December 2003

Harry had finally had some luck settling with a realtor on a house and was moving in and trying to get Andromeda and Teddy to Montana to move in with him. He had deeply missed the boy he thought of as a son in the months he had been gone.

He missed his friends as well, but they had been drifting apart over the last few years. The bonds they had formed at Hogwarts were fizzling out. The only exceptions were Luna and Neville. Luna was traveling the world as a junior journalist focusing on creature rights. RIght now, she was deep in the Amazon but had sent a postcard for his birthday back in July that Andy had kindly sent in a packet with his other mail back in August.

Neville had grown stronger, mentally and physically, over the years doing hard work under Professor Sprout as her apprentice and a full time member of the Wizengamot, taking over from his grandmother in 2000. He and Neville frequently talked and before Harry had left for Montana, he had set up a pair of satellite phones bought in the muggle world that he had tested around magic. He and Neville had only shared a birthday call but Harry knew if he needed a friend, Neville would be there for him.

The new house was a combination wood and brick manor house built into the hills outside town. It had come with some aged furniture as the last owner had died without a family member set to inherit and it had stood empty and withering for half a decade. Harry had been repairing the furniture with subtle spells and some good old fashioned muggle cleaning. Severus had helped him pick up ceramics for the kitchen and clean linens for the bedrooms. Connie had helped them by preparing several meals they had put in the freezer and organizing a potluck for when Teddy arrived so the family could celebrate their new home.

Harry was reorganizing the living room furniture when he heard the front door open. There was a clatter of tiny feet on the floor and soon enough, Harry had been body slammed from behind, a small body jumping on his back and wrapping thin arms around his neck.

"Uncle Harrrryyyyy! We're here! Did you miss me? I really missed you, but Nana said we had to wait." Teddy babbled.

Harry reached behind him and swung the five year old around and onto his chest. He hugged the little boy tightly and inhaled the sweet scent of his apple shampoo.

"Oh Teddy Bear, I missed you so much. Now where did you leave your Nana? Hm?"

His face froze, before he wiggled out of Harry's grip and ran back to the front door. "Nana! You gotta hurry!"

Harry followed his adoptive son and saw Andy standing on the porch with several bags of luggage.

"Hi Andy. I hope my Teddy Bear hasn't been too grumbly on the trip you sent me on." He smiled cheekily.

The older woman rolled her eyes and pulled Harry into a hug. "It's good to see you looking less stressed, troublemaker."

A man apparated onto the snow covered lawn. "Harry, I think…Oh, you have company."

"No, this is a good time, Severus. I'm sure you remember Andromeda Tonks. But this is my godson Edward Remus Lupin. Andy, Teddy, this is my good friend Severus Prince."

Andromeda blinked as she adjusted to the appearance of a supposedly dead war hero.

"Pleasure to see you again." She shook his hand. Teddy cocked his head to the side, evaluating the newest adult. Finally, he smiled a gap toothed grin and waved from his spot half hidden behind Harry's legs.

Harry straightened up, realizing all of a sudden that the weather in Montana winter wasn't as hospitable as English winter. "Everyone come in. I'll kick the fires up a notch. And start some tea." He ushered them inside.

They talked in the living room, fireplace blazing, and drank tea and had a slice each of the pound cake Harry had made earlier in the week when he was stressed about making the house perfect for Teddy.

After a catch up, Harry turned to Teddy where he was cuddled up against Andromeda's side. "Teddy Bear, is it alright if Severus lives with us? I know I promised it would always be me, you, and your Nana, but Severus is very special to me. He has a house of his own, but its very old and small whereas we have all these empty rooms to fill up. So how about it?"

Teddy rubbed his fleece jacket as he looked in between the men and thought it over. "He's nice?"

"Yes he's nice. And he works on a ranch with horses and cows. Maybe if you behave, he'll take you to visit the horses sometime."

"Okay. He can stay."