Here we are again... I'm staying at a friends house at the moment while her family is away, so I may not get a lot of opportunities to update. I'll try my hardest though!

If you missed getting your shoutout last chapter and really want it, I've added them now :)

Shoutouts for this chapter: SilverLily1, xxxBekaForEvaxxx, NotSoPerfectWizard, ForbiddenLove7, glowyrm, MayMarieK, You Know Who, hoeoverbros, MissLisaBennett, Delia-of-the-Oysters, Jellybenz94 and psi567. You guys are awesome!

Lots of people liked the hint of Teddy we got last chapter... I think you'll like this one better!

To psi567 - I'm not quite sure if you were with me or against me in your comment, but I'll just say either way (to everyone) that any opinions Ginny expresses are purely her own. I don't mean to offend anyone's sensibilities.

Okay, onward!

22. Hate
Saturday

"Harry?" comes a sleepy voice from within a pile of blankets. "Are you still there?"

"Yeah, little mate," says Harry. "I'm still here."

"'Kay," says Teddy Lupin.

After yesterday's anxiety, Andromeda has taken Harry up on his offer to take Teddy for the afternoon. Tired from a busy day, they're holed up under the table in a fort filled with every blanket Harry owns.

"Harry?" says Teddy, emerging from his cocoon. "Why was everyone looking for me yesterday?"

"Because we didn't know where you were," says Harry. "Your Nan was worried you might have been hurt."

"But I wasn't hurt," says Teddy, mystified. "Nan was too tired to play with me, so I went to play by myself."

Harry struggles to keep his emotions in check. It is that old familiar hatred of those who forced Teddy to grow up without his parents, leaving him with a tired and grieving grandmother who, as much as she loves him, has difficulty keeping up with his needs.

"Harry? Are you still there?" asks Teddy from under the blankets again.

"Yeah, little mate," Harry manages, voice cracking. He hates that Teddy will grow up without a father who loves him. He hates that he doesn't have a young, playful mother who can chase after him all day. He hates that he always has to make sure those around him haven't had to leave, like his parents did. If the war has taught Harry anything, though, it's that hate never comes to any good.

I like to think that this is the main thing Harry took from the war: he learned not to hate. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed Teddy as much as I enjoyed writing him ;)

Please review!