Trouble is a Friend: Chapter Two

Disclaimer: I do not own the Head of the Auror Department, nor do I own anything related to him.

Also, there's a new character in this chapter, not an OC — oh, well, you'll see.

"Alright, I think that's enough," A red-haired woman scolded as she attempted to conceal the flaring temper that was slowly swallowing her insides; the children would never behave. At times, she envied her husband; if he so much as muttered they would be as silent as bats.

The fiery-headed woman was not the only one irritated by the immutable roguishness of the children. In fact, the other person was currently standing in the center of the living room, looking for all the world, like a person who genuinely did not want to be there. His name was Teddy.

The causes for their irritation were currently circling around the living room with Teddy in the center, singing and laughing a tune that gradually grew louder with every skip they took.

"Teddy's got a girlfriend! Teddy's got a girlfriend!" The children sang, forming a choreography around Teddy, moving from one sibling to the other by the elbow. James would hook his elbow into Lily's, dancing around in a circle, before switching to Albus's and repeating the action while Lily skipped around them.

"Big deal!" Teddy bellowed, annoyed now; the Metamorphmagus glared at his "god-siblings" as they continued to exacerbate him. His hair turned a burning shade of red with every syllable. They, in turn, sang even louder, and it was just their luck that they did not have any neighbors.

"Ginny," Teddy whined as he caught the woman's eyes with a melancholy look, silently beseeching her to stop this madness.

"I'm sorry, Teddy, but they aren't listening to me," Ginny said contritely. In all honesty, she was not giving it her best effort. She had to admit, it was amusing to watch the colorful features of her godson.

But the teen sighed exasperatedly. He supposed that he would just have to endure the children's teasing. He watched as Ginny gave him one final glance of sympathy and stalked back to the kitchen. Teddy simply pouted and stomped towards the sofa in front of the fireplace, threw himself onto it, and placed his palms over his ears in an attempt to placate himself. Mission failed.

Suddenly, the singing stopped as the children stared around for their victim of torment. They found him sitting on the couch. They — much to Teddy's irritation — moved over next to him, and began their acts of torment — again!

The two brothers sat on either side of him while Lily sat in front of him, knelt down onto the floor, her elbows resting on each of his knees.

"So, tell us all about her," James pleaded. He leaned his head close to Teddy, lowered his voice to a whisper, and glanced around for possible "spies" that might be eavesdropping.

"Yeah," Albus exclaimed, immediately agreeing with his brother. Though, this was absurdly strange. Albus rarely agreed with anything his older brother said, "Is she pretty?"

"She better be." James threatened, causing Teddy to gape and stutter.

"Excuse me?"

"Well, we don't want our — erm," James attempted to look for the right title, "God-sister-in-law," he said, looking dazed, "to look like a troll." he finished, flashing a winning smile at his godbrother.

"She is not," Teddy retorted, looking outraged, his eyes glaring at the three, "ugly. And she does not look like a troll either."

"You're only saying that 'cause she's your girlfriend," Albus said, looking somewhat irritated, "Show her to us." He commanded, his green eyes gleaming and lips pouting, as if betrayed that Teddy had not informed them of such a massive twist in his life.

"Yeah!" James agreed and looked at Lily for some back-up. No matter what happened, Lily would always be his partner-in-crime. She was certainly easy to persuade, not like Albus at all. He was disappointed at the lack of response he was getting from his younger sister. In fact, she had a dreamy look on her face as she stared at Teddy.

"Erm, Lily?" Teddy said, also noting Lily's unwavering stare. He fidgeted on his place on the sofa, feeling uncomfortable now. The boys were all staring at her, and suddenly, she breathed softly, "Are you going to marry her?"

The boys expressed looks of tremendous disgust at that comment and shouted at once, "Yuck!"

"What?" Lily sat up suddenly, glaring at the boys, "That's what everyone does when they're in love!"

"You've been reading too much rubbish, young lady," Teddy reproved, blushing intensely, "I'm fifteen, and I haven't even known her for long."

"You're dating someone you don't know?" James asked, gaping at Teddy, his mind not registering his godbrother's stupidity. How can anyone date someone they don't know?

