Categories > Books > Harry Potter > Witches of Westfield
Chapter 5- One Plus One Makes Four
. . .
Harry awoke with a groan and rolled over only to be hit in the face by bright sunlight from his window as Winky yanked the drapes open. "Master Harry needs to get up," the well-dressed house elf informed the tired wizard."Master needs to eat before appointment with Missy Tonks. Master Harry is far too thin," she tsked disapprovingly. "Master Harry must be healthy to make babies."
Harry made a mental note to have Kreacher wake him from now on. The old elf was a bit gentler about it than Winky was apparently and he didn't mention anything about babies. Both were beneficial to his peace of mind first thing in the morning he believed. Harry considered just burying his head under the pillow and going back to sleep but that option was removed when Winky pulled the covers off of him and wadded them up, presumably to be cleaned and aired out. "Alright. Alright. I'm up," Harry growled as he sat up and flung his legs over the side of the nearly stripped down bed.
The young man stood, absently scratching the back of his head as he toddled off to the bathroom for the use of the loo and a shower with a shave. It was a still blurry-eyed Harry that finally made his way down to the dining hall dressed in comfortable black slacks and a dark grey dress shirt complete with cufflinks sporting the Black family crest. Harry wasn't exactly certain where the cufflinks had come from but they had been there waiting for him with his clothes. He suspected that Kreacher had brought them over from Grimmauld Place as he seemed to recall Sirius wearing them a time or two.
Daphne let out a low whistle of approval upon seeing him. "Don't we look rather dapper this morning," she commented, greeting him all bright-eyed and smiles.
"Morning," Harry growled at the 'far too chipper for this time in the morning' woman who was seated at the table to the left of his own chair.
The young woman decided to take pity on the man and poured him a cup of tea as Harry took his plate to the sideboard and served himself breakfast. "Not exactly a morning person?" Daphne queried only to receive a noncommittal grunt in return. "You were up rather late last night," she ventured, attempting another means of drawing Harry into a conversation and thus by learning what he had been up to.
"I had something I needed to look up," Harry finally confessed as he returned to the table with his food and seated himself. "Thanks," he offered as he took a long pull of hot tea from him cup, feeling marginally better for it.
"Anything I can help with?" Daphne offered before taking another bite of her food. It was all good and well to be staying someplace nice where she didn't have to wonder about roaming hands, however there was little to do besides read. The shopping trip had been nice and all, especially the muggle undergarments, but they couldn't go shopping every day.
"No, but thanks," replied Harry as he refilled his tea cup. "Just some old family traditions and what not," he told her dismissively.
"Potter," the witch addressed Harry, falling back to the use of his surname as she was irked at the man for being particularly dense. "I was raised in a Pureblood family. If there is one thing I know about it is traditions. So what is the occasion?" Seeing the rather blank look upon the wizard's face she continued. "You're up into the late hours of the night looking up old family traditions and now you arrive here all dressed up looking every bit the scrumptious Head of House that you are," she teased.
Harry could feel the heat rising in his cheeks at her compliment even as he noticed the grin on Daphne's face telling him that the witch knew she had embarrassed him by her remark. I wonder if that was her goal all along, he pondered only to quickly dismiss the idle thought."Yes, well," he stammered, a bit disconcerted at being teased none the less, even if it were true. Though unlikely to his naive way of thinking as he saw himself as just Harry, a bloke like any other. "I'm to meet Mrs. Tonks this morning to discuss some matters and I want to make a good impression."
After a moment or two of thought Daphne replied with, "I don't think I know her. Should I?" she asked curiously. To the former Slytherin knowledge was power as were the people you knew. If there was someone of importance that she didn't know about then it could only benefit her to learn all she could about them. The Tonks family name, while it sounded familiar, she couldn't readily place it.
"You recall Professor Lupin from third year?" Harry asked just before hastily spooning in some eggs.
"Defense Against the Dark Arts," Daphne replied with a nod. "He and Professor Moody were the only two good teachers we had in that class," she added. It wasn't common knowledge that Professor Moody had been Barty Crouch Junior using a liberal amount of polyjuice potion to appear as the former Auror. The Ministry had done a good job of covering up that fact, especially once the escaped Death Eater had hastily had his soul sucked out of him by a Dementor before he could be properly questioned. Fudge wasn't about to let that tidbit come to light as he was far too fearful of what people would think. "Shame about him being a werewolf and all."
Harry just gave a nod, missing the man himself. "Professor Lupin married an Auror, Dora Tonks. Sadly they both perished at the Battle of Hogwarts," he said, a shadow passing across his face for a long moment as he keenly felt their loss once more. With a visible effort he corralled his emotions and continued. "Prior to that though they had a son, Teddy. Hermione and I were noted in their wills as the godparents. Mrs. Tonks is coming by today so that we can discuss Teddy's future."
"Oh?Starting with the babies already are we?" Daphne teased him with a grin, recalling their conversation on that matter the previous day. Harry just rolled his eyes, too busy chewing at the moment to offer a retort. The blonde witch gave a rather whimsical laugh that Harry found he rather liked the sound of. It was probably the first time he had ever heard her laugh unreservedly. "So why the late night study session?" Daphne asked after a few moments.
Harry took a sip of his tea before answering. "Mrs. Tonks, before marring Ted Tonks, was known by another name," he told her. "Andromeda Black." Harry was rewarded by seeing the woman's eyes grow large at the revelation. "Apparently she was tossed out of the family some time ago though. Seems the Blacks didn't take kindly to her marring a Muggle-born wizard."
"I bet," Daphne agreed with a slight nod of her head. "The Blacks are Old-Blood, even by Pure-Blood standards. They were listed in the Pure-Blood Directory as part of the Sacred Twenty-Eight, the last of the Pure-Blood families in Britain."
"Toujours pur," Harry spat out with disdain. "The Black family moto, 'Always Pure'," he explained upon seeing Daphne's questioning look. "Sirius once told me that there aren't any Pure-Blood families anymore and hasn't been for some time. They simply remove from their families those they deem less than worthy. That is the real reason you won't find any Muggles or Squibs listed on their family tapestries," he told her, recalling she had said something similar the previous day. The whole thing left a rather foul taste in his mouth and angered him as few things could. Harry pushed his plate away from him bit, his appetite suddenly gone.
The two sat in silence for a bit as Harry sipped his tea and Daphne pushed the food about on her plate. "Sorry, Harry," Daphne offered in a contrite tone. "I didn't mean to ruin your meal."
Harry turned and looked at her as if he had forgotten she was even there for a moment, which he had, being lost in his own moody thoughts. "No," he said with a sigh. "It wasn't you, Daphne. It's just a rather distasteful subject. It just angers me to think that so many lives were lost or changed just because a small group of people wanted to make themselves feel superior to others!"
"Traditions are hard to break," Daphne offered half-heartedly in way of an excuse.
"If they harm another then they damn well should be broken," Harry snapped back, slamming his hand down upon the table hard enough to make everything jump. Beside him the young witch flinched at the harshness of his tone as well as the loud noise caused by him hitting the table. Harry instantly felt lower than dirt. He knew that flinch as he himself had been prone to flinching when he had started Hogwarts. He could well recall when he would freeze up when Hermione would spontaneously hug him. "I'm sorry," he told her remorsefully.
"It's alright," Daphne replied with her eyes cast down as she hugged herself.
"No, it's not alright," Harry corrected her as he sat back in his chair and silently cursed himself for his own stupidity. "Let me make it up to you," he offered. "Let me take you out to lunch after I've concluded matters with Mrs. Tonks. Someplace nice. You pick," he offered with a soft smile.
Daphne eyed him warily, "Anywhere?" she enquired only to see him nod in confirmation. "Well, I did see that there was a nice French restaurant when we were on Oxford Street the other day," she commented, relaxing a bit and dropping her hands into her lap.
"Fine. Then French it is," Harry replied, accepting her choice with a gracious smile. He'd never had French before and wasn't certain if he would like it or not. Hogwarts and Mrs. Weasley were not places to acquire French cuisine and Merlin forbid if the Dursleys ever ate anything 'foreign'! "Just don't expect me to eat any of those snail things," he told her as he made a scrunched face at the very thought of them.
