Chapter 12: A Day with Teddy

Somehow or another Ginny found herself sitting on the counter at George's shop. She was watching Harry and Teddy play with some of George's kid friendly toys, and laughing because Harry was just as amused as Teddy.

"Isn't that something," George came up behind his sister, "The Boy who saved the world, on the floor of my shop with a little tyke, playing with toys together," George grinned evilly.

"As long as no one who works for the profit shows up to take his picture, I think he's okay," Ginny smiled. George pulled a camera out from behind his back.

"You wouldn't,"

"Don't worry sis, they won't go to the profit, or the ministry. However, they'll make great pictures to show when everyone's 'round for lunch at the Burrow on Sunday," Ginny playfully smacked George.

"I didn't agree to or know about this," she said before hopping off the counter and walking away.

"Come on Harry, the kid doesn't need a broom. Andromeda will kill you," Ginny said. They were standing outside the Quidditch shop and Harry was telling Teddy that he wanted to get him a broom.

"Come on Ginny, please, Sirius got me one when I was a baby."

"First of all, how do you know that, and second of all, how old were you?" Harry hung his head.

"I found a letter and picture from my mum to Sirius sometime last year. It was thanking him for getting it for me for my first birthday," he mumbled.

"Maybe for his birthday then, he's only 9 months old," she replied.

"But Ginny!" Harry started. Ginny's glare shut him up pretty fast.

"Fine, Teddy, Aunt Ginny said no," he pouted at the little boy. Ginny laughed and reached out to take Teddy.

"He's trying to corrupt you Teddy," she said, and then laughed as his hair changed from black to red. "Let's go have lunch," Ginny said as they began walking again.

They entered the Leaky Cauldron to find Hannah Abbott behind the bar working with Tom, and Neville sitting at the bar watching her work.

"Hey Neville," Ginny said as she and the boys approached him.

"Hey Ginny, Harry, Teddy," Neville replied, "How are things?" Ginny smiled. She saw the way that Neville had been watching Hannah and she couldn't be happier for the pair.

"They're alright. Harry here is trying to corrupt our young Teddy here," she turned and smiled sweetly at Harry.

"Of course he would be!" Neville laughed, "I think he's just trying to share Teddy's childhood, since he never had one of his own," they all laughed at this. Hannah came over when she heard the group laughing.

"What's going on over here?" Hannah asked. "Hey Harry, Ginny, who's the little guy?" She couldn't believe how much he resembled Ginny with his hair. She began to speculate how Ginny and Harry had worked out having a kid in all the mess with the war. She couldn't remember Ginny looking pregnant.

"This is Teddy Lupin," Harry said, quickly eliminating Hannah's thoughts.

"As in Professor Lupin?" Hannah asked.

"His son," Harry replied.

"I never knew he had a son!" Hannah gushed, "I can't believe he's gone. He was one of my favorites."

"His wife, Nymphadora Tonks, died too," Ginny added sadly. "This little guy is living with his grandmother though, so he's in good hands," Ginny quickly added when she saw the look of pity cross Hannah's face.

"Can I hold him?" she asked. Ginny passed Teddy over the bar to her. When Hannah took him, his hair became the same sandy blonde color of hers.

"Oh, yeah, he's a metamorphous," Harry laughed as Hannah stared at the child in disbelief.

"Well Mr. Lupin, up close you sure look a lot like your father," Hannah smiled at Teddy.

"He's just as mischievous too, although, the metamorphous comes from his mum," Ginny spoke.

"Alright Hannah, enough chit chat. If you're going to do this, you gotta learn the regulars by name and by order," Tom said approaching the group, "go on, give the kid back," Tom smiled. Neville was the one who reached out and took Teddy from her. Teddy's hair became the same shade as Neville's.

"Mr. Potter, Mrs. Weasley, what can we do for you today?" Tom asked after watching to see Hannah busy herself.

"We're just passing through today Tom," Harry said.

"We're riskily headed into muggle London with this little tyke," Ginny laughed.

"It's hard to have a metamorphous on your hands," Tom looked at Neville who was happily bouncing Teddy.

"He only changes his hair when someone holds him, Harry here is going to get him a muggle stroller so we can put him in that and push him around so that his hair doesn't change while we are out," Ginny smiled. Teddy began to fuss in Neville's arms.

