Who: Tonks, Teddy and Billy Nott What: Kitty 'shopping'! When: Thursday afternoon Why: Cause it's adorable?
It had taken some doing, but Teddy managed to escape his two beautiful little girls with promises of new dolls and sweets. It wasn't that he didn't want them to feel as special as Billy; he simply knew Billy needed some alone time with him and picking out the kitten he'd care for was a good excuse. Granted, convincing Amelia and Sophia that Billy got to pick the animal because he'd be the one taking responsibility for it had been a daunting task, but they never could turn down new toys and candy.
Truth be told, they were adjusting better to the loss of Hermione; Teddy supposed it was because they were younger. His poor little boy, on the other hand, felt the need to 'be a man' so to speak which Teddy felt heart-breaking. For these reasons, Teddy seized the opportunity to spend some quality time with his son. He took Billy for lunch and some ice cream before apparating to the Lupin home.
Placing the child on the doorstep, he ruffled the curly hair. "Remember, they are still really little so you have to be careful." He smiled gently before reaching over to knock on the door, his free hand grasping one of the child's hands.
Tonks had carefully rearranged her scheduled to make sure she'd be free for Teddy and Billy. The night shift did have its benefits, after all, and since she'd been able to sleep in that morning, the afternoon was a perfect time for them to come by. When she heard the knock on the door, she jumped up, startling Jinx who, by then, was used to his owner's crazy antics. The big cat merely narrowed round blue eyes at her, yawned heartily, and climbed down from his spot beside her.
With a grin, Tonks leaned down and scratched the cat behind his ears before hurrying to the door, careful not to slip on the rug that she really should have moved by then. "You're here!" she declared excitedly, bending to give Billy a hug. She'd noticed he'd seemed a bit quieter since Hermione's death, not quite getting himself back together, perhaps. She leaned down, curling him into a small hug. "And you're here, too, how about that," Tonks teased as she straightened, reaching up to ruffle Teddy's hair with a smirk.
Billy grinned when Miss Tonks embraced him. He hugged her about the waist with a surprising fierceness. "Hi, Miss Tonks! Missed you!"
Teddy chuckled as the woman mussed his hair. "Oy, it takes work to make this mop presentable, you know." Still, he leaned over, grazing his lips over her cheek. "How are you, Tonks?"
Grinning at them both, Tonks waved them inside before answering the question. "Well enough. Busy, but that's good, I suppose." Even if part of the busy was working on Hermione's case. And she certainly wasn't going to bring that up. She instead focused a smile on the little boy. "Missed you, too, blondie. What've you been doing today, hmm?"
Billy giggled at the nickname, shaking his head. "Miss Tonks!" He grabbed her hand, swinging it about. He might have had Draco's cunning, but he had his father's energy for sure. "Daddy took me to eat in the city and I had ice cream TOO."
Beaming, Teddy held a hand up. "Little one, relax. You'll take her arm off!"
"Have you forgotten who I am?" Tonks teased Teddy, bending and swinging Billy in her arms. "Asking someone to relax around me is sort of like asking a Quidditch player not to score around their captain!"
Teddy playfully slapped his forehead. "Brilliant. And I willingly gave him sugar too." Nevertheless, it was nice to see Billy so at ease. Teddy missed that more than he could express properly.
Billy squealed as she spun him around, taking a moment to catch his breath when she settled down again. "Miss Tonks! Is Noah and Felicity coming soon? I miss them, you know."
Tonks kept an arm wrapped around Billy as she answered. "They'll be home a few days before Christmas, love. Then they'll get to stay for a bit before they go back to school. And then they'll come home over Easter, if they want. Felicity might not, I know my fifth year loads of us stayed to review notes and books and all. But Noah ought to enjoy the break. I know they miss you, too."
"Yippee! And Damien and Sabrina and everybody will be home then TOO!" Billy burrowed himself into Tonks' side. "And Mr. Remus, right? He'll bring me chocolate like always?"
"Billy," Teddy admonished, though his eyes glinted with a hint of delight. "That isn't nice."
