Zero

"I have something for you," Harry tells Teddy when he comes back for Christmas break. "Do you remember when you sent me an owl after finding the Mirror of Erised in the Hogwarts basement?"

"Yeah, just a few weeks ago," replies the messy, turquoise haired boy. "I saw a woman with pink hair –the same pink that I see when I think of my mother. And I saw a man with her, and he was trying to give me chocolate and a broom without the pink haired woman seeing. But she did see him, and smiled, and tried to give me a stuffed wolf in addition to his gifts, too."

Teddy shuffles his feet. Harry knows Teddy knows, but saves the boy the embarrassment of voicing his theory.

"Those were your parents," Harry says. "I saw my parents in the Mirror of Erised, too. But Teddy, you must promise me not to go back to the mirror."

"Why? I like to see them," Teddy says, pained.

"Because it does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live," Harry replies gently. "I think I have something that will make saying goodbye to the mirror a little easier. I…hope this isn't too soon…" he looks at his wife, Ginny, who nods for him to continue.

Harry takes a box from the mantle.

"I was given a special stone by a dear friend of mine. I dropped it in the Forbidden Forest, but it was found by the Hogwarts gamekeeper," Harry begins.

"HAGRID!" Teddy interjects happily.

Harry smiles.

"Yes, dear Hagrid found it. He asked me what I should like done with it. I asked for it, for you, Teddy. I have never used it since the night I dropped it, and after this, I shall lose the stone again for good. It's as dangerous as the Mirror, for what you will see isn't real. Like all ghosts, it is but a well preserved memory."

Harry hands Teddy the stone.

"Ginny and I will give you some time to talk to them and…say a proper goodbye. You can come get us when you're through. And don't worry Teddy, this isn't the last time you will see them. Death brings us all back together again eventually," Harry says, pushing up his glasses.

Teddy looks into his godfather's green eyes and can read all the loss they have suffered and the hope that still springs up in them.

"You don't have to do this now, Teddy, if you don't want. I can keep the stone till you are older. I just thought…" Harry trailed off.

"No, I want to meet them now," Teddy replies quietly.

Harry knew that would be his answer, for he understood how Teddy felt and everything he was going through, just as Tonks's mother had predicted he would. Just like Remus and Tonks knew he would and had probably planned for him to.

Harry ruffles the turquoise hair and quietly exits the room, murmuring that all Teddy need do is turn the stone over in his hand.

Teddy can feel every pore of the stone on his fingertips as he twirls it over.

"Hello, Teddy," says two of the sweetest voices the boy has ever heard.

Hours and hours later, Teddy hates to tell them goodbye. He rushes out of the room, dropping the stone on the floor, tears streaming down his face. The ghosts are even reluctant to leave, for they love that blue haired boy.

Harry hears Teddy rush up to his room and knows it will be best to let him alone for a bit. He's surprised to find Remus and Tonks still in his living room when he walks in to retrieve the stone.

"Thank you, Harry," they say.

"You're welcome," Harry replies. "Thank you for entrusting him to me. He's lovely, if you didn't realize," he smiles. "He's doing so well at Hogwarts too, but, I'm sure he's told you all about it."

The ghosts nod.

"He's the head of his class, I doubt he told you that –he's humble too," Harry informs them. Though they can't say they are surprised, Remus and Tonks are pleased to hear it.

"He's made some good friends already, too. Professor McGonagall tells me she manages not to miss me when Teddy is around. He's real Marauder material," he tells Remus.

Harry eventually tells the ghosts goodbye as well. The stone, its purpose fulfilled, is swiftly sent back to Hagrid by owl with instructions to drop it into the lake and tell no one about it.

Even if he does tell, Harry thinks, the Giant Squid and mermaids and grindylows will keep anyone from reaching it. I should know.

He climbs the stairs to Teddy's room. The boy is fast asleep, his wand in his hand. Harry pushes up his glasses, surprised to see the glow of a patronus. The silvery wolf looks at Harry before lying down again at Teddy's feet.

Harry thinks of his own patronus, the stag of his father, as he kisses Teddy and whispers the words his own godfather whispered to him years ago:

"The ones that love us never really leave us."

I hope you enjoyed this story and had some feels! :') I personally had a lot of fun and feels while writing it.

If you DID indeed like it...please consider giving it a "heart" on Inkitt .com to help it win the fandom3 contest! I would appreciate it so much! (Same story title, same author name.) The contest goes until Jan 21, and voting continues for another week afterward, I believe. :)

Thanks so much for reading this! and hugs and kisses for any voters! XD