I own nothing, all rights go to J.K. Rowling of course.

Chapter 21 – More than just clothes

With a faint pop Harry appeared on the front porch. It was Friday and mere five days since their holiday had ended. However, for Harry it very much felt like he needed a vacation and not like he had just returned from one.

'Really,' he mused as he stepped inside the house 'the piled up paperwork ruins any relaxation effect a holiday could have.'

Inside, Harry found the downstairs area deserted. For a moment he thought his family would be outside in the garden enjoying the summer day, but the voices that echoed from upstairs told him otherwise. As he climbed up the stairs he heard his wife's muffled voice and judging from the direction it came from, he had a pretty good idea who she was talking to. He made his way along the landing to the room in question, and passing Albus' room, was surprised to find the door ajar and his middle child looking up at him from his play solemnly.

"They're arguing. Mum is angry." The mini-version of himself said calmly and then looked down on his game again.

A little smile hushed over Harry's face. Albus did not only look like him, they also shared a whole other set of attributes. While James was bold, spoke his mind and was always full of action, he was also as oblivious at times, like his Uncle Ron. Had Harry asked him what was going on in the room next to him, the oldest Potter child would probably only have shrugged his shoulders.

Albus however had such a deep perception of people that he pointed things out with a calmness well beyond his age. It quite often startled the adults around him.

Walking on, Harry made out the first words of the argument in raised voices behind the door in front of him.

"They're mine. Give them back!"

"No, you're not keeping those Teddy."

Harry furrowed his brow, one hand already on the door handle. He couldn't imagine what Ginny had found that she felt the need to confiscate it and start a shouting match. Schooling himself for the upcoming confrontation, he pushed the door open, but the scene that greeted him was a far cry from what he had pictured.

Teddy was standing with his back partly turned to him, but Harry could see that he was clutching a pair of sneakers. Ginny was standing opposite to him and the anger was clearly readable in her eyes. She also held on to something that looked like a folded pair of jeans. Clothes were scattered around the room in various piles and neither of the two had noticed him yet.

"Teddy Remus Lupin. That is it. Hand me those shoes now!" Ginny demanded loudly.

"Fuck off!" his godson spat and Harry's face showed his displeasure with his godson's word choice, but Ginny seemed to enraged herself to even notice.

"You're not taking those things to Hogwarts. No child of mine is going to school in rags."

Her voice had a dangerous edge to it and Harry knew he had to step in before things could get ugly. Unfortunately emotions were already too high and within a second of his wife's demand the teenager shot back: "Well it's a good thing you're not my mum then. Maybe you'd better remember that."

Abruptly the room had fallen silent. Harry watched his wife and godson starring at each other both equally shocked at the words that had just been spoken. He could tell that both of them had realised his presence by now although neither had acknowledged him.

Suddenly however, and just as Teddy had moved to say something, Ginny turned away from him and looked at Harry instead. For a second he thought she would say something, but the silence remained. Then, she swiftly moved past him slamming the bundled clothes into his arms and shooting him a meaningful look that said 'You sort this out and talk sense into him'.

As the door loudly closed behind them, Harry's and Teddy's eyes met and formed an instant connection. Without a word they both knew he hadn't meant to say it, knew it had simply been tempers rising too high. What Harry couldn't read in his godson's eyes was how this whole ruckus had started and how an argument could escalate over some clothes. When the silence between them grew too uncomfortable Teddy spoke up.

"I didn't mean to say that. I, ... that's not what I think." He offered.

"I know," Harry assured gently "so does Ginny."

Teddy's face twisted into an awkward smile in acknowledgement of his words, but he didn't offer any verbal response. In absence of an explanation Harry unfolded the pair of jeans that had been unceremoniously slammed into his chest. They clearly were a pair of Teddy's, albeit not the newest since several holes riddled the trousers. He had a hunch now what the argument had been about, but eying Teddy who still stood opposite him eyes wandering aimlessly around the room, it was clear his godson wasn't filling in the gaps for him of his own accord.

Sighing he chucked the jeans on the bed and said: "You know I am quite good at solving riddles, but it would be a lot easier if you told me."

Biting his lip Teddy murmured: "We had a row."

"Funnily enough, I kind of figured that."

