Teddy stayed up in bed, with his letters littered around him. He decided he would have to finish writing back to them tonight itself or they would worry so he started with his grandmother's letter.
My dearest Teddy,
I am so proud of you. Always have been proud of you, I hope you do write to me by the end of the week. I understand Hogwarts could make you terribly busy. I received a letter from Professor Zabini telling me you have joined his house for your stay in Hogwarts. Congratulations Teddy! I hope you like your house. Your mother is beyond excited. She sends her love and hopes that someday you would become a prefect so that she could ask you to set the password to one of those Weird Sister songs she loves. I hope you are making friends Teddy.
Write to me soon. The house feels terribly empty without you. Harry and Ginny have been gracious enough to invite me to their home to stay but you know, I can't leave this house. This is where your grandfather and I started our lives together; it has his memories, your mother's memories, your childhood. I think I should go back to healing again. I am not really old, and it will give me something to do. Although your, Great Aunt Narcissa thinks it's time for us to enjoy our lives and go travelling all over the globe. What do you think? I guess I could do both too.
Just write to me, love and soon. I am dying to hear about your friends and your first week at school and the subjects and teachers you like.
Please take care of yourself Teddy, wake up on time, eat on time, study hard, and have fun.
Much love,
Gran.
Teddy smiled at the letter. It was clear his Gran was trying to hide how much she missed him, he missed her too. She was a strict disciplinarian true, but she also was a wicked prankster. It was kind of weird to have her write to him, it was nice too. He kept aside her letter and picked up a letter randomly, deciding to read through all the letters before replying to them. The letter he opened now was a long one with 4 different sets of handwriting.
Ted,
I hope you got there fine. We were all so excited about your first day that all of us ended up staying at the Manor, your Gran too. Did you know the adults had put bets on your house? Well Aunt Ginny, Uncle Harry, Aunt Dora, Your Gran and my Gran they won because they were betting on HufflePuff and Sirius just kept whining that HufflePuffs were human sized marshmallows and that they had done better at bringing you up. That was till your mum smacked him. Anyway, Congrats; I hope you make friends (I am still your best friend). I have to go because Dom wants to write to you too. See you on Christmas.
Vic
Teddy!
Congratulations! I hope you have a great time. Please write back and tell me all about Hogwarts. Oh! Now Vic remembers, she wants you to write to her and tell her all about Hogwarts too. Just write back soon Okay?
Dom
Ted!
Congrats, at least you don't have to worry about your sorting now. I hope you are liking school. Please tell me about the library, pretty please. (Dom and Vic are rolling their eyes because I want to know about the Library. Don't listen to them; just tell me about the library.)
Molly
Teddy,
As usual these prats have left the over excited kids to me. James, Fred, Roxy Louise, and Rose have been after our lives to let them write to you but honestly, they don't really know that many words so I promised them that I will write down their messages for you before I give you any of my own. (Al is still sulking because you left him but write a letter to him, you know he would cheer up once he realizes that you haven't really forgotten him. Lily and Hugo, Lily especially cried up a storm for ten minutes, we were able to get them ice creams by then so they shut up and forgot all about you, but still write to them, not that they understand anything but just to be fair.)
Congratulations! (What do they know, they can't read and I am giving in my message before theirs.) Please tell me you found your way to the kitchens. You know Uncle George would be so disappointed if you don't break any rules in the first week. Okay now James is threatening to start bawling so I am writing his message for you.
