Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. No money is made from this.
Chapter 18 – Birthday Conversations
The end of July quickly approached and in the Potter household this meant birthday preparations were in full swing. In fact Ginny became more stressed by the hour as she strived for the perfect birthday party. Over the years Harry had tried more than once to convince her that they could just have a nice meal and not worry about throwing a party, but she had talked him down every single time. Since they were together she had been adamant to make-up for all the missed birthdays at the Dursleys and even now, ten years married, everything needed to be perfect. Or so Ginny believed and thus was currently hurrying around the garden where several tables had been set up. While James and Teddy were reluctantly helping her to decorate the garden, Al, Lily and Harry had been banned inside the house for the time being. In fact if Ginny had her way, Harry wouldn't lift a finger at all.
Luckily for their guests though, like every other year, Harry had simply chosen to ignore his wife's request and was preparing dinner for the night while simultaneously entertaining his two youngest children so they wouldn't havoc the house causing Ginny a heart attack.
Thinking about it Harry was shaking his head. Any other day Ginny would be their rock in the sea. On Albus fourth birthday James had tried to steal from the birthday cake and knocked it over in the process. While she had scolded a bit, she had then merely cleaned his clothes and fixed up some cupcakes as a substitute. Their house was never the tidiest and normally neither he nor Ginny cared. They had three small children, a teenager and a job each to take care of, a spot clean house was not exactly on their priority list.
For July 31st however Ginny seemed to think they needed to be the model family. Therefore the whole house had been thoroughly cleaned even though the party would take place in their back garden and anyway it was only friends and family who would be coming.
A knock on the front door interrupted Harry's musings and wondering who this could be since it was way too early for any guests to arrive, he opened the door to find Draco Malfoy on his door step.
"Draco?" Harry greeted surprised, but took the hand the other man offered.
"Happy Birthday Harry! I'm sorry to intrude. I just came to congratulate and give you this." he handed Harry a small wrapped package that looked very much like a book.
"Do you want to come in for a cup of tea?" Harry offered out of politeness and because he wasn't sure what else to do. However the blonde man looked reluctant himself.
"I really don't want to disturb. I would have given it to you at work, but have been told you'll be out for the week. I should be going."
"Nonsense, come in and have a cup of tea." Giving in, Draco gave his consent and as they entered the kitchen Harry opened the gift to find it was indeed a book.
"In praise of discipline?" he read and frowned at the title.
With a shrug Draco replied: "It's about the value and place of discipline in education and raising children. I thought it might make a good read."
Appreciating the thought Harry replied: "Thanks I guess, it can't do any harm. Things are better though."
Draco nodded: "That's good I'm glad to hear it. While I'm here, do you mind if I talk to him."
"Of course not. He's outside with Ginny and Jamie. He'll be glad to get away for a bit."
With those words Harry opened the back door to the garden and called out for the teenager, who happily made his way over to him, although accompanied by Ginny's complaints that they had work to do.
Stepping inside Teddy exclaimed: "Thanks Harry, you're a lifesaver. If she has me change the lampions one more time I swear I start screaming."
Only when he had finished his rant Teddy realised the other man in the room.
"Oh, hello Uncle Draco. I didn't see you there."
Harry smiled fondly at his godson. He was aware that putting up with Ginny in her current obsession was not an easy task for the teen, especially when today was a full moon, where his short temper was usually worst. Therefore he was both proud and relieved to see his godson as his old bubbly self.
"Your uncle would like to talk to you actually. Why don't you go up to your room. Just make sure you don't bring dirt in the house."
Rolling his eyes Teddy brushed of his shoes.
"As if she couldn't just scourgify it." he said exasperatingly.
As they made their way upstairs the two relatives exchanged polite small talk. Inwardly Teddy wondered what his uncle wanted. It wasn't like they were close. The blond man was more like a distant uncle that would get you expensive gifts for Christmas and birthdays, but who you wouldn't see much more apart from these occasions. Therefore as he led the way it occurred to Teddy that the man had probably not been in his room for years and it worried him to think of his reaction. Due to Ginny's current state of mind it was at least clean and tidy, although why his room needed to be presentable for Harry's birthday in the garden was a mystery to him, but it was also plastered in Gryffindor colours and tokens from his Hogwarts Quidditch career. And indeed as Draco took in his surroundings he commented:
"You know when you started at Hogwarts, I had the slight hope you'd take after your mother and be in Hufflepuff or maybe even Ravenclaw. But I guess there was really never a chance for that to happen."