Daphne giggled, a sound Harry was also very quickly coming to enjoy. "Alright Potter, not this time," she assured him with a grin. "Then it's a date," she stated as she reached for her cup of tea and took a sip."There was another mater I wanted to ask you about," she said, broaching the new subject a bit hesitantly. "I was wondering if I might have someone over?" she asked upon seeing his slight nod that she should continue.
Harry looked thoughtful for a moment before a teasing grin spread across his face."This wouldn't be that mysterious bloke you love, would it?" he asked with exaggerated casualness.
"No bloke," she assured him with a nervous chuckle. "My friend, Tracey Davis. You remember her? She was in Slytherin with me."
"Not really," Harry confessed. While he was aware that there were other Slytherins his attention had been more focused on Malfoy and his hangers-on than the rest of the house.
"She'll be ever so heartbroken," Daphne quipped in faux sincerity, causing Harry to chuckle before giving her a lopsided grin. He's rather cute when he does that, she idly mused before hastily banishing the thought. "Despite what you might think, not all Slytherins hated your very existence. There were even some who, dare I say it, fancied you."
Harry wasn't certain just what to make of that. Ron would have blown a gasket if he had heard that, Harry thought with a mirthful chuckle in his head. If Harry had subscribed to Ron's way of thinking then he would have thought all Snakes were bad. Life had shown him that there could be bad people in any house. Peter Pettigrew was a good example of that. People were both good and bad, just as Sirius had once told him.
"Yes, well, I'm certain that not every Slytherin subscribed to the Death Eater dogma that they were swilling out to anyone who would listen," Harry admitted.
"Obviously not," Daphne replied, smiling rather sweetly at him, if a bit deceptively."Some of us actually have a brain and know how to use it," she stated, daring him to contradict her. "Wouldn't you agree?" the younger witch enquired in the sweetest of tones as she leaned in and regarded Harry very intently.
"Yes," Harry said, clearing his throat a bit nervously upon seeing her sweet smile. The young wizard's internal self-preservation alarms ringing loudly, though he wasn't exactly sure why. "My point exactly," he added, reaching for his cup for a sip of tea only to discover that it was empty.
"I'm so glad we could come to an agreement, Harry," Daphne replied in a cloyingly sweet tone which was only slightly offset by the feral gleam in her eyes. "Now, about my request. It would be nice to have some female company."
"Of course you can. You're not a prisoner here, you're my guest," answered Harry. "I would have issue though with a bloke visiting as you are under age and in within my care," he added only to chuckle after a moment."What would the other Gryffs think of me if they knew I had not one, but two pretty snakes under my roof?"
"They would no doubt think you were one lucky wizard," Daphne teased for a moment before her features took on an exaggerated look of seriousness."Tut-tut, Potter," Daphne chided him. "We're not in school so we're not in any house anymore. Weren't you the one who pointed that out to me?" she asked with an arched brow.
"We're in my house," Harry corrected her as his lips settled into a lopsided grin.
"Yes, well, there is that I suppose," Daphne admitted with a playful pout.
-oOo-
Harry parted ways with Daphne so that he could go wash up once more as the young woman went and penned a message to her friend. Harry was a little leery of having another complete stranger over but he truly wanted Daphne to be happy and comfortable here during her stay. If that meant that Tracey visited then he guessed he would have to deal with it. The man himself was rather a private individual and would just as soon not have a bunch of people he didn't really know trudging through his home.
Shortly before nine o`clock found Harry in the living room pacing a bit nervously back and forth. A soft 'pop'herald the arrival of a house elf. "The young Master has received a missive from Gringotts," Kreacher stated as he held forth a small silver tray upon which rested the aforementioned letter. The house elf was dressed rather smartly in a black suit with tails, the Black family crest displayed proudly over the left breast.
Harry retrieved the letter from the platter. "Thank you, Kreacher," he replied to the elf who bowed slightly before disappearing with another soft 'pop'. Harry broke the wax seal on the thick envelop and pulled forth the single sheet of parchment.
Mr. Potter,
This is to inform you that all the necessary renovations and preparations have been completed on Black Manor, per your agreement with Gringotts. Your guests shall be arriving tomorrow at precisely ten o`clock in the morning. It would be advisable for you to be there to greet them so that the wards might be set accordingly. Please do not hesitate to contact us if there is any additional service we at Gringotts might perform.
Yours In Profitability,
Bob
Potter\Black Account Manager
Harry smiled as his other project was finally set to kick off. While he was certainly looking forward to Hermione's reaction to the library he'd had built with her in mind, it was this other project that was truly important to him. Not that she isn't, he hastily reminded himself as he slipped the letter into his pocket. The-Boy-Who-Lived did a little excited jig only to hear a knock upon his front door. Hastily making his way over Harry yanked open the door only to see Bellatrix Lestrange standing there.
Before Harry even realized it ten inches of Holly with a phoenix feather core was pointed at the witch's face and a Reducto curse had flown from his lips. If the witch hadn't ducked down and away to protect what she carried she would have most certainly lost her head. "I yield!" the woman screamed in terror.
It wasn't her words that froze Harry, keeping him from following up his attack with another, but rather the frightened wailing of the infant in her arms as the witch tried to shield the baby from harm with her own body. "Oh my god, Iam so sorry!" Harry exclaimed, suddenly realizing what he had almost done. The man's wand vanished almost as quickly as it had appeared, even as his face reddened, though from the adrenaline rush or shame it was hard to truthfully say. Perhaps a bit of both.
The witch stood back up, shooting Harry an icy glare while she bounced and tried to sooth the frightened child in her arms who continued to cry. "While I do greatly resemble my deceased deranged sister I can assure you Mr. Potter I am nothing like her," Andromeda Tonks said through clenched teeth. "Maybe Ishould have expected such treatment from the Black family," she added in aclipped tone before turning her attention back towards the still crying infant.
"I can't tell you how sorry I am," Harry offered with heartfelt regret for his behavior as his face continued to turn a lovely shade of red due to his embarrassment. "It was a reflexive action I assure you. Please, do come in," he offered, stepping aside and gesturing toward the living room.
"Shall I expect spell fire every time Teddy wishes to visit his godfather?" Andromeda asked curtly, before she brushed past the remorseful man and made her way over to the couch. Seating herself she immediately began to bounced Teddy on her knee, quieting his fears.
Harry followed the witch into the living room, stopping several feet from her and the child while resting one hand on the back of the nearest chair. "No. That will never happen again," he assured her in a contrite tone of voice as he stared forlornly at his shoes rather than meet her disapproving gaze.
Andromeda eyed the man critically, noting his drooped shoulders and the penitent expression covering his face. Merlin knows there has been many times where even I wanted to hex Bella, she ruefully admitted to herself. She disliked speaking badly of the dead, especially when they were her own flesh and blood. "Please see that it doesn't," she finally said."I am getting a bit older and am not nearly as spry as I once was," the witch added with a small hesitant smile as she attempted to relieve the tension.
Harry looked up hopefully, offering his own welcoming smile upon seeing the expression on Andromeda's face. "I promise you." The young man stepped over and took a precarious seat upon the edge of the chair nearest the witch. "So this is him?" asked Harry as his eyes dropped to the small boy seated in her lap.
Andromeda turned slightly to that her knees were nearly touching Harry's and then situated the small child in her lap so that he was turned about and facing Harry. "Teddy, this is your Godfather, Harry Potter," she said towards the small boy. "Meet your godson, Edwards Remus 'Teddy'Lupin," she stated with a look towards the wizard with her.
Harry marveled at the boy who gazed back at him for a long moment before the child's hair began to change coloring. Even as Harry watched it settled into a shade of pink that was so reminiscent of Dora's that a lump formed in his throat making it difficult to speak. "H…he has her ability?" he asked even though the proof of it was right before his eyes.
"A Metamorphmagus, just like my Dora," Andromeda affirmed in a proud tone that was none the less tinged with sadness that her daughter wasn't there to see it.
Even as Harry gazed in wonder at the small little miracle, Teddy's hair darkened and soon turned a dark black just like Harry's. His hair wasn't the only thing that had changed as Harry saw that the boy now had emerald eyes that were the same color as his own. One small pudgy hand rose and a finger pointed directly at Harry's chest. "Mine!" Teddy declared into the stunned silence his transformation had brought about.
Harry reached out and the small boy captured his finger in a grip that was surprisingly strong for one so small. "Mine!" Teddy exclaimed once again as if claiming what he saw as rightfully his. In that one instance and with that single word Harry knew that he was truly good and caught. From that moment onward he would be whatever this small child needed him to be.