"But, Daddy, it's TRUE. He always does!" Billy gave a humph before turning back to Tonks. "Sorry if I was rude."
Giving Teddy a sympathetic look, Tonks ruffled Billy's hair, though much more gently than she had his father's. "It's okay, Billy. Remus does always bring you chocolate. I'm pretty sure it's his favourite thing ever, except maybe me and the kids." Winking at Teddy, she smiled down at Billy. "We may even have a bit of fudge still around here from his last trip home, but you'll have to wait till that ice cream settles a bit."
Billy's face lit up. "Really, Miss Tonks? Daddy? Can I?"
"Yes, love, but only in a little while. I don't want your tummy hurting." Teddy bent to pat the boy's middle affectionately, and in turn, was rewarded with a giggle and squeeze. He glanced up at Tonks, winking. "Of course, if he DOES get a tummy ache I'll know who to blame…"
Tonks beamed and whistled innocently. "No idea. Who?"
"Miss Tonks!" Billy gestured toward him. "Miss Tonks!" His voice was a whisper as he beckoned.
At first, she thought Billy was just answering the question again. It took her a second before she knelt down to the boy's level. "What's up, Billy?" she asked, a tiny gleam of mischief in her eye. As if she didn't know.
"He means you, silly goose." Billy cupped his face so Teddy "couldn't" hear.
"Me?" she whispered back, incredulously. "You think he meant me?" She pretended to give a wary, sideways glance at Teddy. "Are you sure? Maybe he meant Jinx." She replied, gesturing as the elderly cat came winding his way around Teddy's ankles.
Teddy faked a gasp. "Blaming poor innocent Jinx." He bent down, gingerly picking up the pet. "Hey, there. How are you, sweet boy?" He rubbed the cat's back, pleased to be greeted with a gentle meow and snuggling into his chest.
Tonks smiled fondly at her old friend. "Cranky, as usual. Though I think he knows he's found a tummy rub with you, he ought to be nice for a bit. Silly old thing." She pulled herself back to her feet, one hand still lightly at the back of Billy's neck. "He's not too pleased with the insane amount of cat we've had around here lately, either. He was used to being my one and only before Noah."
Billy squirmed at her touch. "Miss Tonks! That tickles!"
"Yes, I remember my Kala felt that way when Billy here was born." He smiled fondly at the child. "Everyone seems to get along now though."
"Well, I rather meant before we became The Home for Lost and Lonely Kitties," Tonks teased. "I'm not sure he even noticed Felicity until the first time she pulled his tail. Crazy git." With a last, deliberate tickle, Tonks moved away and scratched Jinx on his back, near his tail. "Pretty much ignores everything now, especially with the kittens here."
"Poor thing, I can imagine a bunch of rambunctious kittens aren't much fun for this old boy." Jinx squirmed, prompting Teddy to release him.
Patience finally wearing out, Billy tugged at Teddy's shirt. "Daddy? Can we see the kitties now? Please?"
Teddy cast the little boy a sympathetic smile. He had been rather patient considering. "Well, if Miss Tonks says it's alright…"
Tonks grinned. She'd been wondering how long before poor Billy couldn't take it anymore. "Of course, love, I know you didn't come over here to see me!" She was only teasing, of course, and waved a hand for them to follow.
Leading the way through the first floor, she led them to the kitchen, where Castor was curled up in a basket, six wiggling bundles at her side. The kittens had grown considerably since their births, and she could already see little personalities developing. It fascinated her to watch them, and she knelt down, scooping up her favourite, who patted her nose with one paw, tiny claws sheathed. "Come on over here, you two, they're friendly and Castor's used to people saying hi."
Suddenly shy, Billy stopped short of the basket, but Teddy gently prodded him forward with a hand at his back. Teddy knelt down, keeping one arm across Billy's shoulders. "Why, hello." He held a hand out, watching as Castor sniffed and finally seemed to grant approval.
