Chapter 1: A New Adventure
oOoOo
Teddy woke up to a bright, clear summer morning. He relaxed, feeling the sunbeams on his face. and felt like he could stay here all day with his soft pillows and warm blanket. He was about to drift back off into sleep when he heard a knocking at his door.
"Teddy, get up already! It's almost ten!" his grandmother called.
Reluctantly, he sat up and tried rubbing the sleepiness out of his eyes, to no avail. He dragged himself out of bed and stumbled downstairs. His grandmother was cooking breakfast and chatting to his godfather, who was visiting for a few days.
"Mornin' Teddy," Uncle Harry grinned, mussing his hair.
He muttered a sleepy "Good morning" back, and sat down to eat the eggs and toast his grandmother had cooked.
"You might want to check your post, Teddy," Gran smiled at him. "I heard there's a certain something there you might want to take a look at."
His drowsiness suddenly gone, his head snapped up. "Wait, you don't mean…"
"Why don't you check for yourself?" Gran winked at him.
Teddy grabbed at the pile of letters, pawing through them, looking for a letter with the Hogwarts seal on it. Sure enough, there it was, carefully written in green ink.
Hands trembling, he turned it over. He began trying to pry the seal off without tearing it, eventually giving up and ripping it off. He pulled out the letter and unfolded it.
It read:
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: MINERVA MCGONAGALL
Dear Mr. Lupin,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.
Yours sincerely,
Filius Flitwick
Deputy Headmaster
It's finally here! Teddy thought, grinning. He was quivering from the sheer excitement of it all. He was finally going to Hogwarts! He was finally going to learn how to do all the amazing things his Uncle Harry and Gran could do with magic!
"Can't wait, can you?" Uncle Harry chuckled, while Gran looked through the list of supplies and books he'd need for his first year.
"We'll have to go to Diagon Alley sometime this week," she mused. "I'll try to arrange for a day off on Saturday, is that alright with you, Teddy?"
"No problem!" Teddy grinned. "I wonder what house I'll be in?"
"Well…your mother and your grandfather were in Hufflepuff. Your father and godfather were in Gryffindor, and of course, I was in Slytherin," Grandma recounted. "Whatever house you're in doesn't matter to us, as long as you're happy."
"Though I would personally say Gryffindor's the best," Uncle Harry smiled.
Grandma swatted at him with her spatula, and Teddy began to think. What house would he be in? He wasn't especially smart, and he didn't think he was cunning enough to be in Slytherin. He didn't think he was particularly brave or hard-working either.
He eventually decided it didn't matter so much to him. Sure, being in the same House as Mum or Dad would be great, but he wouldn't mind being in one of the other two Houses. Just being in a House in the first place meant that he would be at Hogwarts, and to him, that was the most important part.
September couldn't come fast enough, he decided.
oOoOo
Diagon Alley was always crowded at this time of the year. Students all came here to buy the supplies they would need for the upcoming term at Hogwarts. Sure enough, the Alley was bustling with witches and wizards of various ages.
"Best get your books first, Flourish and Blotts will be rather crowded later," Gran told him.
Teddy was never one to read a lot, but he browsed through some of his textbooks while waiting for Gran to finish paying. He found A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration particularly riveting, but to his disappointment, there wasn't anything written there about Metamorphmagi. His books were all very interesting, far more interesting than the books Gran kept at home, and he resolved to go through them again once they got back. Gran would be surprised, Teddy thought, considering he didn't really read all that much at home.
They went to Madame Malkins' next to get Teddy's school robes. Teddy quickly decided he hated this process, which involved standing still for minutes while he was poked and jabbed with various pins. He ended up standing on a stool next to a stocky boy with a square jaw and short, straw-blond hair.
"Hogwarts, too?" Teddy asked him, smiling.
"Yeah! I can't wait for school to start," the boy said excitedly with a thick Irish accent. "My parents are Muggles, so this is all really new to me. This is all so exciting! I've always wanted magic to be real, and now it is!" In his excitement, he nearly slipped off of the stool he was standing on.