To Teddy's surprise the words were neither bitter nor sarcastic. Instead he could have sworn to detect some pride in his uncle's tone.
"Actually the hat said something about that while I had my mom's sense of loyalty that there was only one path for me, to follow my dad and godfather. So Gryffindor it is. Sorry Uncle Draco." Teddy replied with a grin.
"Nothing to be sorry for, as I said there was really no chance you would end up anywhere else. You're as brave as your parents and as stubborn and hot-headed as your godfather." Draco assured taking a seat on the vacant desk chair while Teddy had positioned himself on the bed, very careful not to appear sloppy as he knew Draco would not approve.
Clearing his throat the blonde continued: " I heard your hot-headedness is becoming a bit of an issue lately?"
Blushing Teddy asked: "Who told you that?"
"Harry told me, but besides, you know that Laura is my niece and this type of news travels fast."
Teddy pouted a bit that his godfather had told on him, but then again Draco was right, he would have heard of it anyway. Not sure what to say Teddy remained silent looking out of the window to avoid the older man's stare. His head snapped back though as Draco said in a scolding voice:
"Really Teddy, sneaking out, drinking, skiving classes and resits? I didn't think that was who you were."
"Well it's not like you know me very well, is it?" Teddy snapped back angrily.
He had enough lecturing from Harry and he definitely didn't need more from his uncle.
Draco, who had been taken by surprise by the outburst, raised an eyebrow.
"Watch your tone please, Ted."
"Oh come off it. You're not my dad, neither are you my guardian, so stuff the lecture, because quite frankly I don't care what you say." The teenager replied annoyed, the temper that he had been controlling all day getting the better of him. However his uncle didn't rise to the bait. In difference to Teddy's godparents, he had no short temper and simply warned in a relaxed voice.
"I'm only warning you once. You can speak civilly to me or not at all."
Still not able to get a handle on his mood Teddy yelled back:"Well go then, it's not like I asked you to ..."
However he didn't get to finish the sentence as Draco had his wand drawn and silenced him with a short wave of his hand, causing Teddy to scowl silently.
"Don't look at me like that. I warned you. Now, I give you a minute to compose yourself and I hope then we can continue to talk calmly."
With these words Draco moved over to the window and thus effectively turned his back to the teenager, giving him the space and time to cool down.
At first Teddy's anger was rising at his uncle's treatment of him, however it quickly leveled out. He was well aware that his mood was vastly influenced by the fact that the night would be a full moon, yet he felt that was even more the reason not to give in to his mood. Taking a few deep breathes he was able to think clearly again and vowed to himself to not lose control again. After a few minutes Draco turned around again, looking at Teddy.
"Are you ready to talk civilly yet?"
Quickly Teddy nodded and the spell was lifted.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you, it's just tonight's a full moon and my temper is never the best around this time."
"It still affects you this badly?" the blond wondered out loud. Teddy nodded, but then asked confused: "Still?"
"Well when you were small you grandmother used to say that you would cry the whole night on a full moon. Nothing seemed to be able to calm you down."
"Oh, well I don't remember that. Now it's just that I don't feel that great on the day and I get angry and loose it a lot quicker ... it's not an excuse though." The teenager replied honestly.
"No, indeed it's not. You need to learn to cool down and stop yourself before it gets out of control. Even if it's hard." The older man said firmly and continued: "So back to the topic on hand, what's with all the acting out lately? Again, it's not like you at all."
Teddy shrugged. "Don't know, just kind of happened."
"You know what I think? Your godfather is lenient with you and you take full advantage of it."
"What? No!" Teddy exclaimed, vividly shaking his head.
"So you're telling me you would have done all this if there had been consequences from the start?" Draco asked. A blush appeared on Teddy's face and he quickly lowered his head.
"That's what I thought."
"But it's not like that. We do have rules now and I never meant to take advantage. I'm working on my temper. Really I want to do better. And I won't be skiving anymore and I did quite well on my resits." Teddy listed desperately to prove that he was indeed sorry.
"Did you now?" Draco asked leaning back in his chair satisfied.
"Yes." Teddy nodded. "Outstanding in Defence against the Dark Arts and Acceptable in History, Exceeds Expectations in the rest."
"Congratulations on those." With a cough Draco added: "So I don't have to give you a stern talk and make idle threats to get you back to your usual self?"
