chapter 7
"Can we go get ice cream, Da—Harry?"
A four-year-old Teddy jumped excitedly toward Harry, who was making himself a cup of coffee in the kitchen.
Harry glanced at the clock and smirked. "Sure, Teddy Bear. Go grab your jacket."
Five minutes later, they were standing outside Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour. The sweet aroma of freshly made waffle cones filled the air as Teddy bounced on his toes, eyes wide with excitement.
"Now," Harry crouched down to Teddy’s level, lowering his voice conspiratorially, "don’t tell Ginny we got ice cream again today, or she’ll kill me."
Teddy nodded absentmindedly, far too focused on the display of flavors in front of him.
Harry ordered a chocolate and vanilla cookie cone for Teddy and a simple vanilla cone for himself. They enjoyed their treat before apparating back to the manor, where Teddy ran straight to his room.
Lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, Teddy’s thoughts whirled.
"I was just about to call Harry 'Dad'... But doesn’t he do everything a dad does? He takes me out for ice cream, remembers my favorite flavors, plays Quidditch with me... And doesn’t Ginny do everything a mum does? She cooks delicious food and tucks me into bed...
Can I call them Mum and Dad? But then… what if my real parents are angry with me? What if they think I’m replacing them?"
His heavy eyelids eventually closed, and he drifted into sleep.
Teddy found himself by a beautiful lake, nestled under the shade of a great oak tree. The sunlight shimmered on the water’s surface, casting golden ripples across the shore. He was resting his head on his mother’s lap, her fingers gently stroking his hair, while his father sat beside them, tickling his feet. Teddy’s laughter echoed through the peaceful scene.
But then, Remus suddenly turned serious.
"Teddy," he said in a firm yet gentle voice, "we need to talk."
Teddy looked up, his stomach twisting nervously.
"You think we’re mad at you for wanting to call Harry and Ginny 'Dad' and 'Mum'?"
"Oh, baby," Tonks murmured, wrapping him in a hug. "Why would we ever be mad at you for something like that?"
Remus reached for Teddy’s small hands, squeezing them reassuringly. "We made Harry your godfather for a reason, love. We chose him to be there for you when we couldn’t. And we know—without a doubt—that he and Ginny will never try to replace us. And neither will you."
Tonks smiled warmly. "Ginny’s a great mum to you, Teddy. She’s always been wonderful."
"So… you don’t mind?" Teddy asked hesitantly.
"Of course not," Remus said, ruffling his son’s hair.
Teddy felt a wave of relief wash over him. He snuggled closer to his mother, closing his eyes as he whispered, "Thank you…"
Teddy woke up with a start. He lay there for a moment, the dream still fresh in his mind. Then, making up his mind, he jumped out of bed and ran downstairs.
Harry was sitting on the sofa, reading, when Teddy ran up and thrust a book into his hands.
"Read me a story, Dad."
Harry froze. He looked at Teddy in mild surprise, blinking as though he hadn’t heard him correctly.
"What…?"
Teddy suddenly felt uncertain. "N-Never mind," he mumbled, trying to slip away.
But Harry wasn’t having it.
"Not 'never mind,'" he said, his voice gentle but firm. He set the book down and turned Teddy to face him. "What did you just call me?"
Teddy bit his lip, then blurted, "Dad said I could call you Dad because he and Mum aren’t here anymore. And you won’t replace him. And Mum said I could call Ginny 'Mum'… So… can I?"
Harry stared at him, stunned.
Teddy mistook his silence for something else. His face crumpled, and his voice wavered. "I-I’m sorry!" he choked out, turning to run.
But before he could take a single step, Harry scooped him up and hugged him tightly.
"Teddy Bear—" Harry’s voice was thick with emotion. "I’m not angry. I could never be angry at you." He pulled back just enough to look Teddy in the eyes. "And you know what? It would be an honor to be your dad."
Teddy sniffled. "R-Really?"
"Really," Harry said firmly, pressing a kiss to the top of his head.
At that moment, Ginny walked in, her brows furrowing. "I thought I heard someone running up the stairs. How many times have I told you two not to run—" She paused when she saw Teddy’s red-rimmed eyes. Her face softened. "Teddy, darling, were you crying? Are you hurt?"
She barely had time to finish before Teddy turned and threw his arms around her.
"Can I call you Mum?"
Ginny froze, her lips parting slightly in shock. Then, in an instant, she swept him up in a fierce hug. "Oh, sweetheart," she whispered, pressing a kiss to his forehead, "of course you can."
Harry, feeling slightly left out, leaned over and wrapped his arms around them both.
"Hey," he grinned, "group hug."
Teddy giggled, his little arms tightening around both of them.