Chapter Four: Visiting Teddy

Mr. and Mrs. Granger were to stay at the Burrow for a couple of days and then would leave for their own home in London. Hermione, after convincing her parents, was to stay at the Burrow for the time being. Ron, who had been slightly down and moody when Hermione said she might be leaving with her parents, beamed at this news and hugged her tightly. It seemed to Harry like Ron and Hermione were finally a couple. They avoided saying so whenever Ginny asked, or when Mrs. Weasley pried and pestered them, but they were now seen holding hands together more often and Harry had gone around the Burrow with Ginny and found the pair of them kissing behind the broom shed.

One the eve of the Granger's departure, Mrs. Weasley made a spectacular dinner which by the end of it, the table was completely scraped clean and Harry could swear his jeans were about to burst. Ron, Harry had to admit, had eaten at least half of the entire table. After washing their plates, Harry got up with Ginny and walked up the stairs.

'Are you alright, Ginny?'

'Yeah, I'm going to Bill's tomorrow, want to come?'

'Sure, I was actually going to go see Teddy, we could do both?'

Ginny smiled slightly. 'Sounds fun.'

Ginny opened her bedroom door and held it open slightly. She looked at Harry expectantly and when he didn't budge she gave him a look of slight impatience and said,

'Well are you coming in or not?'

Harry grinned slightly, and walked inside her bedroom. Harry remembered the only other instant he had entered this room, aside from last night, where Ginny had given him his "birthday present."

Harry stood awkwardly in the center of the room, not knowing why he'd been invited inside. Ginny was sitting on the end of her bed, looking like she was in deep thought. Harry sat down beside her and put his arm around her. She leaned into his shoulder and said, 'Mum and Dad decided the funeral's in two days. I'm going to Bill's to tell him.'

'Can't you just send him an owl?'

Ginny shrugged and said, 'I suppose. But it'll be nice to see him.'

'Yeah, has Percy popped the question yet?'

'Dunno. He's probably waiting until the funeral's all over. We should get to bed,' she added. Harry nodded and got up, headed for the door. Ginny followed him.

'G'night,' Harry said.

'Night, Harry,' she said, kissing him.

Harry ascended the stairs and knocked on Ron's door. This was something he'd never done before, but with Hermione in the house and Harry walking in on them kissing behind the broomshed once already, he was not eager to do it again.

'Come in Mum,' came Ron's voice.

Harry opened the door grinning.

'Harry, why the hell did you knock? When have you ever knocked?'

Harry didn't respond but sat cross-legged on his cot and searched for his pajamas.

'Ginny and I are going to see Bill and Teddy tomorrow, want to come?'

'Wish I could mate,' Ron said, leaning back on his pillow, exhausted, 'but George's got me working all day.'

'How's he doing?' Harry said as he struggled to get his leg through his pajamas and nearly fell over.

'He's alright, I suppose. Still down, but I think he's coping.'

'Where's Hermione? I didn't see her in Ginny's room.'

'You were in Ginny's room?' Ron said sharply.

'Oh come on, it wasn't like that. We were talking.'

Ron snorted, but he was smiling slightly. 'Talking, right. Hermione wanted to say goodbye to her parents.'

'Oh, I thought they already left?'

'No they're leaving now.'

Harry had succeeded in putting on his pajamas and slid into the cot.

'Harry?'

'Mmm?' Harry replied sleepily. He had almost been asleep.

'Never mind,' he said, rolling over.

Harry was curious, but let it pass and rolled over himself, trying to find a comfortable position.

'Harry! Harry, wake up!'

Harry felt a slight stingy on the side of his face.

'Ow, that hurt, Ginny,' Harry complained, massaging his cheek and straightening his glasses. 'Where's Ron?' he asked when he looked up to find the bed empty, the blankets a mess.

'He let hours ago, it's nearly one o'clock in the afternoon.'

'Really?' Harry said, surprised.

'Yes!' she said angrily. 'We should be leaving for Bill's in five minutes! Downstairs and eat.'

'You sound like your mother,' Harry observed, cross armed. 'And I'm not dressed,' he added, looking down at his bare chest.

Ginny rolled her eyes and left the room. Harry changed, and leapt down the stairs, shoveled down a quick breakfast Mrs. Weasley had prepared, and went out into the yard with Ginny.

'Hermione didn't want to come?'

'I don't think she's here,' Ginny said. 'I didn't see her when I woke up, and that was at nine in the morning.'

'Where is she though?'

'Maybe she had things to do in Diagon Alley, I don't know,' Ginny said as she opened the gate.