He caught himself and laughed nervously, "Um, please don't say anything about that! Oh right, I'm Lloyd McCarthy, by the way. What's your name?"
"Teddy Lupin," Teddy grinned back. "I'd shake your hand, but I have no clue where the pins are in these things."
"Tell me about it! Isn't there some sort of instant measuring spell for this or something? I've gotten my legs pricked by these things ten bloody times by now!" Lloyd complained.
"Language, Lloyd!" a woman's voice called from outside.
"Sorry, mum!" he called back. Teddy laughed a bit. "Sorry about that," Lloyd muttered, red-faced.
"'S alright," Teddy grinned. "You're Muggleborn, right? Neither of your parents are magic?'
"Nope, first in the family!" Lloyd told him cheerfully. "Gave my da a nasty shock when he found me walking on the ceiling! I'll bet anything that my twin brothers are too, though. Turned my entire room pink, the little blighters!"
"Wish I had a brother," Teddy admitted. "Gets a bit lonely sometimes. I'm an only child, you see." And an orphan, he thought, but he wasn't going to say that.
Lloyd shrugged. "Guess we all want we don't have, innit?" The witch who had been getting Lloyd's measurements told him he was done, and he stepped off the stool with a loud whoop. "Finally!"
He turned back to Teddy. "Nice meeting you, Teddy! See you at Hogwarts!"
Teddy waved back, wincing as he accidentally pricked himself. "Ouch! Yeah, uh, see you at Hogwarts too!"
oOoOo
While he had been waiting for his robes at Madame Malkins', Gran had gone to the apothecary to get all his potions ingredients. He hoped he didn't end up spilling them at Hogwarts. He'd always been rather clumsy, something most people said he'd got from his mum.
They'd gotten his cauldron, quills, and ink bottles, and after they'd gotten everything else he would need, Gran said, "All that's left now is your wand, Teddy."
Teddy started to rush, wanting to get his wand as soon as possible, but Gran stopped him, saying, "Teddy, Ollivander's is the other way." Feeling sheepish, he followed his Gran towards the small, recently refurbished shop.
They were greeted by Ollivander immediately upon entry. He looked over them, saying, "Ah, here for a wand as well, are you?"
Noticing Gran, he said to her, "I trust that your wand is treating you well, Mrs. Tonks? Hawthorn with Unicorn tail hair, eleven and three quarters inches, was it?"
Gran nodded. "Still works marvellously."
He nodded. "That's good. You're Nymphadora's son, aren't you?" he asked, turning to Teddy.
"Yes, I am," Teddy said, somewhat self-consciously. Ollivander, for some reason, made him feel unnerved and anxious, like something was about to happen that he couldn't describe.
"Would you happen to be a Metamorphmagus as well? I find that those with uncommon magical abilities take longer to find a wand that chooses them, in my experience. Nymphadora herself went through ten wands before finding hers. Twelve inches, hazel, unicorn tail hair, flexible, as I recall. Of course, it didn't help that she had accidentally knocked over one of the shelves…" He shook his head. "Ah, but that matters not now. Let's see which wand chooses you now, Mr. Lupin, shall we? Hold out your wand arm for me, please."
Teddy held out his right arm, and after taking some measurements, Ollivander pulled five boxes from the shelves. "Here, try...this one. Mahogany and Unicorn Tail Hair. 10 and ½ inches. Nice and supple."
Teddy had just picked it up when Ollivander snatched it back. "No, no, definitely not. Try this one. Ash and Phoenix Feather, 11 inches, reasonably springy."
This time, the boxes in the shelves at the back immediately started launching themselves at Teddy when he picked up the wand. "I...don't think this is the one," he said, shielding his face.
"Evidently not," Ollivander agreed, nonchalantly batting the boxes away.
Teddy tried the other wands Ollivander handed him, but none of them felt right to him. He knew it sometimes took a while for a wizard or witch to find a wand that suited him, but he still couldn't help feeling self-conscious about it.
