Chapter 18

Four days after Christmas, Ron and Harry stood in the living room of Grimmauld Place, staring down at the small child in front of them.

The boy looked up, a little fearfully, clutching a teddy bear close to his chest.

Teddy was a quiet boy (so unlike his mother) and hadn't appreciated being left alone with two near-strangers when Andromeda had left only five minutes before. He hadn't cried, but he'd clung to her as she left via the Floo, wishing Harry (and Ron) good luck. She'd somehow managed to unglue him from her and disappear all in a matter of seconds.

Teddy was now their responsibility for the next two hours.

Or Harry's, but Harry wasn't going to let Ron get out of it easily.

"And you thought this was a good idea because…?" Ron said as Teddy simply sat there, clutching his bear and watching them.

"Because I owe it to Remus and Tonks," Harry replied, though he didn't sound convinced. "He's… my godson, and I spent thirteen years not knowing Sirius. I don't want that for him."

Ron nodded, turning back to the baby. In the five minutes they'd been standing there, Teddy's hair had changed colour three times.

"Well, we know he takes after his mother in that way," Ron said, smiling.

"Yeah," Harry said. "Er, so, Teddy, what do you want to do today?"

Teddy continued watching them. He stuck his thumb in his mouth.

"Not sure he can answer, mate," Ron said.

"Andromeda said he's fascinated by magic," Harry replied, and he took out his wand.

Teddy's eyes lit up the moment he saw it. His thumb came out, he dropped the teddy bear and he stretched out his arms as if wanting the wand. He made a sound that might have meant he was asking for it, but Ron couldn't be sure. He didn't speak baby.

"It's pretty cool, isn't it?" Harry said, looking pleased with himself at managing to make the boy smile. "You want to see some magic?"

Teddy continued to reach for the wand, but seeming to realise that wasn't going to work, he crawled closer, sat at Harry's feet, and reached up.

Harry beamed. "Alright…" and he allowed a rainbow of fireworks to leave his wand, shooting them upwards towards the ceiling.

Teddy squealed with delight, clapping his little hands and then reaching up to try and grab them.

When they'd all extinguished, he stopped and turned back to Harry, an expectant look in his eyes.

Harry set off more fireworks, Teddy's expression one of pure, innocent delight. Ron watched on with amusement.

It wasn't until the third time of Harry producing the sparks did Teddy get a little over excited. He got onto his knees in an attempt to reach them, but he apparently wasn't that skilled in such a movement. Before either Ron or Harry had registered, he'd fallen forwards and face-planted the ground, his head narrowly missing the corner of the coffee table.

Harry's mouth fell open. There was silence for a few seconds, and then came the piercing screams of Teddy. He sat up, clutching his face — which thankfully looked fine — tears pouring from his eyes.

Harry swore, pocketing his wand, and bent down to pick up the screaming child.

"It's alright," Harry said, rocking Teddy back and forth in his arms. He looked incredibly uncomfortable and ridiculous doing it, and Ron wondered just how people ever managed to parent a child. It seemed so unnatural — at least for Harry (and Ron) in that moment.

They were virtually kids themselves, and as Teddy continued to scream, shaking his head and fighting Harry's hold, Ron realised that they had made a terrible mistake in doing this. They weren't ready to look after someone so young.

Harry being Harry, though, had gone on some stoic power trip when he'd insisted that he and Ron would be fine looking after Teddy for a few hours. Andromeda had even offered to stay, but Harry had said no, apparently feeling some responsibility to the boy.

Even then, Ron had had his doubts. Harry could still be a godfather with Andromeda there supervising them. He'd said as much to Harry, but Harry had been determined.

Well, so far it was going well. They'd had him for no longer than ten minutes and he'd already been injured.

Harry turned to Ron, still awkwardly bouncing the crying baby, appealing for help. Ron shrugged. He knew as much about children as Harry did.

They weren't cut out for this.

