Every summer since he was a little boy, Teddy had stayed with the Potter family for a week or two over the summer. Though he was nineteen and now somewhat grown, Teddy continued the tradition—though, taking that much time off from his new job was impossible. Instead, he had opted for a long weekend. George Weasley, of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, had no problem whatsoever in giving his intern the day off—that, and Ginny would have never let Geroge hear the end of it if he hadn't.
At the moment, Teddy was sitting on the couch in the Potter living room. James was out flying, Harry was at work, Ginny was on a walk with Lily, and—as far as Teddy knew—Albus was holed up in his room. This gave Teddy a moment's peace and quiet before all hell broke loose (as it normally did) in the Potter household, and he could get around to reading up on Babbling Beverages, a family of potion types that caused their drinkers to spout nonsense. George was looking for a commercial elixir to do something similar, and Teddy, gifted in potions, was the man for the job. If he continued being able to pop out useful draughts, Teddy figured he might get a full-time job working for George. A job meant money, and money meant freedom—the idea of bringing Victoire back to his own flat rather than his childhood bedroom appealed to Teddy very much.
However, before Teddy could get much of any reading done, he was interrupted:
"Hey, Teddy?"
The blue-haired boy looked up from Less Potente Potions and smiled, closing the book and setting it down next to him on the couch.
"Hey, Al, good to see you. What's up?" Teddy asked his godbrother. With the boy's brooding emerald-green eyes, sometimes Teddy had a difficult time remembering that he was staring at an eleven-year-old boy, not looking into the eyes of Harry Potter.
Albus Severus Potter shifted uncomfortably on his feet. Teddy pursed his lips.
"Albus," he began cautiously, "what's the matter?"
"It's…" Albus began, not finishing his thought. The boy seemed at a loss for words. Seeing his clear discomfort, Teddy patted a spot on the couch next to him, moving his book to the end-table.
"Come, sit," he beckoned. "You're scaring me, hovering like that."
Albus let out a nervous chuckle, joining Teddy on the couch.
"I didn't mean it," Albus insisted. "It's just…I've been thinking."
"Can be a dangerous pastime. Some of my best schemes have come from engaging thoroughly with that activity," he grinned. Albus rolled his eyes.
"Well, I haven't been thinking about whizz-puffs or whatever it is you work with Uncle George on. I've actually been thinking about Hogwarts."
"Oh, Hogwarts!" Teddy exclaimed, draping an arm over Albus. "Yes, I remember those days fondly. Skiving off class, sneaking around the castle, introducing the school to a whole new breed of Marauder…and yes," Teddy admitted, "I did learn a thing or two."
"Teddy," Albus sighed, "you graduated not two years ago. It hasn't been that long—"
"—oh, it's been long enough," insisted the young Metamorphmagus. "Long enough for me to miss it, that's for sure. Your letter should be coming any day now, yeah?"
"Yeah," Albus said softly, "Which is…which is what I've been thinking about. What if I don't get sorted into the right house?"
Teddy looked puzzled, focusing his gaze right at the boy.
"Al," he began seriously, "the Sorting Hat doesn't make mistakes. You go where you go—all you have to do is sit there, honest."
"But…" Albus drifted off, and Teddy furrowed his brows. He hadn't seen his younger god-brother this troubled in some time.
"Are you worried about where you'll end up?" Teddy probed. Albus nodded before continuing.
"What if I don't end up in Gryffindor, like James?" He asked weakly, avoiding eye contact with Teddy, distressing him thoroughly.
"Well, that seems fine by me," Teddy shrugged. "After all, there are plenty of other perfectly nice houses—three to be exact—with Hufflepuff obviously being the nicest one."
This got Albus to chuckle a little. The boy had seemed far too down earlier for Teddy's liking, and it was good to see him lighten up.
"Well, yes, I suppose," Albus conceded, "But, with my dad and all, I can't help but think—"
"—that you somehow owe it to him to end up in the house of the brave? Of the famous Harry Potter?" Teddy asked knowingly, giving Albus a soft smile. "I felt similarly. Son of two war heroes—an Auror and a werewolf—he ought to be brave, right? Or demented, perhaps?"
"But I'm no Gryffindor," Teddy continued. "I knew it then, and I know it now. Mum was in Hufflepuff, so of course she would've been proud, and I never thought much of it. But when I got back over winter break, Gran showed me this whole box of my father's old Gryffindor robes that I never got to wear. Don't think it bothered her much, the two were never on…ah, let's say the friendliest of terms," Teddy smiled, "But it made me feel absolutely awful for a week, thinking I'd let him down."
"But, you…you could never let him down," Albus insisted.
"And you know this how, exactly? You've asked my old man, then?"
Albus opened his mouth to respond, but quickly shut it, face turning a bit pink. Of course, he hadn't asked either of Teddy's parents anything. That wasn't possible. He should've thought before saying someone so inconsiderate…
"Al," Teddy said softly, tussling the boy's dark brown hair. "It's alright, really. That was a joke. I'm pretty sure you're right—my father would likely have still been proud had I been sorted into a hatbox instead of a house. But I'll never know for certain. You, my friend," Teddy smiled, pointing his index finger into Albus' chest, "just have to ask. It's just Harry, after all."
Albus finally looked at Teddy head-on. He knew the older boy was right—his father always had time for his children. And he could ask him anything he wanted, anytime. He felt a pang of sadness for Teddy—he'd never quite have that. Harry Potter was always around for his godson, too, but Albus had to imagine it wasn't quite the same as having a father around.
"You're right. It's just Dad," Albus nodded. "I'll talk to him before I leave. I promise. But…" he paused, pursing his lips. "How did you get over it? Feeling like you'd let your father down?"
"Well," Teddy began, pausing to think. "First off, the robes were horrid—I mean, really shabby and torn up. I don't think I'd actually have wanted to wear them at all," he admitted. Albus tried to stifle a chuckle—Teddy could be a bit vain sometimes. "But it was your father who snapped me out of it. Let's see, what did he say…"
Teddy squinted in concentration, turning his hair dark, eyes green, a scar materializing on his forehead. Albus grinned—the Metamorphmagus looked quite a bit like Harry andbegan to imitate him.
"Professor Lupin loved you more than anything. If you think he'd care what house you were in, you're as thick as James is," Teddy grinned, shifting his features back to normal. "Or, something of the sort. Albus rolled his eyes.
"He did not say that," the younger boy scoffed. Teddy shrugged.
"Maybe he did, maybe he didn't. You'll just have to ask and find out," he smirked. Albus groaned.
"Teddy—"
"Nope! Not telling. Now," he pulled his book up, tapping it lightly, "I have some work to do. The Boss Man—"
"—Uncle George is hardly a 'boss man'—"
"—will be most displeased if I don't do at least some work this weekend. Now," Teddy shooed Albus, "scram, and maybe I'll be able to get you a new product from the shop and you can use it on your brother, yeah?"
Now, that appealed to Albus very much. He leapt off the sofa, nodding.
"That sounds great, Teddy. And," he smiled, "thanks. You…you always know what to say."
Teddy shrugged. "I don't know about always," he admitted, "but I'm glad I could help this time."
Albus scurried away, likely back up to his room. Teddy opened up Less Potente Potions once again, finding where he had bent over the page and marked his spot. Before he began reading, he cast a glance upwards at the ceiling. He knew his parents weren't up in the Potter's roofing, but they were somewhere up there. And he hoped he made them proud. He'd never get to know—and he was jealous of Albus for it—but he remembered what Harry had actually told him very fondly. It was exactly what he had needed to hear, and Teddy wanted Albus to experience that for himself firsthand.