"Come on Teddy, lets go get some lunch," Harry said taking the now black headed boy.

After their adventures in muggle London, they decided to go back to Grimmauld Place. They left Teddy asleep in the stroller. The kid looked comfortable and Harry didn't want to further disturb him. Harry sat down on the couch, and Ginny plopped herself in his lap. It was only a little after five, and they still had about another hour left before they had to return Teddy to Andromeda.

"So," Harry began, "What were you telling me this morning about Hogwarts?" he asked.

"They're allowing us to take classes in the spring to catch up on what we missed, and then I'll be able to take my N.E.W.T.S in August just before everyone returns. I can then either stay and take my seventh year, or I can drop out at that point," she explained. "I figure I'll need my N.E.W.T.S if I want to do something with my life after the Harpies, so I'll do that and then drop my seventh year. Hogwarts just won't be the same without you, Ron, and Hermione. Plus. I don't think that it'll be as easy as Gwen thinks to play for them and be in school at the same time," she said.

"That's great, and it all works out in the end" Harry kissed her.

"I don't see why it wouldn't, and speaking of Pro Quidditch, my first game is this Saturday. We're playing Puddlemere United," she smiled.

"Oliver Wood's team?" Ginny nodded her head.

"He'll probably be surprised to see me out there," she said. "It'll be fun to play against him instead of with him," she laughed.

"I'm sure he won't be happy when you score though," Harry laughed too. Their laughter was just loud enough that it woke Teddy.

His hair turned to its normal shade of blue as he looked around at the room. He saw Ginny and Harry sitting on the couch laughing, but he was strapped into this strange, unfamiliar, seat, and he wanted out. He leaned forward in an attempt to get out, and started screaming when he realized he couldn't.

"Oh Teddy," Ginny laughed as she unfastened him and sat on the floor. Harry wasn't being much help, he too was laughing, as they had both seen Teddy's attempt of escape.

Teddy's hair changed from blue to red as Ginny sat there rocking him. When her laugher and his crying had subdued, she pulled him away from her, set him on his feet and held his hands so he could balance. He hadn't quite started to walk yet, but his favorite thing to do was crawl all over the house in attempt to hide from Andromeda.

"Come here Teddy," Harry said as he sat down in the floor across from Ginny. He reached one hand in his direction while Ginny turned him and pointed him toward Harry.

"Go on, you can do it big guy. Just one foot in front of the other," Ginny coaxed him.

"Come on," Teddy took one step forward still holding onto Ginny's hand. She pulled her hands out of his and rested them on his waist.

"I've got you," she said as Teddy looked at her frantically, "reach out for Uncle Harry's hand."

Teddy took another step and the fell. He sat there between them, and then decided to crawl over to Harry. Harry laughed as he scooped his godson up in his lap. Teddy sat there, playing with the ring on Harry's hand until he noticed Kreacher, dusting the table beside the fireplace. He crawled out of Harry's lap headed in Kreacher's direction.

"Hey little man, where are you headed?" Harry asked. Ginny laughed at the expression on Harry's face. Harry obviously hadn't expected Teddy to go anywhere.

Teddy continued on until he reached Kreacher. He sat down sticking his thumb in his mouth and watched the elf.

"Gah! Icky dirty babies!" Kreacher screamed. This scared Teddy, and caused him to bite down on his thumb harder than he meant to. Kreacher ran across the room leaving Teddy crying, and Ginny and Harry laughing once more. This time however, it was Harry who comforted Teddy.

"It's okay Teddy, Kreacher's just not used to babies," he told the boy, "Sorry Kreacher, I wasn't aware that he was going for you or I would have stopped him," Harry said.

"Its ten minutes till six, we'd better take him back," she said. She looked at Harry and Teddy sitting there together. She loved them both so dearly.

"I've had fun little man," he said.

"I know, me too, I don't want take him back either," Ginny commented moving to sit next to them. They sat there for a moment in silence, neither Ginny nor Harry wanted to move and go anywhere. Ginny sighed.

"Come on," she said standing up and reaching her hand toward Harry.

They knocked on the door of the house and waited for Andromeda to come let them in. It was exactly six.

