Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. No money is made from this.

Chapter 5 -The morning after

The next morning everything was back to normal in the Potter household, or at least so it seemed. Harry had a coffee and the paper, while watching over his eating children. In the corner of his eye however he watched the door for his godson. He hadn't come down to apologise the night before and Harry hoped a good night's sleep had changed the boy's attitude at least temporarily.

Just moments later his godson came indeed downstairs. As they looked each other in the eyes mumbling a "Morning" Teddy moved towards an unoccupied chair.

"Is there something you'd like to say Teddy?" Harry questioned raising an eyebrow. When he only got a shrug for an answer he continued.

"Well you head back upstairs then. I'll bring you some breakfast in a moment."

Teddy gasped, he had hoped Harry would have forgotten about the night before thinking he had made empty threats grounding him to his room. The look on his face though didn't leave room for any arguments, so Teddy trotted back upstairs.

On the way up, he could hear Lily asking:"Daddy, why is Teddy not eating with us? I'm never allowed to eat in my room." He couldn't help but smile at Lily's innocence. One time she had gone so far as to ask James, who had been on one of his many time-outs in the corner, if she could join his hide and seek game. Jamie had not been impressed and told her to "Sod off", which made Lily cry and gave James an early bed time from his dad, who was not amused about his little princess crying.

Fifteen minutes later Harry had finished his own breakfast and took a plate upstairs. He definitely wasn't happy about it, but if Teddy decided to do this the hard way than he would. He entered the room and placed the food without a word. Back in the door he addressed Teddy:

"I'll see you tonight. You will be good for Ginny."

It wasn't a question or reminder, it was a straight order. Leaving his godson behind, he headed to work.

...

Starring at his books on the desk Teddy grunted. He had read the same paragraph four times now, it just wasn't any good. His thoughts always came back to the night before and Harry's expression this morning. Although he hated to admit it and it would hurt his pride, he had to apologise. Well he could start with Ginny and hope she would go easy on him. Then again she had been furious just as bad as his godfather.

Looking out of his window he spotted her hanging up the washing. Thinking that he might just as well get it over with, he headed downstairs and met Ginny in the utility room, where she had just come in with an empty basket.

"Teddy!" she said surprised while placing the basket on top of the dryer.

"Ginny I want to apologise. I'm sorry I said those things yesterday. I didn't mean any of it and I shouldn't have shouted. I just couldn't help it, but I'm really sorry and it won't happen again. I promise." Teddy had spoken fast and in a pleading tone and was now catching up with his breath, carefully watching Ginny who still stood in the same spot her hands on her hips. Then she gave a small smile.

"Don't promise something you can't keep. You have your mother's temper and while you really must learn to control it, I've lived in a Potter-Weasley household too long to believe it will happen overnight."

A little taken back by her reply, Teddy said sheepishly: "I'll try then. I am sorry though Ginny."

"And I accept that apology and it's alright, but I do believe you need to talk to Harry too."

Teddy nodded: " I will first thing tonight. Ginny ...ehm would it be okay if ... do you think I could ... uhm have lunch with you or do I need to stay upstairs?"

Laughing the young women gave him a hug slapping him gently on the back of his head and sent him back upstairs stating that lunch would be in an hour in the kitchen. No exception.

That evening Harry sat over the mail in his study just before dinnertime, when he heard a knock on the door. Ginny had told him about the apology in the morning and he was glad Teddy had brought up the courage.

He had done a lot of thinking after last night's events and even looked up the date. It just confirmed his theory. Last night had been a full moon and his godson was always more agitated around that time. This brought his mind to Remus and Tonks and how he wanted to be the father for Teddy that Remus would have been. Then guilt overruled all the other emotions. Teddy would never have Remus as a father, he would never know what a great father he would have been and all because his parents had died in a war, that in so many ways centred around himself.

Hearing a second knock he woke up from his thoughts and reminded himself of the boy in front of his study. He had to make himself push away the guilt, because he knew he had been too lenient on Teddy too often, letting his feelings overrule his judgement. Taking a deep breath he said in a steady tone: "Come in."

