Chapter 2: Flashback

Teddy sat at a table in the library reading his History of Magic textbook trying to stay awake long enough to finish his homework. He sighed and slowly took a mirror out of his pocket, his hair was still bright blue and it was annoying him that it wouldn't stay black. He was concentrating on trying to change the color of his hair when he heard voices nearby. He looked over at a group of Hufflepuffs that were all leaning into the middle of the table talking in hushed but intense voices.

"Do you think it's safe what Professor Ashdown is doing showing us those things?"

"I don't know. . ."

"Can you imagine being taught by a dark creature!"

"No way, that wouldn't happen!"

Teddy hadn't really been paying attention but now he strained to hear what was being said.

"Yeah it did! My Dad says that when he was in school they were taught by a werewolf!"

"Really?" the rest said in excitement

"Yeah, no lie, but they chucked him."

"Why?"

"He was a werewolf idiot, they dangerous and stupid, I still think my Dad's lying about it."

Teddy felt like his insides had turned to ice, could it be his father they were talking about? Had he taught here? Was he as bad as they said, was his father just as pathetic as he was? In that moment a sliver of blue in the mirror caught his eye and he smash the mirror and ran into the stacks of books tears falling from his eyes and sobs raking his frame. He could feel the eyes staring at him he could hear the librarian chasing him but he didn't stop. There was nowhere to go but he ran anyway stopping only when he ran out of library at the windows in the back. The librarian found him staring out the window tears still running down his cheeks.
"Lupin, come with me" he said softly but with strictness in his voice. Teddy was led to his head of house, and each step on the path through the corridors was dogged by the glimmer of the full moon.

Teddy loved his Godfather Harry's study. It was a small room perpetually dim with dark wood furnishings. Bookshelves lined the walls and all manner of interesting objects could be found beside the books. Teddy always liked to investigate the shelves and ponder what was kept away in the drawers. But not today, today he wanted to talk to Harry.

Teddy pushed the old door open and saw Harry working at his desk. The dancing firelight made Harry's hair look exceptionally untidy with the shadows it cast. Teddy stood for a moment just inside the door thinking of what he wanted to say. Harry looked up

"Hey kiddo." He got up and pulled Teddy into a hug

"How's your first year at Hogwarts so far?"

"Good I guess." Teddy said looking away from Harry

"You sure?" Harry asked kneeling down to look into Teddy's face.

"What's wrong Teddy?" he asked as he steered him to the sofa. Teddy sank into the leather cushions and Harry perched on a chair across from Teddy. They sat in silence for awhile

"Was…was my father no good, is that why he got chucked out of Hogwarts? Did he really used to teach there? Was he terrible at it?" Teddy said in a rush

"Whoa little man slow down." Harry studied his godson for a moment before continuing

"Yes your father did teach at Hogwarts, but no he was a very good teacher. In fact he taught me NEWT level magic as a third year. He was let go because the school governors found out he was a werewolf. I wish that he had been able to stay the defense against the dark arts teacher."

"Why?" asked Teddy

"The next three had it in for me." Harry said grinning

"If my Dad was so smart how come he and my Mom went and got themselves killed? Did they not love me enough?"He asked in a small voice

"Teddy your parents loved you very much and it's because they loved you that they fought. They wanted a better world for you one where you wouldn't be judged by your blood; a future without terror and death." Teddy heard him but was still frowning at the carpet.

"I know that that explanation is of little comfort now but you'll understand it better when you're older." Harry finished and after a moment he chuckled to himself. Teddy looked up.

"What?"

"I sounded a little like Dumbledore just then."

"Dumbledore that's the wizard Albus is named after isn't he?"

"Yes he is."

"I think I talked to him in the Head Master's office." In his excitement about recognizing the name Teddy had let slip information he was going to keep from his Godfather. "oops"

"What were you doing in the Head Master's office?" Harry asked stern but smiling

"It wasn't really my fault it was really all the Slytherines fault that the potion exploded on Professor Greenboar."