2014

2014:

It hardly seemed possible that sixteen years had passed since Teddy had been born, but he was now a sixth-year at Hogwarts, having maintained top grades the entire time. It was even rumoured that he might become Head Boy in his seventh year, just as he had been Prefect in his fifth year, having aced his OWLs just as handily as Hermione once had.

He and Harry had become progressively closer with every passing year, even through Harry's own now eleven-year marriage and three children. In fact, his oldest, James Sirius, was now ten and due to start at Hogwarts next year. Albus Severus, his second son, was presently eight, and his youngest, Lily Luna, was now six. He and Ginny were just as much in love as ever...as were Ron and Hermione, and their two children, Rose and Hugo, were now nine and seven respectively.

However, Harry had gained most of his parenting experience on Teddy. In fact, he did his best to treat him as he believed Remus and Dora would have. The way the boy had been talking and acting lately, though, Harry was convinced his godson was in love. If he had been able to call on Sirius in this same situation, things might have turned out a lot better for everyone concerned. Certainly not nearly as many mistakes would have been made. Well, nothing could be done about it now; besides, what mattered was that in spite of what they had had to endure to get to this point, he and Gin were not only together now but very happy and raising a beautiful family.

But right now, his main concern was Teddy. He recognised the symptoms from when he himself had first been in love with Ginny. If his own feelings were any indication, it wouldn't surprise Harry one bit if Teddy came to him in the near future and asked him how to tell the object of his love how he felt about her. Harry also strongly suspected that he knew who it was: one Victoire Weasley, Bill and Fleur's oldest daughter, now fifteen.

She was one of the loveliest young women who had ever lived...but then, considering she was part Veela, that was to be expected. Any man with an ounce of hormones would be affected by her, as they (he, Ron and many others) had been by Fleur. So it came as no surprise whatsoever that Teddy was so bewitched by Victoire. Not even the younger daughter, Dominique, and their son, Louis, had the same effect on their peers as Victoire did.

Neither would it surprise Harry if Teddy was also having sexual feelings regarding her. The question was, how did she feel about him? If Teddy himself didn't know, maybe he could ask Bill or Fleur to approach their daughter on Teddy's behalf as to just what her feelings for him were. It would be even more difficult, of course, if Victoire were unable to say just what her feelings were, but they would deal with that when it came up.

For the moment, Harry would prepare himself as best he could to answer any and all questions Teddy might have regarding women, sex and love. If nothing else, he would call upon Ginny for help ... but only if absolutely necessary.

* * * * *

Within a week Harry's suspicions proved correct. He was writing a letter to Hermione asking about the progress of the latest laws he had lobbied for when he heard a knock at the door of his study. Usually all those closest to him knew well that if his door was closed, he didn't want to be disturbed unless it was a bona fide emergency. However, he had been known to make exceptions on occasion...although those were fairly few and far between. And among those few exceptions were certain trysts with Ginny or talks with Teddy. It was for the latter reason that he would make yet another exception for the boy. After all, he'd have his own three children to help through the same thing before too much longer. Might as well get the experience now as later.

"Uncle Harry, can I come in? I need to talk to you. It's important."

"Sure, Teddy. Come on in...and close the door." Teddy did so; Harry motioned him to the other, vacant, chair in the room. "Where are the others?"

"Aunt Ginny took your kids to the Burrow for the day so we won't be disturbed."

Harry couldn't help thinking that Teddy must have asked her to do this, and that (at least technically) Ginny should probably have been here as well, especially if the upcoming subject matter was what he thought it was going to be...but didn't voice his opinion. Instead, his eyes widened in surprise at the anxious look on his godson's face. "It's that important?"

"It's that important," Teddy confirmed. "I need some advice about ... uh ... women. Or more accurately, teenage girls."

Harry's eyebrows shot up, but he simply said in his gentlest voice, sensing the boy's discomfort, "Any girl in particular?"

"I think you can guess," Teddy all but mumbled, blushing even as the ends of his hair also turned red. "I've liked her for ages, and I'm positive she likes me too, but I don't know how to approach her. You've always said actions speak louder than words, but I can't help thinking I should do more."

"That's true, although Ginny's always said that women prefer to be told how a bloke feels about them, at least once in a while. Those two facts should always be kept in mind."

"But that's not the only thing I need advice on, Uncle Harry," the boy all but blurted out in a rush, as if anxious to get the words out as rapidly as possible.

Harry had never seen Teddy blush so deeply and knew this talk had to be very difficult for him...but at the same time, knew it was necessary if he were to have any kind of future with Victoire.

"It's never easy to tell someone you love them, mate. Merlin knows it took me months to finally tell Gin I loved her. It's scary, how vulnerable love can make you. You become extra sensitive to everything your beloved says or does...or doesn't...do or say. Or even the way they do...or don't do...a given thing. Of course, under the right circumstances, it can be the most heavenly, wonderful thing in the world ... even just to see her or hear her speak, much less hold her, touch her or kiss her ..."

Harry's voice trailed off, but Teddy knew what Harry had not said...and why he had not said it...even as he smiled knowingly at the soft look that always came into his godfather's green eyes whenever he talked about his wife, even after over a decade of marriage and three children. Harry's smile also held infinite love and unfathomable tenderness as well as flames of desire.