Teddy laughed and good-heartedly replied: "No, Harry already did a good job with that, although I doubt his threats were idle."
"Well he's your godfather, I'm much better as the cool uncle." Draco said with a smile and then stood to say his goodbyes.
"I should be going, I believe your help is wanted downstairs."
Teddy rolled his eyes as they exited the room together.
"Unfortunately. She'll have me change the decorations a sixth time. I'm telling you." Teddy whined, yet obediently made his way back to the garden as Draco left. He knew how important Harry's birthday parties were to his godmother and that doing what she wanted was the only sane thing to do today. He had no intention to upset her and face her wrath.
To his relieve he had not been asked to redecorate the garden another time, but instead after a quick lunch had been instructed to watch and entertain his siblings, so that Harry and Ginny could take care of last minute preparations without worrying about their three rascals destroying the cleaned house. While the task was a welcome change to all the chores he had been doing, it was also testing his fading patience. They were all in James' room and the two Potter boys had been fighting for the last 15 minutes, although Teddy had no clue what it was about this time. Meanwhile Lily was demanding his attention talking without taking a breath about the cute new flower dress she would be wearing and how Rose would be so jealous, because of the matching dress for her doll and that really she liked Hugo better even if he was a boy.
Teddy groaned, he could practically feel that he was nearing the end of his tether. At this rate he would either get a massive headache or explode soon, probably both.
Deciding to take action he said resolutely: "Right, Lily why don't you go ahead and change you and your doll into your dresses for the party?"
Lily happily beamed at him and skipped to her room. Taking a deep calming breath he turned to the boys.
"And you two stop the arguing. If mom sees you fighting today she's going to have your head."
And mine too. He silently added in his head.
"But Jamie says I'm not allowed to fly with him and Fred and Roxanne today." Al whined.
"You can't, you only have the toy broom, that's for babies." James shot back nastily.
"I'm not a baby." The younger boy shouted and Teddy sighed in despair.
"Stop it! Both of you or neither of you will fly today. Now, you should go and change too. The guest will be her soon."
Silenced by the threat Albus left to his room and while James scowled at him a bit, he obliged pulling his shirt over his head and putting on the clothes Ginny had put out for him. Teddy didn't mind the scowling, he knew it would be forgotten soon enough with the distraction of all their cousins and family friends around.
...
And indeed he was right, after cake and tea James had forgotten all about their earlier argument and was zooming through the air with his older cousins, while the younger children played with a football on the ground. The only one missing was young Molly Weasley, who was sitting between her parents and stubbornly refused to join her sister and cousins besides her grandmother's pestering.
"Molly, sweetheart, you should be with them. Look how much fun they have. It's boring for you here with the adults." Her grandmother said to convince her, but the girl only shook her head once more.
"I don't like football, it's for boys."
"Your sister is playing, as are Lily and Rose. Go on, join them." Percy Weasley encouraged and gave his daughter a little shove, which set her in motion.
However arms crossed over her chest, she only moved far enough to satisfy the adults and then sat on the grass pouting in safe distance to the playing children.
Close to them a blue-haired teenager and a pretty blonde were lying closely on a blanket in the grass starring at the sky and talking to each other. Luckily for them Victoire's father was seated facing them with his back. Sure Teddy was family, but that didn't mean his little girl should be that close to any male teenager. Bill, as most other adults, was engaged in some conversation, however Harry had been studying his children in the back of the garden until someone took the vacant seat next to him.
"Care to tell me why my star chaser is not up in the air with them?" Neville said glancing over to the flying children.
"He's taking an extended break from his broom." Harry answered without looking at his friend.
"Not voluntary I guess."
"As if you don't know." Harry accused and a grin tucked on Neville's lips.
"And how did such a well-rounded, balanced and behaved teenager end up in this predicament?" he asked mock shocked.
"Alright, alright you have me. You were right, I was wrong and I apologise. Could we just forget it?" Harry pleaded painfully remembering the many talks he had had with Teddy's Head of House last year and the countless times he had assured that Teddy was a good kid, a balanced, behaved, well-rounded child and clearly the mistake must lie somewhere else. Neville had tried to persuade him that Teddy was taking advantage of him, but for the longest time Harry would have none of it.
"Apology accepted, but I'm not sure I will forget quite so soon. It's always good to have leverage, who knows what comes up next year." Neville replied, but his tone was friendly and light-hearted signalling that he had indeed forgiven Harry for his ignorance.
