Ginny hurried to the nurses station and saw Emma conferring with a nurse over a chart. "Emma, I think I've got an idea about Teddy Lupin," she said.
Emma came over to her, and Ginny quickly explained. "Teddy is a Metamorphagus, so the potion levels need to be adjusted. But not only that, he has the Lycan gene, passed on by is father. And it's a full moon tonight," she said.
Emma's eyes widened. "That will certainly change things, good pick up. Yes, we should add some Wolfsbane to the potion, and we'll need to check the levels of the potions ingredients. There'll need to be some adjustments made. I'll get one of our Potions team onto it straight away," she said urgently.
Ginny nodded and returned to Teddy's room. "Ginny, what is it?" asked Harry.
"I remembered that Teddy is a Metamorphagus, which means his cell make up is different to ours. Plus he has the Lycan gene from Remus, which is the main reason the potion isn't working. Harry, it's a full moon tonight, too," she added.
Harry groaned. "I didn't even think to tell them that, I'm so stupid. Of course those things would affect him when it came to taking potions and stuff. His grandmother was a healer, so any time Teddy was sick, she'd look after him and brew the correct potions. I didn't even think," he said, disgusted with himself.
"It's hard to remember everything, especially when you were concentrating so hard on your whereabouts the last few days," said Ginny, patting his arm. "Emma, the lead healer, is already speaking to someone in the Potions department who will make up a new potion for Teddy. The levels need to be adjusted accordingly, and they'll add some Wolfsbane for the Lycanthropy."
"Wolfsbane? But Teddy doesn't transform," protested Harry.
"But he has the gene, Harry. When your body isn't functioning right, the body's white blood cells fight the infection. The Lycan gene is very strong, and we believe that's why the potions aren't working. The Wolfsbane will subdue the Lycan cells and let the potions help the white blood cells to do their work. Hopefully," she added.
"When can he have it?" asked Harry, eagerly. He brushed his hand lovingly over Teddy's head. Ginny could see the love he had for the boy.
"I'm sure it will be ready soon," assured Ginny.
"Thank you, Ginny," said Harry. "You've been so kind and helpful."
"You're welcome, Harry. I'll go check with Emma, see if I can get an idea of when the potion will be ready," she said, patting his arm.
/*/*/*/*
An hour later and Teddy's temperature had dropped steadily. Harry had tears in his eyes when the little boy fluttered his eyes and finally opened them. " Harry?" he croaked.
" Yes, Teddy, I'm here," he said, grabbing the boy's hand.
" Where's Rupert?" he asked sleepily.
Harry chuckled in relief. "Just go back to sleep, buddy. He's home, waiting for you."
"But I want him here, with me," sighed Teddy, as he drifted back to sleep.
Ginny checked his temperature yet again. "He's doing well," she said, smiling at Harry, as she recorded the level on Teddy's chart.
"Thank Merlin," sighed Harry. "That was the one of the worse twenty four hours of my life," he said.
Ginny picked up Teddy's hand, checking his pulse. She thought about what Harry had said. With all that Harry had been through, that indeed, was a big statement. Still, she wasn't surprised. The bond between the two was obvious.
Another healer came into the room, smiling at Harry. "Hi, Emma sent me in to take over from you. Your shift ended over an hour ago. How's he doing?" she asked, standing next to Ginny and looking down at Teddy.
"He's doing so well since we adjusted the potions. Temperature and oxygen levels are close to normal, respiration levels are normal and he's woken briefly and seems cognizant. He recognised his godfather and asked for his teddy bear before going back to sleep only a few minutes ago," reported Ginny.
"Nothing to eat or drink?" asked the new healer.
Ginny shook her head. "He last drank over twenty four hours ago, a soft drink, but the potion we gave him will keep him hydrated, hopefully till he wakes up," she said.
"Output?" asked the healer. Taking Teddy's pulse again.
Ginny shook her head. "Not much, not unexpected. His little body has used any excess to fight the infection." She ran her hand gently over Teddy's head, and he moaned and leaned into it.
"How often are the nurses doing obs?" asked the healer.
"I've been with him nearly the whole shift, so I've been doing the obs every ten minutes. We gave him a sponge bath earlier, before he took the new potion. Healer Langthorne is expected any time," said Ginny.
The well known paediatric healer had decided to wait and see how the new potion worked before travelling from his home in Wales. Ginny and the other healers still didn't know if he was going to make an appearance or not.
"This is Harry, Teddy's godfather and guardian. He brought Teddy in last night, and has stayed close by this whole time. Harry, this is Sari, and she'll be looking after Teddy for the rest of the day," said Ginny.
