Fic: The best dad in the world
Title: The best dad in the world
Pairing: Harry/Hermione
Rating: G
Summary: Harry and Hermione are raising Teddy Lupin as their own, and Harry finds himself dealing with a moody teenager.
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Notes: This is for ladybluestar, because she recently celebrated a birthday and has been sick. She picked the name of Harry and Hermione's daughter, and I picked their son's. While this is Harry/Hermione, it's really more about Harry and Teddy. My thanks for kiwiria for the beta.
Hermione shook the soot off her robes and then shed them, laying them over the couch. She put her handbag down and took out bag after bag of shopping from it, placing them on the ground to be sorted through later. What she wanted right now was to kiss her family hello and then sit down with a nice cup of tea.
She went in search of her family and found, to her complete surprise, that both of her younger children - four-year-old Sirius and three-year-old Emilia - were fast asleep in their respective rooms, taking an afternoon nap. They rarely napped anymore, so Harry must have tired them both to the point of exhaustion. She stared at each of them for a few long moments, taking in their beautiful little faces, so peaceful and innocent in slumber, and then very gently closed their doors over again.
But there didn’t appear to be much peace in Harry’s office, as Hermione discovered when she approached it. She could hear the yelling from down the hallway.
“-but everyone has one!”
This came from thirteen-year-old Teddy Lupin, whom Harry and Hermione had adopted at the age of six after his grandmother, Andromeda Tonks, suddenly passed away. She’d given custody of the young Teddy to his newly married godfather, who’d decided to make Teddy’s place in his new family both legal and secure for the little boy who’d already lost so much by formally adopting him.
Hermione pushed open the door, intent on stepping in if needed, but neither male appeared to notice her.
“I don’t care if Kingsley Shacklebolt himself has one, Teddy, I’m not buying you a new broom! You got a brand new one for your birthday five months ago and it was the latest model when we got it. You don’t need a new one.”
“But it’s a Firebolt Deluxe 2000!”
“Well, good for it. The answer’s still no.”
Teddy’s hair suddenly turned bright red, which it only did when he was extremely angry or throwing a tantrum. Teddy being a Metamorphmagus had made it easy for his parents over the years, with his hair changing colour according to his mood. He curled his hands into fists and glared at his father, who had crossed his arms over his chest and wasn’t budging an inch.
“I HATE YOU!” Teddy yelled, storming out of the room without so much as a glance at Hermione. She let him go, knowing he needed space to calm down, and went over to her husband.
Harry sighed. “Thank God he only hates me,” he said, rubbing his temples.
“You almost sound glad,” Hermione answered softly, reaching out to stroke his cheek. She cocked her head to the side and looked at the face of the man she loved more than life. “What were you expecting him to say?”
“I… I thought maybe he’d say something about me not being his real father. He’s not really a child anymore, Hermione, he’s growing up and becoming more aware of who he is.”
“Oh, Harry,” Hermione said, pulling him into her arms. He went willingly, holding her close. “You are his real father, in every way that matters.” She pulled back just far enough to look at him. “No, we’re not his biological parents, and yes, Remus and Tonks would have been wonderful parents. But they died and we raised him, and we don’t love him any less than we love Sirius and Emilia. You don’t treat him any differently and you couldn’t love him more if he was your biological son.”
Harry closed his eyes and took the comfort his wife offered. They stood together in comfortable silence for a few minutes. “Do you think he really hates me?”
“Of course not,” Hermione chuckled. “He idolises you. I heard him telling one of his mates just last week that he has the best dad in the world.” She let him go and sat next to him as he leaned against the large mahogany desk.
“Really?”
Hermione nodded. “Really.”
“I’m too young to be dealing with a moody teenager,” Harry moaned, and she laughed. “It’s not funny!”
“Sure it is. Don’t forget we have two behind him. And one of them is a girl.”
Hermione sorely wished she had a camera at that moment to forever capture the look on her husband’s face.
~*~
Harry was playing out in the back garden with Sirius and Emilia, who had woken from their naps ten minutes apart and wanted to play with Daddy in the backyard. He’d so far chased Sirius the Seeker on his little toy broomstick and been unsuccessful in catching him, and had had a dozen cups of tea with Emilia and her dollies. So he was almost glad for backup when Teddy appeared, his hair now the pale pink it went when he was feeling nervous or embarrassed, or both.
