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

Chapter 14 - Exam Nerves

Eyes still closed Teddy felt something warm on his body and a tickling sensation on his chin. Stifling a yawn he opened his eyes only to see a black mob resting on his chest. He backed slightly back into the pillow at the unexpected sight, but stiffened as he realised the boy on his body was still asleep. James had snuck into his room and was now lying next to him. His head rested on Teddy's chest and he could feel him breath evenly. He remembered last night. There was the vague memory of the younger boy finding him crying and he was sure it had been an unsettling scene. Apparently the eight-year-old had taken it upon himself to make sure Teddy was alright. He ruffled the black mob affectionately and the younger boy was stirring, his face now turned to Teddy.

As James opened his eyes he looked startled, surprised by the unexpected surroundings, yet too sleepy to question it and so it was Teddy's turn to speak.

"Hey munchkin, have you been sleep-walking or did your bed kick you out?"

Teddy grinned and assumed his little brother would join the joke, but James was biting his lip instead and concern showed in his facial expression.

"Last night, you ... you wouldn't stop crying." James hesitated and Teddy's smile vanquished. He pushed himself to a sitting position propped against the pillow and pulled James next to him one arm around his back.

"You found me and got dad, didn't you?" he asked with a sigh and immediately got a nod in reply.

"I'm fine Jamie. It was like when you have a nightmare. Nothing to worry about." Teddy assured, but James forehead was still in wrinkles and Teddy was sure he would soon taste blood if he kept biting his lip. He squeezed the younger boy's shoulder kindly.

"Hey munchkin, I'm sorry I worried you, but really, I'm fine. Look..." he held out both arms and continued:" two arms, ten fingers everything there."

With his big hazel eyes and a serious expression James mustered his brother.

"You promise you're okay?"

In a mock solemn voice Teddy answered: "I promise, Scout's Honour. And now loose that serious attitude or I have to tickle it out of you."

The threat was quickly followed by Teddy attacking James ticklish sides and the boy wriggled under the touch.

"No, please. Stop it Teddy ... get off me." He pleaded between uncontrolled giggling.

"Are you done brooding?" Ted asked while pausing the attack for a moment before moving his fingers on James' stomach once more.

"Yes, yes I'm done. Stop ... please Teddy, I promise."

"Good." He stood up and held out his hand to help James get out of bed. "Let's go downstairs and try for some breakfast." James took the offered hand and crushed into Ted for a hug.

"I missed you." Came a muffled voice and Teddy stared down at the black mob.

"I've been home for weeks Jamie." He teased the younger boy. As they went downstairs James looked up to him and whispered so that it was barely audible to the two of them: "Not really you haven't".

Teddy mused about James words for a moment while wandering downstairs. Had it really been that obvious? True, he spent more time in his room and not with the rest of the family, but he believed his siblings to be oblivious to his moods. Maybe he would have to try harder, seeing happy and carefree James distraught was making him feel guilty all over again.

Downstairs Harry was setting the breakfast table with Al's help and now greeted the new arrivals.

"Morning you two. Take a seat, breakfast is nearly ready."

While James complied with a mumbled morning, Teddy followed Harry into the kitchen asking: "Can I help you with something?"

Harry who was brewing the tea with his back to Teddy turned and glanced around the kitchen.

"No, only the tea is missing. Thanks Ted." He said and then took a step towards the boy. "Are you okay? After last night, I mean ... are we good?"

Teddy blushed a little but then answered nonchalantly: "Yeah, sure we're good."

Relieved Harry turned back to the kettle, yet in the corner of his eyes he saw Teddy fidgeting.

"There's something else, isn't it? How is the exam preparation going?" Harry asked and had apparently hit the right nerve as Teddy said:

"Good, I think. I just want to go over it once more today. Still worried though. Harry what if I fail?"

There was real concern in Teddy's voice and his godfather sighed.

"I wouldn't worry about it. You're well prepared."

"Yes, but what if?" he persisted.

"In the extremely unlikely case that you fail, we worry about it then and find a solution. Just concentrate on the exams for now and you'll be fine."

Teddy wasn't convinced yet. "Will they snap my wand if I fail?"

Harry chuckled at his unreasoned panic. "No they won't. There are still other schools or private tutoring, but really Ted don't get your knickers in a twist about it." He ruffled through the still brown hair and Teddy jerked away from him with an evil glare.

"What happened to the blue hair?" Harry asked with a smile twitching on his lips.

"Went on holiday." the teenager snapped back and as he turned to leave the kitchen his hair changed to a bubble-gum pink. Yep, they were back to normal. Harry mused.

...

