front of his face.

"Are you sure we visited enough stores?" Hermione teased, face full of mirth.

"Very funny. Could you just knock?"

"Well, I was just going to wait for you to tip over and cause a little earthquake."

"Bite me."

"Ooh, I'd like that."

Harry's jaw dropped as he blushed scarlet. Smirking at his dumbstruck expression, Hermione turned and rapped her knuckles smartly on the front door.

Andromeda Tonks answered the door in slippers and a woollen housecoat. Her thick black hair, streaked with white, was pulled back in its usual tight braid. The second of the Black sisters bore some resemblance to Narcissa and Bellatrix, but Hermione thought she rather looked like her cousin Sirius. They had the same eyes - soft and generous, but darkened with weariness.

Andromeda eyed Harry's pile of bags and her pursed lips split into a wide smile, laugh lines wrinkling at the corners of her eyes.

"Just a few more toys, eh?"

Hermione snorted as they entered the foyer, snatching a few of the most wobbly bags from the pile and setting them next to the Christmas tree. Harry unceremoniously dumped his pile onto the floor, rising to stretch out the kinks in his back.

"It's my God-given right to spoil him, Andi. Says so right in the name. Godfather."

"Well, my magnanimous godfather, did you happen to get his godmother anything while you were out buying half of England?"

"He did, actually," Hermione cut in, tugging at a crimson winter scarf.

"And that reminds me! This is for you, Andi." Harry spun from the pile of bags with a flourish, holding a matching scarf of pale silver.

Andromeda turned to face him and softened. For a moment, the tiredness lifted from her eyes and she looked 10 years younger. She took the scarf in one hand and reached up to Harry with the other, stroking his cheek gently.

"Thank you, dear. You're much too sweet."

Harry leaned into her touch for a moment, closing his eyes. She absently reached up towards his bangs and tenderly brushed the snow out of them.

"Why don't you get Teddy, dear. He should be up from his nap."

Harry lingered for a moment, then turned and headed up the steps.

"He really is such a sweet boy, isn't he? I'm so glad you two found each other."

Hermione blushed and ducked her head, hands still fingering her new scarf.

"I'm lucky to have him."

"You are a remarkable young woman, dear, and any man would be lucky to have you. But, in this case, I just might have to concur." Andi smiled down at her own scarf, deftly wrapping it about her neck in an elegant knot.

"Come then, let's have tea."

The two headed to the small table in the kitchen, already set with mugs and a kettle. Harry's voice carried through the house, engaging 9-month old Teddy in animated conversation.

"Tomorrow's Christmas, Teddy bear, do you know what that means? You've been very good this year, so we got you lots of new presents! I made sure to get you everything I could find with wheels, Teddy, because I know you love driving. Cars, trucks, trains, you name it! And then we can play Quidditch! I got you your very own Snitch, and it's perfectly safe to eat, so your Nan will have to let us play Seeker this time…"

Snorting, Andromeda shook her head as she poured them tea. "Leave it to Harry to find a loophole for Quidditch. Teddy just mastered crawling and now he's supposed to start flying."

Hermione groaned in commiseration. "You've already lost that battle, Andi. Just pray he doesn't actually play Seeker. They always seem to get injured the most."

"As if Teddy would care. The moment he finds out what position Harry plays, he'll do it without question. I swear, the boy is determined to become a miniature Harry. Won't even eat his pureed peas until his godfather pretends to like them. In fact, the other day I swear I saw him scratching his nose like Harry - you know, the way he scrunches his eyes like he needs to concentrate on it."

I do know. It's unbearably cute.

Teddy's constant mirroring of Harry made complete sense, of course. Harry was fanatically devoted to his godson and undoubtedly the biggest male figure in the boy's life. He had lived with Andromeda and Teddy most of the summer, both to care for his godson and help the older witch pick up the pieces after she had lost her entire family. In the dark months after defeating Voldemort, when he was still processing his own guilt and mental scars, Harry had found renewed purpose in caring for his godson.