“Teddy!” Sirius cried, jumping off his broomstick in mid-air and dashing over to his older brother. Teddy swung the little boy up in his arms and hugged him.
“How’s the broomstick riding going, squirt?”
“Good! Daddy tried to catch me but I was too fast for him!”
“I’m not surprised, you’re a great Seeker!” Teddy tickled him and put him down, and then picked up his sister, who was clamouring at his feet for his attention. “Hey, pretty girl,” he said, kissing her warm cheek. “Whatcha doing?”
“I’m having a tea party,” she said, chortling. “Daddy’s had lots of cups of tea! Do you want one, Teddy?” Big, green eyes beseeched him to join her.
“I’d love one, but I want to talk to Dad first, okay? You go put the kettle on and I’ll be right over.” He put her down and patted her bottom as she toddled back over to her table and chairs.
Teddy moved slowly over to where Harry was now stretched out on the grass, his eyes closed and head tilted up enjoying the last of the day’s summer sun.
“Hi, Dad,” he said, tentatively sitting down next to Harry on the grass. He pulled his knees up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them.
“Hi, Ted.” Harry said nothing else, leaning back on his arms. He knew from experience that it was best to let Teddy make the first move.
Teddy opened his mouth a few times to speak, but closed it again, struggling to find the right words. He felt awful about what he’d shouted at his father earlier; he’d never said that before and it was completely untrue - he loved Harry Potter very much.
“I don’t hate you,” he blurted out, pulling out blades of grass.
Harry turned his head and looked at the teenager, who was staring at the ground. “I’m glad to hear it, because I love you.”
“I’m sorry,” Teddy whispered, horrified to be suddenly blinking back tears.
Harry pulled himself to his feet. “I know,” he said, holding out a hand to his son. And just like that, it was over. No more needed to be said. Teddy took his hand and allowed Harry to pull him up and into a hug. Teddy hugged his dad back, holding him tightly. “Go have a cup of tea with Em, or she’ll never leave you alone,” Harry said with a grin. “I’ll go pretend I can’t catch Sirius for a little while longer.”
~*~
Harry checked on his youngest children, sticking his head through the small gap in their doors, and found them both fast asleep. He watched them for a few moments, illuminated by their night lights, then left them to their slumber.
When he stopped by Teddy’s room, however, he found his oldest son still awake. Teddy’s hair was a pale blue, which Harry knew meant he was feeling a little down, and he had on a favourite pair of old pyjamas, with tiny werewolves running around and stopping every so often to howl on them. He was sitting cross-legged on his bed, a large scrapbook on his lap and a couple of photo albums on the bed next to him.
Harry knocked on the door and waited until Teddy looked up before asking, “Can I come in?”
“Sure.” Teddy moved the albums out of the way so Harry could join him on the bed, which his father did, stretching his legs out.
“What are you looking at?”
“Some photos of my parents, and I’m reading through the scrapbook Gran made me before she died.”
Harry reached out a hand and stroked Teddy’s blue hair comfortingly. “Remus and Tonks loved you very much. You were their one great joy during a very difficult time.”
“Can I ask you a personal question, Dad?”
“Of course you can.”
“Do you miss your parents?” Teddy turned his body slightly so he faced Harry, a curious look on his face.
Harry thought for a moment before his answer. “I do miss them, but I don’t remember anything about them. Not any more.”
“Does that make you sad?”
“Sometimes,” Harry responded, taking Teddy’s hand in his and squeezing gently. “I wish they’d seen me grow up and have a family of my own. I wish they’d been around when I was at school and fighting Voldemort. I wish they’d been alive when I was little so I wouldn’t have had to live with the Dursleys. But they weren’t, Teddy, and no amount of wishing can change that.”
Teddy nodded and decided to change the subject that had always been a little painful for both him and his dad. “Did you know you were magical when you lived with your aunt and uncle?”
“Oh God, no. I mean, strange things used to happen, but I never really gave much thought as to why.”
“Strange things? Like what?”