Still trying to settle Teddy five minutes later, Harry once again appealed desperately to Ron. He even held Teddy out for Ron to take.

Ron took a step back.

"Oh, no," he said. "I'm not —"

"I have no idea what I'm doing!" Harry said.

"And you think I do?" Ron retorted.

Harry looked close to tears as he tried everything with Teddy, but to no avail. The baby just kept on crying, yet physically, he seemed fine.

"Maybe going out might be better?" Ron suggested. "You know, in public? Maybe someone will take pity on us and offer to help."

Harry nodded, now swaying Teddy backwards and forwards. It didn't work.

"Hey, Teddy," Ron said.

To his utter astonishment — and to Harry's, it seemed — Teddy stopped crying. Ron wasn't even sure the boy was old enough to know his name, but whatever — for a moment, they had a non-screaming child.

Teddy looked at him with a very suspicious expression.

Ron swallowed. Right about now he felt that having three tarantulas on his arm would be preferable than entertaining a child who he'd never truly met before. This was why he'd never volunteer to look after Bill's child alone. Uncle duties could be performed under supervision.

A lot of supervision.

"How do you feel about cool toys?"

Teddy continued to watch him curiously. He obviously had no idea what Ron was asking, but seemed intrigued by his voice.

"You like toys?" Ron continued, glancing at Harry who was staring at him with a look of confusion.

The only response was now blue eyes staring back at him. They'd been brown a moment ago.

"Toys?" Harry asked in exasperation. "Mate, we have no —"

"The joke shop," Ron said.

Harry paused. "But that's not open."

"George is still there." Ron shrugged. He looked back to the baby and smiled. "I know a cool place where you can play with all the toys you want."

Teddy didn't do anything other than stare at Ron. Though, his hair had changed to a fiery red, which was a very odd sight.

Harry looked mildly impressed as he said, "Alright, let's go and look at all the toys." He then hesitated. "You don't think George'll mind, do you?"

"I reckon seeing some kid's face light up will really be the motivation George needs to reopen," Ron said.

Harry nodded, carrying Teddy over to the fireplace.

"Maybe a coat for him?" Ron suggested. "It's threatening to snow today."

"Oh, right!" Harry said and he Summoned Teddy's coat from the sofa. "Merlin, never let me have children," he added.

Ron smiled. "I'm sure it's different when you know them better."

Harry put the coat around Teddy and then stepped into the fireplace.

It wasn't until Harry and Teddy had disappeared in a sea of green flame did a sudden sense of dread wash over Ron. The idea of visiting one of the last places he'd seen his brother suddenly felt very overwhelming, and he was surprised that he'd even bothered to mention it to Harry at all. It had been a spur of the moment idea, one he'd suggested without thinking. But now the idea of setting foot inside... was that how George felt too? Walking into the place every day where all of his fondest memories of Fred were and having to sweep up the last remaining pieces of the jokes he'd left behind?

Ron Disapparated directly to Diagon Alley. He landed just on the other side of the brick wall to the Leaky Cauldron in one of the assigned Apparition points.

Being a Saturday, the alley was packed with shoppers, all going about their daily business, hardly noticing Ron or the other Apparators who'd appeared moments after him.

He only had to wait a few minutes by the wall before it jumped apart and out stepped Harry with Teddy in his arms.

Teddy's eyes widened at the large number of people walking about — all dressed in wizard clothes, all laughing and talking with one another. It was incredible to see how, almost a year later, people were returning to some normalcy after the war.

Diagon Alley hadn't been like this two years ago, but it was once again resembling his childhood memories of coming with his family.

Ron led the way through the crowd, making a path for Harry and the small child they'd ended up with. They received some looks — well, mostly Harry, who was still so easily recognisable by everyone. They were no doubt wondering who the child was and why he was with Harry.

Ron couldn't help but smile at what the gossip articles would publish in the coming days. No one knew that Harry had been named godfather of Teddy Lupin and he was certain some people would run wild with their theories.

