Audience Favorite

Lee leaned back against the kitchen's island counter as he watched with amusement as George fluttered around Harry helplessly as the younger man goes about his business with Teddy on his hip.

“It's not like today's fight is an important one, Harry,” George tries again, for just about the millionth time since they woke up, “It wouldn't be so bad if you skipped out on this one. Make your debut a bit closer to the Hunt, when fights have to be non-lethal.”

Harry easily sidestepped the pareya as he attempted to grab onto him, moving in that graceful way of his that he had learned under the attention of his mentor as he did something as mundane as cook breakfast. He had really grown into his air affinity under tutelage. For not having a main element, his ties to air were evident even back when they were all in school. No one could fly quite like Harry. And now that he had wings, he was just as graceful on the ground as in the air.

“For the last time,” Harry replied, not even looking up from the frying pan, “Maurice would just about murder me in training if I skived off from my first official match. And you're being ridiculous, George, all of my fights are already set for non-lethal. I wouldn't risk Teddy being made an orphan just for the chance to show off.”

Teddy, who was clutching onto his dad's shirt as he peered down at the frying food with concentration suddenly looked up at the sound of his name.

“Can I come watch your fight, daddy?”

Lee internally cooed at the adorable sight of Teddy and his little pout and wide green eyes. Teddy was just the cutest kid and no one could change his mind. The little boy was growing up fast, it seemed like just yesterday Lee was changing diapers and now here he was, begging Harry to bring him to the Pits.

Teddy's hair always mimicked the messy Potter hair style, just with the addition of outrageously bright colors. His eyes changed color much more rarely, generally copying Harry's famously green shade, but on occasion when he was feeling strong emotion they would change to a bright amber, or even more rarely into his actual eye color, a shade of silver-gray unique to the Black family.

This morning his hair was the most obnoxious shade of sky blue to exist and it made Lee's inner dragon just want to clutch him in his claws and smother him in love. His nephew is the most adorable child in all of the realms.

“You know you can't, Teddy bear,” Harry answered his son calmly, “Children aren't allowed in The Pits. Lee's never brought you with him to work. The rules don't suddenly change just because I'm going to be the one there.”

The little boy scowled, his hair changing from eye-searingly bright blue to a muted gray, but Harry just turned off the stove and started plating the finished food instead of giving the boy a reaction. Lee knew it was the smartest move to make, but Harry was the only one of their little family who could ignore Teddy when he got so visibly upset. George blamed it on their pareya instincts and claimed it was Harry being a gheyo that allowed him to be so strict at times with Teddy. Harry thought they were both just weak for Teddy's childish manipulations. Lee secretly knew he was right, but thought Harry was certainly one to talk on that. He was just as much of a softy for the kid as the pareyas were.

When it was revealed that Harry was Teddy's Third during their initial Healer evaluations, Harry had been shocked, to say the least. Lee and George had both been too upset about all the revelations about Harry and his health to focus on Teddy who was declared perfectly healthy by the Healer's scan. But Harry, despite all the personal secrets being aired and unveiled, had remained as focused on his godson through it all as he had been since he first gained custody of the infant. Which was to say, almost completely.

Lee walked over to grab half of the full plates to bring them to the dining table, George copying him with the other half. Harry moved over to the table and plopped Teddy in his seat, one that was magically changed to be at the perfect height for the boy to be able to eat at the table normally. A wave of his hand and three glasses came out of the cabinets before setting beside their plates that Lee and George had just put down. A moment later and George returned from the fridge holding one jug of juice with two jugs floating behind him, only slightly shakier than Harry's control of the glasses.

As wizard raised, their instinctive control over magic was weaker than Nevarah born dragels. Wizards and their use of wands had restricted them, left them unused to the power they could naturally control. Every bit of magical control they had was hard earned from retraining themselves as adults. Harry, of course, was the best at it. He had always been a magical powerhouse. With his magic unrestrained he had to learn control all over again and his mentor had not went easy on him.

Lee and George had had it easier in that respect. As pareyas they were supposed to be defenders, not the first wave of attack. Their training had been kinder. But what they hadn't learned from their mentors, they learned from Harry himself who had refused to let former students of his flounder in a new world of magic.

Harry had always been a great teacher and this became even more obvious as he got older and grew confidence in himself. Lee and George were a lot more magically ready for attack than anyone probably knew under his guidance.

George poured his glass as he cheerily said aloud, “Pumpkin juice for me,” waved his hand and poured another jug into Harry's glass, “Orange juice for Harrikins,” and another wave as he finished with, “And apple juice for the Tedster.”

The fire dragel sent a mock stern glare at him as he added, “You have to fend for yourself, Lee.”