"No!" Teddy exclaimed, gradually growing frustrated, "I — I mean — I do know her, but I want to get to know her more — and — oh, I don't even know why I'm telling you this, you wouldn't understand," he muttered, sinking back against the sofa, "You're too young."

James looked offended. "Hey, I'm smart, of course I understand! I'm nine!"

"You're old, then?" Lily interjected, staring at James challengingly now.

"Old enough to be a Grand-Dad?" Teddy also teased, brightening up considerably as he back-fired at James.

James glared as Albus snickered. "Wow, you must be older than Dad and Mummy."

James pouted, looking frustrated at the sudden turn of the subject. With a huff, he retorted, "At least I'll be old enough to tell you lot what to do. Ha!" He stuck his tongue out at them, crossed his arms, and leaned back against the sofa with a smug smile.

Teddy, in turn, rolled his eyes amusedly as Albus interrupted, "What's her name, anyway, Teddy?" He finished, looking at Teddy curiously.

"Why should I tell you?" He said, staring down at the boy's bright green eyes that he had inherited from his father, "You're just going to keep teasing me."

"Ah, we hurt his feelings," James said in a mock-contrite tone, recovering quickly. He batted his eyelashes at Teddy which caused Lily and Albus to elicit small sniggers.

"Poor Teddy," Albus said in a semi-sympathetic tone. Teddy glared at the two brothers, silently vowing to be around when they had their girlfriends.

"Does she have red hair," Lily said, startling the boys. She was smiling serenely, looking shockingly like Luna with her elbows on Teddy's knees and her hands cupping her freckled face, "like me?"

"If she looks anything like you," James said, examining his chewed finger-nails, "Then I'll deny ever having anything to do with you, Teddy."

"Excuse me?" Lily cried, sitting up straight as her glare grew fiercer, "What's wrong with looking like me?"

"We see you everyday, Lily," Albus said, rolling his eyes; Teddy attempted to stifle his laughter, covering his face with his shirt, "We're sick of seeing your face —"

"Every —" James said, shrinking into the sofa, "Day." He shuddered.

Lily, now looking like a tiger, grabbed a book that was sitting innocently beside her and hurled it towards her oldest brother. James yelped, "Are you mad?"

"Well, you see me everyday, I'm sure you'd know."

James gave her a disgusted look and glanced away, grumbling. He didn't know that he was glancing away from her now-innocent countenance to see Albus's smug features. James looked outraged. How come she didn't hit Albus as well? James hurled the same book at Albus, causing the latter to elicit a yelp. There, now they were even.

"Hey!" Ginny yelled from her place in the kitchen, "Are you lot behaving?"

"Yes, Mummy!" They echoed at once.

Teddy, attempting to halt the conflict between the siblings, said, "No, she's not a red-head — sorry, Lils." Lily looked downcast at this. But Teddy nudged her playfully with his knee, and she smiled back half-heartedly.

"So, can we please drop this?" Teddy asked, hoping they said yes. But with these children, well, he already knew the answer to that.

"No way!" They shouted at once, and Teddy winced.

"Tell us more!" Albus demanded.

Teddy was just about to scold them for prying until they heard the front door creak open. He had never been happier at the announcement of Harry's arrival. He certainly had brilliant timing. He just hoped — prayed — that the distraction of the children's father would make them forget this whole mess.

"Daddy! Dad!" The three children sprinted towards the front door to greet their father. Teddy stayed, however; the days that he used to greet Harry at the door were long gone. It didn't mean he had not missed them, it just meant that he had grown up.

Teddy heard a deep voice asking the children about their day, but he froze at their absurd response.

"Daddy! Did you know—"

"That Teddy — our Teddy —"

"Has a girlfriend!"

Teddy gaped then scowled as he heard the father let out an amused chuckle. From Teddy's place, he saw a raven-haired man emerge from the hall-way with his three mischievous children tailgating him and bombarding him with "exciting" news. Harry came into view. He had the immutable exhausted look on his face, yet his eyes shone with happiness at returning home to a family.

