Chapter Text
Teddy is sitting alone in the lobby, his childhood pillow clutched to his chest. The blue pillow case, from the bed sheets his pre-teen self had chosen all those years ago, was fraying at the seams. The bandages wrapped around his upper-arms were itchy, and frankly, Teddy didn’t believe he needed them anymore. The nurse didn’t make eye contact with him when he voiced this, though. He guessed they were more so people didn’t stare at the fresh pink and puckering scars covering this skin on his upper arms. That was kind of the nurse, then, he thinks. He didn’t know how many more times he could take the change in tone when people see the scars, the pitying glances and pats on the shoulder that just made Teddy feel small.
“Teddy?” Harry says, walking up to stand in front of him, and take his bag.
Harry looks older than the last time Teddy saw him, at Andromeda’s funeral. He hasn’t shaved and there are dark shadows under his eyes. Teddy was relieved to find that there was no pitying look on Harry’s face, instead just a small smile.
“Teddy, buddy, get up,”
He shakily stood up, still holding his pillow against his body. Harry pulled him into a tight hug before throwing Teddy’s bag over his shoulder and turning out of the lobby. They didn’t speak until both of them were in the car, Teddy’s bag securely placed on the floor by his feet.
“Are you going to talk to me?” Harry asks.
Teddy just grunts, rubbing his palms over his eyes, hard enough to see spots.
“I’m glad you called me, kid,”
“I had no one else to call, and they said I had to call someone,”
“Well, I am your godfather, with Andromeda gone,” He grimaces, “I’m the only one on your list, I bet.”
Teddy doesn’t respond. The mention of his late grandmother made his head spin and the new skin on his upper arms prickle. Her death had been rough. She was his only living family, by blood at least, and she had raised him. Her funeral had been a small affair. Only the Potters and the Weasleys, and Teddy attended. Harry had done a speech, Teddy couldn’t remember any of it. He had just sat in the back pew, scratching at the skin on the back of his hands, barely reacting to the string of condolences he received.
The car ride feels impossibly long. Harry takes a string of phone calls having to do with the police station and a new recruit. The city buildings, turn to fields, turn to village homes through the window. When Teddy can’t take the silence anymore, he reaches over to fiddle with the radio dials. He skips through a few channels before landing on one playing old 70’s Bowie.
Harry smiles, “You remind me so much of your dad,” He says, reaching over to mess Teddy’s blue-green hair.
They sit in a more comfortable silence, the music low and the windows cracked open. When they round the bend in the road to the Potter home, Teddy’s stomach sank. The realization that he is imposing himself on them hit him. The fact that Harry and Ginny had to take him. He was an adult for fuck’s sake. He should be able to take care of himself, even if it did result in him spiralling to the point of suicide before.
Harry notices the worry on Teddy’s face, “They are all so excited to see you,” he says, “Especially Jamie and Albus.”
Teddy and Jamie had always toed the line of friends. They were impossibly close from age 10, every visit to the Potter household consisted of the two of them locked away in James’ room talking about everything and nothing. That was until Teddy shut him out after the funeral. They haven't spoken since.
Harry’s keys jingled as he unlocked the front door, Teddy’s bag under his arm. He pushed the door open, moving inside and holding it open for Teddy. They were both greeted with hugs from Ginny and Lily. Harry whispers something to Ginny and leads her into the kitchen, leaving the bag on the stairs.
“Hi Teddy,” Albus says, pulling him into a sort of half hug.
“Hey dude, good to see you,”
When Albus and Lily wander into the kitchen, saying something about cake, Teddy looks up from taking his shoes off to look at James. He is staring at Teddy, eyes tracing the outline of Teddy’s frame, lingering on the bandages wrapping his arms. When his eyes meet Teddy's again, he is smiling.
“Hi,” He whispers, “I’ve missed you,”