A sullen, gangly sixteen-year-old sat alone in a guest bedroom at Number Twelve Grimmauld Place. He stared vacantly at the Quidditch posters taped to his wall, pondering the events that would take place the next day. Tomorrow was his seventeenth birthday. He knew most wizards looked forward to this day, but something bothered him. He felt . . . incomplete. Something was missing.

His hair color shifted from a grayish blue to muddy purple with the occasional tint of red. Teddy knew what was missing. Most wizards had their parents to help them celebrate this birthday. Family, to smile and sing as he opened presents and blew out candles.

They would not be there for him. Oh, he understood, they had made the ultimate sacrifice so that he would have the opportunity to live in a world that was better than before. Blah, blah, blah, thought Teddy, kicking at the throw pillow sitting on the end of the bed. It was not that he did not understand this, well, most of the time. It was just that, as his childhood was about to be complete, he had never felt more alone . . . more incomplete.

As he sat pondering, an empty feeling in his chest, he heard a quiet knock on the door.

In an effort to hide his internal struggles, he changed his hair to mousy brown while shaking his head to clear his thoughts. “Come in.”

The door opened slowly to reveal Harry Potter’s youngest child, a small girl with bright red hair who always found a way to include herself in whatever Teddy was doing. She stood in the doorway, appraising the teen sitting on the bed. After a few moments, she scrunched up her nose in confusion and put her hands on her hips.

“What are you doing, Ted-he?” she asked hesitantly, just a hint of a whine in her tone.

“Nothing.” He did not want to explain to a six-year-old that he, who would be of age tomorrow, was pouting.

“Well,” she said, thoughtfully. “Nothing doesn’t sound like a lot of fun.”

This made Teddy chuckle. “No,” he sighed. “I suppose it doesn’t.” He patted the spot next to him, and Lily ran across the room, jumping onto the bed to sit next to him. Once she had stopped bouncing around, she looked up at Teddy expectantly.

“What?” he said, raising his eyebrows in amusement.

“I am waiting,” she said solemnly.

“Waiting for what?” he asked, confused.

Rolling her eyes, Lily exhaled in exasperation. “I am waiting,” she said with exaggerated patience, “for you to think of something fun to do, instead of nothing.”

Teddy, unable to stop himself, burst out laughing. Lily’s face flashed with hurt as she looked up at him.

“I am sorry,” he said with a chuckle. “Sometimes you are just too funny, Lily-pad.”

At his endearing nickname, a grin took the place of Lily's hurt expression. Teddy’s emptiness momentarily forgotten, he stood up and looked at the six-year-old.

“What sounds fun to you?” he asked.

“Hmm. . .” she pondered; her eyes squinting and her nose scrunched up. Even her mouth was pursed into a thin line.

“You know,” Teddy said with a grin, “if you keep thinking that hard, smoke will come pouring out of your ears soon.”

“It will not!” Lily exclaimed. Her eyes widened as though she was not completely sure he was kidding.

“How do you know?” he asked.

“Because,” she said seriously, “if thinking made smoke come out of your ears, then James’ ears would smoke all the time.”

Teddy had to agree, that with all the mischief James got into, it was surprising that a steady stream of smoke did not come billowing out of his ears.

As if on cue, two boys flew through the door

“Give it back!” yelled Albus.

“You want it?” James exclaimed excitedly. “Come and get it!”

Teddy caught a glimpse of a purple, fuzzy ball raised high in James’ hand. Reaching out he snatched the Pygmy Puff from James’ taunting grasp with the speed and deft of a Seeker. He smirked; his Quidditch skills came in handy when he visited his godfather’s house; they allowed him to stay one step ahead of Harry and Ginny’s two mischievous sons.

“Hey!” exclaimed James with surprise.

“Hey yourself.” Calmly placing Arnold on his shoulder, Teddy turned and lifted Lily down off the bed.

“You know better, James. If your mum caught you tormenting Arnold, you wouldn’t even see a broom for months.”

James cast his hazel eyes downward and nudged the corner of the rug with his toe.

