*Not a big preamble this time. This is all about Teddy and Draco. Enjoy!

ThexHallowsxGirl- Wonder no more-here's my version of Teddy

Guest- Glad you're happy :) And there's just something about an assertive bottom, isn't there?

WitchRavenFox- Sorry for starting to mourn already.

blueberry709- Mirabelle will make another appearance in the story. I wasn't planning to include Blaise again, but I wonder if I can fit that in . . .

Thanks lord print, The Angel Redemption, cassy1994, luvsallthingsslash, Kisa167, Serena-Fair, earthstar, rileygar25, Evi15, LalalaSpacingInPandaLand, jememj, and BloodyRose90 for your kind comments!

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Day One Hundred Twelve, Saturday

Predictably, Draco's first meeting with Teddy was uneasy and tense. The boy seemed to have the instinct of an animal, and sensing Draco's discomfort, exploited it. Teddy asked question after question, ranging in subject from his favorite color to why he had the scary tattoo on his arm. Occasionally looking lost, Draco turned to Harry for help.

"I think that's enough questions, Teddy bear," Harry smiled. "Why don't you go into the kitchen. Draco bought some pastries."

"What kind?" Teddy asked suspiciously.

"Um, cherry, prune and lemon," Draco answered, giving a half smile. He knew he would have to win over the boy's affections, or at least tolerance, if his relationship with Harry was to work.

"I hate cherry and prune," Teddy said as he got up to leave the room.

Draco slumped. "He hates me, is what he meant," he said when Teddy was out of earshot.

Harry smiled. "What he meant was that he likes lemon. But he wasn't going to give you the satisfaction of knowing you picked his favorite."

"Because he hates me."

"He's wary. Although he's young, I've explained to him what happened during the war, why his parents died. In simple terms, of course, and not in great detail. I think he was testing you with the question about the Dark Mark."

"Should I not have told him what it was?" Draco asked. He feared saying the wrong thing, as he was trying to gain the boy's trust.

"What you said was perfect. He already knew what it was," Harry said. "The fact that you didn't try to hide it from him was good. And that you said you were sorry you ever got it was even better."

Heartened by Harry's words, Draco felt optimistic that he and Teddy would be able to coexist peacefully. He would have to work hard not to put Harry in a position to have to choose between them. Draco loathed to admit it, but he was a little jealous of the boy that was able to tear Harry away from him in the first place.

"Come on." Harry held his hand out to Draco. "Let's go get some pastry. I love prune."

When they walked hand in hand into the kitchen, Teddy scowled, feeling a bit jealous himself.

"What are we going to do today Harry?"

"Well, Teddy, I thought we could all go to the park," Harry answered.

"All of us?"

Harry nodded. "Yes. Draco lives here now. And he'll be doing things with us."

"Oh," Teddy said, biting into a second pastry.

"But we can still do some things together, just you and me," Harry smiled, prompting Teddy to grin and glance at Draco. "Or just you and Draco."

Teddy and Draco had identical horrified looks on their faces.

"Just me and him?" Draco asked before he could stop himself. Teddy didn't appear to like the idea any better.

"Well, yeah. You're family. You really should get to know each other better."

"I thought you were my family, Harry," Teddy cocked his head.

"I am. I'm your Godfather. I've explained that to you. But your grandmama is Draco's aunt. His real aunt. His mum is Grandmama's sister. That makes you his second cousin, or something like that."

"Grandmama is your aunt? Then why haven't you ever come to see her?" Teddy questioned.

"It's complicated," Draco simply said. He was unused to speaking with seven year old children.

Harry sat down next to Teddy. "A family fight started a long time ago. But Draco didn't start it and there wasn't anything he could do to fix it. Maybe you can remedy that though."

"How?" Teddy asked, eyes wide.

"By being friends with Draco," Harry replied. "Then your grandmama will want to be friends with him. And then, maybe Draco's mum. And before you know it, there won't be anymore family fight."

Teddy nodded thoughtfully.

Draco watched Harry with the boy. He wondered how he learned to be such a good father figure, having lost his own father so young. Not only had Harry managed to convince Teddy to give Draco a chance, he gave Draco an opportunity to mend the rift between his mother and her remaining sister. Was there no end to Harry's heroism? Draco resolved to make a connection with Teddy no matter what it took. But he had no idea what that would be. He had a feeling it would take more than lemon pastries.

"Why don't you go get a ball to bring to the park and we'll all have a catch," Harry said to Teddy, who bounded up the stairs to go to his room.

Harry turned to Draco to find him staring adoringly at him. "How do you do it?" Draco asked.

Cocking his head, Harry questioned Draco's meaning.

"You make everyone fall in love with you. That boy adores you. I dare say he would do anything for you."