But there was something peculiar about him today. He had a strap of a bag hooked onto his left shoulder, and Teddy wondered what it was. The best thing about living with Harry was that he made life interesting, bringing something new with him everyday. Harry, catching Teddy's curious gaze, smiled similarly like his children when they hid a joke between themselves.

"Hey, Ted," Harry greeted warmly, stepping towards him to ruffle his hair.

"Harry!" Teddy exclaimed, flattening his hair. "You only did that 'cause you're jealous that I use a comb."

Harry laughed in return, and Teddy nervously glanced up at him, "So, you heard the news . . ."

"How could I not?" Harry said, gesturing to the smirking children. They were downright evil, "Come to think of it, my ear-drums are kind of sore." he said, causing Albus and James to snicker. But Harry simply mock-glared at them.

"Isn't it cute?" Lily asked dreamily, clutching her father's work robes as she leaned onto his leg. Teddy scowled.

"I'm not a fairy-tale, Lily."

"Yeah," said James, ever-the-pompous one, "He's not a fairy, his girlfriend is." His eyes were gleaming mischievously.

Teddy glared at him while Harry cleared his throat, causing James immediately to hush up. Teddy smirked while Albus interrupted.

"Dad?" Albus said, looking up to identical green eyes.

"Hmm?"

"Why're you carrying a bag? Is there something in it?"

"Oo, is it presents?" James asked, jumping up and down excitingly.

Harry paused.

"Maybe."

Lily squealed happily, and the three siblings started skipping around their amused father. He observed them through his round glasses with his hands in his pockets — looking so casual that one might find it suspicious — before he decided to crush their excitement, "I'm not telling, though."

Teddy watched as they froze and gaped at their father, yet he was also curious. Harry was watching them all closely for reactions. He was clearly enjoying himself.

"Not until your mother gets here," Harry declared, looking around for his wife.

"Kitchen!" The four said at once, eager to discover what was in the bag. They followed Harry towards the kitchen.

Entering the kitchen, they found Ginny leaning against the counter, wand up, and reading a dreadfully long parchment that even Hermione would envy her. She glanced up at the usual sight of her family and smiled warmly as Harry walked over to her to peck her cheek. She, too, glanced curiously at the bag still hooked up on her husband's shoulder.

"You're not upset, are you?" Harry asked suddenly, scanning her face for a hint of frustration as he leaned against one of the counters.

"I might be," she said, smiling roguishly, "Why?"

"Not the usual greet, that's all."

"There're more important things in life besides greeting you, you know." She smiled mischievously as he failed to look outraged.

"I'm offended."

"Can we see what's in the bag, already?" James interrupted, rolling his eyes exaggeratedly. He had his arms crossed in anticipation.

Ginny glanced at Harry who had a relaxed expression on his face, as if he had already predicted their reactions beforehand, "Why did you bring a bag, anyway?" She asked curiously, waving her wand to shut off the stove and roll up her parchment.

Harry glanced up at her, his eyes shining brighter as he struggled to stifle his — laughter? The others glanced at each other as he moved towards the dining table, drawing the family over like a magnet.

"An assignment," he said simply; he set his bag down abruptly onto the table with a thud, and the others had never looked more curious. They all leaned around him, while Ginny and Lily leaned onto his arm with the former whispering threateningly into his ear, "This better not be anything dangerous."

"It's not," Harry reassured calmly, turning around to stare at them. They were shocked to see a serious expression on his face, "Alright, listen closely." The children, including Teddy, nodded.

"I've got an assignment I've got to do for work and no one," he glanced pointedly at James, "is to touch," now looking at Albus, "or open," Lily, "the bag," settling his gaze upon Teddy, who looked outraged at the pointed look, yet Harry didn't break it.

They all gaped. They had not been expecting that. They had been waiting to see what was in the bag.

"If that's the case," Ginny said irritatingly; she didn't appreciate that much either. She stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at Harry, "then chuck it in your office."

"I can't." was the only response she got.

"Why not?"

"It's an assignment."

Ginny huffed. Harry flashed her a grin before turning towards the children. The children were glancing at each other daringly; the challenge had already started. Things were going to turn ugly — fast.