Once more their eyes met, Teddy's almost pleading, but then he just sighed and answered:

"We were sorting through my clothes."

He made a wide gesture at the piles of clothes around the room.

"Because Ginny wanted to go get my school things and all tomorrow. It's not like I was overly excited at the prospect, but it went fine for a while. Then she wanted to throw out my favourite sneakers and my jeans."

His voice had risen at the end of the sentence and he crossed his arms over his chest. However if Teddy had anticipated a new argument, he couldn't have been more wrong. Instead Harry just smiled slightly and picked up the battered pair of shoes at Teddy's feet.

"Well, these do look a bit worse for wear I have to say. We can get you a new pair tomorrow as well. Exactly the same if you like." Harry offered in an attempt to find the most peaceful solution to the current conflict. However, his attempts were futile as Teddy whined in response.

"No. They are supposed to look like this. I've just gotten them to look like this."

Raising an eyebrow, Harry exclaimed in an amused voice:

"Teddy, these may fall off your feet if you walk more than a yard in them. Never mind the holes will give you wet feet at the first bit of rain."

"Don't care." The teenager huffed stubbornly.

Growing a bit sterner Harry said: "Well, I agree with Ginny. You are not taking these to Hogwarts."

"Harry..."

"No, whining won't change that. As I said you are lucky if those last you till the end of the holidays anyway. Be reasonable Ted."

The teenager shot him an angry look, but before he could protest his godfather continued.

"I'm not saying you have to throw them out. If you like, keep them and wear them during the holidays."

"As if she would let me." Teddy complained prompting Harry tease gently.

"Well, you just have to get creative then don't you. Anyway, we get you a new pair tomorrow."

"They're expensive." Teddy stubbornly injected as a last try.

"And that has stopped you since when you nutter?" Harry teased.

Teddy gave a shrug accompanied with an embarrassed grin. A second later a mischievous sparkle shone in his eyes and made Harry chuckle inwardly as he prepared himself for what would come next.

"If I agree to leave the shoes behind, I can take the jeans." Teddy said.

"You could."

A smug expression entered the teenager's face.

"If you fancy detention." And the face fell.

"What?"

"Oh come on Ted, you don't really believe any of your teachers would let you get away with those. It may be more relaxed at Hogwarts now than in my time, but you still have a smart dress code."

Teddy huffed annoyed at his statement, but remained silent not offering an argument.

For a moment Harry considered what to do next. Then he sighed and to Teddy's surprise sat down on the floor as clothes occupied every free seating space in the room. Resting his back against the bed, Harry patted the floor next to him.

"Have a seat."

Teddy's stubborn streak came through and the teenager didn't budge at first, but a look to his godfather's face made him comply and he took the seat next to Harry obediently.

It wasn't anger that the teenager had read in Harry's expression, but a resigned determination that left no doubt that whatever his godfather wanted from him, it would happen before they left the room.

"I think you are old enough now for me to tell you some things. Things about the past."

"But you're told me about the war and my parents and stuff." Teddy interrupted.

Harry nodded, but said: "There is more to the past than the war Ted. We have told you things over the years, because it was impossible not to. But, none of us really like talking about it. Even before the war not everything was good back then."

Harry fell silent leaving Teddy to ponder his words with a mix of confusion and curiosity.

Running a hand over his face Harry continued: "You know how I lived with my mum's sister after my parents died."

"Yeah, the Dursleys. Don't blame you for not liking them though. I mean, I only met them once but I heard Ginny say they were awful to you."

At one point in his life the mere idea of this talk would have terrified him, but it was long in the past and so Harry calmly continued.

"They hated magic and they definitely weren't fond of the idea of having me around. They barely treated me better than most would treat a house elf. I was given my cousins old clothes, made to do chores all day and they locked me in my room or withheld food for the tiniest infractions."

Harry's voice was calm, but he looked with worry to his godchild, whose Metamorphogus abilities gave away his emotions turning his hair red slowly from the roots upwards.

"It's long in the past Teddy. It's fine. I'm fine."

