AN: Yay, Chapter 3!
Ok, this story is not getting enough reviews. By far. So, if you like it, review and tell me you like it. If you don't like it, you can still review and tell me what you don't like about it.
However, if there aren't enough reviews, in my eyes, then I'm probably going to stop writing this since there's no point. Ok, well maybe I won't stop writing, but I'll stop posting chapters. Everything is still going to be written, just in case all of you lovely readers change your minds about this story (which I really hope you will, because I like my idea and it will get better, I promise!)
So if you like this story, then review, don't be shy and lazy.
Disclaimer: I forgot to do this on the other chapter, but.. I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE CONTENT IN THIS STORY. NEITHER DO I OWN THE CHARACTER'S NAMES, SOME DIALOG AND PHRASES. ALL MENTIONED BELONGS TO J.K. ROWLING, THE WARNER BROTHERS, GLEE, OR POSSIBLY STARKID POTTER.
Chapter 3
Going through the doors of the Ministry was a daily routine for Teddy Lupin now. It felt like the place to be, probably even more comforting than his house. Exactly. His house, not home. 'House' was just a word for the building that Teddy occupied every night and where he slept. That small building on the outskirts of London couldn't really be called home. Because a home is a place you live in. Teddy didn't have any memories there, or any possessions that were prized. He just slept there. Period.
Most of his life took place at the Ministry and at his godparent's house. That building he could probably call home, though he wasn't sure if that would be fair to the people who currently lived there. So, if a person was to come up to Teddy and ask him where he lived, he would say 'The Ministry.'
And, in fact, that question that so often formed in Teddy's mind, and the answer to which he so often turned over in his head was now spoken aloud on the street going up King's Cross Station.
'Sir, where do you live?' The voice was childish, and squeaky. Teddy turned around to see a little girl of about seven standing in the sidewalk, staring intently at Teddy.
Teddy grinned with the left side of his mouth, as it became a habit never to completely show a smile. Ever.
'Why do you care, little girl?'
'Because they told me that you were a wizard and that you could give me my wish if I just came to your house.'
This response was delivered so quickly and with such certainty, that Teddy stood, as if Stunned, in the middle of the road staring at the girl for several moments. Her gaze didn't falter, until Teddy blinked. His smile quivered, and he had no clue how he was going to respond to that. A feeling of exposure settled over Teddy as he stared into the girl's sea-green eyes. He decided to ignore the nagging voice in his head that told him to ask more about this girl and who told her that. So he decided to go with the ignorance mask.
Teddy allowed himself a deep laugh, the one with the throwing of the head backwards, and looked at the girl with an air of a joke around him.
'That's funny. I'm not a wizard.' After that, Teddy put on a dreaming face, and stared right above the girl's head. 'Though I wish I was. Sometimes so much stuff to do that you wish to just-' he made a sweeping motion with his hand '- get it all done with magic.' He gave the girl what he hoped was a sad smile.
For a second she looked disappointed. But then she shrugged and skipped off without a word of goodbye. When the girl disappeared beyond the curb, Teddy let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. He looked around him, to see if anybody noticed this very unusual exchange on a summer Saturday. The street was almost empty, except for several stragglers that, like him, got up at seven o'clock in the morning on a weekend to go work for money they didn't get during the week. Thankfully, all of them were too engrossed in the patters of the asphalt to notice the gentleman on the sidewalk, staring after a little girl.
Teddy turned back in the direction he was originally going and set off at a purposeful gait to the train station. He silently congratulated himself on his great acting skills, which were always very prized by him and his friends at Hogwarts. Now that the danger was out of the way, Teddy's mind began to work feverishly turning over the situation in his head.
Well of course he was a wizard. But how in the world would a Muggle know anything about wizards. And surely that girl was a Muggle, there was no doubt about that. Teddy heard a lot from his godfather that some Muggles have imaginations that are too wild for their own good. That some imagine that sorcery really exists in this world, and that they would do anything to get that special power. But surely such a coincidence was impossible...
At that thought, Teddy stopped in his tracks. No, he thought, that can't be true. Surely it was a coincidence, there was nothing else about it. Teddy resumed his walk, but this time at a more anticipated speed. He was just another man walking on a fine Saturday morning to the train station. There weren't that many other people to ask. But then, why didn't the girl ask anybody else? No. No, no, no.