"What happens if we touch it?" This came from James, attempting to look composed and less suspicious.

"I'm not sure."

"WHAT?" They all exclaimed.

"But — then — how — how are you going to leave it here? What if it isn't safe?" Teddy asked; he couldn't believe that Harry, the overprotective father, could ever leave his family in a potentially harmful situation.

"It's safe."

The most frightening display, however, was Ginny, who had turned a deep shade of scarlet at her husband's simple responses. They just didn't make any sense!

"I'm not risking it," Ginny declared, folding her arms, and pinning Harry to the spot with her hazelnut eyes. He, in turn, did not meet her eyes, "It's not staying here."

"Alright."

Ginny was stunned by the casual response. She had thought that Harry was going to start arguing with her. The children were unable to stifle their laughter, eliciting an echo of giggles at their father's — or, in Teddy's case, godfather's — worded responses.

Ginny moved towards the bag and eyed it wryly. She reached a hand towards it, but her hand was frozen. So much for trying to look intimidating. Harry was currently chewing on a thumbnail, his eyes were watering as he attempted to stifle his own laughter.

"What's the matter, Ginny?" Harry asked, proving to irritate her.

"How would I know if it's cursed or not?"

No response.

Ginny glowered at Harry murderously. But he simply smirked and stared at the ceiling with feigned interest, his face screaming, "I know something you don't."

Ginny lowered her hand, slamming it on the table whilst breathing heavily. She turned away and walked over to the counter, grabbed her wand, and yelled: "Wingardium Leviosa!"

She was hoping to levitate the bag so she could wipe that smirk off Harry's face. It didn't work. The bag stayed sitting innocently, and Harry looked hysterical now. He had bent down towards his knees, shaking tremendously. The children looked amazed at the powerful bag; it was certainly a challenge for them.

Ginny, utterly furious now, had grabbed a wooden spoon and was attempting to hit Harry over the head with it. But he had grabbed her wrists and tried to push her away. The children were also laughing as they watched the scene.

"Tell — me — if — it's — cursed!" Ginny emphasized, attempting to hurl the wooden spoon at Harry with each syllable, but he had a strong grip on her wrist.

"You tell me," Harry said suddenly, startling Ginny into a state of confusion. She froze, setting her hand down, "How would you know it was cursed?" He gave her a strange look.

Ginny frowned.

"Trust you with it?"

Harry grinned. "You'd be a great Auror, you know."

"Brilliant. When can I sign up?"

Harry snorted, yet refused to say another word. He further frustrated them by stretching and yawning as if their irritation had exhausted his ability to speak. Then abruptly and suddenly, he declared, "I'm tired; I think I'm going to bed."

They were all taken aback by this response. Harry never slept at ten at night. In fact, he hardly slept at all. He would occupy himself with anything, preferring to spend time with the family, finish his work, or lounge in his office, but this came as a surprise. He was clearly up to something, and they would only confirm their suspicions if they did something about that bag.

All five of the occupants of the room watched Harry stride up the stairs and completely out of sight before they diverted their attention back to themselves, or in Ginny's case, the bag.

James, however, was eyeing his mother, wondering whether or not she would approve if he merely stole a peek, just a small peek, into the bag. Ginny was not meeting his eyes, though. She had her eyes fixed upon the bag.

"Mummy?" James asked; his eyes were gleaming with admiration as he stared at his mother.

"I will do this only once," Ginny said, now surprisingly austere, staring at the four with the same gleam in her eyes as her oldest son, "But how about we take a peek into that bag?"

The children gaped while Teddy gasped, "Ginny!"

"But, Mummy?" Albus pleaded, looking half-awed and half-hesitant as he stared up at his mother, "Dad said that no one is to touch it."

"He didn't tell me, though, did he?" And despite himself, Albus let out the tiniest smile. She ruffled his hair in response; they were all shocked at Ginny's behavior. They had never knew she had it in her; after all, she had always been the one chiding.

"Wow, Ginny," Teddy breathed, grinning mischievously. The occupants of the room all shared the identical gleam in their eyes, "And here I was, wondering where they inherited that trait from."