They hadn't walked very far when Teddy began wailing again.

Ron stopped and turned to face a panicked Harry, who was once again bouncing the poor child.

Merlin help Harry's future children, Ron thought.

What had Harry been thinking? The louder Teddy cried, the more he thrashed against Harry, and the more difficult he was for Harry to keep a hold of. If only Andromeda had been here. Or… Molly.

She'd dealt with seven children, she would have known what to do. Perhaps the Burrow should have been their point of call and not Diagon Alley.

"Come on," Ron said, and a large path had cleared now that Teddy was causing a scene.

"Ron, do you reckon George will let us in?" Harry said over Teddy's cries.

"If not, I can get us inside," Ron said over his shoulder. He stopped out the front of the unlit joke shop. George still lived above it, and despite refusing to open, Ron knew his brother still came down every so often, mostly to sit in the back office and contemplate things.

He peered through one of the windows to try and catch a glimpse of his brother. To his relief, he caught movement near the counter at the back and knocked loudly.

He saw the figure jump, then look over with a rather irritated expression. It didn't improve when he saw Ron's face peering through the window.

Mouthing something that Ron could only assume was a long trail of swear words, George came to the door and flung it open.

"The sign says closed," he said irritably.

"I know," Ron said. "But we are in desperate need of some entertaining devices. Anything for a small child."

"A small child?" George asked. "Dear Merlin, what have you done, Ron?"

"Nothing," Ron scowled. He indicated Harry and Teddy standing slightly behind him, Teddy's cries now reduced to whimpers as he looked at the newest stranger before him.

George's eyes widened. "Is that —"

"Teddy Lupin, yeah," Ron said. "We've had him for twenty minutes and already he's hit his face and spent most of the time crying. Please can you help us?"

George stared between the three of them for a moment, then with a heavy sigh, stepped aside to let them in.

"Are you two babysitting, are you?" George asked. "Really?"

"Harry's idea," Ron said, stepping into the shop. "I thought it was a very dangerous idea, myself."

"Merlin help the poor boy." George smirked, and Ron was pleased to see a hint of his old brother back — no matter how quick it vanished again.

"Do you have anything to keep him busy?" Harry asked. "Ron promised him a toy." Teddy was now fussing so much that Harry was forced to put him on the ground. His crying had stopped completely, eyes scanning the shop eagerly.

The moment he was on the ground, Teddy crawled off amongst the shelves.

George grimaced. "I just sorted them."

"Well, find something for him!" Ron said.

"My products are more suited for five and up."

"A toy wand would do," Harry said, hurrying forward to catch Teddy before he emptied a shelf of bottomless cauldrons. "I know you have them."

George hurried to a shelf and extracted one of the toy wands Harry had mentioned.

"Oi, Teddy…"

Teddy stopped. His eyes turned to George. George held up the wand.

Teddy crawled forward, and George bent down to pass him the wand. He waved it around for a few moments, stuck it in his mouth, and then tossed it aside. He crawled off again.

Looking a bit frazzled, Harry chased after him, leaving Ron and George alone.

"I can see you've been working on it," Ron said, trying to keep his voice even. He didn't want to sound hopeful, or excited, but it pleased him nonetheless.

George shrugged. "Something to do."

"You still don't want to open up then?" Ron asked.

George remained silent, his eyes staring at nothing in particular. Ron noted that he wouldn't even look at him.

"Mate, if you need any help — Harry and I are free most weekends."

"I wouldn't ask you to —"

"You're not," Ron said. "I'm volunteering. And Harry. He volunteered me for Teddy, so this is his payback."

George shook his head. "I haven't decided what I want to do with this place. This was… ours. It almost feels wrong to do it without him."

Ron hesitated. He had to tread carefully. "I'm sure he —"

"I know, Ron," George said. "He's probably sitting back, wherever he is, rolling his eyes at me and telling me to get back into the game now."

Ron smiled. That sounded exactly like something Fred would say. "The offer still stands," he said. "Whenever you need us."

