AN: Edited a few here. Been thinking of shifting to first person POV for some of the following chapter. I hope you guys enjoy this one! Tell me what you think. Thanks! ~ E
"Make sure to support his neck. He's already about four months old but I still worry. That's it." Mrs. Tonks was gently laying her awake yet thankfully quiet grandson on Harry's arms. "You're quite natural with this, dear. Very good."
Harry who had never held a baby before smiled at Mrs. Tonks' small praise and looked happily at his multi-colored haired godson. He was an adorable looking baby. At the moment his eyes were the color of bright amethysts looking up curiously at Harry, raising his small pudgy arms to touch his godfather's face.
"Hey there, little guy. Er – I'm your – er – your Uncle Harry." He brought the baby closer to him so he could feel the baby's soft little hands fleetingly touch his face. Teddy's eyes if possible shined brighter. He made gurgling sounds as if laughing. Harry smiled down at him and gently rocked him back and forth that seemed to make the baby squirm and gurgle with delight even more. And to Harry's surprise, between and gentle rocking and cooing, Teddy's hair turned black like his and his eyes bright green. "Whoa!"
"Yes, he does that with the people he likes. Molly burst into tears when he turned into a red headed baby when she came to help us with the packing." Mrs. Tonks straightened the comforters of the crib. "Are you sure you two will be alright? It'll just take an hour or two to get the last of the things up here. There's baby formula in the dresser. I think you've mastered the Heating Charm and Cleaning – "
"Don't worry, Mrs. Tonks. I'm pretty sure we can manage. Right, little guy?" Teddy gave another gurgle. "My friends are stopping by to see him. We'll have company."
"Okay, okay." Andromeda gave her grandson a kiss and hugged Harry goodbye. With a little pop she Disapparated.
"Oh my goodness, Harry, he looks just like you!" Hermione exclaimed.
It was a little passed lunchtime. And after feeding Teddy with a warm bottle Harry settled his godson on his newly made padded playpen on the nursery's floor. Little Teddy Lupin was on his fours crawling (more like pushing with his belly, thought Harry) to his gray stuffed dog animal some inches near him.
"I guess you can say that. He mimicked me. Mrs. Tonks said it's his way of approving company," Harry said with a grin. His eyes were on Teddy the whole time since Mrs. Tonks left just a few minutes ago. They were still on him even as he heard the cracking sounds from the entrance hall below signaling the arrival of his friends.
"The place looks great, mate." Ron said who was leaning casually by the door examining the murals of the room that looked as if it popped out from a fairytale book and the frescoes of a sunny looking ceiling.
"Thanks to George. The paintings change as the day goes by. Reminds me of Hogwarts. There'll be shooting stars by the time this little one goes to bed." Teddy got hold of his stuffed animal and slowly crawled back to Harry handing him his most prized possession. Harry not quite sure what to do took both the stuffed animal and Teddy in his arms and started to bounce the black haired baby boy on his lap. From the looks of Teddy's babbling sounds, the little tyke loved it.
"Yeah. By the way I just noticed on our way up? Where the old bat's portrait?" Ron asked.
"Mrs. Black? I think one of George's decorator friends blasted the wall – felt like the whole house when he did. She's up in the attic with a permanent Silencing Charm," Harry replied. "Can't have that horrible women around while you're here, Teddy bear." Gurgle.
"Okay, you boys go down. Ron brought food for you from the Burrow, Harry. I'll keep an eye on Teddy." Hermione sat down on the floor next to Harry. And extended her arms to him.
"You sure, Hermione?"
"Yes, yes. How hard can it be?"
"Alright. Here, Teddy bear, this is your Aunty Hermione." Harry kissed his godson's head and gently placed him on Hermione's lap. With curious eyes Teddy looked up at Hermione.
Ron and Harry went down to the dining hall where Ginny was laying out the food. After Harry kissed her cheek (since unfortunately Ron was around) the three sat down.
"Been to the kitchen. You should start stocking your pantry, Harry." Ginny said.
"Yeah. Mrs. Tonks coming in with the reinforcements later. She made me make up a list of things I needed. Insisted I'd stay here with Teddy."
"Yeah, with your face around Diagon Alley, that'd slow down the shopping process," Ron said reaching out for some treacle tart.
"That's not for you!" Ginny said swatting her brother's hand.
Harry shrugged at his best friend who gave him a scowl for not defending him. "So how's everyone?"
"Incredibly busy. Dad and Percy are helping to get things sorted out in the Ministry, same with Bill, Fleur and Charlie in Gringotts. George is in the store as usual. Hermione and me visit him sometimes just to check or help him out if he needs anything. Some of the Order members are helping rebuild Hogwarts," said Ron.
"It's okay, Harry. There are a lot of people helping out. You don't have to be there." Ginny said lying a tender hand on his arm before Harry can say something.
"Yeah, mate. Besides you have the toughest job." Ron smirked. "Babysitting."
"It's not that bad… yet. Teddy likes me."
"Yeah, he might like you now and you might like him now but wait until the kid's going to have those toddler tantrums. I remember how we used to drive Bill and Charlie nuts!"
Suddenly there was shriek followed by a baby's harsh wailing can be heard from upstairs and before Ron and Ginny could react, Harry was out on a dash taking the stairs two at a time.
"What happened?!"
Teddy was sitting upright on his playpen crying his heart out. His cherubic faced scrunched and fat tears were streaming from his big green eyes. His front was messed up with what looked like baby vomit. Hermione on the other hand was hastily wiping her face from the same thing Teddy had on his front and was throwing loud coughing sounds.
"He threw up on me!" Hermione exclaimed more in shock and disbelief than anger.
Instinctively, Harry carried his grandson to the changing table, pulled out his wand and started some nonverbal Cleaning Charms while comforting the little guy. "You don't like Aunty Hermione, huh? It's okay, Teddy bear. It's her fault for tossing you around on a full tummy."
The baby instantly stop crying upon hearing Harry's soothing voice and started to gurgle again. Little Teddy was grabbing his toes with his chubby fingers and looking as if he was seeing this part of his body for the first time. It seemed as if the puking accident never happened.
"Is he alright?" Ginny said with a tone of laughter, peering from Harry's shoulder. Ron's hysterical mirth rang from the door.
"Yeah, his fine. Just an upset stomach." Chuckling he carried Teddy against him who was inquisitively looking at Ginny now, trying to grab some of her glossy red locks.
"Not so much now, thanks to Hermione!" sniggered Ron holding his stomach.
"Shut it, Ronald!"