A/N: First let me apologize profusely for the confusion on the kids. This story should clear that up, but if not here's the list of the main five (I won't bother with their siblings because then that'd get way insane):
Harry + Hermione = Sirius
Ron + Luna = Ronnie (Ron Jr.)
Tonks + Remus = Cat and James
Draco + Ginny = Cissy
Secondly, if this two-parter violates Portkey rules, please please PLEASE let me know and I will take it down without question and without complaint. This story has only a glancing mention of Harry and Hermione, but it is in the "Lessons" universe and deals with the kids whose parents are Portkey's ships so I thought it'd be ok. PLEASE let me know if it isn't. Thanks!!!
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Part 1: Wotcha!
Sirius was the only one brave enough to approach him. Mad Eye Moody looked down at the three year old toddler with an amused quirk of his eyebrow. Of the other toddlers and children running around the backyard of the Burrow none had dared attempted to come near him. The boy was certainly a Gryffindor and a Potter through and through.
Sirius blinked up at Moody with wide vibrant green eyes he'd inherited from his father and poked Moody's leg with a small index finger. "`Lo," Moody replied, startling Sirius enough from his scrutiny to cause the kid to jump.
"Sirius, don't be rude," Hermione sighed with exasperation, picking up her wayward son. "I'm sorry Moody, he's normally not like this around adults."
Moody nodded. "No harm done." It wasn't as if he had a face that inspired trust in children anyway, not that he minded. He was definitely not a kid person. They were expensive, loud, smelled and prone to unpredictability. To someone who thrived on unpredictability, kids should have been easy, but not when they were also easily influenced and often took orders from adults without any question. No, he did not like kids - too corruptible, too trusting and never vigilant.
Sirius watched Moody intently until Hermione deposited him with his cousins and sister playing with the gnomes in the garden. Moody was impressed with the toddler's distrust until Sirius caught sight of a gnome Ron Jr. was chasing around and abandoned his Moody-watch to play. Maybe he should have a talking to with Potter and Weasley for that matter.
Moody was content to sit in the shade watching the children run pell-mell around the garden and the adults socialize with easy familiarity and laughter. Someone had to guard the party and he happily took on that role. It didn't matter that Voldemort had been dead and gone for nearly seven years, Dark Magic never slept. Constant vigilance!
If he hadn't seen Lupin, Tonks, John, and the twins James and Cat walking up the drive and around to the back of the house with his eye, Moody would've been just as startled and even more on alert when Cat let out a happy shriek. She came barreling into the garden running on her stubby little legs, her long hair coke bottle green. She ran to the kids and flopped onto the ground with them but before they could say hi or barely even acknowledge her presence she was up on her feet and running around to the adults. Lupin, Tonks and the boys walked more sedately into the group, smiling and greeting everyone. James and John joined the children where they sat poking at a gnome hole.
Cat, on the other hand, let out another girly squeal and ran toward Moody, her face alight with joy. "MOO MOO!!"
Everyone stopped and turned toward Moody who actually blushed at both the nick name and the scrutiny. Harry and Tonks had the guts to snicker while the rest of the adults bit their cheeks or lips, covered their mouths or turned away to hide their laughter. "Wotcha Moo Moo!" Cat held her arms up and jumped up and down, her hair bright pink with from enthusiasm. "Up! Teddy! Up!"
Pick her up and hug her, Tonks mouthed and pantomimed.
Cat was making little begging noises in the back of her throat, trying to crawl up into Moody's lap when he leaned down and picked her up. He held her under her arms, away from him, uncertainty crinkling his face. The last time he'd held her was about a year ago, but she had been dropped into his lap by Tonks and had squirmed away about five seconds later much to Moody's relief. Now she was giggling and squirming, reaching out to him. "Moo Moo! Teddy!!" she whined.
"Teddy. What's teddy mean?" Moody grumbled looking around the squirming three year old to her parents.
"What do you do with teddy bears?" Tonks asked.
Moody's face was blank. "Open `em up to see if there's contraband inside? Isolate `em to make sure they aren't portkeys or charmed with dark magic?"
Tonks sighed and rolled her eyes. "You hug them. She's asking you to hug her, so you'd better do it quick because she looks about ready to let loose a thunder storm."
Cat's hair was turning dark pink and shading into black, her face screwing up with frustration and hurt. "Moo Moo! Teddy!" she sobbed.
Moody sighed and sat her on his lap, wrapping his arms awkwardly around her. "Are you happy now?" he growled down to her with more affection than annoyance in his voice.
Cat clapped her hands, her hair back to bright pink. She reached up and patted Moody's scarred cheek. "Love Moo Moo," she grinned up at him, snuggling into his arms.
Moody sighed, glancing around to see if anyone was watching him. He reached up and ran a tender hand over Cat's long silky hair, both eyes watching the little girl happily nestled in his arms. A little piece of his heart that he'd always made sure was hardened against distractions thawed just enough to worry him. He couldn't let himself get sidetracked by such thawing. He knew he was going to have to pull away sometime soon, but for now he'd enjoy the new sensation, just this once, constant vigilance could wait a few minutes . . . a few hours . . . ok, the afternoon, but after that . . . "Love you too, squirt."
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