"You're leaving?" asked Harry, in dismay. He trusted Ginny; she had been an immense help to Teddy and he felt comfortable around her.
"Well, my shift has ended, but I thought, if you wanted me to, I could sit with Teddy while you went home and packed a few things for Teddy. You know, pyjamas, toothbrush -"
"Rupert!" they said together, and laughed.
"Right," nodded Ginny. "The important stuff. And Harry, don't take this the wrong way, but you could take the time to have a shower and get changed too, if you wanted to," she suggested.
Harry supposed he had been in these clothes over twenty four hours, and a shower did sound nice, but... he looked at Teddy. What if he woke?
He hadn't realised he'd said his thoughts out loud, but Ginny touched his arm. "If he wakes, I'll tell him you've gone to get Rupert, and I'll see if he feels like some broth or jelly," she said, gently.
Harry was torn; he wanted to be there when Teddy opened his eyes. "Are you sure? Don't you want to go home, get some rest?" he asked.
Ginny smiled. "I'm happy to help, Harry. Now go, you smell."
Harry jaw dropped and Ginny laughed at the look of shock on his face. "I'm kidding, you're fine, but if you left five minutes ago, when this discussion started, you'd already be in the shower right now," she admonished.
Harry chanced another look at Teddy. "You're sure? I'll be as quick as I can, promise," he swore.
"Take your time," said Ginny, waving her hand. "I'm off duty and I have the latest issue of Quidditch Monthly to read. Honestly Harry, go, we'll be fine. Teddy will be fine," she said. She sat down in the nearby chair and after a quick glance at Teddy, picked up the magazine and started to read.
Harry looked from her to Teddy, then to Sari, who was watching everything with amusement. "He'll be fine, Harry," she told him. "Go."
"O-kay," he sighed, with yet another look at Teddy. "I'm going. I won't be long, I'll -"
"Go," chorused Ginny and Sari, then giggled.
"I'm going, I'm going," grumbled Harry, then chuckled. He reluctantly left Teddy's room then hurried to the fireplaces. He felt two stone lighter. Teddy was going to be okay!
He returned to Grimmauld Place and gathered some things for Teddy. He started to panic when he couldn't find Rupert, until he looked in Teddy's bed and found him buried under the blankets. He packed everything in a bag, then went to take a shower.
The hot water was quite therapeutic, and Harry leaned his head against the cold tiles as the water ran over him. He took a deep breath, then exhaled loudly. Being a parent was the hardest job in the world.
As he dressed in clean clothes, fatigue set in unexpectedly. He fought it, used to pushing his body beyond normal limitations. Teddy needed him, now more than ever. It was just the two of them, and he had to be strong for Teddy.
Still, it had been nice of Ginny to stay after her shift to help him, and it made him realise how much he missed Andromeda. He silently saluted all the single parents in the world, doing it tough.
He went downstairs, dying for a decent cup of coffee, but gasped aloud when he saw the time. He'd been gone nearly an hour! Anything could have happened to Teddy in that time. Still, he trusted Ginny, and he was sure Teddy was in good hands.
He paused. He trusted Ginny? He didn't know why, but he knew he did. He'd always felt he had good instincts about people, and even when they'd first met at Hogwarts, he'd felt safe with her. It was the reason he had been alright about going to visit her at her apartment.
He quickly left Grimmauld Place and Flooed to St Mungo's. He stepped out of the fireplace and quickly strode down the hall. There was no hustle and bustle around Teddy's room, so he quickly went in, unsure what he'd find.
The first thing he noticed was the smell. A delicious aroma wafted around the room, and made Harry's stomach rumble. He heard a giggle from Ginny, a sound he had come to like. When Ginny giggled, everything was good.
"Harry? You hungry?"
Harry glanced at the bed. Teddy was awake, and waiting for an answer to his question.
Harry's heart flipped. "I am, but first I need a hug." He felt Ginny take the bag from him, freeing him to move straight to Teddy's side and hug him tight. "I'm so happy to see you awake, Teddy." He felt tears prick his eyes.
"Did you bring Rupert?" asked Teddy, eagerly.
Harry chuckled and moved back. "Of course I did," he said. He turned around to find Ginny handing him the bag. It was then he noticed all the food. "What's all this?"
He opened the bag and found Rupert on top, and handed it to Teddy, who hugged the bear happily.
"This is dinner," said Ginny, waving her hand over the delicious abundance on the table.
"That's not hospital food," said Harry. "It looks too good. Smells too good, too," he added.
"You're absolutely right. This is home cooking, thanks to my mum," said Ginny, affectionately.
"Your mum?" asked Harry, sitting when she gestured for him to do so. She started loading a plate. Harry salivated at the smell of the home-made bread.