“One day, I went to the barber’s for a hair cut and when I got home, my Aunt Petunia was angry because she thought it looked like it hadn’t been cut at all. So she got a pair of scissors and cut it all off herself. All I had left was a little fringe to cover my scar. I didn’t sleep that night, knowing that the teasing and bullying I always got at school would be even worse. But when I woke up the next morning, it had all grown back.”
“Really? All of it?”
Harry nodded and grinned. “Exactly the same length it had been before she cut it. And then another time, I was being chased at school. One minute I was on the ground, the next I was sitting on the chimney, safe from Dudley and his gang.”
Teddy snorted with laughter. “Don’t mess with a wizard, Muggles!”
“Indeed.” Harry smiled wryly. “Of course, when I turned eleven and Hagrid arrived it all made sense. But before that, no. Didn’t have a single clue that the wizarding world existed.”
“Are you glad it does?”
Harry looked into his son’s eyes and smiled. “I’ve never regretted being a wizard, not for a minute. This has always been the world in which I felt I belonged. I had two best friends who were always there for me, and then I fell in love with one of them and married her. You came to live with us, and we had Sirius and Em. I have a great life surrounded by people I love more than anything.”
Teddy was silent for a moment as he digested everything. “Where did you think your parents were?”
“My aunt and uncle had told me they’d died in a car crash when I was one. It was only when I was eleven that Hagrid told me the truth, that they’d been killed.”
“Just like mine,” Teddy said, his voice a little sad. His hair turned a darker shade of blue as Harry put an arm around his shoulders.
“I’m sorry about Remus and Tonks, Ted,” Harry said softly. “I wish I could have saved them.”
“They knew the risks when those chose to fight with you in the war, Dad,” Teddy said, leaning his head on Harry’s shoulder. “It wasn’t your fault. You didn’t kill them.”
The two of them sat together silently, taking comfort from each other in the face of their shared loss. Harry kissed the top of Teddy’s head and gave him one last squeeze before letting him go. “Why don’t you try and get some sleep, mate. It’s getting late.”
They both got off the bed, Harry helping Teddy put his scrapbook and albums away carefully. Teddy then got back into bed, and Harry sat on the edge of it. “Want me to read you a bedtime story?” he asked, green eyes twinkling.
“Dad!” Teddy said with a groan. “I’m not a baby anymore, I don’t need a bedtime story!”
“Okay, your loss. Sweet dreams.” He smiled once more at his son, whose hair had gone back to the natural brown he’d inherited from his biological parents. “See you in the morning.”
“’Night.”
He got up and left the room, leaving the door propped open just a little.
~*~
Harry sighed as he went into the living room and rubbed his scar absently. It was force of habit now; his scar had never hurt again since the day he’d finally vanquished Voldemort for good.
Hermione was on the couch, feet tucked up underneath her, reading a book and sipping hot chocolate from the mug on the little coffee table next to her. Dozens of candles hovered far above them while orange and red flames licked the grate of the fireplace, giving the large room a warm, cozy feel. She looked at Harry as he joined her on the couch, then sat up and placed an arm around him as he slumped against her, resting his head on her shoulder. “Are they all asleep?” she asked, kissing his forehead.
“Sirius and Em are,” Harry replied, sighing heavily. “Teddy’s still awake, though. I found him looking through the scrapbook Andromeda did for him before she died.”
“Is he okay?”
“Yeah, I think so.” Harry closed his eyes and put his hand on Hermione’s thigh, grateful for her presence. “I think he’s feeling a little down because of the fight we had earlier.”
Hermione brought her free hand up and stroked her husband’s hair softly. “And how are you?”
“I’m okay. I just wish--” Harry trailed off and shifted so he could look at her. “I wish I could have saved Remus and Tonks somehow. Teddy deserved to know his parents.”
Hermione said nothing for a few moments, then leaned forward and brushed her lips against his. “So did you, Harry,” she said quietly.
Harry blinked back unexpected tears. “I love you.”
Hermione just smile and kissed him again, and didn’t let him go until they were interrupted.
“Sorry,” Teddy said with a sheepish smile, his hair turning from the brown it had been when Harry had left him to a vivid pink.
“Don’t be silly, love,” Hermione chided him gently. “You want some hot chocolate?”
“Nope,” Teddy said, plonking himself on the couch in the space his parents had just created between them. “I’ll just share Dad’s.” With a cheeky grin, he picked up the mug Hermione had placed on the table for Harry and drank a mouthful of it before putting it back on the table.