...

Teddy was standing at the door to his godfather's study, knowing that he was in there. He had just knocked and now impatiently waited for an answer fidgeting with his hands. But there was only silence.

Should he just go in? – No it was better to wait, although he wondered what took so long. Teddy started to panic, maybe Harry didn't want to see him. He had after all said some pretty nasty things to his godfather. What if Harry was still too angry to talk to him?

But it couldn't be, Harry had brought him sandwiches and talked to him. He had wanted an apology. Maybe he just hadn't heard. Raising his arm he knocked a second time, which was followed by a short "Come in."

As Teddy entered the room he saw his godfather behind the desk looking up from his mail. Moving closer to the desk he noticed two chairs in the corner, but Harry hadn't offered him a seat.

Nervously looking down at his shoes he started: "I came to ... well I'd like to..."

He could feel Harry's gaze on him and suddenly looked up meeting his eyes.

"I want to apologise. I'm sorry about everything I said and I didn't mean it. I understand if you're angry or mad. I shouldn't have shouted, I shouldn't have said those things and I'm really sorry."

When he had finished he couldn't hold his godfathers stare anymore and moved his eyes back to the floor.

"Look at me please Ted." His eyes shot up and Harry continued. "Are you still angry about the decision we made?"

"Well, not angry really. I still would want to go, but I understand that I can't. I'm not happy about it though."

Teddy shrugged. He was sorry about his outburst, the reason behind it was a completely different story.

"That's alright Ted. I accept the apology, but not another word about the meeting on Friday please. Take a seat."

Teddy grabbed a chair wondering what was happening now. Was Harry punishing him? But then why offer him a seat. Also he had been given a lecture already and that was usually all Harry did.

"I'm not mad at you Teddy, nor am I angry. I would like you to know that last night was a full moon. It does explain your temper, although not excuse it. Don't think I'm letting you off the hook this easy next time. Actually I'm hoping there won't be a next time and I assure you, you won't like the consequences if you speak to me, or anybody for that matter, like that again."

Teddy swallowed hard and nodded to confirm that he had understood, but then asked:

"Harry how was my dad as a teenager? Is it the wolf thing that makes me like I am. You always say he was best friends with your dad and Sirius, who were such troublemakers, but then you describe him like Aunt Hermione."

Harry chided himself inwardly, he hadn't wanted to give the boy excuses for his behaviour.

"No Teddy. Lycanthropy never defined who your father was and it definitely doesn't define you since you're not actually lycanthrope. You may be a little on the edge over the full moon, but you can learn to control it just like everybody has to find a way to control situations that push them towards the edge. Believe me I had a hard time figuring it out at your age. Like you so nicely pointed out, I even blew up my aunt once. But I can assure you, you will regret not being able to control your temper. Sometimes the consequences won't be fixed with an apology and you'll be even more sorry then. As for the Marauders, they were pranksters, not trouble makers. They had cheek, sometimes too much, but they were not disrespectful. Your dad told me that. And yes he was the most mature one as is Aunt Hermione. Never stopped her though coming along our excursions. But don't you get any ideas." Harry smiled as he stood and walked over to give the slightly reluctant Teddy a hug. Then he straightened again holding on to his godson's shoulders, meeting him eye to eye.

"Now we gonna head back downstairs and you're forgiven, so we don't need to speak of this again. I want you to know though Teddy, what you said about me only caring what you do because of what others might say..."

"I didn't mean it Harry , I know you don't..."

"Listen to me Teddy, please. I want you to understand that I couldn't care less what the rest of the world thinks about me or you and what they might whisper behind our back. What I care about is you and your future. I love you Teddy and I only want the best for you."

Teddy nodded, a clump in his throat. Of course he knew that and had just voiced those accusations because they would hurt Harry. However he couldn't help feeling relieved and reassured by his godfather's words and embraced the hug he offered.