Godfather
“Ginny told us to leave you this,” Hannah said, pushing a large backpack into Harry’s arms. “Just in case you haven’t gotten the chance to fetch diapers and the like for Teddy.”
Teddy is still in nappies? Harry kept the surprise to himself. Surely, he would have noticed something like that. And yet, now, glancing down at Teddy, who was clutching his stuffed penguin in one arm and holding Hannah’s hand with his free one, he did notice the edges of a nappy sticking out from the hem of his shorts. I don’t know how to change him.
“Er, thank you, Hannah. Is there anything else?”
“He was in a right state today. We think the abrupt changes in routine are getting to him. Hopefully, soon enough, he’ll be used to rotating between the three of you and being in your homes. Just keep an eye on him, and be patient."
Harry nodded.
Hannah knelt down to face Teddy at his height. “Goodbye, Ted! I'll see you tomorrow," she smiled. "Be good with Harry, okay?" She stood up, then, walking off with a wave, leaving Harry and Teddy together.
Entering his flat to see it tidy was one thing to help ease the anxiety quelling in his chest. His mind drifted briefly to Draco, to soft skin and lips, to cold hands and noses against warm ones. He closed his front door, locking it (unable to help his mind as it reminded him of Draco’s own habits).
"Go ahead, Teddy. Welcome to my home." Harry let go of his hand, watching as he took small steps further into the flat, now standing in the middle of the kitchen, looking around, his arm around his penguin and hooking around for his thumb to meet his mouth. The phrase that he'd spoken felt foreign in his mouth. Home? What even was home to Harry? The last place he had thought of was Hogwarts. But now...? He wondered how Draco must be doing with Dawlish.
Harry settled onto the couch, being sure to stay close to Teddy, who was slowly but surely making his way past the kitchen and into the living room. Harry placed the backpack down onto the coffee table in front of him, unzipping it. Atop its contents laid a note in Ginny's handwriting.
Bedtime: 7:00 pm. He usually showers right before heading off to bed.
You will find toys, clothes, snacks, nappies, and wipes in the bag. don't let him near anything small enough to swallow.
I've shrunk a tall chair and placed it in the bag, as well. He sits in that to eat. I've also shrunk a padded cot for him. He shall sleep at your bedside in case of any emergencies.
Firecall me or Hermione if anything.
-Ginny
Harry cast a tempus, the glowing numbers in the air reading 5:00. He supposed he was meant to feed Teddy somewhat soon if he was to get Teddy tucked in by seven. He glanced up at the child, who was looking intently at the floo, his hand still in his mouth. Am I supposed to tell him to take his hand out of his mouth?
He didn't know.
"Er, Ted, you should take your hand out your mouth..." Harry was met with silence. "Are you hungry, Teddy?" He asked.
Teddy still did not reply, continuing to watch the empty floo.
Harry figured he'd start with what Ginny had instructed him to do, setting up the portable high chair next to his couch. Then, he'd figure out what to prepare for dinner.
Harry very quickly realized that there was nothing in his flat to eat. He cursed mentally, pulling open a drawer with pamphlets for food delivery, complete with menus and floo addresses.
What will Teddy even eat?
Harry rifled through the pamphlets, looking for a restaurant that was suitable for children.
There was a paper with the floo address for a small pizza place. What child doesn't love pizza? He opened the menu, scanning to see what he'd order before calling the floo.
Teddy seemed entranced by the green flames of the floo, and Harry had to stop him several times from sticking his hand into the flames, lest he get transported to the restaurant on accident. He ordered a cheese pizza, bread sticks, and water bottles, remembering that they both needed to drink something as well.
The floo flames went out, and Teddy seemed surprised by it. He attempted to climb into the fireplace and-
"No, No. Teddy, we don't do that." Teddy then let out a mewl, attempting to push at Harry, who had all about grabbed him from the fireplace. "It's dangerous," Harry tried, only to get a palm to the face, knocking his glasses askew. He placed Teddy down outside the fireplace.
Suddenly, he understood why some households had gates around their floo networks. He fixed his glasses, letting out a breath."Hey, let's see if there are some toys for you, yeah? Let's go to your bag and see what toys Ginny has left for you."
Harry let out a shakily relieved breath as Teddy, for the first time that day, acknowledged what Harry had said. His hair turned pink and he nodded at Harry, clasping his free hand-which still held a penguin around the arm- in the older man's. Harry supposed this was all very good, considering he hadn't the foggiest what he was doing.