"Hello there, Teddy," Harry forced out past the emotional clog in his throat."It's a pleasure to finally meet you," he continued with, wiggling the fingers that were currently being held captive by the small boy. "How old is he?" Harry asked, never taking his eyes from his godson.
"Seventeen months as of last week," Andromeda told him after a moment thought."He's only recently started to talk clearly. Sadly he seems to think that everything is his."
"That's alright," Harry answered with a smile that shone with the brightness of the warmth in his heart at that moment. "I don't mind," he assured, though it was unclear if his reassurance was directed at her or the baby.
"Winky has brought tea," the house elf announced as she entered the room instead of apparating in. The female's bulbous eyes widened upon spotting the child. Harry could have sworn that Teddy's did the same as soon as the infant spotted Winky. Thankfully he didn't seem to have enough control of his ability to mimic the house elf's appearance. The elf somehow managed to pour them both cups of tea without taking her eyes off the toddler who continued to try and alter his appearance. "Will Master Harry be needin Winky for anything else?"
Harry had to suppress a grin upon hearing the all too evident note of hope in Winky's request. "No, I think that will be all, Winky. Thank you."
"Perhaps Winky can change the young one?" Winky persisted as she started to bounce from foot to foot much as Dobby had done when he was overly excited.
Harry looked apologetically towards Teddy's grandmother who was sporting an amused grin at the elf's antics. Teddy finally reached out towards Winky and let his opinion be known. "Mine!"
"Well," Andromeda said with a soft chuckle. "I guess that settles that."
"I guess so," Harry agreed as he watched his new godson float through the air to Winky's waiting arms, giggling and laughing all the way. "I just know I'm going to regret that," Harry mumbled, thinking of the house elf's fixation on babies, or more to the point, Harry's babies. Seeing Andromeda's questioning look he waved it off.
"So," Harry blew out with a small explosive breath and stood up, "Perhaps we should use this time to our benefit. I'm Harry Potter, welcome to Westfield Manor, Mrs. Tonks," he said rather formally with a slight bowing of his head as was proper for the Head of an ancient and noble house. "Please accept my hospitality and protection whilst you remain within these walls."
Andromeda stoop and executed a perfect curtsy in response to the formal greeting. "I thank the House of Potter for its hearth, shelter and protection whilst Iremain here." The Pure-Blood witch made to be seated only to pause as Harry spoke once more.
"This is certainly long overdue," he told her with a small smile that he hoped didn't reflect his nervousness. "I, Harry James Potter, Head of the most Ancient and Noble House of Black, welcome Andromeda Tonks as well as all those who descend from her person, into our House and promise to protect and care for all that is hers from now till the end of time." Harry held out his hand, upon which rested the Black signet ring, for her to kiss.
Andromeda looked at the proffered hand with a mixture of surprise and utter disbelief. She had never thought, even for a moment, that she would be invited back into the house that had cast her out for marrying a muggle-born wizard. She had known when she had married Ted that she was denying almost everything that made a Black a Black. The young and in love witch at the time thought that a small price to pay for following her heart. Being cast out of the family and shunned by her own sisters was more painful than she had expected but she never bemoaned her decision.
"I…I am very proud of Ted," she finally said in a quiet voice. "I never once, in all the years, have regretted my decision to marry him. Nor have Ifelt any shame over the fact that he was a muggle-born wizard. Ted was a good, kind, descent man!" Andromeda exclaimed a bit teary-eyed just thinking about her late husband. "I won't change my name back to Black, neither shall Teddy."
"Nor would I ask you to," assured Harry. "Dora was like an older sister to me when I sorely needed one and Remus like a treasured uncle. I would never soil their memory by asking such a thing of you or Teddy."
Andromeda hesitantly reached out and took his offered hand in hers as she stared at the Black signet ring for a long moment. "Are you certain?" she asked, her eyes darting up and searching his questioningly. "It's a very untraditional thing to do, taking someone back into your house once they have been cast out."
Harry gave her a warm and reassuring smile. "Pure-blood dogma. My best friend is a Muggle-born witch and my best mate is a Pure-blood. I myself am a Half-blood. There probably isn't anyone alive who cares less for traditions that hurt or upset others," he told her. "Sirius once told me that you were his favorite cousin. I'm hoping that you'll become mine," he offered with asmall shrug of his shoulders when he saw her still hesitate.
Weighing the truth of his words as well as what she saw within his eyes, Andromeda leaned forward and kissed the stone set in the ring, bringing herself as well as any of her descendants back into the Black family, for better or for worse. If the man before her was any indication of where the Black family was heading then she felt she had made the right choice. "Thank you, Mr. Potter," she offered gratefully upon standing once more. "I truly had never expected to be a Black again."
"Please, just Harry. We're family," he said, feeling a bit uncomfortable accepting her gratitude when all he had done was right an injustice that had been instigated by the prejudice members of their family. "So, shall we discuss Teddy?" Harry asked as he gestured for her to be seat, waiting till she had been before taking his own seat once more. He passed Andromeda her tea, after receiving a nod of acceptance to indicate she would like it, before taking his in hand. "What can I do for you, Cousin?" he asked, sitting back in his chair and taking a slow sip.
"That's going to take a bit to get used to," Andromeda admitted with a small grin, rather enjoying the term none the less. There was a certain quality of family in it, not that she hadn't been a part of the Tonks family. Ted's parents and relatives had always made her feel welcomed and loved. Still there was just something about being a part of your own family. She hadn't realized that till she had been kicked to the side all those years ago. With both Ted and Dora now gone family meant a great deal more to her than it had at that time.
"Too much? Too soon?" Harry asked, a bit worried. "Would Mrs. Tonks be better? It would, wouldn't it?" the young man fretted.
Andromeda smiled, not having meant to knock her host out of sorts by the comment."Papa used to call me Dromeda when I was really little," she confided with a thoughtful, absent look to her eyes as she recalled those younger days when life was a great deal less difficult. "Mother hated it, saying that Ihad a good and proper name in Andromeda. I never really understood why until Iwas older and learned that she was the one who named us all."
"What would you like me to call you?" Harry asked, content to let her decide.
The elder witch sat for a long moment sipping her tea before she finally answered."Teddy used to call me Andi," she said with a sad little wistful smile, her eyes withdrawn and remembering a different, happier time. One that was forever gone thanks to the war and all it had taken from her.
Harry stared at the witch who suddenly appeared rather lost and vulnerable, not at all what he would have expected from a Pure-Blood, brought up to be a proper lady. "What happened to him?" Harry asked softly. "I mean if you don't mind telling me."
Andi collected herself and within one heartbeat and the next she was once again aPure-Blood daughter of the most ancient and noble house of Black. "When the Muggle-Born Registration Commission was established after the Ministry fell to Voldemort, Ted went on the run rather than be forced into one of their internment camps. He did want to risk staying and getting me or Dora involved."
"They, the Aurors who brought me the news, were never certain what happened. It was highly likely that a group of Snatchers finally caught up to him. They were all over the place, hauling good people in to never be seen again. I know my Teddy. He wouldn't have gone quietly. In the end it didn't really matter as he was dead," she finished with sadly.
"I'm sorry," Harry offered, trying to fit into those two small words all the remorse he felt for not having stopped Voldemort sooner.
Andi eyed the boy, no, man, she corrected herself mentally, for a long moment. He is the head of the Black house now and has been through more than most men will see in a life time if even half of the stories are true. "The blame is not yours Harry, nor the loss solely mine. We all lost a bit of ourselves in the mad man's war." Harry could do little more than nod in agreement. "All we can do now is make the best of what we have left," Andi added with a weary sigh.
"I assume that's why you're here," Harry replied, forcing a smile onto his face for her benefit.
The elder witch set her untouched tea down on the end table before clasping her hands together in her lap. "Toward the end of the war our house was destroyed in an attack. Snatchers thought Ted had come back to hide out there. Not much was left as they burned it down. I've been staying with Ted's folks, who are wonderful and happy to have Teddy and me," she told him haltingly.
"But?" Harry prompted, sensing that there was something else.
"Their house is rather small," Andi confessed, her tone clearly indicating that she hated the fact that she was complaining at all about the couple's generosity. "Teddy and I are using Ted's old room from when he lived there as a boy. It is great, really, but I want something better for my grandson. He should be raised in a home with others like himself."