"Even be nice to you," Harry smirked.

"Well, at least we have one thing in common, then. I'll do anything for you as well." Draco leaned in to kiss Harry, only to have Teddy loudly interrupt.

"Got it! Let's go Harry."

Harry gave Draco a sympathetic look and a small shrug. Draco sighed and followed Harry and the boy to the local public park.

Sitting on a bench, the blond observed the other two while they threw a ball back and forth to one another. Teddy laughed as Harry made silly noises to accompany his tosses. Sometimes, he threw the ball through his legs or faked throwing it to trick the boy.

"Drake, think fast," Harry said as he tossed the ball his way.

Draco looked up just in time to watch the ball hit the back of the bench just next to his head, which he had quickly ducked.

"Ha! You were supposed to catch it," Teddy giggled. "Don't you know how to play ball?"

"I wasn't ready," Draco protested.

"Come on. Join us," Harry called to him.

Sighing, Draco picked up the ball and walked a few steps toward them. Harry smiled and held his hands up prompting Draco to lob the ball. It fell several feet short.

"You throw like a girl," Teddy said, earning him a glare.

"Be nice Teddy bear," Harry admonished. "Draco didn't play with such things when he was a child. I'm sure Draco's father never had a catch with him."

Teddy eyed Draco, who shook his head slightly as confirmation.

Harry initiated another round of catch, including Draco this time, in an attempt build a rapport between two of the most important people in his life. Instead, Teddy purposely flung the ball out of Draco's reach and made snide remarks about his lack of athleticism.

When Draco had finally had enough, he threw the ball far over Teddy's head and stormed back to the house by himself.

"That wasn't very nice," Harry said.

"I just want to play with you," Teddy grumbled. "Why can't it be only us?"

"I told you, Draco lives with me now. You'd better get used to it, shortstuff." Harry ruffled the boy's hair. "He's actually very nice, once you get to know him."

They walked to the bench previously occupied by Draco and sat down.

"Harry? Why does he live with you? Doesn't he have his own house?"

Harry knew he'd have to explain his relationship with Draco to Teddy sooner or later. He wasn't looking forward to it.

"He did. But we wanted to live together. Like Aunt Mione and Uncle Ron."

Teddy laughed. "That's not the same. They're married."

"Actually, Teddy, it is the same. Well, not exactly the same," Harry admitted. "Draco and I aren't married," he chuckled.

"That's silly. You can't marry a boy."

"You're right. I can't marry him. At least not here in the muggle world." Harry turned his body to face Teddy, making sure he had the boy's attention. "But I do love him."

Teddy looked up at Harry, squinting against the sun. He expected Harry to be laughing at his joke, but the expression on Harry's face told him that he was very serious.

"And he loves me."

"But . . . he's a boy."

"Yes, I know," Harry snickered. "It's different than what most people are used to. Some people don't like it, and they'll say nasty things about us."

"Then why don't you find a girl?" Teddy asked innocently.

Harry smiled. "I tried that. Didn't work out so well. Teddy, we can't help who we like. It just so happens that I like men better than women. Can you understand that?"

Teddy furrowed his brow and nodded. "I've seen the man at the bakery kissing a man behind the curtain that separates the back of the shop. I guess he likes men more than women, too."

"Yeah, Mr. Ashton is like me, and Draco. And other wizards. We're not the only ones," Harry said. "There are some girls that only like other girls."

Teddy's eyes went wide. "Really? Well, that's not so bad. Girls are pretty. I can see why a girl would like another girl."

Harry laughed. Teddy's reasoning definitely seemed one of a boy that leaned toward heterosexuality. It relieved Harry to think that his Godson wouldn't end up the subject of ridicule and intolerance. Lost in his own thoughts, Harry almost didn't hear Teddy's own confession.

"Hattie is pretty."

"Hattie Dunston? Down the street from us?"

Teddy nodded. "Yeah," he sighed.

"You like Hattie?" Harry nudged him.

"No," Teddy said indignantly. He gave Harry a sideways glance. "Well, maybe a little."

"She's three years older than you."

"Two and a half," Teddy corrected.

"Oh. Well, that does make a difference," Harry chuckled.

"Don't make fun," Teddy chastised.

"I'm sorry, Teddy bear. I suppose I thought you were a little young for love."

"Love?" Teddy stuck out his tongue. "I don't want to kiss her or anything. I only like the way she can play sport with the boys. She's wicked at football."

"I've seen her," Harry said. "She's a muggle you know."

"I know. But I can't help it," Teddy told him. He gasped. "Is that what you meant?"

"Yes. I didn't choose to like boys. I just can't help it. The way you can't help liking Hattie Dunston."

"And you can't help loving Draco?"

"I love him because he's a wonderful person. You'll see when you get to know him."