Soon, Harry had Teddy colouring at the coffee table. At least his hand was out of his mouth, now. Occasionally, he would make small, random noises, like a pop or bat or kat or da, as he doodled with the crayon in his fist. His hair was slowly, constantly shifting in colour. Harry couldn’t help but smile, feeling his heart swell as his godson happily scribbled and prattled away.
In a knee-jerk decision, Harry kneeled down beside Teddy, his eyes on the drawing.
“Hey, Ted, what’re you colouring?”
Harry examined the parchment. Teddy had completely ignored the printed lines that made up a dragon, having scribbled over it all with blue, orange, and pink. Teddy didn’t respond to him, but that was okay. He felt warm all the same about it.
“How creative, may I join you?”
Harry gently moved for a red crayon, making sure he was slow with his movements. Teddy then looked up at him. Harry tried again.
“Can I have a crayon?”
Teddy gave him the blue one he’d previously been using and grabbed a new one for himself.
They spent fifteen minutes while waiting for the food order to arrive colouring together. Harry had, at one point, even made an attempt to tickle him, which earned him a giggle. He would smile up at Harry, eyes bright and hair matching his godfather’s, asking Harry for more tickles by grabbing his hand and moving it to his armpit. Harry learned quickly enough what Teddy would try to communicate and would indeed tickle the boy again and again.
When the pizza finally arrived, Harry got up from his spot on the floor to retrieve the order.
He first went to serve Teddy, cutting up one slice fo pizza into small bites and putting it onto one of the paper plates that the pizza shop had provided. He placed Teddy in his tall chair and placed the plate on the seat’s tray. Then, he went and put two slices onto a plate for himself. Harry sat down on his beige sofa, facing Teddy in his high chair. He frowned slightyle when he realized Teddy was poking at the pizza with his face contorted in suspicion.
“Look, Ted,” he waved at Teddy to get his attention. “It’s pizza!” Harry showed his own slice before demonstrating taking a large bite. “It’s delicious,” he offered with a smile, still mid-chew.
Teddy was quiet, still poking at his own small pizza bites.
Harry waited.
Then, when it seemed that Teddy wasn't going to budge, Harry reached over and grabbed one of the bite-sized pieces, putting it towards Teddy's mouth. Teddy turned his head away.
"Hey, come on, try it. It's pizza!"
Teddy looked back at him, a furrow forming in his brow. His hair was turning green.
"Come on," Harry tried, putting the piece closer. Teddy shook his head violently, his face entirely scrunched up now. He let out a small whine. Harry managed to get the bite into his mouth, and Teddy spit out the now misshapen bite just as quickly.
"Alright," Harry sighed. "It's not that big a deal, I guess." He put the piece down, returning to his own slice. Teddy watched, a frown still set on his face.
Harry went through his whole meal without Teddy even making an attempt to try his. He didn't even try poking at it again. Harry sighed.
"Ted, you need to eat."
Teddy didn't respond, which Harry was half expecting by now. He stood up from the couch, tossing his own plate in the bin, then returning with a small cup and one of the water bottles that he'd also bought. He opened the cap of the water bottle, then poured some into the cup and drank. Teddy mewled.
"Oh, do you want water?" Harry held up the plastic bottle. Teddy's face was still contorted, which Harry did not like at all. He looked at Harry as though he were struggling. Then, finally,
"Ya."
Harry's eyes widened. "Oh-Okay! Okay. good job, Ted!"
Harry placed everything down, not missing how Teddy's eyes followed the water bottle. He rifled through the backpack, certain that there must be a sippy cup somewhere. He gave up in an interest for time, pulling out his wand.
"Accio, sippy cup." The red and blue cup flew into his hand, and he quickly filled it with water and handed it to Teddy, who took it happily.
As he watched Teddy gulp down his water, he thought about the pizza. It dawned on him instantaneously, and he wondered why he'd been so daft as to forget.
"He only likes to eat hard, crunchy foods. Oh, and he calls biscuits cookies, just so you know."
Harry was lucky his flat hadn't been destroyed over his insistence for Teddy to eat the pizza.
But what was he to do? Teddy needed to wat something, at the least.
You will find toys, clothes, snacks, nappies, and wipes in the bag.
Harry looked down at the offending bag. He pulled out his wand.
"Accio, snacks."
