About:

Hello everybody! Well, I've decided to finally take a stab at a Teddy Lupin, chaptered fic! For those who have read any of my other one shots, you'll probably realise that I have done quite a few pieces on Teddy but I've always wanted to have a go at a full, proper story — and so here it is! Or ... here it is in progress anyway!

Originally, I was just going to do the fic with Teddy in the normal universe but have decided to try something a little different and mix it up with having his parents survive the war — so for the most part this fiction is Alternate Universe, but a large part of it is canon and the same as the regular universe.

So, please read and let me know what you think!

And, I'll just say it this once: I am not J.K. Rowling and making no profit from this fan fiction.

Eleven year-old Teddy Lupin stood on Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, looking up at the huge scarlet steam train with a look of awe on his face. He was about to start his first year at the legendary school, Hogwarts, and was positively excited.

"Teddy," panted his father, Remus Lupin, as he ran up to his son. "I know you're exited, but I am much too old to be running around like this!"

Teddy smiled at his grey-haired father. Despite his constant remarks to the contrary, Remus Lupin was still very much able-bodied and active. "Where's Mum?"

"Behind you," came the amused voice of his mother, causing Teddy to jump — which only made her grin. "Now, have you got everything? Wand? Your owl? Spare—"

"Yes, Mum," groaned Teddy, rolling his eyes. "I should get going — I need to get a decent seat!"

"They're all the same, Ted," remarked Teddy's father, smiling.

"He means he wants to get one without Slytherins on it," stated his mother. "And who could honestly blame him ..."

"Now, now," his father replied lightly. "Don't want to encourage the old rivalries."

His mother snorted before bending down and hugging her son. "Now you be good, all right? Not too much trouble ..."

"Yeah, 'cause Dad never got into trouble when he was at school," remarked Teddy dryly.

His father laughed before giving him a hug. "Have fun, son. And write often!"

Teddy grinned and bid them goodbye before excitedly climbing onto the train, heaving his heavy luggage on with him.

Once on the train he kept going along the corridors, looking for an empty compartment. It wasn't that he was an isolated person, but if he was honest: he didn't really fancy having to try and fit into a pre-formed group. As luck would have it, however, he couldn't find a single empty compartment and so settled for one with only one occupant.

Teddy slid the door opened and the occupant, a brown haired boy who looked rather haggard, looked up warily.

"Hey," Teddy began in a friendly voice, "mind if I sit here?"

The boy shook and gave him a small smile. Teddy, after stowing his trunk in the overhead rack, turned to face the boy.

"My name's Teddy Lupin," he said, holding out his hand.

The boy shook it. "Andreas Towler," he said in a hoarse voice.

Teddy smiled at Andreas but was slightly wary of him. Andreas seemed nice enough but looked very rough to Teddy. His left eye was blackened, his lip cut and he had a bruise on his cheek. He looked like somebody who had gotten into a fight ... and lost ...

"Excited then?" asked Teddy, trying to spark a conversation.

Andreas nodded, a painful looking smile forming on his face. "Oh yes," said Andreas in the same hoarse voice, although he did strike Teddy as being genuinely enthusiastic. "I can't wait! I've read up on just about every book I could and know a few spells but living the magical life will be — will be great!"

Teddy's mind panicked a little at Andreas' mention of studying. Truth was: Teddy hadn't so much as opened a single book. His father had said he'd learn everything once he reached Hogwarts, and his father should know — from the tales he had heard from his Godfather, Harry Potter, Teddy's father had been a teacher for a year at Hogwarts.

"All this is pretty foreign to me," said Andreas. "You see, my family are all Muggle."

"You're a Muggleborn?" asked Teddy intrigued.

Andreas nodded. "Although I've known I was a Wizard since I was nine so it isn't so bad. But I've never lived in the Wizarding world or even met other Wizards."

"Well, you'll meet plenty at Hogwarts," remarked Teddy. "And learn lots too. I'm afraid I haven't really opened any books yet..."

"Oh, I wouldn't worry," Andreas said soothingly. "I'm a bit of a boring swot to be honest. So I'm nothing to go on."

The two continued conversing after the train finally left the station and talked for several hours as country landscapes flew by their window, unnoticed by the two boys who were both enthralled in conversation. Several hours went by like this until they were interrupted by two newcomers.

"Looks like we've arrived at the cool compartment," remarked the tallest of the two Slytherin boys who had entered Andreas and Teddy's compartment.

His companion sniggered appreciatively before taking out his wand. The two of them were at least second years, Teddy guessed, and probably knew enough magic to cause them grief.

"Hand over any gold that you have," the tallest said again. "Or we'll make you both —"

"And what is going on here?" came another voice, this time female. A slightly squat, brown-haired girl — a first year, Teddy noted — stood, wand in her left hand, facing the two intruders.

The two boys that had invaded their compartment turned to face the girl as she walked calmly into the compartment, looking ready to attack. They laughed at their opponent. "We're collecting first year tax," snarled the second Slytherin boy for the first time. "We'll need yours too—"

"Uh-huh," said the girl, raising an eyebrow. "Well, then you're going to have to force it off me."

The tall Slytherin grinned. "Like we couldn't take you!"

But before either of the two Slytherins could do anything, the girl had raised her wand and, with a sharp movement and quick incantation, sent a purple shot of light at the closest boy before quickly firing another at the second. Both boys slumped over into a pile.

Andreas and Teddy stared at the girl, a mere first year like them, in complete shock. She had just disabled two older students in two quick moves.

The girl dragged their bodies out into another compartment, shut the door on it before crossing into their compartment again and shutting the door. "Mind if I stay here?" she asked.

Both boys shook their heads vehemently — half afraid of the girl attacking her and half wanting the protection having her offered.

But she smiled and stowed her wand away before sitting down. "I'm Susan Cardwell, by the way," she said, holding out a hand to each boy in turn.

"Andreas Towler."

"Teddy Lupin."

Susan smiled at the two and eventually the three of them fell into an easy-going conversation. As it turned out, Susan was actually a very warm and friendly person. The three continued talking until the train finally arrived at Hogsmeade station.