"Thanks," George replied. "That means… something."

While Harry was occupied with chasing Teddy around, George showed Ron around the shop. It really was no different to the only other time Ron had set foot in it, apart from the melancholy atmosphere. The vibrance of the place two years ago had gone, replaced by the despair of the war and its aftermath.

"What do you think people need to get a good laugh?" George asked after a while.

The question unsettled Ron. It was strange hearing George ask that. He was normally the one with the answers on how to make people laugh.

But he wasn't going to deter his brother, who suddenly seemed somewhat interested in starting up his business again.

"Something that lets them look to the future and not at the past."

"So, a crystal ball?" George said.

Ron smiled. "Something like that." He looked over to where Teddy was once again trying to empty the shelves. "Maybe things appropriate for the real little ones. Soft toys that come to life. I know Muggles have those things inside toys that help it make noise. I don't know what they're called —"

"Batteries?" George said. "We looked into some Muggle things when creating some of our stuff."

"Probably. Anyway, they have them. But, what kid wouldn't love a dragon that opens its mouth and roars, or a stuffed house-elf that plays with them?"

George stared at Ron for a moment, seeming a little shocked by the suggestions. Then, he said, "Huh. Maybe."

"Just a thought," Ron said, shrugging.

"Maybe we should go back," Harry said, coming back over to them, his glasses slightly askew and his hair sticking up all over the place. He was clutching Teddy around the middle, who had a fistfull of rubbish in his hands. "Andromeda will be back soon and she mightn't be happy if she learns we've taken him out…"

"She's probably thrilled to have a break," Ron said. "Imagine having a kid that young in your care when she's as… old as she is."

"Do you think I should offer to look after Teddy more often?" Harry asked, sounding defeated. "To give her more breaks?"

Ron shrugged. "How would I know?"

"Well…" George said, looking over at Teddy, "at least you're going to hand him back in one piece. That's something."

"Very true," Ron said. "If it was just me, he'd be handed back in a Floo powder box." He stepped forward and gently removed the pieces of torn up paper from Teddy's clenched fists. The boy didn't protest. In fact, he yawned, snuggling his head into Harry's shoulder.

They bid farewell to George, Ron once again offering George some help.

Diagon Alley was still as packed as ever, but with Teddy firmly in Harry's arms, they made their way through the crowd without any hassle.

Once back at Grimmauld Place, Teddy was sound asleep in Harry's arms.

"Andromeda will be happy," Ron said. "You got him to sleep."

"It's been alright, hasn't it?" Harry asked, carefully lying Teddy on the sofa of the living room and placing a protective enchantment around it like Andromeda showed him just in case he rolled over.

Ron snorted. "If you call chasing him around the shelves of a joke shop alright."

Harry smiled. "I think I will offer to do it again. I owe it to Remus and Tonks… and I owe it to myself, I think, too."

Ron nodded, not needing to ask what Harry meant. Harry, the boy who had grown up in a home that wasn't ideal, had not known his parents, had not felt loved or wanted, or even appreciated, did not want the same fate for any other person — especially the son of a friend. Where Harry's own godfather had been unable to raise Harry, Teddy's life would be different. Harry would make sure of that.

"And, like I said to George," Ron said, "my offer to help you as well is there. If you need it. Can't say I liked today, but it was hard enough with the two of us, so I couldn't imagine you on your own."

"Ha," Harry said. "Thanks."

Ron looked over to the sleeping Teddy. "He's cute when he's asleep."

"I think all children are," Harry replied, and he sat down on the same sofa Teddy was now fast asleep on, watching the boy with something resembling affection.

I'm so glad I am publishing this now, because where I'm up to in writing, Ron and Hermione are almost up to having Rose, so the change in Ron's attitude is interesting to see haha!

I hope you all enjoyed it :) And don't forget to follow this story's Instagram account 'whenihaveyou . romione' (without spaces) for artwork, sneak peeks and challenges.