I don't spend much time on social media, but a couple of months ago, someone directed me to the wonderful HP fanart by Blvnk. I follow her on my otherwise unused Tumblr account, and she recently posted a gorgeous drawing of Harry learning how to hold Teddy. This little story popped into my mind as a result. I think I may add to it from time to time; I have a few little plot bunnies that I think might fit in this universe. And I've just edited it a bit; I wrote and posted quickly and the first reading was a little rough.

Today, Harry was particularly aware of the fact that he had no memory of being held by his mother or father. It was not a loss he had really considered before, during those moments over the years when he'd allowed himself to follow the path of what if . What if his parents had not died that Halloween in Godric's Hollow, what if they had lived to raise him, what if his life had been that of an ordinary wizard child and not The Boy Who Lived?

He would have had birthday parties, toy brooms, friends. He would have looked forward to getting his Hogwarts letter and gone with his parents to Diagon Alley for his books.

He would have remembered his mum and dad holding him.

It was two days after Voldemort died, and Harry was on his way to Andromeda Tonks' cottage. He was bringing a toy lion for Teddy and a bottle of fine Goblin-made wine for Andromeda. He had wanted to bring something for himself as well, but Harry did not think it was appropriate to ask Ginny to leave her family. Not right now. They still hadn't really talked enough, and Harry wasn't sure when the right time for that talk was going to be.

Andromeda's eyes were red but her back was straight. She took the wine and placed Teddy carefully in Harry's arms almost without preamble. When Harry started to protest – he'd never been near a baby before let alone hold one – she huffed impatiently.

"Babies are harder to break than you think," she said. "It's when they . . . they grow up that you have to worry."

Harry had no answer to that.

He shifted Teddy in his arms, resting one under the baby's tiny bum, and looked down in surprise when Teddy naturally slipped into the crook of Harry's arm, his blondish head against Harry's chest. As Harry watched, the tips of Teddy's hair turned a warm reddish pink.

"That means he's comfortable," remarked Andromeda. She was watching them both. "Nymph . . . Nymphadora used to go pink too." The woman's eyes grew brighter and she turned away. "Do you want something to drink?" she asked, "I'm going to open that wine."

"I'm fine, thanks," said Harry. The urge not to make any more work for the woman was strong.

Back still to him, Andromeda nodded. "I'll just be . . . in the kitchen for a moment then."

Alone, Harry looked down at his sleeping godson. He was lightly smacking his lips together, and as Harry watched, one tiny arm flailed up for a second and then settled back against Harry.

Without really thinking about it, Harry began to walk around the room. He passed the fireplace, where happy pictures fought for prominence. Young Tonks and her parents, one with Remus at what must have been their wedding -Remus looking grave behind his smile, and then the two of them, grinning crazily over a blanket-wrapped bundle.

Harry regarded that photo for a long time.

"I don't remember my parents holding me, either," he finally said. "I didn't even have any pictures of them, when I was growing up. You will, though. And you'll have plenty of people to tell you stories about them. Did you know that your dad and my dad were friends? It's true, they met at Hogwarts. They had a lot of crazy times there, too." Harry sighed. "I wish I knew more of their stories."

"I didn't know Remus as well as I should have." Andromeda had come back into the room. "He was a good man, and good for my daughter. It took me longer than I care to admit to recognize that."

"It took him longer to realize that he was right for your daughter too," Harry said bluntly. "I'm just glad he finally did. They were both really happy."

"Thank you," said Andromeda. When Harry looked at her quizzically, she added, "For not saying 'at least.' At least they got married, at least they had Teddy, at least they were both happy . . .before they died." Her eyes flashed and for a minute, Harry was uncomfortably reminded of her sister Bellatrix. He grimaced.

"It just makes it worse, doesn't it? At least my parents had fifteen months with me, at least I got to know my godfather." Harry looked openly at her. "Trust me, Mrs. Tonks, I'll be the last one trying to put a bright spin on all this for Teddy."

She nodded. "Please, call me Andromeda. I expect . . . I hope, that we will be seeing quite a lot of each other?"

