Teddy Lupin: 4th Year
Chapter 1:
July 13, 2013
Teddy woke up with a start, having rolled out of bed and hitting the floor. Throwing the covers off, he crawled into the bath and looked in the mirror. He was just finishing brushing his teeth when he heard a voice down the hall.
"Teddy. Are you awake?" Gran called. "You've got an owl in here. I've fed it but I think it's waiting for you." The blue-haired youth yawned as he opened the kitchen door and looked at the tannish Barn Owl sitting on his chair.
"Hey Graham. How are you?" Teddy scratched his neck as the creature hooted with delight. Teddy picked up the red envelope from the table. He flipped it over and sighed. "Well, it's…um…Not a Howler!" He joked slicing the top off. "Dear Mr. Lupin, we are proud to accept you into Hogwarts. Below is a list of school supplies and the necessary Books you will need to purchase. As you are entering your fourth year here at Hogwarts, you will be required to hereby choose two or more electives from the following to study also. We will need to know your decision as to the aforementioned Acceptance letter by the 31st of July in order to prepare for the upcoming school year. Congratulations, Prof. Minerva M. McGonagall. Headmistress, Hogwarts Academy for Witches and Wizards."
Teddy sat the envelope down and retrieved the other one from the posted owl. "Well that's just great! More bad news." Gran eyed him suspiciously. "Lauren. She said the Slytherin team just got new Firebolt 3s. ALL of them." Teddy mimicked flight then going straight down.
"Well," Gran spoke up for the first time, "Your team didn't lose any members. And. You are the best flyer at that school and you're the best Seeker Hogwarts has had since your godfather played. Congratulations on the letter." Teddy chuckled and wrote a quick reply before feeding his watcher some seed and sending him flying off. "So, what courses are you taking?"
"Of the ones they list, I guess Muggle Studies would be good to take. I think I'll take Magical Creatures and maybe Divination." Teddy wondered aloud. "What time are you leaving for your cruise?" Teddy asked remembering Gran's planned trip.
"It sails tomorrow at 9:00, but we need to be there tonight. Louise and Sherry are picking me up around noon. Are you going to be okay here alone?" Gran had that motherly worry face on. Teddy waved it off. "I made plans to stay at 'The Shop' so George and Angelina can have a Date Night. Freddie and I have been working on some projects we need to finish. And I can always go stay with Harry and Ginny, I know." Gran gave a stern nod.
"You should. Molly said that you haven't been to either of their houses in a long while. You know they miss you. She also said that you are coming over for Sunday Brunch if SHE has to drag you kicking and screaming. Are you still going to the beach later?"
Teddy gave a thumb up. He had been planning to go spend some time exploring the beach the next day. "I'll save ye some booty from the plunder, but just this once, ya hear?" Teddy closed one eye and hooked his hand. "I'll be the most famous Wizard-Pirate you've ever heard of."
"I don't think you'll beat Blackbeard young man. Pirates also need to finish their breakfast. No Spooky!" Gran yelled, rolling he paper and swatting at the black cat who had jumped up on the table. "I already fed you. Mooch."
"He's just a growing cat, like me." Teddy patted his animal companion down. "'Sides, Blackbeard only had one sea. I have the whole world's oceans. And who says I'm limited to the water. You are looking at the Future First Sky Pirate King. Teddy Lupin and the Red Hairs. What do you think about that?" Teddy puffed up his chest and stuck his thumb at his chest. Gran shook her head.
"I'm scared for the future. Oh Dora…." Teddy placed his plate in the sink. Whenever Gran mentioned Dora, Teddy felt a slight bit of sadness in his chest. He missed not having a mother. Gran was great, but she was Gran, not his mom. HONK! "That's them. Now, are you sure you're okay?" Gran fussed "I'm fine. Have a fun trip and don't; worry about anything." Gran kissed his forehead and picked up her bags. "I left you some money to get your schoolbooks. I'll take you robe shopping when I get back."