"You could come a little early, instead of right on time," Andromeda joked as she opened the door, "would you two like to stay for dinner?" she asked leading them into the sitting room where Harry placed Teddy in the floor so he could crawl around and do as he pleased. Harry looked at Ginny and shrugged his shoulders.

"Sure, we'll stay," Ginny said.

"Is there anything we can do to help?" Harry asked.

"You can help me in the kitchen or you can play with Teddy a while longer," she said smiling as Teddy crawled over to Ginny and climbed up her leg so he was standing on his own two feet.

"I don't imagine it'll be long before he starts to walk" Andromeda said. Teddy's hair changed from red to blue, as he hesitantly let go of Ginny's leg. Harry squatted down and reached his hands toward the blue-headed boy.

"Come here Teddy, you can do it," Harry said. Teddy placed his hand close to Ginny's leg as he took one step forward. He wobbled a bit but didn't fall.

"You can do it." He took a second step and fell into Ginny's leg.

"Well he certainly is trying," Andromeda said, "It's easier when you've got more than one person teaching them. It took both Ted and I to finally coax Dora into walking. He's so much like her that sometimes, I just have to stop, watch him, and occasionally cry. I miss them all so much. I'm glad that I have Teddy," Andromeda said sadly. Hearing his name he crawled over to her. She bent down and scooped him up.

"Did you have fun today?" she asked as she hugged him.

"Why don't you stay here and play with Uncle Harry while Aunt Ginny helps me in the kitchen," she said handing Teddy. Ginny kissed Harry and Teddy on the cheek before following Andromeda to the kitchen.

"So, I heard you saying something about Hogwarts this morning," Andromeda said as Ginny walked in behind her.

"Yeah, I got a letter saying that they want to offer some classes in the spring so I can take my N.E.W.T.S in August," she said.

"What about your seventh year?"

"I'm dropping out." Andromeda stopped and looked at Ginny.

"Why would you do that dear girl?" she asked bewildered.

"I've taken on a job with the Holly Head Harpies to play professional Quidditch." She smiled.

"Oh Ginny dear, congratulations," Andromeda hugged her.

"Thanks, my first game is this Saturday," Ginny said.

Soon, dinner was ready and they were all sitting around the table to eat. Teddy wasn't quite old enough to eat real food yet, he was still eating the mushy baby food. Harry sat and fed him as they all sat around talking and laughing. Ginny told Andromeda about the stroller and the incident with Kreacher, and Andromeda too laughed. They talked about their day, and Ginny told her about Quidditch.

"I can't wait to see you play this weekend," Andromeda said, "Quidditch really isn't my thing, but the Harpies are my favorite team," she smiled.

"They've always been my favorite too," Ginny smiled, "I'm really excited to be playing with them. It's been my dream since I was a little girl."

"What are you going to do with your career Harry?" Andromeda asked.

"I start Auror training at the end of the month," he replied.

"That sounds fabulous. You'll be a great Auror." They talked until they were finished eating.

"Alright little Teddy, time for bed. Harry, would you like to put him to bed?" Andromeda asked. Harry nodded his head. He lifted Teddy from the highchair.

"Night night Teddy, I had fun today." Ginny said standing up. She walked over and kissed him on the head. Harry took Teddy upstairs to his room.

"Next time, we'll see if grandma will let us have you over night," Harry said placing Teddy in the crib. "Lie down, close your eyes now. You've had a long day." Teddy lay there and watched Harry. He covered Teddy up, and kissed his cheek. Teddy held out his hand for Harry to hold. Harry held his hand until he turned over, stuck his thumb in his mouth and went to sleep.

"Thanks for having us for dinner, and thanks for letting us take Teddy out. It was a lot of fun," Harry said as he and Ginny were putting their cloaks on.

"It was no problem dears. I'll see you on Saturday," she smiled, "Good luck."

"Thanks," Ginny smiled back, "maybe once I'm famous you can have my autograph." Ginny joked. They said their goodbyes and apparated back to Grimmauld place.

"I really had a lot of fun," Ginny said as she leaned into Harry who hugged her tightly.

"I did too. I told Teddy next time, we'll have to get him for an overnight stay."

"That would be fun," Ginny laughed. Hand in hand they made their way up to Harry's room and climbed in bed.

"Goodnight Harry, I love you," Ginny said.

"Goodnight, I love you too," he replied and leaned over to kiss her.