By the time Hogwarts' term was approaching, he was so used to spending all his days with Teddy that he hadn't wanted to go back. Only at Andromeda's insistence had he returned to complete his last term. Even then, he left the castle to spend every Sunday with Teddy, always returning with a big smile and eager to brag about Teddy's skill with crawling or holding spoons.

Hermione, by comparison, looked positively neglectful as a godmother. She had tagged along with Harry on his weekend visits 5 or 6 times during the term, but even when she was there Harry would monopolize all of Teddy's time anyways. Hermione was left to sip tea with Andromeda while Harry fed Teddy, changed his nappies, played with him all day, and put him to bed. He would not have it any other way, and clearly Teddy would not either.

Oh, Harry, you're going to be such a good father someday.

"Of course he'll be a great father. Just look at him." Andromeda smirked at her over her teacup.

Hermione jumped at the interruption. She ducked her head as the older witch shot her a knowing look.

"You didn't have to say anything, dear. It was written all over your face."

Hermione laughed nervously, wavering under her gaze.

"Um, well, it's not like we've talked about that or anything. It's only been 4 months! It's just, I, er...I love watching him. When he's with Teddy."

Andi thoughtfully sipped her tea while the two of them faced the kitchen door, watching the boys play together on the carpet. Teddy was giggling and scampering away as Harry crawled after him, periodically "catching" him and peppering his face with kisses. The boy had metamorphosed his eyes to an emerald green, and his hair to Harry's jet black.

"So..." Andi began airily, "Harry tells me things are going well between the two of you."

Hermione's cheeks tinged pink and she absently clutched at her new scarf.

"I think so, yes."

"Does he treat you well?"

Hermione recalled her mother's voice from earlier that week. If you ever let this boy go, Hermione, I will personally dump your bookshelves into the River Thames, so help me God!

Hermione nodded vigorously. "I'm lucky to have him."

"And do you treat him well?" Andi's voice was sharp now, shoulders rigid as she held Hermione's gaze.

"I love him."

"You didn't answer my question."

Hermione bristled at her insistence. "I would die for him, Andromeda. I've come close, several times."

Andi suddenly deflated at that, breaking eye contact and shaking her head. "You're right, of course. I'm sorry, dear, I didn't mean anything by that. I just needed to know. Harry…" She shook her head again, vaguely gesturing towards the living room.

"You see it, don't you? When Harry loves someone, it's all-or-nothing. He does it with Teddy, and he does it with you. His whole world becomes wrapped up in that person. He doesn't know any other way."

Hermione lost her bluster too, shooting Andromeda an apologetic look. She reached for her tea, turning over the older witch's words. She was, of course, spot-on about Harry. He was loyal and self-sacrificing to a fault. Whether it was his friends, his mentors, or his godson - he always loved a person with every ounce of his soul.

"I do see it. He loves you in the same way, you know."

Smiling and tugging at her own new scarf, Andromeda inclined her head in agreement. "I do know. And I love Harry very deeply, even if our relationship doesn't go as far back as yours. He's like a son to me."

The witches turned back to face the living room again. Harry lay on his back while Teddy perched on his chest. The boy yanked Harry's glasses off his face, clutching them in his tiny hands before dropping them on the carpet. When Teddy looked up, Harry had conjured another pair onto his face. The boy shrieked with laughter as he reached to claim the new pair.

"Let not beat around the bush here, Hermione, we both know where your relationship is going. He's going to ask you to marry-"

"You don't know that, it's only been 4 months," Hermione protested.

Andi snorted, unconvinced. "Oh please, Hermione, you're not some girl he met at a pub. I knew within 5 minutes of meeting you. The way he looks at you…"

The widow stared vacantly into the living room, lost in the past. After a moment, she shook her head, as if to clear it.

"So, when he asks you to marry him, assuming you say yes - can you promise me something?"

