It seemed that the boy had emerged from the wall of the ancient castle itself, as he came into view, with scruffy light-brown hair and blue-green eyes that naturally danced with mischief.
Severus Snape almost stumbled over his own cloak, his eyes wide with fury as he realised who was facing him in the dimly lit fourth floor corridor of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry on this early summer night.
"You have overstepped the rules one time too many Mr Teague, your can't be protected forever" Snape's words dripped with venom as he took in of what he could see of the boy's casual Muggle attire and the finely crafted gold chain that held a shrunken head.
There was a pause before Eddie Teague drew his wand and said "Lumos". The two could see each other probably now and Eddie winced as he looked Snape straight in the eyes.
Snape's gaze was withering as he took in Eddie's appearance: he had an untucked potion-stained shirt, grubby trainers coupled with a battered dragon-hide jacket and the gold chain that attached the sleeping shrunken head to one of the side pockets of his denim jeans. Overall Snape had the impression that the boy simply did not care for himself.
"How did Professor McGonagall end up with a grandson like you?" Snape asked.
Eddie blinked in seemingly innocent confusion before giving the professor a lopsided grin. "Surely a man of your talents can work that out sir. I'm 12 and it's obvious to me for Rowena's sake".
Snape snarled, his nostrils flared. "I will be spoken to with respect!"
Eddie snorted. "Like you've done with Neville, Harry and every other non-Slytherin first year this year? And before you even say anything, my parents and my gran taught me that respect is earned."
Snape was silent but rage was bubbling up from within. The soft snore from the shrunken head broke the tension ever so slightly.
"You really do hate Harry don't you sir. I mean what's he ever done to you huh?" Eddie asked pointedly.
"Where are Mr Potter and the rest of his sidekicks? You are clearly just the distraction not the brains of the operation . Where. Are. They?" Snape pressed each syllable with a deeply dark edge.
The grin that had covered Eddie's face was replaced by a stern glare which echoed the one Snape had known for many years.
"That's a secret sir." Eddie said stoically. "A secret once vowed can't be broken, Teague family tradition y'know" he added offhandedly.
"Your family's filled with self-serving thieving traitors-ARRGH!" The almighty crunch gave way to the soft drip of bleeding as Snape recoiled, clinging to the remaining stable part of his hooked nose.
"That's for Neville" was all Eddie said as he began to lurk back into the shadows, the light from his wand dimming to nothing until only his footsteps could be heard.
"Well that went well" said the shrunken head a few minutes later as Eddie reached the end of the corridor.
"Shut up Ebenezer" Eddie hissed, opening the door and dashing down the grand staircase two at a time.
"I hope Potter knows what he's doing" said Ebenezer.
"So do I" Eddie breathed heavily as he reached the Hogwarts entrance doors.
"C'mon open up! I didn't risk my education so some madman could screw it up!" Eddie yelled as he banged on the door.
"No you did not." came the voice of the silvery ghost of a young woman.
She floated over to Eddie giving him a motherly look. "All you have to do is believe in your friends, my child" she said kindly.
"I do, that's not the problem Grey Lady. A year ago I just wanted to come here and get on with the first year but..."
"Fate had other plans for you" the Grey Lady sounded so innocent that Eddie couldn't snap back.
"Not fate, this school...and you had ideas about me...from the fuckin' start" he said finally, slumping against the doors.