Teddy looked down at his cat. "Well, one disaster averted." The trio laughed as Gran got in the car and drove away. Teddy waved from the door until he couldn't see the car anymore. "I guess it's just us."
The next morning, Teddy arrived at the secluded spot of beach secluded from the main area, so he could have some privacy and not worry about his hair changing color on accident.
Teddy quickly stripped down to his swimsuit and jumped in. "Oh wow. This water's colder than I remember. Well, at least no one's around to bother me." Teddy laughed as he dived to the bottom and began pulling up anything he could find. He found mostly rocks for the first half-hour.
Two jeweled rings, a wallet photo album, and an old camera later, Teddy was returning to the beach for the last time. He tossed the camera over by his bag as he collapsed on the sand. He sighed as he closed his eyes, soaking up the sun. He grabbed a rock as he heard some noises behind a nearby tree.
"Oh! Hi. I didn't think anyone was over here." He heard as he turned around. A girl a little older than Teddy was stepping over the tree roots, followed by another girl around eleven years old, Teddy thought. "It's okay, you know. We're unarmed." She said, eyeing the rock in Teddy's hand.
"Huh? Oh! Right, sorry." Teddy apologized tossing the rock back. "Can I help you?" Teddy asked taking a water bottle from his cooler and offering it up.
"Just exploring. We go back to school in a few weeks, so our family came out here for one last trip. I just wanted to bring her. Better swimming and better fishing over here" She asked as Teddy stretched his hand out.
"Come here often, then? I mean, you like this spot?" he asked between drinks. The girl just leaned back against a tree, the setting sun turning her already tanned skin to bronze. "It's peaceful. You get away from the noise and crowds over there and just really relax."
She shot a glance over at Teddy and smiled. "This, though, this is my favorite part. You don't get to see many spectacular sunsets in the cities. Everything just- I don't know. You can just feel all the colors. It's amazing. And then there are the stars." Teddy had to remind himself to breathe and set his bags down before he dropped them. Was she reading his mind?
"Just beautiful." Teddy caught her eyes and blushed. "The stars. They're beautiful, right?" Teddy hoped his hair wasn't pink or some other out-of-this-world color.
"Yeah. One of my teachers always tells this story about how every constellation and star have their own story. We had to memorize about half of them last term." The girl laughed running her fingers through her shoulder length brown hair. "Dad's cooking fish, if you're hungry. We can share with you." The teen offered.
"Nah. I have my own. Thanks though." Teddy motioned back to his own tent about 20 feet behind him.
"I'm going to Hogwarts this year like sis. She says if I'm not in Gryffindor, she'll kick my butt." The younger girl exclaimed. "She's a little excited. Don't ask." Teddy and the girl both laughed.
Teddy leaned down to the pre-teen. "Hogwarts. What kind of school name is that? Did you hit your head on a rock?" he placed his hand on her head, feeling for a fever. Her sister stifled a laugh.
"It's real! My sister goes there and she's the Quidditch team captain. No one can beat her." The girl put her hands on her hips and huffed. "It's true. I am pretty good." Her sister said tossing a rock up before throwing it at Teddy, who caught it mid-air. "You're good too. But my sisters better."
"I'm sure she is" Teddy shot a look of confusion between the two. Absolutely crazy! "You two staying the night?"
"No. Our parents have to go back to work tomorrow. We did a fair amount of stuff today though."
"If you're ever back here, look me up. I'll show you the BEST Spots to have fun. Want a rock?" Teddy laughed. The little girl ran over and grabbed two and threw her arms around Teddy. "You're welcome. My name's Teddy, by the way. Teddy Lupin."
"Oh wow! Mum's never going to believe this." She started on as the pair started climbing back over the tree trunk and back towards the main beach, when the older teen turned back around. "Thanks Teddy. Oh, and by the way, I think you look a lot cuter with your pink hair." Teddy nervously smiled as he grabbed his bag.
"Come on Sis! Is he a real Lupin? He's cute! You should ask him out." "He's a Ravenclaw, sweetie." "What's that?" "I'll explain later."