"You mean magical?" Harry asked only to see the witch nod in agreement.
"Exactly. The Tonks have muggle friends over fairly often. What would they do if Teddy's hair suddenly turned blue or pink? How would they explain that to their friends or the rest of their family should they visit?" Andi worried. "I don't want to put them through that. Not after everything they've already been through and given up for us."
"When Ted and I were courting, I was doing an internship at St, Mungo's. It's how we met actually. Ted had been brought in due to a potion that had gone wrong. We dated all through my internship when I learned I was expecting Dora," Andi said, unconsciously moving one hand to her abdomen at the recollection of her baby, "I dropped out to be a proper mum. I thought I might try and complete my time and finish becoming a Healer," she concluded with in a rush.
"I know it won't be easy and all, especially with having Teddy to look after now as well," Andi rattled on, nervous that Harry might decline her request."It would be incredibly helpful if perhaps Teddy can stay here with you till I have completed my internship. Some of the shifts are rather long and I know I'll be extremely drained afterwards. I don't want Teddy to be neglected. Once I'm done and have started working I can get my own place for us."
"Where are you going to stay while you're going through your internship?" Harry enquired.
"I'll stay with the Tonks," answered Andi. "I shouldn't be much in the way as I'll probably only be there to sleep and shower."
Harry thought over what she had said for a moment before discovering something he didn't care for about the arrangement. "When will you be able to see Teddy then?"
"I…I won't," she stammered in way of reply. It was the one fly in the ointment, a snag in her plan and a rather painful one at that. Andi knew she would hate to be away from the baby that long but if it meant they wouldn't have to be parted once again afterwards then she deemed it a worthwhile sacrifice to make for Teddy's sake.
"Well, that's not good," Harry told her directly. "I don't know the first thing about caring for a baby," he added for good measure. While Harry would love to spend time with his godson the thought of being responsible for another life was more than a little frightening to him. He could barely manage to keep himself alive, with Hermione's help at that, how would he possibly manage Teddy he wondered. Hermione's not here to help me this time.
"Nonsense," Andi assured him. "You have house elves. A better Nannie you'll never find, Harry. I'm certain they can help you with whatever you don't know how to do or feel uncomfortable doing," she said, thinking of changing nappies.
"Won't Teddy miss you?" Harry pressed.
"He's young. He won't even remember this time of his life," Andi replied with false bravado. Even though she knew Teddy would miss her she was more concerned about how she would survive without him. With both Ted and Dora gone, Teddy was all she had left in the world.
Harry sat forward and gently laid a hand on hers where it rested on her knee still."I was fifteen months old when my mum and dad died. I remember it to this day," he told her solemnly, leaving out the part about the nightmares and the flash of green light because that was rather personal. "Even if he doesn't remember when he is older, he'll know now when you're not here. I know he'll miss you."
Seeing the distraught look that appeared upon Andi's face at his words, the truth of them finally sinking in, Harry thought for a moment and then did the only thing that made any sense at all. "The two of you can move in here," he offered. "Merlin knows I have the room with plenty to spare. You can floo to St. Mungo's for work and when you return home afterwards you can see Teddy for a bit before getting some sleep."
"I…I wouldn't want to impose," Andi stammered, fighting with her sensibilities. What Harry was offering seemed like the perfect solution to her issues however she was raised not to be a burden on others. It was part of the reason she wanted to get a place for Teddy and herself as she felt like she was a huge burden on the Tonks.
"Burden?" Harry scoffed a bit more exaggerated than was called for. "You would be doing me a favor actually as I would get to spend more time with Teddy. I don't have any family you see, except for him now and yourself. It would mean a great deal to me if you would stay here so I can get to know you both better," Harry replied in a sad little tone of voice with what he hoped were his best puppy dog eyes.
Andi smirked to herself realizing exactly what Harry was doing. That tone of voice and those eyes would have been enough to melt any witch's heart but she had been raised a Black. She well knew manipulation when she saw it. Not that he's trying all that hard to hide it, she mused with a chuckle in her head. "If you insist," she hesitantly replied just for show.
"I do!" Harry exclaimed as he launched himself to his feet. "It's settled then. You'll stay here for as long as you like," he told her with an approving grin.
"You're certain you have room for us?" Andi asked, her own lips curling up into a smile as she stood at a more dignified pace than Harry had used.
Harry thought for a moment and the realized something. "Room, yes. Furniture, no," he admitted. "I guess we'll have to go shopping," he offered, a bit less enthusiastically than the last time he had thought to do that. A soft clearing of a throat caught his attention. Turning he saw Daphne, dressed in a pretty burgundy muggle dress that came down to just above her knees. It was rather light and airy but having never seen her without robes before it was all the more stunning. The striking witch had her hair pulled back into a French braid which hung down her back unless he was mistaken. Harry thought she really was rather brilliantly gorgeous.
"Oh dear, I think you've quite broken him," Andi teased upon seeing the slack-jawed expression upon Harry's face as he stared at the newest arrival.
Daphne grinned a bit victoriously, her mission accomplished. "I think it's the first time he's seen me out of witch's robes," Daphne replied as she crossed the room as fluid and as graceful as water. "Daphne Greengrass," the blonde with offered holding her hand out to Andi.
"Andromeda Tonks," Andi replied, grasping the hand and giving it a shake as she introduced herself.
"Yes, well, Andi will be staying here with us for the foreseeable future," Harry offered, finally regaining control of his motor functions once again. Seeing Daphne's speculative look he hastily added, "Her and Teddy. My godson."
Andi could tell that Harry was a bit embarrassed to have been caught so brazenly gaping at Daphne but she couldn't help teasing him a little more. "Staying with Us?" she enquired with an amused arch of her brow.
"Yes, Harry is being quite the dear and allowing me to stay here in his lovely home," Daphne answered as she laid a hand upon the young wizard's arm appreciatively, causing him to blush at the attention as well as the touch."I don't know what I'd ever do without him!"
Oh you wicked girl, Andi thought as she witnessed Harry's reaction to Daphne's presence. It was clear to her at least that Harry had very little experience when it came to witches. The fact that he blushed at just a touch showed a certain level of innocence that was rather endearing. Andi, not knowing Harry all that well wasn't certain if she should save him or encourage Daphne to continue. "Then I look forward to becoming fast friends," Andi finally settled on.
"We," Daphne said, pausing to shoot Harry a wide smile, "have plans for lunch at a very nice French restaurant. You simply must come with us," Daphne declared. "You don't mind, do you Harry?" Daphne asked, flashing Harry a rather pleading pout as she batted her lashes at him.
"No. Course not," Harry stammered out, finding it suddenly warmer in the room than it ought to be.
"What about Teddy," Andi asked, concerned about the baby.
Before Harry could say anything there was a small pop as Kreacher appeared."Winky wished to convey that the young tike has fallen asleep and she will watch over him while Master and his Misses are out," Kreacher told them with a respectful bow of his head. "Winky would have come herself but she be rocking the little one in her arms and did not wish to wake him."
"Well, I guess that settles it," Andi said, knowing that a house elf would never let any harm befall a child left in their care.
Harry gave a brief nod of agreement. "Thank you, Kreacher," he told the elf who bowed once again and disappeared with a pop. "Shall we?" Harry asked, gesturing towards the floo which they could use to get to Grimmauld Place and the tube.
Daphne quickly fell in beside the older witch, lacing her arm in with Andi's."So, about this shopping. I know just the place!" Behind the two witches Harry did his best not to groan aloud.
-oOo-
It was much later in the day when the two excited witches, trailed by a rather exhausted wizard, returned to Westfield Manor. The ladies hurried off to decorate and furnish Andi's room while Harry made a hasty retreat to his own rooms on the fourth floor only to find a letter awaiting his attention. Harry didn't recognize the seal but suspected who it was from.
Mr. Potter.
House Greengrass extends to House Black our sincere gratitude for sheltering one of our own. I humbly accept your offer to provide my daughter with hearth, shelter and protection, especially given that she is at the moment unable to protect herself.
At this time I am at present on the continent and will be remaining here for the next several months. Due to the nature of my business I am currently unable to return to my home for Daphne's wand, which is safely stored where only I may reach it. Due to this inconvenience I fear I must ask that you continue to look after my Daphne as if she were your own. Upon my return, shortly before the Yule holiday, I will be happy to meet with you to discuss the matter of her wand.