"Anything, Andi. You know that."

Andromeda set her mug down and gripped the young witch's hands across the table. Her eyes were piercing again, and Hermione recalled the cliche about a person seeing into your soul.

"Take care of my boy?" Andromeda's voice cracked on the last word, but her gaze held steady.

Part of Hermione bristled at the question. Of course she would take care of Harry, she had done so since they were 11 and she didn't intend to stop now. She would always take care of him, regardless of whether their relationship lasted.

But something in Andromeda's tone stopped her. Hermione could make sure Harry ate, and draw up exam timetables for him, and berate him for getting injured on the Quidditch pitch. She could even fight for him, risking everything to stand by Harry against dark wizards, to protect him with her own life. Hermione had done these things. She knew how to do these things.

But could she love Harry the way he needed? The way he deserved? Living with Harry, sharing all of life's joys and hardships with him, was all Hermione had ever wished for. She wanted it badly, she had wanted it badly, for so long. But now that it was a concrete reality, and not some idle fantasy, Hermione was consumed by the fear of disappointing him. How could she hope to be everything Harry needed in a partner? In a wife? What if she was horrible to him? What if they grew apart? Harry was too kind and patient, he would tolerate her no matter what, and it wouldn't be fair to him. Wasn't that a kind of heartbreak too?

Before Hermione could answer, Harry's voice cut her reverie short. He swept into the room, plopping Teddy onto her lap as he turned to them in mock-disapproval.

"Ladies! My godson is hungry! If you two are done clucking like hens, maybe you could give me a hand with dinner?"

Andromeda got up to join him in the kitchen, shooting her a look that said we're not done here. Teddy, for his part, squirmed at his separation with Harry, attempting to crawl off her lap back towards his godfather.

The rest of the day passed quickly. Once Harry was within spitting distance of Teddy again, the baby calmed in Hermione's lap. She spooned him dinner while the adults ate as well, exchanging some updates about their careers. Hermione was planning to enter a Healer apprenticeship at St. Mungo's, while Harry was in early talks with several English league Quidditch teams. Andromeda explained her plans for an upcoming book on the history of Wizarding law and politics. She had a contract with the Ministry to update the influential yet outdated Juris et Polis, a standard text for Wizarding law which had been in use for over 20 years. Teddy happily babbled nonsense in between bites of pureed peas, eager to participate.

After dinner, Harry reclaimed Teddy and the two settled into an evening game of cars. Hermione followed them out to the living room, perching on the couch to skim her newly acquired copy of Juris et Polis.

Not that I'll make any progress while I'm here. They're too bloody cute for me to get any serious reading done. To her relief, the older witch had not brought up her unfinished interrogation, opting for an early night.

When the clock struck 9 PM, Harry scooped up Teddy and yawned widely. The baby copied him, lifting his tiny arms and squeaking while scrunching up his face.

"Time for bed. Can you stay to read his story with me? "

"Okay. A short one, though. I told my parents I'd be back hours ago."

They padded up the stairs to enter Teddy's bedroom. The ceiling glittered with enchanted starlight, dimly twinkling in a mesmerizing pattern. Setting Teddy into his crib, Harry turned to her while deftly changing the boy into cotton pyjamas.

"Could you fetch The Little Hipogriff from the dresser? It's his favorite."

Chuckling, Hermione picked up a slim picture book with a cartoon Hipogriff on the cover. "9 months old and he has a favorite? Are you sure he even understands which story is which?"

"He remembers every story book, and knows which ones he likes to boot. Babies are a lot smarter than you'd think."

"Well, let's not keep our godson waiting then."

Harry sat in the large fabric rocking chair next to the crib and Hermione perched on his lap, positioning the book so they both could read from it. Teddy fussed for a moment, but stilled when Harry reached his index finger through the bars of the crib, immediately clutching it in his small hand. The boy lay under a plush red blanket, clutching a small stuffed Hipogriff as he stared up at the twinkling ceiling.

