Chapter 6:
Teddy and Victoire lay low on the staircase of Grimmauld Place. They listened carefully to the adults who had gathered in the dining room. Teddy wished he had the extendable ear Uncle George gave him for Christmas, but he had left it at Grandma Dromeda's. He could even picture exactly where he left it.
"And now they're burning our homes!" Teddy flinched as an adult he did not recognize yelled. He could hear his uncle scolding the man for being too loud for the children, but Teddy wished they'd all be louder. He wanted to know what was happening.
"That must have been scary." Victoire whispered. Teddy nodded quietly, his eyes still on the dining room door.
"It was especially when the muggles started shooting at us." Victoire shivered at the thought. She whispered something in French that Teddy didn't understand. He knew a few words his Aunt Fleur had taught him, but he could never understand Victoire and her when they spoke. Sometimes he wondered if Uncle Bill was confused as well.
"What does propaganda mean?" Victoire whispered. Teddy shrugged. He had heard the word before but didn't know it's meaning.
"Forced propaganda? How do you intend to force it?" Their Aunt Hermione said. The two children listened carefully as the adults spoke. Along with struggling to hear, they struggled to understand. So far, they knew the adults were planning a "forced propaganda" which had something to do with animals. Whatever it was Uncle Harry suggested Hagrid and there was a loud agreement. The adults also had spoken about hospitals, but neither Teddy nor Victoire understood anything of that plan. As they edged closer to the edge of the stair platform, a voice made them jump.
"What are you doing?" Dominique asked as she sat down next to them.
"Dominique, go back to the playroom!" Victoire scolded her baby sister.
"I want to stay." Dominique folded her arms, pouting.
"Non, vous allez tout gâcher!" Teddy looked at Victoire. He didn't understand a word, but he knew he never wanted to be on the other end of that tone. Sometimes, Victoire reminded him of Grandma Molly when they got mad.
Dominique stomped her foot before walking down the stairs. She held the railing as she went.
"Where are you going?" Teddy whispered.
"Nowhere!" Dominique nearly shouted before running into the dining room. Teddy and Victoire jumped to their feet, sensing danger. As they reached the top stair, they froze at Bill Weasley's voice.
"And what are we doing?" Teddy sighed. His uncle did not appear upset, but the gig was up. There would be no more listening tonight.
It was late, but after the meeting Harry couldn't quiet his mind long enough to sleep. Instead, he sat in a closet of what he assumed was the guest room for the Black family. The closet had been used as a storage locker and was filled with multiple bins and boxes. A few things, Harry had wondered if Kreacher had hidden within. The box Harry sat in front of had an odd assortment of items. So far, he had found two old copies of a potions book he had used, but both were first editions and he believed his had been fifth or sixth in school. He had thrown both in the trash bag as he did not need outdated books.
As he went to grab an old transfiguration book, he noticed a corner of a photo between the pages. Grabbing the book cover, Harry shook the book until two photos fell out. The first was of Sirius and his father sitting against a tree. Harry smiled as he saw the boys, who must have been fourteen in the picture, make faces at each other before laughing. Harry quickly grabbed the second photo that had fallen face down and hoped it would be another of his father. Instead, he saw a fourteen-year-old Remus sitting against a rock, Harry knew was near the tree in the first photo. In Remus' photo he rolled his eyes before lifting the book to cover his face, but Harry could see his shoulders moving as he tried not to laugh. Soon Remus lowered the book and laughed openly.
Harry smiled as he looked at the two photos side by side. He wished he could move into them and see what the boys were doing that made them so happy in these photos.
Harry stood up with the photos in hand. As he walked to the door, he dragged his half empty trash bag to the door. Harry walked across the hallway and quietly opened the boy's bedroom. It had taken hours, but they had finally finished the old study. The room currently housed all three boys. Albus lay sleeping in his crib across the room and was the closest to the window. Next to his crib was a cabinet. One the wall to his right, James lay sprawled out in his 'big boy bed', which was bright red. At the end of his bed was a wooden toy chest. Opposite James was Teddy whose bed shared a wall with a small shelf with the few children's books they had saved from their old home. The walls had been painted green after Teddy and James argued about the colors. Teddy had called James a "dumb baby' and James called Teddy a "poop poop head". Ginny had ended the argument by waving her wand and turning the walls green. The boys were then told if they called each other names again she would change it to bubblegum pink. In the center of the room was a large round green rug that was designed to look like a Quidditch field.
Trying to be quiet, Harry walked over to Teddy's night stand, but the boy was a light sleeper and turned to face him. Rubbing his eyes and yawning, Teddy stared up to Harry.
"Hi."
"Hi. Sorry to wake you, but I found something you might like." Harry said as he knelt on the floor.
"What?" Teddy sat up, filling up with curiosity. Harry handed his godson the photo of Remus.
"I found it in a book. It's your dad. I think he's in fourth year." Teddy leaned forward analyzing the photo in his hands. Harry watched as Teddy lay his fingers across the book in the photo. Harry understood how Teddy felt holding a photo of a father he couldn't remember.
"I'm not sure what is so funny, but I found this one too." Harry held the second photo. Teddy looked up as Harry pointed at the boys. "This one is my dad and this is my godfather, Sirius." Teddy smiled looking back at his father.
"Do you think he's laughing because they were making funny faces?"
"Probably."
"Can I keep it?" Teddy asked, looking wide awake now. Harry smiled.
"Of course. We can even get a frame for it later." Teddy's smile grew as he turned back to the photo. "Now, go back to sleep. I didn't mean to wake you up." Harry tucked Teddy in again, who fell asleep holding the photo.