Teddy was indeed worried about next day's exams. So much so that he spent the day with his nose stuck in his books and although Harry had prayed for this sight for a year, now he couldn't help but feel that his godson was working himself into frenzy. He had thoroughly studied for the last month and last minute cramming would do no good whatsoever.

And for that reason he was now crouched in front of his godson's door with his three pyjama-clad children deciding on a plan of action to remove Teddy from the source of all evil as James called it, or in other words his books. His eldest had his tongue stuck out a bit, deeply lost in thought. A habit that James Potter had once sported and again the boy was so much more like his namesakes than his father.

"Right, Lils you go in first and report back the situation. Just look innocent." James decided.

"Why me? You go ..." the four-year-old pouted rather loudly.

"Shush Lily, would you be quiet. You blow our cover. You need to go, because you have him wrapped around your finger."

Lily grinned. "I have you all wrapped around the finger." Both boys snorted their disapproval, but the redhead smiled.

"Jamie, will you get me one of your chocolate frogs please?" she asked with puppy eyes.

"No way, you're hyper on sugar."

Lily's lips quivered and her eyes got watery. "Jamie you're mean. Please, pretty please."

Upon his nearly crying sister James quickly faltered: "Alright, alright I give you one later, but don't cry."

A smile appeared on the girls face and all signs of tears vanquished. "Thanks Jamie."

Harry chuckled, his youngest did really have them wrapped around her finger. He would have to watch her, his little girl seemed to be just as mischievous as her brother.

"Right, is Lils going in now or not?" Albus questioned and Lily & James quickly nodded before opening the door slightly so Lily could squeeze through. As Lily tiptoed in, she saw the older boy sitting at his desk. His body language didn't show any acknowledgement of her arrival.

Of course Teddy had very well realised that someone had come in, as well as he was aware of the muffled voices outside his door. He just really couldn't be bothered with it as he was lost in his books. Or maybe more lost in a panic attack, he thought. Somewhere in the back of his head he registered that she just stood there for a minute and then left again, which was weird, wasn't it? He noticed that she had left the door slightly open and he could hear the voices from outside.

"So Lils, what can you report back from Mission Rescue Teddy?" James questioned solemnly.

"He's at his desk reading. Didn't even look at me." She replied.

"Good, we can use that to our advantage. Al and I will get him away from the desk. You and dad grab those evil books and hide them. Clear?" James asked his siblings and both nodded enthusiastically.

Harry smiled at his son's war tactics. Lily had left the door open and even though they tried to whisper, he was certain the boy inside the room already knew something was up. Not that it mattered much, Teddy would most likely play along one way or another. Upon James signal the three rascals stormed the room with a loud war cry. Harry, who had pushed the door wide open, now leaned in the frame stifling a laugh. James and Albus had pulled Teddy out of his chair and now held him captive, one boy tugging at each arm. Although Teddy must have anticipated something, the look on his face was priceless. Apparently he hadn't foreseen this. Meanwhile Lily had climbed on the vacated seat and stacked all books and notes on one pile, which Harry quickly levitated towards himself. Ted's eyes averted and he said in a playful voice:

"Alright, you had your fun, now give me my books back. I need to study."

Much to his annoyance the only reaction he got were four shaking heads and a smirking godfather.

"Sorry Ted, can't do that."

With those words Harry left to get the books into his study and upon his return he found the boys still in the same position while Lily now clutched on Teddy's legs.

"Harry come on, call them off. I have an exam tomorrow."

Smirking, but with a serious undertone Harry replied:"No Teddy, sorry. You get yourself in a frenzy with your cramming, plus believe me what you don't know now, you won't get into your head tonight."

Then he turned his wand on his godson and smiled. "So you will just have to go along with our kidnapping."

Teddy eyed the man across him with caution. A raised wand, even from his godfather wasn't the most reassuring sight. "You're not going to hex me, are you?" he questioned.

Harry chuckled and Lily abruptly turned to her father and demanded fiercely: "Not hurt Teddy, daddy"!

"No princess I won't ever. Just a little adjusting so he fits in with you." With a flick of his wand he transfigured Teddy's clothes into blue pyjamas and then picked up his daughter, the two boys leading Teddy behind them downstairs.

"So what does this kidnapping entail?" Teddy asked the group, but got no reply from the four. Instead he was let into the living room and shoved onto the couch, where three small bodies quickly crushed next and on to him shouting "Movie Night".

