A Day At The Park
In Diagon Alley
"Teddy…be a good little wizard and don't move."
Harry spoke in a conciliatory fashion as he stealthy made his way around the side of the table. Teddy stood there happily twirling Harry's wand in his pudgy little hands giggling happily as the wand shot blue, green, red and gold sparks about the room. Harry made to quickly grab the little boy but just as he did, Teddy whipped the wand around about his head in a wide arcing circle. Harry was thrown backwards into the bookshelf across the room. A shower of books cascaded down upon Harry. Teddy erupted into riotous peals of laughter.
Hermione rushed into the library and was greeted by the sight of Teddy laughing giddily as he pointed Harry's wand at the bookshelf across the room. A pile of books lay piled on the floor. Hermione hurried over to where Teddy was standing scooped the toddler up into her arms. Sliding the nicked wand out of his hands, Hermione gently reprimanded the little boy.
"Teddy what have I told you about touching Harry's and my wands…you mustn't fool around with our wands, they're not playthings you could've hurt yourself or someone else."
Hermione looked over at the pile of books on the floor and with a shake of her head mutters.
"What on earth was Harry thinking leaving his wand lying about?"
Suddenly the pile of books shifted as Harry emerged from underneath them. Hermione gasped in shock.
"Harry!"
Harry straightened to his full height.
"Harry didn't leave his wand lying about…someone stole it right out of my pocket and went running off about the house with it. I cornered him in here and when I made a grab for him he blasted me backwards into the bookshelf."
Hermione queried.
"Teddy stole your wand and you couldn't get it back."
Harry could hear the laughter that was threatening to erupt from Hermione at any moment. Plucking his wand from her hand and tucking it inside his jumper Harry retorted.
"It's not funny…I swear he inherited all the benefits of Remus's more acceptable wolfish qualities without the hair and fangs."
Hermione giggled.
"While I don't doubt that Teddy inherited more than a few of his parents extraordinary gifts, I'm sure that his…er…rambunctious behavior has more to do with his being an energetic two year old whose been shut inside a dusty old manor house and could do with a bit of fresh air."
Harry frowned.
"I'll have you to know that this is not a dusty old manor house. It's been completely refurbished and is very well kept thanks to Kreacher."
Hermione smiled affectionately at Harry.
"It was just an expression Harry. Grimmauld Place is perfectly lovely…its just that Teddy is used to getting out and having his fill of the outdoors…he and Andromeda spend a lot of time out of doors. It would probably help settle him down if he got out for a bit. What do you say we take him to the park?"
Harry stepped out of the pile of books that covered his feet and ankles and nodded in agreement. Twenty minutes later the threesome were strolling into the newly erected play park installed in Diagon Alley. The park had been built in honor of all the young who had lost their lives during the war. The memorial park had become quite a draw in Diagon Alley. It was commonplace to find young mothers stopping off for a bit to allow their little ones a moment to play while they took a break from shopping. It was also a popular lunch spot. During the weekdays, it was routine to find the park filled with ministry workers sitting on benches having a bite as they watched passersby carry on with their shopping. Normally Harry made a point of steering clear of the park, he didn't need any reminders of the friends he'd lost, but as Hermione had some shopping to do in Diagon Alley Harry had relented and agreed to the compromise.
The moment Harry and Hermione had set foot in Diagon Alley holding hands with Teddy riding on Harry's shoulders they caused quite a stir. Though it had been two years since Harry, Hermione and Ron had defeated Voldemort and his legion of Death Eaters their appearance amongst their wizarding brethren always generated a bit of a frenzy but today the fervor was intensified as this was Harry and Hermione's first sojourn out in public as an actual couple. It had been a week since the pair had finally consummated their relationship and it seemed that they had nonverbally consented to this outing being the public declaration of their feelings for one another.
Harry and Ginny's break-up had been big news. Though neither of them had openly confirmed their split, it was obvious that the relationship had ended when the two had stopped being seen out together. News of Ron and Hermione's separation had also made the circuit. However, unlike news of Harry and Ginny's split the stories circulating about the demise of Ron and Hermione's were being fueled by stories of Ron having it on with a litany of known and unknown witches, none of which was true. All sorts of articles speculating on the reasons for the two break-ups had been written in the papers over the past five months, Harry reckoned that his and Hermione's escapade into Diagon Alley with Teddy was sure to create quite a stir.
As they roved the streets and shops of Diagon Alley Harry, Hermione and Teddy caused more than a bit of intense whispering and staring. It was a rare occurrence to see the famous Harry Potter out enjoying the day with his godson; Harry tried to shield Teddy from as much media attention as he could. It was even rarer to see him out in the company of a woman that he was so obviously involved. Harry had always been somewhat fanatical about keeping his private life private. When he and Ginny had been together Harry made a point of not giving the press much to fill their pages. He made sure to keep any public displays or shows of affection strictly out of the view of the press. Indeed, it had often been said among members of the press that were it not commonly known that Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley were a couple no one would have guessed they were together. Thus, his noticeable affection towards his heretofore-best friend turned heads everywhere he and Hermione went.