"Hm...this is a rare one," Ollivander mused over a wand box in the shelf before taking it out and placing it in front of Teddy. "Ebony and dragon heartstring, twelve and a quarter inches. Inflexible. Ebony is an interesting wood, this just might work. Mr. Lupin, if you please?"
Teddy picked up the wand, and immediately, he felt a rush of warmth and power surge through him. He waved it, and a cool silver breeze blew around him. It was nothing like Teddy had ever felt before, and it felt amazing.
When the breeze died down, Ollivander remarked, "Interesting, interesting... That was one of the most perfect matches between wand and wizard that I've seen in my lifetime! Two in one day, no less...your year in Hogwarts will be very interesting, that of I'm certain!"
"If I may ask, Mr. Ollivander, what are you talking about?" Gran asked him, frowning in confusion.
"Wand allegiance is a peculiar thing," he explained. "Wands can be won over by another witch or wizard if the other wizard proves worthy of it. But a wand that's perfectly matched with a witch or wizard will never change allegiance. I have heard as well of a perfectly matched wand performing magic on its own to protect its master. Before today, the most perfect match I had seen was that of young Mr. Lupin's godfather and his wand, and even then, I failed to recognize it. Holly, phoenix feather, 11 inches, as I recall."
Teddy smiled, gazing at the elegant black wand he held in his hand. "What magical properties does ebony have?" he asked. He knew vaguely that different types of wand wood had very different properties, and affinities for different types of magic. When Hermione Granger was your aunt, you picked some stuff up.
"Ebony is a wood suited to all kinds of magic, particularly Transfiguration. Combined with a Dragon heartstring core…Well, I think we can expect great things of you, Teddy Lupin," Ollivander smiled.
They paid seven Galleons for the wand and left Diagon Alley, with Teddy even more excited than before.
"A perfect match! Just like Uncle Harry! Isn't that amazing, Gran?" he bounced along.
"Yes, it is, Teddy," Gran smiled at him. "Careful now, or you'll fall and sprain your ankle, unless you want to miss the party your Uncle Harry's throwing for you!"
"Yes, Gran," he said, slowing down, but still unable to stop grinning.
oOoOo
Uncle Harry's party was at Number 12, Grimmauld Place, and he invited Teddy and Gran to stay the night there after the party finished. Uncle Harry had also invited the other Weasleys to come over, as well as a few of his old friends from Hogwarts. They had Flooed over as soon as they had dropped off most of Teddy's school supplies at their house, only bringing Teddy's wand with them.
"Teddy!" James, the excited five-year-old he always was, rushed over to give him a hug as soon as he stepped out of the fireplace.
"Glad to see you too, James," Teddy laughed.
"You're a real wizard now! You've got a wand and everything!" James rambled. "Can I see it? Please?"
"I'll show it to you later, once we've got our things unpacked," Teddy promised. "We can't do magic with it yet, we're not allowed to."
"Don't worry about it! Thank you so much Teddy!" James hugged him again then rushed upstairs to wake up Albus, who was still taking a nap.
"Be quiet, James, you might wake up Lily!" Uncle Harry called after him.
"Who else is coming?" he asked.
"Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione are bringing Rose," Uncle Harry listed. "Uncle Bill and Aunt Fleur are bringing Victoire, Dominique, and Louis, and Uncle George and Aunt Angelina are bringing Fred and Roxanne over. Uncle Percy and Aunt Audrey sent their regrets that they can't come, though. Percy's job is working him to the bone right now."
Slowly, his cousins and their families trickled in, and for a few hours it seemed as if the fire was constantly an enchanted green.
The last to arrive were Uncle Bill, Aunt Fleur, and their kids. A familiar red-headed figure stepped out of the fire, brushing dust off of her dress.
"Hey Vicky," Teddy greeted her.
