Chapter- 4

Teddy was bored out of his mind. The adults were gathered at the burrow for their sunday dinner, talking animatedly. Usually Ted would be the center of attention. Everyone fighting for their turn to play with him and Ted mostly loved it. Today however, they were engrossed in talking about Fleurs pregnancy. It was quite a sight the day she had announced it. Molly was crying and incoherently gushing about how she would have a second grandchild, and whether it would be a girl or a boy, with elaborate plans for either case. Arthur started interoggating Bill, a little scarily, about whether he knew anything about babies and how he was going to handle this and whether he had thought this through. No doubt, he was deeply happy for his son though.. he just wasnt sure how to express it. Other Weasley kids were equally excited. Bill had been in such high spirits George joked he had the pregnant lady glow. There had been a general sense of freshness in the air since then. New life had a way of making the past bearable knowing there will be a future. Teddy though, not having fully grasped the concept of babies yet was confused at the sudden whispering and anticipation among the adults.

"Auntie Fweer what is pwegnant mean?", Fleur went quite red and Harry had to take Ted aside muttering an apology.

"No no it iz quiet alright. Teddy, pregnant meanz I am having e baby!"

Ted still a little confused, just shrugged and started playing with his toy car. He was already not liking whatever this "baby" was.

A silver rabbit suddenly hopped into the room bearing news of the escape of an ex-death eater from custody. That meant Harry had to leave, who tried his best to avoid Mollys gaze who was staring daggers at him. Ginny saw this, "Moom.. cut him some slack, hes been trying his best to balance everything". Harry smiled gratefully in Ginnys direction. Teddy realising what was happening piped up at once, "I wanna come too! Pwease daddy take me too!"

"Oh Ted, I am going to do some adult boring stuff there, you will have more fun here okay?"

"But I am big now. Why you saying like I am a baby", he pouted

Harry had to hide a laugh through a cough, "I am sure you are, but this is dangerous Ted. I will take you some other time"

Ron, being the cool uncle he was (or atleast thats what he tried to be. Hermione always said he could never be responsible or a disciplinarian kinda uncle/dad so he tried to be the complete opposite), "Harry you are only going for a meeting at the headquarters right now right? No harm in that, he will be safe with you, you will come straight back home.. its not like you are going on a mission"

Hermione hit Ron on the leg, her wavy hair flying over her face as she whipped her neck to look at Ron disapprovingly. Harry just tilted his head and rolled his eyes.. typical Ron. "What?". Hermione,"Ron he is one. Harry needs to give him complete attention and he wont be able to do that when he is adressing the aurors now would he? Honestly you would think you would grow up after all this time", she said as if explaining 11=2 to a little kid. Ron thinking this over came up with a solution to this, "I will go with then.. I can take care of Teddy while Harry does his thing. Satisfied miss responsible?"

Hermione considered this for a moment and grudgingly gave a curt nod. Ron mumbled uder his breath to Harry, "You cant ever complain mate, Ginnys a piece of cake compared to this one, always ready to pounce"

"He never does complain Ron! And thats the difference between you and him", Hermione countered scathingly

"Got the ears of a dog, that one"

"Stop referring to me as this one and that one!"

Ginny waving her arms dramatically, "Alrighttt.. this could go on all day, you two move on now"

So Ron, Harry and Teddy flooed to the ministry. Ted was so excited about everything, the size of the hall.. the dull green lighting (due to it being late in the evening), the statues of Snape and Dumbledore (Harry refused to have his own up there) with names of all the war heroes engraved at the base of the podium. Ron felt an ache thinking Teds parents names were there somewhere. He wanted to tell Ted about it but decided against it knowing Harry was in a hurry and whether he would approve of that, knowing it was a sensitive subject. Ron had carried Teddy in his arms as his short legs couldnt walk too far. Harry and Ron got their wands checked before they entered the elevator. As the cool female voice said "Aurors Department", Ted giggled and craned his neck trying to figure out the source of the voice. As they stepped out, a swarm of papparazzi was waiting to shred Harry to pieces, but Harry was all too trained in the art of shredding the tigers inturn.

"Mr. Potter, does the escape of Walder Macnair tell us about the incompetency of the Auror department in recent months?"

"Nepotism.. what do you have to say on that? Potters favorite friends get a free ride?"

"After being appointed Head auror, what changes have you brought in the department?"

Harry put on a mask he only ever used when he absolutely did not care about the people in front of him (Ginny thought it was kinda sexy), "What about press ethics, what do you have to say on that? Did they teach you in journalism school not to delay a very important meeting by asking questions that are in any circumstances not going to be answered as they are confidential? Or did you just happen to miss that one class?"

The effect was reasonably good. More than half the press started backing away but there are always those stubborn ones in the herd.

"Isnt it kinda irresponsible to bring a baby to an auror meeting?", the speaker was a young woman with glasses and a short ponytail.

Harry had had enough, it was one thing when they took jabs at him but when they tried to interfere in his personal life.. he was already at his wits end but before he could say anything Ted said in a defiant but hurt voice, "I am no baby! I am one"

Harry was rather surprised Ted had recognised what was going on, but then again he was the smartest kid in the world. The effect was rather positive this time. Many people awwed and the woman melted and just smiled. In the cuteness of the words spoken and the manner in which they were spoken, everyone forgot about the tension in the air. Harry bit back a laugh, Ron though was openly giggling like a little girl. The media parted and let them through, all animosity forgotten in that moment. "That was bloody brillaint. You so smart Teddy, you so smart", Ron doted.

Harry went inside for the meeting while Ron and Teddy waited outside. Teddys hair was again changing colors at the sudden rush of emotions with respect to what had just happened. Finally it settled on Weasley red. And for good measure his eyes turned blue to match Rons. Ron was rather pleased with himself.

Ron led Ted around to explore the different departments. He explained the functioning of each one in funny ways.

"And here, in magical law enforcement, work the people who breathe and eat rules and regulations, like your aunt Hermione and oh dont forget uncle Percy.. stuck up pompous gits who love to tattle. Bunch of tattletales"

Ted shook his arms vigorously in approval and cooed. Ron knew how mad Hermione would be if she heard him tainting such young ears with strong opinions that would surely live a big impression on little brains. Hell, he had started talking like her in his head! As he had been thinking all this, he hadnt realised Ted slip away from his sight. When realisation hit, his heart skipped a beat and then started hammering painfully against his chest. Oh fuck.

TYSM for commenting James and SIrensrong! It means a lot. This chapter was written in a bit of a haste.. hope its good. Take care till we meet again 3