'Ready?' Harry said.

Ginny rolled her eyes and disapparated. Harry grinned, and disapparated as well, knowing full well where she was going.

Shell Cottage. The sea. Bill and Fleur's. Harry pictured Shell Cottage in his mind and the feeling of apparition left him and he opened his eyes. They were near the sea, and Harry could see the small but comfortable cottage he had stayed at for a few weeks when planning to break into Gringotts not too long ago. Ginny was standing beside him, grinning. She had never been here before. Harry grabbed her hand and they ran towards the cottage. Fleur, who was tending to the side gardens looked up and beamed at them, meeting them halfway.

''Arry, Ginny! Bill will be so 'appy to see you,' she said, waving them into the small house.

''E is busy at ze moment, but I will call 'im down. Bill!'

'I'm coming, one minute!' came a familiar voice from upstairs. There were footsteps on the stairs and then Bill came into the kitchen. His face was scarred by Fenrir Greyback, and he was tall, red haired, obviously, and freckled. He beamed at both Harry and Ginny. Ginny hugged him, and Harry shook his hand.

'What can we do you for?' Bill said, grabbing a raw steak from the fridge and taking a great big bite from it.

'Bill!' Fleur said reproachfully. 'Use ze plates!'

Bill grabbed a plate from the cupboard and slid his raw steak onto it.

'And a fork!' Fleur said as she waved her wand causing a fork to fly into Bill's steak, jabbing it and holding itself upright. 'Zere we go, esent that better?' she said, kissing him on the lips. Harry felt Ginny fidget slightly.

'How are you doing, Bill?' Ginny asked as she sat down, Harry beside her.

'I've been alright, it's been pretty quiet here, how's George?'

'A wreak,' Harry said. 'I know Ron's been trying to cheer him up and talk to him at the shop, but I don't think he's had any luck.'

'Oh, Ron's working in the shop now?'

'Yeah, I guess someone has to help George out now that-' Harry stopped and there was and uncomfortable silence throughout the room. Fleur was supervising the dishes washing themselves and Bill was eating his steak hungrily.

'Mum and Dad are pretty bad too,' Ginny said abruptly. 'Dad's been working a lot of hours, and mum's just crying all over the place.'

'Ze poor woman,' Fleur said. 'We should go see 'er Bill.'

Bill took a gigantic chomp out of his steak and swallowed. 'We'll go after dinner, Ginny and Harry can come with us.'

'We're actually going somewhere else after,' Harry said glancing at Ginny.

'Oh, well alright. Will you be there for dinner?'

'Should be,' Harry said. He could not see himself staying at Andromeda's for long.

'Well we'll stay at mum's for dinner,' Bill said.

'Zat will be lovely,' Fleur said. She waved her wand and Bill's plate flew into the sink and began scrubbing itself clean. 'We will see you there 'Arry?'

'Maybe,' Harry said, glancing at the clock mounted on the wall. 'We should go, though, Ginny. Teddy can't wait forever.'

'Ooo,' Fleur said excitedly, 'you're going to see leetel Teddy? 'Ow ez 'e?'

'Dunno, this'll be my first time seeing him, which is sad, I am godfather after all.'

Harry grabbed Ginny's hand and led her out of the kitchen. Bill and Fleur were waving goodbye as Harry and Ginny disapparated. Harry had to guide Ginny, as she had never been to Tonks' parents place. He remembered the only instance that he had. Crashing into their garden with a Hagrid he had thought dead after Voldemort's ambush.

They appeared in the lawn of an old looking house. Old, but welcoming. The garden Harry had crashed into last summer was repaired, and the flowers were flourishing. Andromeda was on the deck in a rocking chair, Teddy in her lap when she noticed them.

'Oh, hello!' she called. From here, Harry could see the similarities she bore to Bellatrix Lestrange, her sister, but as he and Ginny grew closer, the differences between them became more pronounced. 'Knew you'd be coming sometime, Harry. And you're one of the Weasley's,' she said to Ginny. 'Lovely people, I was sorry to hear about their son-'

'How are you, Mrs. Tonks?' Harry asked.

'Please, Harry, call me Andromeda. I've been alright. I must say I feel bad about the way our family treated poor Lupin, now that he and-' she sniffled slightly and Teddy fidgeted slightly in her arms.

'May I?' Ginny said, extending her arms for Teddy.

Andromeda sniffled again before saying, 'Of course dear, of course.'

