Insufferable Gadfly

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Headmistress Minerva Mcgonagall
(Order of Merlin, First Class)

Dear Mr. Potter and Mr. Nott,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been invited to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to complete your studies and to take your NEWTS at the end of term. Night classes will also be offered, but not mandatory, in order to better prepare you for life outside of school.

We are aware that Mr. Theodore Nott is living with you, and we are aware of his current conditions. Due to your current circumstances, preparations have been made for you, Mr. Nott, and the young Mister Edward Lupin should you choose to return.

The Hogwarts Express will be leaving Platform 9 3/4 at 11 AM on September 1st.

Please accept our request, and we hope to see you for your final year at Hogwarts.

Yours Sincerely,
Filius Flitiwck
Deputy Headmaster

Harry read the letter over at least three times before finally releasing the breath he'd been holding in.

It had only been two months since the battle. He was still recovering, and trying not to blame himself for the deaths that occurred. He had a son to look out for, as well as Theo and Hermione. 'Is going back to school really worth it?'

Before he could even answer his own question, Hermione came barreling down the stairs squealing, "Harry! You have to come see! Theo and Teddy are both knocked out. It's so precious!"

Harry looked up at her and she froze. He gestured to the second envelope on the table addressed to her. Hermione reached over and ripped it open, scanning the page. "Can we really go back?" She questioned, hesitantly. Hermione was crushed when she realized that she might not be able to finish her education; it was very important to her, she still had so much to learn.

"I'm only going if Theo agrees to it. Plus we have to set up someone to watch Teddy while we're in class," Harry stated. "You and I both know that Theo can't handle going to class alone, so one of us will have to be with him at all times."

"I'm sure the Headmistress will help with that. My letter states that they are 'aware of our living conditions and are willing to accommodate the four of us however we need'. I believe your letter is similar?" She retorted. She was going, whether Harry and Theo followed or not. Although it would be easier if they did, so she wouldn't have to worry all day, every day.

"I guess we will find out after nap time," Harry chuckled, "Will you Floo Call the twins? Let them know that if they come over now they have to be quiet. Theo doesn't sleep much at night. He needs all the rest he can get."

Harry and Theo had gotten close. They shared a room, and a bed. It was easier that way, for Theo's nightmares. And it was a bonus that it helped Harry's nightmares as well. Theo relied on Harry's presence to stay calm; to stay grounded. Every now and then, Hermione would find her way into their bed. She never spoke about her nightmares, but sleeping squished next to Harry seemed to ease her fears.

Hermione was also quite protective of the quiet boy. There were moments where Harry couldn't be around, and Theo attached himself to her. She was used to how needy Teddy and Theo could be; she was used to their routine by now. It would be weird without it.

"Okay, I'll let them know," Hermione assured him. "Do you think he'll agree? I mean, we'll all be together. And we won't let anything happen to him."

Harry sighed, "it's not up to me, 'Mione. If Theo wants to go back, I will go. McGonagall offered to help with our arrangements, and I believe her. But only Theo can answer if he's ready or not."

With that Harry trudged up the stairs to go check on his son and his friend, leaving Hermione to Fire Call the twins and threaten them to be quiet. She's really the only one they listen to.

Harry quietly opened the door to Teddy's nursery and poked his head in. Theo was sitting in the rocking chair, with a snoring Teddy laying on his chest. Harry smiled at the pair.

Theo never really slept unless he was with Harry or holding the small child. He was able to take short naps with Hermione if Harry couldn't be there, but he never truly got a good night's rest unless he was curled up into Harry's chest.

To Harry, it seemed crazy that it had only been a few weeks since Theodore Nott showed up on his doorstep. It feels like it's been forever. He knows Theo like the back of his hand; how to calm him down, and how to rile him up to get him to react to anything.

Harry quietly snuck in the room and tiptoed over to the sleeping pair. He carefully lifted the infant off of Theo and rocked him in his arms. "Hey buddy, it's time for you to go to your bed," he whispered before kissing Teddy's head and placing him in the crib.

As soon as he laid Teddy down, the baby started to whimper. 'Merlin, your Uncle Theo has spoiled you so much already'. Harry held his breath to see if he would calm back down.

"You know, it's rude to sneak up on someone and steal their cuddle buddy while they sleep," a voice whispered. Harry nearly screamed before realizing that it wouldn't be the best idea.

"Merlin and Morgana, Theo! Don't do that to me!" Harry gasped. Theo laughed and walked over to the crib next to Harry. "He's really a great kid. Thank you for saving the world for him. And for saving me," Theo whispered, leaning his head onto Harry's shoulder.

Harry sighed, this had turned into an everyday thing. Theo thanking him and Hermione for bringing him into their home, "Theo, don't thank me. We're here for you. You're family now, okay?"