Respectfully,
Gerald Greengrass
. . .
Harry awoke with a groan and rolled over only to be hit in the face by bright sunlight from his window as Winky yanked the drapes open. "Master Harry needs to get up," the well-dressed house elf informed the tired wizard."Master needs to eat before appointment with Missy Tonks. Master Harry is far too thin," she tsked disapprovingly. "Master Harry must be healthy to make babies."
Harry made a mental note to have Kreacher wake him from now on. The old elf was a bit gentler about it than Winky was apparently and he didn't mention anything about babies. Both were beneficial to his peace of mind first thing in the morning he believed. Harry considered just burying his head under the pillow and going back to sleep but that option was removed when Winky pulled the covers off of him and wadded them up, presumably to be cleaned and aired out. "Alright. Alright. I'm up," Harry growled as he sat up and flung his legs over the side of the nearly stripped down bed.
The young man stood, absently scratching the back of his head as he toddled off to the bathroom for the use of the loo and a shower with a shave. It was a still blurry-eyed Harry that finally made his way down to the dining hall dressed in comfortable black slacks and a dark grey dress shirt complete with cufflinks sporting the Black family crest. Harry wasn't exactly certain where the cufflinks had come from but they had been there waiting for him with his clothes. He suspected that Kreacher had brought them over from Grimmauld Place as he seemed to recall Sirius wearing them a time or two.
Daphne let out a low whistle of approval upon seeing him. "Don't we look rather dapper this morning," she commented, greeting him all bright-eyed and smiles.
"Morning," Harry growled at the 'far too chipper for this time in the morning' woman who was seated at the table to the left of his own chair.
The young woman decided to take pity on the man and poured him a cup of tea as Harry took his plate to the sideboard and served himself breakfast. "Not exactly a morning person?" Daphne queried only to receive a noncommittal grunt in return. "You were up rather late last night," she ventured, attempting another means of drawing Harry into a conversation and thus by learning what he had been up to.
"I had something I needed to look up," Harry finally confessed as he returned to the table with his food and seated himself. "Thanks," he offered as he took a long pull of hot tea from him cup, feeling marginally better for it.
"Anything I can help with?" Daphne offered before taking another bite of her food. It was all good and well to be staying someplace nice where she didn't have to wonder about roaming hands, however there was little to do besides read. The shopping trip had been nice and all, especially the muggle undergarments, but they couldn't go shopping every day.
"No, but thanks," replied Harry as he refilled his tea cup. "Just some old family traditions and what not," he told her dismissively.
"Potter," the witch addressed Harry, falling back to the use of his surname as she was irked at the man for being particularly dense. "I was raised in a Pureblood family. If there is one thing I know about it is traditions. So what is the occasion?" Seeing the rather blank look upon the wizard's face she continued. "You're up into the late hours of the night looking up old family traditions and now you arrive here all dressed up looking every bit the scrumptious Head of House that you are," she teased.
Harry could feel the heat rising in his cheeks at her compliment even as he noticed the grin on Daphne's face telling him that the witch knew she had embarrassed him by her remark. I wonder if that was her goal all along, he pondered only to quickly dismiss the idle thought."Yes, well," he stammered, a bit disconcerted at being teased none the less, even if it were true. Though unlikely to his naive way of thinking as he saw himself as just Harry, a bloke like any other. "I'm to meet Mrs. Tonks this morning to discuss some matters and I want to make a good impression."
After a moment or two of thought Daphne replied with, "I don't think I know her. Should I?" she asked curiously. To the former Slytherin knowledge was power as were the people you knew. If there was someone of importance that she didn't know about then it could only benefit her to learn all she could about them. The Tonks family name, while it sounded familiar, she couldn't readily place it.
"You recall Professor Lupin from third year?" Harry asked just before hastily spooning in some eggs.
"Defense Against the Dark Arts," Daphne replied with a nod. "He and Professor Moody were the only two good teachers we had in that class," she added. It wasn't common knowledge that Professor Moody had been Barty Crouch Junior using a liberal amount of polyjuice potion to appear as the former Auror. The Ministry had done a good job of covering up that fact, especially once the escaped Death Eater had hastily had his soul sucked out of him by a Dementor before he could be properly questioned. Fudge wasn't about to let that tidbit come to light as he was far too fearful of what people would think. "Shame about him being a werewolf and all."
Harry just gave a nod, missing the man himself. "Professor Lupin married an Auror, Dora Tonks. Sadly they both perished at the Battle of Hogwarts," he said, a shadow passing across his face for a long moment as he keenly felt their loss once more. With a visible effort he corralled his emotions and continued. "Prior to that though they had a son, Teddy. Hermione and I were noted in their wills as the godparents. Mrs. Tonks is coming by today so that we can discuss Teddy's future."
"Oh?Starting with the babies already are we?" Daphne teased him with a grin, recalling their conversation on that matter the previous day. Harry just rolled his eyes, too busy chewing at the moment to offer a retort. The blonde witch gave a rather whimsical laugh that Harry found he rather liked the sound of. It was probably the first time he had ever heard her laugh unreservedly. "So why the late night study session?" Daphne asked after a few moments.
Harry took a sip of his tea before answering. "Mrs. Tonks, before marring Ted Tonks, was known by another name," he told her. "Andromeda Black." Harry was rewarded by seeing the woman's eyes grow large at the revelation. "Apparently she was tossed out of the family some time ago though. Seems the Blacks didn't take kindly to her marring a Muggle-born wizard."
"I bet," Daphne agreed with a slight nod of her head. "The Blacks are Old-Blood, even by Pure-Blood standards. They were listed in the Pure-Blood Directory as part of the Sacred Twenty-Eight, the last of the Pure-Blood families in Britain."
"Toujours pur," Harry spat out with disdain. "The Black family moto, 'Always Pure'," he explained upon seeing Daphne's questioning look. "Sirius once told me that there aren't any Pure-Blood families anymore and hasn't been for some time. They simply remove from their families those they deem less than worthy. That is the real reason you won't find any Muggles or Squibs listed on their family tapestries," he told her, recalling she had said something similar the previous day. The whole thing left a rather foul taste in his mouth and angered him as few things could. Harry pushed his plate away from him bit, his appetite suddenly gone.
The two sat in silence for a bit as Harry sipped his tea and Daphne pushed the food about on her plate. "Sorry, Harry," Daphne offered in a contrite tone. "I didn't mean to ruin your meal."
Harry turned and looked at her as if he had forgotten she was even there for a moment, which he had, being lost in his own moody thoughts. "No," he said with a sigh. "It wasn't you, Daphne. It's just a rather distasteful subject. It just angers me to think that so many lives were lost or changed just because a small group of people wanted to make themselves feel superior to others!"
"Traditions are hard to break," Daphne offered half-heartedly in way of an excuse.
"If they harm another then they damn well should be broken," Harry snapped back, slamming his hand down upon the table hard enough to make everything jump. Beside him the young witch flinched at the harshness of his tone as well as the loud noise caused by him hitting the table. Harry instantly felt lower than dirt. He knew that flinch as he himself had been prone to flinching when he had started Hogwarts. He could well recall when he would freeze up when Hermione would spontaneously hug him. "I'm sorry," he told her remorsefully.
"It's alright," Daphne replied with her eyes cast down as she hugged herself.
"No, it's not alright," Harry corrected her as he sat back in his chair and silently cursed himself for his own stupidity. "Let me make it up to you," he offered. "Let me take you out to lunch after I've concluded matters with Mrs. Tonks. Someplace nice. You pick," he offered with a soft smile.
Daphne eyed him warily, "Anywhere?" she enquired only to see him nod in confirmation. "Well, I did see that there was a nice French restaurant when we were on Oxford Street the other day," she commented, relaxing a bit and dropping her hands into her lap.
"Fine. Then French it is," Harry replied, accepting her choice with a gracious smile. He'd never had French before and wasn't certain if he would like it or not. Hogwarts and Mrs. Weasley were not places to acquire French cuisine and Merlin forbid if the Dursleys ever ate anything 'foreign'! "Just don't expect me to eat any of those snail things," he told her as he made a scrunched face at the very thought of them.
Daphne giggled, a sound Harry was also very quickly coming to enjoy. "Alright Potter, not this time," she assured him with a grin. "Then it's a date," she stated as she reached for her cup of tea and took a sip."There was another mater I wanted to ask you about," she said, broaching the new subject a bit hesitantly. "I was wondering if I might have someone over?" she asked upon seeing his slight nod that she should continue.