“I wasn’t tormenting him,” James mumbled.

“No, you were using him to taunt your brother. That’s worth a few weeks without a broom, at least.”

“You aren’t going to tell, are you?” asked James with a look of panic.

Albus took this opportunity to move across the room and stand behind Teddy, a sly grin on his face. His eyes sparkled and Teddy was sure he enjoyed watching his brother squirm. Teddy sighed. Reaching forward, he ruffled James’ messy mop of black hair.

“Not this time.”

As he turned his back, James quickly ran his hands through his ruffled hair to straighten it. Not that it did any good.

“And you,” Teddy said to Albus who stared at him eyes wide in shock. His brow crinkled in thought, and Teddy knew he was sorting out how he could be in trouble. “So innocent, aren’t you?”

It was not lost on Teddy that Albus always seemed to know where to run, so someone would catch James. He couldn’t help but wonder where the Sorting Hat would place Al when he started school. The young boy cracked a grin causing a similar smile from Teddy. He could not stay mad at any of them for long, if he ever really got mad at them at all. He had known them all from birth, plotting, celebrating, and laughing with them at many holidays. Teddy had spent as much time in the Potter home as he had in his own. They were the closest thing Teddy had to a complete family.

They aren’t my family, though, he reminded himself. No matter how he put the puzzle together, his piece did not fit. For the last seventeen years, the puzzle had been painted over giving the illusion all the pieces were in place.

Ginny popped her head in the door.

“What are you three doing? Can’t you even let Teddy have a moment’s peace before you bombard him?”
Instantly the two boys looked a little guilty and Teddy knew their mother had told them to give him some time to himself, but little Lily screwed up her face into her most stubborn look, a look that seemed to be a trait of the Weasley women, and boldly announced, “I knocked!”

“She is right, she did,” Teddy said with an apologetic smile.

“Oh all right.” Obviously seeing that she was not going to win this time, Ginny said, “How about you all go downstairs. I think Kreacher has fixed you a snack to have before bed.”

The three children ran out of Teddy’s room as quickly as they had entered.

Ginny shook her head. “It’s like you come with a magnet attached, the instant you floo in they are drawn to where ever you are.”

“That’s all right Ginny. I don’t mind them around.”

“I know you don’t dear, but I also know what it’s like having them underfoot.”

Ginny picked up Arnold from Teddy’s shoulder and cradling him gently in her hand.

“We’re so glad you’re staying with us this weekend, come on downstairs if you’re hungry.”

With that, she turned and left the room. Laughing to himself, Teddy turned on the Wizarding Wireless, and as he began to unpack his clothes, he couldn’t wait to be able to magically pack and unpack; it would save him so much time. Fifteen minutes later he gave up on neat and tidy and dumped the rest in a pile on his bed before heading downstairs to see what there was to eat.

He heard Lily’s voice carry up the stairway, “Teddy said smoke would come out your ears if you think too hard.”

Albus replied with what sounded like a mouthful, “thomke woll m*gulp*ot come out of your ears.”

As he came into the room Lily looked at him very seriously, “It will to - won’t it Teddy.”

He had to suppress a laugh as she attempted to wink at him. She was just starting to catch on to that particular form of communication and it often looked like she had something stuck in her eye.

“That’s right Lily-pad,” said Teddy sincerely. “Large puffs of it will just billow out like clouds.”

He then in turn winked back at her causing her to fall off her chair in a fit of giggles.

“Master Teddy,” said Kreacher with a grin that Teddy found almost terrifying on the weathered old house elf. “Could Kreacher get you something, perhaps a sandwich or a bowl of stew?”

“I wouldn’t say no to a sandwich Kreacher, thank you,” said Teddy.

The house elf quickly nodded and busied himself making a sandwich.

“Teddy!” said a new voice. He looked up to see his godfather entering the room. He clapped Teddy on the back. “We’re so glad you came to visit for the weekend. How was the floo trip over from Hogwarts?”

