[HP Doujin] take care of you

2003. 9, 29

"I'm not good at taking care of children," Sirius admitted.

Sensing both Remus and Tonks looking at him, he avoided their eyes.

"You know both of my children are in your hands now?" Tonks said with a smile.

Sirius shrugged.He held Minnie in his right hand, and she rested her head on Sirius' shoulder, picking the buttons on his jacket with her chubby fingers.His left hand held Teddy's hand firmly.Teddy heard what his parents said, looked up at his godfather, and smiled at Sirius.

"But Teddy and Minnie are your children," Sirius said.

Remus laughed.

"Of course I can take care of your child, Moonface."

"I'm sure you'll be fine seeing Rose," Remus said, and knocked on the door.

Sirius tensed up and glanced at Tonks.Seeming relieved that she didn't have to hold the baby, she winked at Sirius as their eyes met.

"Having two children in your hands will make Hermione feel more comfortable handing Rose over to you."

Sirius turned pale, but before he could do anything, the door opened.Today was one of the rare rest days for Sirius, he had to go back to work after seeing the one he loved.The Reticent Man and his work will never end.While nothing could be done a few months ago, the Reticents have come up with more possible solutions.

So he's going to meet Ron and Hermione's first child, Rose, today.She was born about a month ago, at the end of August.He picks up the Lupines from Remus's house first, and then they go to the new parents' house together.

"You came!"

Ron was tall and lanky as usual, with the tired look on his face that most new parents have.He had dark circles under his eyes, and his hair looked like it hadn't been brushed in ages.But when he saw his friend, he had a big smile on his face.

"Come in, come in! Hermione can't wait to see you! Oh, hello, Teddy."

Teddy let go of Sirius' hand and took Ron's.

"Is the baby a girl, Ron?" Teddy asked with wide eyes.

Ron nodded with a smile.

"Yes." Ron let them in, and closed the door behind him. "Her name is Rose."

Teddy wrinkled his nose, let go of Ron's hand, and ran towards the house.Remus stood beside his wife, watching Teddy warily as he began to mess around.

"When are we going to have boys?" Teddy asked, picking up a picture frame and putting it back in place. "Only girls, no boys, I want a friend."

Ron shrugged and smiled.

"I don't know, buddy. Ask your parents."

Sirius laughed too, Tonks rolled his eyes, and Remus shook his head.He didn't know how many times Teddy had complained that he was the only boy in the group of friends.But it was true, Sirius realized.Bill and Fleur had Victova a few years ago.Remus and Tonks had little Minnie, and now Ron and Hermione had just had Rose.

Poor child, surrounded by so many women.At some point in his life, though, he may well have been thankful that he wasn't related to any of them.

"Sirius! Uncle Sirius, come here!"

Sirius handed Minnie to Remus, took off his jacket, and followed Teddy into the kitchen.Teddy had just learned to call Sirius by his name correctly, and he was very proud of himself.Sirius wondered if he'd ever heard anyone try to say their name as hard as Teddy did.Sirius looked into the clean kitchen, while Ron, Tonks, and Remus went into another room; from the sound of it, Hermione and Rose were inside.

"Thank you for not using the Floo...that sound drives Rose crazy, she cries every time she hears it..."

After the adults' voices died away, Teddy looked at his godfather with a smug smile.

"There are cookies!" Teddy whispered, pointing to the counter. "Can I have a piece?"

Sirius laughed again, bending down beside his godson.It was a weird feeling seeing Teddy and Remus.Although this boy has Tonks' ability to change his appearance, he is his father's son at first glance.Whenever Teddy is in a relaxed state, he has matted brown hair and large brown eyes.He's not clumsy or quiet.He seems to have inherited Remus' mischievous side, and his godparents' quick temper.Thinking of Ginny, Sirius' smile disappeared.

"Your parents probably won't let you. We haven't had lunch yet."

Teddy scrunched his face in confusion.

"so?"

Sirius laughed.

"Ask Hermione if she can give you one. If she agrees, we can share one."