"Well I certainly hope we don't repeat last year" Harry said with a sigh followed by a moment of silence.
"So what did happen?" Neville asked, once more looking over to the teenagers, who were still lying on the grass.
"Sneaked out and flew to London, I found him in Brighton with some friends that had purchased alcohol." Harry said soberly and a thought struck Neville.
"Is that why the Burowskis have me put their son on special watch?"
Harry confirmed this with a nod and added: "He was the one buying it. I gave all of them a warning and a lecture back at the ministry. Teddy has been grounded from his broom ever since among other things."
Running his hand through the dark hair Harry sighed: "It has not been an easy summer Neville."
"You'll be fine. A lot of teenagers act out at his age, he just needs some guidance. He respects you, more than anyone else, so I have fate you can fix this. Now that you're actually willing to do something, that is." Neville replied relishing at least a little bit in the teasing of his friend.
"Well things have been getting better. The beginning of the summer was rough, but with the resits and some other issues cleared, he does seem so much happier and like his old self. Promise me, if he starts acting up in the new term, I want to hear about it immediately. I made the mistake once, but we talked and he knows I expect him to keep it together." Harry said ignoring Neville's last comment.
"Will do, but believe me in five years from now, you'll laugh at this with him."
"Five years from now I have James to worry about." Harry replied dryly only getting a chuckle from Neville in response.
As if on cue and with probably the worst timing ever a loud noise silenced the entire party.
"James Sirius Potter, come here this instant." Ginny's voice echoed over the guest who were simultaneously looking to either Ginny or the group of children that included James. Harry's eyes were first on his wife, who looked furious. Clutching on to her hand was his daughter, who had tears in her eyes and had obviously been crying. This was not good, whatever James had done to make Lily dissolve in tears, Ginny would have his head for disturbing the party alone. Apparently James knew that too and was hesitant to comply with his mother's request. In fact Harry couldn't spot him within the group of children at the back of the garden. Harry was about get up and calm Ginny down as the red-head spoke again.
"NOW James Sirius and you too Theodore."
If possible the scene had just gotten quieter. Most of their guests were used to James mischief, however the use of the full name of one blue-haired teenager was highly unusual. To Harry it was not surprising, it was alarming. She only used that name when she was really mad. Both boys obviously were aware of this too and quickly made their way over to Ginny. Harry noticed that while his godson looked positively downtrodden, his own son had a stubborn look on his face. Deciding this was the moment to step in, Harry stood ready to say something, but was immediately silenced by his wife.
"No Harry, not now."
"But Ginny, what happened?"
"Harry, not now." She repeated and he decided to trust her on this. There was no point to make a scene in front of their guests. As he slumped back on his seat Ron whispered from across the table: "Mate leave her. Didn't you hear she called him Theodore. There is no hope if she's in that state, just let everything work out by itself."
Next to him Neville started to chuckle and Harry threw him a dirty look.
"What's so funny?"
"It's just, we were talking about how things with Teddy had improved and then this. Sometimes I believe it's your karma Harry."
The black-haired man shook his head, but he couldn't deny the truth in Neville's words.
Most guest had politely gone back to their small talk and chatting, however they all stole glances over to the place where the two boys had now halted before Ginny. She mustered both of them sternly and as they moved to speak, she interrupted.
"Not a word, I don't want to hear it. You should be ashamed of yourselves. Go to your rooms, but rest assured this is not the last time we've talked about this."
"But mom ..." "Ginny I'm ..." both boys tried to speak up, but were silenced once more.
"To you rooms, NOW." Ginny instructed sternly, anger still audible in her voice. Admitting defeat both James and Teddy hurried inside while Ginny followed with a still distraught Lily to calm her down and get the girl cleaned up.
"I should go and find out what happened." Harry said immediately after they were inside, but Hermione grabbed his hand across the table.
"Not right now you shouldn't. She wants you to be here for the party. We find out later."
Nodding Harry sat back down, but his mind lingered on those inside the house.
AN: So what happened, you are wondering? Unfortunatly the answer in form of the next update will have to wait as I am travelling for the next two weeks. Also this slowly turns into the endless story, I thought I would have like 15 chapters, now have at least 20 planned, but the last 3 chapters were originally intended as one, so it just keeps going. If you're thinking that I drag this on way too long, I'm sorry. Once again thank you all for reading and I'd be delighted about feedback.