"I was going to go to the Burrow for dinner, so when I didn't show, she came looking for me. When I explained about Teddy, she left and returned with this," said Ginny, handing him a loaded plate.
"What about me, Ginny? Can I have some too?" asked Teddy, watching as Harry closed his eyes as the taste hit his tongue.
"Not tonight, Teddy. But we've got some yummy soup for you, and maybe a small piece of bread," said Ginny. She helped the boy sit up and propped Rupert next to him.
There was a knock on the door then a witch who delivered the meals entered. "A small bowl of soup?" she asked, taken aback by all the food she could see.
"Just here, thanks, Agnes," said Ginny. She wheeled the small table over to Teddy and placed the bowl in front of him. "Do you need help?" she asked him.
Teddy shook his head and deftly began to eat. He managed to eat three quarters of it before he admitted he was full. "But I wanted some ice cream or jelly," he protested, when Ginny said he'd had enough.
"Your tummy isn't ready for a lot of food yet, Teddy. Let's give it a rest now, and see how you feel in another hour or so," said Ginny gently.
She turned to Harry. "He woke about twenty minutes after you left. His obs are all good, and the first thing he asked was where you were," she told him.
"Sorry I wasn't here, buddy," said Harry.
"That's okay. Ginny said you went home to get Rupert," said Teddy. He yawned, and Ginny took the table away and adjusted his bed so he was half lying, half sitting. She suspected he would be asleep in the next half an hour.
"I did, and wouldn't you know, he was hiding from me," said Harry, playfully.
Teddy laughed sleepily. "He's a good hider," he said, hugging the bear. A strange look came over his face. "Harry," he said urgently. "I gotta go."
Ginny rose from her chair. "Would you like me to help you?"
Teddy looked horrified. "You're a girl! I need Harry, he's a boy, like me."
Harry and Ginny chuckled, and Ginny sat back down while Harry stood. "It's a good sign," she said quietly, as he passed her.
Harry helped Teddy in the adjacent toilet, and then helped him back to bed. Ginny had done a freshening charm on the bed, and Teddy sighed happily as he climbed into bed.
Ginny handed Harry another fully loaded plate. "I don't think I can eat all that," he protested.
"You're lucky my mum isn't here to hear you say that," teased Ginny. "Just eat what you can, you've been through an ordeal too," she prompted.
The three of them sat talking and laughing when Sari stuck her head in to see how Teddy was doing. She joined them in their Quidditch discussion and took a small piece of Shepherd's pie to eat in the staff room. Ginny followed her out to discuss another patient.
Teddy started to get sleepy again, and after getting Teddy settled, Harry felt completely stuffed himself. He looked on in confusion as a nurse came in with an armful of blankets and pillows, then conjured a small camp bed.
"Best we can do, sorry," she apologised.
"What's it for?" he asked.
"Oh, Ginny said you'd probably want to stay the night with your son, so this is your bed. Okay?" she asked.
Harry nodded gratefully. He'd been worried they'd tell him to go home.
"I can set it up," he told the nurse. "Thank you," he said.
She smiled and went to Teddy's side to do his obs for the umpteenth time. "He's doing well," she said, smiling and talking softly. "Call out if he needs anything. I'll be checking in regularly throughout the night."
"Thank you. You've all been so kind," said Harry.
"No-one likes to see a child ill or in pain. We're all happy that Teddy's on the mend," she said, before leaving him alone with Teddy.
He finished making the camp bed up just as Ginny returned. "Hey, everything okay?" she asked, gesturing to the bed.
Harry nodded. "Ginny, thank you so much for everything. You've been amazing through all this, really. I can't tell you what it means to me," he said softly, not wanting to wake Teddy. He moved to her side.
Ginny smiled lovingly at Teddy. "I told you, Harry, I'm happy to help. It's the least I can do for Remus and Tonks' son. Now, I'm going to head home, but I'll be back early in the morning. I dare say Teddy will just need to be monitored by the nurses tomorrow, and I'll return to my normal duties, but I'll certainly come and see Teddy from time to time," she said.
She looked back up at him, suddenly aware of how close he was to her. "Is there anything else I can do for you tonight, or anything I can bring you or Teddy tomorrow?" she asked. She licked her lips nervously.
Harry found himself watching that pink tongue run over her red lips. "Erm...what? No, nothing, erm, no, we're fine...thanks." He wanted to melt into those brown eyes.
Ginny nodded. "Well, goodnight," she said softly.
"Yeah, night," agreed Harry.
Ginny laughed softly, and left him alone with Teddy. Harry quickly settled down for the night, and was asleep before he knew it.