"In a cottage at the end of a village lane, there lived a little Hipogriff. He lived with his Mummy and Daddy, who loved him very much, and played with him every single day. One day, the little Hipogriff was playing in the village and could not find the lane back to his home. He looked here, and there, and everywhere…"

Hermione steadily narrated the journey of the little Hipogriff. Harry did all of the voices with gusto, and Hermione had to stifle giggles at his rousing rendition of Mary the milkmaid. After every exchange between the little Hipogriff and a villager, Hermione would pause, and check if Teddy was asleep, but the boy would just gurgle and tug on Harry's finger, waiting for more.

Hermione read onwards, about Mary the milkmaid and Baron the blacksmith and Sally the store owner. None of them could help the little Hipogriff. Finally, farmer Franklin came to his rescue.

"And then the little Hipogriff said, 'Thank you, Farmer Franklin! I know how to get home now.' He turned left at the tree, and crossed through the pumpkin patch, and followed the river down, down, down, all the way back to the little cottage at the end of the village lane. His Mummy and Daddy opened the door and each gave him a big hug. And the little Hipogriff was so, so, so happy, because he had finally found his way home."

Closing the book gently, she looked up to see Teddy's eyes closed, with his hand still clutched around Harry's finger. Careful not to disturb him, climbed up and set the book on the dresser. Hermione turned to see Harry standing over Teddy, staring at his finger still clutched in the baby's hand.

Hermione walked up to Harry and wrapped him in a tight hug, burying her face into his chest. Harry waved his palm to turn off the lamp, but otherwise made no move to leave.

Minutes passed as they stood like that in the darkness. Harry did not let go of Teddy.

Hermione knew where his mind was. Harry was doubting himself now, agonizing and second-guessing every decision he had ever made regarding his godson. He had thrown all of himself into his duties as godfather, showering the child with gifts and attention and affection, but still was asking whether it was enough. He didn't feel worthy of the boy's love. Hermione wished she could banish those demons from his mind forever, could explain to him how Teddy loved and adored Harry like a father. But this was apart from her; all she could do was hold him and reassure him of her own love. The boy would tell Harry himself, in due time.

Harry finally moved to release Teddy's fingers and tuck him fully into his blanket. He leaned into the crib to ghost a kiss on the baby's forehead, lingering for a moment before allowing Hermione to lead him out into the hallway.

It was past time for Hermione to return to her parents' home. She knew they would be waiting up after her.

"Hermione?" Harry had not let go of her hand.

"Yes, Harry?"

"Do you remember last year? At Christmas?"

She did remember. They had visited Godric's Hollow exactly one year ago, at the low point of the Horcrux Hunt. She and Harry had been all alone for weeks by then, scraping by in the harsh winter while they struggled to continue their mission. They had not even realized it was Christmas until arriving at the village, before they went to visit his parents' grave and could hear the churchgoers.

His parents' grave.

Exactly one year ago, they paid their respects to James and Lily Potter, who had died protecting their baby son. And now, 10 feet away, Teddy Lupin slept safe and sound, unaware that he too was an orphan.

"Oh, Harry." She clutched him as he folded into her, shaking with silent sobs. She shush-ed and reassured him, stroking his hair in a gentle pattern. Hermione's heart ached at the sound of Harry falling apart like this. I'll take care of him, Andi, I promise. I promise...

After a minute, Harry's heavy sobs dulled.

"Stay with me?" He mumbled into her shoulder. His voice was hoarse and cracked, still full of tears.

"Always, Harry. Always." She maneuvered her wand out from her pocket, still embracing him. Hermione's otter Patronus coalesced at the tip, gamboling off to notify her parents that she would be sleeping here tonight.

Hermione silently led him to the bedroom directly across from Teddy's, pulling back the covers and climbing in. She transfigured their clothes into linen pyjamas before climbing in after him, burrowing her head into the crook of his shoulder and wrapping an arm around his torso.