“Brat,” Harry said with a laugh. “You should be asleep. It’s late.”
“I know, I’m just not tired. I’m on holidays, Dad! This means I can stay up late.”
“It does? Hermione, have you read anywhere that being on holidays means you can stay up late?”
“I don’t seem to recall seeing it anywhere.”
Teddy’s face fell. “Oh, come on, you guys!”
Harry raised his eyebrows. “I suppose you’re not being sleepy has nothing to do with the Kestrals versus Harpies match that’s about to start?”
“Is it?” Teddy put on his most innocent face, and Harry couldn’t help it - he laughed out loud. “Does this mean I can stay up with you and watch it?” Teddy asked slyly, his hair turning dark green in support of the Harpies, which Harry knew he only supported because all the players were witches.
“You know the rules - ask your mother.”
Teddy turned to Hermione with wide eyes. “Can I stay up and watch the match with Dad, pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeease, Mum?”
Hermione rolled her eyes. “Only if you agree to degnome the garden tomorrow.”
That wiped the grin off the teenager’s face, but when his dad leaned in and whispered, “I’ll help you,” the grin reappeared.
“Deal.”
Hermione got up off the couch and picked up her book. “I’m going up to bed to read, then. Enjoy the game.” She leaned over and kissed Teddy on the cheek. “Don’t stay up too late, young man. I don’t want to hear a single grumble in the morning about you being tired. And no betting on the game with your father. Good night.”
“I won’t. ‘Night, Mum.”
Kissing Harry good night, Hermione left the two to watch their game together. She stopped at the doorway to look at them one last time and smiled as she noticed Teddy shift on the couch and lean against his father.
“Right, so, a galleon on the Kestrals to win?” Harry asked when she was gone.
Teddy pulled back slightly so he could look at Harry. “But Mum said I couldn’t bet on the game.”
“Did she?” Harry asked, a twinkle in his eye. “I didn’t hear her say that. You in?”
“I’m in,” Teddy said with a smirk, shaking his dad’s outstretched hand.
Teddy won the bet.
Pairing: Harry/Hermione
Rating: G
Summary: Harry and Hermione are raising Teddy Lupin as their own, and Harry finds himself dealing with a moody teenager.
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Notes: This is for ladybluestar, because she recently celebrated a birthday and has been sick. She picked the name of Harry and Hermione's daughter, and I picked their son's. While this is Harry/Hermione, it's really more about Harry and Teddy. My thanks for kiwiria for the beta.
Hermione shook the soot off her robes and then shed them, laying them over the couch. She put her handbag down and took out bag after bag of shopping from it, placing them on the ground to be sorted through later. What she wanted right now was to kiss her family hello and then sit down with a nice cup of tea.
She went in search of her family and found, to her complete surprise, that both of her younger children - four-year-old Sirius and three-year-old Emilia - were fast asleep in their respective rooms, taking an afternoon nap. They rarely napped anymore, so Harry must have tired them both to the point of exhaustion. She stared at each of them for a few long moments, taking in their beautiful little faces, so peaceful and innocent in slumber, and then very gently closed their doors over again.
But there didn’t appear to be much peace in Harry’s office, as Hermione discovered when she approached it. She could hear the yelling from down the hallway.
“-but everyone has one!”
This came from thirteen-year-old Teddy Lupin, whom Harry and Hermione had adopted at the age of six after his grandmother, Andromeda Tonks, suddenly passed away. She’d given custody of the young Teddy to his newly married godfather, who’d decided to make Teddy’s place in his new family both legal and secure for the little boy who’d already lost so much by formally adopting him.
Hermione pushed open the door, intent on stepping in if needed, but neither male appeared to notice her.
“I don’t care if Kingsley Shacklebolt himself has one, Teddy, I’m not buying you a new broom! You got a brand new one for your birthday five months ago and it was the latest model when we got it. You don’t need a new one.”
“But it’s a Firebolt Deluxe 2000!”
“Well, good for it. The answer’s still no.”
