Chapter Text
“We’re going to be late,” Teddy pouts.
He’s sitting on the kitchen table, little legs swinging back and forth. He watches Harry run around getting breakfast ready. The kitchen is in chaos - fruit getting sliced on one end, water bubbling in an unattended pot. Harry knows he should have probably planned to wake earlier given that he now had to make breakfast for two, not to mention get Teddy ready for his first day of school as well, but he hadn’t counted on just how much time making breakfast can take.
He’s not really in the habit of having proper meals, living alone and spending most of his time at the Ministry or over at Ron and Hermione’s. As Teddy giggles at the broom whizzing around him, Harry feels some of the tension brewing under his skin fade away.
Realistically, when Andromeda had reached out, asking if he could take Teddy for a while, he hadn’t been under any false pretenses that it would be easy. He also knows that the witch wouldn't have asked if there was any other option. She had had a nasty fall and taking care of a five year old is a job that needs you to be on your feet, available when they need you.
I got this, he thinks, barely pausing as he swipes the chopped fruits into a tiny container before fitting that into the train shaped lunch box. Teddy had picked this out, during their visit to Muggle London this past weekend. They could have shopped at Diagon but he could tell Teddy had been feeling nervous about starting school, so he tried to make a day of it. He can’t tell yet if it worked but atleast Teddy doesn’t seem close to crying anymore at the thought of spending a day away from home so hopes that maybe it was a success.
As finally finishes putting together Teddy’s snack for the day he takes a quick peek at the clock and while he doesn’t want to worry the little boy, Harry realises that they are, in fact, running late.
Sending a silent prayer of thanks to Molly Weasley and all the nifty kitchen spells she’d shared with Harry in a slightly but detailed owl, he manages to get Teddy’s to sit down for breakfast and get ready in no time. Thankfully Teddy isn’t a fussy child and they are out of the house soon enough.
The school is thankfully not too far from his house, just close enough that Teddy won’t get tired out walking. Harry offers to carry him more than once but he is going through a “I’m a big boy, Harry” phase and looks offended at the thought of being carried like a baby.
The building itself seems pleasant enough, surrounded by a brick wall that had a hedge planted along it, flowers blooming and infusing the air with a sweet scent.
As they cross the gate to Lady Wentworth’s Pre-School for Young Witches and Wizards, Harry feels the tell tale tingle of a ward brush across him. The inner courtyard is a lot warmer, a sign of magic hidden from Muggle eyes. There are still some parents lingering about, trying to convince their crying children to go inside.
Harry shoots Teddy a worrying glance, wondering if maybe seeing the other children get upset would trigger a meltdown in him as well but he still seems okay, maybe a little nervous but that's understandable.. Teddy’s class is two doors down from the entrance, the walls painted a bright blue, hopefully uplifting the boy’s mood on seeing his favorite color all around him.
Harry doesn’t immediately spot a teacher but he figures they wouldn't be too far. The classroom doesn’t seem too full yet so he gives him a mental pat on the back for making it here almost on time. The classroom is colorful, walls painted in bright shades, stencils and posters all over. Large windows make up one wall, bringing in tons of natural light and showing the garden outside. He knows Andromeda was a little apprehensive sending Teddy here, Lady Wentworth was once known for the long line of Pureblood families that started their education here. Harry knows for a fact though that since the war not only was the school curriculum completely revamped, but an entirely new staff was brought on board to turn this into an example school on integrating Muggle and Magical learning.
Getting on his knees, he helps Teddy take off his bag and get seated at one of the many little tables.
“I’ve packed you a snack,” Harry explains softly, “if you get hungry or want to use the bathroom, just ask your teacher and I’m sure they’ll help you.”
Teddy nods, his long unruly hair, the exact copy of Harry’s today, falls into his eyes.
“Harry,” he says, tiny hands playing with his sleeves. “You’ll come to pick me up right?”
Harry nods solemnly. “I’ll be right outside, waiting for you,” he assures him.
“You promise?”
Harry holds out his pinky finger. He waits for Teddy to hold his out as well before lightly hooking them together.
“This,” he tugs at their fingers, “means that we’ve now made a promise.”
Teddy stares at their fingers in wonder, his little pinky dwarfed by Harry’s much larger hand. He finally nods, “Okay.”
Harry can feel the burn in his calves from crouching for so long but he isn’t going anywhere till he doesn’t introduce himself to his teacher. Speaking of whom, he thinks he can hear someone talking to another parent but before he can turn to check Teddy tugs on his sleeve.
“What if I miss Granny? Or you?”
Harry gives in and sits on the ground, the cold floor making him wince but it is easier this way to hold onto Teddy’s hands and look right into his eyes as he tries to reassure him. He feels a little out of his level here, Andromeda is the one Teddy always gravitated towards anytime he was nervous, but she isn’t here right now. So he tries to step to the task the best way he can.
“It’s only a few hours, you’ll see me very soon and then we can both go visit your Granny,” he tries but Teddy is already shaking his head, like Harry isn’t understanding his point.
“But what if I really miss you and want to see you.”
Harry hums, giving it some thought. He doesn't want to just dismiss Teddy’s concerns. He looks around the classroom, trying to spot something that could help him till his eyes fall on a familiar book.
Snowy the Owl is a series of books that Teddy has been downright obsessed with recently. Every night without fail he brings the book over to Harry and demands that he read it out to him before bed.
He reaches over to grab the book, lifting it closer so Teddy can see the cover. On a white backdrop, the snowflakes embossed with glitter that sparkle when it caught the light, stands Snowy the Owl.
“Remember when Snowy was learning how to fly and he was so scared of trying alone?” Harry asks, letting Teddy hold the book when the boy reaches out for it.
“He missed his mom,” Teddy answers seriously.
“He did,” Harry nods. “And he knew that if could wait for a little bit his mom would be home soon. What did he do then?”
Teddy thinks about it. “He decided to be brave.”
“Exactly! He decided to be brave and tried to fly alone and then as soon as he could fly a little, his mom came home.”
“Snowy is so brave,” Teddy whispers in awe, running his fingers over the raised glitter on the book cover.
“So are you.” Harry lightly pokes his nose. “I know you can be brave and wait till I come to pick you up,” he says. “But,” he adds, “if you really really miss us, just tell your teacher to call me and I’ll come pick you up. Anytime. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“I just want you to try to be brave like Snowy first but if it’s too difficult, just ask them to call me and we can try to be brave again tomorrow.”
Teddy nods, determined. Before Harry could ask him if he had any more questions, a little girl walked up to their table. Unlike Teddy she’s smiling brightly, her voice loud and cheerful when she asks Teddy if they could look at the pictures in the book together.
Teddy glances at Harry, as if he’s waiting for approval. At Harry’s nod he smiles shyly and moves the book so it was between the two of them. As the kids get distracted by the book, Harry stands, almost groaning in relief as he straightens his cramped legs.
He’s just about to look for the teacher again when he hears someone walk up to their table.
“Ah, you must be little Teddy Lupin?”
Harry frowns, that voice sounds oddly familiar. Shaking himself he turns to face the newcomer, plastering a smile on his face that promptly disappears as he takes in the man in front of him.
“Malfoy?”