Teddy nodded firmly and was about to reach out to Sirius when he noticed something else.Teddy tilted his head, put a finger to his lips to silence Sirius, then tiptoed and looked under the kitchen table.He looked back at Sirius excitedly.

"Crookshanks!" he cried, laughing. "Crookshanks is down here! Come here!"

Sirius knelt down beside the boy and looked under the table too.Crookshanks was indeed down there.The big orange cat that backed away when it saw Teddy immediately stopped and walked towards Sirius.

"Hello, old friend," Sirius murmured, stroking Crookshanks' fur.

It appears that time is finally starting to have an effect on this creature.Crookshanks' normally bright orange fur is now mottled, with some gray around his mouth.Sirius sighed.He remembered that when he was at Hogwarts, Crookshanks was Ginny's kitten.How could he forget how much this creature helped him in trying to catch Peter...

"Why does he like you so much?" Teddy asked, hesitatingly reaching out to stroke Crookshanks' tail.

The cat gave Teddy a haughty look back, and Sirius smiled.

"We've known each other for a long time."

"is it?"

Sirius nodded when Tonks called from another room.

"Sirius? Are you okay?"

"We should go." Sirius said softly to Teddy, standing up from the ground.

Teddy nodded in agreement.Sirius held Teddy's hand, and the little boy walked out of the kitchen and into another room.As soon as Hermione saw Sirius, she jumped off the couch and hugged him.Her shaggy brown hair made his face itch, but he smiled and hugged her too.

"how do you feel?"

"I'm fine, fine! Sirius, I'm so glad you're here, I'm just not sure - come on, come and meet Rose! She'll be delighted to see you!"

Sirius had no choice but to keep up with Hermione, but he glanced at Remus.Seeing Sirius' panicked expression, Remus smiled cheekily.Hermione led Sirius to the cradle, and Sirius looked inside and saw a tiny baby.Sirius only saw some red hair on top of her head because she was sleeping.

"Oh, she was awake just now!" Hermione sighed, reaching out to tuck Rose in the blanket. "I'm sure she'll wake up soon."

"Don't worry." Sirius put his arm around her shoulders. "I'm sure you'd like her to sleep."

Hermione stared at Sirius with wide eyes.

"Ross is a joy. She's such a good kid—"

"She can be trouble too," interjected Ron, taking a seat on the sofa next to Remus. "Just wait until she wakes up. I've never heard crying like this in my life."

Hermione gave Ron a shocked look.

"Ronald!"

Sirius squeezed Hermione's shoulder, but still couldn't help smiling.

"Hermione, you don't have to impress anyone," Tonks told her, sitting down beside Remus and running his hand through Minnie's thick hair. "I'd be crazy right now without Sirius and Harry and Ginny. I don't know how Molly did it."

Remus snorted.

"Kids are hard," Remus admitted. "It took Minnie a long time to sleep through the night."

Hermione sighed and rubbed her face with her hands.Ron held out his hand to her, and she moved towards him, letting him kiss her knuckles, and pulling her close to him.She stood beside him, and he rested his head on her stomach.Sirius' heart tightened at this loving scene, and he looked away...to see Teddy looking into the cradle.

"Hey!" Sirius hissed, snapping his fingers.

Teddy was taken aback, but still smiled.

"Sorry!" Teddy bounced to Sirius' side. "Babies are boring."

"You were a baby too," Remus told him.

Minnie giggled, clutching Remus' ear.Remus scowled as she strained.

"I'm not bored," Teddy said.

"You're right," said Tonks, laughing.

"Want some tea? And biscuits? I made some before everyone came in case anyone was hungry—" said Hermione uneasily, ending her intimate moment with her husband.

"Biscuit!" Teddy yelled, jumping up. "Yes, yes!"

Sirius and Hermione walked to the kitchen together.

"I'll get it for you."

Hermione nodded, put the kettle on the stove, and opened a few cupboards.Sirius helped her get some glasses from the upper shelf.

"Without magic?" he asked, setting the cup on the tray she had taken out.