*Teddy! Uncle Sirius is acting funny because you got Hufflepuff. Dad and everyone else is just happy, we will have a party here for it. I miss you already, when will you come back? Love, James
*Teddy! Aww man! I was hoping you would be in Gryffindor; you could have helped us prank someone. Now we would have to prank you and I hate being pranked by you. Come back soon, it is weird without you. Fred
*Don't listen to Fred, he is being a prat. He has been whining about hating to be pranked by you all evening but he is quite set about pranking the other houses as soon as we reach there. Anyway, its great you got Hufflepuff. And I am dying to hear about Hogwarts, write back soon. Love, Roxy
*Teddy, Fred is right, it would suck to prank you because then you would prank us but Uncle George said it would be great for everyone else. So, I guess it would be okay, write back soon. Louise
*Dear Teddy, We miss you a lot. Al is not talking to anyone because you left, I am trying to talk to him. Don't be mad because he isn't sending a message. We miss you, come back soon. Love, Rose
So, there you go! Messages from everyone! Okay, I have to go. It's bed time and we have to get the nutters in bed and Al is being difficult. God! Who knew Al could be so stubborn. Okay, Bye.
Write back soon, enjoy!
Love
Lucy
Teddy smiled; he knew he wouldn't be able to send any letters before the weekend. He had to write to so many people! Suddenly, he started missing them too. He could only imagine the chaos in the children's room. The room was not really a room but a huge dormitory; it was near the kitchens, in the guest wing of the Manor. His dad had combined all the bedrooms in the corridor to create a dormitory and a play room, there were 13 beds in the dormitory, and the sheets were handpicked by the children themselves. The children used it during the once in a month Weasley- Potter- Lupin family weekend. The kids loved sleeping in the same room. Not that they slept much, they played all sorts of games in there. The play room was linked to the dormitory and it was big enough for the 13 of them (thought Lily and Hugo did not really join them for now). It did not have as many games as the original play room in the family wing but the children had just as much fun. Teddy's stomach sank, he could imagine all of them falling over each other to write to him. He sighed before picking up another letter.
Really Kid?
Teddy snickered before reading on; he knew who this letter belonged to.
Hufflepuff? Really? I taught you so much and you just had to go pick Hufflepuff, they are human sized Marshmallows. Don't you be smart with me. I know you are sharp enough to be a Ravenclaw. Salazar Slytherin in heaven! Blaise floo called to let me know that you are in his house. Just didn't want to miss the opportunity to rub it in my face. We had a bet, he told me this summer that you would most likely end up in his house and I said you wouldn't and he won. Now I have to babysit his children, specifically that demon child (don't tell him that!) Alex; during the first Hogsmeade weekend.
That being said, I am proud of you. Your mum was a Hufflepuff too and I haven't met her personally but from what I do know of her, she seems pretty great. You are a great kid yourself, so Congratulations, you big human sized marshmallow. Write back and tell us about your first week at Hogwarts. Your Aunt Tori is trying to get Scor to bed, he is pretty bummed out about you leaving. Flying didn't cheer him up either, so we guess he needs to sleep it out, but she wants me to tell you that she is really proud of you and she has also asked me to congratulate you on her behalf. Also, she did warn me to not give you grief about Hufflepuff and I haven't (I am being so nice, I don't know why people say I could be mean!). Now, enjoy your stay at Hogwarts, don't get into too much trouble. No, wait, correction: Don't get caught! And don't tell anyone I told you that.
Write back soon. We miss you kid. See you for Christmas and if you feel like you are missing some home cooked food all you have to do is write okay?
Love you kid,
Draco
Dearest Teddy,
Congratulations on making it to Hufflepuff. Enjoy your stay at Hogwarts and don't listen to anything George, Sirius, James or Remus say. Everybody here is missing you already. Hope you have a great term. See you on Christmas.
Much love
Grandma and Grandad
P.S.: I will send you some home cooked fudge with the next owl, I promise. – Grandma Molly
Dear Ted,
Congratulations! We are very proud of you. Victoire, Dominique and Louise are very excited about Hogwarts now. Hope you have a great term. Stay out of trouble better still don't get caught. See you on Christmas.