Lee just waved a hand airily as he laughed easily, “Yes, yes, I know. I already made my cup.” To iterate his point, he walked back over to the island and grabbed the half full mug of coffee, still steaming from a handy charm.

Mrs. Weasley had tried to convert him to a cup of tea in the morning instead, but Lee wouldn't give up his coffee for anything. Not even Mrs. Weasley's heavenly cooking.

He got to eat Harry's anyways and he didn't try to police Lee's choice of drink.

He happily dug into the food on his plate, unable to hide a goofy grin as he watched Teddy happily dive in as well, little hand clutched tightly around his fork as he messily shoveled food in his mouth.

After swallowing his mouthful he spoke up.

“Will Maury be observing your fight today?”

Harry looked up from where he was reaching over with a napkin to wipe Teddy's face absentmindedly.

“No, not today at least. It may be my debut, but it's a relatively low stakes bout. We're not expecting any trouble. In fact,” he trailed off with a wry tone, “If I somehow lose today I think Maurice would run me through training drills until I pass out. It would be an embarrassment.”

Lee knew if Harry had said that to someone else who didn't know him they would say something along the lines of not underestimating the gheyos of the Pits, that they were all well trained warriors and going in with that sort of confidence to a fight was just asking to get his butt kicked.

But Lee knew Harry and as such knew Harry was one hundred percent right. Harry was going to massacre his opponent in today's fight and it was going to be glorious.

“Anyone else who would come, do you think?” George asked as he took a sip of his pumpkin juice.

Harry just shook his head quickly. “Nah, most of our families aren't gheyos. The floor my fight is on for today is Pit staff and gheyo only. I didn't even bother to tell the few who could make it. This fight isn't worth it.”

Lee heavily disagreed. Sure the fight wasn't going to be worth watching to showcase Harry's full abilities, but it was certainly going to be entertaining. So much in fact that Lee had booked the right to be the announcer for every single one of Harry's scheduled fights, no matter which floor it was on. Lee wasn't going to miss these fights. Harry may not be pleased and thinks he's wasting his time when he could be commentating for fights in the main arena, but Lee refused to budge on this one. Even if Harry's fights weren't going to be the highlight of his day because of how downright hilarious he thinks they'll turn out, Lee would still want to be the only one to commentate for Harry.

So he was a bit possessive, sue him. Lee had been his sole commentator since Harry was eleven years old. It would feel wrong for someone who wasn't him to be the one to be in charge of Harry's fights. Lee had been his personal cheerleader for too long. No one else would do him justice.

Probably guessing where his mind was heading from his emotions, Harry gave him a side glare to behave before focusing on his food.

Empathy was such a cheat.

“I'll take Teddy to his class today,” George offered as he watched Harry finish up and start to stand.

“Thanks,” Harry smiled softly as he ruffled Teddy's once more blue hair before heading further into the house, leaving his empty plate on the table. It was part of the morning ritual in their house. Harry cooked, Lee or George cleaned up depending on whether Lee was working that morning or not. As he was, it was George's turn and he finished up slowly as he waited for Harry to come back out in his armor.

A few minutes later and Harry was back, newly dressed in his well worn in battle clothes, ready to head to the Pits. Lee swallowed the last of his coffee as he stood up to join them.

“See you two later. Good luck in your fight today, Harry, don't humiliate the poor gheyo too much,” George said with a playful grin. Lee was impressed. He knew how much George hated the thought of Harry fighting in the Pits but he was masterfully hiding it. Of course, Harry was an empath so of course he still knew, but Lee knew he still appreciated the gesture.

Teddy looked up from his nearly empty plate, with food smear on still on his face. Lee didn't understand how the boy managed to get any food in his belly with how messy of an eater he was.

“Bye Daddy! Bye Uncle Lee! Good luck in your fight,” Teddy parroted George's words, even matching the intonation to be sure he was saying the right thing. Lee once again had to hold himself back from cooing out loud. “Love you!”

Harry smiled back at him as he went to the door with Lee. “Love you too, puppy. Have a good day at school. Don't get into too much trouble.”

“I won't!” Teddy hollered back as they both left through the door, Lee unable to hide a chuckle that made Harry unable to hold back his own mirth.

“He's definitely going to cause trouble today, isn't he?” he asked Lee as they stepped outside of their house wards to get ready to port.

“Oh, for sure,” Lee replied as he held out his hand for Harry to hold. Once Harry's hand was secured in his, he called out, “Temptrificus Ergen, The Pits Receiving Chamber,” and away they went with a surge of Earth magic.

Lee's grin was practically wicked as they finally arrived in the Pits.

It was time for the members of the Pits to meet Harry.