Teddy’s hair suddenly turned bright red, which it only did when he was extremely angry or throwing a tantrum. Teddy being a Metamorphmagus had made it easy for his parents over the years, with his hair changing colour according to his mood. He curled his hands into fists and glared at his father, who had crossed his arms over his chest and wasn’t budging an inch.
“I HATE YOU!” Teddy yelled, storming out of the room without so much as a glance at Hermione. She let him go, knowing he needed space to calm down, and went over to her husband.
Harry sighed. “Thank God he only hates me,” he said, rubbing his temples.
“You almost sound glad,” Hermione answered softly, reaching out to stroke his cheek. She cocked her head to the side and looked at the face of the man she loved more than life. “What were you expecting him to say?”
“I… I thought maybe he’d say something about me not being his real father. He’s not really a child anymore, Hermione, he’s growing up and becoming more aware of who he is.”
“Oh, Harry,” Hermione said, pulling him into her arms. He went willingly, holding her close. “You are his real father, in every way that matters.” She pulled back just far enough to look at him. “No, we’re not his biological parents, and yes, Remus and Tonks would have been wonderful parents. But they died and we raised him, and we don’t love him any less than we love Sirius and Emilia. You don’t treat him any differently and you couldn’t love him more if he was your biological son.”
Harry closed his eyes and took the comfort his wife offered. They stood together in comfortable silence for a few minutes. “Do you think he really hates me?”
“Of course not,” Hermione chuckled. “He idolises you. I heard him telling one of his mates just last week that he has the best dad in the world.” She let him go and sat next to him as he leaned against the large mahogany desk.
“Really?”
Hermione nodded. “Really.”
“I’m too young to be dealing with a moody teenager,” Harry moaned, and she laughed. “It’s not funny!”
“Sure it is. Don’t forget we have two behind him. And one of them is a girl.”
Hermione sorely wished she had a camera at that moment to forever capture the look on her husband’s face.
~*~
Harry was playing out in the back garden with Sirius and Emilia, who had woken from their naps ten minutes apart and wanted to play with Daddy in the backyard. He’d so far chased Sirius the Seeker on his little toy broomstick and been unsuccessful in catching him, and had had a dozen cups of tea with Emilia and her dollies. So he was almost glad for backup when Teddy appeared, his hair now the pale pink it went when he was feeling nervous or embarrassed, or both.
“Teddy!” Sirius cried, jumping off his broomstick in mid-air and dashing over to his older brother. Teddy swung the little boy up in his arms and hugged him.
“How’s the broomstick riding going, squirt?”
“Good! Daddy tried to catch me but I was too fast for him!”
“I’m not surprised, you’re a great Seeker!” Teddy tickled him and put him down, and then picked up his sister, who was clamouring at his feet for his attention. “Hey, pretty girl,” he said, kissing her warm cheek. “Whatcha doing?”
“I’m having a tea party,” she said, chortling. “Daddy’s had lots of cups of tea! Do you want one, Teddy?” Big, green eyes beseeched him to join her.
“I’d love one, but I want to talk to Dad first, okay? You go put the kettle on and I’ll be right over.” He put her down and patted her bottom as she toddled back over to her table and chairs.
Teddy moved slowly over to where Harry was now stretched out on the grass, his eyes closed and head tilted up enjoying the last of the day’s summer sun.
“Hi, Dad,” he said, tentatively sitting down next to Harry on the grass. He pulled his knees up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them.
“Hi, Ted.” Harry said nothing else, leaning back on his arms. He knew from experience that it was best to let Teddy make the first move.
Teddy opened his mouth a few times to speak, but closed it again, struggling to find the right words. He felt awful about what he’d shouted at his father earlier; he’d never said that before and it was completely untrue - he loved Harry Potter very much.
“I don’t hate you,” he blurted out, pulling out blades of grass.
Harry turned his head and looked at the teenager, who was staring at the ground. “I’m glad to hear it, because I love you.”
“I’m sorry,” Teddy whispered, horrified to be suddenly blinking back tears.
Harry pulled himself to his feet. “I know,” he said, holding out a hand to his son. And just like that, it was over. No more needed to be said. Teddy took his hand and allowed Harry to pull him up and into a hug. Teddy hugged his dad back, holding him tightly. “Go have a cup of tea with Em, or she’ll never leave you alone,” Harry said with a grin. “I’ll go pretend I can’t catch Sirius for a little while longer.”