Harry nodded firmly. "I promise," he said. He gave a small grin. "Remus didn't really like to fly that much, but I think Tonks wasn't bad. Hopefully Teddy inherited her talent there."

As if he knew he was being talked about, Teddy whimpered suddenly. He wiggled in Harry's arms and the whimper turned into a cry. Harry looked down in a panic. "What did I do?"

Andromeda laughed softly. "You held a baby past his mealtime. I have something for him in the kitchen."

It was much harder to hold Teddy now that he was awake and decidedly unhappy. He wailed and arched his back as Harry carried him and Harry was suddenly reminded of the time Hermione had thought it would be a good idea to give Crookshanks a bath.

"Do you think he's upset because he doesn't recognize me?" Harry asked. He watched as Andromeda mixed a bottle and warmed it with a tap of her wand.

"I don't know that his eyes are that developed yet, but you probably smell different than he's used to." Andromeda gestured at a chair. "It's easier to feed him if you are sitting down."

It hadn't occurred to Harry that he was going to be the one feeding Teddy, but he did as he was told. Andromeda helped him arrange Teddy more comfortably and then gave him a small white cloth, "just in case."

Teddy stopped crying and eagerly began drinking. Harry felt oddly triumphant. "He's eating it!"

Andromeda laughed. "You look like a natural, Harry." Her smile softened. "It will be good practice for you, if you have your own, someday."

For some reason, Harry flushed. "I hope so," he said quietly. His thoughts strayed to Ginny.

"There is someone you are thinking about." Andromeda's statement didn't pry.

He nodded. "I broke up with her a year ago, to keep her safe," he said. At Andromeda's nod of understanding, he continued. "But I didn't stop thinking about her."

"And now?"

Harry sighed. He'd spent the last two days giving Ginny sad smiles and the occasional one-armed hug. She had barely left her family's side, and while Harry was fairly certain about his place in the Weasley's definition of family, he didn't want to make the first move. It was a relief to admit it all.

"And now I want to be with her again," he said. "But . . . her brother, one of her brothers, was killed." He didn't really have to say anything else.

"If she feels about you the way you do about her, she's going to want you near, Harry." Andromeda spoke with conviction. "I was married for twenty-seven years. Ted . . . Ted and I had our quarrels, to be sure, but once I knew I loved him, and he loved me, that didn't change." She sighed.

"We haven't said those words, not yet." Harry had no idea why he felt so comfortable talking to this women he barely knew. But the past and the present had been crowding closer and closer around him ever since he arrived, and now he thought, maybe, that he could finally see a glimmer of future.

"But you will." The conviction was still there. Andromeda smiled. "I tried to talk to my daughter about Remus a couple of times. It's not as easy to give the right advice to your own children. I'm lucky she was able to find another sympathetic ear."

Harry suddenly remembered. "She talked to Molly Weasley, didn't she?" Thinking about Ginny's mum made him think of Ginny herself. He wondered if Teddy could feel the sudden swoop in his stomach.

Andromeda nodded. "I'm glad my daughter listened to her. And I hope you listen to me." She reached out and took the bottle from Teddy's mouth; Harry hadn't realized it was nearly empty. "Put the cloth on your shoulder and move his head up there too; he needs to burp."

Awkwardly, Harry shifted the cloth and then Teddy. "What do I do?"

"Just rub and pat, it won't take long."

Harry tentatively patted Teddy's back and Andromeda gave the happiest sounding laugh Harry had heard all afternoon. "I told you, Harry, he won't break. Pat him like you mean it."

Harry did, and was rewarded less than a minute later. He grinned. "I did it!"

"You did," smiled Andromdea. She reached out. "And now, I need to give him his bath, and I believe you have someone to find for an important talk."

Harry carefully handed over Teddy. His arms felt strangely empty and he ruffled his hair for something to do. "I know," he said. "I just have to find the right time."

"No," said Andromeda. "You will make it the right time. Of all people, you should know that waiting never does anyone any good." She leaned over and kissed Harry on the cheek. "Bring her with you, next time you come, okay?"

Harry looked down at his godson. Teddy's eyes were still open and this time, Harry felt certain the baby was looking right at him. He kissed his forehead. "I will," he promised.