With these confusing and battling thoughts in his mind, Teddy didn't notice as he arrived at the station gates. Not unlike the streets, the platforms were practically deserted, except for the guard pacing up and down in front of his small security cottage. There were several business men waiting for an early train out of town, staring into their phones and answering rings every couple seconds. Teddy has grown used to this use of cellular devices in his years out of Hogwarts, but it still amazed him what Muggles were able to achieve with their sciences.
Teddy wandered aimlessly on to platform nine, sneaking glances at the business men and the guard as he walked. The guard lifted his gaze at him for a moment, and then lowered and rose again, creating the illusion of a curt nod. Teddy winked and headed for the division between platforms nine and ten. He passed right behind a business man who was talking in a low voice on his phone. The man turned, raised his eyebrows and then, shaking his head, went back to his conversation. Teddy looked down but didn't really see anything peculiar about his clothing. He was dressed as a Muggle, in jeans and a polo t-shirt, though in the case he carried around for effect there was a fresh pair of robes for the time he would spend at the Ministry.
The Ministry entrance has been moved to platform nine and three-quarters a couple of years after Teddy started school, probably in his third year. The Ministry apparently thought that it was safer to put the entrance in a place that was never seen or used by Muggles. With the entrance, they placed two wizard guards that used to work at the Ministry right by the cross of nine and ten. That was also the year that the Ministry became slightly more secretive than usual, not giving much information out to the public. The Daily Prophet was on very strict restriction for their articles and interviews. They also provided constant patrol of the teachers at Hogwarts and what they were teaching kids. And as the years drew on, the Ministry closed up even more. At first unnoticed by many, but by the time Teddy graduated, it was apparent it was hiding something big.
Since then, being the great actor and a generally likeable person he is, Teddy was able to get into the inner circle of the Minister, Kingsley Shacklebolt, and find some useful information out. But the main secret was still closed to everyone. Today was the day Kingsley told his inner circle that he would deliver the news to them. The only explanation to that would be that the situation has grown hard and the Minister is not capable of solving it himself.
Looking around himself once more, catching another low nod from the guard, Teddy leaned against the barrier and fell through the wall onto platform nine and three-quarters. Here, there were more wizards going in and out of the entrances. Since it was still a fairly early hour, the platform wasn't packed and Teddy could freely make his way to the entrance.
'Why, Mr. Lupin,' said a voice from behind Teddy. He hesitantly turned around to see Kingsley strutting along towards him with an expression that Teddy assumed was supposed to be welcoming. However, the worry lines on the Minister's forehead were too creased not to notice and his only recently acquired gray hairs minimized the effect of friendliness even more.
'Good morning, Minister,' said Teddy, trying to bring his own cheerful mood between the two. He fell into step beside his boss, making their way to the main entrance. Well, he wasn't really his boss, since Teddy didn't officially work at the Ministry, but he spent enough time there and did enough things for them to consider himself an employee.
'I am assuming,' said Kingsley, 'that you are on your way for our meeting?' Teddy thought he heard something like anxiety in his voice. That perhaps he really didn't want to share his secret that he's been keeping so effectively for so many years. Teddy decided not question anything and nodded.
'Very well,' the Minister sighed. 'Follow me, then.'
As they entered the Ministry through the fireplaces, Kingsley put on his authoritative expression and marched through the flock of wizards, showing that this is not the time to intercept him with some minor problem, and occasionally throwing orders.
They walked through the main hall, around the restored golden statue of the wizard and the witch and to the elevators. Teddy guessed that they would be going into the headquarters of the Minister, up on the very top floor, but the elevator started going down, below the main levels. Into the dungeons where Teddy has never been before, and didn't even know that they were there.
'Minister,' he said. For some reason a scary feeling spread over Teddy's body. 'Where, exactly are we going?'
The elevator stopped. Teddy waited for the woman to announce the level and whatever waited for them behind the metal bars, but there was nothing but silence. The doors opened and Kingsley stepped out, not waiting for Teddy before continuing in down a dark and narrow corridor.
'I had to ensure the absolute secrecy of our conversation.' The Minister stopped and looked back at Teddy, who was still standing in the elevator. 'It is very important in this case, you must understand.' Kingsley gave Teddy a reassuring smile, and turned once more. Finally, Teddy cautiously stepped out of the golden cage that was patiently waiting for every passenger to evacuate. As soon as both of Teddy's feet were on the floor of the dungeon, the doors snapped shut and the elevator zoomed upwards, leaving Teddy with no hope of escape from this dark underground.