~*~
Harry checked on his youngest children, sticking his head through the small gap in their doors, and found them both fast asleep. He watched them for a few moments, illuminated by their night lights, then left them to their slumber.
When he stopped by Teddy’s room, however, he found his oldest son still awake. Teddy’s hair was a pale blue, which Harry knew meant he was feeling a little down, and he had on a favourite pair of old pyjamas, with tiny werewolves running around and stopping every so often to howl on them. He was sitting cross-legged on his bed, a large scrapbook on his lap and a couple of photo albums on the bed next to him.
Harry knocked on the door and waited until Teddy looked up before asking, “Can I come in?”
“Sure.” Teddy moved the albums out of the way so Harry could join him on the bed, which his father did, stretching his legs out.
“What are you looking at?”
“Some photos of my parents, and I’m reading through the scrapbook Gran made me before she died.”
Harry reached out a hand and stroked Teddy’s blue hair comfortingly. “Remus and Tonks loved you very much. You were their one great joy during a very difficult time.”
“Can I ask you a personal question, Dad?”
“Of course you can.”
“Do you miss your parents?” Teddy turned his body slightly so he faced Harry, a curious look on his face.
Harry thought for a moment before his answer. “I do miss them, but I don’t remember anything about them. Not any more.”
“Does that make you sad?”
“Sometimes,” Harry responded, taking Teddy’s hand in his and squeezing gently. “I wish they’d seen me grow up and have a family of my own. I wish they’d been around when I was at school and fighting Voldemort. I wish they’d been alive when I was little so I wouldn’t have had to live with the Dursleys. But they weren’t, Teddy, and no amount of wishing can change that.”
Teddy nodded and decided to change the subject that had always been a little painful for both him and his dad. “Did you know you were magical when you lived with your aunt and uncle?”
“Oh God, no. I mean, strange things used to happen, but I never really gave much thought as to why.”
“Strange things? Like what?”
“One day, I went to the barber’s for a hair cut and when I got home, my Aunt Petunia was angry because she thought it looked like it hadn’t been cut at all. So she got a pair of scissors and cut it all off herself. All I had left was a little fringe to cover my scar. I didn’t sleep that night, knowing that the teasing and bullying I always got at school would be even worse. But when I woke up the next morning, it had all grown back.”
“Really? All of it?”
Harry nodded and grinned. “Exactly the same length it had been before she cut it. And then another time, I was being chased at school. One minute I was on the ground, the next I was sitting on the chimney, safe from Dudley and his gang.”
Teddy snorted with laughter. “Don’t mess with a wizard, Muggles!”
“Indeed.” Harry smiled wryly. “Of course, when I turned eleven and Hagrid arrived it all made sense. But before that, no. Didn’t have a single clue that the wizarding world existed.”
“Are you glad it does?”
Harry looked into his son’s eyes and smiled. “I’ve never regretted being a wizard, not for a minute. This has always been the world in which I felt I belonged. I had two best friends who were always there for me, and then I fell in love with one of them and married her. You came to live with us, and we had Sirius and Em. I have a great life surrounded by people I love more than anything.”
Teddy was silent for a moment as he digested everything. “Where did you think your parents were?”
“My aunt and uncle had told me they’d died in a car crash when I was one. It was only when I was eleven that Hagrid told me the truth, that they’d been killed.”
“Just like mine,” Teddy said, his voice a little sad. His hair turned a darker shade of blue as Harry put an arm around his shoulders.
“I’m sorry about Remus and Tonks, Ted,” Harry said softly. “I wish I could have saved them.”
“They knew the risks when those chose to fight with you in the war, Dad,” Teddy said, leaning his head on Harry’s shoulder. “It wasn’t your fault. You didn’t kill them.”
The two of them sat together silently, taking comfort from each other in the face of their shared loss. Harry kissed the top of Teddy’s head and gave him one last squeeze before letting him go. “Why don’t you try and get some sleep, mate. It’s getting late.”
They both got off the bed, Harry helping Teddy put his scrapbook and albums away carefully. Teddy then got back into bed, and Harry sat on the edge of it. “Want me to read you a bedtime story?” he asked, green eyes twinkling.