Love
Bill and Fleur
P.S.- I know it is pretty freaky when you are the first kid in your family to go to Hogwarts because you don't really know anyone there but I think a couple of long distance cousins are also sending their kids to Hogwarts this year. Just look out for them. I know it is pretty weird, but hey, at least you would know someone by association. If you need any help regarding how to write a letter to Al to help cheer him up or how to write letters to your younger siblings who need you but cannot really talk to you, you could always come talk to me. I know being the eldest sucks but it has its perks too. Enjoy your term.- Uncle Bill.
P.P.S.- We might see you in December, Fleur and I are supposed to teach these special classes to Seventh Years who wish to pursue their careers as curse breakers.
Dear Theodore Lupin,
Congratulations! I believe you would imbibe the many virtues of the Hufflepuff house in your everyday life and be just as hardworking and patient as they are famed to be. Respect your elders and do listen to the prefects and Heads, they do know a thing or two that could benefit you. Hope you have a good term.
Sincerely
Percy Weasley
P.S.: Your aunt Audrey wishes for me to congratulate you on her behalf as she had to go check up on the children who are creating quite a ruckus in your absence.
Little Moony,
Congratulations! Though I lost a bet, I am glad you got Hufflepuff, your mum was an ace prankster and its time the lesser humans know about the great pranking legends. I will be sending you a large package of prank material through the next mail. Use them well, and get caught a little, not too often, but just a little. People should know of your greatness. And don't tell your aunt Angie that I sent you prank stuff, Thank Merlin, the other kids have been creating such a ruckus that she had to go with your aunt Audrey to threaten them with dire consequences if they weren't in bed in the next 10 minutes.
Remind old Minnie that the next generation is here.
Love
George
P.S.- Please do tell me that you managed some mischief in the first week itself. Even if you didn't it is okay, you have the entire term ahead of you. So, no pressure, let the prank come to you, don't run after it.
Teddy,
Your mum was one of my best friends in school and I know for a fact that she would have been incredibly proud and honoured that you made it to Hufflepuff. Needless to say we are all proud of you. The kids are so excited, they just can't settle down. I know the feeling. When Bill left, I felt restless because suddenly my best friend was not there and then I was so mad at him for leaving but these kids have taken it pretty well apart from Al but he would come around I guess. Don't worry about them too much, they would soon be joining you and you would be responsible for them till you leave. Bill always used to complain that it sucked to be the eldest but you seem to handle it pretty well. I have never seen you have any trouble in getting the kids to keep the volume at a minimum or sleep. Just saying buddy, they need you here. (Nah! I am just kidding.)
Just know that we are all here. If you want to talk about anything at all just write to us. Okay?
You know you have been a special child to me because of how close your mum and I were and that wouldn't change just because you grew up. If you feel you need someone to listen to you, I am all ears.
Best
Charlie
Dear Teddy,
Congratulations, sweetheart! I know you must be excited about Hufflepuff. I am sure your Uncle Ron would be excited about the news too, but he is so far away that we have decided to wait till he comes back before we tell him about it. He really wishes he was there to see you off though; you have been a special child to all of us.
I still remember the day Remus barged in to tell us about your birth. We had not had a good year so far, but seeing your father so happy and the fact that Harry was suddenly a Godfather, it was thrilling. Like a ray of hope in an increasingly dark skyline. You have grown so much since then. All these children look up to you. You have your mother's disposition and your father's kindness and I know they are incredibly proud of the fine person that you have become and would grow up to be.
Have a great term Teddy. Break a few rules here and there, try not to get caught but if you do, don't worry too much about it and don't tell anyone I told you that. I hope you have a great term.
Write to me about your first week, I would like to know all about it. If you go meet Hagrid during the weekend, avoid the rock cakes.
Lots of Love
Hermione
Dearest Teddy,
Congratulations! Blaise just fire called and informed us of your sorting. I am really proud of you; I hear your mother was a Hufflepuff too. It is rather unfortunate, that I wasted a lot of time and wasn't able to get to know her but if I go by how incredibly kind and generous you are, I would say she must have been a lovely young woman.