“It wasn’t too bad, thank you Kreacher,” added Teddy as the house elf set a plate down in front of him containing a very large sandwich.

“Shall Kreacher get Master Teddy a butterbeer too?” said the old house elf. Teddy nodded; his mouth was too full to speak. In an instant, a butterbeer appeared on the table beside him.

After swallowing He looked back up at Potter. “Professor Neville said to tell you that he will be Flooing here tomorrow with Victoire, and the rest of the Weasley’s. He also said Hannah was thrilled to receive the invitation.”

“That’s great! I am glad everyone will be able to make it.”

Teddy quickly took a bite of his sandwich, with his mouth too full to talk, and simply nodded in agreement. Yeah, he thought to himself, everyone but the two people that really mattered. The emptiness in his chest started to swell.

At that moment Ginny appeared in the room. How, Teddy wondered, did she always seem to know just when to appear?

Putting her hands on her hips she turned to her children. “It's time for bed.”

This statement rounded a chorus of complaints as the children begged to stay up ‘just a little bit longer,’ but she hushed them with one look and said, “Tomorrow is Teddy’s party and if you aren’t in bed in five minutes you will not be going.”

That was all it took; the three of them practically flew from the room. Only a moment later Lily ran back into the room.

“It’s important,” she said quickly, skidding to a stop when her mother gave her a stern look.

“Everything is important when you’re six and its bed time,” said Ginny with a sigh. “Make it quick then.”

Lily scrambled onto Teddy’s lap, gave him a quick hug, and whispered excitedly in his ear, “I wished you a happy birthday first.”

As she slid off his lap she thrust a very crumpled piece of paper into his hand, and went to get ready for bed. Teddy sat there for a minute or two laughing to himself taking in the picture on the handmade card. She must have used every colour in the box of Muggle colour crayons that Teddy had given her for Christmas.

“Has Master Teddy finished?” asked Kreacher.

“Yes Kreacher, I have thanks,” said Teddy standing up and stretching.

“Well,” said Harry. “I best go help Ginny get the kids to bed.”

As he also stood, Harry gave Teddy a quizzical look opened his mouth as if to say something and closed it again.

Teddy fearing that Harry had seen the look of jealousy cross briefly over his face hastily said, “That’s all right, I have some home work I wanted to do tonight so I don’t have to think about it this weekend.”

Harry laughed. “That’s your father in you.”

As Harry turned to leave, Teddy thought the emptiness swelling inside his chest would crush him. He quickly turned and went upstairs taking the stairs two at a time until he was safely in the guest room once again. How could something so empty feel so heavy? He thought to himself. He had not exactly lied to Harry, he did have homework that he should work on but he felt nothing like doing it. He crossed over to the bed, sat down on it once more allowing his hair to flow freely through a myriad of colours. Letting the anger, jealousy and pain wash over him in waves, he laid back on the bed. He thought to himself, I will just lay here a minute till it does not feel so empty. Sometime later, he awoke with a start to the sound of a VERY loud pop; at least it had seemed abnormally loud in the quietness of the now dark guest room. Fumbling for the clock Teddy looked around.

“It’s just after midnight,” Harry’s voice came from across the room. Teddy quickly sat up rubbing the sleep from his eyes, and trying to clear his head. Harry laughed aloud. “I suppose I could have found a better way to wake you, but surprise just seemed too good to pass up.”

Teddy was feeling much more awake now.

“Did you need something,” he asked just a little groggily.

“Nope,” said Harry. “I came to bring you something.”

Confusion flooded Teddy’s thoughts what could not wait until tomorrow. What could possibly be so important that Harry felt the need to wake him at midnight? Suddenly Teddy remembered what today was and he reached for his wand

“Lumos,” he said clearly.

“Knew you would get there eventually,” said Harry. “Happy Birthday Teddy.”

“Thanks,” he said. “But you could have waited till the morning.”

“Nope,” Harry said, shaking his head. “Not this year, this birthday is too special to wait till morning.”

