Note: Thank you very much to those of you who reviewed! This chapter is dedicated to Someone aka Me, for being the first to review this story!
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
2: The Map
Once Remus had launched into the speech which is well known and rehearsed by all parents both magical and muggle the world over, Teddy couldn't help but get the impression that his father wasn't quite prepared to talk about what had happened. He was making lots of rather vague statements, such as "your mother and I did not bring you up to behave like that" and "I expected better of you." Eventually he trailed off into silence and sighed deeply.
Teddy said nothing.
"You know," Remus said after another long silence, "hexes and fist fights won't make you feel better in the long run. It's only a matter of time before the cycle starts all over again."
Teddy folded his arms tightly across his chest.
"Can't help it." He mumbled, without meeting his father's eye. "You didn't hear them..."
"I'm sure I can imagine, though." Remus interrupted. "There is a great deal of prejudice out there, Teddy, but I can't say I ever drew my wand on anybody because of that. If I can manage it, don't you think you ought to, too?"
Again there was silence as Teddy considered what Remus had said. It made him feel worse. How on earth could people be so horrible about his father when he had an attitude like that? Tears began to gather in his eyes and he didn't bother to try and stop them trickling down his face. He sniffed and wiped the tears on the sleeve of his robes.
"Come over here, Teddy." Remus said softly, reaching to pull open a draw in the desk.
Teddy got slowly to his feet and shuffled over to his father's side. He watched as Remus rummaged through the bits of parchment inside before drawing out a particularly old and scrawny piece, it's surface creased and it's corners dog-eared and torn.
Teddy stared in surprise as his father placed the parchment onto the desk in front of him and closed the drawer.
"Is...is that...?" Excitement bubbled up inside him and despite himself Teddy couldn't help but push other issues to the back of his mind.
In reply Remus reached and plucked his son's wand from a robe pocket and offered it to him. Teddy snatched the wand up enthusiastically, before pausing.
"What...what do I...?"
Producing his own wand, Remus placed it's tip to the center of the parchment and, his expression one of extreme pride, announced:
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
Teddy watched in fascination as ink began to appear and spread itself across the parchment, a maze of lines going off in all directions. The corridors of Hogwarts School were being drawn before his very eyes.
"I thought Harry had it." He managed as his father too watched the Marauders' Map appear. Remus couldn't help but look smug.
"He gave it back to me. He said it seemed fitting I should have it, me being the last of the Marauders. Anyway, just think of the chaos that would ensue if James gets hold of it when he starts Hogwarts! No, I think it's better off here. With you."
And with that he picked the map up and pushed it into his son's hand. Before Teddy could express his excitement verbally however, Remus had placed both of his hands on his son's shoulders and was looking at him straight in the eyes.
"You will not sneak out of the castle. And you will not wander around at night when you should be in bed." He said sternly.
Teddy was about to remind him that as a boy Remus had done not much else besides those things, but the look on his father's face was so serious that he thought better of it.
"You can, of course, use the map to avoid people." Remus continued, and a smile crept upon his face.
Teddy grinned back, and his hair brightened quite suddenly to a dazzling shade of turquoise as he threw his arms around his father.
"This is so great!" He exclaimed as Remus hugged him back. "You're the best, Dad!"
Remus hmmed thoughtfully.
"This doesn't solve any problems in lessons." He said when Teddy finally saw fit to release him. "But you can't hide away the whole time. It is important not to take what people say to heart." Once again he looked at his son straight in the eyes. "You stand tall, Teddy Lupin, knowing that people can be ignorant, and that you are not. Don't stoop to their level."
And with that he sent Teddy off to bed, before calling to him just before he let the door close.
"Teddy!"
Teddy stuck his head back around the door.
"Yes, Dad?"
Remus nodded to the parchment that the boy clutched in his hand.
"Best not tell your Mum about that, agreed?"
"Agreed."
And so Teddy returned to Gryffindor Tower with a spring in his step, determined not to let his father down.