"See?" Tonks said softly, rubbing Castor's side. Noah's cat gave a huffing sigh and nuzzled deeper into her cushion. "It's just fine. They're all pretty friendly. This one's more playful," she told them, pointing to the calico. "And this one's a bit of a troublemaker, though I'd send him off with George and Alicia for the girls." With a wicked smile, she leaned back on her heels.
"Probably deserve it." Teddy smirked though he was still grateful to George for all his support. Who would have thought he'd eventually consider the Weasley twins not only friends, but family? Sometimes it was still mind-boggling.
"Oooh." Billy was unusually subdued, watching each kitten carefully. Hesitating briefly, he followed his father's lead, holding out one hand. A shyer, striped, kitten cocked his head and issued a small meow as his sister cuddled up to it. Billy giggled and moved toward the odd one out. "Hi."
When the small ball of fluff gave a tiny but insistent 'mrrow', Tonks laughed softly. "I think that might be kitten for 'hi, Billy'. What do you think?"
"Seems to like you," Teddy added helpfully, patting Billy's back reassuringly. "Want to hold him, baby?"
Billy paused, considering. "…Alright."
Lightly, Tonks patted the floor where he knelt. "Sit down, then, flat on your bum. And hold your arms like this." She held out her hands in a bit of a cradling gesture, in which she knew his chosen new friend would curl up from prior experiences holding him.
Billy obeyed, settling down as Tonks handed over the small animal. A gleeful expression crossed his face as the kitten curled into him, purring. For Teddy's part, he kept one hand loosely under the cat. Just in case.
But it didn't seem to Tonks that the extra hand was needed. Just as Kala had with Teddy before him, the baby cat climbed its way carefully up Billy's shirt and nestled into his neck. "I'm pretty sure he likes you," Tonks said, trying to hide her smile beneath a knowing nod.
"I like him too," Billy responded, not at all scared by the kitten climbing on him. He was used to his parents' cats; besides, he liked the thing. "Daddy, can he be the one?"
Teddy felt himself choking up. He kept thinking how it had been Hermione's idea for Billy to care for their current cats to 'test' him on responsibility. She should have been there for this moment. However, he swallowed hard, covering up his sadness with a smile. "As long as Tonks thinks we're a suitable match, I don't see why not."
Teddy wasn't the only one feeling emotional. Touching the shoulder not containing a kitten, Tonks leaned in and brushed a light kiss against Billy's head. "If you like him, baby, he's all yours. We'll have to figure out a way to tell him from the others, just in case." Brightening, she pulled out her wand and murmured a charm, turning one of the kitten's paws green. "There. We'll change it back as soon as he's ready to go home!"
"Hee, he's silly looking now." Still, Billy kissed his new play-mate's head. "I love him. Thank you, Miss Tonks! When can we take him?"
Over Billy's head, Teddy also flashed a thankful smile. This was just what his little boy needed.
Biting her lip, Tonks forced back the rush that went through her. Merlin she missed her two being so little. "Just a few more weeks. I was going to wait till Christmas time, but they'll be ready before that, really. Just so long as you promise to let Noah meet him. He's his grandfather, after all. Sort of."
"Course!" Billy nodded seriously. "Noah can come play ANY time he wants. Right, Daddy?"
"Well, I think it's only fair," Teddy agreed, rubbing Billy's back as he spoke. He let the boy rest against him, the kitten now settling down for a nap in his new owner's arms. "Tonks, really, thank you." He implored her to realize what he meant with his eyes.
She knew. Of course she knew. This was Teddy's way of trying to help his son; he was trying to give Billy something positive to look towards. Reaching out, Tonks rested a hand lightly on Teddy's arm. "You're welcome," she said sincerely, then turned her gaze on Billy. "You're going to take super good care of him, right?"
"Cross my heart, Miss Tonks!" Billy gazed down fondly at the tiny thing. "I won't let Sophia or Melia hurt him neither."
"You have a very important job," she told him earnestly. "You have to help them learn how to properly take care of a kitten. How to pet gently and not scare him and how to not feed him too many treats."