This confused Teddy even more. Yes, it was his seventeenth birthday and that was a big deal, but not a jerk you awake in the middle of the night kind of a deal, and why, Teddy thought to himself, if it was such a special birthday did Harry look sad.


He wondered while looking at his godfather, why Harry’s eyes were glistening and the smile was gone from his face. As if to answer Teddy’s question, or at least the one about why he woke him up, Harry produced a large box wrapped in bubble gum pink wrapping paper and bedecked with lots of curly ribbon on top.

“This,” Harry said, his voice barely above a whisper. “It's from your parents.”

Teddy, who had looked down at his finger nails to hide his reaction to the pink paper, jerked his head back up. Harry had to be joking, and it certainly was not a funny one, but the look on his face told Teddy he did not think there was anything funny going on either. In fact, Teddy thought about it and didn’t remember ever seeing him look so serious.

“Your parents were wonderful people, Teddy.”

Teddy started to interrupt, he knew this or at least this is what everyone told him, but Harry held up his hand to cut Teddy off before he began. “Your mother and father were full of loyalty and compassion, with their love they brought out the best in each other. And they passed those things onto you.”

Teddy opened his mouth to speak but Harry raised his hand again.

“I know you tire of hearing it, Teddy, I know that I did at times,” he paused for a moment, a faraway look in his eye. “It is true though, your love of life, your hopefulness, your laughter and your wit.” He went on. ”All gifts from your parents, but they left you something else too.” Patting the box as he stood up Harry said, “What you do from here is up to you, Teddy, you choose whether or not to open it.”

Harry turned to put his hand on the doorknob, hesitated for a moment, and then quietly opened the door and slipped out.

Teddy sat there for a moment, shocked. Maybe, just maybe, he was dreaming, he thought. He took hold of a section of skin and pinched hard. Yaow! That hurt, so dreaming was out of the question. Teddy slowly slid out of bed and crossed the room. He laid a hand on the box and excitement began to rush through him. It was from his parents; Harry had said they left it for him. Careful, said a small voice in Teddy’s mind, it might make everything worse.

The letter, thought Teddy; I will just read the letter. With shaking hands, Teddy slid the envelope open and took out the letter. It was written in a very loopy, sloppy script that Teddy knew was his mother’s. Shaking, Teddy took the letter back over to the bed and sat down. This, he told himself, is it. With a deep breath, Teddy slowly began to read.

Dear Teddy-bear,
Oh my darling baby boy, if you are reading this, then, I am sorry.
There are something’s a mother just knows; I know that life’s been harder on you than you would like because your father and I were not there.
Still I know, in my heart, that your life is better for the sacrifice we made.
I also know that Harry will have found a way to defeat Voldemort and that you are living in a world that is very different from the one that your father and I brought you into.
It saddens me to think that I will not see so many important things in your life. To know that you have felt alone and sad because of a choice that we made breaks my heart.
I also know that you are my son and that you were raised by the best family that one could have. I am not only writing about your grandmother, though she is a wonderful woman, but also about your godfather Harry, the Weasleys, and many more members of the Order of the Phoenix and of Dumbledore’s Army.
I know that they have taken you in, not just in their homes but also into their hearts. I know that since I was not able to be with you, they have loved you even more, for I left my love with them. So that every hug has a little extra squeeze, every laugh a little bit more giggle.
Inside this box are gifts that your ever prepared father said we should have ready just in case, it’s almost like he knew I wasn’t going to stay behind. They are very small tokens of our love for you. Happy Birthday Teddy-Bear! I promise that we are looking down with lots of extra love and smiles today and everyday!
Love,
Mum
p.s. Sorry, about the blotches all over the paper; I knocked the ink over twice while I was writing.

Teddy’s eyes, which had begun to sting part way through, had progressed to a full burn, and tears were filling his eyes. He slowly got up and went to the box. Untying the ribbons, he took a deep breath, lifted the lid up, and laid it aside. There was a smaller box on top with a note ‘open me first’. When he did, he saw it was a watch, and a note written this time in his father’s hand.