"What if I don't like him, and I can't help it?" Teddy asked.

Harry sighed. "Then I'll be sad. But I'm not giving either of you up, so the two of you will just have to learn to get along. Come on. Let's go back and see how he's doing."

They walked back to the house and found Draco in the kitchen plating some cold crab and shrimp with malt vinegar and cocktail sauce. He smiled when the pair walked in.

"What's this?" Harry asked.

"I went to one of my favorite stalls and brought back some lunch for us," Draco answered. "I'm sorry I acted like such a prat earlier."

Harry nudged Teddy and raised his eyebrows at him.

"Oh. Um, I'm sorry I poked fun at you," Teddy offered, somewhat insincerely.

"No harm done. Have a seat. This is the freshest seafood you'll ever eat," Draco said proudly.

"I'm allergic to shellfish," Teddy told him.

"Of course you are," Draco muttered under his breath. "I could make up some bangers quickly," he offered, trying to smile.

"Harry, I was hoping we would get some Chinese takeaway." Teddy looked up at Harry as sweetly as possible. Andromeda rarely ordered takeaway, so when he was at Harry's, he usually requested pizza or Chinese food. "Please? Grandmama never orders."

"All right," Harry gave in.

"But-" Draco snorted.

"Draco and I will eat the seafood and you can order whatever you'd like." Harry glanced at Draco, who was on the verge of losing his temper again. "For now, why don't you go watch the telly."

As soon as Teddy left the kitchen, Draco began his tirade.

"I can't believe you just gave in to him. You know he was playing you. He probably isn't even really allergic to shellfish."

"Actually he is. But there was no way for you to know that. This was a lovely gesture." Harry sat down in front of a plate and scooped a small amount of cocktail sauce onto his plate.

Slowly, Draco sat down across from him and began eating. It really was the freshest seafood, and he didn't want it to go to waste.

"You can't let Teddy get to you," Harry broke the silence. "He's been with me for several years now. Since he was out of diapers. For the past year, when he comes here, it's been just the two of us. He's not used to sharing me."

"What about when you were with the she-weas- um, I mean Ginny Weasley? Did he torment her the same way?"

"Honestly? No. But, perhaps that was because he sensed that she wasn't really a threat. Maybe he realized she could never take me away from him."

"And he thinks I will?"

"I've told him that I won't give up either of you. And I'll tell you also, I need the two of you to get along. I need both of you. I don't expect you and Teddy to suddenly become best chums. But you're the adult. He's seven. You're going to have to take the high road."

Draco nodded in agreement. Unfortunately, growing up as an only child himself, he wasn't accustomed to sharing or not getting his way. The way Teddy pushed his buttons seemed to turn him into a temper-tantrum throwing child. Even more so than Harry when they were at Hogwarts.

"I'll try my best, Harry."

〪o 〫O〬 o〭

Later that night, as Draco and Harry lay in bed, a storm began to roll in. The gentle sound of rain on the roof lulled them into a relaxed state, and washed away the stress of the day.

Rolling onto his side, Draco began to draw light circles on Harry's chest with his finger tip. Harry grinned and climbed on top of his lover. He kissed his neck while he ground his hips.

"I've been waiting for this all day," Harry whispered. "I want to-"

A knock at the door interrupted him. "Harry?" a small voice called.

"Fuck," Draco muttered.

Harry pulled away and looked at Draco for a moment.

Sighing, Draco pushed Harry back gently. "You should answer it."

Reluctantly, Harry got up and opened the door to find Teddy standing there with a blanket and stuffed dragon.

"I'm scared."

"It's only a storm. Go ahead back to your room," Harry said gently.

"I want to stay with you," Teddy pleaded. Occasionally, Harry would let Teddy share his bed during a storm. He would never have told Teddy, but he didn't mind the company himself. Not that he was afraid of thunder and lightning, but he never slept well as the lights and sounds reminded him of the war.

"Teddy, there's no room."

Just then, a particularly loud crack of thunder shook the house. Teddy leapt forward, clutching Harry's legs tightly.

"Please Harry?" he begged.

Harry turned toward Draco, who was already out of bed, putting on a robe.

"It's all right," he said. "I'll sleep in the guest room." He didn't wait for Harry to respond. He left the room trying his best not to appear upset about the turn of events.

Taking the high road, he thought to himself. I'm taking the high road.

It was a mantra that he repeated to himself frequently whenever Teddy stayed with them.

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In case anyone thinks Teddy is too young to be girl watching, I remember having my first crush in first grade. A cute boy named Gregory with black hair and brown eyes :) I think I was even younger the first time a boy showed me his junk. LOL It was a group thing, though, and I had to reciprocate. God, no wonder I write this stuff!