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Teddy Lupin liked to sit on the windowsill when it rained.
His gran said he was just like his mum head full of clouds and eyes always searching the sky, even when it was gray. Today, the sky was very gray, and the raindrops tapped gentle music against the glass. Teddy pressed his small hand to it, watching the cold mist bloom around his fingers.
Down the garden path, a figure appeared, walking with a familiar cloak and a slightly crooked stride. Teddy’s hair mousy brown a second before flashed into electric blue.
“Gran!” he called, scrambling down from the sill. “He’s here!”
Andromeda looked up from her knitting, a rare smile softening her face. “Yes, I see him, darling.”
The front door creaked open with a gust of damp air, and in stepped the man with glasses. They were always a little fogged up, like he’d walked through clouds just to get there.
“Hey, Ted,” said Harry, brushing water from his cloak. “Did I miss storytime?”
Teddy shook his head, grinning. “Nope! You’re just in time.”
He launched forward, and Harry caught him easily, lifting him with the practiced ease of someone who had done it a hundred times. Andromeda blinked, as she always did it still surprised her, how natural Harry was with the boy.
Harry settled cross-legged on the rug, wand flicking to draw a small fire in the hearth. Teddy curled into his side, clutching a dragon covered book in both hands.
“You promised you'd do the voices,” he said, hair now flickering green with excitement.
Harry chuckled. “I always do the voices.”
Andromeda returned to her armchair, though she didn’t pick up her knitting again. She simply watched.
Halfway through the tale just as the brave dragon was rescuing a frightened unicorn Teddy interrupted.
“Uncle Harry,” he said suddenly, “were you ever scared?”
Harry blinked, lowering the book. “What do you mean?”
Teddy squirmed a little, his voice softer. “You’re not scared of anything. But Gran says... you knew my mum and dad. And they… they died.”
He didn’t say it like he fully understood the word, not really. But it hung heavy in the room anyway.
Harry closed the book slowly.
“I was scared a lot,” he said after a moment. “Even when I was older than you. I was scared when I lost people I loved. Like your mum. And your dad.”
Teddy leaned into his side, thoughtful.
“I don’t remember them,” he whispered. “Only pictures. And Gran. And you.”
Harry nodded, eyes on the fire. “They’d have loved you so much, Teddy. More than anything.”
There was a long pause.
Then, in a voice even smaller than before, Teddy said, “It’s okay. I don’t need to remember everything. I just remember you’ve always been there.”
Across the room, Andromeda looked away, blinking too quickly.
Harry didn’t answer at first. He just pulled Teddy close, kissed the top of his violet-tinted hair, and held him like he’d never let go.
“I always will be,” he said.
Teddy smiled into his robes and closed his eyes, warm and safe, while the rain kept whispering against the windows.