Ted let out a laugh at the enthusiasm of the three younger children and then pried Lily off his body to get himself into a sitting position. Movie nights were a sacred tradition at the Potter's since Harry had been stubborn about the inclusion of various muggle items in their home. The TV was one of Teddy's favourites, but then again he didn't have a need for a washing machine or dryer. The only pity was that living in a wizarding village meant it was rather impossible to get cable TV, but in Ted's opinion the large DVD collection totally made up for the limited channels. On the coffee table he saw a copy of the Jungle Book and as Lily placed herself back on his lap, he said:

"Look, it's not that I don't appreciate the idea of an evening with a movie classic and the family, but maybe another night. I really want to look over my notes again."

"No." Three little voices loudly exclaimed accompanied by Jamie's puppy eyes, Lily's pout and a sternness on Al's shaking face that very closely resembled his dad.

"Harry, you know I have the first exam tomorrow." Teddy said with a hint of annoyance in his voice, but his godfather didn't budge and instead replied kindly.

"And I told you, last minute cramming won't help."

"Don't you think I know best how much studying I need?" Ted shot back louder than he had had wanted, yet glared at Harry in defiance nonetheless. The lighthearted atmosphere that had been in the room moments ago, had left and was replaced by an awkward silence that centred around godfather and godson. Inwardly Harry sighed, he was tired of the constant arguments with Ted and while he knew it was perfectly normal at his age and certainly wouldn't disappear overnight, he had hoped the last lecture made a longer lasting impact – longer than 24hours anyway.

"I think Ted, you should trust my opinion since I have a little bit more experience." And told you just yesterday to obey the adult's decisions around you, was the unspoken message between those words. Oh yes, Teddy remembered the set of rules on his wall now, just as well as he was suddenly aware that he was already being punished for shouting at his godfather. So his body tensed slightly as Harry gave him a pointed look and said:

"I'm of course not forcing you to watch a movie with us. You may go upstairs and go to bed to get some rest for tomorrow if you wish."

Teddy shook his head vividly, no that was definitely not what he wanted.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to shout. I'd like to stay. I'm just worried about tomorrow." He quickly murmured contrite and got a warm smile as well as a nod from Harry in response. Meanwhile Ginny had come over to him and now encouragingly squeezed his shoulder.

"We understand, but that's why Harry and I want you to relax for a while and we were all really looking forward to a movie night with everybody. Isn't that right?" Three children nodded enthusiastically and Ted visibly eased on the couch. Crisis averted for now.

While the movie was playing Teddy's mind kept wandering off to the exams, although with the story coming to an end and Lily snuggled into him already asleep, he felt much calmer than he had at his desk. Maybe Harry & Ginny had been right. When the credits rolled on the screen Ginny picked her daughter up from Teddy and with the young girl on her hip she headed upstairs. Meanwhile Harry ushered all three boys to bed as well, much to Ted's embarrassment, yet he didn't argue in front of the boys and instead went to his room waiting for Harry, who was tucking in Jamie & Al. It was 15 minutes later that his godfather entered the room and Ted was sitting cross-legged on his bed, his mind going over various topics of the upcoming exams. He looked up to see him carrying a small potion vial. "Sleeping draught?" the teenager asked with a grin, yet Harry could detect certain wariness in his voice. Setting the vial down on the nightstand he replied with a fond smile.

"No, calming draught. I thought it might help your nerves."

"It might help to have my notes back." Teddy snapped, which caused Harry to raise an eyebrow. How was it that Ted was pushed over the edge by nearly everything currently, and at the most random moments.

"I think you know that that's not true. Besides it's time to go to bed."

"Yeah, because you treat me like a sodding 8-year-old." The teenager scowled still sitting cross-legged and hugging his pillow, stubbornly refusing to lie down. Crouching down in front of his godson, so he met him eye to eye, Harry said:

"I treat you according to the way you behave and the rules we've discussed. We have talked about your temper plenty of times and I need you to work on keeping it in check. And now I need you to obey me and lie down." Harry made sure to keep eye contact to be certain his stern yet sympathetic words really reached Teddy and then he accentuated his last words by gently pushing the boy's upper body down with the force of his hand.

Teddy didn't resist any further and got comfortable under the duvet. He still held a grudge about this ridiculous bed-time, but he was tired of the arguing, which let him nowhere, but into more trouble and he already had enough of that with those remarks and actions he couldn't hold back. Nevertheless in a small act of defiance he settled into a position turned away from his godfather and facing the wall without so much as a goodnight. He wasn't shy about letting Harry know his displeasure.

Once again Harry felt the urge to roll his eyes at Teddy's behaviour. Well he reckoned he could live with his godson showing him quite literally the cold shoulder if he at least kept his cheek at bay. His eyes lingered on the vial on the nightstand.

"Please take the calming draught if you need it. It's important you get your sleep." There was no response and so he turned to leave.

" It's there if you need it. Goodnight Teddy, sleep well."