With a feeling of dread, Harry Potter looked away from the window and into the room before him and tried to ease the panic that was currently taking over. He needed to be calm, but Harry was finding it hard at the moment.
His godson's entire future depended on what happened tonight, in just a few moments, and Harry could do nothing to help. It had nothing to do with courage or skill this time. It was all just luck now. Harry had no control.
The child in question, Teddy, was currently screaming in his grandmother's arms. Andromeda tried to calm him down, but her efforts were in vain. This, Harry knew, was not a good sign; Teddy was always such a calm child.
"It's time," Andromeda said gruffly, looking out the window. "Harry, Ginny, wands at the ready." She laid the boy down on a blanket. With a haughty expression on her face, she pointed her wand and muttered a few words under her breath. A large, cage-like structure assembled over the wailing baby. Harry desperately wanted to look away. He hated doing this to Teddy. His godson did not belong in a cage.
Harry, Ginny, and Andromeda stood back and watched Teddy. The moon rose higher, illuminating the entire room. Teddy's hair turned a sandy brown and he screamed in agony. But the change went no further. No fur or fangs appeared, and, with a great sense of relief, Andromeda lifted the cage and Harry picked up his godson.
The baby stopped crying at once and nestled himself into Harry's arms like a young puppy to its mother. Still holding Teddy, Harry sat down on the couch, trying to take in what had just happened. Teddy wasn't a werewolf, but it was clear that the full moon had hurt him somehow.
"Remus was afraid this might happen," Harry said gravely.
"But he's not a werewolf!" Ginny protested. "That's good, right?"
"He's not a full werewolf," Andromeda corrected. "But there's still some infection, it seems."
"But at least he's not a werewolf!" Ginny insisted.
"If he was a werewolf, we would know what we were dealing with," Andromeda said. "But this – this is something completely different. Possibly unique."
"He's never cried like that before," Harry added viciously. "It's like the moon hurt him somehow." He glared out the window at the night sky, as if it could understand him.
"Well, at least he's fine now," Ginny said. "He could have been a lot worse."
Harry just nodded, but he felt that Ginny was missing the point. It was true that Teddy could have been a lot worse, but he also could have been a lot better. Teddy was so young and innocent; he shouldn't have to deal with these problems at all.
"Perhaps, when he is older, the wolfsbane potion will ease the transformation," Andromeda suggested, but Ginny shook her head.
"The wolfsbane potion is only for werewolves," she said. "Partial werewolves like Teddy can't take it."
Harry looked at Ginny in surprise.
"Bill wanted to take the potion, when he was first savaged by Greyback," Ginny said. "But Remus told him no. He said it would have 'dangerous consequences.'"
"And you think it would be dangerous for Teddy?" Harry asked.
"I'm sure of it," Ginny said. "Remus said it was dangerous for any non-werewolf."
"Well, there goes that idea," Harry said. "We'll just have to take care of him ourselves."
"And we will," Andromeda said firmly. "My daughter would have expected no different."
Harry noted the determined look on Ginny and Andromeda's faces and, despite the situation, had to smile. Teddy's life would not be easy, there was no doubt about it, but he would always be loved. He would have everything Harry never had, and for that, Harry was grateful.