Ginny took him, and smiled at him as his hair went from turquoise to bright orange mimicking Ginny. She laughed. Harry looked down at him, and couldn't help but smile. He was so innocent looking. Teddy looked odd, with his red hair and not one freckle decorating his pale face. Ginny handed Teddy to Harry and Harry, who had never held a baby before, had to listen to Ginny and Andromeda instructing him how to hold Teddy properly. Eventually they ventured inside when it began to get dark and cold, and Harry and Ginny chatted to Mrs. Tonks as Teddy rolled around on the floor, playing with his various toys.

'Mrs. Tonks,' Ginny said, looking around the empty house, 'do you want to join our family for dinner?'

Andromeda, too, looked around the living room, her eyes brushing over the empty living room. Her husband and her daughter and her son-in-law had all been killed, and the house looked unusually empty.

'Th-That might be welcome,' she said. 'Molly is wonderfully accommodating, how is she doing?'

'She's been better,' Ginny said.

Andromeda nodded wisely and said, 'Yes, we all have.'

Teddy was rolling around on the floor, crawling towards various objects in the house and examining them. Andromeda followed Harry's gaze. 'Yes, he's quite an adventurer, isn't he? Sometimes it's hard for me to keep up with him.'

Ginny smiled at Teddy as he fell on his bottom after trying to stand up using a side table as support.

'We should probably go, Ginny,' Harry said, grabbing her hand, 'Your mum will wonder where we are.'

'Mrs. Tonks are you coming with us?'

'Oh,' she said as she looked around the room in a hurry. 'Em, yes, I'll be there, but I have some things to do first, why don't you two take Teddy with you? I'm sure Molly could use a little distraction.'

Ginny nodded and scooped Teddy up carefully. The three of them left the house, waving goodbye to Andromeda, and Harry and Ginny set off down the garden path. Ginny was tickling Teddy under the chin, and his eyes were already drooping slightly. They disapparated and appeared in front of the Burrow. Harry and Ginny, who was holding Teddy, walked into the kitchen to see the Weasley family, including Percy, Bill and Fleur, and Charlie. Hermione had returned from whatever errand that had kept her from accompanying Ginny and Harry, and she was talking happily with Ron, who was beside her, looking equally happy.

At the sight of Teddy, all the woman at the table got up, and began fawning over him. Harry slipped out under a twinkly eyed Mrs. Weasley and took a spot next to Ron.

'Women,' he heard Ron mutter as he stared after Hermione who had taken Teddy from Ginny and was rocking him slightly. Andromeda joined them halfway through dinner, and Mrs. Weasley sat her down happily. They all ate cheerfully and laughed throughout Mrs. Weasley's wonderful dinner. Even George cracked a smile when Charlie waved his wand and caused the turnips to fly into the mashed potatoes, which Mrs. Weasley hastily corrected.

After dinner, most of the women played happily with Teddy as he crawled around on the living room floor, and the men watched their wives and girlfriends playing with the baby with shaking heads.

'How was George today?' Harry muttered to Ron who was beside him, eyeing Hermione.

'He was alright, he worked, I don't know what else to say, mate,' Ron muttered back, glancing covertly at George who was in a chair watching the fire.

'D'you know where Hermione was today?' Harry said.

'No, she didn't go with you to see Teddy?'

'No…'

Ron grunted and eyed Hermione carefully. Maybe he thought staring at the back of her mushy mane of brown hair would give him the answer as to her whereabouts this afternoon.

'I'll talk to her after everyone leaves,' Ron said in an undertone.

The crowd didn't thin, however. The entire Weasley family was staying until the funeral was over, and with Bill and Fleur, Percy and Penelope, (whose engagement ring glittered on her hand), and Charlie, there was not too much room in the house. Charlie was forced to sleep with Harry and Ron, Bill and Fleur had been relocated to Fred and George's room at George's insistence, while he took the couch in the living room, and Penelope slept with Hermione and Ginny, while Percy took his own room.

Harry, Ron, Percy and Charlie ascended the stairs, Harry, Ron and Percy bid goodnight to Hermione, Penelope and Ginny at the foot of Ginny's door, and Percy bid the three of them goodnight at his own bedroom. Ron opened the door and Charlie conjured a squashy sleeping bag for himself with a wave of his wand. Harry pulled the covers over himself as he thought about the day ahead. Fred's funeral. Hagrid had written and said that all the body's had been magically protected from decay and that he would bring the body over when he came next morning. The passing of Fred…

It would be hard. Even for Harry, who had seen so much death, this one, in particular, would be difficult. They all would, Harry thought, as he remembered all the others who had died at Hogwarts that night. Harry fell asleep with Fred's dead face and his blank eyes haunting his dreams.