The night was still and silent. Hermione's mind returned to a year ago, when the bitter cold would seep into the tent at night, and no charm could make it go away. In those days it had felt like the two of them were the only people in the world. She remembered feeling thankful, so thankful, that of all the people to endure it with, she had Harry.

She still was.

...

Hermione awoke to the sound of Teddy's loud wails in the middle of the night. She felt Harry's weight slip out from under her, and shivered at the sudden loss of warmth.

She got out of bed after him, padding carefully across the hallway. Pausing at the doorway of Teddy's room, she made out the faint shape of Harry in the rocking chair, illuminated only by the twinkling starlight of the nursery ceiling. He was murmuring softly to the baby, whose wails had subsided to quiet whimpers.

"It's okay Teddy Bear, I'm here now, I'm not leaving, I'm not leaving...I'm sorry for leaving you Teddy, just 6 more months, just 6 more months and then I'm never leaving again...I'm sorry, Teddy, I'm so sorry..."

Hermione lightly stepped into the room, pausing in front of the rocking chair to drop a kiss on the baby's forehead, then Harry's. She stood next to the crib, hand on Harry's shoulder as he continued his quiet reassurances. Eventually, the baby stilled.

Hermione reached for Teddy to put him back to bed. Upon leaving Harry's arms he immediately resumed his loud wails, lunging for him.

"Dada! Dada!"

Harry's eyes went wide with shock. Hermione returned the baby to Harry's arms, who clutched his shirt with both hands and immediately quieted. Harry sat stock-still, cradling Teddy as he looked up to her in question.

Hermione pushed the rocking chair, resuming the gentle to-and-fro motion from before. Harry looked up to her as Teddy's eyes shut.

"Hermione, he's never…"

"Shh, Harry. Do you think he'll be able to sleep now?"

He shook his head. "Usually, I'll sleep in this chair with him."

"Okay, let's bring him to bed."

Harry shook his head again. "It's okay, Hermione, you should get some sleep. I'll stay with him."

She merely tugged at his sleeve in insistence. "No arguments, love. Come on."

Miraculously, Harry complied. Cradling Teddy to his collarbone, he followed Hermione back to their bed. She pulled back the covers for Harry before climbing in after him, tucking into his right-hand side and burrowing into the crook of his shoulder. Their sleeping position was almost identical to before, although now Hermione's arm held Teddy in place as he sprawled on Harry's chest.

After the baby fell asleep, Harry turned to her again. His eyes seemed huge in the faint moonlight, only inches from her own.

"Hermione…"

"You're not replacing Remus."

"He called me Dad."

"You don't have to be Remus for him, Harry. Just yourself."

"It's not fair to Remus, though. It would disrespect his memory."

"Disrespect him, to love his son? To do exactly what he asked of you?"

"This is different."

"Shouldn't Teddy get to have a father? Someone who's there, who loves him and cares for him as he grows up?"

"It wouldn't - I can't just -"

"Who else would that be? Do you not love him like that?"

"Of course I do, Hermione. I would do anything -"

"And Teddy sees that, Harry, trust me. He does. Babies are a lot smarter than you'd think."

A few beats of silence.

"He called you Dad, Harry, because he sees how much you love him, and he chose you. He chose you. It doesn't mean that he's lost, or confused, or he thinks that you're Remus. He just knows that you chose him, and he chose you back. He found his way home."

Harry said nothing. After a few moments, he exhaled shakily as all the tension left his body. Hermione felt his left hand loop under her arm, cradling Teddy to his chest. His other arm pulled her closer.

The night was silent and still, and the only sounds she heard were the gentle puff of Teddy's breath and the steady thud of Harry's heartbeat. It was colder in the early morning hours, and she shivered as she pulled them closer to share warmth.

Before falling asleep, Hermione's last thought was that it was already Christmas day.