Ginny smiled roguishly in response. "Oh, I had six brothers, not to mention the twins. It's hard to stay boring for long."

"It's hard to stay boring at all," James said, moving closer to his mother. It did not take an Albus Dumbledore to discover that James was a mother's boy through and through.

"So," Lily said curiously, "Can we see if there's any presents?" Her mother nodded, lifting Lily up to carry her. The others hurried beside her, staring at the bag.

"But Harry didn't say whether it was cursed or not," Teddy said, now growing worried as they began to dive into action.

"He said it was safe," James suggested, unable to stand still. He eagerly awaited the discovery of the contents of the bag.

Ginny frowned, agreeing with Teddy. She grabbed the wooden spoon that she had used to hurl at Harry, and gently poked the bag with it. Nothing happened.

"I s'pose it is safe, then," Ginny said happily, shifting Lily to her hip as she discreetly reached her hand towards the bag. No one breathed as her hand continued to make its journey toward the bag. At last, she reached it and placed the tip of her finger onto it. Nothing happened.

They all grinned victoriously. They can finally open the bag now. Ginny immediately beckoned them towards her as she placed Lily back on the floor. She practically ripped open the bag, then stopped suddenly, staring stunningly at the sight of the contents.

"What?" They all shouted in suspense. Ginny glared at their loud voices. For some reason, she looked bewildered as she took out a large brown square — box? — out of the bag and set it down on the table. The children frowned.

"It's a box," Albus stated, furrowing his eyebrows.

"No, it's your clever brain," James said sarcastically. Albus glared at him.

"Is it a present, then?" Lily asked, stepping closer to it, examining it closely.

"Sure looks like a dull one," Teddy interjected. He had one brown eyebrow raised as he stared at the box.

Ginny was currently rubbing a spot on her face and muttering under her breath. The children thought that Harry was unfortunate to reside in the same house as the now furious woman, much less still be here. He was done for tonight.

"If it's just a box," Ginny said through gritted teeth, seething, "Then why the hell," the children let out gasps which she ignored, "couldn't I levitate it? And he couldn't even tell me, either." Through her frustration, she ripped the zipper that she had been trying to close.

No one muttered a word as they let her stew in her frustration. Finally, she decided to open the box, stubbornly refusing to ask Harry's permission to open it. She accepted it as pay-back for her confusion. Again, no one stopped her. Instead, they encouraged her.

It wouldn't open.

The children glanced at each other confusedly. Ginny, trembling with anger, grabbed her wand again and bellowed, "Diffindo," at the box. It landed on the floor abruptly as it burst open, startled at her anger towards it. The children, however, scurried over to grab a small string of parchment floating out of the box. It landed in Teddy's hand.

"What does it say?" Albus asked. He and his siblings were jumping up and down, curious at the contents of the box. Ginny, anger forgotten, hurried over to side by Teddy and peeked over his shoulder. They were both frowning bemusedly at the small scrawl of words on the paper.

"It says —" Ginny said softly; the children also frowned at the next statement, "'Curiosity killed the cat.'"

They were interrupted by a roar of laughter near the door. Harry had appeared out of nowhere. He was leaning against the frame of the door, holding a lengthy parchment and a single quill. He had clearly witnessed the entire scene under his Invisibility Cloak. Catching his wife's scowling face, he said, "I did say I had an assignment," His eyes were gleaming with laughter.

"On us?" James asked.

"Well, on you lot," Harry said, nodding his head towards the children before meeting eyes with Ginny, "But I didn't expect a report about you, Ginny."

Ginny huffed, ignoring his last statement, "So, you used us as bait to test our curiosity?"

"Well, when you put it that way —"

Ginny growled loudly, pinning him to the spot with her murderous gaze.

The children couldn't hold in their laughter anymore; they let it fill the tension of the room as Harry announced that they could find him in his office, writing his report about the day of discovery, and left. Ginny, however, narrowed her eyes, and turned back towards the children; they, in turn, widened their eyes at her next statement.

"How 'bout a little revenge?"

Naturally — with gleaming eyes — they all agreed immediately.

A/N: Edited December 13, 2017.