"Fine? You are fine? That's bloody child abuse and it obviously has done your head in if you think it's okay just because some years have passed." Teddy's rant abruptly stopped as he caught his breath. He also realised his godfather's raised eyebrows as to say 'Watch how you talk to me', but the words weren't verbalised. Instead Harry said:

"But that's what I am trying to tell you. Sometimes you see reactions from us that make no sense to you, because you don't understand where they come from. Ginny's reaction today wasn't just because she disagrees with the appropriateness of your outfit choice. She sees you in old, worn, holey clothes and what she really sees is my childhood at the Dursleys or being the youngest of seven, never going with anything new."

"It's not fair you know." Teddy answered his gaze fixed on the opposite wall.

"It's a long time ago..."

"No, not that. I mean that's not fair either, but I kind of knew that already. You told me enough about the war and then I heard things and you all go eerily quiet when certain topics come up. But, you know because of all that I can't be angry with you. It's impossible to be angry with you. Ginny has no right to throw out my clothes and I want to be able to be mad at her, but instead I now feel guilty for being angry with her in the first place. It's not fair."

The last words were nothing more than a pouting huff and Harry couldn't hide his smirk.

"No one said life was fair. Teddy, I didn't tell you this so you feel guilty. You had a row, it happens. It's okay if that happens, but you can hold an awful grudge sometimes and I don't want you to do that to Ginny."

Teddy shook his head in response. "I go apologise. I would have before your talk too."

Getting up and walking to the door he said:" The clothes however stay." and then turning in the door frame added as an afterthought: "Thanks for telling me though Harry."

...

In the meantime Ginny sat at the kitchen table playing with a half-empty mug of tea. A few tears had streaked down her face on the way to the kitchen, but she had soon wiped away all traces of them.

She now mentally berated herself for losing her temper. Normally she didn't lose control like that. She had a temper, yes, but she seldom regretted the things said or done. When the incident at Harry's birthday party had happened, she swore to herself to exert some self-control and now just a few weeks later she had lost control again, and again it was Teddy who had met her wrath.

"And that when I could keep a cool head during all his other antics." she murmured to herself.

Her musings were interrupted by the sound of small feet on the kitchen floor. James had entered to get himself a glass of water. Now he climbed into the chair opposite her and studied her with an unusual sincerity.

"Mummy, are you sad?"

A faint smile hushed over the mother's face. Many claimed James to be just boyish, loud and a trouble-maker in the making, but she knew her oldest son's soft side, the sweet boy he could be.

"A little sad maybe Jamie."

"Why?" the 8-year old asked with big eyes as if the idea of his mother being sad had not occurred to him yet.

"Mummy did something bad. I yelled at Teddy."

James nodded before answering solemnly: "I don't like shouting, shouting is bad. But Teddy will forgive you mummy. You don't need to be sad."

Running a hand gently over Jamie's cheek she said: "Thank you sweetheart."

The mother-son moment was interrupted by someone clearing his throat behind them. Her head turned, Ginny saw Teddy standing in the door looking as guilt-ridden as she felt. Their eyes met but neither said a word. It was James who prompted them into action as he slid down from his chair and walked out of the kitchen. Passing Teddy, who was still rooted in the doorframe James quietly said: "She's sorry too, you know."

Swallowing the lump in his throat Teddy took the seat James had vacated forcing himself to look at his godmother.

"I'm sorry for what I said. I had no right to say that to you. I didn't mean any of it Ginny, you have to believe that. Not one bit."

"I know. I know you didn't mean to and I accept your apology."

Teddy felt the lump in his throat disappear and he let out the tiniest relieved sigh.

"But Ted, ..."

And then his breathing stopped again. Finally losing his courage he obliged his urge to downcast his eyes. Here it was coming, the disappointed lecture, a chastisement well deserved of course, but still Teddy dreaded her next words.

"Ted, I have to apologise too."

Surprised his eyes flicked up again and he saw Ginny's warm smile.

"We both lost our temper up there and there was no reason for me to shout at you like I did."

"It's okay... I, well I lose my temper far too quickly." he offered with a shrug.

"A trait shared by most of the family, I'm afraid." Ginny answered.

"So about my clothes..." Teddy investigated, happy she had so readily forgiven him for the row, but not willing to drop the issue that had started all this."

For a moment Ginny seemed to battle with herself before answering.

"Keep them. They are yours, if you like them that much, keep them. But we are still going shopping tomorrow Mister."