His pace quickened until Teddy was right beside Kingsley for fear of being left alone at the end of this path. Looking up, he saw faint lights flickering on and off, lighting the hallway, ever so lightly. The ground beneath Teddy's feet was made out of dirt, that didn't look like it was used for quite some time. The walls were dirt covered as well, thought Teddy thought he saw weird carvings imprinted on them. The corridor itself didn't look like it had an end or a beginning now that the elevator was gone.
After what seemed like a half an hour of walking in total silence, Teddy began to make out cracks in the walls surrounding him. They seemed like long forgotten doors that were sealed with dirt and any other kind of substances that floated around in here. At one of the doors, Kingsley stopped and pointed his wand at the place where the lock should've been. Something clicked, and the door swung open with incredible ease for something that wasn't open in so long.
As Teddy looked inside, he felt a little disappointed. He didn't know what he was expecting, but certainly not what laid before his eyes right now. The room was small, with several lamps hanging off from the dirt ceiling. There was one dusty chair in the corner ad a cracked mirror on the opposite side. The center of the room was completely deserted and there were obviously no window.
Teddy looked questioning at Kingsley, but the Minister was staring down the opposite end of the tunnel, with a glum expression. Without turning to look at Teddy, he said.
'Change into your robes here, Mr. Lupin. You know we don't tolerate Muggle attire.'
'And then what?'
'And then,' Kingsley sighed and turned. 'Just go into that room.' He pointed at a door on the other side of the corridor. That door, unlike all the others, wasn't sealed. It was perfectly visible against the black walls, it's expensive red wood sticking out as if to purposefully attract visitors. Teddy raised an eyebrow, but didn't confront the Minister who was already closing the door behind Teddy.
'I'll see you in a minute, Mr. Lupin,' he said. For a second, Teddy thought he saw a shadow of fear fall across the Minister's face, but it was gone as soon as he blinked. Kingsley tipped his hat, and closed the door.
Teddy shook his head, and looked at his surroundings. They weren't particularly one would call the best changing conditions, but the room was at least isolated. He decided to get this whole mysterious business over with as soon as possible, and quickly slipped into his robes, looking around him every couple of seconds. He expected some monstrous creature to jump out at him behind that mirror at any moment, but nothing happened, and Teddy was in his robes in almost no time. Picking up his case, he started walking toward the door, but something caught his eye.
The whole floor was dark and dirty, and so were the legs of the chair on which he laid his stuff before changing, so it was easy to see something white pocking right underneath one of the legs. Teddy looked at the door and thought about the Minister sitting there with his inner circle and just waiting for him to arrive in his robes. Teddy decided that one minute wouldn't be that long of a holdup, and quickly lifted the leg of the chair and pulled out a slip of paper.
It was folded many times over and looked fresh. Well as fresh as possible with all the dust flying round. It would have been placed here just recently, but for what reason, Teddy could only assume. He opened the paper up and smoothed the creases out on his knee. The small, elegant script was undecipherable in the faint light, so Teddy pulled out his wand, lit it, and brought the paper closer to his eyes.
Perhaps this will fall into the wrong hands, but assuming that it is read, I am just going to hope for the best.
You should probably go to that meeting right now and find out what your Minister has to say about the current situation, but really, save yourself the time.
I won't tell you, Teddy Lupin, who this is or what we're planning to do. That will ruin all the fun.
I just want to warn you of the harm that you're throwing yourself upon.
All of you.
I'm not one for compliments, but you've gone far. Too far.
And now it's time for others to experience the land where you've gone, and it would only be fair for you to invite them over.
So you could go to that meeting of yours, and listen to that old bloke talk about his issues.
But that won't make this any lighter, now would it.
I'm sure you know what I'm talking about, and I sure hope that the Next Generation has gotten to you.
And that's it. No signature, not even a "good luck with your plan, because we're stronger. MWAHAHA!" Teddy read the note over and over again, and the more he read, the more confusing it got. Especially the last line. The Next Generation has gotten to you. What was this "Next Generation?" Teddy turned the note over, but didn't see any stamps or anything that would indicate who it was from. He put it into his case and was about to leave the room for the second time when it hit him.
Those sea-green eyes. So deep, you could fall through them.
And he knew that he wasn't going to the meeting after all.
AN: Ooo! What will happen to dear Teddy Lupin. Let's go back to the Prologue..hm, I wonder if these two connect?
Well, yeah, let me save you the pain. But you still don't know how they connect, unless you're awesome and you can read my mind. Or maybe that you caught something that I didn't catch that I put in this story.
So, if you do want to find out what happened to Teddy and who this mysterious writer of the note is, review and you shall read on!
