Harry couldn’t suppress the wide grin that spread across his lips. “Is that what this is about?”
Teddy was visibly affronted at Harry’s reaction. “Yes, that’s what this is about!” he barked back, moodily.
“Merlin, Ted. That’s fantastic news!”
“No, it’s not.” Teddy persisted, sullenly. The pout that played on his lips was highly reminiscent of the one Harry had seen in the same place when Teddy was a toddler.
Harry crossed his arms. “You couldn’t be more wrong about what this means, Ted. Your being with Victoire can only bring you closer to this family, not that you could possibly get closer.” Harry let out a frustrated sigh, “You are family, Ted. I don’t know how many times, I have to-”
“You’re wrong. What if – what if it didn’t work out? Then I’d be out forever.”
“Can you really see that happening?” Harry asked, cynical.
“What? Breaking up with her? Harry, we’re barely even dating.”
“I know, I know - but I get the impression not a day goes by when you don’t think about her.” Harry suggested, almost teasingly. “I’d even go so far as to say you couldn’t bring yourself to imagine a life without her…”
“Well, no – but, hold on a minute; how do you know any of this? I’ve never told anyone about liking Victoire, no one, not even you. I’ve kept it myself this whole time-”
“Teddy, I think you’ll find there isn’t an adult member of this family who doesn’t suspect there’s something going on between you and Vic. Merlin, George and I’ve been taking bets on when you lot would figure it out for yourselves since you were seven.”
Teddy let out a tortured sigh and hunched over again. “Alright then,” he surrendered. “What am I supposed to do?”
“Why are you asking me?” Harry laughed.
“I always ask you.”
“Well, where on earth have you come from? You just burst in here, have some sort of nervous breakdown and expect me to come up with the goods?”
Teddy gave a crooked smile. “Well, yes. Obviously.” When Harry only cocked an eyebrow, Teddy spilled. “We’re together, I think. And then we came home from France and Bill was there, and I freaked and now I’m here.”
Harry was grinning. “And you love her?”
Teddy wrinkled his nose in gentle embarrassment and twiddled his thumbs, “I think I do,” he replied, grinning.
“Then what in Merlin’s name are you doing sitting in my study?” Harry barked jovially. “Sod off! And give Vic my love.”
Teddy rose, bashful, but seemingly filled with new energy and crossed to the door. With a fleeting wave to his godfather, he yanked open the door to find standing in front of him, none other than Victoire herself. Both stood paralysed, staring at each other for a long moment, before Victoire launched herself at Teddy.
Grinning to himself, Harry ambled over to the door and gently closed it with a quiet click. He promptly crossed to the desk, fetched some parchment from a side drawer and called out for Babbity. He had a letter to write – and a hundred Galleons coming his way.
Lily’s small hand found its way into Harry’s own hand as James and Albus led the family through the open station doors. She still possessed a small scowl upon her pretty face and Harry mentally prepared himself for the impending onslaught of protestation to come. He inwardly prayed Teddy would be able to placate his daughter, should he manage to pry himself away from the other business he had to attend to.
Always sensible, Albus had slowed down and was now strolling comfortably in line with his mother. Harry contentedly watched the pair, so alike in the subtlest ways. Infinitely proud, permanently curious and stubborn to boot; it took a trained eye to spot such traits in the quiet Albus, a skill really only Harry possessed. The differences were certainly there; Ginny was very much a force to be reckoned with – fierce and opinionated, casual in the extreme. Albus, on the other hand was the opposite in so many ways; happily quiet and peaceful, though incessantly curious and deeply concerned about the state of anything and everything, from the Harpies’ place on the Quidditch ladder to the treatment of owls.
As the family made their way through the bustling corridors of Kings Cross Station, Harry stewed on his thoughts of his middle son. Albus was so unlike James, who had coasted through his first year. James made starting Hogwarts look so easy, completely unaffected by everything school life threw at him. Harry knew Albus would never be so blasé in his approach to anything. James wasn’t about to make it easy on the poor kid, Harry was sure.
They were approaching Platform 9 ¾ now, crossing a footbridge over the busy platforms below. With a mournful smile, Harry realised he was losing his miniature Quidditch companion for the next nine months. With Al starting school, Lily was now the only child at home – and she was about as interested in Quidditch as James was in behaving. Within two years, Lily would be off as well, and Grimmauld Place would be all but empty, with only Harry and Ginny to occupy its aging walls.
Despite his concerns, Harry relished the knowledge that in fact, this wasn’t the end at all, but the beginning. Just as with James last year, as with Teddy - Merlin, as with himself – Albus was commencing what would be the greatest adventure of his life. Whether he ended up a Slytherin or a Gryffindor, Quidditch Captain or in the choir, Albus would be alright. In fact, he’d be more than alright; he’d be brilliant, because he was the son of Harry and Ginny Potter – he was already brilliant to begin with.
Harry grinned, speeding up his pace to catch up to Ginny, who met his gaze with wary pride and took his free hand in hers. All three of their children excitedly sped off towards the barrier to Platform 9 ¾.
Maybe Albus would be in Slytherin, maybe James would fail his OWLS, maybe Lily would be Minister for Magic, at this point in time Harry couldn’t tell.
But of one thing Harry was certain; all would be well.
Author's Note: THE END! This is the first story I have ever finished - not that it truly is finished, I'll be going back to the beginning now that it's done and having a nice tidy up. I cannot express in words how much I have appreciated all of your support, namely from the divine WitnesstoitAll, FannyPrice, FuzzySlippers, FriendofMolly, Harry and Ginny, badger of doom, Ava Pearce, writergirl8, and really anyone who took the time to review each and every chapter, especially you lovelies who've stuck it out with me - especially during my epic dry spells. I couldn't have written this without you. Personally, I think you should read the sequel (of sorts) Trilogy - which picks up right where this leaves off and can be found on my author's page! Thank you again and long live canon!
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