Teddy nodded readily. He was well aware that she had not mentioned anything about his clothes coming to Hogwarts, but he wasn't willing to push the subject. For all intents and purposes it could only end in a new row with either Harry or Ginny.

After all, his godfather's words on the matter had been clear enough and asking Ginny now would not go well with Harry even if Ginny said yes. If she'd say no, he didn't trust himself not to argue again. He'd just let the topic slide and find a way to sneak his favourite clothes to school.

Teddy's musing were interrupted by Ginny, who had cleared away her mug and now sat back down opposite him. Her warm smile had been schooled into a more serious expression, yet her voice's soft touch remained.

"Do we need to have a talk about your choice of words and attitude during our little argument, though?"

"No, no Ginny. I'm sorry really. I know I was out of line, it won't happen again."

"And yet, it happened today when your godfather has continuously warned you to mind your language."

Teddy bit his lip. It was true, he hadn't been in the best mood to begin with as sorting through clothes and the resulting shopping trip were far from being his favourite thing to do and despite Harry's continuous reminders to mind his tone and language, he had cursed at Ginny far too easily. Harry had taken to reprimand him swiftly and harshly for those slips and Teddy had slowly managed to rain himself in, yet today with Ginny he had shown none of that restraint. Biting down a bit harder at that realisation, he drew blood and quickly pressed his lips together. Which to Ginny must have looked like a stubborn refusal to acknowledge her words as she lectured sternly:

"I do not care for your new-found manners Theodore. Nor will I allow you to think that you have to mind me any less than you do Harry."

With widening eyes Teddy interrupted: "But I don't, I... that's not what I am thinking Ginny, really."

"Oh, but I think you do. I know Harry has taken on the role of disciplinarian to some extent, but believe me that responsibility does not solely lie with him and I am willing to make that very clear to you should you require me to."

Quickly Teddy nodded. He had never consciously considered that indeed it was only Harry who imposed the new rules and consequences on him. Sure Ginny would lecture occasionally or in the event of the birthday disaster even send him to his room, but ultimately it was Harry he had to answer too. He didn't want her to think that he respected her any less, after all Ginny had always been like a mother to him.

"Ginny, I'm really sorry. I don't respect you any less than Harry, I would never. I promise , I do better no matter with who I am."

Teddy awkwardly fidgeted with his hands contemplating his next words. He wanted to proof to his godmother that he respected her just as much. And it wasn't like he could evade the consequences in the end, so he forced out his next words despite his cheeks blushing in embarrassment.

"Harry and I only talked, he sent me down here to apologise. I mean, I would have anyway, but ... he didn't punish me for breaking the rules."

Ginny raised an eyebrow. "So you think I should?"

Teddy shrugged, his eyes still glued to the table and mumbled. "I broke the rules and it was you who was there, not Harry."

Gently placing a finger under his chin, Ginny raised his head to meet her face and Teddy's eyes saw a warm smile.

"Thank you. And I think for this time we can leave it at kitchen duty for the day, don't you think?"

Teddy gave a quick nod and a genuine smile as an answer.

"Good, but tomorrow I need you to help me out Ted. I know going shopping is not your favourite thing, but I don't want any arguments or attitude from you tomorrow. It's difficult enough dragging three children through Diagon Alley. I do not want to deal with you as well Theodore, are we clear?"

Ginny finished sternly, her gaze boring into him. Quickly he agreed.

"Of course Ginny. I promise."

"Then go scramble squirt, I expect you back down here half an hour before dinner."

Scowling a little at the usually onsoltet term of endearment, Teddy left the kitchen with a last thank you and climbed back upstairs taking two steps at a time.

...

After his talk with Teddy, Harry had decided to check up on Jamie, Al and Lily and give Ginny and Ted some time to work things out. He was currently sitting in Lily's room being served imaginary cake and forced to pretend-drink out of tiny cups that hurt his fingers. His young daughter was happily serving tea to her many dolls and teddy bears, chatting away to them involving him only sparely. So Harry kept his attention split between her and any noise from the corridor or stairs, because he felt the deep need to go to his wife and offer her comfort. Thus as soon as he heard his godson's sluggish footsteps on the stairs and the door to his room closing, Harry left his daughter's room venturing to the stairs.