Three containers flew from the bag. Harry caught them, looking. There were biscuits, small 'o' shaped cererals, small bits of apple, and small, thin sticks of carrots. All crunchy.
"Coo!"
Harry looked up at the sound of Teddy's voice. His hand was outstretched towards the many snacks he held.
"What was that, Ted?"
Teddy simply continued with his hand outstretched, leaning over the seat tray, his little fingers wiggling. Harry looked down at the various snacks, thinking about which snack he could have been referring to.
"Biscuits?"
Teddy nodded, still reaching out for the treat. Harry handed it to him.
He had finished all his biscuits and three fourths of his water before declaring he was full.
After tidying up a bit, Harry realised it was six, and decided it was time to shower Teddy.
Thanks to magic, bathing Teddy was not too difficult. Harry used his wand to keep temperatures stable and comfortable and even entertained Teddy with magical bubbles that took the form of various animals. Every delightful giggle and transformation of his hair made Harry's heart warm. After the bath, Harry then dressed Teddy in some pyjamas he'd found in his backpack, then set up the cot beside his bed and put Teddy to bed, tucked in with his stuffed penguin in his arms and a thumb in his mouth.
"Goodnight, Ted. I love you," Harry said, giving him a gentle kiss on the forehead.
Harry turned out the lights, then, and climbed into bed himself, exhausted and ready for sleep. However, sleep would not come easily, as was with most nights. It was odd, after months and months sleeping on Draco's sofa-transfigured-bed, to sleep in his own actual bed.
He stared at his ceiling fan, wondering, thinking about Draco, and about the case. He'd been so certain that the DNA tests would yeild something, anything. But there was no existing match. Ron said that this meant the murderer had never commited a crime in the past. Harry knew it was always possible, but he had still hoped that he could simply close this case, stop the murders from plaguing him.
The thought of Draco brought a flutter to his stomach. He missed the blond, missed his company, and his kisses. But more than anything, he just wanted to talk to Draco, ask him how everything is going, what he's thinking, feeling. He wanted to ask him what the next thing he wanted to bake was.
Minutes stretched into hours as Harry struggled to sleep. In the rare moments that his eyes did manage to slip shut, he’d be abruptly awaken with a gasp and in a cold sweat, images of blood, butchery, and gore seared into his mind. Sometimes, he swore he could still smell the death. However used to it he was, now that there was a two-year-old child sleeping in his room, he loathed the idea of waking him. Every time he woke, he would look down to see Teddy soundly asleep in his cot, curled up around his stuffed penguin, which was nestled neatly in his arms.
And each time, Harry would lay back down, counting his breaths, following the blades of his ceiling fan as they turned round and round. trying to rid the horrid images from his mind.
Eventually, Harry did fall into a slumber of sorts, his head swimming with fatigue, his limbs heavy as though filled with lead. He focused on his breathing, tried to listen for the soft inhale-exhale of Teddy’s sleeping form, and he fell asleep.
Several hours later, Harry blinked slowly awake to the sight of two large eyes staring back at him. He startled for a moment aas his brain caught up to his senses. Teddy. His eyes were red, and he was sniffling, and he was using his tiny hand to tap at Harry’s shoulder. Harry sat up in an instant.
“Hey, hey, Ted, what’s wrong?” The child only continued to sniffle, reaching out towards where Harry used to be laying down. Harry scrambled to understand. “Do you want me? You want to come to bed?”
Teddy took several exaggerated gulps of breath, bottom lip quivering. He let out a small whine, blinking several times. Then, with what looked to Harry like a significant effort, emitted a small “Yea.”
Harry bent down and scooped him up into his arms, holding him close. Teddy curved his head to burrow his face into the crook of Harry’s neck, placing a thumb into his mouth. Harry gave the small boy a gentle squeeze.
“It’s alright, Ted. I’ve got you.” Curled up like this, Teddy’s entire body was smaller than Harry’s torso. The realization stirred something within Harry. Something that he didn’t quite recognize. Harry ran a placating hand through his hair, shushing him gently, repeating a mix of ‘I’ve got you’ and ‘it’s okay’. As Teddy’s breaths slowed, as he slowly quieted down, Harry felt something in his chest tighten and swell simultaneously. He had no doubt, in this moment, that he would do anything for Teddy Lupin. He loved this boy impossibly, and he knew right then, that he was going to begin to be a real godfather.