Teddy hoped mightily that he might have that kind of relationship with Victoire one day...but it was only likely if he could manage to tell her how he felt about her at the right time and in the right way. Which reminded him ... there was something else he needed to know.

"How do you deal with ... physical reactions to the person in question?"

Harry's eyes widened again. "You mean ... sexual arousal?"

Teddy managed a stiff nod after another deep blush. "Sometimes I ... get so ... hard I hurt...and nothing I do helps for long."

"Believe me, mate, I know how you feel, but it's completely normal. Every young man feels like that at one time or another. I know I did! The times I had to be away from Gin before fighting Voldemort ... I truly hope I never have to go through anything like that ever again. I lost count how many times I had to do the solo bit to relieve myself ... and the fantasies I had about her, all I wanted to do to her ... there were times that she was all I could think about. Well, I think you get the picture. And for Merlin's sake, don't say anything to Ginny about this, or else I'll never hear the end of it."

"Don't worry, I won't. But what can I do, Uncle Harry? I know we're too young to marry, much less have sex...but I can't think of anything else right now. Even at that, I don't want to just have sex with her. I want to share my life with her, give her children ..."

"It's understandable that you would want to be intimate with her before marriage. Sexual feelings are very hard to control, especially when they first kick in. Believe me, I know! All the same, it's wrong – because such strong feelings and desires belong only in marriage."

"What did ... you do, Uncle Harry?"

"If I tell you, you must keep it to yourself. It would hurt many people if it became public, especially Ginny and myself, much less our children. If you don't think you can keep it secret afterward, I can Obliviate you. That is, modify your memory so you don't remember it."

Harry could well imagine how Bill and Fleur would react if they could hear this, much less Arthur and Molly, having been very loving but all the same, very strict in raising their children, especially regarding matters of the heart...and body...which might affect any or all of them, including ... especially ... Ginny. However, shortly after the Battle of Hogwarts, there had been a point where their physical hunger for each other had become irresistible – the time when young love became more important than morality. Fortunately, they made sure to use Contraceptive Charms, so they did at least one thing right. But even if they didn't exactly start out their intimate relationship correctly, what mattered was that it had ended up correctly...and he hoped the same thing for Teddy ... but at the proper time.

"I ... agree," Teddy returned quietly, all the while hoping he would never have to avail himself of the offer. "Now please tell me more of ... what you did."

And with that, Harry did, hoping all the while that Gin would not find out. If she did, she would likely Bat-Bogey him into the middle of next week, and he wouldn't blame her. But he only meant to help Teddy the best way he could.

But for the time being, at least, he intended to concern himself only with doing everything in his power to help the boy through this most difficult of "growing pains" and resolve his current situation...whatever that might involve.

* * * * *

Luckily for Harry and all those closest to him, including Teddy, the boy proved to be every bit as adept at keeping secrets as Remus and Harry himself, much less Ron, Hermione or any of the other Weasleys. Just the same, Harry intimated to Teddy that the option of memory modification would remain open should he feel he ever needed to avail himself of it.

As it turned out, Victoire loved Teddy every bit as much as he did her, but although Bill...a loving but strict father in the Arthur Weasley mold...gave permission for Teddy and Victoire to date, he warned that they must act responsibly when it came to intimacy of any kind ... especially when they were away at school. He also vetoed steady dating until Victoire was of age. As for marriage, that would not be permitted until and unless at least one of them had gainful employment ... preferably Teddy.

Fleur had sat next to him when he told Harry this, nodding in agreement with virtually everything her husband said, except at one point when she looked like she wanted to argue with him. Harry couldn't remember just when that point was now, but it didn't really matter. The point was that Teddy could openly date Victoire.

Teddy also vowed to keep in mind Harry's admonition that simply because he or other elders said or did a given thing didn't necessarily make it morally or emotionally right. Of course, there were times that people did things which could be termed "wrong," but Harry warned that the actions in question should never be done unless deemed unavoidable...and even then, one should think twice before doing them because they could have lifelong consequences for everyone concerned, not just the individual in question.

Harry fully agreed with these restrictions and warned Teddy to comply with them or else they would be tightened, especially if he or Victoire's parents ever found out Teddy had done anything wrong and tried to cover it up. Particularly if it involved physical intimacy with Victoire. Teddy became understandably indignant and defensive, assuring his godfather that he intended to toe the line.

"Don't worry, mate, I trust you ... and most importantly, Bill and Fleur trust you." Harry smiled. "Just keep in mind what the consequences will be if you ever betray that trust. In other words, if you act like an adult, you will be treated and trusted as such ... but if you act like an irresponsible child, you'll ruddy well be treated like one...and never mind what age you are!"

Teddy had no intention of risking losing Victoire, not for any reason, so he vowed to behave himself ... as best he could, anyway. He recalled when Uncle Harry had told him of his own emotional and physical hardships over the years and was glad that his own life had been much happier and easier. Of course, the lives of certain other elders had been very difficult as well...especially that of his father. He wouldn't wish lives like theirs on anyone, except perhaps his worst enemy ... and at this point, he was at least fairly sure that he didn't have one. At least not yet. All the same, he had best be prepared for that eventuality at the earliest possible time ... making a mental note to make that the very next thing he discussed with his godfather.