Theo nodded and grabbed Harry's hand, leading him out of the room, "Are the twins here yet?" A loud shriek from the downstairs area answered the question for them.

Harry and Theo ran down the stairs to save the twins before Hermione decided to scalp them.

"WHY. DID. YOU. DO. THAT." Hermione demanded smacking the red headed twins in between words. Fred and George were cowering away from the frightening girl.

"We didn't-" George started.

"Do it-" said Fred.

"On purpose-" George said next.

"'Mione, we promise!" Fred finished.

Harry and Theo stood by, laughing. Well, Harry was laughing. Theo was staring at the floor, determined not to make eye contact with the red headed brothers. He was getting better, but he wasn't there yet.

"Just don't do it again. And be quiet, Teddy is napping with Theo," Hermione scolded, not bothering to notice the pair that just wandered in. "Actually, 'Mione just Teddy is napping," Harry stated. He wanted to make sure no one said anything about Theo's progress with his present. That would only set him back more.

At the sound of his voice, Hermione turned around and wandered over to where Theo was and took his hand, "C'mon Theo, let's go sit down and see what the mischief twins have to tell us." Theo followed her with his head still down.

"Hey Theo! How're -" Fred started.

"- you doing today?" George finished.

Theo loved it when the twins came to visit. The way they finished each other's sentences always made him smile. In response, Theo started communicating with his hands. When Theo was too afraid to communicate in front of others, he used the muggle language that Harry and Hermione were teaching him; British Sign Language.

Fred and George were a little more advanced in the muggle language than he was. They opened up a third shop in Muggle London and a lot of muggles with hearing problems wandered in. So they had more time to practice, but the twins were always so patient with him.

"I'm okay. I missed you guys," he signed; that was a big step for him. Theo didn't usually admit to missing anyone. The twins smiled and asked if they could all sit down because they had news for the trio.

"So, we had a very interesting owl this morning," Fred said. George reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope. Harry immediately recognized the emblem as the Hogwarts stamp, "Wait, why did you guys get a Hogwarts letter?"

Theo just looked confused. They couldn't finish school, the grounds were damaged by the war. Sensing his confusion, Hermione shared a look with Harry before handing Harry's letter to Theo to read.

After ten minutes of silence, Theo started shaking. He could go back. He could finish his schooling and get a good job. He could live a normal life.

Harry reached over and pulled Theo into his lap, "Shhh, hey. It's okay. If you don't want to go back we won't go, okay? I will not make that decision for you. I'll go where you go." Harry leaned down and kissed the top of Theo's head.

Theo sat still for a moment, 'Now or never' he thought, "N-NO! I w-want to g-go! P-pl-please!"

Harry, Hermione, and the twins all looked at Theo with big smiles. This is the first time he's every spoken to anyone other than Harry or Hermione. A big step towards recovery.

"Well, I think Theo has spoken for us!" George laughed. He was so excited to hear Theo's voice. In the past two weeks, Theo has become their adopted little brother.

A week after Theo arrived, the twins and the entire Weasley family, met up at Harry and Hermione's for dinner. Harry planned on sharing the exciting news of Teddy's adoption being approved. No one knew about Teddy, or that Harry was appointed as his Godfather. But instead, there was a lot of yelling, and a lot of hexes being thrown.

Most of the Weasley's were appalled at the idea of Harry allowing the son of a Death Eater into his home. While some of them took one look at Theo and understood Harry's intentions. Harry and Hermione haven't seen or spoken to the Weasley's since then.

Bill, Charlie, Fred, and George were the only ones who understood and accepted Theo. They were also the only ones who knew about Harry's adopted son.

"Well, back to our letter," George said. He could tell that Theo did not like the attention he was getting. "It says that we have been given a new job. While the three of you attend classes, Fred and I will be watching Teddy."

At that moment, the Floo lit up a bright green and Fleur and Bill stepped out. Theo leapt from Harry's lap straight into Fleur's arms. "Theo! 'Ow 're voo?" Fleur asked, hugging him back. Theo just nodded before releasing her and plopping back down onto Harry's lap and hiding his face into Harry's chest. He's had too much attention on him for one day.

"Funny you mention that, George. I caught the last little bit of your sentence as we came through," Bill said, pulling his younger brothers into a hug. "Fleur and I have both been hired as babysitter's as well. If Madam Pomfrey cannot watch Teddy, then one of the four of us will."

"See," Hermione started, giving Harry a death glare, "Teddy will be well taken care of! We can do this. We've made it this far, haven't we?"

Harry couldn't argue. He just tightened his arms around Theo, "Fine. We will go, but the first comment made to Theo, and I will not hesitate to hex the person into oblivion. And no one can know about Teddy."

Everyone agreed and they started talking about game plans. No one could really come up with a schedule until the trio arrives at Hogwarts and figures out their classes.

'Maybe things will be okay after all' Theo wondered.