Downstairs Harry quickly scanned the living room, but finding it empty, his direction promptly changed. He found Ginny sitting at the kitchen table, unmoved from the moment Teddy had left, but of course Harry didn't know that. What he did know instantly was that the air may have been cleared between her and Teddy, but over Ginny's head was still a huge grey cloud. He slid into the chair next to her and took her left hand into his as her head snapped to meet his gaze. Harry asked empathically:

"Are you okay?"

She gave a quick nod, but her posture told a very different story, shoulders slightly bent, arms resting on the table and hands fidgeting subconsciously. Sliding his chair slightly back and tucking on her hand, Harry made an inviting gesture.

"Come here."

"Harry..." Ginny whined resisting his pull on her arm.

Chuckling he patted his lap causing her to break out into laugh and still laughing she gave in and sought comfort in his arms.

"See, that's better, wasn't hard at all."

Resting her head on his shoulder taking in his familiar scent, she hummed in agreement. They stayed like that for a moment comforted just by each other's company and only as they both had relaxed, Harry spoke again.

"Everything okay with Teddy?"

Ginny tensed slightly at the question and then answered.

"Sure, Teddy is fine ... I am fine. He apologised, and ... well I apologised. We are fine, Harry." The last sentence was said with a smile on her face, which was met with an equal grin from him. Adjusting slightly so they now looked at each other comfortably, Harry spoke up with a sigh.

"I told Teddy, I had to explain to him. I hope you don't mind, but he is 15 now and..."

"Told him what Harry?" Ginny asked kindly hoping to ease her husband's obvious discomfort.

"About the Dursleys's and that you saw me today at his age in ragged clothing and not him. About you being the youngest of seven, about how things weren't great even before the war and that he has to know that sometimes we act in a way he doesn't understand because of what happened in the past."

Wrapping her arm around his shoulder, she gave him an understanding smile and a reassuring kiss on his temple.

"Do you think he understood? I mean, the reason we never talked about this, it's all so complicated. I know he isn't you, but..."

He nodded understandingly. "It's the feeling you cannot shake off. I know Ginny. I think he understood, he knows a lot more than we give him credit for. He has been eaves-dropping and reading our reactions for years, of course he made some observations."

"You know what the worst thing is, the moment he told me I wasn't his mother, he reminded me so much of Tonks. Everyone always compares them because of the morphing, but really for me, I always see Remus in him. Just then, it was like she was staring at me demanding why I stole her son."

Tears lingered on the rim of her eyelashes again, this time not quite making it to her cheeks. Soothingly Harry rubbed her back.

"She would be so happy that he has you and that you are in his life."

Sniffling a little she slid of his lap to take her own chair again.

"Thanks Harry."

Silence settled between them for a moment as Harry watched Ginny drying her tears and loudly blewing her nose causing both of them to burst out in giggles. Sobering again, Harry approached another topic that troubled his mind somewhat.

"I only talked to him upstairs. I wanted him to calm down and understand before he talked to you. I know he came and apologised, but I really don't think he should get away with talking to you like that."

"I lost my temper too Harry." She interjected.

"Even so, I am constantly reminding him about his language. I will have another talk with him, I just wanted your input first."

"There won't be any need for that. He and I talked and I made it very clear that while I shouldn't have lost my temper, we do not tolerate the language and attitude that he displayed earlier."

With a sceptical look Harry asked: "Are you sure Gin, because ..."

"Yes, absolutely sure. You have played the disciplinarian with him recently, but I think that is part of the problem. He has been much better around you and I told him as much. I was the one he acted out with, so it's my responsibility." Ginny answered confidently.

"Okay, I'm sure you handled this just fine and I never meant to undermine your authority."

"And you didn't." Ginny insisted and adding with a mischievous glint in her eyes added "and if anything, I am sure Teddy will be on his best behaviour for our shopping trip tomorrow."

'The poor lad', Harry thought but didn't voice his pity out loud, happy he himself would be safe at the Auror Office.

AN: Better late than never, a new chapter. Three more to go, update whenever I have time. In the meantime, I would love your reviews, feedback and critique.

PS: This isn't beta-read so please let me know if you spot a mistake. I have tried my best, but I tend to always mis one or two.