Harry looked thoughtful for a moment before a teasing grin spread across his face."This wouldn't be that mysterious bloke you love, would it?" he asked with exaggerated casualness.
"No bloke," she assured him with a nervous chuckle. "My friend, Tracey Davis. You remember her? She was in Slytherin with me."
"Not really," Harry confessed. While he was aware that there were other Slytherins his attention had been more focused on Malfoy and his hangers-on than the rest of the house.
"She'll be ever so heartbroken," Daphne quipped in faux sincerity, causing Harry to chuckle before giving her a lopsided grin. He's rather cute when he does that, she idly mused before hastily banishing the thought. "Despite what you might think, not all Slytherins hated your very existence. There were even some who, dare I say it, fancied you."
Harry wasn't certain just what to make of that. Ron would have blown a gasket if he had heard that, Harry thought with a mirthful chuckle in his head. If Harry had subscribed to Ron's way of thinking then he would have thought all Snakes were bad. Life had shown him that there could be bad people in any house. Peter Pettigrew was a good example of that. People were both good and bad, just as Sirius had once told him.
"Yes, well, I'm certain that not every Slytherin subscribed to the Death Eater dogma that they were swilling out to anyone who would listen," Harry admitted.
"Obviously not," Daphne replied, smiling rather sweetly at him, if a bit deceptively."Some of us actually have a brain and know how to use it," she stated, daring him to contradict her. "Wouldn't you agree?" the younger witch enquired in the sweetest of tones as she leaned in and regarded Harry very intently.
"Yes," Harry said, clearing his throat a bit nervously upon seeing her sweet smile. The young wizard's internal self-preservation alarms ringing loudly, though he wasn't exactly sure why. "My point exactly," he added, reaching for his cup for a sip of tea only to discover that it was empty.
"I'm so glad we could come to an agreement, Harry," Daphne replied in a cloyingly sweet tone which was only slightly offset by the feral gleam in her eyes. "Now, about my request. It would be nice to have some female company."
"Of course you can. You're not a prisoner here, you're my guest," answered Harry. "I would have issue though with a bloke visiting as you are under age and in within my care," he added only to chuckle after a moment."What would the other Gryffs think of me if they knew I had not one, but two pretty snakes under my roof?"
"They would no doubt think you were one lucky wizard," Daphne teased for a moment before her features took on an exaggerated look of seriousness."Tut-tut, Potter," Daphne chided him. "We're not in school so we're not in any house anymore. Weren't you the one who pointed that out to me?" she asked with an arched brow.
"We're in my house," Harry corrected her as his lips settled into a lopsided grin.
"Yes, well, there is that I suppose," Daphne admitted with a playful pout.
-oOo-
Harry parted ways with Daphne so that he could go wash up once more as the young woman went and penned a message to her friend. Harry was a little leery of having another complete stranger over but he truly wanted Daphne to be happy and comfortable here during her stay. If that meant that Tracey visited then he guessed he would have to deal with it. The man himself was rather a private individual and would just as soon not have a bunch of people he didn't really know trudging through his home.
Shortly before nine o`clock found Harry in the living room pacing a bit nervously back and forth. A soft 'pop'herald the arrival of a house elf. "The young Master has received a missive from Gringotts," Kreacher stated as he held forth a small silver tray upon which rested the aforementioned letter. The house elf was dressed rather smartly in a black suit with tails, the Black family crest displayed proudly over the left breast.
Harry retrieved the letter from the platter. "Thank you, Kreacher," he replied to the elf who bowed slightly before disappearing with another soft 'pop'. Harry broke the wax seal on the thick envelop and pulled forth the single sheet of parchment.
Mr. Potter,
This is to inform you that all the necessary renovations and preparations have been completed on Black Manor, per your agreement with Gringotts. Your guests shall be arriving tomorrow at precisely ten o`clock in the morning. It would be advisable for you to be there to greet them so that the wards might be set accordingly. Please do not hesitate to contact us if there is any additional service we at Gringotts might perform.
Yours In Profitability,
Bob
Potter\Black Account Manager
Harry smiled as his other project was finally set to kick off. While he was certainly looking forward to Hermione's reaction to the library he'd had built with her in mind, it was this other project that was truly important to him. Not that she isn't, he hastily reminded himself as he slipped the letter into his pocket. The-Boy-Who-Lived did a little excited jig only to hear a knock upon his front door. Hastily making his way over Harry yanked open the door only to see Bellatrix Lestrange standing there.
Before Harry even realized it ten inches of Holly with a phoenix feather core was pointed at the witch's face and a Reducto curse had flown from his lips. If the witch hadn't ducked down and away to protect what she carried she would have most certainly lost her head. "I yield!" the woman screamed in terror.
It wasn't her words that froze Harry, keeping him from following up his attack with another, but rather the frightened wailing of the infant in her arms as the witch tried to shield the baby from harm with her own body. "Oh my god, Iam so sorry!" Harry exclaimed, suddenly realizing what he had almost done. The man's wand vanished almost as quickly as it had appeared, even as his face reddened, though from the adrenaline rush or shame it was hard to truthfully say. Perhaps a bit of both.
The witch stood back up, shooting Harry an icy glare while she bounced and tried to sooth the frightened child in her arms who continued to cry. "While I do greatly resemble my deceased deranged sister I can assure you Mr. Potter I am nothing like her," Andromeda Tonks said through clenched teeth. "Maybe Ishould have expected such treatment from the Black family," she added in aclipped tone before turning her attention back towards the still crying infant.
"I can't tell you how sorry I am," Harry offered with heartfelt regret for his behavior as his face continued to turn a lovely shade of red due to his embarrassment. "It was a reflexive action I assure you. Please, do come in," he offered, stepping aside and gesturing toward the living room.
"Shall I expect spell fire every time Teddy wishes to visit his godfather?" Andromeda asked curtly, before she brushed past the remorseful man and made her way over to the couch. Seating herself she immediately began to bounced Teddy on her knee, quieting his fears.
Harry followed the witch into the living room, stopping several feet from her and the child while resting one hand on the back of the nearest chair. "No. That will never happen again," he assured her in a contrite tone of voice as he stared forlornly at his shoes rather than meet her disapproving gaze.
Andromeda eyed the man critically, noting his drooped shoulders and the penitent expression covering his face. Merlin knows there has been many times where even I wanted to hex Bella, she ruefully admitted to herself. She disliked speaking badly of the dead, especially when they were her own flesh and blood. "Please see that it doesn't," she finally said."I am getting a bit older and am not nearly as spry as I once was," the witch added with a small hesitant smile as she attempted to relieve the tension.
Harry looked up hopefully, offering his own welcoming smile upon seeing the expression on Andromeda's face. "I promise you." The young man stepped over and took a precarious seat upon the edge of the chair nearest the witch. "So this is him?" asked Harry as his eyes dropped to the small boy seated in her lap.
Andromeda turned slightly to that her knees were nearly touching Harry's and then situated the small child in her lap so that he was turned about and facing Harry. "Teddy, this is your Godfather, Harry Potter," she said towards the small boy. "Meet your godson, Edwards Remus 'Teddy'Lupin," she stated with a look towards the wizard with her.
Harry marveled at the boy who gazed back at him for a long moment before the child's hair began to change coloring. Even as Harry watched it settled into a shade of pink that was so reminiscent of Dora's that a lump formed in his throat making it difficult to speak. "H…he has her ability?" he asked even though the proof of it was right before his eyes.
"A Metamorphmagus, just like my Dora," Andromeda affirmed in a proud tone that was none the less tinged with sadness that her daughter wasn't there to see it.
Even as Harry gazed in wonder at the small little miracle, Teddy's hair darkened and soon turned a dark black just like Harry's. His hair wasn't the only thing that had changed as Harry saw that the boy now had emerald eyes that were the same color as his own. One small pudgy hand rose and a finger pointed directly at Harry's chest. "Mine!" Teddy declared into the stunned silence his transformation had brought about.
Harry reached out and the small boy captured his finger in a grip that was surprisingly strong for one so small. "Mine!" Teddy exclaimed once again as if claiming what he saw as rightfully his. In that one instance and with that single word Harry knew that he was truly good and caught. From that moment onward he would be whatever this small child needed him to be.