"Oy, Daddy and Grandma and Grandpa hafta help then. They can be naughty sometimes!" Exasperated, Billy shook his head.
"No naughtier than you can act," Teddy reminded him, kissing the top of his head to take any edge off the words. "Don't worry, little one, we'll all help."
Tonks gave Billy a light nudge with her toe, having long gotten comfortable on her kitchen floor. "You can manage it. After all, that's a very important part of being a kitty parent, keeping an eye on him and making sure others treat him with respect."
"And I will, but sometimes they just don't listen, Miss Tonks!" Billy shrugged at Teddy's statement then. "We all get like that though; Daddy's right. But I'll do real good, promise."
Brushing his cheek lightly, Tonks nodded. "I know, little one. It's awfully hard being good all the time, isn't it? I didn't care for it much, either. But you can do it, you just have to try."
"We all make mistakes." Teddy tickled Billy's side lightly, careful to not disturb the slumbering animal. "Draco and I…well."
Trying not to giggle and mostly failing, Tonks smiled. "We know. Your dad loves telling those stories."
Teddy faked a glare. "Don't you dare…"
Again looking innocent, Tonks only shrugged. "Me? Don't dare what, I'm innocent in all this!"
Billy smirked. "Grampa and Uncle Lucius tell lotsa stories about Daddy and Uncle Draco. Grandma too!"
Teddy's face drained a bit at the mention of Lucius. "Sorry," he mouthed.
At that, though, Tonks lifted her eyebrows. She didn't care if people mentioned the man. Fact was, she didn't much care about him one way or the other, except for being Billy's great-uncle and Luc's grandfather. "Oh?" she said instead, ignoring the subject. "What kind of stories?"
Teddy couldn't help but feel uncomfortabl regardless. Draco cared about the Lupins and so did Luc. It was still a dicey situation as far as the man was concerned, especially considering how Lucius felt about the Notts as well. Still, he let it go, groaning. "We are NOT getting into this…"
But Billy grinned. "They talk about them being real close and going on ventures and sometimes getting in lotsa trouble and how Daddy was all chunky at first and how Uncle Draco whined a lot, but was real cute."
Nope. Tonks couldn't even try to hide her snickering. "Daddy was your Grandpa's Chunky Monkey," she informed Billy, refusing to meet Teddy's eyes. "I believe the only picture I ever got of the both of them together, though, had him as a...bear, was it?"
"I was a bee, than you very much!" Teddy rolled his eyes, taking in the ribbing in good nature. "Draco was a giraffe."
Billy laughed hard, causing the kitten to perk its little head up. Seeing everything was alright, he curled back up. "Shhh," Billy reprimanded everyone.
Holding a finger to her lips, Tonks gave an exaggerated 'shh' to Teddy. "Teddy, you're disturbing Mr...Mr...Billy, what're you naming him, hmm? Picked anything out, yet?"
Billy bit his lip. "I need to think on it," he informed her seriously.
"You've got time," she said with a smile. "Plenty of it, too. Names are very important things." She fought the scowl that showed how much she despised her own name.
"Did it take long for Daddy and Mummy to name me?" Thinking about Hermione, he sombered a bit, snuggling closer to Teddy.
"It did, but we both agreed your Uncle Bill and Grandpa Angus deserved to be honored." Teddy held the boy closer, witholding a sigh as he thought about that special time.
Tonks felt a bit like an intruder, sneaking in on a private moment. "And I think it's a brilliant name for you," she added softly. "You're a lot like them both, after all."
"I love Uncle Bill lotsa and Grandpa is the best ever." Billy stroked the kitten again. "I wanna be like them and Daddy and Uncle Draco..."
Absently, Tonks reached for the kitten she'd been holding earlier who'd started to venture off. "You've a long time to grow into those shoes, little one. But you've also got to be the best Billy you can be."
"Exactly." Teddy kissed the curly top that was his son's head. "Because I happen to think you are the best Billy."
"You're biased," Tonks reminded him with a grin. "Though it so happens that I think so, too."