"Teddy, how many times do I have to tell you, don't call me Vicky!" she pouted, her face flushing. She threw a pointed glare at him. "Or do you want me to start calling you Edward?"
Teddy made a face. "Please don't. Fine, I won't call you Vicky from now on, happy?"
"Quite," she smiled slightly. "Are we the last to arrive?"
"Yeah, Fred, Roxanne, Uncle George and Aunt Angelina got here thirty minutes ago, I think?" Teddy said. "Uncle George, Aunt Angelina and Roxanne are in the kitchen with Uncle Ron, I'm not sure where Fred went though…"
They were both startled by a loud bang coming from upstairs, followed by the laughter of two boys.
"Never mind," Teddy corrected himself, sighing. "Fred and James probably just found my wand, it was in my room."
"They do have a knack for mischief, don't they?" Victoire giggled as Aunt Ginny and Aunt Angelina dragged them downstairs to scold them.
"Yeah," Teddy agreed. "It's going to be odd only hearing about you guys in letters for most of the year."
"Don't remind me," Victoire sighed. "Now the only one around my age I can talk to is Fred, and he's practically a five-year-old."
"Well, it's only two years, then you'll be off to Hogwarts too!" Teddy reassured her.
"Yeah, with Fred. Not exactly looking forward to that," Victoire shuddered, sitting down on one of the plush chairs in the sitting room.
Right as she sat down, the cushion exploded in a giant cloud of feathers. She shrieked in surprise and fell out of her seat. Picking herself up, Victoire grumbled, "I think you can see why." Teddy snickered a bit in spite of himself.
Turning back to Teddy, she asked, "Aren't you nervous at all? Going to Hogwarts alone?"
"Well, I can always write to you," he smiled. "And yeah, I'm a little scared, but…Most people don't knkw anyone when they go to Hogwarts, right? So I'm just like everyone else!"
"That's one way to look at it, I guess. Don't forget about all us back here while you're in Hogwarts, alright?" she smiled warmly.
"I could never forget you guys!" Teddy told her indignantly. "Besides, I'll be back for Christmas and Easter, so don't worry about it!"
"I was joking, Teddy," she giggled. "But thanks, anyway."
"Teddy, Victoire, it's dinnertime!" Aunt Ginny called to them.
"Come on, we'd better hurry, or James will eat all the chocolate!" Teddy laughed, pulling Victoire along as they ran towards the dining room.
oOoOo
Thanks to all the lingering excitement and jubilant spirit from the party, Gran had let him stay up past his usual bedtime that night. She insisted, however, on making him go to bed at midnight.
Teddy tried to go to sleep, but no matter what he did, he remained wide awake, his mind racing. He tossed and turned for what felt like ages. He opened his eyes and peered at the clock, hoping he had somehow slept till morning without realizing it.
The clock read 12:37. Sighing, he flopped back onto his bed. He'd get a glass of milk from the kitchen, he decided. That would help him sleep.
He crept slowly out of his room, trying his hardest to be quiet. It was no small task for someone as clumsy as he was. Teddy nearly tripped thrice over objects he couldn't see in the darkness.
He slowly climbed down the stairs, wincing when the very last step creaked loudly as he stepped on it.
"You should be in bed, Teddy."
He turned to find Uncle Harry sitting in the couch by the fireplace, writing a letter to someone, by the looks of it. He couldn't imagine who he'd be writing to that couldn't wait until the morning.
"I couldn't sleep," he admitted.
Uncle Harry looked at him pensively for a second, and said, "It's not just excitement, I'm guessing."
"No, it's not," he agreed quietly.
A few seconds passed.
"Uncle Harry," Teddy asked rather timidly, "do you know what my parents like when they went to Hogwarts?" The quiet, cautious way he spoke belied his true feelings. He yearned desperately to hear stories of his parents, to hear their names said as if they were still there with him.
He had heard his parents described in countless different ways. Troublemakers, in their years at Hogwarts. His father a brilliant teacher and werewolf, and his mother a prodigious Auror and Metamorphmagus.