"Hello there, Teddy," Harry forced out past the emotional clog in his throat."It's a pleasure to finally meet you," he continued with, wiggling the fingers that were currently being held captive by the small boy. "How old is he?" Harry asked, never taking his eyes from his godson.
"Seventeen months as of last week," Andromeda told him after a moment thought."He's only recently started to talk clearly. Sadly he seems to think that everything is his."
"That's alright," Harry answered with a smile that shone with the brightness of the warmth in his heart at that moment. "I don't mind," he assured, though it was unclear if his reassurance was directed at her or the baby.
"Winky has brought tea," the house elf announced as she entered the room instead of apparating in. The female's bulbous eyes widened upon spotting the child. Harry could have sworn that Teddy's did the same as soon as the infant spotted Winky. Thankfully he didn't seem to have enough control of his ability to mimic the house elf's appearance. The elf somehow managed to pour them both cups of tea without taking her eyes off the toddler who continued to try and alter his appearance. "Will Master Harry be needin Winky for anything else?"
Harry had to suppress a grin upon hearing the all too evident note of hope in Winky's request. "No, I think that will be all, Winky. Thank you."
"Perhaps Winky can change the young one?" Winky persisted as she started to bounce from foot to foot much as Dobby had done when he was overly excited.
Harry looked apologetically towards Teddy's grandmother who was sporting an amused grin at the elf's antics. Teddy finally reached out towards Winky and let his opinion be known. "Mine!"
"Well," Andromeda said with a soft chuckle. "I guess that settles that."
"I guess so," Harry agreed as he watched his new godson float through the air to Winky's waiting arms, giggling and laughing all the way. "I just know I'm going to regret that," Harry mumbled, thinking of the house elf's fixation on babies, or more to the point, Harry's babies. Seeing Andromeda's questioning look he waved it off.
"So," Harry blew out with a small explosive breath and stood up, "Perhaps we should use this time to our benefit. I'm Harry Potter, welcome to Westfield Manor, Mrs. Tonks," he said rather formally with a slight bowing of his head as was proper for the Head of an ancient and noble house. "Please accept my hospitality and protection whilst you remain within these walls."
Andromeda stoop and executed a perfect curtsy in response to the formal greeting. "I thank the House of Potter for its hearth, shelter and protection whilst Iremain here." The Pure-Blood witch made to be seated only to pause as Harry spoke once more.
"This is certainly long overdue," he told her with a small smile that he hoped didn't reflect his nervousness. "I, Harry James Potter, Head of the most Ancient and Noble House of Black, welcome Andromeda Tonks as well as all those who descend from her person, into our House and promise to protect and care for all that is hers from now till the end of time." Harry held out his hand, upon which rested the Black signet ring, for her to kiss.
Andromeda looked at the proffered hand with a mixture of surprise and utter disbelief. She had never thought, even for a moment, that she would be invited back into the house that had cast her out for marrying a muggle-born wizard. She had known when she had married Ted that she was denying almost everything that made a Black a Black. The young and in love witch at the time thought that a small price to pay for following her heart. Being cast out of the family and shunned by her own sisters was more painful than she had expected but she never bemoaned her decision.
"I…I am very proud of Ted," she finally said in a quiet voice. "I never once, in all the years, have regretted my decision to marry him. Nor have Ifelt any shame over the fact that he was a muggle-born wizard. Ted was a good, kind, descent man!" Andromeda exclaimed a bit teary-eyed just thinking about her late husband. "I won't change my name back to Black, neither shall Teddy."
"Nor would I ask you to," assured Harry. "Dora was like an older sister to me when I sorely needed one and Remus like a treasured uncle. I would never soil their memory by asking such a thing of you or Teddy."
Andromeda hesitantly reached out and took his offered hand in hers as she stared at the Black signet ring for a long moment. "Are you certain?" she asked, her eyes darting up and searching his questioningly. "It's a very untraditional thing to do, taking someone back into your house once they have been cast out."
Harry gave her a warm and reassuring smile. "Pure-blood dogma. My best friend is a Muggle-born witch and my best mate is a Pure-blood. I myself am a Half-blood. There probably isn't anyone alive who cares less for traditions that hurt or upset others," he told her. "Sirius once told me that you were his favorite cousin. I'm hoping that you'll become mine," he offered with asmall shrug of his shoulders when he saw her still hesitate.
Weighing the truth of his words as well as what she saw within his eyes, Andromeda leaned forward and kissed the stone set in the ring, bringing herself as well as any of her descendants back into the Black family, for better or for worse. If the man before her was any indication of where the Black family was heading then she felt she had made the right choice. "Thank you, Mr. Potter," she offered gratefully upon standing once more. "I truly had never expected to be a Black again."
"Please, just Harry. We're family," he said, feeling a bit uncomfortable accepting her gratitude when all he had done was right an injustice that had been instigated by the prejudice members of their family. "So, shall we discuss Teddy?" Harry asked as he gestured for her to be seat, waiting till she had been before taking his own seat once more. He passed Andromeda her tea, after receiving a nod of acceptance to indicate she would like it, before taking his in hand. "What can I do for you, Cousin?" he asked, sitting back in his chair and taking a slow sip.
"That's going to take a bit to get used to," Andromeda admitted with a small grin, rather enjoying the term none the less. There was a certain quality of family in it, not that she hadn't been a part of the Tonks family. Ted's parents and relatives had always made her feel welcomed and loved. Still there was just something about being a part of your own family. She hadn't realized that till she had been kicked to the side all those years ago. With both Ted and Dora now gone family meant a great deal more to her than it had at that time.
"Too much? Too soon?" Harry asked, a bit worried. "Would Mrs. Tonks be better? It would, wouldn't it?" the young man fretted.
Andromeda smiled, not having meant to knock her host out of sorts by the comment."Papa used to call me Dromeda when I was really little," she confided with a thoughtful, absent look to her eyes as she recalled those younger days when life was a great deal less difficult. "Mother hated it, saying that Ihad a good and proper name in Andromeda. I never really understood why until Iwas older and learned that she was the one who named us all."
"What would you like me to call you?" Harry asked, content to let her decide.
The elder witch sat for a long moment sipping her tea before she finally answered."Teddy used to call me Andi," she said with a sad little wistful smile, her eyes withdrawn and remembering a different, happier time. One that was forever gone thanks to the war and all it had taken from her.
Harry stared at the witch who suddenly appeared rather lost and vulnerable, not at all what he would have expected from a Pure-Blood, brought up to be a proper lady. "What happened to him?" Harry asked softly. "I mean if you don't mind telling me."
Andi collected herself and within one heartbeat and the next she was once again aPure-Blood daughter of the most ancient and noble house of Black. "When the Muggle-Born Registration Commission was established after the Ministry fell to Voldemort, Ted went on the run rather than be forced into one of their internment camps. He did want to risk staying and getting me or Dora involved."
"They, the Aurors who brought me the news, were never certain what happened. It was highly likely that a group of Snatchers finally caught up to him. They were all over the place, hauling good people in to never be seen again. I know my Teddy. He wouldn't have gone quietly. In the end it didn't really matter as he was dead," she finished with sadly.
"I'm sorry," Harry offered, trying to fit into those two small words all the remorse he felt for not having stopped Voldemort sooner.
Andi eyed the boy, no, man, she corrected herself mentally, for a long moment. He is the head of the Black house now and has been through more than most men will see in a life time if even half of the stories are true. "The blame is not yours Harry, nor the loss solely mine. We all lost a bit of ourselves in the mad man's war." Harry could do little more than nod in agreement. "All we can do now is make the best of what we have left," Andi added with a weary sigh.
"I assume that's why you're here," Harry replied, forcing a smile onto his face for her benefit.
The elder witch set her untouched tea down on the end table before clasping her hands together in her lap. "Toward the end of the war our house was destroyed in an attack. Snatchers thought Ted had come back to hide out there. Not much was left as they burned it down. I've been staying with Ted's folks, who are wonderful and happy to have Teddy and me," she told him haltingly.
"But?" Harry prompted, sensing that there was something else.
"Their house is rather small," Andi confessed, her tone clearly indicating that she hated the fact that she was complaining at all about the couple's generosity. "Teddy and I are using Ted's old room from when he lived there as a boy. It is great, really, but I want something better for my grandson. He should be raised in a home with others like himself."
"You mean magical?" Harry asked only to see the witch nod in agreement.
