Proper Life

"Want some help with that?" Teddy asked, just in time to watch his mother lose her footing and slip from the ladder. Boxes crashed all along the floor, but she landed haphazardly in his arms.

"Thanks," she laughed, as Fred poked his head around the corner.

"The rules applies to you too good sir, you break it you buy it," he tried to say in a stern tone, before he started laughing. "You two alright? Not off to the train then?" He added as he glanced at the clock behind the counter.

"Nah, no reason," Teddy rolled his eyes as he made sure she was going to stay on her feet for more than five minutes this time. "Wanted to see if you guys needed any help with anything."

"Yeah, actually," Tonks said in relief. "George and Angelina went out on vacation, so we're going to be short handed tonight."

"Cool, I'll be back in like an hour then."

"Alright love," Tonks gave him a fond kiss, as he left as quickly as he entered.

"He's not coming back," Fred told her conversationally.

"I know," she laughed, "he would have swiped that decoy detonator, left money in the till, and vanished before I'd even turned around if I hadn't slipped."

"You dropped all of this on purpose?" He asked in mock exasperation.

She rolled her eyes fondly and waved her wand, putting everything properly on the shelves.

19

"Shelf thirteen, cubby hole seven-"

"Hey dad!"

"Hi Teddy-bear," Remus smirked without turning around and losing count.

"Are you ever going to stop calling me that?" His son groaned, shuffling through the desk behind him.

"I doubt it," he admitted.

"Uncle Sirius coming by today?" He must have found whatever he was looking for, he could already hear him trying to head back to the door.

"Most likely, first day of classes and all, he loves to come in and show off how he changed the world single handedly. Oh, and whatever you're nicking son-"

"I'll have it back by tonight, promise!" He called over his shoulder as he sprinted from the caretaker's office just as Neville entered.

"What was he up to this time?"

"Oh, I'm sure we'll all find out," Remus chuckled.

Neville laughed along as he came forward and helped Remus sort out the last of the old archives, something they'd been putting off doing all summer. It was tedious work, and his hands still fumbled and dropped most of it making it very frustrating work, but at least he never had to do it alone.

19

"Alone in that orphanage, with no one to understand what the poor thing would be going through. Can you imagine it?" Poppy said, her voice contrite as she held tight to their newest bundle of joy.

"Well, that won't be a problem now," Leo promised, kissing her temple. "I'll go get the room set up while you-"

There was a distinctive crash noise from the first floor, and both of them suppressed sighs.

"I'll go set up the room," Poppy promised. "You go see what they broke now."

"Ten sickles says they blame it on accidental magic again," he laughed as he descended the stairs, and grimaced as he realized he'd already lost the bet. "Ted, what are you doing?"

"Looking for something," he said without remorse, already having set the troll leg back upright. The portrait of Walburga Black behind them was waving and gesticulating along with the many others, but at least thanks to Maybell, their mouths were painted shut now, and the kids found it funny rather than frightening.

"I see that," Leo nodded patiently, "may I ask what?"

"Present," he said with chipper as he flicked his wand and the couch hovered a few inches off the ground and he poked his head under it.

"I don't think spontaneously giving someone a kid makes a very good present," Leo teased, "nor would you find one in there."

"Hardy har, not everyone visits Saint Black's just for the kids' company you know, sometimes we want to come see you."

"Ted, you haven't even looked at me yet," Leo pointed out.

"Found it!" He shouted in delight, and before Leo could even get a glimpse, Teddy waved joyfully to his cousin and slammed the front door on his way out. A kid began wailing in surprise above, and Leo smiled indulgently as he went after the safer option back up the stairs of his home.

19

"Home sweet home," Ron said cheerfully, even as the little girl looked up at him with his sister's eyes. "Okay, you know what I meant," Ron shrugged.

She sighed and followed him morosely into Uncle Ron's house. Not that she didn't feel at home here, but even her own home wasn't where she wanted to be today. The same thing happened every year it seemed, everyone she knew met up on the platform to send someone else off, except her. Then her parents, everyone would go back to work, except Uncle Ron who far more enjoyed taking care of the ever dwindling number of kids. One more year, she tried to console herself, until she didn't know what he'd do with his free time, but she knew what she'd be doing with hers.

"Hey Teddy," Uncle Ron said in surprise, causing her to look up and around with the first smile today.

"Hi guys," his grin was infectious, he'd even turned his hair red for the occasion. She twisted her fingers in hopes he'd spend the rest of the day here. "Just came by to drop something off."

"Aw, Ted, you shouldn't have," Ron grinned, while her shoulders slumped and she waved at the two to have fun before going off to the living room. Teddy caught the back of her shirt as she was walking past, and then she squealed in surprise and delight as he sat her down on his lap.

"The present's for you," Ted grinned.

"Really?" She beamed.

"I figured you'd need it today," his grin widened as he began mock digging around in his robes. "Can't be fun, being the youngest of your cousins, seeing all they get to do while you have to sit around at home all day."

"James was making fun of me for it all morning," she agreed.

"Well, come break, you get to show off with this," he finally pulled his contraption out. It was a silly looking object, a tiny little black blob with feet she'd recognize anywhere as a Weasley's Wizard Wheezes' product. It had the most beautiful flower stemming straight up from its head she'd only ever seen Neville manage to produce, and was wearing the red earrings she'd swore she lost at her Uncle Leo's last week.

She burst out laughing, before wrapping her arms tight around her favorite cousin. "Thanks so much Teddy, I love it! I'm going to stuff it under Junior's bed, see how he likes his Christmas present!"

He grinned as he hugged her back, promising, "you deserve it Lily."

HPHPHPHP

Short, sweet, most of it remained the same except for a few age discrepancies. Not that Teddy and Victoria couldn't get together in this universe, but it would take a bit longer, whereas kids came even faster this time around, etc., you get the idea.

One more chapter!