Teddy, you have been a gift to us, especially Draco. I have watched you grow up from the baby that strived to make everyone happy to a fine young man who believes in judging people based on their actions rather than status. I know you would meet with judgment both good and bad at school. Unfortunately, children don't know any better but never lose sight of who you are because of them. Never stop being happy and making others around you happy. Don't let the world change you, I made that mistake and I lost much due to it. Be your own person Teddy, some might resent you for it but those who love and appreciate you for it; will do so genuinely.
Have a great term ahead. Please do write back during the weekend, I would love to know about your first week of school, classes and new friends. Take good care of yourself. I will see you during your Christmas holidays.
Love
Great Aunt Cissy
Teddy picked up the last letter; he had deliberately saved this letter for the last. He sighed as he opened the letter, he was missing home.
Teddy Bear,
See, I told you; you had nothing to worry about. Congratulations! We just got the letter from Professor Zabini, telling us that you have been sorted into Hufflepuff. Your Moony Da is just so proud of you and so is your mum. The house feels empty without you bear, despite the fact that it is full of people and the kids refuse to be disciplined. There is so much of noise around us but it still feels incomplete because somehow, we realize that you won't be here till December, maybe that's why the kids don't want to calm down either. Everyone misses you terribly. Your old man, is suffering from the empty nest syndrome, bear.
When did you grow up so much? It was only yesterday that you were a black haired baby, sucking his fist, looking at me expectantly to pick him up and now here you are in all your turquoise hair glory, packing off to school. Where did these 11 years go?
Don't hog the parchment Harry, pass it on, I want to write to him too.
What the hell Gin, you just charmed the message on my letter and I was getting emotional here.
Not impressed. I want to write to Teddy too, so pass on the parchment.
No.
What did you just say?
For the love of Merlin, I am the Man- who- won.
And I was the star chaser of the Holyhead Harpies, your point being?
Teddy was pretty sure that his mum and dad must have had a staring match right about now which would be eventually won by his mum.
Dear Teddy,
Congratulations, baby boy! I know, I know you are a big guy now but you would always be my baby. I was there when you were born. In a lot of ways you are my first child and now I understand why my mum cribbed about us growing up too fast. If I had it my way, I would have you home schooled. But it would not have been fair on you. Write back soon. I want to know all about your first week, your classes, friends, everything. I know James and Al would want to know all about it too, even when Al is sulking right now and pretending that he doesn't really care, I can bet that he would remember all the details of your letters. Don't worry about him; he will cheer up soon enough. I used to be incredibly upset at being left behind too. It's a younger sibling thing. We are humungous prats.
Don't get in trouble; I am so glad you did not take after either of your dads or Uncle George. Don't do anything we wouldn't do either, that does not leave much really. Just go enjoy your term; we will see you for Christmas.
Missing you so much.
Lots of love
Mum
There you go Harry, now you can go back to propounding the theory of relativity for an 11 year old.
Phew! So, I guess your mum pretty much said everything that I wanted to say to you. I won't ask you to not do anything I wouldn't do because that would really not be good advice. Just use your head and don't go looking for trouble. Have fun. Your time at Hogwarts would be your best years.
And here is a secret; I will see you in November. I have been teaching a specialized Defence Against the Dark Arts course to seventh years who wish to become Aurors or Unspeakables. I have been teaching this course ever since specialized magical training was introduced in the Hogwarts Curriculum. I will be coming to Hogwarts regularly from December to February on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. So, I would see you soon enough.
Can't wait to see you.
Love
Dad
Teddy groaned, not that he didn't want to see his dad, but his dad was bloody famous. Teddy didn't mind popularity either but it was still weird to prank someone or get in trouble especially when your father was a teacher in your school. He settled in his pillow after stuffing the letters under it, he couldn't really do anything about it, so he might as well just sleep it off.
AN: Another chapter done. You know what to do. Please do read and review.
Much love,
The fishes.