"Exactly. The Tonks have muggle friends over fairly often. What would they do if Teddy's hair suddenly turned blue or pink? How would they explain that to their friends or the rest of their family should they visit?" Andi worried. "I don't want to put them through that. Not after everything they've already been through and given up for us."
"When Ted and I were courting, I was doing an internship at St, Mungo's. It's how we met actually. Ted had been brought in due to a potion that had gone wrong. We dated all through my internship when I learned I was expecting Dora," Andi said, unconsciously moving one hand to her abdomen at the recollection of her baby, "I dropped out to be a proper mum. I thought I might try and complete my time and finish becoming a Healer," she concluded with in a rush.
"I know it won't be easy and all, especially with having Teddy to look after now as well," Andi rattled on, nervous that Harry might decline her request."It would be incredibly helpful if perhaps Teddy can stay here with you till I have completed my internship. Some of the shifts are rather long and I know I'll be extremely drained afterwards. I don't want Teddy to be neglected. Once I'm done and have started working I can get my own place for us."
"Where are you going to stay while you're going through your internship?" Harry enquired.
"I'll stay with the Tonks," answered Andi. "I shouldn't be much in the way as I'll probably only be there to sleep and shower."
Harry thought over what she had said for a moment before discovering something he didn't care for about the arrangement. "When will you be able to see Teddy then?"
"I…I won't," she stammered in way of reply. It was the one fly in the ointment, a snag in her plan and a rather painful one at that. Andi knew she would hate to be away from the baby that long but if it meant they wouldn't have to be parted once again afterwards then she deemed it a worthwhile sacrifice to make for Teddy's sake.
"Well, that's not good," Harry told her directly. "I don't know the first thing about caring for a baby," he added for good measure. While Harry would love to spend time with his godson the thought of being responsible for another life was more than a little frightening to him. He could barely manage to keep himself alive, with Hermione's help at that, how would he possibly manage Teddy he wondered. Hermione's not here to help me this time.
"Nonsense," Andi assured him. "You have house elves. A better Nannie you'll never find, Harry. I'm certain they can help you with whatever you don't know how to do or feel uncomfortable doing," she said, thinking of changing nappies.
"Won't Teddy miss you?" Harry pressed.
"He's young. He won't even remember this time of his life," Andi replied with false bravado. Even though she knew Teddy would miss her she was more concerned about how she would survive without him. With both Ted and Dora gone, Teddy was all she had left in the world.
Harry sat forward and gently laid a hand on hers where it rested on her knee still."I was fifteen months old when my mum and dad died. I remember it to this day," he told her solemnly, leaving out the part about the nightmares and the flash of green light because that was rather personal. "Even if he doesn't remember when he is older, he'll know now when you're not here. I know he'll miss you."
Seeing the distraught look that appeared upon Andi's face at his words, the truth of them finally sinking in, Harry thought for a moment and then did the only thing that made any sense at all. "The two of you can move in here," he offered. "Merlin knows I have the room with plenty to spare. You can floo to St. Mungo's for work and when you return home afterwards you can see Teddy for a bit before getting some sleep."
"I…I wouldn't want to impose," Andi stammered, fighting with her sensibilities. What Harry was offering seemed like the perfect solution to her issues however she was raised not to be a burden on others. It was part of the reason she wanted to get a place for Teddy and herself as she felt like she was a huge burden on the Tonks.
"Burden?" Harry scoffed a bit more exaggerated than was called for. "You would be doing me a favor actually as I would get to spend more time with Teddy. I don't have any family you see, except for him now and yourself. It would mean a great deal to me if you would stay here so I can get to know you both better," Harry replied in a sad little tone of voice with what he hoped were his best puppy dog eyes.
Andi smirked to herself realizing exactly what Harry was doing. That tone of voice and those eyes would have been enough to melt any witch's heart but she had been raised a Black. She well knew manipulation when she saw it. Not that he's trying all that hard to hide it, she mused with a chuckle in her head. "If you insist," she hesitantly replied just for show.
"I do!" Harry exclaimed as he launched himself to his feet. "It's settled then. You'll stay here for as long as you like," he told her with an approving grin.
"You're certain you have room for us?" Andi asked, her own lips curling up into a smile as she stood at a more dignified pace than Harry had used.
Harry thought for a moment and the realized something. "Room, yes. Furniture, no," he admitted. "I guess we'll have to go shopping," he offered, a bit less enthusiastically than the last time he had thought to do that. A soft clearing of a throat caught his attention. Turning he saw Daphne, dressed in a pretty burgundy muggle dress that came down to just above her knees. It was rather light and airy but having never seen her without robes before it was all the more stunning. The striking witch had her hair pulled back into a French braid which hung down her back unless he was mistaken. Harry thought she really was rather brilliantly gorgeous.
"Oh dear, I think you've quite broken him," Andi teased upon seeing the slack-jawed expression upon Harry's face as he stared at the newest arrival.
Daphne grinned a bit victoriously, her mission accomplished. "I think it's the first time he's seen me out of witch's robes," Daphne replied as she crossed the room as fluid and as graceful as water. "Daphne Greengrass," the blonde with offered holding her hand out to Andi.
"Andromeda Tonks," Andi replied, grasping the hand and giving it a shake as she introduced herself.
"Yes, well, Andi will be staying here with us for the foreseeable future," Harry offered, finally regaining control of his motor functions once again. Seeing Daphne's speculative look he hastily added, "Her and Teddy. My godson."
Andi could tell that Harry was a bit embarrassed to have been caught so brazenly gaping at Daphne but she couldn't help teasing him a little more. "Staying with Us?" she enquired with an amused arch of her brow.
"Yes, Harry is being quite the dear and allowing me to stay here in his lovely home," Daphne answered as she laid a hand upon the young wizard's arm appreciatively, causing him to blush at the attention as well as the touch."I don't know what I'd ever do without him!"
Oh you wicked girl, Andi thought as she witnessed Harry's reaction to Daphne's presence. It was clear to her at least that Harry had very little experience when it came to witches. The fact that he blushed at just a touch showed a certain level of innocence that was rather endearing. Andi, not knowing Harry all that well wasn't certain if she should save him or encourage Daphne to continue. "Then I look forward to becoming fast friends," Andi finally settled on.
"We," Daphne said, pausing to shoot Harry a wide smile, "have plans for lunch at a very nice French restaurant. You simply must come with us," Daphne declared. "You don't mind, do you Harry?" Daphne asked, flashing Harry a rather pleading pout as she batted her lashes at him.
"No. Course not," Harry stammered out, finding it suddenly warmer in the room than it ought to be.
"What about Teddy," Andi asked, concerned about the baby.
Before Harry could say anything there was a small pop as Kreacher appeared."Winky wished to convey that the young tike has fallen asleep and she will watch over him while Master and his Misses are out," Kreacher told them with a respectful bow of his head. "Winky would have come herself but she be rocking the little one in her arms and did not wish to wake him."
"Well, I guess that settles it," Andi said, knowing that a house elf would never let any harm befall a child left in their care.
Harry gave a brief nod of agreement. "Thank you, Kreacher," he told the elf who bowed once again and disappeared with a pop. "Shall we?" Harry asked, gesturing towards the floo which they could use to get to Grimmauld Place and the tube.
Daphne quickly fell in beside the older witch, lacing her arm in with Andi's."So, about this shopping. I know just the place!" Behind the two witches Harry did his best not to groan aloud.
-oOo-
It was much later in the day when the two excited witches, trailed by a rather exhausted wizard, returned to Westfield Manor. The ladies hurried off to decorate and furnish Andi's room while Harry made a hasty retreat to his own rooms on the fourth floor only to find a letter awaiting his attention. Harry didn't recognize the seal but suspected who it was from.
Mr. Potter.
House Greengrass extends to House Black our sincere gratitude for sheltering one of our own. I humbly accept your offer to provide my daughter with hearth, shelter and protection, especially given that she is at the moment unable to protect herself.
At this time I am at present on the continent and will be remaining here for the next several months. Due to the nature of my business I am currently unable to return to my home for Daphne's wand, which is safely stored where only I may reach it. Due to this inconvenience I fear I must ask that you continue to look after my Daphne as if she were your own. Upon my return, shortly before the Yule holiday, I will be happy to meet with you to discuss the matter of her wand.
Respectfully,
Gerald Greengrass
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