Every shopkeeper they encountered seemed to take an extra moment to complete whatever transaction they were conducting as they came to the realization that the well-known witch and wizard before them were more than just friends. More than once Harry noticed the widened eyes and raised eyebrows of a nearby customer or shop attendant as he and Hermione discussed the necessity of a purchase, shared a whispered anecdote, referred to the other with an endearment or simply stood closely together as they went about their business. Harry and Teddy had just stepped out of Ferrell's Fast Floos, a new establishment that allowed patrons to floo their purchases home while they remained to do more shopping, Hermione was sending their packages back to Grimmauld Place and as she didn't need any help at the moment she'd sent Harry and Teddy on to the park. As they headed up the street in the direction of the park they found themselves right outside of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes just as Ron stepped out of the shop's door. Teddy who was still riding up on Harry's shoulders gave an excited whoop when he saw Ron and called out.
"Uncle Won! Uncle Won!"
Ron turned around with a start and found himself staring at Harry and a very excited Teddy. Ron's face erupted into a smile as he looked at Teddy and his best friend as he spoke.
"Hello Teddy!"
Ron reached out and plucked the two year old from his perch atop Harry's shoulders, tossing him into the air he spoke to Harry.
"Alright Harry."
Harry returned Ron's jovial smile and answered back.
"Good and you."
Ron swung a giggling blue haired Teddy up onto his shoulders.
"Quite good though I suppose we really ought to stop meeting like this."
Harry chuckled.
"We have had a few awkward encounters here lately haven't we."
Ron nodded.
"That we have…last week being the strangest…never thought I'd see the day when you'd be hanging about with that lump of a cousin of yours."
Harry rejoined.
"Yeah well Dudley's done more than a bit of growing up since you saw him last but I reckon given our history it was a bit odd seeing us out together. I suppose it was about as shocking you seeing me and Dudley together as it was for me seeing you and Lavender together."
Ron nodded in an amiable fashion and reaching into his pocket pulled out a chocolate frog, unwrapped it and handed it to Teddy who happily popped the treat into his mouth. Harry posed a question.
"So how long have you and Lavender been back on?"
Ron started at Harry quizzically.
"Back on…what…you think that Lavender and I are seeing one another!"
Harry replied.
"Well I just thought that seeing as how you were out and…well she said you two were gonna be late to your outing with Ginny and Dean…"
Ron cut in.
"A bunch of us were getting together for Seamus' birthday…Lavender didn't know where the pub was and as my flat closest to hers I said I'd show her the way. We were set to meet Luna, Neville and Dean at Ginny's place before heading over to the pub."
Ron paused after his explanation for a beat then asked.
"Hermione didn't think that…that Lavender and I were carrying on again did she?"
Harry shrugged.
"Probably…I mean you two looked rather cozy…but she wasn't upset by it if that's what you're worrying about."
Ron nodded absently.
"So how are you two coming on…you and Hermione?"
Harry smiled a bit at Ron's query and replied.
"We're wonderful…damn near bloody perfect."
Realizing what he'd just said and to whom Harry backtracked.
"I mean…that is to say…"
Ron interrupted.
"You meant exactly that…you and Hermione are doing wonderfully."
"I didn't mean to sound so cavalier about it…I know you're still sorting out your place in all of this."
Ron replied.
"That's all sorted…when I saw you that night a few months back I was still a bit angry over how things had worked out and I wasn't sure if I'd ever be able to fully accept things. Then last week I saw you two and to be sure it was a bit weird at first but more than the awkwardness of seeing you two so clearly together or the shock of you being mates with Dudley, more than any of that I missed my friends."
Ron took a breath before continuing.
"Sitting in that pub watching Seamus and Dean and Pavarti and Lavender and everyone else having a grand time laughing it up with their mates and I really wished that it was me out with you and Hermione and not your bloody cousin."
Harry smiled.
"You miss us?"
Ron nodded.
"Been beside me self for weeks."
Harry's smile widened.
"Hermione will love hearing that…"
"I'll love hearing what?"
Harry and Ron turned around at the sound of Hermione's voice. Hermione waited expectantly for a few seconds before Ron answered her question.
"Harry reckons you'll love hearing that I've been a bloody wreck without you two around.
Hermione smiled as she answered back.
"We've missed you too Ron."
Ron looked between Harry and Hermione and grinned broadly. Harry and Hermione returned Ron`s smile. Suddenly Hermione's eyes widened and she pointed at Ron and saying.
"Ron, why is there chocolate in your hair?"
Ron reached up and ran his hand through his hair. Ron made a disgusted sound as his fingers made contact with the sticky mess. Harry reached up and removed Teddy from Ron's shoulders while Hermione performed a quick cleaning charm on Teddy's chocolate-covered hands and Ron's chocolate covered head. That done she said.
"Honestly, giving a two year old chocolate when he's riding up on your shoulders…what were the two of you thinking.?"
Ron and Harry chuckled at Hermione's scolding. Harry then looked over at Ron and said.
"We were just taking Teddy to the park, care to join us?"
Ron answered easily.
"I'd love to."
With that decided, the trio set off down the street for the park.
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