Teddy~
A wizarding tradition when one comes of age it to give them a watch. This watch belonged to my great grandfather and was given to me on my seventeenth birthday and I am in turn passing it on to you. Happy Birthday Son!
Dad

Teddy fumbled to put the watch on it felt heavy around his wrist. The weight felt good, a reminder, he decided. They had thought of him and they were always with him. There was one more thing in the box. Well two things really but as soon as he saw the one, he knew they went together. He reached in a slowly lifted out the pensive and placed it on the floor before reaching back into the box. He took out a vial containing a shimmering silver thought. He slowly emptied the contents into the basin of the pensive and reached out with his hand to touch the swirling mixture. Teddy felt himself being sucked into the memory, and he landed with a thump. Well, he knew one thing he had been given by his mother, or should he say hadn’t been given; GRACE. Teddy looked around the room and spotted his mother sitting in a rocking chair on the far side of the room, gently rocking back and forth, a tiny baby with turquoise hair asleep in her arms. Teddy started to inch closer just as his father walked in to the room.

She looked up and smiled, “He is sleeping.”

“This I see,” said his father. Neither one said anything for a while they just looked down at their baby with love.

“Remus,” said his mother.
“Yes dear?”

“What do you think his future holds?”

“My dear, I wouldn’t venture a guess. There are so many possibilities.”

“Maybe he will be an Auror like me,” she said.

“Maybe.”

“Or perhaps a professor, like you.”

“Could be,” his father said.

“You know what Remus?”

“What, my dear?”

“He really is the most beautiful baby isn’t he?”

“Of course he is, he looks like you.” Teddy watched as his father leaned down and kissed him on the cheek and as he was straightening back up he paused and kissed Teddy’s mother on the forehead.

“I think he will need siblings,” said his mother.

“Oh, you do?” said his father.

“Yep; a brother or two and a little sister for good measure.”

“I see.”

“How about that Teddy? A mum and dad that love you, brothers to get into mischief with, and a little sister that will always make you smile?” The baby stayed asleep but his hair took on the shade of bubble gum. “I think he agrees,” said his mother.

“Ah, I think he does,” his father said with a smile.

“Remus?”

“Yes Dora?”

“I know what he is and will always be.”

“What’s that?”

“Our whole world,” she said with a smile.

“Yes Dora, he will.”

Teddy watched for a while longer as his parents sat holding him the sun in the window setting low, the notes of hummed lullabies floating across the room. Slowly Teddy began to notice that he did not feel so empty, he did not feel so alone. Slowly he stood up and felt himself pulling out of the memory.

Teddy landed much softer this time. Carefully he reached down, pick up the empty vial, and emptied the memory back into it. Standing, he crossed the room and took out the Mokeskin pouch Harry and Ginny had given him for Christmas and placed the vial inside. He placed the pensive on the desk in his room. He hesitated, not a guest room HIS room. He had decorated it, and he was the only one that slept in here. It had his books and clothes scattered all over. As he turned to pick up the box, his eyes rested on a picture of James, Albus, and Lily making several funny faces.

“Mum,” he whispered. “I got those siblings you wanted me to have.”

“I don’t think blood could make us any closer,” he said, thinking of how different James and Albus were. “You know what, mum? I got the whole big family.”

He thought of the party that Harry and Ginny were throwing for him tomorrow and of Neville, Hannah, Molly, Arthur, Gran, and all the rest. Cousins, aunts and uncles . . . everything his mum and dad had wanted for him. Everything they had given their lives for him to have. He picked up the box that his gifts had come in and something thumped against the side. He reached in and pulled out a picture frame. Inside was a picture of his mum rocking him while his dad looked on. Their expressions changing from wonder to amazement and the caption below read ‘Our whole World’ Teddy smiled and placed the picture on the night stand. As he reached for the door handle he thought he heard the faint sound of a lullaby mixed with a loving laugh and the weight of the watch seemed to squeeze his wrist just a bit tighter for a second or two. Teddy smiled; changing his hair to bubble gum pink, he no longer felt incomplete.