“Dad!” Teddy said with a groan. “I’m not a baby anymore, I don’t need a bedtime story!”
“Okay, your loss. Sweet dreams.” He smiled once more at his son, whose hair had gone back to the natural brown he’d inherited from his biological parents. “See you in the morning.”
“’Night.”
He got up and left the room, leaving the door propped open just a little.
~*~
Harry sighed as he went into the living room and rubbed his scar absently. It was force of habit now; his scar had never hurt again since the day he’d finally vanquished Voldemort for good.
Hermione was on the couch, feet tucked up underneath her, reading a book and sipping hot chocolate from the mug on the little coffee table next to her. Dozens of candles hovered far above them while orange and red flames licked the grate of the fireplace, giving the large room a warm, cozy feel. She looked at Harry as he joined her on the couch, then sat up and placed an arm around him as he slumped against her, resting his head on her shoulder. “Are they all asleep?” she asked, kissing his forehead.
“Sirius and Em are,” Harry replied, sighing heavily. “Teddy’s still awake, though. I found him looking through the scrapbook Andromeda did for him before she died.”
“Is he okay?”
“Yeah, I think so.” Harry closed his eyes and put his hand on Hermione’s thigh, grateful for her presence. “I think he’s feeling a little down because of the fight we had earlier.”
Hermione brought her free hand up and stroked her husband’s hair softly. “And how are you?”
“I’m okay. I just wish--” Harry trailed off and shifted so he could look at her. “I wish I could have saved Remus and Tonks somehow. Teddy deserved to know his parents.”
Hermione said nothing for a few moments, then leaned forward and brushed her lips against his. “So did you, Harry,” she said quietly.
Harry blinked back unexpected tears. “I love you.”
Hermione just smile and kissed him again, and didn’t let him go until they were interrupted.
“Sorry,” Teddy said with a sheepish smile, his hair turning from the brown it had been when Harry had left him to a vivid pink.
“Don’t be silly, love,” Hermione chided him gently. “You want some hot chocolate?”
“Nope,” Teddy said, plonking himself on the couch in the space his parents had just created between them. “I’ll just share Dad’s.” With a cheeky grin, he picked up the mug Hermione had placed on the table for Harry and drank a mouthful of it before putting it back on the table.
“Brat,” Harry said with a laugh. “You should be asleep. It’s late.”
“I know, I’m just not tired. I’m on holidays, Dad! This means I can stay up late.”
“It does? Hermione, have you read anywhere that being on holidays means you can stay up late?”
“I don’t seem to recall seeing it anywhere.”
Teddy’s face fell. “Oh, come on, you guys!”
Harry raised his eyebrows. “I suppose you’re not being sleepy has nothing to do with the Kestrals versus Harpies match that’s about to start?”
“Is it?” Teddy put on his most innocent face, and Harry couldn’t help it - he laughed out loud. “Does this mean I can stay up with you and watch it?” Teddy asked slyly, his hair turning dark green in support of the Harpies, which Harry knew he only supported because all the players were witches.
“You know the rules - ask your mother.”
Teddy turned to Hermione with wide eyes. “Can I stay up and watch the match with Dad, pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeease, Mum?”
Hermione rolled her eyes. “Only if you agree to degnome the garden tomorrow.”
That wiped the grin off the teenager’s face, but when his dad leaned in and whispered, “I’ll help you,” the grin reappeared.
“Deal.”
Hermione got up off the couch and picked up her book. “I’m going up to bed to read, then. Enjoy the game.” She leaned over and kissed Teddy on the cheek. “Don’t stay up too late, young man. I don’t want to hear a single grumble in the morning about you being tired. And no betting on the game with your father. Good night.”
“I won’t. ‘Night, Mum.”
Kissing Harry good night, Hermione left the two to watch their game together. She stopped at the doorway to look at them one last time and smiled as she noticed Teddy shift on the couch and lean against his father.
“Right, so, a galleon on the Kestrals to win?” Harry asked when she was gone.
Teddy pulled back slightly so he could look at Harry. “But Mum said I couldn’t bet on the game.”
“Did she?” Harry asked, a twinkle in his eye. “I didn’t hear her say that. You in?”
“I’m in,” Teddy said with a smirk, shaking his dad’s outstretched hand.
Teddy won the bet.