Heroes, for the battles they fought as members of the Order of the Phoenix.
Martyrs, for how they died at Hogwarts in the fight to buy Uncle Harry more time.
Yet, no matter how many people he asked, how many retellings of his parents' heroic deeds and deaths he heard, it was never enough.
He wanted, more than anything, to feel like he knew his parents.
Uncle Harry's eyes grew sad. "You've had this question for a long time, haven't you?"
Teddy nodded. He wondered how his godfather understood him so completely. Even in moments where Teddy himself couldn't make sense of what he was feeling, Uncle Harry seemed to know exactly what was on his mind and what it all meant. Uncle Harry got him, in a way no one else, not even Gran, did.
Uncle Harry set his parchment and quill down and patted the seat next to him. "C'mere," he said softly.
Teddy curled up next to his godfather. "Your father never thought he'd be able to go to Hogwarts, you know," Uncle Harry told him, putting his arm around Teddy. "Werewolves were treated like savage beasts, like they were unfit for Wizarding society. They're still feared now, yes, but it was so much worse when your father was a child. After Greyback bit him, your father had lost hope for the future. When Dumbledore gave him the chance to go to Hogwarts… I wouldn't be surprised if that was the memory he used for his Patronus."
"Then he met your father there, right?" Teddy whispered.
"Yes, he did," Uncle Harry said. "My own godfather too, Sirius. For the first time in his life, he had friends. He didn't trust them fully at first, though, no matter how much he wanted to. He was terrified that they'd abandon him after they found out his secret. But when they found out…"
Teddy smiled. "They became Animagi for him."
"Yes, they did," his godfather said, chuckling slightly. "Remus told me once that his time at Hogwarts was the second happiest time of his life."
"What was the first, then?" Teddy asked.
"Having you, of course!" Uncle Harry grinned, ruffling Teddy's hair a bit. Teddy giggled and tried to block his godfather's arm.
"What about Mum, then?" he asked, his eyes pleading.
"Your Gran will know more about that," Harry told him apologetically. "I'm afraid everything I know about Tonks is from after she went to Hogwarts, when she became part of the Order."
"Oh." Teddy looked down, disappointed.
Uncle Harry hugged him a bit closer. "I wish I could tell you everything. They were such amazing people, yet I can only tell their son about such a small part of their lives. It's never enough, isn't it?"
"No, it isn't," Teddy agreed.
Uncle Harry got a melancholy look in his eyes. "You know, my…aunt and uncle never told me anything about my parents. I didn't even know magic existed until Hagrid came."
"Why would they keep that from you?" Teddy asked, frowning. He couldn't comprehend why anyone would do that to a child, even if it wasn't theirs.
"They hated magic," his godfather replied. "The first time I heard anything real about my parents was when Hagrid gave me my Hogwarts letter. But even after eighteen years, there's still so much I don't know about them. I can't even tell you what my mother's favorite food was, or what my colours my father couldn't stand."
"That's how you understand me so well, then?" Teddy asked.
"Yes," Harry whispered, "and that's why I want to give you a better childhood than I had, even if I can't give you your parents back. They love you Teddy, and died to give you the world. I'm sure they can't wait to tell you their stories themselves someday."
Teddy hadn't thought about how Uncle Harry grew up an orphan too, which made his stomach churn with guilt. It explained why he doted on Teddy so much, and why he made it a point to be a constant, steady presence in Teddy's life. He was trying to give Teddy everything he never had.
Teddy had never felt so grateful to have Uncle Harry in his life.
He yawned, curling up closer to his godfather. As he fell asleep, he swore to himself that, when he grew up, he'd become just like Uncle Harry.
He woke up in his room, and when he looked in the mirror, his eyes were a bright, brilliant green.
Author's Note: Thanks for reading the first chapter of Teddy Lupin and the Watcher in the Dark! This is my first fic, so constructive criticism would be greatly appreciated. Please leave a review if you've got anything to say about this fic!